Silver Spirit, Ghost of Equestria.

by Powerdrainer

Rating: teen
Tags: Silver Spoon, Original Character, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Danny Phantom, Adventure, Crossover, Sex, Diamond Tiara, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Human, Other
Length: 391093

In their quest to earn their Cutie Marks, and maybe find an answer for the strange events that have occurred, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo soon learn they've taken on more than they can handle. Question is, can they keep this a secret?

In their quest to earn their Cutie Marks, and possibly find some answers for the strange events that have occurred, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo soon learn they've taken on more than they can handle. How will they deal with this? And what will Sweetie Belle do now?

Sex tag is there for innuendos and references to the act in later chapters. There will be no clop.

This is a crossover with the show Danny Phantom, and a side story of Guilt of a Phantom. I would suggest reading that story first, as this story will interact with the main story from time to time. Especially in the beginning of this fic, as it will start after certain events at the hooves of our three fillies.

And click: The Baltimare Incident for the story that happened before Goap and SS, GoE.

Read them in this order.
1. Guilt of a Phantom.
2. The Baltimare Incident after the chapter: Hunting the Hunter's Hunter. Earth.
3. Silver Spirit, Ghost of Equestria after the chapter: The Day the World Looked Pink-ie Pie.

Published 2014-03-25 19:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2025-01-19 14:12:51 UTC

What the Hay!

This chapter is edited by Vates Despero and Rye Bread.

What the Hay!

<<>><<>><<>>

The three fillies ran through the streets of Ponyville, excited giggling coming from the three of them.

At first Scootaloo wasn't all that happy with the prospect of spending the remainder of the day inside some stuffy library, but the idea that they might earn their Cutie Marks with this was really exciting. This caused her inner crusader to surge forward, as it did with her two friends, and together they ran towards another adventure, which, hopefully, didn't have them end up covered with tree sap. The fact that they were heading to the library, which was inside a tree, didn't really help there.

They dodged and weaved around and past the ponies in town, making some of them shout out at them as they almost dropped the objects they were carrying. But they didn't notice, too excited to do their thing. This was, however, also unfortunate for the town’s very own human resident, as he came to meet the girls again.

"Hi Danny!" Scootaloo shouted as she ran past him, almost tripping him.

"Sorry Danny," Sweetie Belle said next as she ran behind him, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards onto his rear.

"Bye Danny," Apple Bloom called out to him as she jumped over his legs, kicking up a bit of dust where she landed on the dry dirt path.

Groaning and rubbing his back as he pulled himself back up, Danny Manson shot the three fillies an annoyed look.

"That's the second time those three knocked me on the ground," he muttered as he dusted himself off.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell didn't notice though, as they moved through the streets and alleys, coming closer to their destination, and, perhaps, their destiny.

"Come on you slowpokes," Scootaloo yelled back at her friends as she ran ahead of the group, her wings buzzing to give her just that much more speed.

"Ain't you tha one that didn't wanna go to the library?' Apple Bloom yelled back.

"It's probably the whole racing thing that she has going on right now," Sweetie Belle replied, knowing all too well that her orange friend couldn't let any kind of race go without herself competing in it.

"Nah. Ah think she just wants ta bury her muzzle in all those books," Apple Bloom shouted back with a teasing grin.

"HEY!" Scootaloo yelled back over her shoulder, glaring at her earth pony friend while running at top speed. Which made her miss the fact that she was running head first into the door of the very library they were going to.

With a slam and a crash she flattened against the door, sticking to its surface like a pancake.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle came to a grinding halt behind their friend, struggling to contain their laughter as they saw the flattened pegasus grumbling to herself. And, of course, to make matters even more awkward for the speed demon, it was at this moment that Twilight Sparkle, Ponyville's very own librarian and personal protege of Princess Celestia herself, opened the door to see what all the ruckus was about.

Blinking dumbly as she saw the awkwardly smiling pegasus stuck to the door, Twilight had to take a moment to let the situation sink in. Looking at the two other fillies standing before her, clearly having trouble keeping their composure over their friend’s unfortunate situation. Sighing out while shaking her head slightly, Twilight finally got a grasp on what was going on. The crusaders were at it again, and that often led to massive destruction all around.

"Girls," she began, a hint of suspicion in her voice. "What are you doing?"

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, who in turn looked at Scootaloo. While the question was simple enough, the answer not so much. In their excitement they forgot to agree on an proper cover story, and they were sure that Twilight wouldn't let them do any "research" on manticores, ghosts, or manticores possessed by ghosts. They were already in enough trouble as it was, and asking Twilight about any of that would not be the best thing to do. That just left one question: what to tell the frowning purple mare who was waiting for an answer?

"Well... ehh. You see," Sweetie Belle started hesitantly, hoping her friends would help her out with this. "We came here to... To..."

"Ta find ah book... for an... assignment for school," Apple Bloom added after a momentary pause.

"Uhum," Twilight hummed as she raised a single eyebrow. "And why is Scootaloo stuck to my door?" she asked, before realizing what it was she said, and using her magic to pry the filly from the woodwork.

"Ehh... Because we—" Scootaloo began, but a look from her friends made her reconsider her words slightly. "I mean, I got a bit too carried away with all of this, and ran here as fast as I could," she said, struggling to keep from visibly shivering. "Seeing that I really wanted to find the book about that thing we needed to do." The struggle to keep a straight face became even more difficult as she could taste something very foul in her mouth, the words she spoke making her wings itch as to tell her that she needed to shut up and get away from this dull place as fast as possible.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were also struggling to keep their composure, but not because they were forced to say something like what their friend was saying. No, they had a difficult time because their friend was making such a poor attempt to sound sincere while saying such a ridiculous thing.

Twilight, too, wasn't convinced. She looked at the three fillies with a flat, deadpanned look, before sighing and shaking her head.

"And what is it that you really want?"

"A book," Sweetie Belle said with a sigh, being truthful about this much.

"Really?" Twilight asked while blinking dumbly a few times. "Why?" She added with suspicion thick in her voice.

"Ta read about manticores." Apple Bloom answered, also truthfully, but not telling the entire truth.

"Why?" Twilight questioned again, beginning to sound like a broken record.

"...Because we want to know why it was behaving so weird," Scootaloo added slowly, choosing her words carefully, lest she give herself and her friends away.

"So, let me see if I get this right. You want to read a book about manticores to find out about certain behavior, and this after you almost got eaten by one last night," Twilight summed up.

"Ehh… Yes," Sweetie Belle answered with a large beaming smile.

Twilight looked at the three with a scrutinizing gaze, trying to read the three fillies like her books. But her skills in reading other ponies were somewhat lacking, and she wasn't all that sure what to make of these three.

"So, a book?" she said again, earning a confirming nod from the three fillies before her. "Just a book? No crazy scheme to earn your cutie marks?" This time the three shook their heads, albeit hesitantly. Noticing this Twilight had to make sure they wouldn't do anything they, or she would come to regret.

"Fine. But you have to promise me you’re not going to do anything that will get you in trouble. Especially after what you three did last night, understood?"

"Yes, Miss Twilight," Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said with nods and innocent smiles, halos hanging above their heads. The perfect image of innocence, and a major warning sign that they were up to no good. Which would probably mean trouble for the neighborhood.

Twilight, however, failed to pick up on this little warning sign, and she allowed the three fillies into her abode. Happy, though their reasons were a bit unclear, she was able to bestow the knowledge found in her library on these three young minds.

Still, she wasn't entirely oblivious as to what these three youngsters were capable of, and she was quick to ensure that they -as well as the town and everypony in it- would remain safe. Well, this time at least.

"Okay you three. Everything you want to know about manticores can be found in these books," she chirped happily, and levitated several books over to the three fillies, who were less than interested in these particular books. But they couldn't just outright say that they were looking for anything about ghosts. So, with fake smiles, they accepted the various books given to them by Twilight, hoping they would get a chance to find a book about what they really wanted to know.

Scootaloo's ears began to twitch, however. And their smiles became just a bit more forced, when Twilight started one of her lectures about manticores, and the danger they posed. Surely this was just a coincidence, right?

<<>><<>><<>>

Frantic knocking sounded on the door, and Twilight hurried to see who it was that was trying to bring down her door, for the second time this day. Which prompted a sigh of relief from the three fillies, who had been subjected to one of Twilight's long and boring lectures for almost an hour now. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both shot a dirty look at Sweetie Belle, who smiled sheepishly back at them. None of this had gone as they had planned, as far as you could say they had a plan to begin with.

Their ears twitched however, as they heard the all too familiar voice of Rainbow Dash. Ponyville's very own captain of the weather team, future Wonderbolt, the Element of Loyalty and, of course, the most awesome pony in all of Equestria, if Scootaloo was anypony to say so. Which she was, they agreed on that during the most recent Rainbow Dash fan club meeting.

"Twilight, you have to come, now!" Dash all but shouted. Confusion, excitement and even a bit of anger mixed in her voice. "There is something wrong with the lake! Somepony has been messing with the weather schedule, and everything is frozen. You have to come!"

"What- What do you mean?" Twilight asked confused, not understanding the rambling of her friend.

"No time to explain. Just come on." And with that, Rainbow grabbed hold of Twilight and flew towards the lake, leaving the three young fillies alone in the library.

Looking at the door, not fully realizing what had just happened, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just sat in their places, blinking dumbly.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Apple Bloom asked after a moment.

"I guess," Sweetie Belle replied after a few short seconds.

"So, we don’t need to read these boring things?" Scootaloo asked, a hint of hope in her voice.

"Ah think so," Apple Bloom said, and she felt her excitement grow.

"We can finally find out about ghosts and such," Sweetie Belle said excitedly, bouncing slightly on the spot.

"And find out how to earn our Cutie Marks," Scootaloo added, wings flapping happily.

The three of them looked at each other, and with a nod they agreed on their next course of action.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, Book Finders. Yay!"

Whooping and cheering they began running around the bookcases, looking for anything that would be of interest. They looked and looked, but anything related to ghosts ended up being either ghost stories for foals, or those strange novels adults liked so much.

"Over here!" Scootaloo shouted excitedly as she held up a book with a scary ghost image on the cover.

"Scoots, that's just a book with ghosts stories," Sweetie Belle said, and Apple Bloom rolled her eyes.

"Oh, right. I knew that."

"Just try to look somewhere else. Obviously Twilight doesn't keep those books here," Sweetie Belle told the other two, who nodded in understanding.

Apple Bloom ran to one side of the library, looking through the books there. She didn't find anything that was of any interest to her, but some of the things there might be useful for other crusading attempts, and she kept them in mind for later. She did, however, find a lock of curly pink hair that smelled a lot like cotton candy behind some of the books. Though for the life of her, she couldn't figure out how or why a lock of Pinkie Pie's mane was lying there.

Scootaloo also hadn't much luck. From the various books with ghost stories for sleepovers or camping trips- which appeared to be read thoroughly- to books about cooking, which looked brand new. But nothing about actual ghosts, or how to catch them. There was, however, a spell book lying open on the table, the exposed page showing a spell to turn an apple into an orange. Twilight was probably working with that, so Scootaloo decided to leave that where it was.

Sweetie Belle wasn't doing much better, and she started to think that there wasn't anything here that would help them. She was about to give up and call her friends to figure out what to do next, when a curious green glint caught her attention, leading her to the door to the basement. It was standing slightly ajar, and a sudden urge to go down there came over her. Not understanding it (but not questioning it either) Sweetie opened the door and looked down into the dark basement; Twilight's personal laboratorium.

"Hey girls," she said after a moment, never breaking her gaze into the darkness below, "maybe there’s something down there?"

"It better be," Scootaloo grumbled, "there’s nothing here," as she and Apple Bloom moved next to Sweetie Belle, both of them looking down into the dark room that had Sweetie Belle's undivided attention.

Taking a first hesitant step down, Sweetie Belle began the descent down the flight of stairs, followed mere moments later by her friends. Apple Bloom quickly turned on the lights, bathing the dark, dreary looking blackness below in warm white light. Blinking numbly, Sweetie Belle snapped out of her semi-trance-like state. No longer did the basement look foreboding, and the three of them could see all the scientific equipment standing around, as well as a large bookcase.

"Cooooolll," the three of them cooed at the same time, and together they ran the rest of the way down the stairs to take a better look at everything there.

"What's this?" Scootaloo said excitedly as she held up a vial with some kind of red liquid.

"Ah dunno, but take a look at this here," Apple Bloom replied with the same level of excitement as she ran around a large machine found in the room. "What’d ya’ll think this is?"

"I think it is one of those fancy computer thingies," Sweetie Belle answered as she shot a sideways glance at the device. "It isn't anything made by humans, though," she added knowingly as she observed the machine.

Looking back at the book case, Sweetie Belle found herself drawn towards a strange black covered book. Slowly reaching out to it, she carefully pulled it from the shelf and held it up in her hooves.

Looking at the book she was holding and, turning it around to see the other side of the black covered book, Sweetie Belle flinched when she saw the image of a pony's skull on the cover, but not enough to lose her grip and drop the book.

Swallowing, she took a better look at the image, seeing the skull with glowing green eyes, which seemed to almost stare back at her. There was also a title written below the image that made Sweetie Belle more than a little nervous: Necronomicon.

Gingerly she traced a hoof over the image of the skull, not sure what it was that had drawn her to this book in particular.

Suddenly a shock went through her hoof and through her leg, making her yelp out as she dropped the black covered book, not noticing the flash of green in the skull's eyes, or that the book seemingly opened on its own before it hit the ground.

"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom called out to her friend as she heard her pained yell.

"Are you alright?" Scootaloo asked, rushing to help her friend.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Sweetie Belle answered as she waved her hoof in the air, a pained expression on her face. "I got shocked by this book here. Must have been some protective spell or something."

"You sure?" Apple Bloom asked as she took a look at her friend’s hoof, trying to find any form of injury.

"Yes, I'm fine. It startled me more than anything."

"Whoa!" Scootaloo said in awe, drawing the attention of her fellow crusaders.

"What is it?" Sweetie Belle asked, seeing the orange pegasus stand over the book she had just dropped.

"Just read this," was all she answered as she scanned the information found on the pages.

At her suggestion, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stepped next to their friend. Looking down on the book that lay open, they could clearly see the many images of spectral beings, and the information detailing them.

"There are many different forms of spectral beings," Apple Bloom read out loud, "Ghosts, specters, spirits and shades ta name a few. Each one of them is unique, and yet they are tha same. Their power comes from tha same source, but changes ta match tha form they chose after their death."

"Whatever the deceased will become, or call themselves, is determined during the choices they've made while alive, as well as the choice they will make at Purgatory," Scootaloo continues, an eager edge to her voice as they finally found what they were looking for. "And, as such, this is both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness."

"Spectral entities have the ability to possess the bodies of mortals," Sweetie Belle picked up, and the three of them shared an excited look when she mentioned the subject of possession. "But should they attempt such a feat on another spectral creature the effects could be catastrophic. The energy of the possessive ghost will try to match the energy of the possessed ghost. This is a very dangerous thing, as it has the known effect of destroying the powers of either one, or both ghosts."

"This is so cool!" Scootaloo squealed excitedly, her wings buzzing in earnest. "Does it also say how to find and capture a ghost?"

"I don't know?" Sweetie Belle said, shrugging.

"Well, why don't we find out," Apple Bloom replied sensibly as she skimmed through the pages. None of them noticed the words shifting and changing as she did so. And it didn't take long before she found something that seemed promising. Something she wasn't even looking for, but was led to regardless.

"Hey, look at this."

"How To Summon A Spirit," Scootaloo read, blinking rapidly as she had trouble absorbing the information found on the pages. Strangely enough, the next time she blinked and opened her eyes the words seemed suddenly much easier to understand. It was as if they had rewritten themselves. But that was just her imagination, right?

Shaking it off, she, as well as her friends, read the description on how to summon their very own spirit.

"Are you girls thinkin’ what Ah'm thinkin’?" Apple Bloom asked her friends with a sideways glance.

"Does it have something to do with apples?" Sweetie Belle asked with a small grin.

"No... Yes... Maybe... It mighta crossed my mind, but that’s not what Ah meant. Ah thought we could try this summonin’ thingy, and call up a spirit or somethin’."

"But what good will that do?" Scootaloo asked annoyed, "I thought we were going for ghosts, not spirits."

"Ah know that. But tha book said they’re the same, more or less."

"I guess," Scootaloo muttered.

"Eh girls, this does seem like it would take some magic to pull off, and I am not even able to lift a broom. This doesn't really seem possible."

"It don't seem all that hard," Apple Bloom said as she read the instructions in the book."

"I think she is just scared," Scootaloo mocked.

"Hey, I'm not scared."

"Yes you are, you chicken."

"I'm not a chicken!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

Scootaloo only replied by making chicken noises and weakly flapping her wings.

****

Meanwhile, inside a damp and gloomy cave.

Pinkie Pie, standing at the edge of the mirror pool, looked at the ceiling with a flat, deadpanned expression. She sighed heavily while rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"You had to do it wrong again, didn't you. This is the second time, the SECOND time you got that joke wrong," she said loudly at the ceiling, glaring daggers at the author as he was typing these very words, while her voice echoed around her.

"I'm warning you mister. I have a massive sugar rush, and I am not afraid to use it."

Confident she had made her point to the author she turned slightly to the side, "And you, proofread FASTER! We don't have all week you know?!"

The author slowly backed away from his keyboard, not wanting to deal with this crazy pony right now. While the proofreader was huddling in the fetal position, slowly rocking back and forth. Acting fast, the author quickly rushes back to the keyboard and changes the scene back to the basement.

****

Back at the basement.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom sat once more around the book. And, aside from a few muttered remarks about feathery animals that couldn't fly, they managed to stop their bickering and get back to business.

"Okay, so Ah do this," Apple Bloom said as she indicated a set of instructions about how to draw the glyphs necessary for their summoning. "Ah need somethin’ to draw ’em with, though."

"On it!" Scootaloo piped up, before she shot off. Only to return moments later with a set of crayons in her mouth.

"Here you go," she said as she dropped them at Apple Bloom's hooves.

"Thanks," she replied, and happily started working on the markings in the middle of the basement's floor.

"We're going to need some protection I think," Sweetie Belle spoke up as she continued to read the spell. "Why don't you go look to see if there is anything here we could use."

With a nod Scootaloo shot off again, searching high and low in the basement.

"And I will try to do this, I guess," Sweetie Belle muttered unsure.

"All done!" Apple Bloom shouted happily a few moments later as she stepped away from the crude drawings.

"Found some!" Scootaloo piped up next, and carried a lab coat, boots and glasses with her. "We do need to share, though," she added as she pulled the goggles over her eyes, magnifying them tenfold, making it look like she had bug like eyes.

"Ah get tha coat!" Apple Bloom called out, and she hurried to put on the, much too large for her, coat.

"Great," Sweetie muttered as she looked at the set of white lab boots, several sizes too large for her.

Using what little telekinesis she could summon, she pulled the boots onto her legs, sighing as she realized they covered three quarters of her legs, and were several sizes too wide.

"Yeah… This is going to work," she muttered sarcastically, before sighing and joining her two friends at the open book lying before the drawings Apple Bloom made on the floor.

"So, are we going to do this, or what?" Scootaloo said impatiently, more than eager for some action.

"Yeah, yeah. Just hold one one minute," Sweetie said frustrated, not sure how she was roped into doing this.

"Okay, stand back a bit," she told her friends, and a weak light green glow surrounded her horn. A glow that was mimicked by the symbols on the floor, which began to pulse in response to the unicorn filly's struggling attempt at a summoning.

As the lights in the basement began to flicker, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked around with a mixture of expectation and anxiety. A spark shot from Sweetie Belle’s horn, which spiraled randomly through the air, until it landed on the book lying before her. In a flash, toxic green energy shot from the book, hitting Sweetie Belle in the chest, and causing her own magic to spiral out of control.

A bolt of pure green energy blasted off from her horn, bouncing off of the walls, ceiling and floor. The three fillies ran around screaming as they tried to dodge the glowing green orb of destruction, and, to make matters worse, all the various items found in the laboratory hit by the orb were blasted into pieces, or sent flying into the air.

Apple Bloom dodged and weaved to avoid the shower of shattered glass from the broken vials, while Scootaloo dived underneath a table, dodging the green orb headed towards her. Sweetie Belle, however, had the worst luck of the three, as the orb nearly hit her, and shattered a jar filled with gold dust, completely covering the cowering filly, save for her boots thanks to the magical contamination protection spell placed over them, keeping them as clean as ever.

It didn't stop there, though, and the next thing she knew she had run into a case filled with various potions. They rattled around in their racks from the shock, and several spilled over. One in particular, a bright red potion for unknown purposes, fell down on the scared filly, staining her mane with red streaks, and her tail as well, as she turned around to get away from the sticky liquid.

Blinded by fear and gold dust, Sweetie ran around without aim. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, hiding underneath the desk Scootaloo had dove underneath earlier, watched their friend running around helplessly. They also saw the bolt of green energy fly towards her, and they both shouted a disastrous warning to Sweetie Belle.

Stopping in her tracks, Sweetie managed to open one of her eyes, only to see the glowing orb strike her squarely in the chest. And, as 'luck' would have wanted it, she was standing right in the middle of the glowing set of glyphs made by Apple Bloom.

Sweetie Belle screamed soundlessly as the blow knocked the air out of her lungs, and the glyphs glowed with pure energy. A wave of green engulfed the gold covered filly, obscuring her from her friends’ sight as a swirling vortex formed around her. Sparks of energy shot out from the raging maelstrom, making it impossible for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to come anywhere near their friend, and they were forced to watch the events play out.

It seemed like hours, but it was only half a minute before the energy started to dissipate, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could begin to see the outline of their friend through the glow. She was, however, too far off the ground to be standing. It was after several more agonizing seconds that they were able to see their friend was actually hovering in place. And even more seconds until they were able to properly see their friend again.

With a flash the energy vanished, and Sweetie Belle fell to the floor with a thud. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushed to their friend, but they froze in place when they saw the changes that had happened to her.

"What happened to her?" Scootaloo yelled in panic.

"Ah don't know!?" Apple Bloom shouted back, both of them watching the transformed filly with fear and shock.

With a low, long groan Sweetie Belle came to. Shaking her head a bit to regain focus, and rubbing her forehead near the base of her horn with a hoof.

"What happened?" she asked in confusion as she struggled to get back up on all fours, but getting no reply from her friends.

"Girls, what happened?" she asked again, and looked up to meet their gazes. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, now concerned as she saw the open mouthed, wide eyed expressions her friends gave her. "Is there something on my face?"

Lifting a hoof to feel her face for any abnormalities Sweetie Belle found out something was wrong, very wrong. No matter how far she reached, she was unable to feel her face. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, however, let out a blood curdling screech when they saw Sweetie's boot covered hoof move cleanly through her head' and stick out on the other side.

Pulling her hoof away as if she'd been shocked, Sweetie Belle looked at her friends with fear evident on her face. Swallowing loudly, she looked around to find anything she could use to see herself.

A flicker of light from the overhead fixture reflecting in the shards of glass covering the ground provided the answer, and Sweetie gazed at herself in the reflective surface of one of the larger pieces.

She screamed. Loudly.

The boots she was wearing, white at first, had turned pitch black. Her gold covered fur had changed color as well, turning into a gleaming silver. And the bright red streaks the potion had left in her mane and tail had turned a deep blue. That, and her mane and tail seemed to be made of a mist, slowly moving as if struck by an unfelt breeze. And the eyes, her eyes, staring back at her. They were a glowing green.

"What happened to me!?" she screeched as she backed away from the strange pony looking back at her in the glass, looking to her friends for answers.

"Ah… Ah don't know!" Apple Bloom said frantically, finally having found her voice again. Scootaloo, however, remained mute. Staring dumbly at her friend, almost unblinkingly.

"I can't be seen like this. Make it go away! MAKE IT GO AWAY!" Sweetie wailed as she lay down on the ground, eyes closed and her front hooves covering her face.

A frightened gasp from Scootaloo and Apple Bloom only added to the dread she felt. Carefully lifting a hoof, she cracked open an eye to see what happened. Or she would have, if she wasn't already looking through her closed lids and hooves covering her eyes.

Another scream sounded through the basement, and Sweetie Belle backed away in fear, knocking several objects from the desk she hit.

Her friends, unable to see the currently invisible filly, were startled by the sudden scream coming from thin air and the accompanying rain of objects.

Finally moving into action, Apple Bloom ran to the book covered with pieces of glass and other broken things which she didn't want to think about right now. They would come up with some explanation for Twilight later, but that was not important right now. Grabbing the book and shaking off the pieces of glass, Apple Bloom shifted through the pages frantically to find an answer.

"Come on, come on. There has to be an answer for this!?"

She saw the words contained in the pages shift before her eyes, but didn't question it any more. A lot of weird things were happening, and this book was the source of it. Whatever kind of magic was causing this, she just hoped there was a counterspell in this book that would help her friend. She didn't stop to see what it was the words shifted into, she just skipped through page after page, hoping to find an answer. But every page she turned to showed the exact same thing. Finally, after having reached the end of the book, Apple Bloom saw no other option than to read what it was the book was trying to show them. With a wavering voice Apple Bloom began reading it out loud, so the others could hear it as well.

There are many different forms of spectral beings. Ghosts, specters, spirits and shades to name a few. Each one of them is unique, and yet they are the same. Their power comes from the same source, but changes to match the form they chose after their death.

Whatever the deceased will become, or call themselves, is determined by the choices they've made while alive, as well as the choice they will make at Purgatory. But sometimes, in rare events, alive and dead mix, creating something truly unique. A Halfa. Over the millennia there have been only three beings that can be called as such. One chose the path of evil, another the path of the hero. And one who wandered, who was born in the dark but found her way into the light.

But the hero was lost to guilt and sorrow, and evil is moving closer to him. The wanderer, still looking for him, will have the help of others, but it might not be enough.

Destiny is a curious thing, and it is not always what you thought it to be. Three has become four, but it may not remain like that.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle. Your journey has only just begun.

You looked for meaning in your lives, but it is in death that your path shall reveal itself. Sweetie Belle, in time you will know what you are meant to do. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, you will be by her side when that time comes. How things will play out however, depends on how you deal with this now.

Sweetie Belle, either you embrace the gift given to you, learn to use it. Or you run away from it. But destiny will follow you everywhere, and the outcome will depend on your choice.

Darkness is coming, and the hero might not be enough.

Go forth Sweetie Belle, and find your destiny.

Go forth, Silver Spirit.

Silence.

Silence.

"W-what?" Sweetie Belle stuttered as she sat next to Apple Bloom, scaring the yellow filly as she was still invisible.

Scootaloo also reared back in fright, as she could hear her friend's voice coming from Apple Bloom's side, but not see her. But it was enough to shake her out of her stupor, and she slowly moved towards where the sound of Sweetie's voice came from, holding a hoof stretched out in front of her.

A slight tremble moved through her outstretched leg as she took slow deliberate steps closer to the seemingly empty spot next to Apple Bloom, only to meet resistance as her hoof came in contact with the invisible filly.

"T- This is so weird," Scootaloo said in shock as she retracted her hoof, only to push it back again to make sure she wasn't imagining things.

"Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle said with a muffled, annoyed voice, "get your hoof out of my face… Hold on, you could touch me!?" she said loudly as she realized what her friend had just done.

"You touched me, your hoof didn't go through me?"

Scootaloo only looked at her hoof as if she had stepped on something slimy, not sure what to make of it all.

"But we still can't see you," Apple Bloom said, her voice a bit calmer, but still on edge.

As if on cue, Sweetie Belle popped back in existence, surprising both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. The latter stumbling backwards as she tripped over her own legs.

"Never mind," Apple Bloom said in a small voice as she could see her friend once more, as well as the changes she'd gone through.

"But I don't want to be seen like this. What will my big sister say?" Sweetie said, afraid as she carefully glanced back at her reflection in one of the many pieces of glass.

"We'll come up with somethin’. We always do," Apple Bloom said reassuringly, but not believing it herself.

"Y- yeah. It's what friends do, right? Maybe Twilight knows what to do?" Scootaloo added.

Nodding weakly, Sweetie Belle stood up. Walking towards the stairs with her head hung low as if she was heading to the gallows, she mentally prepared herself for whatever Twilight or Rarity might say, and couldn’t bear to think what anypony else would think. Especially Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. She wished this would all just go away, that she could turn back into her normal self.

A flash of silvery white light appeared around her, forming as a glowing band of energy around her midsection. All three fillies gasped out over this new development.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched in amazement when the band split in two. One part moved across Sweetie's front, while the other along her back.

They couldn't believe what they were seeing, as, in front of their eyes, Sweetie Belle turned back to normal. White coat, curly two toned pink and purple mane, normal not glowing green eyes, no blue streaks going through her mane. And, weirdest of all, the boots were gone as well.

Sweetie looked at herself with wide eyes, a happy smile slowly forming on her face.

"I'm me again!" she shouted happily while wrapping her front legs around herself in a hug. Only for her to shoot a beam of toxic green energy from her horn, making a scorch mark on the ceiling.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo once more had their mouths unhinged as they saw what had happened. And this time it was Scootaloo that was the first to respond.

"That… Was… So…AWESOME!" she yelled as she jumped up, wings buzzing in excitement. "Do that again."

"How? I don't know how I did that." Sweetie replied, when she suddenly found herself sinking through the floor. "OR THIS!" she added frantically, and her friends rushed to her side and pulled her back up.

"What is happening to me?"

"Silver spirit," Scootaloo muttered, earning herself a questioning glance from her friends.

"What?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"The book, it called you Silver Spirit," Scootaloo said as she looked back at the black book, only to find it was gone.

"Hey, where’d tha book go?" Apple Bloom said puzzled, "Did one of ya’ll move it?"

Both fillies shook their head, indicating they hadn't done so. A low rumble sounded through the room, and all the various objects, broken or otherwise, began to shake and rattle in response, making the three scared ponies back away in fear.

"I don't think I want to be here any longer," Sweetie Belle said frightened.

"Me neither," Scootaloo replied.

"Same here," Apple Bloom confirmed. And together the three of them fled up the stairs, screaming the whole time as the rumbling and shaking intensified. Only leaving behind a set of protective glasses and a lab coat lying in a heap on the ground.

The door slammed shut behind them as a green glow filled the basement. All the various objects moved back to their original places, and those that were broken repaired themselves. And, in the center of it all, a black book with a skull on its cover hovered in the air. The sockets of the skull glowing a bright green. Then, as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped, and the basement was as tidy as ever.

The book however, turned around so that the skull faced the bookcase Sweetie Belle had found it in; hovering in place as if it was waiting for something. Another rumble began to rattle the objects in the basement, and the books began to shake more and more violently as a green glow seemed to shine from behind them.

Suddenly, every last one of the books flew out of the bookcase and started circling in mid air, a green glow connecting everyone of them, as a portal formed in the center of the spinning circle of books. A lone figure stepped out of it, dropping to the ground as he looked around. He wore a cloak with the hood down, and had a beard and glasses, giving him the look of an old monk.

"Oh, here you are," he said to the book, and held out his hand for it to land in. But, barely touching the black book, the Ghost Zone's librarian could feel the residual energy still coming from the book, and with a heavy sigh he looked at the skull on the book's cover. "Oh, Necky. What did you do this time?"

The book answered by opening to the exact center, showing only one word.

"Destiny."

<<>><<>><<>>

Panic.

It was the only thing on their minds, and the only reaction they had to what they were seeing. They had run out of the basement, never looking back, and out of the library, slamming the door shut behind them. But what they saw next made them press their backs against the door, questioning if they might have been better off back in the basement.

Pinkie Pies. Pinkie Pies everywhere. Pinkie Pies bouncing down the street. Pinkie Pies jumping up and down chimneys. Pinkie Pies wreaking havoc all around town.

"Did we do this?" Sweetie Belle squeaked in panic.

"FUN! FUN! FUN!"

"Ah don't know?" Apple Bloom said, equally frightened.

"We need to get out of here!" Scootaloo said, eyes darting left and right as she tried to find an escape route.

"Over there!" she shouted as she made a mad dash for an opening in the herd of pink, soon followed by the other two crusaders.

"We have to do something! This is our fault, isn't it?" Sweetie quietly shouted, not wanting everypony else to hear her.

"How could it be? We never did anything with Pinkie Pie… today," Apple Bloom replied after a moment. "Whoa!" she shouted as a stray Pinkie jumped in front of her, and she was forced to evade the crazy wall of pink. "WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!"

"FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN!"

"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!" Scootaloo yelled back, and she pushed herself a bit more, getting as much speed out of her small legs and wings as she could.

"Wait up!" Sweetie Belle shouted, being the slowest of the three, having neither pegasus nor earth pony speed.

Her struggle to keep up with her friends cost her, and she tripped over her own legs. Falling down on the ground, a bolt of green energy shot from her horn, hitting one of the many Pinkies in the head.

"Fu-nnnn..."

The pony that was hit had a dazed look, and her head wobbled on her neck, before she collapsed on the street, legs splayed wide.

Sweetie Belle screamed over what she had done, and it was only thanks to Apple Bloom coming to help her back up and pull her away that she didn't remain there.

"We have to go back! She could be hurt!" Sweetie wailed as Apple Bloom pulled her away.

"Ah know, but we can't be here right now. Whatever this is, whether it is something we did or not. You don't want them ta find out what happened ta you, right?"

Sweetie Belle didn't answer, her friend’s words echoing through her mind.

'What did happen to me?' she wondered as she was mindlessly pulled along, never stopping for anything or anypony.

<<>><<>><<>>

The door of the tree house slammed shut, and Scootaloo leaned against it, standing on her hind legs, breathing heavily.

In the center of the crusaders’ clubhouse sat Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, just as much out of breath as their pegasus friend.

"What happened?" Scootaloo managed to say, as she slowly slid down the door.

"How should Ah know?" Apple Bloom replied, rushing to one of the windows to peer outside.

"And what was the deal with Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo continued, ignoring Apple Bloom, as she moved over to the scared unicorn filly, poking her with a hoof.

"Stop it, Scootaloo," Sweetie said in a mixture of annoyance, fright, and sadness.

She didn't, and she continued to poke her friend, not believing what had happened back there.

"I SAID STOP IT!" Sweetie Belle yelled, and Scootaloo hurried away from her. But it wasn't her yelling that made her do so. It were her eyes. They were glowing a toxic green.

Swallowing loudly, Scootaloo was unable to avert her gaze, and she was forced to stare into the toxic green glow coming from her friend’s eyes.

Sweetie Belle, angry that her friend kept poking her, could see something had scared her. And it didn't take long for her to find out what it was. Seeing the glow of her eyes reflected in Scootaloo's large, fearful eyes, she knew it came from her, but she didn't want to believe it.

She screamed again as she back peddled away, hitting a wall behind her, and drawing the attention of Apple Bloom, who was watching outside to see if anypony, pink or any other color, was looking for them.

Seeing her friend backed up against the wall, she cocked an eyebrow as she didn't know what all that was about.

"Why did you scream? " she asked.

"My eyes, they're..." Sweetie stuttered in fear

"They're, what? Ah don't see anything weird."

Not believing her friend, Sweetie rushed to the chest at the other side of the clubhouse, digging through the various objects they had used over the course of their crusading, and pulled out one of the hoof held mirrors they had "borrowed" from her sister.

Staring at her reflection, she could see her eyes were their normal, not glowing green, and she let out a sigh of relief. Only for her to drop the mirror as her hoof became intangible, shattering the glass on the ground.

"Go away! GO AWAY!" she screamed as she shook her hoof, trying to shake it off, which only seemed to make it worse. Her leg completely lost shape, and nothing but an intangible trail was left. Twisting and turning in the air as if it was hit by an unfelt breeze, and Sweetie Belle felt herself becoming nauseous from fear.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could only stare at the strange sight, not sure what they could do to help their friend.

"We need to get help," Sweetie Belle whimpered, tears forming in her eyes as she didn't dare look at her leg, or whatever it had become.

"Jus' calm down," Apple Bloom said, "We'll figure this out."

Shaking her head weakly, Sweetie closed her eyes, and took several calming breaths, slowly regaining control over herself. And, as she did so, her leg returned to normal as well.

"Look," Scootaloo said as she stared at the leg, "it went back to normal again."

Carefully opening a single eye, Sweetie saw her friend was right, and a sigh of relief escaped her mouth. Only for her to fall backwards as both her hind legs turned into an intangible trail, not unlike a tail, and the color of her legs mixed with those of her tail, which had also become a part of this.

Looking at her friends with fear in her eyes, Sweetie could only mutter one word.

"Help!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were frantically running around their club house, completely at a loss to what they should do. They had messed up, big time, and there wasn't even any tree sap involved. Which, most likely, meant that this was far from over and everything was still going to blow up in their faces.

Scootaloo especially had trouble keeping herself under control, and the rapid, panicked flapping of her wings caused the various papers lying around to blow up in the air, which only added to the chaos.

Apple Bloom, although a bit more down to earth than Scootaloo, was also lost in panic. Looking through the windows in paranoia, afraid that her sister, or somepony else would find out what they had done and come for them.

They had already gotten in trouble when they went manticore hunting, and she was sure she would be grounded for life this time.

And Sweetie Belle, she was cowering in the center of the room, holding her front legs over her head in a shielding manner, sobbing to herself as her hind legs and tail were still transformed, twisting and turning uncontrollably in the storm made by Scootaloo. Still, she was the most calm of them all, surprisingly, considering she was the one that got hit the worst. With a sob she pulled one hoof away from over her eyes and glanced at the mess that was being made. Something had to be done, and it was obvious that her friends wouldn't do it.

Taking several deep breaths to calm herself down, and to steel herself, Sweetie Belle lifted herself up with her front legs. Her hind body lifted up as well, seemingly able to support its weight even without hind legs. This freaked her out again, but she managed to stop herself before she would lose control over herself again, and managed to shake it off, partially.

"Girls!" she said loudly, gaining no reply.

"Girls!" she said louder, but still no response.

Rearing up on her hind legs so she could stomp her front hooves on the ground, Sweetie prepared to shout as loud as she could. But a small detail that had slipped her mind for a split second came rushing back as she realized she didn't have any hind legs anymore, and she screamed out again as she looked down, seeing herself hover in the air.

This did at least draw the attention of her friends, and Apple Bloom turned to look at her, while Scootaloo stopped dead in her tracks. Both of their mouths fell open with sonic rainboom speed.

"Y-y-y-you're flying," Apple Bloom stammered, completely blown away.

"How are you doing that?" Scootaloo asked, sounding almost awed.

"I don't know!? Just get me down!" Sweetie shouted back as she flailed her legs in the air as she tried to maintain her balance.

As if on her command, her legs and tail turned back to normal, and gravity took a hold on her again. Dropping down to the ground with a: "Oomph," Sweetie Belle rubbed her sore flank, muttering several obscenities that would age her sister several years if she heard, but glad she was normal again, as far as this would count as normal.

"What is happening to me?" she quietly muttered as she looked herself over.

Slowly moving over to her friend again, Scootaloo gently pushed a hoof against one of Sweetie's hind legs, feeling they were completely tangible again.

"Silver Spirit." she muttered, earning a confused glance from both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

"What?" Sweetie asked unsure.

"Silver Spirit. The book called you Silver Spirit, didn’t it?" Scootaloo asked, getting a weak nod from Apple Bloom, as she was the one that had read it. "I- I- I think that spell you did made you a spirit."

Silence.

More silence.

"WHAT!?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted in disbelief, looking at their friend as if she was crazy.

"Hey, you saw what happened yourself," Scootaloo immediately defended herself. "What happened to Sweetie, and what the book said. Do you have a better idea about what happened?"

"Ah… You… Well, no." Apple Bloom stammered her answer, "But you can't be serious. How could that even happen?"

"Like how we just saw, maybe."

Apple Bloom raised a hoof and started to argue about it, but couldn't think of anything so she stood there with her mouth open and leg raised.

"You've got a point there," she relented.

"Wait, I do?" Scootaloo said surprised, "Huh, that's new."

"But, if you're right. Does that mean that I am d-"—Sweetie swallowed loudly—"dead?"

In a flash of light, a band of energy formed around her midsection. Splitting in two, one half moved forwards, while the other moved backwards. Where the rings of light moved over her, her body transformed. Her white coat became a shining silver, and her mane and tail turned into a silver intangible mist with blue streaks going through them. Her eyes began to glow a toxic green, and her legs were now covered with wide black boots.

"I guess so," Scootaloo answered meekly as she stared wide eyed at Sweetie Belle, unable to close her mouth after she finished talking.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several hours had passed, and Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had gotten somewhat used to the weirdness that was Sweetie Belle's transformation. Not much, though. Enough to not freak out every time her eyes glowed green, or her body became intangible or invisible.

Eventually Sweetie turned back to her normal self, not knowing how it had happened, but glad it did. The three of them had agreed to tell nopony about this, fearing what they would say, and the grounding they would most likely get. Still, there were two problems still to deal with: Where did all those Pinkie Pies come from? Did they do that? Or was it some random, ill timed coincidence? And what about Twilight's basement?

They had to find out, which wasn't all that difficult. They could just ask one of their sisters what had happened, making sure not to give away anything about what they had done. They would have to avoid Twilight, though. She would most likely would want an answer about what had happened to her basement. Simple, if you didn't count the fact that Sweetie Belle's body could do all kinds of crazy things at any random time. Especially shooting that weird glowing green energy from her hooves, which really freaked them out. So, they decided to leave her in their clubhouse, while they would look around town and find out if everything was safe. This way she wouldn't accidentally give herself away and, maybe, figure out how to control this while she was there.

"Okay Sweetie, stay calm," Sweetie Belle told herself, taking several calming breaths. "Whatever this is, you can control it, I hope. Okay, let's see. Hooves normal?" Looking at her hooves, she saw they were their normal white. "Check. Mane and tail normal?... Check. Eyes?" Looking into the hoof held mirror, "Normal. Cutie Mark?... Nope, sigh."

It would seem everything was as it should be, blank flank and all. The question she had now: Would it stay like that, or was it going to change?

It was a double question, and it made her wish for a different answer for the each of them.

But for now, she would settle with remaining normal. It was a wish that wasn't granted, as she was, ever so slowly, sinking through the floor.

"OH, COME ON!" she shouted, and pulled herself back up. Her lower body turned tangible with a pop as she pulled herself free from the wooden floor and fell backwards, hind legs sticking up in the air.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?" she shouted at her legs, which, in response, turned into an intangible tail, falling limply over her face.

A loud groan could be heard coming from the treehouse.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were heading back to town, neither one of them in a hurry to do so. Walking as slowly as they could, but not slow enough to look guilty, they looked around at some of the destruction caused by the pink tidal wave named Pinkie Pie.

They really hoped they weren't the cause of this, or they would be grounded for life. Not to mention the fact that they would most likely have to clean all of this up.

"Ahbdon't know 'bout you. But Ah really hope we only messed up Sweetie Belle, and not all of Ponyville," Apple Bloom said in a lowered voice.

"Yeah, me too. Although I wish Sweetie was fine too," Scootaloo replied.

"Yeah, me too. What do you think really happened ta her?"

Scootaloo shrugged in response, before answering.

"Beats me. The book called her a spirit or something, I'll just stick with that for now."

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom said unsure as they both approached Ponyville.

"Let's just get this over with!" she added more loudly, walking a bit faster.

"Yeah, sure," Scootaloo said less than thrilled, and followed her friend.

Ponyville was in chaos. Not because there were ponies running around in panic, but because of all the damage done. Windows were broken. Doors were unhinged. Plants were crushed, and the ground littered with hoofprints. The various stalls on the marketplace were scattered and broken, and most of the wares for sale thrown on the ground. Ponies were scurrying through the destruction, already working on fixing and cleaning everything.

"We are in so much trouble!" Scootaloo said in a hushed whisper, and Apple Bloom flinched back a bit.

"Let's jus' find out what happened, okay?" she replied, downtrodden, and looked for somepony to tell them what exactly happened.

Of course they had to find somepony who didn't know all too well what they were capable of, and who wouldn't question everything about where they have been. Somepony who had only just met them. Somepony that, even though certain things they might have done in the short time he'd know them might cause concern, would give them the benefit of the doubt. Somepony that walked on two legs, and wasn't a pony at all.

They knew just who to go to.

<<>><<>><<>>

"This is not helping at all!" Sweetie Belle shouted in frustration as she sat on the floor, her forelegs turned into an intangible trail and waved around in the air.

"Why is this happening?"

For the last thirty or so minutes, since Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had left her alone in their clubhouse, Sweetie had been trying to figure out how to control these strange things happening to her body, with little success. It wasn't all that surprising, as she didn't even know where to start, or what was happening to her in the first place. But it proved to be very, very frustrating. So much so that, without knowing, her eyes glowed a toxic green as she shouted at her legs.

Groaning out in frustration for the umpteenth time, Sweetie Belle let herself fall forwards, faceplanting against the wooden floor. But the hit never came, and Sweetie found her head sticking through and out from underneath the floor.

She didn't groan. She didn't sigh or shout. She just breathed out heavily as she used her hind legs to pull herself back into the treehouse. Falling backwards again as she pulled free, Sweetie just lay there as she stared up at the ceiling, taking notice that she didn't sink through the floor again, and figuring she had turned solid again. If only she knew how to do that herself. Not only would it help her not to draw any suspicion to herself, but it would provide her with some very interesting new possibilities.

She shook her head as that thought crossed her mind. Was she really considering using this thing? What good could possibly come from any of this? Then again. Walking through walls would be rather useful if she was grounded again, so maybe there was some use for this afterall. But she would have to figure out how to use it first.

Sitting back up with a sigh, Sweetie looked at her front hooves again, seeing they were their normal solid selves again.

"Okay. Let's try this again."

Closing her eyes in concentration, she willed her leg, and only her leg, to turn invisible. Opening her eyes after several moments, she looked down, and saw nothing. Her leg, and only her leg, had vanished into thin air. A sense of accomplishment settled down on her, and she couldn't help but feel somewhat excited. If she was able to do this, who knows what she would be able to do in the future. A smile slowly found its way onto her muzzle, and her lower body sunk through the floor.

"OH, COME ON!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny Manson was less than happy. His cheerful day had turned sour the moment Pinkie decided to duplicate herself and wreak havoc all around town. And now he was working overtime with Ruby and Grill to clean up the mess all of those Pinkies had made of the cafe. At least he had the good fortune of having his house some distance from the center of town, as such it was spared from the destructive force unleashed. But even then, some damage had occurred, and Danny grumbled under his breath.

Setting tables back upright that were turned over, Ruby shot him a glance, knowing how he felt. Her home was also hit, and she knew that both of them had to continue cleaning up when they got home. Looking over to Grill, she could see him working diligently back in the cafe, cleaning the things in there. Sighing, she wished for any kind of distraction, just to have something to take their minds off of all of this for a moment.

"HEY DANNY!" Apple Bloom shouted, as she and Scootaloo ran over to him.

Ruby gulped as she saw her wish granted, hoping it wouldn't make things worse. Those fillies had a bad habit of making an even bigger mess of things than Pinkie had done.

"Yeah, what's up?" Danny replied as he placed his hands on top of the broom, and resting his head on top of them.

"Do you... Ah mean... We’re wonderin’ what happened here. Why were there so many Pinkie Pies everywhere?" Apple Bloom asked, giving him the most innocent smile she could.

Arching his eyebrow at the almost too-big-to-be-sincere smile, Danny stood straight and shrugged.

"Beats me. I heard something about some pool mirror or something, I'm not really sure. You'd have to ask Twilight about that. She and her friends are in the town hall right now, trying to figure out what to do with all those Pinkies."

Sharing an uneasy glance between each other, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom rubbed their heads awkwardly as they looked down at Danny's feet.

"So, Twilight huh?" Scootaloo asked lamely.

"Is there anypony else who might know something?" Apple Bloom asked, looking up at Danny expectantly.

Danny shrugged, "Maybe your sister or her friends? They might know what was going on. Other than that, I have no idea."

Apple Bloom's and Scootaloo's ears folded flat on their heads, knowing that if they wanted an answer, they would have to go to the manticore's lair, as it were. They would have to face Twilight. They just hoped she hadn't seen the mess they'd made of her basement.

"Okay, Danny. Thanks Danny." Apple Bloom said with faked cheer, as she and Scootaloo hurried to get away.

"Those two are up to something," Ruby said as she watched the two fillies run away.

"Yeah, I figured as much," Danny replied, "I wonder wha—"

"HEY! You two, stop lollygagging, and get back to work!" Grill said irritated as he stuck his head out of one of the broken windows, glaring at the two of them. Danny and Ruby quickly went back to work, forgetting about those two fillies for the time being.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle was hovering several centimeters above the floor, struggling to keep herself there. It had taken her a lot of effort, but she had pulled it off. She was flying, sort of. And she was determined to hold this out for as long as possible.

"Five minutes and counting," she grunted as she looked at the small clock she had set on the floor beneath herself. "Come on, just a little longer." she muttered, before faltering after another twenty seconds had passed, and she dropped to the floor.

Panting loudly from the effort it took, she pondered what she had managed to do so far. Turning invisible proved to be relatively simple, as long as she concentrated hard enough. But she was too easily distracted, and thus she was unable to remain unseen for very long. Not to mention she would fade in and out of sight at random more than she would like. But she was figuring out how to deal with that, she just needed more time. Intangibility was more difficult, and she had not been able to do this herself. It only happened on its own, and it proved to be very frustrating. Flying was something she didn't first expect, and it went against her very nature as an unicorn. The strain she had to put on herself to do so was tiring, and she didn't know if she would ever be able to pull this one off for any significant amount of time. And, as far as that weird glowing stuff around her hooves and horn went. It wasn't magic, she figured that out soon enough.

After having tried to shoot one of those bolts again through the use of her magic, she found herself unable to do anything more than make her horn spark. And her hooves remained as un-glowing as ever. However, when she sneezed, a bolt of energy shot from her left hoof, leaving a scorch mark on the wall. It was confusing for her, but this time she was able to feel the energy rush through her body, and it most certainly wasn't magic.

After concentrating on her body, she could dimly feel some strange energy within herself. And, after several attempts, she was able to let some of it out in the form of a glow around her horn and hooves. It was a green glow, not unlike the feeble amount of magic she could channel through her horn, so it might be possible to disguise the one as the other. But this strange energy did glow several shades darker than her magic, so she would have to be careful with it.

It would take time, but Sweetie began to believe that she would be able to control this… whatever this was.

There was just one more thing she needed to try though, and she wasn't sure how to do it. Still, better try something, right?

Planting her hooves firmly on the floor, Sweetie concentrated as hard as she could on the energy she felt inside.

"Come on, transform!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at the closed doors of town hall with dread. They knew that behind these doors were Apple Bloom's sister, as well as Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, multiple Pinkie Pies… and Twilight. They had been sitting in front of the closed double doors for several minutes now, hesitating to proceed.

"You do it," Scootaloo said, arguing over who should be the one to knock.

"No, you do it," Apple Bloom shot back.

"No you."

"No you."

"Ghraaa... Fine, together," Scootaloo muttered.

"On three?" Apple Bloom asked.

"On three." Scootaloo confirmed.

"One," Scootaloo began, and both of them lifted up their hooves.

"Two," Apple Bloom continued, and they moved their hooves to the door.

"Three."

*Knock*

Silence.

"Well, looks like nopony is here. Let's go," Scootaloo said quickly, already moving away from the door.

Apple Bloom stomped down on her tail, stopping her retreat cold, as she herself kept a pensive look on her face.

"We can't leave now. We need ta find out what happened."

"Yeah, but wh—" Scootaloo started, but she was interrupted by the sound of loud popping, and a purple pink stream of magic flew out of a top window.

"What was that?" they both said together, before, quietly, cracking opening the door so they could peek inside.

Their breath got caught in their throats as they saw a room full of pink. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash stood to the side of the room, watching over the herd of Pinkies, while Twilight and Spike were on the stage near the back. Spike was slumped over the stool he was sitting on, an empty bag of popcorn lying on his belly. Twilight, however, seemed busy scanning the crowd, looking for something.

"Look what I can do with my hooves," one of the Pinkies said, and she stuck a hoof in her mouth and blew on it. Her other hoof, held up for another Pinkie to see, suddenly seemed to inflate in certain parts, forming what roughly looked like those fingers Danny had on his hands.

Both of the Pinkies were hit with a blast of purple magic, making them inflate like balloons as they flew up in the air. Then, they popped, and a twin trail of purple pink energy shot away and out of the door Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had partially opened.

Screaming as they fell backwards, the doors wide open, they could only stare up as Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked down on them. Neither one of them looked all that thrilled with the two fillies showing up like they had.

Several more pops sounded coming from inside, and five more streams of energy flew away into the air, heading for the Everfree Forest.

"Apple Bloom," Applejack said with a calm, but serious tone.

"Squirt," Dash said, a bit less serious, but still more than enough to make Scootaloo feel uncomfortable.

"Mind telling us what you're doing here?"

"Ehhh… We were just in tha neighborhood, and were wondering where all those Pinkies came from," Apple Bloom answered, a large, apologetic smile on her face.

"Uhu..." Applejack was not believing it, arching an eyebrow.

"It's true," Scootaloo said, sounding almost defensive.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a look with each other, before turning their attention back to the two fillies still lying on the ground before them.

"An' where is Sweetie Belle?" Applejack asked.

"She... eh… She's..." Apple Bloom stammered.

"She.. had to do something else, yeah," Scootaloo answered weakly instead.

"Right, back at our clubhouse. She's right there, perfectly fine. Nothin’ to worry about," Apple Bloom said hastily, eyes darting between Scootaloo and her older sister.

"Sooo," Scootaloo began, trying to steer this interrogation away from them. "Where did all those Pinkies come from?"

"Why, from the mirror pool, of course," Pinkie Pie chirped happily as she stood over Scootaloo, pressing her face into hers, before she was hit by a blast of magic, and popped like a balloon.

"Another one down, just a few more to go," Twilight said, her horn smoking a bit from using that spell so many times.

"What's a mirror pool?" Apple Bloom asked after a moment.

"Nothin’ ya need worry yer pretty head over, little sis," Applejack said, as she and Dash finally helped the two fillies back onto their hooves.

"Sooo, that's it. Some weird pool mirror did this?" Scootaloo asked cautiously hopefully.

"Something like that, yeah," Dash said as she patted her number one fan on the head, "But we're kinda busy here trying to figure out which Pinkie is the real one."

"I am!" Pinkie Pie shouted, before being hit with Twilight's magic.

"Right, like I said. We're kinda busy, so you two better get out of here."

Both of them nodded eagerly, more than glad to leave before they had to confront Twilight.

"Just wait a moment," Twilight said as she stepped out of the door, though keeping an eye on the remaining Pinkies.

The two fillies froze on the spot. They were so close to a clean getaway, and now they were unable to escape.

"Did you two and Sweetie Belle do anything in my lab down in the basement while I was gone?" she asked, giving the two of them a look that made them very nervous.

"Ehh. No, not really," Apple Bloom managed to say, before nudging Scootaloo in the side, urging her to say something.

"We really didn't do anything. Why'd you ask?"

"Because, despite all the damage done by Pinkie Pie, my la-" Twilight paused mid-sentence to shoot another spell at one of the Pinkies. "Because my lab looks cleaner than ever."

"HUH?" both fillies uttered in confusion, before shaking their heads, just going with it.

"Maybe Spike cleaned up or somethin’?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"Yeah, totally," Scootaloo agreed.

"So, if we're no longer needed here…..." Apple Bloom said suggestively.

"Then we're going again, " Scootaloo finished, "Lots of things to do."

And before any of the older mares could answer, the two of them shot off, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"Them kids are up ta somethin’," Applejack said as she looked at the retreating forms of the two fillies.

"Totally," Dash agreed.

"Indeed, yes indeed," Pinkie Pie said with a fancy voice, a monocle before her eye and a fake mustache on her muzzle.

She vanished in a burst of magic.

<<>><<>><<>>

"COME ON, TRANSFORM!" Sweetie almost shouted as she strained herself to do just that. But all she managed to do was give herself a headache from the strain, and she collapsed in a heap, legs splayed to the sides.

"This is never going to work," she groaned.

"What isn’t?" Apple Bloom asked suddenly, making Sweetie scream out in surprise, turning invisible without thinking.

Turning around to face her friends, Sweetie turned visible again at her own command.

"Cool. You can control it now?" Scootaloo said almost awed.

"Not really. Most of the times it just happens. I can only turn invisible if I concentrate really hard."

"But you can control it?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Kinda, I guess," came the doubtful response from Sweetie.

"Anything else you figured out?' Apple Bloom continued asking.

"Well, this," Sweetie answered, and she lifted her hoof up. Energy began to pour into the outstretched limb, and her hoof began to glow a faint toxic green. Then she shot a small, mostly powerless beam into the wall behind her, which was covered with small burns.

"Cooool," Scootaloo said as she sprinted to the wall, dragging a hoof over the burnt spot.

"I figured out how to fly as well," Sweetie said, dropping a bombshell on her pegasus friend.

Scootaloo, frozen on the spot from those words, slowly turned around to look at her friend. Her face a mixture of awe and jealousy.

"Show me!"

"Okay… Here goes," Sweetie said, and closed her eyes in concentration. For a moment nothing seemed to happen, but then, one by one, her hooves lifted off the floor, and she was levitating in the air several centimeters above the floor.

"THAT. IS. SO. AWESOME!" Scootaloo shouted excitedly, as she ran around Sweetie Belle to look at her from every angle

Dropping down after a moment, Sweetie let out a sigh of relief as she no longer had to strain herself like that. But, she noticed, it had felt easier to do this time.

"That's about it," Sweetie said. "So, found out anything yourselves?"

"Actually, we did," Apple Bloom said after shaking her head, clearing her thoughts enough to reply.

"And?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"Well, we didn't cause tha whole thing with Pinkie, so we got that going fer us."

"That's kinda nice," Scootaloo said with a relieved sigh, "So we only messed you up."

"Yay," Sweetie said sarcastically, "I'm so thrilled about that."

"I didn't mean it like that," Scootaloo said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Moving on," Apple Bloom cut in between, "It also seems that somepony cleared up the basement after we left, so we don't have ta worry about Twilight neither."

"What?" Sweetie asked, blinking rapidly. "Who?"

"I don't know?" Apple Bloom replied with a shrug.

"Seriously. What the hay is going on?" Sweetie said, frustrated with the lack of answers, and it showed.

Her eyes glowed green, as did her horn. Small sparks flicked off of her horn, leaving tiny burn marks in the wood. Noticing this, Sweetie took several deep calming breaths, and the glow around her horn vanished, leaving only her eyes glowing.

"That’s really... freaky," Apple Bloom said. "Please don't look at me like that."

"I'll try, but I really don't control any of it," Sweetie said, downtrodden, "What if my sister finds out about this when it just starts doing things again?

"Don't worry, it won't," Apple Bloom said reassuringly, patting her troubled friend on the back.

"You sure?"

"Ah am. Hey, tell you what. Why don't we spend tha night right here. We just tell everypony we're having a sleepover, while, instead, Scoots and Ah will help you figure this thing out.”

"Really?" Sweetie said, her ears perking up hopefully.

"O’course, that's what friends are for," Apple Bloom told her.

"Yeah, we will totally stick by your side with this," Scootaloo spoke up, "Besides, maybe we’ll be able to earn our Cutie Marks doing this?"

"Yeah," Sweetie said hopefully, a smile finding its way on her face, "Maybe we will."

"So, you two thinking what Ah'm thinkin’?" Apple Bloom asked, an eager glint showing in her eyes.

"Is it about apples?" Scootaloo asked lamely.

"Well, yeah. That too, but that's not what Ah am talkin’ 'bout. So, are you two thinkin’ what Ah am thinking?"

"Duhu, do you even need to ask?" Scootaloo said with a roll of her eyes, and her mouth turned into a grin.

"Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Count me in."

"Okay," she said, and all three of them sucked in as much air as they could.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spirit Training. YAY!"

Author's Note

Wow, Sweetie Belle is a ghost now. Or spirit, to be more precise. Who would have guessed? Give a thanks to Voltrasin for giving me the idea, and I hope you enjoyed what I have created here.

Now, there is something I would like to ask all of you. We all know the trademark yell of Danny, and I want something similar for Sweetie. That is where you come in. Leave a comment with your idea for a yell for her to use, and vote one the yells posted by others. Some criteria. It has to fit with Sweetie, of course. Also, I want it to be something that is both classic crusader style, but not something that will make it seem like if everything will blow up in her face. Danny's "I'm going ghost!" while simple, also lets you know shit is going down. This is something I want for Sweetie, but, of course, something original.

As I said, post your ideas, and vote on the other ideas posted as well. The best rating posts will be placed in the author's note with a next chapter, and you can decide which will be used by Sweetie Belle as she transforms. And keep it clean and simple, we don't need anything that we know doesn't fit.

Also, let me know about the mistakes I made, and tell me what you liked.

Powerdrainer.

Training Day

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

Training Day.

<<>><<>><<>>

The thought was pure, and the plan was good. The execution however, not so much. No sooner had they completed their trademark yell, than a serious problem presented itself to them. Mainly, they were still grounded. They knew they had to come up with some way to be allowed to do their "sleepover" tonight, and in their clubhouse.

Apple Bloom… Well, her sister would prove to be a problem after what they had done with the manticore, and she knew it was pointless to even ask. But, there might still be a chance, small as it was, if she asked her big brother.

Scootaloo's situation was difficult as well, and it would best be described as a wildcard. Her foster mother, although looking out for her, never sat right with Scootaloo. It wasn't so much over what she was doing, as it was what she was trying to be to Scootaloo. That had never sat right with her, and she often didn't listen to her, just going her own way.

But the most difficult of them all would be Sweetie Belle. There was no way she could go into town, or to her sister for that matter, like this. She would turn invisible at a whim, only for her to turn herself back with an annoyed frown. Not to mention the sinking through the ground, or the sporadic transforming. That would prove to be difficult to keep hidden.

Still, better to solve the two easiest problems first. Then they could focus on the larger problem at hoof.

That is why Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had left Sweetie in the clubhouse for a second time. And the two of them were each heading in their separate ways, hoping against all odds that they were going to be allowed to hold their "sleepover". They had to hurry, though. The sun was already going down, and there would only be a few more hours of light left.

And so, Apple Bloom was galloping as fast as she could to the farmhouse, hoping to find her brother Big Mac while he was returning home after a day of hard work. She left a cloud of dust hanging behind her as she sped over the sun dried path twisting in between the trees, formed over the course of years by ponies walking over it repeatedly.

No matter what, her friend needed her help, and she would make sure she would be there to help her. After all, she's an Apple. And when an Apple says they're going to do something, by Celestia, they’re going to do it.

Trees passed by in a blur, and Apple Bloom's eyes were narrowed in intense focus as she pumped her legs as hard as she could, passing by the trees so fast, that if you blinked you would miss it. She knew this land like the back of her hoof. How could she not, she grew up here. And, using this knowledge, she practically flew back home, using every shortcut she knew.

Slow, heavy hoofsteps reverberated through the area, and Apple Bloom locked her legs in place, grinding to a halt as she recognized the sound as her brother walking. Turning to the sound, she leaped forward, moving as if she'd never stopped at all.

Her eyes widened a bit as she saw a small bush obstructing her path, but she wouldn't let this slow her down. Narrowing her eyes, she jumped as far and high as she could, going over the foliage almost without any problem… almost.

Her tail got caught by a branch, and it brought a sudden stop to her soaring flight.

But her forward momentum couldn't be completely as her tail broke free from the sudden pull, and Apple Bloom found herself tumbling through the air, and over the ground a mere moment later. Coming to a stop right in front of her big brother, she was left looking up at him, lying in a heap with her legs tangled up.

"Hey Big Mac," she said lamely, giving him an awkward smile. "Could you help me?"

"Eeyup," he replied with a small sigh, and helped his younger sister back on her hooves.

"Thanks," she said with a smile, receiving only a nod in response.

Having helped his sister back upright, Big Mac resumed his trudge back to the barn, pulling the large cart full of apples he was hitched to along with him. Apple Bloom, still trying to figure out exactly what to say, ran beside him, needing to go a lot faster than him, as each one of his steps were equal to four of hers.

"Say, big brother," she began, and one of his ears twitched, showing he was listening. "Ah was wondering if Ah was allowed ta have a sleepover at tha treehouse with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle?" she asked hopefully, giving her brother a large smile.

"Eenope," Macintosh answered, not even slowing down in his walk.

"Because Ah'm grounded?" she asked as her hopeful expression fell.

"Eeyup."

"But Ah won't even leave tha orchard."

"Eeyup."

"So Ah can go?" she asked, sounding just a bit hopeful after her brother's somewhat confusing answer.

"Eenope."

"Aaw, please?"

"Eenope."

"Pleaaaase?"

"Hhrrm. Eenope," he repeated with an irritated groan.

"Please, please, please?" Apple Bloom almost begged while hugging his right front leg, which didn't seem to slow down Big Mac at all.

"NO!" he said forcefully as he continued to walk, ignoring his little sister still clinging onto his leg.

Apple Bloom frowned as she was rocked back and forth with her brother's walking. She would have to pull out the big guns she now realized. Something so persuasive, her brother wouldn't have any choice, but to let her go. Something she discovered when she was going through his room some time ago, looking for something else entirely that she was going to use during one of her crusades. Something that he would most certainly try to keep hidden from Granny Smith and Applejack. Something she found underneath his mattress.

"Say, big brother," she began innocently, despite the devious smile etched her face. "Did you know that Ah was looking through yer room some time ago?" she asked, and Big Mac looked down at her with an angry glare, telling her that she shouldn't have done that. Apple Bloom, however, knew he couldn't stop her now.

"And you won't believe tha thing I found that day, hidden away under yer mattress."

Macintosh came to a sudden stop, several apples falling from the cart from the jolt. His trademark wheatstalk fell from his mouth, and sweat started to form on his forehead.

"Ah didn't know you were even interested in those. And those images, heck, Ah wonder what Granny Smith would say?"

Big Mac stood there nervously, his eyes shifting around, making sure nopony else was around to hear them.

"So, a sleepover you said?"

Apple Bloom couldn't have a bigger grin even if she tried.

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo was going through her room, picking up the things she thought she needed for her "sleepover". Of course, she also packed her pillow and sleeping bag, just to keep up appearances. What she didn't do, however, was ask permission to do so. Which drew the attention of Bellflower, the pony who took Scootaloo in after her parents passed away.

Standing in the doorway, she looked at the young pegasus filly busy packing all kinds of things. Stepping forwards, she saw Scootaloo's ear twitch in response of her hoof steps, telling her that Scootaloo knew she was there.

"Scootaloo, what are you doing?" she asked with a kind, caring voice, which always made Scootaloo grit her teeth.

"Packing for a sleepover," Scootaloo answered quickly without looking at her, her voice flat, uncaring.

"Scootaloo, dear. You know you can't do that. You're grounded."

Scootaloo only shrugged in response, continuing packing her stuff.

"Scootaloo, please look at me while I talk to you."

Scootaloo didn't listen.

"Scootaloo!"

With a sigh that turned into an annoyed groan, Scootaloo turned around, finally looking at the earth pony standing behind her. Looking at the light blue pony with a lilac mane and tail, Scootaloo only felt resentment, and she didn't make much of an effort to keep it hidden.

"What?" she asked, her voice still flat.

"Scootaloo, although I am glad to see you and your friends spend so much time together, you are still grounded, and you can not just go out like that. Am I clear?"

"Crystal," came the monotone reply, and Scootaloo continued packing her things.

"Young lady! You will listen to what I say, right now!"

"Or, what?” Scootaloo said, pulling her bag on her back. "You're not my mother. You'll never be my mother. I'm going, no matter what you say," Scootaloo said, anger clear in her voice, as she walked past Bellflower.

The door slammed shut behind her, and tears fell down on the ground. A quiet sob sounded in the now too empty room, and Bellflower wiped her eyes with her leg.

"Why won't she open up to me?" she sobbed as she sat down, looking at the framed picture standing on Scootaloo's nightstand. "I'm trying so hard, but all it does is push her further away."

The ponies shown in the photo gave no reply.

"I know she is angry over what happened to you, but it just feels like she is blaming me for it." she said, and she stood up and slowly walked to the photo standing on the night stand. "All I want for her is to be happy, but, ever since you left her, she's just been so sad…. She cries herself to sleep sometimes, you know that?" she sighed sadly, and picked up the photo, looking at the smiling faces of Scootaloo's parents, and the little filly being held by her mother. "Please, watch over her." she whispered as she held the photo of her foalhood friends, knowing that it was a pointless wish.

But her words held the power of a force many do not know about, even if they think they do. Love. She loved the filly dearly, as if she was her own daughter. And her whispered wish carried on the winds, reaching places no living being has ever been.

<<>><<>><<>>

As they had agreed on before leaving the clubhouse, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo met up at Rarity's boutique. They would have to find a way to convince Rarity to allow Sweetie Belle to stay for their "sleepover", which was easier said than done.

Scootaloo, living in town, was obviously the first to get there, and she sat waiting for her friend, hoping she would show up. Her frown and bad mood over Bellflower vanished like snow in the sun as she saw Apple Bloom run over to her, a bag filled with various supplies carried on her back as well.

"Apple Bloom," Scootaloo shouted excitedly, "you made it."

"Yep, so did you," Apple Bloom replied excitedly as the two of them hoof bumped.

"Did you have any trouble leaving?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Meh, you know, the usual," Scootaloo answered vaguely. "You?"

"Ah had some trouble with mah big brother, but Ah managed ta convince him ta let me go," Apple Bloom told her, the devious grin coming back to her face.

"Convince him, how?" Scootaloo asked, curious about what she had done.

"Let's just say Ah told him 'bout a certain something Ah found underneath his mattress. Something he really wouldn't want anypony else ta know about."

"Wait, what? What was it?" Scootaloo said, gawking a bit at her friend as she told her she basically had blackmailed her bigger brother.

"One of those mag-o-zines, or whatever they're called."

"Ehh, what? Why would he hide something like that underneath his mattress? What was it about?" Scootaloo asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Pears," Apple Bloom answered simply.

"Pears?"

"Hhmmhmm." Apple Bloom hummed with a nod.

"I will never be able to look at him the same way again," Sweetie Belle said with muted shock as she faded back into view. Sitting on her rump, eyes wide and staring into forever over this little bit of news.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom screamed out as they reared back, their bags bringing them out of balance, causing them to fall backwards.

Both lying in a heap of the items spilled out of their bags, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom glared at Sweetie Belle, who didn't notice this at all, as she was still too lost in thought over what she had just learned.

"Sweetie, what the hay!" Scootaloo shouted, then flinched as she looked around, hoping nopony had heard her, or seen Sweetie doing what she just did.

Fortunately, it would seem the streets were mostly empty, though she could still see a few ponies walking through the streets. She just hoped none of them saw what happened.

"What are you doing here?" Apple Bloom asked as she pulled herself back up.

Shaking her head to clear her mind, Sweetie looked at Apple Bloom. "You were going through all this trouble for me, I just wanted to do something myself as well."

"But what if somepony sees wh—" Apple Bloom started, but was interrupted by the door of the boutique opening.

"What is all that ruckus?" Rarity asked loudly, looking around with a displeased frown, before spotting the three fillies to her side. Two of them sitting in a pile of various items scattered over the ground, and dirt covering their coats.

"Girls," she said flatly, "what did you do this time?"

"Nothing, miss Rarity," Apple Bloom said, and all three of them gave her a large, innocent smile. And Sweetie Belle's left rear leg turned invisible as well.

Seeing this, Apple Bloom quickly moved to block Rarity's line of sight, making sure she wouldn't be able to see the missing limb.

"Nothing, you say. Then why are all those things lying around, making a complete mess around my home? And, for that matter. Why are you two covered in dirt?"

"We fell," Scootaloo answered simply.

"And our things fell out of our bags as well," Apple Bloom continued, looking out of the corner of her eye to see if Sweetie's leg had come back. Which it hadn't.

"And, do tell, why would you have need of all these things? Aren't you two supposed to be back home, being grounded, just like Sweetie Belle is supposed to be, right now!?" Rarity argued back, not trusting these three fillies, as they have proven to be rather capable of causing a lot of trouble as of late.

"Ehh, for the sleepover we were going to hold back at our tree house," Sweetie said, stepping forwards.

"A sleepover? Oh, no no no no. That is not going to happen," Rarity said, not seeing anything out of the ordinary, and Apple Bloom gave a mental sigh of relief as Sweetie's leg had turned visible again.

"You three are still in a lot of trouble, and I won't allow you to go out like that. And I won't believe either one of you two are allowed to do so either," she said as she turned her attention to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

"But Ah am," Apple Bloom countered, "Big Mac told me it was alright." Although it was a struggle to keep the devious grin off of her face.

Blinking several times in surprise, Rarity looked down at the yellow filly, not knowing how to argue against that. So, she just did what she did best when presented with such a dilemma. Focus her attention on another.

"Well then. Be that as it may, I am still sure Scootaloo is not allowed to be out tonight."

"Yeah, that's why I am here right now," Scootaloo said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"I beg your pardon?" Rarity said, taken aback.

"They let me go," Scootaloo lied, "telling me to have fun."

"Why, I never. Don't those ponies know how to enforce a punishment. I will have to have a word with both your brother and Miss Bellflower," Rarity said indignantly, looking at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. "But I won't be so easy on Sweetie Belle. She is grounded, and she will remain so until I say otherwise," she continued, stomping her hoof on the ground to reinforce her point.

"Sweetie Belle, go to your room! And you two, go home, Now!" Rarity said with an authoritative voice, not taking no for an answer.

Apple Bloom's and Scootaloo's ears folded flat against their heads, not knowing what to do now. Sweetie Belle would certainly be found out, and then they would be in real trouble. But, with her back turned to Sweetie Belle, Rarity didn't see her younger sister giving a conspirative wink to her friends, telling them she had a plan.

"Okay Rarity." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said simultaneously, slowly walking away and around the boutique, and out of her sight.

"Good," Rarity huffed with a nod. "Now, Sweetie. Bed, now!"

"Fine!" Sweetie groaned, and slowly dragged herself to her room, carefully hiding her invisible left front hoof, as well as her smirk. The night was still young, and she had a lot of training to do.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, pears?" Scootaloo asked, sitting hidden underneath a tree close to the boutique with Apple Bloom for some time now.

"Yep, pears."

"Huh. I thought it to be something else."

"What do you mean, something else? What else could a stallion keep hidden underneath his mattress?"

"I dunno," Scootaloo said with a shrug. "Just something else."

Silence.

"Corn, maybe?"

Silence.

"Pfft Hahaha, what?!" Scootaloo said, trying to contain her laughter.

"Ah dunno," Apple Bloom managed to get out through her own giggles.

The sound of a pony struggling made them stop, and turn to look at the boutique. One story up, at the bedroom of Sweetie Belle, the two ponies could see their friend climb out of her window with a complete lack of grace. Stumbling around, and making more noise than any of them would have liked, Sweetie managed to pull herself up and out of the window. Only for her to tip over and fall down.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo didn't waste any time in trying to rush to their friend’s aid, hoping to be able to catch her before she could hit the ground. The feared crash, however, never happened.

Eyes closed in intense concentration, Sweetie Belle hovered in the air half a meter above the ground. Not feeling the crushing pain from hitting the ground, she carefully opened one eye, seeing that she had managed to keep herself from falling. A smile broke out on her face, and she let go of her concentration. Realization only had a split second to settle in, before she hit the ground.

Groaning, she lay with her face firmly planted in the dirt while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were both glad she was alright, and having trouble keeping their laughter down, lest they alert Rarity.

Placing her front hooves firmly next to her head, Sweetie pulled her face free from the ground, which seemed to be stuck to it. Spitting out some of the dirt that she had the misfortune of eating, she scraped off her tongue with a hoof.

"Not a word," she said as she glowered darkly at her friends, seeing the laughter in their eyes.

"Let's just go," she muttered, and the three of them walked out into the gathering night. Sleep, however, was not something they were planning on.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Targets?"

"Check."

"Helmets?"

"Check."

"Midnight snacks?"

"... Check."

"Sweetie?"

"Ready, I guess."

"Check."

"Tree sap removal kit?"

"Check."

"Okay, I guess that's all of it," Apple Bloom said in a pleased tone as she checked off the last thing on the list of preparations. Scootaloo, having called out if everything was there, stood ready with a few simple targets made from straw for Sweetie Belle to shoot at. Which, surprisingly, looked somewhat like a human in design.

A grin showed on Scootaloo's face as they were finally about to see what Sweetie was really capable of. Or, if not that, at least help her find out how to use these weird powers.

Zipping around, Scootaloo placed the targets around the edge of the small clearing around their clubhouse, making sure there was enough distance between the simple straw structures.

"Okay, all set up," she said with buzzing wings, more than ready to get this show on the road.

"Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom turned to her friend, "ready when you are."

"Yeah, show us just how much damage you can do!" Scootaloo almost shouted, bouncing on the spot.

"But I don't want to do any damage. I just want to control this stupid thing, nothing more," Sweetie Belle said, alarmed. Taking a step back.

"We know," Apple Bloom said, placing a leg around her friends neck. "But tha only way ta do that, is by learning how ta use it. Just like Granny Smith taught me how ta use tha stove ta make zap apple jam."

"I guess," Sweetie Belle muttered unsure, holding up a hoof and making it glow.

"So, are you going to shoot something now or what?" Scootaloo asked, somewhat impatiently.

"Yeah, sure. I'll do it," Sweetie Belle answered, and she took her place in the center of the clearing. Her friends standing behind her so they wouldn't be hit, and the both of them watched eagerly as Sweetie Belle held up a hoof, aiming it at one of the straw targets.

A faint toxic green glow surrounded her hoof, which was shaking slightly. "Well, here goes," she said, and a small, weak glowing beam shot from her outstretched limb, and into one of the targets, leaving behind a small burn mark on its torso.

"Wait, that was it?" Scootaloo said disappointed. "Can't you do anything more… more..."

"Devastating," Sweetie Belle finished flatly, remorse showing in her face. "Yes, I think I can. Afterall, I did hit one of those Pinkies with something like this. I'm not sure what happened to her, though. Only that she was lying unmoving on the ground."

"Yeah that," Scootaloo said, completely missing the point Sweetie Belle was trying to make. "Do something like that."

"No!" Sweetie Belle said, shocked. "I will not do something that might get others hurt!"

"She does have a point there." Apple Bloom said, glancing sideways at Scootaloo.

"Ow, come on! I just want to see her shoot something, nothing more. Besides, how else are you going to learn to use these things if you won't even try?"

"She's making a good point as well," Apple Bloom said, turning her attention to Sweetie Belle.

"But, what if I hurt somepony?"

"Duhu. That's what the targets are for," Scootaloo said with a roll of her eyes.

"Right, the targets," Sweetie Belle muttered, unsure.

"Ah, pony up Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said cheerfully. "It's just practice after all. There ain't no pony you can hurt, and you'll only learn how ta control this if you try ta use it first."

"Fine," Sweetie Belle said with a sigh, "Fine, just... step back, okay?"

Doing just that, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood several meters away from Sweetie Belle, watching with rapt interest.

"And don't hold back!" Scootaloo said loudly.

Only breathing in deeply in response, Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, feeling the strange energy deep within herself.

Bringing up a hoof, she channeled the energy into her outstretched limb, holding nothing back. Which, as she didn't know how to properly control all of this, caused her to unleash a massive beam of glowing green, completely vaporizing three targets at once, and burning a path through several of the trees.

She jerked her hoof back in shock from the incredible surge of power, and the destructive beam ceased to be. Her hoof smoked from the tremendous amount of energy it just released, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat on their rumps in paralyzing shock, their mouths hanging wide open, and their eyes as large as dinner plates.

Silence.

"Girls?" Sweetie Belle said, uncertain. Looking at her friends with fright.

Silence.

"Girls?"

"Th-that..." Scootaloo muttered weakly.

"Yo- You're... You're a..."

"I’M A FREAK!" Sweetie Belle wailed as she fell flat on the ground, her hooves covering her face while she cried.

"THAT WAS-"

"YOU ARE-"

"AWESOME!"

Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo yelled, and Sweetie Belle looked up at her friends as if they were mad.

"W-what?" Sweetie Belle croaked.

"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo yelled again, albeit a bit less loud.

"You really think so? You don't think I am a freak?" Sweetie Belle asked as she pushed herself up a bit.

"A freak? Why would we think that," Apple Bloom said with a puzzled tilt of her head.

"Yeah. That was totally awesome. Not as awesome as Rainbow Dash is, but still totally out there," Scootaloo said with a frantic pace, almost jumping on the spot.

"Although..." Apple Bloom began hesitantly as she stepped towards the singed and burned trees, "Ah'm not too happy with this."

Sweetie Belle flinched as she saw the damage done to the apple trees, knowing all too well what these wooden giants meant to her friend and her family.

"Sorry," she muttered as she looked down.

"Don't be," Apple Bloom said reassuringly. "Sure, they’re singed, but they'll live. They’re just as tough as we Apples are, so no worries there."

"But what are we going to tell your brother and sister when they find out?" Scootaloo asked, casting a worried glance at the blackened bark. "There is no way they'll believe this came from us merely crusading."

"Don't worry," Apple Bloom said again, with a wave of her hoof. "These trees were bucked weeks ago. It won't be for some time before either my brother or sister will come back ta check up on them."

"And when they do?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Don't worry, Ah got this."

"If you say so," Scootaloo said doubtful, then she turned back to Sweetie. "So, what's next?"

"Ehhh..." Sweetie Belle managed, only now realizing what it was she'd gotten herself into.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay, to fly there are several things you need to know," Scootaloo said like a drill instructor as she slowly moved from left to right, and back again.

"Wind speed, aerodynamics, and powerful flaps of your wings to take..." Scootaloo said with force, before drifting off as she looked at Sweetie Belle, who, along with Apple Bloom gave her a flat look.

"Right, no wings," Scootaloo said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"You don't say," Sweetie Belle said sarcastically.

"Well, I'm out of ideas," Scootaloo said, as she sat down on the ground.

"Great, now what?" Sweetie Belle muttered.

"Well, why don'tcha try what you did all those other times before. That seemed ta work," Apple Bloom said thoughtfully, holding a hoof against her chin.

"But I barely know what I am doing to begin with," Sweetie Belle told her.

"Well, it did work. So why don't we just work from there?"

Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom, then at Scootaloo, who only shrugged in response. Sighing, she readied herself, and began to concentrate on the energy she felt inside of her.

"Okay, here goes."

Eyes closed in concentration, Sweetie Belle could feel herself become lighter and lighter. It was a difficult thing for her to do, as it went against her natural instincts. But, ever so slowly, she could feel her hooves lift off the ground, and soon she was levitating several centimeters above the ground.

"You're doing it!" Apple Bloom shouted excitedly.

"Can you go even higher?" Scootaloo asked, urging her on.

"I'm not sure," Sweetie Belle muttered through gritted teeth, intently focusing on just staying in the air. "This is harder than you think."

"How so? You're not even flapping any wings. It seems easier to me," Scootaloo said questioningly, not fully understanding how less work could be more difficult.

"It just is!" Sweetie Belle grunted, "Now be quiet, I'm trying to concentrate."

’Come on, higher, go higher.’ Sweetie Belle thought, focusing on the mental image of herself flying. And, to both the amazement of Apple Bloom, and a bit of jealousy from Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle slowly gained more and more height. And, as her sole focus was on her flying, her body changed to accommodate this wish. Unnoticed her hind legs and tail became translucent and shapeless, moving around in an unfelt breeze as they became an intangible tail. She realized, to her surprise, that somehow her attempt at flight had become a whole lot easier, and it didn't take as much concentration for her to maintain. Feeling a bit more confident, she opened her eyes, looking down to see how high she really was.

Her eyes turned to pinpricks as she saw she was hanging above the trees, and her sudden lapse of focus caused her to drop several meters before she caught herself. It was then that she noticed the change of her legs and tail, as the jolt of her sudden stop caused the tail to whip into her face.

She wanted to freak. She wanted to panic. But there was something holding her back. A realization that made her look at her legs with a renewed sense of confusion. Somehow, for reasons she didn't understand, it would seem that her legs being like this helped her with her flying, and she moved from left to right to see the tail trail behind her.

"Hey girls, look," Sweetie Belle said excitedly. "Somehow this is helping me to fly," she continued as she flew around in a slow circle.

"You go, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom shouted excitedly.

"Yeah, what she said," Scootaloo replied, but a hint of jealousy was mixed in with her tone, and her smile was just a bit forced as she watched her friend fly around.

"WOOHOO!" Sweetie Belle shouted excitedly as she flew around, becoming more confident with every second. Her speed picked up, and the distances she flew increased bit by bit. Before long she was circling around her two friends at a dizzying speed.

Which did cause her to spin out of control, and crash head first into one of the trees.

Slowly sliding down the tree with her front legs wrapped around it, she slid down the trunk before falling backwards and onto the ground. Stars filled her vision as she looked up at the night's sky, but a large smile etched her face.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo yelled as they ran to their downed friend, "Are you okay?"

"Girls..." Sweetie responded in a haze, "I just flew..."

"I JUST FLEW!"

She shouted it loud and proud, jumping up from the ground and hovering in the air, green sparks of magic shooting from her horn in her excitement.

Apple Bloom, too, was excited for her friend, and she was jumping around as if she was trying to catch Sweetie Belle's intangible tail. Scootaloo however, although glad for her friend, also felt jealousy and resentment toward her friend.

'Why can she fly, while I can't?'

Shaking it off, she quickly joined her friends in their small celebration, looking forward to finding out what else Sweetie Belle could do.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Come on, just try it again!" Scootaloo urged on.

"I just did, and I couldn't do it. It's just too hard," Sweetie Belle shot back, sweat on her head from the strain she put herself through.

"Just give her a break, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said, stepping in between the two. "We don't even know what this is ourselves, so how can we expect Sweetie Belle ta do it just like that."

"But she is doing it just like that, see," Scootaloo countered, and pointed a hoof at Sweetie Belle, who was slowly sinking through the ground.

"I'm not even going to say it anymore," Sweetie Belle muttered bitterly as Apple Bloom pulled her back by the front legs, only for her front legs to turn intangible as well, which then extended to Apple Bloom as she was holding her.

"WHAT THE!?" Apple Bloom shouted as she found herself sinking through the ground, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at her with surprise and fright.

"How are you doing that!?" Sweetie shouted.

"Ah don't know. Ah'm only holding on to you!" Apple Bloom replied in panic as she tried to pull herself out of the ground, "Scootaloo, help!"

Rushing to her side, Scootaloo grabbed Apple Bloom around the waist and pulled her out of the ground. And still holding on to Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom dragged the unicorn with her.

Finally free from the ground, Apple Bloom let go of Sweetie Belle, and her legs turned solid again.

Lying on the ground with her legs splayed to the sides, Apple Bloom was panting loudly from the fear she'd just felt.

"What just happened?" Scootaloo asked dumbfounded as she looked at her friends, "Did… How did you do that? I thought Sweetie was the only one that did these weird things."

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom answered weakly, "Ah only grabbed hold of her, nothing more."

"Wait!" Sweetie Belle shouted, "Does that mean I can share these things with others?" She looked at her friends, fear, curiosity and even some excitement showing on their faces with this possibility.

"Ehhh… Maybe you can try it out?" Scootaloo offered.

"Not on me!" Apple Bloom said immediately, not wanting to go through something like that right now.

"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked as she held up a hoof, "Maybe it also works with the invisible thingy."

Scootaloo hesitantly held out a hoof of her own, and took Sweetie Belle's offered hoof.

"You sure about this?" Scootaloo asked her friend.

"Nope," Sweetie Belle said with a shake of her head, and a disappearing leg.

"GHAAAA!" Scootaloo yelled out as she saw her own leg turn invisible as well, followed moments later by the rest of her body.

"It works. It really works!" Sweetie Belle shouted excitedly, breaking the hold she had with Scootaloo, making her visible again.

"That was soooo weird!" Scootaloo said with shocked awe, looking at her leg with wide eyes.

"APPLE BLOOM!" came the angry call of none other than Applejack, and the fillies turned to look in the direction the shout came from.

"Uh oh," Apple Bloom muttered.

"What do we do now?" Scootaloo asked. "We can't just stay here like this. We'll be grounded for life."

"We don't have to," Sweetie Belle said with a devious grin, "I think I am starting to like these powers, and they might help us out right now." Her hoof glowed green and she shot a beam of energy into the small lamp they had placed nearby to illuminate the clearing, destroying it.

"Quickly girls, hold on to me!" she said immediately after that.

Scootaloo quickly placed a hoof on Sweetie Belle's back, followed a moment later by a hesitant Apple Bloom.

"Okay, I hope this works," she said, staying quiet as they could hear the angry stomping on the ground as Applejack came closer to them.

Focusing intently on turning invisible, Sweetie Belle's body faded out of view. And, as they were holding on to her, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo saw each other fade out of existence as well.

"Now, let's get out of here," Sweetie Belle muttered.

"But what about all the stuff still here? And the trees?" Scootaloo asked quietly.

"Don't worry," Apple Bloom replied, "it's too dark ta see much. And if she doesn't find us here, big sis will go look someplace else."

"And we will be back in our beds when she does," Scootaloo finished, a grin on her face, which none of them could see.

"Exactly," Apple Bloom said with a nod, not realizing it couldn't be seen. And slowly the three of them moved away from their clubhouse and into the orchard, missing the angry Applejack as they were no longer there to feel her wrath.

Yes, these powers could be very useful indeed.

<<>><<>><<>>

"APPLE BLOOM!" Applejack shouted loudly, closing in on the treehouse her sister and her friends used for their little meetings.

Stepping into the small clearing, she had a hard time seeing anything in the dark. If only she had taken a flashlight with her, instead of angrily storming off when she found out her sister was not in her room as she was supposed to be. She would have a word with her brother as well, seeing he was the one that allowed Apple Bloom to do so.

Stumbling around a bit in the dark, she found the treehouse her sister and her friends were supposed to be in. Walking up the ramp, Applejack stood before the door, listening intently to see if she could hear her sister and her friends. She didn't, and she frowned as she slowly opened the door.

"What the hay! Where are they?" she spoke in the dark building, seeing neither her sister nor her friends.

"Alright missy, Ah know you're here somewhere," she said with narrowed eyes. "Don't think you'll get by me that easily."

Storming off the ramp, Applejack moved back into the orchard, determined to find her sister, who, with the help of her friends, was already climbing through her bedroom window. And Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo moved away into the night, invisible for all.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Ah can't find her anywhere!" Applejack shouted as she practically kicked in the door of the farmhouse.

"Have you checked their treehouse?" Macintosh offered, earning him a glare from his sister.

"You know Ah have. And if it wasn't for you, Ah wouldn't have needed to go out and look for her in tha first place."

"Eeyup," he answered meekly.

"Don't you eeyup me mister. You're in a lot of trouble, just wait for Granny Smith ta wake up."

"Applejack," Apple Bloom said with a fake sleepy voice, standing at the top of the stairs while rubbing an eye. "What's with all the noise?"

Silence.

"Where tha hay did you come from?"

"... My room. Where else?" Apple Bloom answered after a moment, having trouble keeping a straight face.

Applejack could only stare at her younger sister, wondering how in the world she could have missed her the first time she looked in her room.

"Then why did Big Mac say you were out at tha treehouse having a sleepover with your friends?"

"Because Ah asked him if I could. But Sweetie Belle couldn't come, so we called it off," Apple Bloom said, being as truthful as she could so her sister wouldn’t catch on. "Just ask Rarity. She wouldn't let Sweetie Belle go. So Ah just came back and went ta bed."

"Did you know about this?" Applejack asked her brother.

"Eenope."

"Humph. You are still in a lot of trouble. Tha both of ya'll. Apple Bloom, go back ta bed. Ah'll have a word with Rarity in tha morning ta see if you are telling tha truth. As for you," she said as she turned to her brother, "Ah will leave Granny Smith ta decide what ta do with you."

Big Mac gulped loudly, his life flashing before his eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo didn't bother trying to be quiet, and the moment she was brought home by Sweetie Belle she walked right in through the front door, closing it with a push of her hind leg. Walking up the stairs to her room, she saw the empty rooms in the guesthouse. Another feeling of emptiness that haunted her, as she didn't like living in a house full of empty rooms. She sighed as she dragged herself back to her room, closing the door behind her with a slam, telling her 'mother' that she was back home.

Jumping on her bed, she sighed sadly as she found herself back again in a mostly empty house. This was not where she felt at home. No, home for her was a place with friends and family. Not here.

Looking out of a window in her room, she saw Luna's stars shine in the inky darkness of the night. A last sad sigh escaped her lips before sleep took hold of her, a tear streaming down her face.

<<>><<>><<>>

After having dropped Scootaloo off at her home, Sweetie Belle rushed back to her own. Moving through town unseen, she didn't take long to reach the boutique. But, looking up at her bedroom window, she wondered how she could best get up there.

Of course she then remembered her new ability to fly, and she flew up to her window with almost no problem. Save for a drop in height when she thought she heard somepony, and fell down in fright.

Fortunately, it turned out to only be Opal, Rarity's cat, who didn't seem to see Sweetie Belle.

Flying up again, Sweetie Belle hovered before her bedroom's window. Opening it quietly, as she still didn't know how to turn intangible at will, she moved through her room and into her bed.

It had been a long day, and sleep wasn’t long in coming, but one worrying thought came to her before sleep claimed her.

’What will happen at school tomorrow?’

Author's Note

Here we have the next chapter. Let me know what you liked and what could be better.

Also, the request to submit a yell for Sweetie is still going, so please share your ideas with me.

Powerdrainer.

School Day

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

School Day.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle groaned as she began to wake up. Feeling cold and shivering in response, she thought she kicked off her blanket in her sleep. But, as she tried to grab hold of the warming layer of fabric, she came to several startling conclusions. First, there was no blanket. Second, her mattress was both very cold and very hard. Third, she was not lying in her bed. And fourth, which she figured out as she opened her eyes, she was lying on the kitchen floor, the room below her bedroom.

"Oh come on!" she quietly muttered in irritation, realizing that she, most likely, had sunk through her bed, her bedroom's floor and into the kitchen.

Sighing, she stood up. Her joints popping in response after they had become stiff from a night on the cold floor. Flinching from the sound, she slowly moved to the stairs, heading to her bedroom, hoping she could get a bit more sleep before she would have to go to school. It was a luxury she wasn't allowed.

With a dainty yawn Rarity stepped out of her bedroom, her mane, although still styled, was significantly more wild, a typical case of bed mane. Which meant a whole five hairs were out of place. Truly it was a fashion disaster, and she could not be seen like this outside. Fortunately she was inside, and, instead of panicking over her ruined hairdo, she looked down the stairs, seeing her little sister walking out of the kitchen.

"Why, Sweetie Belle, you're already awake," she said with a slightly tired voice, and she covered her mouth with a hoof as she yawned.

"Ehh. Yeah. Thought I would begin the day early, unfortunately," she said, quietly adding the last part as she now knew she wouldn't be able to go back to bed.

"Why, I've never seen you up this early on a school day. You really must be eager to go, did Cheerilee plan something for class today?"

"Not really. I just woke up early, couldn't sleep," Sweetie Belle said, telling a half truth, grumbling under her breath the entire time.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But don't worry. The early bird catches the worm, as they say."

"Eeewww," the filly said in disgust, sticking out her tongue.

"Sweetie, dear, it's just an expression. Now go wash yourself up while I make you some breakfast. Then it's off to school for you."

"Yes, sis," Sweetie Belle muttered as she walked up the stairs while her tail turned invisible.

She walked past Rarity, who was still partially asleep, which made her react slowly to the sight of her sister’s backside, sans tail. Blinking several times to clear her vision, and shaking her head as well, Rarity took another look, sure that what she saw couldn't be. And, sure enough, there it was. Sweetie Belle's tail was there, and Rarity was sure she was just imagining things.

'Oh dear, I really need my coffee. I'm still dreaming, it would seem. And what a horrid dream as well,' she thought with a shudder, the horrific idea of her sister walking around without a tail truly a disturbing thought for her.

And meanwhile, in the bathroom, Sweetie Belle was quietly muttering several questionable words she heard her sister say when she thought Sweete Belle wasn't around. The reason for this? As she looked in the mirror, she discovered her eyes had turned invisible, almost making her scream before she caught herself and ruining any plans to sneak in some extra sleep.

She just hoped her day at school would go better.

Somehow, she doubted it.

<<>><<>><<>>

A bit more than an hour had passed, and Rarity was sitting in her work room, trying to find the inspiration she needed for her next order of the day.

Sweetie Belle had just gone to school, and now she had the whole boutique to herself once more. All quiet and calm, with no young filly making a mess of things. It was truly peaceful, and a complete bore.

Nothing happened, and she was unable to find that creative spark that would help her to make the extraordinary even more amazing. Normally this spark of brilliance would come to her in the blink of an eye. But now, as she was staring at the half finished dresses for her various customers, she only felt a drain on her soul, as if she was trying too hard to focus on the wrong thing.

Sighing, she rubbed her head as she looked away from her work for a moment, and her eye fell on the sketches she made when she made the clothes for Danny. His measurements, and preferences were all neatly organized along with the sketches, and she took a moment to look at them a bit better.

It had been a little while since she had last made anything for Danny, who, despite him wearing clothes all the time, didn't seem like he was one of much variety. She squinted her eyes a bit, and she could feel the tell tale signs of an incoming idea. She felt it deep down. Something about Danny, his clothes, they called to her. There was something there, she knew it. Something spoke to her, telling her what she needed to do.

"IDEA~" she said in a loud sing song voice, and she rushed to the rack where she kept all her fabrics.

"Oh, where is it? I'm sure I still have some of that black material here somewhere," she said as she continued her search. While, at the same time, she was already levitating a roll of white fabric to her work table, while a wax crayon was starting to draw the outlines of the different parts she needed for her latest creation.

Danny was going to love it, she just knew it.

<<>><<>><<>>

The playground in front of the school was filled with disgruntled colts and fillies, all of them grouping together with their friends as they talked about various things that didn’t involve school. So too did Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But their conversation didn't involve any of the usual topics, and they kept their voices low while standing away from the rest of the ponies.

"So, did you have any problems after coming home?" Scootaloo asked her two friends, keeping an eye out for any eavesdroppers.

"Nope," Apple Bloom replied with a guilty grin. "But Big Mac ain’t so lucky."

"I didn’t have much trouble getting home either. Waking up was less fun, though," Sweetie Belle said after her friend.

"How so?" Apple Bloom asked with a slightly worried tone.

"I found myself lying in the kitchen, completely stiff from the cold floor. I think I sunk through my bed and floor, and ended up there while I slept," she grumbled as she told her friends about her morning.

"Well, that might be a problem," Scootaloo mused, but a hint of humor could be heard in her voice.

"It isn't funny, Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle said a bit louder than she would have liked, and it drew the attention of the two fillies they really didn't want to deal with.

"Well, of course it isn't funny. Being a Blank Flank is only sad, and it shows that you really aren't good for anything," Diamond Tiara sneered, causing Silver Spoon to chuckle at their expense.

"Hey! Take that back," Apple Bloom shouted, stomping a hoof on the ground.

"And why should I, Blank Flank?" Diamond Tiara said challengingly.

"Yeah. Are you going to tell Miss Cheerilee if we don’t?" Silver Spoon continued, and she gave Diamond a hoof bump as the crusaders were stumbling over their words.

"Losers like you shouldn’t even go to school. You will only fail at this as well," Diamond said mockingly, turning on the spot with her head held high and angled slightly to the side, taking on the pose of an upper class pony who looked down on any other they felt to be inferior.

"Why you—" Scootaloo began, but she was interrupted by the ringing of the school bell, and their teacher calling for them to enter the classroom.

"Humph. Saved by tha bell," Apple Bloom muttered in annoyance as she looked at the two bullies walking away, laughing at them as they did so.

"Are we just going to stand here and do nothing?" Scootaloo grumbled under her breath as she and her friends made their way to their classroom.

"No, of course not. But how can we get back at them without gettin’ in even more trouble?" Apple Bloom asked, and a devious smirk grew on Sweetie Belle's face.

"Girls, don't worry about that. I've got this."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at their friend in puzzlement, but, seeing the green flash in her eyes, they, too, found themselves with a grin to match Sweetie Belle's.

<<>><<>><<>>

Just outside of Ponyville there was a group of four ponies gathered, all of them wearing a saddlebag, each containing a spectral scanner.

"Okay," Rolling Stone said to the group, "You know the drill. Fan out and search the town for any unusual activity, but keep a low profile. Blend in with the crowd and, above all else, if you do find anything that suggests there's a ghost, do not approach it on your own. Inform the rest of us, and together we will contain the situation. We can't have a ghost possessing a citizen due to one of us carelessly acting on our own," he instructed, and all of those present gave a nod of understanding.

"Ice, do you have anything to add?" Rolling Stone asked the ice blue unicorn mare standing next to him.

"Certainly. As you know our scanners have been set to point out anything unusual, but other than controlled tests, we haven't used these devices out in the field. And while it seems unlikely, seeing that the humans made sure to make these things ignore our magic as best they could, the magical background field might still affect the results. It's why we don't use our magic on these things either. So treat any possible readout with suspicion, as it could be a false positive. And should there be anything that seems wrong let me know. That way I will be able to zero in on any potential problem with the scanners, and make sure they work to the best of their ability."

"Very well. You’ve heard the lady. Double check and triple check everything before you raise the alarm, and report any malfunctions."

"Yes sir," came the chorus of acknowledgement, and the group split off into three. Two of them, Sound Wave and Ornate Charm, going their separate ways into town, Blue Ice and Rolling Stone however, remained together.

"Blue Ice," Rolling Stone said to his partner as he began walking to their objective, "You’re with me. We will need to check out that lake Miss Twilight reported. If it is what we think, then there should be a large readout there. The human lives close by as well, if my intel is correct, so we will be able to rule out any connections between the two, if possible."

"Indeed. I just wish the lake wasn’t melted through use of magic. It could very well contaminate the results."

"Well, that’s what you’re here for. You’re the best when it comes to spectral ice. You are able to pick up on any trace energy that might be still there, or rule out it having been done by a ghost."

"Maybe. We've done all our training back on Earth, in controlled situations. Here, though, it might not be so easy. We have been training here as well, but the magic of this world might actually hasten the decay of spectral energy, somehow. I’m not saying it is impossible to find anything, but it is going to be damned difficult to pick up on something this old."

"I know, I know. But still. If anypony can do it, it's you."

"Thank you, I'll try not to fail," Blue Ice said with an appreciative nod.

"Just try your best. We are, despite our training, still new to this. This is the first time we’re actually out in the field, and training is always different compared to the real thing."

"That is most certainly true. Just like back in guard training. ‘Sticks and stones might break my bones’…" she said with a lopsided grin.

"But a sword will kill you faster," Rolling Stone finished with a grin of his own.

<<>><<>><<>>

The class was in session, and Cheerilee was once again diligently busy teaching the foals under her care. And most of them were paying attention, to varying degrees. Diamond Tiara, however, not needing to pay any attention as she knew it all better anyhow, was instead spending the time her teacher had her back turned to them to make some quiet sneers to Sweetie Belle, who was sitting closest to her, accompanied by the quiet giggling of Silver Spoon.

Sweetie Belle however, didn't pay them any mind. She was both busy keeping herself from turning invisible, and brainstorming on how to best use her powers against her tormentors. And because of that, the only thing Diamond saw in response to her crude remarks was a devious grin on Sweetie Belle’s face. Somehow that unnerved her more than anything, but she didn’t show it. And instead, she only increased her nagging, which only made Sweetie Belle’s grin grow even bigger.

Recess was going to be a blast.

<<>><<>><<>>

The sound of the scanner beeping reverberated through the calm, early morning air as Blue Ice searched around the lake for any signs of spectral activity. Rolling stood some distance away, keeping an eye out for any of the residents who might pass by.

They had been at it for the last ten minutes now, and Blue Ice's prediction about the ambient magic causing any possible spectral energy to decay much faster seemed to be accurate. Although, after a moment's thought by the ice blue mare, she reasoned it might also have something to do with the magic used by Twilight when she melted the lake. Still, if there was anything to find, she would find it. If it was still there, of course. Which, as she continued to adjust the settings on the scanner, seemed unlikely.

That didn't stop her though, and she went on with her search for twenty more minutes, but without much luck. Sighing in frustration, she moved towards Rolling Stone, intending to deliver the bad news. However, as she stepped closer to him, her scanner gave a faint beeping noise, indicating it picked up on something. What it was, though, she couldn't say for certain as the signal was far too weak.

"Hey Stone, take a look at this," she said as she held her scanner before him, showing the faint signal displayed on the screen.

"It's not much to go on," he muttered.

"I know. But I picked it up when I stepped away from the lake. I didn't find anything near there, so if there was any, it's long since degraded. But, farther away, there is something. Weak as it may be."

"Which means the signal might get stronger the further away we get." Rolling Stone reasoned.

"It’s possible, yes. Only one way to find out, though."

"Indeed. Lead the way. I’ll keep an eye out for any unwanted visitors."

Nodding in response, Blue Ice walked further away from the lake, holding the scanner firmly in one of her hooves. And with each step she took the signal grew a bit stronger, until it dropped away, and she knew she was aiming in the wrong direction. Standing still, and slowly sweeping the scanner in an arc, she found the signal again, seeing it coming from the direction of a nearby home standing at the edge of town.

"It seems to come from that direction," she said as she headed towards the house, "Isn't that the home of the human?"

"I believe it is. It would seem the Princesses' suspicions of a ghost haunting the human might be true."

"I guess," Blue Ice said, unsure. Stopping on the spot and giving the scanner a shake.

"What is it?"

"Seems like interference," she replied. "Nothing to worry about," she slightly tweaked the scanner's sensitivity. Then she made sure it didn’t cause any more problems.

"There we go," she said to herself as the scanner showed a solid but weak signal again.

As they continued their walk to the nearby home, Blue Ice noticed the signal was slowly growing stronger, but not to the point that would suggest there was a full spectral entity present in the last several days. But the signal she did pick up was warped, unusual, and she didn’t know for sure what to make of it. But they couldn’t get any closer to the home without alerting the owner, which would be something they needed to deal with. So, for now, they would stay back and investigate the surrounding area, staying out of sight of anyone that could blow their cover.

<<>><<>><<>>

Applejack was walking down the road towards Rarity’s boutique, intending to find out if her little sister was telling the truth about last night or not. And even though she was the Element of Honesty, able to see through most lies, there was something that made it impossible for her to see if her sister was telling the truth. Mostly because they lived together, and Apple Bloom had learned through experience how to cover up the truth from her.

It was a fact she wasn’t happy about, because it meant others might be able to do it as well. Mainly her two friends, who were quite often responsible for most of the destruction done around town. And if they could lie to the Element of Honesty and get away with it… Well, it wasn’t a pleasant thought. Who knows what they could be hiding.

She sighed as she moved towards her destination, hoping for her sister’s sake Rarity would confirm her story. She also hoped she would be done quickly with this, as there were still a lot of chores to be done in the orchard, plus that other thing that she’d been planning to do, but that she was unable to get to thanks to the Pinkie invasion. Hopefully today would be less eventful than yesterday.

Walking up to the door of the boutique and stepping through, a bell above the door chimed in response.

"Coming~" Rarity called out in her trademark singsong voice as she descended the stairs.

"Why, Applejack. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"

"Mornin’ Rarity. Ah came here ta ask ya somethin’, regardin’ yer sister."

"Oh, what did she do this time?" Rarity asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Look. Mah sister was nowhere ta be found last night, ‘til she suddenly showed up, supposedly from ‘er room. Now, Ah know she weren’t there when Ah first looked for ‘er. And, after askin’ Big Mac ‘bout it, he told me Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were havin’ a sleepover at their tree house. But, when Apple Bloom showed up she said she was in ‘er room all the time, and that they didn’t go through with their plans ‘cause you didn’t allow Sweetie Belle ta come with them. So, is this true, about yer sister Ah mean?"

"Actually, it is." Rarity answered.

"Come again?" Applejack replied in honest surprise.

"I can’t say what your sister or Scootaloo were up to, but I didn’t allow Sweetie Belle to go anywhere. She is grounded, just like her two friends were supposed to be."

"Yeah, don’t remind me. Big Mac is in a whole heap of trouble with Granny Smith ‘cause o' this."

****

"An’ when yer done buckin’ tha trees ‘n tha southern part a tha orchard you’ll come here ta start fixin’ up tha old barn. When yer done with that, you’ll start tha preparations fer this year’s winter. An’ when yer done…." Granny Smith ordered her grandchild with a voice full of authority, while Big Mac gulped audibly as his list of chores became longer and longer with each passing moment.

****

"I see. But I stand by what I said. Sweetie Belle didn’t leave the house. Unless, of course, she could somehow fly down from her bedroom window," Rarity said in good humor.

"Hah, not likely no. Okay Rarity, thanks. Ah don’t know what those fillies were up ta last night. But what ya said matched up with what mah sister told me. So Ah guess she’s tellin’ the truth, although Ah still don’t know how Ah missed ‘er like Ah did."

"Those things happen, Applejack dear. Now, if that’s all, I would like to get back to work. I just found some incredible inspiration, and I do not want to waste a moment of it."

"Hah, big order comin’ up?"

"Actually, no," Rarity said in modest confusion, "This is just something that came to me, just like that. And it isn’t even an order, but something I felt like I should do."

"Huh, fancy that. Ah been walkin’ ‘round with a similar feelin’ myself. Ah’m not really sure, but Ah have just had this urge ta make a large apple pie for Danny ever since Ah woke up yesterday. Not really sure why though."

"Well, that’s odd. I am making something for Danny as well," Rarity answered, and the two looked at each other in surprise.

"Well, whaddaya know. Ah guess tha guy made an even bigger impact on us than we thought."

"It would seem so, yes."

"So, what kind of fancy suit are ya makin’ for him?"

"It is... not really a suit. It is another set of those clothes he normally wears, but there was something that inspired me to go in an entirely different direction with it, and with colors I don’t usually work with." Rarity answered.

"Well, now Ah am curious. Mind if Ah take a peek?"

"Not at all, dear. Follow me," Rarity said, and she, followed by Applejack, moved upstairs to Rarity’s workroom.

There, lying on a table due to the lack of a proper ponyquin, or mannequin, lay a set of clothes specifically made for a human. Or Danny in this case. Applejack looked at the clothes, normally not one for any kind of fashion, save for the spare dress for any important event, she did have to say it looked kinda fitting. She didn’t know why, though. Just that it, somehow, seemed right as she observed the white shirt with the black area around the neck and near the end of the sleeves. There was a matching set of pants as well, along with a black belt to finish it all. It did seem right in a way, but it also seemed wrong, as if there was something deep down telling her so. But what?

"Well, what do you think? It is a work in progress, I know, and there are still a lot of rough edges, but give me your honest opinion," Rarity asked as she herself also gave her work a critical look.

"Well. Honestly, Ah don't know. It seems alright, Ah guess. And Ah am certainly no expert. But Ah just have tha feelin’ something is.. Ah don't know… Missin’, Ah guess. Maybe mixed up er somethin’."

"So I am not the only one thinking that," she said with a sigh as she levitated the shirt up, turning it around to look at it from different angles.

"Eh... Ah'm sorry?"

"Oh, don't be. You gave an honest answer where I asked for it. And it was just what I needed, too. I too felt like something was not right, and, seeing that you think so as well proves that this simply will not do," she reassured her friend, and she deposited the shirt back on the table.

"Oh, well then. Glad Ah could help," Applejack said, tipping her hat, "But Ah reckon Ah should go now. Still a lot of work ta be done, and Ah don’t want ta keep ya from yer special project either."

"Thank you Applejack. That’s very considerate of you."

"Don’t mention it. And thank you fer answerin’ mah question. Ah still don’t know what mah little sister was up ta, but at least she didn’t lie ta me about this much. Anyhow, see ya later, Rarity." Applejack replied, giving the other mare a friendly nod before walking out of the room, down the stairs and out of the boutique.

"And a good day to you as well," Rarity called out to her friend as she left, then returned to her work, giving another critical glare at the clothes she’d made for Danny. And, with a sigh, she undid all the work she’d done so far.

"This just will not do. Applejack is right, something is wrong with it, and I will have to start anew." And with that, all the separate, loose pieces fell down on the table while Rarity looked over her sketches once more.

"Now, what is it that I am missing?"

<<>><<>><<>>

The school bell rang, telling all it was recess, and the fillies and colts stuck in the stuffy classroom ran out screaming with their newly gained freedom, even if it was only for a moment. Five fillies however, were not running around playing either a game of hoofball, hide and seek, nor any other of the games their classmates played. No, for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon such activities were far beneath them, and they were mocking any of those that would 'degrade' themselves with such activities. As for Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle... They too were keeping their distance from the rest of the class, making sure they stayed out of sight as much as possible.

"Yer sure about this?" Apple Bloom asked with a hint of concern, keeping an eye on the rest of the class playing, and of course on Diamond Tiara and her ever present shadow, Silver Spoon. Standing in front of Sweetie Belle, keeping her out of the sight of the rest with her body.

"Of course she is," Scootaloo answered for Sweetie Belle, a wicked grin showing on her face, "They have been at us all this time. Now we have the chance to get back at ‘em."

"Yeah, what she said." Sweetie Belle confirmed with a nod, "If I'm going to use these powers, then why not use them to get even with those two?"

"Ah know, Ah know. But Ah don't want ta get in even more trouble than Ah’m already in," Apple Bloom voiced her concern, although she, too, wanted to get back at those two for a change.

"Why are you worrying? Sweetie Belle can turn invisible, right?" Scootaloo pointed out.

"Yeah," the ivory filly agreed while her right hind leg sunk through the ground.

"Yeeah. Ah'm not sure," Apple Bloom deadpanned while Sweetie Belle pulled her leg back out of the ground.

"Don’t worry," Sweetie Belle said with an innocent smile, then it turned devious, "I’ve got this."

"Fine. Just, fer Pete’s sake, be careful."

Silence.

"Ehh, who’s Pete?" Scootaloo asked, confused.

"And what’s he got to do with this?" Sweetie Belle added.

Silence.

"Ya know, Ah don’t really know mahself."

"Then why did you mention this Pete?" Scootaloo asked, even more confused.

"Ah don’t know. Just forget about it, okay."

"Why do you want us to forget about this Pete? Is there something you’re not telling us?" Sweetie Belle asked, a curious glint showing in her eyes.

"There ain’t a Pete, sheesh!" Apple Bloom half shouted in irritation.

"You're denying it a bit much, though. You're sure there isn't any Pete we need to know about?" Scootaloo said with a smirk.

"Yes, Ah'm sure," Apple Bloom groaned as she facehoofed.

"Is he your colt friend?" Sweetie Belle asked suddenly, and Apple Bloom’s leg fell down to the ground while her mouth hung open.

"WHAT!? NO! There ain’t no Pete. Nor is there anypony else," Apple Bloom shouted in self defense, glaring at her two grinning friends.

"Wel—" Sweetie Belle began, but Apple Bloom immediately interrupted her.

"Just go!" she groaned as she pointed a hoof away from them, indicating Sweetie Belle should move away.

"Okaaay~" she answered in a sickly sweet singsong voice as she turned invisible, making Apple Bloom shudder, while Scootaloo had trouble containing her laughter.

"Yer not going ta let this go, are ya?" Apple Bloom muttered as she shot an annoyed look at her remaining friend.

"Neevveeerrrr," Sweetie Belle breathed in her ears, making Apple Bloom yelp, much to the delight of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, who were laughing at their friend’s expense.

"Ah hate you two so much right now," Apple Bloom groaned as she facehoofed once more.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Hey, Sir, look at this," Blue Ice said suddenly as she looked at her scanner.

"What is it?" he asked in response.

"A new contact. Further away, but stronger than what I am picking up here. I believe we have an active one, Sir," she replied, looking off into the distance towards where the signal pointed to.

"You sure about this?"

"Only one way to find out."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Hah, look at those losers. Making a mess of themselves while playing in the dirt like some wild beast," Diamond Tiara said with a condescending tone as she looked around the playground, the place of her rule. Or, at least for as long they were forced to be at school.

"Yeah, and they even think they can do whatever they want," Silver Spoon replied.

"Indeed. Let's remind them who's in charge around here."

Two matching grins of ill intend showed on their faces as they made their way to a lone colt sitting underneath a tree, playing on his hoof held gaming device, a Joyboy. Completely oblivious to the world around him, Button Mash was completing yet another quest to save the princess, only to find she was, once again, in another castle.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Diamond Tiara asked with fake interest as she stood before the brown colt.

Button, however, didn’t reply as he was busy with the next level of epic proportions.

"I said: What have we here?" Diamond repeated, sounding annoyed.

*Bleep. Boop. Boing Boing. Ting.*

"Hey! She’s talking to you!" Silver Spoon said as she swatted the device out of his hooves.

"MY JOYBOY!" Button Mash shouted as he was forcefully brought back to the harsh reality around him.

"What, this thing?" Diamond Tiara asked, unimpressed as she picked up the device, looking at it as if it was nothing more than a piece of trash.

"Yeah. Give it back!" he said as he reached for his gaming device.

"And why should I?"

"Yeah. Why should she?"

"Because I need to go to the castle of Annon to collect the pieces of the Pie Force in order to bring back the blue Broshi which will enable me to activate the seven Hal-i-os which will open a magic portal to a team stuck in a fortress where I will be able to get the Hat of Eternity," he replied in one breath, sounding completely serious as well.

"What. A. Loser." Diamond Tiara stated as she looked at Button with a look of disgust, and she threw the Joyboy away over her shoulder.

"MY JOYBOY!" Button shouted.

"OUCH!" Sweetie Belle yelped as the Joyboy hit her in her invisible face.

"Wha… Who said that, show yourself!" Diamond Tiara commanded as she turned on the spot, looking in the direction she heard the sound come from, not realizing she was looking through Sweetie Belle, who was standing a mere half a meter away, staring into her eyes with an angry frown.

Looking down, Sweetie Belle saw the Joyboy laying at her hoof. Huffing in annoyance, which made the ears of Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and Button Mash perk up, she lifted up a hoof, intending to firmly shove Tiara away and give her quite a scare with it. As, from her point of view, there was nopony there. However, fate, destiny, or just random chance intervened, and her hoof turned intangible just before she hit Diamond Tiara.

Sweetie Belle felt a sucking sensation on her leg, as she, with surprising force, was pulled inside Diamond Tiara's body, possessing her.

"What?!" Sweetie Belle said through Diamond Tiara's mouth, staring out of her eyes with shock and confusion.

"Tiara, is everything alright?" Silver Spoon asked her friend.

"Huh, wha?" Sweetie Belle replied as she turned to look at Silver Spoon, who recoiled a bit as she saw Diamond Tiara's eyes.

"What happened to your eyes?" she asked sounding alarmed.

"Can I have my Joyboy back, please?" Button Mash interjected, cutting any reply short. He too was curious as to what was going on, but not enough to stick around with these bullies. And instead, he just wanted to continue his game.

"Ehh, sure," Sweetie Belle answered as she picked up the device, and Silver Spoon's lower jaw fell down as she saw her friend give it back to the colt. Button Mash, too, was looking at the filly with confusion, but he didn't care as much as Silver did. And instead, he grabbed the device in his mouth and ran away, continuing his game someplace else.

'Okay Sweetie Belle, what happened? Why are you in Diamond Tiara's body?' she thought in a panic, and she quickly moved away and towards her friends, hoping they would be able to help her figure this out.

"HEY! Wait up!" Silver Spoon called out to Diamond Tiara as she suddenly ran away, not seeming to care about appearances as the wild movement made a mess of her mane and dirt began to stick to her hooves.

"What is going on with you? Why are your eyes green like that? And what is up with your voice?" she asked in a suspicious tone as she caught up with her friend, following her to the side of the school, mostly out of sight of the playground. And standing there, watching everything, were Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, who both had a look of confusion plastered on their faces as they saw both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon run towards them. The first with glowing green eyes.

"Hey girls, I need your help!" Sweetie Belle said as she moved out of sight of the rest of the playground, and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shared a look of bewilderment over the fact that Diamond Tiara of all ponies would ask them for help.

"YOU!" Silver Spoon shouted in an undignified manner, "You’re hanging out with them!?"

"No I'm not!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both said in stereo.

"Girls, it's me!" Diamond Tiara said with Sweetie Belle's voice, and the other three fillies blinked several times in confusion.

Then Apple Bloom narrowed her eyes, looking deeply into the glowing green of Diamond Tiara's eyes. Her eyes snapped open with almost impossible speed when realization kicked in, but she was unable to believe what her mind was telling her.

"Sweetie Belle?" she said with a low voice, and Scootaloo looked at the pink filly with shock.

"Are you dumb? That is Diamond Tiara, not your stupid friend," Silver Spoon said harshly, glaring at the dumb pony.

"Oh, shut up!" Sweetie Belle said as she glared at Silver Spoon, who looked as if she was hit in the gut.

"Wha…?" she managed as she gave a hurt look at her friend.

"Girls," Sweetie Belle said, turning back to her friends, "Help. I somehow got inside of Diamond Tiara, but I don't know how to ge—" she was cut off when a pale white glow surrounded Diamond Tiara's body, and Sweetie Belle seemed to almost pour out of her, manifesting before Silver Spoon while in her spirit form.

Silence.

Deafening silence.

Silver Spoon's eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she saw the shining silver pony before her.

"Ehh… Don't panic," Silver Spirit said as she held up a hoof.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"

Screaming at the top of her lungs Silver Spoon ran away in a blind dash, crashing head first into the side of the school, knocking herself out.

"Wha…?" Diamond Tiara muttered as she shook her head, dazed from the possession, when she heard her friend scream. Turning around, she came eye to eye with Silver Spirit, and her eyes, too, shrunk to pinpricks.

"Ehhh… Boo?"

Another scream, and, somehow, a similar fate as Diamond Tiara ran away, and tripped over the legs of her downed friend. Causing her to tumble forwards, and coming to a stop at the hooves of her teacher, Miss Cheerilee, who gazed at the filly with an expression of concern.

"Diamond Tiara! What happened!?" she asked, almost in a rush, and the rest of the fillies and colts moved closer to see what was happening.

Not able to so much as mutter a word, Diamond Tiara only raised a shaking hoof, pointing towards the four fillies next to the school. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, her friend Silver Spoon, who was still unconscious, and Sweetie Belle. All the while those of them that were able to do so looked at Cheerilee with expressions of innocence and confusion.

"GIRLS! What happened?" Cheerilee shouted as she rushed to Silver Spoon, seeing what was wrong and if she was alright.

"Ah dunno," Apple Bloom replied with a shrug.

"Yeah. Sweetie Belle and I were just here talking to each other when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up," Scootaloo continued.

"And suddenly Silver Spoon started ta scream fer no reason, running head first inta the school and knocking herself out." Apple Bloom picked up again, sounding genuinely concerned.

"Then Diamond Tiara screamed and ran away, tripping over her friend." Scootaloo finished.

"That’s not true." Diamond Tiara managed with a shaky voice, "I saw somepony else there with you. Somepony that did that to Silver Spoon."

"We're the only ones here," Sweetie Belle spoke up, pointing behind herself and her friends, "See."

"Yeah. And Silver Spi- ehh Spoon ran into the building by herself," Scootaloo added, almost slipping over the similarity in names.

"And why would she do that, or scream like that for that matter?" Cheerilee asked sternly, not sure whether they were lying or not.

"Ah dunno," Apple Bloom answered with a shrug, "We were just here, mindin’ our own business when they showed up, and did that."

"That's not true!" Diamond Tiara shouted again, "I didn't just show up. I... I…." she began, before falling silent.

"Diamond, what is it?" Cheerilee asked with worry.

"I don't remember how I got there," Diamond said with a shaky voice, "They must have done something to me," she continued with a shrill, angry voice while pointing a hoof at the three fillies.

"Girls?" Cheerilee said sternly as she looked at the three fillies.

"Ah didn't do anything," Apple Bloom said honestly.

"Neither did I," Scootaloo confirmed.

"I don't know what happened either," Sweetie Belle said as honest as she could, as she really didn't know how it had happened.

"LIES!" Tiara shouted, and Cheerilee looked back at the troubled filly, only for all of them to turn to Silver Spoon when she came to with a groan.

Immediately focusing her attention on the downed filly, Cheerilee slowly helped her back up in a sitting position, looking Silver Spoon over again now that she was conscious.

"Silver Spoon, are you alright? How many hooves am I holding up?"

Groaning a bit, and carefully rubbing her head, Silver Spoon turned to look at her teacher, winching when she turned her head too fast.

"Ehh, th- three?" she mumbled while her eyes blinked uncoordinatedly.

Cheerilee looked at the single hoof she was holding up with a worried frown, then back to Silver Spoon.

"You are definitely not alright," she said as she carefully helped the gray filly back to her hooves, "Come, into the school with you. The rest of you as well," she said as she turned to the rest of the foals, resulting in a loud groan from all of them.

"No buts. I don’t know what happened here, but I will find out. Until then, all of you, back inside."

"Aahhhh," all of them groaned again as they moved back inside, with Diamond Tiara, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon last to enter. Guided back inside by Cheerilee, who was giving a worried look at the gray filly under her care as she still seemed extremely disoriented, hoping Silver Spoon didn't have a concussion.

<<>><<>><<>>

A few minutes earlier

Blue Ice and Rolling Stone were moving down one of the lesser used paths running around Ponyville, moving towards their target while staying out of sight as much as possible. Blue Ice, walking on three legs while holding the scanner in front of her, led the way, stopping every now and then to scan around and see where the signal she’d picked up on was the strongest. This went on for close to ten minutes, and with every step she took the signal increased a bit. Although there did seem to be some interference, despite her earlier attempts to counter this. This could either suggest a false positive, or perhaps a faulty device.

If it was the latter, it would be a serious problem. But having received training from some of the best, she was certain she could fix any issue with the device if needed. Even then, she both hoped that it was a false positive and hoped that it wasn't. If it wasn’t it meant her calibrations weren't flawed, but it was a cold comfort as it would also mean there was truly a ghost in their world. If it was, well, Vigilant Shield would make sure to remind her about it, constantly.

After only a little while longer, she and Rolling Stone came upon a singular building standing close to the edge of town, several foals were playing outside while an earth pony mare watched over them.

"Hmm, it seems the signal comes from over at the school," she said with a chill in her voice.

"I hope you’re wrong," Rolling Stone muttered as he scanned the crowd from a distance.

"Unfortunately, it would seem I’m not," she replied as she checked her scanner again.

A loud scream could be heard coming from the school followed moments later by another, and Blue Ice’s scanner beeped as it picked up on a much stronger signal.

Both of them snapped their heads towards where the scream came from, seeing the mare, as well as all the children move towards a more obscured part of the building.

Rolling Stone’s eyes met those of Blue Ice, and they gave an unspoken acknowledgement of the situation. Moving fast but unseen, they closed the distance between themselves and the school. Not yet charging in head first as they didn’t have a confirmed sighting, and it could just as easily be something else entirely. Foals had a tendency to do the strangest things after all.

Diving into the cover of a nearby bush, they watched as the mare ordered the foals back inside, before leading a small group of fillies back herself while holding on to a unsteady looking silvery gray filly.

"She’s not looking so well," Blue Ice commented as she observed the gray filly.

"No, but is it because what I hope isn't the case?" Rolling Stone replied.

Humming in shared agreement, Blue Ice held up her scanner, pointing it at the silvery gray filly as the rest of the foals moved back inside, leaving only her and her teacher outside as they were moving at a much slower pace.

An irritated humm came from Blue Ice as she gave a slap against the scanner, earning herself a glare from Rolling.

"Those things aren't cheap you know," he scolded.

"I know, Sir. But I am getting some mixed results. I can't say if it is from any spectral activity, or something else around us, but I am picking up on something. And it would seem it is coming from around that filly. But it is weak, and, just as back at the lake, the energy I picked up on is dissipating quickly."

"Hmmm. We better keep an eye on this one, make sure nothing strange is going on around her," Rolling Stone commented.

"Afraid she might be a target?"

"I don’t know."

"And we need to find out for sure," Blue Ice stated as she knew this was not a suggestion.

"Indeed. But first we focus most of our attention on the human. It is entirely possible this is completely unrelated, and she was just bullied by some foal, or another. But for now we continue our search elsewhere, unless you manage to pick up on the signal again, it is safe to assume that whatever was here it is most likely gone now. We will continue elsewhere, and regroup with the rest of the team at the appointed time."

"Yes Sir. I will need to make some more adjustments to the scanners it seems, because right now they are almost as useless as a paperweight," Blue Ice replied with a muttered curse under her breath towards the uncooperative scanner.

"Very well. But for now we continue as planned."

"Yes Sir," she replied, and then both of them continued with their investigation for any possible source of spectral energy.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Silver Spoon, how are you doing now?" Cheerilee asked after she had helped the filly back into the class, looking her over once more while placing a bag of ice on her head.

"A little b-better," she answered with a pained voice, wincing as she carefully rubbed the lump on her head.

"Good, that's good. Now tell me, what happened?" Cheerilee said with a relieved sigh, but worry remained evident in her voice.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom however, looked at one another with worry, not knowing how they could possibly explain any of what happened just now.

"I… I... I don't know?" Silver Spoon answered after a moment, looking at her teacher in confusion as she tried to remember what had happened.

"Huh?!" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle uttered in disbelief, sharing a confused look with each other before turning their attention back to Silver Spoon.

"What do you mean, you don't remember?" Cheerilee asked.

Pushing the bag of ice back to the sore spot after it slipped away, Silver Spoon looked down at the ground, wracking her brain to remember any part of what happened.

"I... I just don't know. I can't remember."

"It's all their fault!" Diamond Tiara screeched, pointing a hoof at Sweetie Belle and her friends, "They did this!"

"That is quite enough out of you, young lady," Cheerilee said sternly, looking down on the shouting filly.

"Bu-... But."

"No buts. You can't just start accusing ponies of doing things when you can't prove they did it. Now, can you prove they are responsible for what happened to Silver Spoon?"

"I… She… Bu-... No," she grumpled in defeat.

"Then don't make any claims you can't prove, " Cheerilee finished with a disapproving glare, making Diamond Tiara look down at the ground, a venomous glare on her face which was meant for those three fillies she knew were responsible for all of this.

"Now Silver Spoon, is there anything you can remember, anything at all?"

"No, nothing," she answered.

"Oh dear," Cheerilee said as she returned to all fours, "Okay. Class, you can leave early today as I will take Silver Spoon to the doctor."

Cheers sounded all throughout the classroom at this news, and Cheerilee had to suppress a knowing smile. But her concern for Silver Spoon made her mood turn serious again in mere seconds.

Helping Silver Spoon back on her hooves, ice bag still on her head, she helped the filly move to the door.

"Okay everypony, class dismissed," she said, and with the speed of a hurricane the classroom was empty, only a few loose pieces of paper remained, drifting lazily through the air as they fell to the ground.

"They never put that much enthusiasm into their schoolwork," Cheerilee said with a sigh, before closing the door and taking Silver Spoon with her.

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle didn't waste any time getting back to their clubhouse, all three of them glad they'd gotten away with what had happened, but also wondering what had actually happened, and how?

Running past the blackened trees and up the ramp, they slammed the door shut behind them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looking at Sweetie Belle, waiting for an explanation.

"Well, how did you do that?" Scootaloo asked her unicorn friend.

"Do what?" Sweetie asked.

"How did you do that, with Diamond Tiara?" Scootaloo clarified.

"Yeah, Ah wanna know too," Apple Bloom piped up.

"I don't know. All I wanted to do was push her while she couldn't see me. Then my leg became all untouchable and such, and when I touched her I was just pulled in, or something."

"Then how did ya transform?" Apple Bloom asked, wondering why her friend came out of Tiara in her spirit form.

"I dunno," Sweetie Belle replied with a shrug.

"Weeeird," Scootaloo said.

"Ah’ll say," Apple Bloom agreed with a nod, making her ribbon bounce in response.

"Can… Can you do it again?" Scootaloo asked with a unusually eager tone.

"What? No! I don't even know how I did it the first time," Sweetie Belle replied.

"You said yer leg became untouchable when it happened, maybe that’s how it works?" Apple Bloom offered.

"Yeah, like that is going to help. I don't even know how to do that," Sweetie Belleresponded with a groan, dragging a hoof down her face.

"Well, try again," Apple Bloom suggested.

"Yeah. You want to learn how to control this, don’t ya?" Scootaloo added.

"Fine," Sweetie Belle replied with a groan and a roll of the eyes, "So, where do I start?"

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at one another, blinking dumbly as they didn't know how to answer that.

"Ehhh, just try somethin’?" Apple Bloom offered weakly.

"Really?" Sweetie Belle deadpanned, giving the earth pony a flat look.

"What if..." Scootaloo began, only to drift off in thought.

"Yes?" Sweetie said, snapping her out of it.

"Right. What if it is reversed cloudshaping?"

"Huh?" came the confused reply from both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"Just think about it. We pegasi walk on clouds, which you can’t normally touch. We use our magic to make the clouds solid underneath ourselves. But, what if with you it is the opposite? Instead of making things solid underneath your hooves, you make your hooves unsolid."

"Ah don't think that's a word," Apple Bloom told her, earning an annoyed glare in return. Sweetie Belle however, was deep in thought, thinking over what her friend had just told her.

"You know, it sounds just crazy enough for it to work," she answered, looking at Scootaloo with an eager glint in her eyes. "Okay, teach me about cloudshaping, maybe that is the answer."

Scootaloo's ears perked up, while an eager grin showed on her muzzle. A look that was copied by her friends. If this worked, then things might get very interesting, very soon.

Or not, whatever came first.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay. For a pegasus to touch the clouds there are a few things they need to know. First off, learn to control your magic," Scootaloo explained to her two friends, and Sweetie Belle was almost leaning forward, eager to learn as much as she could and figure out how to use her power. "Otherwise it will be as impossible to walk on clouds as it is to walk on water. It is mostly a part of our instinct, but we do need to learn how to control it as we grow up. Secondly, once you can control your magic, you must get into the right mindset. The cloud responds to your magic, and your magic responds to your mind. If you think the cloud isn't solid, it will not hold you up as your magic will not make the cloud solid. And third, tread lightly. Don’t go stomping around like you’re in a stampede, or you will punch clean through the cloud."

"So, assuming that this is similar to what I want to do, I need to, what? Clear my mind and believe that I’m like a cloud or something?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I guess," Scootaloo replied with a shrug.

"It won’t hurt ta try," Apple Bloom suggested, "Just try it, an’ see what happens."

Nervously biting her lower lip, Sweetie Belle thought this over once more.

"...Okay," she said with a nervous, but determined sigh, "Stand back."

Doing just that, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo moved to the side of their clubhouse while Sweetie Belle remained in the center.

Legs spread a bit for stability, she closed her eyes while beginning to think about herself being a cloud.

'Okay, I'm a cloud. Drifting lazily through the sky. Nothing can touch me. I'm untouchable… I'm big and fluffy, a white cotton candy… Wait, what? Focus! Where was I? Oh yeah. I'm a cloud…'

"Ya think this is gonna work?" Apple Bloom asked Scootaloo in a whisper, never taking her eyes off of her friend.

"How should I know?" Scootaloo questioned.

Silence.

"Ah dunno," Apple Bloom answered awkwardly.

"Just be quiet and loo-.. Wait, was her mane always like that?" Scootaloo argued back, but her attention was drawn away when she spotted Sweetie Belle's mane.

"Wow. It’s all wavy, just like tha princesses’," Apple Bloom said, amazed.

'…I’m a cloud… No, I’m not. I’m a spirit. A spirit that can disappear and fly. I’m a spirit. I’m a spirit…'

"Look!" Apple Bloom said in a whispered shout.

"I am!" Scootaloo said back, and the two of them watched as, ever so slowly, their friend began to sink through the floor, with all her hooves this time.

"Do ya think she's figured it out?" Apple Bloom asked.

'I'm a spirit. I'm a spirit… I am Silver Spirit!'

A flash of light came from Sweetie Belle, and a band of white energy appeared around her midsection. Splitting in half, one half moved forwards, while the other moved backwards. And the part of her body that went through the band of white energy transformed. Her white fur warped and waved as it became a bright gleaming silver. Her mane and tail, moving around as if struck by an unfelt breeze, became an intangible fog, billowing around. Her legs, bare when she stepped into the clubhouse, were now covered with long black boots which were several sizes too wide. A pale glow began to surround her body, and her descent through the floor was reversed as Sweetie began to levitate off of the ground.

"I think so," Scootaloo said in awe and amazement, trying not to blink lest she miss something.

"Did it work?" Sweetie Belle asked, her eyes still closed.

"Uuhhhh…"

"Girls?" she said, and carefully opened her eyes. They shot open the rest of the way a moment later.

"Wha… What happened?" she said in a slightly panicked tone as she saw herself levitate off of the ground, and she began to tilt forwards, falling towards the floor.

Crossing her front legs before her face in reflex, Sweetie Belle found another surprise. Mainly, the boots covering them, and the silver fur she saw on her legs not covered by the boots. Time to ask, or worry, about this she didn't have as she noticed the floor coming closer and closer, and she braced herself for the impact… which didn’t come.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were both sitting frozen in place with their mouths hanging open when they saw Sweetie Belle, fully transformed, fall through the floor, moving cleanly through it. And only a surprised: "WHAT!?" from outside snapped them out of it.

Running outside, they saw their friend hovering just below the tree house, looking from it, to herself, nothing but confusion showing on her face.

Turning to look at her friends, Sweetie Belle was only able to utter a single, questioning word.

"Girls?"

<<>><<>><<>>

A light shone in her eyes, and Silver Spoon flinched from the brightness as she was sitting on an examination table. The doctor, an earth pony stallion with a light brown coat and a curly orange mane and tail was the one examining her.

"Hmmhmm," Hippocrates hummed as he looked over the filly, "And you are unable to remember anything that happened shortly before you hit your head you said?"

"Uhuh," Silver Spoon replied as she tried to look away from the offensive light.

Turning off the small light he was holding, the doctor turned to both the mare and the stallion standing in the room behind him.

"And, how is she?" Tarnished Silver, Silver Spoon's father, asked.

"Nothing too serious, fortunately," Hippocrates answered, "A lump and some headache seems to be the worst of it, and she doesn't seem to have a concussion. Although it would seem that the blow to her head caused localized amnesia concerning the last several minutes prior to her hitting her head. It is doubtful if those moments will come back, but only time can tell."

"But she is otherwise alright?" Cheerilee asked.

"She is, although I advise keeping her home, and avoiding any strenuous tasks for some time. She will also have a serious headache for some time to come, but the swelling will be gone in no time thanks to my assistant’s spell," Hippocrates told the two ponies, and both of them let out a relieved sigh.

"Oh thank goodness," Cheerilee said, relieved.

"So, can I go home now?" Silver Spoon asked, both annoyed that she was still here, and hurting from the painful throb in her head. That light from just now, and the adults talking so loud wasn’t helping either.

Looking at the doctor, Tarnished Silver got a nod of approval.

"Of course sweetie, we can go home right now," he told her.

"Don’t call me that," Silver Spoon quietly muttered through gritted teeth.

"Call you what?" her father asked.

"Sweetie. That is not my name," she grumbled bitterly.

Blinking dumbly, her father looked at his daughter in confusion, while Cheerilee sighed tiredly as she shook her head

"I do apologize for the trouble caused. I have no idea what happened, but I am glad she is alright."

"Of course you are," Tarnished snarled to her, making Cheerilee flinch back. "My daughter was hurt under your watch, so of course you are glad she is alright. If she wasn't then the blame would be on you."

Cheerilee looked at the stallion with shock and hurt, while Hippocrates was slowly backing out of the room.

"Mister Silver, I assure you that I did everything in my power to help your daughter, and to find out what happened."

"And look what good that did. She was knocked out, has a serious headache and some memory loss because of it, and you have no idea who is responsible for this."

"It were the Crusaders, I just know it," Silver Spoon muttered, crossing her front legs in anger.

"Who now?" Tarnished asked.

"Three students of mine. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle," Cheerilee answered, a cross look on her face over how this stallion had just spoken to her. "They were present when I found your daughter."

"Then you should focus your attention on them. If they were there when Silver was attacked, then clearly they are responsible!"

Irritation settled in, and Cheerilee looked at the stallion with an composed, yet angry look.

"Now mister Tarnished Silver. I do not take kindly to being talked to like that! Yes, those fillies were there when I found your daughter, but that doesn’t prove anything. In fact, they claim that your daughter was scared of something, what I do not know, and in her panic she ran away and hit her head."

"Huh, like—" Tarnished started, but he was cut off by Cheerilee.

"Silence! Now, whether this is true, or not, I do not know. But accusing me or those fillies of something without any proof to support those claims is not going to help, nor do I respect such actions. Also, I understand that you are concerned about your daughter’s well being, but taking this out on me is something I will not tolerate. And unless you have anything useful to say, or want to apologize to me, I do not want to hear another word out of your mouth. Furthermore, your behavior is a bad influence on your daughter, as I can see clear similarities between how you just talked to me and how your daughter behaves towards my other students. You want to take care of your daughter, that's fine. But for the love of Celestia, put some effort into it! Because what you are doing now clearly shows a severe lack of social skill, and it is a bad example for your daughter," -Cheerilee paused for a heartbeat- "I am going home now, as I have had enough of your bad attitude, and I will see Silver Spoon back in class when she had time to recover, unless there is a problem with her health. AM I clear? Yes, good," Cheerilee ranted, leaving no room for any argument. And with a pleased smile, she turned around and left the room, leaving behind the two Silvers, both of their mouths hanging open. Tarnished Silver because nopony had ever talked to him like that before, and Silver Spoon because she had never heard anypony, least of all her teacher, talk to her father like that.

Silence.

Father and daughter shared a shocked look, not knowing what to say or do, and an uncomfortable silence settled in. Only for it to be broken by doctor Hippocrates, who, as he backed out of the room earlier, had accidentally walked into a storage closet.

"Is it safe to come out?" he asked, carefully peeking around the door.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Girls?" Sweetie Belle said as she hovered in the air, her silver fur gleaming in the light that shone through the foliage above. "Did that just happen?" she asked, and her friends both nodded dumbly as they looked up at their friend.

"I just moved through the floor?" she asked, and she received another nod in confirmation.

"And I just transformed?"

Nod, nod.

"And I am flying here, in my spirit form?"

Nod, nod, nod.

Silence.

"Awesome," Sweetie said dumbly, too overwhelmed with what had happened.

"Awesome? AWESOME!? IT IS SUPER MEGA EPIC COOL AWESOME!!" Scootaloo shouted excitedly, wings buzzing wildly as she jumped up and down. An action that was mirrored by Apple Bloom.

"You think so?"

"Are ya crazy!?" Apple Bloom shouted in response, "Of course it is."

"Yeah! Now, what can you do like this?" Scootaloo asked eagerly.

"Can ya try that body control thingy?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"Oh yeah, that was awesome. The way you controlled Diamond Tiara, and how Silver Spoon crashed into the wall. Can you do that thingy again?" Scootaloo agreed with enthusiasm.

"Ehh, maybe? But who should I control?" Sweetie Belle asked, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at one another, eyes narrowing as they did so.

"Not it!" they both shouted at the same time. "You do it!" they countered at once, blinking dumbly, "No, you! Nuh uh, you… "

Sweetie sighed as she let her front legs hang down limply, staring at her friends with a flat look as they continued their pointless argument. Deciding to choose for them, she shot forward, hoping this would actually work, and that she wouldn’t simply knock out one of her friends. Silver Spoon was one thing, her friends were another.

'I’m a cloud that is also a spirit…' she thought as she flew forwards, hoping that this was the key to doing what she was trying to do.

"No, you-OOMPH…" Scootaloo said when Sweetie Belle slammed into her, knocking the air out of her.

"Okay. That didn’t work," Sweetie Belle muttered as she rubbed her head, while Scootaloo lay in a heap with her hind legs sticking up in the air.

In a bright flash of light Sweetie Belle turned back to normal, leaving her staring at her normal white furred legs as she stood back up.

Scootaloo, grumbling under her breath, also pulled herself back up, while Apple Bloom walked over to the two, a slight grin showing on her face.

"Well, that’s a bust," Sweetie Belle sighed as she kicked the dirt, "Guess I haven’t figured it out after all."

"But we are gettin’ close, Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied encouragingly.

"I guess, yeah," Sweetie Belle muttered.

"So we just keep on tryin’. We will figure this out, just you wait an’ see."

"Yeah, what she said," Scootaloo groaned, shaking the dirt out of her mane.

"Heh, so we’re sticking with the spirit training, huh?" Sweetie Belle said with a small grin.

"Well, duh. We’re tha Cutie Mark Crusaders. And when we say we’re doing somethin’, we’re doing it."

"Exactly," Scootaloo agreed with more enthusiasm, giving her friends a winning smile. A smile that soon spread to both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "After all, we’re in this together," Scootaloo said as she held a hoof out in front of her.

"Uh huh. We’ve got yer back," Apple Bloom agreed, and she placed a hoof against Scootaloo’s.

"And I've got yours, always," Sweetie Belle finished, and she placed her hoof against those of her friends.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SPIRIT TRAINERS, YAY!!"

<<>><<>><<>>

"Alright team, report," Rolling Stone ordered when he and his team regrouped on the outskirts of town, staying out of sight of the residents in town.

"Sir," Ornate Charm spoke up, and Rolling turned to the dark pink unicorn mare with dark purple mane and tail. "I have gone through the center area of the town and picked up trace amounts of spectral energy. However, the readings were marred with some form of interference and there is the possibility of a false positive. As such I was unable to find anything definitive that would suggest spectral activity in town."

"I see. And you Sound Wave?" Rolling asked the steel gray pegasus mare with black mane and tail.

"Sir. I am not that experienced with the scanner, as you know, but I too detected trace amounts of spectral energy around the marketplace. But, as Ornate Charm indicated, it could very well be a false positive. I believe that it would be wise to use the Fenton Ghost Gabber to pick up any possible ghost communication, should there be any. If the scans are accurate, and there is a ghost around here then there should also be the possibility of us picking up on its speech."

"Good point," Rolling muttered, "Do it, but keep your scanner close while you’re doing that. And speaking of those scanners. It would seem we are all dealing with the possibility of false positives. Blue Ice, when we get back to the guest house I want you to take another look at those scanners, and make the required adjustments to them to make sure we won't have any false positives in the future."

"Yes Sir," Blue Ice replied with nod.

"Good. Further more, taking into account the possibility of a false positive, we might have a new target to keep an eye on. A filly by the name of Silver Spoon, if the namelist we took from the school is correct. She was present where Blue Ice detected a large amount of spectral activity. Might be nothing, but we need to make sure. As for the human. Until we have a chance to enter his house without running the risk of him catching us, we will have to keep our distance. I will send a letter to the Princess about this matter. Maybe she knows something to lure him away for a while without arousing suspicion. But until then, keep your distance and keep your eyes open."

"Yes Sir," a trio of voices replied, and Rolling Stone gave a curt nod with a faint grin in response.

"Good, now disperse. We will regroup again back at the guest house. Keep a low profile and don’t return all at once. Meeting out in the open like this is one thing, but we need to keep up appearances."

"Yes Sir," they repeated once more, and all four of them moved in separate directions, blending in with the rest of the ponies in town.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle returned home after the day’s unexpected training session. Dragging herself forth, tired but satisfied.

She might not have been able to ‘take over’ her friends like she did with Diamond Tiara, and how she did so in the first place was still a mystery to her, but she did manage to make some progress with her transformation. Not much, but she was able to change her form a couple of times, only for her to turn back a few moments later. The longest that she had managed since her first unexpected transformation was a full seven minutes. It wasn't much, but it was progress, and she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment from it. She was starting to accept and appreciate these powers, even if they were misbehaving more often than not.

Still, with each moment that she worked on figuring out how they worked, she found it became easier to keep them under control. Her body hadn't turned invisible on its own for the entire walk home, nor did she sink through the ground. But she thought that last one was more luck than anything else.

Opening the door of her sister's home, she sighed as she heard the ring of the small bell hanging above the door, and the sound of her sister's hooves clopping on the floor above greeted her as Rarity came down to see who it was that had entered her boutique.

"Why Sweetie Belle, where have you been?" Rarity asked concerned as she saw her younger sister stand in the doorway, looking absolutely exhausted. "And what did you do?"

"Oh… Eh. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and I were at our clubhouse… ehh… trying to earn our Cutie Marks," Sweetie Bellr answered, giving a slightly forced smile to her sister as she told her a partial lie.

"And why were you at your clubhouse? School has only just finished for the day, so you shouldn’t have been able to be there," Rarity said, giving her sister a questioning glare.

"Oh, Miss Cheerilee dismissed the class early, so that’s why my friends and I were there."

"Wait, what!? Why did Cheerilee do that?"

"Ehhh… You see, the thing is… Silver Spoon ran headfirst into the side of the school for some reason, and I don’t know why, and she knocked herself out. So Miss Cheerilee took her to the doctor," Sweetie Belle said in one breath, giving her sister the biggest smile she could after she finished.

Rarity, knowing that that smile usually meant something else was going on gave her sister a flat look, staring at her until the smile began to falter and fall.

"And what did really happen?"

"Well, that. Silver Spoon got scared of something, and I do not know what, and she ran into the school, just as I said. I'm telling the truth, honest," she said, 'But maybe not the entire truth,' she added in her thoughts.

Blinking several times in confusion, Rarity looked at her younger sister, seeing no evidence of her lying to her. Maybe she was really telling the truth, or maybe she was just getting better at lying… She didn't particularly like the second possibility. Still, she gave Sweetie Belle the benefit of the doubt, as she knew her younger sister would never do something that would bring harm to others… intentionally.

"My goodness, is Silver Spoon alright?" she asked, and Sweetie Belle gave a shrug in response.

"I don’t know. My friends and I were gone the moment Miss Cheerilee said we could go."

"Of course you were." Rarity sighed. "Okay, fine. Now, come inside and close the door. I will make something to eat, and you can tell me what happened to Silver Spoon while I do so," she told her sister as she turned and moved to the kitchen, followed a moment later by a less than eager Sweetie Belle.

<<>><<>><<>>

It was late in the day, and Scootaloo finally returned home. After helping Sweetie Belle figure out more about how her powers worked, which still needed a lot of improvement, she had spent the remainder of the time just going back and forth on her scooter, practicing some more of her own stunts.

Now, though, she had to go home. Or the place that acted as it.

She sighed as she stepped inside, but she didn’t bother being quiet as she closed the door with a push of her hind leg. Walking up the stairs to her room, she noticed several of the rooms in her mother's guest house were occupied.

"Great, visitors," she muttered as she walked past one of the closed doors before walking into her own room, closing the door behind her. But as her door closed, the one she walked past opened. A dull orange earth pony poked his head outside, scanning the hallway as he held a scanning device of sorts in his hoof, wondering what could have set it off.

"Hmmm. Maybe some more calibrations are needed," he muttered, and moved back into his room, closing the door behind him.

Looking at the hoof held scanner as it gave a readout of minute amounts of spectral energy coming from a source not too far away. Almost as if it passed by the door mere seconds ago. But when he looked there was nothing. The amount of energy shown was also barely noticeable, and Rolling Stone figured it was merely a false reading from faulty calibration.

"Anything sir?" Blue Ice asked, sitting in the room she shared with her commanding officer, working on another scanning device used to find ghosts.

"No, nothing. Just a machine error. See if you can fix it, we don't need anything going wrong with our equipment while we continue our investigation."

"Yes sir," she answered, picking up the device with her magic, bringing it closer to her. "I'll see what I can do."

"Good. Meanwhile, I'll go and see how things are progressing with the others."

Blue Ice gave a nod in confirmation, and returned to the work at hoof, making some slight adjustments to the scanner’s sensitivity.

Rolling Stone moved through the door and closed it behind him, walking over to the room occupied by Sound Wave. Giving three knocks on the closed door he waited for the mare to open the door.

"Si-.. ehh. Rolling, come in," Sound Wave said as she opened the door and saw the First Lieutenant standing before her, looking behind him to see if anypony noticed her partial slip when she instinctively wanted to call him Sir.

Stepping inside, Rolling Stone looked at the small table in the room, covered with various gadgets made by the Fenton Corporation.

"What's the status on the Ghost Gabber?" he asked after Sound Wave had closed the door.

"Coming along, Sir. Still, some work is needed. The device is mostly in working order, but I never had the chance to properly fine tune it. I’m not really sure why, but it seems it is incorrectly picking up on any conversations between ponies. Perhaps it's a similar issue as with the scanners, but I don't really understand what could cause it. I'm adjusting the devices now, and limiting their sensitivity seems to solve the problem. It is just a matter of a little more calibrating, but I'm sure it'll be done before long. But its range will be limited as a result. Still, shouldn't be much of a problem," Sound Wave explained.

"Hmmm. Well, it’s better than nothing," Rolling Stone replied.

"Indeed. But I'm afraid it won't be done tomorrow. I need to find the right balance between limiting the sensitivity, and efficiency. It is a bit of a tenuous task, and despite my knowledge and experience with this device, I'm not much of an expert when it comes to the internal workings. Even then, considering the problems we have experienced already, It does seem to be a bit of a design flaw."

"It would seem so… I will make sure I mention this to the Princess when I send her our first report, she should be able to make this problem known to the Fenton Corporation. They need to send us replacement units, and find out what is causing these problems in the first place.

"That would be useful, yes. But for now I will have to make do with this thing," Sound Wave agreed with a nod.

"Then I will leave you to it," Rolling Stone said, and he turned to the door.

"Yes Sir," Sound Wave acknowledged, and she let him out.

Closing the door behind him, she returned to her work the moment he was gone while Rolling Stone went on his way to the other member of his team: Ornate Charm. But as he moved to her room, he also walked past a closed door belonging to the previously mentioned daughter of Miss Bellflower, and he stopped near the door to listen. The sound of a child sobbing could be heard, and he was conflicted on what to do next. He should just walk away and focus on the task at hoof, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. So, with a flash of green in his eyes, he knocked on the door, and he heard the pony in the room sigh, stepping down from something, maybe the bed, and walking over to the door.

"Yeah, what do yo-… Oh, you're not… her," Scootaloo said, looking up at the dull orange earth pony.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I heard some sounds, and I was wondering if everything is alright?" he asked, and he received an angry glare in response.

"I wasn’t crying!" Scootaloo half shouted in her own defense.

"I never said you were," Rolling countered calmly.

Silence.

"Oh, right. Still, I didn’t do that. What is it to you anyhow?" Scootaloo muttered with a slight blush, glaring holes into the floor.

"I was just wondering if everything is alright, Miss. So, is everything alright?"

"Yes, fine. Now leave me alone," Scootaloo snarled, and she turned around to walk back into her room.

Sighing, Rolling Stone knew he should just turn away. Instead, his eyes flashed green again, and he blocked the door from closing, not knowing why he was doing what he did.

"You don’t seem fine to me, Miss," Rolling said, looking around the room.

It was not your standard filly’s room, with the walls covered with posters of the Wonderbolts, as well as what seemed to be hoof made posters of Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty. There was a single bed in the room, with a nightstand next to it. A framed photo stood on top of it, and Rolling Stone's eyes lingered on the image shown.

Two adult ponies, pegasi, with the mare holding a young filly. All three of them smiling as their moment was captured on film, frozen in time.

"Is there something I could help you with?" he continued after a moment.

"Yeah, get out of my room!" Scootaloo said coldly, glaring at the stallion, before turning sharply, not looking at the intruder.

"Very well," he sighed, and left the filly to herself, "I’m sorry for troubling you," he added, and another flash of green showed in his eyes, "Mayfly."

Scootaloo's ears perked up, and she turned around with blurring speed.

"What did you call me?" she demanded angrily, a shocked expression on her face. But Rolling Stone had already closed the door, moving to the other room down the hallway and never heard her, nor was he aware of the last word he said. Scootaloo however, could only stare at the door with wavering eyes, not sure if she'd imagined it or not.

'Tha-… That's what my father used to call me,' she thought, and tears started to form in her eyes as she turned to look at the photo standing on her nightstand.

'Dad…'

<<>><<>><<>>

It was late at night on Earth, and all was quiet. The cities were asleep, covered by the glowing domes of the ghost shields that protected them. It was a relatively calm night, with not much trouble having occurred during the day. This however, was about to change. Yet, no one would notice.

A ripple moved through the layers of reality, distorting everything in its path. Yet it somehow managed to miss the major cities as it continued on its way, moving towards a quiet part of the world that was mostly untouched by human hands.

The distortion converged here, warping and shifting as a hole in reality started to form. However fate, chance, destiny, or an unlucky roll in a cosmic game of Dungeons and Dragons caused a ghost portal to form on the exact same spot the tear was forming, and the two collided and merged together. The tear was pulled inside the portal and brought towards a frozen wasteland with no life there at all. A village bustling with activity was present in the distance, yet those existing there didn’t seem to notice the distortion in the distance from their village.

Two creatures however, did notice the opening hole. One an ice blue rabbit, which hopped towards the growing and shimmering hole no larger than a standard ghost portal. The other, a frost giant, looked at both the rabbit and the tear with suspicion and a rising sense of fear. The rabbit though, looked through the hole in the layers of reality, and it was greeted by a blast of warm air. Curious, it moved through the rift, trading the snow covered lands for a relatively warm stone floor, leaving behind the frost giant who was running as fast as he could towards the village.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep inside the Everfree forest stood the ancient and mostly forgotten castle of the royal sisters. It lay in ruin, with the windows shattered, floors broken, and walls collapsed. Yet it remained standing. A testimony to good construction, or to the spell still holding everything together.

Sparks burst into life in the darkness, illuminating the dark place with flashes. The sound of a vacuum being sucked in reverse echoed through the empty room, amplified by the connected hallways as a tear started to form in the air no larger than the size of one's fist, but it grew in size at an alarming pace, and soon a hole came into existence leading to a frozen wasteland.

Moments later, an ice blue rabbit hopped through.

Sniffing the air and scratching itself behind the ear with a hind leg, the animal took the time to look around. Not finding anything of interest it moved further into the castle, and, in time, it would find its way outside. Hopping over the old and rotten bridge and into the forest, unaware of the two eyes watching its every move as it stopped, sniffed around, and continued its curious trek through the forest.

<<>><<>><<>>

"FROSTBITE!" the frost giant who had witnessed the tear forming shouted as he ran into the village, gaining the attention of the village's leader.

"Wind Chill, what is it? Did something happen?"

"Frostbite, we have a serious problem," Wind Chill said in alarm, and Frostbite's posture shifted from a relaxed stance to a more rigid one.

"What happened?"

"A portal unlike any I have ever seen before has opened in the Death Zone. I fear it leads not to the human world but to this other world the humans deal with."

"WHAT! How did this happen? No portal can open in our lands, it is impossible."

"I know, but it has happened nonetheless."

"Oh, this is bad. If the other ghosts hear of this there will be no containing them. We must place guards near it, make sure nothing gets through," Frostbite ordered.

"I’m afraid it is already too late," Wind Chill said with an icy tone.

"What?"

"A beku terwelu went through."

Silence.

A look of fear showed on Frostbite's face, and he turned to look towards the Death Zone, barely able to see the shimmering hole Wind Chill spoke of.

"Good grief. Whatever deity it is those creatures believe in, I hope it protects them from this evil," Frostbite spoke with a rumbling voice as he looked at the villagers around him. All of them listening in, and waiting for his orders.

"You, Avalanche, Snow Front! Wind Chill will lead you to this portal, and the two of you will guard it with everything you’ve got, while Wind Chill will go through and find this wretched beast. Nothing else may slip through, from either side. Keep their world safe, they're ill prepared for us ghosts, and they will be even easier prey than the humans were.

"Yes Frostbite!" the three frost giants chorused, and they quickly moved to the Death Zone.

"I just hope it is not already too late," Frostbite said to himself, looking once again at the distant portal.

<<>><<>><<>>

The manticore moved quietly through the forest, stalking his prey. An ice blue rabbit.

Never before had he seen something like this, and he was eager to try out the flesh of this animal.

He was careful, more so than usual as he moved slowly, creeping closer to his prey. It certainly seemed like an easy kill, but that’s what he thought of those three ponies some nights before, and look how that turned out. No, he was more careful after that, nor was he going to play with his food as much as he did with those ponies.

Closer and closer he got, close enough to catch the scent of the animal. A chilly scent that sent a shiver down his spine and made him stop for a moment. But not wanting to let such easy prey get away, he continued, closing the distance.

His large form towered over the rabbit, and the light of the moon shining through the trees cast his shadow over the rabbit, making it turn as it noticed something was standing behind it.

The manticore roared to signal he was about to strike, but he was stopped mid pounce when he noticed something very strange happening with his prey.

A look of anger mixed with malicious intent appeared on the face of the rabbit, and a warping glow covered its body. It doubled, tripled, quadrupled in size, while its appearance became wilder and wilder.

Then it roared back, stretching its mouth open to an impossible width and showing many, oh so many, razor sharp teeth.

It attacked without mercy, and all the other animals around fled the scene as the dark forest filled with the pained screams of a manticore dying violently, and the crunching of bones as the rabbit ate.

Help for this creature had already come too late.

Author's Note

Okay, here we are again. Now, as usual, let me know what you think of this chapter. What did you like? What you didn't like. Or just say hello. Also, Sweetie's yell. I have recieved several of them in the comments, and now I'm letting it up to you to fight out which you think is the best of them. I will place each yell into a separate comment, and you can use the up/down vote option on them to tell me which you liked best. The one with the highest rating will win.

So, let the comment war begin!

-Powerdrainer.

Discovery and Understanding

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

Discovery and Understanding.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Clockwork!" sounded Sam's voice as she flew back into the time hall, holding a black book in her hands.

"Sam, you have what I asked for?" he asked, still looking at the swirling vortex of the viewing portal.

"Yes, and it has been a pain taking it with me. It keeps shocking me every few minutes," Sam muttered darkly, feeling the urge to simply blast the book with some of her own ectoplasm.

"Why am I not surprised," Clockwork said flatly as he finally turned around, looking at the book Sam was holding.

Making it hover before him, he looked at the skull found on the front of the cover. His red eyes boring into the skull's own glowing green eyes.

"So, care to explain yourself, Necky?"

The book didn't answer, nor did it do anything else. It just hovered on the spot, held aloft in the grip of Clockwork's power.

"Ehh… Clockwork? It's just a book. Maybe you should just open it," Sam said, confused.

"Sam. There are still a lot of things you don't know, this is one of them. Now be quiet, I am trying to have a conversation here," Clockwork said with a frown as he looked at the book, "So, Necky. Mind telling me why you did it?"

Silence.

"I could always erase you from history and undo everything you did."

The skull's eyes glowed a bright green, and the book opened. Its pages turning rapidly as if struck by a fierce wind, and it lay open before Clockwork at the centerfold.

It would be unwise to do so, Clockwork.

"And would you mind telling me why?"

You already know the answer, Clockwork.

We all have our part to play, even if we don't know the rules. I did what I did, because it was my part in this chess game. I kept you in the dark, just like you did with Sam. And for the same reason. Should you have known, you might have done things differently. I don't make the rules, and neither do you. But we can bend them from time to time. I bent my rules, just like you did yours. What you do next, however, will be up to you. But the dice have been thrown, and my choice has been put to motion. Will you cheat, and wipe her off the board? Or will you accept this new player into the game, and try to work with it? We all have a choice to make, and this is mine. She is mine. Silver Spirit might just make the difference all our worlds need. Or she might not. Destiny is a curious thing, but the choices we make will determine how it will play out.

"That may be, but you still upset the balance, and secrets have been revealed that should have been kept hidden. Plus, one pony being a Halfa is already difficult enough. What will happen when she heeds the calling?" Clockwork said angrily, shifting through his various forms much faster because of it.

Destiny.

And with that, the book closed with a snap and vanished in a burst of green energy.

Silence.

"... So… What do we do now?" Sam asked quietly after a moment, keeping a bit of a distance between herself and Clockwork.

"We wipe the board clean and start again with this new development. I can't undo this change without undoing everything done by the Necronomicon, even though I wish I could. Instead, I can at least change the outcome of one event," Clockwork said as he turned back to the viewing portal and lifted his cane.

"Some secrets are not yet meant to be found out."

And through use of his powers over time, he changed the event where Twilight found out about Danny's secret. But as he studied the new possibilities with this newly created timeline, he discovered certain other 'players' as well. And more secrets not yet ready to be found out. And he knew there was still a lot of work left to be done, especially concerning those two close to the orange filly, Scootaloo.

And, as he watched the present and future with a frown, he started to form a new plan on how to best use this new development in Danny's best interest, as well as for all those involved with future events.

<<>><<>><<>>

Your Highness.

As stated by protocol, I hereby send you the first report of our investigation of the Ponyville area.

After arriving in the village by train, my team split up into two main groups to increase our search effectiveness. One group resides in the nearby forest, White Tail Woods. The other, led by me, is currently residing in Ponyville's guest house.

After our first preliminary search for the suspected spectral activity that was reported in the area we were unable to get a conclusive answer as to whether there is a ghost or not. Mainly due to interference from an unknown source. We have yet to receive a report from the team out in the forest, but it is expected that they are having similar difficulties with their equipment.

And while we have used these devices during training exercises on both worlds, malfunctions like we are experiencing now have not occured before. A conclusive answer for this, we do not have as of yet. Though field modifications to limit the devices' sensitivity does seem to help to a limited degree.

As of now, we can't say with certainty that the possible signals we detected are a confirmed hit, or a false positive due to these problems.

For now we feel confident we are able to continue the investigation, despite these setbacks. But it would be wise to make this matter known to the Fenton Corporation so they can investigate this problem, and find a potential solution.

Furthermore; Investigation around the lake which was reported frozen by your student, Miss Twilight Sparkle, resulted in no detectable evidence of any spectral activity. Which, as Specialist Blue Ice confirmed, is most likely the result of the ambient magic deteriorating any spectral residue, along with your student using a spell to melt the ice.

However, further investigation farther away from the lake resulted in us finding a trace amount of spectral energy. It could very well be a false positive, as I mentioned, but it led us to the home of the town's human resident, Danny Manson. However, we were unable to investigate thoroughly around his home because, remote as it might be from the rest of the town, it still lies within sight, and he or others could have seen us should we have tried to enter the residence.

We need to get a thorough look both outside and inside his home, but currently we are unable to complete this task due to the risk of being found out. And although we could set up a distraction, it would most likely put our undercover operation at risk, should somepony look the wrong way at the wrong time.

That said, there might be another target of interest as one of the readings lead us to a filly that seemed to give off small amounts of spectral energy. But this too could be, and most likely is, a false positive. Either way, this filly, Silver Spoon, will be under close observation until we know for sure our equipment works as it should and we can rule her out as a possible source of spectral activity.

We do not know for certain if there truly is a ghost lurking around in this town, and the evidence is not much to go by. But we will continue our search until we know for certain, and should any new evidence be found we will report it immediately.

First lieutenant, Rolling Stone.

Celestia received the letter last night before the moon rose, arriving by express mail in the hooves of a wall eyed, but cheerful and happy gray pegasus mare.

She had reread it several times now and, as she was seated in her personal chambers, exhaled a tired sigh.

She knew not to expect too much, but with a matter as serious as this one, she had hoped there would have been some answer as to what was been going on in Ponyville.

Still, it did give her something to work with. She would take First Lieutenant Stone's advice to heart and inform the Fenton Corporation about the issues with their devices. It hopefully was just a mistake made as they modified these devices for use by her ponies, nothing more. But it now proved to be a significant problem for the ponies sent to investigate. Still, she knew how to help them out with another problem of theirs, and she used her magic to materialize a scroll, quill and inkwell.

My precious student, Twilight.

I write to you to bring to your attention a matter of great importance you need to be aware of, as I no longer feel like I can keep you in the dark on these matters. I must ask you to stop reading this aloud, and to keep the contents of this letter to yourself.

For some time now, my sister has been detecting a severe disturbance coming from Danny Manson, the human living in Ponyville. It only happens at night when he sleeps, and it has shown to be increasing in both strength and severity. And despite numerous attempts, Luna has been unable to stop this disturbance, nor has she been able to dive into Danny's dreams.

Two nights ago however, something changed, for the worse. I will not go into details but we, my sister and I, fear that a ghost has managed to penetrate our defenses, and is now actively haunting Danny Manson. How this could have happened, we do not know. There was however, an attempted ghost breach at the tear facility involving Danny the day he came to our world, which also inflicted massive damage to the scanning room found there. It is believed the ghost was stopped before anything worse could happen, and we managed to keep the population in general from finding out, in order to avoid any panic and chaos.

However, given the common factor between the incident at the tear facility, and the disturbance found by my sister, we fear the ghost in question was not stopped, and found a way out of the compound and into our world. I don't need to explain to you what this means.

I also know that by this point you will most likely be having a panic attack, so please, calm down. Take a deep breath and continue with this letter.

We do not think Danny is actively aware of what is happening, but we cannot know for certain. There is a team of investigators, the Ghost-keteers, currently seeking out any sign of spectral creatures in the Ponyville area. They are aware of the probability that the spectral activity is centered around Danny, and they will need to investigate around his home for any signs. But remembering something my sister and I noticed the first time we met him, I believe it would be for the best if he isn't aware of this happening.

I understand you have had some interaction with him before, and I hope the two of you will have a blooming friendship. And, if I may be so bold, I would appreciate it if you invited him with you on your next visit to Canterlot. It would be a good thing for him to put some distance between himself and this supposed ghost, and it would be a wonderful opportunity to get to know him a bit better. I, for one, would very much like the chance to meet him personally again, and hopefully get to know him a bit better as well.

I understand this is asking a lot of you, and I will understand if you decline. I cannot in good conscience force you to do something you do not want to do. But, if you happen to feel like this is a perfect way to get to know him a bit better, you are more than welcome to bring him along. I most certainly look forward to your next visit.

And to end this letter on a lighter note, your mother said hello.

Your mentor and friend, Celestia.

After reading it through again to make sure she didn't make any mistakes, both with her spelling and with the contents of what it was she was telling Twilight, she sent the letter on its way, most likely waking Spike up as it was still early in the morning, and she had yet to raise the sun.

Looking out the window of her personal chamber, Celestia saw the moon beginning its descent. At least Luna was still able to perform her duty, even though she was still shaken from her experience, and hadn't attempted to reach out to Danny in any way.

Sighing, Celestia stood up, preparing to bring forth a new day.

<<>><<>><<>>

Wind Chill stepped through the ominous portal, and found himself inside an old and abandoned room. Looking around, he noticed the slowly rising sun coming from the broken windows, which was troubling. At night most creatures would be asleep, but during the day… Should any come in contact with the beku terwelu the panic caused would only increase the danger.

Its cute and fluffy appearance only a deception to lure its prey closer to it, and when they get close it shows its true form. But should a panic break out around it, things would become even worse.

Wind Chill shuddered at the thought of what could happen, and he knew he had to hurry. So without wasting any more time, he looked around to find any trace of this beast. Using his experience and sharp senses, he quickly found what he was looking for. Tiny droplets of water leading away from the portal and towards one of the many hallways. Knowing that the ground froze at the touch of a beku terwelu, he knew the creature had left this trail. Following the droplets of water through the ruined building he found himself in, he would soon make his way out of what proved to be an old castle. Maybe not as old as himself, but still old all the same.

Seeing that the trail led him to an old and flimsy bridge, he realized there was no chance of him walking over the rotten wood without it collapsing, and the gift of flight was not something his kind had. But that didn't mean he was stuck there, oh no. Grabbing the support ropes of the bridge in his hands, he channeled his ice shaping power into it, freezing the ropes and the wood that they held up. Before long, a brightly gleaming bridge made from the purest of ice hung above the chasm. Larger and stronger than the old flimsy rope bridge that hung there before, with cold vapor coming off of it as it was heated in the early morning sun.

Walking over it to the other side, he was quick to resume his mission to track down this most vile of creatures. And as he stepped into the forest surrounding the old castle, he took note of the eerie quiet, knowing that this was not a good sign.

"It was here, I can feel it," he grumbled in a dark tone, looking around to see if he could find any damage.

Stepping through a tall bush he came upon a scene that made his frozen blood run even colder.

A carcass. Lying in a pool of blood, its flesh stripped clean, and its bones crushed and splintered. He knew all too well what had caused this, and he swore under his breath.

Seeing another trail leading away from the slaughtered beast, he increased his pace to catch up with this demon. He would not allow another creature to be harmed by this foul thing.

He hoped.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle woke up with a loud yawn, blinking dumbly as she tried to wake up while her body was more set on staying asleep. Looking around she saw, with a small sense of pride, that she was still lying in her bed, within her room. That was a major improvement compared with yesterday.

Forcing herself out of her bed and onto the floor, she stretched herself out with an unlady like groan. Giving herself a once over, she noticed that none of her limbs, or other parts of her body, were either invisible, intangible, or both.

'Huh. Guess that whole thing with thinking I'm a cloud really worked after all,' she thought, and yawned again.

Forcing herself into motion, she made her way to the bathroom, intending to freshen up a bit before breakfast. But as she approached the aforementioned room, she saw the door was locked, indicating her sister was already using it.

Sighing, she turned around and prepared to go to the kitchen to make herself something to eat. And, regardless of what her sister said, she did know how to cook. After all, a sandwich is supposed to be burnt, right? But as she was walking to the stairs she passed by her sister's atelier, she noticed the door was still partially open, and glancing inside she saw a rather odd, but interesting looking suit lying on the table.

Stepping inside, she walked over to the clothes placed neatly in order on the wooden surface. Jumping on a stool for better height; she stood with her hind legs on the stool, while placing her front hooves on the table, giving herself the needed height to see what it was Rarity had placed there.

It was mostly black, which was odd as it was a color her sister rarely used. But there was white in it as well, which was another color that, although less so than black, still was not used much. It consisted of one of those shurts, or whatever they were called, along with a matching pair of pants. Both of them were black, with white parts at the end of the shurt's sleeves, as well as at the bottom of the pants’ legs. The neck area was also white, and a white belt was found next to the clothes.

Sweetie Belle blinked several times as she took it all in. This was something her sister had never made before, and she had a hard time figuring out why she had made something like this now. She was so transfixed with what she was seeing that she didn't even notice her sister walking in the room, and only after Rarity cleared her throat did she notice her sister was standing behind her.

"Hey, sis. What are you making?" she asked, giving Rarity a curious look.

"I'm afraid I don't know myself," Rarity answered with a sigh as she stepped up next to her younger sister, looking at the suit she had been working on for some time now.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Sweetie Belle asked in confusion, "You're making it, shouldn't you know what it is?"

"Yes, and I know what it is, but I simply don't know where to take it, so to speak. It just doesn't want to work with me. It simply doesn't speak to me. I had this marvelous idea, a burst of inspiration that made me make this. But now, after having tried several times, I don't know what to do with it. It simply doesn't feel right, like there is something missing, and I'm too blind to see it," she answered with another sigh, "I guess my muse decided to leave me halfway through this little project of mine. So it is just sitting here, gathering dust while I try to figure out what I am doing wrong."

"Maybe it's the colors?" Sweetie offered.

"That's what I thought, but I keep going back to this color scheme. Why, I simply don't know. It is just this thought, this idea in the back of my mind," she sighed. "Oh well, no need for you to worry about it. Now, freshen yourself up while I make some breakfast. Then it is off to school for you," Rarity told her sister, giving her a gentle nudge to the bathroom.

"Okay, sis," Sweetie Belle replied cheerful, and she rushed to the now free bathroom, tripping over her legs, and tumbling head first into the bathtub, somehow managing to turn on the faucet at the coldest setting, which just so happen to be placed directly above her head.

"GHAAAA!" she yelled as the freezing cold water splashed in her face, desperately trying to scramble to her hooves and away from the horrible cold. But her downright spastic attempts to do so only made things worse, and by the time she was finally able to pull herself out of the tub she was soaking wet and shivering.

"O-o-ok-k-ay. Tha-a-at wi-i-ill be eno-oug-h," she managed through clattering teeth, and she hurried to grab a towel, somehow managing to pull every single piece of clean linen out of the nearby cabinet, covering herself in a heap of fabric. All the while, Rarity watched from the open door, hoof firmly placed against her face.

<<>><<>><<>>

The sun rose higher and higher, spreading its warm, life giving light over the world. Yet most of that light failed to penetrate the thick foliage of the Everfree Forest, causing the dense forest to be as dark and foreboding as it always had been. A perfect place for the many dangerous creatures that lurked there. A place where only the most dangerous, confident, or foolish of beings would dare to enter as danger lay around every turn. But as dangerous as the animals that lived in the forest were, none of them could be seen nor heard. Not because they lay in wait to ambush prey, but because they were scared. Scared of the unholy abomination that had entered their home, and was methodically slaughtering any that would try to claim it as their kill.

No sound could be heard. Not the sound of birds singing, the sound of manticores roaring, or even the sound of the forest itself. All was quiet, all was scared. All that is, except the wooden wolves of the forest. A duo of timberwolves were stalking the seemingly harmless blue rabbit, seeing it move around, yet they remained undetected.

They were on edge. They had been for a while now. First there was the confirmation that the dark one was living near the forest, and they stood at attention should he ever bring forth its evil. Which he hadn't done… yet.

They didn't know what his plan was, but they were keeping a close eye on him. But now it would seem another evil had found its way into the world, and they were forced to split their focus between the dark one and this new entity.

They didn't know what it was, but they recognized its energy as their own. The energy of the dead, a wandering soul. Yet it didn't seem to be on the same level, intellectually, as they were, and most of its actions seemed to be made purely on instinct. But they knew better than most that what they saw was not always how things were. After all, just like their own form, appearance can be deceiving.

Their target moved again, and they followed, making sure not to lose sight of it, and to warn off any animal that might tread too near. For they are the protectors of the forest, the guardians of life. It is their task, their curse, a punishment for their crimes against life. They were the wandering wolves. They were the Kadzait.

*Snap*

Their heads snapped towards a bush some distance away when they heard the sound. It was faint, but loud enough for them to hear. It would seem another animal was coming too close to this threat, and they had to act accordingly to steer it away.

They looked at one another, and the faintest of nods was passed between them as a silent agreement was made. One of the wolves split off, moving silently towards the bush to see what it was that was approaching, and to scare it off. Yet before he could approach the bush to fulfill his duty, a loud roar tore through the air. And with a mighty heave, a beast with white fur and a cold aura radiating off it jumped out of the foliage, baring its teeth as it rushed towards the blue rabbit.

They didn't know what was going on. They didn't know what this beast was. And in the confusion they failed to notice the similarity between their energy and the white giant's. All they were able to observe in the split second everything went down, was the giant roaring and rushing toward the rabbit which, in turn, transformed into the terror that had the forest in its grip.

They didn't know what was going on, only that they had to act. So, with a loud bark, they both rushed towards the white giant. One tackled it to the ground, while the other took up position between the giant and the blue rabbit. Taking on an aggressive stance, it growled and roared at the beast. And it would appear the blue beast wasn't as stupid as it looked, for it saw it was outnumbered and turned back into its deceptive form and fled.

"NO!" the white giant shouted as he pushed away from the ground, pulling himself and the wolf on his back up.

"Begone," he roared as he grabbed the wolf from his back and tossed it into the bush he came from, "I don't have time for this, I need to stop this threat," he said more to himself than the wolves as he rushed after the rabbit, trying to catch back up with it.

And as he vanished into the darkness of the forest, the wolves regrouped, sharing a startled look of realization.

The giant, it too shared their energy. Yet it was a different form all the same. An energy more similar to that of the rabbit than theirs, yet it was the tell tale sign of death all the same.

"Kio okazas, frato?" one of the wolves asked in confusion.
"What is going on, brother?"

"Mi ne scias, sed la arbaro ne plu estas en ekvilibro. Ni devas informi la Alfa," the other responded.
"I do not know, but the forest is no longer in balance. We need to inform the Alpha."

They gave one last look at the place the giant had run off to before they turned and ran back to their pack. Something has disrupted the balance, and it would seem it was getting worse.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rolling Stone, Blue Ice, Sound Wave and Ornate Charm came out of their rooms, ready to start the next day of investigations. They had planned everything out the previous day, and they were ready to pick up where they had left off. And hopefully the improvements to their equipment would prove to be effective. But as they walked out of the guest house, they came upon an unexpected sight.

A large cart with bright colors, horns, flags and what seemed to be an oven. And standing in front of it all was the pink pony they knew as Pinkie Pie, the bearer of the Element of Laughter.

"GHAAAA!" she gasped out, "There you are!"

"Ehh, who?" Sound Wave asked.

"Why, all of you of course," Pinkie Pie said cheerfully, and she gave the cart a slight kick.

Music started to play as she danced and jumped around with a large, toothy smile.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome. A fine welcome to you," she sang as she placed a party hat on all four their heads, while they looked at the pink mare as if she was crazy. Which, as she started to move around on two legs while playing a drum, they were sure she was.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome. I say how do you do?" They never saw it coming, but when it happened it was already too late. And with ringing ears, they tried to figure out how she was able to pass a trumpet cleanly through all their heads while blowing it.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome. I say, hip hip hooray! Welcome, welcome, welcome to Ponyville todaaaaay," she finished as she slid towards them, front legs raised in a cheer.

"Wait for it!" she said, and the ding of a timer went off. With a small explosion streamers and confetti blew out of the pipes attached to the cart, while a cake shot out of the oven, coming to a perfect stop in-between the hooves Pinkie was holding up.

"Tadaaa~" she announced proudly as she held the cake up to the four ponies, already cut and ready to eat.

"O-kay?" Blue Ice said as she, and the rest of her team, had a plate with the cake shoved into their hooves.

"Try it. I made it myself," Pinkie chirped joyfully, bouncing on the spot, unable to stand still with her usual boundless enthusiasm.

The four shared a look of bewilderment as they also observed the blatantly effervescent mare. They had heard of her, of course. Her actions, along with those of the other Elements were well known among the guards, as well as her colorful behavior. But experiencing it first hoof was something else entirely, and they were unsure how to best respond to it. So like everyone else that first experienced the pink party pony's particularly perplexing personal welcome parade, they stood there staring dumbly, mumbling a bit as their brains tried to catch up with the situation.

Fortunately they were trained to keep a clear mind in difficult situations, so they were able to snap out of their stupor relatively quickly. Still, in the few seconds it took their brains to reboot, Pinkie Pie's smile drooped off her face as she took it as a sign of rejection. But the mare was more resilient than that, and she would get through to them just like she had done with Cranky Doodle Donkey. So with a determined nod, her smile returned, even bigger than before.

"Soooo. A tough crowd it would seem. Don't worry, I have just the thing that you need," she said, and she shot off in a blur.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Blue Ice said as they saw the slowly fading pink outlines the mare had left behind.

"So do I," Rolling Stone replied.

"Mhe twho, buht phis cake pfis amafing," Ornate Charm said with a full mouth, earning herself stares from her three teammates. "What!?" she said with a shrug, swallowing her mouthful "You should try it."

Looking at one another, they shrugged in silent agreement.

"Meh, might as well," Rolling Stone muttered, and he took a bite of the cake he was still holding.

His eyes, as well as Blue Ice and Sound Wave's widened as the flavor assaulted their taste buds, and for a second time in short succession they were speechless.

"You've got to give it to her," Ornate Charm said while smacking her lips, "She might be crazy, that mare knows how to bake a cake."

The other three hummed their agreement.

<<>><<>><<>>

The two timberwolves ran through the forest as fast as they could, not stopping for anything. And in no time they had arrived back at the heart of their pack's territory, and they made haste to their Alpha.

The other wolves present looked up as the duo rushed in, but none of them tried to stop them. They knew they were out in the forest to track the latest threat. And they knew that, if they came back in such a hurry, something was wrong, very wrong.

The two ran inside the cave the Alpha called home, and came to a sudden stop within the cavernous space.

"Kial vi estas ĉi tie? Kio okazis?" the rumbling voice of the Alpha echoed through the cave.
"Why are you here? What happened?"

"Alfa, nova evoluo okazis, kaj la ekvilibro estis interrompita eĉ pli," one of the wolves answered.
"Alpha, a new development has occurred, and the balance has been upset even more."

"Kion vi signifas?" the Alpha asked.
"What do you mean?"

"Ni spuris la bluan demono, kiel ordigita. Sed io alia montris supren kiel ni faris tiom," the wolf answered.
"We tracked the blue demon, as ordered. But something else showed up as we did so."

"Io granda. Io mortinta, kiel ni estas," the other finished.
"Something big. Something dead, like us."

"KIO!?" the Alpha barked, and the two wolves' ears fell flat.
"WHAT!?"

"Ni ne scias kio ĝi estas, aŭ de kie ĝi devenas. Sed estas evidente, la bilanco estis perturbitaj pli severe, ol oni origine opiniis," one of the wolves spoke up.
"We do not know what it was, or where it came from. But it is obvious the balance has been disturbed more severely than we originally thought."

"Ankaŭ. Ĝi ŝajnus la nova estaĵo ankaŭ estis ĉasante la blua demono. Ili povus esti rilatigitaj?" the other added.
"Also. It would seem this new entity was also hunting the blue demon. Could they be related?"

The Alpha was silent for a long time as he thought over what he was told. A decision had to be made, but this new information proved they were not the only ones out there that needed to be thought of.

"Vi du, spuros kie tiu nova ento devenis! Eble ni povas trovi iujn respondojn je la fonto. Mi sendos alian grupon por trovi kaj sekvi la blua demono, tiel kiel tiu alia interloper vi jam rakontis al mi pri. Se tio estas vera, kaj tie estas alia animo, kiu trovis vojon al tiu ĉi mondo tiam pli povis, kaj volis, sekvi. Tio estas fakto ni scias tro bone. Ni ne povas lasi ke tio okazas, ne plu!" the Alpha ordered.
"You two, track down where this new entity came from! Maybe we can find some answers at the source. I will send another group to find and follow the blue demon, as well as this other interloper you've told me about. If it is true, and there is another soul that has found a way to this world then more could, and will follow. This is a fact we know all too well. We can not let that happen, not again!"

"Jes, Alfa," they answered in unison, and they hurried to carry out their new orders.
"Yes, Alpha."

And as they left the Alpha wolf alone in his cave, he thought back to a time so very long ago.

"Post ĉiu. Ni, ankaŭ, iam trovis nian vojon en tiu ĉi mondo. Ne per elekto, sed ankoraŭ, ĉi tie ni estas ĉiuj la sama," he muttered to himself.
"After all. We, too, once found our way into this world. Not by choice, but still, here we are all the same."

<<>><<>><<>>

Wind Chill had been running through the forest for many hours now, panting hard despite the fact he didn't need to breathe.

He wasn't used to the warmth he experienced on this world after all, and the exertion he pushed himself through only added to his discomfort. Still, he didn't stop as he knew that if he faltered for even a single moment many lives could be lost. So with eyes burning in determination, he continued on his search for the beku terwelu. Unfortunately, his encounter with those strange wooden creatures had scared the beast away, and he had been unsuccessful in tracking it down again. It could be anywhere, hidden in the vastness of this forest, and he feared someone else would find it before he did. Or worse, it would find them.

With a low grunt, he forced himself to go even faster, not wanting to let the fate that had befallen that creature whose bones he had found to strike some other unfortunate soul. But as he was pushing through a dense bush somewhere in the middle of the forest, the beku terwelu was jumping out past the treeline, feeling the warming rays of the midday sun hitting its face while it turned to the sound of a ringing bell near a small building some distance away. And as it moved to see what it was, it noticed several small ponies rush out of the building.

A twisted grin crept across its face, as it would seem it had found another source of food.

<<>><<>><<>>

The school bell rang, and the foals trapped within rushed outside, more than eager to leave behind the stuffy and boring classroom they'd been stuck in for hours.

Four ponies however, were not as quick to run out of the room, screaming and hollering as they reclaimed their freedom.

First there was Diamond Tiara, grumbling under her breath as she slowly walked away, alone now that Silver Spoon was at home. All because of those three fillies, she knew, but couldn't prove it, yet.

And second, there were the three aforementioned fillies, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They were quicker to leave, but still didn't all out run towards the freedom that awaited them outside. Instead, they kept close together as they quickly moved away from the school and the town, heading towards their clubhouse so they could continue their training for Sweetie Belle.

"Are you ready to try that transformation again?" Scootaloo asked after they were far enough away from the school.

"Yes!" Sweetie Belle said with determination, feeling particularly lucky today.

"Ya remember what ya did last time ya managed ta transform?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yes… Kinda… Not really," Sweetie Belle answered with an awkward smile, and a golden flash came from her horn, causing all three of them to trip over their legs as it took them by surprise.

"What was that!?" Apple Bloom said loudly as she untangled her limbs, looking at her friend's horn.

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle answered as she prodded the pointy appendage with a hoof, "It has never done that before."

"Was it your magic?" Scootaloo asked.

"No. My magic is a light green, remember," she answered.

"Oh yeah, like that other weird glowing stuff you can do," Scootaloo replied as she stood back up.

"Maybe it's just some other power of yers?" Apple Bloom suggested as she, too, climbed back to her hooves.

"I guess," Sweetie Belle said with a shrug.

"Let's just go back ta our clubhouse. We'll figure it out back there," Apple Bloom said, and she broke out in a gallop as she sped away.

"Hey! Wait for us!" Scootaloo shouted as she took off, chasing after her friend.

Sweetie Belle, however, looked around for a moment, feeling a strange chill go down her spine.

'I don't know. I've got a bad feeling for some reason.' she thought before shaking it off and following her friends towards the apple orchard, not noticing the pink filly following them. Nor did any of them notice the blue rabbit following after them as well.

<<>><<>><<>>

"We're never going to get any work done, are we?" Blue Ice muttered in annoyance as she and the rest of her team were, in ways they couldn't explain, somehow 'captured' by the pink menace known locally as Pinkie Pie, and were now subjected to continuous 'fun' provided by the aforementioned mare to properly welcome them to Ponyville.

"Well, you've got to give her credit," Ornate Charm replied as they watched Pinkie Pie ride on an unicycle while juggling cupcakes and singing at the same time, "She does know how to put on a show."

"Yes. But while she's at it, we're stuck here. She won't give up easily, we know that much," Sound Wave mentioned with a snicker when one of the cupcakes fell on Pinkie's head.

"That's all nice and such. But I have a thirty bit bet going with Vigilant Shield about who will find the 'objective' first," Blue Ice replied in a mutter, but a smile managed to break through as she watched the pink pony do her thing.

"Just give her what she wants, she has earned that much," Rolling commanded with a humorous grin, the antics of Pinkie Pie getting to him.

"I guess she did," Blue Ice answered with a faint grin of her own, seeing Pinkie jump off the unicycle and land on her hind legs, standing tall and proud while breathing heavily, front legs held wide.

"Tadaaa~" Pinkie Pie announced proudly, waiting for a response from her audience with a large smile.

Sound Wave and Rolling Stone gave a hearty laugh at Pinkie's antics, while Blue Ice and Ornate Charm gave a more reserved chuckle. Giving a quick round of applause by stomping their hooves on the ground, and a quartet of happy smiles on their faces was just the response Pinkie had been hoping for, and she soaked it all up with an ever growing smile splitting her face in half.

"That was great, miss, really," Sound Wave commented, "And we thank you for this warm welcome. But we should be going now. Still a lot of town to… ehh.. explore."

"Ahh, shush," Pinkie said with a wave of her hoof, "Just call me Pinkie, everypony else does."

"Okay, Pinkie," Rolling answered, "Thank you. It certainly was memorable."

"YAY!" Pinkie shouted excitedly while clapping her hooves together, "Now we're the bestest of friends."

"Ehh, sure?" Ornate Charm said, unsure.

"Woohoo!" Pinkie shouted as she bounced on the spot, sporting one of her biggest smiles as she had befriended not one, not two, but four ponies at once.

"Oh, oh. I am sooo excited, I feel like singing!" Pinkie chirped happily, and music started to play.

"Oh, come on," Blue Ice muttered as they were roped in to a song and dance number.

"Well, she's something alright," Sound Wave said in response.

"I'll say," Rolling Stone agreed.

"We're never going to get anything done, are we?" Ornate Charm asked. But she never got a reply, as they all were taken by the Music of Harmony, and they, along with all the ponies around, were singing loud and proud, dancing along with the music provided by the happy pink mare's magical harmony.

<<>><<>><<>>

They ran through the forest without missing a beat, following the scent they captured during their encounter with the white giant. They'd been at it for several hours now, as it would seem the giant had traversed a great distance going nowhere and even in circles, confusing the Kadzait for a moment. But now they had found it, the place the scent originated from, and they should have know it was this place of all places.

The castle of the royal sisters.

It used to be a place of prosperity and peace. A place that grew with the passing of time, forming a large city where many ponies thrived and flourished. Now, only a ruin of the castle remained. They were already there before that happened, and they witnessed the destruction themselves during the time of their greatest failure.

They are the Kadzait, the wandering wolves. A name earned during their time alive, a name soaked in the blood of innocents. Innocents killed by them, forever cursing them. They were banished to this world, forever cast out of the eternal hunting grounds, forced to roam these woods like they'd done on their own world, Firosina. Now though, they wouldn't make the same mistakes they'd made when they were among the living, the elder one wouldn't allow it. He, and that book he carried.

So here they were. Immortal souls trapped inside bodies made from the dead. It was an ironic turn of events, cursed to a form of immortality. The very thing they sought to obtain, yet a twisted mocker put on them as a curse for their sins. And as such, they were unable to die as they were tied to this world. And to make sure they understood the damage they had done to the balance of their own world, they were placed in charge of maintaining the balance of this forest. Which is why they were less than happy to stand before the ancient castle the scent had led them to.

They both growled as they stood there, remembering.

There was another who was also responsible for their curse. One who had lost himself due to their actions. And the one who had slain them as the darkness of Fenrir had consumed him. He was able to break free, eventually, but at the cost of his own life. And the dark one, it lived. A parasite roaming between worlds, seeking out anyone it could latch on to.

And it found one. Right here, right in this very castle.

Princess Luna drew the attention of Fenrir, her jealousy towards her sister the bait. It took hold of her, corrupted her mind, and changed both of them in the process. It shifted its form to match that of the princess of ponies, becoming the one now known as Nightmare Moon.

They should have stopped it. They should have stopped her. But they failed. They failed to fulfill their purpose, and, ultimately, it was Princess Celestia who stopped the corruption of Fenrir using the fruits of the Tree of Life.

But Fenrir, or, Nightmare Moon, hadn't gone away. It was merely relocated. Banished to the moon, looking down at the world below. And they looked up, every night of every year that passed since the day the Nightmare was banishment and the city fell into ruin.

They walked around the edge of the ravine surrounding the castle, heading towards the bridge they knew to be there. And they found it, just not how they remembered it.

A bridge made from the purest of ice crossed the expanse, cold vapor rising off of it as it was warmed by the light of the sun. Yet it didn't show any sign of melting, indicating this was more than just simple ice. One of the wolves reached out with his paw, touching the frozen surface, and he could feel the energy contained within the frozen construct.

Sharing a glance with his pack brother, they crossed the bridge, entering the castle, and continuing their search within the walls of the forsaken fortress. Sensing the undead energy hanging in the air.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were inside their clubhouse, the latter of which were arguing with each other over which of Sweetie Belle's powers they should work on. Sweetie Belle, of course, had no say in any of this. But she was talking just as loud, trying to get her voice in on this. Yet, loud as they may have been, their voices were still somewhat muffled for the pink filly standing outside, staying low on the outside deck below the window.

'What are they talking about?' she thought, pressing her ear closer to the wall, but with little success, as she didn't want to get too close to the dirty building, lest she soil her mane and coat.

"Fine, we try that first!" Apple Bloom's voice suddenly sounded loud and clear to her, and Diamond Tiara realised that she must have stepped closer to the window.

"Okay, Sweetie Belle. Ready?" Apple Bloom asked, getting a nod in return, which Diamond Tiara didn't see. What she did see was a sudden flash of golden light shining through the window.

"Hey, it did it again," she heard Scootaloo saying, and she was debating with herself on peeking through the window to see what they were up to, but she didn't want to get caught before she was sure what they were doing. But she never had a chance to make a choice as she felt somepony tapping her on her hind leg.

Fearing she was discovered, she turned around, only to see a blue bunny standing behind her.

"Huh?" she uttered, puzzled, as she looked at the cute blue thing, while it hopped closer to her as it sniffed the air.

"What do you want?" she said annoyed, glaring at the bunny as she shoved it away from her, causing it to fall over the edge of the deck, and hit the ground with a thud.

Huffing in irritation over the distraction, she turned her attention back to the fillies inside the ugly building they called a clubhouse. And, again, she was debating whether or not she should risk peeking inside to see what was going on, only to feel somepony tapping her leg again, and her eyes narrowed into a glare as she turned to look at who it was. And she had a good idea it was that weird bunny again. But as she turned to look, her eyes widened in fear and horror as what she saw was not the same fluffy animal from before. Instead there stood a beast, five times the bunny's size, with ragged, wild fur. A manic look on its face, and a pale glow around it. Then it opened its mouth, showing many sharp teeth.

At this sight her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks, and she screamed as she backed away, falling off the deck herself.

"What was that?" Sweetie Belle said as the three of them looked at the window.

"Maybe it was a moth," Scootaloo offered, and her two friends looked at her with a flat look, "What?" she asked with a shrug of her wings.

"Riiight."—Apple Bloom rolled her eyes—"Moths aside, don't ya think we should see who it was that screamed?" she asked.

"Right," Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo agreed with a nod, and the three of them rushed out of their clubhouse, looking down to see who it was that had screamed.

"Wait, is that Diamond Tiara?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Who cares about that. What the hay is that thing?!" Scootaloo replied as they stared at a blue beast, which looked somewhat like an oversized bunny, but with much wilder hair, sharp claws, sharper teeth, a menacing look on its face and, oh, there was a glow surrounding its body similar to the one around Sweetie Belle when she was a spirit.

"Ah don't know, but it seems interested in Diamond Tiara," Apple Bloom remarked as they looked down at the two beings.

Diamond Tiara, momentarily dazed from the fall, pushed herself up with a hoof, while rubbing her head with another. Shaking her head, she looked up and saw the blue monstrosity moving towards her, drooling, its mouth open and exposing many sharp teeth. The sight of it caused her to scream again.

"Ooh. So it was Diamond Tiara we heard," Scootaloo said in a moment of enlightenment, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gave their friend an annoyed look.

"You need to get your priorities straight," Sweetie Belle told her orange friend with a shake of her head.

"What? She's always mean to us. So she's scared by some weird bunny or something. It's probably some animal Fluttershy found in the Everfree Forest, no problem," Scootaloo said in a calm, logical voice. Something that was completely shattered the moment Tiara screamed again as the bunny lunged towards her.

"Ah think it's doing a bit more than scarin' her," Apple Bloom said in shock.

"Oh, yeah," Scootaloo said with an awkward shrug.

"We have to help her, don't we?" Sweetie Belle groaned out.

"We? I'm not getting anywhere near that thing," Scootaloo replied as she pointed a hoof at the animal.

"Yeah, Ah'm not all that keen ta get close ta this bunny myself either," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Then what do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked in a slight panic as they continued watching the spectacle.

"Well. It's just a thought but, aren't you a spirit?" Scootaloo said with a smirk.

"Yeah, so wha-… Oh no, no no no no. What if she sees me, like yesterday?" Sweetie Belle countered, holding both front hooves in front of her in a shielding manner as she conveyed her disapproval.

"Just scare her like you did back then. Besides, you were in your other form when it happened. Why not do it again?" Scootaloo argued back.

"But wha—" Sweetie Belle began, but she was interrupted by Apple Bloom.

"Look, either ya do this now, or it won't be necessary at all," she said as she pointed at Diamond Tiara lying on the ground, having tripped over one of the many tree roots.

"Oh, pony feathers," Sweetie Belle swore, knowing what had to be done.

"Okay, I hope this works," she said as she braced herself, focusing on the energy she felt inside. "Come on, come on. Transform," she muttered through clenched teeth, and a weak, flickering flash surrounded her.

"Come on, Sweetie Belle. You can do it," her friends cheered her on.

'Come on, come on. I'm a spirit, a spirit! So transform, come on!'

With a bright flash of light, a glowing white band formed around her midsection. Splitting in half, one part moved forwards, while the other moved back. Her white coat turned a gleaming silver, while her two-toned mane and tail turned into an intangible fog with two deep blue streaks running through it. Her eyes began to glow, while her formerly bare legs were now covered by pitch black boots several sizes too wide.

"Did it work?" Sweetie Bee asked, eyes still closed in concentration.

"Wow… Yeah, yeah it did," Scootaloo replied awed.

"Really!?" Sweetie Belle said in disbelief, and opened her eyes to see for herself. A victorious smile broke out on her face the moment she saw her silver, boot covered, leg. "I really did it!" she shouted happily.

"Not ta burst yer bubble," Apple Bloom cut in, "but focus!"

"Oh, right," Sweetie Belle, or, well, Silver Spirit said with a sheepish smile, and she jumped down from the deck, coming to a stop half a meter above the ground, right behind the blue rabbit beast... thing.

Tapping the blue creature on the back, Silver Spirit crossed her legs as she watched it turn around.

"Hey, didn't anypony teach you it isn't nice to scare others like that?" she said, trying to sound serious and authoritative, but only managing to sound insecure as she was trying to maintain her balance in her hovering position.

The bunny turned around, seemingly in slow motion, and eventually their eyes met, while Diamond Tiara was peeking from underneath one of the legs that she held over her head in a futile attempt to shield herself from the beast. And, at the sight of the silver pony hovering in the air, whose hind legs were missing and a waving tail could be seen in their place, she screamed again, loudly.

The blue beast, Silver Spirit, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo all flinched from the sound, while Diamond Tiara turned and ran away from the two creatures.

Unfortunately for Diamond Tiara, she was not paying attention to where she was going, and slammed head first into a tree.

Sliding down the trunk with her legs splayed wide, she lay unconscious on the ground.

"Well, that just happened," Scootaloo said, not sure whether she should laugh or not.

Looking at the downed filly, then back at each other, both Silver Spirit and the blue oversized bunny blinked in confusion before remembering what it was they were doing.

"So, ehh… You better behave, okay," Silver Spirit said as she pressed her hoof against the blue animal's snout, and it reared back while wiggling its nose, sneezing a bit, before its eyes refocused back on the filly, a growl escaping its mouth.

"Uh oh," she muttered with a small voice, gazing into the gaping maw of the less than friendly bunny.

"SWEETIE BELLE, GET OUTTA THERE!" Apple Bloom shouted to her friend, and she did just that.

Bolting away blindly, screaming, she slammed into a tree, slid down the trunk and fell onto her back, seeing miniaturized versions of Scootaloo fly around her head.

"We should help 'er, right?" Apple Bloom said flatly, after her hoof had a close encounter with her face.

"I guess so," Scootaloo replied, and the two of them jumped down off the deck, landing in front of their downed friend.

"Now hold it right there, mister," Apple Bloom said with a strong voice.

"Yeah. You're not going to hurt our friend," Scootaloo said with a threatening voice, snapping her wings out to look bigger.

The bunny only gave them a flat look, and then roared defiantly at them, blowing their manes back from the force.

"Eep," they both managed as they suddenly found that their less than properly thought out rescue was lacking in the rescue department, and they slowly backed away as the beast moved in towards them.

"Duck!" Silver Spirit shouted, and they reacted without thinking. Diving down to the ground, seeing a green beam shoot overhead, hitting the beast squarely in the chest, sending it flying backwards into a tree where it slid down the trunk, its fur singed.

"Well, that seems to be the theme of the day," Scootaloo muttered as she saw the beast drop to the ground, where it stood back up and shot a death glare at the filly responsible for its unplanned flight.

"Ehh, girls," Silver Spirit said as she stepped up between her prone friends, "This is not going so well."

"Well, what do we do now?" Scootaloo asked as she stood back up, looking defiant, and definitely not frightened, at the beast as it moved towards them, picking up speed with every step.

"JUMP!" Apple Bloom shouted, and the three of them jumped out of the path of the berserking blue bunny.

Silver Spirit, the first to recover, hovered up in the air, her tail twisting madly in a subconscious display of her anxiety.

Reaching into to the energy she felt inside, she poured a decent amount into her hooves, making them glow green.

"Please stay down this time," she said desperately as she shot a twin beam at the beast. One missed completely, scorching a tree behind the beast. The other hitting it in the side while it jumped out of the way.

"Hayseed!" she said as she flew backwards, shivering from the frightening glare the beast shot at her.

"Well, I'm out of ideas," she told her friends as she landed next to Diamond Tiara.

"Ah've got nothin' either," Apple Bloom replied frantically, looking around to find anything that could help them.

"Why don't we give it Diamond Tiara while we run away?" Scootaloo suggested, and her two friends looked at her as if she'd gone mad.

"What?" she said with a shrug, only to shout as she dodged a swipe of the beast's claw at the last second.

"GRAAAAAWWW!"

They all flinched from the loud roar, even the blue beast, except for Diamond Tiara of course, seeing she was still unconscious.

Looking around in fear and anxiety, the three fillies huddled together, while the beast looked around in anger, growling and hissing in response.

The ground started to shake in tune to the heavy hooffalls they heard, and with a mighty heave, a snow white giant jumped out of the shadows surrounding them, landing on the ground with a crash in-between the beast and the fillies.

"Mortals, run," Wind Chill ordered as he took a defensive stance in front of them, glaring at the beku terwelu. "I will deal with this abomination!"

Staring at the white giant, the three fillies were too stunned to move, let alone to acknowledge the command given to them by this strange giant. And instead, they stood unmoving on the spot. An ideal target for the beku terwelu, and Wind Chill knew it.

"MOVE, NOW!" he roared, and the beku terwelu surged into motion.

Lashing out with a claw, Wind Chill connected with the beast's jaw, sending it flying through the air with a pained yelp before it bounced off of the ground, coming to a rolling stop.

Picking itself up, its menacing look contorted into a glare of pure evil and malice. Giving a roar of its own, it ran towards Wind Chill, baring its fangs and claws.

Not impressed with this display of supposed power, Wind Chill sidestepped and the beku terwelu ran cleanly past him, and right towards the three fillies still standing there.

"NO!" Wind Chill yelled, as he channeled his ice powers into his claw, intending to send a ball of ice hurtling towards the beku terwelu. But, in a flash of green ectoplasm, his eyes widened as he witnessed the impossible. A mortal, this mortal, a silver pony only a few winters old, using the powers of the dead.

He was confused and amazed, but he didn't have the time to figure out this new mystery, as, right now, his attention was needed to deal with the threat at hand. So, shooting a wondering glance at the silver filly, he turned to face the beku terwelu once more, his claw glowing an ice blue as a large ice club formed in his grasp.

"Wow," Scootaloo said in amazement as they watched the giant use magic like they had never seen before.

"How did he do that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"And what is he," Silver Spirit added.

"I don't know. But that thing he did with the club was awesome!" Scootaloo said enthusiastically.

"Maybe, but Ah don't think we should stay here," Apple Bloom mentioned.

"Then what about Diamond Tiara? I'm not carrying her," Silver Spirit said, gently kicking the downed filly in the side, who then groaned in response as she came to.

"There ya go. Problem solved," Scootaloo chimed in helpfully.

Groaning as she slowly came to, Diamond Tiara rubbed her head as she looked up, and her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks at what she saw. The blue beast fighting with an even larger white beast. And standing next to her was a silver filly with a pale glow around her, a mane and tail made of a fog moving in an unfelt breeze, while her eyes were a glowing green.

Diamond Tiara's eyes met those of Silver Spirit, and she felt her breath get caught in her throat.

"Ehh… Boo," Silver Spirit said dumbly, and Diamond Tiara screamed as she scrambled away, running into the same tree that she had ran into earlier, knocking herself out again.

"You have got to be kidding me," Scootaloo said in disbelief as they looked at the pink filly, "Why does this keep happening?"

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom said with a shrug, paying more attention to the fight still going on.

"Well, as much as I hate to say it, we do need to help her. We can't leave her here, or she might get hurt… more," Silver Spirit said with a sour look.

"But what will you do then?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Help that big guy over there… I hope," she answered as she held up a hoof, a green glow surrounding it. "Well, here goes," she continued as she flew off while aiming her outstretched limb.

"Yaargh!" Wind Chill yelled, and he swung his club at the beku terwelu, missing it and hitting the ground instead. "You're not getting away this time, you beast," he roared as he lifted the ice club, and prepared for another attack.

Anticipating this, the beku terwelu readied itself, intending to counter the attack with one of its own. But instead of either one of them attacking, a silver filly flew over, screaming loudly while shooting blindly, hitting several trees and the ground, but missing her mark completely. But it did provide a distraction, which Wind Chill seized.

With the beku terwelu looking at the filly shooting at everything and nothing, he slammed his club on top of it with a mighty heave, flattening it underneath the bulky weight.

The club cracked from the force, and as it fell apart in his claw, it revealed an unconscious blue bunny lying in a small crater, out for the count.

Channeling his powers into both fists, he then shot a beam of icy energy at the beku terwelu, imprisoning it in a large ball of ice from which it could not easily escape.

And now, with this threat dealt with, he could now focus on the other problem at hand. Meaning the wildly screaming child who continued to fire beam after beam of ectoplasm.

"Control yourself, child. You are causing more trouble than you're solving," he said as moved his head out of the way of a wild shot.

"Graaaaaaaa!" Silver Spirit yelled, not hearing the giant as she kept shooting energy from her hooves.

"Ugh, children," Wind Chill muttered with a roll of his eyes, as he stepped closer to the filly.

"I said, control yourself!" he said loudly, making Silver Spirit yelp as he finally got through to her. And with a pained grunt, she fell to the ground as she lost her focus.

"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shouted as they ran to their friend, taking up a defensive stance before her.

"Stay away you.. you… Whatever you are," Scootaloo said in a poor attempt to sound threatening.

"Yeah. Yer not hurtin' our friend."

" 'Hurting her'? Why would I hurt her?" Wind Chill asked in confusion.

"... Eh, because you attacked that thing," Apple Bloom said as she pointed a hoof at the trapped blue bunny.

"True, but so did you, did you not," Wind Chill answered calmly.

"Actually, Sweetie Belle did," Scootaloo muttered.

"Ah, yes, your ghost friend. I must say, I wasn't expecting to find another ghost on this world," he replied, and the three fillies looked up at him with confusion plastered on their faces.

"Ghost? I'm not a ghost," Silver said, "I'm a spirit, sorta."

"Oh, my apologies. I was unaware you referred to yourself as such."

"But what do you mean with not expecting to find another ghost here. Are there others?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Beside me and the beku terwelu," he said as he nodded his head to the trapped animal, "No, not that I know off. But my friends are close by, guarding the breach in the Death Zone."

"WHAT!?" all three fillies shouted, "You're a ghost?"

"Yes, I am. But why is this confusing to you?" he asked Silver in surprise, "As a spirit you should be well aware of this."

"Well, actually... I don't really know all th—" she started, when she was interrupted by a flash of light, and a white band of energy formed around her midsection, beginning the process of turning her back to Sweetie Belle.

"By Frostbite's claw!" Wind Chill shouted as he reared back in shock.

"Ehh… You didn't see that, right?" Sweetie Belle said with a nervous smile.

"You.. You're a Halfa!?"

"A what now?" Apple Bloom asked, her head cocked to the side in puzzlement.

"But how? This was not foretold. A fourth Halfa, could it be?" he said to himself, looking at Sweetie Belle in amazement and curiosity. "Tell me young one, how long have you been a Halfa?"

"Ehh, if by that you mean a spirit, a few days now… Why?"

Taking a moment to calm down from the initial shock, Wind Chill took the time to properly observe the filly. And after considering what he saw and knew, he came to a simple conclusion.

"You do not know how to control your powers, do you?"

"Wait, what? Yes I do!" Sweetie Belle said, sounding offended, right up until her left front leg turned intangible, making her fall down.

"Oof. Okay, maybe not."

Wind Chill didn't say anything else after that. Instead, he looked off in the direction of the castle containing the portal, feeling the energy of his world, faint and distorted as it was.

"Perhaps I could be of some assistance, young one. I have some experience with those like you. But not here, please, follow me."

"Wait! What about Diamond Tiara?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"What does jewelry have to do with this?" Wind Chill asked, confused.

"No, Diamond Tiara," she clarified as she moved to the pink filly still lying unconscious on the ground.

"She's named after a crowny thing?" he asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.

"Uhh, yeah. So?" Apple Bloom replied.

"I have heard many strange names, but that one has to be the strangest."

"Really? Then what do you call yourself?" Sweetie Belle asked as she gave Diamond Tiara a small kick in the side, receiving no response.

"Oh my. Please forgive me for not introducing myself properly, it completely slipped my mind after discovering you to be a Halfa. My name is Wind Chill, a frost giant of the Far Frozen and overseer of the Death Zone."

"Wow, that's a mouthful," Apple Bloom replied, "Well, mah name's Apple Bloom."

"And I'm Scootaloo, the most awesome pony you will ever see. Except, maybe Rainbow Dash."

"And I'm Sweetie Belle, nice to meet you."

"Curious names indeed," Wind Chill muttered, "And what about the pink one, this Diamond Tiara?" he queried, looking at Sweetie Belle.

"She's out cold," she replied, giving the filly in question another kick in the side. "Has a nasty bump on the head too."

"Won't keep her from talking when she wakes up," Scootaloo spoke up, walking over to the downed filly. "There is no way she won't be talking about this."

"Yeah. That might be a problem," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Then what are we going to do now? What if ponies find out about me?" Sweetie Belle asked in a panic.

"Ah, they don't know, save for your two friends?" Wind Chill asked.

"Yeah. They were there when I… Changed."

"Curious… Very curious," he replied as he stared off in the distance, "And I take it you want to keep your... change, a secret?"

"Yes," Sweetie Sweetie said with a nod.

"Hmm, let me see," he hummed as he knelt down next to Diamond Tiara. Raising his hand, it started to glow an ice blue.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked suspiciously as she looked at the glowing appendage.

"Mending the damage done," he answered as he placed a single finger on the large bump on Tiara's head. The blue glow seeped into the swollen tissue, cooling it down and causing the swelling to diminished until nothing could be seen.

"There, her injuries are healed, but her mind is not something I can alter in her current state. However, seeing she is unconscious, it might be possible for her to believe she had dreamed everything, should she awaken in her own bed,"

"Would that even work?" Apple Bloom said, unsure, "Seems like a long shot to me."

"It is, but it is the only thing that might work. At least, until you learn to control your Possessive Suggestion," he directed to Sweetie Belle, who looked back mystified.

"My what now?"

"Later. First you should take care of this one… You can do that, right?"

"Ehh, I can turn myself invisible, other ponies as well. Would that help?"

"It will. It will keep you hidden as you return her home."

"Hold on. Why should we even do this in the first place?" Scootaloo asked, "She has always been mean to us, why not get a little payback."

"Ehh…" Sweetie Belle uttered, sharing a look with Apple Bloom.

"It would be unwise to do so," Wind Chill spoke up, "No one should ever seek vengeance, as it will only lower yourself to the level of those you seek vengeance on."

"Huh?" Scootaloo uttered, not understanding.

"By bullying a bully, you will become a bully yourself. Instead, show that you stand above such things, and you will find that this is a much more rewarding way to get back at her," Wind Chill clarified.

"Ehh…?"

"Don't be a bully," he said in a flat tone.

"Ooohh… Not even a little bit?" Scootaloo asked. Another flat look was the only response she got.

"Okay, so we won't do anything to her," Sweetie Belle said, "But we do need to get her home. Any ideas?"

"I shall carry her for a while, but I will not be able to carry her into the town I saw earlier. Not without starting a panic, by my reckoning. I can not turn invisible, as it is not the way of my kind. We use our appearance to blend in with our environment, and I stand out more than I like in this colorful world. You must get her home quickly, and safely. Then come back here, should you wish to learn more about your powers."

"Really! You can teach me about my powers?" Sweetie Belle said excitedly, green sparks of her magic shooting from her horn.

"Control yourself," he said as he saw the green sparks, mistaking them for ectoplasm, "And, yes. To some extent. But I know someone much more suited should you want to master your abilities. Now, let's go. There is still a lot we need to do," he told them, and he grabbed the filly with one hand, and the frozen bunny with the other, channeling extra ice energy in the frozen prison to keep it contained.

"Lead the way," he instructed, and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle ran ahead, excited grins showing on their muzzle. But Wind Chill stayed behind a bit, watching the fillies go. Paying especially close attention to the Halfa.

<<>><<>><<>>

They crept into the large chamber, two thrones standing on the far side, with two large banners hanging behind them. One was made with golden, red, and yellow fabrics, a symbol of the sun proudly displayed on it. The other was made with dark blue, purple and silver, showing the image of the moon.

But this was not what they were interested in, as they sniffed the air. A low growl escaped them as they slowly approached the hole in reality, seeing snow covered terrain on the other side. Snow, ice, and the forms of two white giants. They knew now where the white giant they encountered in the forest came from, and they knew not to act too quickly.

The giants had not yet detected them, it would seem, so the two wolves stayed back, not giving themselves away to this potential threat.

"Iru alporti la Alfa. Mi atendos ĉi tie," one of the wolves spoke, and the other replied with a quick growl before running off.
"Go get the Alpha. I'll wait here."

"Ĉi tiu problemo estas eĉ pli granda ol ni pensis."
"This problem is even bigger than we thought."

<<>><<>><<>>

They ran past the many rows of trees, speeding past them in a blur of orange and red. They had heard the roar from afar, and they knew it meant trouble. What it was that had produced the sound they didn't know, but they did know it came from the direction where the crusaders had their clubhouse. Fearing for their safety, Big Mac and Applejack ran as fast as they could, not stopping for anything. After all, with the crusaders there were several possibilities.

One: Some dangerous animal had followed them, and was now attacking them. A troubling idea, as the only creatures that would do such a thing lived in the Everfree Forest.

Two: They lured a dangerous animal from the Everfree Forest for some reason or another to earn their Cutie Marks. Also a dangerous proposition, as they, Celestia only knew how, always managed to do things no filly should be able to do.

Three: None of the above, and some dangerous beast had found its way into the orchard on its own, and had run into the fillies by chance.

Of course, neither Applejack or Bic Mac knew for sure if the fillies were even there. But they could be found there more often than not, and it was only logical to assume they were there now as well.

Running at top speed, both of them jumped into the clearing where the treehouse could be found, and their mouths fell open in shock as they saw the damage. Burned and blackened trees, upturned soil, and large footprints in the ground, joined with many hoofprints.

"Wh- What tha hay happened here?" Applejack said in shock, "Where are tha girls?"

"Ah have no idea," Bic Mac replied in a shocked tone as he, too, took in the damage. "But we better find 'em."

<<>><<>><<>>

"This is not going not work," Scootaloo muttered quietly. She, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were currently moving through town, invisible, with Diamond Tiara hanging over Apple Bloom's back, while she and Scootaloo held on to Sweetie Belle as she was making them invisible.

"It has ta, fer all our sakes." Apple Bloom grunted her reply, "Ugh, she's heavier than she looks,"

"Can you be quiet? This is harder than it looks," Sweetie Belle complained, straining herself to keep the cover up.

"Sorry." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said in reply, and the three of them continued with their attempt to get Tiara home before she woke up.

"Look, all I want is to talk, and I'm not leaving until you do!" they heard somepony shout. But, looking around, they couldn't see anypony that could have been responsible for it.

"What was that?" Scootaloo asked.

"Don't know, don't care," Sweetie Belle grunted, "Now, come on. I can't hold this forever."

"Right, coming," her friends replied, and they continued on their quest to the home of the dreaded Diamond Tiara.

"Just one question," Apple Bloom piped up, "How do we get inside?"

They all stopped on the spot, Sweetie Belle groaning in irritation.

<<>><<>><<>>

'Could it be, another Halfa?' Wind Chill thought as he quietly moved through the rows of apple trees. 'Is history repeating itself? Another mortal child infused with the energy of the dead?' he pondered as he approached the small clearing with the wooden house built in a tree, 'If so, why? How? And why such a creature as her? Frostbite needs to know about this. Things like this just aren't a coincidence, and I know there is more to this than I can see.'

Stepping closer to the area where he had his fight with the beku terwelu he noticed two other, larger, ponies near the wooden house.

He was quick to hide in-between the apple trees, watching the orange and red ponies frantically moving around as they observed the damage of his battle with the beku terwelu. And as he looked around, he had to agree that his tactics might have been a bit crude, and destructive. Although, considering the way the child used her powers, and seeing the many scorched trees, he did have to face facts. She really had no idea how to use her powers. Understandably so, considering she said she had only had them for a few days. But, seeing the damage undoubtedly done by her, she was one of great strength, just like... Him. But, be that as it may, it would not fix the problem at hand.

'This might be problematic.' he thought, seeing the two ponies run away, most likely in search of the three young ones.

Sighing, he knew what he needed to do. Didn't mean he had to like it. He, like all other ghosts, could influence the minds of mortals through possession. They could take full control of them, or make small mental nudges to get them to make decisions they wouldn't otherwise make. Or, in this case, suppress a certain memory. He didn't like the idea of doing this, but seeing the damage and the way the ponies acted, as well as Sweetie Belle's desire to keep her true self hidden, they needed to be stopped.

Sighing again, he followed the two ponies, quickly catching up to them.

"Forgive me for what I am about to do," he said sadly, catching the ponies' attention, "But do know,"—he possessed the wide eyed orange pony—"when the truth does come out," he spoke through her mouth, before jumping into the tall red pony, "I will be forever in your debt,"

Jumping out of the tall red pony's body, he quickly rushed back into hiding, noticing a strange buzzing sensation all throughout his body as he watched the two shake off the effects of their possession and look around in confusion.

"Say, Big Mac. Do you know why we're out here?" the orange pony asked.

"Eehh… E-nope," he answered. And, with a shrug, they walked back to their home.

"Because such a transgression as this is not something easily forgiven," Wind Chill finished quietly, deeply ashamed as he watched the two walk away.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, here we are," Apple Bloom stated as they looked at their next objective.

"I guess," Scootaloo said, annoyed.

"So, now what?" Sweetie Belle asked with a strained voice, having trouble keeping herself, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Diamond Tiara invisible.

"Well, Ah guess we need ta get inside there," Apple Bloom answered as they observed the house where Diamond Tiara lived.

"So, knock on the door?" Scootaloo proposed, which earned her a couple of flat looks, which were too invisible for her to see.

"Yeeeah, how 'bout no," Apple Bloom replied flatly, "Are ya sure ya can't do the thingy where ya walk through walls?" she asked Sweetie Belle.

"No, I can't," she replied, "What I'm doing now is difficult enough, and I barely know how to do this," she finished, her voice strained.

"Look, up there," Scootaloo suddenly piped up, pointing at what she saw.

"Look where?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Where I'm pointing, of course," Scootaloo replied.

"... Ya do know we can't see you, right?" Apple Bloom said in a deadpanned voice.

"Oh, eh he he he. I knew that," Scootaloo said awkwardly.

"Of course you did. So, what are we looking for?" Sweetie Belle groaned out, struggling to maintain their cover.

"Up there, that open window," Scootaloo replied, and they all looked up to see she was right.

Up on the second floor a window was open wide, the curtains hanging in front of it billowing outside a bit in the gentle breeze that blew through the village. But, as they looked at the possible point of entry, a problem became apparent.

"Ya do know Ah can't fly, right?" Apple Bloom said, "And neither can you… Sorry."

"I know…" Scootaloo muttered as she kicked the dirt, "But Sweetie Belle can. She can fly up with Diamond Tiara, and put her back in her room, no problem."

"Easy for you to say," Sweetie Belle muttered in reply before sighing, "But I guess you're right."

"I am? Ehh... Of course I am. What else did you expect?"

"Suurre," Sweetie Belle said with a roll of her eyes. "But first we need to find some cover. If I am going to do this, you will need to let go of me, which will make you visible again," she explained, and her friends gave a nod in agreement.

"So… Is that a yes, or what?" Sweetie Belle asked, not able to see their reply.

"Ehh, yes," Apple Bloom answered.

"Right," Scootaloo agreed.

"Over there will do," Apple Bloom said as she gently pulled her friends along, "in those bushes there."

"Alright, just hurry up," Sweetie Belle said, the strain becoming too much for her.

Moving into the protective cover of the foliage, Sweetie Belle released the cloak of invisibility she had placed over all of them with a relieved sigh and a deep breath.

Scootaloo, now visible again, patted herself as she looked herself over, checking if everything was still as it was supposed to be. While Apple Bloom unceremoniously dropped Diamond Tiara to the ground, stretching her back as she relieved it from all that dead weight.

"So, are you ready?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie, more than ready to get this thing over with.

"Just… Just give me a moment," Sweetie Belle answered tiredly, "That took a lot out of me, you know."

"Well, we don't got all day," Apple Bloom remarked as she looked at the pink filly lying on the ground, seeing her leg twitch.

"Great, just great," Sweetie Belle muttered, "Why are we doing this again?"

"So that, hopefully, Diamond Tiara will believe everything was a dream, and you won't get found out. Also, there is that white ice guy thingy that said he could help you with your powers," Scootaloo said in a single breath, giving a winning smile afterwards.

"Oh yeah, that " Sweetie Belle groaned. "Okay, help me with her," she instructed her friends, who helped to place Diamond Tiara on Sweetie Belle's back. "Now, keep a look out for anypony while I drop her off."

"Aren't ya worried somepony might see ya when ya fly up?" Apple Bloom asked, concerned.

"Then I guess I better not get seen," Sweetie Belle answered as she levitated up in the air, her hind legs turning into an intangible tail. "Hng. She's heavier than she looks. There is no way I'm going to be able to make myself invisible and fly up. Take a look around and tell me when the coast is clear. "

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave a nod in confirmation, and they, in their own style, stealthily snuck out of the bush, making more noise than Sweetie would have liked.

"Girls, can I go?" she asked after a moment, not having heard from her two friends.

"Wait for it, wait for it... GO!" Scootaloo quietly shouted, and Sweetie Belle moved into action.

Breaking through the leaves covering her and the filly on her back, Sweetie flew up with all the speed she could muster. Which wasn't very much. Already tired and weighed down considerably by the cargo on her back, which she also needed to keep balanced on herself making it even more difficult for her, she flew up about as fast as Tank, Rainbow Dash's pet tortoise, could walk.

"She's not going very fast," Scootaloo said as she watched her friend, not even bothering to keep her voice down as the streets were mostly empty at the moment.

"Hey, have you carried Diamond Tiara? She's a whole lot heavier than ya'd think," Apple Bloom replied.

"Well, she does have rocks for brains. Maybe that's the reason," Scootaloo joked, and a burst of laughter escaped Apple Bloom.

"Ah guess so," she agreed, and the two of them watched as Sweetie Belle finally reached the open window and flew inside.

"So far so good," Apple Bloom muttered as she looked around to see if anypony had seen their spirit friend.

"Yeah… Let's just hope it stays that way."

"Hmhmmm," Apple Bloom hummed in agreement as she gave a nod of her head, her red ribbon bouncing along with the movement.

<<>><<>><<>>

Flying through the open window, Sweetie Belle entered the house. Landing on the floor, she let out a relieved sigh, thankful that she had made it. Now however, she faced the problem of finding Diamond Tiara's room. But as she looked around, she couldn't believe her luck. It would seem that she was already in the fiend's lair. Or, at least, that's what she believed it to be; given the filly sized bed, the many posters and images of tiaras, most of them showing the image of one or the other of the princesses and their signature crowns, and a cluttered desk with the school books she knew all too well. Also pink, a lot of it.

"Well, that was easy," she said as she moved to the bed, "Now, how am I going to do this?"

She stood by the side of the bed for a moment as she thought about the best way to get Diamond Tiara off her back and onto the bed. Deciding the best way would be to simply fly up and drop her down, she did just that.

Levitating up until she hovered in the air a hoof length away from the soft mattress, she positioned herself above it and let Diamond Tiara slide off of her back. Hitting the mattress with a muted *Pomf*, Diamond Tiara began to stir.

This was the moment when Sweetie Belle began to panic, and she rushed to turn invisible. But, for reasons she didn't quite understand, she instead transformed back into her spirit form.

Diamond Tiara, groaning like a zombie, came to and looked up, seeing a silver pony without any hindlegs hovering above her, and her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks.

"Ehh, boo," Silver Spirit said awkwardly, and Diamond Tiara, scrambling to get away from the scary pony, got her hooves caught in the blanket she was lying on top of, causing her to fall off the bed and land on her head.

Seeing her lying in a heap, unmoving, Silver Spirit dropped down on the floor, looking Diamond Tiara over to make sure she was alright.

"Unconscious, again? Wow, she's going to have a massive headache when she wakes up… again. Just hope she thinks it was all a dream," she muttered as she moved to the window, turning invisible as she jumped out and flew back to the bush her friends were waiting in.

"Okay, done. Let's go now," she said, still invisible, scaring her friends as they didn't know she was there until she spoke to them.

Placing a hoof on each one of them, they, too, turned invisible. And while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked back to the orchard, Silver flew above them, holding on to her friends as they pulled her along.

<<>><<>><<>>

Filthy Rich walked upstairs to his daughter's room, having heard a loud thud coming from there. He didn't know what could have made the sound as he was sure his daughter was not home yet. But, then again, he had also been away for some time, so she could have easily gotten home without him noticing.

So, as he stepped inside his daughter's bedroom, he was only mildly surprised to see Diamond tiara, seemingly fallen out of bed and partially covered with her blanket.

Walking over to her prone form, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he saw her lie there.

"Really, Diamond?" he said as he picked her up, and she started to stir in his hold, "Ah, there you are," he added as she opened her eyes, "Now, I know school might be boring, but going to bed in the middle of the day? It can't be that bad," he chuckled as he put her back on her hooves, and Tiara looked around frantically, confused as to why she was in her room.

"Wha?… What happened? How did I get here? What happened to those monsters?" she asked in a scared voice, making her father's face shift from humorous to concerned.

"Monsters?" he repeated, "Diamond, did you have a nightmare?"

"No, I saw them," she said, in a quiet whisper, grabbing hold of her father, "That blue beast. And that giant. There was also a silver pony flying without wings, scaring me everytime," she sobbed, and her father held her close in a comforting embrace.

"Dear, dear. You just had a bad dream. You were here, lying beside your bed. There are no monsters here, see," he told her, and Diamond Tiara looked around in confusion.

"But.. I was sure…" she muttered.

"It was just a bad dream, nothing more," Filthy Rich told her again, and Diamond Tiara finally started to relax, if only a bit.

"See, there is nothing you need to be afraid of," he continued, and she finally let go of him, looking more confused than anything.

"Are you alright now?" he asked.

"I… Yes, I am," she answered after a short moment.

"Splendid. Now, let's get something to eat, hmm. I'm sure you're hungry."

"I... Yes, I'm coming, father," she replied as she looked out of the open window, her eyes narrowing as she looked towards Sweet Apple Acres. "I'll be there in a moment."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Ah, I see you have returned," Wind Chill proclaimed happily as the three fillies returned to their clubhouse.

"Yeah, why did we do that again?" Scootaloo muttered behind her hoof, directing her question to her friends while she kept a suspicious eye on the frost giant.

"Because he can help me with my powers," Sweetie Belle replied excitedly.

"Hmm, I see you do not yet trust me," Wind Chill said, looking at Scootaloo, "Understandably so, considering the circumstances of how we met. But don't be afraid, I do not wish you any harm or ill will."

"Yeah. I'll still keep my eyes on you, mister," Scootaloo replied.

"And you have the right to do so."

"Yeah, okay. So, can we get started?" Sweetie Belle, having turned back to her mortal self during the walk here, asked as she bounced on the spot excitedly, small sparks of magic shooting from her horn.

"HAH, excited to get started I see," Wind Chill said with a laugh, then turned serious, "But I am afraid we won't be able to do anything here," he told them, and indicated the damage all around.

"Oh, yeah. Big brother an' big sis won't be happy 'bout this," Apple Bloom said nervously.

"A big brother and sister? They wouldn't happen to be an orange pony and a rather larger red pony, would they?" Wind Chill asked, worried.

"Yeah, that's them. Ya know them?" Apple Bloom asked.

"In a way, yes," Wind Chill answered with regret, "They discovered the damage here, and reacted as one would suspect. I was forced to possess them to suppress their memory of all of this."

"You did what!?" Apple Bloom shouted, clearly quite upset.

"Do know I did not take pleasure in that act. I only did it to keep them from raising an alarm, and to keep your friend's other half a secret."

"But... But, you…" Apple Bloom stuttered, stuck between anger over his actions and understanding of why he did it.

"I understand how you feel, I do not take pride in my actions either. Do know that, if or when the truth about your friend comes to light, so too will my actions. What I was forced to do is regrettable, but necessary. And, as dictated by the code of my kind, I am indebted to them.

"You're what?" Scootaloo asked, not understanding.

"To put it simply, I'm their servant for as long as they deem necessary. But seeing that they don't remember any of this, my servitute goes to you, Apple Bloom. As their closest blood relative with knowledge of my existence, I am in your debt, until such time comes that my debt is paid in full."

"Say wha?" Apple Bloom said as her mind broke, her mouth hanging wide open.

"Did you just get a giant ghost servant?" Sweetie Belle asked in disbelief, but Apple Bloom didn't reply as she was still frozen on the spot.

"But I suppose we should get started on your powers, correct?" Wind Chill directed to Sweetie Belle, also snapping Apple Bloom out of her stupor.

"Ehh… Wait... Wat?..."

"Your powers," Wind Chill stated simply.

Sweetie Belle blinked several times in confusion as her mind tried to catch up with what was happening, before her eyes lit up, and her excitement returned at rainboom speeds.

"Oh yeah, my powers! So, what are we going to do first?"

"First, we need to go someplace else," Wind Chill answered as he motioned for them to follow him.

"What? Why? Where are we going?" Sweetie Belle asked as she followed the giant, her friends lagging behind a bit.

Scootaloo because she didn't fully trust the white giant. Apple Bloom because she was still dumbfounded by what he had just told her.

"Someplace where you can learn to control your powers without worrying about anyone finding out about what you are," he answered cryptically.

"And where is that?" Scootaloo asked with suspicion.

"Home."

<<>><<>><<>>

Avalanche and Snow Front were standing on either side of the hole in the fabric of reality, ice clubs in hand, and ever vigilant. They observed the frozen white plain of the Death Zone, keeping an eye out for any entities that might try to slip through.

The fact that a beku terwelu had already gone through was troubling enough, but the idea that more might try was even worse. That, and the thought of any of the myriad of other spectral entities that lurked in this forsaken plain discovering the breach.

But they also knew that, no matter the danger that lay before them, there was also the chance of danger approaching from behind them, through the portal. And as such they weren't surprised when they heard growling coming from the other side of the rift.

Turning around with a speed that belied their size, they leveled their clubs, ready for anything that awaited them. Yet, even though they stood on guard and were expecting just about anything, they were caught by surprise when they were tackled by a pair of wooden wolves.

Avalanche and Snow Front were struggling to break free from the hold these creatures had over them, and they channeled their ice energy throughout their entire bodies, freezing the claws of the wooden wolves, which jumped off of them the second the ice started to build.

Getting back on their feet, Avalanche and Snow Front grabbed their clubs as they prepared themselves for another attack. But instead of attacking them again, the wolves stepped to the side, making way for an even larger, more menacing looking wolf. It, too, was made of wood. Branches and logs of dead trees, shaped in such a way that it resembled a bipedal, wolf-like creature with strong, thick arms ending in razor sharp claws.

It was big. It was menacing. And it was a form they recognized. And for a moment Avalanche and Snow Front were not sure what to do.

They were attacked, yes. And their training dictated that they needed to subdue the threat as fast as possible. But there, standing before them was a creature that resembled the wolves of the ethereal plain. And they had a peaceful understanding with those wolves. Yet, were they the same as the creature now standing before them?

The large bipedal wolf slowly shifted his gaze between the two frost giants, his claws flexing as he stood there.

"Vi, vi respondecas por tiu ŝanĝo en la ekvilibro?" the large wolf growled.
"You, you are responsible for this change in the balance?"

Sharing a look of realization between one another, Avalanche and Snow Front lowered their clubs, but not entirely.

"You speak the language, but we do not understand," Avalanche replied, hoping the wolf could understand him.

"Do, vi povas parolo. Tamen vortoj ne savos vin ĉi tien," the wolf said with a huff.
"So, you speak. Yet words will not save you here."

"We must inform Frostbite of this. We should gather the elder as well, she's able to understand," Snow Front said to Avalanche, neither of them taking their eyes off the wooden wolves.

"Agreed," Avalanche said, "You go get them, I'll stay here and try to keep things under control."

"You sure?"

"Yes. I speak a bit of Firos, but not much. Still might be worth something."

"Very well," Snow Front said as he backed away, making haste for the village.

"Haltigu lin!" the large wolf barked.
"Stop him!"

"Atendu!" Avalanche said, struggling with the strange word.
"Wait!"

"Ni... ne volas... lukti," he continued, hoping he wasn't messing up his attempt to talk to the wolves.
"We... not want... fight."

"Vi diris ke vi ne volas batali, tamen vi interrompi la ekvilibron kun tio truo."
"You say you don't want to fight, yet you disrupt the balance with this hole." the large wolf growled, followed a moment later by the two at his sides.

"Ne komprenis... Bonvolu... atenda Elder," Avalanche struggled.
"Don't understood… Please... waiting to Elder."

"Atenda Elder?" the wolf repeated, confused, before noticing a village in the distance.
"Waiting to Elder?"

"Atendu Elder, mi supozas," he muttered as he observed the frozen village.
"Wait for Elder, I presume."

Avalanche looked at the large wolf with the most sincere expression he could muster, hoping to get through to the wolf, as he didn't know many other words he could use. Fortunately, it would seem the message had gotten through, and the large wolf backed away a bit, followed by his two companions, and they took positions in front of the portal, their glowing green eyes glaring at Avalanche, unblinking.

"Ni atendu, cxar nun!"
"We wait, for now!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Snow Front returned quickly, followed by the village's leader, Frostbite, and a much older frost giant, the elder.

She wore a robe which covered most of her body, with a cap covering her head and most of the face, leaving only the mouth visible along with the glow of her orange eyes that pierced through the shade falling over her face. A staff was held in her hand, made of two rods twisted around each other in a spiral, constructed from the purest of ice, the dim glow of arctic energy emanating from within. The bottom of the staff was tapered off, while the top was much wider, and contained a glowing gemstone which shone a vibrant red.

Few outsiders knew of this staff, and those that did knew little of it. But for the frost giants it was another story. The Staff of Light. A powerful artifact passed down from elder to elder when they felt the time had come to do so. Mostly when they decided they needed a long vacation for, say, the next five thousand years or so.

Whoever held it was blessed with the gift of illumination. To see that which lies hidden in the dark. To see the truth in any lie, and any lie in the truth. To see life in death, and death in life. The vision of truth. But only if it was for them to see.

It also worked rather well as a translator when needed, which is why the elder had taken it with her.

The three of them joined Avalanche at the portal, coming face to face with the three wooden wolves and, most importantly, the one that seemed to be their leader.

"Elder, if you would?" Frostbite asked as he stepped aside for her.

Stepping forwards, she moved towards the wolves, showing no sign of fear when the two smaller wolves growled at her, only for them to be silenced by their leader, who looked at the elder and her staff with interest.

The elder placed her staff in front of her on the stone floor of the ancient castle, and around the point where it touched the ground froze immediately.

Speaking several ancient words that had been all but forgotten, the red gemstone started to glow even brighter, basking all present in its glow.

"Can you understand me?" she asked, looking at the large wolf.

"I can. Better question would be, can you understand me?" he growled, not expecting her to understand.

"I, in fact, can understand you just fine," she answered, surprising the wolves as they heard her speak fluently in their language.

"You speak our language?" he asked in surprise.

"Only a bit. But my staff makes it possible for us to talk without any hindrance," she explained, "Now, please, tell me why you found it necessary to attack my brothers in bond?"

"You have disturbed the balance, allowed evil to enter this world, and are guarding the very entrance from which this was all possible. We attacked to stop this transgression, and stop it we shall, regardless of what you may say or do," he growled aggressively.

"You believe us to have opened this portal? Although I must say it is flattering to think of us to be able to perform such a feat, I must inform you that we are not able to do so, and this portal opening was only a matter of chance. We did not open it, nor do we control it. We are merely guarding it because a creature of great terror went through, and we wanted to make sure such a thing wouldn't happen again. One of my brothers, a frost giant by the name of Wind Chill, went through in pursuit of this beast, to bring it back before any damage could be done by it."

The wolves looked at one another after she had told them that, not sure if she told the truth or not. And, thanks to the powers of the staff, the elder could see the doubt in their eyes, as well as something else.

"I see that you doubt my words, believe them to be false. But rest assured, my staff only allows the truth to be told, and lies and deceit to be burned down. What I say is the truth, nothing more, nothing less, Kadzait.

"You know?" the large wolf asked, shocked.

"I do now. I can see it, in all of you. The banished, the cursed. Those who caused great pain and sorrow, drenched in the blood of the innocent, cursed to roam the realm of the living trapped in a body of the dead. You are not alive, so you can't die, but neither are you dead. In life you killed and destroyed, and now you spend this cursed existence protecting and healing. The guardians of the woods, shaped by the very woods themselves. You seek answers, truth, a way out, a way to end your cursed existence. This I can see, and more, but not the answer which you seek. It lies hidden, not ready to be found. And it shall remain that way until you and he are both ready."

"Stand down!" he ordered the two wolves at his side, sounding more shaken than he had in centuries. "You know, all of it?"

"Indeed I do."

At a loss for words, the wolf looked at the staff, then at the elder, finding no deceit in her words. Looking farther, past the portal and into the frozen world that lies beyond he felt the strange need to step through, but he knew he could not. That world was not for him to enter, nor would he ever be allowed to do so, unless the curse was broken. Looking back at the portal that connected these two worlds, he knew what needed to be done.

"These two, they encountered both this evil you spoke of, as well as your brother. When they return, close this hole and never return."

"I am sorry, but we can not," she answered, and the wolf growled in response. "Allow me to clarify. As I said, we did not open this portal, so we do not have the ability to close it. In fact, if it had behaved as a normal portal to begin with, it would have closed on its own by now. But we do know this portal is anything but normal. It opened in the Death Zone, which on its own is impossible. But it doesn't appear to be made by spectral energy, like any of the other portals that connect this world with yet another. Instead, it resembles the rips in reality that connect your world with the humans'. The most logical conclusion to be made is that these two kinds of reality rips merged, joining into one. Their shared energy seems to keep it open much longer than either one would be able to alone. How much longer, we are unable to predict, perhaps even indefinitely. And, as such, we guard it to make sure nothing gets through that would pose a danger to your world."

"Then, that is it?!" the wolf growled angrily, "We let this transgression go unchecked, allow it to continue its existence?"

"If we must, yes. You want to maintain the balance of the woods; of the world, but you seem to have failed to recognize the change your world has already gone through. The balance has already shifted, and, just maybe, this portal is the key, or at least part of the key, to restoring the balance."

"WHAT!? What do you mean?"

"Portals have been opening all around your world, allowing creatures of another world to come and go, just as the creatures of this world can move to theirs. They have forged an alliance, created on the fear of a single threat. Can you guess what?"

"The dark one," he muttered, and the two wolves by his side growled lightly in response.

"Ahh, yes, I see. The dark one. But he is only part of the problem, and the solution as well. Just as this portal might be part of the solution. So, will you risk the chance of upsetting the balance even more, or will you guard it, maintain it, protect it?"

"The answer should be obvious to you," he replied with a sigh, "You two, until I say otherwise, guard this... portal. Let nothing through, one way or the other."

"Yes, Alpha!" they responded, and took a place on either side of the portal, mirroring Avalanche and Snow Front's position on the other side.

"Perhaps there should be an exclusion to that order to let no one through," The elder spoke as she looked down one of the dark hallways, seeing the approaching forms, and she took great interest in one of them.

<<>><<>><<>>

Some time earlier

"What? Why? Where are we going?" Sweetie Belle asked as she followed the giant, her friends lagging behind a bit.

Scootaloo because she didn't fully trust the white giant. Apple Bloom because she was still dumbfounded by what he had just told her.

"Someplace where you can learn to control your powers without worrying about anyone finding out about what you are," he answered cryptically.

"And where is that?" Scootaloo asked with suspicion.

"Home."

"An' where is that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It is a bit of a walk from here, but not too far. But it would be wise to stay close to me, as I did see many dangers during my search for the beku terwelu."

"Dangers? What kind of dangers?" Scootaloo asked with a nervous tone.

"The many creatures found in the forest close to your village," he answered, and the three fillies stopped in their tracks.

"Wait! You live in the Everfree Forest?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking at the frost giant with surprise.

"That's what you call the forest?" he asked, getting a nod from the three of them, "I see. And to answer your question, no. My kind does not live in this forest, but the... doorway to my village lies within the depths of the forest. So, if you would be so kind as to follow me, we will be able to get there all the sooner."

"Why? Are we in a hurry?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Perhaps?" he answered cryptically, "You, Sweetie Belle, are a curious creature. A Halfa, found in this world no less. Something like that, a change such as yours, does not happen without reason. There is someone in my village who can shed some light on your unique situation, and others who can help with your powers. A task I am ill suited for, as I am not a teacher. Now, please, let us hurry. The less time I spend out in the open like this, the less chance there is for someone to see me and cause a panic," he explained to them, and picked up his speed.

"Hey, wait up!" Sweetie Belle called out to him as she and her friends had to run to keep up with his giant strides.

"Hey, slow down a bit, will ya!" Apple Bloom called out, and Wind Chill did just that.

"My apologies, Apple Bloom. I failed to realize that you and your friends would have trouble keeping up with me," he said with a slight bow of the head.

"Wait. Did you just do what she told you to?" Scootaloo asked, confused.

"Of course I did. I am indebted to her for my actions against her family. Her wish is my command," he answered in turn, and the fillies' mouths fell open as they finally fully understood what he meant.

"Now, come. We still have some way to go," he told them as he continued his walk back to the portal, albeit at a slower pace. "And a lot of things to do when we get there."

<<>><<>><<>>

The walk from the orchard to the Everfree Forest went without incident. Nopony saw Wind Chill, and no indication of any alarm being set off could be found.

The Crusaders, following behind the frost giant, looked around both in anxiety and fear. What if they were found out? And, what would they find in the forest? The latter was a question swiftly answered, as, when they entered the shadowy darkness of the forest, they discovered no sound could be heard from any of the animals. No birds chirping. No bees buzzing. Not the sound of a manticore's roar in the distance, nor any of the other sounds one would expect. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath in anticipation for something, a feeling of unease that settled down on the fillies as they followed behind Wind Chill.

"Hmm, it seems the beku terwelu has left a lasting impression on the forest," Wind Chill spoke with a low voice.

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked as she and her friends huddled close to him.

"No sound!" he stated, "The forest is quiet as to not attract the beku terwelu, even though I have captured it in my ice. It's fear, pure fear of this beast that, even when it can't do anything anymore, its mere presence is enough to make everything stop. But it will work in our favor as well, as no creature would dare come close to this beast."

"Yer sure 'bout that?" Apple Bloom asked nervously as she looked around, expecting any kind of wild animal to jump at her from the bushes.

"Sure, no. But it seems unlikely," he answered.

Silence.

"Is it just me, or is this place even more spooky without the sounds?" Sweetie Belle asked after a quiet moment.

"Yeah, kinda," Scootaloo replied nervously.

"You have been here before?" Wind Chill asked, slightly surprised.

"Yeah, 'cause our friend Zecora lives here. And fer some... other reasons as well," Apple Bloom told him, still looking around to see if she could find any threats.

"Someone actually lives here? It must be a brave pony indeed," Wind Chill stated with admiration.

"Zecora isn't a pony. She's a zebra," Sweetie clarified for him.

"A zebra you say? How... intriguing. Tell me, are there more species of intelligence on this world?"

"Ehh... Well, there are the griffins," Scootaloo replied.

"Dragons, and tha diamond dogs. Camels too, Ah think," Apple Bloom added.

"Don't forget the changelings!" Sweetie Belle piped up, "Oh, and humans, I guess."

"Humans live here too?" Wind Chill asked in surprise.

"Oh, yeah. In fact, there's one livin' in our village," Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, Da—" Scootaloo began, before a loud growl interrupted her.

"Stay close!" Wind Chill ordered as they stepped out into a clearing, seeing the old castle of the royal sisters, as well as a bridge made of ice, guarded by several timberwolves.

The fillies moved even closer to Wind Chill, while he lowered himself into a fighting stance, holding the beku terwelu in one hand, and forming a large ice club in the other.

"I am not here to fight! But I will defend myself and these three children should you attack!" he said loudly, glaring at the wolves that had begun surrounding them.

Their response was to growl at him, yet they didn't attack. In fact, as they surrounded them, they also opened a path over to the bridge. Telling them without words to move over and get inside, but not to turn around. The Crusaders didn't understand why the timberwolves acted like this, but Wind Chill understood perfectly.

"Stay close to me, young ones. They let us go, but only because of the threat I hold. They do not want it back in the forest, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure that."

"O-okay," the three fillies replied in a quiet voice, shuffling backwards over the ice bridge while staring at the wolves with large frightened eyes.

Wind Chill stayed in front of the fillies, holding his club out in front of him should the wolves decide to attack them when they turned their backs on them. And, together, they slowly made their way over the bridge. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle almost slipping several times on the icy surface, while Apple Bloom had a more solid grip on the cold surface due to her earth pony nature.

The moment they crossed the bridge, Wind Chill slammed his foot on the icy surface, shattering the construct and letting the large chunks of ice fall down into the darkness below. Turning around, he saw the fillies looking between the large drop down and the wolves on the other side with fear.

"Don't worry. They can't follow us, and I can always make a new bridge should one be required. Now, come. Let us go inside and find you the help you seek, Sweetie Belle," he said calmly, guiding the fillies inside while keeping an eye on the wolves across the chasm.

"Ye-yeah, sure," Scootaloo replied quietly, and they followed behind Wind Chill as he stepped inside the old and abandoned castle, gulping audibly as they stepped inside. They followed him through the many dark hallways, until they stepped out into what seemed to be the throne room, illuminated by a red light, with a portal in the center of the room, with several more frost giants standing before it, as well as three more timber wolves. One of them even larger and more menacing looking than the wolves they had already seen.

The fillies moved behind Wind Chill's legs, peeking past them to see what was happening; watching as all those present turned towards them, the two smaller wolves growling before they were silenced by the larger one.

Sweetie Belle's eyes then locked on those of the frost giant holding a staff and wearing a robe, and a faint smile showed on the giant's face before she broke the contact and turned to the large wolf standing on two legs.

"Perhaps there should be an exclusion to that order to let no-one through," she said, and the wolf looked at her with confusion.

"Explain?" he barked.

"In a moment. First, I think Wind Chill has something to say. Isn't that right?" she replied as she turned to the frost giant standing in front of the fillies.

"So I do, elder," he answered, and he held up the ice ball that held the beku terwelu. "And I have something to return as well." And as he held up the trapped beast, the two smaller wolves began to growl in rage, while the larger, although tense and obviously angered, nonetheless stayed relatively calm.

"You've captured the demon!?" he stated, glaring at the frozen ball.

"I have," Wind Chill replied, looking mildly surprised that the wolf spoke, but was quick to connect the pieces as he looked at the elder's staff. "It shall not harm another being on this world ever again."

The wolf only growled in response, and his gaze shifted to the three fillies hiding behind Wind Chill.

"Them! Why did you bring them with you?"

"You know them?" Wind Chill asked, surprised, as he looked down at the fillies.

"All too well. They venture into the forest time and time again. Always acting, never thinking. Always causing trouble."

For a moment the memory of Sweetie Belle screaming and shooting beams of ectoplasm with her eyes shut crossed Wind Chill's mind, before he shook it off.

"I see."

"Wind Chill. Why did you bring these mortals with you?" a frost giant with an arm made of ice asked as he stepped towards him.

"Frostbite, I brought them with me because of a discovery I made during my hunt for the beku terwelu."

"A discovery? What kind of discovery?"

"Destiny," the elder said sagely, making everyone turn to look at her.

"What?" Frostbite said, confused, but the elder stayed quiet.

"What do you mean?" Frostbite asked her, but she remained silent.

"I think I can answer that," Wind Chill spoke up, "Or, more precisely, maybe she can show it," he continued as he looked down at Sweetie Belle. "Show them!" he told her.

"Wha?" she asked, worried, looking back and forth between him and those standing before the weird hole in the air.

"Show them what you can do," he clarified, but Sweetie Belle only pressed herself closer to her friends, afraid.

"Have no fear, children," the elder spoke up, her voice calming the fillies, "No harm shall come to you. You have my word."

Looking at her, staring into the glowing orbs shining from underneath the cap covering most of her face, Sweetie Belle swallowed loudly.

Looking back at her friends, her eyes asked them what she should do. But they were at a loss for answers as well.

Deciding then and there what she should do, she took a deep breath, before letting it out in a trembling sigh.

"O… Okay," she said as she stepped away from Wind Chill, forcing herself not to look up at the large creatures looking down on her.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Alpha demanded.

"I agree. What is going on here?" Frostbite replied.

"Be quiet and let the child do what she needs to do," the elder snapped without taking her gaze off the filly, which unnerved Sweetie Belle a lot. In fact, she was so nervous and afraid, she just wanted to disappear. Which was exactly what she did. She turned invisible, much to the surprise of the frost giants and timberwolves there.

"What!? What happened?" Frostbite almost shouted, and a squeak of fright came from thin air where Sweetie Belle used to be.

"Do not scare her, or things might get messy here!" the elder replied, still looking at the invisible pony.

"Child, there is more that you can do, isn't there?" she asked her, stepping closer to her, but not so close as to spook the frightened filly.

Y-y-yes," came the stuttering reply.

"Would you be so kind as to show me?"

"Ehh... S-sure?" she said, unsure, before fading back into view.

Taking several breaths to calm herself, she closed her eyes in concentration as she held up a hoof, aiming it at a wall to the side, and she shot a beam of green energy the frost giants knew all too well.

"What!? What kind of magic is this?" the Alpha barked in surprise.

"Not magic," Frostbite said, amazed. "Spectral energy. Ectoplasm," He looked at the foal that was now hovering in the air with wide eyes. A look mirrored by the other frost giants at his side, as well as the timberwolves. "Is she… a Halfa?"

"Indeed she is," the elder answered as she observed the hovering pony.

"But how?"

"How indeed," she replied cryptically before turning to Wind Chill. "You brought her here because you thought she could learn to control her powers with us, correct?"

"Indeed I did. She is young and has much to learn, experience has shown me that. But I am no teacher, and I can only show her the basics. I believed it would be more useful for her to learn from those more capable than myself," he answered with a slight bow of the head to his elder.

"What is going on! I demand an answer!" the Alpha growled as he wasn't given any answers to what he was witnessing.

"This child has been given the powers of the dead, fusing living and dead in one body, creating a being known as a Halfa. To my knowledge, there are only three others like her, and all three of them have shown abilities of great power. Some good, some evil," the elder answered, and the wolves looked at the filly with a mixture of anger and fright.

"And how is such a thing possible?"

"There are several ways, but most remain hidden until they are needed. How it happened for her… Well, would you answer that for us, Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie Belle, already too shaken with what was going on, didn't pick up on the elder knowing her name without her telling it. And, instead, she shrunk in on herself as she felt all their eyes bore into her.

"...The book," she answered, more frightened than ever.

"Book, what book?" Frostbite asked.

"I don't know. We just found it."

"Don't be afraid, child. They are only curious, nothing more. Although I have to say, they are lacking a bit in tact," she said as she shot a sideways glance at the giants and wolves behind her.

"Just take a breath, and calm down."

Nodding her head in understanding, she did as she was told, feeling herself calm down as she did so. Her friends also stepped up, taking their places at her sides for moral support, which helped her calm down significantly. And, as she looked up to meet the elder's gaze, she felt a whole lot calmer than when she first came here.

"Better?" the elder asked, and Sweetie Belle nodded in response.

"Good. Now, please, tell us what happened to you."

"Well… We were in this forest one day, trying to capture and tame a manticore to try and earn our Cutie Marks. But, instead, it started to hunt us. Our friend, Rainbow Dash, came to help us just in time, but the manticore managed to knock her out," Sweetie Belle began, and Apple Bloom continued.

"But then tha manticore started ta act all weird, an' its eyes glowed green. It moved around as if it didn't know how ta walk on four legs, an' it just went away, like that."

"Then, the next day, we went to Twilight's library to find out about ghosts, since we thought it was a ghost that did those things," Scootaloo continued.

"There we found a strange book, with a black cover, and a skull on the front," Sweetie Belle picked back up, "I thought the title said it was called… ehh.. Necomia.. No, Necro.. Necr—"

"Necronomicon," the elder finished for her.

"Yeah, that's it," Sweetie Belle agreed.

"I see... And what happened next?"

"We... ehh… may have tried to summon a spirit to try and hunt to see if we could earn our Cutie Marks with that. Instead... well... This," Sweetie Belle finished as she held up a hoof, making it glow green.

Letting out a deep sigh, the elder looked at the glowing hoof, "Oh, Necky. What are you up to?"

"Ehh... Who's Necky?" Sweetie Belle asked as she lowered her hoof, the glow dissipating.

"That would be the book you mentioned. I… have had some dealings with it in the past."

"I have heard of this book as well," Frostbite spoke up, "The book of the dead."

"It is indeed that book, but so much more as well. But this is neither the time nor place to discuss such matters. What we must discuss now is what we should do to help this child. Obviously she lacks the knowledge to properly use her newfound powers. Although I am surprised by the amount of control she is already showing.

"Well, we have been trainin' a lot since she got her powers," Apple Bloom spoke up.

"I see. It shows," the elder complimented.

"Thanks!" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said at the same time.

"But there is still a lot you must learn before you can use your powers to their full potential, Silver Spirit."

"Wait! How do you know that name?" Sweetie Belle asked in shock.

"I have my ways," she answered cryptically, "But you don't need to worry about that right now."

Turning to face both her village leader, as well as the timberwolf Alpha.

"This child needs training, and she shall receive it. Not here, but in our village where we can oversee her progress without the risks that might arise should she continue her training on her own world. Frostbite, you, as well as those you might deem fit, will guide this child. Help her, teach her. And you, Alpha. Like us, you will guard this doorway between worlds. Let nothing through, both ways. With the exception of these three children, and my brother, Wind Chill. Who, it seems, is tied to Apple Bloom through an honor bond.

"What!" Frostbite bellowed, "What did you do!?"

"As the elder said, I am bound to this child. I was forced to possess her brother and sister to wipe their minds after they found the damage done during my battle with the beku terwelu. They were panicking, and in search of their sister, as well as her friends. Had they found her, they might very well have learned of Sweetie Belle's other self. I had no choice. And as our code dictates, I am indebted to those I possessed. But, as they don't remember, nor would they know who I am or what I did, by rule I am bound to the closest blood relative aware of my presence."

For a moment nothing was said as Frostbite glared at Wind chill, face unreadable.

"The code is clear, yes. But how did you let this happen? You were sent to capture and return the beku terwelu, not to end up bound to a mortal by your actions," Frostbite spoke slowly and deliberately, not sure what he should make of this new development, "By our code, you are bound. And you shall watch over this Apple Bloom, until such time comes where you have fulfilled your debt."

"I am aware of this, Frostbite," he answered with a bow of the head, "I have explained as much to her."

"Then it is done," Frostbite sighed, and turned to the Alpha, "Are we agreed with this latest development? To guard the portal, and to allow these four passage when they need it. But to leave any other creature out and in their respective worlds."

"Do we have much of a choice?" the Alpha growled, "We shall do as we are told, but only because there seems to be no other way. And because we know what those three are capable of as they are. There is no knowing what might happen if she loses control of herself. But know this. If we find a way to close this hole, we will do so. No matter if they are on the other side or not."

"Very well. We are agreed," Frostbite confirmed with a sigh, and the Alpha growled a last order to the two wolves in the room, before taking his leave, fading away in the darkness of the hallway.

"Then, I suppose, it is time for you to join us for your training," Frostbite said as he turned to Sweetie Belle, "Come, there is much we need to discuss. Avalanche, Snow Front, guard this portal, let no other through, save for the children, and Wind Chill."

"Yes, Frostbite," the two frost giants replied, and they retook their positions on the Dead Zone side of the portal.

"And you, follow me," Frostbite told the fillies who, nervously, followed behind him.

<<>><<>><<>>

They stepped through, and immediately Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom became aware of a few things.

First, it was cold. Very, very, very cold.

Second, they sank down in the snow, dropping down until their bellies pressed down on the white substance.

Did I mention it was very cold?

Third, as a result of this, they couldn't walk as their legs were immobilized in the snow.

"Ehh, a little help here?" Apple Bloom asked as she struggled to push herself out of her snowy prison.

"Me too," Sweetie Belle said.

"Me three," Scootaloo added.

Responding to their calls of help after having safely disposed of the beku terwelu, which meant he threw it as far away as he could, Wind Chill scooped up Apple Bloom from the ground, while Frostbite did the same for Scootaloo, while the elder looked at Sweetie Belle, waiting with a knowing smile.

"Hold on, I think I've got this," Sweetie Belle muttered as she ceased her struggle to break free. Closing her eyes and concentrating on the energy she felt inside, she slowly lifted up and out of the snow. "Hey, I've got it," she shouted happily, and looked at her friends, who were each holding on to the shoulder of the giant that had pulled them free.

"You seem to be a quick learner," the elder spoke, "Good, you're going to need to be."

"I- ehhh.. Huh?" Sweetie Belle sputtered as she hovered above the snow, too focused on her concentration to notice what the elder had said. But, as the elder spoke, she lost her focus, and she fell face first in the snow, disappearing in the layer of white save for her rump and hind legs, which stuck out above, legs flailing wildly.

"But perhaps it would be better if we help you for now," The elder spoke bemused, giving a hand signal to Frostbite. Who, in response, picked up Sweetie Belle and carried her, along with Scootaloo, to the village in the distance.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Woow!" a trio of voices called out as they entered the village, looking at everything and everyone, while everyone gave them the same amount of interest.

"Welcome to our village," Frostbite announced proudly, "A village we forged out of the ice ourselves, and where we have 'lived' for many centuries."

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked around wide eyed, taking it all in with eager grins on their muzzles.

"Come brothers, sisters. Let's give our guests a warm welcome," Frostbite said loudly as he placed the two fillies he was carrying on the ground. The snow compact enough after all those centuries walking over it to support them.

Wind Chill followed his example, and placed Apple Bloom on the snowy ground as well. And, as the three fillies looked around in wonder, and a bit of fear, all the frost giants in the village came to surround the trio, looking down at them with curiosity, welcoming smiles, and the occasional greeting.

Looking at all the rough, but friendly faces, Sweetie Belle felt herself begin to mirror their enthusiasm, and a smile spread across her face. "Eh, hi-ha-a-ACHOO!" she tried to return their greeting, only to sneeze from the cold, sending a beam of green energy shooting from her horn. Hitting an overhead snowbridge, making it collapse, and covering several frost giants under a layer of snow and ice.

"Ehh… Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," she said, horrified, as she saw the giants pull themselves out from under the pile of snow.

"We can't start soon enough, it would seem," Frostbite remarked as he looked at the damage with a blank face, "Everyone, listen. This child, as you have witnessed, is no ordinary child. She has been bestowed the powers of us ghosts. She is a Halfa," he said, and a ripple went through the crowd, "By wisdom of the elder, she and her friends have been brought here for training in order to control her powers. Which I am sure we can all agree is needed," murmurs of agreement could be heard after he said that, and Sweetie Belle looked down at her hooves in embarrassment.

"And, in light of recent developments, she and her friends will be venturing through the portal opened in the Dead Zone to return home or to come here for her training. But only they and Wind Chill are allowed to cross this bridge between worlds," Frostbite told all of them, and they gave a murmur of understanding.

"Good. Now, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, please follow me. You too, Wind Chill," he told the four of them, and they followed him as he walked to his home, motioning for them to go inside.

"Please, take a seat," Frostbite offered as he, too, sat down on one of the few wooden chairs in his home, "Now, before we start with any training, there are some things I need to know," he said as he looked at Wind Chill, his piercing eyes telling him exactly what was on his mind.

<<>><<>><<>>

The elder walked back to the sanctum. The place all frost giants knew of, but only a very select few had ever seen. Only those wielding the Staff of Light, as well as the village's leader and a very select few outsiders have set foot in the sacred place their village safeguarded and kept hidden.

It was a task given to them oh so long ago. So long in fact, that no one even remembers who it was that gave them this task. But they carried it out nonetheless, knowing what could happen should one of evil intent find out about it. And worse, defile it with their actions.

Walking towards a large ice mountain, cold and barren of any 'life', one would suspect there was nothing there to find.

They would be wrong.

The elder moved to an area where the mountain's wall went up almost vertical, and she placed her staff against the cold surface. The jewel in the staff began to glow a bright red, which seeped into the ice wall.

The ice began to warp and shift, then fade away, revealing a passage deep inside the mountain.

The elder stepped inside, and the wall sealed itself back up after she had crossed the threshold. Yet, there was no darkness to be found inside the ice cavern, as a warm glow came from the walls, illuminating the way for the elder as she moved to the center of the mountain, and the Ghost Zone's best kept secret.

There, standing proudly in the center of the mountain, was a massive tree. Its roots dug deep in the ice, tapping into the energy of the Zone, nourishing it, making it grow.

Its trunk was several meters thick, and the branches spread out far and wide, covering the entire roof in leaves of faint glowing green.

Walking towards the tree, she placed a hand on the trunk, reaching out with her senses to 'feel' the energy of Tree of Life.

"Hello, old friend," she spoke in a caring tone, "It's been a while. Last time I was here was when Clockwork and the Necronomicon needed your help. A single seed to plant in a world at chaos. And it worked, it would seem. But interesting things are happening there as we speak, very interesting things indeed. A child endowed with the powers of our kind. A new Halfa. And a destiny still clouded in mystery. Even I can't see what is coming. What do you think, hmm?"

Still holding her hand on the trunk, she could feel a swelling of energy coming from the tree, and she stepped back in surprise with wide eyes as she saw the ice around the roots pulse with energy. The tree sucked up the glowing power around it, and it traveled up over the trunk and towards a single overhead branch. Looking on in awe, the elder saw a single pod grow at the point the energy gathered, watching how a small gemstone formed within the glow. It stayed like that while the glow diminished, but never quite vanished. Instead, it remained as a faint glow, slowly feeding the energy into the new seed, slowly growing it to maturity while two more closed buds sprouted up around the glowing gem.

"Could it be? Those three children?" she said in shocked amazement, "What destiny awaits them?"

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, that's the whole story?" Frostbite asked for clarification, earning a nod from Wind Chill, "Very well. I'm still not pleased with what has transpired, but, as I said before, the code is clear, and you are indeed indebted to young Apple Bloom," he sighed, and turned to the fillies sitting impatiently on their stools.

"Now, as for you, Sweetie Belle. Finding out about you being a Halfa is certainly an unexpected surprise. But we are more than capable of helping you with learning to control your powers. I, myself, have trained a Halfa several years ago. Plus this village houses many capable frost giants who are able to help you as well. But before we start with any of this, I need to ask. How much control do you have over your powers, already?"

"Wait! You've trained another.. ehh… Halfa?" Sweetie Belle said, surprised, and she and her friends, previously slumped down, now sat at rapt attention.

"Indeed I have. A good student, a better friend. It's a shame how fate has treated him. But this is not the time for that. What is, is you telling me what you already know, and we will work onwards from there."

"Ehh…" Sweetie Belle uttered, her mind reeling with the knowledge of there being others out there like her, and that Frostbite had trained one himself. "Well… I can shoot these weird beams from my hooves," she said.

"Ah, yes. A standard ecto beam. More?"

"What's an ecto?" Scootaloo asked before Sweetie Belle could continue.

"It is short for ectoplasm. The energy of all ghosts. But I will explain more about this later. Now, Sweetie Belle, continue," Frostbite told her.

"Right…. I can also turn invisible, more or less. Kinda lose control of it, though. Ehh,"—she tapped her chin with a hoof—"I can also fly, kinda. It's really hard, and it takes a lot of concentration," she told him, and Scootaloo felt a stab of anger and jealousy when her friend said she could fly, "There is this weird thing where I can walk through walls. But it just happens, and I can't control it."

"Hmm, I see. Anything else?" Frostbite hummed.

"Ehh… I don't think so," Sweetie muttered.

"What about yer horn flashing gold earlier today?" Apple Bloom reminded her.

"Oh yeah. There's also that. Not really sure why it did that, though."

"And what about transforming? Do you have an alternative form?" Frostbite asked.

"Ehh, yes. Kinda forgot about that for a moment. But it is really hard to do, and most of the time it just happens. We did figure out something that seems to work, somewhat."

"Hmm. This is both more and less than I expected. You say that you've only had these powers for a few days now?" he asked, and Sweetie Belle nodded, "You are untrained, that much is obvious. Yet, the amount of control you say you have is remarkable for such a short time."

"Ehh.. So, what does that mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It means that your friend needs to learn the basics first. You have tried your best with what you knew, and it is to be commended what you have achieved as a result. But for her to fully understand her powers, she will need to get a firmer grasp on who and what she really is. Then, as she learns the basics, we can work on the more advanced forms her powers come in."

"What! There's more?!" Sweetie Belle asked, shocked.

"Oh, yes there is. Much more. But do not worry too much about that. For now, we will work on getting you to the point of being able to control yourself. Then we will work on the more difficult powers. And first off, we will need you to transform," Frostbite said with an eager tone in his voice, more than ready to get started and see what this child was capable of.

<<>><<>><<>>

The four Ghost-keteers working in the Ponyville area were back in their rooms, either working on their equipment, or muttering to themselves over half a day wasted due to some pink pony throwing a large party just for them, and inviting half the town for it, which meant they couldn't sneak out. But, as Rolling Stone was checking one of the scanners, somepony knocked on the door, and he and Blue Ice looked up from their work.

"Cover it up," Rolling ordered Blue Ice, who, with a flash of her horn, hid all the equipment from sight.

Opening the door, Rolling Stone was surprised to see one of the guards from the forest team standing outside. But he was quick to act, as he knew that she wouldn't be here without a good reason.

"Flash Lightning, come in," he said, and moved aside to allow the mare to enter.

"Thank you, Sir," she replied, giving a nod to Blue Ice.

"Any news from your neck of the woods?" Ice asked with a grin over her little pun, which faded away when Flash Lightning replied with a stoic, professional expression.

"Actually, I do," she responded, and turned to Rolling Stone, "Sir, Vigilant Shield has picked up a positive hit on the scanner and, if it is to be believed, we have a breach. Charming Prism looked over her results and agreed with Vigilant Shield's conclusion. He sent me here the second it was confirmed."

"They're sure about this?" Rolling Stone asked Flash Lightning with a calm, but serious voice, "No false positive?"

"Affirmative, Sir. Vigilant Shield was the one who detected and tracked the energy signature. She's positive about her findings, and we both know she's the best we have with those tracking devices," Flash Lightning answered.

"Indeed she is," Rolling Stone muttered as he mulled that over little fact. "Okay, return to your post and keep a lookout for any other signs of spectral activity. We will do the same here. If there's a ghost out there in the woods, there sure as Tartarus is one here in town as well. But until we have a confirmed sighting, we can't sound the alarm. We need to make sure it is what we think it is, and not some malfunctioning equipment."

"Sir, yes Sir," Flash Lightning replied with a salute and left the room, leaving Rolling Stone and Blue Ice behind.

"Hmmm," Rolling Stone hummed after the door had closed behind Flash Lightning. "Ice, you're done calibrating those scanners we have, right? If what they picked up on is genuine, then we need to be able to pick something up as well."

"Yes Sir, I've just finished this pair," she answered as she levitated one of the scanners to Rolling. "They should be good to go now that I've rechecked them after last night's supposed false positive. But let me know if anything is wrong, seeing as the other group seemed to have fluctuations with their scans as well."

"Very well," Rolling Stone said with an appreciative nod before turning on the device, seeing the built-in screen light up as it began to scan for ghosts.

"Good, looks like we're up for business," he said, putting the scanner away in his saddlebag. "I'm going to make sure things are up to speed with the rest of our group here, and see if Sound Wave is done with the Ghost Gabber."

"Very well, Sir. You'll know where to find me when you need me," Blue Ice replied, not looking up from her work in calibrating yet another scanner, only for the device to spark and sputter, causing her to curse loudly as she dropped the device in fright.

Rolling Stone, chuckling slightly under his breath, left the mare to her work and went to the next room to see if everything was progressing 'smoothly' there as well. And, as the door swung shut, Blue Ice let out a long heavy sigh.

"Damn, guess I need to pay up."

<<>><<>><<>>

The ponies back at the campsite in the forest were moving around in a flurry, grabbing their equipment, and preparing for an extensive search of the forest. And if need be, to capture a ghost. They couldn't rush it, of course, and they'd been planning the best course of action for a while now. Long enough for Flash Lightning to return and to relay Rolling Stone's orders.

They were quick to check their equipment for any possible malfunctions, or other anomalies that could have given them a false positive. And much to the chagrin of Vigilant Shield, they found plenty. Still, she was sure about what she found, and they knew they couldn't just stand down and wait for somepony to modify the scanners. So,with more uncertainty than they started with, they continued their preparations for an extensive search of the forest.

Finally, after preparing for just about anything they could think of, including wildlife, they began their task of tracking down any sign of spectral activity, no matter how faint. They started at the site where Vigilant Shield first detected the signature, and moved out from there. But, as they scanned the area, they had a hard time pinpointing any spectral sign that they suspected would be there. Vigilant Shield, sure about what she had found earlier in the day, was not going to let up just because the scanners weren't working properly, and she went around searching in even the most unlikely of places. Up a tree, in a bush, under a rock, under another rock, behind the brightly colored ball she found in a hollow tree, and even the ground itself.

"I'm not so sure about this," Midnight Blossom, an unicorn mare with dark blue coat and a lighter blue mane and tail said after a long time of unsuccessful scanning.

"I'm sure there is something here. I just know it!" Vigilant Shield replied, never looking up from her scanner. 'I will not go to Rolling Stone and tell him it was a false positive. Nor do I want to see that smug grin Ice will undoubtedly have.' she thought as she kept scanning.

"I'm not sure. There is a lot of strange interference that is messing with the signal, and I have no idea what's causing it," Charming Prism spoke up, giving his scanner a shake.

"No! I'm sure of what I found," Vigilant Shield repeated, and she pressed her scanner against the ground for a better reading. Unknowingly doing so at the spot where Shadow moved up and captured Mort. And, with a loud beeping sound, the scanner let it be known that it had detected a relatively strong signature.

"HA! Told you!" Vigilant Shield said triumphantly as she held up her scanner for all to see, "I said I detected something, and here it is, again," she said loud and proud as the device continued to beep. Only for the sound to die down as it no longer detected the signal. "What! No no no no, don't you do this to me. I won those bits, fair and square. Work with me here," she said as she frantically shook the scanner, only to shake out the battery, deactivating the device in the process. "Hayseed."

She looked at her team, seeing them struggling to contain their laughter. Picking up the battery while glaring at them, she inserted it back into the device, bringing it back to life with a beep.

"... Not a word!" she said with a low voice, giving them all a glare for good measure. Which did not help as, first, Midnight Blossom broke out in laughter, which set off the rest of them as well.

'Ugh, this is going to be a long day,' she thought in frustration.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle stood in the center of what seemed to be an arena of sorts. Many frost giants occupied the area at the sides, watching intently and excitedly. Even the elder was present, watching the filly with rapt attention, although she did glance off to the other two ponies standing among the crowd.

Sweetie Belle looked around nervously with all those eyes centered on her, and she focused her attention on the frost giant, Frostbite, standing in front of her.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, standing on the sidelines along with Wind Chill, looked at their friend, then at all those present with curiosity.

"Say, why are there so many of ya'll here?" Apple Bloom asked as she lost count of the many frost giants around the arena.

"We live in a frozen wasteland, and entertainment is hard to find," Wind Chill answered.

"But Sweetie Belle is here to learn about her powers, right?" Scootaloo asked.

"She is, yes."

"Then what are they all doin' here?" Apple Bloom picked back up, waving a hoof to indicate all of the giants.

"To be entertained," Wind Chill answered simply, and Apple Bloom's face fell as she gave him a flat look.

"So, they're here ta see her make a mess of things," she stated.

"What! Hey, did you bring her here to learn or to get a laugh out of her!?" Scootaloo asked with irritation, glaring at the giant.

"A bit of option A, and a bit of option B," Wind Chill answered with an awkward grin.

"Well… This should be interestin'," Apple Bloom remarked, and they returned their attention to the snow white filly standing at the center of the arena.

"Okay, Sweetie Belle. There are many things for you to learn, but for you to properly use your powers, you first need to get a firm grasp on your transformation. You have already discovered you can use your powers as you are, but in your other form your powers are more focused, stronger, easier to use. When you learn to control your transformation, your powers will follow suit," Frostbite explained with an authoritative voice.

"Now, I will have to be honest. I do not fully understand the mechanics behind your transformation, as it is something we ghosts, or spirits," he added with a single nod to Sweetie, "do not do. We are in a single form, which we gain after our death. You, however, are something in-between. But I have some knowledge from my dealings with the last Halfa that was here, so I am sure we will be able to figure this part out together.

"Now, I do know that in order for you to transform, you will need to clear your mind, while at the same time focusing on your energy. I'm assuming that you will need to find your focal point, the point of your power's center. The point of origin, if you would. The place where your powers flow from, and where it is stored when you are in your mortal form. Another thing I know that could help is using a mental trigger to help with your transformation. Something that helps you focus on that very task while canceling everything else out."

"Like what?" Sweetie Belle asked, almost hanging on Frostbite's lips for an answer.

"From experience, a phrase of sorts. Something simple, yet effective that will help with focusing your mind. Like my friend used the phrase: 'I'm going ghost!' "

" 'I'm going ghost?' " Sweetie Belle repeated, blinking dumbly.

"Indeed. Simple, maybe even a bit silly, but it did the trick. Eventually he had no need to use it anymore as he learned to control his powers, but he kept using it all the same. Something about it being his catchphrase."

"So, what should I say?" Sweetie Belle wondered out loud.

"That is for you to decide. But for now, let's just focus on clearing your mind first, and I am sure your trigger will come to you."

"So, clear my mind? As in, no thoughts at all?" She asked after letting out a deep breath, forming a cloud of hot air in the frozen environment.

"Indeed, and while you do so, focus on your powers. Find your center, and find your trigger. Once you find these it should become considerably easier to transform and use your powers," Frostbite told her, watching the small cloud fade away.

"Okay," Sweetie Belle said as she took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, creating another cloud, "here goes," and she closed her eyes in concentration while emptying her mind.

Excited murmurs swept through the audience as they looked at her in excitement, but a shush from Frostbite silenced them, and they all watched the filly intently in complete silence. And Apple Bloom and Scootaloo silently rooted for their friend, hoping she would be able to learn how to transform on her own, instead of it just happening.

'Okay, an empty mind….. No thoughts, no memories, no inner voice… Wait! Shoot.. Shut up!... Right?… No thoughts…… No memories…..... Nothing at all….. Nothing..at…all…….'

"Good. Empty your mind, focus on your inner energy, and find your trigger." Frostbite said in a soft voice, guiding the filly towards her transformation.

Sweetie Belle slowly lost herself in the depths of her mind, blocking out everything around her, lost in a sea of emptiness. And, as she found herself adrift in this sea of nothingness, she noticed a faint green glimmer out in the distance.

She focused on it, and, as there was nothing else for her to see or interact with, it grew larger and brighter. Before long it was glowing with the strength of a flashlight. Then a campfire. A roaring inferno. Then it became as blinding as the sun as she was swept away in a burst of green, engulfing her, empowering her. Transforming her. And, in this one instance, she found her trigger.

Sweetie Belle's eyes snapped open, showing two brightly glowing green pools without any iris or pupil, while a band of energy formed around her midsection.

"I'M SHIFTING SPIRIT!" she shouted, and the band of energy split in half, beginning the transformation from mortal to spirit.

Energy coursed through her body as she felt the changes happen. She felt her heart slow down, before stopping entirely. Her need to breathe, gone into thin air. She saw her coat bristle and wave as the energy flowed through it, changing the color from a mere white to a gleaming silver, while her mane and tail came to life, billowing in an unfelt breeze like a fog. Her legs, bare at first, were now covered by pitch black boots, materialized from the energy itself as it moved over them. She could almost feel herself hum with power as she completed her transformation, feeling stronger than during the previous times she had transformed, merely through the fact that this time it was truly by her own will that she had changed.

Amazed gasps sounded all around as Sweetie Belle completed her transformation, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo cheered loudly for their friend.

Sweetie Belle, now Silver Spirit, looked at herself with a victorious smile, then she looked up, seeing all the awestruck faces of the frost giants as they looked at her.

Even Frostbite, who was used to a few more things than most frost giants, looked down at the silver spirit pony with a look of utter amazement. And, for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

"I DID IT!" Silver Spirit cheered happily as she jumped excitedly on the spot, her mane and tail leaving a blur as they lagged behind a bit with her movement.

"I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it!" she kept cheering, joined by her friends as they bounced on the spot, Scootaloo's wings buzzing happily.

"Indeed you did," Frostbite said in surprise, amazed she was so quick to figure it out, "Indeed you did."

<<>><<>><<>>

"I'M SHIFTING SPIRIT!"

The words were shouted quite loudly, and were carried far on the chill air of the Far Frozen. They echoed around the desolate valley, and penetrated the ice that made up the mountains. There, standing tall and proud, her words reached Tree of Life. And, in a small burst of energy, the small gemstone that was growing in the faint glow of energy grew bigger, sensing the growth in its future wielder, and growing itself as a result. It was not yet done, though, as she wasn't ready for it. She still had a long way to go, just as the other two, who still had yet to begin their growth. But they would, just as those six her daughter planted on their world had seen.

They would grow, and they would learn. And, when they were ready, so to would these new seeds of life be.

<<>><<>><<>>

"I'm impressed," Frostbite spoke up, looking down at the silver pony, "You were able to find your trigger and transform much faster than I expected."

"Well, I might have practiced a bit back home… With mixed results," Silver Spirit answered, her large smile dropping just a bit as she thought back to her prior training attempts.

"I see. Well, it does make things easier for us, as we can move on to the simpler parts of this training. Tell me. Do you already know how to control and fire an ecto beam?"

"Ehhh… A what?" Silver asked dumbly.

"The beam of energy you shot accidentally when you sneezed earlier," Frostbite explained, and Silver Spirit's eyes lit up in understanding.

"Oh, yeah. I can do that," she replied, and she lifted up a hoof, aiming it at a random spot on the ground, and fired a beam of green energy.

The snow melted from the blast's heat, and a small boiling puddle of water, which was quick to freeze again, was left behind, steam billowing from it as Silver Spirit looked at her hoof quizzically.

"So, it's... ehh, what did you say it was again?"

"An ecto beam. Or ectoplasm beam in full. Some might call it an ectoplasm discharge, but most just call it an ecto beam," Frostbite explained. "Ectoplasm is the energy that gives you your powers. It is, in essence, the 'lifeblood' of us ghosts, spirits and such."

"Ehh… Okay?" she answered, unsure, "So this stuff is in my blood?"

"Actually. That stuff is your blood. As you are now, you are one of the dead, and as such, you don't have any blood left. Instead, it is replaced by this ectoplasm, which now courses through your veins," Frostbite explained, and Silver Spirit's eyes widened in horror.

"WHAT!?"

"Please, calm down. It is not as bad as you think it is. When you turn back, so does your blood."

"WHAT!?" she repeated, not comforted in the slightest.

"Uhh... Would it be alright if I showed you what I mean?" Frostbite asked, and he received a hesitant nod from Silver.

Kneeling down so he could reach out to her, he grasped the leg she was still holding up in his hand, while he used his ice claw to make a small cut in her leg. And, to her horror, small green droplets of glowing goo flowed out.

"AAAAHHHH!! Get it out! Get it out!" she screamed as she flailed her leg wildly, and accidentally fired a beam of energy from her leg, hitting a snow dune in the distance, blowing it up. The sudden avalanche of snow covered many of the frost giants who were standing nearby, leaving only their heads to poke out of the thick white layer.

"Calm down, young spirit," Frostbite spoke up, holding the filly down while she was freaking out, "Just transform back, and you will see what I mean."

"And how do I do that!?" she demanded in a panic, eyes locked on the glowing green goop that came from the small cut, still trying to shake it off.

"…Ehhh…" Frostbite uttered dumbly, at a loss for an answer.

"Try ta calm down an' do what ya just did, only backwards!" Apple Bloom shouted at her, while she and Scootaloo rushed to their friend, to help Frostbite calm her down.

"Yeah, what she said!" Scootaloo agreed as she grabbed hold of her friends flailing leg, and she now saw the green glowing goop up close herself.

"Eeeuww. What is that?" she said, not thinking about what that might do to her friend, who started to freak out again.

"Yer not helping!" Apple Bloom grunted, "Sweetie Belle, calm down!"

"GHAAAA!!" was the only reply they got from her.

Seeing no easy way to get through to their friend, Apple Bloom then resorted to a more southern method to snap her friend out of her freak out. Which consisted of a hoof to the back of the head.

"OUCH… HEY!" Silver Spirit shouted as she rubbed her head, glaring at her friend with glowing eyes.

"Well sorry," Apple Bloom replied with a roll of her eyes, "but ya were completely freaking out over some green goop."

Silver Spirit's eyes shrunk as soon as she'd said that, and she looked down at her leg to see the glowing green stuff was still there, and she was about to panic again.

"Oh no ya don't!" Apple Bloom stated firmly, shaking her friend out of her pending panic, "Now, calm down and try ta turn back."

"Yeah, just do the same thing again, only different," Scootaloo picked up, getting some strange looks in return, "What?"

"How am I supposed to do the same thing differently?" Silver Spirit asked, puzzled.

"She means that ya should do what ya just did, only this time tryin' ta transform back," Apple Bloom clarified, letting go of her friend.

"Oh, right. I can do that, I think?" Silver Spirit said, her eyes shifting between the green goop coming from the small cut and Apple Bloom.

'Okay, turning back. Sure, I can do that. Probably,' she thought as she, once again, closed her eyes and tried to empty her mind. Which proved to be much more difficult this time, as her mind kept going back to the fact that her blood was turned into green goop. Still, she managed to mostly empty her mind, and push the lingering thoughts about the latest discovery that came with her transformation to the back of her mind just long enough for her to find herself once more in the emptiness where she first found her trigger. Only this time it wasn't as empty as she remembered it being.

It was as if she was floating in the center of the sun. A green sun, but a sun.

Blinding green light radiated from everywhere, basking her in the light, while she also knew it was shining directly through her. She didn't know how she knew, just that she did. And the problem now was, how could she turn back?

Before, the energy was just a faint light before it grew and consumed her. But now, it was everywhere. It was her. How could she turn back from this? How could she let go of it?

'Wait… let it go? Could it be that easy?' she wondered, her voice reverberating all around.

She floated in the center of the green sun, reaching out with her senses, then back into herself. She didn't know how to describe it. It was as if she was both at the center of it all, while also standing on the sidelines, watching through another pair of eyes. It was as if there were two of her, connected, yet separate. One mind, two bodies.

Silver Spirit reached out to this other self, grabbing hold of her, embracing it. And in a burst of brilliant green, she felt herself along with the energy being pulled inside of her other self. A white unicorn filly with a curly two-toned mane and tail. And as she was absorbed within the other her, she let go of her hold on the energy she felt coming from her, and the green glow died down to the same faint glimmer she remembered seeing from the first time in this void. A glimmer she saw through the non glowing eyes of her normal self.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Frostbite and all the other frost giants watched the filly, seeing her relax more and more as she calmed down. Her eyes closed, and her mind focused inwards. Then, in a burst of white light, a band of energy formed around her midsection, starting the process of her transformation back to a mortal form.

They all looked at her, showing grins or smiles as they observed Sweetie Belle learn and grow. And Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had trouble containing their excitement as Sweetie Belle opened her eyes again, looking at them, then at herself as she inspected her body.

"HEY! It worked," she said triumphantly, then she looked at her leg, "... Hey, it's not green anymore?" she said, puzzled, as she saw the red droplets of her blood."

"As I said it would be," Frostbite spoke up, "Your transformation is not just one of appearances, but one that changes you completely. Every hair on your body, every cell of your skin, every drop of blood, everything down to the smallest part of your very being transforms. So it is understandable for you to freak out when finding out about such a change when you weren't expecting it."

"So… that happens every time? That green stuff I mean," Sweetie Belle asked as she looked up at him.

"Indeed it does."

"I'm not sure how to feel about that," she muttered.

"I do," Scootaloo almost shouted, "It. Is. AWESOME!"

"Ah have ta agree with her on that one," Apple Bloom replied with a grin, giving a hoofbump to Scootaloo.

"So, come on. There is more you can do, right?" Scootaloo asked with her excitement in overdrive, looking at both Sweetie Belle and Frostbite.

"HA, yes she can," Frostbite replied with a hearty laugh, "You're lucky to have such good friends, young spirit. Now, if you feel up to it, shall we continue?"

Looking at her friends for an answer, she wasn't surprised to see two very large and eager grins on their muzzles, and she felt them spread to her own as she turned to look at Frostbite.

"Does Celestia raise the sun?" she replied as an answer.

"Ehhh?..," Frostbite uttered dumbly.

"That would be a yes," Apple Bloom answered for him.

"... Wonderful. Then, let's continue."

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, it is your intangibility you say you have the most trouble with," Frostbite said out loud, scratching his chin, "Curious. It should be one of the easier things to control."

"Yeah? How so?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"As all one needs to do is let go of their physical form. Like breathing out, if you will. A feature that should almost come by itself, as it is so closely connected to your spectral energy," Frostbite explained.

"How so?"

"You see. Intangibility comes from a form of energy we call Ainetus," he explained, and he picked up a handful of snow in his ice claw. Then he made his appendage glow with his energy to demonstrate his point, and the snow fell down on the ground, passing cleanly through his hand. "But it has another name as well. One given by the humans, although they don't realize this. They call it Neutrinos, the ghost particles. This energy can move through everything without stopping, and, as it is part of your energy, so can you. The fact that this is something you have difficulties with is strange, and the only thing I can think of that might interfere with this energy would be an equal but opposite energy."

"Other energy? Do ya mean magic?" Apple Bloom spoke up, staring curiously at Frostbite and his still glowing ice claw.

"Magic?"

"Yeah, like this," Sweetie Belle replied, and, with intense focus, she produced several light green sparks from her horn.

Most of them winked out of existence after a short moment, a few landed on the snow, but one landed on Frostbite's glowing ice claw. There the magical energy interacted with the energy Frostbite was still channeling in his claw, resulting in a violent reaction.

The energies collided and repelled each other, resulting in a small explosion of energy, knocking Frostbite back a bit, while his ice claw took some serious damage.

All present looked at both the struck frost giant and the unicorn filly with shock and confusion, not understanding what had just happened.

"I… I-I didn't mean to do that!" Sweetie Belle shrieked as she backed away.

"Wow. What was that?" Scootaloo asked, carefully moving towards Frostbite as she looked at the now partially molten claw.

"I would like to know as well," Frostbite spoke up, sounding extremely shaken, "What was it that you just did, those sparks? It was not any spectral energy I know of."

"That is because it isn't spectral energy," The elder said in a calm voice, unfazed by what had happened as she walked towards Sweetie Belle.

"Like they said, it's magic. An energy other than our own, yet similar all the same. It is what is causing your difficulties with your intangibility. You see, when you turn intangible, your body consists purely of spectral energy for the duration of the intangibility. But your magic is interfering with this, as it doesn't want to change with it."

"Wha… How do you know this?" Sweetie Belle asked, sounding completely confused from both this latest revelation, as well as the way the elder seems to know all these things just like that.

"I see many things, but only those which I need to know," she answered.

"Ehh, wha?" Scootaloo muttered as she scratched the back of her head.

"I know what I need to know, when I need to know it. It is my own special talent, if you will," she explained, "And no, I don't have a Cutie Mark," she quickly added as she saw the spark of wonder in their eyes, and the fillies slumped down disappointed.

"But even if that is true. Then why did I go... eh, intangible just like that several times now back home?" Sweetie asked.

"Hmm…" the elder hummed as she took a good look at her, seeing through the layers of skin and bone, and observing her at the most fundamental level of her being.

"Your magic is set in its own ways, shaped by thousands of generations before you. But yours is still young, and it is adapting to exist alongside your newfound powers. But it isn't a simple matter of flicking a switch, and it will take some time before a balance is found. And until it is, it keeps trying to find a balance between the two, resulting in your intangibility problems. So, until then, it will be difficult for you to use your intangibility. But, I'm sure that as you progress with your training you will find your magic and spectral energy finding a solution for this internal conflict. But it would be wise not to force it, and let it sort itself out. Time, it would seem, is the best training for this problem."

"Elder, what exactly is this magic of theirs?" Frostbite asked, "I have never seen anything like this before."

The elder looked at him, giving a knowing grin as she gave him a single, one word reply full of meaning, but which didn't answer anything for him, "Balance."

"That doesn't answer anything," Frostbite replied, stumped.

"And yet it does," the elder said sagely, "But there are more pressing matters to attend to, and I shall take my leave. Oh, and Frostbite. When the child is done for the day, tell her about the Great One. She should know about his history. I'm sure it will be a learning experience for the both of you," and with that last suggestion, she left to return to the sanctum of the Tree of Life.

"… Who's the Great One?" Sweetie Belle asked after the elder had left.

"The greatest of Halfas. One whose accomplishments saved the lives of many, and a good friend of mine. But also one who has vanished after a terrible tragedy. One that changed the lives of many. But it is not yet the time to talk about this, as we still have several things to do," Frostbite said with a proud, yet sad voice, before returning to his more cheerful demeanor.

"Right," Sweetie Belle said with a confident nod, ready for whatever it was she would have to do next, "I'm ready!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Beams and bolts of green flew around the arena, and the sounds of labored breathing accompanied each blast. Silver Spirit jumped, dodged, and flew in every direction, avoiding Frostbite's attacks, while also shooting ecto beams of her own at him. But it was a lopsided fight, as she felt herself running out of energy with every shot she fired. While Frostbite, who was easily avoiding all of her shots, didn't seem tired in the slightest.

Jumping up in the air to avoid another shot, Silver Spirit angled herself in such a way that she could push off with her hind legs the moment she hit the ground again.

Dropping down, and then shooting forwards at the frost giant, Silver let loose a battle cry as she poured every last bit of energy she could spare into this final shot.

Her front hooves glowed a toxic green, a glow that was mirrored in her eyes, and she shot a twin beam of bright green energy at the giant.

Frostbite, looking at the approaching spirit with her hooves aglow, saw the sloppily executed attack, and he easily sidestepped the beams of energy.

Silver Spirit's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the giant move aside with a speed that belied his size, and her final attack, as well as herself, flew cleanly past him.

The beams of energy shooting past the watching spectators, hitting a pile of snow they used to sit on, blowing it up and covering them under a layer of white. While she, out of energy, bounced off of the ground, before coming to a sliding stop with a mouthful of snow. Then, lying there in a heap, her powers finally ran out and she transformed back to her mortal self.

"SWEETIE BELLE!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shouted as they rushed to their friend, who was already pulling herself up with unsteady legs, spitting out the snow in her mouth.

"Okay, that's all I've got," Sweetie Belle muttered as she sat down, wiping away the sweat on her brow.

"Are ya alright?" Apple Bloom asked, concerned, inspecting her friend for any injuries.

"Yeah, I think so. Just tired, is all," she replied with a tired smile.

"Tha.. You…. He… Wha… Wow!" Scootaloo stuttered in a daze, too excited to form any coherent words.

"Ah think ya broke her," Apple Bloom said dryly as she looked at her pegasus friend.

"I think he broke me," Sweetie Belle groaned tiredly as she nodded to Frostbite.

"Not likely. You are far more resilient than you think, but you do still have a lot to learn before you can properly use your powers," Frostbite yold her as he approached the trio. "You've shown that you can combine flight and firing your ecto beams, but you have yet to learn how to properly use them. Just going and shooting wildly is not particularly useful, wouldn't you agree?" He said with a kind laugh. "But for now, we call it a day. You should head home soon too, I believe. After all, you have been gone for a while."

"Home? Oh, right, home," Scootaloo said with a sullen, bitter tone, "Hold on," she suddenly piped up, "didn't that other giant say you had to tell us about some great one, or something."

"By the ancestors, you're right," Frostbite answered as he looked down at Scootaloo, then he looked at a distant cave in the village, "Sweetie Belle, are you feeling well enough to come with me?"

"I.. Uh… I think so, yes," she answered as she stood up on wobbly legs, and let loose a large yawn.

"Very well. You and your friends come with me. Wind Chill, stay close behind!" he said, and he set off towards the cavern entrance, followed by the three fillies and the aforementioned frost giant.

"So… Who is this great one ya'll are talking about?" Apple Bloom asked as they approached the cave.

"As I said earlier. He is a Halfa of great power, and one who used his strength to save many lives. But you should wait until we are inside. It will be easier to explain once we are," Frostbite replied, a serious look on his face.

"O-kay?" Scootaloo said, unsure, and they followed Frostbite inside the frozen cave.

The moment they crossed the threshold the light started to fade, and Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle found themselves surrounded by darkness. Until, suddenly, the cave was illuminated in a cold blue light coming from Frostbite's claw.

"Another way to use your powers, young one," he spoke in a low voice as he motioned for them to follow.

"In this cave we recorded the story of the Great One so that his sacrifices would not be forgotten," he began, and he illuminated a part of the wall showing a crudely drawn image of a human with white hair and glowing green hands.

"You see. Long ago there was a cursed king, Pariah Dark. He was power hungry, and went for two items that, together, increased his strength a hundred fold, allowing him to do anything he desired," he began, and illuminated two different drawings close together. A ring and a crown. "The Ring of Rage and the Crown of Fire. He used these items to spread his powers over the realm of all ghosts. The Ghost Zone," he then illuminated a drawing of the Ghost Zone from when it was still in one piece, "Only by the combined power of the ancient ghosts were they able to stop him; sealing the evil king away in a sarcophagus in which he would sleep for all eternity, while they took away the ring, making sure that he was unable to use the powers of the combined artifacts to break free."

"Wooow," the three fillies said in amazement.

"But where is the other Halfa in all of this?" Sweetie asked.

"He wouldn't be part of this story until many thousands of years later," Frostbite answered, before continuing, "After the king was sealed away, the ancient ghosts broke apart the Ghost Zone, making sure no one would be able to easily gain access to Pariah's keep. Or so they thought," he said in an ominous tone as he illuminated an image of a human with pale blue skin, red eyes, fangs, a cape, and black hair shaped into two horns.

"Vlad Plasmius, the first Halfa."

"What? The first?"

"Indeed he is. And, unlike the Great One, he chose the path of evil. He learned of the Ring of Rage and the Crown of Fire, and sought to claim them for himself. And in doing so, he set free Pariah Dark, unleashing his terror over not only this realm, but the human world as well," Frostbite paused for effect. "He invaded the city where the Great One lived, sealing it off from the outside world, and pulled it inside the Ghost Zone where no one could reach it. And all hope seemed lost, if it wasn't for the Great One," Frostbite said with a proud voice, shining his light over a detailed image of the white haired human wearing a strange metallic suit while fighting with the evil king.

"Danny Phantom, the second Halfa," he said, and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sucked in a sharp breath as they looked at the image of Danny.

"But… but, isn't that the evil ghost we've heard about? The one that k-killed somepo— someone?" Sweetie Belle asked in shock, looking frightened at the image, and Frostbite let out a tired sigh.

"I see those lies have tainted your world as well."

"Lies?" Scootaloo asked, confused.

"Yes, lies. A vile act that both claimed the life of Danny Phantom's mate, and which put the blame squarely on him," Frostbite said, his voice brimming with anger, his free hand balling into a fist while Wind Chill, quiet up till now, let out an angry growl.

"A lie that everyone believes, even if there were those who claimed otherwise. And now it has even spread to your world. This atrocity knows no bounds, it would seem. At least I can tell you the truth. A small glimmer of hope for the Great One that one day everyone will know of his innocence," Frostbite said with conviction.

"So, let me continue… Ah, yes. Danny Phantom fought the king, using all the strength he had, and almost lost his life in doing so. He held nothing back, and even his enemies came to fight by his side, joined together to fight a common enemy. Ultimately, he won, and the king was once more sealed away and his city returned to its rightful place back on Earth. And, incidentally, this event was also how your two worlds first met."

"Really!?" a trio of voices echoed through the cavern.

"Really. The city was returned back to Earth, but something else came along as well. One of the doorways found in the Ghost Zone, which normally just floats around aimlessly, but was now pulled apart as it was forced into the human's world. It opened the first rip in reality that joined your two worlds, and I'm sure you know what happened after that. So, let's return to the story," Frostbite told them, and the fillies only gave a nod for him to continue, not wanting to interrupt him.

"And so, after he defeated the king and restored the peace, us frost giants created all of this,"—he indicated all the drawings—"to remember the greatness of his actions. And, from that day forth, we name him the Great One, after the greatness of his actions. However, some did not take kindly to him. And after yet another defeat at the hands of Danny Phantom, Vlad Plasmius unleashed his most diabolical of schemes to get rid of him. And, unfortunately, it worked. We do not know all the details, just what we picked up from the other ghosts. But it would seem that Vlad Plasmius sent a ghost of unspeakable evil after them. And in the fight that occurred, the human known as Samantha Manson lost her life," he revealed as he showed the image of Danny Phantom holding Sam's lifeless body in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

"His world shunned him, called him the terror of his city, already having forgotten all the good he had done. I only saw him one more time after this incident, but never again. He lost faith in himself, and he vanished to get away from it all. Leaving behind his friends and family," he finished, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's quiet sobs echoed through the cave. As well as Scootaloo's less than successful attempts to keep herself from crying, because that was not something cool ponies did.

"So... Who is he, really?" Sweetie Belle asked as she stepped closer to the image of Danny, studying it intently.

"His name, as a human, is Danny Fenton," Frostbite told them, and another set of gasps sounded through the cave.

"Fenton? As in the Fentons? Tha Fenton family who are world renown ghost hunters?" Apple Bloom asked in shock.

"Yes, yes they are," Frostbite answered, only for their attention to shift to Sweetie Belle as she let out another gasp.

"Hold on!" she said as she took a step back from the image, looking at it with eyes wide in realization, "I know that suit! It is almost the same as the one my sister is making for mister Danny."

"What? What are you talking about?" Frostbite asked, surprised.

"Danny Manson. The human living in our village," Sweetie Belle answered in return, "My sister is making a suit for him just like it, but with some things different. That letter D is not on it, but other than that…"

"What did you say his name was?" Frostbite asked slowly, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"Ehh. Danny Manson," Sweetie Belle answered, sharing a worried glance with her friends, while Frostbite looked up and saw the same look of realization in Wind Chill's eyes.

"Danny Manson? Could it be?" Frostbite wondered.

"He carries her name, and it would seem he is hiding in plain sight," Wind Chill replied.

"Young ones, tell me. What does this Danny Manson look like? Does he have spiky black hair? Is he skinny? Tell me."

"Ehh, well… Yeah. He has black hair," Apple Bloom said, unsure, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"And it is spiky," Scootaloo confirmed, sharing Apple Bloom's feeling.

"And skinny as well. But he is also funny and kind. He even went into the Everfree Forest to help our sisters and their friends to find us," Sweetie Belle added, before she suddenly realized what they were getting at, which also answered a question she and her friends had that made her into what she is.

"And in the forest we were attacked by a manticore, until it suddenly stopped its attack, and its eyes started glowing green… Is… Is he.. Is he the Halfa..Is he… Danny Phantom?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked wide eyed at their friend, who was looking at Frostbite. Frostbite, however, didn't notice as he was stuck between hope and fear. Hope that after so long his friend had been found, and fear that all of this was nothing more than a giant coincidence and this human was not the one they believed him to be.

"Could it truly be him?" Wind Chill asked, unsure.

"I… I find myself daring to hope," Frostbite answered, before an idea came to mind, "Wind Chill. You are bound to young Apple Bloom, and as such you must accompany her back to her world. While there, see if you can find out if this human is who we hope he is. But, for the favor of the ancestors, do not let yourself be seen. The elder only knows what might happen should they discover you."

"Whoa whoa whoa! What do ya mean he has ta come back with me?" Apple Bloom asked, with worry thick in her tone.

"As the code says, until my debt is paid in full, I must stay close to you so I'm there should you need me," Wind Chill answered, "Did I not already tell you this?"

"No, no ya didn't," Apple Bloom said in a panic.

"My apologies, that was a grave error on my part," Wind Chill said with a curt bow, "But the code is clear, and I must accompany you back to your world. Don't worry, though. I will keep hidden, and no one will see me unless I want them to."

"But where will you stay?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"The forest we journeyed through today will do fine."

"What? NO!" Apple Bloom said with a stomp of her hoof, "Ah don't know what ta make of all of this, but Ah won't let ya stay in the Everfree Forest," she said, and her eyes lit up with an idea, "Ah know. There's an old abandoned barn back home. It should be big enough for ya ta stay in, and it's far enough out of the way for nopony ta notice."

"Such kindness. I find myself indebted even more," Wind Chill said gratefully.

"Please don't," Apple Bloom replied with a groan, looking nervously at the giant.

"As you wish."

"Oh, what have Ah gotten myself inta?" Apple Bloom murmured.

"I'll say. I'm a spirit, but this is much harder to keep hidden," Sweetie Belle replied, completely serious, and the two of them shared a look of awkwardness.

"How do we always manage ta get inta situations like this?" Apple Bloom asked, holding a hoof against her face.

"I have no idea," Sweetie Belle replied, and they turned to look at Scootaloo, who was busy looking around for something.

"What are you looking for?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Tree sap," she answered simply, "We always end up covered in tree sap at the end of these kinds of things, but I'm not seeing any here."

"Ehh… So?"

"Meaning," she said with a sigh, "this has only just begun."

An uncomfortable silence settled down as Scootaloo's voice echoed away, and they all shared a look of anxiety as they knew she was right.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Wind Chill were back in the ancient castle, having just crossed the portal, and getting a figurative slap in the face from the sudden warmth of the forest.

Frostbite, standing on the other side of the portal, gave the four of them a serious look as they prepared to leave, while the two timberwolves looked at them with suspicion, but didn't react otherwise.

"Remember this. Should he really be the Great One, do not let him know you know. Don't tell him, don't mention it to him, or let him find out in another way. He vanished all those years ago with ease, and, should he discover he's been found out, he might very well vanish again. Wind Chill. I know you want to find out if it is him just as much as I do, but, for the ancestors mercy, do not do anything rash. We know from our friends that this world does not react well to ghosts, and, if they find out about you, there is no telling what might happen. Stay hidden, but keep an eye out for anything."

"I understand, Frostbite," he replied.

"Good. And you three, I know you're also curious as to whether or not it is truly him but, please, don't do anything rash either. Sweetie Belle, you should focus on your training more than anything else, and Wind Chill will be able to help you with the more basic powers. But should you need any more help, ask him, and he will bring you to us. We are able to help you with any troubles regarding your powers, so don't hesitate to ask."

"Okay," she said with a nod, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at one another, silently discussing how they could best spy on Danny.

Frostbite, noticing this, and knowing that children often had a habit of not listening, went one step further.

"Promise me you won't do anything that might scare him off, please?"

Giving a look at one another, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave a small nod in agreement.

"Cross our hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eyes," they enacted the Pinkie Promise while doing the required motions, while Wind Chill and Frostbite looked down at them in confusion.

"Uhhh… What did you just do?" Frostbite asked.

"A Pinkie Promise. It's the most special of promises, one that ya can't break," Apple Bloom answered.

" 'Cause breaking a promise is the fastest way to lose a friend's trust," Scootaloo picked up.

"And losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever," Sweetie Belle finished.

"Foreveeeeerr!"

"Gha… What was that!" Wind Chill shouted in surprise as they heard the voice echo away.

"Pinkie Pie," the fillies answered simultaneously.

"Wha?"

"Don't ask. We don't understand it either," Apple Bloom said with a slightly humorous tone.

"Yeah. It's just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie," Scootaloo added.

"And knowing her, she's probably still back in Ponyville," Sweetie Belle thought out loud as she rubbed her chin.

"Probably, yeah," Apple Bloom and Scootaloo agreed.

"… You ponies are some strange creatures," Frostbite said, bewildered.

"Nah. It's just her… Mostly," Sweetie Belle said with a laugh, "Don't worry though. She most likely doesn't know anything about any of this happening. She just does that to anyone that talks about her Pinkie Promise."

"... Strange creatures indeed," Frostbite muttered, before shaking his head to clear his thoughts, "Regardless, you should go. It is getting late in this world, as far as I can see…" he began, then looked around to find a reference for the time, and noticed the fading light coming from one of the broken windows placed high above in a wall, "Late indeed. Now go! Wind Chill will stay with you for protection, should it be needed."

"Okay, Frostbite," Apple Bloom said with a smile.

"And thanks, Frostbite," Sweetie Belle added, before yawning loudly.

"Yeah, thanks," Scootaloo piped up, more at ease with the giant after everything that had happened in the Far Frozen today.

"And a good day to you three as well. Now, go, before your families get worried," he replied with a kind smile. "And Wind Chill, keep them safe," he said to the other frost giant, and they briefly locked eyes. And in that moment, Wind Chill understood the unspoken part of his request.

Keep them safe, both from themselves and what might be out there.

"Of course, Frostbite," he replied, as he and the fillies turned to leave. Walking through the same hallway they came in, and exiting through the large, unhinged double doors leading outside.

Stepping out in the relatively warm evening air, they walked over to where the bridge used to be, only to be stopped by a growl coming from behind them. Turning to look, they were faced with the imposing form of the timberwolf Alpha.

"Do, vi revenis," he growled with an angry tone.
"So, you have returned."

"Yes we have," Wind Chill replied.

"Vi komprenas?" the Alpha barked in surprise.
"You understand?"

"To some extent. My task to watch over the Death Zone requires me to know many languages, so that I can warn those who dare to cross it."

"Neatendite, sed utila."
"Unexpected, but useful."

"So, what is it that you want?" Wind Chill asked, crossing his arms.

"Ili. Ili nur kaŭzis problemojn en tiu arbaro ekde la unua tago ili eniris ĝin. Nun, kun la blanka kiel sxi estas ... Ni ne volas permesi al ŝi kaŭzi plu mizero," he replied with a bark, nodding at the fillies
"Them. They have only caused trouble in this forest since the first day they entered it. Now, with the white one as she is… We won't allow her to cause any more trouble."

"And they won't. She's been working hard to learn to control her powers, and she won't be any trouble for you, or this forest," Wind Chill replied.

The Alpha made a sound similar to a snort as he crossed his own arms, glaring at the frost giant with a mixture of anger and pity.

"Vi trovos el sufiĉe baldaŭ."
"You will find out soon enough."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Wind Chill answered, and the wolf only gave a grunt in return. Then he looked at the three fillies, who were cowering a bit behind Wind Chill, and he pointed his claw at his eyes, then at the three of them. And even without any words, they knew what he meant.

"It is curious, though. Have you been waiting here all this time just to say this?" Wind Chill asked with a curious tone, and the Alpha shifted around uncomfortably with an annoyed growl.

Wind Chill, having mastered the art of reading alien body languages from his time observing all the creatures found in the Death Zone, knew immediately what the problem was, and he couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh.

"You're stuck! With the bridge gone, you can't get back to the other side," he said with roaring laughter, making the Alpha growl aggressively.

"Then, allow me to fix this," Wind Chill continued after he regained control over himself, and he stepped towards the last remnants of the former ice bridge.

Clapping his hands together, he rubbed them as if he was trying to warm himself. But, instead, a cold ice blue glow surrounded his hands, and small flakes of snow fell to the ground.

Bending down, he placed his hands on the ground, and the cold energy rushed into the warm soil and rock, cooling it down far below freezing, and ice structures started to form.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked on in awe with wide eyes and their mouths hanging open as they saw a new bridge made from the purest ice form before them, a cold vapor coming off of it in the relatively warm evening's air.

Releasing the energy, the glow vanished from around Wind Chill's hands, and he stood back up and stepped away from his latest creation, looking at it with a satisfied nod.

"There we go, good as new," he said proudly, and he motioned for the Alpha to cross over.

The Alpha, not one to accept favors from others, but seeing no other way to cross himself, walked past Wind Chill as he stepped on the bridge, giving a growl to the giant as he moved past him.

Crossing the expanse, not feeling the cold of the ice in the dead wood his body was made of, he vanished into the darkness of the forest. Hidden, but always watching.

"Shall we go, too?" Wind Chill asked, surprising the fillies and making them squeak a bit.

"Yeah… Yeah, let's go," Sweetie Belle said, almost in a daze. Still a bit shaken from the sudden appearance of the large timberwolf, and amazed by what Wind Chill had just done. And she, followed by her friends, crossed the bridge, feeling the cold of the ice through their hooves, making them shake and shiver in response, and they hurried to get to the other side.

Once there, they quickly began their short journey back home, noticing the many green glowing eyes watching them from, well, everywhere, encouraging them to get out of the forest as fast as they could.

And finally, after what seemed like hours but was only twenty minutes or so, they stepped clear of the suffocation forest.

"Okay… Ah guess Ah'll take tha big guy with me now," Apple Bloom said, sounding a bit doubtful.

"Yeah, good luck with that," Scootaloo replied.

"Need any help?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, Ah think Ah've got this. Ya just go on home before Rarity grounds ya again for being late," Apple Bloom remarked, and Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in alarm as she let out a frightened gasp.

"Oh no! If that happens, I'll be grounded for the rest of my life. Or worse," she said, shocked, images of her posing as a ponequin entering her mind. "I… I've gotta run," she shouted as she took off in a gallop.

"I'm going too. It's getting late and stuff," Scootaloo said with a shrug, and she walked back to the guest house where she lived.

"Well, that just leaves tha two o' us," Apple Bloom said dryly, "Jus' follow me. Ah'll show ya where tha barn is."

"Of course, Apple Bloom. Lead the way," Wind Chill replied, and the two of them headed towards the orchard while Apple Bloom made sure to stay on a path that kept them out of sight.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Damn. This thing is going crazy!" Blue Ice said as she shook her scanner. And by the looks of it, the rest of her team had similar problems.

"What is wrong with these things?" Sound Wave asked as he turned the device off, then back on.

"How should I know?" Ornate Charm replied irritably, "I'm not the one that calibrated them."

"Oh, shove it," Blue Ice muttered, turning to Rolling Stone for any idea what to do now.

"Sir, your orders?"

"Put them away, they're not working. We go on visual for now, but Ice, you need to get these things working because, right now, we're practically blind."

"Yes Sir," Blue Ice responded.

"It was strange, though," Sound Wave said, "Did you see the same signal I saw on this thing? It was huge, before, of course, things just went crazy."

"Yeah, I saw it too," Ornate responded, "But that can't be right. It has to be a false positive."

"Perhaps," Rolling Stone muttered, "But stay sharp nonetheless. The others had a positive hit, who knows what might lurk in the shadows?" he said as he looked at a dark alley, expecting anything to pop up.

Which actually happened, as he let out a yelp of surprise when a white unicorn filly came rushing out of the darkness and ran clean past them in a hurry.

"Yeah… Somehow I don't think she is a ghost," Ornate Charm chuckled as she watched the filly run away, which set off Sound Wave and Blue Ice in small laughing fits of their own.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, and her not so little companion, were sneaking through the orchard. Taking cover in the shadows cast by the trees in the setting sun, but still visible should one look in their direction.

They quietly and subtly, or as subtly a lone Crusader and a frost giant out of place could be anyway, made their way to the barn Apple Bloom had mentioned.

It was a worn out thing, standing alone and abandoned in the field furthest away from the family house and the town. Looking like it would fall apart and collapse any minute now, but refused to give in and stubbornly remained standing despite years old wear and tear.

Looking around to see if anypony was watching, Apple Bloom and Wind Chill rushed over to the old structure. Opening the large double doors, hearing the hinges creak and groan in protest, Apple Bloom let the giant inside, before closing the doors behind them.

"Okay… It ain't much…" she began hesitantly, looking at the few forgotten and moldy bales of hay, as well as several empty barrels standing here and there.

"It will do fine," Wind Chill said optimistically as he looked around, seeing the possibilities this place provided.

"Okay?... Well, ya shouldn't have ta worry 'bout my brother or sister coming here, seein' that this section of tha orchard ain't supposed ta be bucked fer a little while longer. Plus, they don't really pay much attention ta this barn anyhow."

"Ehh… Bucked?" Wind Chill asked, puzzled.

"Ya know, apple buckin'. Buckin' tha trees ta make tha apples fall out," Apple Bloom answered with a surprised tone, before remembering the place Wind Chill came from.

"Oh, right. No trees where yer from.

"I'm afraid not, no," he answered with a small laugh, careful to keep any hint of the one tree the Far Frozen possessed a secret.

"Well, there's a lot of 'em here," she replied awkwardly.

"I've noticed," Wind Chill deadpanned, and the two shared a flat, somewhat awkward look, before bursting out in laughter.

"Yeah, Ah guess ya have. Okay, well, this is it… Ah hope it's alright?"

"It sure is, Apple Bloom. If only for your kindness in allowing me to stay here," Wind Chill answered, voice thick with appreciation.

"Oh, good. Feel free ta make some changes if ya want. It is kinda stuffy in here," Apple Bloom answered with a relieved sigh and a happy laugh, "But Ah think Ah should go now. Don't want ta get my family all worked up 'bout me not gettin' home on time."

"I understand, and thank you once more," Wind Chill said appreciatively, and Apple Bloom gave him a large smile in return before walking out of the barn and running back home.

Wind Chill, after watching her run away, pushed the door closed, flinching from the awful noise produced by the rusty hinges.

"She means well, but this place is a dump… Okay, what can I do to clean up this place?" he asked himself as he channeled his ice shaping powers in his hands, making them glow with an ice blue color.

"Ah, yes. Of course. Let's start with a bed, maybe a bit of ice on the walls?" he hummed to himself as he set to work, turning the old barn into his own personal igloo on the inside. After all, she had said he could make some changes if he wanted to. Might as well make it a big one.

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo entered her home, or, 'The place that tries to be my home,' she thought as she trudged inside, exhausted from this weird day.

Immediately after she closed the door behind her, she heard the door leading to the building's private livingroom open and Bellflower stepped out, looking extremely concerned as she let out a sigh of relief as she spotted Scootaloo standing in the building's small lobby.

"Scootaloo, you're back!" she almost shouted as she rushed to embrace the struggling filly, "Where have you been?"

"Let go of me," Scootaloo said with a muffled voice, trying to break free from the grip the earth pony had over her, but Bellflower wouldn't let go that easily.

"I was so worried. I've looked all over town for you, but nopony knew where you or your friends were."

Letting loose a huff and a groan of annoyance, Scootaloo relented and allowed her foster mother to hug her. And, although she would deny it should anypony ever mention it, she returned the hug, albeit just a little bit.

"Pfhu…" Scootaloo huffed out, pushing herself away from Bellflower, "Why would you even care? I'm not your daughter."

Bellflower looked as if she'd been slapped in the face, and Scootaloo's ears fell flat on her head as she looked down at her hooves, kicking the ground slightly as she quietly muttered an apology.

Sighing, Bellflower answered the harsh question.

"No, you're not my daughter. But that doesn't mean I don't care for you as if you were. I know you're still hurting over what happened, and I am trying my best to help you. But I won't be able to do that unless you let me. So, please, where have you been today?"

Scootaloo lowered her head even further in response, knowing she was right, but she didn't want to admit it. She'd known Bellflower all her life, knowing her as a friend of her parents who used to foalsit her from time to time. But this, having her as a mother… It just felt wrong. Still, she also knew Bellflower was trying her hardest to make her feel at home, despite everything. So, with a reluctant sigh, she looked up at the mare sitting before her.

"Fine…" she groaned out in irritation, "Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and I went through a portal and entered the ghost world where we met a bunch of ice ghost thingies," she said without much emotion, and Bellflower's eyes dropped as she let out a saddened sigh.

"If you didn't want to tell me, you could have just said so. But don't make up these weird stories, especially ones with ghosts," she said with a shudder, feeling both disgust and a fleeting sensation of anger that Scootaloo talked about those… things, so casually.

"Bu—"

"No buts missy. Now, go to your room. You're still grounded, and you being away for so long without anypony knowing where you were isn't helping you. So, as a punishment, you will not get any dinner tonight. Am I clear?" Bellflower said with a strict tone, looking down at Scootaloo.

"Yeah, fine," Scootaloo droned, and she turned to walk upstairs, going for her room.

'What am I going to do with her?' Bellflower thought as she watched Scootaloo’s purple tail vanish from sight as the filly moved upstairs.

Scootaloo, however, was not thinking about any of what had just happened. Because, just as she stood before the door to her room and reached out for the door knob to open it, she heard the slow, drawn out creak of a door opening.

Looking down the empty hallway, she saw a door to one of the guestrooms stand open. But as she stood there, watching, she saw nopony come out.

"... Hello?" she said as she stepped away from her door, slowly moving to the open portal several steps away, "Is anypony there?"

Receiving no reply, she poked her head around the corner, looking inside the room to see if there was anypony inside. Which there wasn't, and she felt a small, frightened, shudder go down her spine as she was suddenly aware of the deafening silence.

"H-hello?" she said again as she stepped inside.

A knock from something falling over startled her, and she jumped up in the air in fright, almost knocking her head against the ceiling. But as she landed back on her hooves, she couldn't find anything that could have made the sound. At least, until she saw the locked cabinet to her side open, and she felt another shiver going down her spine.

Gulping audibly, she carefully walked to the cabinet, reaching out with a somewhat trembling hoof, she pushed open the door a bit further.

"Wow… What's that?" she said, her fright completely forgotten as she looked at the strange device lying on one of the shelves.

It was a metallic construct with two screens. One placed in what seemed to be a hoofhold, while the other was placed a bit further above. Three buttons were placed in-between the two screens, while a grid pattern showed on the upper screen. Two of those strange, whatyamacallit, LAPs?… LIDs?… LEDs?… something like that, lights were placed on top, with what seemed to be a microphone as well. And she saw a speaker on the bottom, below the screen in the hoofhold.

Picking the strange device up between her hooves, she gave it a closer look. Turning it around every which way, she had a strange feeling of wonder and confusion as to what this thing was. But as she turned the device over, she got the answer as to what it was. In the metal casing on the back there were three words engraved. Three seemingly random words that didn't look like much, but Scootaloo's eyes widened a bit as she read them.

Fenton Ghost Gabber.

She would probably never know what a Gabber was, but Ghost? That she did understand. But the first word was what drew her attention the most.

Fenton. That word, that name, she knew it, everypony knew it. The Fentons were well known all throughout Equestria. They're ghost hunters, as well as the guys who made all those cool ghost hunting devices. Which also meant, she now realized, that this was a ghost hunting apparatus as well.

"Cool!" she said loudly, and she quickly slammed her mouth shut as she swirled her ears around to hear if she'd been heard.

Fortunately for her, it would seem she hadn't been heard by the one pony she knew was around. But knowing she shouldn't be here, and fearing the pony this room belonged to might show up at any moment, she quickly made her way out of the room, closing the door behind her, the device still in hoof.

'Wait until I show this to the girls tomorrow,' she thought with an excited grin, closing her bedroom door behind her before jumping on her bed, eagerly pushing on the device's buttons to find out how it worked.

<<>><<>><<>>

The door closed behind Scootaloo as she fled the room, the Ghost Gabber still in hoof, and silence settled in the now empty room. Empty, save for the two pairs of glowing green eyes that looked at the door Scootaloo had just run through.

The eyes looked at one another, having an entire conversation within the few seconds they locked gazes, and one pair closed while shaking sadly, telling the other not to do whatever it was they had silently talked about.

A saddened, feminine sigh came from the other pair of eyes, while the first moved to the open cabinet, closing the door with an invisible hoof.

"Come, it is not yet time," the eyes said with a masculine voice, and the other sadly nodded in agreement. They both faded away, leaving no evidence of them having ever been there.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Now, where in tha hay have ya been!?" came the irritated voice of Applejack mere moments after Apple Bloom had returned home, which she now believed to be a mistake.

Maybe she could have climbed in through her bedroom window like last time instead, but now she was forced to face the music, this evening provided to her by her sister, who didn't seem to be in a singing mood.

"Ah want answers, missy, now. An' don't try ta lie ta me, Ah know it when ya do!"

"Fine!" Apple Bloom half shouted, and she sucked in a large breath. She would tell the truth, yes. Or, some of it. Still, who would believe her? "Me, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went through some kind of portal thingy and entered tha ghost world where we met a bunch of frost giant ghosts, who were really nice, and not evil or scary at all. Oh, and one of those frost giants is now indebted ta me, and is following me around an' such," she finished, showing a large, toothy smile at her dumbstruck sister. But the confused look Applejack wore only lasted for a short moment, before it dropped and was replaced by a scowl.

"Ah thought Ah said not ta tell any lies!? So why ya lyin'!?"

'Because, clearly, ya wouldn't believe tha truth.' Apple Bloom thought, but said something else, "Ah dunno," and she mentally facehoofed over her response.

"Ya don't know!" Applejack repeated slowly, anger building with each word.

"Not only are ya lyin', but yer talkin' 'bout those… Things like that. Ah won't have it, not now, not ever. Get ta yer room, NOW!" she said forcefully, pointing a hoof upstairs as she glared at her sister.

"An' Ah don't want ta hear any more ghost nonsense in this house, ever!" she added moments before Apple Bloom slammed the door of her bedroom shut.

Silence.

"What is it with that filly?" she breathed out as she shook her head sadly, "An' why ghosts?"

<<>><<>><<>>

"Sweetie Belle, where have you been?!" Rarity half shouted in a dramatic voice, staring down at her younger sister after she had rushed through the door.

"Ehh... you know. Out playing with my friends," Sweetie Belle answered with an awkward smile, rubbing the back of her neck a bit as she tried to avoid eye contact.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said sternly, giving a disapproving frown.

"Fine! Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and I went through a portal thingy and went into the ghost world, where we met a bunch of frost giants that were really friendly," Sweetie Belle answered, giving her sister a large toothy smile afterwards.

Rarity, however, seemed almost livid.

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that!?"

"Ehhh... We—"

"No, I won't hear it. I don't know what you three have been up to, but I won't believe those ridiculous lies. Go to your room, you're still grounded," Rarity said angrily, and Sweetie Belle walked up the stairs, letting loose a heavy sigh.

Sure, she knew her sister would not believe her and that she could use the truth as a lie. But it didn't mean she liked Rarity shouting at her like that, especially because she had told the truth. But she couldn't know, not now, not ever. She would consider her a freak, an abomination, a ghost.

No, as ironic as it was that the truth served as the lie, the truth would remain a secret. A secret only her friends knew, and the ghosts she had met. And, if she was lucky enough, it would stay like that. But, thinking back to what Scootaloo had said when they were leaving the frost giant's village: 'This has only just begun.'

"I really hope there is a bucket of tree sap about to fall over me right now," she muttered quietly as she walked up to the second floor.

"What was that!?" Rarity said sternly.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Sweetie Belle replied quickly.

"Good, that's what I thought. And I don't want to hear any more ghost nonsense either."

'Oh sure, there won't be any ghost nonsense. But I can't promise the same about some spirit trouble,' Sweetie Belle thought with a grin as she walked into her bedroom, and her eyes glowed a toxic green as she pushed the door close, the hinges, normally quiet, now creaked ominously just to fit the current mood as a shadow fell over her face, leaving only the glow of her eyes to be seen in her room.

Until she flicked on the light switch, ruining the moment.

<<>><<>><<>>

A tall, lone figure stood hidden in-between the many rows of apple trees, looking out over the village before him, watching how the lights in the colorful homes faded out as the night progressed and the mortals living there went to bed.

He took a deep breath. Something he didn't have any need for, yet the crisp and relatively warm night's air helped to soothe his nerves. He was nervous, very nervous. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long, long time. And he had trouble keeping those feelings under control as he scanned the village.

'Could it be true? Does the Great One…. Does Danny Phantom truly live here?'

The wind rustling the leaves provided no answer for his question, and after a brief moment longer he returned to the barn Apple Bloom had allowed him to stay in.

'This world seems peaceful, I can understand why you might choose to come here. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross some day?' he thought as he quietly stepped into the clearing surrounding the barn, 'Someday soon, perhaps? Only time can tell.'

"… Oh, you have no idea!" Clockwork said as he observed the frost giant through the viewing portal; watching as he entered the barn, bending down so he wouldn't hit his head, and closed the doors behind him, "No idea at all."

Author's Note

Well, here we are again. Sorry it took so long, but it has been a very long chapter. Both to write, and to edit. But it should have kept you all busy for some time, so everything should work out. Also, this chapter is also the longest chapter I've ever written, and that is counting the chapters I've written in Guilt of a Phantom. So, yay!

Now, as usual, let me know about any mistakes you found. Or tell me what you like, or what could be better. Or just leave a random message for the fun of it, any of them will be appreciated.

-Powerdrainer.

Surprise, And A Barn Full of Ice

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

Surprise, And A Barn Full of Ice.

<<>><<>><<>>

Saturday, ah, Saturday. The first day of the weekend, and the first day any colt or filly would spent sleeping in, before going around town playing and shouting as if there was no tomorrow.

Which, considering that school was only two days away, was somewhat true.

It was also the day for any other pony to stay in bed just a little longer, just because they could. Except, of course, for those that still had things to do. Like the town's local human, Danny Manson. And those with the same or similar occupation as him, who were forced to pull themselves out of bed bright and early to work at any of the many food related establishments.

After all, on a day off, many decided to just eat out instead of cooking for themselves.

So, for these unfortunate souls, their freedom was still non-existent, and they were rudely awoken by their alarm clocks, or the bright sunlight their beloved princess had placed squarely in their faces.

Others that didn't have such commitments, however, could spent this day anyway they deemed fit. And this Saturday was no exception. Ponies were walking through the town, chatting happily with each other.

At the same time, a certain mint green mare was singing and dancing through town, while several children ran around doing their own thing. All of them, except five.

Silver Spoon was staying at home with a massive headache, unable to participate in any planned, or unplanned events. Not that she was planning on doing any of those things. Afterall, it was all far beneath her.

This mindset was shared by the other filly sitting next to her, Diamond Tiara. She, after the weird events yesterday, left with no answer and her father believing that she had only dreamt it all, was now sitting with her only friend in her bedroom. Going through everything she knew had happened, and anything Silver Spoon could remember. Which, unsurprisingly, was not much.

But, as they were trying to figure out what was going on, and which pony was trying to undermine their rightful rule over the school ground, we will go to the other three fillies that are excluded from this Saturday's activities. Mainly, you've guessed it, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.

They certainly had been busy the previous day, especially Sweetie Belle, and time passed by much faster than they thought. So, when they did return home, long past their curfew, there were repercussions for them.

Of course they'd told the truth about where they were, yes. But, as expected, their sisters, or foster mother in Scootaloo's case, didn't believe something as outlandish as them going through a portal to the ghost world, which was kinda what they were counting on.

So, there she was, our local spirit filly. Sitting in her room, unable to go anywhere without her sister knowing.

Of course, she could just fly out of her window. But Rarity was checking in on her just to be sure she was not doing anything wrong. So, although she could easily leave, it wouldn't go unnoticed.

Sighing, Sweetie Belle lay on her bed, bored out of her mind, and unable to do anything much without drawing the attention of her sister.

She wanted to do something, anything, but her sister had specifically forbidden her from doing anything fun.

Okay, maybe not with those exact words, but it was practically the same. No crusading, no playing outside, no nothing. She was grounded, and Rarity was determined to make sure that it stuck this time.

Sighing again, Sweetie Belle slumped off of her bed, dragging herself to the bedroom door, and pressing her ear against the wood to eavesdrop on anything that might be happening on the other side.

The clopping of hooves approaching and passing by her door resonated through the woodwork, and Sweetie Belle knew her sister had just walked by. And, mere moments later, she could hear her sister walk down the stairs while mumbling a bit to herself, but unable to make out what it was.

Several long seconds passed as she stood there with her ear pressed against the door, when, all of a sudden, a loud voice echoed through the house, and she jerked back in surprise.

"There is no salad. Only Pie!"

"What the hay!?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she looked around, startled, "Pinkie Pie?"

Carefully opening the door, she peeked outside to see what was going on, but she was unable to find anything out of the ordinary.

"Rarity… Is everything alright?" she asked loudly, receiving no reply.

"Hey, sis. What happened?"

Silence.

"Sis?" she said, a bit doubtful as she stepped out of her room, looking around to see if her sister was anywhere to be seen.

"Hello!? Rarity…" she called out again, slowly walking down the stairs, which creaked loudly with her slow, deliberate steps.

"Rarity?"

Looking around the quiet and seemingly empty boutique, Sweetie Belle sat down on the ground.

'Huh, wonder where she went?' she thought, before her eyes lit up with a cunning plan.

"Hey, sis. Is it alright if I go over to hang out with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom?"

Silence.

"So, is that a yes?"

Silence.

"Well, silence is golden. Thanks, Rarity," she chirped happily as she trotted out the front door, beaming a happy smile as she went on her way to her friends.

<<>><<>><<>>

"It’s gone?… It’s gone! How is it gone?” Sound Wave shouted, almost in a panic as she looked inside the cabinet, unable to find the device she had stored there.

'It should be here. I know it has to be.'

She was feeling a rising sense of panic as she rummaged through the cabinet, almost tipping it over to spill out everything that lay inside. Which wasn’t much. Nothing, in fact. The only thing she’d placed in it was the very device she was now looking for. And it was not in there.

"Where did it go!?" she panicked, starting to search in every likely, and unlikely, place she could think of.

Meanwhile, in a room close to hers, Scootaloo lay on her bed, not allowed to leave her room after having disappeared as she did yesterday. But she didn't care much about that, as she was currently trying to figure out how this strange device she found in that cabinet worked.

She pressed the few buttons that were on it in no particular order, and several different menus popped up on the lower screen, but she couldn't quite figure it out.

She did figure out, thanks to the name Fenton on the back, that it was some kind of ghost hunting apparatus. But what kind, she didn't know. But it did pose a rather interesting question, now that she thought about it. Why did the pony that rented the room have this device? And did the ponies in the other rooms also have something like this with them?

A sudden shudder went down her spine as she questioned this, and a startling realization began to form in her young mind.

'What if… What if they are… Oh no. I need to warn Sweetie Belle!'

Blurring into motion, she jumped off her bed, grabbing a nearby pack into which she stuffed the device she was toying with. Securing it on her back, she then moved to her window, pushing it open with a hoof.

"Come on wings, don't fail me now," she said, pleading as she climbed out of the window, and looked down at the ground below. It wasn't much of a drop, for a pegasus at least. She knew her bones were strong enough to take the blow without cracking or breaking, but that didn't mean that she wanted to fall down.

Looking at her wings, she gave a sad sigh as she flapped them weakly. And a sudden stab of anger and jealousy towards her unicorn friend came over her.

'It's just unfair. Why can she fly, without wings, while I can't fly with them?'

But just as soon as those feelings came to her, they vanished like snow under the sun. Only leaving a puddle behind for her to slip in some other time.

Looking down again, she spread out her wings. She might not be able to fly, yet, but she knew darn well how to glide.

Taking in a deep breath, narrowing her eyes and a winning grin growing on her muzzle, she jumped out of her window; catching the wind underneath her small wings, and angling herself so that she would traverse a decent distance away from her 'home'.

For a moment, gliding through the air, she closed her eyes, feeling the wind blow through her mane, and all was right for her. She was flying, free, and nopony could stop her, or take this away from her.

Unfortunately, the ground was not a pony, and all too soon did she feel her hooves come in contact with the hard dirt road.

Coming to a sliding stop, she folded her wings to her sides and looked at the distance she had traveled.

"Awesome, further than last time!" she proclaimed proudly, before slamming her mouth shut and hiding from sight. As, right after she had said that, Bellflower stepped outside, looking up at the open window and huffing in irritation.

'Okay, time to go,' Scootaloo thought as she hurried to get away, not noticing the pink blur shooting by, or that Bellflower suddenly vanished the moment the blur came in contact with the irate mare.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom sat slumped down in the living room, bored out of her mind. After being gone all day without telling where she had gone, although she did her sister didn't believe her, so she was not allowed to go outside, or see her friends.

Still, the fact that she was allowed to come downstairs was somewhat of a blessing, if only a little bit. At least she didn't have to spend the entire day in her small room, but being stuck in the living room, under the watchful eye of her sister, was not much better. But still, at least she could move around in the house, that was something. Not that Applejack would allow her to do much more, though.

Speaking of Applejack... Apple Bloom watched her older sister working in the kitchen, busy making an apple pie for Danny Manson, the human who, maybe, possibly, was the second Halfa, Danny Phantom. And she and her friends were dying, no pun intended, to find out.

Not that that was going to happen now. Besides, they Pinkie promised Frostbite that they wouldn't do anything that could scare him away. And no one breaks a Pinkie promise, or there would be serious consequences.

And although she had never experienced whatever it was that would happen, Applejack had. She broke a Pinkie promise by using a loophole, and Pinkie, apparently, reacted violently.

A shudder went down her spine at that thought. Pinkie, violent. It was a truly disturbing thought.

She was shaken from her thoughts when a 'ding' came from the kitchen, telling all those that heard it that the oven was heated, and ready to start its work. She then heard her sister walking, most likely to the oven to place the pie inside, when she heard a muffled shout of surprise.

"Applejack?" Apple Bloom called out, before she heard the sound of the oven slamming shut, "Is everything alright?" she asked as she poked her head into the kitchen, seeing the oven with a pie inside and Winona with her mouth wide open in shock, but no Applejack.

"Hey, Winona. Ya know where Applejack is?"

Winona turned towards Apple Bloom, mouth still open, giving a blank stare.

"So, that's a no?"

Silence.

"Oookaayy…" she said, unsure, watching the apple pie in the oven.

She and Winona both let out matching startled yelps when somepony suddenly knocked on the door. And, after taking a moment to compose herself, Apple Bloom moved to answer the door.

"Hey, Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said cheerfully.

"Sweetie Belle? What're ya doing here? Applejack said you and Scootaloo weren't allowed ta go outside either."

"Ooh, right," Sweetie Belle answered with a guilty smile, "But I asked Rarity, and she said it was alright to go."

"Really, Rarity said that?"

"Well, maybe not said. She wasn't even there, in fact, but I asked her, and she didn't respond, so I just assumed that I could go."

"Huh, Ah guess that works," Apple Bloom said, thoughtfully. "Wait, ya said yer sister wasn't there. Where did she go? Isn't she supposed ta be busy with her work?"

"Well, yeah. But she was in the kitchen when suddenly she was gone, just like that. Really weird."

"But that's just like with Applejack just a minute ago. She was in the kitchen one moment, and now she's nowhere ta be found."

"… Weird," Sweetie Belle said in reply, "But doesn't that mean that you can go as well?"

"Ah don't know. Granny Smith is still here, asleep. And Big Mac is out workin' in tha fields…. Actually, yes. Ah think Ah can sneak out," she responded as a devious smirk formed on her face, and the two of them turned to leave when, with buzzing wings, Scootaloo came bursting onto the scene riding on her scooter.

"So there you are!" Scootaloo almost shouted as she came to a grinding halt, kicking up a small dust cloud, which covered her two friends in a layer of dirt.

Coughing and hacking to get the stuff out of their mouths and noses, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glared at their friend accusingly with teary eyes, while Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head with an apologetic smile.

"Scoo- gha- taloo, what tha hay!" Apple Bloom coughed, spitting out the dirt in her mouth.

"Sorry you guys, but I really need to tell Sweetie Belle something," she replied hastily.

"Well, what is it?" Sweetie Belle asked with forced calm, feeling the dirt grinding between her teeth.

"Not here, back at the clubhouse where it's safer," Scootaloo said in a low, conspirative tone, eyes darting from left to right as she scanned the surrounding area.

"Ehh, okay?" Apple Bloom said, unsure, as she and Sweetie Belle shared a glance, before shrugging and following after their orange friend.

"So what's this about?" Apple Bloom piped up as she and Sweetie Belle ran behind their energetic friend, who was dodging and weaving through the many rows of apple trees on her scooter.

"Not here!" Scootaloo replied over her shoulder, and she almost lost her balance and crashed as she suddenly bumped into a large tree root.

"Whoaaa…. I meant to do that!"

"Sure you did," Sweetie Belle said with an eye roll, "And what's in the bag?"

"You'll see," Scootaloo replied vaguely as she increased her speed, disappearing in between the trees, leaving her friends to struggle to keep up.

"What's gotten up her wings?" Apple Bloom asked through heavy breath.

"How should I know," Sweetie Belle replied, panting and struggling to keep up, when suddenly her eyes lit up in realization.

"Oh, duh. I can fly," she said, more to herself than Apple Bloom. And, jumping up in the air, legs turning into an intangible tail, she continued her chase after Scootaloo.

"Show off," Apple Bloom said with a hint of jealousy as she suddenly found herself falling behind, as Sweetie Belle was a lot faster in the air than she was on the ground.

They continued on their way until they broke into the clearing around their clubhouse, seeing Scootaloo waiting impatiently in front of the ramp that led up to the deck.

"What took you so long?" she asked, then she noticed Sweetie Belle hovering in the air and another stab of jealousy took hold of her, "Show off," she said in annoyance, giving the flying unicorn an angry glare.

Sweetie Belle gave a small excited laugh as she landed, her hind legs turning back to normal, as she shot Scootaloo a winning smile.

"Sorry, but it is so much easier to keep up with you like that. Flying is really awesome," she cheered excitedly.

"Yeah, I know," Scootaloo muttered, and Sweetie Belle's smile fell.

"Oh, right. Sorry," she said, apologetic.

"Never mind that!" Apple Bloom piped up, breathing heavily after running at top speed like that, "What was it that ya couldn't tell us back at tha farm?"

"Oh, right. Come inside, you're not going to believe this," Scootaloo responded, shaking her mind clear of the angry thoughts she had towards Sweetie Belle, and her ability to fly. And, instead, ran up the ramp and disappeared inside of their clubhouse.

"What's up with that filly?" Apple Bloom questioned as she looked up at the open door.

"How should I know?" Sweetie Belle responded, "Let's just go and see what it is she wants."

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied with a shrug, and together they climbed up the ramp and entered the tree house. There they saw their orange friend sitting in the center of the small room, pulling something out of the bag she'd been carrying.

"You guys, take a look at this," Scootaloo began as she held up the metal device in her hoof.

"Wow! What is that?" Sweetie Belle said with wide eyes, and, with a beep, the device lit up.

"Wow! What is that? Fear me," an artificial voice said, repeating what she said, with a final addition that took them by surprise.

"What the hay!?" Sweetie Belle said as she looked at the device still in Scootaloo's hoof in confusion, a look shared by her two friends, while Scootaloo dropped the device to the floor in surprise.

*Clang*

"What the hay!? Fear me."

"Scootaloo, what is that thing?" Apple Bloom asked, expecting the device to repeat her as well, but it didn't.

"Hey, it doesn't say what you say," Sweetie Belle remarked.

"Hey, it doesn't say what you say. Fear me."

"It didn't do that when I was working with it back home," Scootaloo said in disbelief, scooting away a bit from the suddenly very strange device.

"Where did you even find that thing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Where did you even find that thing? I am a ghost, be afraid."

"Wait, what!?" Sweetie Belle cried out.

"Wait, what!? I'll haunt you."

"That's both really creepy, and annoying," Apple Bloom said, poking a hoof at the weird device and flipping it over, revealing the engraved words on the back side of the metal.

"Fenton Ghost Gabber," Sweetie Belle read out loud, and the device reacted once again, but not as it did before as a new, not artificial voice spoke up.

"Fenton Ghost Gabber. You better be afraid, undead spectral entity. This device, made by me, Jack Fenton, is specifically designed to capture any and all speech from you ghosts, and play it in a way that is understandable to us. You may be able to hide, but this nifty device will find you every time you make a sound." Jack Fenton's recorded voice played over the speaker, before the device continued on its programmed setting. "Fear me."

"Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said slowly, "where did ya get this thing again?"

"I, ehh, found it," she answered hesitantly as she looked at the device.

"Where exactly?" Sweetie Belle asked, seeking clarification.

"Where exactly? I will possess you," the Ghost Gabber piped up, and Sweetie Belle's left eye started to twitch in irritation.

"Ehh," Scootaloo began as she scratched the back of her head.

****

"WHERE IS IT!?" Sound Wave screamed in a panic, standing above the upturned bed, eyes and ears twitching madly.

A trio of knocks came from the door, and she turned to look at it while letting out a feral growl in irritation.

"WHAT!?"

"... Hey, Wave. Is everything alright in there?" Blue Ice asked from the other side, sounding concerned.

"PERFECT! JUST PERFECT!"

"You sure? You sound a bit… tense," Blue Ice asked after a short moment.

"YES…" Sound Wave snapped, then, forcing herself to calm down and answer through gritted teeth. "Yes, I am just fine. Now leave me alone… Please."

"Ehh… Okay, if you say so. But Rolling Stone wants to plan the next course of action in thirty, you need to be there."

"I KNOW… I know," she answered, and she could hear Blue Ice scurry away from the door.

Taking a deep breath, and then letting it out in an angry huff, steam coming from her nose, she once more observed the carnage that was her room.

"Now, my precious. Where are you?" she said in a manic tone, eye twitching.

****

"I, eh, found it in one of the rooms those guests are staying in," Scootaloo answered as she finally looked up at her friends. "That's what I needed to tell you. Guys, I think those ponies are ghost hunters."

Silence.

Nopony said anything after that, the bombshell Scootaloo had dropped was too severe to properly process for the moment.

<<>><<>><<>>

"I know it was them. Who else would be stupid enough to oppose us?" Diamond Tiara snarled as she sat in Silver Spoon's room.

"I don't know," Silver Spoon replied, flinching from the throbbing pain in her skull, and pressing the cold compress firmly against her head.

Diamond Tiara, not normally one to show much compassion towards others, looked at her friend with concern mixed with anger.

"And also that. There is no way I believe a word of what those three Blank Flanks said about you just running into a wall. They did this to you, but our stupid teacher chooses their side. It is obvious they are behind all of this," she continued with her rant, letting out a huff of irritation.

"Uh huh," Silver Spoon agreed, squinting her eyes in pain, though a distinct glare showed through, "So, what's the plan?"

"Isn't it obvious? We expose those losers for what they really are. Nothing but a bunch of stupid, useless, Blank Flanks who are just jealous of us successful ponies. If we do that, no pony will ever choose their side again. And they will never oppose us again either," Diamond Tiara explained as she walked over to the window of Silver Spoon's room, gazing outside with a dark look, seeing the Carousel Boutique in the distance.

"And I know just where to start."

<<>><<>><<>>

"What!" Apple Bloom shouted, shocked.

"You can't be serious," Sweetie Belle gasped in disbelief as she looked at her pegasus friend.

"You can't be serious. Fear me."

"And can somepony PLEASE shut that thing up!" Sweetie Belle shouted, fed up with the annoying device.

"And can somepony PLEASE shut that thing up! I am your greatest fear."

"Right, hold on," Scootaloo replied as she quickly grabbed the Ghost Gabber and stuffed it back into her bag, then she tossed it in the far corner, hopefully out of hearing distance.

Sweetie Belle let out an annoyed and irritated humph, crossing her front legs over her chest as she glared at the bag with the infuriating object, hoping she wouldn't have to hear that thing repeat her any longer.

"But really. Ya can't be serious, right?" Apple Bloom asked, continuing as if they hadn't been interrupted.

"Well, I don't know," Scootaloo answered with a shrug, "But I found that thing in one of their rooms, and they did travel together. So, I guess, yeah."

"But… But why?" Sweetie Belle asked, and flinched as she expected the infuriating device to repeat her again. But no sound was heard, and she let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay, that's better. But really. Why would there be any ghost hunters all the way out here?"

"I dunno?" Scootaloo replied, shrugging a bit.

"Maybe they found out about ya?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"No, I don't think so," Scootaloo cut in, "They showed up only a day after what happened with Sweetie Belle, and I don't think anypony else knows about it."

"Okay. But then why are they here?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, why else would there be a group of ghost hunters in Ponyville?" Sweetie Belle added, before her eyes widened in horrified understanding.

"DANNY!" she shouted, and her friends shared the same look of understanding she had.

"But… But we don't even know if he is a ghost, or something," Scootaloo quickly spoke up.

"Maybe they do," Apple Bloom suggested.

"No, I don't think so," Sweetie Belle said slowly.

"What do ya mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know. It's just a feeling I've got, but I don't think they know… Then again, do we really know anything about Danny?" Sweetie Belle told them.

"... Well, he's nice," Apple Bloom said after a short moment of silence.

"And he helped when we were in trouble in the forest," Scootaloo added.

"And he doesn't have a Cutie Mark," Apple Bloom said, remembering what Danny had told them after they had tried to capture him to get their human catching Cutie Marks.

"And he also said his special somepony, or something, is dead," Scootaloo continued as she thought back to that day as well.

"And… Anything else?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Well, no. Unless he is tha Halfa Frostbite talked about," Apple Bloom admitted.

"But we don't know that for certain. So, we don't really know anything, do we?" Sweetie Belle asked, and they all looked down at the floor.

Silence.

"Maybe Wind Chill knows something?" Scootaloo suddenly piped up, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked up at their friend.

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Sweetie Belle proclaimed, and she jumped up on all fours.

"Maybe he can tell us something about that thing ya found too," Apple Bloom suggested as she pointed at Scootaloo's bag.

"Hey, yeah. Maybe he can," Scootaloo replied, and she quickly retrieved her bag.

"Just keep that thing away from me," Sweetie Belle said sourly as Scootaloo approached her, and they could hear a muffled, artificial, voice come from the bag.

"Right," Scootaloo said with a nod, and the three of them rushed out of the treehouse, Scootaloo jumping on her scooter, while Sweetie Belle took to the sky once more.

"Jus' follow me," Apple Bloom said as she took point, "Ah know tha fastest way ta get ta his barn."

Giving their agreements, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle followed their earth pony friend, finding themselves holding back so they wouldn't overtake her, and thus they went on their way to see the frost giant living in the orchard.

<<>><<>><<>>

Standing in the cover of a side alley, Rolling Stone, Blue Ice and Ornate Charm were waiting for the missing member of their group, much to the noticeable displeasure of Rolling Stone.

"You did remind her about this meeting didn't you?" he asked Blue Ice, who responded with a confirming nod.

"I did, but she sounded… More than a little tense. I don't know what was happening in that room of hers, but something is going on," she answered. It was then that they heard the pounding of hooves on the ground approaching their alley, and the heavy breathing produced by the pony that came rushing towards them, before coming to a skidding halt, almost tripping over her own legs.

"Smooth," Ornate Charm said, but was quick to shut up after Rolling Stone glared at her.

"Sir. I'm sorry for being late," Sound Wave said with a hasty salute, trying to keep her breathing under control.

"Specialist Sound Wave," Rolling Stone spoke with a slow, deliberate tone, "Mind telling me why you are late? And why you, despite clear instructions to keep a low profile, found it necessary to storm through town like that, and possibly give us away to the locals?"

Sound Wave, already standing at rigid attention the moment her commanding officer spoke, tensed up even more.

"Sir," she began, "My apologies for my behavior, but I lost track of time. I came here as quickly as I could, but in my haste I forgot to keep a low profile."

"And why," Rolling Stone spoke through gritted teeth, "did you lose track of time, when Specialist Blue Ice reminded you about this meetup?"

"Sir," she answered, swallowing a thick lump in her throat, "This morning I wanted to continue my work on the Ghost Gabber. However, it would seem the device has gone missing."

Silence.

"Missing? What do you mean, missing?" Rolling Stone growled, "Are you telling me that you lost a specially designed, expensive piece of ghost hunting equipment, of which we only have a very limited supply to begin with?"

Rolling Stone glared into Sound Wave's eyes, standing almost muzzle to muzzle, and Sound Wave felt herself shrink down from the piercing gaze. Her life flashing before her eyes as she knew that her commander was not one to look kindly on those that either misused royal guard equipment, or, in her case, lost it.

"Y-Yes sir," she answered, her voice faltering a bit.

"How!?" he asked in a growl.

"I... I do not know, Sir. I put the device in a safe place, out of sight and locked away. Plus the door to my room was also locked when I got back. I have not moved the Ghost Gabber since the last time I worked on it, and it should have been there. Instead, despite the fact that all the locks were still in place, the device has vanished," Sound Wave answered, and Blue Ice and Ornate Charm shared a look of confusion with each other.

Rolling Stone stepped away from the steel gray mare, glaring at her for good measure before he turned to the rest of the group.

"Well, it looks like we are now on a search and retrieval mission. We can't have this kind of equipment fall into the wrong hooves. And, Celestia be damned, if somepony finds it and links it to us. Ornate Charm, Blue Ice, go back to the guest house and search the perimeter for the Ghost Gabber. Sound Wave and I will go back to her room, since it seems that she can't do anything on her own, and see what we can find there," Rolling Stone ordered with an angry tone, displeased over the fact that they had lost even more valuable time because of this mishap.

"Sir, permission to speak?" Blue Ice asked.

"Granted," he replied.

"Sound Wave, you said that all the locks were still in place?" Blue Ice asked, and Sound Wave nodded in response, "And did you think about doing a spectral scan of the room?" she queried, and Sound Wave's eyes widened in realization.

"I- I did not," she replied, and Rolling Stone turned back to her, anger burning in his eyes.

"Sir," Blue Ice spoke up, diverting his attention away from the shaken mare, "if what Sound Wave said is true, and with the possibility of spectral activity taking place around here, it is quite possible that any ghost or ghosts have taken notice of us, and are trying to sabotage our operation by taking away the equipment we work with."

"If that is true, it has complicated our mission considerably," Rolling Stone replied, letting out an angry huff, "Okay, we continue as planned. You and Ornate Charm go search the perimeter of the guest house, make sure to scan for spectral activity if you can. Sound Wave and I will do the same in her room."

"Sir, yes sir," Blue Ice, Ornate Charm, and Sound Wave said, giving him a quick salute, then went on their way. Hoping their cover was still intact, while Sound Wave also hoped that her flank wouldn't get chewed out too much.

She already knew, though, that that was just wishful thinking.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom rushed past the tree line, bursting into the weed covered clearing around the old barn. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle appeared moments later.

The winged speed demon came to a grinding stop, spraying up dirt while Sweetie Belle dropped down to the ground, hind legs rematerializing.

"Huh, I didn't know about this one," Sweetie Belle remarked as she looked at the old structure.

"Yeah, it's a bit further back in tha orchard. My pa build it, but we haven't used it since…" Apple Bloom replied, only to trail off.

"Since what?" Scootaloo asked, but Apple Bloom didn't answer.

"It's not important. Let's just get Wind Chill, an' find out what he knows."

"Eh... okay," Scootaloo replied, giving her friend a questioning look.

Stepping away from her friends, Apple Bloom approached the barn's doors, moving to pull open one of the double doors, but stopping mid motion as she hesitated. Then, knowing someone was now living in here, she knocked on the door, and waited for a reply, but none came.

"Hey Wind Chill, ya there? It's me, Apple Bloom. And Ah've brought Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo," she called out, giving another knock on the door.

"Maybe he isn't here?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Then where would he go?" Sweetie Belle asked, "He does stand out a bit."

"Maybe he just didn't hear me," Apple Bloom replied, "Hold on, Ah'll look."

Pulling open the door, hiding the inside from her friends' view as they stood to the side, she looked inside, and her body locked up as she stood frozen on the spot, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"What tha hay!" she shouted as she looked inside.

"What is it?" Scootaloo asked.

"Isn't he there?" Sweetie Belle added.

"Oh, he's there alright. An' something else as well," Apple Bloom said, shocked.

"What? What is it?" Scootaloo asked, confused, and Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up while a grin formed on her muzzle.

"Is it Pete, your coltfriend?"

Apple Bloom slowly turned to look at her friend, clearly annoyed.

"You know. The one you mentioned some time ago," Sweetie Belle continued with a large, teasing grin.

"Ooh, right. Pete," Scootaloo piped up, an equally large grin showing on her face, "Well, is he in there? We really want to meet him."

"Ha ha," Apple Bloom droned, annoyed, glaring at her two friends, "You two are SOO funny."

"Well, in our defense. We did say we wouldn't let this go… Sooo," Sweetie Belle replied with a smug grin, "But really. What is in there?"

Still glaring at her friends, Apple Bloom didn't say anything. Instead, she pushed the door all the way open. And, with a low, drawn out creak, the two remaining crusaders were able to see what it was that had stunned their friend.

"What..." Sweetie Belle said, at a loss for words.

"The..." Scootaloo added, equally flabbergasted.

"Hay," Apple Bloom finished for them, and together the three of them looked at the inside of the barn. Or, what was supposed to be the inside of a barn, and certainly not an igloo.

Ice, ice everywhere. Ice on the floor. Ice on the walls. Ice on the ceiling. Ice everywhere.

Several large columns, made of ice, stood in the center, supporting the roof, which was now much heavier. There was a corner sofa, made of ice, standing in the far back, while a whole dining table, made of ice, stood on the opposite side. A chandelier of, you've guessed it, ice. And, to top it all off. Standing in the far right corner, was a large, king sized bed, made of ice. And, lying on top of it, fast asleep, was Wind Chill. His leg kicking in response to whatever dream he was having, while he was covered under a layer of snow as if it were a blanket.

"Wow!" Scootaloo said in shocked amazement, her breath forming a cloud in the cold air.

"Was it always like this?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking around in wonder.

"No, no it wasn't," Apple Bloom answered, eyes wide in shock.

With a sound akin to a roar mixed with a loud yawn Wind Chill rolled out of his bed, hitting the floor with an "Oomph," and he pushed himself up, a confused, and sleepy look on his face.

Peering around with bleary eyes, it took Wind Chill a moment to figure out where he was, and that he had visitors.

Finally, his brain registered the fact that he was no longer lying on his bed, and that it would probably be a good idea to wake up. Still, he figured, better ease into it slowly. And as such, Wind Chill clumsily pushed himself upright, swaying on the spot, blinking uncoordinatedly.

"Apple Bloom," he said, before a loud yawn interrupted him, "Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked, stepping forward while scratching his head, and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Have you been sleeping the entire time?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I'm afraid so, yes. I am not accustomed to this kind of heat, and it is sapping my strength more than I had originally anticipated," Wind Chill answered as he sat down on the sofa, "But, please, come in," he told the fillies standing at the border between summer and winter, and they, carefully, stepped inside, shivering when the full force of the arctic chill hit them.

"What did ya do ta tha barn?" Apple Bloom asked, sounding shocked as she took it all in.

"I… may have made a few modifications to make it better suited to me," he answered with an awkward smile, "But perhaps I have overdone it a bit?"

"A bit?" Sweetie Belle said, amazed.

"This is awesome," Scootaloo chirped happily as she slid over the slippery surface coating the floor. At least until she lost her hoofing, and her legs slipped out from underneath her.

Hitting the floor with a thud, she continue her slide, coming to a stop against the opposite wall with her rear pressing against the cold surface. A shiver went up her spine, and she scrambled to get away from the freezing cold that had shot through her flank.

"It isn't too much, is it?" Wind Chill asked worriedly, glancing down at Apple Bloom.

Walking around a bit and looking at all that the frost giant had done to the old barn, Apple Bloom wasn't sure how she felt about this. True, she told him he could make a few changes should it be needed. But this… She wasn't expecting this. And, although she wasn't all that thrilled he did this to the barn her father had built, she had to admit, like Scootaloo said, that it was pretty amazing as well. Besides, she never really knew her father, or mother, so why should she worry all that much about it?

"It's… alright, Ah guess. Wasn't really expecting this, but Ah guess it's fine," Apple Bloom said, sounding unsure. Her mind was telling her that this place is nothing more than an old barn, but her heart was saying that it is so much more as well.

"Never mind, though. We got something we needed ta ask ya," she said, turning to Wind Chill, who was finally waking up and sitting upright on the sofa.

"Then by all means, ask," he replied, "Anything to help you and your friends."

"Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said as she turned to her friend.

"Right," Scootaloo said as she removed the bag from her back, and grabbed the Fenton Ghost Gabber out of it, "I found this, and we were wondering if you know what it is?"

Wind Chill, seeing the device held in Scootaloo's grasp, sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth, recognizing the device, and knowing what it does.

"Where did you find that?" he asked with a nervous tone, and the device lit up.

"Where did you find that? Fear me!"

"Hey, it repeats him too," Apple Bloom said, scratching her head in confusion.

"And it will do so for any ghost, spirit or other spectral entity," Wind Chill said, and the device repeated him, with the addition of some pointless warning, "So, where did you find this thing?" he asked Scootaloo again, trying to ignore the artificial voice coming from the device.

"Well… It was in the room where one of those guests stays. I live in a guest house, you see. And there are these four ponies that all came in together, and this thing was laying in one of their rooms," Scootaloo answered, making sure to leave out some of the details of her 'find'.

"Ponies staying in your home brought this with them?" Wind Chill asked, for clarification, a nervous edge to his voice.

"Uhh, yes. I think so," Scootaloo answered, unsure, "I think they're ghost hunters."

"And I think you are correct. This device, it is known to us ghosts. A creation of the parents of the Great One himself. And, seeing the modifications made to it, allowing it to be used more efficiently by you ponies, it is safe to assume the Fentons made this for them," Wind Chill spoke, ignoring the "Fear me" the device added to his words.

"Well, it does say Fenton on tha back," Apple Bloom remarked dryly, and Wind Chill turned the device over, seeing the words engraved in the metal casing.

"I see. This is worrying."

"I see. This is worrying. Be afraid, be very afraid!"

"Huhuuhuh," Sweetie Belle shuddered, "Why does it even do that? Adding those things, I mean."

"Huhuuhuh. Why does it even do that? Adding those things, I mean. Are you afraid yet?"

"They added such a feature because of their narrow minded belief that all ghosts are evil," Wind Chill explained with a sullen tone, handing the device back to Scootaloo, "Make sure you hide it, and keep it hidden," he implored the orange filly, "If they truly are hunters of spectral entities, then we need to make sure they don't find us."

"Okay… And how do we do that?" Scootaloo asked, stuffing the Ghost Gabber back in her pack.

"You said you took this from one of their chambers? Well, can you get into the others as well? If so, you might be able to acquire more of their gadgets, making it harder for them to do their work. Thus making things a bit safer for us ghosts," Wind Chill offered, and a sly grin spread across Scootaloo's muzzle.

"Oh, I think I can work something out," Scootaloo said, sharing a devious grin with her friends.

"Somehow that does not reassure me," WInd Chill muttered, wondering if this was such a good idea after all. The words of the Alpha echoing through his mind.

'They have only caused trouble in this forest since the first day they entered it. Now, with the white one as she is… We won't allow her to cause any more trouble.'

'And they won't. She's been working hard to learn to control her powers, and she won't be any trouble for you, or this forest.'

The Alpha made a sound similar to a snort as he crossed his own arms, glaring at the frost giant with a mixture of anger and pity.

'You will find out soon enough.'

<<>><<>><<>>

The tension was high, and neither Sound Wave and Rolling Stone spoke. She, because she didn't want to make things worse. He, because he had enough trouble containing himself as it was.

How she could have made those mistakes, she didn't know. She didn't know how the Ghost Gabber, which she stored away in what she thought was a relatively safe place, and with her door locked, could just vanish like that. Heck, her room's door was still locked when she came back. And then there was the other thing. She knew she was stressed, quite a lot in fact, over the disappearance of the Gabber, and with good reason. She was always careful with the tech entrusted to her, especially the tech that used sound to operate. It was part of her special talent after all. Her name even alluded to it: Sound Wave. But, after discovering that the Gabber, her Gabber, was missing she might have gone... a bit crazy. But only just a bit. And, as a result, she completely forgot about the most basic of her training. A rookie mistake, and because of it she found herself neck deep in a mountain of manure, and she didn't dare open her mouth, lest she drown in a figurative pile of crap.

Now though, she found herself back in her room, fortunately managing to avoid the guest house's owner, who seemed to have just disappeared. Odd, but she couldn't really worry about that right now. She was far too busy worrying about the orange stallion moving through her room, scanning everything with the scanner Blue Ice had recalibrated once more after last night's fiasco.

She did the same with her own hoof held device, making sure to stay on the other side of the room. And, together, the two of them tried to salvage the situation. And she hoped that, whatever the results, there would be a good explanation for the disappearance of the Ghost Gabber. Although, she also hoped it wouldn't be related to ghosts in any way. There was no way she'd lived through that, no pun intended. A ghost hunter who had her tech taken by a ghost, or ghosts. She'd be a laughing stock among the Ghost-Keteers.

So, already nervous and stressed over the current situation, she was sure she felt her heart stop when her scanner showed a positive hit, right in front of the very cabinet where she had stored the Gabber.

Hearing the beeping sound indicating a positive hit, Rolling Stone turned to look at Sound Wave, seeing her standing rigid on the spot while she looked at her scanner with wide, fearful eyes.

Walking over to her in silence, he quickly scanned the area with his own scanner, receiving the same outcome she had.

Shooting her an angry glare, Rolling Stone stepped towards the cabinet and opened it. They both recoiled in shock at what they found.

"Oh my gosh! You need to come, too!" Pinkie Pie gasped out excitedly, having, somehow, managed to fit perfectly inside the cabinet.

Reaching out with her hooves, she grabbed the two confused ponies, and pulled them inside the cabinet with her, the door slamming shut behind them.

****

"Wait, did you hear that?" Blue Ice asked Ornate Charm as the sound of something slamming shut reached her ears.

"Hear what?"

"... Nothing. Just thought I heard something," she responded.

"I heard something too!" a new voice piped up, and the two of them looked at the pink mare, who, somehow, had managed to sneak up on them, "It sounded sort of like 'Ghaaa!'."

"Uh… Wha?" Ornate Charm uttered dumbly, while Blue Ice stared blankly at Pinkie.

"You didn't hear it. Huh, oh well," Pinkie said with a shrug, "Anyhow. Gotta run," she added, and shot off in a blur, pulling the two of them with her.

"GHAAAA!" they both shouted as they were pulled along.

"Yeah, just like that!" Pinkie chirped happily.

<<>><<>><<>>

Diamond Tiara was moving through the streets of Ponyville, heading to Carousel Boutique.

Normally, Silver Spoon would come with her. But this time it was not possible, due to Silver Spoon's condition. A condition she was in thanks to those three loser Blank Flanks.

How they did it, she didn't know. Nor did she know why everypony, even the teacher, took their side. While, obviously, everypony should have taken theirs; the most important ponies found in Ponyville.

No, she didn't know why. But she was determined to find out.

Looking around to see if anypony saw her, she quickly headed inside the boutique. Opening the door just wide enough to enter, but not enough to hit the bell above, she quietly entered the clothes shop.

'Now. If I were a loser Blank Flank, where would I hide anything I want to keep a secret?' she mused, looking around the seemingly empty building. Quietly moving around, she looked to see if there was anypony that could ruin her well thought out plan. But when she finished inspecting the lower floor, and as she didn't hear anypony above, she was quite pleased to find she was the only one here, and that she didn't have to sneak around the entire time. After all, she might get dust on herself, or some other filth, should she have to do so. A sacrifice she was willing to make, but still something she wanted to avoid.

Now though, she was moving upstairs, not even trying to be quiet as she went from door to door, until she found the room she knew could only belong to a loser Blank Flank.

"Excellent," she said with a sneer, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

"Now, what secrets do you hide in here that I can use against you?"

She moved around Sweetie Belle's bedroom, not caring the slightest about being careful as she pulled open drawers, a closet, and everything else that she fancied. Throwing everything out on the floor, she almost literally overturned the room in search of some earth shattering secret she knew had to be here. Something that she and her friends had used, most likely a spell of some sort, to wipe their memory, which also brought her here in the first place. Who but a unicorn could use a memory wipe spell? But, as she made an even bigger mess than what was already found in the room, she groaned in irritation as she was unable to find anything.

"Nothing," she huffed, "there is nothing here."

Looking once more at the mess she had made, her eyes fell on the single bed in the room. Deciding that it was the only place she hadn't yet looked, she stomped over to it, stepping and kicking on as many items as she could.

'It has to be here. I know she is hiding something,' she thought as she lay down on the floor, making a mental note to take a long shower after this, and looked underneath the bed. She let loose a frightened scream as two blue eyes stared back at her, and a pink hoof pulled her under the bed while she grasped at the floor in fright, trying to keep herself from whatever fate lay in store for her. But she was quickly overpowered. And, with almost maniacal laughter coming from under the bed, she was pulled into the place where monsters lay hidden. And, if one were to look right now, they would find no trace of either Diamond Tiara, or the pink monster that had taken her. Except for the tiara that lay discarded under the bed, having fallen off the tiny tyrant's head as she was dragged away.

<<>><<>><<>>

The front door creaked open, and the sound of multiple sets of hooves clopping on the floor resonated through the lobby. The same ominous creak could be heard as the door closed, and three young ponies faded into view.

Standing in the lobby of the guest house, looking around to make sure nopony was there to see them, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle hurried up the stairs, quickly entering Scootaloo's room.

"Well, that was easy," Sweetie Belle breathed out.

"A bit too easy, if ya ask me," Apple Bloom replied.

"Yeah…" Scootaloo agreed, "Where is everypony? Bellflower should be here. And, thinking about it, the town was pretty empty too."

"Hey, yeah," Apple Bloom replied as she came to the same realization.

"Strange…" Sweetie Belle mused, holding a pondering hoof against her chin, "Oh well. Makes things easier for us, right?"

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied with a shrug.

"So, where to?" Sweetie Belle asked as she turned to the pegasus in the room.

"This way," Scootaloo instructed after a short moment, holding her door open a bit, and poking her head out to make sure there wasn't anyone who might see them. "It's those rooms over there," she added, pointing to the three other rooms found on their floor.

"I found that thingy in this room over here," Scootaloo told them, pointing a wing at the room closest to her own, "So I guess we should start with one of the other two," she explained, waving her other wing at the two remaining rooms.

"Okay… How are we supposed ta get inside?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well. I thought Sweetie Belle could do that intan- intang-... That walk through walls thingy," she replied with a frown, struggling with the strange word.

"Intangibility," Sweetie Belle corrected her, "And you heard what the elder said. I can't do that, yet."

"Oh, right," Scootaloo muttered, scratching her head, "Well, it's the old-fashioned way, I guess."

"Old-fashion way?' Apple Bloom asked quizzically.

"Wait here," Scootaloo told them, and she headed downstairs, leaving her friends to wait outside the two rooms they need to get into, while they heard a ruckus coming from downstairs.

"What's she doing?" Sweetie Belle asked her remaining friend.

"How should Ah know?" Apple Bloom responded with a shrug.

"Just asking," Sweetie Belle replied with a shrug of her own. But her question was soon answered, when, with the jingle of keys, Scootaloo came back upstairs.

"There we go, the old-fashioned way," Scootaloo proclaimed as she showed the array of keys she held, receiving a flat look from Sweetie Belle, "What?"

"Sooo… You want me to walk through walls, while you've had the keys the entire time!?" Sweetie Belle half asked, half stated in an annoyed tone.

"Ehh… Yes," Scootaloo answered with a sheepish smile, "But only because it's sooo much more awesome."

Sweetie Belle was about to reply to that, when a nudge from her earth pony friend distracted her.

"Just leave it," Apple Bloom told her, while rolling her eyes at Scootaloo, "Also, since when do you have tha keys ta tha rooms?"

"Well… I don't. These are just the spare keys, you know, for emergencies and stuff," Scootaloo answered, shrugging, "And they stay in a small safe, locked away."

"Then how did you get them?" Sweetie Belle asked, puzzled.

"I know the combination," Scootaloo stated simply.

"Does Bellflower know ya know that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Nope," Scootaloo replied with a grin, and she walked over to the door closest to her. "Well, here goes."

Putting the key in the keyhole, and turning it to unlock the door, she swung the door open, allowing them entrance into the room of one of the supposed ghost hunters.

"So, who was it that stays in here?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking around.

"I dunno," Scootaloo said with a shrug, closing the door behind them "Never heard their names. But I know it's that unicorn mare with the dark pink fur and a dark purple mane and tail."

"Hmmm, not really ringing a bell," Apple Bloom said, thinking back.

"I don't think I have seen her either," Sweetie Belle spoke up.

"Meh," Scootaloo said, uncaring, "I don't really know any of them either. The only reason I've seen them is because they stay here… Although…" she said, before trailing off as she remembered that orange stallion talking to her some time ago, and that one word he said.

"Although, what?" Sweetie Belle asked after a moment.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Scootaloo turned to her friends.

"Ehh… Nothing, just zoned out for a moment. So, what are we looking for, exactly?" she said instead, shifting their attention away from her.

A shrug was the only answer she got, and she let out an annoyed sigh as they started their search.

For several minutes they searched and searched, and, after the 'long and exhausting' search, Scootaloo came to an enlightening realization.

"Okay. I'm bored."

"Huh, what do ya mean?" Apple Bloom queried.

"Yeah. We're sneaking through somepony's room, looking for ghost hunting things," Sweetie Belle added.

"Ghaa, I know. But we've been looking forever," Scootaloo groaned.

"It's only been a few minutes," Apple Bloom stated flatly, rolling her eyes.

"But shouldn't we have found something by now?" Scootaloo continued, ignoring the look her friend gave her.

"After only a few minutes?" Sweetie Belle said questioningly.

"Well, it didn't take this long when I found that Gabber thingy," Scootaloo huffed as she sat down, crossing her front legs over her chest.

"Yeah, about that… How did ya find that thing anyhow?" Apple Bloom asked.

"... Eehhh… Well… It just showed up, sorta," Scootaloo answered, unsure.

Sweetie Belle looked at her in confusion, "What do you mean?" she asked, as she lifted the bed's mattress, looking underneath it for anything that might have been hidden there.

"Yeah. How does somethin' just show up?" Apple Bloom added.

Silence.

"... I don't know. It just did," Scootaloo answered after a moment, "But shouldn't we have found something, anything, by now?"

"Maybe we would have, if you actually searched," Apple Bloom told her impatient friend.

"Fine," Scootaloo sighed.

"Oh, don't be like that," Sweetie Belle said cheerfully, "I'm sure we'll find something."

"Yeah, probably Pinkie Pie, or something," Scootaloo muttered sarcastically as she opened a drawer in a small desk.

"BOO!"

"GHAAAA!" Scootaloo yelled, followed moments later by her two friends, as, without any warning, Pinkie Pie's head popped out of the drawer, giving the three of them a large, toothy smile.

"Can't have a party with you three missing!" she chirped, and the drawer next to the one her head came out opened, her legs sticking out of it, wiggling in the air.

"Oh, shoot. I'm stuck," she said with a frown, "Don't go anywhere! I'll be right with ya."

Her head vanished back inside the drawer, while her legs remained sticking out, and the sounds of a saw sawing and a hammer hammering could be heard. Then everything fell silent, and an annoyed humm came from the drawer's depths. Then, making the three fillies jump up in fright, the loud banging of a jackhammer came from within the desk's drawers.

"What tha HAY is going on in there!?" Apple Bloom shouted worriedly.

"It's Pinkie Pie!" Sweetie Belle replied.

"Somehow that doesn't answer anything right now!" Scootaloo shouted over the rapid banging.

Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the room fell silent once more.

"Okay?... How did that happen?" Pinkie's voice suddenly piped up, coming from deep within the desk's drawer.

"Ehh... Pinkie, is everything alright?" Sweetie Belle asked, unsure, giving a small tap against the drawer.

"Yes, don't worry. I'm just having trouble with the plumbing."

"Plumbing?" Scootaloo said, puzzled, "Weren't you here to get us for a party, or something?"

The sound of a hoof hitting something, most likely a head, came from within the desk, and Pinkie's head poked back up.

"Oh, duh. Of course. That was what I was doing. Okay, here we go!" she shouted exuberantly, and her legs, once stuck, now reached out and pulled the fillies inside the drawer with blurring speed. Both drawers slammed shut, and the room was left empty once more.

<<>><<>><<>>

The sun was starting to set, and Wind Chill was waiting impatiently inside the frozen barn, wondering when those three children were coming back.

"This is taking too long. Even with their inexperience, they should have been back by now," he muttered, "Unless… Good grief. What if those ghost hunters have gotten a hold of them! I knew it was a bad idea to let them go in there by themselves."

Standing up in a hurry, he rushed to the barn's double doors, swinging them wide open, letting in the relative warm air of the approaching night.

"Hold on you three. I'm coming to help," he stated with conviction as he rushed out of the barn and into the orchard.

'I will need to be careful, though. I mustn't be seen. Luckily the coming darkness will aid me,' he thought to himself as trees blurred past him.

He moved in a blur, a white shadow, rapidly approaching the orchard's edge, before coming to a grinding halt, lingering behind the last line of trees hiding him from sight.

Looking out towards the town not too far from him, he scanned the horizon, watching to see if there was anyone there who might see him.

Seeing that there was no one to speak of, he took this opportunity and headed into the village with as much speed and stealth he could manage.

Diving into the shadow of the closest house he could find, he pressed himself against the wall, while also crouching a bit, keeping himself hidden as best as possible.

Hearing the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing through the empty streets some distance away from him, Wind Chill peeked around the corner, hoping to find out who it was that was moving through the streets, and if he or she would prove to be a problem for him. Then, a realization came to him.

'Footsteps?... But these ponies have hooves… Unless...'

Scanning the street from his hiding place, Wind Chill noticed a tall, thin figure walking through the darkening village. His ghost vision making it possible for him to see through the shadows that obscured the lone human, and he sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth as he recognized the face of the Great One.

'By the ancestors. It is you!' he thought, when he noticed something was off. The Great One seemed on edge for some reason, as he looked around the dark streets, and seemingly empty houses. Finding no one on the streets, save for himself, as he was using his human eyes instead of his ghost vision. And, as luck would have it, the distance between the two of them seemed large enough for him to escape detection by Danny's ghost sense.

He continued to observe the human revered by his kind, seeing him move faster and faster, clearly nervous about something. And before long, he was moving at an all out sprint, clearly heading towards a planned destination instead of wandering around aimlessly.

Wind Chill stalked the nervous human, staying far enough to keep out of sight and ghost sense range, yet close enough to see everything that was happening. Still, he had to be careful. Should he be seen, either by Danny or any of the ponies living here, there would be severe consequences. And, worst of all. The Great One might be scared away, and back into hiding.

No, now that the Great One has been found, he had to act carefully. So, moving from shadow to shadow, hiding behind the buildings of the town, Wind Chill quietly observed the human who his entire kind was indebted to.

It didn't take long for Danny to reach his destination, as he was moving as fast as he could without resorting to flying. And, as Wind Chill observed him, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Everywhere he went the buildings were dark and lifeless, and not in a Ghost Zone sort of way. No, this village was quiet, too quiet, and he knew something was about to happen. And seeing Danny's nervous stance, he knew the Great One was involved in this somehow.

'What wickedness has found you now, Great One?' he thought as he saw the human reach out to the door knob of a dark, and seemingly empty place.

The door creaked open, the sound echoing loudly through the empty streets, and Danny stepped inside, the door slowly closing behind him with the same drawn out creak.

Seeing this, and feeling the tension in the air, he feared some wicked foe was about to begin its attack on the Great One. So, moving in closer, but careful not to alert the Great One to his presence just yet, he approached the building in such a way he was able to look through one of the windows, while still keeping a safe distance. Then everything went white as, suddenly, the lights flicked on, and a multitude of voices shouted a loud:

”SURPRISE!”

'What?... What is happening?' Wind Chill wondered as he rubbed his eyes, blinking rapidly to clear the spots from his vision.

Looking back inside, he noticed that many ponies of various colors stood inside, cheering and laughing. Then, suddenly, the door slammed open, and he pressed himself against the wall he stood by as a pink blur shot past. Blinking several times, wondering what it was that had just happened, the blur shot by again, the door slamming shut.

“There, now we are ready to get this party started!” a loud and cheerful feminine voice said, and, through the window, Wind Chill saw the Great One standing, with a party hat on his head, a large smile on his confused face.

And, looking further throughout the room, he also noticed three other beings of interest.

'Ugh.. Children,' he thought as he saw Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle standing next to a table filled with various edible goods, ranging from cupcakes, to muffins, to pies, and much, much more. There was even a punch bowl with…

Wind Chill blinked several times in surprised confusion, wondering why there was a baby alligator swimming in the punch.

'These ponies are certainly strange,' he thought as he continued his observation, confident they couldn't see him through the darkness that had settled over the town, and he looked back at Danny again.

'I know of what happened to your mate, Great One. The pain it has caused you. But, as it would seem, you have finally found some peace of mind. Better to keep it that way.'

And with that final thought, Wind Chill retreated back to the orchard, a smile gracing his lips.

<<>><<>><<>>

Loud music blasted from the speakers, which were bouncing on the spot, while several flashing lights lit the room. Ponies, and a human, were dancing to the music. Or, in some cases, moving around in a spastic attempt to dance. Which, in their own way, was another source of great entertainment. Especially when everypony was watching how Danny was trying to avoid Twilight's flailing legs while also trying to put in a serious effort to murder the art of dance himself.

There was laughter, cheering, drinking, snacking, and music accompanying it all as almost everypony was enjoying themselves. There were, however, several ponies who stood at the sides of the room, looking around uncomfortably as they weren't sure what was going on, or how they even got there. All they knew, was that it had something to do with that crazy pink pony playing pin the tail on the pony, and somehow managing to pin the tail on herself, while her tail ended up on the picture stuck on the wall. Truly, Discord himself couldn't have done it better, as far as foals' games were concerned at least.

Even worse, for them, was the fact they didn't have any opportunity to use their scanners. It was too crowded, and the presence of, what was practically the entire town, ruined such an otherwise perfect opportunity to get close to the human.

Of course other opportunities presented themselves, and they tried to sneak out to investigate Danny Manson's house. But every time they tried, they were stopped by the same pink monster who had brought them here in the first place; shoving a boat load of cake in their mouths, and steering them towards the dance floor, putting them on the spot in front of everypony.

No, tonight was not a good night for them. And worse, Pinkie Pie wouldn't let them go. Not until they have had fun at least.

Yes, they were in for a very long night. A night where they were subjected to a seemingly unstoppable force. A force named Pinkie Pie. A force who was now dancing on the table with a baby alligator.

But the problem of having fun was not something Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were troubled with, as they sat underneath the table holding all the cakes, pies, and other delicious treats, of which they grabbed as many of as they could, before pulling them under the table with them, munching audibly and with smiles all around.

And, while she did that, Sweetie Belle also lifted the tablecloth hiding them from view with what little magic she could summon, looking at Danny's attempt to dance along with Twilight.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle, what are you looking at?" Apple Bloom asked, burping loudly afterwards.

"Danny," she answered, and dropped the tablecloth, "Just wondering if he really is a ghost or not," she added with a slightly lowered voice, the music loud enough to mask her speech.

"Meh, who knows," Scootaloo said with shrug as she devoured another cupcake, "Not much sense in worrying about it now, though."

"I guess," Sweetie Belle answered, and she sunk her teeth into an apple fritter herself.

"He does seem happy now though, if what we were told is true," Apple Bloom said as she looked at Danny herself, lifting the obscuring cloth with her tail.

"He does," Scootaloo agreed, when she spotted some ponies in the center of the dance floor, looking around uncomfortably, "Uh-oh."

"What, what is it?" Sweetie Belle asked as she turned to her orange friend.

"Those ponies over there," Scootaloo said while pointing a hoof.

"Who? Those four ponies standin' there on tha dance floor?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, them. Those are the ponies I was talking about earlier. They are… the ghost hunters," Scootaloo said with a nod, her voice lowered to such a level she could barely be heard over the music.

"Wait. Them?" Sweetie Belle asked, a tone of nervousness entering her voice.

"Yeah," was all Scootaloo said in acknowledgement.

Lowering the tablecloth to the floor, Apple Bloom turned to her friends.

"Well, now we all know who we're dealin' with."

"But shouldn't we be worried they might do something?" Sweetie Belle asked, concerned.

"Nah. Too many ponies here for them ta do anything," Apple Bloom reassured her friend, "So no worries there."

"I guess," Sweetie Belle muttered.

"Meh, don't worry. If they think they can try anything, they have another thing coming. After all, they have us to deal with, the Cutie Mark Crusaders," Scootaloo said with an eager edge to her voice, "Plus, there's that thing you can do," she added as she looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Right. So no worries there," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Agreed, no pony should worry at a party," Pinkie Pie proclaimed, sitting next to them, and the three fillies jumped up in fright, knocking their heads against the table, before crawling out of their hiding spot accompanied by the laughter of the other ponies who stood there.

"Now, PARTY!" Pinkie shouted, overly hyperactive, and she jumped into the crowd, vanishing from sight.

"Well, that just happened," Apple Bloom muttered as she rubbed her head.

"Yeah, what is it with that pony?" Scootaloo asked, when she noticed something tugging at her tail. Looking behind her, and lifting her tail up, she saw the endless gaze of Gummy, Pinkie's pet alligator clamped tightly on her tail. His mindless look giving no answer to her question.

"Never mind," she sighed as she dropped the alligator back to the ground, dragging it along with her, "Let's just go and party."

That was something her friends agreed with, and they mingled into the crowd, approaching Danny while dodging several flailing hooves and feet, and wished him a happy birthday, before showing him and Twilight how it was done.

Many cheers erupted from the crowd as the party went on throughout the night. And, despite everything that had happened, and everything that was going to happen. One thing was crystal clear right now.

They would never get their Cutie Marks in dancing.

Author's Note

And here we are, the next chapter. Now, with this latest addition to my fic, Silver Spirit is finally back up to speed, and is now running parallel with the timeline set in Guilt of a Phantom. So, the next chapter will be written alongside the next chapter of GoaP. This does mean things will slow down just a bit, as I am now working on two chapters to tell the tail of our Equestrian ghost and spirit at the same time. Still, with the 40k chapter released some time ago, plus this latest addition clocking in well over 10k, there should be enough reading material for the time being.

So, as usual, let me know about anything that was wrong, funny, what could be better, or anything else.

-Powerdrainer.

Spirit Trouble. Part 1

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

Spirit Trouble

Part 1.

<<>><<>><<>>

It hung in the darkness, suspended in the glow of its own power. The green aura surrounding the black book illuminating the many books found around it, while it lay open at the centerfold, words appearing as if they were written by an invisible pen. Words that were written before, but with a meaning behind them that was missed by those who read it. A meaning that would slowly reveal itself to them. To her.

There are many different forms of spectral beings. Ghosts, specters, spirits and shades to name a few. Each one of them is unique, and yet they are the same. Their power comes from the same source, but changes to match the form they choose after their deaths.

Whatever the deceased will become, or call themselves, is determined by the choices they've made while alive, as well as the choice they will make in Purgatory. But sometimes, in rare events, life and death mix, creating something truly unique. A Halfa. Over the millennia there have been only three beings that could be called as such. One chose the path of evil, another the path of the hero. And one who wandered, who was born in the darkness but found her way into the light.

But the hero was lost to guilt and sorrow, and evil is moving ever closer to him. The wanderer, still looking for him, will have the help of others, but it might not be enough.

Destiny is a curious thing, and it is not always what you thought it would be. Three has become four, but it may not remain like that.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle. Your journey has only just begun.

You looked for meaning in your lives, but it is in death that your path shall reveal itself. Sweetie Belle, in time you will know what you are meant to do. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, you will be by her side when that time comes. How things will play out, however, depends on how you deal with this now.

Sweetie Belle, either you embrace the gift given to you, and learn to use it. Or you run away from it. But destiny will follow you everywhere, and the outcome will depend on your choice.

The pages bristled as the words vanished, and for a moment the book just hung suspended in the air, nothing happening, until a few final words were written on the empty pages.

Choice….

A choice is about to be made… Now, I wonder. How will you deal with the consequences, Silver Spirit?

<<>><<>><<>>

It was late at night, or early in the morning, depending on how you looked at it, and Sweetie Belle dragged herself back to her bedroom. She, along with the rest of her friends, and basically everypony in town for that matter, had just attended a birthday party for Danny, the town's very own human.

Now though, she was partied out. And she, along with her older sister, Rarity, had just returned home; both of them heading to their rooms without much conversation.

Sweetie Belle felt as if her hooves each weighed a ton as she dragged herself upstairs, looking forward to her warm, comfortable, soft bed. Sighing tiredly as she came to a stop in front of her bedroom door, she lifted a hoof with tremendous effort, and opened the obstruction, hearing her sister close her own door behind her at the same time.

She trudged inside, sluggishly looking around as she fumbled to find the light switch. With a 'click', the light turned on, and she instinctively flinched and closed her eyes in response. Shaking her head, and cracking open her eyes, she looked longingly at her bed. However, what she saw instead made her eyes shoot open, her weariness banished in an instant.

Her room, maybe a bit messy before, was now a disaster zone. And she was fairly sure she wasn't the cause of it… this time.

"What… What happened here?" she wondered out loud, only to be silenced by the sound of her sister's shrill voice.

"Sweetie Belle, go to bed and be quiet!"

Sweetie Belle looked in the direction of Rarity's bedroom, quietly muttering under her breath as she closed her door, before turning her attention back to disaster that she used to know as her bedroom.

'What happened here? she thought, repeating herself.

She slowly moved around her room, taking in all the carnage. Books, toys, school work, what few clothes she owned, and everything else that was hers lay scattered around the floor, with drawers pulled out of their respective places, and a few things were even broken or crushed.

'What happened here?' she wondered again, 'Was… was it those ghost hunters?' a shudder moving down her spine.

Gulping, she rushed to the windows, closing the curtains with a quick pull with her mouth. Looking around nervously, she practically flew to her bed from where she stood, trying to bury herself under her blanket to hide herself. However, she tripped over her own legs, and dragged the constricting cover down to the ground with her as she instinctively grabbed onto it. She poked her head up with an annoyed frown, looking back at her hind legs, giving them a kick to free herself, when she spotted something. She froze where she lay, as she stared at the object lying under her bed. It was something that wasn't hers. Something that shouldn't be there. Something she recognized. Something she knew who it belonged to.

"Diamond Tiara," Sweetie Belle growled, eyes glowing a toxic green.

"SWEETIE BELLE. GO TO BED!"

"Oh, right. Sorry, sis."

<<>><<>><<>>

Metallic legs tapped against the wall, as the spy drone climbed the vertical structure. Its camera eyes adjusting to the darkness, and it observed its surroundings through the green filter that was called night vision. It, along with its fellow drones, were sent out into the ponies' world to search for any and all spectral energy. Their master hoping that they would find the one that had long held his interest. But they found many signatures, and they split up to pursue these many leads. Some flew north, and all contact with them had been lost. While some remained back in the city this unit first deployed from. And others, like it, flew towards a small village found in the valley close to the city on the mountain.

And even then, they split up into
even smaller groups. Some followed the alluring call of the energy signature coming from a lone house at the edge of town, while others ventured into a dark, dense forest. Others moved towards a collection of trees, planted in neat rows, all of them bearing fruit.

But this unit, however, followed yet another energy signature. A signature that was familiar, yet strange all the same. A signature that could only belong to one type of being, but which was wild and unstable. An unknown. An unknown that led him towards the sleeping filly.

The tapping on the wall ceased as the drone came to a stop. Its camera eyes focused on the sleeping form of the white unicorn with a curly, two tone mane. Its camera's focusing as its sensors picked up on the all too familiar, energy of the dead.

Silence fell as it watched her. Observed her. Studied her.

<<>><<>><<>>

The sun was beginning to shine its warming light down on Ponyville, and the birds began to sing their pleasant songs, filling the crisp clean air, giving the promise of a wonderful, productive day.

Unless, of course, you just happened to be a certain spirit, curled up under a warm blanket, hidden in the darkness provided by the obscuring curtains in front of the windows.

Sweetie Belle groaned as she slowly looked up, her pillow balanced on her head, and her mane sticking out every which way. Smacking her lips a few times, she looked around, unable to see anything.

Now, normally one would turn on the light to see, and get blinded as a result since they are not yet used to the blinding power contained within those flimsy balls of glass. Sweetie Belle, however, she… Well, she did the same. Or she would have, if she hadn't gotten her legs tangled up in her sheets, causing her to drop down to the floor.

She grumbled under her breath, and her eyes glowed green in frustration, when she made a shocking discovery. Suddenly, as if by magic, she was able to see as though her room was brightly lit, albeit with the colors more faded, dull even. She looked around with an expression of surprise plastered across her face, the fact that she could see in the dark with her spirit powers having gone unnoticed by her before, but now she couldn't ignore it.

"Well, that's going to be useful," she groaned, pulling herself back up while looking around her trashed room, the memories of last night returning to her, and she frowned at the silver tiara placed on her desk.

"Hmmm," she hummed as she shook herself free from the constricting hold her blanket had over her, and she slowly paced around her room, taking in the damage, knowing that she would have to clean it up.

Grumbling, she returned her attention to the tiara, and a grin began to form on her muzzle.

It fell not long after, as she realized she still had to clean her room, and that she better get started.

From what she could tell, Rarity was still asleep. Why she had woken up as early as she did, she didn't know, but she took the chance it presented to her to mend the damage so obviously caused by Diamond Tiara, before she herself got in trouble for it with Rarity.

She sighed as she set to work, tip hoofing to remain as quiet as she could, while planning ahead on how she was going to get back at the school's bully.

'Obviously, my powers are going to be a part of it. But I need to get better control over them,' she mused, a green glint drawing her attention, seeing the light coming from her eyes reflecting off the jewels set in the tiara.

'Well, Crusaders. It looks like we're gonna go spirit training again.'

<<>><<>><<>>

The day was starting for the four ghost hunting ponies out in Whitetail Woods, and they were already up and about to continue their work. Or, lack there of, as none of them had found anything noteworthy after Vigilant Shield's find. And with the possibility of their equipment not working properly, much to Vigilant Shield's chagrin, they were back at square one. Not that they were that far along to begin with, but it was a downer all the same. Therefore, motivation was hard to find.

Their investigation in the forest had borne some fruit, though, as they did find some transient hits here and there. But, after investigating those leads, they had to conclude that they were dead ends, no pun intended. So, unable to find anything conclusive, and with Vigilant Shield developing an almost unhealthy obsession in her attempts to relocate the spectral signature she first discovered, they had to agree, though Vigilant Shield did so only begrudgingly, that whatever it was she picked up on was long gone.

Charming Prism did relayed his team's finding to Rolling Stone, and vice versa. Sifting through the possible leads, and discussing new courses of action, they were given a new assignment.

After comparing their notes and findings, it became apparent that Rolling Stone's team was finding more and more possible leads, whereas Charming's team was not. And, through discussions and level headed thinking, their most logical conclusion was that the possible ghost Vigilant detected had just ventured out in the woods, before being scared off by her. And, taking into account the strange readings found in Ponyville, and the lack of any further findings in the woods, they concluded that the spectral entity they were looking for was most likely hiding in or near the village.

It was a long shot, but it was the best they had, for now. Rolling Stone and his team were planning on making a sweep of Danny Manson's house, as he was scheduled to be in Canterlot for the day, giving them ample opportunity to finally make a detailed scan of the human's immediate surroundings.

Of course, this also left Charming Prism's team with little to do, as their chosen location proved to be a cold spot, with little to no activity at all. Which resulted in another problem. Obviously, they first planned to join their fellow hunters in Ponyville. But, a group of that size would draw unwanted attention, and not only of the undead kind. Then there was the problem of scaring away the possible threat, sending it to some other village or city.

So, after having discussed this with Rolling Stone, it was decided that, in the interest of not scaring off any ghosts which might result in the haunting of some innocent soul, they were to return to Canterlot, and help out with the experts coming in from the Fenton Corporation.

Therefore, they got up bright and early, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and began to tear down their camp, putting their equipment back in whatever pack they came in. Which proved to be a more difficult task than initially thought, as their things didn't seem to fit inside the bags the same way as they came out. But finally, they were done and set to move to the train station, along with the cover story of a camping trip, should anypony ask.

Still, they couldn't help but feel that they had wasted their time, and the mood was a bit tense. Vigilant Shield, still sure about her find, but without any way to prove it as a result of this unusual interference, grumbled to herself. She knew she could clean up the signal with some more precise calibration, which she tried... a lot. But with no success, much to her chagrin. Especially when she was told Blue Ice was making good progress with her own set of scanners.

But she, along with the three other ponies in this team did as they were told to do, and she just hoped Blue Ice, second after her when it came to scanner expertise, wouldn't mess up. Still, she did get her bits, as part of the bet. So she had that going for her, which was nice.

Charming Prism, their assigned leader, looked around the broken down camp, making sure nothing was forgotten, as he stowed away the last of his equipment.

"Okay everypony" he called out when he saw that all of them were done. "Time to make one last sweep of the area. Make sure we haven't forgotten anything. Nothing too fancy, since if anything big was missing we'd know. Just make sure that this little 'camping trip' actually looks like one, and nothing remains that shouldn't remain."

"Yeah, yeah. We know the drill," Flash Lightning replied, and he set to work, followed a moment later by Vigilant Shield and Midnight Blossom.

Rolling his eyes over Flash Lightning's answer, Charming Prism joined them. And together they made sure nothing that could reveal that they were there for ghost hunting remained.

<<>><<>><<>>

The day had well and truly started, and Sweetie Belle was finally finished with the reconstruction of her room, after a certain pink earth pony filly had decided that she was gonna wreck it.

Sighing tiredly, she looked around her cleaned room, feeling proud and satisfied with the result, when her sister called to her from the floor below, informing her that breakfast was ready.

Heeding the call, Sweetie Bellr opened the door, and moved down to the kitchen, partially lost in thought.

'Right, Rarity,' she mused as she saw her sister sitting at the dinner table, 'I'm pretty sure I'm still grounded, despite last night's party,' she pondered as she jumped up on one of the stools, and Rarity placed a plate with a sandwich in front of her, as well as a glass of orange juice. 'I doubt I can just walk out through the front door like that right now… Oh, wait. Invisibility, duhu,' she mentally face hooved, while taking a bite out of her sandwich, 'Still, I'm sure she would notice. Unless, of course, she's busy with her work...' Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up when a plan formed in her mind.

She wolfed down her sandwich like a starved pony, and downed her drink with large, audible gulps, much to the apparent horror of her older sister.

Swallowing the last of her food, Sweetie Belle burped loudly, making Rarity shudder, before scolding her.

"Sweetie Belle. That is no way for a lady to behave."

"Huh. Guess I'm not a lady, then," she said, pretending to be deep in thought as she rubbed her chin.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you are."

"I am? Why?"

"Why, because I know you are," Rarity said with a proud voice, brushing her luxuriously curled mane out of her eyes, "I've certainly tried my hardest to see to it."

Sweetie Belle thought about that for a moment, "So, because you say so," and Rarity's expression fell flat.

"That's not what I said at a—" she tried to counter, but Sweetie Belle had other thoughts.

"So, I'm a lady because you say so," Sweetie Belle said slowly, looking at the crumbs on her plate, "But what if I don't want to be a lady?"

"What do you mean, dear? Of course you want to be."

"... Shouldn't it be my choice what I want to be?" she asked, looking up at Rarity, who found herself without a reply, "What if I want to be a farmer working in the mud, like Apple Bloom? Or be a stunt pony, like Scootaloo wants to be. Or, or…" she trailed off, remembering something a book told her.

'Either you embrace the gift given to you, learn to use it. Or you run away from it. But destiny will follow you everywhere, and the outcome will all depend on your choice.'

"... Or whatever I chose to be?" she concluded, looking up to meet her sister's wide, open eyes.

"Or something like that," Sweetie Belle said after a moment of silence, blinking a few times, "Oh well, thanks for breakfast, Rarity," she concluded as she jumped off of her stool, leaving the kitchen.

"... Sweetie…" Rarity said, surprised and shocked over her younger sister's sudden insightfulness, hearing the clopping of her hooves as she walked back up the stairs.

'Well, that was something. Where did that come from?' Sweetie Belle wondered as she set hoof on the second floor, looking at Rarity's atelier, 'I'll figure that out later… maybe. Right now, let's see what I can do to keep her busy.

Slowly and quietly she moved to the closed door, making sure she wouldn't give away she was going to her sister's atelier.

Carefully she opened the door, slipped inside, and closed the door until just a crack remained. Looking around, she saw many of her sister's new creations proudly displayed on the ponequins. Large, bold, and flashy creations that somehow managed to remain elegant, with as many colors as the rainbow, brought to life in a way only Rarity could, greeted her.

Light sparkled off of the many jewels sewn into the designs, reflecting in her own eyes as she looked at the wonders of fabric with amazement.

Yes, they were a sight to behold, but they weren't what she was looking for. As beautiful as they might be, they were now distracting her from her goal. A creation of her sister's that was anything but those dresses. Instead of the bright reds or blues, or any of the other colors that caught her attention, she was looking for something a bit more… dreary.

There, she saw the neatly folded bundle of black and white lying on a shelf, placed out of her reach. 'Or so Rarity thinks,' Sweetie Belle thought as she hovered up in the air, moving towards the shelf and grabbing the clothes. She then flew towards the empty table where she first saw this suit two days ago, splaying them out before her as she lowered herself to the ground.

Humming to herself, she studied the black and white suit, 'How did Rarity even come up with this? It looks so much like his ghost suit… if he really is Danny Phantom, that is.' she took a better look at the suit, the black shirt and pants, as well as the white belt and boots. 'But how do I keep her busy for the day, while I go to my friends?' she looked around the room as she thought, trying to find something that could help, 'She said she didn't know what to do with it. Maybe I can help her with that?' a smile grew on her face at the thought, and she moved to the storage closet in the back of the room.

Looking through the various things kept there, from rolls of fabric, to scissors, thread and needles, dyes, and even a box of chocolates Rarity believed her younger sister didn't know about, Sweetie Belle found what she was looking for.

Humming a happy tune, she reached out for a small bottle of white dye with her mouth, before she thought better of it.

Looking at the bottle with a determined gaze, nodding her head, she firmly planted her hooves on the floor, eyes narrowing in concentration.

A faint, light green aura flickered around the tip of her horn as she bared her teeth, focusing her magic on the small bottle. A slight growl escaped her as she jerked her head back and forth in an attempt to pull the bottle with her, but to no avail.

Grinding her hooves into the carpet, her eyes narrowed even further, and teeth grinded together as she forced out as much of her magic as she could. Her eyes glowed green in intense focus. Her horn sparked and pulsed. The faint magical aura suddenly bursting with energy as it encompassed her entire horn, and the bottle began to shake and rattle, followed moments later by the other bottles of dye.

Sweetie Belle's eyes shot open as she lost control of her magic, flinching from a sudden stabbing sensation in her brain, noticing something was very, very wrong.

The bottles shook and rattled as if they were possessed, moving around on the shelves, growing louder and more violently with each passing second.

"Sweetie Belle, what is going on?" Rarity called up, and Sweetie Belle heard her hoofsteps on the stairs.

Sweetie Belle listened in horror, 'Oh no no no. What is happening?' and she instinctively turned invisible in panic.

Nothing could be seen where she first was. She had vanished into thin air. Nothing of her remained in sight. Nothing, except a glowing green horn, pulsing with a mixed glow of light and dark green. A glow that continued to intensify and grow, and the bottles, jumping on their spot, were no longer able to withstand the force exerted on them, and they exploded in a burst of green, and the various colors they contained.

Sweetie Belle, looking on in horror, felt the dyes splatter all over her, showing her invisible form with various colorful splotches.

Falling to her rump, her power died down, and she faded back into view, right as the door opened, and Rarity stepped in. Who shrieked a split second later as she saw the damage.

"Sweetie Belle. What happened!?" Rarity said, horrified.

"It's not what it looks like," Sweetie Belle replied, holding up her red and blue hoof in a defensive manner, "Ehh… There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this?"

"For all of this…" Rarity said in disbelief, looking at her dresses, now with a mismatched color scheme. "... This," and the floor, now painful to look at. "... This," and the ceiling and walls, one wall with a distinct unicorn silhouette splattered across it. "... This," and the table, with Danny's gift lying on top of it, "... This disaster," she finally finished, staring down at her younger sister angrily.

Looking at her sister, Sweetie Bellr shrunk down into herself, "Eh hehehe… Or maybe not."

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity said, slowly, forcing herself to remain calm, "Go to your room. Now!"

Looking at her sister with large, apologetic eyes, her gaze slowly moved throughout the room, seeing the mess she'd made.

It was everywhere she looked, including her own fur. Slowly her gaze shifted back to Rarity, who was almost fuming, despite her best efforts to keep her composure.

"I'm sor—"

Rarity cut her off when she finally snapped, "SWEETIE BELLE. GO TO YOUR ROOM. NOW!" and Sweetie Belle scampered away, leaving behind a multicolored blur with her outline.

Rarity looked around with anger, disappointment, and tears brimming in her eyes, hearing the door of Sweetie Belle's room slam shut. Everywhere she looked, her hard work, ruined. The dresses she had worked so hard on, putting her heart and soul in each and everyone of them. She would have to redo them all. Not to mention the mess Sweetie Belle had made of the room itself, or the tracks she left as she hurried away. Red, blue and green hoof marks showed the path of her retreat, all the way to her room.

Huffing in irritation, Rarity then turned to the supply closet, taking in the damage. Obviously, the dyes were gone. And, taken with them, were all the spare rolls of fabric, no longer a single color. Closing her eyes to spare herself from the rest of the massacre, she turned away, taking in the room once more.

Her heart stopped when she saw what was lying on the table, only for it to start pumping twice as fast to make up for the lost time.

Slowly she moved to the table, denying what she was seeing, but unable to avert her gaze.

Silence fell, and she stood frozen on the spot as she saw the black and white suit she'd made for Danny. Still unfinished, now completely ruined.

Her horn sparked to life, and she levitated the suit in front of her as if Danny was wearing it, showing her all the dimensions, and the mess Sweetie Belle had made.

Fortunately, it would seem the worst of the mess managed to avoid her gift, but a large white splotch had stained the chest area, permanently ruining it…

'Although...' she mused, rotating the suit in various angles, eyes widening a bit, 'Could it be? Is that what was missing?'

She rushed to her drawing board, suit in tow, and brushed aside the designs for the dresses she knew she had to remake, but not paying them any attention right now.

Using her magic, she pulled a single sheet of paper from her desk's drawer, placing it on the board, flattening it.

Studying the design, and shifting her gaze to the splotch now on display on the chest area, she grabbed a pencil, and began to work. Minutes passed by as she went through idea after idea, none of them measuring up to her standards, and all of them rejected.

Letting out a huff in frustration, she took a step back and looked around the room once again.

'Well, it would seem I have my work cut out for me, she thought as she looked at the mess, the colors smeared around already starting to dry, and a sigh escaped her lips, 'Better not put this off any longer,' and she walked out of the room, placing the suit on the table, and returning several minutes later with a bucket filled with water and soap, a brush, while wearing a hazmat suit, glaring at the mess through the protective helmet.

<<>><<>><<>>

A few moments earlier

Sweetie Belle scampered to her room, slamming the door shut behind her the moment she was inside, leaving many colorful spots and smears in her wake.

Sitting down with a saddened sigh, she looked at one of her legs, finding it dyed in a dark shade of blue.

"Well, that could have gone better," she muttered as she set her hoof down, "What happened? My magic isn't strong enough to do that," she continued as she stood up, moving to the desk in her room, "Was it my spirit power? The elder said my magic and ectoplasm were interfering with one another."

Grabbing her hoof held mirror from the desk, she looked at her own reflection, blinking dumbly as she saw herself, "Great, just great," and then the mirror phased through her hoof, falling on the floor, but not shattering, fortunately.

However, the mirror wasn't the only thing to phase through her, as she noticed the dyes staining her fur also fell to the ground.

"What the hay?!" she proclaimed as she jumped away from the sudden mess on the floor, "Did…" she gasped, "did that stuff just drop off of me, like going through me?" she wasn't sure, and she stood there, staring at the splotch of dye for several minutes, trying to wrap her head around what had just happened, both in Rarity's atelier, and just now. But the sound of her sister walking out of her work chamber brought her attention back to the here and now.

'Right, focus,' she reminded herself, and turned towards her window, 'I meant to keep Rarity busy, and I guess I succeeded. So, let's get out of here.' She opened the window with a push of her hoof, looking down at the street below, watching the ponies of Ponyville move about. It was still early, but not so much now that they were all sleeping on their day off.

"Well, there sure are a lot of ponies already up and about," she observed as she looked around, "Better not get seen, then," and she dropped down, out of sight.

Quickly grabbing the tiara from her desk, she turned invisible, and flew out of the window, sparing a moment to glance through the window of the atelier, seeing her sister busy cleaning up the mess she'd made, while in full protective gear. A pang of regret hitting her.

'Sorry, sis,' she mentally said, as she flew away towards Scootaloo's home.

<<>><<>><<>>

Diamond Tiara was not happy, far from it. 'All I wanted to do was find some dirt to hold against that stupid Blank Flank, and break some of her things when I did so. But, thanks to that crazy pony, I was unable to complete my noble mission. Even worse. Now I also lost my tiara, and I know it has to be in that loser's room. THAT will not do,' she thought as she paced around her room, stomping her hooves, 'To know that my tiara is lying in that room, the room of a loser Blank Flank is truly disgusting.' she shuddered in disgust, 'The wondrous greatness of my tiara tainted by the ick from the filly that soiled that room.'

'I will need to get it back, of course. But how?' she wondered, looking outside through her window, 'Everypony is already awake right now, so there is no way I can just go back to the boutique and retrieve my tiara.' she knew she would be seen, and she would have to explain why she was there. That was something she wanted to avoid. Not just because she didn't want to answer anything that could turn negative for her, but she didn't want to be seen in a place where she lived.

'The only reason I would ever go to that place at all, would be to get a new dress.' she thought as she looked at the Carousel Boutique in the distance. But, not interested in interacting with Rarity either, and not wanting to run the risk of running into Sweetie Belle, she knew she couldn't go there. So, as this problem presented itself to her, she now faced yet another. Mainly, the lack of a tiara resting on her head. That would be difficult to explain as well. Especially if that Blank Flank had found her tiara, and would use it against her in some dumb way only a loser like her, or her friends, could come up with.

'That is, if she found it. Knowing her, she probably didn't even notice the mess in her room. That dumb pony.' Tiara chuckled over that, before sighing in annoyance, 'But I will need to find a way to get my tiara back, one way, or another. Maybe Silver Spoon can help?' she mused, and a devious grin began to form on her muzzle.

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo kicked and turned in her bed, trying desperately to return to the sweet embrace of sleep, and the awesome dream she was having about flying alongside Rainbow Dash. But she was rudely awoken when, all of a sudden, Sweetie Belle appeared out of nowhere, and blasted her out of the air.

Now though, as she was trying to return to that dream, sans Sweetie Belle, she was kept awake by a consistent, annoying tapping against her window. And, with a final groan of defeat, she rolled out of her bed and dragged herself over to the window to see who or what was making all that noise.

Pulling open the curtains, and being blinded by the sun's light as a result, she opened her window, and looked outside, seeing nopony there. Growling in irritation, she closed the window with a dark, sleepy look on her face- "Hi, Scootaloo," -when Sweetie Belle's voice suddenly came out of nowhere, making her yelp and jump in the air in fright, seeing her curtains rustle when an invisible body moved past them.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you," Sweetie Belle said apologetically as she faded back into view, giving her friend a sheepish smile.

"Sweetie Belle, what are you doing here?" Scootaloo begun, when her tone dropped to a whisper, "Aren't you worried about those ghost hunters staying here?"

"Not really," Sweetie Belle answered, "I just saw them out in town when I flew over here, so no worries there."

"Okay. So what brings you here?" Scootaloo asked, yawning.

"This," she replied, and she showed her friend the tiara she'd found.

"Wait, is that…"

"I think so," Sweetie Belle confirmed the unfinished question, "I found it in my room, which was completely trashed."

"What!? You don't think that—"

"I do," Sweetie Belle said dead serious, cutting her friend off once more. "And I want to get back at her. But, I need to get a better grip on my powers," and she flinched a bit as she remembered what had happened with the dyes.

"Okay," Scootaloo replied, excitedly. No longer feeling sleepy. "What're we going to do?"

"Get Apple Bloom and we'll figure something out from there."

"So, we're not going to Wind Chill?" Scootaloo asked as she scratched her head, ruffling her mane into an even bigger mess than it already was.

"I'm not sure he would agree to it. Remember what he told you about getting even with Diamond Tiara?"

Scootaloo's eyes lit up as she recalled just that, "Oh, right. So, just wing it?" and she flapped a single wing in emphasis.

Nodding her head, Sweetie Belle held out a hoof to Scootaloo, "Pretty much, yes. Now, grab on, and I'll fly us out of here."

Looking at the hoof offered to her, Scootaloo bit her lower lip as she felt yet another pang of jealousy. But she fought it down, and she grabbed hold of her friend's extended limb. And the moment she did, she saw herself, along with Sweetie Belle, turn invisible, before she suddenly felt the strange sensation of lifting off of the ground without using her wings.

"This is so weird!" Scootaloo said, and Sweetie Belle giggled in agreement, before the two of them flew out of the open window, the curtains moving as they flew past.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom was pacing through her room, biting her lower lip as she was lost in thought.

Discovering just what Wind Chill had done to the barn her father had built weighed down on her more than she'd like to admit.

'But why?' she thought as she stopped on the spot. 'Why do I even care? It's not like I knew them, at all… kinda.'

Sighing, she looked longingly out of her bedroom window, unable to go outside. She was still grounded, as were her friends, she knew. And although her brother and sister were lenient about last night's festivities, she was still stuck in her room as part of her punishment.

Sighing, she walked to her window for the umpteenth time that morning, having been up and ready since the crack of dawn, and staring absentmindedly out over the many rows of apple trees. It was a wondrous sight for her, something that would never get old. The lush green leaves, and the ripe red and green apples. The sweet aroma coming off of them, filling the air all around. The strong trees themselves, standing tall and proud. The glowing green eyes staring at her from the other side of the glass….

'Wait! What!?'

With a yelp, Apple Bloom fell backwards, forelegs flailing in the air as she landed on her rump with a THUD. "What tha hay!" she exclaimed, staring at the glowing green orbs, seeing the amusement in them, while she heard two sets of laughter.

"Sweetie Belle?" she said, unsure, seeing the eyes nod, "Oh, ha ha. Very funny," she said, grumbling, getting back on her hooves and opening the window.

"Well, sorry. But we couldn't let such an opportunity go to waste," came the disembodied voice of Sweetie Belle.

"We?" Apple Bloom asked, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo faded back into view, "Ah, right."

Scootaloo dropped down to the floor, doing her best to contain her laughter as she faced her earth pony friend, "Pfhhh. You should've seen the look on your face," and she proceeded to imitate said look, much to the amusement of Sweetie Belle, and the annoyance of Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom, ignoring the faces Scootaloo made, turned to Sweetie Belle instead, "Right. So, what brings you two here?"

"This," Sweetie said, showing her the tiara she was holding, "I found this in my room last night, which was completely trashed."

"Is that…"

"Yes, yes it is," Scootaloo answered, an aggressive tone in her voice, "And now we're going to help Sweetie Belle get back at Diamond Tiara."

"And how're we gonna do that?" Apple Bloom asked, and Scootaloo started to reply, only to fall silent as she didn't have an answer.

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle answered for her, shrugging, "But it might be better to figure out how my powers work, before we try anything. Considering the thing that happened this morning."

"Wait, what happened?" Apple Bloom asked, her and Scootaloo's ears perking up in curiosity.

"I… I'm not sure. I tried to use my magic, to lift up a small bottle of my sister's dyes, when something strange happened," Sweetie Belle answered, finally dropping down on the ground herself.

"Strange, how?" Apple Bloom queried.

"Strange, as in a sudden burst of, I think both magic and ectoplasm, which blew everything up…"

Silence.

"... Really?" Scootaloo asked, sounding amazed.

"Really," Sweetie Belle confirmed, nodding her head, "The elder did say my magic was interfering with my ectoplasm, so, I don't know, maybe it works both ways and that was my ectoplasm interfering with my magic, or something?"

"Maybe Wind Chill knows," Apple Bloom offered.

"Maybe," Sweetie Belle replied.

"Well, come on then," Apple Bloom started enthusiastically, "let's get going," and she headed for the open window, before noticing her friends didn't follow.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, seeing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo share an uneasy glance.

"Well, you see," Sweetie Belle started, "The thing is... We kinda wanted to get back at Diamond Tiara, but… remember what Wind Chill said to Scootaloo about that?" she asked, and Apple Bloom nodded in confirmation, "Well, I kinda want to avoid that right now, so let's just do this on our own, for now. Okay?"

"Uh… okay?" Apple Bloom replied, shrugging, "So, where do we start?" she asked, receiving a shrug in response.

"We're just going to wing it," Scootaloo answered, flapping a single wing

Apple Bloom stood silent for a moment as she processed that, "... Meh, that'll work, Ah guess," before shrugging and going along with the plan.

"Great," Sweetie Belle proclaimed happily, "So, ready to go?" she asked, receiving two confirming nods from her friends, "Kay, here we go," and she floated up, grabbed her friends by a foreleg, turned invisible, and flew out through the window; hearing the bell of the town's clock ring, signaling it was nine o'clock.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Diamond, how wonderful to see you again," Tarnished Silver said as Diamond Tiara was let in the house by the maid, noticing something off with the filly.

"Good day, mister Silver," Diamond Tiara said with an honest smile reserved only for those ponies she'd deemed worthy, "Can I see Silver Spoon?"

"Of course, dear. Of course. She'll be glad to see her friend again. And, if you don't mind me asking. What happened to your tiara? You did seem overly fond of it."

Diamond Tiara's face tensed for a moment, the corners of her mouth dipping just a bit, before she replaced it with a fake smile, "Oh, it is getting cleaned right now. It was supposed to be done by now but, well, you know. Good help is hard to find."

"Indeed it is," Tarnished Silver agreed with a nod.

"But I don't want to take up any more of your time. So I'll go see Silver Spoon now, okay?"

"Of course, go right ahead. She's in her room, resting. She still has a bad headache, but I'm sure seeing her friend will make her feel much better."

"Oh, I'm sure it will," Diamond Tiara replied, turning away so he couldn't see her face, a shadow falling over her eyes, "I'm sure it will."

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, you're up for some revenge on those losers?"

"Does Celestia raise the sun?"

"Excellent," Diamond Tiara proclaimed, rubbing her hooves together.

Silver Spoon, despite what her father had just said, was doing anything but resting. She, after having laid in bed for a couple of days now, was feeling almost as good as new, save for a dull, irritating ache still going through her head every now and then. Otherwise, she was fully up and about. Ready to get back at those who were responsible for her 'accident'. So, after Diamond Tiara had explained her plan to her, she was more than ready to get even.

"Good. Now, here's what we're going to do."

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle, after having placed Diamond Tiara's tiara inside their clubhouse, paced around the tree, murmuring to herself, while her friends were busy gathering various objects from their questionable collection of crusading supplies. Now though, they had other plans for them.

Sweetie Belle's explanation of what had happened earlier that morning had inspired Scootaloo, (no surprise there), to set up a shooting gallery for her to try and recreate whatever it was she'd done in the boutique.

Sighing, Sweetie Belle looked at the small set-up her friends had made, not sure if she should be happy with it.

'Okay, I know they are trying to help, and such. But whatever it was that happened, it did kind of hurt. I'm not sure I want to retry that.' But she didn't say that out loud, and Scootaloo zipped up and down the ramp, placing everything she could find, and which they didn't need anymore, in a row on the ground. The ground which was still damaged and torn up from the fight Wind Chill had with the beku terwelu.

Looking around to assess the damage done around here, in such a short time as well, Sweetie Belle began to second guess the plan to retry her accident around here.

'Surely the trees are blackened enough? And aren't there enough craters in the ground?' she wondered, but she knew that any objection wouldn't be heard, and that the sooner she tried this, the sooner it would be over. Besides, it was mostly her idea to continue her spirit training, without any help from Wind Chill or Frostbite. 'But I do wonder who is in charge of this?' she pondered, seeing her friends running up and down the ramp. Scootaloo with a rather large grin.

A feeling of nervousness settled down in her gut as she looked at the row of various items no longer of any use to them. Like the hoof held mirror, which she accidentally broke a few days ago, standing upright, with the handle stuck in the ground. Or a couple of flower pots, a torn parachute, that one ring to rule them all, a broken bow with a single arrow, a straight jacket, which taught them the hard way that they were no escape artists, and resulted in a very, very awkward meeting with their sisters. And several other items they had no use for, save target practice, as it would turn out.

"Okay, that's it," Scootaloo called out as she placed a kegelcizer among the row of other objects, "Let's see what you can do," and she quickly retreated to a safe distance, behind Sweetie Belle, standing next to Apple Bloom.

"Ya sure this is a good idea?" Apple Bloom asked worriedly, as she looked around the damaged area.

"Sure," Scootaloo answered confidently, "What's the worst that can happen?"

"... Ah'm not even going ta respond ta that," Apple Bloom said, shaking her head a bit.

"Uhh… You just did," Scootaloo told her.

"You know what Ah mean," Apple Bloom replied, rolling her eyes, "Anyhow. Ya ready, Sweetie Belle?"

Looking at the various items placed in front of her, Sweetie Belle nodded weakly, "I guess," and she began to struggle to light up her horn with her magic, managing to produce a faint, light green glow at the tip of her horn.

Her hooves dug into the upturned soil, bracing herself as she lowered her stance, forcing herself to give as much as she could, and a few stray sparks shot from her horn.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself even further, trying to get some result, and her eyes began to glow a faint green.

"Come on, Sweetie Bell. You can do it!" Apple Bloom cheered her on, while Scootaloo gave a few encouraging shouts of excitement as she saw her friend's horn suddenly become enveloped by a mixture of light and dark green light.

Sweetie Belle, however, didn't hear them. Eyes glowing green, showing no pupil, and a stab of pain going through her brain, she found herself losing control once more, and a massive burst of energy shot from her horn, hitting the various objects, and destroying several of them, while she herself was flung backwards from the force, crashing into her friends, horn smoking and sparking with both shades of energy.

"Ooww," Apple Bloom groaned, "What happened?" she asked as she pushed herself back up, seeing Scootaloo do the same.

"I don't know?" Scootaloo replied, "Ask Sweetie Belle," and the two of them turned to their spirit friend, only to see her still lying on the ground, holding her head in her hooves and moaning in pain, while her hind legs had turned into an intangible tail, twitching in response to the stabs that shot through her brain.

"Sweetie Belle!" they both shouted, and hurried to help their friend upright.

However, when Apple Bloom reached out for her friend, she found herself grasping through her. A problem that Scootaloo didn't seem to have.

Looking at her hoof in disbelief, then at Scootaloo, Apple Bloom looked at both her friends in confusion, and concern for Sweetie Belle. Yet, one thing did stick out to her, something that didn't make any sense, "What tha… How're you able ta touch her?" she asked, trying to grab hold of her struggling friend once more, and getting the same result as her hoof passed cleanly through her, "Seriously, how are ya touching her!?" she asked, shocked and confused, looking at her orange friend with wide eyes.

"How should I know? And shouldn't we worry about Sweetie Belle right now?" Scootaloo replied, holding her downed friend in her legs.

Apple Bloom nodded, a guilty look on her face, "Right, but what should we do?" she asked, "Ah mean, Ah can't touch her," she stated, and reached out a hoof to prove this point, only to be met with resistance, "Or maybe Ah can?... What's going on?"

"No idea," came the pained response from Sweetie Belle, "But I am not doing that again," and she, slowly, pushed herself back upright, hind legs turning back to normal, and she stood unsteadily on her legs as she carefully rubbed her horn, a lone spark of light green energy shooting from it.

"Sweetie Belle!" came the relieved shout from her friends, causing her to flinch from the sudden assault on her ears, "Are ya alright?" Apple Bloom asked.

Carefully prodding her horn, while still standing on three slightly shaking legs, "I- I guess," she carefully nodded her head, setting her hoof down on the ground, "But I think I have done enough training for today..." Another spark shot from her horn, dark green this time, and her right hind hoof faded through the ground, "or the entire week," she added, pulling her hoof back up, looking at it doubtfully.

"Ya sure yer alright?" Apple Bloom asked, not really convinced her friend was a hundred percent after what had happened, "Ya did get blasted pretty bad jus' now."

"I guess," Sweetie Belle replied, trying to sound confident but feeling herself shaking from the inside, painful stabs still going through her brain. "More or less."

"Meh, good enough for me," Scootaloo quipped, "So, what should we do now?"

Apple Bloom, still looking at her unicorn friend with concern, came up with the answer, "Well, we still need ta figure out what those ponies staying at yer place are up ta, and get some of their ghost thingies away from 'em."

"Oh yeah," Scootaloo said in realization, "I kinda forgot about that."

"So, back to town then?" Sweetie Belle queried, rubbing a hoof over her left eye.

"Unless you want to continue with this?" Scootaloo replied, waving a hoof over the area, and the still smoldering remains of the objects Sweetie Belle had hit. Seeing that, unsurprisingly, that weird ring was still intact.

"NO!" Sweetie Belle practically shouted, before continuing in a normal tone of voice, hoof still held over her eye, "No, I do not. Let's just go back to town and see what those ponies are up to."

"Okay," Apple Bloom replied, shrugging, and she and Scootaloo started to walk away. Sweetie Belle, however, rubbed her eye one more time, trying to get rid of an annoying itch, before dropping her hoof and following her friends. None of them noticed her left eye was glowing a toxic green, whereas her right eye was not.

And, something else they didn't notice was the ring, still lying on the ground, when an eagle swooped in, grabbed the golden object with a strange script on its side in his beak, and flew off to Mount Hodor, never to be seen again.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, where are we going?" Silver Spoon asked as she followed Diamond Tiara out of Ponyville, and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"To those stupid Blank Flanks' dumb treehouse. I followed them some time ago," Diamond Tiara said, before adding in a murmur that Silver Spoon didn't hear, "I think."

"But how will that help us get back your tiara? Or get back at those idiots?"

"Because we need to keep them busy, so we can get my tiara back without any of those losers accidentally walking in on us. Besides, they think they can get away with opposing us, and hurting you. So maybe it is time to remind them who's really in charge," Diamond Tiara said coldly, an evil grin on her muzzle, "So, we're going to tear down that pile of firewood. And while they are busy sifting through what remains, we'll go and get my tiara back. That will show them who they're dealing with."

"Yeah," Silver Spoon agreed, anger burning in her eyes, "We'll teach them not to mess with us."

"That's the spirit," Diamond Tiara agreed, when her ears perked up as she heard multiple hoofsteps on the path ahead. And, not wanting to be seen by anypony so they could deny ever being near the orchard should anypony ask, they quickly jumped in a nearby bush to hide. Much to their mutual annoyance, as their perfectly combed and styled manes and tails got disheveled and all tangled up.

'Oh well,' Diamond Tiara thought, 'We all need to make sacrifices. We, our manes,' and she watched the three fillies who had invoked her wrath walk by. And they, their stupid tree house.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Together they walked back to Ponyville, Apple Bloom in the back, Scootaloo in front. And Sweetie Belle, with her eyes normal as far as anypony could tell, walked in the middle. A suggestion of Apple Bloom, so she could keep an eye on her friend.

After all, after what had just happened, things might just get worse. It was something they all knew well, as, in their quest to earn their Cutie Marks, they had experienced such things over and over again. Though nothing that involved ghosts, or spirits, until recently.

Sweetie Belle, as well, was unsure about what happened, and what it would mean for her in the future. Her powers, until today, never caused her any pain. At least not directly. Sure, she may have landed, or, well, crashed in her attempts to master her flying ability. But that was pain coming from the unfortunate close encounter with good old terra firma. Now though… Her powers may turn out to be more trouble than she first believed them to be. And, speaking of spirit trouble. She still felt an irritating stab in her brain every now and then.

Still, she ignored it as she looked into the distance at the town they were slowly walking to. Huffing a bit, she came to a stop, looking around to see if anypony else was there, other than her friends. But her sudden stop took Apple Bloom by surprise who bumped into her rear, but, fortunately, not toppled them over.

"Hey, what gives?" Apple Bloom called out, taking a step away from her friend, while Scootaloo turned to see what was happening.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine," Sweetie Belle replied, ignoring another stab going through her brain, "I just thought… Maybe I could fly us back to town. You know, since it's much faster, and we could spot those ponies from the air.

"Ya sure?" Apple Bloom asked, while Scootaloo responded with an eager, "Okay."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Sweetie Belle responded, nodding at her earth pony friend, "I think I got the flying thing figured out. After all, I did show up at your place with Scootaloo with me."

"Okay… If yer sure," Apple Bloom replied hesitantly, and Sweetie Belle levitated up as she held out her front hooves for them to hold on to. Scootaloo, eager to experience the thrill of flight again, grabbed hold of one of the offered hooves as if her life depended on it. Apple Bloom, a bit more hesitant, reached out for the other.

With a flash of green in her eyes, Sweetie Belle flew up with her friends, while also turning invisible. Then, turning towards the town, she began her flight.

All seemed well, for maybe a quarter of a second, when yet another stab shot through Sweetie Belle's brain, and the three of them suddenly found themselves veering off course, fading back into view, and heading straight towards a small group of tall pine trees.

Pine trees covered with tree sap.

Lots and lots of tree sap.

"Uh, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom called out fearful, "Mind headin' some other way?"

"I… I can't control it!" Sweetie Belle shouted, terrified.

"Move left! Move left!" Scootaloo shouted, while three sets of eyes grew wide in horror as the trees came closer and closer still. Then, with a loud thud, the three of them found themselves in a real sticky situation.

There they hung, covered in tree sap, attached to the tree that produced it. Apple Bloom, with her mane sticking to her face, hung upside down at the end of a branch with her hind legs, while her right foreleg was firmly stuck to her side. Her left leg, fortunately, was still free, and hung uselessly down, while a large glob of the sticky substance slowly seeped down the limb, collecting at the tip of her hoof in a sticky ball, before falling down.

Scootaloo was stuck to the trunk of the tree with her legs splayed wide as if she was hugging it, completely covered by the sticky substance, immobilizing her while she looked around with her right, and only unstuck, eye. Her tail, whipped up in the crash, was now tangled and glued to her mane, which itself was clinging to one side of her face. And all she could do was watch Sweetie Belle, seeing her head stuck in a hole in the tree.

Said filly's front legs pushed against the trunk to free herself, while her hind legs kicked feebly in the air, searching for leverage. And all the while, more and more tree sap slowly seeped over her, trapping her in her precarious position.

"Scootaloo, can ya move?" Apple Bloom asked, her only free leg useless as it would immediately stick to anything it touched.

"No, you?" came the muffled response, as Scootaloo couldn't fully open her mouth with it firmly pressed against the tree's trunk.

"No," Apple Bloom replied, then turned to her other friend, "Sweetie Belle?"

"Mmmpff, mphf mmff."

"I think that means no," Scootaloo muttered, before staring up in horror as she noticed a large glob of the sticky substance moving for her face.

"Great," Apple Bloom said, her tone of voice making it clear that it was anything but, "So, now what?"

Her answer came in the form of a flash of green light, as Sweetie Belle blasted herself free by channeling her ectoplasm through her horn. A small explosion, along with the distinct smell of burnt wood and splinters assaulted both her and Scootaloo, neither of whom were in any position to dodge the charred projectiles.

"Well, that worked," Sweetie Belle said, tilting her head to the side, and knocking splinters and dust out of her ear, all of which promptly stuck to her lower body, which was coated with tree sap. Then, looking down at her trapped and sticky friends, she lowered herself in reach of Apple Bloom, "Hold on, you guys. I'll get you out of there."

"Pfurry!" came Scootaloo's muffled cry, half her face and mouth now covered by tree sap.

Nodding her head, Sweetie Belle assessed the situation. Apple Bloom seemed to be in the least difficult situation. Upside down, and covered by sap, yes. But otherwise fine. Scootaloo, however, needed immediate help as the sap was slowly covering her face and nose. So, wasting no time, Sweetie Belle rushed to the imperiled pegasus, grabbing her by the sides, and flying backwards, pulling with all her might to free her friend.

A wet schliking sound came from the thoroughly coated filly as she was pulled away, mid section first, with her legs and head still sticking to the tree. Large, thick strands of the sap stretched between her and the tree. Then, with another pull, her head and legs pulled free, and the two of them were launched away a bit from the sudden force.

"You okay?" Sweetie Belle asked her friend, who now hung underneath her, held in her hooves, and firmly attached to said hooves thanks to the tree sap gluing them together.

"Yeah… Kinda… Not really," Scootaloo replied, spitting several times to clear her mouth, "Let's just get Apple Bloom."

"Kay," Sweetie Belle replied as she flew over to the stuck earth pony. "Just hang in there."

"Like Ah've got a choice," Apple Bloom deadpanned.

"Right, sorry," Sweetie Belle said, smiling awkwardly as she got in position, "Scootaloo, grab ahold of Apple Bloom. I'll pull her free."

"You've got it," Scootaloo responded, and grabbed Apple Bloom's only free hoof. "Now, pull!"

Sweetie Belle flew back slow and steady, slowly applying force so she wouldn't accidentally pull herself free from Scootaloo and drop both of them. But the more she tried, the more it became clear that freeing Apple Bloom would not be as easy as it was with Scootaloo.

The more force she applied, the more the branch she was stuck to began to bend, moving with her.

"Pull harder!" Apple Bloom shouted, "Harder!"

"You heard what she said," Scootaloo called out, "Harder!" and Sweetie Belle did just that.

She applied more and more force, pulling her friends, as well as the branch with her. But something had to give, and it wasn't the tree branch.

Finally at its limit, it didn't budge any more, while tension kept building.

Sweetie Belle, straining herself with all she had, felt her strength waver, and knew they were doomed a split second before everything went terribly wrong.

With a mighty whiplash, the branch flung them away with enough force to break the hold the tree sap had over Apple Bloom.

All three of them were flung towards Ponyville, screaming as they went, drawing unwanted attention as they tumbled through the air.

Sweetie Belle, acting in pure reflex, turned invisible. And, because she was still stuck to Scootaloo, who herself was still stuck to Apple Bloom, they, too, faded from view with her.

Invisible, they soared, heading straight for the cafe where they celebrated Danny's birthday the night before.

Seeing this, Sweetie Belle acted immediately, not feeling any desire to smash against the wall.

Eyes glowing, she tried to fly up and over the building. But another sudden stabbing pain shooting through her mind broke her concentration, and they flew straight and true at the wall, only to phase cleanly through it. But, once inside, they turned solid again, and they bounced off of everything found inside. The tables, chairs, walls, floor, bar, glass cabinet, and everything else that had the misfortune to be in their ballistic path, leaving behind a trail of destruction and tree sap.

Finally the trio came to a stop by slamming into the ceiling, hanging limply in thick strands of the sticky stuff. Except for Scootaloo, who had managed to end up hanging from a ceiling fan, slowly circling around without control.

"Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said weakly.

"Yeah," came the equally weak reply.

"Let's not do that again."

"Yeah," Scootaloo murmured in agreement, starting to get a bit dizzy.

They hung there, limply, for a little while longer. When, with the sound of a lock being unlocked, the cafe's front door opened. And, standing in the open portal, was the slack-jawed owner, Quick Grill.

"Ehh… Hi," Sweetie Belle said awkwardly, giving the stallion a sheepish smile as he stood frozen on the spot.

<<>><<>><<>>

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were still sitting in the bush, unmoving, their mouths open wide, their jaws having fallen through the ground itself from the mere shock of what they had just witnessed.

Minutes passed by, with the only sound coming from the wind, and the tumbleweed that bounced by their hiding spot. But eventually, Silver Spoon managed to pick up her jaw, and she slowly turned to Diamond Tiara.

In a small voice she said: "Maybe I should go back to bed, after all. Because I think I am seeing things."

"Uh-huh," came the dumb response from Diamond Tiara, who was having a hard time processing what she had just seen.

"I mean, there is no way that… that… that that loser did that, right? There is no way!"

"Uh-huh."

Silence

"... What the hay is going on?" Silver Spoon eventually said, looking towards the village the crusaders had shot off to, "How did she—" she began, stuttering, when Diamond Tiara cut her off, having finally found her voice.

"I… I don't know. They- She's a loser Blank Flank who can't do anything… She can't do anything." she said in a low voice, more to herself, unable to believe what she saw Sweetie Belle do, "She.. We.. they…" she mumbled, her mind short circuiting again.

"Should… Should we follow them?" Silver Spoon proposed, receiving a weak nod from her friend. And together they stumbled out of their hiding place, desperately wanting to make sense of things as they made their way back to town, not speaking another word.

<<>><<>><<>>

A few moment earlier

Quick Grill hummed to himself as he walked to his fine establishment, ready to start the day and provide food for the masses.

Of course, today being a Sunday, he would open up later than during the rest of the week. This was to give his hard working employees who worked the weekend shift some extra time to drag themselves out of bed.

He would have liked it if he could take some time off every now and then, but it was hard to find somepony who could prepare the many dishes on the menu as well as he did, and who he trusted enough to be in charge of the eatery he worked so hard to build.

So, unlike his employees, he couldn't afford the luxury to just stay in bed and doze off for hours on end. Although, there were those days where he wished he could. And today would prove to be just such a day.

It started with with a familiar, and quite terrifying scream. Easily recognizable as being from three particular fillies. And widely known to be a signal of one disaster, or another. He, like many other ponies, heard the loud, fearful scream coming from overhead, which was odd, but not impossible, knowing those three. What was strange, however, was that nopony was able to find them, despite the loud and clear cry for help.

The second sign he got that trouble was lurking just around the corner, or behind the door of his cafe in this case, was the sudden and loud crashing noises coming from within.

He visibly flinched each time he heard glass breaking, or wood snapping. Or when the loud thumps came from the walls, and the distinct sound of tables falling over. And let's not forget the cacophony when, by his educated guess, the glass cabinet fell over.

He rushed over to his prized cafe, fearing the worst. But as he came to a screeching stop in front of the door, he found himself unable to bring himself to actually open the door. For a moment he stood there, hoof reaching out for the door knob, his leg trembling in fright for what he might find.

Muffled voices came from inside, and they finally snapped him out of his stupor.

Grabbing the key hanging around his neck, he unlocked the door, and swung it open. He immediately wished he hadn't

Everywhere he looked he saw destruction. Tables and stools lay scattered across the floor, up turned and even broken in some cases. The glass cabinet in the back, in which he kept all the drinking glasses, had tipped over, shattering everything inside, and spilling the broken contents out on the floor like a glimmering pool of crystalline blood. Looking further, he noticed a suspicious trail of some sticky goop staining the walls, floor, ceiling and, and, Sweet Celestia! Even his grill!

"Ehh… Hi."

A guilty voice drew his attention, and slowly, reluctant to look at those he knew were responsible, he turned his head to the source of the voice.

Seeing the terror of Ponyville hanging from the ceiling, and in one case the ceiling fan, lazily circling around, all he could do was stare, mouth hanging open, unable to move.

Ruby joined the scene a moment later.

No sound came from her either.

<<>><<>><<>>

Ruby rushed through town, heading for Danny's.

She knew he was going to Canterlot today with Twilight Sparkle, which she had picked up on during the party. And, knowing this, she took no pleasure in what she had to do now.

After arriving at the cafe, intending on working half a shift as she was covering for one of her colleagues and friend, she could only stare in shock at the carnage brought down on the place.

How those three had managed, she just couldn't figure out, nor did she want to know. The less she knew, the better. But, still, Danny would have to be informed about what had happened, even though she didn't even know herself what had occurred.

'I'm sorry, Danny. But I'm about to ruin your day,' she thought, also hoping he hadn't already left. But, as it would seem, she was in luck and found her biped coworker. Except the situation he found himself in left her speechless for a second time that day, in very short succession.

Danny Manson, held upside down within the magical grasp of Twilight Sparkle, looking around in annoyance with his arms crossed.

"Danny?" she said, confused, as she came to a stop, looking at the upside down floating human.

"Hey, Ruby. How's it hanging?" he joked, and Twilight cut her magic, rolling her eyes.

Landing on his face, Danny let out a groan as he pulled himself up, glaring for a moment at the coy looking purple pony, before turning to his colleague.

"Are you alright?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I've been hit worse," he told her, "So, what brings you here? If my groggy memory serves me well, and I'm not sure it does, then shouldn't you have half a shift back at the cafe today?" he asked, and Ruby let out an annoyed sigh.

"Yes, unfortunately," she groaned.

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, unfortunately," Ruby groaned again, "And Danny needs to come with me," she told the both of them, before adding a quick, "Sorry," to Danny.

"What, why?" Danny asked, and Ruby noticed Twilight's eye starting to twitch.

"Just… Just come with me. You'll see," Ruby sighed out, hoof pressed against her face.

"Ehh, can it wait? You know I have the day off today, and I did have plans," he told her, giving a nod to Twilight standing by his side.

"I doubt it will take all that long, but you really should come," Ruby told him again, urgently.

"Ehh, I guess?" he muttered, and turned to Twilight.

"Just go," the aforementioned mare said, with a strained tone, "The train will not arrive for another ten minutes and thirty-five seconds, so there is still a little bit of time. I will go ahead and buy you a ticket, while you do… whatever. Okay?"

'Wait. She actually knows when… No, just leave it. You have enough to worry about right now,' Ruby thought, sighing quietly.

"Okay!" Danny replied gratefully, "Thanks, Twilight. You're the best," and he hurried away with Ruby, heading towards the cafe. Leaving behind Twilight, with a forced smile and twitching eye.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay, what's the trouble?" Danny's voice resonated through the door, making the fillies' ears perk up in response.

"Just… Just see for yourself," they heard Quick Grill mutter, sharing an uneasy look with one another.

"Sweetie Belle, maybe we should go now," Apple Bloom said nervously, struggling a bit within her sticky bonds.

"I- I can't get out of this stuff," Sweetie Belle replied, also struggling to escape the sap's diabolical clutches. But they stopped moving as they heard the distinct sound of footsteps coming to a stop in front of the door. Except for Scootaloo, who was still slowly circling around on the ceiling fan.

The door slowly opened with a drawn-out creak, revealing the tall form of Danny Manson, who looked inside with wide, surprised eyes, frozen on the spot.

"Hi, Danny" Sweetie Belle said sheepishly, giving a small wave with her right front leg, which was the least constricted.

Danny, unable to comprehend what he was seeing, could only blink dumbly at the sight.

Slowly backing away, he turned around, and looked down at Ruby who stood a few steps away from him.

"... I see," he muttered dumbly.

"I know," she nodded, sighing, "We all know."

"So… now what?" he asked after a short pause, scratching the back of his head.

"I'll tell you 'what'," Quick Grill muttered darkly, "You get those, those… demons down from there, while I go and find their families; let them deal with them," and he stomped away, glaring daggers at the ground, while muttering to himself.

"Well, okay, I guess," Danny muttered, looking at the distant clock tower for the time.

"Why don't you get started with them," Ruby told him, nodding her head at the building, indicating the fillies still hanging from the ceiling, "And I'll coordinate them on the cleanup," she told him, now giving a single nod to the few part time workers standing near them.

Sighing, Danny shrugged his shoulders, giving a faint nod in acknowledgement, and stepped back inside.

"Well, better get this over with," he muttered irritably, seeing the fillies giving him a guilty and ashamed look, as he stepped towards the closest of the three.

"Alright, Scootaloo. Let's get you down from there," he said, grabbing one of the many strands of, whatever it was, intending to break her free from it. However, as he took hold of the dark amber string, he found his hand stuck tight to the stuff.

"What the?! What is this stuff?"

"Tree sap," Scootaloo answered, annoyed, "Lots and lots of tree sap."

Grunting, before sighing again, Danny looked around to see if anyone was watching him, including Scootaloo and her two friends.

Noticing he was within Apple Bloom's field of view, he turned to put his back to her, keeping his hands out of sight.

'Okay, let's get this over with,' he thought, and turned his hand intangible, freeing himself from the sticky hold the tree sap had over him.

A sudden flash of golden light took him by surprise, and he turned around to see Sweetie Belle look in surprise at her horn.

"What was that?" he asked, and she looked at Danny.

"Ehh, I don't know?" she answered, and Danny gave her an intense stare, "Ehh… Maybe it was the sun reflecting off of something," she said, glancing away at the various shards of glass, some of them reflecting the light of the sun shining through the windows.

"Hmm, alright," Danny muttered, turning back to Scootaloo, making sure none could see what he was about to do.

Placing a hand on Scootaloo's back, he pushed down to give the impression that he was applying force to break her free, while, instead, he used his other hand to make the strands of tree sap intangible, taking care to make sure he only turned those intangible.

One by one, he 'broke' the strands that trapped Scootaloo, freeing her.

"Go stand in that corner, and be quiet," he said, probably sounding a bit more angry than he intended, as moved to Apple Bloom. He turned to look at a nearby window, however, when he heard a noise. But seeing nothing, he shrugged and turned his attention back to the task at hand.

Scootaloo, giving a faint nod, scurried away, and Danny focused his attention on the yellow filly, repeating the same process with her as he did with Scootaloo, keeping a close eye on anyone that might see him, or what he was doing. Still, even if no one saw exactly what he did, it did drew some attention. Mainly, from Scootaloo, who knew all too well just how sticky that tree sap could be.

"Hey. How did you get rid of that stuff so easily?" she asked, noticing the surprising lack of sap stuck in both her and Apple Bloom's fur.

"I have my ways," Danny answered vaguely, and motioned for Apple Bloom to join her friend while he focused on the remaining filly hanging from the ceiling, "And now to deal with you," he muttered, when a loud scream came from outside, at the back of the cafe. "What the… What is going on out there?" he asked.

"Hold on, I'll look," one of the part time ponies said from outside.

"What the hell is going on around here today?" he muttered to himself as he placed his hand on the young unicorn filly's back, and he felt her tensing up. As, unbeknownst to him, Sweetie Belle suffered through another stab through her brain.

Not knowing any of this, Danny continued with his efforts to free the filly, removing the strands of sap while pushing her down. And, as the last of the strands 'broke', Sweetie Belle dropped to the ground, one of her hooves phasing through the floor, causing her to trip and get a close up look of the woodwork. And, much to the surprise of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, a puff of cold air escaped Danny's mouth.

Danny stared at the small cloud of cold air with large, shocked eyes. Shooting a worried glance at the two remaining fillies, worried they might have seen something, he saw they were looking outside, watching the ponies working there.

Quietly sighing, glad they hadn't seen anything, and not sure what or who could have set off his ghost sense, nor wanting to find out, he focused his attention on Sweetie Belle, who was picking herself up.

"Are you alright?" he asked, kneeling down to help her up.

"Yeah, sure," she answered, shaking her head and glancing at her friends.

"Good. Now, you three stay here," he told them as he stepped back outside, Seeing Ruby assigning some of the part-time workers to the various clean up tasks, "Hey, Ruby!" he called out to her, "I got those three down, and they're waiting inside."

"What, you got them down already?" she said, surprised, before shaking her head to clear her thoughts, and looking back at Danny, "Okay, well, that makes things a bit easier, I guess. Just need to wait for Grill to come back with those three's families."

"Need any more help in the mean time?" Danny asked.

"That won't be necessary," a gruff voice cut in, and Quick Grill returned to the scene, alone.

"Grill?" Ruby asked, confused, "Didn't you go and get their families?"

Sighing, Quick Grill dragged a hoof over his face, muttering a bit to himself before giving a sideways look at the trio peeking around the corner of the door. "Just… I can't believe I am about to say this but… Just let them go."

"What!?" all present shouted, giving him various strange and confused looks.

"Grill, are you sure?" Ruby asked hesitantly, taking a step towards him.

"As strange as it sounds. Yes. They're lucky, don't know why, but they are," he muttered, before turning to Danny, "Now, you, don't you have a train to catch?"

"Uh, yeah, right. I do," Danny replied, looking at the town's clock to see what time it was.

"Then get going, and don't worry about work tomorrow. It's going to take a while to get this place back in shape," he told him, and Danny hurried away.

"Have fun," Ruby called after him, showing a small smile, which fell a moment later "I know I will," she added sarcastically.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several minutes earlier.

Quick Grill was moving through town, muttering angrily to himself while a dark cloud hung over his head.

Figuratively speaking, of course. It was far too early for Rainbow Dash to be out pranking.

'Of all the things those three have done, this has to be THE worst thing ever!' stopping for a moment, he looked around where he was going, and let loose an angry grunt as he headed for Carousel Boutique. 'Now I'm forced to close the place to clean up their mess.' He harrumphed. 'This has been going on for far too long. No, I'll tell those sisters of theirs exactly what's on my mind about th—'

His train of thought was suddenly interrupted as he felt his mind go blank, a thick fog settling over his conscious mind, and he froze on the spot. Ponies walked past him, paying him no mind as they went on with their day.

However, if Quick Grill hadn't been looking down they might have seen his eyes glowing a bright green. Or, if they listened carefully enough, they could have heard him quietly mumble to himself, before shaking his head, looking around in confusion while blinking dumbly, then turn around and head back to the cafe.

Shaking his head several times on his way back as if to clear his thoughts, a confused frown showed on his face.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several minutes earlier, again.

"Okay, what's the trouble?" Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon heard the human, whose name they hadn't bothered to learn as he was far too unimportant, say as they peeked at the scene unfolding near the town's cafe. Hiding in the shadow of one of the many alleys, quietly watching while trying to figure out what had just happened, both here and with Sweetie Belle's sudden flight.

A gruff voice answered the human's question, coming from a pony neither of them knew, "Just… Just see for yourself," he said, and the human gave him a wary look, before hesitantly moving for the door.

A long, drawn out creak could be heard even from where they were, and, for a split second, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were able to see Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle hanging in thick strands of some kind of amber goop. But this didn't really provide any answers for them. Instead, it only raised more questions.

How did they get in there, while they were shooting away towards town? They didn't see any holes in the windows or walls. Although, on closer inspection, there were several broken windows here and there, but nothing large enough for the ponies to have gone through.

"What the hay is going on?" Silver Spoon asked in a whisper.

"How should I know?" Diamond Tiara shot back, a hint of venom in her voice. She, after having seen what happened with those three losers, and, more specifically, what Sweetie Belle did, was in a state of mental conflict.

Those ponies, all three of them, are useless Blank Flanks. No good for anything, and it showed. Or, better, it didn't show, as they didn't have any Cutie Marks.

So, knowing this, and having long before established her superiority over them, she was shocked beyond words over the fact that Sweetie Belle was able to do what she just did.

How did a loser Blank Flank such as her do that? It had to be magic, of course. But she didn't see her horn glow, nor had she ever seen Sweetie Belle use magic in any form. So how was this loser able to do such a thing? To perform such… such… 'Such amazing magic,' she forced herself to admit, grimacing as she felt like throwing up.

"I can't see anything from here," Silver Spoon muttered, "Let's find a better spot to watch from."

"Fine," Diamond Tiara agreed with a bitter tone, a foul taste in her mouth, "Let's find out what those losers are up to."

Together they moved out of the alley, and hurried to the shadowy side of the cafe.

Looking around to find any place where they could look inside the place, Silver Spoon spotted a window nearby, though too high to see through. However, as luck would have it, sort of, there was a dumpster standing directly under it.

"Hey, over here!" she said as she motioned at the foul object, and Diamond Tiara shot a disgusted look her way.

"No way. There is no way I am touching that filthy thing."

"I'm not happy about it either," Silver Spoon shot back, "but it is the only way for us to see inside," and she jumped on top of the dumpster, standing on her hind legs and resting her front legs on the windowsill, peeking inside.

Muttering several swears under her breath, Diamond Tiara reluctantly joined her friend, making a mental note to take a long, hot shower afterwards to get all the filth out of her coat.

"Now what are they doing?" she sneered as she looked inside, seeing the human freeing Scootaloo from whatever it was they were trapped in.

"Hey, how does he do that?" Silver Spoon asked as they noticed the strands of amber stuff just let go of the orange pegasus without any effort.

Diamond Tiara, about to reply, was cut off when they were surprised by a sudden, and bright golden flash coming from Sweetie Belle's horn.

Taken by surprise, and rearing back in shock, the two stumbled on the spot, before falling over, somehow managing to open the dumpster's lid, and falling into the trash contained inside.

"GHAA!" Diamond Tiara screeched, right when the lid fell back in place, muting her scream.

The two of them, heads poking up from the filth found inside the dumpster, were covered from head to hoof in stuff neither of them wanted to pay close attention to.

A rotten banana peel slid sickly off of Diamond Tiara's head, not able to live up to the charm of her tiara, and she shuddered as she flicked away the sickening trash, making haste to clamber out of the dumpster, with Silver Spoon following close behind.

"GHAAAA!" Diamond Tiara yelled, "I hate those stupid Blank Flanks!"

"Hey. Is anypony in here?" they heard a mare ask, and they noticed a pony's shadow approaching. Not wanting to be found out, they had to hurry to get away. However, as it would happen, there was no quick exit, and the only place they could hide was the very dumpster they had just crawled out of.

"Oh no. No no no no no," Diamond Tiara said aghast, "There is no way I am going back in there."

Silver Spoon looked at her friend, the dumpster, the approaching shadow, and back, "So you want to get caught?" she asked nervously.

"I… No, but I am not going back i—" she was cut off when the mare called out again, and they noticed she was about to turn the corner and spot them, "Buck," Diamond Tiara swore, and, more than reluctant, she climbed back into the filth found in the dumpster, whining as she did so.

Silver Spoon joined her a split second later, and they closed the lid over themselves.

"Hello?" the mare called out as she turned the corner, looking for anypony there, "Is anypony here?"

Silence.

"Huh? Guess not," she said to herself, and returned to the chaos in front.

A moment passed after she walked away, before the lid covering the dumpster was forced open, and two fillies, completely covered in trash, dragged themselves out of it, panting for air and shuddering in disgust.

"I'll get them for this!" Diamond Tiara growled, desperately trying to keep the foul taste of the trash that hung from her lips out of her mouth.

"Huhuhh…" Silver Spoon shuddered, "I need a shower, fast." And Diamond Tiara saw no reason to object. Quickly scraping off whatever filth they could, they made haste to return home and get a shower. Though they did make sure to stay out of sight, so nopony would see them as they were, and ruin their reputation.

<<>><<>><<>>

The undercover quartet were waiting at the train station, looking around to make sure no one, dead or alive, had followed them.

A ticket was put in each of their bags, courtesy of Vigilant Shield, who paid for the tickets with her winnings from the bet with Blue Ice. Something she wasn't all that happy with, as she stood grumbling to herself. However, this stopped as she noticed a pony of interest standing on the platform, knowing all too well who she was.

"I'm telling you," she heard Flash Lightning complain quietly, "I feel like we've done nothing at all."

"I know what you mean," Midnight Blossom agreed, "We went in, did some scans, and now we're already leaving because we didn't find anything." Vigilant Shield grunted.

"Stow it," Charming Prism responded. "Yes, we haven't done much since we came here. And yes, we're going back now. But if that is how it is, then so be it. Just be glad we didn't find anything conclusive, save from some intermittent readings every now and then. No, the guys in town will continue with their search, while we return to Canterlot and help out the rest of the guys there," he told them, when Vigilant Shield called him.

"Hey, Charming, look," she said, motioning towards the purple unicorn standing on the platform some distance away from them, joined shortly thereafter by the human they were originally sent to observe, "Perhaps we can still do something useful after all."

"Good call," he replied, signaling for the rest of the team to stay back while observing the human and pony in turns. And, when the train arrived, they made sure they boarded the same carriage as Twilight and Danny, taking seats several places away from them, but close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, while Vigilant Shield carefully used her scanner, picking up no reading from Danny at all as the train rocked into motion.

<<>><<>><<>>

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were back at Diamond Tiara's mansion. With her father away for work, and the maid on a break, they had no trouble getting to the shower undetected. And after having washed up, and having used a whole bottle of shampoo each, they had retreated back to Tiara's bedroom, discussing their options and planning a new approach to take down the Crusaders.

However, they had run into a snag. Mainly, this strange magic Sweetie Belle had used.

"Seriously, how did she do that?" Silver Spoon asked, frowning over her glasses, with a fluffy white towel wrapped around her damp mane.

"It has to be magic," Diamond Tiara replied, a pink towel wrapped around her mane as well, "I'm sure of it. It has to be how they managed to get away with hurting you."

"You think?"

"Yes, it has to be," Diamond Tiara sneered as she stood up, starting to pace around her room, "It all makes sense now."

"It does?"

"Yes. Think about it," Diamond Tiara said as she stopped on the spot, "She and her friends must have found a spell or something that allows them to terrorize us, as they know we are better than them, and they are unwilling to accept that. But, seeing that they are such losers, she is unable to control it. Just as you would expect of an useless Blank Flank."

"I suppose."

"Yes. But now we know. And now we can use it against them," Diamond Tiara proclaimed victoriously.

"How?" Silver Spoon asked, and Diamond Tiara found herself freezing up, unable to come up with a reply.

"Oh, horse apples."

<<>><<>><<>>

The crusaders ran through Ponyville, putting as much distance between them and the cafe as possible, unable to believe their luck and not wanting to push it. The three of them hurried inside a distant alley, hiding in the shadows cast by the walls as they looked around the corner, hoping Quick Grill hadn't changed his mind and came back for them.

Fortunately, it would seem their luck was still holding out... Or was it?

"Okay, is it just me, or was that jus' too easy and lucky ta be anything but?" Apple Bloom asked, a pensive look on her face.

"It kinda was, wasn't it?" Sweetie Belle confirmed with a small nod, "Why did Quick Grill suddenly let us go like that? He was rather angry, with good reason. So him just letting us go like that is kinda weird."

"Who cares?" Scootaloo interjected, "He did, and we're free to go. Just be glad nopony saw us- you, when your powers went all weird and stuff."

"Ah guess yer right about that," Apple Bloom agreed, "But still, it's weird."

"So? Everything has been weird ever since Sweetie Belle got zapped by that weird book. It's kinda expected for things to be weird."

Sweetie Belle raised a hoof, mouth opening in reply, but no sound came out as she found herself without a response. Instead, she just stood there, hoof raised and mouth open.

Sagging her stance, hoof dropping down, she settled for a shrug, "She kinda has a point there, doesn't she?"

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied, shrugging herself as she looked out of the alley, and towards the distant home of Danny Manson, seeing four ponies slipping inside. Four ponies who, as she had learned the previous night, were the suspected ghost hunters staying in the guest house.

"Hey, you guys seein' that?"

"Seeing what?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Those ghost hunting ponies," Apple Bloom replied.

"Yeah, what about them?" Scootaloo asked, scratching her head as she missed what her earth pony friend had seen.

"They jus' went inside Danny's house."

"Wait, what!?" Scootaloo says, "You're sure?"

"Uhm hmm," Apple Bloom hummed, nodding her head, "Ah jus' saw 'em go in there myself."

"Well, what are we waiting for, then?" Sweetie Belle spoke up, "Let's find out what they're doing, and why they're in Danny's house," and she hurried away, followed closely by her friends.

"Ya think they know about Danny, about him being, ya know?" Apple Bloom said, taking care not to be heard by anypony other than her friends.

"Don't know," Scootaloo replied, "but we're going to find out."

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle replied, "Cutie Mark Crusaders, spy ponies!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, spy ponies!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo repeated, using their trademark yell, but keeping the volume down so their targets wouldn't hear them.

Rushing to the front of Danny's home, they flattened themselves against the wall. Their ears perked up as they heard the muted voices coming from inside, and they slowly, carefully, poked their heads up, looking inside through the window they were hiding underneath.

"Alright everypony, you know what to do," A dull orange earth pony said in a lowered voice, "Scan everything, but leave no evidence of us being here. If you find anything that is locked, don't force it open. Don't knock anything over. And, for Celestia's sake, don't make any sounds that might give us away!" the pony ordered, and his three cohorts nodded in confirmation.

"Well, that's them alright," Apple Bloom whispered, lowering herself out of sight.

"Yeah. And did you see those thingies in their hooves?" Scootaloo mentioned, dropping down as well.

"Yes, yes I did," Sweetie Belle confirmed, a frown on her face, and her eyes aglow.

"Sir! I'm picking up something." Sweetie Belle heard an unicorn mare with an ice blue coat say, and saw her looking down at a beeping device in her hoof as she slowly turned towards the window where Sweetie Belle and her friends were hiding.

"Uh oh," Sweetie Belle muttered.

"Uh oh?" Apple Bloom repeated, worried. "Please don't say: uh oh."

"Too late for that," Sweetie Belle said in alarm, "HIDE!"

She and her friends raced away from their poorly concealed hiding spot, rounding the corner of Danny's house to find a new place to hide in the backyard. But despite the few plants and flowers in the small garden, there wasn't any place big enough for three fillies to hide.

Looking around in a panic, Sweetie Belle realized that she was running out of options. Either they could run away as fast as they could and hope they could reach some tree or house further away before they came around the corner, or she could hide herself and her friends with her invisibility.

She had to make a choice, she just hoped it would be the right one. "Quick, hold on!" she said, and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom quickly reached out a hoof to grab hold of her.

The moment they made contact, Sweetie Belle faded out of view, turning herself, and her friends invisible. Which proved to be a poor choice, as, immediately, the remaining Ghost-Keteers' scanners lit up, showing a positive hit.

"Outside, now!" the girls heard the orange stallion order, and the four ponies rushed out, scanners in hoof, quickly making their way to the area behind the house, and out of sight of the town.

"Alright, you ghost creep," the steel grey pegasus mare says, "Where are you?" and she, along with the rest of her team, swept the area with their scanners. And, standing as close to an invisible spirit as they were, their scanners had no trouble picking up on Sweetie Belle's unique spectral signature.

All eyes locked on the invisible filly, seeing through her and looking at her at the same time.

"Sir. We got a live one," the ice blue mare said.

"Uh oh," Sweetie Belle said with a low voice, too quiet for the ghost hunters to hear, absolutely terrified.

"Uhh… That's not the only one, Ice," the dark pink unicorn mare said as she looked at her scanner, shaking it a bit as she had trouble believing the reading she was getting, "I'm picking up two more signatures, right on the edge of this thing's reach."

"Wait! What?" Scootaloo quietly said.

"Other signatures?" Apple Bloom muttered, eyes shifting around.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Sweetie Belle said.

"Make sure they're an actual hit, and not a false positive," the earth pony stallion ordered as he looked at the screen of his own scanner with one eye, while keeping the other on the spot where, unbeknownst to him, three fillies huddled together in fear.

Suddenly, without warning, Sweetie Belle's horn flashed with a golden light. And, despite her being invisible, the flash was not.

The four ponies' heads snapped towards the source of the light, seeing nothing, but knowing what they had seen. And, as their training told them, courtesy of Jack Fenton, any kind of spectral discharge was bad, and the source should be put down, permanently.

Of course they had no idea what was really going on, or that they were facing three scared foals, so they moved in aggressively, while the dark pink unicorn mare pulled out a metallic white and green thermos out of her saddle bags.

But as they moved in to deal with the 'threat', they were too focused on the invisible entity they surrounded, and forgot about the two other signals picked up by their scanners. Two signals that were closing in. Two entities who, unlike those four ponies, knew exactly what was going on, and who were involved. So, wasting no time, they surged into motion. Invisible, of course. They still needed to remain hidden, unfortunately.

It was not how they would have wanted it, but he was quite clear about what should be, what could be, and what must never be allowed to pass.

They didn't like it, but he made them understand. And knowing that they must remain hidden, for now, meant that they could only observe, and maybe push and prod a mind or two to help out those three youngsters. But, when they saw what was happening, how the foals were trapped by the ghost hunters, and with Sweetie Belle too frightened to even attempt to fly away with her friends, they knew they couldn't stay on the sidelines, observing.

Splitting up, one of the entities circled around the group of ponies, while the other closed in on the orange earth pony. The same pony he had possessed some time ago to guide the conversation with Scootaloo. Now, though, possession was the last thing on his ghostly mind. Instead, he came up on his side, looking at the invisible foals with a frown, and delivered a firm punch in the earth pony's side.

Rolling Stone, hit without warning, unable to see his attacker, stumbled to the side as he grunted.

The other ponies, hearing him grunt in pain, turned to look at him. "There's more of them! Stay on your guard!" he ordered as he picked himself up, glaring at the empty air next to him. And, in the momentary confusion, the other entity acted. Closing in on the three fillies, she gently placed a hoof on Sweetie Belle's back, making the frightened filly gasp.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom said, worried while Scootaloo squeaked.

"Run!" a warm and caring voice spoke next to Sweetie Belle's ear, and all three fillies gasped. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in fright. Scootaloo, however, in recognition. Recognition from memories she could barely remember, "Run!" the voice spoke again, and, despite being frightened and not knowing what was going on, Sweetie Belle took the voice's advice, quickly taking a firm hold on her friends and flying away.

"No, wait!" Scootaloo protested, but Sweetie Belle ignored her as she flew away to safety, not looking back or slowing down for anything, leaving Scootaloo to look back uncertainly at the group of four agitated ponies who were looking around in confusion and suspicion.

"Mom?" she said in a whisper to herself, watching the ponies use those scanner things, before making a hasty retreat as they had drawn the attention of a couple of ponies.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rolling Stone, Blue Ice, Sound Wave, and Ornate Charm fled back into the alley they came from, looking back at the home of Danny Manson, a worried frown showing on their faces.

"This is bad," Blue Ice muttered, "Really bad."

"But… But this can't be. Can it?" Sound Wave says, "Three ghosts… How?"

"Ice is right," Rolling Stone muttered darkly, "This is bad. We came here on the suspicion there might be one ghost that managed to slip through our defences. Now though it's obvious those defences have failed. We must inform the princesses, this has become a matter of national security. One ghost slipping through is bad enough. But three… More?" he finished with an ominous tone, the severity of the situation not lost on the others.

"This is going to get a whole lot worse, isn't it?" Ornate Charm asked worriedly.

"Not if we can help it!" Blue Ice stated, "After all, it's our duty, not only as royal guards, but as Ghost-Keteers to keep our fellow ponies safe from those undead creeps."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Rolling Stone nodded, "We were sent here to find out if there was a ghost, or not. Now we know. And it is our task to find them, contain them, learn how they got here and, most importantly, keep everypony safe, including the human."

"Yes, Sir. You can count on us," Ornate Charm replied, while Sound Wave and Blue Ice nodded with determination.

"Good," Rolling Stone said. "Because right now, we're the only ones standing between the safety of our fellow ponies, and these ghosts. They may have gotten the drop on us this time, but it won't happen again. Now we know they are here, so we can prepare. Besides, they already made a crucial mistake."

"Which is?" Ornate Charm asks.

"They didn't take us out when they had the chance. A mistake we will not make with them. Am I right!?"

"Sir, yes, Sir!"

"Humhmm. Damn right I am. Now, let's go ghost hunting."

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle flew straight to their clubhouse, lowering her friends and then herself to the floor of the wooden building, all of them nervous and on edge.

Acting on nothing more than reflex, Apple Bloom hurried to close the door, while Sweetie Belle carefully peeked through one of the windows, making sure those ghost hunters hadn't somehow followed them.

Scootaloo, however, sat silently on the floor. Eyes wide, and unaware of her friends' actions.

"Do ya think they followed us?" Apple Bloom asked worriedly, standing on her hind legs as she pressed her back against the door.

"I… I don't think so," Sweetie Belle replied, "Scootaloo?" she asked, but received no answer.

"Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom said, dropping down to all fours and moving to her friend, "Is everything alright?"

"... Voice…" she mumbled, more to herself than in response to her friend.

"What was that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"That voice," Scootaloo repeated, speaking more clearly, but still staring into forever.

"Hey, yeah. What was up with that voice?" Sweetie Belle spoke up, Scootaloo reminding her about that strange fact, "Who was that. And was it a ghost?"

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom replied, shrugging, "How should Ah know if it was a ghost, or who it was?"

Shrugging in turn, Sweetie Belle said, "I dunno. Just aski—" when Scootaloo interrupted her by saying, "Mom," in a lowered voice.

"Wait? What?" Apple Bloom responded.

"That voice…. It was my mom," Scootaloo said in disbelief, still not looking at her friends, staring unblinkingly at the wall.

"What!?" both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said, almost shouting, "Ya can't be serious," Apple Bloom says, "Yer parents are d—"

"What!?" Scootaloo shot back, jumping up on all fours, "Dead!? Of course they are. They've been dead for years now. Just like your parents," she said angrily, and Apple Bloom flinched inwards as she looked down, tears brimming around her eyes.

"Hey!" Sweetie Belle spoke up, shooting an angry glare at Scootaloo, who paid her no mind. However, she did suddenly deflate as she sighed out explosively, sitting back down, "But why should that matter? Them being dead, I mean. After all, you're half a spirit," she motioned to Sweetie Belle, "And Danny might be a ghost. Why shouldn't it be possible for my mom and dad to be ghosts, too?"

"But… if it really was her, then why didn't she reveal herself ta us? Ta you?" Apple Bloom asked, wiping her eyes with a leg.

"Ghost hunters," Sweetie Belle muttered, and her friends looked at her.

"Oh, right. That makes sense," Apple Bloom admitted, kicking the floor with a hoof.

"Still, even if it is her, that's not our biggest problem," Sweetie Belle continued, troubled. "Those ponies know something is out there now, not just me, or maybe Danny. But whoever it was that helped us."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom sighed, "That is going ta be a problem."

"Maybe Wind Chill can help?" Scootaloo offered, "And maybe he knows something about my mom?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, a silent conversation passing between the two. "Couldn't hurt ta ask," Apple Bloom said.

"Anything is better than going back into town where those guys are," Sweetie Belle agreed.

"Well, let's go then you guys," Scootaloo responded impatiently, suddenly bursting with energy as she sped out of the tree house.

"She really wants to know, doesn't she?" Sweetie Belle said after a moment of silence, looking out of the open door.

"Wouldn't ya?" Apple Bloom replied.

"Wouldn't you?" she returned the question, receiving no reply as the two of them finally followed their friend. And they, in turn, were followed by a small metal insect which paid close attention to Sweetie Belle.

<<>><<>><<>>

Darkness surrounded all, and only a sporadic beam of light managed to penetrate the otherwise perfect blackness of the shadows cast by the trees.

Various sounds echoed past the tree trunks, belonging to the many animals that called this place their home. Animals which one wouldn't want to encounter anywhere outside of the forest. Or in it, for that matter. Yet here they were, fear unknown to these small metallic constructs as they homed in on the spectral signature coming from deep within the woods.

Wings buzzed, their sound lost in the forest's music as the drones closed in on their targets. They didn't know what to expect. Mainly because it wasn't part of their programming to do so. They just obeyed, no questions asked. And obey they did.

As instructed by their orders, they sought out any and all ectoplasmic signatures. And after having detected several all around, they came here, into the dark wood known as the Everfree Forest.

Not that they could care much for its name. Mainly as that, also, wasn't part of their programming. Nor did they have any use for names.

They divided everything into sectors, and searched any likely sector with mechanical precision. And now, zigzagging past trees and bushes, dodging tree branches and avoiding the stray bird here and there, they came upon a small clearing near a short cliff face, a large cave entrance found within the rock.

Several creatures moved about the area, sniffing the air, or growling at one another as they went on their way. These creatures, wooden wolves according to the scans, were the source of the ectoplasm detected.

Wings buzzed as they moved in closer. The small group of drones splitting up to scan the wooden constructs from various angles, trying to determine where these creatures and their ectoplasm came from.

But had the drones any proper intelligence, instead of preprogrammed responses, they might not have been blind to the obvious. But as they were, they did not realize that these wolves were more than their simple sensors could detect.

These wolves, having roamed the forest for many millennia, were some of the most skilled hunters one could encounter. And they also knew what belonged, and what didn't.

They swiveled their heads as they picked up on the buzzing of metallic wings, determining the location of whatever it was that produced the sound in mere seconds, lowering themselves in a pouncing stance as they studied the strange apparatus, ready for anything.

Their sudden shift in behavior didn't go unnoticed though, and mere moments later a large, bipedal wooden wolf stepped out of the cave. Sniffing the air, and glaring unblinkingly with his glowing green eyes at one of the drones hanging in the air, picking up a foul, dark scent coming from the metallic insects.

"Mortigu ilin!" he ordered, and the wolves around him surged into motion.
"Kill them!"

Using their powerful hind legs, the timberwolves launched themselves up, and towards the small constructs hovering around them. The drones however, programmed to avoid any detection and conflict, burst into motion as they fled; the wolves hunting them down as they did, easily keeping up with the small metal insects.

The drones split up, trying to increase their chances of successfully delivering the gathered data. However, although the wolves were used to hunting as a pack, they were just as comfortable hunting as lone wolves. Each wolf chose their own prey, not telling, but instinctively knowing who took who, and continued their chase.

One wolf, seeing his chance, jumped up against the side of a tree, before launching himself towards the small machine.

No matter how much it dodged and weaved. No matter how fast it tried to fly away, the little machine still fell prey to the wolf's skill, as it vanished inside the wolf's open jaw. Wherein it recorded the unique experience of being crushed by strong wooden teeth, before shutting down, permanently.

Spitting out the crushed and mangled metal pieces, the wolf growled one last time before returning to the rest of his pack, who had all taken down their own prey. They each gave a low growl to their packmates in confirmation, nothing else needed to be said.

Their Alpha, still standing outside, sniffed the air to make sure no dark stench remained, then gave a nod of approval before heading back inside the cave. But no rest could be found for him, nor his pack, he knew.

'Kio nova mallumo havas trovis lia vojon en niajn arbaro? Unue tiu portalo, tiam tiuj infanoj, nun ĉi. La malnova unu pravas. La likvido havas estintaj perturbitaj. Nun, mi scivolas, kion alian la estonteco havas en vendejo por ni? Ni ĉiuj.'

'What new darkness has found its way into our forest? First that portal, then those children. Now this. The old one is right. The balance has been disturbed. Now I wonder, what else the future has in store for us? All of us.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Wind Chill sat on his bed in the barn, restless. After last night's discovery, he found sleep to be quite elusive. Not that he really needed to sleep as much as a mortal, but within the warmth of this non frozen world his energy was drained faster than he would have liked.

But now, even as his energy was waning, and the soft, cold mattress of his snowy bed called seductively to him, he found it impossible to submit to the gentle embrace of dreamless slumber. The knowledge that the Great One was living in the town near him was just too great for him to just ignore like that. He knew he had to inform Frostbite, but he also knew he couldn't just leave.

He was honor bound to young Apple Bloom, and she could call on him at any time. And as his kind's rule dictated, he needed to be there if she did.

Still, whatever might come to pass in the near future, and when he got the chance to inform Frostbite, as well as all the other frost giants about the Great One, there was one thing he knew for sure.

"We should prepare ourselves. Change is coming," he said sagely as he stood up, moving to the double door to push it ajar and look outside, "Maybe not today, or tomorrow. But someday soon. I can feel it," and the door slammed open, hitting him in the face.

"Oh my gosh!" Sweetie Belle cried out, shocked, as she and her friends looked up at the giant, "I'm so sorry!"

"Ah told ya ya should knock," Apple Bloom scolded her, rolling her eyes.

"Right…," Sweetie Belle muttered to herself, then looked back up at the frost giant, "But are you alright?" she asked.

Groaning and rubbing the lump forming on his head, Wind Chill looked down at the trio, feeling his cold, unbeating heart melt as two pairs of large, remorseful eyes looked up at him. However, he also took notice of the third pair, which looked at him expectantly, and with a hint of sadness behind them.

"Yes, I am fine," he replied, stepping aside, "But please, come in. I have a feeling you wanted something from me, am I right?"

"Yes," Apple Bloom replied with a nod, as she and her friends entered the cold of the barn.

"Several things, actually," Sweetie Belle clarified, glancing at Scootaloo for a moment, which did not go unnoticed by Wind Chill.

"Then, please, tell me. I am here to help, after all," he says as he motioned for them to take a seat on the corner sofa.

Looking at the frosty seating with a wary glance, Apple Bloom quickly answered for herself and her friends, "We'll stand. But thanks."

"Very well," Wind Chill replied as he gently clapped his hands together, "Now, what troubles you three?"

Scootaloo was quick to jump in, opening her mouth to ask the question burning in her mind, but she was beaten to the punch by Sweetie Belle, "You know those ghost hunters we mentioned last time? Well, they kinda found out about me being a spirit."

"WHAT!?" Wind Chill roared, "HOW!?"

"Well, they don't really know it's me. They didn't see me either," she answered, looking down as she rubbed one leg against the other, "But they used a weird scanning thingy to find me."

"By the ancestors. This is bad!" Wind Chill muttered, hand partially covering his mouth.

"They also surrounded us, while Sweetie was keepin' us invisible," Apple Bloom continues, "And one of them grabbed a thermos out of her saddle bags… Not really sure why, though."

"This thermos was most likely a ghost capture and containment unit. A creation of the Great One's parents," Wind Chill replied, deep in thought, "Why a thermos, though, I do not know. But, more importantly... Young spirit, how did you manage to escape? Were you forced to use your powers against them? Do others know as well?"

"Actually… No," Sweetie Belle replied, shooting another glance towards Scootaloo, "That would be another reason that we came here. You see, those ponies said they, uhh, picked up another signal, or something. And another ghost actually came to help us."

"What!" Wind Chill said, almost breathless, a glimmer of hope in his voice, "Was it the Great One? Has he returned after so long?"

"Well, we don't think so, actually," Apple Bloom begun, "We actually think it was-"

"MY MOM!" Scootaloo shouted, no longer having the patience to wait.

"Your… mom?" Wind Chill repeated slowly, not fully understanding, "Why would she…. Oh... I see."

"Yeah…" Scootaloo muttered sadly, looking down, "But I know what I heard!" she continued, head snapping back up, "I know it was my mom who told us to run. I just know it."

"But how could that be?" Apple Bloom asked her orange friend in disbelief, but with a hint of hope mixed in.

"Well, Sweetie Belle is a spirit!" Scootaloo almost shouted accusingly, pointing a hoof at the aforementioned filly. "So why shouldn't my parents be able to be a ghost?!"

"But is it even possible?" Apple Bloom asked, more trying to convince herself.

"It certainly is," Wind Chill spoke up, and all three fillies looked back at him, seeing him deep in thought.

'Change is coming, indeed. If what they claim is true...'

"It would seem there is even more going on than we thought," Wind Chill continued after a moment.

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked, before rubbing her forehead, feeling another stab going through her mind.

"What do I mean? Several things, actually. But I'm having trouble putting the pieces together. But there is good news as well. Last night, I saw this Danny Manson you told us about. And I am excited, no, delighted to say that he truly is the Great One," he told them, a large smile brightening his features, and shocked gasps came from the fillies.

"Are you sure!? Is it really him?" Sweetie Belle asked, amazed.

"Indeed he is. His face is one I could never forget. But, this also brings us bad news. If those ghost hunters also find out about him, there is no knowing what might happen. Although we can be sure the Great One will disappear again. And now with them knowing about you, even though they haven't seen you, this situation will become increasingly more difficult for him."

Sweetie Belle looked down at the floor after he told them that, knowing that because of her carelessness, Danny might now get into trouble.

"I guess I should have come to you after all, instead of going back into town with my powers all messed up," she muttered sadly, and her friends also looked down in shared guilt as they were partially responsible as well.

"How do you mean?" Wind Chill asked, puzzled, when he picked up on a faint buzzing noise coming from near the wall to his right.

"Well, you see," Sweetie Belle begins, "This morning I was trying to use my ma—" she says, when Wind Chill cuts her off.

"Hold your tongue!" he cried with a thunderous voice, making the fillies flinch in fright, thinking they had done something to set him off. Wind Chill, however, took large steps towards the far wall, having spotted the metallic drone attached to the frozen surface, and grabbed it with lightning fast reflexes.

He felt a tiny pop in his closed hand, telling him that the object was crushed. Opening his hand with a feeling of foreboding, he looked down at the crushed metal and various small wires.

"No!"

"Wind Chill, is everything alright?" Apple Bloom asks, taking a hesitant step towards him.

"No!" he answered, "As it would seem this situation grows more complex by the minute," he told them, lowering himself to show them the contents in his hand.

"What is that?" Scootaloo asked, looking in confusion at the tiny crushed device alongside her friends.

"This, this is an instrument of the Dark One, Vlad Plasmius," he answered, a hint of anger in his voice. "If this is here, then he must have found out about Danny Phantom… We must alert Frostbite immediately," he says, and, with a spark of dark green shooting from her horn, Sweetie Belle found all four of her legs sinking through the floor, "And you need more training as well. The ancestors know you will have need of it."

Wind Chill fell quiet after that, staring out into forever with a dark look on his face, while Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shared a worried look with Sweetie Belle as they pulled her out of the floor.

"Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said with a worried tone, "Ya were right."

"About what?"

Their eyes met, "This has only jus' begun," and they all knew she was right.

<<>><<>><<>>

Your highness.

I send you this report ahead of schedule because my team and I have made a worrying discovery.

Earlier today, around ten sixteen, we picked up a spectral signature near the residence of Danny Manson. And this time it was not a false positive. Furthermore, and even more concerning, is that not only did we confirm this signature, but two more as well.

I fear I must confirm our worst case scenario. There are ghosts in Equestria, and they have already lashed out towards us. Or, me, to be more precise. Fortunately not with any ectoplasmic discharges, but limited physical force. I did not sustain any injuries, nor did my team. However, I do not believe the intent was to hurt us at that time. We were close to capturing the ghost we first detected, when these other entities showed up.

Unfortunately we have no idea what they look like, as they were all invisible to us. But, seeing their reaction, we believe it was only an effort to help one of their own.

Noble in their own way, but we can only fear for what's to come.

We were afraid that one ghost might have breached our defenses, but now we know there are three, and possibly more.

Fortunately, no civilian has found out about what has happened. Although we now know for certain there are spectral entities in and around Ponyville, they do seem to be holding back, almost as if they are waiting for something. Therefore, my team and I will redouble our efforts to find and subdue the threat. But, as it stands now, we do believe it is best to continue to keep our actions on the down low, lest we start a panic.

Furthermore, as you were informed in our last report. The team sent to investigate Whitetail Woods is currently en route back to Canterlot to help with the transport and construction of Miss Technal's project. You might be inclined to send them back in light of recent discoveries. But my team and I believe we will be able to deal with this current situation as it is, and that their expertise could be of more help to the ponies and humans working on the ghost containment system. We all know we're going to need it sooner, rather than later.

Right now though, we have pulled back to reorganize, and prepare for anything these ghosts might hurl at us. But, as I told my team, these ghosts have already made one crucial mistake. Mainly, they didn't take us out when they had the chance. And now we are coming for them.

Should we learn more, we will inform you immediately.

First Lieutenant, Rolling Stone.

Author's Note

Okay, were back. YAY!

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, and that the size somewhat makes up for the wait. I do hope the next one will not take as long, especially regarding Guilt of a Phantom, but I'm not making any promises. Although I have been working on the next chapters, I find it difficult to find the motivation to make good progress with my fics. Long hours of work along side other stuff happening in my personal life do contribute to that. Still, I do my best, and see where that will take me.

Now, please tell me about any mistakes you found, or tell me what you liked. All is welcome. Plus, this chapter has pushed this fic past the 100K mark. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

-Powerdrainer

Spirit Trouble. Part 2

Edits done (partially) by Vates Despero, and Cynatas Scribbler.
And a special thanks to AnonymousMaterials for allowing me the use of his character, Mort.

Spirit Trouble.

Part 2.

<<>><<>><<>>

Small black hooves crushed the leaves littering the ground in rapid succession as the being they belonged to ran as fast as she could through the thick foliage of the forest. Labored breaths escaped her mouth, her energy fading, and she was forced to slow down, or succumb to fatigue and hunger.

Her stomach rumbled loudly, and a holed hoof rubbed over the green chitinous plating covering her abdomen.

"So hungry," she hissed, trying to pick up on the strange waiver of emotions she had felt some time ago.

Leaves crunching underneath her hooves, she slowly moved deeper into the forest. Unaware of the glowing green eyes observing her every move.

<<>><<>><<>>

Snow crunched underneath their hooves as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom stepped through the portal; followed shortly thereafter by Wind Chill. The two timberwolves guarding the Everfree side gave a quick growl as they came, but remained otherwise silent.

"Wind Chill?" Avalanche, one of the two frost giants guarding the portal from within the Zone, said as Wind Chill entered the chilly embrace of the Far Frozen, "What brings you here, and with the three young ones?"

"Avalanche, Snow Front. I bring troubling news of which Frostbite must be made aware, while the young spirit is in need of additional training," his statement was punctuated by Sweetie Belle's front legs phasing through the snow covered ground.

"Indeed," Snow Front muttered. "And what news do you bring that worries you so?"

Wind Chill looked at the distant village, a worried frown on his face, "The Dark One."

Avalanche and Snow Front shot each other alarmed looks at Wind Chill's mention of the evil Vlad Plasmius, "What of him?" Avalanche asked, a noticeable chill in his voice.

"What I fear is something I should discuss with Frostbite, in private," he answered, glancing back at the timberwolves standing stoically on the other side. Yet he knew they were listening.

"I see," Snow Front replied after a short moment, "Then make haste, and inform Frostbite of what you know."

Nodding, Wind Chill scooped up Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, placing them on his shoulders before moving for the village; Sweetie Belle flying behind him. "Stay vigilant, my brothers," Wind Chill called out to them. "And hope that I am wrong."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Are you sure?" Frostbite asked, concern heavy in his voice as he looked out of one of the windows found in his home, watching the young spirit, Sweetie Belle, sparring with one of the teachers.

"I am," Wind Chill confirmed. "I crushed one of his machines myself." He showed the broken pieces of the destroyed drone he carried with him.

Turning away from the window, Frostbite looked at the pieces now placed on a table. A crushed metallic shell, meant to protect the more delicate circuitry inside, and several small wires which used to connect the various components all lay in a broken heap beyond repair.

Bending down a bit, Frostbite studied the drone in greater detail, using the tip of one of his frozen fingers to shift the pieces.

Grunting in anger, he stood back up and faced Wind Chill.

"This is indeed one of Vlad's constructs, there is no doubt about it," he said, before blasting the broken pieces, completely destroying them until nothing remained, "This is worrying. Very worrying. If he has these drones scouting in the young ones' world, he must know the Great One is out there. He wouldn't risk such a thing for any other reason."

"Then what should we do? If he knows, it stands to reason he will come for Danny Phantom. Or, more likely, he will send others to do it for him. If that happens…"

"Then chaos will come to the young ones' world, and Danny's life will be disrupted once more," Frostbite finished. "We can't let that happen."

"Nor can we allow him to learn of young Sweetie Belle," Wind Chill added.

"Indeed," Frostbite mused as he stroked his beard.

They were interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on the door, and Scootaloo stepped inside; ears hanging low, and heavy questions unasked showing in her eyes.

"Scootaloo," Frostbite said, "What brings you here?"

"... My mom…" Scootaloo answered with a small voice, looking down.

"Your mother?" Frostbite repeated, seeking clarification.

Nodding her head, Scootaloo looked up at him, "Yeah. Back in Ponyville, Sweetie, Apple Bloom, and me got into some trouble with those ghost hunters who are looking for Danny," she said. Frostbite's eyes widened as he turned to look at Wind Chill, who gave him an awkward, apologetic look.

"Ehh… I might have forgotten to mention some other developments," he spoke up, scratching the back of his head while smiling sheepishly.

"We'll discuss this later," Frostbite muttered, then turned back to Scootaloo, "My apologies. Please continue."

"Uhh… Right. Like I said, we got in some trouble with those ghost hunters, when my mom came to help us, and, well…" Scootaloo muttered, scratching one leg with the other, unable to find the words.

"Your mother came to help when you were in need? An admirable act, but I fail to see why this troubles you so," Frostbite said, trying to put the pieces together.

"The reason for her being troubled by this, would be because her mother has passed away," Wind Chill spoke up, surprising Frostbite.

"She, what? But then..."

"That would mean there are more ghosts on the young ones' world than we originally thought there to be," Wind Chill finished.

"But how did we not know about this sooner. Surely, if more ghosts exist on this world, we would have heard stories about this. At the very least there would have been rumors," Frostbite argues.

"But what about my mother?!" Scootaloo said loudly, cutting in between the two giants.

"Your mother is exactly where she needs to be," a sage like voice answered, and the three beings turned towards The Elder, who had somehow managed to enter the room without being noticed.

"Huh?" Scootaloo said, head cocked in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, before her eyes widened in realization, "Do you know where my mother is?"

"No, child. I do not," The Elder answered, extinguishing the small ember of hope Scootaloo had.

"Oh…" she mumbled as her head dropped down.

"Elder, what is all of this about?" asked Frostbite.

The Elder didn't reply immediately. Instead, she looked off to the side, seemingly looking towards the wall. For her, however, it was a different story.

Looking through the many layers of existence, seeing the truths, and the lies. Everything she could see, that she was allowed to see. As well as the shadow covering the path of Destiny of those around her. Obscuring everything even from her. A path still unwalked, waiting for those meant to walk it to take the first step.

"Just another complication in a growing list, it would seem," she eventually answered, "Nothing you need to worry about right now, though."

"Then, forgive me for asking, but why are you here?" Frostbite inquired.

"Her," The Elder answered, pointing a finger at Scootaloo.

"Me?" Scootaloo said, surprised, looking up at the hood covered face of the female frost giant; whose glowing orange eyes stared down at her.

"Yes, Scootaloo. I saw that you are burdened by heavy questions, and I believe I am able to answer some of them. Or, in the very least, point you in the right direction to find some answers."

"You can?" Scootaloo replied, ears perked up.

"Come," was The Elder's only reply as she motioned for Scootaloo to follow, and together they left Frostbite and Wind Chill behind. The two frost giants stared at one another, trying to figure out what that was all about.

For a moment The Elder just walked, followed closely by Scootaloo, who was impatiently waiting for an answer. Yet, nothing actually happened, and Scootaloo's hope slowly faded when The Elder came to a stop to watch Sweetie Belle's progress.

"She's quite the talented filly, isn't she?" The Elder finally spoke up, surprising Scootaloo.

"Uhh… I guess?" she replied, unsure, looking at Sweetie Belle herself; seeing the transformed pony disappear and fly, before blasting ectoplasm at the other guy.

"Yes…" The Elder said, pausing for a moment as she observed, "But still such a long way to go. So many questions left to be answered. Questions she doesn't even know she has, yet."

"What's any of this got to do with my parents?" Scootaloo asked impatiently, her voice betraying her building frustration.

The Elder didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shifted her gaze towards Apple Bloom, seeing her standing on the sideline of the sparring ground as she watched her friend train with the frost giant.

Humming slightly, "So many questions, indeed. But some don't want to find the answer, too afraid of what they might find."

Grumbling, Scootaloo turned tail as she walked away, deciding that The Elder wasn't going to answer her at all.

"And then there is you, Scootaloo," The Elder said, causing Scootaloo to halt in her tracks. "You, too, have questions. Important questions," she continued, and the filly turned to look at The Elder, "But you are asking the wrong ones."

"I- wha?"

"You believe the one who helped you was your mother. And because of that, you want to seek her out. But do you even know where to begin?" The Elder asked, looking at Scootaloo with her glowing orange eyes.

"Well, yeah. I guess. I mean… I think she's a ghost, so shouldn't that mean I can find her here? My dad too?" Scootaloo answered, unsure.

Sighing, The Elder lowered herself so she wouldn't tower as much over the young pony, "And that is the first mistake you've made, child," she said, and Scootaloo looked at her in confusion, "You believe you heard your mother, but did you actually see her?" she asked, and, hesitantly, Scootaloo shook her head, "So is it not possible that the one you heard was someone else?" Scootaloo stared at The Elder for several seconds, before shaking her head again. This time with determination.

"No! I know it was her. I just do."

"Good," The Elder replied, "Uncertainty often leads to nowhere, as it causes us to continue to ask ourselves the wrong questions. Now that we know it was your mother for certain, there is something else you must ask yourself."

"What's that?" Scootaloo asked, eagerly.

"Why did she come back now?"

"Huh?"

"Think, child. Is it not strange for her to suddenly come back to the world of living so shortly after your friend became a spirit?"

"... Wha… You mean she came back because Sweetie Belle became a spirit?"

"I do not know, for I am not the one meant to reveal these answers," The Elder replied, rising once again to her full height.

"Then, who? Who can answer these questions?"

"That is for you to find out. You, and your friends, together," The Elder replied, looking into the distance at the border separating the Far Frozen from the rest of the Ghost Zone. "But I do know that the answers cannot be found here."

"Huh… Then where do I go?"

"The path already lies before you, Scootaloo. You just need to take the first step," The Elder answered in a vague, enigmatic manner, before walking away. Leaving behind a rather confused filly, who dropped down to her haunches as she tried to make sense of what she had just been told.

A scream followed soon thereafter. The cold of the snow and ice making her jump up.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sitting in a dimly lit room, were two young ponies. The curtains were pulled shut, and the door was closed tight as they discussed their latest plan. A plan to bring down those stupid Blank Flanks down into the dirt where they belonged, and return that what was lost—Diamond Tiara's tiara.

"So, how are we going to get in there without anypony noticing?" Silver Spoon asked, wondering how they would get into Sweetie Belle's room.

"Simple. We just have to get rid of that pony who thinks she is so special, with her dresses and such. Then, when it's clear, we slip into that loser's room and get back my tiara. Maybe break a few things while we're at it," Diamond Tiara explained.

"Okay. And how are we going to stop them from using that weird magic against us again?"

"I… I'm not sure," Diamond Tiara huffed in annoyance, "But we'll figure it out. Surely, the two of us, being far better than those Blank Flanks, are capable of coming up with something to deal with them. For now though, this will at least get me back my tiara."

Nodding in understanding, Silver Spoon stood back up, stretched a leg, and moved towards the window. Pulling away the curtain to peek outside, she stared into the distance in roughly the direction of Carousel Boutique.

"Well, looks like now would be the best time to do it."

"How can you tell?" Diamond Tiara asked flatly.

"Everything is quiet," Silver Spoon answered with a lopsided grin, "Since when is everything quiet with those three around?"

Diamond Tiara looked at her friend for a moment, before the same grin grew on her muzzle, "Never. Which means they are not here."

"So, are we going to do this, or what?" Silver Spoon asked, smirking.

"Oh, it's on," Diamond Tiara replied, a shadow falling over her eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rolling Stone and his team of three were once more out and about the town of Ponyville to scan for any spectral activity, doing everything they could to track down the spectral signatures they had recently encountered.

For now though, the civilians were still unaware of anything sinister transpiring in their fair town, so they had to maintain their cover, lest they start a panic.

Moving around the alleys, or mingling with the crowds to pick up on any rumors that might suggest ghost activity, they moved through town, ever vigilant.

"Honesty, Lyra. I can't believe you did that," they heard somepony say, and they noticed a beige earth pony shoot an annoyed look, laced with embarrassment, towards the mint green unicorn walking by her side.

"What? What did I do?" Lyra asked, confused, as the two of them walked through town. Followed from a distance by Sound Wave with her Ghost Gabber.

"Do you even need to ask?" the beige mare replied, receiving a nod from her horned companion.

Sighing, she facehoofed for a moment, "Alright, in order. First there is that strange, and quite frankly disturbing obsession you have with those hands, a—" she began, when her friend interrupted her.

"Hey, I'm not that one dimensional," Lyra said, annoyed, earning a flat look from the beige mare. "I like feet too."

The force with which her friend's hoof met her face could be felt by everypony in a half mile radius of the impact, and Sound Wave flinched visibly, before quickly retreating to a safer distance.

"Second, that 'list' you are constantly carrying around," she could faintly hear the beige mare continue. "Third, those 'visits' you make to the cafe to just 'order' something to eat every time Danny is working." Now that caught her attention.

"So?" the mint green mare asked, shrugging, "I've been doing that for a while now. Why bother bringing it up now?"

"Why? Because, of all the things you have done, what you did last night was just, just…."

"Last night?"

'Last night?' Sound Wave mused, thinking back. Faintly recalling something involving the unicorn mare at Danny's party.

"Oh, you know what I mean. Shaking your tail around while trying to dance on two legs," the beige mare continued, and suddenly Sound Wave knew exactly what it was these two were talking about, a blush staining her cheeks.

[img]https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8374033152/h5D09CA27/[/img]

Silence settled down between the two, and the only sound came from the group of crickets sitting on Fluttershy's head and back as she walked by.

"PFHAAAHAHAHA!" Lyra burst out in laughter. "That's what's gotten you all worked up?"

"Of course it is!" her friend replied, ashamed.

Lyra chuckled a little while longer, before turning to her friend, her muzzle almost touching her companion's, indicating that they were most likely in a relationship with one another. "Oh, but I thought you liked it when I shake my tail around like that?" she said in a husky voice, eyes half-lidded, and her friend sputtered as she stepped away, face burning bright red.

'Yeah, definitely a couple.'

"B-but that was different," the mare sputtered.

"Different? Different how?" Lyra asked, amused.

"You know what I mean," she replied, and Lyra looked to the side as she recalled last night's festivities, a grin forming on her face.

"Oh, that," Lyra said with a chuckle.

"Yes, that. Honestly, what were you doing?"

"Partying," came her honest answer, "Cutting loose. Something you should try sometimes."

A roll of the eyes was all the answer Lyra got from her beige companion, when, without warning, two earth pony fillies came running by. Knocking over Lyra's friend without so much as an apology, before running around a corner, disappearing from sight.

'Hmm, what was that about?' Sound Wave wondered as she watched the two fillies head towards Carousel Boutique, 'And wasn't that the filly involved with the incident some days ago back at the school?'

"Whoa! Are you alright?" Lyra asked, concerned, as she helped her marefriend back on her hooves.

"Yes, I am. But what is up with those two?" she replied, dusting herself off as she shot a glare after the two fillies.

Lyra shrugged in answer, before a grin returned to her muzzle, "So, about cutting loose…"

A throaty groan of frustration reached Sound Wave as she silently moved away.

<<>><<>><<>>

Spike was fast asleep, nested warmly in his basket. Dreams of a certain white unicorn, along with the largest diamonds he'd ever seen, filled his mind as he slumbered. Dreams that came to an abrupt end when, in a strange turn of events, Rarity married the largest diamond, named Tom.

Screaming in horror, Spike woke up to the tell-tale feeling of a magical burst in his gut, signaling the arrival of a message.

A loud belch escaped him as a burst of magical green fire spewed out of his mouth, a letter materializing in front of him.

Scratching his lower back, he watched with lazy eyes as the rolled up paper fell to the ground, bounced once, and rolled for half a meter before coming to a stop.

"Sheesh," he slurred, "What's a guy gotta do to get some sleep? It's barely past noon." Sighing, he stepped out of his basket, only to get stuck as something held him tight. Looking back, he saw the part of his body that was ensnared in his blanket; his groggy mind still trying to move into second gear as he observed the problem with half lidded eyes, the full map of his anatomy slowly coming back to him.

[img][url=https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8220516352/h6559D783/][u]https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8220516352/h6559D783/[/u][/url][/img]

Shaking his head, he pulled himself out of his bed and picked up the letter, seeing it was addressed to him.

Raising an eyebrow, he unfurled the scroll, reading it. His eyes widened with each sentence. And, before long, he rushed out of the library.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Hey, Scootaloo," said Apple Bloom, "Where've ya been? Ya missed Sweetie Belle fightin' that giant."

"Well… She did most of the fighting," Sweetie Belle muttered, rubbing a sore spot on her leg.

"Yeah… I know," Scootaloo replied vaguely, not really paying attention.

"Is everythaing alright?" Apple Bloom asked, looking at her friend with an expression of concern.

"Yeah… I think," she replied, but not really answering anything as she was more lost in thought.

"Hellooohoo~" Sweetie Belle called out, waving her hoof in front of Scootaloo's face, trying to snap her out of whatever thought she was stuck in, "Equestria to Scootaloo."

Blinking a couple of times, Scootaloo focused on the silver hoof wagging in front of her; her eyes following it to the filly it belonged to.

"... Eh… Wait, does that still work here? We're not in Equestria anymore," Sweetie Belle mused, looking at Apple Bloom for her thoughts on the matter. But all she got in reply was a shrug, and their attention returned to their orange friend.

"... Ehh?" she said, before shrugging herself.

"Anyhow, movin' on," Apple Bloom spoke up. "Mind telling us what's got ya all zoned out on us?"

Giving a kick against the snow, knocking away a small piece of ice, Scootaloo looked down with a slightly irritated frown, "Have you forgotten why we came here?" she asked, looking up at her earth pony friend with a hint of anger.

Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in realization, "Your parents!" they said simultaneously.

"I completely forgot about that," Sweetie Belle confessed with a guilty tone, looking at the ground, "Being busy figuring out how to control my powers and all."

"You forgot!?" Scootaloo said, angry, "You forgot!? Sure, why not. We're only talking about my parents who came back from the dead. What's the big deal?"

"Hey, that's not fair!" Sweetie Belle called out.

"Yeah, she was havin' trouble with her powers," said Apple Bloom, defending her unicorn friend.

"So what?" Scootaloo huffed, "There's always something with those powers."

"That ain't fair, either," Apple Bloom replied, frowning.

"You know what isn't fair? It isn't fair that we were all there when my mom helped us, but you two are more concerned about Sweetie Belle's powers than looking for her," she snapped at her friends, "And you"—she pointed at Apple Bloom—"of all ponies should know what it's like. Your parents are dead, too. Aren't you the least bit curious to find out if they are around here as well?"

"Ah- ehh," Apple Bloom muttered, looking away as she kicked the snow.

Snorting in annoyance, Scootaloo turned her back to them, "I see… Well, I don't care about those stupid powers. I'm going to look for my mom and dad!" and before Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle could say, or do anything, Scootaloo ran away, angry tears brimming in her eyes as she sped out of the frost giants' village.

<<>><<>><<>>

Out in the distance, on top of one of the many icy hills, stood The Elder. Looking down on the village she called home, she watched young Scootaloo run away, clearly distressed.

Her friends, standing dumbfounded for several moments, hurried after her, trying to catch up with the orange filly, who had managed to gain quite some distance between herself and them.

"Hmmm… Another seed has been planted," she mused, her glowing orange eyes observing all, "Now, I wonder. What might grow from it?"

<<>><<>><<>>

Rarity was hard at work, wearing her hazmat suit, as she aggressively scrubbed at the many dye stains Sweetie Belle had left behind.

An unlady like growl left her when yet another stubborn stain refused to vanish beneath the many strokes of her brush, yet she refused to give up.

More and more effort went into getting her room clean, and heat began to build up in the stuffy suit from her efforts. Drops of sweat began to run down her face, while her mane, placed carefully inside the suit when she put it on, turned scruffy. This went unnoticed by her as all her focus was placed on a particularly stubborn red spot on the wall, as well as on all the other spots, scars, and marks covering her once pristine atelier.

This changed though, when, without any ceremony, Spike came rushing in, out of breath, a letter in his claw.

"Spike?" Rarity spoke up, fogging up the visor of her hazmat suit, and she quickly removed it.

It was at this exact moment she started to notice something was off. And, after a quick glance at the mirror in the room's corner, she could see the damage all that hard work had done to her appearance.

Seeing her reflection, mane messy and sweat covering her face, her pupils shrunk to pinpricks before she shrieked in horror. In a blur, she ran to the bathroom, leaving Spike spinning on the spot.

As he finally came to a stop, eyes still spinning for a moment, he shook his head to refocus, and searched for the pristine white mare of his dreams. What he found, however, was a messy room, with no Rarity in sight. The sound of running water drew his attention to the bathroom, and he quickly made his way to the closed door, knocking on the wood.

"Eh, Rarity. Are you in there?"

"Just a moment," came the mare's hasty reply, and the clanging of various small jars could be heard coming from the other side.

"Oh, you can take all the time you need, Rarity," Spike replied with a dreamy voice, just the sound of her voice enough to make his heart flutter.

"Oh, but Spike, dear. If you don't mind me asking through the door like this... Why are you here? Didn't you go to Canterlot with Twilight?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Twilight went with Danny, and the-" he started to answer, when he was abruptly interrupted by the bathroom door swinging open.

"What? Twilight and Danny went to Canterlot together? As in, just the two of them? Together?" Rarity asked excitedly, her head sticking out of the open door with a towel wrapped around her mane.

"Uhh… Yeah?"

"Ooh, how marvelous," she cooed in glee over this bit of gossip, "I already suspected there was something was between those two, and now they are out to Canterlot, just the two of them. Aahh~" she swooned, "Just imagine what those two might be doing right now, bringing them closer together as a result?"

*****

Meanwhile, sitting in the royal library, Danny found himself back in school as Twilight decided to lecture him about something called the Elements of Harmony. Which, apparently, also included Twilight's personal story from when she first came to Ponyville.

"—Of course I was not at all interested in mingling with the crowd, but the Princess tasked me with overseeing the preparations for the coming Summer Sun Celebration, so some interaction was unavoidable. And that is how I first got to meet Applejack, when—"

*****

"... Yeah," Spike said slowly.

"Oh, but what do you have there, dear?" Rarity asked, finally noticing the scroll in Spike's claw.

"Huh, wha?" he stammered, having completely forgotten about the letter, "Oh, right. It's a letter Twilight sent me just a moment ago. Kinda important, too," he said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head as he handed the letter over to Rarity, who took it in her magic.

For a moment she stood silent as she read the message her dearest friend had sent, only for her eyes to widen as she neared the end. And as the last line was read, a look of urgency showed on her face. Not wasting any time, she scooped Spike up and placed him on her back, much to his joy, and rushed away; the door of the boutique slamming shut before her towel landed on the ground.

A few seconds ticked by with nothing happening, then Rarity returned, only to shout at Sweetie Belle for her to stay in her room as she was still in a lot of trouble for what she had done. Then the door slammed shut once again, only for two young ponies to sneak inside after they were sure Rarity wouldn't come back again.

<<>><<>><<>>

Small orange hooves raced across the snowy ground as their owner ran as fast as she could, wings buzzing rapidly in an attempt to keep herself from sinking into the frozen fluff.

Where she was going, she didn't know. All she knew was that she needed answers, and she wasn't going to find them back where she came from. So, with no clear destination in mind, no help from her friends, and generally no idea what she was going to do, she just ran. She ran, and ran, before coming up to a dead end.

Coming to a stop, digging a small trench in the snow and ice, Scootaloo looked up at the massive wall of ice which seemed to rise up without end. Clearly this wasn't the way to go, but, looking around, she couldn't find any other path, save for the way she had come. Not wanting to turn back until she had found some answers, -or, better yet, her parents- she glared up at the immovable wall of ice, wishing she could just fly up and over it. Just as Sweetie Belle was able to do, with her powers.

Another spark of anger ignited in her chest as she looked at her own useless wings, and she found herself wishing it was her who got those powers, if only so she could fly herself. Not finding any answers in the feathers of her wings, Scootaloo looked back up again, and noticed something different.

High above, the wall of ice seemed to give way to something else. A spot of green, too far away to make out any details, but still clearly there.

'Is it a way out of this place?' she wondered.

Looking around for any way to get up there to find out, her gaze fell on a rough path carved into the ice. A path which, even to her untrained eye, looked like it hadn't been used for many years. Not that it mattered to her if it was used recently, or not. But all the same, it looked… treacherous. 'But,' she thought, 'Would Rainbow Dash let something looking treacherous stop her?'

The answer was all too clear, and taking a few hesitantly brave steps, she began the climb up.

The moment she touched the ice the rough path was made from, a violent shiver went down her spine. The ice was much, much colder than the snow and ice found in the village. Almost as if it was older, wilder than anything she had felt before.

Shrugging it off, she continued on her way, not wanting to give up just because the ice was a bit colder. Eyes steeled with determination, she took the next step, and the next. Slowly progressing up, heading towards the strange spot of green.

Each step she took brought her closer to her goal. Each step carefully placed so she wouldn't slip. Each step hinting at the danger facing her should she fall. Each slow step passing without incident, until she was halfway up.

A patch of ice gave way, cracks racing deep throughout its structure. Pieces broke off, and fell down, bringing down even more chunks with them. And before she knew what happened, the ground vanished from underneath her hooves.

A loud scream echoed off of the walls as she fell to her doom.

<<>><<>><<>>

Two pairs of eyes scanned the seemingly empty building as they snuck inside.

Positive there was nopony there to catch them, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon quietly moved deeper in, careful not to make any sound.

"Do you think there is still anypony in here?" Silver Spoon asked, feeling rather nervous. Sure, they had done several things to the Crusaders, but never before had they broken into somepony's home.

"Of course there isn't," Diamond Tiara answered confidently, no longer trying to stay quiet, "You saw that dressmaker leave yourself. And we both know that that loser Blank Flank isn't here, seeing that everything is calm. So, let's just get my tiara and get this over with," she continued with a grimace, looking as if she had stepped in something unpleasant. She walked up the stairs, heading towards a closed door which, to no surprise to her whatsoever, had colorful hoofprints leading to it.

"Too easy," she remarked, snorting at the mess, knowing who was responsible, "Let's go," she called out to her friend, and they entered the room, unaware that their stealthy break in hadn't gone as stealthily as they thought. As, spying on them through the windows, Sound Wave kept a close eye on them; ghost scanner in hoof. A scanner which showed strong spectral activity.

Because of this, she chose not to interfere with the fillies' obvious crime in favor of getting a proper scan of them. She may be a guard, but she was also a ghost hunter. And in favor of keeping the masses safe from any undead activity, she ignored the fillies illegal incursion; a worried frown on her face as the results of her scanner came up. Results which worried her to no end, as the spectral activity seemed to increase. Especially close to the gray filly, Silver Spoon, who unbeknownst to all, stood nearest to the spot where Sweetie Belle's powers had manifested themselves again, indicated by the large blot of dye on the floor.

Of course, seeing the readings on her scanner, which seemed to point towards the young gray filly, Sound Wave came to a shocking, and seemingly impossible, realization.

'This… This can't be,' she thought as she looked at the young pony, 'Is.. is she…?' her shocked mind struggled as she saw Diamond Tiara kick over a few things, clearly angered. Focusing her attention back on Silver Spoon, she slowly backed away from the building, 'I need to alert Rolling Stone.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hurried after Scootaloo, trying to catch up with her. Following her was easy enough though, as her hoofprints were clearly visible in the snow. Yet the snow also proved to be a hindrance, as Apple Bloom kept sinking deep into the white pack of frozen water.

Sweetie Belle, still in her spirit form, flew above it, and didn't face such problems. But she was forced to stop every now and then to pull her friend out of the white whenever she got stuck.

"Seriously, how did she not get stuck?" Apple Bloom asked, annoyed, as Sweetie Belle had to help free her yet again.

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle replied, "Maybe because she's a pegasus? You know, she's always been light on her hooves."

Apple Bloom took a second to think about that, and in that time Sweetie Belle pulled her out of the snow.

"Ah guess that makes sense," she replied, kicking off some snow that had stuck to her leg, "But where did she run off ta?"

"Only one way to find out," Sweetie Belle answered, nodding to the hoofprints.

Suddenly, the wind made way for a fearful scream, and the two of them snapped their heads towards a tall mountain range, eyes wide.

"SCOOTALOO!" they shouted.

No longer wasting any time, Sweetie Belle grabbed Apple Bloom and flew off towards the source of the scream. Yet despite the situation, Apple Bloom still found herself with a hint of irritation.

"Ya know, ya could have done that from the start, right!?"

Ignoring it in favor of staying airborne, Sweetie Belle flew towards the icy mountains, seeing Scootaloo's tracks heading inside what looked like a large cave. Darting inside, she dropped Apple Bloom to the ground before landing herself.

"Scootaloo! Where are you!" she called, her voice echoing off of the walls.

"UP HERE!" Scootaloo yelled her answer, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked up to find their friend hanging on for dear life.

"SCOOTALOO!" they shouted in shock at the sight of their pal's perilously precarious position.

Hanging high above, holding on to a jagged piece of ice sticking out from the side of the wall, was Scootaloo. Hindlegs dangling above the vertical drop without support, wings buzzing like crazy in an attempt to generate enough lift to get back to safety. But to no avail.

"HELP!" Scootaloo shouted as, to her rising fear, the ice which she was holding on to began to shift, cracks starting to form within its crystalline structure.

The frightening sound of cracking ice grew louder and louder, and Scootaloo felt the ice grow weaker by the second. She also noticed she was slowly dropping as the ice lost its strength. Then, with a loud snap, the ice broke, and the young pegasus found herself in a sudden free fall once more.

Acting on nothing more than reflex, Sweetie Belle flew up, fast. Intercepting her friend halfway in her fall, and catching her. Yet a looming shadow fell over them, which grew bigger and bigger at an alarming rate.

"GET OUT OF THERE!" Apple Bloom yelled as she saw the giant slab of ice plummeting towards them, "NOW!"

Taking the advice to heart, Sweetie Belle dropped down, Scootaloo holding on to her tightly. Yet gravity proved to have a greater pull on the heavy chunk of frost than it had on the inexperienced spirit, and the distance between them diminished faster than she was able to fly away from it.

Apple Bloom looked up with eyes wide in horror, knowing that her friends couldn't get away in time, and she herself was unable to help. It took a split second longer for her to realize her own precarious position, but it was already too late by the time it occurred to her to move from the spot she was standing.

Looking down, and seeing the fear in her friend's eyes; feeling the tightening grip her other friend had on her, and sensing the crushing weight of the ice falling towards them, Sweetie Belle found herself acting on nothing more than blind panic.

Her eyes began to glow a heavy green. Not just the irises, but the whole eye. She sped up enough to reach her grounded friend just before the frozen rock did, and grabbed hold of one of Apple Bloom's legs.

The ice slammed into the ground a split second later with earth shattering force.

<<>><<>><<>>

"It wasn't there!" Diamond Tiara screeched, "Why wasn't my tiara there!?"

She had been going on like that for more than ten minutes after they had returned to Silver Spoon's place, much to the gray filly's displeasure, as her lingering headache suddenly came back with a vengeance.

"Maybe she hid it somewhere?" she offered.

"Of course she did," Diamond Tiara sneered, "She must have realized who's tiara it was, and gotten jealous because she doesn't have one herself."

"Are you sure?" Silver Spoon asked, unsure. A sliver of doubt about her friend began to form deep within as Diamond Tiara seemed to care more about her tiara than the ever growing headache she had.

"Of course I'm sure. Since when have I ever not been sure?"

Silver Spoon was about to reply, when Diamond Tiara cut her off to continue with her rant, "She hid it, I know she did. But were? Not in her room, that much is obvious, seeing we looked everywhere."

"Then where do you think she keeps it?"

"How should I know? I'm not a loser Blank Flank like her. Thinking like her means lowering myself to her level, and we both know that is impossible."

Silver Spoon frowned at this. Yes, she too picked on the Crusaders. Called them all sorts of things, and made fun of them for trying to earn their Cutie Marks. And yet, there was something that didn't sit right with her. Something she began to notice some time after she'd gotten home from the doctor. Something small, a feeling deep within. Faint at first, but growing ever so slowly. What it was she didn't know, nor did she understand it. And at first she just ignored it as she continued her normal routine with her friend. But now, especially after having been in Sweetie Belle's room, this strange feeling seemed to have gotten stronger. Not by much, but enough to cause her to pause and wonder if what she was doing was the right thing.

"Maybe... Maybe if we stop being so hard on them Sweetie Belle will give you back your tiara?" she offered, unsure, confused over the words that came out of her mouth.

Diamond Tiara, too, was confused by what her friend had just said. And she looked at her as if she had seen a ghost.

"What!?" she exclaimed, her voice clearly conveying her disgust at her friend's suggestion, "Why would we do that? Be nice to them? You’re not going soft on me are you, Silver Spoon?"

Silver Spoon didn't answer. Instead she looked down to the ground as her headache became worse, making her flinch visibly.

"I think I need to lay down a bit," she said, and Diamond Tiara showed a rare look of genuine concern, "I'm not feeling too well. Maybe we can continue this tomorrow?"

"... Sure," Diamond Tiara answered, backing out of the room as she gave her friend a strange look. "You'll need it," she added with a sour tone. "Suggesting being nice to those losers," she finished as she closed the door behind her.

"Yeah…" Silver Spoon muttered as she climbed onto her bed, "Losers?"

As she drifted off, her mind mulled over one final question: Who were the real losers here?

<<>><<>><<>>

"What!? You can't be serious!"

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but the scanner's result was clear," Sound Wave assured her commander. "Blue Ice calibrated the scanners to filter out all interference, and the results all point to the same thing."

"You do realize that if what you are saying is true, we're facing a situation more complicated and dangerous than anything we have faced before. With the only possible exception being the changeling invasion," Rolling Stone replied gruffly.

"I know. Believe me, I know," Sound Wave answered. "But the scans were clear… There might have been a mistake, I know. But the scan's readout was clear. There was a lot of spectral activity centered around this filly. Even some coming off of her, as if she was emitting it herself. It was faint, but clearly there."

"So, you're saying..."

"Sir… I think she might be a ghost in disguise."

<<>><<>><<>>

A howling wind pierced the otherwise tomb like silence, blowing the fresh, powdery snow away in large, billowing clouds. A similar cloud of frozen powder slowly descended, both on the ground and the slab of ice which had blown it away. A slab of ice which now lay in its own shallow crater, with fissures running through, and away from it.

Cracks littered the ground, and even continued up on the wall it had fallen from, causing small chunks of ice to fall down every so often.

A strained, muffled grunt came from within the ice. A moment later Sweetie Belle pulled herself and her friends out of their icy tomb. Dropping her friends to the ground, joining them a moment later as her powers gave out, the three of them lay unmoving, save for the terrified tremors that coursed through their bodies.

Minutes ticked by in terrified silence, none of the fillies having the strength to move, even with the cold that slowly crept up their bodies, numbing their flanks.

Eventually their breathing returned to normal, and their bodies stopped shaking. The numbing cold that was hard at work freezing their rear ends also began to register in full, and the three slowly, clumsily, got back to their hooves.

"Scootaloo…" Apple Bloom said after a while, "What were ya doin' up there?"

Looking down at the ground, Scootaloo muttered a reply as she kicked a small piece of ice away.

"What?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I was looking for my parents," she replied slightly louder, though still in a whisper.

"Up there?" Apple Bloom replied, confused. "Why?"

"Hey, what's that?" Sweetie Belle asked as she noticed the green glow coming from above. "Is that where you were going?" she asked her orange friend, seeing her nod as she stared up as well. "Then let us help you. It's the least we can do."

"Really?"Scootaloo asked, surprised.

"Of course," Sweetie Belle replied, "Just because we had a bit of a fight doesn't mean we're not friends anymore."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed. "We're Tha Cutie Mark Crusaders. We stick together no matter what. We'll find yer parents, together. You'll see."

A bright smile broke out on Scootaloo's face as she saw her friends' confident smiles, yet one question remained. "But how do we get up there? The path collapsed," she pointed out.

Rolling her eyes, Sweetie Belle trotted up, "Easy," she said, lifting off of the ground.

Another pang of jealousy shot through Scootaloo.

"I'll fly us up there," Sweetie Belle said with confidence, before realizing her limited strength when it came to carrying somepony up. "Uh, one at a time, though."

This seemed to be agreeable to her friends, and, slowly, Sweetie Belle flew up with Scootaloo. Once the orange pegasus was dropped off on the ground above, she returned for the earth pony Crusader.

And as she flew back down, Scootaloo took the time to look down at her friend as she moved through the air. A displeased frown on her features as she ruffled her small, useless wings.

'Why can't I do that? she thought, '…. I wish I had spirit powers, too.'

<<>><<>><<>>

"Woow" three pairs of voices piped up as Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle observed the strange expanse before them. Dark green, endless, with chunks of land floating throughout it.

Nothing about it made any sense, and the three ponies stood frozen on the spot, trying to wrap their minds around what they were seeing.

"Ya know…" Apple Bloom begun, "This kinda reminds me of that time we tried ta get our pottery Cutie Marks."

"... It kinda does, doesn't it?" Sweetie Belle agreed.

"Yeah. There's stuff floating everywhere," Scootaloo added.

"Welp, where should we go now?" Apple Bloom asked, already getting used to the weirdness of the Ghost Zone. Which, after all the strange things they had gone through already, wasn't all that weird.

"I dunno," Sweetie Belle answered with a shrug, "Pick a rock, I suppose."

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied, "Hey, Scoots. Whadda ya think?"

Narrowing her eyes, the filly in question scanned the many possibilities they had among the free floating chunks of land filling the green expanse, trying to figure out where would be best to start.

Many different options presented themselves, yet none of the mostly lifeless rocks seemed to be of any interest to her. But then, out in the distance, on one of the larger chunks of land, she saw several green flashes.

"Hey, what's that?" she said, pointing her hoof at her discovery.

"Huh?" was all Apple Bloom said on observing the glowing lights.

"Hold on," Sweetie Belle said as she held up a hoof, an orb of ectoplasm glowing in its crook, "It looks just like this stuff."

Looking at the glowing orb created by their friend, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had to agree about the similarities.

"Well, I guess that's where we go," Scootaloo said, "Maybe it's a signal, or something?" She began to walk towards the light, only to be stopped when her hoof met nothing but empty air.

Looking down, she stared into the green void which surrounded the frozen land she stood on. Blinking several times, she took a large step back, sighing.

"Looks like you'll have to carry us again," she said to Sweetie Belle, who groaned in annoyance as she observed the distance between them and the nearest piece of land.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay, so everypony has read Twilight's letter?" Rarity asked as she, Spike, and the rest of the Elements, save Twilight, had gathered in Golden Oaks Library.

"Of course we did!" Rainbow Dash said brashly, hovering in the air, "Some bad guy is causing trouble, and we need to kick his sorry flank to the other side of Equestria. So, what are we waiting for?"

"Rainbow Dash," said Rarity, her tone similar to that when she would scold her younger sister when she had caused some kind of trouble again, "If you had read the letter, you would have known that, although there is the possibility of a serious situation, not much is known about what is happening. At least, Twilight doesn't seem to know anything more than what she has told us."

"Which isn't a whole lot," Applejack cut in.

"Indeed," Rarity agreed. "But we also know Twilight wouldn't send such a message unless she believed it to be absolutely necessary."

"So, what are we going to do then?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Just wait here till something blows up, or something?" And at that exact moment Pinkie Pie set off her party cannon, scaring Fluttershy.

"Oh, I know. Let's throw a party!" the hyperactive pink sugar rush proclaimed with an eager smile.

"Ah don't think that's tha best thaing ta do right now, Sugarcube," Applejack replied with a small smile.

"Aaaww," Pinkie moaned in disappointment.

"Girls, please," Rarity called out, drawing everypony's, and dragon's, attention back to her. "Perhaps it would be wisest to gather the Elements, and head over to Canterlot. That way, should we be required to use the Elements, we will have them with us, while also being present when any new information becomes available."

"That sounds like a mighty fine plan there, Rarity," Applejack agreed. "But what 'bout Sweetie Belle? We don't know how long we're going ta have ta stay away, and she'll need somepony ta look after her."

"I know," Rarity answered, her voice tense. "After all, she's still in a lot of trouble," she said, thinking back to the mess still in her atelier. "... Applejack, dear," she began, when a hearty chuckle from the farm mare cut her short.

"Sure, Rares. She can stay on tha farm while we're gone. Ah'm sure Big Mac can handle her fer that long."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Rarity said, humorously, recalling the mess her younger sister had made just that morning.

"Yeah, she an' Bloom can be a real hoof full. Especially if Scootaloo is with them."

"Don't we all know it?" Rarity answered, receiving multiple acknowledgements from the ponies and dragon around her.

Turning to the display case holding the Elements, Rarity used her magic to levitate them out, and towards herself and her friends. "Alright, we all take our respective Elements," she then turned to Spike, "And why don't you hold Twilight's?"

"Sure thing, Rarity," he answered dreamily as he took hold of Twilight's tiara, and Pinkie Pie suddenly snorted in laughter.

"Does this mean you're the new Twilight now, Spike?" she giggled.

Blinking dumbly, Spike turned to look at the pink pony as he processed what it was she had said. Then a memory about a certain draconequus resurfaced, and he couldn't help but snort as well.

"You know what, maybe I am," he stated boldly, placing the tiara on his head. Everypony burst out laughing, which doubled as the tiara slid off of his head, and hung lopsided on one of his spines.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle ran over the barren rock towards the source of the strange green flashes, hoping to find some answers as to what they were.

Scootaloo, however, wanted to find out where her parents were more than anything. She hoped that she could find some clue as to their whereabouts up ahead.

Sweetie Belle had also transformed back into her mortal self after transporting her friends from one rock to the other, one at a time, and felt that her powers were severely depleted at the moment.

The drop in energy also showed, as she struggled to keep pace with her friends, who ran ahead of her, with Scootaloo leading.

"Come on!" she shouted, looking back as she ran. "It's over here."

"Ah'm coming!" Apple Bloom shouted back.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle wheezed. "Coming."

Their run continued for several more minutes, until they entered a rough area, with rocks of various sizes littering the ground. Scootaloo, running ahead, came to a screeching stop, much to the surprise of Apple Bloom, who noticed too late. And despite her best efforts, she crashed into her pegasus friend.

Sweetie Belle, however, already out of energy and lagging behind her friends, saw what happened and came to a gradual stop before she came anywhere near the two downed, tangled up ponies.

"Having trouble?" she asked in light humor, earning herself two annoyed groans as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo tried to untangle their legs.

"Very funny," Apple Bloom muttered as she and Scootaloo got back to their hooves.

Carefully, the three continued on their quest to find the cause of the green flashes. They clambered over the loose rocks and boulders, almost tripping here and there when something shifted, until they reached the edge of the floating island they were on. Peeking over the side, the three fillies looked down. Several murmurs of amazement coming from them as they observed what was happening.

Two beings, locked in combat. One, an armor clad human, standing on a flying board of some kind; the other, a large metal behemoth with glowing green eyes and weapons coming out of his body.

"Wow! Who is that?" Scootaloo asked, amazed as she saw the human dodge the other entity's attacks with an air of grace, ease, and even a hint of aggression.

"And what is that?" Apple Bloom wondered, staring at the metal being.

"Skulker," a hooded figure standing between Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle answered.

"And why are they fighti-" Sweetie Belle began, only to fall silent. A silence that also took hold of her two friends. And slowly, reluctantly, they turned to look at who it was that was standing with them.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

All three fillies screamed at the sight of the dark, cloaked pony. A bone white horn sticking out from underneath the hood covering his head, while a scythe floated by his side in a pale white glow. His eyes were glowing red pinpricks piercing the shadows obscuring his face, while, to the fillies' growing horror, two wings lay folded at his sides.

Wings without any feathers, flesh, or skin. Only bones.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

They screamed once more as they backed away, the cloaked individual rearing back in fright at the sudden assault on his nonexistent ears. It soon lost its balance, and fell to the ground. The blow dislodged its head, and an ever grinning skull rolled out from underneath the cloak, its piercing red eyes staring at the three frightened fillies.

"Ehh… Please don't scream," the skull asked, while its body stumbled around in search of its lost head.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

"WHAT IS THAT THAING!?" Apple Bloom cried in fright, backing away to cower behind Sweetie Belle.

"HOW IS IT TALKING!?" shouted Sweetie Belle.

"SHOOT IT, SWEETIE BELLE!" Scootaloo yelled, mirroring Apple Bloom.

"Don't shoot!" the skull said, alarmed, raising its front hooves in a vain attempt to shield the empty space where its head usually sat.

"GHAAAAA!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she blindly fired several green beams at the talking skull, which bounced around as it tried to dodge the poorly aimed blasts of ectoplasm.

Apple Bloom, completely freaked out by what she was seeing, backed away even further. At least until she suddenly bumped into something. Something that strangely felt like legs. Very tall legs… Very thin legs.

Shuddering, she slowly turned her head to see what was behind her. Her pupils shrunk to pinpricks as she saw the tall, dark cloaked figure standing behind her. Skeletal hands poking out of its sleeves, with a scythe held in one of them. The other, however, steadied the human they saw before, now slumped over its shoulder.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

Her scream grabbed the attention of Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and the skull. The former two feeling their blood run cold at the sight of another creature similar to the first.

The tall being gazed down at the fillies with piercing red eyes, slowly walking around the trio as it kept its gaze on them.

Apple Bloom pressed closer to Sweetie Belle, while Scootaloo swallowed a dry lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. The being's scythe tapped on the ground with each step he took, while Sweetie Belle stared at him with fearful eyes.

The being moved to a sizable rock near them, and Scootaloo's wings fluttered nervously. The being deposited the unconscious human on the ground without effort, and Sweetie Belle braced herself for what was to come. The being turned to them, tightened its hold on its scythe, and promptly sat down on the rock.

"Aren't you going to say anything!?" the skull groaned, sounding irritated.

The being simply shifted its gaze to the skull, tilting its head slightly.

"Are you going to hurt us?" Scootaloo asked with false bravado. "Because if you're going to, Sweetie Belle here will use her spirit powers on you."

The being's red eyes widened, and Sweetie Belle braced herself. Apple Bloom whimpered in fear, and the skull sighed while rolling its eyes. Scootaloo gritted her teeth, the fillies' image was reflected off of the unconscious human's visor, and the being's piercing red eyes bore into them.

"You try it, and someone's going to get hurt," the being answered in a serious, male voice, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo pressed together in fear.

"Oh yeah," Sweetie Belle stammered, "and who's that?"

"Me, of course," the being answered simply.

"What!?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shouted together, their surprise breaking through their fear. "Are you kidding me?" Scootaloo added.

"Don't try any tricks, you hear me, " Sweetie Belle said, holding up a shaky, glowing green hoof. "Where are we, and who are you?"

The being's red eyes widened once more, and he stared at the fillies with an intense gaze. Sweetie Belle felt a shudder go down her spine, Scootaloo's wings twitched in nervousness, and Apple Bloom 'eeped' in fright.

"You've got some nerve, filly. It's only polite to introduce yourself before asking a question to someone you've just met."

"Ehh….?" Sweetie Belle stammered, sharing a seriously confused look with her friends. "O-kay," she began, slowly, "I'm Swee—"

"If you must know. My name is Eddie, and I am the reaper of the human world. I'm as old as time itself. Gemini."

"Is this guy serious!?" Apple Bloom shouted, irritated. No longer afraid of the clearly kooky individual.

"You’d like to know where you are. But your constant shouting leaves me disinclined to accommodate your curiosity, except that you are trespassing in a realm where you do not yet belong. Besides, I think it's pretty obvious where you are, seeing all the ghosts that inhabit this realm," Eddie told them.

"So, this is the ghost world?" Scootaloo asked.

"Ah thought they only lived in that frozen village?" Apple Bloom added.

Eddie's red eyes widened as stared intently at the trio, and the skull sighed in frustration.

"OH WILL YOU JUST STOP DOING THAT!" the skull shouted.

"What?" Eddie replied in a casual tone. "Haven't you ever heard of a running gag, Mort?"

"Eddie," Mort said in a flat voice, "do you ever take anything seriously?"

"Yes, my work," Eddie replied. "Which is why we are here now." Standing up, he proceeded to scoop up Mort's head, and place it back on his spine. Then the two of them turned to the three fillies, who huddled together as the two skeletons looked at them. "Now, what to do with you three?" Eddie wondered aloud.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Where are they!?" Wind Chill asked in panic. "Where are the children?"

"Have you looked everywhere in the village?" Frostbite replied, worried.

"Of course I have."

"Then why have they not shown up?"

"Because they are no longer here," a calm, wise voice replied, and The Elder approached the two frost giants with a slow gait.

"They're no longer here?" Frostbite repeated questioningly. "Then where did they go?"

"Did they return through the portal?" Wind Chill queried.

"No, they did not."

"Then, whe-..." Frostbite asked, when his eyes widened in horror. "Don't tell me that..."

"Indeed they did," The Elder confirmed.

"We must gather all frost giants and search for the young ones at once," he bellowed. "The Ghost Zone isn't a safe place for them."

"You shall do no such thing!" The Elder stated as she blocked Frostbite's path with her staff.

"What!? But, Elder. Surely you can't mean to leave them to their fate out in the Zone?" Wind Chill asked, staring at The Elder in disbelief.

"No, I do not. But neither shall you interfere with what needs to be done."

"Interfere? With what?" Frostbite asked.

"They follow the path which lays before them, while we walk a different. Our paths cross, and even join together from time to time. But they still have their own Destiny. One which we can not, must not, interfere with," she explained. "But fear not. They are safe. The soul's shepherds for both their world and the human world, are with them."

"The reapers?" Wind Chill and Frostbite said in unison.

"Yes," she answered, looking away into the distance. "You best return to the young ones' world, Wind Chill. For now, that's the best place to be for you. They will return… in time," she mused sagely. "Hmm… There is more to this than even I can see. Much, much more," she muttered, more to herself, leaving Wind Chill and Frostbite with more questions than they had answers.

<<>><<>><<>>

Small, black hooves crunched on the leaves littering the ground in rapid succession as the being they belonged to ran as fast as she could through the thick foliage of the forest. Labored breaths escaped her mouth as her energy wanned due to fatigue and hunger. But slowing down was not an option, as the timberwolves chased after her, and she could feel their green eyes boring into her with their haunting glow.

"Leave me alone!" she screamed with a distinct echo, as if there were two voices speaking at once. She then gave a high pitched yelp as she almost tripped over a tree's root. "MOM!" she called out, all the while knowing she wouldn't be able to come.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So... you're tha Pale Pony?" Apple Bloom asked, weirded out, but no longer afraid of the two skeletons. Who, after some proper introductions by Mort, turned out to be quite kind… Although Eddie was a strange one. Serious one moment, weird the next.

"That's one of the many names given to me throughout the ages, yes," Mort answered.

"And you're the same, ehhh… thing like he is?" Scootaloo asked Eddie, who gave a single nod in answer.

"Yes, although I'm not referred to as a pony. Grim Reaper is the most commonly given name the humans have for me."

"And you collect souls?" Sweetie Belle asked, unsure.

"Oh, no no no no," Mort replied hastily, shaking his head. "No, we do not collect souls. What we do is guide the souls of those who have passed away, and help them move on."

"Yes," Eddie agreed. "And where Mort takes care of all ponies, I am responsible for the souls of the humans."

This piqued Scootaloo's interest. But before she could speak up, Apple Bloom beat her to the punch.

"You help them cross over? To where?"

"It differs from soul to soul," Mort explained. "When someone dies, their soul enters a plane of existence referred to as Purgatory."

"Purgatory?" Sweetie Belle repeated.

"Yes," Mort nodded. "It's a plane of uncertainty. Existence between life and death, but neither. And only by making a choice is one able to leave this plane."

"They can return there once a year if they feel like the choice they've made was wrong, or for whatever other reason might make sense to them," Eddie added.

"What kind of choice do they have to make?" Scootaloo queried.

"Whether they wish to move on to eternity, or to remain behind, and continue their lives as a ghost, or other spectral entity," Eddie answered.

"Then, it is possible they are here?" Scootaloo asked, hopeful.

"Who is?" Mort asked, suspicious.

"My mom and dad!" Scootaloo exclaimed eagerly, as she looked around the green void, as if expecting her parents to be standing right behind her.

There it was, and Mort closed his eyes, while Eddie muttered a worried: "Oh, dear."

"What?" Apple Bloom said, noticing the shift in their behavior.

"Scootaloo," Mort began with a hesitant tone, "your parents aren't here, in the Ghost Zone." The moment he said that, Scootaloo's hope shattered into thousands of pieces, which clearly showed in her eyes.

"What?" she said, hurt.

"Scoot Blaze and Sky Rider," Mort said softly. "Those are their names. I know. I met them. I reaped them. I helped them cross over…" he looked up at Scootaloo, seeing tears starting to form in her eyes. "They chose to move on."

"NO!" Scootaloo yelled, shaking her head to clear away the tears which she refused to admit were there. "You're lying!" she said accusingly, angry. "I know what I heard. I know that voice, of the one who helped us. It was my mom who helped my friends and me, I just know it! My pare—" she suddenly stopped when Eddie placed his hand on top of her head. And, despite the clearly comforting gesture, the feeling of a skeletal hand caused her to shiver.

"Mort didn't say this to upset you, Scootaloo. He only did this so you wouldn't waste your time looking for them here."

"But I know what I heard," Scootaloo whimpered.

"If there is one thing I've learned throughout the ages, is that mortals tend to seek comfort in the tiniest things. Even going so far as to convince themselves of a certain fact, while they don't have anything to prove it," he told the troubled filly, who looked up at him in confusion. "You think you heard your mother's voice. And maybe this is true. But are you sure about this? Or are you hoping it to be true; holding on to this tiny sliver of hope against all odds?"

"I, ehh…"

Standing up, Eddie took a step back from Scootaloo, looking down at her. "Rushing into something because you think you know something is a foolish thing to do. I know. Many of the souls I have guided came to me by rushing into things."

"Ehh... Rushing into things is kinda what we do," Sweetie Belle said, sheepishly, while Apple Bloom rubbed the back of her head as she confirmed this as well.

"Yes, I know," Mort said, flatly. "I've run into you three several times."

"You have?" Apple Bloom said, surprised. A look which was mirrored by her friends, and even Eddie.

"Yes. Most recently during your attempt to earn a manticore taming Cutie Mark," he answered, and the memory of the manticore which almost killed them resurfaced in the fillies' minds.

"Hold on a minute," Eddie said, seriously. "You mean these three have gotten themselves in a situation where they managed to attract your attention, multiple times?"

"You have no idea," Mort replied, when a groan brought their attention to the human who was starting to regain consciousness.

"We'll have to cut this short," Eddie said as he turned to the armor clad human. "Time to return you home," he muttered as he picked her back up.

"Wha…?" came a groggy reply in a warped voice, before Eddie phased a skeletal finger through the human's helmet, knocking her out again.

"Mort," —Eddie gave a small nod— "girls, I'll be taking my leave," he said, a chipper tone in his voice. "Time to return this lost soul to her home." Lifting the human over his shoulder, he walked away, heading towards the edge of the floating piece of land they stood on. But, as he stepped over the edge, he simply vanished into thin air, taking the human with him.

"I suppose I'll have to take you back home as well," Mort said after a moment.

"But, wait," Scootaloo piped up. "What about my parents? Aren't they here? I mean… Maybe… They could-"

"No, Scootaloo. They are not here. I'm sorry. But if it is any conci—" Mort told her, when he stopped mid sentence and stared out into the distance.

"Ehh… Mort?" Apple Bloom said hesitantly, waving her hoof in front of him.

"Sorry," he said as his attention returned to the three fillies before him. "But I have to cut this short as well. Come with me, and stay close by my side. I will guide you back to your world."

"Huh, wha? What happened?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Mort looked up and into the distance again, a saddened look in his eyes. "Somepony is nearing the end of her life," he explained in a grim voice. "Now, come on. I'll drop you off near your village."

Together the four of them walked to the edge of the floating island. Mort with a task to fulfill. Apple Bloom with answers to questions she didn't dare ask. Sweetie Belle with new knowledge about the ghosts, and their world. Or, Ghost Zone, as they preferred. And Scootaloo left with the answers she wasn't looking for, and crushed hope as a result.

A saddened sigh escaped her lips as she looked back behind her one last time before the four of them vanished into thin air. One last look, which would be burned into her memory.

For out in the distance, standing on a rock, were two figures.

Their glowing green eyes reflecting in Scootaloo's wide eyes.

Then, everything vanished.

<<>><<>><<>>

Near the edge of Ponyville, under the cover of several trees, and close to the Everfree Forest, four beings suddenly materialized in a burst of green light.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked around in confusion as they tried to figure out where they were, while Mort stood by their side, making sure no one, pony or otherwise, had seen them.

Normally he would remain hidden from view as he passed between the layers of reality separating the Ghost Zone and the mortal realm. But this time, due to his passengers, any mortal around would be able to witness what had just transpired.

"Okay… Your town is over there," Mort said, pointing a bony hoof towards Ponyville. "I need to go this way," he added, indicating the Everfree Forest, "so, eh... Bye," and with that, he vanished, leaving the three fillies behind.

"Well… That just happened," Apple Bloom said, bewildered.

"So, what do we do now?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Go home, Ah guess. We're still grounded, after all. But maybe they ain't noticed we were gone," Apple Bloom suggested.

"I guess," Sweetie Belle replied, shrugging, and she and Apple Bloom headed back to their homes. Only to stop after a couple of steps as they noticed Scootaloo wasn't moving.

"Hey, Scootaloo. Aren't you going home?" Sweetie Belle asked her friend.

"I saw them!" she said, barely audible.

"Huh?"

"I saw them!" Scootaloo repeated, a bit louder.

"You, what?" Sweetie Belle queried.

"I saw them!" Scootaloo repeated once more.

"Ya saw who?" Apple Bloom asked, curious.

Slowly Scootaloo turned her head to look at her friends, eyes wide. "I saw them! My parents. Just before we left that weird place."

"WHAT!?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle chorused.

"Are you sure? You heard what that Eddie guy said," Sweetie Belle said.

"I know…" Scootaloo muttered as she turned her head to look at the Everfree Forest, "what I saw." She frowned deeply. "But why did they say they weren't there?"

"... Maybe it wasn't them?" Apple Bloom suggested, "Ah mean, m—"

"Yes, it was them!" Scootaloo interrupted. "So why did they say they weren't there?" she asked again.

"Maybe they just didn't know?" Sweetie Belle offered, and Scootaloo gave a snort in reply.

"I don't know," she said, moving for the forest, "but I'm going to find out."

"Hey, where're you going!?" Apple Bloom asked.

"To find Mort," Scootaloo called back. "And get some real answers," and she ran into the forest.

Apple Bloom shared a worried look with Sweetie Belle, before they, too, ran into the forest, once more chasing after their friend.

<<>><<>><<>>

While their friends made ready to depart for Canterlot, Rarity and Applejack still had to take care of some business. Mainly, two of the three Crusaders, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

Of course Apple Bloom was already taken care of, seeing that Big Mac and Granny Smith would watch over her... and make sure that her punishment would stick. Sweetie Belle, however, was a different story since Rarity was the only adult around back home. So it was agreed that she would stay over at the orchard with Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith.

Of course this wasn't supposed to be a friendly sleepover either, but, as Applejack said: "Don't ya worry, Rarity. Mah brother'll be able ta keep those two youngsters in check… mostly. An' if all else fails, a harsh talkin' ta by Granny Smith should do tha trick."

Of course this also meant that Sweetie Belle had to be brought to Sweet Apple Acres, because should she simply be told to go there herself, who knew where else she would stop on the way? Therefore, Applejack and Rarity now found themselves in Carousel Boutique.

"Woohee," Applejack said as she saw the colorful mess. "What in tarnation happened here?"

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity sighed, reminded of the mess she still had to clean up, and which would have dried up completely by the time she returned. "She was playing around with my dyes." she said as she stomped towards Sweetie Belle's room, irritated.

"Sweetie Belle, come out, now!" she said loudly to the closed door, but received no reply whatsoever.

"Sweetie Belle," she said warningly, but still silence was all she got.

"Swee—" she began, only to stop as she noticed the door stood slightly ajar. And, with a push of her hoof, the door swung open. The mess she saw in the otherwise unoccupied room was all that greeted her.

"SWEETIE BELLE! You are in more trouble than you can possibly imagine!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep in the Everfree Forest, in pursuit of her orange pegasus friend, Sweetie Belle felt a sudden chill go down her spine.

"What was that?" she asked out loud.

"What was what?" Apple Bloom asked, running by her side.

"... Nothing. Never mind that," she replied after a moment, shaking off the ominous, foreboding feeling. "Let's just catch up with Scootaloo."

"’Kay," Apple Bloom replied, following the trail Scootaloo had left behind in search of Mort, who proved to be difficult to find.

A loud, fillyish scream made them halt in their tracks; heads turning towards the general area the primal cry for help came from.

"Was that Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked, unsure.

"No, that was a different voice," Apple Bloom replied, and then her eyes widened. "Maybe it's tha pony Mort said was gonna die?"

"You think?" Sweetie Belle said with a gasp.

"Ah don't know. Maybe?" Apple Bloom shrugged as she replied.

"Shouldn't we help?"

"An' what about Scootaloo?"

"Knowing her, she'd go looking for whoever screamed. Probably to get bragging rights if she saves a pony, or to impress Rainbow Dash," Sweetie Belle responded.

"...True," and with that, the two of them hurried towards the source of the scream. Searching for who it was that needed help, and what was causing her distress.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Where did that filly get to?" Rarity fumed, stomping down the stairs.

"Uhh, Rarity. Maybe ya need ta calm down a bit," Applejack suggested. "Ah mean, sure, things look bad. But maybe Sweetie Belle has a good reason fer all of this?"

"A good reason? Applejack, what reason could she possibly have for making a complete mess of her room, and leaving the house despite being grounded?"

"Ehh…" Applejack stammered, a hoof half raised, which she slowly set down as she failed to come up with an answer.

"And what if it was Apple Bloom who had done this back at your home?"

"...Then Ah reckon Ah'd be right mad at her," Applejack admitted.

"Exactly," Rarity stomped a hoof, nodding once. "Now, let's find that filly so I can teach her some proper manners."

<<>><<>><<>>

They were expecting many things.

But not this.

They thought that, maybe, it was a manticore who had cornered its prey. Or a hydra wandering through the forest in search of a meal before returning to its bog. Perhaps a dragon whose sleep was disturbed. Maybe a cocaktrice was causing a ruckus... or Angel, Fluttershy's rabbit. But, as they had just discovered, it was a trio of timberwolves closing in on their prey.

So far things didn't seem all that much out of the ordinary. Scary forest. Dangerous creatures who could gobble you up in a single bite. And then there was the prey cornered by the wolves, which proved to be something they weren't expecting. A young changeling filly, with her back pressed against a wide tree.

She had a teal mane tied up in a ponytail, with a sea green ribbon on the side, next to her crooked horn. A small black crown tipped with blue orbs sat on top of her head.

Apple Bloom glanced at Sweetie Belle in confusion and nervousness at the unusually bizarre situation. Then, the two of them shared a look with Scootaloo, who they found sitting on the small incline of terrain, hidden under a dense bush after having thought it would be a good place to spy on whatever was going on themselves. Neither of them knowing what to make of the situation, or what they should do.

On one hoof, they should help the filly in need. But, on the other hoof, they didn't know what would happen if they did. Their sisters and friends all made it abundantly clear to stay far away from changelings, should they ever come across one. And they did come across one, right here, and were unable to turn away.

"Whadda we do?" Apple Bloom said in a whisper, not wanting to draw any attention to their hideout.

"Shouldn't we help her?" Sweetie Belle said, uncertain.

"But she's a changeling!" Scootaloo pointed out. "Didn't everyone tell us not to get near those?"

"But we cain't jus' walk away from this either, can we?" replied Apple Bloom. "Ah mean. What if she was a pony like us, we'd help her then wouldn't we?"

"... She doesn't look all that evil," Sweetie Belle muttered.

"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked.

"I mean that she doesn't look like an evil witch, with a hideous body, Tartarus bent on destroying all of Equestria like Rarity said about that changeling queen, whatshername?"

"Ah guess…" Apple Bloom replied, unsure as the three of them stared at the scene unfolding. "So, what should we do?"

Before anyone could respond, one of the timberwolves jumped at the changeling, and the filly screamed in fright; green sparks of weakened magic flickering off of her horn, while her wings buzzed frantically in a desperate attempt to escape, but to no avail.

"She can't fly!" observed Scootaloo.

"She can't use magic!" Apple Bloom noted.

"She needs our help!" Sweetie Belle proclaimed.

The three looked at one another, and shared a determined nod.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, CHANGELING RESCUERS. GHAAAAAAAAA!!!" they yelled as they rushed down, taking the timberwolves by surprise, and startling the already terrified changeling; who yelped in fright, pressing herself even harder against the tree.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Apple Bloom shouted as she ran to one of the wolves, planting her front hooves in the dirt and swinging her hind quarters around, delivering a bone crushing blow with her rear hooves against the wolf's wooden jaw, splintering it.

"PICK ON SOMEPONY YOUR OWN SIZE!" Scootaloo yelled, slamming into the side of the second wolf, knocking it over.

"AND BY THAT, SHE DOESN'T MEAN US!" Sweetie Belle screamed, firing a bolt of glowing green destruction from her horn, shattering one of the legs right out from under the final wolf.

The three quickly formed up in front of the terrified changeling, shielding her while securing their stances.

"Ha!" Scootaloo huffed victoriously, "They didn't stand a chance," and the wolves got back on their paws; the damage done by their attacks regrowing in seconds. "... ehhh…. or not," Scootaloo added meekly.

Growling menacingly, the wooden trio slowly moved towards the four fillies; eyes glowing with anger. Their Alpha's order was clear in their minds: 'Stop the interloper, and kill her.' But the attack of these ponies had to be answered in kind.

They moved in closer and closer, eyes glowing whilst feral growls rose up from the back of their throats.

Apple Bloom lowered herself in a fighting stance, while Scootaloo stepped closer to the changeling, shielding her to the best of her abilities. Sweetie Belle, however, stepped forward defiantly; staring into their glowing green eyes, a strange sensation coming over her.

"Don't worry," Scootaloo told the black filly. "We won't let them hurt you."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed.

"Uh-huh," hummed Sweetie Belle, and the changeling stared at them in shock and surprise. A strange mixture of emotional energy coming off of the three ponies who were risking their lives for her.

Yet, despite the bravado of their words, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle could feel their own anxiety rise with each step the wolves took towards them. Especially Sweetie Belle, who felt herself grow increasingly strained. Her eyes flickered green as the wolves stepped even closer, and the feeling grew, trying to get out.

Then, finally, with a growl, the wolves launched themselves towards the four fragile fillies.

Apple Bloom watched with widening eyes as the wolves came closer and closer, swallowing loudly as she prepared for the fight to come.

Scootaloo spread out her wings as far as she could, glaring daggers at the timberwolves as she mentally pumped herself up.

The changeling, already terrified, screamed out, calling once again for her mother.

And Sweetie Belle stumbled on the spot, shaking her head as a strange sensation overwhelmed her. Opening her eyes to look up at the wolves, she saw an open maw move in for the kill, and she acted on the most basic of fear induced instincts.

She screamed.

"AAAHHHHHH! LEAVE US ALONE!"

The wolves flinched as if they'd been kicked, and dropped to the ground on unsteady legs; shaking their heads as if they were trying to shake something loose.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and the changeling, too, were affected by whatever it was that had happened, and they dropped to their knees as a result; a flicker of green in all of their eyes.

The wolves were the first to recover, and they looked up with a growl. Only to fall silent at what they saw, who they saw standing behind the three ponies and one changeling. Glowing red eyes piercing into their glowing green, his scythe gleaming in the stray beams of light penetrating the canopy overhead. They slowly backed away, the reaper's message clear.

Shaking her head, Sweetie Belle looked up. Only to be surprised to find the wolves were gone, leaving her, her friends, and the changeling standing there, free to go.

"Ugh…" Scootaloo groaned. "What happened? Where did the timberwolves go?"

"Ah don't know?" Apple Bloom groaned in reply. "Sweetie Belle?"

"I didn't do anything," she answered, looking down guilty. "All I did was scream."

"... Well, whatever," Scootaloo remarked. "They're gone." She turned to look at the changeling they had set out to rescue. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, receiving no reply. "Hello?" she said, nudging the prone form laying on the ground.

"Looks like she's unconscious," Apple Bloom observed.

"You think?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking down at the black filly herself.

"Must be from exhaustion, or somethin'?" Apple Bloom thought out loud.

"Makes sense," Sweetie Belle admitted. "Now what?"

"Well, we can't leave her here," Scootaloo pointed out.

"Obviously."

"So, what do we do with her? We cain't bring her ta Ponyville. You know how they feel about changelings. Who knows what'll happen if we show up with her?" said Apple Bloom.

"Good point," Scootaloo replied.

"Maybe Wind Chill can help?" Sweetie Belle offered, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's eyes lit up.

"Hey, yeah. He can totally help."

"Then we jus' need ta get her back to tha orchard without anypony seein' us," Apple Bloom said with a hinting tone, looking at Sweetie Belle, who let out a groan as she knew who would have to do that.

"Fine, but hurry it up. I'm still tired from carrying you two back in that ghost world," Sweetie Belle replied, sighing, as her two friends helped to place the changeling on her back. She was, however, surprised to find that, despite her size, the changeling weighed less than one would think.

Together the three of them walked to the edge of the forest, before Sweetie Belle used her powers to fade from view. And, together, they walked back to Sweet Apple Acres. Unsure what this unexpected visitor would bring them.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rarity stomped down the streets of Ponyville, Applejack following along with Bellflower.

They had just been over at Bellflower's guesthouse to see if Sweetie Belle was there, only for them, and Bellflower, to discover that Scootaloo was not in her room either. Thoroughly angered, Rarity and Bellflower were now looking for the troublesome fillies, while trying to come up with new, creative ways to make sure their punishment would stick.

Of course, seeing that both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were nowhere to be found, the next logical step was to see if Apple Bloom was still where she was supposed to be. Something Applejack wanted to believe, but doubt crept its way into her mind.

"Ah… Ah'm sure she's still in her room, Ah tell ya," she said, more to convince herself than her friends.

"We'll find out soon enough," Rarity muttered. "Either she is, and Sweetie Belle is there with her and Scootaloo. Or she isn't, and..."

"She is. Ah'm sure of it," Applejack stated once more, the three of them entering Sweet Apple Acres.

"We'll see," Rarity muttered, stomping ahead, "But I'll make sure Sweetie Belle knows that I ruined a perfectly good hooficure because of her."

<<>><<>><<>>

"We're in so much trouble!" Scootaloo said, concerned, as she and her friends watched Rarity, Bellflower, and Applejack walk past them and towards the farmhouse.

"I don't think trouble even begins to describe it," Sweetie Belle muttered sourly, keeping herself, her friends, and the changeling invisible.

"You're in trouble?" Apple Bloom said, worried. "When Applejack finds out Ah'm not in mah room, she'll ground me till Ah'm as old as Granny Smith, an' make me do all tha dirty chores, an' that's just fer starters."

"You think that's bad," Sweetie Belle replied, "Rarity will make me work as a model for years to come." She shuddered, continuing their slow journey to the barn where Wind Chill resided.

"Maybe Ah can still get home in time, an' come up with a good cover story?" Apple Bloom offered weakly.

"How?" Scootaloo argued. "They're closer to the farm house than we are. And even if you managed to beat them there, you'd still need to stay hidden, and manage to get into your room, all without them noticing. Face it, we're all screwed."

"Yeah, we're screwed," Sweetie Belle muttered in agreement. "... Let's just get to Wind Chill first, then we'll figure out how to deal with this."

A nervous silence settled down over the trio as they made their way through the many tall trees, only the gentle breeze rustling through the lush green leaves producing any sound.

"Say…" Apple Bloom spoke up after a moment. "Didn't we leave Wind Chill back in tha Far Frozen?" They all came to a stop, a throaty groan coming from Sweetie Belle.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Now, you'll see that she's right here in..." Applejack said to her friends, opening the door to Apple Bloom's bedroom, only to fall silent as nopony was inside.

"APPLE BLOOM!"

<<>><<>><<>>

A shudder went down Apple Bloom's spine as her ears swiveled towards the farmhouse, Applejack's voice clearly audible even here at their clubhouse.

"Ah'm dead," Apple Bloom said with dread. It was a thought shared by her friends, who knew they faced a similar situation upon returning to their homes.

"Well, at least things can't get any worse," Scootaloo mentioned weakly, taunting the well known cosmic force which always shows up to ruin one's day when such words are uttered. "Might as well make the most of the time we have left before they find us."

"I guess," Sweetie Belle agreed. "So, what do we do with her?" she asked, redirecting their attention to the unconscious changeling lying on the floor.

"Ah don't know, is she hurt?" Apple Bloom replied, nudging the prone form.

"She doesn't look like it," Scootaloo replied.

"Well, that's good, I guess," Sweetie Belle said.

"So, uhh…. Now what?"

The three ponies shared a look of uncertainty, unable to come up with any ideas that could be of any help to them, or the changeling, in this situation.

Unfortunately for them, the well known cosmic force which Scootaloo challenged mere moments ago came knocking on the door, disguised as Applejack, Rarity, and Bellflower.

"YOU THREE GET DOWN HERE, RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Applejack's enraged bellow came through the walls, freezing the trio on the spot as they looked at each other with fearful eyes.

"They're here!" Scootaloo moaned.

"They're angry," Sweetie Belle muttered, while Apple Bloom's blood ran cold with a horrible realization.

"Tha ground is still all tore up, and tha trees are still scorched," she said, on the brink of hyperventilating.

They looked at each other once more, realizing just how much trouble they were in. Then they heard the distinct sound of hooves clopping on the wooden ramp leading up, and their eyes locked on the changeling.

"We're dead," Apple Bloom said. The others saw no reason to argue with this.

<<>><<>><<>>

Voices around her. Voices filled with confusion, wonder, concern, fear, and compassion.

Voices filled with emotion.

The young changeling could feel herself lying on a hard wooden surface, felt the shadow covering her form, and she knew she was inside. Of course this wasn't hard to deduce, given that she was already awake when they brought her in. Yet she chose to play possum in favor of avoiding a fight. She knew what these ponies thought of her kind, what they did. Her mother made sure she'd known before letting her leave the hive. And she didn't want to waste the sparse amount of energy she still had trying to fight off multiple opponents.

But that was not the only reason she'd chosen to play dead.

They'd helped her. These ponies had actually helped her.

Why?

Her mother told her that ponies never helped changelings. Their history was filled with proof of this fact. And yet, they did. And, most confusing to her, they seemed to care about her. Genuine concern, and it radiated off of them.

But there was also fear coming from them. Fear of being found out by their elders, she easily deduced. Clearly these three put themselves in a whole lot of trouble, and she could feel every single emotion coming from them.

Emotions she could feed upon.

True she, like most other changelings, prefered the more potent, better 'tasting' positive emotions. Love being the most powerful of them. Yet, her extreme hunger, and the chance of this being her only chance to eat in a long time to come made her ignore the usual bitter taste the more negative emotions produced. Still, the concern they felt for her did prove enough to mask the negative taste sufficiently for her to enjoy the rather sizable meal she had, and she could slowly feel her strength coming back to her.

However, with a furious shout, and an accompanying spike of fear, the arrival of these young ponies' elders made itself known.

The fear washed over her like a wave, drowning out any other emotions, and nearly making her gag from the terrible taste. But she managed to maintain her cover, like any properly trained changeling should, and the ponies around her never noticed a thing.

She then heard the trio of fillies around her stand up and move towards the door, muttering in a lowered voice about what to do, and how to explain why there was a changeling with them. Not that she cared about that, as she now had a window of opportunity to escape. They had their backs turned to her and she didn't waste any time.

Her eyes shot open, her slit like pupils dilating in the shadowy interior of the treehouse. Quickly looking around, she scanned for any exit not leading her near any of the ponies.

There, a window. It would be a tight fit, but it should work. Taking a quick moment to check on the ponies who had brought her here, she saw they were still debating what to do, while somepony pounded on the door, almost as if he or she was trying to kick it in. Seeing the large numbers of them, and only the one of her, she knew she couldn't just crash through the window and run for it. Despite the meal she had gotten from those fillies' emotions, she was still weak, and nowhere near strong enough to fly for any extended duration. So, stealth was the key.

She slowly got up, and quietly made for the window. Or at least she would have, if it wasn't for one tiny detail she had overlooked. She had been lying down for so long, two of her legs had gone numb, causing her to collapse back on the ground with a loud clattering thud.

She heard an "Uh-oh." and, turning to the source, her eyes met those of her rescuers.

"APPLE BLOOM! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE. OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"

Their eyes shifted between each other and the closed door, each trying to figure out how to get out of this unfolding disaster. When a sudden swell of concern brought her attention to the white unicorn filly.

"Hide!" she said, urgently.

She blinked, not understanding what this pony was doing.

"Hide!" Sweetie Belle urged her once again.

Not understanding why this pony was trying to help her, but deciding that it was a good idea nonetheless, she scrambled with her two good legs to pull herself behind some of the worn out furniture. She managed to hide from view just in time as the door suddenly slammed open, revealing three very angry mares. Their emotions swiftly began to make her gag once again, and she quickly stuffed a hoof in her mouth to stifle the nausea.

"SWEETIE BELLE!"

"APPLE BLOOM!"

"SCOOTALOO!"

"""YOU THREE ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!"""

<<>><<>><<>>

Several long tense minutes ticked by as she sat in hiding, not sure whether it was safe for her to leave yet. Although worrying about that was not the only thing keeping her busy. The other thing, and something quite confusing to her, was what this Sweetie Belle had just done for her.

'Why did she help me?' she thought, peeking out of hiding in the now empty room; the door standing slightly ajar. 'Didn't mom say all ponies were heartless, and wouldn't help us even if we asked?' Slowly she stood up, her legs no longer numb. 'Then why did she tell me to hide? And why did they help me back in the forest?'

The more she thought about it, the less sense it made. Ponies never cared about changelings, with the Solar Tyrant setting the standard. She drove them to this state of endless hunger and barbarism, which made them more and more desperate with each passing year. Both these facts were proven not too long ago, when her mother was out of options and she was forced to lead a desperate attempt to steal the emotions they hungered for; only to be crushed by those mares who followed the Solar Tyrant.

Of course she didn't know what those ponies looked like, but she knew their names. And if she ever got the chance to face them… well, she didn't know what she'd do, but it would be bad… ish.

'Oh, who am I kidding. I don't have the energy for that. I don't even have enough strength to fly very far.' She sighed, only to lift her head in surprise as she noticed a strange emotion coming from near her. Intrigued, she sought out the source and was surprised to find a silver tiara.

Picking it up, she carefully sampled the energies coming from it.

"Ugh… narcissism," she muttered. "What pretentious schmuck does this belong to?"

Still, food is food, and she was not going to be picky. Draining the inanimate object of the energies its owner had infused it with, probably over many, many years, she could feel her strength, as well as her confidence, grow.

Now, with the issue of her hunger momentarily dealt with, she could finally get out of this place and continue her search for any food to bring home. After all, they needed it. Her mother needed it. Ever since the failed attempt to 'harvest' enough food for the entire Hive, and the poisonous wave of emotion she and her soldiers were blasted with, they were growing weaker and weaker. Leaving only her and a few other changelings in less than rough shape, and placing the burden of bringing in any food on their backs.

Yet, as she placed the tiara back where she found it, she couldn't help but pause and wonder about the motives of the ponies who had helped her.

Again, why did they do that? They didn't have any reason to do this, they had nothing to gain. So, why?

Torn between her responsibility to find food, even if it was just scraps, for her hive and figuring out why those ponies helped her, she was unable to make any decision at all. So she stood staring at her reflection in the jewels mounted inside the tiara for more than an hour.

'Mom said no pony would ever help us. But they did. And if they did, would others do so as well?' she thought, slowly turning her head to look outside. '... Maybe...?'

Uncertain, she slowly pushed open the door and stepped outside.

"I… I need to know, I need to find out… If they can help us," she muttered to herself.

'Mom, please hold on,' she thought, her plea reaching far and wide.

<<>><<>><<>>

"... An' you'll stay in here 'till puberty is over!" Applejack shouted angrily as she shoved Apple Bloom back in her room, "An' Ah don't wanna hear a single peep outta ya, missy. Ah don't know what you and yer friends did ta tha orchard, and tha trees, but Ah'll find out," and with that said, she slammed the door shut.

Apple Bloom, wincing as she stood back up, her flank a burning red after Applejack's punishment, slowly moved to her bed.

"It's not fair," she whined as she collapsed onto the soft mattress. "Ah didn't even make that mess."

Meanwhile, over at Carousel Boutique, Rarity was shouting furiously while Sweetie Belle stared in disbelief at the mess in her room. Of course Rarity didn't believe her when she said she didn't do it, and now she was forced to clean up everything. Everything, including the dye stains.

Rarity on the other hoof, after having called in a favor with a friend to keep watch over Sweetie Belle, and then bring her over to Sweet Apple Acres so Granny Smith and Big Macintosh could watch over her, left to meet back up with her friends and head on up to Canterlot.

"It's not fair," Sweetie Belle whined. "I didn't even make most of this mess."

Meanwhile, over at Bellflower's guesthouse, the eponymous mare was absolutely livid. A rare sight for the young pegasus Bellflower's anger was aimed at, and she tried to hide behind her mane in a similar fashion to Fluttershy. But her wild, spiky hairdo provided little to no cover from the four legged force of nature before her.

"... And stealing the spare keys as well. And don't pretend like you don't know anything about it, missy! I found them lying in your room. Now go to bed, and I don't want to hear from you for the rest of the day."

Flinching as if she'd been hit, Scootaloo turned to the stairs and headed up, sulking as she did so. Once she entered her room, she could feel Bellflower's eyes bore into the back of her head as she had followed her up to make sure she did as she was told.

The door closed behind her, and with a click, Bellflower locked it for good measure.

Moving to the window, Scootaloo sighed out as she slumped down; her head resting on the windowsill.

"It's no fair," she breathed out, "How did I get in this mess?"

Meanwhile, over at Wind Chill's barn, the frost giant paced around, a hand rubbing the top of his head in worry.

"... At least they returned safely. I just hope they are alright. Meeting a reaper, and living afterwards is not something that is supposed to happen," he mused as he opened the barn's door, peering outside, "Still, they did manage to get themselves in a rather large mess."

<<>><<>><<>>

Far out to the edge of Equestria's border, moving beyond the habitable, fertile land, and entering a desolate wasteland where dead, dried up trees reigned supreme, there was a city. A large city. A proud city. A changeling city.

Deep below the cracked soil, underneath a rough, dark brown hill, lay The Hive. A name which distilled pride in any changeling who heard it. Their greatest triumph. Their legacy. A city for the ages, to last long after they were gone.

Sadly, it would seem such times were rapidly approaching onto them.

In part the name of their city was responsible for this, albeit a little bit. The main reason for their problems were the ponies, and the reputation they forced onto them.

Changelings. Abominable creations who live together in a hive, and suck the very life out of you should they ever get their hooves on you.

The ponies know very little about the changelings, and what they do know is twisted into a amalgamation of the changelings worst qualities, traits, and legends.

The very notion of 'the hive' for one. All context about their city had been stripped away over the passage of the years, and fear created the image of mindless drones crawling over the walls and ceilings of deep carved tunnels, bringing food to their queen as she lay more and more eggs to hatch new drones.

It disgusted the changelings, but they let them keep their theories and judgements. The more the ponies feared them, the less likely it was they would come for them. They didn't want the ponies to find their proud city. They didn't want the ponies to learn those mindless drones were all fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, and more. They didn't want the ponies to learn, because they themselves didn't forget. They couldn't forget. Not what had happened so long ago, back when they called out for help. When they cried for help. Even begged for it.

But mostly, they didn't wanted the ponies to find their proud city, because there wasn't any pride left to find.

They were a proud race once, long ago. Now, families fought each other for the smallest scraps of food. Love.

It was something a changeling could not produce on its own. At least, not in the way any other might know it.

Contrary to most of the ponies belief, changelings are capable of feeling every emotion a "normal" being is capable of feeling. But their unique physiology made them immune to the emotional energies they themselves produce. This, so they wouldn't accidentally drain any emotion from those around them. Though they wished they could.

The Hive. Once a proud city, now as hostile and barren as the ground above. Barren, with only the faintest of life to be found.

Deep within the city's heart lay the once shining pride of the The Hive: the Queen's castle. Within its halls were those who had not succumbed to the hunger, or the poisonous wave of emotions at Canterlot, and were now wandering the city, taking care of those in need.

Sitting slumped to one side on her throne, sat Queen Chrysalis. She had taken the brunt of the blast, and therefore had suffered the most damage from it. Yet she refused to give in, to allow this illness to claim victory over her. Not while so many of her subjects were suffering like this. They needed someling to look up at. Someling who could tell them everything was going to be alright, even if it would be a lie. A lie she had no right to tell, given her current state.

The Queen would not give in to the hunger and illness that had drained her of all energy; nor did she want to, despite the fact that she was so weak her daughter had to fulfill the tasks she, the Queen no longer could. For what seemed like the millionth time, Chrysalis once more wished the King was still alive. However, he had died long ago, having given up his meager meals to ensure their daughter's survival.

A parents love for one's child. Sadly, his love was something they could never use.

Chrysalis sat slumped on her throne, eyes closed, and mouth slightly ajar while her breath came out in shallow gasps. Her body weak, her mind fragile. Yet she pressed on, and she listened in on the shared mind her kind were all connected to. If only to 'be there' for those leaving this world for a better place.

Then, a voice. A voice she knew like no other, speaking to her through their shared link.

"Mom, please hold on."

Chrysalis eyes slowly opened, the words of her daughter giving her a small spark of strength.

"Erlea," she rasped, wishing her child to be here, with her, "Please… be careful."

"I will, mom." Erlea whispered as she spied through the window of the earth pony filly, "I will."

Author's Note

So, here we are again. I hope you've enjoyed the latest addition to this fic, and are waiting for more. I'll try update the next chapter faster than this one, but no guarantees.

Now, do tell me what you liked, disliked, or thought was funny for one reason or the other.

~Powerdrainer.

The Enemy of My Enemy...

Edits done by Vates Despero and Clayton the hunter.
And a special thanks to AnonymousMaterials for allowing me the use of his character, Mort.

The Enemy of My Enemy...

<<>><<>><<>>

A trio of timberwolves raced through the thick foliage of the Everfree Forest.

Something had happened. Something they had not expected. Something which shook them to their very core. Something the Alpha needed to know.

Moving in a blur, they reached the small clearing their pack called home; entering their Alpha's cave.

"Alpha!" they barked, their tone of voice making it clear something was wrong.

"Kio estas? Kio okazis? Ĉu la interloper eskapo?"

"What is it? What happened? Did the interloper escape?"

"Jes," one of the wolves admitted shamefully. "Tra la enmiksiĝo de tiujn tri."

"Yes. Through the interference of those three."

The Alpha growled as he caught on to the underlying tone, and realized which three ponies they were referring to.

"Vi permesis ilin helpi la interloper ellasilo!?" the Alpha barked, wooden teeth bared, and the three wolves flinched back.

"You allowed them to help the interloper escape!?"

"Ne, ni faris ne," one of the wolves replied.

""No, we did not."

"Do, diru al mi. Se vi faris ne permesus ilin eskapi, tiam kial vi diranta min ke ili faris ĝuste tion!?" the Alpha said with a hissing growl, eyes narrowing.

"Then, tell me. If you didn't allow them to escape, then why are you telling me that they have done just that!?"

"Tie estis animon rikoltanto," all three wolves said simultaneously, and their Alpha froze on the spot.

"There was a soul reaper."

"Kion!? La poneojn' animon rikoltanto detenis vin?" the Alpha said disbelieving.

"What!? The ponies' reaper stopped you?"

"Ne la poneojn' rikoltanto," they replied, hesitant. Still having trouble believing it themselves.

"Not the ponies' reaper."

"Tiam, kiu!? Kies rikoltanto estis ĝi!?"

"Then, who!? Whose reaper was it!?"

"... La Malluma Onia."

"... The Dark One's."

An eerie silence filled the cave, none of the wolves daring to move.

"La morto... de la Mallumo Unu?" the Alpha muttered to himself, an angry growl rumbling in the back of his throat.

"The death... of the Dark One?"

His head snapped back up, eyes aglow, a dangerous growl escaping him, "Trovu la Mallumo Unu! Venigu li al mi, NUN!"

"Find the Dark One! Bring him to me, NOW!"

<<>><<>><<>>

A couple of hours later.

Two beings were standing on a lone hill, their black cloaks blending in seamlessly with the dark of night, making them all but impossible to see, save for their glowing red eyes.

"So, you brought her home?" Mort asked Eddie as they gazed out over a massive apple orchard.

"I did," Eddie confirmed. "You?"

"I dropped those three off near the edge of their village. There was a soul I had to reap, so I was short on time."

"I see," Eddie mused, both of them watching a silhouette moving through the trees, the faint green glow of the individual's eyes having attracted their attention.

"... Who was it, if you don't mind me asking?"

"An elderly mare, Chocolate Swirl... I'd had my eye on her for a while now. Poor health."

Eddie hummed softly, stroking his imaginary beard. "So you were not near those fillies after you dropped them off?"

"No, why?"

"... Nothing… Just a strange feeling I have, " Eddie answered after a second. The colleagues observing the silhouette hovering up, and moving towards one of the many windows of the farm house below. "Like there is..."

"Like there is, what?"

"... I'm not sure," Eddie admitted, looking at the glow of his eyes in the reflection on his scythe. "Just… a feeling."

"I… see."

"No, you do not. Nor do I, and that is what worries me." Eddie sighed. "... We should go. No need to break our skulls over this, and there are souls to reap."

Giving a hesitant nod in agreement, Mort left Eddie's side; looking at him through the corner of his non existent eyes, before fading from view. Eddie, however, remained standing on the hill for just a moment longer.

"... Just a feeling..." he muttered to himself, and then he, too, faded from view.

<<>><<>><<>>

'I will, mom. I will.'

Insectoid wings buzzed faintly as Erlea hovered before the window of the earth pony filly who had, along with her friends, protected her from the timberwolves.

Peeking inside with her luminescent green eyes, she saw the filly she had heard called Apple Bloom lying on her bed; back turned to the window, asleep.

This was cause for relief for Erlea, as she was afraid the sound her wings made would have drawn Apple Bloom's attention. However, there were others to be wary about, as she could sense two others within this home. There was one, she could tell, close by. Just a couple of rooms away, so she knew she had to be careful, lest she be detected.

Humming softly to herself, a noticeable echo to her voice as if two voices were speaking together, she lit her horn with the faintest amount of magic, unlocking the window and opening it, allowing her entry.

Sneaking inside with cat-like grace, not making a sound as her hooves touched the floor; only for the wood to creak as her weight settled down onto it. Her eyes fearfully darted down, and then back up at the shifting form on the bed.

"... but sisss…. ah donwanna go ta schoo..." Apple Bloom slurred, before falling asleep again. Erlea gave a mental sigh of relief.

'This is a really stupid idea.'

Tip hoofing towards the sleeping filly, Erlea stood just a hoof's length away from Apple Bloom, when the filly rolled over. Her legs lashed out and flailed around in a grabbing motion as if she was looking for something.

Erlea found herself in too close a proximity, and without enough time to react, as she was suddenly caught in the surprisingly strong hold of the sleeping filly. The young earth pony pulled the intruder closer to herself, mumbling in her sleep while snuggling the flustered changeling.

Erlea, with wide eyes and a burning green blush on her cheeks, tried to wiggle out of Apple Bloom's hold, only for the earth pony's grip to tighten, locking her in place and sealing her fate.

Silence.

'Oh, son of a diamond dog.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Dawn approached, and the crow of a rooster brought Apple Bloom out of her slumber.

She was faintly aware that something was off; a weight near her. But her still drowsy mind shrugged this off as she smacked her mouth a couple of times, eyes fluttering as they tried to focus in the early morning light.

Suddenly, there was movement, and Apple Bloom became aware once more of the weight next to her. The next thing she noticed was something held tight in her forelegs. And lastly, she realized she was looking into the luminescent, embarrassed, and somewhat irritated eyes of a changeling.

"AA—"

Apple Bloom jumped up in fear, just beginning to scream, when Erlea lodged a hoof in the pony's mouth, stifling any sounds that might otherwise draw unwanted attention.

"Finally, you're awake," she said with clear annoyance. "I've been waiting forever to get out of your hold," she complained. Apple Bloom's eyes widened in fear of the creature before her, and of what it might do to her. Her fear didn't go unnoticed, of course.

"I know you're afraid," Erlea said, trying to sound gentle, but only managing to heighten Apple Bloom's feeling of fright, sending a cold shiver of disgust down Erlea's spine. "Okay, how about this? You promise not to scream, shout, yell, or do anything else to draw attention to us, and I will remove my hoof. Deal?"

"Hmph pfhh hmmm," Apple Bloom mumbled, covering Erlea's hoof in a layer of drool.

Disgusted, Erlea shot Apple Bloom a glare. "Just nod!"

Nodding, Apple Bloom agreed with Erlea's proposal.

"Good," she said as she removed her hoof, wiping it clean on the blanket. "Now-" she started, only to be interrupted by someone knocking on the door.

"Hey, Bloom. You alright?" the sleepy voice of the eldest Apple sibling came through the door, and both Erlea and Apple Bloom looked at the door in fright. More so as they noticed the knob turning, and the door starting to open.

Erlea shot Apple Bloom a glare, telling her without words to fix this, or else.

True, the 'or else' part was mostly empty 'words'. But Apple Bloom didn't know that, and she quickly jumped into motion. Poking her head through the gap and using a leg to keep the door from fully opening; hiding her bed, and the changeling on it, from view. Apple Bloom gave her brother the most honest, sheepish, and nervous smile she could, causing the stallion to raise an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Yer not doing anything ya shouldn't be, are ya?"

"Who, me?" Apple Bloom asked innocently. "What would give you that idea?"

Giving her a flat stare, Macintosh sighed. "Apple Bloom. What're ya hiding?"

"Nothing, really!" Apple Bloom replied, a frantic edge to her voice as she attempted to close the door, only for her older brother to stop her with a hoof.

"Apple Bloom!"

"Oh, are you for real!?" a double voice piped up, irritated, and Macintosh's eyes widened as the door began to glow green, swung open, and revealed a changeling standing behind his youngest sister.

He didn’t have much time to react as he suddenly found himself entranced by the hypnotic glow coming from the changeling's eyes; mirrored by the glow coming from her horn.

"You will leave us alone and forget I was ever here," Erlea spoke with a commanding voice, and Macintosh nodded, eyes unfocused and blank, before he slowly moved away, the door closing after him.

"WHAT THA HAY DID YOU JUST DO TA MAH BROTHER!" Apple Bloom shouted, glaring at the bug.

Shaking her head while wobbling on unsteady legs, Erlea glowered at Apple Bloom. "I did what you couldn't. Get rid of him. Gha..." she grunted as she almost lost her hoofing, before managing to steady her stance. "He's fine, if that's what you're worried about. I barely have enough strength left after that, so he won't be under my mind control for much longer."

"What tha… How did Ah end up here?" Macintosh's voice drifted in through the window.

"See."

Apple Bloom glared at the changeling, not sure whether she should buck out a couple of teeth, or run away. For now, she decided to keep some distance between herself and the bug, and see what she wanted.

"Why're you here?" she asked, eyes narrowed, slowly moving in a half circle around the changeling, looking for any weak spots should they be necessary. "What do ya want?"

Erlea, not impressed in the least by Apple Bloom's poor attempt at 'observing her prey', merely fluttered her wings, filling the room with an insectoid buzzing for a moment, before locking her eyes with the pony's.

"You and your friends. You helped me."

"Yeah, so what of it?"

Blinking, Erlea cocked her head in puzzlement. "Why?"

Taken aback, Apple Bloom stopped in her tracks, staring at Erlea in silent confusion.

"Why what? Why did we help you?" Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Yes, why did you help me?" Erlea asked again. "You ponies never help changelings, ever. Not even when we asked for it, back… then," Erlea's eyes fell as she whispered the last part.

"Back when?" Apple Bloom asked, and Erlea's eyes shot back up, locking with Apple Bloom's a second time, fangs bared.

"Like you would care. You ponies never seem to give two bucks about us changelings," Erlea replied with venomously, and Apple Bloom visibly recoiled. "Yet you and your friends helped me. WHY!?" Her form suddenly seemed to dominate the room, and Apple Bloom shrunk down under her intense stare, gulping.

"Because ya needed help," Apple Bloom answered with a squeak, and Erlea looked as if she'd been kicked in the gut, before hissing in anger.

"Don't lie, pony. Ponies don't help changelings. I know you and your friends must have a reason for helping me. Maybe you three found out I'm the queen's daughter, and wanted to hold me for ransom!?"

"You're tha queen's daughter…? Doesn't that make ya a princess?" Apple Bloom said, glancing at Erlea's wings, before shifting her focus to the jagged horn currently letting out glowing green sparks.

"Don't pretend you didn't know! What other reason would you have to help me!?" Erlea snorted. "It's not like you would know what it’s like to be looked down on by others just because of what you are."

"Actually..." Apple Bloom spoke up, "Ah do." Erlea hissed in disbelief. "No, really. Ah do…. Kinda." Erlea snorted, but backed down, slightly, allowing Apple Bloom to continue. "There're these two bullies who keep making fun of me and mah friends because we ain't found our Cutie Marks yet. They think they're better than us, and keep tellin' us we're losers and such."

"Really," Erlea said flatly. "Bullies? That's the best you can do? And what's so important about these flank marks you ponies are so obsessed with anyway?"

"Hey, a Cutie Mark is very important!" Apple Bloom shot back defensively.

"Pfhu... More important than food?" Erlea asked bitterly, and Apple Bloom looked at her in confusion. "That's what I've been trying to find, while you and your friends were busy finding these flank marks."

"What do ya mean?" Apple Bloom asked and Erlea, much to her surprise, felt a genuine feeling of concern coming from the pony.

"Like you don't know. I know how you ponies think. How you care more about each other, and are more concerned about this stupid image on your butt," —Apple Bloom gasped — "yet my kind is wasting away from hunger, and you ponies never helped us, no matter how many times we've asked you for help." Erlea hissed angrily. "Calling us monsters and such... " She dropped to the floor, her legs giving out, and a tired sob escaped her. "You ponies never cared about us… So why did you help me?"

Surprised by the changeling's sudden change in demeanor, Apple Bloom was uncertain how to react. Yet unable to just ignore her, she hesitantly stepped forward; placing a hoof on Erlea's withers.

"We helped ya because ya needed help," she said honestly, and Erlea froze, unable to sense anything that would suggest she was lying. Looking up, her luminescent eyes met Apple Bloom's.

"... You're serious?" she said in a half whisper.

"Of course Ah am," Apple Bloom replied, frowning. "And ya won't have ta look fer food anymore either. We've got a whole orchard full of apples. We won't miss a few."

Erlea looked at Apple Bloom as if she had just grown a second head, unable to comprehend what she had just heard.

"Whu…?"

"Although Ah don't know just how many apples ya'd need," Apple Bloom pondered, holding a hoof to her chin. "Ah mean, one or two trees should be fine, but any more might be tough."

"Wha…?"

"Maybe three, depending..." Apple Bloom continued, deep in thought.

"Wha…?" Erlea shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Eh… Thanks, I guess. But apples are not going to help."

"Huh, why not?" Apple Bloom said, shocked, snapped out of her thoughts. "You said ya needed food, right?"

"Yes."

"So, apples are food."

"Not to a changeling," Erlea answered. "We can eat them, but they won't sustain us."

"Then what do ya eat?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Emotions," Erlea answered truthfully. "The positive ones, preferably."

"Whu…?"

"You know: happiness, compassion, love."

"Wha…?"

"Negative emotions can work, but they taste horrible."

"Wha…?" Apple Bloom shook her head to clear her thoughts. "So ya can't eat any normal food?"

"Oh, we can eat 'normal' food. It just won't sustain us."

"... That's really, really weird."

"Not to me," Erlea replied, when a loud rumble came from her stomach, and she placed a hoof over her belly, blushing fiercely. "I guess I used more energy controlling your brother than I thought."

A few moments of silence ticked by, then Apple Bloom snorted in laughter while Erlea stared at her in embarrassment. Yet Apple Bloom, unknowingly, did provide her with a fresh surge of positive emotional energy, and Erlea was quick to consume as much as she could.

"Well, Ah guess we better find ya something ta eat then," Apple Bloom said, before suddenly realizing something. "Wait, how does tha whole emotion eating thing even work?"

"Actually," Erlea said, "you already gave me some."

"Ah did?"

"Yes, when you laughed just now." Erlea sighed. "But it is hardly enough. Not for me. And certainly not enough for anyling else."

"Well, that's no good," Apple Bloom said, frowning. "... Eh… Is there any way ya can, Ah dunno, eat more emotions from me or something?"

Erlea looked at the pony in complete disbelief. Never before had she heard of a pony offering her emotions for food like this. Well, except for those stories of long ago. Still, shocked by the pony's offer, she gave herself a mental slap, forcing her to snap out of her stupor.

"Uuhh… There is a way, I suppose. But, uhh..."

"But, what?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It is kind of tiring. For you, I mean."

"Well… Ah don’t have many chores ta do, ‘cept going ta school today. So being tired ain't really that big of a deal," said Apple Bloom.

"... You ponies are weird," Erlea said, giving Apple Bloom an odd look.

"Nah, that's Pinkie Pie's thing," Apple Bloom answered with a slight smirk. Erlea, however, flinched upon hearing that name, but managed to hide it from Apple Bloom.

'She knows one of them! This could be of use… maybe?'

"Riiight," she said, drawing Apple Bloom's attention back to her. With a sudden gleam in her own eyes, she continued.

"As I said, there is a way for me to get more emotional energy, but it’s tiring for you. You still want to do this?"

"Uhh… Is it gonna hurt?"

"Only if you struggle. So…?"

"... Ah guess," Apple Bloom said, a hint of hesitance in her voice. "What do Ah need ta do?"

"Just... hold out your leg."

"Umm… Okay?" Apple Bloom said, stretching her leg out before her. "Like this?"

"Yes, perfect!" Erlea proclaimed.

"Shoot, Ah don’t even know yer name!" Apple Bloom suddenly realized. "Ah kinda think Ah should know that, at least."

"It's Erlea," Erlea answered before lunging forward; sinking her fangs into Apple Bloom's leg.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wow. You look rough," Scootaloo said, gazing at her earth pony friend with concern.

The school day had only just begun, and everypony was gathering on the playground, waiting for the dreaded moment where Miss Cheerilee would ring the bell and they would be forced to endure yet another day of boring learning. But Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle knew this wasn't the worst part of the day. Not by a long shot. After all, they were still in a whole lot of trouble, and they knew school was just the easy part.

Although, for Apple Bloom the day did prove to be more interesting than others. Not counting all their crusading mishaps, or Sweetie Belle being a spirit. No, waking up with a changeling by her side and then having it suck her emotions straight out of her, through her leg no less, was definitely out of the norm, and darn tiring as well.

Not that she could complain, much. Erlea did warn her this would happen. But to say she wasn't expecting it to be this bad would have been no small understatement.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom groaned. "Ah feel like it too."

"Did Applejack do this? Was it Big Mac, or Granny Smith?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"Nah," Apple Bloom yawned. "Erlea."

"Who!?" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle asked, glancing first at each other, then at Apple Bloom.

"Right..." Apple Bloom yawned again, loudly. Glancing around with tired eyes, making sure they weren't being spied upon, she beckoned her friends to come closer. "She was that changeling from tha other day."

"WHAT!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shouted, drawing attention from several of their classmates.

"Shh… Keep it down, will ya?" Apple Bloom said.

"But the changeling!?" Sweetie Belle protested. "Isn't she supposed to be dangerous or something?"

"Eh... girls..." Apple Bloom said, trying to cut them off.

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed. "I mean, sure, we kinda saved her life and everything. But everypony keeps saying how dangerous they are!"

"Girls!" Apple Bloom tried again, louder, only to be interrupted by a rustling coming from the bush near their position.

"Figures," came Erlea's voice, drifting from within the foliage and two luminescent eyes, barely visible, glowed between the leaves.

"Apple Bloom!?" Sweetie Belle said.

"Yeah… She's here."

"You're all the same," the bush muttered.

"Oh..." Scootaloo chuckled nervously.

"I take it she heard us?" said Sweetie Belle.

"You think?" came the voice, leaves rustling.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom were glancing between themselves nervously, when a new voice cut in, drawing their attention to a pernicious pair of earth ponies.

"What are you three losers planning this time!?" came Diamond Tiara's biting voice. Silver Spoon stood behind her, looking down. "Going to cause more trouble, as usual, Blank Flanks!?" Diamond Tiara stuck her nose in the air, circling Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle with an air of superiority; grimacing at the sight of them.

"What do you want, Diamond Tiara?" Scootaloo sneered, scowling at the obnoxious pony.

"Oh, it's not about what I want," Diamond Tiara replied, holding a hoof against her chest, feigning surprise, before a scowl replaced her fake innocent look. "It's about what you three want!" she hissed. "I know you're the ones causing all this trouble Silver Spoon and I are having. And I know you are planning something else, just because you three are jealous of how popular I am, and what losers you three really are." Her eyes shifted to Sweetie Belle. "And no amount of fancy magic will ever change that."

"What're you even talking about?" Apple Bloom said, trying to sound serious, but a massive yawn ruined it. Diamond Tiara, however, saw this as an act of defiance towards her.

"Oh, am I boring you!?" she snarled. "Well, you better sleep with one eye open from now on, ‘cause I'll be watching you. I know you're up to something. I know you're hiding something. I will know what it is, and I will find a way to knock you back down into the mud where you belong." And with that she turned around sharply and marched away. Silver Spoon shot the three fillies a hesitant, almost apologetic, glance before following behind her friend.

"... Is it just me, or did she seem meaner than usual?" Apple Bloom asked, rubbing her eyes to make sure she was awake, and not having a nightmare.

"It's not you," Scootaloo confirmed.

"And what did she mean with that whole fancy magic thing?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"Is she always this… distasteful?" the bush asked; a gagging sound soon following.

"Ehh… Depends on if it's a good day, or a bad day," Apple Bloom answered.

"And which one is it now?"

"Honestly..." Scootaloo said.

"It's starting to look like a bad day," Sweetie Belle finished. "A really, really bad day."

Their conversation was cut short when, with a cheerful clang, Cheerilee rang the school bell, forcing the fillies to leave their new 'friend' alone as they entered the school. The door closing behind them after Cheerilee was sure everypony was present, all as Erlea's luminescent eyes watched on from the depths of her bush.

"... Maybe they do know what it is like after all."

<<>><<>><<>>

Moving through the bushes, taking care to stay out of sight, Erlea circled around the school and snuck towards the window of the building's only classroom. Dropping below the windowsill and perking up her ears, she listened in on the class in session; picking up on several different emotions. Most of them, though, radiated boredom.

Still, a chance like this to gain some intel on the ponies' educational system was an opportunity she just couldn't pass up.

However what the ponies seemed to regard as important knowledge to bestow on their young was anything but interesting, and seemingly unimportant, to Erlea who soon found herself nodding off.

What Apple Bloom had said a couple hours prior suddenly made a lot more sense to her.

Deciding that these teachings were of no importance to her or her kind, she instead focused on the many emotions she could feel. Paying close attention to five sets of particular potency. The first three she recognized as coming from Apple Bloom and her two friends. The other two originated from those spiteful ponies they encountered just a moment ago.

'What were their names again?' Erlea thought. 'Diamond Spoon? Tiara Silver? Meh... it's not important,' she decided, but she was interested in something else surrounding those two. 'Her attention isn't even remotely on the lesson,' she thought as she focused on the pony who talked down to Apple Bloom and her friends. 'There is only a feeling of… of… huh, whaddya know. Jealousy. And a whole lot of anger,' A wave of sudden dizziness swept over her when she switched her focus to the silent one.

'Wh… What was that?' She shook her head to focus. 'Her emotions are all over the place. I can't make any sense of it!?' A shudder went down her spine as she pushed the alien sensation away from her; a sudden cold feeling squeezing the very core of her being. 'Who is that pony?! And what the buck is going on with her?!'

"Apple Bloom," the teacher's voice suddenly cut through the air. "Wake up!" Which was swiftly followed by the sound of somepony falling, and a chorus of laughter. Yet, besides her friends and their teacher, one other pony didn't laugh, and Erlea once more focused on the gray filly, daring to peek over the windowsill to get a better look at her.

"Something weird is going on," she said to herself, quickly ducking into cover when several heads turned to the window she was hiding below.

Not wanting to take any more chances, Erlea quietly snuck away. Staying out of sight while keeping an eye on the school.

<<>><<>><<>>

The bell rung, and the school's door practically exploded as a tidal wave of young ponies came rushing out.

Cheers of joy and reclaimed freedom filled the air, with many of the colts and fillies running to the nearby field for a quick game of hoofball. It was a sight that was strange and alien to the young changeling, observing it all from the safety of her original bush.

She wasn't entirely sure why she was even there, and yet, she found it impossible to leave and continue her search for a new food source to bring back to the hive. Although she was still curious about what the strange waves of energy she felt in the forest could be, and was more than eager to investigating further, the sudden appearance and rescue by those three ponies; not to mention what she had sensed from that gray filly, made this a difficult task.

She needed answers, and the best way to get them was from those ponies. Those three who, against everything she knew, helped her.

She continued to observe through narrowed eyes as she spotted Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo leaving the school. Followed closely, in a rather poor attempt at stealth, by the distasteful pink earth pony... her gray cohort lagging behind.

"Hmmm," she hummed, wings fluttering slightly. "How can I use them to my advantage?" Focusing on the wellspring of foul emotions, her eyes suddenly widened in recognition. 'That feeling. This narcissism….' She then noticed the image of a tiara displayed on the pink filly's flank, and a devious smirk found its way across her face. 'So, it's her,' she thought as she quietly snuck away, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were standing in front of their school, looking with wary eyes at the two ponies waiting for them.

First there was Bellflower, who was waiting to take Scootaloo back home; not trusting her to keep to her curfew on her own. The same held true for the large red stallion waiting for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. The latter forced to stay with her bow-wearing friend since their older sisters had gone to Canterlot for some kind of important business.

True, she was supposed to have been brought over to Sweet Apple Acres last night. But cleaning the mess she mostly didn't cause took longer than expected, and Rarity's friend, who was watching over her, allowed her to stay at the Boutique for the night, arranging for her to be picked up by Apple Bloom's brother the following day after school instead.

And thus, as it was said, so it was done. With a bummed out: "Bye," from Scootaloo, they parted ways. Scootaloo heading back into town under Bellflower's watchful eye, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sulked towards the apple orchard with Big Mac trudging behind them; stalk of wheat in his mouth.

"This blows," Apple Bloom muttered, though not making any effort to hide it from her brother.

"I know," Sweetie Belle concurred. "... At least we are together, though."

"Not that it'll do us much good," Apple Bloom sighed, looking at her brother through the corner of her eye. "Ah doubt Big Mac would let us do any crusading," she said, before adding under her breath: "Or spirit training."

"Eeyup," Macintosh Apple said, confirming what Apple Bloom had said. Or at least the part he had heard anyway.

Sweetie Belle let loose a throaty groan, kicking away a small pebble.

"Now yall stop complaining. Ya brought this onto yerselves," Macintosh told them, before ushering them back into motion. "Now, you two better behave. Yall are already in enough trouble as is, no need ta make it worse fer yerselves."

"Fine." Apple Bloom sulked as she and Sweetie Belle moved down the path towards the farmhouse. Yet, unbeknownst to the morose duo or their reluctant keeper, they were watched by a pair of light blue eyes; the silver tiara perched on her head glimmering in a stray beam of light that managed to penetrate the bush she was hiding in.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep down, within the walls of the Hive's castle, Chrysalis strained herself to remain standing. However, in her current state, slumped in her throne was about all she could manage. Yet she kept forcing herself, not wanting her already troubled subjects to descend into complete pandemonium should their queen succumb to her illness.

She had to be there for them; a small awareness in the back of their minds. Faint, like so many others, but still present in their rapidly dwindling hive mind. Whispering comforting lies to them, telling them everything would be alright.

Yet there was one more reason for Chrysalis to push herself far beyond her own limits. Erlea. She told her to be careful, wished for her to be safe, but she knew that danger would be ever present for her daughter. It was this, and the knowledge that it was her daughter instead of herself out there, doing what she should be doing, and the fact that the condition she, as well as most of her subjects, were in was the result of their failed last resort option.

If only the ponies had helped them when they had asked for it so long ago.

Now, weakened to the point she couldn't even sit upright and forced to lean against her throne just to keep herself from falling over, the only thing she could do to aid her daughter was listen in on her connection to their shared minds. And, should things go wrong, maybe, hopefully, one of the few remaining fit changelings would be able to save her.

But she was weak, and her already strained mind had trouble reaching out to her daughter. She wouldn't let this stop her, of course. And with the sparsest amount of energy she could muster, she reached out once more. But a sudden stabbing in her mind resulted in her losing her weak focus, causing the connection to shift; transcending their mortal realm as it connected with something else through the Everfree portal, and accidentally shared the misery she and all the other changelings felt.

With a weak grunt of intense struggle, Chrysalis forced her mind to focus once more, reaching out to her daughter; unaware of what had happened in the few moments her illness took hold of her.

<<>><<>><<>>

It stood unsteadily on its legs, shaking its head, ears folded flat. Hooves stomped down into the snow as it steadied itself; an aura of freezing cold radiating off of its body as it looked up, and towards the area the sickening feeling came from.

Something had called them. Something that was in distress.

It moved. They moved. The ground starting to tremble from the force of their hooves.

They were coming.

<<>><<>><<>>

Avalanche and Snow Front stood beside the portal leading to the ponies' world, scanning the frozen lands for anything that might try to sneak past them. They wouldn't allow anything or anyone to enter this world, such was the duty given to them. A duty which they carried out to the full extend of their abilities. A task which, somehow, they failed.

The first clue they got to indicate this was the sudden reaction of the timberwolves guarding the other side, jumping up and growling to themselves while sniffing the air. The second clue they found was a faint trail in the snow, as if something had dug a tunnel underneath their feet, which had now collapsed.

Shooting each other a worried glance, they knew trouble was approaching. The most likely candidate, one which was able to dig its way through the snow as such a manner, would be a Beku Terwelu.

Communicating without words, and only the faintest of nods, Avalanche was about to return to their village and report the bad news.

However, before even a single step was taken, the ground began to tremble, and Avalanche, Snow Front, and the two timberwolves all froze in their tracks.

It was a low rumble at first, gradually intensifying as the source of this disturbance drew near. A large cloud of powdery snow being kicked up was clearly visible in the distance, and the two frost giants braced themselves for what was to come.

The rumbling grew louder and louder, the ground shaking in turn. A small avalanche fell from a distant mountain side, and the rapid pounding of hooves become audible.

They knew what it was; what they were, yet they couldn't believe it. Never before had they witnessed these creatures move in such massive numbers this close to the village. Something had disturbed them, and it became clear to them that the portal was what they were drawn to.

A loud whiny echoed through the air, followed moments later many more. And in what could be best described as a blizzard, a massive herd of ice-blue horses ran for the hole in reality; too many for either frost giant to stop and they, as well as the timberwolves, jumped out of their path.

A massive cold front followed in the equines' wake, freezing everything in their path, leaving the two timberwolves frozen solid in their shocked stances.

These equines' manes and tails, made of nothing but frozen vapor, trailed behind them as they ran; ice forming on the stone floor of the abandoned castle wherever their hooves fell.

Another whinny came from the horse leading the herd, and the entire herd followed its lead; running through the hallways, freezing everything they passed until they found an exit, and entered the sun-basked courtyard of the abandoned castle, before taking off into the sky.

"By the ancestors," Avalanche breathed, looking up and breaking through the thin layer of snow and ice covering him. "What's to become of the young ones' world!?"

Brace Yourselves!

Edits done by Gigas, Clayton the Hunter, Inkblot_von_Pie_III, and Vates Despero.

Brace Yourselves!

<<>><<>><<>>

Small paws struck the forest ground in rapid succession as the small puppy ran from tree to tree, barking happily as he filled his deceased lungs with the many smells of the forest.

He'd been at it for a while now, ever since he found his way into the forest. Never stopping, always chasing the promise of an even better tree to mark, which soon led him deeper and deeper into the untamed wilderness of the Everfree Forest.

However, even in his excitement to find the promised tree, he couldn't forget what had brought him here; who he was looking for. And so, as he sniffed his way through the forest, he came to an abrupt stop when he caught a whiff of something he hadn't smelled for several years.

His ears perked up, and he turned his attention towards the source of the faint trace. A small waggle of his tail came next, before he took off in a sprint, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were hard at work in the farmhouse, having been given several chores to complete as punishment. The ever-vigilant Granny Smith kept close watch over them... with her eyes closed... snoring loudly in her rocking chair.

With the fillies safely occupied, Big Mac was hard at work in the fields covering for Applejack's absence, which was something he had gotten used to over the past few years, ever since his sister had become the Element of Honesty.

He didn't mind, much. He loved working out in the fields, and one or two chores more or less wasn't going to slow him down. However, with Applejack's extended absence on 'official Element' business, those few extra chores soon piled up, and now he found himself swamped with more chores than he knew how to deal with in the limited time available. Thus he was more than happy to share part of his ever growing to-do list with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to teach them the error of their ways.

Of course, knowing his youngest sibling, those few chores she had now would soon multiply to an even greater number. Most likely when she and Sweetie Belle came up with some harebrained scheme to use their chores in an effort to earn their Cutie Marks.

Though that hopefully wouldn't happen this time. Their chores were chosen specifically because they were either easy, or just plain dirty to do.

Still, with those fillies, no one could know what might happen. Big Mac doubted those youngsters even knew what they were doing half of the time. In fact, considering the damage they caused to the trees near their clubhouse, the thought of them trying for their Cutie Marks while cleaning the farmhouse seemed more and more like an accident waiting to happen.

Shaking those thoughts away, he turned to look at the distant building he called home while shifting the wheat stalk from one corner of his mouth to the other.

'No,' he told himself, 'Bloom may cause all kinds of trouble, but she would never do anything that would damage our home.' His thoughts then returned to the scorched and blackened trees surrounding the treehouse. '… Maybe Ah should check up on her, just ta be sure,' he thought as he proceeded to unhitch the cart he was pulling, half filled with apples, and quickly make his way back home.

<<>><<>><<>>

Erlea moved through the foliage surrounding the building with practiced ease, though her pink coat did little to help her blend in with the greens and browns, not to mention how the gleaming silver tiara resting on top of her head made her even more noticeable. 'Still,' she thought, 'it's less conspicuous than a changeling moving about.' But that was cold comfort and those thoughts did little to quench her feelings of unease.

Not because she was sneaking around this apple orchard, owned by ponies. Nay, it was not even the form she had chosen to use as a disguise, although she really wasn't a fan of the pony she now resembled. No, her unease came from the conversation she had had with Apple Bloom earlier that morning.

She had met a pony who was not only not afraid of a changeling, but also offering to help. Even going as far as allowing her to feed directly on her emotions through her bite. This was unheard of, and it left Erlea's mind in turmoil.

'I don't know what's going on with these ponies, but I will find out,' she told herself, sneaking closer and closer to the rustic home, only to be caught off guard by Apple Bloom's brother who was rapidly approaching the farm house.

Much to Erlea's distress she was in neither the appropriate position, nor the proper disguise to hide from view, and much to her rising anxiety, the stallion slowed down as his gaze settled on her.

Looking around in a panic, trying to find any way out of this situation, Erlea found herself running out of options as the large form of the red stallion came closer and closer; his shadow soon covering her smaller form.

'Oh, dung beetles.'

<<>><<>><<>>

"It ain't fair," Apple Bloom whined quietly as she dragged the mop across the floor. "It's not like Ah burned those trees."

"Yeah… sorry about that," Sweetie Belle muttered as she dragged a bucket of filthy water to the sink to replace it. "Then again… I thought you said 'I got it'. What exactly did you plan on doing?"

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to answer, only to fall silent when she couldn't come up with anything.

"Well?" Sweetie Belle asked, a single eyebrow raised.

"... Uhhh..."

"You don't have a clue, do you?"

"Not a single one," Apple Bloom answered dryly, flashing her friend a beaming, if not a bit awkward, smile.

Sighing, Sweetie Belle pushed herself up against the kitchen counter, pulling the bucket up with her mouth, before pouring the murky water down the drain.

"Say, why don't ya use yer magic ta do that?" Apple Bloom asked.

Sweetie Belle gave her friend a flat stare. "You know I can barely lift a broom. There’s no way I can lift a full bucket."

"Oh… An' what about, you know..." Apple Bloom looked around to make sure no one was listening in, before leaning towards Sweetie Belle and whispering behind a hoof, "Your spirit powers?"

"What!?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, before dropping down on all fours, voice lowering to match Apple Bloom's. "You can't be serious, right? I have enough trouble controlling those powers as is… Besides, I don't even know if I can use my spirit powers for something like that."

"Well, ya won't know unless ya try."

Sweetie Belle blinked several times, considering what Apple Bloom had said, eyes shifting between the still half full bucket and Apple Bloom, who was giving her a rather large encouraging smile.

"Fine," she relented with a sigh.

Sweetie Belle moved over to Granny Smith and nudged her in the side to make sure she was, indeed, fast asleep.

Satisfied that she was, and wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Sweetie Belle returned to her previous position, secured her stance, and stared at the bucket with a mix of determination and uncertainty; her horn igniting in a dark green aura.

"Well, here goes..." she muttered and did... something.

Having little experience with the art of levitation using her magic, and even less when it came to her spirit powers, she did the only thing she could come up with: combine the two, and use what 'knowledge' she had about her magical abilities as she tried to use her spectral abilities.

Taking several deep breaths, she felt the faint sensation of her energy interacting with the object before her. Eyes hardening, she gritted her teeth as she mentally grabbed hold of the bucket, physically straining to lift it.

"Come on, Sweetie Belle. You can do it!" Apple Bloom cheered her on with a lowered voice so she wouldn't accidentally wake her grandmother.

"I'm... trying," Sweetie Belle grunted, her horn glowing a dark green as sparks shot off of it.

With teeth grinding together in concentration, Sweetie Belle forced even more of her strange new energy to flow; a faint, wavering aura beginning to emerge around the target of her focus.

With a small gasp, Apple Bloom watched as the bucket began to wobble, before moving half an inch; the water sloshing inside.

Having noticed this development herself, Sweetie Belle took several deep breaths, before pushing herself to her limit, causing the bucket to wobble and shake more and more. Then, to both the fillies' surprise, the door opened, and Big Mac trudged inside.

With a startled gasp, Sweetie Belle lost her focus. In a burst of toxic green, the bucket launched itself up with blurring speed and slammed into the ceiling before tumbling down, upside down and coming to a stop firmly planted atop Big Macintosh's head.

Dirty water dripped down his face and mane, his wheat stalk sagging from the corner of his mouth as he stood frozen on the spot, trying to process what had just happened, and how it was possible for those two to make such a mess while doing something as simple as cleaning the house.

"Oh no!" Apple Bloom cried. "Big brother, you alright?!" she asked, rushing to her brother's side.

Holding up a large hoof to shush her down, Macintosh slowly removed his newly acquired hard hat, eyes closed, and sighed loudly with a muttered, "Ah don't even want ta know…" He then proceeded to climb the stairs as he told them: "Ah'm gonna wash up. Meanwhile, yer friend wants a word with ya." He paused for a moment, before adding, "Keep it short… yer still in a lot of trouble." He continued up, shaking his head, before vanishing in the bathroom.

"Wait… Friend?" Apple Bloom asked, blinking in confusion.

"Is Scootaloo here?" Sweetie Belle mused, wincing as she rubbed her slightly smoking horn, 'Ugh… I'm not doing that again.'

"Guess again," a familiar, and rather obnoxious, voice came from the open door. Both fillies turned to see the one pony they'd never thought to see here… at least not voluntarily.

"Diamond Tiara!?" Sweetie Belle half shouted.

"What in tarnation are ya doin' here?" Apple Bloom glared.

Looking around with half interest, taking notice of the still sleeping Granny Smith, 'Diamond Tiara' gave the two fillies a bemused look.

"Just trying out my acting skills," she answered, eyes flashing green. "Your brother certainly fell for it."

"Erlea?" Apple Bloom said, surprised.

"The one and only," Erlea confirmed, smirking.

"What are you doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked, stepping up beside Apple Bloom.

Erlea's slightly smug smirk fell. "You two… Three if that orange one was here."

"Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle corrected.

"Yeah, her," Erlea said dismissively. "You ponies helped me, when no other of your kind would do so… I want to know why."

"Maybe ya just haven’t met tha right kind of ponies before?" said Apple Bloom.

Erlea's mind flashed back to all the stories she and the other nymphs were told growing up, and an irritated glare grew on her face.

"... I don't think so," she said flatly.

"Well," Sweetie Belle chimed in, sharing a look with Apple Bloom, before turning back to Erlea. "We helped because you were in trouble."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom agreed. "And we'll help anypony… ling who's in trouble. What kind of ponies would we be if we didn't?"

Erlea stared at the two with a blank look, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"... Although... Maybe not Diamond Tiara, or Silver Spoon. They're mean," Sweetie Belle added, a pondering hoof pressed against her chin.

"Mmhmm," Apple Bloom hummed her agreement.

"Unless, of course, they really, really, really need our help… maybe?" Sweetie Belle added in a mutter.

"Eehh… Ah guess, maybe?" Apple Bloom begrudgingly agreed. "If they really need it." The two of them then returned their attention to the disguised changeling in the room.

Silence.

"... You. Ponies. Are. Weird!" Erlea stated, staring at the two fillies with large, deeply confused eyes.

"Yup," Apple Bloom said cheerfully, "an' we like it like that."

The sound of the bathroom door opening drew their attention, prompting them to turn and see Big Mac come lumbering down the stairs, shooting the three fillies a wary glance; especially the unicorn of the group, who he had a strong suspicion was responsible for his surprise shower just a moment ago.

"Ya asked 'em what ya needed ta ask?" he aimed at 'Diamond Tiara' with a slight frown, having heard enough about her from his little sister and her friends to know that they were not on friendly terms with one another.

"... I'm not sure," Erlea answered, trying to figure out the fillies who'd saved her life.

"Well, sorry ta hear it, but these two still have a lot of chores ta do. Ah suggest you three finish talkin' 'bout it at school tomorrow."

"Yeah… School. Sure," Erlea answered, unfocused, as she turned to leave.

"An' you two," Big Mac continued as he turned to the troublesome duo. "Back ta work."

"Yes, big brother," Apple Bloom replied in a monotone.

"Okay, Big Mac," Sweetie Belle droned, and the both of them picked up where they left off; Apple Bloom grabbing the mop, while Sweetie Belle retrieved the bucket lying on its side nearby.

"An' no more lollygaggin'," Big Macintosh added, before exiting the house, closing the door behind him with a click.

"Huh, wha?!" Granny Smith shouted, startled awake by the faint noise. Looking around, she saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle still hard at work, and in no apparent trouble.

Smiling faintly, she settled back into her rocking chair, knowing that those two wouldn't be able to cause any funny business under her watchful eye.

She fell asleep ten seconds later.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Alright team, report!" Rolling Stone ordered as he and his team gathered back at the guesthouse, comparing notes.

"I've made another sweep around Manson's residence, as ordered," Blue Ice started. "I found several traces of spectral activity around the house, similar to the ones we've detected before. However, the energies found were faint. Nothing new, just some old signatures."

"Hmm… If all the signs there are old, then where are they now?" Rolling Stone spoke his thoughts, then turned to Sound Wave. "Did you find anything?"

"I'm not sure," she answered. "I've kept a close eye on the filly, Silver Spoon. Followed her throughout her day to day activities, but the data my scans showed were… confusing."

"How so?" Blue Ice asked. "Are the scanner's calibrations off?"

"No, I don't think so," Sound Wave replied with a frustrated head shake. "What was strange was that I found several strange, faint energy signatures on her when I made a scan while she was in school, inconclusive on whether these energies were spectral in origin."

"Say what?!" Ornate Charm said loudly, before dropping her tone of voice to a more reasonable level. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Sound Wave shot back. "Whatever I picked up, the scanner couldn't tell for certain whether it was spectral in origin or not. It was almost as if the scanner was trying to lock on to several different sources at once, both inside and outside the school."

"But if it was spectral, you should have gotten a clear reading," Blue Ice replied.

"I know. I did last time I scanned Silver Spoon back in Carousel Boutique. I got one of the strongest readings I've had here."

"Let's not forget what happened back at Manson's residence. There was no question about what happened there," said Ornate Charm.

"And now this," Rolling Stone picked up. "We know for a fact there are several ghosts active in the area. We also know that Sound Wave picked up strong spectral activity once around this filly. But now, just after Danny Manson’s disappearance at the train station, we get conflicting reports not just on this filly but also on our scans around Danny’s house!”

"Sir, what in Celestia's good grace is going on in this town?" Ornate Charm asked.

"I wish I knew," Rolling Stone replied. "All I can say for certain is that we have a missing human who might, or might not be haunted. We’re also dealing with a filly who might or might not be a ghost in disguise. Put that together with the encounter we had back at Manson's place…" He sighed loudly. "Whatever is going on, we need to get to the bottom of this, quick. Focus your attention on Silver Spoon for the time being. We need to find proof that she’s either a ghost, or is being possessed. I hope that neither is the case, but we can't ignore the evidence. Also, before Danny Manson returns, we’ll have to arrange a more thorough scan of his home; try to find any reason why he might be the center of the previous activity." His squad gave a nod in understanding.

"Furthermore-" he continued, only to be cut off by a loud, high pitched scream. Faint at first, but growing louder and louder by the second.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

"... What the hay was that?" Blue Ice asked, all of them hearing the sudden commotion coming from outside.

"Don't know," Rolling Stone replied with haste, "but we're not going to sit here on our flanks and let this pass. Move out, and find out what just happened!" he ordered, and the four of them hurried outside. They were joined by Bellflower, who had heard the scream as well and rushed out to discover what had happened.

As the agents left in haste, they failed to notice that, in one of the many rooms of the guesthouse, was a lone pegasus filly with her face pressed against the glass of the locked window, trying to make sense of whatever it was that had just happened.

<<>><<>><<>>

Erlea was pacing around, hidden from view between several of the large trees, biting her lip as she kept thinking about what those two had said.

'They said they'd help anyone in trouble. But how much of that is true? No pony has ever helped us changelings. Not since…' she shook her head, 'No, that was centuries ago.' Erlea then stopped on the spot before moving towards the nearby bush that hid the farm house from view, and she pushed away several branches to create a hole to see through.

'But they did help. And they said they would help anyone in need…' The young changeling released the branches, allowing them to snap back into place as she stepped away. 'Maybe they…' she thought, uncertain. 'But even if they could, they're still stuck in there. And there is no way they could just leave,' she pondered, before an idea came to her. An idea crazy enough that it might just work. Even so, the thought caused her to sigh wearily. "They're not going to like this," she muttered.

Closing her eyes, she reached out through the hive mind, searching. She knew others were out there, searching for food like she was. Those among her kind who were still healthy; unaffected by the poisonous wave of emotional energy during the Canterlot invasion. There weren’t many, and almost all of them were children or teenagers. Those she was trying to contact were no different.

'Abella, Devora!' she called out, gaining the attention of her two best friends she grew up with; knowing her mother would be listening in on them as well… if she was still able.

'Erlea?' replied the feminine voice of Abella.

'Yes, it's me,' she answered. 'You there too, Devora?'

'Yeah,' Devora replied, also with a feminine tone of voice. 'What is it, Erlea? Have you found a source of food?'

'... Maybe?'

'Maybe?' Abella repeated. 'What do you mean by that?'

'It means I'm not sure,' Erlea clarified. 'I've encountered… something unusual. Maybe... they can help us?'

'They?' Abella questioned suspiciously.

'It's a long story. But I'm going to need your help. How soon do you think you can get to where I am?'

'And where exactly are you?' Devora asked.

'... I'll share my memories with you… it should explain some things… And raise even more questions. Just get here as soon as you can!' she told them, before allowing some of her memories to flow into the hive mind; allowing anyling to see what she had experienced, and several gasps coming from various points of the hive mind assaulted her mind.

'You're kidding, right!?' Abella shouted.

'She has to be. Because the only reason I can come up with why she would need our help is if she wanted us t—'

'I'm not joking! And, yes. That is what I need your help with.' Two more gasps reverberated over the hive mind. 'Now, please. Come here,' she finished before tuning out the shared mind, blocking off any protests her friends might make.

Despite it all, she was surprised she didn't get a response from her mother, which made her deeply concerned. However, back within the Hive's palace, her mother had seen her thoughts as well; and Crysalis couldn't help but tense up at what she saw.

'Those three fillies… I know them,' she thought and memories of her time masquerading as Princess Cadance resurfaced. Particularly, the memories of the wedding itself. When three young fillies walked with a bounce down the path towards the altar, each with a basket in their mouths, filled with rose petals to cover the ground for her to walk on. 'Those three… they saved my daughter?'

'Devora, Abella,' her weak voice reached the two young changelings, and their heated argument came to a sudden stop. 'Please do what my daughter has asked of you… There might be more going on here than we know. And, please, keep her safe.'

' 'Yes, my Queen,' ' they said in unison. Then their voices faded in the shared mind as both changelings abandoned the leads they were following, and set out for the village of Ponyville.

<<>><<>><<>>

'Yep, totally coming back to bite me in the ass,' Dani thought sourly, hovering invisible above the village. Looking down on the crowd that gathered, surrounding the pony who had been screaming like a little filly. The fact that this pony was not a little filly, but a full grown, heavily muscular stallion significantly increasing the weirdness of it all.

"Bulk Biceps?" one of the ponies said, approaching the terrified stallion. "What is going on?"

'Seriously, that's his name?' Dani wondered, confused. 'Did they name him after he bulked up or something?'

Raising a trembling hoof, Bulk Biceps pointed back where he had come from, everypony's heads turning towards where he was pointing.

"O-o-out t-there," he spoke with a fear induced stutter.

'Oh, come on. All I did was fly into you. Why are you so afraid?' Dani humphed, arms crossed.

"Out there, what?" another pony asked, his coat a dull orange and his mane and tail stone grey.

"A g-g-g-GHOST!" Bulk Biceps stammered, before shrieking again.

The reaction of the crowd was instantaneous. Horrified gasps came from many, and several mares, standing near a flower stand, fainted on the spot. Mothers pulled their foals towards them, while everyone looked around in fear.

"Are you sure you saw a ghost?" a mare with ice-blue fur asked, and Bulk Biceps nodded his head fervently.

Now several other ponies were screaming in terror, running for their homes and barricading the doors and windows.

'Oh for the love of...' Dani facepalmed, sighed, and shook her head. 'Can this get any worse?' Her eyes then caught sight of something that made her unbeating heart skip a beat. A faint glimmer of polished metal, sticking partially out of the skeptical blue mare's saddlebags. Something she knew she had seen before, and she risked turning intangible and dropping down to get a better look.

Looking around quickly to make sure she hadn't been detected in any way, she quickly phased her head through the saddlebags, and her suspicions were confirmed.

Rearing back in shocked realization, she slammed a hand over her mouth to prevent a gasp from escaping.

Rapidly flying up, she looked down at the pony with wide, worried eyes; this problem had just become much, much bigger than she thought possible, for what she found in the mare's bags was nothing less than a genuine Fenton Ghost Scanner.

'She's a ghost hunter!' she thought before noticing the mare regrouping with three others, and Dani quickly connected the pieces. 'They're the team I heard about back in Canterlot.'

Worry settled down over her, much like the fear that had descended upon the ponies of the village. She had found the ghost hunters, and the village now knew that a ghost was active in the area. 'I'll need to be careful. I can't let them find me,' she thought, before hurrying away, flying towards the edge of the village. Yet as she did so, she missed the four ponies looking up at the area she'd just left; a scanner held tight in the hoof of the ice blue mare.

Meanwhile, sitting behind the glass of Pinkie Pie's bedroom window, Gummy watched the events play out. Eyes open, unblinking, watching. Watching endlessly as the ghost hunters quietly moved away from the crowd. Watching the young Halfa as she flew near where he sat.

His eyes narrowed slightly, then he blinked.

<<>><<>><<>>

"A ghost!?" Scootaloo breathed, her window fogging over. "Did he mean Sweetie Belle?" Worry gnawed at her, and she jumped away from the window, pacing around her room. "I need to warn her. They might be on to her. But how? How do I get out of here?" She glared at the locked door and window, knowing from repeated attempts that they wouldn't budge. Not even the glass, which Bellflower had gotten enchanted to make almost impossible to break.

Moving back to the window, having thought of no way out of her prison, all Scootaloo was able to do was stare outside, watching the mass of ponies hurrying for their homes; looking around in fright.

"If only they knew…" she muttered. "Not all ghosts are bad."

Her words were lost to the glass, fogging over once more as large purple eyes stared wistfully outside. Wishing, once more, that she had powers like Sweetie Belle so she could escape this place.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Thanks for coming as fast as you did," Erlea said gratefully, looking at her two friends. Abella, half a head taller, with a dark red mane and tail, and bright yellow eyes. And Devora, only slightly shorter than Erlea, with an ocean blue mane and tail which complimented her teal eyes.

"Sure, but... Erlea?" Devora answered, she and Abella looking at the pink earth pony before them.

"... What's with the tiara?" Abella asked.

"Tiara?" Erlea asked, before remembering that she was still in disguise. "Oh, right," she said before transforming in a burst of green fire, "long story."

"What? Are you running for pony Princess now?" Abella asked with a snicker.

"She's going about it all wrong," Devora replied, grinning herself. "She doesn't have either wings or a horn." She turned to Erlea. "Didn't you know? Pony Princesses have both wings and a horn."

Erlea gave them a flat stare.

"Well, it's not like she hasn’t made transformation mistakes before," Abella reminded them. "Remember that time when she tried to mimic a zebra?"

"Do I?" Devora snorted. "Instead of stripes, she somehow managed to cover herself with spots… Purple spots!" The two changelings then burst out laughing.

"... Funny," Erlea said flatly. "But must I remind you that we are currently in pony territory, and you're not keeping a particularly low profile."

Abella and Devora both placed a hoof over their mouths to stifle their laughing, but it still took several minutes before they were able to stop completely.

Finally, when they had calmed down, Erlea began to explain her plan. "... And please try to pay attention," she groaned as the two of them started to giggle again, having passed a silent joke between themselves over the hive mind. "And that time wasn't my fault," Erlea added, having picked up what the two had said. "Now, listen, here's what I need your help with."

<<>><<>><<>>

'Alright… Where do I start?' Dani asked herself, hovering a couple of meters above the ground, slowly looking around to familiarize herself with the village. 'Let's see. If I was Danny, which I am... sorta. And I ran away after someone close to me had died, and moved to a different world, where would I live?' She turned towards the center of town. 'No, too crowded. I'd want to have some breathing room.' Taking an interest in a building more to the edge of the village, Dani felt a slight grin form on her lips. 'I'd go someplace far enough away from others to still have my privacy, but not so far that it would draw attention.'

Confident with her deduction, Dani made her way towards the small home with a thatched roof.

'Danny, if you're here, please don't freak out.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had retreated back into Diamond Tiara's bedroom, door locked and windows closed, as they started to scheme out their plan to thwart the Crusaders in their growing reign of terror. They knew those Blank Flanks were up to no good. They knew those losers were already planning something to continue to undermine her superiority. And by they, Diamond Tiara naturally meant only herself.

Silver Spoon was a great friend. The best she'd ever had. But Diamond Tiara knew she had always been the brains of the group. Especially seeing just how her friend was behaving ever since her 'accident'. And seeing how those losers were responsible for this, she knew it was only a matter of time before they came for her.

"Alright," Diamond Tiara spoke up with a biting voice, pacing around. "As we both know, it is only a matter of time before those three losers will come for us again. I don't know why they are suddenly trying to defy us like this, but whatever has gotten into those empty brains of theirs to make them think doing so is a good idea, we’ll make sure to put them back in their places once and for all."

"So, what are you planning?" Silver Spoon asked with a hint of trepidation.

Coming to a sudden stop, Diamond Tiara looked off in the general direction of Sweet Apple Acres, glaring as if she could see through the wall itself. "We’re going to find out exactly what they are planning. And I’m sure it somehow involves this freakish magic Sweetie Belle has gotten her grubby little hooves on."

Silver Spoon took notice of Diamond Tiara's use of Sweetie Belle's name, instead of her usual insults like Blank Flank or idiot.

"It's something we should have seen coming. Sure, that poor excuse for a unicorn has always been bad with her magic, but even she will figure out how to properly use it one day or another," Diamond Tiara sneered. "Now, it seems as though that day is finally upon us," she said with a dramatic undertone. "Which leaves us with only two options. To stand tall against this rising threat, or cower in fear. And I refuse to cower before Sweetie Belle!"

'Again,' Silver Spoon thought. 'She used Sweetie Belle's name… And why did she only mention her, instead of all three of them?'

"So, we go and spy on them?" she asked, trying to sound eager like she always had when they would go pick on the Crusaders in the past, yet she couldn't hide the sickening feeling from either herself or Diamond Tiara.

Diamond Tiara, however, misinterpreted the source of Silver Spoon's slightly nauseated look.

"I know, I don't like it any more than you do. Hiding in bushes, moving through the dirt." The memory of their unexpected, unwanted dumpster dive resurfaced, and she shuddered. "But sacrifices must be made. So, are you with me?" she asked, looking at her friend with a grin that was anything but friendly.

'Am I?' Silver Spoon asked herself, looking down at the floor for a moment, then looking back up at her friend. "... I think so," she said, trying to hide her uncertainty.

"Then let's go," Diamond Tiara proclaimed. "We've got some Blank Flanks to track down."

... Yeah… Let's go,' Silver Spoon thought, knowing that, whatever it was they did, her heart wouldn't be in it.

<<>><<>><<>>

Half an hour later.

"I'm telling you, this is a really bad idea!" Devora complained for the hundredth time, shifting uncomfortably on the spot as Erlea used her magic to tie a red ribbon in her friend's currently red mane.

"I'm not so sure about this either," Abella agreed, prodding her curly two toned mane before inspecting her white coat. "Sure, posing as a pony isn't that big of a deal, but what you're planning is-"

"-Insane!" Devora finished, pushing her friend away before using her own magic to tie the ribbon in place. "And yet, here we are," she sighed.

"Look. I know this is asking a lot. Believe me. But there is something weird about these three ponies, and I want to know what, and why. But I can't do that while they are locked up in there with those grown ups watching them!"

"Yeah, yeah. We get it," Devora replied. "Get in, trade places, let you 'investigate' these supposedly helpful ponies…"

"While we're forced to do their dirty work," Abella finished with a groan.

"... Remind me," Devora said, looking at the unicorn filly beside her, "why are we doing this again?"

"Because you're my friends, and I asked nicely," Erlea answered with a sickening sweet voice. "And also because I shared some of the emotions I drained from one of those ponies with you… And, oh yeah. My mom is the Queen."

"... You know. I really hate you sometimes," Devora said flatly. "Fine," she sighed, rolling her eyes, "we'll do it."

"At least it's better than crawling through the muck," Abella replied sourly. "Ugh, why did those ponies even live in a swamp?"

"They're weird," Erlea replied dryly. "Now, come on. You've got the form right, but you still need to change your voice."

"Only one way to copy those," Abella commented.

"Yeah. We need to hear the originals," Devora explained the obvious; only saying it for the sake of saying it.

"Just follow me," Erlea said, transforming back into Diamond Tiara. "The stallion isn’t around at the moment, and the grandmother is sleeping, so this shouldn't be too difficult."

"Wait… If that's the case… Then why do you need us?" Devora asked, glaring suspiciously at her friend.

"You know why. To cover things up in case this isn't as easy as I make it sound."

"She's got a point," Abella pointed out. "... Mainly because she always seems to manage to get into some kind of trouble."

"I know," Devora replied. "It's why her mom asked us to keep her safe."

"She did what?" Erlea asked, surprised.

"And still she's surprised," Devora chuckled before shaking her head. "Let's just go and get this over with, alright?" she said before moving past Erlea and heading towards the farmhouse, followed closely by Abella with Erlea following a moment later, muttering to herself in irritation.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So… That's them, huh?" Devora asked.

She and her friends were peering through one of the windows, watching Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle as they worked in the living room.

"Yes," Erlea confirmed. "The earth pony's name is Apple Bloom, the unicorn is called Sweetie Belle. Now, you wait here and I'll try to get them to come out."

"Just hurry, alright?" Devora asked. "The sooner we can get this over with, the better."

Nodding, Erlea pushed away from the window and headed for the front door, knocking on it.

"This is a really stupid idea," Devora complained in a lowered voice, but not low enough so Erlea wouldn't hear it.

"I know, I know," Abella responded. "But let's just see where this will take us."

"Quiet!" Erlea hissed back at them, then the door opened to show a surprised Apple Bloom.

"Diamond Tiara?" she said in surprise, blinked, then her eyes narrowed as she studied the pony before her. "Erlea?"

"Yes, it's me," Erlea answered. "Look, can we talk?"

"Uh... Ah'm not sure?" Apple Bloom answered, looking back into the farmhouse, seeing Sweetie Belle staring at her, broom held in her mouth. And further back, watching them with her eyes closed, was Granny Smith.

"It won't take long. In fact, it might even help you."

"Really?" Apple Bloom replied, surprised.

"Yes. Now, can the two of you please come outside for a moment… I've got someling I want you to meet."

"Some... ling?" Sweetie Belle spoke up, joining Apple Bloom. "Are there more changelings around here?"

"Look, just come with me, and you'll see."

"Ah thought ya wanted ta talk with us?" Apple Bloom argued.

"I do," Erlea sighed, a pink hoof pressed against her face. "Look, just come with me. This will go a lot faster if we don't argue about this."

"That doesn't sound all that reassuring to me," Sweetie Belle said, looking at the disguised changeling with worry.

"Yeah, they're real helpful," an unknown voice spoke up, coming from around the side of the house, and two very familiar ponies walked into view.

""WHAT THE HAY!?"" both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted as they saw themselves walk towards them.

Rolling her eyes with an exasperated sigh, Erlea shot her friends a look, before addressing the unspoken question.

"Well, this is one way of doing things," she commented with another sigh. "Ponies, meet my friends Abella and Devora," she introduced the two transformed changelings with an annoyed, monotone voice. "They're here to replace you."

"Replace us for what?" Sweetie Belle asked nervously.

"Oh, you know, the usual," the fake Apple Bloom spoke up. "Take over your life, blend in with your family and friends, and drain them all of their love and other emotions we find tasty," Devora said with a fanged grin, before her features tensed in a grimace. "Just like we changelings do, right?"

"I-I-uhh..." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stammered, unsure how to respond to that.

"Don't mind her," Sweetie Belle's mirror image said, "it's just all those stories you ponies have spread about us that makes her react like that."

"Stories we've spread?" Sweetie Belle repeated, looking at herself in confusion.

"That's not important right now!" Erlea cut in before Abella could reply. "We're wasting time. And the longer we stay out in the open like this, the more chance we have of being seen."

"Right," Devora replied with a nod and turned to Apple Bloom.

"Umm… Why are ya lookin' at me like that?" Apple Bloom asked, worried.

"Umm… Why are ya lookin' at me like that?" Devora repeated with Apple Bloom's exact voice.

"What the hay?! How’d you do that?" Sweetie Belle shouted with equal parts worry and fascination.

"The same way I’m using your voice," Abella answered in Sweetie Belle's voice.

"Great, we're all set," Erlea said, turning to the two disturbed ponies. "Now, I don't know about you two, but I would take this chance while you still can," she said.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a nervous look with one another, before hesitantly accepting Erlea's offer.

"Okay. Abella, Devora, you know what to do," she said as her two friends headed inside the farmhouse; Devora grumbling as she picked up the broom from the ground with her mouth, cursing the fact that she had to pose as the pony without a horn.

Abella, however, didn't have such a problem, and in the guise of Sweetie Belle, she used her magic to levitate up a dustpan, grinning slyly at her friend.

"Umm," Sweetie Belle spoke up, "I can't use my magic like that yet… or any other way either…" Abella's grin fell, to be replaced by a look of disbelief, and then an irritated glare at Devora who snorted at her friend's karmic comeuppance.

"You're kidding, right?" Abella asked, to which Sweetie Belle simply shook her head.

"You've got to be kidding," Abella muttered, dragging a hoof down her face. "Of all the unicorns I could imitate, I get the one who can't do magic."

"Hey!" Sweetie Belle shouted, offended.

"We don't have time for this," Erlea groaned. "We need to talk, now. And somewhere private... " She looked around the unfamiliar terrain before asking, "Apple Bloom, is there a place around here where we can talk… without being interrupted?"

"Well, there's tha clubhouse," she suggested.

"You mean the place where I found this tiara?"

"Oh, right. Diamond Tiara's tiara," Sweetie Belle said, looking at Apple Bloom. "I forgot we still had that thing."

"Me too," she admitted, "Ah wonder how Diamond Tiara would react ta that, with her tiara still missing?"

"It doesn't matter!" Erlea complained. "Let's just go to this clubhouse of yours and get this over with," that said the three of them began walking towards the Crusaders' hideout, unaware of the two pairs of wide, disbelieving eyes watching their every move.

<<>><<>><<>>

Ten minutes earlier.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had made their way over to Sweet Apple Acres without much hindrance, although Silver Spoon was hesitant to go through with the latest plan Diamond Tiara's superior mind had come up with, much to her friend's irritation and growing suspicion. Even so, they were now hiding among the many trees and small foliage covering the ground, having approached the flimsy (and absolutely unfit for one of such high standing as Diamond Tiara) house those losers called home, fully intent on spying upon those very losers to see what they were up to.

What they weren't expecting to see, however, was Diamond Tiara herself; she was pushing herself up with her hind legs to peek through one of the farmhouse's many windows. On top of that, standing beside her were Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

Silver Spoon looked at her friend by her side with wide, disbelieving eyes, before slowly shifting her gaze back to the identical pink filly over by the house.

Diamond Tiara, too, could only stare in shock, confusion, and even a hint of rapidly growing anger. Whoever this imposter was, they dared to mimic her good looks? And even going so far as to…

Diamond Tiara's eyes widened even further upon spotting her tiara perched on top of the imposter's head, and her anger grew to new heights.

"What the hay!? Who is that?" Silver Spoon asked, unable to look away from the impossible sight.

"I don't know!" Diamond Tiara fumed, struggling to keep her voice down. "But that fake is wearing my tiara!"

They then saw the fake Diamond Tiara walk around the corner, approaching the front door, and the two of them quickly moved to keep her in their sight.

The faint sound of a hoof knocking on the door reached them, and for a moment they wondered why the fake even bothered, seeing that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already with her.

They were only just able to keep themselves from crying out in shock and surprise when another Apple Bloom opened the door.

"WHAT THE HAY!?" Silver Spoon said loudly, quickly clamping her mouth shut with two hooves while Diamond Tiara was left at a complete loss for words.

Then a second Sweetie Belle stepped forward, joining the second Apple Bloom, and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at one another with wide eyes, before returning their attention to the unbelievable scene, when yet another plot twist revealed itself.

""WHAT THE HAY!?"" they heard the second Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shout as they saw their doubles walk around the corner.

"What the hay is going on?!" Silver Spoon said, voice quavering a bit. No longer trying to keep her voice down. Thankfully those they were spying on didn't seem to hear them; being too busy with what was going on around them.

"I… I…" was all Diamond Tiara was able to say, stuttering, unable to form any coherent thoughts as she saw that one of her worst nightmares had become a reality: Two Apple Blooms and two Sweetie Belles. Only a second Scootaloo could make this horror complete, yet this unexpected development was already enough to make her mind shut down.

"Diamond Tiara?" Silver Spoon said, nudging her friend in the side, receiving no response.

Turning her attention once more back to the impossible scene, she, and she assumed Diamond Tiara as well, since she was still staring unmoving at what was happening, saw the first Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trade places with their mirror images.

"Diamond?" Silver Spoon tried again after seeing the second Diamond Tiara walk away with the second Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Still unable to get any response from her friend, Silver Spoon was left with a bit of a dilemma.

Either she could stay with her friend, and hope she snapped out of her frozen state. Or she could continue doing what they had come here to do, spy on the Crusaders, even though she wasn't willing to do so at first. But having seen what she had just saw, she knew she had to. She had to know what was going on. So, with great reluctance, she stood up, and quietly followed after the three ponies who moved for the trees, leaving behind Diamond Tiara, frozen and mute.

'Just what is going on around here?' Silver Spoon thought as she gave one last glance back at her friend, before pushing through a bush and following after the three ponies. 'And why do I have the feeling this is going to get even weirder?'

<<>><<>><<>>

She stood in front of the quaint looking building, arms crossed over her chest and invisible to all.

"Huh… Not bad," she hummed. "Not exactly my taste, but not bad at all. If this is where you live Danny, I can see why you chose this place."

Unhooking her arms, she crossed the short distance to the home's front door before phasing through the solid wood.

'Hmmm,' she mentally hummed as she quietly hovered from one room to another. 'Nobody's home,' she concluded as she moved back to the front door. "That's disappointing," she spoke up, no longer feeling the need to keep her thoughts to herself. "Still. Probably a good thing. If Danny was here he would have picked up on me the moment I came close to him."

Sighing, she scratched her head, looking around.

"It doesn't really look like he lives here," she murmured, once more moving through the house. However, this time she took the time to inspect the details of each and every room. "Although," she halted in the bedroom, "two beds pushed together to make one big one…"

Looking around some more in the room, she pulled open a wardrobe to take a look at its contents.

"What the!?" she said, pulling out a long sleeved shirt. It was newly made, but its design was still clearly recognizable.

"...Danny."

<<>><<>><<>>

"You guys are seeing what I'm seeing, right?" Sound Wave asked the other members of her team, each peeking through one of the two windows placed in the bedroom; seeing one of those shirts the human wore unfold and float in the air.

"I am," Blue Ice murmured her reply, "and I don't like it, at all."

"Quiet, you two!" Rolling Stone ordered. "Ornate, you and I are going in. Sneak up on this entity, and try to capture it. Blue Ice, Sound Wave, watch our backs. Keep an eye out for any new developments while we're moving in. And make sure any locals stay as far away as possible."

""Sir!"" Blue Ice and Sound Wave confirmed his order with a resolute nod.

"Ornate, on me," he said, and with that the two of them stealthily moved for the front door, finding it locked. A quick spell from Ornate Charm fixed this issue and she opened the door with deliberate slowness, to avoid making any sounds. Once a large enough gap had opened, Rolling Stone and Ornate Charm slipped inside, the door quietly closing behind them.

"Any changes?" Sound Wave asked Blue Ice, having watched her two team members move inside while making sure none of the villagers were coming up on them.

"Not that I can see," Blue Ice murmured, irritated. "This damned ghost is still invisible… But it's still going around the bedroom."

"Is it still messing with the clothes?"

"No," Blue Ice answered, before adding with a surprised tone, "but it did fold up and put away that shirt."

"It did what now?"

"It folded up the shirt and put it back where it came from. And now… I don't know. It's going through Danny's nightstand."

"What is this ghost doing?" Sound Wave wondered, taking a chance to peek through the window.

"I don't know. But it's almost as if it's looking for something."

"You think it's trying to figure out where its victim went?"

"Maybe?" Blue Ice replied. "But I think we're about to find out," she said, watching as the bedroom door slowly opened. "The others are about to enter the scene."

The two of them watched as, slowly, the door opened further and further. From the look of it, they hadn't yet alerted the ghost to their presence, and Ornate Charm began to move in. However, a slight squeak came from one of the hinges and Ornate Charm froze on the spot, eyes wide while behind her Rolling Stone swore under his breath.

A feminine gasp and loud ruckus followed a split second later as the nightstand fell over, spilling what few items it contained over the floor. The blanket on the bed was pulled off in the blink of an eye, almost as if someone jumped over it and accidentally pulled the fabric with them in their escape. And finally, a faint frost stain formed on the unoccupied window, signifying the path the ghost used to escape.

"TEAM!" Rolling Stone bellowed, "follow and capture that ghost!"

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay?" Apple Bloom said warily as the door of the clubhouse closed behind her. "Why are we here?"

"You're here, because…" Erlea sighed deeply. "Because I need help. And maybe you can help me… Us."

"Help you?" Sweetie Belle said, stepping closer to the changeling. "With what?"

Erlea growled softly in frustration, kicking a hoof against the floor. "Undoubtedly you've heard about the invasion of Canterlot some time ago," she begun, when Sweetie Belle spoke up.

"Know about it?! We were there!"

"You, wha?" Erlea replied dumbly, taken by surprise.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom confirmed, "We were flower fillies during Princess Cadance's weddin'."

"Only the first time it wasn't Princess Cadance at all, but a changeling Queen, whatshername?" Sweetie Belle said, wondering.

"Chrysalis," Erlea answered flatly.

"Yeah, that's her," Sweetie Belle replied. "I should've known. My sis Rarity told me all ab—" she continued, when a sudden hoof jammed in her mouth cut her off. The source: Apple Bloom, who shot her a nervous glance, before her eyes shifted to the disguised changeling in the room.

Erlea stood frozen on the spot, eyes wide, before slowly narrowing into slits aimed at Sweetie Belle.

"Your sister, Rarity?" she said slowly, deliberately.

"Eheheh…" Apple Bloom chuckled nervously, pulling her hoof free from Sweetie Belle's mouth, who gave her friend and Erlea a confused look. "Sweetie Belle… She's tha Queen's daughter."

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened upon learning this, and she looked at Erlea, who was still glaring at her, with rising anxiety.

"So…" Erlea begun, "you're the sister of one of them?" Then her attention shifted to Apple Bloom, looking at the filly with a studious gaze, before looking out one of the few windows at all the apple trees outside. "... Apples…" she murmured, before her eyes widened a fraction, before returning to the earth pony in the room.

"I should've known."

"... Known, what?" Apple Bloom said with a slight squeak.

"Your sister is the one called Applejack."

"You know my sister!?" Apple Bloom said loudly, surprised, before realizing she had just confirmed Erlea's suspicion.

"And now I also know you're nothing more than liars," Erlea hissed. "Saying you would help anyone, yet doing nothing to help my kind when they needed it most."

"But… But they were attacking the city," Sweetie Belle squeaked in fright.

"Only because you forced us to do so!" Erlea shouted, eyes glowing an angry green as she dropped her disguise. "For centuries you ponies have forced us into hiding! Condemned us to lurking in the shadows and feeding on nothing more than scraps, to fight ourselves over nothing more than who would get a next meal, never giving us a chance for a better future just because of what we are," she seethed before the two cowering fillies.

"Well, we'd had enough. No longer were we willing to waste away like that. We'd tried talking. We'd tried pleading, even begging. Yet every time we did so, your 'precious pony Princess' just ignored our voices," she shouted, tears starting to form as years of pent up frustrations came rushing out.

"No longer did we want to live like that, to see our loved ones waste away, and our children die before they are even born. So, yeah, we attacked your stupid city. But you ponies have been destroying us changelings for so much longer than any of us have lived… It's the only thing I've ever known… And then you three helped me. You two, the sisters of those damned Elements who tried to stop my mother, who was doing nothing more than gathering food for those starving back home."

"But they didn't stop her," Sweetie Belle squeaked, and Erlea's burning eyes locked on to her.

"Oh, no. They didn't," she growled, "instead it was the Princess of Love who did so. Using the very essence we feed on to do so!" A hoof slammed onto the wooden floor with a thunderous crack. "Do you know what that’s like, to get defeated by the very thing you need to live!? It's like being defeated by a pie to the face! Oh, but that wasn't the only thing your 'lovable Princess' did. Oh no, that wouldn't have been enough. It was love she used. But it was a love that was combined with a shared hatred for us changelings. And when they were hit, when my mother and those who joined her were consumed by the energy they sought, they couldn't help themselves but feed off it. Only for the poison of hate to invade them. And now! Now almost all of my kind are sick and dying. Including my mother!" Erlea was fully in tears now, yet she refused to look away from the two ponies her fury was aimed at.

Sweetie Belle gasped, "Your mother is dying!?" and Erlea finally looked away, eyes closed.

Her eyes snapped opened in shock, however, as she suddenly felt two pairs of hooves wrap around her, and she found herself enveloped in a comforting hug by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"Wha..?" she uttered in confusion.

"We're sorry," Sweetie Belle told her. "We didn't know."

Apple Bloom didn't say anything, but Erlea could feel a tremendous sadness coming from her as her hug tightened just a bit more.

Then, there was something else... It was a bizarre mixture of emotions ranging from sadness and confusion, to disbelief, shock, anger, and so much more, something that took Erlea by surprise as much as when Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pulled her into this hug. It wasn't, however, the wide range of emotions she was sensing that surprised her. No, what surprised her so was the fact that they weren't coming from either Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom. Instead, they came from just outside the tree house. Right next to the small window closest to the door.

Using her magic, the door swung open, and a startled gasp came from outside, drawing the attention of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who pulled away from Erlea slightly, looking out of the open door and seeing a very nervous Silver Spoon.

"Silver Spoon!?" Sweetie Belle shouted, surprised, shocked, and even a bit scared considering the rather difficult to explain position she was in, holding a changeling in a hug with Apple Bloom. She and Apple Bloom looked at the gray filly with large, fearful eyes over what she would do next.

"I… I won't tell anypony," she muttered in a low voice, before slowly walking away.

"Whu..?" Apple Bloom fumbled, looking at the retreating filly with confusion plastered all over her face and mirrored by Sweetie Belle, who looked at Apple Bloom for answers.

"Wha..." Sweetie Belle stammered, before her mind caught up, and she detached herself from Erlea. "Wait!" she shouted after Silver Spoon, who came to an abrupt stop halfway down the ramp.

"Don't worry," Silver Spoon said before Sweetie Belle could continue, never turning to look at the filly behind her, "I really won't tell anypony about this."

"But, why not?" Sweetie Belle asked, confused. "You and Diamond Tiara would never have hesitated to use something like this against us before," she continued, a noticeable layer of suspicion in her voice.

"Diamond Tiara isn't here right now," Silver Spoon replied hesitantly, before finally glancing behind her. "And I'm not sure I want to be like that anymore."

"You don't?" Sweetie Belle replied, taken aback, blinking several times. Then the other part of what Silver Spoon had said registered. "Wait… If Diamond Tiara isn't here. Then why are you? And for that matter," she asked as she looked around the trees surrounding the tree house, "where is Diamond Tiara? You two are always together."

****

Deep in the shadows of the trees near the farmhouse, hidden from sight behind some low standing foliage, stood Diamond Tiara. Still frozen in place, stuck in the nightmare of the realization that there were two Apple Blooms and two Sweetie Belles.

A slight breeze swept through the leaves of the trees, filling the otherwise quiet air with a pleasant rustling. A couple of birds chirped, sitting on one of the branches near the frozen filly, a few twigs held in their beaks. Finally confident that it was safe they flew down, landing on top of the tiny tyrant’s head, and started building their nest.

****

"She's… busy," Silver Spoon answered after a moment of awkward silence.

"And ya really mean it when ya said ya weren't gonna tell anypony about… well, all of this?" Apple Bloom asked, standing next to Sweetie Belle and pointing a hoof towards Erlea.

"I do," Silver Spoon replied, seeing the changeling standing behind Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looking at her with a strange, studious gaze.

"Why?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"... I don't know," she answered after a moment. "It just doesn't… feel right telling others, I suppose… she sighed sadly, "I... I should go." Silver Spoon hurried away before anyone else could say or do anything, quickly heading back to Diamond Tiara to get her out of there before she could regain her wits and rediscover what had so scattered them in the first place.

And as she hurried away, despite the mixture of emotions she felt over having spied upon Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle; despite everything she felt when she heard what the changeling had said, the faintest of smiles managed to find its way onto her lips as she felt a faint feeling of pride. Pride from knowing that, for the first time in her life, she had been nice to somepony else, and didn't expect anything for it in return.

For the first time ever, she felt like she was a better pony. A better pony than Diamond Tiara.

She decided she didn't want that feeling to go away.

<<>>><<>><<>>

With his nose planted firmly on the ground, inhaling deeply as he followed a scent he had been seeking for many years, the small pup soon found himself standing in front of an old, hollowed out tree. There was a door and windows built into the side, and several strange looking masks and jars, filled with odd-smelling liquids, were placed all around the tree's trunk. Their purpose was unknown to the pup, nor did his mind dwell on this particular topic.

What did catch his interest was the smell he followed; traces of it were coming from within the hut, mixed with and hidden by fresher, and much stronger, scents which caused him to sneeze.

Shaking his head, ears flopping, and scratching an itch behind his right ear, he eagerly approached the strange tree; knowing it had already been claimed by another, he ignored the need to mark it as his own.

Sniffing at the door with his nose pressed against the wood near the bottom, where the many smells drifted from underneath the slight crack, he sneezed for a second time. Barking lightly, he took a step back, before jumping for the door and phasing cleanly through it.

Many strange things awaited him inside the tree. There were more of those masks, hanging from the walls. More of those strange bottles filled with strange smelling fluids standing on multiple shelves. Even a large black cauldron standing in the center of the room, with a roaring fire underneath; a blue bubbling concoction held within. Standing next to it, staring at him with large, wide eyes, was a strange creature covered in bizarre black and white stripes; multiple golden bands looped around her neck, and… and… and a large wooden stick! A large wooden stick which she slowly moved around as she fully turned to face him.

His eyes widened upon spotting this most marvelous of toys, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

"This can not be, this eerie glow of green," the creature spoke. "Yet here it stands, a denizen of the world unseen."

He didn't know what she was talking about, nor did he really care. His attention was completely absorbed by that glorious wooden stick. Then, in a motion meant to place the stick on a table, but which he saw as an invitation to play fetch, he jumped up and ran for it. Tongue lolling out, mouth wide open, and the black and white creature's eyes widened in fear and misunderstanding.

A loud yell came from the hollow tree, echoing through the forest, shortly followed by the cacophony of barking and objects falling over.

<<>><<>><<>>

"That was weird," Apple Bloom said, giving voice to her thoughts after Silver Spoon had disappeared.

"I’ll say," Sweetie Belle agreed. "She was actually… kinda nice, I guess."

"She meant it," Erlea said. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at one another in surprise before turning to the changeling, looking at her with confusion written on their faces.

"What!?" Erlea shot at them, backing away a bit. "I couldn't sense any negativity coming from her. Nothing that would indicate she was telling a lie."

"You can do that?" Sweetie Belle asked, amazed.

"Uhh, yeah?" Erlea answered, though her tone was lacking in confidence.

"Hold on. If that's true, then why didn't ya believe me tha first time Ah said we helped ya just because ya needed help?" Apple Bloom asked, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Well…" Erlea muttered, looking away, her muzzle scrunched up.

"Well?" Apple Bloom pressed on.

"Ugh! Fine," Erlea relented, kicking at the wooden deck with a holey hoof. "I can sense such things… but I'm not really good at it."

"Oh, okay," Apple Bloom replied simply, much to Erlea's confusion.

"What? That's it? Just, 'okay'?"

"Sure?" Apple Bloom said, shrugging. "Why wouldn't it be? After all, we've all got something we aren't good at. Right, Sweetie Belle?"

"Right," Sweetie Belle replied with a nod.

Erlea wanted to object to this, yet was unable to come up with any way to refute their casual acceptance, and was thus left standing with her mouth open and a hoof in the air. Lowering her hoof, and closing her mouth; a thin smile growing on her lips, she chuckled slightly and nodded her head.

"But still… You're sure Silver Spoon was telling the truth?" Sweetie Belle queried.

"Yes, I do think so."

"Good enough fer me," Apple Bloom responded. "So… Now what?"

"Wait! You're trusting me that much already?" Erlea asked, shocked.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, a silent conversation happening between the two through mere eye contact, before they both turned to Erlea.

"Sure," Sweetie Belle answered. "You need our help. And you… or your friends anyway, helped us."

"And what kinda ponies would we be if'n we didn't help ya? Or trust a friend?"

"Friend?!" Erlea repeated the word, shocked.

"Sure!" Apple Bloom said happily. "Ah mean, ya can be a bit scary with those fangs an' all—" she rubbed her leg where Erlea had latched herself to drain some of her emotional energy "—but you seem nice enough."

"Mmmhmm," Sweetie Belle hummed, "and a friend of Apple Bloom's is a friend of mine."

"....... You're some of the weirdest ponies I've ever met."

"Thanks," Sweetie Belle replied with a toothy smile.

"... Weirdos," Erlea muttered, slowly shaking her head.

"Okay, now that we got all of that sorted out... How're we gonna help Erlea?" Apple Bloom piped up, bringing the topic back on track.

"Well," Sweetie Belle mused, rubbing a hoof thoughtfully under her chin, "we did try once for our Cutie Marks in medicine. Maybe we can try something we did back then?"

"Ehh… Ah'm not so sure," Apple Bloom replied. "Not only didn't we get our Cutie Marks, but we never even tried anything that was about poisonin' through emotions… or whatever."

"You're wasting your time," Erlea muttered sourly. "If you ponies had a cure, we would've found it by now. We've tried everything, searched in every nation: from the griffins to the zebras, dragons and even diamond dogs. One even tried this hooman world, or whatever they're called. We haven't heard from him since." She released a weary sigh. "All we can do is try to find something to eat, get our strength up and fight through this illness, because no living creature has ever even bothered to help us changelings, let alone cure us."

"Living?" Apple Bloom repeated, looking at Sweetie Belle with rapidly widening eyes.

"You don't think…"

"Ah do."

"But isn't this supposed to stay a secret?"

"Only from ponies who would… Ah don't know… Hunt ya, or something?"

"Hunt you?" Erlea repeated in confusion. "What are you two talking about?"

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, Sweetie Belle looking back. No words were exchanged, but both knew what they had to do; what they had to try. Turning to the changeling beside them, a glint of something Erlea couldn't quite place showing in their eyes, Sweetie Belle spoke to her.

"There’s something you should know…. Just don't freak out, okay?"

Blinking, Erlea looked at the ivory unicorn in absolute confusion. "... Freak out about what?"

"Just say okay, okay?" Apple Bloom urged her on.

"Umm—" she blinked "—okay?"

A sudden flash of white light blinded her, and she shielded her eyes with a hoof.

"Just… don't freak out," Sweetie Belle repeated and, slowly, Erlea lowered her hoof; followed moments later by the rapid descent of her lower jaw.

<<>><<>><<>>

The scenery moved, but she didn't.

The ground moved beneath her, but her legs didn't.

She continued to stare forward, but backwards she went.

The world didn't make sense anymore.

Up is down. Left is right. In is out. And where there were once three pesky ponies, now there were five, possibly six. Two Apple Blooms, and two Sweetie Belles…. Which could only mean there were now also two Scootaloos.

She shuddered, the world seeming to move backwards while she didn't. Her hooves leaving drag marks on the dirt path, and an ever increasing sense of pain became noticeable to her as she felt someone pull on her tail.

"Wha… What's going on?" Diamond Tiara asked, dazed, confused, lost.

The pulling stopped, much to her subconscious relief, and Silver Spoon stepped into view.

"Are you alright?" she asked, looking at her friend, taking in her disheveled mane and tail, the latter more her fault than anything else. Not to mention the mess Diamond's coat had become after having been dragged through the dirt halfway to Ponyville. "You've been out of it for a while."

"I… huh?" Diamond Tiara said dumbly, then her mind finally caught up with events and she jumped up, grabbing Silver Spoon by the face as she stared at her with the most sincere urgency.

"You saw them too, didn't you? Those… others."

"Others?" Silver Spoon said, giving her friend a puzzled look.

"Yes. There was another me, and another of those loser Blank Flanks, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle… And maybe even an extra Scootaloo." Diamond Tiara started to hyperventilate. "Oh, this is bad. This is really, really bad. They must have found a way to duplicate themselves, just like that idiot, Pinkie Pie. And not just that, they even made a double of me! That could mean only one thing... They mean to replace me with that fake, while doing unspeakable things to me."

"... What!?" Silver Spoon said, appalled, stepping back from the madmare. "Are you sure you're alright? I never saw any duplicate, of anypony. And you just… I don't know, spaced out after walking into that tree."

"What? What are you talking about? What tree?" Diamond Tiara demanded with a crazed look in her eyes. "There was never any tree! And I know you saw… them..." The crazed filly's eyes shrunk into pinpricks. "They've already gotten to you!" she screeched, backing away from the 'imposter' Silver Spoon.

"Diamond, just what are you talking about?" Silver Spoon asked, worried, stepping closer to her, but Diamond Tiara just screamed and ran away.

"Oh, hayseed," Silver Spoon swore, readjusting her glasses, before hurrying after her friend; hoping she could catch up before things could get any more out of hoof.

<<>><<>><<>>

Dani flew with speed, managing to gain some distance on the ghost hunters before they had a chance to follow her.

'Damn it, that was stupid!' she mentally scolded herself, heading away from Danny's home, the village, and hopefully the hunters. 'I knew they were there, so why did I let my guard down?' Glancing over her shoulder, she could see the four ghost hunting ponies running after her; only able to track her through the scanner they were using.

'I need to hide from them, but where? With those scanners they can follow my energy signature wherever I go.' Dani sped up even more, zigzagging to try and throw them off, even phasing through a tree or two, before aiming for what seemed to be an orchard.

'Not really the best place to hide,' she thought, quickly scanning the area around her for a better place to, hopefully, lose the ghost hunters. She quickly spotted a dense forest not too far away, and was readjusting her flight path for it, when the sound of someone screaming caught her attention, and she slowed down marginally to see a pink filly run past her.

'What's going on with her?' she wondered, before realizing the brief moment of curiosity had allowed the hunters to catch up.

"Ornate, cover the child!" Rolling Stone barked as he and the rest of his team closed the distance between them and Dani.

"The reading is getting stronger," Blue Ice called out, holding a scanner in her hoof.

"She must have seen something!" Sound Wave shouted, looking around the area.

"Two sightings in one day by two different ponies. Things are escalating!" Rolling Stone responded, watching as Ornate Charm tried to stop the panicking filly.

"Where is this entity?" Blue Ice swept her scanner around, following the spectral trail Dani left behind.

'How are they even able to detect me? Didn't Tucker program those things to ignore Danny and me?' Dani panicked, hurriedly looking around. 'I need to find a place to hide, now!' It was at that moment that she caught sight of a gray filly rushing into the scene, before coming to an abrupt halt as she saw the ghost hunters, quickly jumping behind a bush to hide.

'Would their magic cause any problems for me?'

Dani wondered, before deciding she didn't have time to figure it out, and just had to take a chance. So, with a dash of speed, she closed the distance and overshadowed the filly.

Silver Spoon's eyes glowed a toxic green as the possession took hold and, under Dani's control, she shook her head, and quickly turned tail, hurrying away while also tripping over her own legs several times as Dani had no idea how to control four legs at the same time.

Yet there was something else as well. A resistance, trying to force her out of the pony, and she had to grit her teeth for the possession to hold while she tried to escape the ghost hunters.

"I've got a hit!" Blue Ice called out, her scanner aimed directly towards the bush where Silver Spoon had been hiding. "This way."

"Ornate, look after the foal. Everypony else, follow Blue Ice."

Confirming nods were send his way, and three of the four hunters hurried after the spectral signal Blue Ice had locked on to, seeing, just a bit further in the distance, a gray filly rushing away from them.

"Sir," Sound Wave began.

"I see it," Rolling replied. "Damn it. She's the source of the signature?"

"It certainly looks like it!" Blue Ice replied with a tone of disbelief.

"Then there is only one thing left for us to do. Capture that child."

<<>><<>><<>>

"WHAT THE HAY!?" Erlea shouted, jumping back from Sweetie Belle, eyes wide.

Before her, where once was an ivory unicorn filly, now stood... no, hovered a gleaming silver pony. Her mane and tail seemingly made of mist, undulating in an unfelt breeze, with several deep blue streaks running through both. Over-sized, pitch black boots covered most of her legs, while her eyes glowed a toxic green.

"WHAT THE HAY!?" Erlea shouted once again.

Dropping to the floor, Sweetie Belle awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck while looking away. "Maybe I should explain a thing or two," she chuckled nervously, looking back to Erlea to see her dumbly nod her head; eyes still as wide as ever.

"You see… I'm a-"

"She's a spirit with tha powers of tha dead!" Apple Bloom exclaimed loudly, rearing up on her hind legs and flailing her front legs wildly in the air. When silence was all that met her, she looked down to see one startled and confused changeling and one severely annoyed spirit filly.

Dropping down, she laughed nervously while rubbing the back of her leg. "Sorry, Ah kinda got carried away there."

Sweetie Belle stared at her flatly before turning to Erlea with a sigh. "Yeah, what she said," she told her with a vague hoof gesture.

Silence.

"Ehehe… You see, we kinda found this weird book, and we might have tried using one of the spells in it to try and summon a ghost."

Silence.

"Instead I got turned into… this," Sweetie Belle finished awkwardly.

Silence.

A yellow hoof waved past Erlea's eyes, receiving not even a blink in response.

"Ah think ya broke her," Apple Bloom told Sweetie Belle, who only sighed in response.

"Well, at least she didn't freak out."

"This ain't really helpin' either," Apple Bloom remarked, nudging the frozen changeling in the side.

"WHAT THE HAY!" Erlea shouted.

"Oh, hey. There we go!" Apple Bloom said with a small cheer.

"You… You," Erlea stammered as she pointed a hoof at Sweetie Belle. "What the hay are you!? Ponies can not transform like that!"

"We just told ya," Apple Bloom answered, "She's a spirit. And she can do all kinds of awesome stuff, like flyin' and turnin' invisible."

Silence.

"An' she can shoot these weird beams of energy outta her hooves, an—" Apple Bloom was cut off by a black boot pressed against her muzzle.

"I think she gets the idea," Sweetie Belle told her, before lowering her hoof and turning her attention back to Erlea. "Yeah. Like Apple Bloom said, I can do all kinds of… weird things. Still getting used to it, though. But I thought that, since you said no one living had ever found a way to cure this thing, maybe we could try finding someone who isn't alive anymore."

"... Is this some kind of joke?" Erlea asked, a nervous edge to her voice. "This has to be a joke! Ghosts and spirits do not exist!"

"Actually, they kinda do," Sweetie Bell countered.

"Yeah. Ah've got a frost giant ghost livin' in one of tha barns out in tha orchard," Apple Bloom said. "Wait, can ya call it livin' when he ain't alive?" she wondered aloud, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"There is no such thing as ghosts!" Erlea shouted, scrambling away from the two ponies, looking at Sweetie Belle with large, fearful eyes. "You're just trying to trick me. You're just like all the others!" she exclaimed as she scrambled away, taking flight back to the farmhouse to get her friends. Yet before she could even get halfway there, Sweetie Belle appeared out of nowhere right in front of her, grabbing her tightly around the body with all four hooves.

"Sorry," she said apologetically, "but we're really not lying, and we can prove it."

"Let me go you freak!"

"No!" Sweetie Belle stated simply, mentally flinching from the slur Erlea had thrown, but knowing she was just panicking. Instead, she held on to the changeling tightly, and flew towards the barn where Wind Chill stayed. Apple Bloom following her on the ground.

"We really want to help you!" she told the struggling bug in her grasp. "Please, just trust us."

"Let go of me!" Erlea demanded, struggling all the more. "Nnngh… Where are you taking me?"

"To see a friend," was all Sweetie Belle said in answer, angling down towards the barn, seeing Apple Bloom already waiting for them.

Apple Bloom, who hadn't been slowed down by a struggling changeling, was able to reach the barn well before her friend where she watched Sweetie Belle and a struggling Erlea headed towards her, a worried frown on her face as they came in both too steep and too fast.

She visibly flinched when the not so dynamic duo crashed into the ground right in front of her.

"Ya still need ta work on yer landing there, Sweetie Belle," she said with a hint of humor.

"Ha ha," Sweetie Belle replied humorlessly, her head poking out from underneath Erlea's tail.

Snorting, Apple Bloom turned around and hammered a hoof against the door. "Wind Chill, are ya there?"

Erlea shook her head to regain focus before scrambling back to her hooves, not wanting to be anywhere near… whatever it was those two crazy ponies were trying to do. However, a long, low groan coming from behind the double doors made her stop mid-motion; her head unwillingly turning towards the doors as something pushed them open.

A cold vapor came billowing out of the barn, rolling over her and chilling her to the core. Heavy footsteps vibrating through the ground signified something large was stepping out; Erlea’s head slowly tilted up as a large silhouette began to form in the barn's cavernous entrance, obscured by the cold vapor, save for two bright glowing eyes which stared down on them.

Erlea shuddered at the sight of this hulking beast, and flinched as it suddenly lurched forwards; bending down to their level and revealing a large, white fur-covered face and a mouth filled with sharp teeth.

"Apple Bloom," Wind Chill roared happily, "how glad am I to see you and your friends made it back from the Ghost Zone safe and in one piece…" His eyes then locked on Erlea. "Hold on… where is the orange one?"

****

"Must. Get. Out. Of. Here!" Scootaloo groaned, struggling to force open the door. The door knob in her mouth, legs planted against the frame, and wings buzzing frantically for additional force. However, instead of the door yielding to her attempts to break out, the doorknob broke free and she shot backwards, slamming against the wall beside her bed where she slowly slid down with a groan, stars dancing before her eyes.

****

"Scootaloo had ta stay home," Apple Bloom answered the frost giant. "This is Erlea, a new friend. An', well, she needs our help."

"Is she now?" Wind Chill spoke, curious, turning his attention to the insectoid pony, seeing her shrink into herself as she stared back at him with large, frightened eyes. "And you told her about what you are," he aimed at Sweetie Belle, "as well as me?"

"Well… yeah," Sweetie Belle replied with hesitation, starting to second guess her choice.

"And you're sure she's to be trusted?" Wind Chill asked with a most serious tone, his eyes burning into Erlea's, making her gulp in response.

Sweetie Belle shared a look with Apple Bloom, a tense nervousness clearly noticeable between the two of them.

"... She helped us," Apple Bloom pointed out after a few moments.

"And we promised to help her," Sweetie Belle said more to herself, looking down at the ground. Then her head shot up, eyes locking with Wind Chill, "Yes, I trust her," she said with confidence, and Erlea stared at the gleaming silvery pony with unbelieving eyes.

"So do Ah!" Apple Bloom stepped forwards.

"Hmmm…" Wind Chill hummed, "Very well. A friend of yours is a friend of mine," --Erlea released a breath she didn't even knew she was holding-- "Now, tell me. What was it about needing help?"

"Ya see," Apple Bloom began, "Erlea is a changeling. She feeds off emotions… somehow? Bu-"

"Hold on!" Wind Chill interrupted her, "Feeds off emotions?" and the look of bewilderment he had morphed into one of worry and suspicion, "You mean like a siren?" the glare he gave Erlea made her freeze up all over again.

"A what now?" Sweetie Belle asked, puzzled.

"A siren," Wind Chill replied in a low voice. "Foul creatures who uses songs of power to influence the minds of their victims to drain them of their emotional energies; the negative energie most preferable, sparking conflict and disarray between those affected. Sometimes even worse."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gasped, their heads snapping towards Erlea, who herself tried her hardest to turn invisible. Yet, despite her camouflaging ability, this was one thing she couldn't do.

"Tell me, young ones. Has she used any forms of mental control over you?"

"No," Sweetie Belle answered quickly.

"N-" Apple Bloom started to form the word, only to fall silent, "... She did control my brother's mind fer a bit, after he found out about her bein' in my room."

A low growl escaped Wind Chill as he pushed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle aside, staring down at the young changeling with a glare intense enough to probably melt steel beams. Whether or not this could actually happen is still up for debate between conspiracy theorists around the world. As for Erlea, the intense gaze burning down on her made her shrink into herself as far as she possibly could, fear radiating off of her.

A dizzying sensation came over Sweetie Belle, and she slowly shook her head while holding her forehead with a hoof; a shiver going down her spine from a sudden chill in her core. Yet this went unnoticed by Apple Bloom who was unable to see her friend due to Wind Chill standing between them.

And Wind Chill, his eyes firmly locked on Erlea, also didn't see what happened. Nor did Erlea, whose attention was firmly focused on the towering beast looking down onto her.

"Is this true, did you influence the mind of young Apple Bloom's brother?!" Wind Chill said with a rumbling voice.

Erlea, voice lost in fright, faintly nodded her head.

"And did you feed on the emotional energy from him, or anyone else?"

She didn't speak or nod, too frightened to do anything. Yet, as he asked his question, she couldn't help the slight shift of her eyes to look at Apple Bloom.

Seeing this, and having a good idea why, Wind Chill rose up to his full height, growling, energy radiating off of him. Yet before he could do anything else to strike down the one who had tainted the mind of Apple Bloom's brother, and leeched off of Apple Bloom, two bolts of green impacted the ground near his feet, forcing him to step away from Erlea.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted as they came rushing in from the trees; their bodies suddenly consumed by flickering green fire, before Abella and Devora jumped in to stand before their friend, shielding her.

"What is this!?" Wind Chill roared, staring at the shapeshifters who had just jumped before him.

"You're not hurting the Princess!" Devora hissed, wings flaring, horn aglow.

"You'll need to go through us first!" Abella warned him.

"You guys…" Sweetie Belle slurred a bit, wobbly on her legs.

"There are more of these sirens!?" Wind Chill growled, pushing away Apple Bloom.

"What the hay is a siren?" Devora glowered, teeth showing.

"STOOOOOPPP!!!" Apple Bloom yelled at the top of her lungs, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"Stop, all of ya!" Apple Bloom ordered them, looking up at Wind Chill with a scowl, "What are you doin'?" she asked, "We came here ta ask you fer help, not ta scare Erlea half ta death." Abella and Devora hissed in response.

"Young Apple Bloom. A siren is a most dangerous creature. Especially once they have feeded from one's negative emotions." Wind Chill reasoned, and Apple Bloom frown deepened.

"She didn't feed offa any negative emotions," she told the giant, turning to look at the still cowering changeling hiding behind her friends, "Did ya? You only took some of tha positive emotions, ‘cause ya don't like tha bad ones on account of them tastin' bad, right?"

"She... wha?" Wind Chill uttered dumbly, blinking.

"An' she ain't a siren… Ah think?" she turned to the trio of changelings, "Yer not sirens, right?"

"I don't even know what that is," Devora spat, "Nor what is going on here. But I do know that all of this," she indicated around with a hoof, "was a giant mistake."

"And what happened with your unicorn friend, huh?" Abella shot towards Apple Bloom. "Running off to get some help to deal with those 'dangerous' changelings?"

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom said, "She's right…" she fell silent as she saw Sweetie Belle wobbling on her legs, a sickly look on her face, "hey, is everythang alright, Sweetie Belle?"

Abella and Devora looked at the gleaming silver filly with confusion while Apple Bloom slowly stepped closer, placing a hoof on Sweetie Belle's withers.

"Not really," Sweetie Belle muttered, before a flash of light emitted from her body, and she transformed back to her mortal self.

"WHAT THE HAY!!" Abella and Devora shouted, and even Erlea gave voice to her surprise; looking with wide eyes at the transformation despite having seen it once before.

"Ugh…" Sweetie Belle groaned, shaking her head.

"Are you alright, young spirit?" Wind Chill asked, worried.

"Yeah… I think I am," Sweetie Belle murmured, "Just dizzy, that's all. Not sure why though… Maybe my powers were acting up, or something?"

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!?" Abella demanded, pointing a hoof at Sweetie Belle, "AND WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!? AND WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON AROUND HERE!?"

Her voice brought the attention back to the changelings, and Wind Chill straightened himself once more, frowning as he studied the three creatures in more detail.

"In order," Apple Bloom replied, "That was Sweetie Belle transformin' back inta her unicorn self… Not sure why though," she shot her friend a worried look, "He's Wind Chill. A frost giant from tha Far Frozen, over in tha Ghost Zone. Ya know, tha world of the dead. An' as fer what's goin' on… Ah'm still tryin' ta figure that out myself."

"Apple Bloom. Do you think it wise to reveal all of this to these… What did you say they were again?"

"They're changelings," she answered. "And they're not a threat."

"Unlike you, pony!" Devoa sneered, "We took a chance and trusted you, and look what happened! It's a good thing we could sense the princess' distress so we could come and save her."

"Hey, that ain't fair," Apple Bloom shot back, "We did try ta help ya. In fact, we’re still tryin' ta help, it’s just that me and Sweetie Belle never expected Wind Chill ta act like this…" she then looked up at the frost giant, "Why'd ya do that anyway?"

"It is my duty," he answered, "I'm honor-bound to you, remember? Which means, until such times come where I have fulfilled my debt to you and your kin, I am in your service. Either to help, or protect." he informed her. "When you told me about this... changeling's ability to feed off emotions, I came to the understanding she was a siren. And as instructed by the rules of my kind, and dictated by the bond, I must keep you safe from such a threat by any means necessary."

"So… ya were protectin' me?" Apple Bloom said, slightly bewildered.

"Indeed I was… and still am, should this be needed," he told her.

"You know," Sweetie Belle said, her voice still a bit weak as she shook off the last bits of dizziness. "This whole honor-bound thing is getting more and more complicated."

"Tell me about it," Apple Bloom muttered her agreement. "Look," she told Wind Chill, "just don't hurt… or scare 'em ta death," she pointed at the trio of shapeshifters, "We're tryin' ta help them, and this is really, really not helpin'."

"My sincerest apologies, young Apple Bloom. If you and your friend believe them to be trusted, then so shall I," he replied, yet kept a close eye on the changelings just to be sure.

"Well, Ah'm glad we got that sorted out," Apple Bloom gave a sigh of relief, then turned to Abella, Devora, and Erlea. "Any chance we can try this again?" she asked with an awkward smile, hoof reaching out for them.

"And why should we trust you, pony?" Devora spat. "All you've done is lie to us. You say you want to help, yet you unleashed this beast upon the Princess. She said she couldn't do magic," -she pointed towards Sweetie Belle,- "and we all saw what she just did. And then there are those ridiculous claims about a ghost world." she humphed in disbelief.

"You want us to trust you, then you better start telling the truth," Abella sneered.

"That's what we are trying to do," Sweetie Belle replied, which earned her the heated glares of Abella and Devora.

"Yet you lied about not being able to use magic, forcing me to do your chores without, while you have shown to have mastered transformation magic," Abella shot back angrily.

"Actually… I didn't lie," Sweetie Belle mumbled, head held low as she was shouted at.

"Lies! That's all you ponies do. Lying," Devora shot back.

"Ugh!" Apple Bloom groaned, sighing, "Fine. Ya want tha truth, we'll tell ya. Just, not out here," and she motioned for the open barn, "Just come inside… if that's alright with you, Wind Chill?"

"Of course. This is still your family's property."

"But it's also yer home right now," Apple Bloom argued.

"Then allow me to invite you inside," Wind Chill replied, pushing the door further open, and allowing the changelings a first real glance at what lay inside.

"Is that… ice?" Erlea asked, finally having found her voice.

"It sure is!" Apple Bloom replied cheerfully.

"And you want us to go in there?" Abella asked, voice full of distrust and suspicion.

"Well, yeah."

A hiss came from Devora, "And then what, watch us freeze to death?"

"Huh?"

"Don't pretend to be stupid. You know exactly what you're saying; what the cold does to us." Devora sneered.

"... We do?" Apple Bloom said surprised, blinking and looking towards Sweetie Belle who shrugged in response.

"We don't really know anything about changelings… other than what our older sisters have said," Sweetie Belle spoke up, "So, what does the cold do to you?"

"Don't pretend you do-" Abella begun, only to be stopped by a hoof from Erlea.

"She really doesn't know. I can't detect any deceit coming from her."

"Your ability to tell a lie from truth isn't really the best either," Abella told her friend.

"True, but I know this much," Erlea said with a soft voice, looking down at her hooves with a deep frown on her face. Sighing, she looked up at her friends, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and the frost giant towering over them. "I don't know what is going on. I don't know what the meaning of all of this is. But at the very least we can hear them out," she told her friends, and a smile grew on the faces of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "Just not in there!" she finished, looking at the billowing cloud of cold air rolling out of the barn. "There’s a reason you don't see any insects during the winter."

"Oh, yeah," Apple Bloom said, hoof pressed against her chin as she looked up in thought. "Why is that?"

"They often freeze to death when exposed to freezing temperatures," Wind Chill answered, much to the shock of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"Really!?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted, looking at the changelings with wide eyes.

"Really," Erlea answered flatly.

"Well, that's no good," Apple Bloom replied, hastily closing the barn doors, "We already got a ghost an' a spirit here, no need ta add to that."

"What is it with this ridiculous talk about ghosts and such," Devora asked, still not at ease, and still shielding Erlea with her body.

"... Maybe we should start from the beginning," Sweetie Belle suggested, earning a nod from Apple Bloom and a confirming grunt from Wind Chill.

"Sounds like a plan ta me," Apple Bloom commented, and chose to sit down where she stood, "Now, let's see. It all started back when Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, an' Ah were tryin' ta earn our Cutie Marks in manticore tamin'. An—"

"WAIT!" Sweetie Belle shouted, and all eyes turned to her, "I just realized. If you two are here," she looked at Devora and Abella, "then who is back at the farm house?"

****

Silence was all one could hear; not the chirping of birds, or the rustling of the leaves on the trees, nor the gentle creaking of Granny Smith's rocking chair gave their voices to the otherwise warm home. The reason: the hard, narrowed, aged eyes of Granny Smith as she looked down on the mess before her.

A filthy wet mop and bucket with dark, soapy water lay discarded on the floor; the bucket tipped over, discarding the contents over the floor in a large puddle. Furniture lay knocked down as well; a trail leading towards an open door.

"APPLE BLOOM! SWEETIE BELLE!"

****

Their ears twitched as the loud, aged voice reached them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked back in fear, knowing they were in trouble. And even Erlea, Devora, and Abelle shared in this look, even though they knew they weren't in trouble. But the voice carried the a weight of anger and disappointment even they couldn't just ignore.

"Oh no," Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"Why does this always happen ta us?" Apple Bloom asked sourly.

"What do we do now?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"Ah… Ah don't know?"

The pounding of hooves on the sun dried soil grew stronger and stronger, and they all looked towards the source; taking notice of the hoof prints left behind by Abella and Devora, leading right to them.

""Oh, dungbeetle!"" Abella and Devora swore as they followed the trail back to themselves.

"Now what?" Abella asked, readying herself to flee. But before any answer could be given, an angry red stallion came rushing in from the trees.

"Big Mac," Apple Bloom said, lowering herself as she saw her older brother, who came to a screeching stop upon seeing Wind Chill, eyes wide in shock, before his protective instinct went into overdrive as he saw his sister and Sweetie Belle standing near this thing. It was then that he also took notice of the trio of changelings, and he burst into motion with a speed which would leave Rainbow Dash gawking.

"Oh no," Sweetie Belle breathed, looking at the unfolding scene with large, helpless eyes.

"Big Brother, stop!" Apple Bloom yelled, hoping to stop the inevitable.

"We need to get out of here!" Devora yelled, with Abella already in the air and Wind Chill bracing himself. Yet Erlea had other plans.

"STOP!" she commanded, stepping in front of Macintosh with her horn and eyes aglow, bringing the stallion to a sudden stop a second time that day as a green hue shone in his eyes as well, "You didn't see anything. You didn't hear anything. Nothing has happened! You will return to the task you were doing, and forget everything that has transpired!"

It was then that Granny Smith came 'rushing' in on the scene. But before she could say or do anything, her eyes were also tinted with a green hue.

Wind Chill, seeing this, surged into motion, intending to stop the shapeshifter. However, a hoof from Apple Bloom pressing against his leg stopped him, and he looked down at the young pony with a questioning gaze. Yet Apple Bloom's eyes were not focused on him. Instead, they were firmly locked on Erlea. And despite Apple Bloom stopping Wind Chill from acting on what was happening, she didn't seem happy with what Erlea was doing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY FAMILY!?" Apple Bloom demanded, looking at her brother and grandmother, standing lifelessly on the spot.

"The same thing I did this morning." Erlea replied with a snapping voice, "Now, go. Forget everything," she commanded Big Mac, "And you, go back to sleep." she commanded Granny Smith; the both of them nodding. Big Mac turned around and walked away, while Granny Smith took her command quite literally, and fell asleep where she was standing; head tilted back and snoring lightly.

Silence.

"... Seriously?" Erlea deadpanned, pressing a hoof against her face, "Seriously!?"

"Erlea," Abella said, dropping down next to her, "Why did you do that; waste all that energy on them?"

"... I don't know," Erlea answered, shaking off the tiring effect from spending such an amount of energy at once before turning to look at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle; the latter looking at her with large eyes, never before seen what she had just done, "But I think they deserve at least a chance to explain themselves."

"Why?" Devora asked.

"I don't know…" Erlea looked down. "They… they called me their friend." Despite what she had just done, this answer caused Apple Bloom to smile broadly, mirrored by Sweetie Belle. "And they promised to help us. I say we should at least give them a chance."

"If you're sure," Abelle said with hesitance, but staying close to her friend.

"I don't like this!" Devora clearly stated, glaring at the ponies and frost giant. "At all!"

Nodding, Erlea's gaze shifted to the slightly snoring mare standing just beyond the tree line, prompting an exasperated sigh. "Someling needs to get her home before she wakes up… And keep up appearances those two," -she nodded towards Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom- "are still there."

"And what, leave you alone with those three?" Devora argued, "No chance."

"I agree," Abella said, "When we came here you were frozen on the spot, unable to defend yourself. What if that happens again?"

"It won't," Erlea replied heatedly, an embarrassed blush staining her cheeks. "They just took me by surprise."

"Uhuh," Devora replied, unimpressed, "I'm not buying it."

"Me neither," Abella concurred.

"Ugh. I could make it an order," Erlea groaned.

"And I could ignore this order," Devora replied nonchalantly.

"As could I!" Abella added, much to Erlea's growing frustration as she shot back her own argument, to which her friends gave voice to a counter argument. All the while Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Wind Chill looked at the trio, as well as the still sleeping Granny Smith.

"... They do remember we’re still here, right?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom answered.

"You youngsters sure are a curious bunch," Wind Chill said as he looked at the arguing trio with confusion and intrigue.

"You wouldn't dare!" Erlea half shouted, which Devora answered with a deadpan look. "Oh, who am I kidding. You would."

"Ha!" Abella stated with a hoof pointed at Erlea.

"... This is gonna take a while, ain't it?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle.

"Ghaaa! You take that back!" Abella gasped out, before jumping at Erlea.

"Yeah…" Sweetie Belle replied, slowly, "I certainly looks like it."

In a flash of green, Devora transformed into what appeared to be a purple spotted white pony, sticking out her tongue to Erlea, who took offense to this if her reaction was any indication.

"... My bet is on the one who just transformed," Wind Chill spoke up, earning the baffled looks of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "What?" he said, shrugging. "If we're waiting for them to finish, we might as well make it entertaining."

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, before their gazes locked on the increasingly confusing… whatever it was those three were doing, their minds going over what Wind Chill had said.

"... Ah'm goin' fer Devora too," Apple Bloom said finally.

"No way! Erlea is totally going to win this." Sweetie Belle shot back.

"Oh yeah!?"

"Yeah!"

"Wanna bet?" Apple Bloom said with a competitive glare in her eyes.

"You're on," Sweetie Belle grinned, both spitting in their hooves before slamming them together.

<<>><<>><<>>

She ran as fast as she could, not slowing down, not looking back. She knew they were there. She knew they were coming for her. She knew. They had already gotten too close. They had already taken her friend. She knew they were coming, it was only a matter of time.

She could hear them come; hooves pounding on the ground close behind her. She had to get away.

'Damn, she's faster than I thought!' Ornate Charm thought as she ran after Diamond Tiara, hoping no pony would see her as it would be difficult to explain why she was running after a terrified, screaming filly. Which, seeing she was now heading for the village, would be near impossible. So with a weary sigh, she charged her horn, 'Sorry kid,' and she captured Diamond Tiara in the glow of her magic, then put her to sleep with a spell.

Coming to a stop, Diamond Tiara hovering before her, Ornate Charm harrumphed as she looked at the filly, "This spell isn't going to hold for long," she said to nopony in particular, "Better get out of sight before anypony sees me."

Placing Diamond Tiara securely on her back, she hurried away, confident that she managed to keep her actions hidden from the public.

Yet six pairs of eyes were watching; watching unblinkingly as Ornate Charm galloped away.

"She's panicking," one said without voice, yet a clear feminine presence was behind them.

"You think?" another replied in a sarcastic male presence, also without voice, rolling his eyes.

"She was merely making an observation. No need to be like that." a third voiceless male voice spoke up.

"What has happened is obvious," a fourth began, also with a male presence behind the words. "What needs to happen is still uncertain."

"You don't intend to interfere?" the fifth mute, yet female voice replied. "You know the rules."

"And if it kept to those rules, we wouldn't have been here," the fourth voice answered. "And as much as you like to preach about those rules, we all know; we agreed on it even that they needed to be broken. Both back then, and quite possibly now."

"He's right," the sixth voice finally gave soundless voice to his thoughts, "if actions are required, we shouldn't hesitate to do so. We all know what is coming. We have seen it, are still seeing it. No matter the path, this will happen. We can't change this destiny, but we can change the path towards it."

"And how do you intend on doing this?" the second silent voice asked, scratching his head with a carrot before crossing his arms. "We've already pushed the Touched towards the Fallen. Even this half ghost human living in this village is there, solidifying yet another aspect of his Destiny."

"Not entirely," The first mute voice countered. "He's gone," she pointed a white paw towards the direction Silver Spoon ran off to. "But she is here."

"The conflicted!" the second voice said in realization.

"Yes," The sixth nodded his head slowly, flight goggles shifting slightly. "And living up to her Embodiment, seeing she's both here and in Canterlot."

"Her powers are growing," the fourth observed, light reflecting off of his purple reptile eyes. "As is expected. Although, it took longer than I thought it would."

"With the conflict that arose upon her creation, did you believe anything less would have happened?" the fifth asked.

"No, but I hoped it would have happened faster," the fourth answered.

"You know hoping for something is pointless for beings like us; seeing everything, as is our task?" the second asked with condescension.

"Sometimes hope is all that remains. We of all beings should know this," the fourth countered with calm logic, making the second roll his eyes in irritation.

"But we're wasting time," the third cut in, rustling his feathers "If we're going to act, we should do so now."

Confirming nods were given, even by the second, albeit with resistance.

"But first we need to make sure intervention is needed," the fifth told them, using a paw to readjust the red collar around her neck.

Another round of nods was given.

"Then we agree," the fourth stated, looking at those by his side; seeing the confirmation in the eyes of their chosen forms.

"Good," he finished, and they all blinked.

<<>><<>><<>>

~~"Hey kid,"~~ a distant, warped voice called out. ~~"Kid, wake up!"~~

With a groan most often released by those who don't want to wake up, Diamond Tiara slowly forced open her eyes; just a sliver, seeing the blurry image of her muzzle lying in tall grass, but unable to fully comprehend it.

Another groan, and she forced her head up, blinking uncoordinatedly as she slowly looked around.

"Come on, kid," the now much clearer voice said, and she lazily rubbed a hoof over her eyes, yawned, then finally looked around with more clarity of mind.

"Wait, where am I?" Diamond Tiara asked, noticing she was lying in the grass near Whitetail woods, a small walk away from the village.

"There we are," the unknown voice said, and Diamond Tiara turned to see a mare unknown to her standing behind her.

"GHA!" Diamond screeched, rearing back and falling on her back as she lost her balance. "Who are you!?" she demanded, pointing a hoof at the mare as she slowly pushed herself back upright, "And how did I get here? And where is Silver-" the memories returned as if struck by lightning, "-Spoon." Her eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she began to hyperventilate, head snapping from left to right as she frantically scanned her surroundings.

"Wow, relax kid. You're safe. Don't know what you were running from back there," Ornate Charm said as she gave a single nod towards the apple orchard in the distance, "but it certainly spooked you." she said with emphasis on the word 'spooked', hoping to draw out a reaction and confirm her suspicion.

Diamond Tiara looked at the mare, a frown growing on her face.

'Who is she?' she wondered, deepening her frown. '... First those loser Blank Flanks somehow managed to double themselves… and ME! Then Silver Spoon gets switched with that fake. And now this pony shows up out of nowhere…' her frown dropped as realization set in, 'She must be one of them…'

"You alright kid?" Ornate Charm asked as Diamond Tiara started to back away from her, fear evident on her face.

"Sure," Diamond Tiara replied hastily, "Nothing wrong," as she backed away further and further.

Cocking an eyebrow, Ornate Charm stepped closer to the retreating filly. "You don't seem like it, did something happen? Did you see something?" she pressed on.

"Who," an owl hooted. They both looked to the forest on their side, seeing an owl sitting on one of the many branches.

"Who."

"An owl?" Ornate Charm said, puzzled, "Isn't it still too early for them to be out already?"

Pondering this question for a second longer she decided it wasn't worth her time and shrugged, turning back to Diamond Tiara, only to see she was slowly sneaking away from her.

"Hey, kid. Wait up!" she called out, making Diamond Tiara eep in fright, before she bolted, "HEY!"

Ornate Charm shouted after her, running after the filly, "WHOO!" only to be stopped by the owl as it flew in front of her, blocking her path and hiding the retreating pony from her sight, save for a couple of glimpses Ornate could see past the flapping of the owl's wings.

"Hey, get out of my way!" she shouted at the animal.

"Who."

"You, go away."

"Who."

"You, darn it."

"Who."

"What are you, stu-" it took a moment, but then a hoof found its way to her face with a loud 'THUD'.

"I'm an idiot."

"Who."

"Oh shut up."

"Who."

A loud, irritated groan reverberated over the field.

<<>><<>><<>>

"She went this way!" one of the ponies chasing after her shouted to another.

"I got it," came a reply.

'Damn it,' Dani thought, seeing through the gray filly's eyes as she was both running away from the hunters as well as trying to keep her legs from tangling up, 'Why did I even think possessing this pony was a good idea?'

With a wobbly gallop Dani found herself quickly losing the distance between herself and her pursuers.

'Ugh, I need to find a place to hide!' she told herself, scanning her surroundings, noticing some of the foliage provided some moderate coverage for the small pony she'd possessed, 'It'll have to do,' and so she jumped into the leaves and branches, feeling several twigs getting stuck in the pony's tail, and several long strands of hair were pulled free as they got stuck.

'Yikes, sorry kid,' Dani thought, wincing as she looked behind her and released her possessive grasp over the filly. With a sudden force, Dani found herself forced out of the filly's body the moment she let go, only now noticing just how much effort it took her to overshadow the child.

'Wow, what was that?' she wondered, before realizing who was zeroing in on her, 'Never mind that. I need to get out of here,' and, while invisible, she phased out of the foliage and sped away, hoping the ghost hunters' scanners would take notice of this and steer them away from the filly left behind in the bushes, while she would fly away as fast as she could, leaving her pursuers far behind.

"Sir," Blue Ice called out, coming to a stop, a pensive look on her face as she studied her scanner, "I've got a new development!"

"What is it?" Rolling Stone replied with a gruff voice as he was forced to slow down.

"Another contact, heading in the opposite direction we're going."

"What!?" Sound Wave shouted, quickly grabbing her own scanner and confirming what Blue Ice had just said, "What in Tartarus is going on?"

"There is still the other signal we've locked on first," Rolling Stone told them as he studied his own scanner, also noticing the speed the new contact was moving away with, "Damn it. Sound Wave, follow this new contact. You're faster than Blue Ice and I," Sound Wave nodded in confirmation, and quickly took to the sky in pursuit of the new target, "Ice, with me," Rolling Stone ordered, "The other contact is still there."

Nodding, the two of them quickly followed their scanners, moving towards the bush Dani had steered Silver Spoon into.

"It's here," Blue Ice muttered, yet the longer she looked at her scanner, the more confused she'd became, "Sir, take a look at this. The signal is fading," she informed him, tilting her scanner to allow him to see the screen.

"Uugh," came a dizzy groan, and the two hunters' attention was drawn to the gray filly lumbering out of the foliage on unsteady legs, "What happened?" Silver Spoon asked, rubbing her head. "Where am I?" She looked around in confusion, not noticing the two adults standing some distance away behind her. "... Wait… How did I get here?" she asked herself, blinking in surprise and confusion as she finally realized where she was.

Quickly but quietly moving away from the filly, Rolling Stone and Blue Ice watched her carefully without alerting her.

"She seems… confused," Blue Ice said, cocking an eyebrow.

"You heard what she said," Rolling Stone muttered, "And you just said the signal we've followed was fading."

"You think she was possessed, instead of being a ghost like Sound Wave thought her to be?"

"Look at your scanner," Rolling Stone told her as he looked down at his own, "There is almost no spectral signature coming off of her. And what we are picking up on is fading rapidly," he slowly put away his scanner as he looked at the filly with a troubled glare, "She's an innocent factor, manipulated by one of those rotten entities," he told her as the both of them watched Silver Spoon slowly walk back to the village.

"Then the signal we saw move away from us-"

"Is the real threat, Rolling Stone finished with a bitter tone, "It must've used this child to draw our attention away from itself. And now, with only Sound Wave chasing it, and the abilities these ghosts are known to have, there is a good chance for this entity to escape."

"Then… we've been played for fools by this ghost," Blue Ice shot furious, no longer keeping her voice down now that Silver Spoon was out of earshot.

"Yes," Rolling Stone said flatly, voice devoid of any emotions, "It seems like we have."

"Now what?"

"... Now we hope Sound Wave gets lucky and manages to catch this ghost on her own. As for us, let's move back to Ornate Charm. Maybe she has some better news for us."

"Don't count on it," an irritated voice answered, and Rolling Stone and Blue Ice turned to see the fourth member of their team walk up to them.

"Ornate," Rolling Stone said, "Explain yourself."

"Sir," Ornate Charm replied, "I managed to calm down Diamond Tiara using a sleeping spell, and took her to a more secure spot. However, whatever it was that traumatized her made it impossible for me to learn anything useful. In fact, she managed to run away from me during… a moment of distraction." she informed them, looking away in embarrassment.

"A moment of distraction?" Blue Ice repeated, "What does that mean?"

"Let's just say there was an unforeseen presence."

"Who."

Ornate Charm's eyes widened, and her head snapped towards a most familiar owl sitting on a branch.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she groaned.

"Who."

"What is going on?" Rolling Stone asked Ornate Charm.

"It’s a long story," Ornate Charm sighed.

"Does it have something to do with this owl?" Blue Ice asked.

"Who."

Ornate Cham ground her teeth together before answering, "Yes, it does."

"Who."

"OH WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!" she finally snapped, much to the surprise of Rolling Stone and Blue Ice, who quickly took a few steps back from her.

"Who."

"GHAAA!" she yelled, and Rolling Stone and Blue Ice had to stop her from drawing her blaster.

"Well, aren't you a hot head," the third voice said without sound.

"And whose fault would that be?" the first voiceless voice replied with a small chuckle, having climbed up the tree and was now sitting next to the third, watching the two ghost hunters calm down Ornate Charm. "At least we didn't have to interfere with these events."

"Not here, at least," the third voice replied.

The two of them continued to watch a little longer.

"We should go," the first voice said finally, "There is still much to be done, and we can't focus all our attention on just these three mortals."

"Agreed," the third voice said, and the both of them left. The first voice by dropping down the tree and landing perfectly on all four paws, the third by spreading his wings and flying away.

<<>><<>><<>>

Shouting, objects breaking, and happy barking all came from the hut deep in the Everfree Forest.

It started innocently enough, but the longer it took Zecora to capture and calm the green, glowing pup, the more damage it caused with his playful demeanor.

Apparently it saw her every action as an invitation to play, and play he did.

Barking, jumping, running along the walls, and even on the ceiling on one occasion, Zecora's usually collected and calm persona was put to the test. Her frazzled mohawk and slightly bared teeth being a good indicator.

"Now listen here, you energetic pup. Stop this madness and act like a grown-up."

The puppy came to a sudden stop and turned to look at Zecora. He then scratched behind his ear, barked, ran up to Zecora and licked her squarely over her muzzle.

Barking happily, he continued his game of cat and mouse. Or puppy and small, striped equine.

Zecora, taken aback by this sudden, and unwanted display of affection, scrunched her muzzle while wiping off the saliva with a hoof, flicking it away.

"Zecora, calm yourself, anger is not the way," the sound of a mask crashing onto the ground and cracking in half pulled her attention to the puppy who then poked his head out from underneath the old, and emotionally important piece of Zecora's homeland. "But right now, my sight is locked on my prey!" she finished with anger, grabbing the club she used to fend off timberwolves.

The puppy barked happily when she picked up the large stick, and the chase began a new, but not in the way Zecora thought it to be.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wait, I'm confused," Sweetie Belle said.

"Me too," Apple Bloom agreed, "Who won?"

"I have absolutely no idea," Wind Chill replied, the three of them looking at the trio of changelings who, suddenly, were the best of friends again.

"So, we agree on this?" Erlea asked her friends, who nodded in response.

"If you think this will work, then yes. But only because we trust you, not those ponies," Abella told her.

"Ditto," Devora nodded.

Sighing in relief, Erlea then turned her attention to the two ponies and one frost giant, staring at them in confusion.

"What?" she asked, making Abella and Devora turn to look at the as well.

"Weren't y'all just fighting?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, and now we're not." Devora replied. "So?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, then glanced up at Wind Chill, who shrugged in response.

"It's just… We thought there would be somep— ling who would win," Sweetie Belle spoke up, confused.

"Win?" Abella repeated, not understanding what she meant.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom replied, scratching her head, "It's just, tha way y'all were acting ta each other, we kinda thought one of ya would best the others… somehow."

"Why would we do that?" Abella asked, genuinely surprised, "If we have a disagreement, we solve it. Not trying to best another while we could also work together."

"There are already so few of us, we can't permit it to let something get between us," Devora shot at them.

A look of growing realization grew on the faces of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and even Wind Chill.

"I guess that makes sense," Sweetie Belle murmured, poking the dirt with a hoof.

"So, uhh. Ya agreed on somethin'?" Apple Bloom asked, steering the conversation away from them.

"... Yes," Erlea said after a moment, "We will hear you out. Here, in the open. And where we will not freeze our wings off. Then, if what you say seems beneficial to us, Abella and Devora will reassume your forms and pretend to be you while you will make true to your words."

"That seems reasonable," Apple Bloom mused. "Sweetie Belle?"

"I'm fine with it," she shrugged. "Wind Chill?"

The frost giant nodded his agreement, and promptly sat down; his actions mirrored by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle a second later, followed by Erlea, Abella, and Devora thereafter.

"Well, where to start?" Sweetie Belle asked in general.

"You can begin by telling us what magic you used back then," Abella told her, frowning, "And why you lied about not being able to use magic to begin with."

"Wow, that's quite the story," Apple Bloom breathed out. "You better get comfortable, cause this is going to take a while."

Nodding, Sweetie Belle took over, "It all started several days ago, when my friends and I found this weird black book."

<<>><<>><<>>

It certainly took a while, as they were told, but neither Erlea, nor Abella or Devora could have prepared themselves for the story told to them. And by the time Sweetie Belle finished her tale, with Apple Bloom adding her side of the story from time to time, the three changelings found their lower jaws touching the dirt. Especially after the small demonstration given by Sweetie Belle in regards to her abilities.

Needless to say, they had a hard time believing everything told to them.

"So, umm… That about sums it up," Sweetie Belle finished lamely, rubbing the back of her head with a black booted hoof.

All three changelings slowly turned their heads to one another, silently confirming they all had heard the same thing. Still didn't mean they immediately believed the claims of those ponies.

"WHAT!?" Erlea finally found her voice after she had closed her mouth with a hoof.

"You can't be serious!" Devora told them.

"There is no way that is true!" Abella threw her opinion in.

"The young ones are telling the truth," Wind Chill countered, "An unbelievable tale, true. But the truth nonetheless."

All three changelings once more shared the same confused, shocked, and even disturbed look.

"Now, with the young ones having shared their story, isn't it only fair to tell us what you need help with?"

"Ye- Yeah," Erlea stumbled, "Just, hold on a bit," unsure about her words for a moment, she turned to her two friends, "Can... You know," she made a vague hoof gesture.

Nodding in silence, Abella and Devora gave the two ponies and frost giant one last wary glance before transforming back into Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Heading back to the farmhouse, making sure to take the still sleeping Granny Smith with them.

"Lucky granny is such a heavy sleeper," Apple Bloom said as she saw her double carry her off. Sweetie Belle only nodded in answer.

"... This is going to come back to bite me in the flank, isn't it?" Erlea muttered as she rethought her decision. Sighing, she turned back to the ponies and frost giant, "Okay… About this help I need."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Damn it," Dani swore, flying away from the hunters as fast as she could, 'Why did I let my guard down like that?'

She knew she had to be careful; her mission depended on her remaining unseen. But here she was, flying as fast as she could trying to escape. True, she could use her powers against the mare, yet one semi botched up possession with that filly was enough overshadowing for her for one day. And attacking the pony was completely out of the question. Thus she had only one real option. Run. Or fly, as it was.

Glancing back, she saw the pegasus from the ghost hunting team hot on her tail.

'I need to go faster,' she told herself, already straining herself to go as fast as she could, 'Why am I not going faster?' she asked herself, 'I know I am faster than this, but I just can't go any faster,' she made a sharp turn, trying to throw off the hunter. But the scanner held in her hoof showed Sound Wave exactly where she went, and she turned just as sharply.

'Damn it,' Dani repeated, gritting her teeth, 'It's almost as if I lost half… my strength,' the realization felt like a slap to the face.

She knew, had always known, but didn't realize it until now. A ghost can duplicate itself, but not its power. Instead, it is shared between each duplicate. Even when a duplicate duplicates itself, the power still remains the same between each and every other duplicate. One double has half the power. Two doubles a third each. Four a quarter. She couldn't give more than fifty percent, because that was all she had.

'DAMN IT!' she roared in her mind, 'I need to get out of here, NOW!' yet it was a losing battle, and she could feel the hunter draw nearer; seeing the mare out of the edge of her senses as she reached with a hoof for a very familiar looking cylindrical object.

'Oh no,' Dani thought, her fate seemingly sealed.

The sound of a spinning propeller grabbed her attention, and her invisible eyes widened upon seeing a most peculiar sight. A large tortoise, flying towards the mare with a propeller attached to its shell helicopter style; a lazy smile on the creature's face.

"What the hay!" Sound Wave shouted her surprise, straining her wings to reverse her momentum so she wouldn't crash into the misplaced animal.

'Thanks, big guy,' Dani silently said, giving a half relieved smile as she used this chance to escape.

"You are most welcome."

"What the hay is this supposed to mean!?' Sound Wave shouted confused and irritated, "Why is there a tortoise equipped with flight gear?"

The tortoise lazily raised his head up, looking at the frazzled mare with lazy, but kind eyes; a tired smile growing on his face.

All Sound Wave could do was stare at the animal, completely baffled, scanner and the ghost forgotten. Her eyes were locked on the flying reptile, slowly shifting to the side as he flew away; legs bungling lazily underneath his shell.

"... What the hay just happened?" she asked, but never received an answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

'What you seek is rare, and difficult to find,' Wind Chill's voice rang through her mind, wide purple eyes staring at yet another impossible sight, 'I myself don't have the knowledge as to where you can find what you seek, However-' There is always a however, she contemplated, and was trying to figure out exactly how they had managed to get her here… in this form, '- The Elder might have the answers you seek.'

'The Elder?' she had asked, noticing Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sharing a knowing glance with each other.

'Hey, yeah. She always seems to know everything,' Sweetie Belle had said.

'But how're we supposed ta get her here?' Apple Bloom wondered aloud. 'It’s too cold fer Erlea ta go over there, and Ah doubt tha timberwolves would let her pass even if it weren't.'

'What about Scootaloo?' Sweetie Belle said suddenly, looking at Erlea.

'What about her?' she recalled asking, already knowing she wouldn't like the answer.

'You can transform into her, right? The timberwolves were told not to hurt her, so maybe you can trick them into thinking you're her.'

It was a crazy plan, yet Erlea couldn't find a reason why it wouldn't work.

'A plan crazy enough to work,' she told herself yet again, ruffling her orange wings, while her spiky purple mane swept around in the cold wind blowing in through the impossible hole hanging in mid-air in the center of the ancient throne room.

'But would changin' inta Scootaloo also protect her from tha cold?' Apple Bloom had asked.

No, was the answer. Or at least, not as well as they would be protected by their fur.

Apparently, magically acquired fur usually meant for disguises doesn't shield one as well from the cold. And thus, much to her ever increasing embarrassment, she now found herself covered in Apple Bloom's winter boots, scarf, ear warmers, and even her saddle.

"This better be worth it," she groaned, but failing in hiding the wonder and amazement in her voice upon seeing a portal leading to the Far Frozen.

"There is something wrong," Wind Chill told them, glancing warily at the timberwolves standing guard near the hole in the air; frozen on the spot.

"Yeah… What happened ta them?" Apple Bloom asked, worried.

"... Something bad," Wind Chill answered with worry, sensing the arctic energy radiating off of the frozen wolves. "We’d better hurry."

Nodding, Erlea, along with Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle stepped through the portal, followed immediately by Wind Chill.

"Avalanche, Snow Front," Wind Chill greeted, yet his tone was most serious, seeing the two guarding giants look around warily, weapons in hand, "What happened here?"

"Wind Chill. Thank the ancestors you're here," Avalanche replied with a hint of drama.

"It was the Saldēti Zirgi," Snow Front half shouted. "They broke through.”

"WHAT!?" Wind Chill roared, causing a small avalanche to fall from a nearby hill.

"Ehh... What's a Salade Ziri?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"A Saldēti Zirgi," Snow Front corrected, looking down at the three fillies, frowning deeply. "They are-"

"Creatures of snow and ice, freezing everything wherever they go," The Elder finished for him while slowly moving up on the scene, her orange eyes shining from underneath the darkening hood, studying the fillies intently.

"Elder," Snow Front said, surprised, "What are you doing here? It isn't safe, you should-"

"Be right here," she finished once more, shooting Snow Front a serious glare. "And I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"Yes, Elder," Snow Front replied, ashamed.

"Good," she stated, and returned her attention to the curious development involving the newest arrival in the Far Frozen. "Now, I must say I did not see this coming… immediately. And it is quite a clever ruse, trying to trick the wolves like that," she added with a chuckle, looking down at the disguised Erlea. "But it would not have worked. Their sense of smell is capable of sniffing right through your disguise," Erlea's eyes widened in shock, and the Elder laughed lightly. "So, are you not lucky the timberwolves were frozen solid, Erlea?"

"Wha... You know who I am!?" Erlea shouted, much to Snow Front and Avalanche's surprise.

"Oh, I do young shapeshifter. I do. Just as I know your new friends brought you here because you need help. And help we shall give you. But we will not add to it," she added, looking at the three frost giants. "What happened here is of no concern to them." She then turned to Wind Chill. "I shall look after the young ones. You should meet up with Frostbite. He needs to talk with you."

"And what about-"

"You don't need to worry about young Apple Bloom, or her friends. Honor bound or not, they will be safe," she told him, then turned around. 'For now,' she added in thought, seeing the path before them.

"Go see Frostbite. He'll explain matters to you. The children and I have other business to discuss."

Wind Chill, unable to come up with a reply, stood awkwardly on the spot for several long seconds, watching the elder walk away.

Apple Bloom looked at him with large, questioning eyes, mirrored by Sweetie Belle. Erlea, however, was busy looking around with wonder and confusion, unable to properly grasp the situation she was in.

Sighing, Wind Chill dropped the arm with which he reached out; not even knowing he did so until his muscles relaxed.

"Very well," he muttered, looking at his brethren frost giants before returning to the village.

<<>><<>><<>>

Snow crunched underneath them with every step as they moved to the village. Three of them did so without much delay, yet one was lagging.

Erlea, unable to believe everything that had happened was actually happening, and the situation she had suddenly found herself in. Just this morning she took a chance in trusting Apple Bloom. Now she stood on the frozen landscape of the realm of the dead. Her head moved from side to side, trying to take it all in, despite the repetitive scenery of snow and ice.

"It's quite something, isn't it?" the Elder asked her, slowing down a bit as she looked down at the pegasus changeling.

"I... Ehh. I've seen snow before," Erlea said evasively while looking away, much to the Elder's amusement as she chuckled.

"I'm sure you have. And I'm sure you will do so many times more," she said lightly, then fell silent for a moment before resuming talking, her tone more serious and dark. "But it may not be for all, if we do not act soon."

"... What do you mean?" Erlea asked warily, taking a half step back as she looked up at the Elder with suspicion.

"Child, I know why you are here, what you seek, and what is at stake. A terrible illness has claimed most of your kind, and you are here in the hope to find a cure."

Erlea, feeling as if she'd been struck, took several frightened steps back from the towering giant; eyes full of shock and fear.

"How do you know that?" Erlea gasped, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, several steps ahead, stopped to turn to look.

"I have seen it," the Elder answered truthfully. "Or, to be more precise. I am still seeing it, looking at you."

"What?" Erlea replied, taking another step back.

"There is no need to be frightened," the Elder told her, eyes momentarily flashing towards Sweetie Belle, who seemed to shake off a bit of dizziness. "I will explain what I can, but perhaps we should first move someplace warmer."

"Don't worry," Apple Bloom said encouragingly. "She ain't gonna hurt ya or nothin'."

"Thank you, child," the Elder said warmly. "Now, Erlea. If you would follow me and your… acquaintances, I'm sure we can answer all questions you will undoubtedly have as soon as possible."

"..." Unable to give voice to her answer, she merely nodded her head.

"Acquaintances?" Apple Bloom repeated, confused as the Elder and Erlea walked past her and Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle could only shrug in response, then the two of them became more aware of the cold creeping up their hooves and quickly followed after the Elder and Erlea.

"Do you know what she meant by that?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle. "Tha acquaintances thing, Ah mean."

"It means someone you know, but don't have a close relationship with," Sweetie Belle answered.

"... Why would tha Elder refer ta us like that?"

"... Maybe…?"

"Maybe, what?"

"Maybe because Erlea doesn't see us as friends?"

"Huh? Why not?"

"Well, you did hear what she said about us ponies. And you said she's the Queen's daughter, who our sisters fought against…"

"... Oh yeah," Apple Bloom sulked, then a fire ignited within. "Then we just gotta try harder ta become friends, right!?"

"Right," Sweetie Belle confirmed with a firm nod. Further ahead, walking with a slow pace so the three fillies could keep up, the Elder smiled proudly.

For a while, nothing more was said as the group moved through the snowy streets. Erlea, still shaken by what the Elder had told her, and just how much she seemed to know without even telling her anything, kept her eyes firmly locked on the giant; the occasional glimpse slipped through whenever they moved past other frost giants or buildings seemingly carved out of the ice itself.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, already familiarized with the village, smiled happily at the other giants, waving to them from time to time.

The gesture was returned in kind by the rough looking but peaceful villagers, yet the two ponies soon looked around in surprise when they seemed to leave the village, walking further and further until no ice home could be seen unless they looked back.

"Ehh… Elder. Where are we going?" Sweetie Belle asked, hovering slightly above the thickening snow so she wouldn't sink away like Apple Bloom and Erlea, whose legs were now almost completely lost in the blanket of white.

"To where I prefer to reside. Although I do enjoy the village, and appreciate the camaraderie between my fellow frost giants, I prefer a place where I can be more to myself."

"Oh… Why?" Sweetie Belle asked with curious innocence.

"I see many things," The Elder told them. "Sometimes too many, and I get overwhelmed. Whenever I join my brethrens in the village, I can not help but see."

"So… Ya live outside tha village so ya won't see everything?" Apple Bloom asked while struggling to keep herself from sinking even deeper. Sweetie Belle was quick to help her, holding out a hoof, and pulling her friend out of the snow, sharing in her levitation as she moved to Erlea to pull her free as well.

"Indeed," the Elder confirmed, "... We're here," she told them, and pointed at a simple looking home at the side of a tall ice mountain.

"Please, come inside. There is much to discuss, and even more to do."

Nodding, Sweetie Belle flew through the door that was held open by the Elder, Apple Bloom and Erlea held in her grasp.

"How are you even doing this!?" Erlea half shouted in shock as she failed to understand how Sweetie was flying without using any wings.

"I already told you," Sweetie Belle said, "I'm a spirit."

"That doesn't answer anything!" Erlea shouted.

"It kinda does," Apple Bloom countered before the three of them disappeared inside.

For a moment the Elder just looked after them, chuckling lightly, "Ah, the joys of youth. How I miss those days." She then followed the fillies inside, but not before looking at the tall mountain on which her home was crafted.

'They are still growing, old friend. But one day, I'm sure, those seeds will grow into something great.'

<<>><<>><<>>

"Come. On!" Scootaloo strained against the window, having long since given up on forcing open the door. "Stupid spell," she groaned as she kicked against the frame.

Sighing, she wistfully looked out of the window onto the street below, recalling just what had happened when that stallion came screaming into town.

"I need to warn Sweetie Belle," she groaned, dragging herself back to her bed. Despite that, halfway across her room, she remembered something, and turned to her nightstand instead.

Pulling open the drawer, she revealed the device she 'borrowed' out of the room of those ghost hunters.

Staring at it for a moment, she then grabbed the device out of the drawer and jumped on her bed; lying on her back, holding the device above her head.

"How does this thing even work?" she muttered, pressing some of the buttons at random.

"-re we sneaking around like this?" A voice came from the device's speaker, and Scootaloo reared back up with rapt attention.

"I know, I don't like it either," the same monotone voice said in answer, yet, deep down, Scootaloo knew it was someone else talking. Although, she didn't even know who was talking… or why the device was talking at all.

"But she's our daughter, shouldn't we be allowed to see her?" Scootaloo froze on the spot over this.

"Daughter?" she repeated under her breath. Somewhere, buried deep down, she knew these voices were somehow talking about her.

Yet, as she breathed out the word, the voices fell silent; a sudden rattle and knock came from her door before it slowly swung open, and all Scootaloo could do was stare with wide eyes. A slight tremor went down her spine as she looked at the now wide open door.

"Mom, dad?" she whispered, slowly dropping down her bed without looking away from the door; the device lay forgotten on her bed, partially covered by the tangled blanket.

Slowly Scootaloo moved towards the door, her hairs standing on end, and a sudden drop in temperature came over her the closer she got. Gulping loudly, she inched her way closer and closer, before finally looking past the corners to see if there was anypony standing in the hallway, but finding no one.

"Is anypony out there?" she asked nervously, but receiving no reply.

She yelped and shot up in the air when a sound came from behind her; a burst of static coming from the device lying on her bed.

"Hello?" she asked with a quaver in her voice.

"... We're so proud of you… Little Mayfly."

The device fell silent while Scootaloo stared with wide, shocked eyes.

Minutes ticked by with nothing else happening, and, eventually, Scootaloo slowly moved towards her bed, staring at the device.

"A- are you still there?" she asked, hoping against hope that they were.

Silence.

"Please be there."

Silence.

No answer came, and the tiny spark of hope she'd felt started to fade. Sighing mournfully, she gingerly picked up the device, no longer seeing it as a collection of over-complicated technological whatchamacallit. Instead, it was now a connection. Some kind of link to her parents. She knew it was them. Knew it deep down. If only she knew how this device worked.

"Maybe Wind Chill knows?" she wondered, and suddenly remembered everything that had happened in town.

Eyes widening once more, this time in realization, she looked at the open door, then back at the device she held in her hoof. Knowing now what happened just then and why, she carefully placed the device back in the drawer of her nightstand.

"Thanks," she said quietly, hoping for a moment the device would start speaking again.

It never did.

With a dissapointed sigh, she rushed out of her room and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

<<>><<>><<>>/

"Now, I am sure you must have a lot of que-"

"How do you know who I am?! How do you know I am a shapeshifter?! How do you know my kind is sick?! How do you-"

The Elder knew Erlea would have many questions, yet even with her ability to see more than most, she hadn't expected the sudden assault of questions suddenly thrown at her and she looked down at the young changeling, quite perplexed.

"AND WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON!?" Erlea finally finished, panting, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at her, impressed at how long she’d gone on.

"Very well then," The Elder began, shifting slightly to make herself more comfortable on her seat. "Let me start from the beginning. As you undoubtedly have already picked up, I am the Elder. A title which I assume is self-explanatory. Now, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle have already explained quite a few things to you; about Sweetie Belle being a spirit, as well as a mortal at the same time. They also told you how they were brought here when it was discovered Sweetie Belle was a spirit, and how she received training in how to control her newfound powers," she stated calmly, much to Erlea's growing impatience as this was not what she wanted to hear.

"This land you're now standing on is called the Far Frozen. Again, self-explanatory. As for me, and how I know about you, and those connected to you, that is not something quickly explained." She sighed, increasing the grip she had over her staff. "You see this, the staff I carry with me?" she asked Erlea, as well as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, "This is how I see what I do. My gift. My curse. It is not something I can give away, with only a very few exceptions. There are others who carry the title of Elder; they can use this staff's power, to some extent. However, it was I who was chosen to represent this Embodiment of Truth."

The air grew thick with tension, with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle listening intently. All the while, Erlea, also enraptured by this sudden reveal of a curse, was still trying to figure out how this was going to help her.

"Truth's power allows me to see what I see, to know what I know, to hear what I hear. But only if it is for me to do so. This is how I knew about you; what you are, what you seek. I saw, because it was up to me to put you on the right path."

"So… there is a cure?" Erlea asked, hopefully.

"There is… But obtaining it will not be easy."

"I don't care! If there is a way to help my fellow changelings, I will do whatever it takes!" she shouted with pride, jumping up, wings extended.

"We’ll help too!" Apple Bloom joined in.

"Count me in as well," Sweetie Belle agreed.

"An' Ah’m sure Wind Chill will help as well," Apple Bloom added thoughtfully.

"No, he will not," The Elder told her, and the ponies looked up at her, confused. "This is not his Destiny to partake in. Only you three must take on this challenge."

"Uhhh…" Apple Bloom uttered.

"We'll do it!" Erlea answered for them, eyes burning with conviction. "Whatever it takes."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle briefly shared a moment of confusion, then they too showed the same look of determination as Erlea.

"Very well," the Elder said, standing up and walking over to a shelf on the wall; a locked, decorated box stood on it. "You will need to venture out into the Ghost Zone. Deep into the Ghost Zone, towards a place not many dare to go, save for the very brave or stupid."

"Well, I'm not stupid," Erlea stated.

"Good, because you will have need of your mind as much as you will rely on your other abilities in the trials ahead of you," The Elder told her, returning to her seat with the box in her hand.

"So, where exactly do we need to go?" Sweetie Belle asked, unnerved over what the Elder had just said.

"The other ghosts call it the Dark Zone. A place warped even more than what you saw in the Ghost Zone. Out there, there are many dangers. And I can not stress enough just how careful you three must be when going there. Go to only where you need to go, no place else. Understood?" she told them, the weight behind her words pressing down on the three fillies who slowly nodded their heads.

"Good. When you arrive, there is someone you must face. A ghost older than your princesses. A ghost of incredible power. An ancient evil, responsible for unspeakable acts of carnage... Fenrir," she revealed his name. A name that was tied to more lives than she could see at once. A name that was grabbed by an ancient curse.

"That doesn't sound all that safe," Apple Bloom said, ears drooping.

"How are we supposed to deal with someone like that?" Sweetie Belle asked, half in panic by the prospect of coming to face such a being. Even Erlea seemed to hesitate when told who they would be facing.

"It isn't safe. Not in the slightest. Yet, I know you three can do what others believe to be impossible, if only you work together, to forge new bonds and heal old ones. It won't be easy. It will take a lot of effort on all your behalves, but, if you succeed, you will save more than just the changelings."

"More?" Sweetie Belle asked, surprised, "Who else needs healing?"

The Elder looked up and towards the portal out in the Dead Zone; staring at a wall from the fillies point of view, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"So, so many."

"... Okay…?" Erlea uttered, "So... how do we even get to this Dark Zone?"

Blinking, the Elder looked down at her, then at the box she was still holding.

"With this," she said, lowering the box to the floor and opening it so the fillies could look inside.

The moment the lid opened, a radiant light shone out, lighting up the room.

""What... is that?"" Erlea, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle said simultaneously, eyes wide as a rolled up scroll slowly levitated up in the air.

"This, children, is the Infi-map. A map of the entire Ghost Zone, and everything connected to it. It shows you where to go and how to get there. Sometimes it even takes you where you need to be, instead of where you want to go. With this-” she unrolled the map; every landmass, closed door, and portal found within the Ghost Zone revealed itself to their widening eyes, “-you will go where you need to be."

"Wow!" All three of them said together, eyes roving around the detailed images of everything found in the ghost realm.

"But… How does this map thingy take us ta tha Dark Zone an' that Fenrir guy?" Apple Bloom asked, poking the map with a hoof.

The moment she finished speaking, the Infi-map flashed and a dotted outline went from their current location all the way over the edge of the map, only for more new locations to be revealed. Not stopping there, the power of the Infi-map grabbed hold of Apple Bloom's hoof, which froze in place when the map came to life, and pulled her with it.

Sweetie Belle, acting out of reflex, grabbed hold of her friend, only to find herself suddenly stuck to Apple Bloom. Reacting in panic, she flailed wildly with her free hoof, and grabbed hold of Erlea.

"Good luck, children," the Elder said. Yet before any of them could answer, let alone react, the Infi-map shot off, taking the three of them with it in a blur and screams.

"May Destiny guide you on your path."

Her eyes then shifted back to where the portal was located, a small sigh escaping her.

"Now to take care of your friend," and so she slowly made her way back to town.

<<>><<>><<>>

Fast spinning wheels bounced off of the path, the cart they were attached to spending more time in the air than on the ground. And Scootaloo's wings, buzzing rapidly, propelled her to even greater speeds towards the apple orchard.

One of the wheels got caught in another bump in the road and Scootaloo and her scooter were sent flying with a sideways spin, which she was only just able to correct; she made a rough, rocking landing before straightening out and resuming her course.

Of course, had she paid more attention, she wouldn't have made such a sloppy execution of her impromptu stunt jump, but her mind was going over everything that had happened in those short few hours since she returned from school.

First, of course, the scene caused by that stallion as he came screaming into town. However, something much more important happened. It was something she knew she should tell her friends. Something, she hoped, Sweetie Belle could help her with using her spirit powers.

Her parents were there, talking to her through that weird device.

So, with eyes narrowed in concentration despite not paying attention to the road before her, she rocketed her way to the orchard, narrowly avoiding many ponies as they hurriedly jumped out of her path and shouted after her as she sped past them.

Of course, as many would know when driving a vehicle at speed, one should always focus on the road before you. Thus, more focused on her thoughts than on the fence surrounding the orchard, Scootaloo came to a sudden stop, launching her up and over the fence into the overhead branches of the nearest tree.

"Pony feathers," she swore, twisting around to untangle herself before jumping down with multiple twigs and leaves sticking out of her mane.

Looking back at her scooter and then to the farm house up ahead, she gave a grunt and resumed her course on hoof before breaking out in a gallop, reaching the farm house in seconds.

Coming to a grinding stop before the door, she almost burst inside before recalling she, as well as her friends, were still in trouble. And her suddenly showing up like that would not be easily explained without increasing the trouble she was in already…. Until, of course, Bellflower would find she had gotten out of her room.

So, rethinking her plan of just barging in, Scootaloo instead turned around the corner and looked through the window; she saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at work inside the house while Granny Smith appeared to be fast asleep in her rocking chair.

Tapping a hoof against the glass to draw her friends' attention, she hurriedly waved them over when they finally took notice of her.

****

"Isn't that Erlea?" Abella asked, surprised. "She's back already?"

"Then why didn't she contact us through the hive mind?" Devora wondered, making Abella shrug.

"I guess we better see what she wants," Abella suggested.

****

"Come on, hurry it up!" Scootaloo muttered, fervently motioning for them to hurry. Sighing exasperatedly when they finally snuck outside to meet with her.

"Finally," she complained, then she turned more serious. "You guys are not going to believe what just happened!" she told them, a weird smile on her face.

"Uhhh… I assume you're going to tell us now?" Abella said, unsure, while Devora looked at Scootaloo in suspicion, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Right," Scootaloo answered the faux Sweetie Belle. Then her smile dropped slightly as, firstly, she would have to tell her friend the news about the recent developments in town. "First off, you might want to be careful when you go back in town, Sweetie Belle. There was this stallion screaming and going on about ghosts and such… it put the ponies on edge," she said, gave a moment to let this news sink in, and was about to reveal the other, much more important development regarding her parents when Devora and Abella's eyes widened in shock.

"Uh-oh," Abella gasped.

"You're the original," Devora groaned. "Great…Just great."

Scootaloo, taken by surprise by what her friends had just said, stood silently with her mouth open, caught mid-sentence.

"... What? Original?" she finally said, blinking, then looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, both of them shifting on the spot.

Abella and Devora looked at one another, while silently debating what to do, didn't answer her.

"Girls, what’s going on?" Scootaloo asked, looking at Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom with a puzzled expression.

"Ugh," Devora groaned, hoof against her face, "I thought they said she was stuck in her room, or something."

"Obviously she got out," Abella pointed out.

"Who said what? Who got out of where?" Scootaloo asked them, growing more and more confused. "Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, what’s going on with you two?" she asked them, stepping a bit closer to Apple Bloom.

"So what are we going to do with her?" Devora asked.

"Do what with me?" Scootaloo asked, becoming nervous.

"I don't know," Abella shrugged, "Erlea seemed to trust those two," she pointed in the general direction Erlea, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle went. "Maybe we can trust her?"

Scootaloo, slowly putting the pieces together, backed away from the two.

"You're not Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom."

"And now she's figured it out," Devora groaned, rolling her eyes, and her body was consumed in green flames. "And just how are you doing?" she asked sarcastically to the wide eyed pegasus. She could only stare in shock however, as in the blink of an eye she was tackled to the ground with Scootaloo standing on top of her, pinning her to the ground.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FRIENDS!?" she demanded, glaring down at the changeling.

"Nothing," Devora replied, stunned, yet not surprised by Scootaloo's reaction.

"Liar!" Scootaloo seethed, only for her to be pulled away from Devora as Abella, still disguised as Sweetie Belle, used her magic to free her friend.

"Calm down, will you!?" Abella told the enraged pegasus.

"NOT UNTIL YOU TWO TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TO MY FRIENDS!" Scootaloo yelled back at her. "GHNN… I knew that other changeling was trouble," she grunted through her clenched teeth, struggling in Abella's magical hold.

"Will you please calm down? Then maybe we can explain what's going on," Abella asked her, trying to remain calm despite what Scootaloo had just said about Erlea.

"I don't need an explanation. I already know you did something to my friends, and you're going to tell me what, RIGHT NOW!"

"Ugh, you ponies are all the same," Devora grunted, sharply turning around and marching back to the farmhouse. "I'm done wasting my time with you. Abella, you do what you want with her," in a burst of green fire she reassumed Apple Bloom's form, "Ah've got more important thaing ta do," and she vanished back inside. Unseen by Scootaloo, she picked up a feather duster to continue with her more important task, muttering all the while about ‘those ponies’ in general.

"Let. Go. Of. Me!" Scootaloo struggled to break Abella's hold, glaring at the changeling disguised as Sweetie Belle. Abella could only sigh and shake her head, agreeing with Devora.

"You ponies really are all the same," she said tiredly, slowly lowering Scootaloo, but not relinquishing her hold. "You don't even give us a chance to talk. You just yell and assume the worst at the first sight of us." She sighed tiredly once again, finally releasing Scootaloo. "Your friends took Erlea to some ghost world, or whatever it was they called it. They think they ca-"

"WHAT!" Scootaloo cut her off. "There is no way that's true! That would mean Sweetie Belle-" Her eyes narrowed into slits. "She wouldn't just reveal her secret to you like that. You must have done something to her and Apple Bloom."

"And here we go again," Abella droned, rolling her eyes, "Fine, whatever. Yes, we captured them and made them reveal their secrets to us. There, happy now?" she bit out, not even trying to sound friendly to the orange pegasus.

"I KNEW IT!" Scootaloo shouted, pointing an accusing hoof.

"Yeah, sure," Abella said uncaring, "Now, if you excuse me. I've got work to do. Posing as this pony and such," and so she walked past Scootaloo without care, moving back inside the farmhouse and grabbing a broom in her mouth, muttering about the lack of magical control Sweetie Belle has.

"What!?" Scootaloo said dumbfounded, not understanding why they just walked away like that without capturing her as well. Yet, as she looked back inside the Apples' home, seeing those two imposters imitate her friends, she forgot about the strangeness of them leaving her, and instead quickly ran for Wind Chill's barn.

"Oh, I'm not going to let them get away with this," she told herself as she ran past the many rows of apple trees. "But, if they’re here, then Wind Chill was unable to stop them as well," she suddenly realized to her shock, then quickly steered towards her scooter, which was still rammed into the fence.

"I'm not going to let them get away with this," she stated when she reached her scooter, pulling it free from the fence, "but I'm going to need help." She steered her cart towards the Everfree Forest. "And I know just where to get all the help I would need…. without revealing I snuck out of my room." With buzzing wings and a rocking cart she sped off to the ancient castle of the royal sisters, hoping the frost giants would come to her and her friends' aid.

<<>><<>><<>>

They knew something was wrong.

Something had entered the forest. Something that didn't belong. They could feel it, the freezing chill this presence brought with it.

The wolves knew the balance had once more been disrupted, and were certain about the source.

With speed they ran through the foliage of the forest, reaching the ancient castle within moments; coming to a stop just before the tree line and lowering themselves to the ground as they slowly crept towards their target with focused eyes and searching the air for any scent of the new intruders.

The chill they could sense from this new disturbance only grew stronger and stronger the closer they came, making several of the timberwolves growl lowly as they approached the ice bridge Wind Chill had grown. They realized the fact their brethren standing guard by the portal not showed themselves was an even greater cause for concern.

It was a concern soon made reality, as when they made their way into the throne room, they saw the two wolves on guard frozen solid on the spot.

Multiple growls escaped the wolves, filling the chamber with echos of their rage; Avalanche and Snow Front's attention was drawn to the pack of wolves that had snuck up behind them.

"Oh, Ancestors," Snow Front said, he and Avalanche looking at the wolves, then at the frozen pair. "What else can go wrong?"

His answer came with the sound of something crashing into a pair of wolves standing in the back of the pack, as well as the lone shout of Scootaloo as she tumbled to the air before crashing into the frozen pair of timberwolves. All four wolves fell apart into loose sticks and branches while Scootaloo groaned, dazed and lying on the floor in a heap.

"Uuhh.." she slurred, "Who placed that forest inside of here?"

"Young one, are you injured?" Avalanche asked worried, stepping through the shimmering hole to help her back on her hooves.

"Yeah…" she mumbled, shook her head, and remembered why she came here again. "Wait, no! Changelings took my friends, and I need your help to save them!" she told them urgently, not noticing the wolves behind her looking at her with confusion and irritation for breaking apart several of their pack.

"Changelings... took your friends?" Snow Front repeated, confused. "I'm not sure what you mean. I saw your friends pass through here, with you, not too long ago.

"Yes," Avalanche confirmed, "But the Elder also said the orange one with them was a shapeshifter."

"WHAT!?" Scootaloo shouted.

"It's true," the Elder said as she slowly approached them; her eyes looked past Scootaloo and at the pack of wolves staring at all of them in anger.

Her staff's gem began to glow a deep red, covering them all in its light.

"What happened here to your brethren was an unfortunate result of an unexpected turn of events. Do know that it will be dealt with, and the imbalance these entities have caused will be corrected. Now, please, take care of your wounded while we deal with this problem."

"The Alpha will hear of this," the pack leader barked while others gathered the pieces of their frozen brethren, the other two having already rebuilt themselves.

"Of that I have no doubt," the Elder replied, then the light of her staff died down and the wolves retreated, barking and growling all the while.

"This is not going to blow over easily," Snow Front said.

"No, it is not. The Alpha will see this as an act of aggression and act accordingly," the Elder answered.

"Then what do we do about this?" Avalanche asked, worried.

The Elder slightly tilted her head, then shifted it towards where the Infi-map took Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Erlea, "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Avalanche repeated, disbelieving.

"Nothing," the Elder stated once more, then changed topic and turned to Scootaloo. "It is true that your friends came through here recently, with Erlea who had disguised herself to look like you in order to fool the timberwolves to allow her passage through the portal."

"But... Why would they do that?" Scootaloo asked, angrily, "Why wouldn’t they tell me, or take me with them?"

The Elder knelt down so she wouldn't tower as much over Scootaloo, her orange eyes glowing through the shadow covering her face as she looked at the filly.

"Oh, I'm sure they would have, had you been with them. But, as fate would have it, your journey takes you along a different path… For now.”

"... What?" Scootaloo said, head tilted slightly and an eyebrow cocked in confusion.

"Come with me," the Elder told her, standing back up, "and I will explain." She began the walk back to the village. Scootaloo, hesitant for a moment, just stared at the Elder as she walked away, not sure she would like what she had to say. But eventually she followed the giant, wings fluttering nervously.

"... Where are we going?" Scootaloo asked after a moment, frowning over the fact her friends had gone somewhere without her, even though she was still stuck in her room at the time.

"To the village. There is someone else who wants some answers as well."

"Someone else? Who?" the Elder didn't answer, and merely smiled.

****

"For the last time, Wind Chill. I do not know why the Elder has sent you to me." Frostbite told Wind Chill, rubbing the top of his head.

"But she did send me to you. Surely there must have been a reason for her doing so."

"... Didn't you say you brought the children with you?"

Silence.

****

"Someone who I might have misguided for a bit," the Elder finally answered, having seen Scootaloo's frown just a moment ago. "But that isn't important right now. What does interest me is how you feel."

"Huh?" Scootaloo uttered, confused.

"You did seem rather… annoyed your friends came here without you. With a changeling no less."

"I guess," Scootaloo muttered, looking away.

The Elder didn't press further, sensing the need for silence. Together they walked to the village, Scootaloo deep in thought.

"... I'm not really... annoyed with them coming here without me. I think," Scootaloo muttered quietly after a couple of minutes.

"Oh," the Elder replied, patiently waiting for the young pegasus to continue.

"It's just that…" she fell silent, looking down as they walked.

"Just, what?" the Elder asked gently, urging her on.

Scootaloo sighed tiredly, coming to a sudden stop and kicking away some of the snow.

"Something happened today. Something... unbelievable. And, I guess, I wanted to tell them about it… Trying to find... them. Instead, all I found were two changelings who had replaced my friends. Replaced them, just like…" she said with a resentful tone, before falling silent.

The Elder, looking down at Scootaloo, could see a great storm of emotional conflict within the child; she could see it even without her sight.

"Replaced them, you say," the Elder hummed softly, tilting her head. "You're angry, aren't you?"

"I... No… I mean…" she stuttered, looking at everything but the Elder.

"There is no shame in being angry," the Elder told her, and Scootaloo seemed to deflate slightly before rustling her feathers and looking up at the giant with glaring eyes.

"Okay, yeah. I'm angry."

"But who is it that you are angry with? Your friends?"

"What? No!" Scootaloo countered, taken aback.

"Then the changelings perhaps?"

Scootaloo was quick to reply, but before the words could leave her mouth, she fell silent; mouth closing slowly.

"I'm not sure," she admitted, shuffling on the spot.

"How so? Didn't you say they replaced your friends?"

"Well, yeah," Scootaloo murmured, not looking up. "But they’re still here. Alive." she whispered the last part, yet the Elder knew all she needed to know.

"You lost someone close to you. Someone dear."

"... My parents," Scootaloo mumbled, ears drooping.

"And then someone replaced them," the Elder continued, zeroing in on the true problem.

"SHE'LL NEVER REPLACE THEM! Scootaloo yelled, her voice triggering a small avalanche some distance away, and drawing the attention of the frost giants who could hear her echoing voice.

A howling wind blowed past them, cutting through the tense silence that settled down immediately after Scootaloo's outburst.

"She?" the Elder asked.

"No one. It isn't important," Scootaloo grunted, glaring down at the snow.

"It certainly seems like it is," the Elder said, lowering herself to a knee. "In fact, I would say this is one of the more important things that has happened, and is still happening in your young life."

"She's not important!" Scootaloo stated with a hoof stomp. "And she never will be."

"Oh, child." the Elder said softly, "The gift Bellflower has given you is far greater than you realize."

"Yeah, rig-... Hold on?" Scootaloo murmured, "You know her name?" she asked with a biting tone.

"I do," the Elder confirmed, and Scootaloo looked at her with suspicion and accusation.

"You're just like the others," Scootaloo yelled, pointing a hoof. "Saying I should be happy with her, with what she's done for me! Well I'm not. In fact, I'd wish she'd never gotten in my life in the first place!"

"Child, you-"

"NO, I don't want to hear it!" Scootaloo shouted, taking a step back from the Elder, eyes burning with anger. "Any of it," and she turned around and ran away. "I'll find my friends myself, without your help!"

Sighing, the Elder stood back up. "I do so dislike events such as this," she said as she watched the filly plow through the snow, wings buzzing in an attempt to generate enough lift to keep her from sinking too deeply into the layer of white. "Lying, pushing, saying things they don't want to hear just to guide them into the right direction. It just doesn't feel right, wouldn't you agree, Wind Chill?" she asked the giant standing behind her.

"Elder… What have you done?"

Closing her eyes and lowering her head, a tired sigh escaped her. "One of the most difficult things anyone can do. Letting go of the children and allowing them to seek their own path. Watching them make mistakes along the way, but unable to help them get back on their hooves. It is the only way for anyone to grow, but some injuries they will sustain will not be healed so easily."

"Injuries!?" Wind Chill shouted in alarm. "Where are the young ones? What is going to happen to them?"

"That is for them to find out," the Elder simply stated, her eyes then finally locked on Wind Chill. "As for the young ones who accompanied you into the Far Frozen," she then looked up, seeing past the walls of ice and snow of their domain. "They went in search of a cure for Erlea's kind, a journey which will make them face great dangers, and shocking revelations."

"ELDER!" Wind Chill said urgently, grabbing hold of her by the arms and staring into her eyes with worry. "Where are they!?"

Pulling herself free, she released another tired sigh. "The Dark Zone."

The alarm, shock, and fear in Wind Chill's eyes were immense. "WHAT!" he roared, but didn't waste any more time in questioning the Elder. Instead, he ran for the path that would lead him to the Ghost Zone. And from there, he would make his way to the Dark Zone.

He had a duty to perform. A bond of honor that guided him. And even if it wasn't for his commitment to young Apple Bloom, no one in their right mind would allow three children to venture out into a place as dangerous as that. No, he would find them, protect them, and bring them home safely. Then he would confront the Elder, and hope she would have a good reason for doing what she had done.

"Some injuries sustained will not be healed so easily," the Elder said, watching after Wind Chill. "Yet, sometimes, the only way to heal a wound is to open it up," she then turned to the village, and began a slow walk home; feeling the need to be alone, to not see the path lying in front of everyone.

<<>><<>><<>>

"AAAAAHHHHH!!"

A trio of voices cut through the dark green void as Apple Bloom, Erlea, and Sweetie Belle were pulled further and further into the depths of the Ghost Zone, held in the Infi-map's grasp as it brought them to where they needed to be.

Floating masses of land, all different in size and shape, passed by them in a blur. Their screams even drawing the attention of multiple ghosts, yet they were unable to get a good look at them as they sped by in the blink of an eye.

Before long, the dark green swirls and stains that made up the background of the Ghost Zone made way to even darker colors of dark, almost black, blues and purples; seemingly draining the light of everything within it.

Ghastly entities prowling the lands floating within this realm of the Zone watched the blurring streak with scarred or blinded eyes, numerous injuries scattered over their bodies.

Screams, growls, and unholy sounds no being should be able to produce were aimed at the fillies as they passed through the Dark Zone, fear clawing at their core, as they were sent deeper and deeper into the dark.

"WHERE IS THIS THING TAKING US!?" Erlea screeched, trying to break free but failing continuously.

"HOW WOULD I KNOW?" Sweetie Belle yelled back, squeamishly.

"LOOK!" Apple Bloom shouted, and all eyes locked onto a small piece of land right ahead of them, "AH THINK WE'RE GOIN' THERE!"

True to her words, the land came closer and closer. And before long, they were right on top of it; coming to a sudden, unexpected stop.

The map released its hold on them, and the trio fell to the ground with a collective 'oomph', with a final insult to injury as the map, rolled up and dormant, fell on top of Apple Bloom's head.

"OW! Hey!" she shouted, muttering as she rubbed her head.

"Where are we?" Erlea asked, no longer disguised as Scootaloo, her disguise having dropped shortly after she was pulled along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"No idea," Sweetie Belle replied. "But I don't like it here," she said quietly, seeing the dead, gray land they were standing on; multiple deep gashes cut through the land and rocks scattered around, all leading towards a single cave.

"Is this where we're supposed ta find this ancient evil ghost?" Apple Bloom said, worried.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone out here," Sweetie Belle replied as she carefully observed their surroundings.

"Other than the growling coming from that cave over there," Erlea pointed out with a scared, high pitched voice. And the moment she had said that, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle also became aware of the low growl rumbling out of the dark cave.

"H-Hello, is anypony out there?" Sweetie Belle squeaked, she and Apple Bloom pressing closer together while Erlea took an involuntary step backwards.

"GHRRR… Pony?" a deep, low voice came from beyond the cave's shadowy entrance. All of the fillies, including Erlea, pressed together in fear.

Slow, heavy footsteps could be heard. The weight behind them hinting that someone large was approaching.

With fearful eyes, the three of them watched the cave's entrance, seeing two glowing green eyes materialize from deep within, coming closer with each heavy step.

Another deep growl rumbled out of the cave, and the creatures silhouette started to become visible to the fillies: a gargantuan beast walking on all fours, with claws as large as their bodies.

The beast opened its mouth, and razor sharp teeth gleamed in the faint light that managed to reach this dead land. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Erlea all yelped in fright upon the sight of this, and the creature audibly smelled the air.

"Fearrrr…" he then stepped out of the cave's shadow, finally revealing his form to the trio as he reared back and stood on two muscular hind legs.

The fillies’ eyes followed the beast up as he stood, their pupils shrinking upon the sight of the giant wolf. His fur was darker than pitch black, with numerous scars criss-crossing throughout it. His eyes were a dark glowing green and he had broad, muscular arms, which led to an even more broad, muscular torso. Long, sharp claws on his front paws were clearly what was responsible for the gashes found all around in the rocks.

He smelled the air again, lowering himself towards the three fillies.

"Fear. It radiates off of you," he growled.

"EEP!" Apple Bloom squeaked as the wolf's face slowly moved closer to her and her friends, sniffing.

"A-a-a-are you F-Fenrir?" Sweetie Belle managed to ask.

"Fenrir!?" the wolf repeated, looking away for a bit, before his eyes locked back on the fillies, growling loudly as he pressed even closer. "How do you know that name!?"

Shrinking down as much as they could, the wolf practically on top of them at this point, all Sweetie Belle could do was squeak in answer.

"Y-You're the a-ancient evil who holds the cure for my kind?" Erlea said, trying to sound brave but failing miserably.

"Evil?" The wolf growled, slowly circling around the trio. "Evil," he repeated, stopping in place and staring out in the distance.

"Some would say I am, others would just call me a monster," he said with a rumbling voice as he turned back to the fillies, letting his rancid breath roll over them.

"Ain't that tha same thing?" Apple Bloom said without thought, and panic and fear grew on the faces of all three fillies as they realized what she had said.

She didn't mean it like that," Sweetie Belle quickly said in a high pitched voice, yet the wolf ignored her as he stared at the bow wearing pony.

"Those who are evil aren't necessarily monsters. And those who are monsters aren't necessarily evil," he said, then, much to their surprise, he backed off.

"Leave this land, mortals. I do not know how you got here, nor do I care," he growled at them as he moved back to his cave. "But I do not have what you seek, nor am I interested in helping."

"Wha-... HEY!" Erlea shouted, forgetting about her fear and breaking away from the two ponies, "I did not come all this way for nothing! You have something I need, and I'm not leaving without it," she stated, eyes burning.

"LEAVE!" the wolf roared, pouncing down on Erlea and stopping mere centimeters before her, claws at the ready and fangs baring.

Erlea, being suddenly targeted by the wolf, shrieked as she stood frozen on the spot; her mane blowing back from the force of the wolf's breath.

Breathing deeply, and trying to ignore the wolf's rancid breath, Erlea stood her ground; glaring into the beast's eyes.

"No!" she stated, fighting her very instincts which were screaming at her to run away, "My kind is dying, and they are counting on me to find a way to cure them," she spoke back, insecure at first, but growing more and more confident as she spoke. "I don't care what it takes, or what I must do, but I will find a way to help them. That’s why I am here, and I'm not leaving!"

"Ghrrrrrr...'" the wolf roared, smelling Erlea. "You smell of fear, yet pride makes you defy me," his gaze shifted to Apple Bloom. "Fear is all I can sense from you," he then looked at Sweetie Belle. "But you," he growled lowly, stepping over Erlea, who released a nervous breath she didn't even knew she was holding while the wolf moved for Sweetie Belle. "You are different. Fear is strong within you. Stronger than both of them combined. Yet, there is something else... Something very… familiar."

Sweetie Belle stared at the wolf as it stood a mere half meter away from her and Apple Bloom, the two of them still holding on to one another. Then, without warning, the wolf lunged forwards with an open mouth.

Screaming, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle closed their eyes in fright. But, moving with instincts unknown to her, Sweetie Belle raised both front legs to her side; hooves aglow.

Thunk

Silence.

"... Are... Are we still alive?" Apple Bloom squeaked, not daring to look.

The sound of teeth scraping across something assaulted their ears, followed by a faint gasp from Erlea.

With reluctance, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pried open their eyes. Only for them to shoot open all the way as they saw what happened; what was surrounding them.

"Sweetie Belle…?" Apple Bloom said, awed. "How tha heck are ya doin' that?"

"... I... don't know," she replied, looking just as surprised as her friend and Erlea.

With glowing hooves spread out to either side, a glowing dome surrounded her friend and herself, shielding them from the wolf's attack.

Intrigued, the wolf stared at the glowing green dome, sensing a change coming.

With a flicker, the glowing shield failed and collapsed, exposing the two fillies to the dangers outside once more. With fear evident in their eyes, they looked up at the wolf who had just attacked them, expecting the worst. Yet, as they waited for him to attack once again, all he did was stare at them; thinking.

Slowly turning his head to Erlea, he loudly blew air from his nose.

"You seek a cure, for which I do not know. Yet you're here for a reason. One which you barely understand yourselves." He stood back up to his full height, staring down at the fillies. "I am Fenris, shepherd of the night. I shall listen to what you have to say."

<<>><<>><<>>

Out in the forest, down in the ravine besides the ancient castle, grew a tree made of the purest of crystals. Five branches reaching outwards, showing signs of the fruit they once bore. The trunk itself, standing tall and firm with a star-shaped hole in its center, once filled with its heart.

Its power was dwindling slowly, yet it still possessed enough strength to carry out its duty.

It could sense the fruits it once bore, growing strong with those they touched. But there was something else as well. A presence it knew. A presence it hadn't sensed since the day she gave life to the seed from which it grew.

She was calling. Her mother was calling, and she would answer.

A faint glow radiated off of the tree, flowing down into her roots as, slowly, they started to grow.

Her own children had grown over the centuries. Now it was time for her baby sisters to do the same.

The seeds of Life and the seeds of Harmony… They will shine radiant over the worlds.

Author's Note

If you've spotted any mistakes, let me know so I can fix them.

~Powerdrainer.

Winter Is Coming

This chapter is edited by Slayerseba, Clayton the Hunter, and Clawder.

Winter is Coming.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Erlea were sitting closely pressed together, looking at the massive wolf with trepidation as Fenris sat down a slight distance away.

'Not far away enough for us to react, should he do something,' Erlea thought, wings fluttering in nervousness.

Looking to both of her sides, she could see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looking warily at the massive wolf. Although, on second glance, Sweetie Belle also seemed to be somewhat disoriented; nauseated even, as she shook her head and took deep, calming breaths.

Fenris took a long, loud sniff of the air which drew Erlea’s attention back to the wolf, taking notice as he regarded Sweetie Belle with wariness. It confused her, but not enough to question it. Besides, there were more important things to deal with.

"Speak," Fenris barked.

Flinching as if hit in the face, Erlea took a quick breath before answering.

"My kind is dying, victim of poisonous emotions. Only a sparse few, myself included, were spared from this illness; but most are dying… or have already died," she took a deep, shuddering breath; eyes closed, unwilling to give in to the emotions trying to take hold over her. "We've sought every likely place in our world for a cure, but none have been found. At least, until I encountered these two," —Apple Bloom gave a nervous wave with her hoof— "claiming that maybe a cure could be found in this ghost world."

"Ghost Zone," Sweetie Belle corrected with a squeak, having regained some composure.

"Yeah, whatever," Erlea shot back, irritated over the interruption. "Anyhow, we met with this frost giant Elder, who told us you had a cure and then gave us this weird map that somehow brought us here."

Erlea fell silent after she had told the stripped down version of the situation she was in, looking at the wolf with fearful, but demanding eyes.

"I hold no cure of any kind," Fenris rumbled with a booming voice, eyes narrowing slightly as he bent down towards them, "Nor did I ever hear of such a cure as you are seeking."

"But- but tha Elder-" Apple Bloom tried to protest, but her voice died down as Fenris turned to look at her, fear rooting her on the spot.

"Ugh… I don't feel so-" Sweetie Belle slurred, before dropping to the ground, unconscious.

"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom cried in alarm, rushing to her friend, "Sweetie Belle, what’s wrong?" she asked, voice thick with worry as she placed a hoof on her friend's back, feeling the unicorn tremble severely.

"What is going on?" Erlea demanded, stepping closer to the unconscious pony and poking her in the side with a hoof.

But when she touched her, there was a shock, as if she was struck by lightning; and Erlea pulled back her hoof with a cry and a hiss.

"What was that? what’s goin’ on?" Apple Bloom cried, afraid.

"She's… foul," Erlea shot back, shuddering as a sick sensation came over her.

"Huh!? Wha’s that even mean?" Apple Bloom shouted.

Fenris, intrigued and concerned by this sudden development, stepped closer to the unconscious pony, nostrils flaring.

"She has taken in too much fear," he said slowly. "Gorging on it without pause, allowing it to build up without any time for it to digest."

"Eh? What are ya talkin’ bout?" Apple Bloom almost yelled, "That doesn't make a lick a sense."

Erlea's eyes suddenly widened, slowly stepping closer to Sweetie Belle.

"It can't be, can it?" she muttered, her horn starting to glow.

"What are ya doin’?" Apple Bloom demanded to know.

"Quiet," Erlea hissed, slowly moving her horn from left to right and back, scanning Sweetie Belle. A sharp gasp escaped her a moment later.

"You see it too?" Fenris growled, exhaling loudly.

"Bu- but it can't be. Ponies are unable to consume emotions like this."

"What are ya’ll talkin’ about," Apple Bloom shouted, "Cain't ya just help her?"

"Help her!? I don't even know what she is," Erlea argued back with slight hysteria.

"Well, we cain't just do nothin’," Apple Bloom shot back, fearing for her friend's well being.

"Move," Fenris barked, forcefully shoving Apple Bloom aside, "You're only making things worse."

"Wha-?" Apple Bloom squeaked, but a harsh glare from the wolf cut her off.

Looking down at the unconscious, twitching filly, Fenris bent down until he was practically on top of her; inhaling deeply, before spitting something foul to the side.

"She is unaware?" he asked the two fillies standing behind him, not looking back.

"Unaware ah what?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Unaware that she has been feeding on negative emotions," Erlea answered, frowning deeply at the impossibility of it all, "Like a changeling… but, not like a changeling."

Fenris slowly stood back up. "There is a severe build up of fear. It is sucked up by her like a sponge. Too much for her to deal with."

"Bu-... How’s that even possible?" Apple Bloom muttered. "Sweetie Belle ain’t ah changelin, she’s ah pony."

"And a… spirit," Erlea muttered, not liking to admit to that fact.

"But that doesn't explain why-"

"Silence!" Fenris barked, eyes glowing. "Figure out why this is happening later. Right now, though…" he trailed off slightly, unsheathing his claws.

"WHATTAR YA DOIN’!?" Apple Bloom cried in alarm. Sweetie Belle shuddered horribly in response.

"The same thing that both saved and damned me," he growled, then, before either Apple Bloom or Erlea could act, plunged his claw into Sweetie Belle.

A loud scream rose up from the lifeless rock

<<>><<>><<>>

Scootaloo had just managed to climb and 'fly' her way out of the Far Frozen, and set hoof in the Ghost Zone once more; trading the snow and ice for barren rock and dirt.

A sudden shudder ran up her spine and she stopped to look out into the distance, eyes unfocused. Then she snapped back into it and shook her head to focus.

"What was that?" she wondered, taking a moment to ponder over this question, then deciding it was probably not important.

Looking around for a moment, unsure where she was supposed to go, she took a random direction and just went for it, muttering to herself all the while over how the Elder was wrong about Bellflower.

For a while, she just walked without direction, jumping behind a rock to hide herself whenever some kind of apparition would fly by.

After a short walk over the barren rock she had stepped on after leaving the Far Frozen, she found herself at the edge of the land. Looking down into the dark green abyss below, she kicked down a stray rock, watching it fall and fall until she was no longer able to see it.

Swallowing her nervousness, she looked up and into the distance, seeing another landmass too far away to jump. Looking at her wings for a moment, flexing them as she did, she looked back at the land, giving a single, resolute nod.

She took several steps back, braced herself, then took a running start; yelling as she stepped off the edge, jumping as far and as high as she could.

Legs stretched out and wings buzzing like a hummingbird, Scootaloo soared majestically through the air… for a whole three seconds. The second she jumped off the land and had put some distance between it and herself, gravity suddenly dropped away. Now, with her wings buzzing like crazy, but no gravity to orientate herself with, Scootaloo suddenly found herself tumbling uncontrollably through the air; flailing her legs in response, worsening her situation while she yelled incoherently and overshot the landmass she was aiming for.

"Whooaahhh… Somepony, help!" she shouted, her world a twisting blur.

A hand reached out for her.

"You called for help?" a strict, but friendly sounding voice asked, and Scootaloo felt someone grab her by the barrel, halting her uncontrolled spinning. If only her eyes would do the same.

"Th- guh… Thanks," she wheezed, eyes rotating in their sockets, making it impossible for her to focus on, let alone see who had helped her. Of course, remembering exactly where she was, and still feeling the clear impression of a hand on her back, she suddenly stiffened. And, as her vision slowly cleared, she found herself staring right into the red glowing eyes of a human… ghost.

Her pupils shrunk as she realized he was still holding onto her, making it impossible to escape. And although she knew not all ghosts were bad, she didn't know this ghost, or what he was planning on doing next.

"Are you alright?" the adult male asked, smiling kindly, which put Scootaloo a bit at ease.

"Ehh… I guess… Thanks."

"Oh, it's no problem," the ghost answered, "But might I know what a young mortal such as yourself is doing in a place like this?"

She took a few second before answering, using that time to give the ghost a once over.

He had blue skin, as far as she could tell, as the only part of his body uncovered was his face. He had a large, lightning bolt scar running down the left side of his face, bisecting his eye. He wore a large, dark purple cape, which extended into a hood which covered his head. Underneath it, he wore a purple suit several shades lighter than his cape. He had a broad chest and shoulders, which were disproportionate to his surprisingly thin midsection. Although the relatively large clock embedded in his chest distracted from really noticing such difference in proportions; and it was because of this strange, mechanized part of his body she almost failed to notice the staff he carried with him.

"I, ehh… I'm looking for something," she answered, still staring.

The ghost chuckled. "Well, we have a lot of something here in the Ghost Zone. Maybe you could be more specific?"

Scootaloo blinked, realizing she was staring at the ticking clock in the ghost's chest and tore her gaze away.

"I'm, uhh… I'm looking for my… parents" she squeaked the last word in a barely audible whisper.

"I'm sorry," the ghost answered understandingly, apparently having heard what she said despite Scootaloo's attempt to be quieter in voice than Fluttershy. "It is never easy to lose someone close to you," he told her, blinked, then realized he was still holding onto the filly. "My apologies, allow me to put you down first." And true to his word, he flew down to the land mass Scootaloo had overshot.

"Thanks, uhhh…"

"My name is Clockwork," he introduced himself with a curt nod.

"I'm Scootaloo," Scootaloo said.

"Now, Scootaloo. Why is it you're looking for your parents out here of all places?"

"I, uhh…" she kicked away some dirt. Taking a deep breath, she tried again, looking at her hooves. "You see, there are these, uh… ghost hunters back where I'm from—" Clockwork found himself tense up, then relaxed before Scootaloo noticed "And, well, maybe, possibly, not saying I did, but let's say I did take this weird device thingy from out of their room. And let's say that with this device I was able to hear my parents talk to me. So, not saying I have this device or anything, but I thought, seeing my parents are… You know, maybe they're here."

Clockwork frowned slightly. 'If only you knew the truth, child. I could tell you everything right here, right now,' he shook those thoughts away. 'Now is not the time,' and he returned his attention to Scootaloo.

"A device that allows you to hear the voices of ghosts?" he repeated, making sure to put a curious tone to his voice, "That seems rather… unnecessary. After all, we're talking with each other just fine, aren't we?"

Scootaloo raised a hoof and began to argue, but found herself without words. Slowly closing her mouth and putting down her hoof, she sighed out.

"True," then she recalled what happened the first time she showed the strange device to her friends and what it did when Sweetie Belle spoke. "But it did react to my friend, even though she was sitting next to me and talking. This device repeated everything she said… and added some weird threat or something after it."

"It reacted to your friend?"

Scootaloo tensed up, then sighed out begrudgingly, frowning. "Something like that," she muttered darkly, remembering again they had come over to the Ghost Zone without her. Even worse, they took a changeling with them instead of her, "You know what, it's not important."

"It sounds important to me," Clockwork replied calmly.

"It's nothing. Forget it," Scootaloo shot back, not feeling like talking about it.

"Very well," Clockwork replied.

Scootaloo harrumphed, looking around for a while as she tried to figure out where to go next.

"You don't happen to be lost, are you?" Clockwork asked, trying again to start a conversation.

"No," Scootaloo denied strongly. "I just don't know where to go."

"I see," Clockwork mused, suppressing a slight chuckle.

For a while nothing was said while Scootaloo looked around with stubborn denial written all over her face, trying to figure out where she should go. At the same time, Clockwork slowly lowered himself to hover calmly next to the young filly; having morphed back into his child self.

"So," he said with a much younger voice, "Where do you go now?"

"GHAAAA!" Scootaloo yelled, falling backwards, "Wha- What happened to you!?" she cried, pointing a hoof at the suddenly young ghost.

"Oh, this? I merely regressed in age."

"Whu?"

"I became young again," he replied, a bit more flatly than he would have liked.

"Wha- But, how?"

"It's… a long story," he told her, "But it is related to my abilities as a Timekeeper.”

"What's a Timekeeper?" Scootaloo asked, genuinely interested.

"I watch over, maintain, and protect time itself."

"YOU CAN CONTROL TIME!?" Scootaloo shouted energetically.

"I didn't say that," Clockwork chuckled. "But yes."

"That's so awesome!" she crowed. "Does that mean you can also travel through time?"

"Indeed it does," Clockwork confirmed, and he transformed into his elderly form. "Ah, and there we go again," he mused, looking at his wrinkled hand for a moment.

"That's sooo weird. Awesome, but weird."

"You do get used to it after a while," he replied, then slowly flew up again. "But moving back to my question. Where do you go now?"

"I, uhh… I don't know," Scootaloo admitted begrudgingly, yet gears were slowly turning in her mind.

"Well, do you know where it is you came from? It is hardly safe for any mortal in the Ghost Zone, so it would be better if you returned to your home."

"Say, mister," she started slowly, still debating whether or not this plan was a good idea or not. She then remembered again why she was there and, more importantly, what the Elder had told her a little while ago. A new surge of anger came over her and with it resolute determination. "Could you send me back in time?!"

Clockwork was silent for a moment, showing both shock and surprise. Internally, however, he was smiling deviously.

'Just as planned.'

"And why would you want to do such a thing?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

"To stop my parents from leaving," Scootaloo answered firmly.

Clockwork looked down on the filly with a studious gaze. 'Sometimes children need to be taught the hard way.'

"I think something can be arranged. Please, follow me to the Hall of Time, and I'll send you on your way."

"You will!?" Scootaloo shouted in disbelief, then a winning smile grew on her face as she hurried after the age regressed to his adult form, ghost.

'Don't worry mom, dad. I'll save you!... And she will not replace you ever again!'

<<>><<>><<>>

A loud scream echoed off the lifeless rock, turning into an anguished wail the longer it went on.

Sweetie Belle, lying on the ground with Fenris' claw dug deep in her side, was the source of the scream.

The moment Fenris' claw sunk into her, she had snapped out of unconsciousness, awoken by a terrible pain. Yet it wasn't the claw that caused her distress. In fact, if it wasn't for the explicit other thing she could feel, she wouldn't have felt anything.

There was no blood, no wounds in her flesh, and even the fur on her body remained untouched as Fenris' claw was surrounded by a green glow where it cut into her. What she did feel, however, was a horrible sensation of something being cut, ripped, and torn off of her.

Fenris pulled back his claw, taking with him a thick haze of darkness; clinging to his claw and flowing out of the green glowing 'puncture wounds' his claw had left behind and were slowly closing.

The moment the 'wounds' had closed up, Sweetie Belle promptly passed out again. Fenris growled bitterly as he flung the dark haze off his claw, then got rid of it all with a swing of green glowing claws.

"Wh- What was that?" Apple Bloom squeaked frightened, looking at her friend, then at the last remaining, dissipating haze of darkness.

"Fear has build up in her. Too much for her to deal with all at once. I cut out some of it," Fenris answered with a low rumble.

"You cut fear out of her?" Erlea gasped. "How?"

Fenris looked down at the unconscious pony, his paw clenching slightly as he recalled how he gained this ability.

"Unimportant," he barked. "I listened to what you wanted to say, and do not have this cure you seek. Now, take your friend and leave."

"No!" Erlea yelled back defiantly, stomping a hoof on the ground. "You have a cure for my kind—" Fenris retorted with a growl, but before he could get another sound in Erlea cut him off; a fire burning in her eyes "—And don't give me this crap about not knowing what I'm talking about. I just saw you use it on her!" She all but yelled, pointing a hoof towards Sweetie Belle. "You cut out this buildup of fear, then you can do the same with hate!"

The last of her voice echoed away and now the group found themselves grabbed by a tense silence. Apple Bloom, having slowly edged her way over to her friend again, slowly shifted her gaze between Erlea and Fenris as the changeling and wolf were looking at one another with hardened, unblinking eyes.

"Hate?" Fenris finally spoke, his voice subdued.

"Yes, hate!" Erlea stated.

Fenris sighed out loudly, closing his eyes while turning away; a paw grasping at his chest.

"So, is this how fate has seen it to punish me?" he spoke quietly, looking off in the distance.

"What was that?" Erlea demanded, feeling a smidge of confidence from the wolf's display of submission; being the first to look away.

Fenris returned his gaze back to the tiny insectoid. "A question that will go without answer," he replied, lowering his paw back to his side. "But another question that must be asked shall be answered. How did your kind get infected with hate?"

This took Erlea by surprise, and she faltered a bit before she answered: "It is a long story…" Then her eyes hardened again, "Why, what is it to you?"

"Depending on the answer, I might see fit to help you, or to cut you down," he replied lowly, bending down towards Erlea, reminding her exactly who it was that ruled this barren land.

Trembling slightly, Erlea nodded and began telling the story of how her mother, and her kin sought to, and succeeded to take over the ponies' capital city, and to drain everypony there from their love to feed upon.

<<>><<>><<>>

A freezing wind blew through the air, chilling the warm air as a massive herd of Saldēti Zirgi ran through the sky. Their silent gallop went unheard as they progressed to the barren lands locally known as the badlands, moving towards those who had called out to them.

The air around them grew colder and colder still, and the path they had traveled was marked by ice and snow. Even the foliage far below on the ground was unable to escape the sudden blast of arctic air, leaving the trees, flowers and other plants all frozen solid; some of the leaves and flower petals breaking apart.

Yet the greens of the grass and plant life was thinning the further they moved, until they crossed some invisible boundary, and the only sign of any life were the husks of long-dead trees somehow still managing to remain standing in the sun dried, cracked ground.

All of this froze over in a flash as the creatures of ice flew past, never stopping.

They were called.

They would answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

"... And that is how my kind became poisoned with hate," Erlea finished, head hanging down while she bitterly spat out the conclusion of her tale. All the while, Fenris listened with seeming indifference; his face completely neutral.

Apple Bloom however, having heard some of it when Erlea yelled at her and Sweetie Belle back in the clubhouse, and after experiencing quite a bit of the invasion herself as well, still couldn't help but look at the clearly angry and depressed changeling with sorrow; maybe even a bit of guilt.

With a slurred groan, Sweetie Belle began to stir. First a few leg twitches, then she slowly lifted her head; blinking blearily and uncoordinatedly, clearly confused.

"Wha- what happened?" she mumbled.

"Ya passed out," Apple Bloom answered, "Somethin’ about havin’ consumed too much fear."

"Whu?" Sweetie Belle mumbled unintelligibly.

"Leave her be for now," Fenris rumbled. "Allow her to regain her senses before adding another burden upon her."

This did make sense to Apple Bloom, and she didn't say anything else as Sweetie Belle slowly stumbled back on her hooves. Yet the surprisingly caring tone of Fenris’ voice caught her interest, and she gave the wolf a studious look, frowning slightly.

"What?" the wolf barked upon seeing this, the caring tone he had shown gone.

"Nothin’," Apple Bloom answered quickly, looking away.

Huffing in irritation, Fenris turned back to Erlea, who stood still, waiting for a reply.

"So," she said boldly. "Are you going to help?"

Fenris returned his attention to her, not saying anything as he thought for a moment.

"No," he finally answered.

"WHAT!?" Erlea yelled with shock and anger, fangs baring. "Now you listen to me, you oversized mutt. You have something my kind needs and you will help us NOW!" Sparks were shooting from her horn in response to her anger and her eyes shone with a faint glow, as her entire stance shifted to that of a predator, ready to pounce on a prey. Something Fenris did not take kindly to.

"YOU DARE TELL ME WHAT TO DO!?" he roared, pouncing on the changeling; knocking her on her back and leaving her helpless. She stared up at the giant wolf with fear, but unwilling to give in, for she was so close to finding a possible solution to her kind's sickness.

"YES!" she shouted back with as much force as she could muster, forcing her body to remain still despite the severe shivers coursing through her. "AND I'M NOT BACKING DOWN FROM YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE. AND IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO HELP, YOU MIGHT AS WELL KILL ME NOW SEEING HOW YOU'RE CONDEMNING ALL THE OTHERS TO THE SAME FATE!" Tears were now forming in her eyes, yet she refused to look away, her anger and despair burning into Fenris.

For a split second, Fenris saw himself in the young insectoid. Remembering the corruption of the Kadzite that had spread over his world like an infection and his unwillingness to back down against such a threat, only succumbing to the hate, blinded by it until it consumed him, too. To kill, or be killed, but doing everything in his power to stop this 'disease' until he couldn't even tell the difference between right and wrong. Except, she wished to die. A wish no one should want said out loud because of him; his decision.

He slowly backed away from Erlea, allowing her to return to her hooves. Which she did, slowly. Never letting him out of her sight.

"What's going on?" Sweetie Belle asked with a slight slur, not understanding what was happening. No one answered, though.

"Death is not something one should wish for," Fenris spoke up with a surprisingly soft voice. "Especially one so young."

"Then help us!" Erlea demanded, but Fenris shook his head.

"The fate that has befallen your kin is truly tragic, but I can't help you. Too much blood already stains my claws. Besides, I wouldn't be able to cure your kin. I'm only able to cut out a small portion of negativity, but nothing more."

"Then why won't you do that!?" Erlea shouted. "Something is better than nothing at all."

"It wouldn't cure them, only prolong their suffering."

"You don't know that!"

Fenris grimaced as doubt gnawed at him, then he forced it down, eyes hardening and jaw set.

"Why’re ya doin’ that?" Apple Bloom asked, looking at Fenris with a puzzled frown. "Lookin’ all guilty and such, then pretend not ta care."

"Really, guys. What's going on?" Sweetie Belle asked again, and went unanswered once more as Apple Bloom kept staring intently at Fenris.

Fenris stared right back at her with a neutral expression, not saying a thing.

"Yep, just like that," Apple Bloom noted.

"What are you getting at?" Erlea asked, sounding somewhat irritated at her.

"I think he does want to help, but won’t admit to it," Apple Bloom answered after only a small pause. "Just like he helped Sweetie Belle when she collapsed-"

"Seriously, what the hay is going on!?" Sweetie Belle demanded urgently.

"-but actin’ all uncarin’ afterwards," Apple Bloom continued as if she wasn't interrupted.

Fenris growled at her in answer, showing teeth. Yet despite this, Apple Bloom remained calm; looking up at him without flinching.

"It hardly seems like he want's to help," Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"Nah," Apple Bloom shook her head, "He's just all bark and no bite."

Having heard enough, Fenris lunged at Apple Bloom, swinging a massive claw at her.

Sweetie Belle shrieked out, while Erlea tensed in shock and horror. Apple Bloom, however, kept staring at the wolf with determination, unmoving.

Long seconds ticked by as Fenris stood panting heavily, frozen in his stance, arm still outstretched.

Erlea gave a faint gasp and Sweetie Belle hesitantly cracked open an eye to see what had become of her friend.

Apple Bloom, sitting perfectly still, looked Fenris dead in the eyes; never glancing at the razor sharp claw which had stopped a hair's width from her head.

"See," Apple Bloom said with a broken voice, failing to hide her own fear completely. Yet she didn't allow this to stop herself from pushing on. "He didn't hurt me."

Both Sweetie Belle and Erlea looked at the daring pony with wide eyes; as well as absolute terror by Sweetie Belle, who was sitting almost directly next to her.

Fenris, also taken aback, took a deep breath; looking at Apple Bloom with a new perspective.

"You do not fear me?" He asked, sounding surprised, shocked, disbelieving.

"Not sah much as ya fear yaself," Apple Bloom said back, voice still wavering a bit.

"Fear… myself," Fenris muttered, sounding conflicted.

Slowly, deliberately, he pulled back his claw; resheathing it, never taking his eyes off the little pony.

"Mmhmm," Apple Bloom nodded, her ribbon bouncing in response. "That's why ya don’t wanna to help, ain't ya? You're afraid."

"What do you mean?" Erlea asked, genuinely curious.

"He says he don't want ta help, but he just helped Sweetie Belle. He says we should leave, even attacks us ta do so, but never puts through, ‘cause he don't really want ta hurt us. He just wants us ta leave cause he's afraid. Not of us, but himself."

"He doesn't seem afraid," Sweetie Belle murmured, warily glancing at Fenris.

"I'm not sensing any fear coming from him either," Erlea argued.

"He just manages to hide it well," Apple Bloom countered, giving Fenris a critical once over. "Like, really well. But Ah can tell."

"How?"

The three fillies looked up in surprise at the Wolf, seeing him look down at Apple Bloom.

"How can you tell?" He asked, voice subdued.

"How?" Apple Bloom repeated, thinking about it for a moment. "Mah big sistah," she answered firmly, giving a single nod.

"Applejack?" Sweetie Belle said, confused.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom confirmed.

"But she's been afraid of plenty of things," Sweetie Belle argued.

"Yup. But she's also too stubborn ta admit it. Her pride does that," Apple Bloom explained, grinning coyly. "Doesn't help she's tha Element of Honesty. Makes it hard ta lie about it. But still, she does manage ta hide it well. Not well enough for me ta not recognize it when Ah see it. Both with her, and with ya," she answered Fenris. "Ya’re afraid and too stubborn ta admit it."

"I guess that does make sense," Sweetie Belle murmured.

Fenris slightly tilted his head, his posture relaxing marginally as he took a moment to study the young pony. He then released a long, heavy sigh; eyes downcast.

"You are right in that I am afraid," he admitted with a low voice. “But it isn't stubbornness that makes me unwilling to help," he added vaguely.

"Why would you be afraid of yourself?" Erlea asked somewhat condescending.

Fenris glanced her way, eyes boring into the young changeling who quickly retreated back into herself. Then Fenris sighed out.

"I suppose this is fate," he murmured. "You shared your story. It would only be fair if I did the same," he told Erlea.

"Your story?" Apple Bloom asked, feeling as if they were on the cusp of something big.

"Sit," Fenris barked, "and listen. Maybe then you will understand."

<<>><<>><<>>

The timberwolves ran into their Alpha's cave, having returned with haste after discovering their brethren guarding the portal were frozen solid. The ice giants had also shown to hold knowledge about the entities responsible for this, as well as the imbalance they sensed.

Something had come through, of this they were certain. And it showed just how incompetent these ice giants were, having allowed yet another incident to occur.

Balance had to be maintained, and if the giants wouldn't see to it, then they themselves will.

"Alfa, ni alportu novaĵojn." The wolves barked as they entered his lair.
"Alpha, we bring news."

"Parolu," he barked.
"Speak."

"Nia brethren—" they began, bringing forth the still frozen remains of the two wolves who guarded the portal "—Estis atakitaj. Io venis tra la portalo kaj eniris tiun mondon."
"Our brethren were attacked. Something came through the portal and entered this world."

The Alpha snarled, which rapidly grew into a bestial roar, as his anger rose.

"Kolektu la pack!" He commanded, "Ni ne staras mallaboreme plu. Ili havis sian ŝancon, sed nun similas ke ili ne povas fidi subteni la ekvilibron."
"Gather the pack! We will not stand by idly any longer. They had their chance, but now it seems they cannot be trusted maintaining the balance."

"Jes, Alfa," they barked, leaving to carry out the order, leaving the large, imposing wooden wolf to his rising ire.
"Yes, Alpha,"

The Alpha tightened his paw with such force, the wood started to creak and splinter.

For too long they had been plagued by that curse, placed upon them by an unknown entity wielding a book.

For too long had they been starving, unable to eat.

For too long had they craved even a single drop of water, yet unable to drink any even though it was found all around them in abundance.

For too long they wished for it to end.

For too long they had been unable to die.

It was a bitter, harsh irony they didn't even realize the full extent of until after the first several centuries.

Before, they were bloodthirsty creatures, bound together by a shared insanity, driven to the same goal. Eternity. Immortality. To break the cycle of their very existence.

Well, they've got it and it proved to be the last thing they wanted.

Old, far too old, dying souls trapped in bodies of death and decay. Unable to pass on. Unable for their bodies to wither and die. Each branch that would snap, each twig that would bend out of shape, they would all grow back. A curse they couldn't escape, held in place by the very world they resided on; the forest they 'lived' in.

A curse, they hoped, could be lifted if they carried out the task forced on them: Maintain the balance you once sought to upset.

This task, this goal, it was what drove them all. No longer did they sought Immortality. Now all they craved was salvation. Salvation from eternity.

They would protect the balance of this world and they would hunt down all who dared to upset it.

Yes, the giants would pay for their transgression.

The portal. The ponies traversing through it. The whelp that reeked of death. And now this. No, his patience was at its end; had been for a long time now. They would no longer stand by idly and allow this transgression to continue. They would end it all and no one would be able to stop them.

Not even Fenrir himself.

<<>><<>><<>>

Loud, panicked gasps escaped Wind Chill as he made his way to the exit of the Far Frozen; having not yet found a trace of the youngsters who he accompanied back to his village, nor did he find out where Scootaloo had gone to, despite her being as close by as she was.

Wind Chill stopped to look around, his eyes scanning the almost entirely white surroundings, wondering just how he managed to lose sight of someone brightly orange in a place like this.

"By the ancestors," he murmured, finally looking up and towards the border of his frozen home, "I had hoped to stop you before you could head out to certain danger," he said to no one. "Ancients, what should I do? I can't just leave her to venture out alone in the Zone, but I have a duty to protect young Apple Bloom. And if the elder spoke true, then she and her friends are in far greater danger than Scootaloo."

He quickly ascended the steep cliff-wall by use of his claws and impressive strength, wasting no time at all.

Stepping out of the frozen realm and into the warmer region of the Ghost Zone, Wind Chill once again scanned his surroundings in hopes of spotting Scootaloo.

Unable to find her, and knowing time was of the essence, he forcibly turned towards where he knew he had to go: The Dark Zone.

"Forgive me, young one. All I can do is promise to come look for you after saving your friends," he muttered a shamed apology as he ran away, hoping that despite the odds she would remain unharmed.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wooow," Scootaloo awed as she stepped inside of the massive chamber; watching in amazement at a massive pendulum as it swung slowly from side to side, the sound of her hooves clopping on the ancient stone oddly muted. "What is this place?" She asked, slowly shifting her gaze, seeing the many arched doorways leading to places unknown.

"This is the Hall of Time," Clockwork answered. "Here, I, and my associates work together to safeguard, and maintain time."

"There are others?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"Yes," Clockwork answered vaguely. "But they are currently occupied and cannot be disturbed."

"Oh, okay," Scootaloo answered dejectedly, but only for a moment as she perked up mere seconds later as she focused on her goal. "So, how do I, eh, we travel back in time?" She asked, almost demandingly.

"Right this way," Clockwork replied and smoothly glided away, leading Scootaloo through one of the many arched doorways, and into a room with a large swirling green vortex in its center.

"What's that!?" Scootaloo yelped with excitement, the green glow glinting in her eyes.

"This—" Clockwork said as he slowly circled around the vortex "—is a viewing portal. It allows me to see anywhere in time. The past, present, or future. It even allows me to see things that could have been. And, if used correctly, it also allows one passage into the moment of time shown in the vortex."

"That is soooo awesome," Scootaloo awed, eyes wide with excitement.

Clockwork chuckled, "It is, isn't it?"

"How does it work?"

"Allow me to show you," Clockwork replied and brought up his staff.

A pulse of energy came from the rod, and the vortex shuddered as if struck. Wilder and wilder it moved, but only around the edges as the center seemed to slow down; smoothing out. Then an image appeared, and Scootaloo gasped out as she found herself watching herself. Her younger, four year old self.

"Th- That's me," she uttered, dumbfounded.

"So it is," Clockwork confirmed.

"This is just too weird," Scootaloo murmured, prodding at the edges of the viewing portal with a hoof; passing cleanly through it.

"It can be confusing, seeing your own past in such a way," Clockwork said reassuringly, slowly moving towards Scootaloo. "But, just seeing it is not what you want, isn't it?"

"I, uhh-" Scootaloo shook her head as she tore her gaze away from her past self. "No," she confirmed. "You said you could send me back there—" she pointed with a hoof "—so I could stop my parents from going away."

"I did say I could send you back, yes," Clockwork nodded. "And I'm not one to lie," he added with a half lie. "Please, wait here for a moment," he told her, and flew off somewhere.

As indicated, only a moment passed before he returned, carrying with him a strange looking medallion.

"Here, you must wear this," he instructed as he gave the medallion to the orange filly.

"What's it for?" Scootaloo asked, puzzled.

"It will allow you to move through time without being rejected," Clockwork explained.

"What does that mean?"

"Without this medallion, you cannot travel back to the time you wish to visit. Although there are several ways one might go back, time always finds out and returns those out of place back to where they originate from. As long as you wear this, time does not notice you and you are able to move freely. Remove the medallion and you will find yourself back where you started."

"So… Don't take it off then?" Scootaloo sought clarification, unable to fully wrap her mind around Clockwork's explanation.

"Yes," Clockwork answered somewhat flatly, and Scootaloo slipped the medallion around her neck.

"So, now what?" She asked, excitement noticeable.

"Now, we step through," Clockwork told her, and vanished in the maelstrom of the viewing portal.

Scootaloo, eyes wide, swallowed loudly. Then, with a leap of faith, she followed after the helpful ghost.

<<>><<>><<>>

The sounds of numerous objects falling over, breaking and clattering on the ground flowed out of the hut found deep within the Everfree Forest. A low, defeated groan followed moments thereafter.

Inside sat Zecora, surrounded by a battlefield of broken and damaged furniture, masks, jars, flasks, and an overturned cauldron; spilling its contents all over the floor in a large, sticky puddle.

The source of this absolute devastation, the small, green, glowing pup which was barking happily as it lay on what remained of Zecora's bed; chewing on the wooden spoon the mare had used to stir her latest concoction.

"That is it, I give up. Even a feral hydra is less destructive than this pup," the mare droned, exhausted.

The pup's eyes perked up, soon followed by his head as he looked around with large eyes; sniffing the air.

Zecora froze, not even daring to breath as the pup slowly jumped off her bed.

For several long seconds, the pup stood still, ears twitching every now and then. Then his head snapped towards the door, and a faint growl escaped him. This worried Zecora immensely.

Some time passed in silence, save for the few erratic growls the pup gave. Then, to Zecora's surprise and relief, the pup ran through the door, leaving her alone.

She held her breath, making sure the clearly demonic dog had left before she even dared to twitch.

"Is it over, is it done?" she wondered, only to be frightened by a bark coming from behind her. Turning around with a yelp, Zecora found herself face to face with the pup.

Before she could even think about reacting, however, the pup reared up and gave her a long, slobbering lick all over the muzzle before phasing through the door once more. "No, this isn't something easily won," she finished with dismay, slobber dripping down on the floor.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep down, in the heart of the Hive, Chrysalis was slipping in and out of consciousness. The strain on both her body and mind having drained what little strength she had left.

Her body was extremely thin and her wings had lost their gleam; now dull and brittle while her eyes had sunken low.

She was now too weak to do anything more than taking the faintest of breaths and trying to listen in on the hive mind, which had become extremely difficult.

The strain on her mind suddenly increased and if she had been capable of it, Chrysalis would have cried out in shock.

There was a new entity within the mind. An entity just as intricate and expanding as their own. Yet it was completely alien at the same time.

Chrysalis tried, the creator knew she did. But she could no longer focus her mind. No longer was she able to even acknowledge her own thoughts as she slipped away once again; unconsciousness claiming her once more.

The alien entity, however, was completely aware of what happened. And it was with a loud whiny that the Saldēti Zirgi increased their pace, the land beneath them freezing as a massive snowfront followed closely behind them.

They were called.

They would answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So ya cut out this corruption ta save your brothers, tha rest of your kind, even your entire world. But in doing so, killin’ yahself as well?" Apple Bloom gasped. "No wonder ya're afraid of yahself. Ah would be too."

"That's horrible," said Sweetie Belle. "Being taken over by a corruption like that," then something clicked. "Hey, didn't something like that happen to Princess Luna, too?"

"What are you talking about?" Fenris demanded with a bark, a nervous edge to his voice.

"Princess Luna," Sweetie Belle answered. "She is one of our princesses."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom nodded enthusiastically. "She is tha pony who controls tha moon and stars."

"The moon," Fenris repeated slowly with a lowered voice; beginning to feel uneasy.

"Mmhmm," Apple Bloom nodded. "And her sistah, princess Celestia controls tha sun… Kinda like ya and your brothers," she added in murmur, a hoof pressed against her chin.

"Hey, yeah," Sweetie Belle agreed, pausing a moment to think about the strange similarities.

"So, ya see. Princess Luna became jealous of her sistah 'cause everypony always played an worked during tha day, but slept when she brought forth tha night," Apple Bloom continued. "Eventually, her jealousy changed her, corrupted her. Calling herself Nightmare Moon an such," she explained, missing the noticeable flinch from Erlea, or the narrowing of Fenris' eyes.

"Yeah, she was really scary when she came back from the moon," Sweetie Belle said, thinking back. "But now she is really nice."

"Mmhmm," Apple Bloom agreed with a nod.

"You mean to tell me that one of your leaders, one who embodies the moon, corrupted and changed?" Fenris asked with noticeable demand.

"Eh, yeah," Apple Bloom replied.

"What kind of change occurred?"

"Well, her fur turned all black," Sweetie Belle answered. "And she got those really scary fangs."

"An her eyes became all slitted," Apple Bloom added. "An she wanted ta bring eternal night, too."

Fenris was quiet for some time, then his attention snapped back to the two ponies, "When did this change occur… And how is it she is… nice now?"

"Well, it happened some over a thousand years ago," Apple Bloom pondered, thinking back to what her sister had said after she returned home that night.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle agreed. "And princess Celestia then banished her to the moon."

"But she came back, an then, Ah dunno, took princess Celestia away or somethin'… What did she do with tha princess?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle, who shrugged in answer.

"I don't know," she said, then turned back to Fenris. "But our sisters, Rarity and Applejack, and their friends Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle went after Nightmare Moon and confronted her in the ancient castle of the Royal Sisters."

"There they found tha Elements of Harmony," Apple Bloom said excitedly. "An with its awesome power they blasted tha corruption right out tha princess Luna."

"They removed the corruption?" Fenris asked, unable to hide his amazement. Both fillies nodded enthusiastically.

For a moment Fenris looked away, amazed. Fear, however, quickly replaced it as the full ramifications of what these children had said clicked into focus.

Fur becoming black. Fangs. Eternal night…

He knew he removed his corruption. Cut it out with his own claws. But he never knew what became of this parasite of his own making after they severed. Now, though, he feared he finally learned the answer.

"It found a new host," he murmured, a feeling of intense shame crashing down on him.

"GHAAA!" Erlea suddenly cried out, holding her head in her hooves as she collapsed to the ground.

""ERLEA!"" Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle cried out as they rushed to the downed changeling. Fenris, however, merely glanced down at her, a deeply troubled frown etched on his face.

"Erlea, what's wrong?!" Apple Bloom cried out.

"The voices. The hive," Erlea said with a struggle, writhing on the ground, eyes pressed shut in pain.

"What's happening to her?" Sweetie Belle asked urgently.

"How should Ah know?" Apple Bloom shouted back.

"Well, we have to do something!" Sweetie Belle argued, both fillies 'dancing' around Erlea, unsure what to do.

"GHAA!" Erlea cried out again, "The Hive, everyling… Ghnn. They're under attack."

""WHAT!?"" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle cried out, shocked.

"But, how do you know that?" Sweetie Belle wanted to know, not understanding.

"Her mind is linked with the others of her kind," Fenris spoke up, slowly moving closer to the trio; a pensive frown etching his features.

"Well, then we need ta help them," Apple Bloom said urgently. "If what Erlea said is true, an they are already weakened by this illness then they will need all tha help they can get."

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle shouted her agreement, "I might not know what the hay is going on, and I still have many questions myself. But if Erlea's friends are in trouble, then we have to do something."

Despite the cries for help and fear crippling her, Erlea still looked up at the two ponies through lidded eyes, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"I agree," Fenris rumbled, then he looked up and towards where the trio had came from. "And from her reaction, I don't think there is much time to lose." He then looked back down at the three fillies. "You came here for a cure, one I'm not sure I can provide. But I can't shake off the feeling of responsibility for what happened to your princess. I will aid you in any way I can," he told them, lowering to all fours. "Grab your belongings—" he mentioned to the Infi-map "—and get on. It will be safe for you three with me."

All three fillies looked up at the wolf with absolute surprise, yet it only lasted a few seconds for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"You've got it," Sweetie Belle said as she hurried to retrieve the map, while Apple Bloom scooped up Erlea and used her natural earth pony strength to lift the stunned changeling onto Fenris' back.
Then she climbing up herself, followed a moment later by Sweetie Belle.

"Hold on!" Fenris barked, and took a running start with frightening speed before jumping clear off his barren land.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both had to grab hold of Fenris' black fur so they wouldn't fall off, yet Erlea herself was still shaken from the sudden and crippling cry coming over the hive mind, and was unable to do much more than lie there as numerous voices all overlapped into unintelligible shouting.

Not wanting her to fall off, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both held onto her with one hoof, while holding on tightly themselves with the other as Fenris jumped from one mass of land to the other with mind boggling speed; never stopping nor paying any heed to whatever ghost they crossed. Until one of these ghosts, a massive white blur, called out Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's names. Unleashing a bestial roar seconds later as it gave pursuit.

"Wait, was that Wind Chill?" Apple Bloom shouted, trying to look back without upsetting her balance and falling off.

"I'm not sure… I guess?" Sweetie Belle replied, hesitantly.

"Hey, Fenris!" Apple Bloom shouted. "Can you slow down for a bit?"

Fenris gave her a sideways glance, huffed, then did as he was asked; making sure the large, white furred ghost these ponies seemed to know was in his peripheral, knowing all too well the meaning behind the challenging roar.

"RELEASE THE YOUNG ONES AT ONCE!" Wind Chill bellowed as he caught up, fangs baring, ready to attack.

"WAIT!" Apple Bloom shouted. "He ain't hurting us or anything. He's helping!"

Wind Chill faltered for a moment, completely taken by surprise, falling behind once again.

"What!?" he uttered after a moment, having caught up for a second time.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle shouted back at him. "Erlea's friends are in trouble, and he's taking us back so we can help."

Wind Chill could only stare in bewilderment, unable to comprehend what he was just told. Of all the possibilities he thought of; everything the youngsters could encounter, everything that could happen to them, this was not one of those things. Never in his wildest imagination would he suspect them to be sent into the Dark Zone by the Elder, nor for them to remain unharmed. Even more shocking, he recognized the ghost they were now riding on, and the implications figuratively chilled him to the bone.

Fenrir, the dark wolf.

"By the ancestors," he murmured as his eyes locked with those of Fenrir, a chill going down his spine, [/size=14]"Just what are these children capable of?"

"Heart, courage and kindness," the wolf barked in answer, having heard him. "They can see the good, whereas others can only see the bad… or the worse." He then took a whiff of the air and adjusted his path, following after the fillies' scent.

Wind Chill was silent, looking at the wolf with distrust.

"Don't worry, Wind Chill," Apple Bloom called out to him. "He ain't a bad guy."

"If that's true, then what happened to your friend?" He asked, looking at Erlea.

"Her mind is linked with the rest of her kind," Sweetie Bell replied. "And I guess they're all calling for help."

"Whatever it is," Apple Bloom picked up, "It clearly hurt her."

"So now we're hurrying back to help them."

"You… ponies don't… make… any….. sense," Erlea grunted softly, slowly growing accustomed to the distorted cries assaulting her mind. "You don't even know what is going on."

"Doesn't matter," Apple Bloom replied confidently. "We'll find out when we get there."

"Where exactly is 'there'?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

".... Eehhh," Apple Bloom uttered, then showed an awkward smile.

"Idiots," Erlea muttered, clenching her eyes shut and breathing deeply. "Go to the Badlands, the Hive is hidden there," she revealed, taking a huge risk. She just hoped that these strange ponies would owe up to their words… Somehow.

"The Badlands!?" Apple Bloom gasped, "But nothing lives there."

"Just like we want you to think," Erela droned. That way, no one will accidentally stumble upon us."

"I guess that makes sense," Sweetie Belle said.

"Okay, Fenris! Let's get out of here, and to the Badlands!"

"Fenris?" Wind Chill repeated, confused, but didn't receive any reply as the wolf picked up speed; heading towards the Far Frozen.

<<>><<>><<>>

Loud, aggressive growling and barking filled the ancient room as the timberwolves circled around the portal; the Alpha standing before it while declaring a challenge which required no translation.

"By the Ancestors, what do we do?" Avalanche asked nervously as he and Snow Front backed away a bit, ice clubs in hand and at the ready. "This large a number, just the two of us would easily be overwhelmed."

"They haven't attacked yet, brother. This might merely be a display of strength in response to what has recently happened."

"Regardless, Frostbite needs to be warned," Avalanche replied, eyes locked on the dimensional hole and the wolves on the other side.

"Are you sure you'll be able to deal with the situation on your own?"

"For now, if nothing changes," Avalanche answered, tightening his hold over his club. "Go, warn Frostbite and the others. And do make haste."

Nodding, Snow Front turned and shot off; moving for the village with all the speed he could call upon.

Glancing behind him, Avalanche steeled his nerves. He then returned his attention to the wolves, their barking and growling increased.

"Ancestors, may you watch over me. And if the call for violence must be answered, guide my hand in the fight to come."

<<>><<>><<>>

"There! Over there!" Apple Bloom cried out as she pointed her hoof towards the icy entrance of the Far Frozen; shouting in fright a moment later as she lost her balance, only to be pulled back in place by Erlea, who had regained most of her composure by now.

"Ugh, back into the cold… at least I'm still wearing that saddle you've borrowed me," she muttered, annoyed, wishing she hadn't lost her scarf and hat when they were forcefully pulled along by the Infi-map.

"Don't worry," Apple Bloom reassured. "We won't be there for long."

Fenris, making true to her words, entered the cavernous entrance in a blur. Noticing the sudden drop, but going too fast to slow down in time, he instead used it to his advantage.

Jumping to the far wall, he twisted around until his paws touched the frozen surface. Using his powerful legs, he then launched himself, and the fillies with him, down to the compact snow and ice floor below.

All three fillies screamed as they plummeted, but Fenris readjusted his angle and landed with a heavy thud; his muscular legs absorbing the blow. Wind Chill dropped down next to him, an angry scowl aimed at the wolf.

"You mustn't be so careless with the young ones," he scolded, not making much of an impression on Fenris who, instead, wasted little time and surged back into motion.

Wind Chill huffed out in irritation, glaring at the wolf in distrust as he followed after Fenris.

One after another they exited the icy cave, and entered the frozen land stretching out before them. The both of them came to a sudden, but gradual stop, showing clear signs of unease.

"What's wrong?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Wh-hy did we s-st-st-achoo!" Erlea sneezed, rubbing her hooves for warmth.

"Something is wrong," Wind Chill answered, eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. "I can sense a disturbance."

"Yeah…" Sweetie Belle murmured, almost trancelike, a shiver traveling down her spine.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom nudged her friend, snapping the unicorn out of it after a moment's delay.

Shaking her head, Sweetie Belle looked at her friend, confused and worried. "I don't know… Something doesn't feel right."

Fenris looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Doesn't feel right? Whadda you mean?"

"I don-"

"Less talking, and more getting the Horsefly out of here!" Erlea complained.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at her in confusion over the strange swear word, but they had to agree that now was not the best place and time to figure Sweetie Belle's strange feelings out.

"Right," both fillies nodded, then Apple Bloom pointed a hoof towards where the portal was. "The way home is over there."

"I'm afraid it won't be as easy as you think it to be, young Apple Bloom," Wind Chill replied grimly, looking towards the distance portal; his height allowing to see much further.

"Ehh… Is something wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

Fenris drew in a deep breath, holding it for a while. "Fateful events such as this often cause trouble," he exhaled slowly, the scent of the timberwolves lingering on his senses. "I already had my suspicions, but now I can no longer believe you finding and convincing me to help was mere coincidence." He turned his head to look at the trio riding his back. "You three should get off," he told them, then looked back into the distance. "This confrontation is not meant for you."

Looking at one another in nervousness over the warning words and troubled tone of voice, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Erlea slowly slid down Fenris' back, and dropped into the snow; joined by some quiet swearing by Erlea, who didn't have the strength to use her wings and stay aloft above the bone chilling layer of white.

"What's going on?" Apple Bloom asked, looking at Fenris with large eyes.

"I have yet to discover that myself," Fenris murmured, then moved for the distant portal; not knowing what to expect.

"You stay here," Wind Chill told them with grim determination. "You should stay as far away from this as possible."

"Bu-" Apple Bloom began to protest, but was cut off by the giant.

"Listen to me, Apple Bloom. It is my duty to protect you, as well as your friends. Allowing you to go anywhere near this would be the exact opposite. So, please. Do as I ask of you and stay here. I will come get you when it is safe."

Apple Bloom looked up at Wind Chill, considering arguing for them to go with him. But as she looked into his glowing eyes, she knew he wouldn't back down.

"Fine," she replied with a sigh, sitting down in the snow; sending a shiver up her spine.

"Thank you," Wind Chill replied.

Not wasting another moment, he quickly set off after Fenris, leaving the three fillies near the tunnel which led out of the Far Frozen.

"I wonder what that's all about?" Sweetie Belle asked after a short moment of silence.

"How would Ah know?" Apple Bloom replied, and the two of them turned to Erlea, only to find she was no longer with them.

Looking around, they spotted the changeling slowly moving after Fenris and Wind Chill; using the large tracks they've made in the snow to keep herself from sinking away in the layer of white.

"Hey, where are you going?" Apple Bloom called out after her.

"Back to the Hive!" Erlea shot back, flinching numerous times from the cold. "I've got no time to waste here with you. You want to sit here and do nothing? Fine, but don't expect me to do the same."

"Who said we were going to sit here and do nothing?" Sweetie Belle asked, hovering next to Erlea, her hind legs transformed into an intangible tail.

Erlea flinched as she was taken by surprise by the logic defying pony, but was able to mask it as a reaction to the cold numbing her hooves. Not looking at her, she stubbornly continued on her way, while Sweetie Belle continued to hover beside her, and Apple Bloom plowed through the snow behind her.

"Yeah,” Apple Bloom agreed, quickly catching up.

"You did just agree to stay here," Erlea pointed out flatly, still staring dead ahead, not slowing down one bit.

"Well, Ah'm also supposed ta be back at tha orchard. But here Ah am," she countered with a cheeky grin.

"Besides, we said we would help you—" Sweetie Belle grabbed Erlea around the barrel and lifted her up above the snow "—and that is exactly what we're going to do."

"Yeah,” Apple Bloom agreed. "Now, let's go and see what this is all about." And with that, she sped off. Jumping from one massive print to the next with energetic jumps, while Sweetie Belle followed after her, holding firmly onto Erlea.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several minutes ago.

The Alpha growled as he stood before the portal.

They knew to where it led. A sensation they recognized even if they had never experienced it.

The realm of the dead. The place they were banished from by the curse that bound them to the forest they had called home for all those centuries. A curse placed upon them by him. The entity that forced this doomed existence upon them, as well as the warning to do as he commanded, and the threat of repercussions if they didn't.

But now, he wondered just how much of that was true.

They stayed in the forest, only venturing out if their involuntary task demanded it. But then, this portal opened; creatures not belonging there coming through; a pony with powers and abilities not hers by birth appearing; the Dark One.

Truly, they had failed at their task. They had failed, because he had allowed this to continue for so long.

Not any more.

Still, there was one thing that gave him pause: Nothing had happened to them.

There were no repercussions to their failure, other than the anger they felt themselves.

And now, standing before the unnatural hole in reality, the Alpha flexed his wooden claws and stepped through; defiance and hate burned in his eyes as he left the world he was bound to, and entered the realm he was banished from.

He stood still for several long seconds, waiting, expecting something to happen; anything. But nothing did, and he knew now the full extent of the lies they were led to believe for so long.

Lies they would no longer obey.

"Atako!" he barked.
"Attack!"

With terrifying growls and barks, the wolves crossed over.

"Nun ni devas krei vian propran ekvilibron!" The Alpha growled through teeth.
"Now we shall create our own balance!"

Of course they wouldn't go unhindered; as Snow Front had warned the village and he, Frostbite, the Elder, and many other giants stood in wait; preparing for anything with claws and clubs of ice at the ready.

Stepping forward, the gem in her staff aglow, the Elder shone its light over all present.

"I can understand you are angry," she said, voice neutral. "But you should not have come here."

"And allow this transgression to continue?" The Alpha snarled, then huffed. "No matter, we're done playing to the rules and wishes of others. Now we-" he proclaimed loudly, only to be cut off by a loud, spine chilling howl.

The Alpha's eyes widened, mirrored by the rest of the wolves as recognition dawned upon them. And, as everyone gathered turned to the source of the sound, for less than a split second, the Alpha saw him. The creature that cursed him and his pack, hovering above a solitary hill. Then he was gone, and all their attention was claimed by the massive, black, scar-covered wolf slowly, deliberately stepping into their midst.

"So, fate has seen it fit for us to face each other again," Fenris spoke in a low rumble, his massive muscles flexing as he stood up to his full height; only two-thirds the size of a frost giant, but still towering over the Alpha.

The wolves could only stare in shock and silence at the catalyst of their damnation.

There were consequences, and they were looking at him now.

<<>><<>><<>>

A couple minutes ago, and slightly to the right.

A portal opened just above the snow, and two individuals came through. One, a small, orange pegasus, the other an age shifting ghost.

Scootaloo looked around with a saddened gaze, not yet recognizing where they were.

"Where are we?" She asked, a clearly noticeable tone of sadness in her voice.

"The Far Frozen, near the village of the frost giants," Clockwork replied, scanning the area himself. "I thought it best to drop you off here," he gave a nod towards a trio of fillies to their right, moving away from them. "Your friends are over there. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."

"I, ehh… Yeah," Scootaloo muttered, looking down. Then, as if a switch was flipped, she looked up, sadness seemingly gone, replaced by steeled resolve. "Yeah, I do."

"Then go, child," Clockwork told her. "There is no better time than the present."

Nodding, Scootaloo quickly ran after her friends, using her wings to the best of her ability to keep from sinking too deep in the snow while Clockwork looked after her with a small, sad smile.

"It’s these kinds of lessons that are always the hardest. Both on the heart and the mind. But, in the end, you'll become stronger because of it, Scootaloo. I'm certain that your parents would say so, too." He sighed out after that, gingerly tracing his fingertips over the scar on his face, and he turned his attention to the unfolding conflict just behind a distant hill.

Nodding to himself, he flew towards the hill, following it up until he hovered some feet above it, looking at the mass gathered further below; his eyes locking with the Alpha timberwolf.

He turned invisible a moment later, having done what needed to be done.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Hey, you guys! Wait up!" Scootaloo called out after her friends, who came to a sudden stop upon hearing her; looking back with confusion showing on their faces, as well as annoyance from Erlea over yet another unwanted interruption

"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle said, confused. "What are you doing here? ...Wait, how did you even get here?"

"Yeah, Ah thought ya were grounded," Apple Bloom commented.

"You mean like you are?" the orange pegasus replied flatly, cocking an eyebrow.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other. ""Touché,"" they said in tandem.

"Oh, will you just hurry up already!" Erlea shouted. "I'm moving faster on my own like this."

"Right," Sweetie Belle replied apologetic, resuming her flight towards the portal.

"What's going on?" Scootaloo asked, quickly following after Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

"It's a long story," Apple Bloom answered, "But tha short version is: Erlea's friends and family are in trouble. Like really, really in trouble. Well, even more in trouble than when we came here tryin’ ta find a way ta fix tha first problem, when somethin’ else happened. So, Ah guess they are in double trouble." The apple filly shook her head to focus "Short story shorter, we're going ta help Erlea with whatever tha Hay is going on back at her home."

"Wait, her home?!" Scootaloo balked. "You mean the changeling home?"

"That's what Ah said," Apple Bloom nodded, then jumped over an icy rock. "Also, how did ya get here?" Apple Bloom asked, almost as an afterthought.

"I want to know, too," Sweetie Belle piped up, glancing behind her.

"It's also a long story," Scootaloo told them.

"And the short version?" Sweetie Belle presses on.

"Let's just say that I've seen life from a different perspective," she answered, leaving her friends confused.

"We'll get back to ya on that one," Apple Bloom told her. " Right now, we've got more important things to deal with."

"Right," Scootaloo nodded, thinking back to all Clockwork had shown. Then another realization dwelled on her. Something that demanded an answer. "And what about the changelings back at the orchard?"

Apple Bloom nearly tripped while Sweetie Belle almost dropped Erlea.

"How do ya know about Abella and Devora?" Apple Bloom demanded.

"Forget that!" Sweetie Belle piped up, worried. "Did they also collapse like Erlea did?"

"Most likely. And, knowing them, they are also returning to the Hive as fast as they can."

"They are!?" Apple Bloom cried, alarmed.

"Of course they would," Erlea snapped.

"But if they aren't there pretending to be Sweetie Belle and Ah, Big Mac, Applejack, and Granny Smith will find out we're gone!"

"So you want them to cover your back while our home, family, and friends are in danger!?" Erlea lashed out, venom in her voice.

Apple Bloom flinched back, falling behind just a bit as Erlea's word struck deep.

"So they'll ground us more," Scootaloo spoke up. "Big deal. Helping out a friend is more important."

Again, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at their friend with absolute confusion. A look mirrored by Erlea as well.

Noticing this, Scootaloo merely shrugged it off. "It's a long story," she said. "Now, where do we need to go?"

"Back ta tha portal," Apple Bloom answered. "Although it won't be as easy as that."

"Why not?"

"Because of that!" Sweetie Belle gasped out in shock and trepidation, finally able to see what troubled Wind Chill and Fenris after she (and Erlea) rounded a snow dune obscuring the portal from sight.

"Oh," was all both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were able to say.

Frost giants were engaged in fierce battle against timberwolves, with Fenris in their midst. Yet the giants seemed to be more on the defensive, while most of the timberwolves focused their hits on Fenris.

"Well, that ain't good," Apple Bloom noted dryly.

"What the hay is going on?" Scootaloo said.

"I've been asking that same question several times myself as well," Sweetie Belle replied, slightly miffed. "... I'm still waiting for an answer."

"Who cares," Erlea grumbled, arms crossed. "Let's just get out of here."

"We'll need to go through them to get to the portal," Sweetie Belle noted, worried as she bit her lower lip.

"Couldn't you turn invisible, or something?" Erlea reminded her.

"Oh yeah, I totally can do that," Sweetie Belle replied energetically.

"But what about us?" Scootaloo asked, "Can you make us invisible while flying? If not, the snow will give us away."

"Shoot, didn't think of that," Sweetie Belle huffed. "I'm not sure I can… Besides…" she said, then fell silent as she looked back at the chaos further on.

"Just, what?" Apple Bloom asked her.

"... I don't know. There is just… There is this weird feeling I got. It doesn't feel right."

Erlea frowned in irritation, yet her eyes glanced up at the hovering unicorn; using her senses to reach out.

"Fear," she said monotonously.

"Huh?" Sweetie Belle looked down at the changeling. Apple Bloom gasped.

"Ya're feeding on their fear, ain't ya?!" Apple Bloom almost cried out, looking at her friend in worry.

"I, whu?"

"You feed on fear," Erlea sighed out. "Gorging on it, actually. No wonder you took in too much before, if this is how you go on about it."

"Wait… What?!"

"What are you talking about?" Scootaloo wanted to know, clearly lost, much like Sweetie Belle.

"It's a long-" Apple Bloom replied, but was cut off by a very irritated Erlea.

"OH, WILL YOU JUST CUT IT OUT ALREADY AND GET MOVING!"

"Right, sorry," Apple Bloom replied meekly.

"Okay, ehh. Just hold on to me, I guess," Sweetie Belle told them, unsure, lowering herself enough for her friends to touch her as she first transformed and then turned all of them invisible.

"Well, this will keep us from being seen," Scootaloo commented, “But what about flying over there?"

"Just. Hold. On!" Sweetie Belle grunted as she channeled her energy, pushing it further than she had done before, spreading out her glowing aura to encompass all four of them.

Slowly but surely, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could feel the frozen ground drop away as they were gradually pulled up in the air.

"This. Is. So. Awesome!" Scootaloo squealed.

"Ya're really getting better at this spirit thang, Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom cheered her friend on.

Erlea, not saying a word, couldn't help but feel impressed as well.

"Stop. Talking." Sweetie Belle grunted, "Need. To. Focus."

""Sorry,"" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both replied simultaneously.

Grunting from the strain, Sweetie Belle slowly began moving towards the distant portal; feeling a strange nauseating feeling build up in the pit of her stomach the closer she came to the chaotic battle. Something Erlea couldn't help but notice.

'Like a changeling… but, not like a changeling.'

The sound of roaring, barking and howling grew louder and louder, and all fillies, sans Sweetie Belle (who had her eyes almost shut in concentration and strain) watched as the frost giants used large clubs of ice to swat down any of the timberwolves coming too close, while also bringing large ice shields up to bear to fend of any attack the wolves attempted on them.

Yet the giants as well as the timberwolves seemed more focused on Fenris, who was on the defensive as timberwolves aggressively circled around him, while he himself was engaged in a face off with the Alpha.

'Huh,' Erlea thought, eyeing the timberwolves. 'They're the ones who are afraid.'

Sweetie Belle grunted, straining herself, and Erlea could feel herself slip slightly as Sweetie Belle's strength was failing.

"Wait… Dont let g-" she began, only to be cut off as Sweetie Belle turned back to her mortal self; invisibility failing, and dropping out of the sky.

All four fillies screamed out as they plummeted.

The Elder, not being fooled by Sweetie Belle's invisibility thanks to her sight, found herself standing where she shouldn't, and quickly stepped to the side as the four bodies dropped in the snow one at a time, leaving surprisingly accurate pony and changeling shaped holes.

The chaotic clash froze to a standstill over this new, unexpected turn of events, leaving all parties standing in confusion as they watched the four fillies slowly pull themselves out of their frosty burrows.

"Well, shoot," Apple Bloom muttered. "That didn't go as planned."

"I- I- I- I hat- te-te you-u-u," Erlea managed through clattering teeth.

"Oh, shove it," Scootaloo groaned, falling back down as the snow gave way, forcing her to climb back up again. This time with a heap of snow covering her head.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" Frostbite roared out. "Why are the young ones here!?" He demanded, quickly finding Wind Chill, who looked at the four with shock and horror plastered on his face.

"Why are you here?" Wind Chill asked with worry. "Didn't I tell you to stay back?" Yet he was not granted an answer as the Alpha's growling reaction cut in.

"What new trickery is this?!" The rest of the timberwolves reacted with increased aggression.

Fenris growled lowly as he looked down on the Alpha, fingers flexing, triggering another hostile reaction from the timberwolves.

'More fear,' Erlea realized, eyes shifting towards Sweetie Belle who seemed to be struggling.

"Please, don't make any hasty decisions," the Elder tried to reason, already knowing the outcome regardless. In fact, she was counting on it.

"Wind Chill! Explain how you allowed the young ones to put themselves in such danger!" Frostbite roared.

Any reply Wind Chill gave was cut short as one of his fellow frost giants roared threateningly, slamming her club in the snow, dangerously close to one of the snapping wolves.

The wolf backed off with a yelp.

"Make it stop," Sweetie Belle squeaked, eyes clenched shut and breathing heavily.

"Don't think you are able to walk away unscaved," the Alpha barked at Fenris, "You will pay for what you have done to us!"

Fenris stood impassively, yet leering at the wolf before him, trying to deduce the fate that befell him after their last encounter. His seeming disinterest only angered the Alpha more and more, as well as something else. Something he ignored with all his being.

"Fear," Fenris snorted. "That's all there is. Overwhelming fear."

"Please, make it stop," Sweetie Belle pressed her hooves against her head, clearly in pain.

"Sweetie Belle, is everything alright?" Apple Bloom asked, worried.

"What the HAY is going on!?" Scootaloo demanded to know, looking at the mess they found themselves in, as well at her friend with worry.

'Fear,' Erlea thought with rising anxiety as she looked at Sweetie Belle, feeling something building. 'Worry, anxiety, concern, anger… hate. All negative emotions. She's… She's feeding on them all.'

"Young ones, please leave this place at once. It is not safe for you here," Wind Chill told them urgently, clearly worried and afraid for their well being.

"You dare to call me afraid!?" The Alpha barked, deeply offended and enraged, "I'll show you the true meaning of fear. KADZITE, ATTACK!"

With a chorus of barks and howls the timberwolves lunged at Fenris and the frost giants, no longer holding back as the Frost giants responded in kind. Roaring to the fullest of their ability, the giants charged ahead, meeting the timberwolves head-on.

Clubs swung, shields raised, claws swiped, and jaws bit. Splinters flew through the air, along with chunks of ice, tufts of white fur, and even globs of green glowing ectoplasmic blood as both groups clashed.

At the same time, Fenris found himself being attacked from multiple angles as the Alpha, as well as five other wolves jumped on him, biting down into his flesh, hanging on to him to drag him down.

Fenris growled through grating teeth, dropping back to all fours and shook himself, flinging off three of the six wolves. The remaining three wolves, including the Alpha, bit down harder, drawing green glowing blood, while using their claws to cut deep gashes into his already deeply scarred body.

Fenris howled in pain, allowing it to fuel his anger as he grabbed one of the wolves with one of his massive paws, squeezing down on its wooden body until it broke apart in splinters.

The Alpha released his hold over Fenris, only to jump up and land on the black wolf's back, biting down on the nape of his neck while sinking his claws into his shoulders.

Once more, Fenris howled out in pain as several more wolves jumped him while his defense was down.

"Just. Stop. It!" Sweetie Belle grunted, almost a growl. Erlea found herself backing off from her, fear evident on her face. Fear, she knew, which would only increase whatever it was that was building within the ivory unicorn.

Frostbite roared as he dashed towards one of his fallen comrades, acting like a beast possessed as he swatted away the two wolves who had pinned down his bond sister.

"Child, is everything alright?" Wind Chill asked, concerned, finally noticing the distressed and pained look Sweetie Belle showed.

"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom repeated, gently nudging her friend in the side.

"I really don't think we should stay here!" Scootaloo said in a high pitch, which quickly turned into a scream as the timberwolf she saw approaching jumped for her, maw wide open.

"I SAID, STOP!"

Sweetie Belle screamed, a strange echo to her voice. A pressure wave blasted off her, slamming into everyone there, knocking them back while Sweetie Belle's eyes were glowing heavily. A glow which was mirrored in the eyes of everyone, including her friends and Erlea, with the only exception being the Elder who looked at the filly as she tapped into her dormant power; while Sweetie Belle herself slowly shifted her gaze around, seeing everyone standing in trance with large eyes, fully aglow with spectral light.

"And so a siren discovers her potential," the Elder spoke solemnly, tightening the grip on her staff as a wave of light shone from it, basking everyone in its light, snapping them out of their trance-like state while Sweetie Belle slumped down into the snow.

An eerie silence settled down over the battlefield, punctuated by the howl of the frozen wind as everyone looked first at themselves, then around to figure out what had just happened.

"Elder?" Frostbite turned to her, "What just happened?"

Looking down at the filly lying in the snow, the Elder spoke: "She did."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Ughh… what happened?" Sweetie Belle asked, groaning as she pushed herself back up and out of the snowy hole; shaking her head to clear the strange, fuzzy tingling she felt in her horn, going all the way down into her skull where it tapped into her brain.

"Why don't you tell me?" she heard the Elder ask, and Sweetie Belle blinked as she looked up; surprised to see not only the Elder, but just about everyone else as well staring at her with surprise, confusion, shock, or downright fear. "What is it you think that happened?"

"Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Sweetie Belle asked, slinking down her hole to hide away from all the eyes locked onto her.

"I'm sure that you already know the answer, deep down," the Elder pressed on, looking intently at the young pony. Sweetie Belle, however, could only look up in confusion.

"I do?" She asked, blinked and then frowned. "But I didn't do anything… except telling them to stop. Then..." She promptly fell silent, first frowning, then her eyes widened as the calling of another memory drew her attention.

"Then you saw everyone did as you said," the Elder finished the unspoken part.

"But… how?"

"Because of what you are, child," the Elder replied sagely.

"A… spirit?"

"In essence, yes. But being a spirit is merely the form of your spectral self. Deep down, your core being is that of a siren."

"A SIREN!?" Sweetie Belle shrieked out, falling back into her hole.

"But, that's impossible," Apple Bloom shouted her disbelief. "Wind Chill said Sirens were foul, evil creatures. Sweetie Belle ain't that."

"Oh, did he now?" The Elder said with a hint of disappointment, glancing back at the mentioned giant who shifted nervously on the spot. "Being a siren doesn't make one evil," she explained. "But due to their inherent need for negative emotions, they often find themselves drawn to more nefarious ways than most others. Which would also explain your adverse reaction to such a buildup of negativity. Your good-hearted nature clashes with this opposite," she blinked as she fell silent for a moment. "Something that seems to be a recurring factor with you; with your magic being at odds with your spectral energy as well."

"Bu- but what does that mean… For me, I mean?" Sweetie Belle squeaked, frightened.

"For now, not much. This burst of power you have shown also drained most of this negative build-up. This will allow you the time needed to learn to control your presenting abilities."

"But, how?" Sweetie Belle asked, not sure she wanted to.

"Again, you already know the answer to that question. Isn't that right, Apple Bloom?" She asked, and the earth pony filly gasped out.

"Erlea!" she exclaimed. "She can control minds too. Ain't that what Sweetie Belle did, too?"

"Indeed it is," the Elder confirmed with a slow nod. "Which means your task of helping her is all the more urgent."

"Yea- hey! Where did she go?" Apple Bloom shouted as she realized Erlea was no longer with them.

"She left shortly after I freed all your minds. In quite a hurry too, that one, " the Elder told them, standing back up to full height. "Which, considering the circumstances her kind is dealing with, that is not much of a surprise."

"Then we must go as well!" Apple Bloom said confidently.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo agreed, having been silent until now.

"But… can she really help… with this?" Sweetie Belle asked, unsure.

"Of course she can!" Apple Bloom answered, reaching down to grab and then pull her friend out of her snowy hole. "But first we need ta help her, like we promised."

Sweetie Belle looked at her friend with doubt. Closing her eyes and breathing in deeply before slowly exhaling, her breath coming out in a long stream of condensation in the frigid air, she looked at her friend again, giving a single, determined nod.

"Hey, Fenris," Apple Bloom called out. "Ya comi-" only to be silenced when the Alpha roared his frustration.

"Enough of this nonsense," he fumed, "We've allowed this transgression to continue for far too long. And now you are in league with the Dark One as well. I knew you couldn't be trusted," he flexed his wooden claws. "Repercussions or not, none of you shall be allowed to pass through the hole," he threatened, backed up by the rest of his pack as they blocked the path through the portal.

Fenris growled warningly, many of the wounds inflicted on him during the short but intense skirmish already healing.

The frost giants all raised their weapons and shields, baring fangs in response to the wolves' hostility.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked around nervously, not seeing an easy way out of this mess.

"You know, I prefer the path of nonviolence and diplomacy when dealing with troublesome adversaries," the Elder calmly stated as she gracefully stepped forwards, closing the distance between herself and the Alpha. "But you," she looked intently at the Alpha with glowing eyes. "You are just too full of yourself." And in a sudden blur of motion, she slammed the broad top part of her staff on the Alpha's head. "Especially considering the crimes you and your pack committed," she finished as the Alpha slumped down into the snow. The timberwolves all released howls and bark of fury as they lunged for the Elder.

The Elder didn't flinch, however, as she firmly planted her staff in the snow; a vibrant red glow bursting from the gem infused in the ice which made up the staff, halting all the timberwolves in their tracks.

"Now, watch the truth of your own hypocrisy!" She declared, and all the wolves fell down in the snow, unconscious. "Children," she glanced at the three fillies. "Go and help your friend. Fenris," she stared intently at the black wolf, no further words needed as he gave a slight nod. "Wind Chill," she concluded as she aimed her attention towards her bond brother. "Aid them in whatever way you can."

"Elder… But, what is the meaning of all this?"

"Now is not the time for answers," she replied. "Now, go. Many lives are at stake."

"You heard her, let's go!" Scootaloo declared, and shot off to the best of her abilities; still hindered by the difficult to thread snow.

"Count me in!" Apple Bloom replied in answer, quick to follow.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle said after a slight moment of hesitation.

Fenris, too, followed after them, glancing at the Elder with equal measures of wariness and respect, then stepped through the portal and set paw in the mortal realm for the first time since his demise.

Wind Chill lagged behind, not liking his questions going unanswered. But, eventually, he joined the fillies and Fenris in the mortal realm; his honor bond impossible to ignore.

"Elder," Frostbite stepped forwards as Wind Chill left them. "By the Ancestors, what happened? Is young Sweetie Belle truly what you claim her to be; a siren?"

"She is," she confirmed. "And so much more." She sighed out as she turned to look at the village leader. "She is still young, inexperienced, and not used to the rapid changes her life is going through. Yet she made the choice to embark on the journey. A choice which will not only shape herself, but those around her, and even her world, as well as the humans'. Yet with each choice there are consequences. This goes doubly for one who embodies choice."

"You don't mean…?"

"I do. Sweetie Belle is the forced Embodiment of choice. And as is the case with all of us Embodiments, she holds great power. But at the price of an equal, negative trait to balance the scale. She holds the trait of choice, but also the ability to take this away from others."

"By controlling their minds and taking away any free thoughts and ideas," Frostbite realized, shocked.

"Exactly. Which is why she must be trained in the use of this ability, lest she loses control like this again… or worse, succumbs to the underlying desire to use it."

"But what if she can't control this ability?"

"For everyone’s sake, we must hope she does."

Frostbite was silent for several long seconds, worry clearly visible on his rough face. "Elder, I do dread to ask. But why was the fallen here, too?"

"To restore an imbalance, and accept his own failings," she told him, then returned her attention back to the wolves. "For now, though, we should return them to the other side as well. Hopefully, when they wake, they have learned a thing or two."

"I…" Frostbite sighed out. "Very well," and he motioned for his fellow giants to help move the wooden wolves. "And what about you?" he asked the Elder.

"I? I need to go see an old acquaintance," she replied. "There are some questions even I can't see the answers to. Answers, I know, he has," and without another word, the Elder made way for the cave through which one could enter and exit the Far Frozen.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, where do we go to?" Scootaloo asked after she, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Fenris, and Wind Chill had stepped out of the ancient castle, and found themselves standing in the late mid-day sun. Its light providing a warmth which took Fenris by surprise, while it also blinded him the moment he stepped outside and looked up in wonder, and amazement.

Apple Bloom, patting him on the leg, unable to reach much higher, looked at her friend with a frown.

"I dunno. Erlea did sah they lived in tha Badlands, but tha place is almost a day travel from here."

"Not to mention, it's huge," Sweetie Belle commented.

"Well, there has to be some way to figure out where to go to?" Scootaloo asked, looking pensively.

"There is," Fenris rumbled, shaking his head and clearing his vision. "Your friend's scent is still thick in the air. It won't be an issue tracking her down."

"And we might still be able to catch up with her if we hurry," Wind Chill interjected, looking at the black wolf with distrust. Noticing this, Fenris releases an annoyed bark, telling the giant to back off, which did nothing to ease Wind Chill's worries and made him leer at the wolf all the more noticeable.

Forcing himself to ignore the persistent stare, Fenris dropped down to all fours. "Climb on," he told the three fillies. "We'll be able to move faster this way."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle did as he told them without question, but Scootaloo hesitated a bit, not sure what the story was with the giant wolf her friends seemed to know.

Wind Chill, too, looked at the two fillies as they took place on Fenris' back; noticable disdain showing on his face.

"Come on, Scootaloo. Climb on," Apple Bloom told her friend, patting a spot behind her, making Fenris roll his back as he glanced at her over his shoulder. "Sorry," Apple Bloom replied apologetically, smiling sheepishly.

Blinking, then shrugging, Scootaloo did as was told and joined her friends, taking her spot behind Apple Bloom who herself was seated behind Sweetie Belle.

"Ya better hang on," Apple Bloom told her pegasi friend as Fenris stuck his nose up to get a lock on Erlea's scent. " 'Cause he's even faster than he looks."

No sooner had she said that and Fenris lowered his head, his target found. He shot off in a surprising burst of speed which made the fillies cry out isn surprise, and a whoop of joy from Scootaloo directly after.

Wind Chill quickly gave chase, growling under his breath from Fenris sudden departure. However, his annoyance soon shifted to irritation towards himself as his bipedal frame made it an near impossible task to keep up with the much faster wolf now that he was running without restraint.

Trees flashed by in a blur as Fenris aimed towards the source of the scent trail with slightly narrowed eyes. Had his situation been any different, however, he would have stopped to take a moment to revel in this forest beauty; fill his dead lungs with the myriad of smells and just listen to the voice of the forest. A place which reminded him of the still wild forests back where he came from.

But finding the time to revel in past notions was something he didn't have, nor did he allow himself such luxuries and, instead he weaved past any trees blocking his path with ease; showing that, deep down, despite his former role and sin, he was first, and foremost, a wolf. A creature of the forest. Something Wind Chill clearly wasn't, as, in his struggling attempt to keep up, numerous branches swatted his face, and tree roots continued their seemingly deliberate attempt to trip him. Yet despite his growing number of blunders, as well as leaves and twigs sticking out of his fur in just about every place, he refused to allow the distance between himself, and the young ones to grow too large, no matter what obstacle in his path.

Faster and faster they seemed to go and Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all pressed themselves flat on Fenris' back so they wouldn't fall off. Yet, as they clung on to the big, black wolf, all three of them looked on in silent awe and amazement as they moved faster than they had ever done before. Something which both exhilarated and irritated Scootaloo.

In what seemed like no time at all, Fenris broke free from the Forest, stepping out in the unobstructed light of the sun as it dropped near the horizon, painting the sky with red, orange and yellow.

This time, Fenris did slow down a notch as he looked at the magnificent display with wonder and sorrow, silently wondering about the fate of his brothers.

The loud huffing and panting of Wind Chill as he finally managed to catch up snapped him out of it, and Fenris huffed in annoyance.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked around for a bit to get a sense of where they were, seeing Fenris had exited the forest someplace other than the edge near Ponyville, and none of them recognized the area they were now.

"Hey!" Sweetie Belle suddenly piped up, jumping up to her hooves as she pointed into the distance. "There she is."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo popped up behind her, both looking towards where their friend was pointing.

Out in the distance, with a shadow stretching far behind her due to the continuously lowering angle of the sun, was Erlea; running away from them with as much speed as she could.

"Why is she running if she can fly?" Scootaloo wondered.

"Maybe she doesn't have enough energy?" Apple Bloom thought aloud.

"That's not important right now," Sweetie Belle reminded them as she jumped off of Fenris' back, transforming in her spirit half and flew off before she hit the ground.

"Hey, wait up!" She called out towards Erlea, who froze upon hearing her, glanced back, then ran away even faster.

Not fast enough, as she soon discovered as Sweetie Belle quickly caught up and blocked her path.

"Stay away from me!" Erlea hissed, her tongue snaking out in response, making Sweetie Belle rear back to put some distance between herself and the flailing organ.

"Why? Weren't we supposed to help?" The hovering spirit asked, confused.

"Help! You? All you ponies seem to be able to do is cause one problem after the other," Erlea screeched. "And you!" —she pointed a trembling, accusing hoof at Sweetie Belle— "I don't know what you are, but I don't want you to get anywhere near the Hive."

"Hey, that's not fair," Apple Bloom called out in offense as she and Scootaloo, riding on Fenris' back, drew near, having heard what Erlea had said. "We're just trying to help. It ain't our fault things just keep happening."

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed. "It just happens."

"It just happens?" Erlea repeated with clear disbelief and sarcasm. "Are all of you ponies insane? Do you honestly think that any of this—" she motioned to Sweetie Belle, still hovering above the ground and hind legs turned into an intangible tail, then Fenris and finally Wind Chill "—or any of that impossible insanity in that ghost world is normal? That it just happens to anyone?" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle glanced at one another. "NO!" Erlea screeched, answering for them. "None of this is normal. You aren't normal. And I don't want any of you near the Hive," she hissed, tongue flailing once more.

"You done yet?" Sweetie Belle asked, voice flat, as was her stare as she looked down at the black filly.

"What!?"

"We know it ain't normal," Apple Bloom answered matter of factly. "Doesn't mean it didn't just happen."

"Besides, with all the crazy things that have happened in and around Ponyville the last several years, ghosts and spirits aren't all that weird."

"Yeah," Apple Bloom nodded her agreement.

"Time travel, however, is a whole different story," Scootaloo added, scratching the top of her head and messing up her mane even more than its usual wind blown mess.

"Ye- wait, what?" Sweetie Belle faltered, she, Erlea, and Apple Bloom looking at the orange pegasus, bewildered.

"It's a long story," Scootaloo answered, shrugging.

"Insane! All of you are insane!" Erlea shouted, feeling like pulling out her mane.

"Nah, we ain't," Apple Bloom countered. "Screwy is, though."

"I thought she was just crazy? You know, barking and such," said Scootaloo.

"She's doing better, though," Sweetie Belle told them. "... I think," she then shrugged.

"Do you even listen to yourselves?!" Erlea shouted, bringing the attention back to herself.

"Of course we do. And to you as well," Sweetie Belle answered. "And you said you needed help, and we promised to help you."

"And that is exactly what we're going to do. Crazy or not."

"Oh, it's crazy," Scootaloo replied nonchalantly. "There really isn't any other way of calling it, but crazy."

"You ponies just won't stop!" Erlea complained. "Why?"

"It's how we do things," all three of them answered simultaneously, same minded.

"So, mind showing us where we need to go?" Apple Bloom answered, showing a winning smile.

Erlea looked at the yellow earth pony, then the pegasus before slowly shifting her gaze to Sweetie Belle, still hovering next to her. Then she finally settled her gaze on Wind Chill and Fenris.

'How is it that with all the crazy creatures in this world, I end up with the craziest of them all?'

A sudden cry over the hivemind made her gasp and snap her head towards the source of the distress.

"No!" she cried out in alarm, running towards the call for help, all things forgotten.

"No?" Apple Bloom repeated, somewhat offended as they watched Erlea hurry away.

"Was it something we said?" Scootaloo wondered.

"I don't think she was talking to us," Sweetie Belle murmured, shaking her head to get rid of the sudden dizzying sensation that rushed over her just a moment ago. "... Something really frightened her."

"It did? … How do ya know?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I… I don't know?" Sweetie Belle admitted, looking down with a frown as she tried to figure it all out herself, but finding no answers.

"Is it because you're a siren, like the Elder said?" Scootaloo suggested, all of them turning to look at Wind Chill for answers.

"It is possible that, now your true nature has surfaced, you are more susceptible to the emotional state of others; able to derive their true feelings merely by being close to them," he answered with a heavy frown. "Although my knowledge on such matters is limited at best."

"Oh," Sweetie Belle sighed.

"We'll figure it out," Apple Bloom said confidently. "For now, though, we've got some changelings who need helpin'!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo cheered.

Sighing again, then nodding, Sweetie Belle willed her frown away; replacing it with a somewhat forced smile.

"Then we better get going."

"Now you're talking!" said Apple Bloom. "Let's go!"

Fenris, who had been quietly observing and sensing all that happened around him, slowly turned towards where Erlea had ran off to, a noticeable tension in his movement.

"It will not be as easy as you three make it out to be," he said with a rumbling voice. "There is something else. Something dangerous, and very old."

"The Saldēti Zirgi," Wind Chill gasped out, only now noticing the chilling sensation associated with these creatures. "No, it can't be."

"You mean those salad things they said went through the portal?" Apple Bloom asked with worry.

"Wait, some kind of ghost salad is causing trouble?" Scootaloo asked, more than a little confused.

"Saldēti Zirgi" Sweetie Belle corrected. "And I don't think they are a salad of any kind," she told them, feeling a bone chilling shiver go down her spine as she, too, sensed something as well. A sudden and bright flash of golden light bursting from her horn followed moments later.

"Wait, what was that?" she asked, dropping to the ground as she looked up at her horn in worry.

"Didn't that happen a few times before?" Apple Bloom said.

"Perhaps it is your ghost sense," Wind Chill suggested, stepping towards the filly. "A warning signal whenever spectral entities you're not aware of are nearby."

"It is?" Sweetie Belle asked, lightly prodding her horn, then sighed out as her hoof dropped down. "These spirit powers become more and more confusing with each day." She sighed again, loudly, then shook her head and jumped back on her hooves. "I'll figure that out later. Right now, we're wasting time. Erlea needs our help, and we promised to help her."

"Yeah, and when we make a promise, we keep it, " Apple Bloom replied encouragingly.

"Well, most of the time," Scootaloo added, which earned her the flat stares of her friends. "What?" She shrugged. "It's true."

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both looked at one another, then shrugged themselves, having to admit that much.

"Okay, Crusaders. Wind Chill, Fenris. There are some changelings that need our help, and with Celestia as our witness, we're going to help them!" Apple Bloom exclaimed loud and proud, standing tall and strong on Fenris' back, pointing a hoof towards the horizon where Erlea had run off to.

"You three do realize we could have been there already?" Fenris asked flatly, even somewhat irritated.

Apple Bloom's hoof dropped down, and she, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all looked at Fenris, then each other.

"""Oh, right.""" They all said, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, let's go then, Ah guess." Apple Bloom said with clear embarrassment.

Rolling his eyes, Fenris surged into motion, followed a moment later by Wind Chill, who didn't have as much trouble keeping up now they were no longer in the forest, and Sweetie Belle who flew alongside the large wolf.

<<>><<>><<>>

It didn't take them long to catch back up with Erlea. Mostly because they found the young changeling standing completely motionless, staring with wide eyes at the distant landscape as it glistened in the last light of the setting sun; the light refracting off the mirroring surface of the snow and ice, stretching out for as far as they could see.

"What happened here?" Apple Bloom asked wearily, slowly jumping off of Fenris' back and moving to Erlea's side. "Did tha weather team make ah mistake?"

"No weather team I know of works here," Scootaloo answered, stepping next to Apple Bloom.

"But, then, what happened here?" Sweetie Belle questioned, dropping to the ground on Erlea's free side.

"It was the Saldēti Zirgi," Wind Chill answered with grim realization. "This clearly is their doing."

"And what exactly are these things?" Erlea asked mutely, yet with noticeable venom in her voice.

Wind Chill looked down at her, sighed, then looked back up towards the frozen landscape.

"They are ancient creatures, ancestors of the equines found on the human world called horses," Wind Chill answered, causing Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo to gasp out as they spun to look up at the giant. Erlea, however, remained completely still. "These entities once lived during a time when snow and ice dominated their world, and where it was a struggle to just survive. Because of this, the Saldēti Zirgi developed a strong herding instinct. Safety and strength in numbers. This became even stronger upon their demise as the cold claimed them. Their souls, although simple in mind, continue to roam the frozen plains, seeking out others of their kind to protect, but doing terrible damage merely through their presence as the arctic grasp that claimed them also became part of them; spreading snow and ice wherever they went."

"You mean something like Windigoes?" Sweetie Belle belle piped up.

"Windigoes?" Wind Chill questioned.

"Mmhmm," Sweetie Belle nodded. "Long ago, back when the three different pony races were divided, a terrible blizzard claimed the land, growing worse and worse with each passing day, forcing the ponies to leave their homes to find a new place to live. But the snow and ice followed them wherever they went."

"It turned out it were the Windigoes that caused the blizzard," Scootaloo continued. "They were drawn to the hate and distrust between the separate tribes, freezing the land and making it impossible for them to grow food, or anything."

"Only after things seemed worst did three ponies of tha different tribes become friends. And through their friendship they were able ta banish the Windigoes," Apple Bloom finished.

Wind Chill blinked, confused.

"That sounds… unlikely," he told them. "Saldēti Zirgi aren't drawn to negative emotion, nor are they scared by any positive. If these Windigoes are the same creatures as the Saldēti Zirgi, then something else must have happened during your ancestors' time. This, however, is not the time to figure such things out. The Saldēti Zirgi are here. That much is certain, and the longer they remain, the more damage they will cause. We must act quick, before it is too late. Especially considering the condition Erlea claims her kind to be in, and their poor resistance against cold," Wind Chill told them with rumbling voice as he started to march for the frozen land, stepping over the four fillies as he went.

"You better brace yourselves, young ones. The Saldēti Zirgi are here. And with them, winter has come."

Author's Note

Yes, I went there.

No, I do not have any regrets.

Next chapter will reveal what happened with Scootaloo.

Be Careful What You Wish For

This chapter is edited by Slayerseba, Clayton the Hunter, Halusm, and Clawder.

Be Careful What You Wish For.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wooow," Scootaloo awed as she stepped inside of the massive chamber; watching in amazement at a massive pendulum as it swung slowly from side to side, the sound of her hooves clopping on the ancient stone oddly muted. "What is this place?" She asked, slowly shifting her gaze, seeing the many arched doorways leading to places unknown.

"This is the Hall of Time," Clockwork answered. "Here, I, and my associates work together to safeguard, and maintain time."

"There are others?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"Yes," Clockwork answered vaguely. "But they are currently occupied and cannot be disturbed."

"Oh, okay," Scootaloo answered dejectedly, but only for a moment as she perked up mere seconds later as she focused on her goal. "So, how do I, eh, we travel back in time?" She asked, almost demandingly.

"Right this way," Clockwork replied and smoothly glided away, leading Scootaloo through one of the many arched doorways, and into a room with a large swirling green vortex in its center.

"What's that!?" Scootaloo yelped with excitement, the green glow glinting in her eyes.

"This—" Clockwork said as he slowly circled around the vortex "—is a viewing portal. It allows me to see anywhere in time. The past, present, or future. It even allows me to see things that could have been. And, if used correctly, it also allows one passage into the moment of time shown in the vortex."

"That is soooo awesome," Scootaloo awed, eyes wide with excitement.

Clockwork chuckled, "It is, isn't it?"

"How does it work?"

"Allow me to show you," Clockwork replied and brought up his staff.

A pulse of energy came from the rod, and the vortex shuddered as if struck. Wilder and wilder it moved, but only around the edges as the center seemed to slow down; smoothing out. Then an image appeared, and Scootaloo gasped out as she found herself watching herself. Her younger, four year old self.

"Th- That's me," she uttered, dumbfounded.

"So it is," Clockwork confirmed.

"This is just too weird," Scootaloo murmured, prodding at the edges of the viewing portal with a hoof; passing cleanly through it.

"It can be confusing, seeing your own past in such a way," Clockwork said reassuringly, slowly moving towards Scootaloo. "But, just seeing it is not what you want, isn't it?"

"I, uhh-" Scootaloo shook her head as she tore her gaze away from her past self. "No," she confirmed. "You said you could send me back there—" she pointed with a hoof "—so I could stop my parents from going away."

"I did say I could send you back, yes," Clockwork nodded. "And I'm not one to lie," he added with a half lie. "Please, wait here for a moment," he told her, and flew off somewhere.

As indicated, only a moment passed before he returned, carrying with him a strange looking medallion.

"Here, you must wear this," he instructed as he gave the medallion to the orange filly.

"What's it for?" Scootaloo asked, puzzled.

"It will allow you to move through time without being rejected," Clockwork explained.

"What does that mean?"

"Without this medallion, you cannot travel back to the time you wish to visit. Although there are several ways one might go back, time always finds out and returns those out of place back to where they originate from. As long as you wear this, time does not notice you and you are able to move freely. Remove the medallion and you will find yourself back where you started."

"So… Don't take it off then?" Scootaloo sought clarification, unable to fully wrap her mind around Clockwork's explanation.

"Yes," Clockwork answered somewhat flatly, and Scootaloo slipped the medallion around her neck.

"So, now what?" She asked, excitement noticeable.

"Now, we step through," Clockwork told her, and vanished in the maelstrom of the viewing portal.

Scootaloo, eyes wide, swallowed loudly. Then, with a leap of faith, she followed after the helpful ghost.

<<>><<>><<>>

It was a warm and sunny day, with scarcely a cloud to stain the clear blue sky. This was mainly because most clouds could be found beneath Scootaloo and Clockwork; the two of them standing, (or hovering in Clockwork's case,) at the edge of Cloudsdale, home of the pegasi.

The two of them remained where they were for several minutes as Scootaloo looked around in confusion.

"I thought we were going back in time? This doesn't seem any different from what I remember last time I was in Cloudsdale."

"Well, we did only go back a few years in your young life. Not enough time had passed between then and now for any significant changes to occur," Clockwork explained, his voice much younger as he had regressed back to his juvenile self.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense… What you just said," she added after a moment. "Not that changing thing you're doing. That's just weird," Scootaloo murmured, scratching her head as she watched the bustling city before her, seeing multiple pegasi fly over them, yet unresponsive to the ghost hovering next to her.

"How come they aren't reacting to you?"

"I'm invisible to them," Clockwork explained.

Scootaloo blinked, confused. "But I can see you," she pointed out.

"So you can," Clockwork replied vaguely.

"Ehh…" Scootaloo uttered, trying to figure this thing out.

"It's the medallion," Clockwork told her. "It is connected to my staff in ways too complicated to explain in just a few words. But, simply put, while I am invisible to any and all, as long as you wear this medallion, you are able to see me. This, however, does not mean they can't hear me. And you are still very much visible to others. And seeing a pony talking to what seems to be nothing but empty space does draw attention to you," he pointed out, nodding towards a couple of teenage colts standing on a low hanging cloud near them; pointing towards Scootaloo and making various gestures while laughing.

"Oh, right," Scootaloo murmured, trying to hide away.

"Pay them no mind, child. Let's just go and find your parents."

"My parents!" Scootaloo perked up, eyes wide. "They're here?!"

"Why wouldn't they? This is your past. Things that you know have happened, haven't yet had the chance to transpire."

Scootaloo's eyes widened significantly, and she quickly jerked her head around to scan her surroundings.

"But… where are they?"

Clockwork couldn't suppress his eyeroll, slightly shaking his head as he turned into an elderly man.

"Home, most likely," Clockwork answered logically. "Taking care of their daughter."

"Oh, right," Scootaloo piped up with enthusiasm, which died quickly as she found herself lost once again. "Eeehhh… which is where, exactly?"

Clockwork cocked an eyebrow, but had anticipated this question. So, without much delay, he turned towards a place to their right, slowly gliding away.

"Follow me," he told her. "And stay close. Out here, where there are little to no ponies it's easy for us to talk openly. When we enter more crowded places, we do need to keep our voices down, or be silent all together. Oh," —he stopped in mid-air— "and one more thing. And this is important. Don't interact with anyone you shouldn't. Don't even bump into anyone. The slightest change to a seemingly unimportant event could change everything. Both for the good, or the worse," his voice held the unmistakable tone of authority and warning. A voice of absolute seriousness which made Scootaloo instinctively nod in response as she looked up at Clockwork with large eyes.

"Good. Now, let's go."

<<>><<>><<>>

Clockwork, now an adult again, and Scootaloo were hiding within the relative emptiness of an alley as they observed the cloud apartments, while numerous pegasi who chose not to fly, walked past the two of them without really noticing them.

"Is this… it?" Scootaloo asked, voice slightly lowered.

"It would appear so, yes," Clockwork replied, the two looking up and down the tall structure made of nothing but clouds, yet looking as solid, and firm as the ground below. Made with decorative columns which seemed to find their inspiration from ancient Greek civilisation, and more modern day designs typical to pegasus engineering.

The numerous apartments that were stacked on top of each other, although similar in appearance to the ground bound ponies' designs, were more flexible. There were large open areas for the pegasi to fly through while at the same time not compromising the overall structural integrity, whereas other portions showed dense cloud formations, on which they had placed large amounts of dirt in order to grow their own small park for the residents to sit and relax, and for foals to play.

"I know of this place," Scootaloo spoke up. "It's the Nimbostratus complex. Most of the ponies here work at the cloud factory."

"So, did your parents?" Clockwork asked, looking down at her.

"I think," Scootaloo murmured, kicking the cloud she stood on, dislodging a small puff of fluff. "I mean, they said mom worked at the thunder lab."

"And your father?" Clockwork asked.

"... I'm not sure," Scootaloo admitted, looking down.

"Then how about we find out?" Clockwork suggested, "Can you fly?"

Shamefaced, Scootaloo looked down and shook her head.

"I see," Clockwork hummed, then held out a hand, "Hold on to me," he told her.

Scootaloo looked at the offered hand with confusion for several long seconds, then realization kicked in and she firmly placed her left hoof in Clockwork's hand, who held it tightly.

"Now, to make sure we aren't seen," he said and allowed his invisibility to spread out, and fade the filly from sight.

Now both invisible, Clockwork flew up, pulling Scootaloo with him. Unseen by any of the pegasi, the two of them moved for the apartments, following the structure up to the tenth floor, where Clockwork brought the both of them to a gradual stop near the park build within the clouds.

"Ah, there we are," Clockwork mused as he observed the foals playing with a ball on, or flying slightly above the lush green grass. While a bit further back, several adults, lying within the shade of some small trees, watched their children play.

"Are they here?" Scootaloo asked with barely contained excitement and eagerness; head jerking around from left to right as she searched for her parents.

"One would think so," Clockwork replied. "Look there, near those bushes on the far right," he instructed and Scootaloo did as she was told. She released a short gasp the moment she saw who was there.

Sitting before the foliage, looking up with a wistful expression, sat Scootaloo. The young filly watched the flying foals with awe and excitement while her small wings flexed instinctively.

Scootaloo, the older, time traveling Scootaloo that is, looked at her younger self with amazement, smiling uncontrollably. However, her smile soon fell as she noticed something.

"Hold on, why is she, I mean I, eh, me… My younger self sitting all alone?"

Clockwork suppressed a slight chuckle over Scootaloo's expected confusion. "Maybe we will find the answer if we keep looking," he told her, then changed back into a child.

Not having any reply to that, Scootaloo remained silent as they continued watching. They didn't have to wait long, though. Merely a minute had passed when the ball the foals were playing with bounced its way over to Scootaloo.

Seeing this, the young filly perked up as she jumped to her hooves, wings buzzing like a hummingbird yet failing to generate any lift as she ran for the ball.

One of the older foals, a filly who seemed to be six or seven years old, snorted as she dropped down in front of the ball, kicking it away while showing a mocking grin over Scootaloo's attempt to fly.

Scootaloo came to a sudden stop mid-run, looking at the taller pony with sadness and hurt, ears drooping down as she slowly backed off.

"Only pegasi that can fly are allowed to play here," the older filly sneered, making Scootaloo flinch as if she was kicked in the gut.

"Excuse me!?" A angry mare cried out, and a teal pony came stomping in, wings flaring and eyes burning, "What was it you just said to my daughter!?" She demanded to know, her tone making it clear this was not really a question but more a chance to take back what had been said.

"Mom," the older Scootaloo whispered as she looked at her mother with wide, slightly teary eyes.

The filly the mother's anger was aimed at flinched back, ears folded flat as she looked up at the older pony.

"Well?!" The mare demanded, eyes narrowing.

The filly lowered her head and looked away as she muttered an intelligible answer.

Not pleased with such a half-hearted response, Scootaloo's mother gave the filly a piece of her mind. Yet before she could even start putting the child in its place, a new, angry voice cut her off and she turned towards the source of it: the filly's angry mother.

"Storm," Scootaloo's mother said with clear disdain.

"Blaze," Storm replied with biting venom. "You mind telling me what you're doing with my daughter?"

"What you clearly haven't. Teaching her some manners," Blaze snapped back.

"Excuse me?!" Storm seethed with a slightly shrill voice. "What gives you the right? You! Maybe you should focus on your own foal. Although, seeing just how good a job you did with her, maybe you shouldn't even be allowed to do that."

"And what exactly do you mean with that?"

"Ha, as if you don't know. That failure of a pegasus who can't even hover yet, let alone fl-" Storm said with mocking laugh, only to be silenced by a sudden punch to the muzzle, and a small stream of blood that followed as a direct result, as she dropped to the ground.

"No way," the older Scootaloo gasped as she saw her mother floor the horrible mare with a single punch.

"The protective nature of a parent can make you act in rather drastic ways," Clockwork told her as they kept watching.

The moment Storm hit the ground her daughter cried out as she rushed to her mother's side. At the same time, all sounds of cheerful laughter and conversation had vanished, replaced by dead silence as all ponies, children and adult were watching at Blaze with wide eyes and shock.

Blaze, however only exhaled loudly through her nose as she turned to regard the other ponies around her.

"Anypony else who thinks it is funny to make fun of my daughter?" She asked with no nonsense tone of voice. Silence was the answer. "Thought so," she snipped, then looked down at her daughter with a genuine smile. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Scootaloo nodded slowly, looking up at her mother with awe in her eyes.

"That's my filly. Now, let's go. We don't want to make aunty Bellflower wait for us now, do we?" This time Scootaloo shook her head, earning a chuckle of her mother as the two of them walked back to their home; watched by all other ponies, save for Storm, who was still out for the count.

"Aunty?" Future Scootaloo repeated, confused.

"You don't remember her being called as such?" Clockwork asked.

"No," Scootaloo shook her head. "Or my mom doing… that"

"And your father, what do you remember about him?" Clockwork queried.

"I- umm…"

"Hmmm," Clockwork hummed knowingly. "Then, perhaps we should find out."

Still invisible, the two quietly followed after Scootaloo's past self and mother; watching as the child climbed with juvenile clumsiness on her mother's back, then how Blaze flew up towards one of the open areas where she mixed with all the other pegasi who traversed the air, momentarily losing them in the sea of color. Clockwork, however, didn't seem too worried and went on his way almost as if he knew where they were going.

Scootaloo, still replaying in her mind what she had just seen, didn't notice their retreat. Instead, by the time she caught back up, she found Clockwork had brought them safely and undetected to one of the many apartments; Scootaloo's past self and mother gently landing on the cloud floor before their home's door. A door which swung open a moment later as a stallion carrying full saddlebags stepped out; a large smile growing on his face upon the sight of Blaze and her daughter.

"Scoot!" the Stallion called out in greeting, walking over to the mare and nuzzling her, "And Scootaloo," he shifted his attention to the filly on Scoot Blaze's back; the filly giggling happily as she grabbed her father by the muzzle, pressing her much smaller muzzle against his. The orange of her coat a near perfect match to her father's color.

"Daddy," she squealed, making both her parents laugh.

"Sky," Blaze said to the Stallion, rubbing her neck against his in affectionate greeting.

"So, how are my two favorite fillies doing?" He asked, grinning cheekily. Scoot Blaze gave him a firm but playful nudge in the side, grinning as well. A grin which turned sour as she recalled what had just happened back in the park.

"Summer Storm and her daughter showed up," she told him. "It went about as well as you would expect."

Sky frowned, worried and somewhat angry, "Anything I should know about?"

Blaze shrugged. "Nothing much. Oh, but I did knock Storm out."

Sky blinked, taken aback. "You did what?"

"I knocked her out," Scoot confirmed proudly.

Sky looked at his wife with wide eyes, then exhaled loudly while shaking his head, yet he couldn't suppress the faint grin he didn't really try to hide.

"You're something else, you know that."

"It's why you love me," she replied with a loving smirk.

"That, and that amazing flank of yours," he replied slyly.

"Sky, not in front of Scootaloo!" Blaze said in shock.

Sky laughed lightly, "It's not like she will remember, love," he chuckled some more as he saw his daughter's oblivious face.

Future Scootaloo, however, had to keep herself from gagging, knowing she wouldn't be able to forget this. Clockwork, on the other hand, sported a knowing grin, laughing in thought.

Shaking it off, Blaze gave her husband one more firm shove. "So, packed everything?"

"Just about," he replied as he opened one of the bags, showing the contents. "Brush, toothpaste, some other things that might be needed and, of course, Mister Zoomy," Sky said with some dramatic flair as he pulled out a plush Wonderbolt. "All a filly would need to sleep over at her honorary aunt while we take care of business in Baltimare," he told Scoot while their daughter reached out with wanting hooves towards Mister Zoomy.

"Wait, what!?" Scootaloo yelled, forcing Clockwork to slap a hand over her muzzle. Luckily, the sudden outburst seemed to have gone unnoticed by the parents.

"Do you still need anything?" Sky asked, partially closing the door.

"Nah, I'm good. After all, don't I have a stallion who goes after my every whim?"

"I don't know. Do you?" Sky replied with mock accusation, cocking an eyebrow. Scoot laughed lightheartedly as she nuzzled him on the cheek.

Closing the door, Sky and Scoot walked towards the edge of their level, taking a moment to look at the city.

Turning back to her daughter, Scoot told the filly on her back to hold on tightly. Then, made sure her daughter wouldn't fall off, she and Sky spread their wings and stepped off the edge.

As they calmly glided away, Scootaloo and Clockwork remained behind; Scootaloo looking questioningly at the shrinking forms of her parents.

"That… was not really what I was expecting," she murmured.

"How so?" Clockwork asked. "To me it seemed like two ponies who loved each other, and their daughter dearly. Your mother's actions surely made this all too clear."

"Yeah, I know. It's just…" she trailed off, falling silent.

"You weren't sure what to expect," Clockwork finished for her.

"Well, no," Scootaloo admitted begrudgingly, looking down at her hooves.

"Tell me, exactly what do you remember of your parents?" Clockwork asked.

Scootaloo fidgeted on the spot for a while, looking down and kicking the cloud every now and then. Then, after some time had passed, she begrudgingly admitted: "Not much. Just some small things, like my dad calling me Mayfly."

"Then I must ask. If you can't remember them all that... well, then why are you so determined to stop them?"

"Because they are my parents!" Scootaloo shot back, anger burning in her eyes. "And I'll do anything to get them back!"

"To get them back, you say," Clockwork repeated, humming to himself as his gaze shifted back to where the filly's parents had flown off. "Well, then. Then I believe we need to catch up with them," he told Scootaloo, who gave a single, resolute nod; stepping towards the edge of the cloud floor.

However, still holding on to Clockwork so he could share in his invisibility, she came to a sudden stop as Clockwork remained hovering where he was.

"Hey, what gives?" Scootaloo demanded, looking back at the ghost.

"I know a faster route," he replied, grinning faintly. "Just follow after me," he instructed, and after making sure nopony would be there to see, he used his cane to open a passage through time, not unlike the vortex the two had stepped through before, but smaller.

Shrugging, Scootaloo didn't think too much about it, and the two quickly entered the passage; closing it behind them just in time for the flock of pegasi to miss it as they flew past.

<<>><<>><<>>

Clockwork and Scootaloo exited the passage, and Scootaloo looked around excitedly for any sign for her parents. Much to her surprise, however, what she saw was the same place they had just left.

Puzzled, she looked up at Clockwork, seeing him look around with a strangely confident smirk.

"Hey, what happened?" She asked. "I thought we were going after my parents?"

"Oh, don't worry. We will. But we're making a small detour first. There is something you must see before any decision is made to change the past."

"What, why?" Scootaloo said heatedly, frowning. "What do I need to see?"

"You'll see," Clockwork replied vaguely, then frowned as he noticed he was still holding Scootaloo's hoof. "But it would be better for you to walk unhindered for this," and he let go of the filly.

"Huh, why?" Scootaloo asked, confused. However, before she could even think about getting an answer to her question, she became aware of something else entirely. "What the…" she gasped as she held up her hoof, seeing nothing but air. "Am I still invisible?"

"You are," Clockwork answered. "Through the same process that allows you to see me while wearing that medallion, I can also use it to channel my abilities to those who wear it. But this is taxing and it's easier for me to channel my energy directly through body contact. Now, however, you need to be able to move around without me holding you back," he explained, a subtle hint of strain present in his voice.

"But… why?" Scootaloo questioned, not understanding any of this. "Won't I be able to just walk around without being noticed as I am a pegasus like everypony else?"

"Normally, yes," Clockwork told her, then the door of Scootaloo's former home swung open, and the most unexpected of ponies walked out; Scootaloo herself, carrying a partially full saddlebag, "But now there are two of you. You, and the pony you could have been had life played out different for you," he explained, while Scootaloo looked at her exact mirror image with wide eyes, and mouth hanging open as her other self walked past, oblivious.

"Scootaloo," a starting to become familiar voice called out after the filly shortly after she'd walked outside, halting her in her tracks as she looked back, sighing exasperatedly.

"Mom," Scootaloo almost groaned.

Stepping outside, Scoot Blaze looked at her daughter with a kind, if not somewhat apologetic smile. "Do you need any help getting to school, dear?"

This time Scootaloo did groan, dragging a hoof down her face. "No, mom. I'm not four anymore. I got this."

"Are you sure? I mean, it wouldn't be any trouble, and-"

"Mom!" Scootaloo shouted, stopping her mother mid-sentence. "I said I got this."

"I know you do, but it really wouldn't be a bother to your father and I if you need our help," Scoot Blaze pressed on, smiling sadly.

Unable to help herself, scootaloo groaned in irritation, loudly while she stomped off to the edge of the floor, wings spreading.

"I. Said. I. Got. This!" She stated firmly, jumped off and glided away, losing altitude rapidly.

Scoot Blaze remained behind, ears folded flat and biting her lower lip as she slowly moved to where her daughter had stood just a moment ago; looking down at her filly with a saddened gaze as Scootaloo landed on the clouds below and continued walking; unable to fly on her own power.

"I know you got this," she said softly. "that isn't what worries me. What does, is who got you when you need it?"

"Mom," Scootaloo murmured sadly.

Ears perking up, Scoot Blaze looked around in surprise. "Hello, is anypony there?" She asked, receiving no answer, "Hello?" She tried again, looking around for anypony hiding. Not hearing anything else, and unable to find anyone near her, she shrugged and decided it probably was some pony flying nearby. The early morning commute of young colts and fillies, as well as numerous adults who took their young to school did make it a logical conclusion.

Not thinking about it any longer, she sighed out and slowly walked back inside; preparing for her own responsibilities as a working mare at the cloud factory.

Quietly following behind, Scootaloo and Clockwork entered the home; Scootaloo looking around in something akin to awe as she looked at everything that could have been, what she never had, and what she would have when they stopped her parents from going to that city.

"How did it go, honey?" Scootaloo's father asked as he stepped out of an adjacent room, towel draped over his neck and mane still damp.

Sighing sadly, Scoot Blaze shook her head. "Just as well as the last time," she replied. "She's… taking it hard."

"It doesn't surprise me," Sky answered, closing the distance between them and laying a wing on Scoot Blaze's back. "All other foals her age can already fly. It must be difficult for her being the only one in her class who can't."

"But why?" Scoot Blaze stated firmly, "There is no reason she shouldn't be able to fly. You know what the doctor said. Her wings are in perfect working order, developing properly as she grows. She has the strength, Celestia knows she does. Our daughter is the strongest filly I know. And I'm not just saying that because she is our daughter."

"I know, I know," Sky told her, gently rubbing her back with his wing. "And you shouldn't worry so much," he nuzzled her behind the ear. "She may not be able to fly now, but tomorrow is another day. And when she does take to the sky, she will outfly everypony in Cloudsdale."

"Heh, confident much?" Scoot Blaze chuckled, nuzzling her husband in return.

"Of course I am," he replied cheekily, grinning. "I know her mother."

"Oh, do you now?" Scoot Blaze chuckled.

"Sure. She's a bit rough around the edges—" she jabbed him in the side, making him laugh in sputter "—but one of the strongest, most capable fliers out there."

"Hmm," Scoot Blaze hummed as she crossed her neck with his. "And if she takes after her father as much as I think she does, then they are going to have their hooves full when she finally flies."

"See, no worries there," Sky said. "Just let her do her thing and we do ours. And somewhere in the middle we figure things out. Together."

Scoot laughed light heartedly, pulling away from him as she shook her head in amusement. "How do you always do that?"

"Do what?" he asked with fake innocence.

"That," she poked him in the chest. "Always managing to make me feel better when I'm down."

"Oh, that," he said with a hint of exaggeration, grinning coyly. "Simple. It's because you love me."

Scoot Blaze couldn't stop her eyes from rolling over his cheesy answer, yet her genuine smile betrayed her true feelings. Chuckling, she closed the distance and pressed her lips against his, sharing a brief but passionate kiss.

"I suppose I do," she answered hotly, eyes half lidded. "You know. I still have forty minutes before I have to clock in…"

"Oh, any ideas on how to fill that time?" Sky asked with suggestive undertone.

Giggling, Scoot Blaze wrapped her arms around his neck, gracing his lips with hers. "Oh, I think I can come up with some-" The rest of her sentence quickly faded away as Scootaloo and Clockwork rapidly left the building; phasing through the door while Scootaloo tried, and failed not to gag.

"Well, I do think we may have seen a bit more than we should have," Clockwork said to no one in particular, blushing himself, which fortunately only Scootaloo was able to see as they were still invisible to the world around them.

"Yuck!" Scootaloo gagged. "I can't ever unhear that," she grasped and pulled at her ears. "Why are adults always so sappy!?"

"That is an answer you will learn yourself soon enough," Clockwork answered readily, clearing his throat. "But more importantly, I think we should leave this place—" The voices of Scootaloo's parents could suddenly be heard through a partially open window, clearly enjoying themselves and each other "—Now!" And he quickly opened another doorway, hastily moving through, with Scootaloo following after him without delay.

<<>><<>><<>>

The two of them exited the portal; Scootaloo staring at some uninteresting part of cloud with unblinking gaze, Clockwork quickly closing the passage behind them as he morphed into his elderly form.

Clearing his throat, he joined Scootaloo, taking a moment to appreciate the shapeless forms of the clouds.

"So… maybe we should cont-"

"Ghaaaa!" Scootaloo gakked, grasping at her ears. "Why?"

"Yes… we may have overstayed our welcome there a bit," Clockwork answered, embarrassed. A feeling he hadn't felt in centuries.

"No, why!?" She said demandingly. "Why did you take me there!?"

"Ah, yes. Ahem… I took you to this timeline to see what could have been; to see what you don't have… and what you would never have should this be your reality," Clockwork explained after a short stammer.

"What I would never have?" Scootaloo repeated, confused, looking at the hovering ghost.

"Indeed," he answered most serious, pointing a finger down towards a distant group of ponies. "Observe."

Scootaloo looked at him with some level of doubt, the previous visit etched in her mind. Still, eventually she turned to look, only to gasp out quietly as she finally saw where they were and what they were looking at.

The two of them had exited the passage on a lone, high orbit cloud; mostly out of sight from any prying eyes, which allowed Clockwork to drop Scootaloo's invisibility and thus the strain to maintain her cloak. Scootaloo, however, didn't really take notice of this as she was too enraptured by what she was watching: Herself at flight school.

"So. Awesome!" She squealed, eyes wide.

"Is it?" Clockwork asked.

"Of course it is!" Scootaloo countered without delay. "I'm in flight school, learning how to be even more awesome—" her wings buzzed in excitement "—Heck, I- eh, she… my other self probably is already at the top of the class. Maybe even teaching the other ponies. Rainbow Dash certainly has to notice my awesomeness in this timeline thingy."

"Is that so?" Clockwork questioned, his voice betraying just how much he already knew.

"Of course it is!" Scootaloo shot back once more. "Just you see!"

Clockwork thought about calling her out, but thought better of it. Some lessons are better learned the hard way, disappointing and depressing as it may be.

Down below, at the cloud field the fillies and colts had all lined up in two rows; their instructor, a strict looking mare blew a whistle that hung from her neck and the first two in line jumped off the edge and took to the sky; flying through a course of hoops.

The whistle blew again, filling the air with its shrill call and the next two ponies flew up. The third and fourth followed soon after, with the rest not far behind.

Scanning the crowd, Scootaloo frowned when she finally spotted herself standing in the back of line.

"Why am I all the way in the back," she asked herself, puzzled. "... And why are the other ponies making fun of me… her?"

"You do remember what your parents said just a moment ago?" Clockwork asked, drawing her attention back to him.

"Yeah, but didn't we travel through time again?"

"No, child. We did not. This is the same day as when we were just a moment before," Clockwork told her, and Scootaloo's eyes widened in horror as her head snapped back to her other self, now standing at the edge of the clouds; the only one left standing.

"Bwahahahah," from the distance she heard a sleazy looking colt laugh, pointing a hoof at the filly who looked carefully over the edge while weakly flapping her wings, "Look at that loser. Still doesn't know how to fly."

His words caused several other ponies to snicker and laugh mockingly, pointing hooves at the filly who quickly shrunk into herself.

"Scootaloser! Scootaloser! Scootaloser! Scootaloser! Scootaloser!" the bullies started to chant, soon joined by more and more of the foals while tears brimmed in the corner of Scootaloo's eyes.

A loud and long shrill whistle shut them all up, and the burning glare of their flight instructor made them all drop several feet, yet the damage had already been done. Before anypony could stop her, Scootaloo turned tail, running away as fast as she could to hide away.

"Bu-" Scootaloo (the one observing the events) muttered dumbly, unable to process what she had just witnessed, "Why- Why is everyone so mean to me?"

"The awful truth of any child's nature. You either fit in, or you are being ridiculed for being different."

"But, that's horrible," Scootaloo said infuriated. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and I would never do such a thing."

"True. You three wouldn't. But you know others who would, don't you?"

Scootaloo was silent for several seconds, then her eyes narrowed. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon."

"Tell me, do they make fun of others for just being themselves?"

"All the time," Scootaloo answered with a stomp of her hoof.

"And how would you usually deal with them?"

"Simple," Scootaloo said. "We just beat them at their own game… Although, lately we also have been causing all kinds of spirit problems for them," she hummed, thinking back how Silver Spoon had run into the school's wall after seeing Sweetie Belle in her spirit form.

"And her, this timeline's Scootaloo. What about her? How do you think she would deal with them?"

"Easy. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and I will come up with so-" she suddenly fell silent as a crushing realization sunk in. "... In this timeline," she began, choosing her words carefully. "Do I know Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?"

"No, you do not," Clockwork answered without humor. "Why do you think that is?"

"I- Yo-... Bu-...."

"Where was it that you met? When did you meet? Why were you there? What happened for you to be there?" Clockwork asked, all questions striking Scootaloo like a wild lightning bolt. "And, more importantly, would you change meeting them? Would you give up someone so important to you to gain back another? Would you sacrifice all the memories you have for a blank sheet? Would you give up everything you know and love in your own time to live a new life without any one of them in this other possibility?"

"What!?" Scootaloo yelled, looking up at clockwork with large, angry, teary eyes. "NEVER!"

"Yet this is exactly what you asked of me to help you do."

"Nuh uh," Scootaloo shook her head defiantly.

"And yet you did," Clockwork countered calmly. "Tell me, and be honest. Not just to me, but to yourself as well. If your parents were still alive, would you have lived in Ponyville where you would have met your friends with whom you have experienced so much?"

Scootaloo didn't answer, but the glimmer in her eyes showed she understood exactly where Clockwork was going with this.

Clockwork sighed out, morphing into his juvenile form as he lowered himself to eye level. "Child, I'm not saying all of this to hurt you. But the truth of the matter is as simple as it is awful. You are here because your parents aren't. Everything you have done up to this point is the result of what happened back then," he said with caring tone, but Scootaloo still held a glare of defiance within her tear brimmed eyes and he knew they had to make one more stop; make her see, and make her choose an impossible choice.

"Come with me, Scootaloo," he said as he turned around, opening a passage through time. "It's time to finish this… but not end it."

Scootaloo remained behind, stubbornly refusing to budge as she glared daggers at the empty spot where Clockwork was just a moment ago, and at the swirling hole in reality through which he vanished.

She sat and waited, and waited, and waited. Until she couldn't take it anymore and jumped through the passage with a cry of anger.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a cry, Scootaloo made a hard landing on firm ground. It had taken her by surprise, expecting to find herself in Cloudsdale once more, yet she poorly hid her frustration over the sudden change of scenery as she looked around with a deep frown, spotting Clockwork hovering just a few steps away from where she had landed.

Not saying a word, she stomped over to his side; not allowing him even a glance as she stubbornly kept staring forwards.

"Why are we in Ponyville?" She asked with a strained, calm voice; recognizing the well traveled streets of her village.

"For you to make a choice," Clockwork told her, his voice heavy and full of remorse.

The sound of a door opening drew their attention, and Scootaloo finally noticed where she was, exactly. Standing in the shadow of an alley opposite of Bellflower's guest house; giving them a perfect view of the front door as four ponies came out. Scootaloo's mother, father, Bellflower, and Scootaloo's four year old self, riding on Bellflower's back.

"What is this?" Scootaloo asked, shocked; recognizing the scene deep down.

"Your chance to make a choice," Clockwork said with business like voice, void of all emotions. "Step out of the shadows and change the course of history. You will live the life you think you always wanted, but at the cost of everything you have now; or stay behind, watch as the door closes shut and your parents are moving away from you once again, but keep everything you have and care about. Choose, Scootaloo. Your parents, a life in Cloudsdale, and many unknowns; or your friends, your adventures, your memories, all precious moments that have shaped you into the pony you are today. Choose but do it quick. Time is running out."

Scootaloo looked at the group of ponies with horror, eyes shifting to her parents, Bellflower, her younger self, Clockwork, the general direction of Carousel Boutique and Sweet Apple Acres and back.

She knew what she wanted, had known it for as long as she could remember. A loving home, her parents to love and support her, friends to hang out and go on crazy adventures with. She knew what she wanted, but… did she really? Only now, with the possibilities laid out before her did her resolute conviction shatter. She didn't have her parents, nor their love and support, but she had her friends, and adventures wilder than she could have ever imagined. But she could have her parents and a loving home. But would she have friends?

Remembering what she had seen it seemed unlikely. What pegasus would want to befriend somepony who couldn't keep up. Down here, she was one of the quickest ponies around. Up there, she would only slow everypony down. No, she would have her parents, but no friends. No pony to play with, or go on adventures like those she has experienced with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

But would that be so bad? She could have her mom and dad. Maybe she could convince them to move to Ponyville and then she could meet Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all over again. Yes, it would be the best of both worlds, wouldn't it?

Then another realization kicked her in the gut. She wouldn't even know about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. There would be no reason for her to even suggest moving to Ponyville, or any other place for that matter. She would, most likely, never, ever meet the two greatest friends any pony could wish to have. She, they… they would never become the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

There would be no pony for her to go on adventures with. No pony to help her find her talent, and to help find theirs.

No pony to give her life meaning.

No pony to give meaning to her Cutie Mark.

No pony, but her parents.

Squeaking out a broken gasp, Scootaloo watched as her parents flew up, waved their goodbyes to Bellflower and their daughter and slowly shrunk away on the blue sky, on their way to Baltimare.

"I'm sorry," Clockwork said softly, only receiving a broken sob in answer as Scootaloo's legs went weak and she fell to her haunches.

Sensing the need for silence, Clockwork slowly moved away from the broken filly, watching her sob quietly, head hung low and tears falling to the ground.

After fifteen minutes, Scootaloo seemed to calm down a bit; taking deep, calming breaths.

"I won't say you made the right choice," Clockwork said carefully. "As there never was one to begin with. No matter what you chose, it would've come at a heavy price."

Scootaloo remained silent, unmoving.

Clockwork looked down at the filly, worry frowning his face as he struggled to find a balance between saying what needed to be said and not overstepping a delicate boundary.

"I used to be where you are now," he said, sighing out as he closed his eyes. "Forced to make choices with no good answer, losing pon-... those close to me as a result." Scootaloo didn't say or do anything, but a slight twitch of her ear showed she was listening.

"For a long time, a very long time I was angry. Angry with those who put me in that position, while denying my own involvement in those events. Then my anger turned to myself as I could no longer deny the choices I made. Then I tried to reason, to twist and turn the events in ways that would lessen my guilt; to shift the blame to others. Of course, this only allowed me a moment of peace, but the guilt and knowledge of my actions came back to drag me down," he sighed out, then placed a hand on Scootaloo's back.

"Eventually, though, I learned to accept my part in those events. Something you will be able to do as well, in time."

Several long seconds ticked by and it didn't seemed Scootaloo was going to reply or even move for that matter. But then, slowly, she sobbed out a sigh, kicking away some of the dirt she was sitting in.

"Will I really?" she asked, voice uncharacteristically soft and breaking around the edges.

"Eventually, yes," Clockwork answered. "But the pain will never go away. It will fade, becoming easier to live with, but there will always be that part, that empty spot no one is able to fill. And sometimes this hollow ache makes it impossible for us to see what is right in front of us the entire time; to see exactly what was given to us when something else was taken."

This time Scootaloo did look at Clockwork, slightly tilting her head until she could just see him with one eye; vision still partially obscured by her mane.

"What do you mean?" she croaked, her one visible eye red and puffy.

"Why don't I show you," he answered, and rose his cane; channeling energy into it.

The world around them sped up, ponies walking past in a blur as they went through their daily activities, only to retreat back home as night moved in, only to pass in seconds as day returned, only for the cycle to repeat twice more. Then, on the fourth day Clockwork allowed time to resume normally again; the moment he did, Scootaloo heard a heart torn cry of anguish, the voice easily recognizable as that of her younger self.

Shocked, she looked at Clockwork who offered his hand to her.

Unsure, she shakily placed a hoof in his hand; feeling his fingers close around her hoof as they both turned invisible.

Together they moved to the guest house, the sounds of crying growing louder and louder with every step Scootaloo took, and a heavy weight began to form in the pit of her stomach. Only the calm guiding of Clockwork made it possible for her to place one hoof after the other as she inched her way over to the last place she wanted to be right now.

Eventually, they made it and fear was radiating off Scootaloo; her body shivering.

"Don't worry," Clockwork reassured her. "You have been in denial for so long, that you fear what you already know deep down. But if you allow yourself to overcome this hurdle... to rise above it... you will see that, in a way, you always had what you wanted. It just wasn't the way you imagined it."

Confused and with her worries only worsened, Scootaloo swallowed thickly, then reared up and looked through the window inside Bellflower's own living quarters. What she saw made her gasp out.

Bellflower held Scootaloo in tight embrace, the both of them crying over the horrible loss they've suffered, even though Scootaloo was too young to understand, and Bellflower did her best to remain strong as she had tried to explain. She had failed, unable to cope with the knife through her heart, and both ponies cried in shared grief; finding comfort with each other.

"It's alright. It's alright," Bellflower said again and again, gently rubbing the filly's back. "I promise I will take care of you. I promise."

Scootaloo couldn't stop her tears from surfacing again as she watched through the window, wanting to push away and never look back, but found herself unable to do so as minutes ticked by; an incredible ache burning in her chest. A pain of grief, loss and guilt. Guilt towards the mare who had taken care of her as if she was her own daughter, yet who she had treated so poorly because she wasn't her real mother.

The mare who washed her, fed her, brought her to school, gave her a place to sleep and did so much more. A mare who wasn't her mother, but did everything in her power to fill that role; to give her all the love and care any pony would need. And she treated that mare with nothing but hate grown from misplaced anger.

This realization twisted Scootaloo's heart until she couldn't take it any more and forcefully pulled herself away; freeing her leg from Clockwork's grasp and running away with tears streaming from her eyes as she faded back into view; startling several ponies with her sudden appearance.

'Denial is always the first hurdle to overcome,' Clockwork thought as he watched Scootaloo run away, gradually moving after her. 'But you can't lose yourself to your anger either, child. Fortunately, I know just who can help you with that.'

<<>><<>><<>>

It took Clockwork the better part of an hour to follow after Scootaloo and allowing her the time to process everything she had seen and experienced these last several hours. Now though, he sensed the time was right, and he slowly lowered himself next to the filly who was sitting on the old, weather worn, and rotten deck of an old tree house found within the apple orchard.

"What do you want?" Scootaloo snapped bitterly, not looking up.

"To help," he answered simply, but truthfully.

"Yeah, some help you've been," Scootaloo sneered. "You said you would help me get my parents back, but instead you did… this."

"Actually, I promised to help you stop your parents. Which I did. But you chose not to go through with it."

Scootaloo hissed venomously.

Clockwork sighed out and did something he hadn't done in centuries; he allowed his tail to resolidify back into his legs and then sat down next to Scootaloo; his legs dangling off the deck.

"You're angry. I understand. Who wouldn't be after what you've seen and done. And I'm sorry for the part I played in this. But know I did this for a good reason." Scootaloo shot him a sideways glance, then glared angrily to the ground again.

"I'm an orphan, too," Clockwork revealed. "But unlike you, I never knew my parents. I was told they found me lying wrapped up in a blanket in front of the orphanage's door. Of course they didn't tell me this until I was old enough to understand… Didn't mean I did. I had questions, lots of them. Why, how, who? Yet they went unanswered for the longest of times, until I became what I am today. You see, I used my abilities to look back into my own past, to find out who my parents were, why they left me… You know what I learned?" He asked. Scootaloo shook her head after several tense seconds.

"I learned that, sometimes, it is better to be left wondering instead of learning the ugly truth." This time, Scootaloo looked at him fully, confused. "But, at the same time, I also found closure, as dissatisfactory as it might have been. No longer did that past had a hold over me, nor should it have a hold over you. As lost, scared, confused and angry as you feel now, you also know what your life is; who shaped it. And although you may not have everything you thought you desired, you gained so much more in return."

"Yeah, right," Scootaloo scoffed, looking down once again.

"You don't have to believe me," Clockwork hummed. "Just yourself."

The sound of wings flapping made Scootaloo's ears twitch, and a weight suddenly settled down next to her, making the old wood creak and groan as it settled.

Looking to her side, Scootaloo blinked in confusion as she stared at an familiarly colored orange leg. Following it up, she felt her mouth fall open as a pair of recognizable purple eyes looked down on her; partially obscured by a wild mess of spiky, purple mane, and a knowing grin to complement the tomboyish complexion of Scootaloo.

"Hey, Squirt," she laughed. "Some old geezer told me I needed some help."

Scootaloo could only look up in awed bewilderment at her older self, almost forgetting to breath as her mouth hung open.

"So, that's what that looks like," Scootaloo said, grinning.

"But you- I- he- whu?!?"

"Try closing your mouth first," Scootaloo suggested to her younger self. "It makes talking a bit easier."

Snapping her mouth shut and shaking her head to speed up the reboot of her brain, Scootaloo was finally able to properly pronounce the one question more prominent on her mind than anything else: "WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON!?"

"Well, what does it look like?" Scootaloo asked in turn, shrugging.

Stunned into silence, Scootaloo slowly blinked, then turned to look at the ghost still sitting on her other side; now turned into an elderly human.

"That's right," Scootaloo laughed. "That's the old geezer who brought me here."

"You do know this old geezer can hear you loud and clear?"

"Of course, that's why I'm not calling you an old fart, like I usually do," Scootaloo replied nonchalantly, brushing her hoof against her chest and seeing her smug grin in the reflection.

"Funny," Clockwork deadpanned. "You certainly grew up to be…"

"One hundred and twenty percent of pure awesomeness," Scootaloo finished for him.

"I was going to say something more along the lines of you being confident to a fault, but, sure. That works too."

Still taken aback, Scootaloo shifted her attention back to her older self. "Bu- you… Why are you… I, I mean you… Ghaaa—" she clutched her head from the sudden headache she got "—Why are you here?" she asked.

"For the same reason my future self was brought here when I was sitting where you are now," she answered seriously, all traces of humor gone. Spreading a wing, she placed it on her younger self's back, pulling her in close to the side. "You see, back when I was in your place, I was more than angry. You know what I'm talking about, cause I know you're feelin it right now. The things you saw. The things you did… or didn't do. It was hard for me, back then. Just as it will be hard for you. But you shouldn't feel bad, Squirt. Yes, the choice we made was bad, but at the same time it was the right thing to do."

"But what about my parents?" Scootaloo droned quietly, frowning sadly.

"They're gone," Scootaloo answered, making her younger self tense up as she looked up at her with wide, disbelieving eyes as she had said it so casually. "Doesn't mean they're gone gone."

"Huh?"

Rolling her eyes, she tapped her younger self on the head with the tip of her wing.

"Think, Scoot. What brought you into the Ghost Zone in the first place? What was it that made you go out there all alone, only for you to bump into the one ghost who could help you change something as big as this?"

Blinking, Scootaloo thought back. Then, as if a light bulb went off, her eyes light up. "That weird device… It spoke to me… They spoke to me."

"There we go," Scootaloo smiled. "Been focusing on the wrong things too much, haven't you. Ha, I remember when I was like that."

"But, does that mean your… our parents are coming back… as ghosts?"

"Sorry, Squirt. Can't tell ya," Scootaloo replied, holding up a hoof to silence any protest Scootaloo was about to begin. "Not that I don't want to tell you, but I can't. My future self didn't tell me either and neither will you when you're sitting where I am now."

"But, why?"

"Don't worry. It will all make sense someday. What I can tell you, is that you shouldn't blame yourself for what has happened. What happened to mom and dad was horrible," she continued, looking down to the ground with a frown, "but it wasn't your fault. Remember that," she said, tapping Scootaloo on the head with her wing with each word. "It. Wasn't. Your. Fault."

"... And what about…" Scootaloo began, but couldn't finish her question.

"Bellflower," Scootaloo finished for her, sighing. "Not gonna lie to you, we were bad. She did all she could to make sure we had everything we could ever need. Sure, it wasn't always perfect, but she tried her hardest. Something any good parent would do."

"But, she isn't my mom," Scootaloo argued weakly.

"Isn't she?" came the simple, yet difficult to counter reply. "I know you don't know this, because, like me, you never asked about this. But she is more than an honorable aunt, as you heard our father say a while back. Mom, dad, and Bellflower go back a long, long time."

"What do you mean? How long?"

"Ask her when you get back. The answer will surprise you. And, while you're at it, maybe throw in an apology… We both know she deserves at least that much," Scootaloo told her younger self, who hung her head down in shame.

"Hey, chin up, me. It won't be easy and there is still the whole 'being grounded' thing you got going. And let me tell you, when you get back home, it isn't going to be any easier. Neither will it be for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But it will all be worth it."

"It will?" Scootaloo asked, hopefully.

"Sure it will. I'm talking from personal experience," she laughed as she pulled away her wing and stood up, looking down on her past self with a confident smile. "Now, here's what you're going to do. Clockwork here is going to take you back to where you need to be, and you go back to being your awesome self, and not this moping 'can't do' attitude of a pony. We're better than that. So, go back, be awesome and help your friends."

"Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? Why, what's wrong?"

"Not just them. Don't forget Erlea, as well as Abella and Devora," Scootaloo reminded, blinked, then slapped a hoof against her head. "Shoot, forgot. You aren't friends, yet." Shrugging, she looked up at Clockwork. "Let's just forget I let that slip."

"Did you really?"Clockwork asked, smirking. "Or did you merely repeat what your future self did back then?"

"Ehh… A bit of both, really. " she replied awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head.

"Wait!" Scootaloo called out. "I'm going to be friends with Erlea… And who are Abora and Devela?"

"Abella and Devora," Scootaloo corrected. "They're the changelings you had a run in with at Sweet Apple Acres. Andright now, they are in a real mess."

"Right now?!"

"Well, not right now right now," Scootaloo answered. "Right now, it's still going to be a few years before any of that mess happens. But when you return to your own time, then it will be right now. Just not now, you know?"

"I know I have a headache." Scootaloo groaned, holding her head in both hooves.

"Yeah, I remember that one. It still doesn't make much sense, and this time I'm the one who said it," she stood there with wide eyes, trying to connect the pieces all over again. "... Aaand now I have a headache too… again."

"Does this time travel thing ever get easy?"

"Don't ask me, Squirt. I'm still trying to figure that one out."

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Scootaloo turned her focus on Clockwork. "Well, I've done everything I think I should. Unless there is something else...?"

Chuckling, Clockwork shook his head. "No, I do believe that should be all," he said and raised his staff, opening a passage through time. "Here you go. This portal shall take you back to your own time, a mere second after you left, so no one will notice your sudden disappearance."

Shrugging, Scootaloo moved towards the opening in the sky. "Not that it matters much. I could simply say what happened and everypony would believe me. Weirder things have happened."

"Like what?" Scootaloo asked, only for her older self to flash her a knowing grin.

"Oh, you'll find out eventually. Don't worry about that. " And then, with a powerful flap of her wings, Scootaloo flew up and passed through the portal, vanishing from their shared timeline.

Closing the passage, Clockwork then turned to the filly standing next to him. "Ready to go back?" He asked, his legs fading into an intangible tail as he slowly rose up.

Looking at the spot her older self had been only a moment ago, Scootaloo took a deep breath, closed her eyes and sighed out.

Looking back at Clockwork, she gave a single, resolute nod, knowing what she had to do now, even if she didn't fully understand it… yet.

With a flash, a new passage was opened and both individuals moved through; the portal closing behind them a second later.

<<>><<>><<>>

A portal opened just above the snow, and two individuals came through. One, a small, orange pegasus, the other an age shifting ghost.

Scootaloo looked around with a saddened gaze, not yet recognizing where they were.

"Where are we?" She asked, a clearly noticeable tone of sadness in her voice.

"The Far Frozen, near the village of the frost giants," Clockwork replied, scanning the area himself. "I thought it best to drop you off here," he gave a nod towards a trio of fillies to their right, moving away from them. "Your friends are over there. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."

"I, ehh… Yeah," Scootaloo muttered, looking down. Then, as if a switch was flipped, she looked up, sadness seemingly gone, replaced by steeled resolve. "Yeah, I do."

"Then go, child," Clockwork told her. "There is no better time than the present."

Nodding, Scootaloo quickly ran after her friends, using her wings to the best of her ability to keep from sinking too deep in the snow while Clockwork looked after her with a small, sad smile.

"It’s these kinds of lessons that are always the hardest. Both on the heart and the mind. But, in the end, you'll become stronger because of it, Scootaloo. I'm certain that your parents would say so, too." He sighed out after that, gingerly tracing his fingertips over the scar on his face, and he turned his attention to the unfolding conflict just behind a distant hill.

Nodding to himself, he flew towards the hill, following it up until he hovered some feet above it, looking at the mass gathered further below; his eyes locking with the Alpha timberwolf.

He turned invisible a moment later, having done what needed to be done.

<<>><<>><<>>

The Sanctum of Tree of Life.

Deep down within the cave hidden within the icy mountain, Tree of Life felt a change. One of her fruits' glow intensified and grew larger. A testimony to the growth its future bearer had gone through.

One day soon, the others would follow suit.

She just hoped it would be in time.

Author's Note

If you spot a mistake, please let me know.

Crossing Paths

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, Clayton the Hunter, and Clawder.

Crossing Paths.

<<>><<>><<>>

The moon had risen high in the sky, and night had claimed the land by the time the train carrying Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike and Danny arrived back in Ponyville. They, along with a few other passengers exited the moment they could, were drained after the events in the Crystal Empire.

Still depressed by how things had ended, they all returned home without much of a goodbye; hooves dragging a bit and heads held low, while Rainbow Dash flew just a bit slower than was customary for her.

Every single one of them longed for their bed, wishing nothing more than for this long, tiresome day to end and start fresh the coming morning.

Little did they know their night was only just beginning.

<<>><<>><<>>

Earlier that day.

Big Mac was working the acres with single-minded focus, with the faintest sheen of a green glow in his eyes. Then, as if something snapped back in place, he stopped, shook his head and looked around in confusion.

"What in tha world…?" He murmured, holding a hoof against his head. "How long have Ah been working?"

Looking up at the sky, the low hanging sun answered his question, Stupefied, he then looked at the cart he found himself hitched to, filled to the brim with apples, so much so that many had fallen off during his walk through the acres, leaving behind an easy to follow trail.

"Hold on. What in tarnation’s going on?"

Blinking in confusion, he looked around once again, with the vain hope of finding an answer within the silent trees that surrounded him. However, other than a rustle of the leaves, there was nothing.

More than a little confused, but knowing he had to return to the farmhouse to check up on his sister and Sweetie Belle, he turned around, making a mental note to pick up all the spilled apples the moment he could.

Moving back with slow, deliberate steps to keep any more apples from falling off the cart, he mulled over his day's activities; finding a strange hole between his last memory and now.

'Maybe tha bucket falling on mah head did more than Ah thought?' He thought, unsure.

A little while later, as he neared his home, he started to notice something else. A distinct lack of aroma associated with a proper home cooked meal.

Parking the cart next to the adjacent barn, he quickly freed himself from his burden and made his way to the farmhouse; hearing nothing.

Frowning, he knew something was amiss. Question was, what did those two fillies do this time? It had to be bad, if even Granny Smith was kept from making dinner.

Pushing the questions he had about what happened to him today to the back of his mind, he opened the door, frowning deeply as he looked around; expecting the worst. What he didn't expect, however, was the absolute, almost tomb-like silence upon his entry.

"Hello?" he called out, looking around with slowly building worry as he stepped inside, receiving no reply.

"’Bloom, Sweetie Belle… Granny?" he called, still silence was all that answered.

"Is anypony here?" He asked, slowly moving to the living room.

Light snoring drew his attention, making his ears perk up as he turned to the familiar rocking chair; seeing his grandmother’s sleeping form slumped down, her head bent back and to the side, mouth partially open.

Sighing out in a strange feeling of relief, he trudged over to the elderly mare, smiling kindly as he grabbed the blanket which had dropped down on the ground and placed it back over her sleeping form.

"Well, that answers why Granny didn't make dinner. She overslept," he surmised, voice lowered. Yet it still proved to be too loud and, with a raspy shout, his grandmother woke up, startled.

"Huh, wha… Who goes there?"

"It's just me, Granny," Macintosh answered reassuringly. "... Ya overslept a bit," he added after a slight moment of hesitation.

"Ah would never!" She scolded her grandchild. "Who else would make dinner for ya young ones?"

"Speakin' of which… where are Bloom an Sweetie Belle?" Macintosh intoned.

"Why, they're right… here," Granny Smith pointed, only to fall silent as all they saw was an overturned bucket with its contents spilled all over the worn wooden floor, a mop lying in the far corner as if flung away and a carelessly discarded dustpan.

"Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle!" Granny Smith yelled angrily.

No reply came.

"Where did those two trouble making fillies run of to now?" She asked aloud, eyes narrowing and disappointment clearly noticeable in her voice.

"Don't know," Big Mac grunted, jaw set, "But I'll find them." He promised.

It was a promise, he soon learned, he was unable to keep, for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were nowhere to be found.

It was then when his anger began to turn to worry and concern.

<<>><<>><<>>

Bellflower returned home after a more than hectic grocery run. She, as well as several other ponies, had all but stampeded the market after learning a ghost had been sighted. And she, as well as any other pony feeling courageous enough, (or having no other choice) rushed to stock up on whatever they could get their hooves on, barricade themselves within their homes, and wait for this whole thing to blow over.

It was because of this that with great urgency, she closed the door behind her; forcing herself not to turn the lock. Something she wouldn't even do on any other given day. But now, with deep mental scars to remind her, every fiber of her being screamed at her to lock the door and throw away the key. But she didn't, of course. Because she also knew that, if she did, the guests renting some of her rooms would be locked out. And as much as she wanted to turn the knob for the deceptive feeling of safety, she couldn't in good conscience leave a fellow pony to their fate like that.

This, of course, didn't mean she didn't close all the open windows and pulling the curtains shut as well, before hurrying upstairs to do the same there and to check up on Scootaloo. Knowing the filly had heard and seen the commotion earlier this day, which had happened almost directly in front of her room.

Her hurried trot upstairs came to a screeching stop however, when, with a horrified shudder, she saw the door to Scootaloo's room partially open. A door locked from the outside. A door she herself had locked to make sure the filly's punishment would stick this time.

"Oh no. Nonononononono," she repeated again and again, suddenly surging into motion, and rushing inside, head jerking from left to right, hoping to see the filly someplace in the room, but finding no one.

"SCOOTALOO!" she called out, hoping the filly would reply. But all that answered her was deafening silence.

<<>><<>><<>>

Present Time.

With a loud screech of metal on metal which echoed away far louder than it had any right to in the night, the train carrying Danny and company arrived in Ponyville. Those on board exiting the moment they could.

Longing for their bed and to be done with the day, they all muttered a tired good night, the group split up; each heading for their homes with the sole exception of Rarity, who instead joined Applejack to the orchard to get Sweetie Belle.

Neither of them said a word as with dragging hooves, they made their way through town, following the long, long dirt path which seemed to stretch out for much further than either mare could remember, before finally arriving at the orchard.

Sighing wistfully, the two mares set hoof on the final stretch of road. Applejack longing for the warm, comforting embrace of their bed while Rarity wished to pick up her sister, give her a warm hug, then finally make her way to bed as well.

Sighing and eyes drooping, the two mares let their hooves guide them as they pushed onward.

Halfway to the farmhouse however, they came to a near stop, ears perking up as the sound of hooves pounding on the dry soil became noticeable; rapidly becoming louder and louder until an almost frantic looking Macintosh Apple stood before them.

"Big Mac… is everything alright?" Applejack asked, suppressing a yawn.

"Applejack, Rarity, thank tha stars you're back," he wheezed as he came to an abrupt stop.

"Mac, what in Equestria is going on?" Applejack asked with growing concern.

"It's tha girls. They're gone!"

""WHAT!?"" Applejack and Rarity yelled, their tiredness forgotten by the sudden spike of adrenaline. "What tha HAY are ya talkin' 'bout?" Applejack demanded.

"When Ah came home, Bloom and Sweetie Belle were gone."

"Why didn't Granny stop them?!" Applejack demanded urgently.

"She was asleep. Overslept even. She didn't even make dinner," Bic Mac explained in a hurry, then shook his head to refocus. "But that's not important. Bloom an Sweetie being missing is."

"Where did you see them last?" Rarity asked frantically.

"Back at the house," Big Mac answered, "But they ain't there. Nor did Granny and Ah find them in their tree house, or anywhere else on the orchard. We've been looking for hours."

"Then what in the hay are we standing here for?" Applejack asked urgently. "If they ain't here, maybe they are over at Scootaloo's place?"

Without much of a better idea, all three ponies nodded before galloping towards town; already thinking about how to punish those fillies when they found them, and if they didn't have a very, very good reason for running off… again.

<<>><<>><<>>

It didn't take them long to reach Bellflower's guest house, all three of them having run at full speed; which also had the effect of completely disheveling Rarity's mane, which would normally warrant a 'My mane is completely ruined!' drama scenario, but right at this moment her appearance towards other ponies was only a secondary concern for her.

Big Mac, the fastest of the three, followed closely by his sister, all but slammed into the door; nearly breaking it off its hinges as he rushed inside.

"Big Mac, what the hay was that for!?" Applejack scolded. "We're looking for Apple Bloom an Sweetie Belle, not trying to break down Bellflower's home."

"It didn't open," he apologized. "It was locked."

"Locked?" Applejack repeated, "But Bellflower never locks the door."

They didn’t have much time to ponder over this as with thunderous hooves, Bellflower came rushing down the stairs, a broom held tightly in her mouth and seemed prepared for battle.

"Applejack," she gasped, the broom falling to the floor. "Rarity, Macintosh. Oh, thank goodness. It's only you."

"Only us?" Applejack repeated, confused, looking at her brother and Rarity.

"Bellflower," Rarity cautiously stepped forward, eyeing the mare with confusion. "Please tell me that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are here, because we can't find them anywhere."

"They are gone too!?" Bellflower gasped, horrified.

"Too?" Big Mac said with worry.

"Scootaloo is missing as well," she revealed, making all others gasp out.

"It must have been that ghost," Bellflower continued and this revelation completely took Applejack, Rarity, and Macintosh by surprise; slamming into them with the weight and speed of a freight train.

"""GHOST!?""" All three shouted.

"Haven't you heard?" Bellflower asked, picking up her broom with a hoof.

"Rarity and Ah haven't been in town all day. Element business," Applejack quickly explained.

"Ah have been working at the orchard all day," Big Mac told her.

Eyes darting around, expecting anything to jump out from anywhere, Bellflower told them what happened.

"Bulk Biceps came screaming into town earlier today. Saying he saw a ghost. All ponies have been on edge since that, hoarding as much food as they can, barricading their homes. I came back home a while ago, only to find Scootaloo missing and her door, which I had locked from the outside to keep her from running away again, to be open. And it wasn't forced. I’ve been looking for her ever since, but she isn't anywhere to be found."

"It's the same with Bloom and Sweetie Belle," Big Mac told her with urgency.

"Is there any chance Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle might have opened the door for Scootaloo?" Rarity asked, not liking this idea but choosing it over the possible alternative.

"No," Bellflower shook her head. "I have the key on me and I know the lock can't be forced. And it wasn't forced."

"So ya're saying a ghost might have taken Scootaloo… maybe even Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle while we were gone!?" Applejack said, voice rising in volume until she was almost yelling.

"We don't know that," said Rarity, hoping it wasn't true.

"Well, after today we cain't say it isn't either," Applejack shot back, eyes wild. Rarity didn't know how to reply to that.

"We can't be certain about this. For all we know tha girls are hiding someplace in town," Macintosh spoke up, trying to act as the voice of reason. "Ah know they ain't at tha farm an’ now we know they ain't here. So why don't ya go look around here, try ta find them. And Ah… Ah'll go back ta the orchard an' make sure it weren't one of those… things." The last word held a dark, venomous tone which sent a shiver down all of the three mares' spines.

"Ya sure?" Applejack asked, worried.

"Eenope," Macintosh replied, eyes hardening as he turned to the door. "Y'all go an' look, now," he instructed them, then ran out towards the orchard.

Looking at him until he just vanished in the darkness, the mares shared an uncertain look until, they too, stepped out, hoping they would find those three fillies. Hoping that, soon, they would be able to hold them, hug them, yell at them, and ground them until they were old mares themselves. But for now, all that was holding them was a growing sense of worry, anxiety, fear and dread.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rarity, Applejack and Bellflower ran through the abandoned streets; all the houses locked tightly and not even a single ray of light managed to slip past any of the tightly closed curtains or boarded up windows.

It was a rather bitter irony. The sighting of a ghost had made the village into a ghost town in its own right.

That didn't mean the ponies weren't listening, waiting for anything to happen. And hearing several ponies outside running and calling out for some of the more notorious fillies in Ponyville’s history only added to the fear they felt.

This, of course, didn't stop either mare. They sped through the streets, calling out for the fillies time and time again until they found themselves moving away from the village more and more; having gone through every nook and cranny of Ponyville.

"Rarity, Applejack, is everything alright?" The voice of Danny Manson suddenly broke through and all three ponies came to a stop, finding themselves now standing in front of the human's house.

"Oh, Danny. It's absolutely dreadful," Rarity replied hysterically, glad, despite the circumstances, to see another friendly face. "Sweetie Belle and her friends have gone missing."

"What!?" Danny exclaimed.

"It's true," Applejack said morosely. "At first we thought Apple Bloom an’ Sweetie Belle had simply ran off, so we went ta see if they were with Scootaloo. But Bellflower here said she's gone too."

"And it gets even worse!" Rarity almost shrieked. "Bellflower said there is… there is…"

"There was a ghost seen near Ponyville!" Bellflower revealed, dropping a bombshell on the human whose eyes widened in shock.

"Wh-what!?" he stammered, shocked, taking a step back while a nervous sweat started to form.

"It happened earlier today. Bulk Biceps came screaming into town, saying he saw a ghost. Everypony has stocked up on whatever supplies they could and barricaded themselves in their homes."

"An with the fillies missin', who knows what horrible things are happening to them." said Applejack.

"Now, hold on. You can't be sure a ghost has them," Danny countered.

"We can't be sure it hasn't either," Applejack countered, eyes slightly wild. "An after what happened in tha Empire, Ah ain't taking any chances."

"... Empire?" Bellflower murmured, confused. But before any kind of reply could be given, Macintosh Apple came running in.

"Big Mac, did ya find tha girls?!" Applejack asked without pause.

Big Mac, heaving loudly after the flat out run he'd just made from the orchard to his sister, wasn't able to speak for several long moments as he sucked in air with large gulps.

"Sis…" he panted. "Dad's old barn. Frozen on the inside. All ice," he managed wheeze, but his seemingly cryptic message didn't make much sense to Applejack, Rarity, or Bellflower.

"Big Mac, what in ths hay are ya talking 'bout?" Applejack shot back. "Did ya find the girls or not?"

Breathing deeply, Macintosh finally caught his breath. "No, Ah didn't. But Granny and Ah did go look at the orchards older parts… It's dad's old barn, AJ. It's completely frozen within. But not just covered with ice… There are things in there, looks almost like regular furniture… but, made of ice. AJ, something is living there. Something not natural."

A bone chilling cold grabbed hold of Applejack, Bellflower and Rarity at Macintosh's words.

"S-say what now!?" Applejack stammered, eyes wide and pupils shrunk. "Ya pulling mah leg, aren't ya." Big Mac's only reply was a slow, grim shake of the head.

"Something has been hiding on the orchard, right under our noses," Rarity said, voice rising in pitch. "And Sweetie Belle was there right for the taking!"

"Apple Bloom too!" said Applejack, voice rising too.

"Then, did this… thing also get Scootaloo?" Bellflower asked, worried, frightened, nauseated.

"Sombra," Danny growled.

"What!?" Rarity said, everyone turning to Danny, while Danny himself looked up and towards the orchard.

"When did you say this ghost was spotted?" He asked Bellflower, voice tense.

"Earlier today," she replied nervously. Danny's hand tightened into a fist.

"Danny?" Applejack carefully approached, "Do ya know what could have done this?"

"I have some ideas, but nothing that would help," he replied, still not looking at them. "But…" he continued, then fell silent.

"But, what?" Rarity asked. "Danny, please. If you know something, please tell us." she urged him on.

"Maybe Sombra wasn't the only ghost who came here with the Crystal Empire? Maybe something else came with him? Something that didn't stick around? Snow and ice certainly was the main theme back there and apparently here now, too. Your barn," he glanced at Applejack and Big Mac over his shoulder, then looked back at the orchard. "... My bedroom," he revealed, making the ponies behind him gasp.

"You mean one of those… things was in your house?" Bellflower asked, shocked.

"It would seem like it," Danny muttered grimly. "But that hardly matters right now. And instead of standing here debating what ifs, instead we need to go look for the girls," he said firmly, turning around, finally looking at the ponies as he took charge. "Applejack, Rarity. Having dealt with Sombra, you and your friends are about the closest we've got to ghost fighting experts around here. Go and get the others, tell them what's going on… and what we think is responsible. Big Mac, show me what it is you've found. I may not be much of an expert myself. But maybe seeing what you've found can tell me what we're dealing with to some extent."

Wide, unblinking eyes stared back at him, and for a moment Danny faltered.

"Uhh…"

"Jus' what, exactly, was it ya did back on Earth?" Applejack asked, slowly looking Danny up and down. " 'Cause it sounds like ya've done this before."

"We don't have time for this," Danny shot back defensively, sounding just a bit bitter. "You go and get Twilight, and the rest. Big Mac and I will see what happened at the orchard."

Snapped back to reality, all the ponies scrambled into motion. Rarity, Applejack and Bellflower running for the hollow tree in town, Big Mac and Danny running as fast as Danny could manage back to the orchard.

"Is she right?" Macintosh asked, shooting Danny a sideways glance. "Have ya done this before?"

Danny didn't answer; narrowing his eyes as he pushed forwards just a bit faster.

<<>><<>><<>>

The mighty oak grew larger and larger before them as they neared, hooves pounding on the ground.

Applejack, in the lead of the group, narrowed her eyes as she saw the closed door, mentally preparing herself for the right moment. With practiced perfection, she planted her front hooves on the ground and swung her full body around, kicking the door open with a tree-shaking buck.

A loud scream could be heard coming from Twilight's bedroom a split second later, while Owlowiscious screeched in rude surprise.

"TWILIGHT!" Applejack's voice cut through the darkness as she, Rarity and Bellflower ran up the stairs; Applejack not wasting any time in bucking the second door open as well.

"Twilight!" Applejack shouted, albeit at a more reasonable level.

"Applejack?" Twilight groaned in tired annoyance, rubbing an eye with a hoof while turning on the light with a small burst of magic. Then she identified the other pony in the room. "And Rarity? What are you two doing here?"

"Bellflower is here too," Applejack spoke up, looking behind her, where Twilight spotted the mentioned mare. "Twilight, we have a major problem on our hooves!"

"What!?" Twilight straightened herself. "What kind of problem? Do we need the Elements?"

"Yes, no… Maybe. Ah dunno?" Applejack stammered, shook her head, then focused with alarming clarity. "Ah don't know about needing tha Elements, but if what we’re thinking is true, we may need ‘em after all."

"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo have gone missing," Rarity picked up without pause. "At first we thought they had run off again, but when we ran into Bellflower, she said there had been a ghost sighting near Ponyville."

This sudden revelation made Twilight fall off her bed and she scrambled to her hooves while fighting to free herself from her blanket.

"WHAT!?" she yelled, her tiredness forgotten.

"It's true," Bellflower ruefully admitted. "Earlier today, Bulk Biceps came screaming into town, claiming to have seen a ghost. Everypony is on edge since then."

"And did anypony else also see this ghost, or was it just him?" Twilight asked, finally able to free herself with the help of her magic.

"Not that I know," Bellflower answered.

"So there might not be a ghost," Twilight mused. "For all we know, Bulk Biceps saw something he believed to be a ghost, but wasn't."

"I- I suppose," Bellflower muttered.

"Maybe yer right," Applejack spoke up. "But there is more. Just a moment ago, mah Brother told us he found our dad's old barn, completely covered with ice from within. He an’ Danny are looking there right now. Maybe Danny can figure out what did that."

"Covered with ice?" Twilight asked, blinked, then her eyes widened. "ICE!"

"Uhh, yeah?" Applejack flinched back from Twilight's sudden increase of volume.

"A while back Rainbow found the lake to be completely frozen," Twilight told them.

"Oh, goodness. You're right," Rarity said, recalling what her friend had told them.

"Ya think that whatever froze tha lake has been livin’ in our barn?" Applejack asked, angry and offended.

"It would make sense," Twilight pondered, then made a decision. "Girls, grab your Elements. We go and get the others, then head out to the orchard. We'll find out what is going on. Bellflower. You head back home. Maybe Scootaloo will come back on her own."

"I- I can't just go back and do nothing," she argued, taking a step forward with visible effort. "Ghost, or no ghost, I will not stand idly while Scootaloo is missing."

"Okay," Twilight nodded in understanding. "But stay behind us."

Nodding, Bellflower agreed as Applejack re-entered the room, now wearing her Element while holding Twilight's in hoof.

"Rarity got tha rest of them. Now, let's go and get tha others!"

<<>><<>><<>>

The group of mares ran towards Sweet Apple Acres, their path illuminated by Twilight and Rarity's magic, as well as the light of the moon.

Twilight, having quickly written a letter to the princess explaining everything that was just told to her, hoped her message had arrived. Spike, who had already been fast asleep, and difficult to wake up, was surprisingly quick to snap out of whatever dream he was having by a few chosen words from Rarity. Though he did had some trouble properly burning the letter in his sleep-addled mind.

Shaking those worries away, for now, Twilight and her friends soon found themselves running down the well traveled path leading to the farmhouse. Following Applejack who led them to a part of the orchard they hadn't been to before.

"It's over here, girls," Applejack called out as they approached an old, weather-worn barn. Seconds later, she and her friends all came to a screeching stop in front of the barn's open doors; staring inside with wide, shocked eyes.

"What in Celestia's name is this!?" Twilight yelped, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing.

"This," Danny said calmly, dryly, as he and Big Mac stepped outside. "Is a barn filled with ice."

"Yes, we can see that," Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. "But who did this? The same guy who froze the lake?"

Shrugging, Danny said: "No idea. I've looked around, but haven't seen anything that could tell me who or what lives here."

Applejack frowned as he said that, trying to get a good look at his face, but failing in the dark with only the flickering light of a lantern to illuminate a small portion of the area.

'Now why do Ah feel like you're lyin?' she wondered.

"Is there any sign of the fillies?" Bellflower asked, pushing in between Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, snapping Applejack back to the more urgent matter at hoof.

"There's nopony here, but us," Big Mac answered.

"So now what?" Rainbow Dash asked with a hint of challenge.

"Now-" Twilight started, only to be cut off by Danny.

"We can't be certain that whatever did this is a ghost. And even if it is, we don't know for certain it took the children. Right now, split up in groups of two and search any likely spot to see if the girls are hiding out there. If there is a ghost, and you do run into it, back off and go get the others. The last thing you want to do is challenge it without a proper plan of attack," he instructed, giving them all a critical eye, while all the ponies looked at him with surprise, even a bit of awe as he took charge.

"There are nine of us, so there will be one group of three. Big Mac, you go with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Rarity, go with Rainbow Dash, Applejack, you go with… Bellflower was it, right?" Bellflower nodded, and Danny continued. "And Twilight, you're with me."

"I, uhh… Okay," Twilight replied, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, which went mostly unnoticed in the dark as she stepped closer to Danny while the others went to their assigned partners.

"Remember, we don't know what could be out there, so keep your eyes and ears open. And if you do see something that could be a ghost, back off. Don't be a hero."

"But we are heroes," Rainbow Dash remarked. "We even have our Elements to prove it."

"Shining jewelry is not what makes a hero," Danny told them, a strange, pained look in his eyes. "What does, are their actions in difficult situations. And acting on impulse to fight something that could easily swat you away doesn't make you a hero at all," he told her with bitterness in his voice. "Sometimes the best thing to do is back off and run before you, or those close to you get hurt as a result."

"Yeah…well…" Rainbow Dash stammered, eyes downcast as she kicked the dirt with her hoof. "Ok, I guess you got a point there."

"Now, let's not waste any more time," he said with an authoritative voice. "Let's go find those fillies."

<<>><<>><<>>

A few hours earlier.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Fenris, Wind Chill and Erlea made quick time towards the Hive. But even with the speed Fenris was capable of, they were severely slowed down.

Unused to such a slippery surface, Fenris lost his footing time and time again every time he crossed a patch of ice. Only Wind Chill, naturally accustomed to such an environment, could easily traverse the frozen landscape without trouble; carrying Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Erlea with him in his large hands held before his chest, while Sweetie Belle flew beside them.

Erlea, too, was suffering. The sudden, unnatural drop in temperature which had taken hold of the land permeated her body, chilling her to the core, making her visibly shiver. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat closely pressed against her, much to her irritation, although she didn't complain over the shared body heat, and providing directions when this was required.

Eventually though, Wind Chill, too, was forced to stop. The reason, the large herd of Saldēti Zirgi circling around a small, rocky hill; the stone already partially covered in ice while massive, gray, billowing clouds swirled around in a large vortex; following the movement of the Saldēti Zirgi; steadily growing in size and strength, and with it, the buildup of snow, and ice as well.

"NO!" Erlea cried out, leaping forward and almost falling down the still considerable height of Wind Chill's hands, only to be stopped by Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

"What the hay are ya doing?" Apple Bloom asked, worried.

"The Hive… The entrance is right there!" Erlea cried out, eyes wide in alarm.

All turned to look where the young changeling was pointing at and noticed a partially hidden crevice in the natural formation; presumably leading deeper underground and already half frozen shut.

"Wait here!" Wind Chill instructed as he deposited the three fillies on the ground. Then, with a mighty roar he lurched forwards, hands aglow with icy blue spectral light.

Heavy footfall shook the ground as Wind Chill sped towards the closing crevice, the ice under his feet shattering. Then, using the strong muscles in his legs, he leaped the final distance, slamming two massive fists in the closing wall of ice, unleashing his power; his control over the ice itself.

The energy flashed, grew brighter, pulsing with the will and ferocity of the one who unleashed it. Then it exploded, sending chunks of ice in every which direction, clearing the passage and scaring the Saldēti Zirgi who released a loud whiny; their combined cry shaking the sky.

"This is bad!" Wind Chill called out. "Children, you go and help Erlea's kin. The wol-... Fenris and I will remain here, protecting the entrance." He quickly corrected himself after Fenris shot him a warning glare.

"Aren't ya coming inside?" Apple Bloom asked worriedly, looking at the Windigoes with fear.

"No, young one. I will not. And not because I don't fit through the entrance. It is my duty to keep you safe. You and your friends. Now go, while we hold them back."

Looking at one another, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hesitated in doing so. Erlea, however, didn't. She ran with as much speed as she could manage through the snow and ice towards the entrance, not looking back.

Seeing their (not) friend changeling disappear within the rocks, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked once more at Fenris, then Wind Chill before they, too, hurried inside.

"Good," Wind Chill grumbled. "That will keep them safe. At least, safer than they would have been up here." Forming an large club of ice in his right hand, he secured his stance, following the movement of the Saldēti Zirgi with slightly narrowed eyes.

"And what makes you think you can order me to do as you please?" Fenris growled, standing strong and defiantly besides Wind Chill, claws unsheathed.

Wind Chill glanced to his side, eyes locking for a brief moment.

"I'll admit, I don't trust you. I know who you are and what you have done. But I can't deny your involvement with the young ones, nor the trust they seem to place in you. And neither can you, it seems."

Fenris looked up, seeing the approaching spectral equins. Claws flexing.

"You know?" He said with a palpable doubt. "Do you now?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Wind Chill replied, firing a orb of arctic energy into the sky; turning into solid ice halfway up and slamming into the side of one of the Saldēti Zirgi; knocking it of course.

"Claiming to know one, and actually knowing one are two entirely different things," Fenris barked. "Don't pretend you know me until you actually do."

To this, Wind Chill didn't have a reply. Nor did he have time to answer as, with a tremendous force of pressure pushing down on them, the herd of Saldēti Zirgi came down on them; taking with them the arctic grasp of winter itself.

<<>><<>><<>>

"MOM!" Erlea called out, alarmed as she ran deeper and deeper into the tunnel; it's naturally heavy roughness soon smoothing out into the carved walls with luminescent plantlife, similar to ivy in appearance, growing to cover the walls and ceiling.

The rapid clopping of hooves behind her, told her that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were close behind her. However, the insistent silence, both over the hive mind as well as any audible reply from either her mother, or any other changeling made her all but ignore the fillies behind her as she ran with as much speed as her frozen body could manage.

She turned and weaved, seemingly going nowhere and, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle followed without much of a word; clearly hearing the distress in the changeling's voice. However, when Erlea climbed up a wall and disappeared in a tunnel higher up; easily accessible for a changeling, but not so much for a pony, lest they could fly, Sweetie Belle was forced to use her powers to bring up her friends before resuming their pursuit; having almost lost sight of Erlea thanks to the delay.

Deeper and deeper they went from there, managing to catch up with some effort until the sound of rumbling water could be heard. Ears perking up at the sound, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, at long last, ran out of the claustrophobic tunnel and came to a screeching stop upon the sight that greeted them.

A massive cavern so large, they couldn't see the opposite wall. Not that they tried, though, as their attention was completely absorbed by the immense city carved out of the rock itself.

They saw doors and windows chiseled into massive stalactites, connected with one another by stone walkways encircling them on multiple levels; bridges, as well as the odd platform clearly meant for one to fly to. There were also gardens. Or, what they believed to be gardens. They didn't look like any pony-made garden they've seen. Which, when they thought about it, kinda made sense.

Large vines of the same ivy-like plant grew to cover the stalactites, illuminating the entire city, and continuing to far beneath the rocky spires; forming large vines of thick, glowing leaf covered flora, with strange large flowers in between; growing so far down that their light was eventually lost in the darkness below.

It was also at this point the fillies realized there was no floor to be seen. Just empty darkness, with no telling just how far down this abyss went.

The rumbling of water they've heard moments before was also louder, and they took notice of a large waterfall near; flowing from some unseen tunnel high above, its contents passing through the city as it collided with one of the stalactites, before falling into the darkness below. Yet several streams of water also flowed out of holes hewn out of the hanging spire of rock the water crashed into; flowing down into the city by free hanging canals spanning the length of the gap between stalactites.

Yet there was also a terrible chill and icicles could be seen growing from these canals, as well as the stalactites nearest to the waterfall; a cold vapor surrounding the homes which, in turn, froze to the surface, building up a growing layer of frost.

A layer of frost which was also beginning to build on the cobblestone platform the three fillies found themselves standing on. A grand mosaic of stone, arching out to allow those there to view the city in all its splendor as they entered the cave. And further down the path, crossing a large bridge towards the nearest stalactite ran Erlea.

This realization pulled the Crusaders out of their awe induced stupor and they hurried after their shapeshifting acquaintance; only to fall flat on their faces as they slipped on the slippery surface.

"Ouch," Scootaloo groaned, pushing herself back up, while her friends did the same.

"Well, that could've gone better," groaned Apple Bloom.

"I’ll say," murmured Sweetie Belle.

Shaking their heads to clear their senses, they all agreed they didn't have the time to fumble around. Therefore Sweetie Belle, still in her spirit form, grabbed hold of her friends and flew them over the seemingly bottomless chasm and towards the stalactite they saw Erlea run to.

This close to the carved out formation, the fillies could now see the finer details they missed from their precious vantage point. And, despite their need to hurry, Sweetie Belle still slowed down a bit so they could marvel at the strange construction of changeling architecture.

The stalactite itself was polished smooth, almost shining in the luminescence of the unknown plant, while the window and door frames were expertly hewn with numerous intricate decorative patterns. The doors, (or what they believed to be the doors, at least) appeared to be made of onyx, yet no discernable way to open the doors could be seen. At least the windows appeared to be what they were. Large, round sheets of glass, also decorated with a similar design around the edge, placed firmly within the stone, almost making it seem it was a natural part of the rock.

But the one thing all three of them noticed almost immediately: there wasn't a changeling to be found. Everywhere they looked, all they could see were empty homes. It was a ghost city.

"Where the hay is everypony?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Don't know," Sweetie Belle replied, picking up speed. "But I guess we're going to find ou-... Oh." Shock made her fall silent.

"Oh no," Scootaloo gasped out. Apple Bloom couldn't utter a single word.

Moving deeper into the city, passing over the chasm once more and towards the next stalactite, the fillies came up on a gruesome sight and Sweetie Belle nearly lost hold of her friends as they saw the bodies.

Changelings lay lifelessly on the numerous rings build around the stalactites they approached, most of them grouped together; eyes dull and unblinking, staring into nothingness; their chitin cracked and broken; lying near fires lit with furniture and cloth, tended to by a very small group of changelings. Foals, by the looks of it. Foals who looked up with empty, hopeless eyes.

Trying to look away, but unable to do so, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at the horror below them while Sweetie Belle drifted further into the city, more on auto pilot than conscious thought.

"What happened here?" Scootaloo spoke with quiet, shivering voice. Feeling almost as if speaking too loud would be a trigger to doom them all.

"It must be the illness Erlea told us about," Sweetie Belle murmured. "... I never thought it was this bad."

"Neither did Ah," Apple Bloom squeaked, forcing herself to look away; snapping her head to her right. She then gasped out: "There's Erlea!" and her voice seemed to boom around them, reaching far enough to make even Erlea pause, turn to look, then redouble her efforts to reach her destination.

"Let's go," Sweetie Belle intoned, eyes narrowing in set determination. "We said we're going to help and, by Celestia, we're going to."

"Yeah," Scootaloo declared with the same determination. "I don't know what happened here, but no pony, no changeling, no anyone should have to go through this!"

Nodding their agreement, Sweetie Belle flexed her shoulder; then dove down toward where Erlea had run off to.

<<>><<>><<>>

Erlea shivered.

She shivered, but not from the cold.

As horrible as it was; as much as it froze her to her very core, not even the unnatural cold caused by the windigos could compare to the icy claw that had dug into her upon seeing the Hive; the bodies and the continuing silence from her mother.

Eyes clenched shut and tears streaming down her face, she sped past the numerous bodies of those succumbed to the illness. Some of them she knew personally.

Further and further she ran. Yet the once crowded streets, places she knew at heart, seemed to stretch out before her; growing longer with each step she took.

Unable to fly due to her own deteriorated condition; having used most of her energy dealing with the ponies, and the cold having a negative effect on her physique as well, any of the natural shortcuts, a mere hop and flap of her wings, were now far out of reach. And so, she was forced to move through the city on hoof.

Eventually though, she reached the central spire. The largest of stalactites. Several bridges connected with the titanic rock, all leading towards a central entrance. An entrance which was normally guarded by several of the best trained changelings. Now, only a lone guard stood before the onyx gate; spear in hoof and leaning heavily on it to help support herself.

"P-rincess," she said with weak, rasping voice, trying to straighten herself, but failing miserably.

"Arachnida," Erlea gasped, shocked. "Not you too!?"

"I'm aff—" She coughed horribly, green slime covering her lips. "-raid so." She sighed weakly, wavering on the spot. "Go… inside. The queen needs you."

"MOM!" Erlea shouted, head snapping towards the door, then she hesitated; looking back at Arachnida with concern.

"Go!" Arachnida stated as forcefully as she could.

Nodding, albeit with clear reluctance, Erlea turned around and faced the closed gate of onyx. Stepping forwards, her horn glowing with weak magic, the symbols engraved within the frame began to glow a luminescent green.

The onyx began to ripple, almost as if it was a smooth surface of water and someone had thrown a rock within it. And, with a smoothness like water, a hole appeared in its center, receding outwards until a passage large enough for a carriage had opened.

Not wasting any time, Erlea hurried inside. But before she had even taken three steps, the loud crashing of three fillies behind her halted her in her tracks.

"Okay," Scootaloo shouted with a groan. "You all saw that too, right?"

"Ya mean a stone door melting away like that? Then, yes," Apple Bloom groaned.

"Not important right now!" Sweetie Belle piped up, pushing herself up.

""Right,"" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo responded.

Mouth open and face set on anger and irritation, Erlea gritted her teeth and turned around sharply. "I don't have time for this!" she yelled and ran away, leaving the three fillies and Arachnida behind; the latter only able to look up weakly; glaring at the three intruding ponies. Yet the memories Erlea had shown through the hive mind were still clear to her and only two words managed to escape her before unconsciousness claimed her.

"Help us."

All three fillies rushed to the fallen changeling; looking at each other with wide, fearful eyes.

They all knew this was way, way bigger than anything they had ever dealt with. And neither of them knew what to do.

<<>><<>><<>>

"MOM!" Erlea cried out, the sound her hooves made on the stone floor echoing louder than ever before in the now silent halls.

Knowing the route thanks to the knowledge of the hive mind, imprinted in her memory and taken to heart, she quickly moved through the endless corridors meant to confuse any intruders; Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo close on her tail.

Eventually, after several turns and corridors, (most of which seemed completely redundant to the three ponies) the four fillies approached a large double door. This at least seemed familiar to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The doors to the throne room.

Not having any magic to call on to open the doors, Erlea all but tackled the doors with all she had, swinging one of them open and allowing them entry to the throne room.

All fillies froze at what they saw, with only a shocked gasp escaping Erlea.

Numerous changelings lay lifelessly on the ground, scattered in no discernible pattern around several fires lit using whatever furniture there was available. Only a very few changelings were still conscious and moving; nearly all of them fillies and colts, their faces full of tears and despair.
Only one adult was also still conscious, but only just.

Eyes almost completely closed and short, shallow breath escaping her dry, cracked lips, Queen Chrysalis desperately tried to hold on to the very end.

"Mom," Erlea gasped, voice whisper quiet as all conscious and able changelings looked at the door as it slammed open.

"Princess!" One of them spoke up, relieved.

"What happened?" Erlea demanded to know. "Why are there so few left?"

A young colt stepped forwards, no older, if not even a bit younger than the fillies; taking careful steps not to step on anyling lying on the floor.

"Princess," he said with a juvenile squeak to his voice, clearly struggling to hold it together. "We were having difficulties, but managed to hold on waiting for you and… well, them," he pointed towards Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "However, when the cold came, none of us were prepared." He then started to sob, which grew stronger and stronger with each passing moment. "The- the sickest of us, they- they-"

"Most of them passed away," an older colt stepped up, laying a comforting hoof around the young colt and pulled him in close. "Including his parents." The young colt whimpered, pushing his face into the other changeling's chest. "The rest of the ill… they took a hard blow when the cold came… We all did," he then turned to look at his queen. "Especially the queen." He sighed, defeated. "We've been burning whatever wood we could find in an attempt to raise the temperature, but with little success. All we managed to accomplish with it was to postpone the inevitable."

"NO!" Erlea balked, tears brimming in her eyes. "This can't be how it ends. Not after what I just went through! Not after bringing them in here!" She then sharply turned to the ponies behind her, looks of concern, worry and mournful regret meeting her. "You said you would help us," she said, no longer sounding defiant or stubborn, but at a complete loss. "Then help us."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo's eyes widened considerably, the full weight of what was asked of them now fully setting in and the three fillies looked at Erlea, then at all the other changelings in the throne room.

"How?" Scootaloo asked, at a complete loss.

"Fenris," Apple Bloom piped up. "He did that thing with his claw to help Sweetie Belle. Maybe he can do the same for them as well."

"Claw?" Scootaloo asked, but went unanswered as Sweetie Belle spoke up.

"But what about the windigos? Fenris and Wind Chill are up there fighting them. If we bring Fenris here, then what will happen up there?"

"Then why don't you take his place?" Scootaloo suggested, miffed she wasn't answered, but knowing it was nowhere near as important as the current situation.

"But I can barely control my powers as is," Sweetie Belle argued.

"Yes ya can!" Apple Bloom shot back confidently, grabbing her friend by the shoulders and looking her squarely in the eyes. "Ya can do this. Th frost giants trained ya in understanding your powers; helped train ya ta use them. Tha only reason ya think ya can't do this is because yer scared."

"Of course I am!" Sweetie Belle cried back. "How can I not be? Those are windigos up there. WINDIGOS!"

"An’ ya are Sweetie Belle, spirit of Ponyville!" Apple Bloom shot back. "So get out there an’ show those windigoes just who it is they are dealing with!"

"But what if I fail?" Sweetie Belle asked, frightened.

"You won't," Scootaloo told her with a reassuring, but winning smile.

"Why not?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Because we believe in you," Scootaloo answered for both her and Apple Bloom; the latter nodding her approval.

"That's right," Apple Bloom poked her friend in the chest. "And if ya can't do that for yourself, then believe in us, who believe in ya."

Their words finally hitting home, Sweetie Belle's eyes hardened with growing confidence; their green glow intensifying as she pushed away from Apple Bloom and hovered up from the ground.

"Now show those windigos who’s boss!" Scootaloo said challenging and Sweetie Belle nodded once, then shot off.

"As for us," Apple Bloom said after Sweetie Belle had flown back through the double doors, retracing their steps to the castle's gate and from there the surface, turning to face Scootaloo and the few changelings still standing. "We need as much wood, cloth, or anythang else that burns."

"But we have already used everything we could find in here?" One of the changelings replied.

Biting her lip, Apple Bloom looked around, searching for anything that could be useful.

"What about those plants we saw outside?" Scootaloo asked.

"You mean the murgröna?" Erlea gasped, "Those are sacred!"

"But will they burn?" Scootaloo asked firmly.

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom said, unsure. "Freshly picked plants never burn all that well. Too much wetness still inside and so."

"But will they burn?" Scootaloo asked again, more forcefully now.

"NO!" Erlea shot back. "Those vines are sacred to us. You can't just-"

"Sacred enough to die for?" Scootaloo asked grimly.

"I… but… you… But we can't," Erlea said weakly.

"They you don't. But we will," Scootaloo told her. "So, I'll ask again. Will they burn?"

"Maybe?" Apple Bloom answered, thinking "Only if we use tha leaves, though. Those vines contain too much water… Ah think. Ah've never seen this plant before, though. So Ah can't be sure. It’ll probably smoke like crazy, so we need to make sure there’s enough ventilation," she surmised, blinked, then looked at the fires already burning, and the lack of any smoke hanging in the air. "Well, Ah guess that's covered already."

"So, we'll go and get a bunch of those leaves to burn and, hopefully, warm up this place a bit." Scootaloo said, almost commandingly, looking at the changelings who, in turn, looked at her with various levels of disdain.

"Oh, come on. Sacred, or not, this could help save the lives of some of you!"

"But-" Erlea stepped up, conflicted when all of them fell silent; a weak, raspy voice, barely audible, speaking up.

"Do it,"

"Mom?" Erlea cried out, all eyes turning to the queen slumped on her throne; her eyes barely open, yet looking at the group of ponies and changelings.

"Do it," she repeated, then fell silent, unconscious.

"Mom?" Erlea called out, taking a hesitant step towards her mother, stopped, closed her eyes tightly as she struggled with the conflict within, then made a decision. "Everyling, gather as much leaves as you can carry."

"Princess?" The young colt squeaked.

Gritting her teeth, Erlea didn't turn to look at any of them. "Do. It!"

"Princess…?" came the hesitant response. Not having any of it, Erlea lashed out through the hive mind… or what remained of it, and the still able changelings scattered into motion; carrying out their task with great reluctance.

"Please… don't let all of this be in vain?" Erlea whispered, tears leaking down her face.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle flew with as much speed as she could muster, trying to remember exactly which way they had come. Yet, try as she might, it didn't stop her from flying through several wrong hallways.

Muttering her irritation, eventually, more by luck than anything else, she found her way back to the front gate; emerging from a side hallway they hadn't taken when they ran for the throne room.

Annoyed by the confusing layout of the place, she quickly moved for the gate, noticing it was closed once more.

Approaching, she looked at the engraved symbols at the side of the onyx gate, expecting them to glow like they had done when Erlea approached. However, nothing happened and the gate remained as stoic and unyielding as one would expect from stone.

"Come. On!" Sweetie Belle grunted as she pushed into the gate with little success. "I don't have time for this!" Flying back a bit, the glow in her eyes intensified while her front hooves began to glow as well.

Muttering a quiet apology, she shot twin beams of energy into the gate. The spectral power slammed dead center into the blocked passage, washing out to the sides where it reacted to the engraved glyphs; lighting them up for a split second. Then the onyx yielded, unable to withstand the barrage of something so otherworldly.

With a loud explosion, the gate shattered and Sweetie Belle didn't waste any time watching the results as she shot through the hole she'd created.

Now out in the city, she quickly flew back to the tunnel they'd entered the city prior, and followed the many twists and turns back to the surface; the already frigid air which had crept into the city below only growing colder and colder as she progressed. At one point, nearing the surface, she faltered as an arctic blast of wind slammed into her, chilling her to the bone.

Not allowing that to stop her, she pressed on; soon hearing the battle roars of Fenris and Wind Chill as they withstood the terrifying blizzard created by the windigos.

Wind Chill, the one most accustomed to such climate conditions, stood strong in the building layer of snow and ice which covered him and Fenris. Fenris, however, struggled to remain moving; the cold, snow and ice severely hindering his abilities to the point he could barely even protect himself.

"WIND CHILL! FENRIS!" Sweetie Belle cried out, shouting to be heard over the whipping wind that came to assault her the moment she exited the relative safety of the tunnel she was in.

"YOUNG SPIRIT!" Wind Chill roared. "IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO BE OUT HERE! GO BACK INSIDE WHERE IT IS SAFE!"

"I CAN'T!' She yelled back. "WE NEED FENRIS' HELP. THE CHANGELINGS ARE IN REAL TROUBLE!"

Fenris turned his head to look at the flying filly; ice breaking off his fur at the motion.

"THEN GO, BOTH OF YOU!" Wind Chill bellowed. "BUT STAY OUT OF THIS!"

Fenris, first glancing at the frost giant, then at Sweetie Belle, struggled to move out of the snow and ice which had build up and around him. Seeing this, Sweetie Belle quickly flew to the black wolf; the howling wind and the assaulting snow hindering her greatly.

Still, through sheer stubbornness and the burning resolve to help the changelings, as well as Wind Chill and Fenris, she closed the distance between herself and the wolf; grabbing hold of one of his thickly muscled arms and pulled with all her might to aid him to break free.

Looking up at the filly who had collapsed before him not too long ago from the build up of fear she'd consumed, and seeing her struggle to help those she barely knew despite the fear she felt, Fenris felt a flicker of something he couldn't identify deep within.

Eyes hardening, he pushed with all his might, breaking free with a sudden snap as the snow and ice suddenly gave way, the two tumbled towards the tunnel entrance.

Panting heavily, Fenris pushed himself up to all fours, shaking the frozen hindrance out of his fur. Looking down at the filly as she herself shook her head, then pushed herself up as well, he found a strange sense of appreciation for the child. For the first time in a very long time, someone showed him a spark of kindness not just to others, but to him as well. Him, who didn't deserve such a thing, least of all from one still young and innocent after the sin he committed. The sin which split his soul in half.

"Let's hurry," he told her with rumbling voice.

"No," Sweetie Belle groaned, voice uncharacteristically hard. Fenris looked down at her in confusion. "You go. Follow my scent, or something," she told him, turning back around to face the blizzard and Wind Chill, who stood defiantly amidst it. "I can't let him fight the windigos alone. You go help my friends. I'll do the same up here." And before Fenris could even utter a single word to persuade the foolish pony in reconsidering, she'd flown off with a battlecry and glowing hooves.

'Brothers. How can a child posses such a strength? A strength I lacked when I needed it most.' Looking after the strong willed child, Fenris felt the same strange flicker he felt a moment ago.

"Very well, child. May your fight be honorable and just," he rumbled, then ran down the tunnel, barely fitting, following after the scent trail left behind by the fillies.

<<>><<>><<>>

"WHAT IN THE ANCESTORS' NAME ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE!?" Wind Chill roared in disbelief and anger as Sweetie Belle flew out of the cave, firing a concentrated beam of ectoplasm into one of the windigos as it flew down towards them.

"HELPING YOU!" She yelled back, eyes burning with the stubborn determination that told Wind Chill she wouldn't change her mind no matter what he would say, or do.

Struggling with himself to try to make her retreat anyhow, even force her if need be, he missed the approaching onset of three windigoes in his momentary lapse of focus.

"LOOK OUT!" Sweetie Belle cried out in alarm, firing a energetic beam with her horn in reflex, knocking two of the windigos out of the sky.

Looking behind him and seeing what she'd done; that she'd protected him, Wind Chill's internal conflict came to a stalemate. Not accepting the situation, but unable to deny it either.

"VERY WELL, YOUNG ONE. BUT STAY BEHIND ME!" he bellowed, then in a much softer, barely audible voice over the wind he added: "Thank you."

Now working together, the two coordinated their attacks as best they could. Screaming and yelling at their foes as they did, unleashing attack after attack; lighting up the air around them with bolts and beams of glowing green from Sweetie Belle, and icy blue from Wind Chill. Yet the two of them could only do so much against such an overwhelming force, and soon the two of them found themselves back to back as more and more ferocious attacks slammed into them.

Sweetie Belle screamed as yet another blow of snow and ice slammed into her. Even her newly discovered ability to create a shield proved of little effect, mostly due to her own inexperience with the ability, as she struggled to maintain it in any effective shape, or form.

Wind Chill, on the other hand, struggled to shield both himself and the filly at his back. True, his much larger size made him an excellent shield, but he could only take so much before succumbing to the unrelenting attacks.

He knew the Saldēti Zirgi would, when pushed, be an extremely dangerous opponent. Even more so when they were together in such a large herd. It is one of the main reasons he and his brethren left them alone. Saldēti Zirgi always travel in large groups. But still, it was no easy task to trigger such a massive response from them as they were showing now. And he knew that, whatever it was that triggered them, it was truly troubling news.

However, right now was neither the time, nor place to try and figure out the who, or why, as even his own strength started to falter.

"YOUNG SPIRIT," he roared. "GO BACK INSIDE, I'LL HOLD THEM OFF FOR YOU TO RETREAT!"

"I CAN'T!" Sweetie Belle shouted back, nearly hysterical.

"DON'T ARGUE WITH ME. DO IT!" Wind Chill roared back.

"NO, I REALLY CAN'T!" She yelled back. "THE TUNNEL HAS FROZEN SHUT!"

Looking behind him, Wind Chill could see she was telling the truth. A massive layer of both snow and ice had completely sealed the entrance. In any other circumstances, this would hardly be a problem to him, as he could easily use his ice shaping powers to clear the way. But right now, being surrounded and attacked from all sides, he couldn't allow his guard to drop in order to do so.

"CAN YOU MELT THROUGH THE ICE?" He bellowed, launching another bolt of energy into the sky.

"I CAN TRY!" Sweetie Belle replied desperately.

"THEN TRY!"

Nodding, Sweetie Belle aimed both her hooves at the frozen entrance and unleashed whatever energy she still had left. However, her fight with the windigos, as well as the biting cold left her completely drained and, with a weak flash of light, she reverted back to her mortal self.

Screaming, she fell down, only to sink deeply into the snow below.

"Ancestors," Wind Chill swore, stepping over the hole the filly had fallen into, shielding her to the best of his abilities.

'Ancestors, if you can hear me, protect the child under my care. Protect her where I failed and will fall-'

"ENOUGH!"

An eerily familiar voice cut through the howling wind and a bright, blue glowing star shone through the blizzard; illuminating Wind Chill, who looked up at the sign from above with a sense of reverence and awe.

"Ancestors," he murmured.

The star grew brighter, then fell down. Falling faster and faster, then collided into the ground with tremendous force; a blast of icy blue energy washing over everything and everyone.

Silence.

Silence.

Everything was silent. The wind had died down. The blizzard had stopped, and the last of the snow slowly, lazily drifted down to the ground while the windigos slowly hovered in place; dull, unintelligent eyes looking at the burning star on the ground as Wind Chill did the same.

"Ow, what happened?" Sweetie Belle asked, sluggishly climbing out of the hole she'd dug for herself.

No answer came and she looked around to see what had happened. Her eyes then, too, locked onto the glowing entity on the ground.

"By the ancestors," Wind Chill spoke, shocked, awed. "It's the Great-"

"Danny?!" Sweetie Belle piped up, looking at the glowing figure as he hovered above the crater below him; the icy glow around him slowly subsiding.

"Now, what the Hell is going on here?!" Said Danny, his blue glowing eyes locked on all the ghosts around him.

Author's Note

He's a Phantom

Edited by Slayerseba, Clayton the Hunter, and Halusm.

He's a Phantom.

<<>><<>><<>>

'Because we believe in you,' Her friends' voices echoed through her mind as Sweetie Belle flew as fast as she could through the city towards the tunnel they'd entered from.

'That's right, and if ya can't do that for yourself, then believe in us, who believe in ya.'

Eyes narrowing in determination, Sweetie Belle angled up and shot through the relatively narrow passage with blurring speed, zig-zagging from left to right, up and down whenever this was required; even doing a barrel roll once or twice to avoid a particularly nasty obstacle in her way.

'No way I'm letting them down. No way!'

Her eyes burned brightly with sheer determination and spectral might.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay… now what?" Scootaloo asked after Sweetie Belle had left, her confidence sagging a bit.

Looking around, Apple Bloom hummed, a pondering hoof pressed against her chin.

"Well, first we must make sure tha fires don't go out while tha changelings are gathering those leaves," she said, and Scootaloo nodded in agreement. "Then, when they return, hopefully those leaves will be able ta keep tha fire going for a while longer."

"Hopefully?" Scootaloo asked, and Apple Bloom looked down at her hooves, sighing.

"They’re leaves. Those usually don't burn all that long. It's because we don't really have an alternative, but this is a real long shot.

"Oh," Scootaloo replied dejectedly.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom sighed her agreement. "Still, we said we would help, so we will. Whatever it takes," she added with new found determination.

Both fillies gave each other a firm nod and set out to do… something. Apple Bloom, with at least some idea of where to focus her efforts, quickly moved to one of the dying fires; staring at the glowing pieces of wood with a pensive frown, slowly shifting her gaze from one fire to the next.

"Hey, Scootaloo. Are there any pieces of wood still intact in tha other fires?" She asked.

"Hold on," Scootaloo replied, sprinting to the nearest fire, taking a moment to inspect the pile of glowing rubble. "Some small bits here and there," she answered.

Looking around, taking notice of the number of changelings lying around the fires, all scattered in no discernable pattern, Apple Bloom got an idea.

"Hey, Erlea. Are there still some other changelings around here who can help move some of tha sick?"

"What!? Why would you want to move them?!" Erlea asked, irritated.

"If we move them all closer together, we can combine some of tha fires," Apple Bloom replied readily. "The way Ah see it, we can make at least three larger fires if we take tha still good pieces out of tha fires near tha centers, and put them in tha fires closer to tha wall. That way, tha fires will be able to burn a bit longer, and larger, while tha heat will bounce off the walls as well. If we put tha sick in between, it will be much easier to keep 'em warm."

Erlea looked at Apple Bloom with stunned expression, slowly shifting her gaze across the room.

"Tha- that could actually work," she gasped. Not wanting to waste any more time, she called some of the other changelings through the hive mind while also sharing this new idea with the rest; hoping that they could do the same with the fires outside.

Within minutes, the buzzing of wings pulled Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's attention to the still open doors, watching as several young changelings came flying in.

"I told them what you're planning," she told Apple Bloom.

Nodding, she and Scootaloo hurried into motion to help the changelings.

"Okay if we use tha wood from those fires—" she pointed a hoof towards the less crowded fireplaces "—and put it in those—" she proceeded to point towards three likely fires near one of the corners "—we can raise tha temperature quite a bit over there."

Nodding, two of the older changelings ran for the fires Apple Bloom had pointed out; using what little magic they had left to pull the usable pieces of wood out of the dying flames and rushed them over to the small piles Apple Bloom had suggested.

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, neither of them fireproof, rushed to help the rest of the small group to move the sick into the heatzone.

It took them the better part of forty minutes to move all the changelings, and make sure they were lying comfortably; small beads of sweat dripping down from their faces, both from exertion and the noticeable increase of temperature in the corner where the fires now burned brightest.

During this time, the group Erlea had sent out to gather leaves had also returned, hooves full of leaves. Unfortunately the pile they gathered was barely enough to even fuel one fire, and it was with great reluctance that they were sent out again to gather more. Not wanting to waste what little they had, they all agreed to wait to use the leaves until it was absolutely necessary.

"Well, that's about all we can do now," Apple Bloom sighed out, placing a small bundle of leaves on one of the fires; watching them curl up in the small flames, glowing embers drifting up in the air; the glow mirrored in the eyes of the changeling foals as they watched them drift up with sadness.

"This won't last," Scootaloo complained, saying the thought they were all having out loud.

"Ah know," Apple Bloom admitted.

"How do you think Sweetie Belle's doing?" Scootaloo asked, looking up at the ceiling.

"Hopefully better than us," Apple Bloom wished, looking around, falling silent as she spotted the massive form standing still in the doorway, looking around with unreadable expression.

"Fenris?" she piped up, and all turned to look at the massive wolf with wide, and in the changelings' case, fearful eyes.

"It truly is everywhere," Fenris rumbled. "Sickness born from hate. The stench is almost unbearable." Looking towards the fillies, he slowly stepped inside. "Your friend has sent me, choosing to remain above to fight."

"It's 'bout time ya showed up!" Apple Bloom all but shouted. "We REALLY need your help!"

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed feverently.

"So it would seem," Fenris rumbled, taking a step closer, eyes narrowing at the changelings as they took a frightened step back.

"Can ya use yer claws like ya did with Sweetie Belle, an cut out this thing?" Apple Bloom asked, hopefully.

"No," Fenris replied, looking at the numerous bodies lying around the fires.

"""WHAT!?""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Erlea all shouted their disbelief.

Snapping his head towards them in a flash, Fenris leered down on the trio.

"Hate is not something easy to get rid of. I know this better than most. If I were to attempt this, they will most certainly die."

"No!" Erlea cried out, falling to the floor while the other changelings hung their heads; their last hope unable to help.

"However," Fenris stepped up, and Erlea slowly looked up with red, tearful eyes, watching as the gigantic wolf stepped closer to one of the sick; a young adult.

Kneeling down, Fenris lowered himself until he held his nose directly above the sick mare, inhaling deeply.

Growling as he reared back, he unsheathed his right claw and sunk the glowing protrusions into the mare's side with a powerful slash.

The mare's eyes shot open as she screamed out, black ooze seeping out of the wounds inflicted by Fenris as he pressed in even deeper; cutting, slicing, severing.

She quickly passed out again as Fenris pulled back with a wet squelch, all around watched with widened eyes at the black ooze seeping out of the green glowing marks on the mare's body. A sickening sludge pooling on the floor until Fenris destroyed it with another slash of his claw.

"Wha… What was that?" one of the changelings asked.

"Hate runs deep, and consumes more than you realize," Fenris answered. "It's impossible to remove it all, not without losing even more," his eyes narrowed into slits. "But if you remove even a little bit, it may get diluted, spread thin."

They all looked at Fenris as he spoke, yet his gaze remained affixed on the mare lying on the floor before him, watching as her breathing leveled out, becoming calm.

"What did you do?" Scootaloo asked in shock and disbelief, looking at the mare as the trembling of her body slowed down, then stopped completely; her chest rising and lowering with calm, deep breaths.

"I can't cure this disease," Fenris spoke as he stood back up. "But I can buy you time to find a solution."

The colts and fillies all looked up at Fenris with a new sense of hope, hope that, maybe, just maybe, they would be able to pull through this after all.

Slowly, they looked at one another, then their eyes moved towards the throne and the lone figure sitting slumped against the side; her sickly form illuminated by the glow of the two fires besides her.

They all looked up at Fenris, hope brimming in their eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Erlea and all the other changeling foals ran across the room, carrying out one task, or another. Making sure they stayed out of Fenris's path as he moved from one changeling to the next; cutting out the same black sludge they'd all seen with the first changeling he'd 'helped'.

Each time he did so, a bone piercing scream echoed through the chamber.

They flinched each and every time. Still, with no other option available to them, they tried their hardest to ignore the cries of anguish. Though, hearing their queen, Chrysalis cry out with as weak a voice as she still had, almost made the foals attack on instinct. And it was only through gritted teeth, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo holding them back that kept them from actually lashing out.

Now though, having seen what Fenris could do, they had accepted the screams, as much as they hated hearing them.

Having just taken care of yet another changeling, Fenris slowly stood back up, glaring at his claw, and the sludge that still clung to it. He destroyed it with a single, powerful swipe.

Looking around at who he had already helped, and who he still had to take care off, Fenris took several whiffs of the air, noticing the still pungent smell of hate had diminished noticeably.

Hearing the buzzing of wings, he turned to the throne room's doors, watching as a small group of changelings flew in, carrying numerous leaves which were soon deposited on the dying fires; providing only a few seconds of additional warmth before they turned to ashes. The foals watching the glowing embers slowly drift off in the sky.

"WHAT THE HAY!!??" He heard one of the children suddenly call out, and he twisted himself around in time to see an unlikely intruder phase through the solidity of the floor. A human ghost, carrying Sweetie Belle on his back.

"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle cried out, dropping down from the ghost's back. "Apple Bloom. Look who came to help!"

"Danny!?" Scootaloo breathed in amazement as she looked up at the human ghost, while Fenris glared at the intruder with slowly narrowing eyes, inhaling deeply.

"Are ya kiddin' mah!?" Apple Bloom called out, stepping towards Danny, eyes equally wide. "What's he doing here? How did he get here?"

Eyes widening in rising anger upon recognition of the smell exhumed by this Danny, Fenris shot into motion, tackling him to the ground.

"YOU!" He bellowed, his rancid breath rolling over Danny in waves while his claws pressed uncomfortably close to the human's face.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out on alarm, rushing to Danny's aid, only to come to a screeching stop as a thick, shadowy haze drifted up from Danny.

Fenris, seeing what was happening as well, barked in rage, pressing down on Danny even further.

"BACK OFF!" A frighteningly familiar voice yelled, and the dark haze surrounding Danny solidified into a strong hoof, kicking Fenris away.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and the few changeling colts and fillies all backed away in fear as Fenris pushed back in. The shadowy haze, however, drifted in between, its form growing, solidifying.

Four tendrils flowed down; becoming strong yet slender legs, leading up to an equally proportioned body. A long neck formed next, followed by a strong, feminine face; a long spiraling horn growing out of her forehead, while her mane and tail flowed in an ethereal breeze. Glowing dots of orange formed constellations within the shadowy haze that comprised her mane and tail as bat like wings flared fully to either side in dominant display. Then her eyes snapped open, and orange glowing eyes with green glowing irises locked on Fenris.

"IT'S NIGHTMARE MOON!" Apple Bloom shrieked.

"EVERYPONY, RUN!" Scootaloo yelled, scampering away herself.

"You!" Fenris barked bitterly, growling, claws flexing.

"Hello… grandfather," the mare of the moon replied tensely.

<<>><<>><<>>

The silence was deafening. Almost painfully so.

No sooner had Nightmare Moon spoken, and all eyes were locked firmly on her and Fenris; with Danny lying unmoving behind the shadowy mare, eyes wide and unblinking.

Surrounding them, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and several changeling children stood frozen; clearly terrified, yet unwilling to even twitch and draw any unwanted attention to themselves.

Then a growl escaped Fenris, the hate behind the primal sound thick enough to make the conscious changelings shudder and retch.

Lurching forwards, Fenris lashed out with strong swipes; cutting nothing but air as the shadow mare smoothly drifted out of the way, never breaking eye contact.

"Please, grandfather, there reall-" she attempted, only to be silenced by Fenris.

"SILENCE!" Fenris roared, using his muscular legs to quickly close the gap between the two of them; eyes intense, full of rage. "YOUR WORDS SHALL NOT POISON ME AGAIN!" And with glowing claws, he slashed into the darkness born from his own hate.

This time his attack connected, and Nightmare Moon cried out in anguish as Fenris' glowing claws tore through her torso.

Danny, eyes widened, screamed out as well, and the foals all looked at him in fear and worry.

Screaming, Danny clutched his side in the same general area Fenris had hit Nightmare Moon when, in a flash of white, Danny transformed, writhing on the ground.

His scream of anguish echoed through the throne room, halting Fenris' advance on shadow mare as he looked down at the human in disbelief.

"DANNY!" Sweetie Belle cried out. She, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushing to his side.

Seeing what happened, Fenris closed his paws into fists, shaking noticeably with rage as he slowly turned back to the shadow, eyes burning.

Panting from pain, Nightmare Moon struggled to righten herself, eyes locking once again.

Fenris looked down at the mare with unchecked rage and anger; worsened by the fact that all he could see in her fake eyes was sadness as she stood unnaturally calm before him.

Jaw set, Fenris pounced again, nearly missing the darkness as she sluggishly sidestepped.

"Our fight is over," Nightmare Moon said strongly, standing tall despite the searing pain. "It ended millennia ago."

"AS LONG AS YOU EXIST, OUR FIGHT IS NEVER DONE!" Fenris growled, readying himself to strike again.

Nightmare Moon sadly shook her head. "We both know where this path leads. Stop now!"

"And allow you to claim yet another," Fenris answered, his voice suddenly much lower, darker; one of his paws tightening into a fist. "NO!" He roared, leaping for the dark mare. "YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT! NOW I WILL MAKE SURE YOU DO!" And with glowing claws, Fenris slashed at her.

Jumping back and smoothly gliding out of his reach, Nightmare Moon circled around the enraged wolf as he quickly spun around, snarling as he readied himself to try again. However, before he could even attempt another attack, the human roared out as, in a flash of white, he transformed yet again, slamming into Fenris with his shoulder while his attention was focused on his ancient sin.

Taking several heavy sidesteps to catch his balance, the human took this opportunity to kick off the wolf and flew backwards away from him while firing several bolts of ectoplasm.

Raising a single, broad arm to shield himself, the bolts impacted. Mostly the ground near his feet was hit, the human's aim sloppy. However, several sizzling orbs of contained energy hit their mark; burning into Fenris' shoulder and shielding arm.

After the unexpected attack ended, Fenris slowly lowered his slightly smoking arm, eyes now locked on Danny, growling with bared teeth.

"I will only give you this one chance. Surrender, or I'll destroy you along with this corruption." Fenris barked harshly.

"You know," Danny said irritably, standing defiantly before the wolf. "I have had a really long and tiresome day, which I really just want to forget ever happened. But instead of going to bed, like I wanted to do hours ago, I instead find myself flying halfway through Equestria looking for those three—" he shot a glance towards Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle "—only to have some oversized wolf attack my shade and me. So, no. I'm not backing off. In fact, I have a lot of pent up frustration right now, and I know just the way to get rid of some of it. So, bring it!" He challenged, securing his stance as his fists burst aglow with energy.

"So be it," Fenris snarled, flexing his claws. "There shall be no leniency for those willingly succumbing to the corruption."

"Eclipse," Danny said simply, eyes flashing towards the mare behind Fenris.

Nightmare Moon gave a single nod in confirmation.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, their attention fully focused on the madness unfolding before them, shared a quick glance; Apple Bloom mouthing the word, eclipse. The others shrugged in confusion as well.

"Alright, let's dance," Danny said with confidence, looking up at the massive wolf.

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny, Fenris and Nightmare Moon were standing frozen, waiting for the other to make the first move.

Danny with an angry, yet confident gleam to his eyes. Fenris with rage and fangs bared. Nightmare Moon with regret and sadness noticeable in her facade.

Tension built as they stood with eyes locked, growing thicker and thicker with each passing moment towards the inevitable climax; a slight twitch of Danny's finger.

The three blurred into motion.

Fenris moved towards Danny, the new host of his ancient sin. Nightmare Moon moved in for the large wolf, fangs gleaming and wings flaring as she intended to halt his advance. And Danny met Fenris head-on, blocking one of his swings with his right forearm, then slammed his glowing left fist into Fenris' torso.

Staggering back, Fenris glared at Danny.

"So, you willingly accepted this corruption?"

"I didn't accept anything," Danny shot back. "And, seriously. Cut it out with the yelling. I'm right here."

Growling, Fenris allowed just that much. "You say you don't, yet the evidence proves otherwise."

"Yeah, about that," Danny responded, eyes flashing over to the shadow mare by his side. "You know this guy?"

"I'm afraid so, yes," she admitted after a moment's pause. Fenris growled threateningly upon her speaking, readying himself to attack anew.

"ENOUGH!" Erlea cried out, bravely stepping towards the hostile group. "THIS HAS GONE ON FOR FA-" a sudden bark took her by surprise; as did it all others.

Turning to the source, all were surprised to see a small, green glowing pup standing before the throne room's open doors, it's fur on end.

Barking again, the pup charged for Fenris; the wavering aura surrounding the pup intensifying as it suddenly increased in size exponentially. And before anyone fully registered what happened, a massive, aggressive looking hound tackled Fenris.

"What tha hay is that!?" Apple Bloom shrieked.

"CUJO!?" Danny yelled in surprise.

Hearing Danny's voice, Cujo's demeanor quickly changed from angry to happy. Turning his head towards Danny, tongue lolling out while wagging his tail.

Using this opening, Fenris used his feet to kick the dog off of him; sending Cujo flying halfway across the room before he slammed into the ground.

"Oh no you didn't," Danny growled, eyes burning brightly as they changed from toxic green to icy blue. Sweetie Belle gasped out as she saw this, recognizing the glow from what she had seen outside.

Quickly looking around, she jumped in between before anyone else could act, arms stretching out to either side while screaming at the top of her lungs: "STOOOP!!!"

Her voice echoed through the suddenly extremely quiet chamber, all eyes on her.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked angrily, while also trying her hardest to keep from crying. "In case you haven't noticed, there are changelings dying over here. And you said you would help. Instead, you're only making things worse," she cried out, not specifying who it was she was talking to, nor did it matter.

Danny's eyes widened marginally, slowly scanning the room. It was only now, not under sudden attack that he noticed the many bodies. Most of them still, some of them twitching and shivering. Now his eyes widened fully, and the icy blue glow of his eyes faded back to toxic green; his hands falling to his side as all anger and fire to fight left him.

Fenris growled lowly, slowly looking around as well while keeping the corruption in the corner of his eye. Quickly snapping towards the shadow mare, claws unsheathed as she stepped forwards, looking around as well.

"You know you have failed when it is the young who speak as the voice of reason," she then turned fully towards Fenris. "This fight is over!"

Fenris growled angrily, about to lash back when a cry of outrage drew all their attention towards the enraged Erlea stomping towards them, her fangs bared.

"GET. OUT!" She seethed, "Whoever the buck you are, you will NOT endanger my subjects."

Danny looked down at the young changeling with a look of shame and pity.

Erlea, as well as the other changeling foals further back flinched in surprise and confusion, looking oddly at Danny. Apple Bloom looked oddly towards Scootaloo, who had seen this strange development too. Sweetie Belle, however, remained transfixed on just trying to keep everyone apart, and seemed to have missed the odd flinch just now.

"I'm afraid I am the reason for the unfortunate chaos just now," Nightmare Moon spoke up, slowly approaching the changeling, bowing her head. "The reason for which is far too complicated to explain in just a few words. Needless to say, he—" she looked at Fenris "— and I have a… difficult history. One that still needs fixing," she sighed out. "Or at the very least, salvage what can be saved."

Fenris hissed through teeth, eyeing the mare with distrust.

"I don't care about whatever it is you're talking about!" The changeling shot back, pointing an accusing hoof towards the shadowy mare towering above her. "My kind is dying of hate, and instead of helping you're only worsening our condition."

Nightmare looked down on the filly with a saddened gaze, and this time it was Danny who spoke, stepping up besides the corruption.

"Then it should also be up to us to set this right," he said firmly, eyes locking with the filly. "You need help. That much is obvious, even if I don't fully understand everything that is going on."

Sighing and scratching the back of his head, Danny glanced back at the large wolf.

"Are you going to be a problem?" He asked.

Fenris flexed his claws, carefully studying the human and his sin with slightly narrowed eyes.

Something was different, he'd realized that much merely from the interaction with his ancient sin. It was a disease born from his own hate, cut out by his own claws. He knew what it was on the deepest level of his being, yet this thing now before him, it was different. More defined, grown stronger, wiser… and more dangerous.

"Grandfather?" Nightmare said.

And then there was that.

"What's with this grandfather thing?" Danny asked the question on everyone's mind, eyeing the shadow mare while Fenris growled lowly upon being called as such.

Biting her lower lip, Nightmare sighed out, shaking her head. "It is a long story."

"And the short version?" Danny asked.

"I, originally, was an entity born from his hatred; shaped by his rage, and subsequently cut out by his guilt."

"Hold on. Then what abo-" Danny interjected, confused, only for Nightmare to cut him off.

"Like I said, a long story," Nightmare said quickly before he could finish.

"Seriously, this day just doesn't stop with the unanswered questions," Danny grumbled, sighing in frustration. "Fine. We'll add that to the 'we'll answer this later' pile."

Nodding, Nightmare Moon agreed. "Now back to the matter at hand," she said, looking at Fenris. "You don't like me, which is understandable. However, this is neither the time, or place to settle any unfinished business."

Danny glanced at Fenris as Nightmare spoke, eyes narrowing slightly before moving towards Cujo; seeing the oversized pup standing on the sideline, teeth showing and ready to attack.

"Easy, boy." Danny said, reaching up and placing a hand on the dog's head, giving him a light scratch.

Cujo, at first aggressive and growling, immediately relaxed as his hind leg started to kick; leaning into Danny.

Within moments a wavering aura surrounded the massive dog, and much to the shock and surprise of most there, Cujo shrunk down to a small, adorable looking puppy. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and even Erlea and the other changelings all found their mouths hanging open.

"Good boy," Danny complimented, now needing to kneel down as he gave Cujo a final scratch behind the ear.

"Did anypony else see tha?" Apple Bloom asked, eyes wide.

"You mean that massive ghost dog suddenly shrinking down like that?" Scootaloo replied, stupefied.

"You'll get used to it after a while," Danny remarked offhandedly, taking a step back from Cujo and then focused on the changelings around. "Eclipse, you good?" He asked, glancing back at her.

"Not the best way to describe it, but we've come to an… understanding… sort of."

Danny, able to sense some of the underlying feelings implicated through their linked minds couldn't help but snort, giving Eclipse a level stare.

"Uh huh."

"Meaning he won't do anything that would put any innocent bystander in jeopardy," she clarified.

Fenris watched this exchange with anger, seeing the human look at him, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. Flexing his claws in reflex, he shot the human his most heated glare.

Turning to Sweetie Belle, Danny then gave the filly a quizzical look. "I take it this is that Fenris guy you spoke of."

Nodding hesitantly, Sweetie Belle continued to nervously stare at Nightmare Moon.

"I see how he got his supposed reputation. Still, if you vouch for him…"

"Forget that!" Scootaloo yelped, pointing a hoof at the mare of the moon. "Why is Nightmare Moon here, helping you?!"

All eyes swirled to the shadow mare, then back to Danny for an answer, then back to Nightmare Moon again as she cleared her throat.

"That is another long story," she said. "But know that, despite my appearance, I'm not who you think I am," she smiled at the fillies, which did little to put them at ease; a shiver traveling down their spines.

"Seriously, it's one long story after the other. It's all this is right now. A long story," Danny sighed out as he rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. "At the end of this, I really would like some answers. Buuut… that'll have to wait as well," he released another tired sigh.

He then proceeded to move towards Erlea, lowering himself to eye level as he looked into her large, teary yet anger filled eyes.

"Look, I know you have probably no idea what is going on right now. Heck, I know I don't. Still, Sweetie Belle told me what has happened; what is still happening to your kind," he then slowly looked up, seeing the large alicorn slumped down on the throne behind the young filly. Frowning, he continued. "You've done all you could've; gone through things no child should. I know you have no reason to trust me, especially after what just happened, but I ask you to please allow us to help."

Erlea faltered, trapped in a downwards spiral of anger, grief, hopelessness and despair. Any flicker of hope she'd felt on saving her kind; her friends, her family died the second she'd seen just how far her mother had slipped. Then there was the additional blow when they were forced to gather the leaves of their living history, only to have this strange human to suddenly appear and immediately start a fight; filling the air with anger and hate.

And yet, there was something about this creature. Something she couldn't quite place. He emitted a feeling, a sensation. Only for a fraction of a second, but undeniably there. Something so alien, yet so familiar at the same time. And as she looked up and into his green glowing eyes something clicked.

She didn't know why, and that in itself frightened her. Yet for reasons she didn't understand, somewhere deep down she knew she could trust him.

"I- I…" she stuttered, fell silent, then weakly nodded.

"Alright," Danny said, standing back up and looking around with a purpose, catching sight of the slowly dying fires. "First thing first, we need to get the temperature up. Is there anything we can use to fuel the fires?"

"No, there isn't," Scootaloo replied, slowly moving towards Danny while giving 'not' Nightmare Moon a wide berth. "The changelings used everything they could find before we even got here. We've tried burning those strange glowing leaves, but…"

"Thay only burned fer a few seconds… didn' really do much," Apple Bloom said with disappointment.

"But with the windigos calmed down, at the very least it won't get any colder," Sweetie Belle quietly added. "Still, won't do us much good now."

"Damn," Danny muttered, frowning. "There has to be something."

"Maybe you can use your powers to warm the place up?" Scootaloo suggested, looking at him expectantly.

"Not really," Danny answered immediately. "Sure, ectoplasm burns when you get hit, but it doesn't really work like that. Unless, of course, these ectoplasmic powers are fire based. Which mine aren't."

"Maybe ya can make those windigos take back this cold of theirs?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"I don't thin-" Danny replied, only to fall silent, looking at his hand while he flexed his fingers.

"Take back the cold…" he murmured.

"Danny?" Sweetie Belle stepped up, looking up at him. While, from a slight distance, Nightmare Moon watched Danny with slowly widening eyes.

Danny's eyes suddenly changed color, going from toxic green to icy blue.

"Whoa," Scootaloo gasped. "They changed color again."

"What are you going to do?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Danny told her, raising up an arm, hand aglow with ice blue light. "But I'm about to find out."

A burst of ice blue light radiated out from his outstretched hand, casting the room in its unnatural light while Danny seemed to strain himself to contain the glow.

The pulsing aura around his hand slowly diminished, while the glow of said aura began to extend beyond his wrist, spreading up his arm as flakes of ice formed over the sleeve of his jumpsuit.

The next moment the foals around him gasped out as they saw icy cold vapor being pulled from the air, flowing to and into Danny's glowing hand; the buildup of ice increasing, now fully covering his arm and even spreading onto his shoulder as the contained glow now shone brightly from within, revealing a ghastly sight: Danny's skeleton.

Several of the youngest changelings cowered behind their older brothers, sisters and friends in fear as they watched as more and more cold was pulled out of the air and into Danny, continuously adding to the growing layer of ice, which now covered his neck and half his chest until Danny released his hold with a grunt, his frozen arm dropping to his side while he clutched it with his unfroze appendage; the temperature in the room noticeably warmer.

"Ghaa," Danny grunted, staring at his arm with wide eyes, slowly bringing it up.

"What the…" he murmured as he looked at his appendage, flexing his fingers.

"What did you…" Sweetie Belle gasped out, too dumbstruck to finish.

"That," Scootaloo squeaked. "Was AWESOME!"

"Wha- what did you do?" Erlea asked, taking a hesitant step towards Danny. "H-how did you…"

Frowning, Danny flexed his arm before raising it up high; looking through the translucent appendage and seeing his own skeleton.

"Just like Frostbite," he murmured, not reacting to her.

"This is just like what I saw after you were hit by the crystal heart's energy," the mare who looked like Nightmare Moon said, stepping towards Danny, eyes locked on his frozen arm.

"The crystal heart?" Danny said, pulled out of his own musings. "Hold on. Yeah, I remember you saying something about my ice powers back there."

"Ice powers?" Apple Bloom spoke up, interest piqued.

"Yeah," Danny muttered his confirmation, again looking at his arm. "I have the power to create, shape, and control ice and snow… This is new, though," he revealed, dropping his arm to the side as he looked around, all eyes on him. Most of them wide in awe and amazement, even some fear while Fenris only bore the unmistakable glare of distrust. "It worked, though," Danny picked up after a moment, feeling the room's warmth sting in his frozen arm; wisps of cold condensation seeping off it.

"It looks just like Frostbite's arm," said Sweetie Belle as she slowly stepped closer.

"Yeah...it does," Danny agreed, flexing his frozen hand, then clenching it shut tight into a fist. "And yet another thing to figure out," he sighed out. "For now, I'll just go with it. Maybe I can use this to get rid of the cold all around while you help the changelings?"

"You can do that?" Erlea, shaken by everything that had happened, spoke up; the faintest glimmer of hope hidden behind despair.

"I sure as hell can try," Danny stated firmly.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle joined in. "You and me both."

"Don't forget about us," Scootaloo piped up as she and Apple Bloom stepped up besides Sweetie Belle. "With you helping, we can beat this stupid disease's sorry flank.

Nodding, Danny turned to his shadow. "Any idea how we can actually stop this thing?"

Not Nightmare Moon shifted nervously on the spot, eyes darting to Fenris and back. "Yes," she answered nervously. "But it won't be easy."

"It never is," Danny remarked with a sigh. "Just do what you can." Hesitantly, Nightmare Moon nodded.

"And what about us?" Erlea asked, clearly surprising herself for doing so.

"I'd say you've done more than enough already," Danny replied as he looked around. "Now it's our turn."

"Wha-" Erlea faltered.

"Yeah, he's right," Apple Bloom agreed with a strong nod, her ribbon bouncing in response.

"Bu-"

"No buts, Erlea," Sweetie Belle said. "We said we would help, and we will."

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed. "And now that the cold is gone, we also won't have to burn any more of those leaves that are so important to you."

"Alright," Danny said, hovering up. "As inspiring as this all is, we really should get going before it is too late." The ponies and changelings looked at one another, their priorities put back in perspective and they all scrambled to get going. They came to a full stop a moment later, looking back up at Danny.

"So, uhh… What do we do?" Scootaloo asked.

"You can look after him," Danny said, nodding his head towards Cujo. " Eclipse," he called out to his shade, looking at her. "I don't know what it is you're planning, or how he—" he looked at Fenris "— and you are connected. But whatever it is you're planning, I know it somehow involves him. With how this day has gone for me, I will only say this once: No more surprises. Figure out whatever is going on between you two, because I really don't want to be jumped again when I return."

Silenced, the mare he called Eclipse could only nod.

"Good," Said Danny, then he flew just a bit higher, looking at all below him. "Everyone, let's go save a species."

<<>><<>><<>>

Sure, it sounded inspirational, heroic even. But saying it was nowhere near actually doing it.

No sooner had Danny left, and the tension between Fenris and the Nightmare, which Danny kept calling Eclipse took firm hold over the room again.

"Grandfather," not Nightmare Moon said again, standing before Fenris, only separated by a short distance.

The ponies and changelings all looked with large, frightful eyes at the two as Fenris' claws flexed; his muscular form tense and ready to strike.

Another wildcard which had thrown itself in the mix, was Cujo. The impossible pup lying off to the side, front legs crossed over each other and resting his head on them, yet keeping a close eye on Fenris while growling ever so lightly.

Taking another step towards Fenris, the mare of shadows ignored the harsh bark Fenris threw at her.

"Shouldn't we stop her?" Scootaloo asked in a whisper, trying not to draw any attention to them.

"An’ get eaten by Fenris, or worse, by Nightmare Moon? Apple Bloom shot back fearfully.

Well, we've got to do something, Sweetie Belle told them. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, and to stay her slightly shaking legs, she took a hesitant step forward. Then another, then another.

""What are you doing!?"" Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo hissed at her, quickly closing their mouths as they noticed the eyes of Fenris and Nightmare Moon now looking in their direction.

"Ehh…" Sweetie Belle tried, her voice sounding unusually loud in the otherwise silent room. "... Eh, Nightmare Moon-"

"Please, call me Eclipse," the mare told her, giving the child what seemed to be a kind smile, although the situation and her fangs made it seem more predatory than it actually was.

"Eep," Sweetie Belle squeaked, took another deep breath, then tried again. "Okay… Eclipse. Could you please try not to have Fenris attack us all?" She asked with unexpected bluntness. "I mean…. he really doesn't seem to like you here," she quickly added, hiding away as best she could.

"Fear not, child," Eclipse replied. "Hurting others is the last thing I want to do, either directly or indirectly." Closing her eyes and sighing out, she turned back to Fenris. "I just wish he'd see this. Although I can't blame him for the way he acts towards me."

"Ehh… Could you maybe back off?" Sweetie Belle tried again. "He was actually really helping before you and Danny showed up, and it would be a real help if he did so again. But…. well, you're not really helping," she said, daring. Hoping that she was true to her words.

Looking as if punched in the gut, Eclipse hung her head.

"I see," she murmured. "If this is what you want, then I will not interfere." Taking a step back, her eyes met Fenris' once more. "I shall respect the child's request, and I hope you will do the same. I know you have no reason to trust me, and every reason to hate me. Still, I hope that, before this night is over, the two of us can come to an understanding."

Roaring in absolute rage, spittle flying out of his mouth, Fenris almost jumped at the corruption, only two small hooves of a levitating filly pressing against his chest kept him standing in place. Not because of any strength Sweetie Belle possessed, no. He could have easily pushed past her and not even notice. But the effort of the action, the look of worry in her eyes, the memory of this child flying head first into danger to help a friend calmed his anger.

"I shall respect the lives of those who sought my help," he spoke with a low, dark voice. "But dare even come close to me, and I will strike you down without remorse."

Not saying another word, Eclipse only nodded in understanding, backing away even further.

"Fenris," Sweetie Belle said, looking up at the massive wolf

Looking down, seeing the still innocent eyes of youth past the dark fur of his chest, Fenris felt his anger calm just a bit.

"Could you please help the other changelings?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Looking away from the child, he turned his focus on all the sick still lying shivering on the floor near nearly burnt out fires.

"Just keep it away from me," he growled, and Sweetie Belle pushed away from him, dropping to the floor, nodding once.

Turning to her friends, she could see them staring at her with wide eyes, mouths hanging open in amazement.

"What?" she asked.

The two fillies were too stunned by their friend's actions to even utter a response.

<<>><<>><<>>

Out in the city, many colts and fillies panted from exertion after they had moved as many of the sick as they could, while also tending to the fires per their princess' instructions. And although it was a most laborious task, it did prove fruitful as the once scattered fires were now burning brighter and warmer, and larger groups of the sick were placed around them. However, as much as this helped, it also meant that what little wood they managed to scavenge from the dying flames now burned up even faster as a result. And it wouldn't be long now until everything was burned up, exposing the sick and dying to the bitter grasp of winter's cold.

Most saw it as a sure sign of the end when the land above froze, forcing the icy grasp to reach down even here in their city. And all looked around listlessly, hopelessly as they tried to defy the odds with little to no hope left.

But then something happened. Something amazing. Something impossible.

A star shone within their city. A star shining its bright, icy blue light upon all. And feeling it as much as they saw it, the cold itself was drawn from the air and into the impossible star, which in turn shone brighter and brighter still.

The displacement of air they felt, the visible streams of cold vapor swirling to and around this star soon turned into a true vortex, and everyling looked up at the impossible with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were witnessing. The youngest among them cried, terrified, truly believing this was how it would all end. The eldest of them staring at the sight with no answers to give.

Then, just as sudden as it had appeared, the star vanished, and the tiniest of specks could be seen falling down before it landed onto one of the many spiral walkways.

"Wha… What in the queen's name was that?" A filly asked aloud, receiving no answer.

And although she didn't know what just had happened, soon, she would find out just exactly who was responsible for this miracle.

<<>><<>><<>>

There was a monster on the loose. A terrifying beast made from the cold which had tried so hard to freeze them to death.

At first they had believed the blue star to be a blessing, but now its true nature revealed itself. It was truly the end of times for them, as sliding down from one of the ramps leading to one of the higher plateaus was a terrifying creature of ice. Its piercing, icy glare, as it stared forwards and out in the city only surpassed in fearsomeness by its throaty groans as it approached.

Slowly it approached, the ground pounding with each step this abomination took; its blue glowing eyes locked on them.

"Hey," it rumbled.

Everyling screamed.

"Really?" It spoke with terrifying voice.

Every single one of them backed away in fear as the thing took another step closer; revealing yet another horror to them as he approached. Contained within the things frozen body, there was a skeleton clearly visible.

"EVERYLING, RUN!" A filly screamed, and they all scattered. Most of them running, some using the last of their dwindling strength to fly.

"Hey, hold on," it shouted. As terrifying as the beast was, it must've been stupid to think that would have worked.

"Seriously?" It groaned as it began to pursue one of the fillies. "Can you guys please stop moving?" The beast called out after them. The filly being chased screamed loudly in response as she ran for the castle.

"I just want to ask where I can go to the surface," it called out with a heavy rumbling voice, yet his words were lost on the retreating foals, and the monster slowed down just a bit; sliding forwards through his momentum before he caught himself.

"Gee, Danny. Let's move to Equestria, leave all the ghost business behind," the monster groaned. "Why didn't I just go to bed?"

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Erlea and several of the other changeling colts and fillies were moving from one sick changeling to the other; aiding them in whatever way they could; helping those conscious to drink, applying medicinal paste on the cracked and brittle chitin, and making sure Fenris wouldn't attack Eclipse, both of whom they gave a wide berth whenever they could.

Eclipse, for her part, seemed friendly enough. Helping in whichever way she could. Yet she always tried to approach Fenris, who reacted aggressively every time she tried. This wouldn't stop her, of course. Something the children found out quickly enough. A pensive frown clear as day on Eclipse's features, something weighing heavily on her mind. Something she clearly wanted to address, and which obviously involved Fenris.

Fenris, opposite of Eclipse, snarled and barked most of the time, despite Apple Bloom's insistence he didn't really mean it. Something about all bark, and no bite. Still, this didn't help the changelings to feel at ease around him. But, as he had proven before Danny and Eclipse had shown up, he was able to relieve the sick from some of their burden. Enough even, for it to become a turning point for those not too far gone, which was also why the foals were as busy as they were. For those others past the turning point, unless some kind of miracle happened they wouldn't make it.

Of course, the same would still hold true for all the sick, whether Fenris cut out the poisonous hate or not. As long as even a little bit remained, in their weakened state they would easily succumb to it again.

"Grandfather," Eclipse tried again, carefully approaching the large wolf.

Fenris growled, loudly, eyes burning with barely contained rage; saliva dripping from his fangs and glowing claws unsheathed.

Eclipse stood her ground, looking back with defiance despite her saddened gaze.

"We both know what needs to be done if we are to save them."

Fenris took a step closer, his intent clear when a loud scream echoed in through the partially open doors of the throne room, pulling everyone's attention to the absolutely terrified filly who came rushing through.

"M-m-monster!" She screamed, rushing to hide behind the first bit of cover she could find.

"Sheesh," a rough, gritty voice rolled in from behind the shadows past the doors. Heavy steps indicating something was approaching. "I know I'm not much to look at. But really, a monster?"

Out of the shadows, a frozen behemoth stepped forth, a creature that shone with icy blue light coming from within. A light that also revealed his skeleton.

Numerous shocked and frightened gasps rose up upon the sight, making the creature grunt in annoyance.

"WHAT THE HAY IS THAT THING!?" Scootaloo shouted, backing away.

"Seriously?" The creature droned, then sighed out, shaking his head with a hand placed against it.

"Master," Eclipse said in recognition, taking a step closer, not surprised by Danny's changed appearance in the slightest.

"Wait, what!?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, shocked, looking at the frozen creature. "Danny?"

Another round of gasps echoed through the chamber upon recognition of the frozen human.

"The one and only," he replied.

"What happened to you?" Sweetie Belle queried, shocked, worried.

"I caught a cold," Danny said, completely serious.

Silence.

"Yeah, okay. That one was bad," he admitted. "Still, I managed to take the cold away," he said. "Wasn't really expecting me to become an icicle the way I have." Lifting a hand, he once again looked at his bones.

"That," Scootaloo gasped, slowly stepping closer to Danny, craning her neck to look up at him. "Is so cool," she looked wide eyed at the ice encased skeletal human. "Can you do that?" She asked Sweetie Belle a moment later.

"I hope not," Sweetie Belle answered, shivering upon the sight of Danny's skeleton. "Honestly, it's kinda scary."

"Yeah," Danny murmured. "She thought so, too," he nodded towards the filly still hiding away from him; peeking past the throne at him. "Most of them did, actually," he added almost as an afterthought. "I had to walk here because, for some reason, I can't fly. And because I didn't know where to go, I thought I'd go ask for directions."

"An how did that go?" Apple Bloom asked. Danny merely pointed a finger towards the cowering child. "Ah."

"But enough about me. How're things going here?"

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, then around the room, before settling their sights upon Erlea.

"Well, Erlea seems to be petrified in fear," Sweetie Belle noted, and they all turned to look at the seemingly frozen changeling, staring at Danny with wide, unblinking eyes and mouth partially open.

"Abella and Devora are helping their friends outside, bringing in as many of the sick as they can." Scootaloo picked up. "But now that it is warmer out there, it probably isn't necessary anymore."

"Fenris seems ta be able ta 'cut' out some of this disease," Apple Bloom continued. "Not all of it, but enough to matter in tha short run. Although Eclipse keeps trying to talk to him."

"Eclipse?" Danny aimed at his shade.

Sighing out tiredly, Eclipse hung her head. "I tried to, yes, because as much as he'd done so far, it will not hold. The changelings will get sick again if nothing else is done. He knows it just as well as I do."

"What do you mean?" Danny asked.

"I mean, he can't remove the disease, merely its symptoms. The changelings aren't better, they are merely feeling better. But it won't hold. They will get sick again, unless…"

"Unless, what?"

All eyes shifted to queen Chrysalis, her eyes partially open, voice raspy as she spoke with dried, cracked lips.

"MOM!" Erlea cried out, snapped out of her stupor, running for her mother and hugging her.

The queen coughed violently, messily, chest heaving.

"Are you alright?" Danny asked, stepping in. Erlea hissed at him as he approached, making him stop in his tracks.

"Does it look like she's alright?" She growled. A weak hoof pressing against her side calmed her down, and she looked back up at her mother.

Chrysalis' eyes, only partially open, first looked at the frozen creature several steps away from her, then towards the ponies doing what they could to aid her subjects. Then her eyes drifted towards the massive wolf, the one she picked up was responsible for reducing the agony she and her children suffered through. Then her eyes locked with those who resembled the Nightmare, and she repeated her question: "Unless, what?"

"Queen Chrysalis," Eclipse gasped, not having expected for her to regain consciousness so soon. Shaking her head to focus, she answered. "As I stand before you, my name is Eclipse. Child of the entities named Shadow and Nightmare Moon. Grand daughter of Fenris, born from his hatred to the name Fenrir." She paused, feeling all eyes upon her. "Long ago, before I was as I am now, I clouded and corrupted the mind of Fenris, turning him against all. Through his own actions, and by his own claws, he cut me out at the cost of his own life, losing a part of his very soul as well." She then looked at Fenris, who glared at her with murder in his eyes. "This is why he can't cure the disease ravaging all of you. Cutting out the hate which is killing you would equal death."

Chrysalis sighed heavily, coughing as she rested her head against her throne, eyes closed.

"I see," she murmured. "And the solution?"

Eclipse sucked in a stuttering gasp, then continued.

"Fenris can't remove a disease born from hate, for I am the part of him that knows how to do this. Apart, neither one of us is capable. But if we were to reunite-" That was all she could say as, with a terrifying growl, Fenris attacked.

"Oh hell," Danny muttered with a rumble, jumping in between; grabbing one of Fenris' wrists in his frozen hand while missing the other. The one clawed paw he did manage to catch immediately froze, immobilizing it completely. The other, however, went on to pierce Danny in his shoulder; cutting cleanly through the ice.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gasped in shock when Danny cried out in pain, the claw cutting deep, scarring the bone underneath his frozen skin. While, at the same time, Fenris' claw immediately started to freeze the second it sunk into Danny's frozen flesh; locking it in place.

Fenris howled in rage, the freezing cold biting deep, and with all the strength his muscular body provided, he pulled himself free.

Now, again, Danny cried out, loudly, full of anguish as Fenris did not only pull away his claw, but a sizable chunk of his shoulder broke off as well, exposing the bone underneath.

Danny screamed, grabbing his damaged shoulder with his hand purely on reflex as he stumbled backwards, then dropped to his knees.

"""DANNY!""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out in alarm, rushing over to his side while Eclipse did the same.

"GHYAA," Danny grunted, ever so carefully looking at his injury.

Stepping up to defend the fallen ghost, Eclipse took a defensive stance between Danny and Fenris.

"No matter what, I will protect my master!" She stated strongly, her horn starting to glow with spectral might.

Fenris took another step backwards, looking with a hint of shock at Danny, then his claw; chunks of ice still connecting it. Then his eyes met Eclipse's, and he felt himself freeze up.

Here stood before him, the monster of his own creation, opposing him, defending one it recognized as its master. Defending the human against him, just as he did for the shade a second ago. Each protecting the other. Protecting each other from him.

As much as he hated and feared his past sin, looking into its eyes there was something he recognized. Something which frightened him as much as it enraged him: shame.

Shame for him, for lashing out as he did. Shame for herself, for allowing this to happen. Shame for the changelings, reduced to this state by the very same thing that gave life to his corruption. Shame for the human, for stepping in between. And most of all, he saw her shame for existing.

"GHAA!" Danny cried out again as cold steam began to flow from his injury.

"Danny, what's happening?" Sweetie Belle cried in alarm, the wisps of cold vapor quickly increasing to an all consuming fog around his shoulder.

Fenris felt himself go weak. In many ways he allowed his anger to take over again; lashing out against his hate given form, regardless of who, or what came in between.

"Arf!" A new voice spoke up, and Fenris slowly turned to the small pup near his feet; looking up at him with angry eyes.

"Bark, arf arf, arooo. Grrr-arf arf!" Cujo growled and barked.

"You know not of which you speak," Fenris barked back.

Cujo narrowed his eyes. "Ghrrr, arf," then he lifted his tail and farted.

"You dare!?"

Cujo did, in fact, dare. And he repeated the action. Not stopping there, he turned his back to Fenris, a clear show of fearlessness; an open challenge. "Arf arf, woof ghrr. Arooo," he took a step towards Danny, stomped a paw on the floor, then glared over his shoulder at Fenris. "Woof, arf. Arf woof aw-awroo. Arf!" He finished strongly, leaving Fenris speechless as Cujo glared up at him.

"What just happened?" Scootaloo asked, confused.

"I have honestly no idea," answered Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to give voice to her thoughts, but then she noticed something amazing happening with Danny. "Uh, girls…"

"You speak with reason belying your age," Fenris suddenly spoke up, lowering his head towards Cujo in respect. "I shall listen to what he has to say."

"Girls," Apple Bloom tried again. "Look!"

This time she managed to get their attention, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, as well as all the others turned back to the severely injured human.

"Ghraaaa," Danny grunted in pained exertion, massive amounts of supercooled vapor rising up out of the wound; filling the space and regrowing the ice.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo awed, eyes wide.

"Is… is he healing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ghyaaaa!" Danny gasped out dropping to the ground fully, managing to catch himself with his hands.

His eyes shot open, and he glanced wearily to his shoulder. A gasp of shock escaped him.

His shoulder was completely whole again, with only the exception of a visible scar present on the bone.

"What the?" He murmured, pushing himself to a sitting position, then gingerly prodding his shoulder with a couple of fingers. "How…?"

"It must be because of all the cold you've absorbed," Eclipse surmised. "It must allow you to regrow any part of your body that's damaged."

Grunting, Danny pushed himself back up. "As likely as that sounds, I'm in no hurry to find out if that is true." Slowly rolling his shoulder to see if everything was in working order, Danny stared at the scar inflicted on his bone, frowning angrily.

With heavy steps, Fenris slowly approached under the watchful eye of Cujo. Still glaring at Eclipse, but the fire in his eyes had diminished considerably.

"You, who my sin calls its master. Speak, and I shall listen."

"Just like that, huh," Danny muttered, voice thick with suspicion.

"No," Fenris rumbled. "If it wasn't for the guardian, and how highly he speaks of you, I wouldn't give you the chance to speak."

"Guardian?" Danny blinked, confused as to who Fenris was referring to.

"Arf," Cujo barked.

"... Guard dog," Danny said slowly, looking up with a flat gaze. "Of course," he droned.

Sighing out and filling the air with cold vapor, he turned to Eclipse. "So you originate from him?" He asked, and the shadow mare nodded once. "How?"

"For many years my former host watched with growing anger and hate as those who corrupted their way of living massacred countless innocents, unable to do anything against this by the rules he and his brothers had set for themselves. Over time, his rage grew into something much darker; a creature born from hate itself. Me." She told with downcast eyes.

"You?" Danny asked, clearly not liking this one bit.

Nodding, Eclipse continued. "Yes, but I was not the individual standing before you today. I don't really recall what happened after my… removal from Fenris, only that, somehow, I managed to find a new host on a world alien to me. Princess Luna," she revealed, and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gasped out. "I'm still trying to piece everything together. The memories of Shadow and Nightmare Moon are overlapping, mixing, blurring each other. But what I do recall with perfect clarity is that I, an entity of hate, latched onto the negativity of Princess Luna, amplifying it past anything she would have been capable of herself; corrupting her in much the same way I did my first host, even translating some of his features to her." She sighed out, deeply, head held low.

"However, the negativity of princess Luna was not born from hate, but jealousy. Two different emotions which, in some ways, are closely connected. And such, the two mixed. And where princess Luna jealousy turned to hate, I in turn learned to be jealous."

"So ya are Nightmare Moon?" Apple Bloom asked.

"No, not exactly," Eclipse shook her head. "If anything, she's my mother."

"Say what!?" Scootaloo shouted.

"Nightmare Moon has a daughter!?" Apple Bloom cried in alarm.

"No no no, nothing like that!" Eclipse tried to calm down the situation.

"But didn't you just say you were?" Danny pointed out, arms crossed and looking quizzically at Eclipse.

"I did," she admitted. "But only because of a lack of better words. Your shade, Shadow, originally was merely a drone. Mindless and only able to perform certain tasks."

Danny slightly shifted on the spot, head cocked to a side, thinking. "Yes, that's right. Shadow couldn't even move all that far away from me without disappearing. And he certainly couldn't talk."

"Indeed," Eclipse murmured grimly. "His sudden growth in abilities was the direct result of him absorbing Nightmare Moon. Completely by accident, mind you. He was merely trying to protect your mind from Princess Luna as she tried to gain access to your dreams."

"Yes, I remember Shadow mentioning something like that. He referred to Princess Luna as a bad pony, mostly so because he wasn't able to speak all that well. Still, what he said, not to mention what Ruby and Grill told me back at the café; this whole dream entering and controlling thing sounds a whole lot like Nocturn to me." Danny said, his head tilted slightly to the side as he thought back.

"Who's Nocturn?" Apple Bloom piped up, sharing a confused look with her friends.

"He's the ghost of sleep and dreams," Danny revealed. "He uses his power to put people to sleep so he can absorb their dream energy to charge himself up for world conquest."

The fillies' mouth dropped open upon Danny's revelation.

"Yeah," Danny sighed out.

"Well, Princess Luna ain't like that at all!" Apple Bloom was quick to defend the princess.

"True, but I wouldn't have put it past my mother had she known about this," Eclipse continued. "Regardless of what ifs, as Luna tried to gain entry to your mind in an attempt to find out what troubled you each night, Shadow thwarted her every time."

"What troubled me each night?" Danny repeated, looking of to the side, thinking.

"That nightmare," Eclipse told him, and Danny sucked in a sharp breath. "You haven't had it in a while now, have you?"

"No," Danny replied, only now realizing this himself. "... Did princess Luna do that?"

"No," Eclipse shook her head. "Shadow did, at first. Now it is my task to keep your past from resurfacing."

"I see," Danny mumbled, thinking all of this over.

"Hold on," Scootaloo cut in, pointing a hoof at Eclipse. "You said you were Nightmare Moon's daughter. How does that even work?"

Turning to the filly, Eclipse continued her story. "After Danny's shade, Shadow, absorbed the remainder of Nightmare Moon from princess Luna, a change occurred within him. Nightmare Moon was still very weak, and she latched onto him in order to restore herself, enhancing the abilities he already had, while also bestowing numerous new traits onto him as well. Intelligence for one, as well as the ability to speak. Of course, this was not done out of any kindness on her part. Just a necessity to save herself. And as she grew, the two fought long and hard over control over their physical form—" she used a hoof to indicate the whole of her body "—as well as Danny's mind."

"Say, what?!" Danny shouted.

"Do you recall the blinding rage you felt while facing Sombra?" She asked, and Danny, thinking for awhile, shook his head.

"No. Now that I think about it, there is quite a large gap, between me first fighting Sombra outside the shield, and then finding myself at the edge of the city, meeting you," he summed up, slowly looking up at the shadow mare. "What the hell happened?"

"Nightmare Moon took control, turning your anger and hate for Sombra, and what he did, against you," she revealed, and Fenris flinched, looking at Danny with wide eyes. "You became unstable, volatile, blinded by unchecked rage. Nightmare Moon used this to take control over you and Shadow."

All the fillies and colts standing around the group gasped out in shock, looking wide eyed and frightened at Danny.

"Then how-"

"The Crystal Heart saved you," Eclipse answered before he could even finish. "It's energy cleansed you, while also merging Shadow and Nightmare Moon into one: Me. I'm both Shadow and Nightmare Moon, while neither of them at the same time. The Crystal Heart brought balance between two extremes, creating a new entity in the process. So, for all intent and purposes, I am the child of Shadow and Nightmare Moon."

"Crystal Heart?" Chrysalis coughed. "Does that mean, the Empire-"

Looking at her with worry, Eclipse gave a faint nod. "It has returned." She then turned to Fenris, looking up at him with made up resolve.

"Danny," she aimed at her master, never averting her gaze. "My former host said he'd listen to what you have to say, yet it was I who did all the talking. So far Fenris has allowed me to do so," —she then spoke directly to the wolf before her— "But I fear you will lash out again when I explain my plan to save the changelings." A rough growl answered her.

"Do not think sharing your previous transgressions will make me see you any different," Fenris barked. "I allowed you to talk merely because the human wished this. And only then, because of the guardian's words." His voice then lowered, becoming much darker of tone. "You are a disease. A plague on the world. Don't think I will have anything to do with what you're planning."

"Not even to save a species?" Eclipse confronted him, then sighed out heavily, slightly shaking her head.

"What is it that you even want to do?" Danny asked with a hint of worry.

"I wish to reunite with my first host," Eclipse answered with heavy voice. Fenris' growled deeply, tensing up and preparing to strike.

"You what!?" Danny balked.

"I wish to reunite with my first host. Together we are able to remove the hate which is killing the changelings without killing them should Fenris do this himself."

Danny quickly stepped up, standing in between Eclipse and Fenris as a means to keep the two apart, even though Fenris had already demonstrated such actions were foolish at best.

"I'll ask again," said Danny. "You want to do what!? Reunite? How? By possessing him? You and I both know that won't work; how dangerous it is. Not only that, you are a part of me now. If something would go wrong, who says it won't affect me too?"

"It won't be a possession as you think it to be. I already am part of him, so I should be able to rejoin without any ill effect."

"You were a part of him," Danny stated firmly. "Didn't you just say so yourself, how you grew as you first possessed princess Luna, then me, before finally being merged together with Shadow. Any part of you that is still his—" he indicated Fenris "—has most likely changed as much as you have."

Head held low, Eclipse stood silently as Danny spoke. Then, ever so slowly, she lifted her head, eyes set in confident determination.

"This will work," she stated. "I'm sure of it."

Fenris snorted in disgust, spitting the foul taste to the floor.

"No," Danny stated firmly. "There has to be another way. But you are not going to 'reunite' with your grandfather, or whatever he is to you. Regardless of who or what you are now, you are still a ghost. And ghosts don't possess ghosts. The very reason you are even here in the first place is because I did just that. And we both know where that got me. Besides," he added after a short pause. "Even if you're right, he isn't going to let you go through with it."

Eclipse looked up, past Danny and into the murderous eyes of Fenris. Finding no forgiveness there.

"Look," Danny pulled her attention back down. "I understand you want to help. So do I, but not in a way as dangerous as what you're suggesting. Now, I still don't fully understand what is going on with you, seeing that you are you only since today. And I wasn't even conscious when you came to be, so I'm not entirely sure what to make of you, too. You're not exactly Shadow. How about, instead, we just let Fenris do his thing, which does seem to help. And while he does that, I need to find a way back to the surface and get rid of this cold. Because, in case this wasn't obvious yet, I'm a literal walking and talking icecube."

"But can't you just fly up and through the ceiling, like what you did when we were looking for the throne room?" Sweetie Belle asked, turning all eyes towards her.

"I'm afraid not," Danny sighed, blowing out a dense cloud of cold air. "Somehow, because of this—" he gestured the whole of his body "—I can't fly or even turn intangible. I had to walk here. I did try to ask for directions back to the surface, but, well," he pointed a finger at the filly who came into the throne room screaming. "So if anyone could show me the way up, that would be really helpful."

"You can't fly?!" Scootaloo cried out, aghasted.

"No… sliding down without control, however…" He fell silent there, staring blankly.

"O-kay…?" said Apple Bloom, then a thought hit her. "Hey, maybe Wind Chill knows what's goin' on with ya?" She suggested.

"Hey, yeah," agreed Sweetie Belle. "Maybe he also knows a way for Nigh- eh… Eclipse to help without doing what she said she wanted to do."

"Even more reason for me to get back up there, then," Danny mused, turning towards Chrysalis, and in extend her daughter, Erlea, still sitting at the foot of the throne. "Do you think one of you can show me the way around here? This place is like a maze, and with my abilities currently being uncooperative it is rather difficult for me to get around."

Erlea blinked, slowly, looking with slightly crazy eyes at the frozen human, then the shadow mare who resembled the corruption and claimed to be Nightmare Moon's daughter. Then her eyes moved to Fenris, a massive wolf with questionable motives to help, and who, by Eclipse's claims, was also her grandfather; the one who was responsible for the corruption's creation. And finally, her eyes shifted over to the fillies who so stubbornly tried to help her ever since they rescued her from the timberwolves. All of what had happened since she'd met those three, especially everything that had just happened the last twenty or so minutes had thrown her mind for a loop. Nothing made any sense anymore. Not Sweetie Belle, who claimed to be a spirit and the ridiculous claim for there to be a ghost world, nor the subsequent traversion to said ghostly realm and everything that followed after as a result. And now, standing before her, asking for directions as if this was just another regular day was a human, an alien from another world, who she was told was just like Sweetie Belle, but not a spirit but a ghost. A creature who demonstrated to be capable to suck the freezing cold forced upon them by the mythical windigos out of the air, only for him to freeze solid as a result. And he was asking her for directions.

Nothing made any sense anymore.

Up was down. Left was right. Inside was outside. And all of this contributed to her well thought out response to his question.

"Whu…?"

Looking at her expectantly, several long seconds passed in awkward silence until Sweetie Belle slowly edged closer to her; pushing the tip of her hooves in her side to gain a response.

"I think we broke her," she said after a moment, receiving no reply from the young changeling.

"Arf!" Cujo called for attention, ears perked up as he looked up at Danny.

"What is it, boy?" Danny asked the pup, who then moved for the partially open doors. Stopping after several steps, he looked back at the frozen man, barking again.

"Ah think he wants ta show ya tha way," Apple Bloom realized, recognizing similar signs from Winona.

"You sure?" Danny asked. In answer, Cujo barked again. "Okay, lead the wa- hey, hold up!" He called after the pup as he quickly ran away.

Not wasting any more time, Danny hurried after the canine, leaving the others behind in a tense silence; all eyes back on Eclipse and Fenris.

".... Sooo… Now what?" Scootaloo asked after a moment.

Sweetie Belle perked up, mouth opening to answer. She then froze mid-motion, and deflated with a heavy sigh. "I have no idea."

<<>><<>><<>>

With slow steps, and the accompanying 'tap tap tap' of her staff as she walked, the Elder approached a tall, grandfather clock-like building.

Looking up at the swinging pendulum, the Elder took a slow breath, then jumped from the floating rock she stood on towards the building floating in the green void of the Ghost Zone; dropping down a few steps shy of the large double doors. Doors which slowly swung open the moment she righted herself.

Not hesitating one moment, she calmly moved inside; not even flinching as the doors closed behind her with a dull thud.

She moved through the large hallway with purpose, not deviating from her path; clearly showing her knowledge of the building's layout.

The slight tapping of her staff was the only sound filling the ancient hall as she neared one of the many arched doorways, the green glow of a swirling vortex shining through, basking her in its light as she looked towards the lone ghost hovering before the swirl of energy; holding a staff of his own.

"Hello, Elder," Clockwork greeted, not averting his gaze from the time window. "I've been expecting you."

"So it would seem," the Elder concurred, stepping inside the room, joining the time ghost's side. "I take it this precognitive perception of yours has something to do with this hastily closed viewing portal," she said lightheartedly.

Clockwork chuckled, finally turning towards the frost giant besides him.

"As perceptive as always, I see," he said, grinning slightly.

"Did you expect any different?"

"Of course not," he told her. "But viewing portal, or not, I knew it was only a matter of time before you would show up here. After all, with everything that has unfolded; what is still going to unfold… Pieces are being put in position, ourselves included."

Sighing heavily, the Elder nodded. "Indeed. And speaking of such, I must thank you," she told him. "For helping Scootaloo."

Clockwork arched a single eyebrow, only slightly surprised that she'd knew about that too.

"Yes," he said. "She was lost, blinded by her own unwillingness to accept reality as it is. She had to see, experience all sides of probability, and be put in a position where all the consequences of both her actions, as well as others could not be denied any longer; horrible as this might have been."

"I agree," the Elder sighed sadly. "She was troubled. Very much so. I just hope this will set her back on track."

Now Clockwork was confused. "You mean you haven't already seen?"

"Some things are hidden, even for me," she reminded him. "Although I have good reason to believe your intervention has bore fruit."

"How so?" he asked.

"Tree of Life," she told him, and Clockwork gasped.

Looking around quickly, Clockwork lifted his staff and created a time bubble around the two, preventing anyone to hear what would be said further.

"What about her?" he asked most seriously.

The Elder didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a step towards the swirling mass of the viewing portal, looking into the endless.

"She bares fruit once more," she revealed, shocking Clockwork. "Three seeds of life. One for each of the children."

"What!?" Clockwork shouted.

"Indeed," the Elder agreed. "Although they are still young, undeveloped. Yet with noticeable growth in accordance with the children. Sweetie Belle has shown the most promise, yet she is still doubtful. Scootaloo has come to accept reality as it is, and this growth has undoubtedly shown itself too. Young Apple Bloom, however. She has difficulties coming to terms."

"Coming to terms with what, exactly?"

"Denial, anger, bargain, depression and acceptance," she summed up.

"The five stages of grief," Clockwork realized. "What about it?"

Looking at the time ghost, the Elder explained. "The children all show signs, connections to these traits. Scootaloo lost her parents, just like Apple Bloom, where as Sweetie Belle did not experience such tragedy. Three different variations with distinct results. Scootaloo still recalls certain details of her parents, faint and obscure as they may be. Whereas Apple Bloom does not. While Sweetie Belle grew up to know her parents, none the wiser of what such tremendous loss could be like, even though her parents are away more often than not, leaving her older sister to take care of her. This makes them react to their loss in different ways. Scootaloo, to start with, was angry. Very much so. Even wishing for things to be different, one way or the other. Bargaining for it. Then she came to accept how things were thanks to you. Sweetie Belle, who hasn't suffered any loss like that which troubles her friends, still deals with the reality those who gave life to her are not part of it as much as she would have wanted. It makes her unsure of herself, to some extend. There are times where she doesn't believe she is capable of doing what her friends know she can do. Although her friends do help her overcome this denial of her own capabilities every time. Her spirit transformation only added to her uncertainty, although she has slowly coming to accept these changes, and growing stronger both in mind and body as a result." she sighed out wearily, slowly shaking her head.

"But then there is Apple Bloom. She misses her parents, very much so. Even though she doesn't remember them, and all she has to remember them by are the stories and pictures shared by her family. Yet she denies missing them, making herself believe that something she never knew can't be missed. And although she smiles, laughs, and plays with her friends, the truth is this denied feeling of loss does make her depressed when she believes no one is there to see it. And it is because of this denial, much so like Scootaloo, which now stands in her way, preventing herself from growth and reaching her full potential."

Clockwork remained silent for several long minutes, staring into the endless of the vortex, lost in thought.

"... You mean to tell me that… that those three are-"

"Chosen to represent the stages of grief, yes. These Seeds of Life,which Tree of Life has grown, are theirs. Their Embodiments."

"But… that can't be possible. Can it?"

"I know what you mean," the Elder picked up. "While I see no reason for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo not to receive an Embodied Artifact, Sweetie Belle is a different story."

"Has it ever happened, in all of history, for one to represent two Embodiments?"

"No, never."

"Then, how?"

"Choice," the Elder sighed. "It has always been the problem. Sweetie Belle represents choice, but it seems she herself has also been chosen. Chosen to be something far greater than we have ever seen before, I only hope she can accept the role put onto her."

Clockwork took a deep breath, then slowly let it go; tightening the grip he had on his staff.

"Choice has always been the problem. Especially when we don't have a choice to make."

No further words were said, and as Clockwork collapsed the time bubble around them, a lone figure, hidden in the shadows, watched the two with great interest. Her bat wings twitching in nervousness.

"Yet there still remains one thing that needs to be said," the Elder said, and she slowly turned to where she was hiding.

"Hello, Sam," she said, and Sam released a startled gasp upon having been found out. "It's good seeing you again."

Author's Note

Please inform me about any mistakes which slipped through the cracks.

~Powerdrainer

Cold Realizations

Edited by Slayerseba and Clawder.

Cold Realizations

<<>><<>><<>>

"GHAA!" Danny yelled as he clutched his chest, dropping to his knees before the startled zebra, as a wavering aura surrounded his body and he vanished in a flash.

Moments later, Twilight came rushing out of Zecora's hut, followed moments later by her friends.

"Zecora, what happened?!" Twilight asked urgently. Zecora, however, could only stare in shock at where Danny just stood, unable to answer the question she was asking herself.

"Zecora," Twilight tried again with rising panic. "Where's Danny?!"

Zecora didn't answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny, or rather the wisp of energy which had been Danny, shot through the forest with great speed; its faint light illuminating his immediate surroundings, a streak of light in the air.

It weaved past trees and shot through bushes, not stopping for anything as it felt the pull, the drive to return, to become whole.

A solitary owl hooted, as it shot past the tree the animal was perched on, not aware of the creature following its path with calculating eyes. Wings flapping trying to follow, even after the distance became too great.

Before long, the forest gave way to grasslands, the many blades of green glinting as the pale white streak shot past them, moving further and further; over hills and ice, until it encountered a herd of equines standing within a frozen land.

Ignoring them, the wisp of energy shot into a mostly frozen tunnel; following the path it encountered without straying, shooting into a hidden city deep below.

It continued, ignoring the fires, or the eyes of the insect like ponies who saw it as it moved for a destroyed gate.

It entered the maze of corridors, ignoring the boundaries of tangibility as it moved through wall after wall until it encountered two massive doors, standing slightly ajar.

It flew through, encountering a group of creatures. It moved for one of the largest present. But before it made contact, it stopped, hovering before the unknown entity from which it sensed the pull; shifting erratically from left to right.

It didn't understand what this was, nor did it have much of cognitive abilities in its current state. All it did 'know' was that the drive to return came from the beast before it. And so, with a shrug, it shot into the beast's chest, merging back with itself.

"Nghh," Danny moaned as he dropped to a knee, the memories of his double joining the influx of thoughts he was already busy dealing with.

"""DANNY!""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out in alarm.

"Im alright," Danny said, pushing himself back up. "It was just my duplicate returning… Guess whatever happened to me also affected, well, me."

"Duplicate?" Sweetie Belle repeated, cocking her head in confusion.

"Yeah… I can copy myself numerous times."

"Does this mean you finally mastered this ability of yours?" Wind Chill asked with a hint of admiration.

"Not even close," Danny replied flatly, looking off to the side as he sifted through the influx of new memories his other half had accumulated, while Scootaloo looked at him in awe, Apple Bloom, as if he'd grown a second head, while Sweetie Belle looked almost shocked.

"... Can I do that too?" She asked with uncertainty, worried what this might mean for herself.

"I have no i-" Danny began, only to fall silent as the last of his double's memories came to focus. "... OH, COME ON!" He suddenly bellowed, scaring the fillies and colts; some of the changelings fluttering their wings nervously.

"Is something wrong, Great One?" Wind Chill asked, alarmed.

"Wrong doesn't even begin to describe the mess all of us are in right now," Danny fretted, bringing up a hand to pull through his hair, only to stop mid motion when he saw the clearly not human appendage.

"What's going on?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I just saw the memories of my double," Danny revealed, then dragged a hand over his face, not even caring what it was anymore. "Great. Just great. Just fan-fucking-tastic," he cursed, the full weight of everything that had happened during this, far too long, day finally being too much.

"Great One, language," Wind Chill sucked in a breath, scandalized. "There are children here."

"Don't even get me started," Danny groaned. "Not only are we here because of them—" he looked down at the three fillies, who backed away as his heated gaze landed on them "— but back in Ponyville everyone has locked themselves inside because someone saw a ghost-"

"Hey, yeah. That's right. Bulk Biceps came screaming into town," Scootaloo cut in, only to be silenced by a flat yet harsh glare from Danny.

"Wonderful," he groaned. "Not only that, but your sisters, your brother and your caretaker are out in the Everfree Forest looking for you with their friends," he aimed at the three young ponies with wild hand gestures. "And to make matters even more 'perfect', there is a group of ghost hunters out there as well who have revealed themselves because you three are missing, claiming it may have something to do with the recent spectral activity they've encountered and they put me in a very difficult position as a result; only for the sudden appearance of possibly another ghost to steer them away from me! Oh yeah, and then there is also this—" he motioned to indicate his transformed self "— GHAA! Can this day get any worse?!" Danny yelled in frustration, only to fall silent when Cujo, standing in the open doorway, began to bark,

"Who said that?" Danny asked, looking around, confused.

"Who said what?" Scootaloo asked, and another set of barks came in answer.

"There it is again," Danny said, ears swiveling around, trying to find the source.

"I don't hear anypony speaking," said Sweetie Belle.

"Well, there's that green dog standin' in tha doorway," Apple Bloom pointed out. "He's been barking every now and then."

Cujo barked happily, tongue lolling out his mouth as Danny turned to look at him; eyes wide in disbelief.

"You can talk!?" Danny yelled.

"Bark," Cujo answered.

"Talk?" Apple Bloom said, confused, glancing at her friends for answers, but receiving only shrugs from them.

"All I hear is barking," Scootaloo said.

Cujo barked his answer happily, receiving only blank looks from the ponies.

"You mean I can understand you because I'm… this?" Danny asked, gesturing his wholesome.

Cujo barked enthusiastically.

"Ehh… What's going on?" Asked Scootaloo after Danny stood silent for nearly a minute.

Cujo barked in answer. Scootaloo could only blankly stare.

Stepping closer to Danny, Cujo set his sights on Danny's ankle. Opening his mouth as wide as he could, his teeth shimmered for a moment, then grew much bigger. Then he chomped down, hard.

".... GYIAAAAAAAAAA!" Danny screamed as he jumped away in reflex; hopping on one leg while holding the bitten, slobber covered foot with both hands.

"CUJO! WHAT THE HELL!?"

Cujo barked back a noticeably smug reply.

"I'll repeat myself," Danny growled, slowly putting his foot back down. "What. The. Hell?"

"Okay, does anypony know what tha hay is goin' on here?" Apple Bloom asked, scratching her head as she watched the transformed human argue with a small, green glowing pup.

"Not me," Sweetie Belle shook her head.

"Nuhuh," Scootaloo replied as she turned to the changeling beside her. Erlea, however, confused as she was, could only glare at the current development.

"Wind Chill?" Apple Bloom turned to the giant.

"I… I think that, whatever caused Danny to come in possession of Fenris' body, also allows him to understand other dog like creatures."

"... That actually makes sense… in some weird, illogically kind a way," said Apple Bloom.

"You mean…" Danny said slowly, the tone of his voice so severe it returned the fillies' attention back to him. "You mean Tucker, Jazz, Wulf, Dani, and Valerie are out there looking for me?"

Cujo barked while nodding all the while.

"Who are they?" Apple Bloom asked, intrigued.

"Maybe Tucker is the Tucker Foley from the Fenton corporation," Sweetie Belle said, a pondering hoof pressed against he chin. Then fell silent as they all shared the same realization. """Oooohh,""" they joined voices.

"But who are the others?" Asked Scootaloo.

"Jazz," Danny gasped out as he looked away. "Jazz's my older sister. Tucker is my oldest, and best friend. Wulf is a ghost; a wolf much like how I now am. Valerie is… was someone once close to me… It didn't work out. And Dani… Dani. She's my…." Danny closed his eyes, releasing a deep sigh "In a way, she's my twin sister."

"In a way?" Said Sweetie Belle, blinking in confusion as she shared a equally confused look with her friends.

"It…'s a long story. Not something I feel like telling right now," Danny sighed out, then turned around to look at the children. "Besides, we've got more pressing matters to deal with," he reminded them. "First and foremost, what happened to me and how do I turn back to myself?"

"WHAT!?" Erlea yelled, stomping towards Danny. "I don't care about what happened to you, or how to fix you! Because right now my kind is still dying and the only one who was able to do anything has now somehow disappeared when you took over his body, taking away what little hope we had!"

"Well, shouldn't we try to undo what happened to Danny because of that?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Maybe he can use his claws like Fenris did?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Whadda ya think, Wind Chill?" Apple Bloom asked the giant.

"I think this is a matter out of our abilities to simply solve. I can't even begin to understand what happened to the Great One, or how to undo it," Wind Chill replied grimly. "Though, as he is now, it may be possible for him to see the Elder. Her knowledge of Danny's, euhh, unique situation may prove to be much greater than mine."

"But if we leave, who will help Erlea?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at one another, conveying their thoughts through eye contact alone.

"Well, Ah can stay here an' help them changelings with tha fires and tha sick," Apple Bloom suggested.

"Are the windigoes calmed down now?" Scootaloo asked Wind Chill.

"They are. But if they are allowed to roam free without someone watching them, there is no telling what could happen," he answered.

"Then I will do that," Scootaloo said, determined. "Then you, Sweetie Belle and Danny can go see the Elder, and undo whatever happened to him."

"That could work," Wind Chill said, pleasantly surprised with this possible solution. "You would need to take care not to agitate the windigoes. If one of them reacts badly, the others will most certainly follow.'

"Don't worry," Scootaloo reassured. "They're like us ponies, right? Just taller, colder… and deader?"

"Well, ehh. Not exactly, but close enough I suppose," Wind Chill replied.

"Then if we hurry, we can go see the Elder, fix Danny and Fenris, and come back here to help the changelings," Sweetie Belle summed up.

"And again you're running off to do who knows what," Erlea snapped, breathing heavily through teeth. "Abella, go with them. Make sure they come back here." 'And if not, make sure they will go down with us!'

Nodding, Abella turned to Sweetie Belle.

"We've been lenient with you out of necessity. But our patience has an end. Find a way to fix him, now!" Abella hissed.

"Then we should hurry," Wind Chill urged them on. "The portal is quite a distance away."

"Eehh… Portal?" Danny asked, confused. "Clearly I'm missing some critical information here."

"Some time ago," Wind Chill quickly answered, "a portal of unusual properties opened in the Far Frozen. Something which could not have happened in the first place, yet it did all the same. And as it would turn out, this portal leads directly to the children's world; having forged a passage into an ancient chamber of sorts."

"Yeah, it's in the old castle of the Princesses," Scootaloo clarified.

"In tha Everfree Forest," Apple Bloom added.

“... Okay,” Danny said blankly. "... Just to get this right. There is a portal, in an old castle, in the Everfree Forest. Said portal leads to the Far Frozen and now we need to go to this portal to find the Elder?" He asked and all three fillies, and Wind Chill gave him a confirming nod. "... And going from the memories of my double, said forest is also where your sisters, caretaker and friends are looking for you. Said forest where also a group of ghost hunters are, who are already chasing after a possible ghost, while also suspicious of me… and my double clearly vanishing as he did not aiding the situation at all… Anyone else seeing this trainwreck coming, or what?"

"That… could pose a problem, yes," Wind Chill replied grimly.

"Problem doesn't even begin to describe it," Danny groaned. "At least, I hope Zecora can steer some of this impending disaster away from us."

"Zecora?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"She knows about me," Danny revealed, quickly holding up a clawed hand to silence any further inquiries. "Long story. Now's not the time," he told them, then sighed out. "Well… Nothing serious has gone wrong the last, I don't know, two minutes… So, to the Everfree we go, I guess."

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all showed the same worried look, and even Wind Chill grimaced over the dire situation they found themselves in. Yet despite it all, there was one voice of reason which finally spurred them into motion. And it was an agitated voice at that.

"WELL, ARE YOU COMING OR WHAT!?" Abella shouted, standing impatiently before the open doors of the throne room.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Zecora, please tell us what happened?" Twilight asked again, having brought her striped friend back inside and casting a protective barrier over Zecora's hut for added measure.

Zecora, still mentally replaying everything that had just happened and unable to deduce Danny's fate ever since he, well, whatever it was that happened to him, sat still on her bed, eyes closed, and releasing a deep breath.

She didn't know what had happened, yet there were some details Danny had managed to convey before his fate exploded into uncertainty. Sweetie Belle and her friends were safe, to some extend. And the shapeshifting creatures known as changelings were somehow involved as well. Add to that Danny's secret, dual nature of being a ghost and, again, what had just happened to him, Zecora knew something big was going on.

"Zecora?" Twilight tried again after her friend still didn't reply to her, or any of her friends.

"Surely she's too shocked by what she saw to speak to us," Rarity said with a dramatic flare.

"But if she doesn't tell us anything, then how do we know what happened to Danny. He needs our help!" Twilight immediately shot back.

Of course there was also the fact of the ghost hunters revealing themselves to consider. Not to mention the sudden appearance of this ghost, which managed to draw away the hunters from Danny. This surely couldn't be a coincidence. Zecora knew, from extensive experience, such tremendous events following so closely after one another were almost always connected with each other, even if the threads that bound them were invisible to her.

"Well, o'course she's shocked," Applejack stepped in between Twilight and Rarity. "Hay, who wouldn't be. There's a ghost on tha loos out here, who may, or may not have anythin' ta do with tha fillies bein' missin'. And then Danny goes missin' too, jus like tha, right before Zecora. Doesn't help we're in tha Everfree Forest either."

"AJ's right," Rainbow Dash stomped a hoof on the floor. "Something fishy is going on around here. I mean, Just before Danny vanishes, we find out his shadow is missing as well."

Ah, yes. Danny's shadow. Zecora focused on that particular notion. When this revelation was brought to light, everyone reacted as one would suspect, except Danny. though, had she not known about Danny's true nature, his reaction would probably not even register even to her. But it did, and the way he reacted made her believe Danny was put on the spot not by the fact of his shadow being missing, but for this absence being found out. Which meant he knew. Curious, but only another question in this growing confusion of conflicting thoughts and accusations.

"Maybe we should give her some time to calm down?" Fluttershy suggested from underneath the cauldron she was once again using like Tank, Rainbow Dash's pet would use his shell.

"But what about Danny!?" Pinkie Pie shouted. "He could be scared, or hurt, or dead and having become a ghost himself, teaming up with the dastardly menace who killed him, turning him against all of us! Or-"

"PINKIE!" Twilight yelled, angry, specks of tears in her eyes.

Regardless of what is, or isn't, clearly this situation needed to be brought under control before yet another unexpected and unwanted situation would devolve into a problem.

Slowly, Zecora opened her eyes, scanning the ponies before her.

"Please, there is no reason to shout. Though the situation does warrant the current freakout."

"Zecora!" Twilight said, relieved her friend had snapped out of her shock. "Are you alright? What happened? Where is Danny?"

"Calm down there, Twilight," Applejack told her as she calmly, but firmly pushed Twilight away from the zebra. "Give her some room to breath."

Zecora sighed out, shaking her head, her earrings and golden bands decorating her neck clanging with the motion. "I fear I cannot answer that which I do not know. The fate that befell Danny is covered within shadow."

"But then why did you two go outside?" Twilight wanted to know.

"Though it is harsh, this I must say. The argument you were having didn't help us in any way. Therefore Danny and I took a moment apart, discussing what happened before his unexpected depart."

"Wait, did he know something about what has happened?" Bellflower asked.

Zecora looked at the pony, standing near her well stocked supplies of potions and herbs.

"Nothing that would tell us where the children have went. Though he shared some insights about the ghost responsible for this destructive event," Zecora told her, slowly looking around her hut and the mess this Cujo had made of it.

"Wait, he knows the ghost that did this?" Rainbow balked, eyes narrowing as yet another conspirative thought was made.

"There is no need to start an uproar, for all I said, he has seen such sights before."

"... I guess that makes sense," Rainbow Dash grumbled.

"A bit tah much, if ya ask mah," Applejack said, readjusting her Stetson. "Danny also seemed ta know quite a bit 'bout Sombra being a ghost an' whatnot. Might not seem all tha' special, considering where he's from. But it all seems ta be just a bit tah much."

"Or maybe you're thinking about this a bit too much, instead of paying attention to what just entered the room."

Applejack's breath got caught in her throat, the voice that spoke, unknown and right behind her. Her eyes were open wide, pupils shrunken to the size of pinpricks as she realized everypony present looked past her; their coats several shades paler, and the unmistakable look as if they had seen a ghost.

With a terrible stutter, she slowly turned her head around; coming face to face with the ghost who hovered behind her; arms crossed, a cloak covering its form, and only its green glowing eyes puncturing the shadow obscuring its face.

"Boo!" The ghost said, and everypony ran out, screaming.

<<>><<>><<>>

A couple of minutes prior

Sam hovered just shy of the shield covering Zecora's home, invisible to all.

She'd just managed to get rid of the ghost hunters, leading them on a wild goose chase, leading them deeper and deeper into the forest, before she removed Clockwork's medallion, returning her to her own time in the Hall of Time. Yet no sooner had she returned, or she was sent back, in her own time frame this time, as additional intervention was required after the changes she'd made. One of these matters, the colorful bunch of equines trying to piece together exactly what is going on.

Silently, Sam groaned in frustration. It would seem the moment she got rid of one problem, another would immediately present itself. And though these ponies had yet to figure out the truth, the way they were at it, it was possible they would actually put the pieces into place and come to a world shaking revelation.

"Well, at least they're more insightful than others I know," Sam murmured.

Shaking her head, and releasing a sigh, she looked at the next hurdle to overcome: the purple glowing dome of magic covering Zecora's hut.

'Could it really be so simple?' Sam wondered, and used her intangibility to sink through the ground.

Sure enough, the barrier only extended as far as the ground and she was able to simply phase underneath, reemerging above ground on the other side.

'They really think way too three dimensional,' she thought, smirking slightly.

Continuing, she simply slid through the wall, not even attempting to hide herself. The moment she entered, almost all eyes locked on her, fear evident, while one pony, the stetson wearing farmer, still hadn't noticed her; back turned to Sam, still talking to her friends.

Crossing her arms, Sam grinned just a bit evilly, unseen by the ponies as the shadow of her cloak obscured her face.

"A bit tah much, if ya ask mah," Applejack said as she readjusted her Stetson. "Danny also seemed ta know quite a bit 'bout Sombra being a ghost and whatnot. Might not seem all tha' special, considering where he's from. But it all seems ta be just a bit tah much."

"Or maybe you're thinking about this a bit too much, instead of paying attention to what just entered the room."

As expected, Applejack froze on the spot, then slowly turned her head with obvious reluctance. The moment their eyes met, Sam leaned slightly towards the farm pony.

"Boo!"

The following stampede made an even bigger mess of Zecora's hut as all ponies fled through the door at the same time, getting stuck as a result, until Twilight used her magic to remove the congestion in the door's frame and allowing everyone to exit, except Rainbow Dash, who had simply flown through the nearest window.

However, even though all ponies fled the scene, the lone zebra remained behind; looking up at the ghost in her home with wide eyes. And though Sam could see her fear, the fact she remained also showed her courage. That, and the sizable club she held at the ready.

Tilting her head, and looking back over her shoulder to the open door, Sam huffed.

"Well, at least I won't have to chase you down," she said, returning her attention back to Zecora, seeing the zebra had slowly approached her during the split second distraction and she only managed to turn intangible at the last possible second, allowing the club to phase through her without causing any injuries.

Reaching out with a glowing hand, the club was flung away; clanging against the wall, before dropping to the floor.

"I'll warn you now, you creature of fright. I will not go down without a hard fight," Zecora told her while slowly backing away.

"Relax," Sam said, suppressing an eyeroll. "If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done so already. Just needed to get rid of team colorful—" she jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, "— so we can talk without any witnesses."

Zecora stopped in her tracks, looking perplexed at the ghost in her home.

Not one to waste time and being as blunt as usual, Sam quickly cut to the chase.

"I'm here because of Danny. I'm a… acquaintance of sorts. And right now, he is in need of help, as you undoubtedly know already."

"A lot of strange has happened, this is true. But how would this apply to you?" Zecora asked, suspicious.

"I know you have little to no reason to trust me, but it's what I'm asking for anyhow. Because the less you know, the better it is for you and Danny. Just know I wouldn't have gone through the trouble leading those hunters away, or scaring your friends off if I didn't care about Danny."

"Then why would you go through such trouble for him? Surely this is not something done on just a whim."

"True enough," Sam agreed with a nod. "You know about Danny's dual nature and have earned his trust by keeping this a secret. So I know I can trust you to do the same for me," she said, and lowered her hood. "Because, as much as I want to help him, he cannot know about me. Not yet. It's not yet the time for that. So, will you help me help Danny?" Sam asked the wide eyed Zebra; Zecora recognizing the ghost before her through the detailed story Danny shared with her.

Slowly she nodded her head.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Honestly," Abella grumbled. "All you ponies do is make things more difficult than they should."

She and the ragtag group of misfit creatures quickly moved through the maze of hallways.

“That, and blowing stuff up," she added as they reached the destroyed gate.

"Ehh- hehe," Sweetie Belle chuckled nervously. "Sorry about that."

Abella groaned. "And why is that… thing following us, too?" Sha demanded to know, glaring at the green, glowing puppy who barked in answer.

Let's just get out of here," Abella grunted at the pup.

"Soo… Wind Chill," Scootaloo said after a moment, breaking the painful silence as they crossed the long bridge towards the adjacent stalactite. "Just how do I need to take care of the Windigos?"

"I thought you said you got this?" Abella muttered.

"I do," Scootaloo quickly defended herself. "I just wanted to see if there is anything I should know, though. Sooo…" she looked up at Wind Chill.

"That question is not easily answered," Wind Chill told her. "Even we frost giants have trouble with them. Especially with a herd as large as the one out there. If it wasn't for Danny, I doubt Sweetie Belle and I would have gotten out of our predicament without harm. But as long as they remain calm, they are easy to control."

"How?"

"By remaining calm yourself. They react strongly to the mental state of others. It's both their strength and weakness, as they lack the cognitive abilities to properly steer themselves."

"Sooo…. Don't freak out. Got it. Anything else?" Scootaloo said, nodding once

"Yes. Don't try to hold them back. If they want to move, let them. Just try to steer them away from anywhere they could cause harm."

"And how do I do that?"

"Try to find their leader."

"Can't you point her out to me?"

"I'm afraid not," Wind Chill answered with a shake of the head. "They calmed down through the actions of the Great One, and I used this to our advantage. I was, however, not able to find this herd's leader. But it is often a stallion. Stronger and taller than the rest. Yet as I searched, I could not find one seemingly greater than the others."

"And what if it isn't a stallion?" Danny suggested. "I mean, their leaders are all mares—" he nodded towards Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Abella, "—Maybe theirs' as well?"

"Perhaps," Wind Chill grunted. "But this is not for us to find out. Scootaloo, regardless of the leader being male, or female, I'm sure you will find out while we bring Danny to the Elder."

Scootaloo nodded confidently and finally the group crossed the bridge, and stepped onto the walkway encircling the stalactite.

"But regardless of the how, or what, we all need to hurry," Wind Chill added as final notion, all of them looking at the many changelings lying on the street.

<<>><<>><<>>

Without further delay, (except for Wind Chill getting stuck in the narrow tunnels on several occasions and Danny finding out his intangibility no longer worked during the first time this happened when he tried to free the giant,) the group quickly exited the underground passage and stepped out into the still frigid air; the snow crunching underneath their hooves and feet.

With only a few more words of encouragement, Scootaloo stayed behind to look after the windigos.

Looking at the group as they quickly moved back to the Everfree Forest, Scootaloo waited until they were out of sight before allowing herself to relax; followed by a partial freakout seconds later.

"What have I gotten myself into?" She asked aloud, looking at the large herd of spectral equines, one of them neighing loudly in answer.

Taking a deep breath, eyes closed, she forced herself to calm down

"Okay, think Scootaloo, think. Wind Chill told me to stay calm and look for the leader. So, let's start with that."

With something resembling a plan now under her wings, she opened her eyes determinedly, only to rear back in surprise as she found herself face to face with one of the windigos; the large ghost horse having approached the orange filly when she wasn't looking, her head lowered to almost touch Scootaloo's muzzle in curiosity, then she blew air from her nose.

Scootaloo stumbled back, falling to her rump, bewildered.

"Eehh… hi?" Scootaloo said as she slowly picked herself back up. The windigo simply shook her head, her vapor like mane whipping around wildly.

"Right, you can't talk like us ponies," Scootaloo concluded.

Obviously, the windigo did not reply, though she did continue to stare down onto Scootaloo, who soon grew a forced smile as she shuffled awkwardly on the spot.

"Soo, eehh…. Take me to your leader?" She tried, receiving only a raspberry in answer.

Again, the two were locked in a silent, increasingly awkward stare down, until Scootaloo couldn't take it any longer and slowly walked past the windigo with a wide berth.

The windigo neighed loudly, stamping with her hoofs on the ground, mirrored by others in her herd.

"Okay, think, think," Scootaloo talked to herself again. "Where's the leader? Where's the strongest, tallest stallion, or mare of the herd?"

A sudden nudge on her hindquarter forced her attention back to the windigo mare; the spectral equine using her muzzle to calmly yet forcefully push Scootaloo closer to the herd.

"Hey, stop that!" Scootaloo said with raised voice, her echo racing over the snow and ice covered plains, upsetting the herd.

Remembering what Wind Chill told her about allowing the windigos to move without hinder, Scootaloo grumbled under her breath as she allowed the windigo to guide her closer to the herd; all of them looking at her with curiosity, yet surprisingly moving out of the way when she approached, opening a path to the herd's center.

"O-kay… this is weird," Scootaloo said softly, slowing down her pace, receiving another nudge from the windigo behind her.

"Cut it out, will ya," Scootaloo said irritably. "I'm supposed to guide you, not the other way around."

The windigo snorted in answer and continued to nudge Scootaloo along.

Sensing this was a losing battle, Scootaloo grumbled under her breath as she picked up her pace.

Eventually, and with several more nudges, much to Scootaloo's annoyance, she stood at the center of the herd; the path the windigoes had opened now closed, leaving no path for her to flee.

"Okay, now what do you want?!" She said defiantly, looking at the spectral equine who had led her here. Now that she did, though, surrounded by all the others, she took notice of the fact this one particular windigo was a lot smaller than the others she could see.

"Wait, are you a foal windigo?" She asked.

The equine slightly tilted her head, blinking slowly.

"This would be so much easier if we could actually talk," Scootaloo sighed out, stomping a hoof on the ground in frustration.

Immediately, the small windigo reared back in surprise, neighing loudly which triggered the others to do so as well.

"WAIT, WHAT IS GOING ON NOW!" Scootaloo shouted, not even able to hear her own voice as she rapidly grew concerned for her own safety.

In response, the small windigo started to buck, seemingly distressed and the rest followed suit.

"Oh no no no no no," Scootaloo said, panicking, eyes wide and ears flattened on her head, seeing numerous windigoes take flight, and beginning to circle around her; a storm starting to blow.

"Stay calm!" Scootaloo told herself. "STAY CALM!" She shouted, far from staying calm as she began to run around, trying to find a way to escape to safety, which also had the undesired effect of worsening the situation as the windigos reacted to her panicked state.

In her wild, uncoordinated run, Scootaloo moved from left to right, completely lost in the forest of trampling legs as the windigos became wilder and wilder. Yet no matter how far she ran, she was unable to find her way out of the herd until the expected collision occurred, and Scootaloo dropped to the ground, rolling without control, narrowly missing numerous stomping hooves.

Groaning, she sluggishly pushed herself up, looking around to gain her bearing, realizing the windigo she'd ran into was the very same spectral equine who had led her into this mess to begin with.

"Oh, great. It's you," Scootaloo groaned, then screamed as she jumped back, almost being run over.

"I NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE!" Scootaloo yelled, desperately looking for a way out. If only she could fly… wait!

Eyes lighting up as an idea came to mind, she quickly sought out the smaller windigo.

Once she located the small spectral equine, she nimbly weaved through the moving mass of legs towards her target. The moment she got close enough, and by some chance an opening formed in the mass of bodies, Scootaloo jumped up, wings buzzing to grant her that extra bit of height, and she managed to scamper up on the windigo's back; quickly wrapping her front legs around the windigo's neck to prevent herself from falling off immediately.

"WHOOAOOOO!" Scootaloo yelled as the windigo bucked wildly, fighting just to hold on. "WILL YOU CALM DOWN ALREADY!" She shouted, feeling oddly calm, the wild motions strangely reminding her of the numerous times when she crashed with her scooter and was send flying either with, or without her preferred mode of transportation still held in hoof.

The windigo neighed and bucked, but the orange filly on her back would not relent. And the more she tried, the more Scootaloo asserted her will over her while her sudden calmness affected not just the windigo she rode, but those closest to her as well.

Scootaloo held on tightly, eyes narrowed in determination as she expertly moved her body to match the wild motions of the windigo, staying firmly on the equines's back while forcing the windigo to calm down. And much like a ripple in a pond, the herd of windigoes slowly, but surely all calmed down as the storm of panic in their midst dissipated.

It still took the better part of twenty minutes before the windigos had calmed down completely, and all this time Scootaloo focused completely on the small windigo she rode; never realizing what happened around her, or how slowly, one by one, the windigos circled around once again, eyes locked on her.

"There ya go," Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief when, finally, the small windigo seized her wild bucking, no longer trying to throw her off. "Now to deal with the rest," she added, then took notice of the herd standing around her, watching.

"... Wait… what's going on?" Scootaloo asked aloud, slowly craning her neck around. Much to her surprise, the small windigo matched the direction she was looking at, and the sudden movement almost threw Scootaloo off balance. "HEY, don't do that!" Scootaloo said, frustrated and even a bit embarrassed that this would have almost thrown her off.

Much to her surprise, the small windigo stopped her motions the second Scootaloo told her to.

Blinking, Scootaloo felt a momentary sense of confusion, yet shook it off as nothing when she returned her attention back to the herd.

"Why are you all calm again" She asked. "Not that I'm complaining, but this is just weird."

She obviously didn't expect an answer, but when a loud, high pitched scream suddenly echoed over the frozen land, she couldn't suppress a startled yelp, spinning around to where she thought the horrible sound had come from. The windigos all turned to look where she was looking, too.

"What the HAY was that?!"

This time, it was her voice that echoed away, yet no answer came to her still.

"Seriously, what the hay is going on around here?" Scootaloo wondered, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice. The windigo on whose back she rode wildly shaking her head in response.

"Whoa, stop that!" Scootaloo commanded, almost losing her hold and falling off.

Again, much to her surprise, the windigo did as she told.

Blinking, gears started to turn in the filly's mind.

"... Hold on…" she murmured, frowning slightly.

Slowly, she looked around, noticing that, once again, all eyes were on her.

"... What's going on here?"

For a moment, Scootaloo thought about the sudden, crazy idea that had popped in her head.

"Hmmm…" she hummed, then looked to the left while keeping an eye on the windigos.

Nothing.

She then looked to the right.

Nothing.

Turning her head a bit further, trying to find out if what she thought was going on was really the case, she started to slide off the windigo's back, using her legs still holding onto the spectral equine's neck to stay in place. And as she did so, the pressure made the small windigo turn towards the direction Scootaloo was falling to.

"Wait, wha-AAA!" Scootaloo yelled as she fell off. "Oompfh!" she groaned, voice muffled as she'd sunken head first into the snow.

The windigo stood above her, head lowered to where Scootaloo lay half buried, blowing a raspberry.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Scootaloo groaned.

The windigo neighed in answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Your friends better not take too long," Erlea complained, glowering towards Applebloom as the earth pony helped her, Devora and one of the other changeling foals to, carefully, carry queen Chrysalis towards one of the fires; her body alarmingly cold.

"They won't. Ah promise," Apple Bloom said quickly, nervously hoping her words would prove to be true.

"They better," Devora sneered.

Realizing it would be wise to remain silent for the time being, Apple Bloom helped to place Chrysalis near the strongest fire without a further word. Though, as she stepped away to check up on several other changelings, a dry crunch came from underneath one of her hooves.

Looking down, she quickly realized she'd stepped on one of those leaves they burned before; this one still partially green, though there were burned parts, dry and brittle, hence the crunching.

Some of the changelings nearest to her heard as well, and they visibly flinched when they saw what it was Apple Bloom had stepped on.

Carefully picking up the leave, Apple Bloom looked at the burned, crushed and bruised plant with a small frown, trying to discern from the damaged leaf why it was so important to the changelings.

Though it was a question she really wanted an answer to, she also knew now was not the time. So, carefully putting away the leaf lest she, or someone else would step on it, she continued to see if any of the sick needed her help.

And unnoticed by Apple Bloom, for a moment the leaf glowed faintly, before dimming and curling up as it withered, and died.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay, let's try this again," Scootaloo said determinedly, having pulled herself out of her frosty hole and climbed back onto the windigo.

Seated at the base of the windigo's neck, Scootaloo once again held on with her forelegs; though this time she didn't just wrap her legs around the larger equine's neck and instead placed her hooves on either side in such a manner she could easily maintain her grip, and balance, while also being able to push either left, or right.

"Well, here goes something," she said to herself, holding a breath before releasing it slowly.

Pressing with her right hoof, lightly at first, but with gradually increasing force, Scootaloo closely watched both the windigo she was riding, as well as all the others; waiting to see what would happen and, if her hunch was right.

It took a moment, but eventually, after Scootaloo applied just a bit more force, the small windigo turned left, away from the pressure Scootaloo applied.

Scootaloo stopped pressing down, leaning back a bit in surprise, eyes wide.

"No way," she breathed, then tried again; pressing on the left side this time.

Again, the windigo moved, this time to the right.

Scootaloo blinked, surprised, amazed and most definitely confused over this strange development. It would have been of no surprise to anyone who knew her she'd tried again, this time pressing down both hooves, pushing them forwards a bit.

This time Scootaloo released a small yelp when the windigo moved forwards; not expecting the sudden jolt as she did and Scootaloo quickly pulled back, the windigo stopping as well.

Scootaloo looked in disbelief at the windigo's back of the head, then her hooves. Then back to the head again, then once more her hooves.

"This. Is. So. Awesome! I can control a windigo!" She whooped, excited. And in response the windigo reared up and Scootaloo tumbled off the equine's back, falling into the same hole she'd landed in before.

"... Sooo awesome!" Her muffled voice cut through the snow, hind legs kicking, her excitement almost enough to melt the frost around her.

<<>><<>><<>>

Zecora moved swiftly through the darkness of the forest, unseen in the dead of night.

She couldn't risk using a light to illuminate her way, the chance of it betraying her too great. Not that this mattered, she knew this forest better than most.

She did feel a pang of guilt, leaving her friends after they were scared away. Knowing their worries would only increase when they discovered she was not with them, but the reason to do so compelling enough for her to agree with the ghost's request.

And so, moving as a shadow unseen, Zecora quickly arrived at the spot her unexpected undead guest told her to go to.

Slowing down, she carefully looked around, trying to see past the darkness which blinded her as well; now moving forwards with slow, deliberate steps, unable to keep completely quiet as she stepped on twigs and leaves, Zecora had to fight the urge to second guess herself. Being out alone in the Everfree, at night, because a ghost had asked her to help. In any other situation, she wouldn't even have thought about the idea of doing something this apparently dangerous. But when this ghost revealed herself, showed exactly who she was, Zecora knew she had to do something. She just wished she didn't had to withhold her knowledge from Danny. If anything, he deserved to know his friend and, possibly someone even more important beyond just friends, was still around. Yet the truth revealed to her, the things Sam told her, even if only a fraction of the whole truth, made Zecora shiver mentally.

Truly, a much greater scheme was unfolding. And Danny somehow stood at the center of it all.

Obviously, Zecora had questions. But Sam refused to tell her anything other than what she needed to know. And Zecora understood this. Even if the very nature of events currently transpiring made her fear for the unknown.

A storm was building. She just didn't know when it would hit.

Nearing the edge of the forest, the dense canopy overhead started to thin; holes in the cover of green, through which stray beams of moonlight managed to reach all the way down. And it was in the light of one such beams Zecora stepped towards a broad tree, the golden hoops around her neck, as well as her earrings gleaming in the light.

"I must admit, I have gone through quite a bad fright, but it seems I have become part of what is transpiring this night," Zecora said, looking at the tree, unable to shake the thought all of this was some kind of twisted joke and she was lured out into the forest for much more nefarious deeds. Still, she continued. "Now, if you would. Please step into sight, for we don't have long before morning brighten us with its light."

Long, tense seconds ticked by with nothing happening and nervousness started to build, though she managed to keep her voice even as she continued.

"I know you are here, for this I was told. Now I ask you to trust me and decide to be bold."

Zecora's ear twitched as she heard something; somepony whispering.

A sudden weight dropping on the leaf and twig covered ground alerted her to the small form stepping out from behind the tree; and even in the dark, Zecora recognized the filly slowly approaching.

"Zecora? What are you doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked, hesitantly.

"I could ask the same to you, but there is something more urgent I need to know is true. Before Danny disappeared in a flash, he hinted that you and your friends were involved in something rather rash," Zecora asked quickly, quite shocked that Sweetie Belle was actually here.

"Wait, Danny was here?" Sweetie Belle asked, confused. Then her eyes lit up, "Oh yeah, he said he made a duplica-hhhhh-" she suddenly fell silent, looking guilty and shocked by what she almost said.

"I know of his secret, this I can tell. But that is the extent of my knowledge, or the fate he befell," Zecora calmed her down, realizing the filly knew about the same secret she did.

"You know about Danny?" Sweetie Belle gasped.

"If what you say is true, then one question must be asked above all others." A strong, gruff voice suddenly spoke up, startling Zecora. No, downright shocking her, when a giant of a beast made itself known; rising up to its full height and stepping away from behind the tree.

How did it even manage to hide itself in the first place?

"Are you a friend, or a foe?" The giant asked.

Eyes wide, Zecora took several frightened steps back, craning her neck back to look up at the giant with wide eyes.

"She's a friend," Sweetie Belle told the giant.

"She speaks the truth, I mean you no harm. My knowledge about the Phantom is no need for alarm," Zecora said hastily, unable to fully suppress her instincts to flee.

"Don't worry, Zecora. He won't hurt you," Sweetie Belle reassured her. "But we are in a hurry. We need to go to the ancient castle of the royal sisters and can't waste any more time than we already have."

"I won't pretend I know what this is about, but this forest is wild, you will need a guide who knows its layout. For this I am here, a task given to me. It would certainly be faster instead of hiding behind a tree," Zecora replied quickly, looking down at the filly; making sure to keep the massive creature well within her sight.

"Yeah, we thought you were somepony else," Sweetie Belle said.

"You mean your sisters, or friends, or are it the hunters of which you speak? However your actions are telling, I will show you the way to sneak."

"Does she say everything in rhyme?" A new voice spoke up, frustrated at that.

Zecora gasped slightly. "A creature of change, by Danny I was told. But the full knowledge of this development has to me been withhold," Zecora said, surprised again as she looked at the young shapeshifter.

"And that's a yes," the changeling groaned. "Seriously, what is it with you ponies?"

"Actually, Zecora is a Zebra," Sweetie Belle corrected.

"Whatever," the changeling groaned once more. "Can we please get a move on before all of us changelings have died of this disease we're supposed to stop, but instead are busy doing everything else… It's a miracle you ponies manage to do anything at all."

Zecora's wide eyes managed to widen a bit further upon hearing the changeling's plight.

"If what the changeling speaks is right, we indeed can't waste the rest of the night. Now pay attention and follow me, any answers needed can wait for later, maybe?"

"It's about time," the young shapeshifter grunted as they quietly followed after Zecora.

<<>><<>><<>>

Though it came with great restrain in her part, the desire to know exactly what she'd gotten herself into, Zecora did make true to her word and lead the group of unlikely allies to the ancient castle hidden deep in the forest without being found out; only asking for the names of the creatures she was guiding while making sure to keep a safe distance between herself and the Tartarus send hound she clearly recognized as the pup that terrorized her earlier, despite his much larger stature. Cujo, however, seemed all too keen on getting closer to her, his slobber covered tongue a clear indication what he wanted to do… again.

Yet there was one pressing matter she had trouble with the most. She was send to, evidently, meet with Sweetie Belle and those with her, but Danny, the one Sam seemed worried about was not with them.

Still, she remained quiet, knowing answers would come to her sooner, or later.

Of course she also knew it was more than likely the number of answers due would increase even further the longer this night went on. And, with a low groan coming from the wolf like creature slumped over the giant's back, she was proven to be correct.

Alerted by the sound, WInd Chill tightened his hold over the wolf, standing tense while closely observing the rousing beast.

Sweetie Belle and Abella, too, reacted; as well as the green hound, who growled quietly in response.

And just like that, there were new questions to add to her list. Who was this wolf, why was he carried around like that, and what would warrant such a nervous response to this beast waking up? Did the apparent injuries of the giant have anything to do with this? They had been rather vague about the wolf's identity and Zecora didn't ask any further. Add to that also the strange, frozen construct crossing the chasm towards the castle she saw and what could possibly lie beyond.

"Though I understand the urgency for us to resume, why can't I shake the feeling we're moving towards our doom?" She said, worried. Looking at the wolf as it woke up.

"It's Danny," Sweetie Belle told her, a waiver of fear in her voice. "Something happened to him, so we're taking him to the Elder for help."

"You speak about Danny as if he is near, but I must admit I don't see him here," Zecora replied, confused.

"That is Danny," Sweetie Belle pointed at the wolf.

"Child, surely you're trying to give me a fright. What you are saying just can't be right," Zecora replied in shock.

"What the young spirit says is true," Wind Chill grunted as he readjusted the wolf's body. "Something has happened to Danny which neither of us can explain."

Zecora blinked, falling back just a bit as she processed what she was just told.

"...Young spirit?"

Wind Chill came to an abrupt stop, a look of shock plastered on his face when he realized what he had revealed.

"Uugh… whas goin on?" The wolf slurred, conveniently drawing the attention to him.

"Danny?" Sweetie Belle hesitantly asked, looking up at the wolf with worry.

"Yeaahhuw… why does my head hurt so much?" Danny groaned.

"Great One," Wind Chill sighed a breath of relief, and Zecora rose her eyebrows so high they vanished in her mane as she watched the giant place the transformed human back on his feet.

"I thought I experienced everything I could this troublesome night. But I have been proven wrong, as I can't distinguish wrong from right," Zecora rhymed, almost in a daze as one shocking revelation followed after the other. "You called young Sweetie Belle a spirit without a hint of deceit. And now Danny is this beast, truly making my confusion complete. And though time is short and there is no time to ask. The questions I have make this a most difficult task."

"Welcome to my world," Danny groaned, flinching in apparent pain. "Gnhg… what even happened?"

Looking around with a troubled frown, Wind Chill sighed deeply.

"I fear now is neither the time, or place to answer any of these questions." He then looked at Danny. "This, ehh...Zecora, was it?" He sought clarification, receiving a faint nod from the shaken zebra. "Zecora said she knows about your secret and has helped us come this far. But I must know for certain. Great One, do you trust her?"

"Ye—" Danny flinched as he carefully rubbed his head "—Yeah, I do."

"Very well," Wind Chill grunted. "Zecora. You helped us come this far and the Great One vouches for you. Though this will probably cause more trouble along the way, for now I think it's best if you would accompany us towards my village."

"Hold on," Danny looked up, hand still placed against his head. "Village? You mean the Far Frozen? But how-"

"Just follow us and stay close," the giant instructed. "This would be easier to just show, instead of trying to explain."

Zecora tried to give voice to her thoughts, but was interrupted when Danny tried to do the same. They looked at one another, equally confused. Shrugging, they nodded once, then followed after Wind Chill as he led the group over the the bridge of ice; a strange construct glowing faintly with contained energy Zecora could sense the moment she set hoof on the frozen surface.

A terrifying shiver traveled down her spine and she quickly crossed the bridge, and followed the group into the castle; then moved through the various dark and appropriately spooky hallways until they reached the once proud throne room.

Both Danny and Zecora halted in their tracks, eyes wide at what they saw. And despite there being a large hole in the air, opening a path to a world unseen, this was almost completely overlooked as their attention was pulled to the group of frost giants who stood around numerous unmoving bodies of timberwolves.

"Wind Chill?" A warm but gruff voice greeted when the giant entered the room and Zecora saw another giant step closer to Wind Chill

"Frostbite!?" Danny called out, equally amazed as he was shocked, looking up at the giant whose face fell the second he noticed the state his fellow giant was in.

"... Fenris," Frostbite said bitterly.

"Perhaps not," a new voice spoke up, and their attention was drawn to the portal as a new giant stepped through; wearing a plain cloak which covered most of her body, its hood obscuring her face with a shadow, save for her orange glowing eyes.

"Elder?" Frostbite said, surprised. "I did not expect you back so soon… And what did you mean, perhaps not?"

"Surely by now you should have learned, that not everything is as it seems," the Elder spoke with a wisdom filled voice and Zecora could almost feel the weight of this giant's knowledge. "Furthermore, I see there are some new faces with you, Wind Chill."

"Euhh… Yes," Wind Chill stammered.

"Wind Chill, what is the meaning of this? Why did you bring more of this world's inhabitants to us?" Frostbite asked as he finally took notice of Zecora and Abella, the latter trying her hardest to remain unseen.

"This is Zecora," Sweetie Belle said quickly. "She helped us back in the forest to avoid our friends and family, and the ghost hunters; who are looking for Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and m-"

"WHAT!" Frostbite bellowed. "GHOST HUNTERS!?" He roared in panic, only for the Elder to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Now is not the time to panic," she told him. "Besides, raising your voice would only serve to help them find this place faster should they hear."

"Then tell me what you expect me to do in this situation?" He shot back. "First we had to fight off these wooden wolves, only for Fenris to worsen the situation. Then you knock them all out, only to leave us to return them to their world, while allowing Fenris to leave with the children and Wind Chill to help a dying species, while there is also the potential disaster unfolding with the Saldēti Zirgi. And now we face a possibly new threat with these ghost hunters. Who knows what might happen should they find this place."

"Then perhaps it would be wise to listen, instead of talking," the Elder said simply. "Because there is more at play here than you realize. And there are more people here in search of answers… Isn't that right, Danny?" She said, slowly turning to look at the wolf besides Zecora.

Danny, taking a step back in surprise, looked at the Elder with wide eyes.

"You know it is me?" He gasped.

"Indeed I do, Great One," she said, smiling kindly.

"Danny?" One of the present giants said, confused.

"Great One?" Another gasped out upon hearing the title.

Looking to the wolf, then the Elder, Frostbite couldn't be more confused.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked.

"That is something we all wish to know," Wind Chill stepped up. "Frostbite, this is indeed the Great One. He found us, meaning me and Sweetie Belle, while we were fighting against the Saldēti Zirgi, using his incredible might to stop their rampage. However, as he vowed to help the children in their attempt to save the changelings, Fenris attacked him. And through means none of us are certain, the Great One and Fenris have merged. Though it would seem Danny is in control most of the time."

"Most of the time?" Danny repeated, blinking, confused, his voice echoing in the now deathly quiet chamber as all giants looked at him with wide eyes.

Zecora, too, looked at Danny with eyes wide open, trying her hardest to wrap her mind around everything she has seen and heard this night; her worldview having changed in ways she never even considered. And while she watched events unfold before her, from Danny confirming his identity, to Frostbite lifting him up in a bear hug, her mind struggled to keep up with it all.

True, she learned about Danny and his dual nature some time ago, and the time passed did allow her to process it all; as crazy and even impossible some of the things he shared with her seemed. Yet even in her wildest dreams, or life stories shared with her, this one night has completely turned everything upside down.

And to think it all started with a green glowing pup running around her home thinking she was playing with him.

"ARE YOU GUYS DONE ALREADY!?" The changeling shouted in outrage, breaking Zecora's train of thought as all eyes were now on the young shapeshifter. "SERIOUSLY! ALL YOU EVER DO IS TALK! CAN WE PLEASE CUT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU FIX WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIM AND BE DONE WITH IT!?" And as her voice bounced off the walls, the anger faded from her words; replaced instead with despair and hopelessness. "BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE IMPORTANT TO ANY OF YOU, BUT… but they are important to me and-" She was unable to finish, head turned away as she tried her hardest not to show the tears, which had managed to escape her eyes.

Suddenly Zecora's problems with how her night had been going seemed insignificant, the despair in the child's voice too severe for her to even contemplate worrying about her own misgivings; a quiet gasp stuck in her throat as she struggled, but ultimately failed to understand just exactly what could have happened for one so young to carry a weight so heavy.

For a split second her eyes moved to Danny.

Two souls, both burdened by tragedy neither should have to go through and she felt compelled to help the young filly. Before she could say, or do anything, though, Sweetie Belle stepped closer to the changeling.

The ivory filly placed a comforting hoof on Abella's withers, the gesture slowly bringing her attention to Sweetie Belle, who looked at her with equally sad eyes.

"She's right," Sweetie Belle said to everyone around. "It seems all we do is delay things more than they should be," she sighed out deeply, looking up at the Elder. "We need your help."

"Indeed," the Elder agreed. "And in more ways than you even realize. Frostbite," she turned her head to the giant's leader. "Could you and the others please step away from the timberwolves?"

Though confused, he and the rest of his fellow giants did as she asked.

"Now then," the Elder hummed. "Danny, could you please step forwards?"

Quietly, Zecora observed how Danny, hesitant at first, approached upon urging on by Wind Chill and Sweetie Belle. Giving voice to her appreciation, the Elder proceeded to place her staff in front of Danny; a gemstone embedded in the tip beginning to glow a vibrant red while she hummed in contemplating thought.

"Well, this is not going to be easy," she said after an awkwardly long time had passed.

"What isn't" Danny asked, worried.

"Tell me, what exactly did happen before you became like this?" The Elder asked.

"I, ehh…." Danny halted, recollecting his thoughts. "I had just removed the freezing cold from the changelings city, pulling it inside me… and somehow becoming some kind of icicle… Wind Chill said it was the power of frostbite." Zecora was startled by the sudden, sharp intake of air by the giants and she realized Danny had said something of great significance, even if she herself was lost to the full meaning of it all.

"Whatever it was, though," Danny continued, "it blocked several of my powers before I was able to release the buildup of ice outside. After that, I returned to the city, Fenris immediately attacked me without cause, or warning. We fought a bit, that guy going on and on about not allowing his sin to exist any longer, which somehow relates to Eclipse… eehh, my shadow. Then I remember the changelings queen being there, falling down. I tried to catch her, then… then I'm like this."

Again, Zecora found herself at a loss. Normally she was the one ponies would come to for help, being it knowledge about the arcane, or a potion for unknown ailments. But now, subjected to the seemingly impossible, even for her, and hearing about things she barely even understood half the time; she felt more and more like the little filly she once was, oblivious to the arts and crafts she was taught about by her shaman. It scared her and it excited her. More than she had felt in a long time. This was truly the unknown. And as she listened to Sweetie Belle recounting her side of the story and saw the Elder put the puzzle together with pieces she herself did not yet possess, she felt a drive, a need to learn more, to answer the burning questions begging to be asked.

And she wasn't the only one who needed answers.

"Of the long list of questions I have, that one is right on the top of it," Danny replied flatly in answer to the Elder. "So, can you fix me?"

"I can not," the Elder replied grimly and numerous shocked gasps resounded throughout the room. "Nor can anyone else for that matter," she told him. "What happened to you is no mere merger between two entities. Your shadow, this Eclipse, jumped in between in an attempt to protect you from what is, essentially, herself."

"Ehhh… you lost me there," said Danny, answering for Zecora as well.

"Eclipse, or rather the entity which grew into Eclipse originates from Fenris. A product of his own hatred. A hatred towards creatures responsible for untold suffering, and later himself for what he allowed himself to become. And when he attacked you, it was with the same hatred which gave rise to this darkness from which Eclipse was born. When he cut through her, Fenris merged with her. However, Eclipse is also a product of you. Molded by your essence transferred to your shadow. So when Fenris merged with Eclipse, he also merged with you. The both of you are linked through Eclipse. However, seeing the fact you are in control, despite the form you are in, it is clear Fenris is trapped in his own hatred once again. So long as you keep a clear head, I see no reason for him to emerge and take control. But of course, this is not what you want. But separating the three of you is not such an easy task."

"But can it be done?" Frostbite asked, worried.

"It can," she answered, and Frostbite released a sigh of relief. "And it can not."

"Elder, please don't speak in riddles. Especially now. Which is it?" Frostbite replied irritably.

"Both," Zecora said, surprising herself as much as everyone else. So much so, she couldn't even come up with a rhyme to finish, standing with her mouth partially open as she tried to piece together this impossible enigma that was Danny Phantom. Still, regardless of what she didn't know, there were also a few things she did pick up and put in their correct place, even if she didn't yet see the full picture.

"Indeed?" The Elder acknowledged the zebra with a small nod and Zecora slowly closed her mouth fully, blinking as she realized she had spoken aloud.

"Wait, what?" Sweetie Belle said, confused.

"Danny and Fenris merged through a shared bond with Eclipse. And because Eclipse is now as much part of Danny as she is Fenris, it is impossible to separate the two wholly. They are linked by the darkness which once consumed them."

"Okay, hold on," Danny said firmly, taking a step away from the Elder. "And you know all this, how? Because you seem to know just a bit too much just like that," he said with accusing suspicion.

"Great One!" Frostbite stepped up, only to be stopped by a raised hand from the Elder.

"You are well in your right to be suspicious of me. After all, we never met face to face and here I am, already knowing so much about you. The answer to this is as simple, as it is complicated. And though I could give you a lengthy explanation, there are better uses for what little time remains. So the short version will need to suffice until there is more time to sit down and talk."

Zecora's ears perked up, listening intently to what the Elder was about to reveal; hoping it would provide her with some answers to the craziness that has become her life.

Not that she was complaining. She did enjoy some measure of excitement, it was why she chose one of the most dangerous forest in Equestria as her home. Well, that and all the unusual plants, and herbs which didn't grow anyplace else. But if gathering herbs for her potions was all there was, she could just as easily have made herself a home near the edge of the forest, much like how her friend Fluttershy lived in a cottage near the Everfree.

"You see, my staff enables me to see more than others," the Elder said and Zecora realized she'd almost missed what was said; silencing her mind the moment she did so. "With it, the true nature of the world around me is revealed. And I use this to help others. Either by showing them what they already know, or shed light on obscure matters hidden in everyday interactions. And now, I am here to help you and, in extend, Abella, and her kind."

As Danny stood silent in thought, Zecora looked at the staff the Elder held; a construct of pure ice, glowing faintly with contained power and a red gem she noticed earlier.

"And how would you help me? You just said you weren't able to undo this," Danny eventually asked, pulling Zecora's attention back to the transformed human,

"I can't. Nor can anyone here for that matter," the Elder calmly answered. "Though there is one voice who has gone unheard; lost in the maelstrom of conflict between two minds at odds."

"Ehhh… what?"

"Open your mind, Danny Phantom," the Elder said, her staff glowing brightly and Zecora had to squint her eyes to see what happened through the powerful flare emitted; Danny's form all, but lost in the intense light.

Then, with a burst, the brilliant light dimmed, making the room seem darker than it actually was; only a faint glow still radiating from the Elder's staff, while Danny stood motionless on the spot; arms hanging and eyes aglow with the same red of the Staff's gem.

"What just happened, what did you do? I can not understand how any of this is true," Zecora said as she looked at the Elder; the giant standing with eyes closed in concentration.

"Danny's mind is in turmoil," The Elder spoke with the faintest hint of strain in her voice. "Linked and locked in conflict with one scarred by hate, and rage. Their clash obscuring a truth neither were able to see within themselves. But maybe now, with my guidance, they may yet see the light," she explained, then grunted quietly. "Now, please. I ask of you to remain quiet while I present Danny and Fenris with the opportunity to help themselves."

Zecora nodded once, understanding what the Elder asked.

'I may not fully understand what you have become, but please follow her light, Danny Phantom.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Princess Luna moved with slow pace through the palace's numerous hallways; making her way back up after a brief visit to the changelings held in the dungeons.

She bit her lip in pensive thought, worried for the insectoid shapeshifters regardless of their crimes.

Their condition continued to worsen. And despite Stable Pulse's best efforts, another two changelings had died over the course of this day. Now only twelve of them remained, where there were first thirty four.

Luna shook her head, a tired sigh escaping her as she arrived at her next destination: the palace's medical wing.

For a moment she stood before the closed door, two guards at each side.

And here lay the result of today's other fiasco; the young woman who was badly injured when the ghost, or ghosts attacked the group of ponies and humans down in the caves.

The doctors and nurses all did a splendid job in tending to Dani's wounds, the most severe being the large gash on the top left side of her head; believed to be the result of a large chunk of the cave's ceiling falling on top of her. And she has remained in an unconscious state ever since.

Word has already been sent back to her own world, but before any help would arrive she was under their care.

Releasing another sigh, Luna straightened herself, opened the door with a flash of her horn and stepped inside.

Immediately she was greeted by the surprisingly warm air. As well as the steady, rhythmic beeping coming from a heart monitor and she easily located the source besides the sole occupied bed.

Dani, lying mostly covered under a thick blanket, one arm uncovered and connected to an IV, had most of her head in bandages; only her face could be seen, and severe bruising colored her skin in shades of dark blue, and purple.

A nurse stood besides her; a middle aged mare with lilac fur and light red mane held in a tight bun, known as Kind Heart, who was currently busy with inspecting the bandages, as well as the IV.

Slowly, Luna approached, looking at the young woman with worry.

"It isn't a pretty sight, I'm afraid," Kind Heart spoke up as she acknowledged her princess, joining Luna by her side. "We did what we could, but she has taken quite a beating."

Luna nodded, frowning. "Do we know exactly what happened to her? The witness reports only account for so far, and there is a significant gap between the last time someone saw her, and the attack."

"I'm afraid not, princess."

"How about the spectral scans? Did they reveal anything new?"

"Ehm… no," Kind Heart said with slight delay.

"That's unfortunate," said Luna.

"No, princess. What I meant was, we didn't find a thing. Nothing."

"I assume this is a bad thing?" Luna asked, confounded.

"I don't know," the nurse answered, taking a step closer to Dani. "After what happened to her and what was told by the witnesses, we would suspect her to show some signs of spectral contamination. But when we scanned her, there wasn't a thing. Not in the sense that the scanner didn't pick up anything from her, but more like the scanner didn't pick up on her. Almost as if she wasn't here at all."

"What!? That's preposterous."

"I know," Kind Heart nodded. "Most likely, whatever happened down there also did something to our equipment."

"But how could that be?" Luna demanded to know. "The devices used here weren't anywhere near the site of the attack."

"Honestly, I don't know, princess. We have put in a request for the scanner to be inspected and, if needed, repaired. But that's about all we can do right now."

"... Very well. Please inform me, or my sister when anything changes."

"Actually, princess. There is something unusual already," the nurse replied with slight hesitation, looking at Dani, seeing the uncovered arm shake slightly.

"Yes?"

"You must understand that we have no way of knowing if this is related to the attack with the scanners not working, but our assumptions are it is."

"What is?"

"Over the last several hours her body temperature has been dropping significantly. We already added an extra blanket, even turned up the temperature a bit, but it doesn't seem to help and none of the doctors who studied human physiology know why this is. And at this rate, it won't be long until hypothermia will set in… It's just like…. like she's freezing up."

"Ice," Luna murmured, looking at Dani.

"Princess?"

Shaking her head, Luna looked back at Kind Heart. "My apologies. I merely recalled a noteworthy event I witnessed earlier this day," she said, remembering what happened with the changelings.

"Anything that could help?" The nurse asked, slightly hopeful.

"I'm afraid not," she shook her head. "If anything, this would only add to the increasing number of questions gone unanswered."

"I see," Kind Heart sighed dejectedly, ears drooping a bit. "I just hope we figure this out, before this gets worse."

"I have faith in you," Luna told the mare, confidence palpable. "You and everypony here are trying their hardest to help her."

Looking up at her princess, Kind Heart showed a tired smile.

"Thank you, princess."

Returning the smile, Luna looked back at Dani once more; her smile slowly fading.

"Please let me know the moment anything changes."

"Of course, Princess."

Nodding once, Luna stepped outside and continued towards her personal chambers; dreading the numerous documents and reports waiting for her to deal with. And as the door closed behind her and Kind Heart stepped into her office, leaving Dani alone, there was no one present to see the long, continuous stream of cold air escaping the young woman's mouth; the liquid in her IV freezing solid.

Never Split Up!

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Never Split Up!

<<>><<>><<>>

A short time loop ago.

Sam flew through the forest with blurring speed, occasionally glancing back to make sure those chasing her were still there, while also ensuring they wouldn't press too close by deliberately putting unavoidable obstacles in her path. Well, unavoidable by mortal standards at the very least.

It was with a smug smirk, she saw one of the hunters, a dark pink mare, stumble over a tree's roots hidden in the dark as they were forced to avoid the wooded titan whereas she simply phased through it.

With the cloak she wore to obscure her visage billowing after her in the wind, joined by the intangible trail her legs had become, she chuckled just loud enough for the supposed hunters to hear while grabbing hold of the time medallion hanging around her neck.

'Just a bit longer.'

With legs a blur, Rolling Stone and his team chased after the ghost who had so foolishly revealed itself; ears twitching as they could hear it mock them while they hunted it deeper and deeper into the forest, not unaware of the dangers of their environment itself, as well as the threat posed by this ghost. After all, the human responsible for their training, the renowned Jack Fenton, did bestow upon them his vast knowledge and oversaw most of their training regarding anything spectral. Add to that the training during bootcamp and years of experience as a guard in her majesty's service, and Rolling Stone knew it was only a matter of time before this unholy abomination would slip up. And when it did, they would be there, ready to send it back to the deepest pits of Tartarus where it belonged.

They were ready. And nothing this ghost would throw at them would phase them… except for it to simply vanish without a trace.

"What the!" Rolling Stone shouted, digging his hooves in the dirt, coming to a grinding stop. "Ice, where is this thing!?" he barked.

"I- I- I don't know, sir. This ghost, it just vanished," the mare said, sweeping the area with her scanner.

"We saw that," Ornate Charm shot back, keeping an eye on her own scanner's readout. "It must've turned invisible," she frowned, though, when she, too, couldn't find any trace of the ghost.

"I know that," Blue Ice called back heatedly. "But it won't show. I had a solid hit the entire time we were chasing after this thing, but now… It's like it just disappeared and not just turned invisible. I… I don't understand wha- … Hold on, I'm getting something," she trailed off as she stared intently at her scanner, slowly rotating to her left, then stopped, looking up from the device. "Right that way."

"Is it the ghost?" Sound Wave asked, glancing around for any unwanted surprises.

"Don't know. It's right at the edge of this thing's range. But it's big, whatever it is. The reading I get, even from this distance… No doubt this is where our ghost has gone to."

Snorting, Rolling Stone stomped a hoof. "I don't like this," he muttered as he scanned his surroundings. "Stay close and move slowly. This thing knows we're on its trail and it has shown to be able to fool our equipment — something which must be addressed as soon as possible when we have the chance — so stay close and keep your eyes and ears open. Ice, take point!" he ordered, receiving confirming nods from his team.

"Right," Blue Ice stepped up, looking at her scanner with anger gleaming in her eyes. "No way this thing is getting away from me now!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Twilight and her friends ran out of Zecora's hut, screaming after witnessing the horrible abomination that this ghost was, who had managed to bypass Twilight's shield through means none of them were currently able to even figure out; a shield that flicked and vanished, making the forest that much darker, as the mare casting the spell lost her focus in the ensuing panic, and the group ran through the last remaining, flimsy layer of solidity that had failed to disperse in time, breaking it apart in small wisps of purple energy.

Whether it was by luck, coincidence, or a strong herd mentality, all the mares and lone stallion stayed together as they fled; their numbers at least providing some measure of safety against the numerous beasts prowling the forest and made aware of their presence from the screaming, and pounding hooves.

Ever the analytical mare, however, Twilight's mind soon raced to catch up with the rest of her; slamming into her panicking consciousness with unrelenting force, beating it into submission and bringing to attention a most important fact she had noticed, yet completely overlooked at the same time.

Slowing down just a bit, the rest of the ponies sped past her, and only ponies at that. Allowing her to confirm what her mind had already told her.

"EVERYPONY, WAIT!" She shouted, alarmed.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Rainbow Dash yelled back, scarcely glancing back at her friend.

"ZECORA'S NOT HERE!" Twilight pointed out with urgency.

"WHAT!" a multitude of voices chorused at once, and all ponies came to a grinding halt; some more reluctantly to do so than others, but even Fluttershy couldn't ignore the fact her friend could be in grave danger and fought her every instinct to resume fleeing from the forest, trembling on the spot.

"We have to go back for her!" Rainbow Dash said without waiver, already dashing back towards Zecora's hut when Applejack stomped down on her tail, grounding her.

"Hold on, Rainbow. Ya cain't jus' rush back in there like that!"

"But Zecora's our friend!" Rainbow Dash shot back, heatedly.

"Ah know," Applejack grumbled as she stared at her prismatic friend from under the brim of her stetson. "An' so are you. An' we won't jus' let ya rush inta this like tha, cause this ain't some scary looking critter from tha forest we're dealin' with."

"Applejack is right," Twilight stepped closer to the two as Applejack released her hold over Rainbow Dash. "Don't forget. It isn't just Zecora who's missing. Danny vanished too. And let's not forget why we are out here in the first place. Clearly this can't all be a coincidence."

"But what are you saying?" Rarity asked, worried. "You don't think that what happened to Danny and Zecora also happened to- to…"

"We can't dismiss the possibility," Twilight sighed out. "And right now, it seems all too likely."

"Be tha as it may, or may not be, what are we goin' ta do 'bout it?" Applejack asked. "Danny's gone, so is Zecora. An tha ghost is ta blame, no doubt 'bout it. But how would we fight against something like that?"

"I don't know," Twilight admitted, "But we have to do something. And more importantly, we need to stay together."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bellflower asked meekly. "Shouldn't somepony go back to get more help?"

"That would be the wisest thing to do, yes. Unfortunately, I think that is what this ghost wants us to do."

"What!" Rarity shouted. "Why would you think that?"

"Think about it," Twilight said to the entire group. "First Danny vanishes, in front of Zecora even, but only after they singled themselves out from the rest of us. Then this ghost reveals itself to us, making us turn our backs on everything else and now Zecora is missing, too. If we were to split up, who knows what could happen."

"Then why don't we all leave the forest and ask the princesses for help instead?" Fluttershy quietly asked, eyes shifting around, fearful her voice would draw the attention of the ghost.

"They did already send those hunters," Rainbow Dash pointed out. "Maybe there are more hiding in town?"

"Rainbow's got a point," Applejack gave a nod to her friend. "Fluttershy, too. 'T makes more sense ta leave now, let those who know what they're doing do their thing while we ask tha princesses for more help, instead of us standing here being sitting duc-" she fell silent as she noticed her friends all looking in fear at something behind her, again. A cold shiver traveled down her spine. "It's behind me, isn't it?" she stammered, not daring to turn and look.

"Boo!" A voice whispered in her ear and she bolted with a scream; joined by her friends.

Chuckling, Sam watched the group break apart and run in different directions away from her, slowly shaking her head.

"Too easy."

<<>><<>><<>>

"What in the world?" Ornate Charm gasped out, vocalizing the group's collective thought as they approached, then stopped before an ice bridge crossing the chasm separating the Everfree Forest from the princesses former castle.

"Blue," Rolling Stone grunted. "What do you make of this?"

Lowering her scanner, Blue Ice slowly approached the frozen construct, eying it carefully and critically. Glancing at the readout of her scanner, a frown creased her features.

"Definitely spectral," she told them, pocketing her scanner and picking up a nearby rock; throwing it halfway across the bridge. "No reaction to movement… at least none to any inanimate objects tossed on it." She slightly bit her lip in thought as she took careful notice of the design of the structure.

"You think it's safe?" Sound Wave asked after a moment.

"Doubt it. It's clearly ghost made. But it, or they clearly took their time making this thing. No way something as large, or as dense as this was made in a short moment. It was built to last. Though, why? Ghosts can fly, so why the need to make something like this?"

"Can we cross it?" Rolling Stone wanted to know, glaring at the castle up ahead.

Pondering this question for a moment, Blue Ice carefully lowered a hoof towards the frozen surface; pressing down on it with a light touch and holding her hoof there, waiting for something to happen.

"It doesn't seem to react to me touching it, but I would trust this as much as I would Discord… Sound Wave, you've got wings. Try crossing this thing. If it collapses, you won't fall for it… literally. If anything else happens, Ornate and I got your back."

"Right," the second unicorn of the group nodded her confirmation, lighting up her horn with a spell at the ready, while Sound Wave, noticeably less confident, shuffled towards the bridge; looking at it wearily.

"You sure about this?" Rolling Stone asked Blue Ice.

"As far as anything related to spectral ice goes," she answered. "You know this is one of the things I excelled at during training. Though, we all know there has been no record of any kind of ghost using elemental powers in such a way… Then again, elemental ghosts aren't all that common either. The few that are on record, though, always used these powers to cause destruction, never to create something. My money is on this being a trap. Most likely made to collapse should we try to cross it. Which is why Sound Wave is the best pony to set it off, unfortunately."

"Great, let the pegasus play the guinea pig," Sound Wave groaned in annoyance, glancing back at her teammate. "Isn't there some other way to test this?"

"Not without retrieving more specialized gear from Canterlot," Blue Ice informed her. "The only reason we didn't bring it with us from the start is because we needed to remain incognito; limiting us to the equipment easily concealable, like the scanners."

Sighing out, Sound Wave returned her gaze to the bridge. "Sir?"

"I don't like this any more than you do, but Blue has a point," Rolling Stone stepped besides her. "Besides, time isn't on our side either. There are foals missing and my money is on this ghost being involved. If given the chance, I'd stop and think twice about taking such a risk; let you take such a risk, but we can't forget what's at stake here," he sighed out warily, then his eyes hardened. "Sound Wave, cross this bridge!"

"Sir!"

"Don't worry, Wave," Ornate Charm told her. "Ice and I got your back."

A forced smile was all Sound Wave was able to show in response as she stepped closer to the frozen construct. Closing her eyes and holding a breath, she carefully took a step forwards; feeling the ice's chill travel up her hoof the moment she touched the frozen surface.

For a moment, she stood there, unmoving, eyes closed. When nothing happened, she blinked, looked at her hoof, then exhaled loudly.

Taking another step, then another and another, she found herself standing on the bridge with all four hooves; taking increasingly notice of the numbing chill creeping up her legs.

"Sound Wave?" Rolling Stone said.

"I'm good," she replied, lifting a front hoof and looking at it. "So far, at least… Though this ice is definitely not normal. We pegasi are naturally more resilient to colder temperatures, yet I'm already feeling like my hooves are freezing off." Shaking her head, she put her hoof back down and continued walking; crossing the distance in less than a minute, stepping on solid ground with a sigh of relief.

"YOU OKAY!?" Ornate Charm called out.

"OTHER THAN COLD HOOVES? YEAH, I GUESS!"

"Ice?" Rolling Stone turned to the blue mare.

"If something would have happened, it should have happened already," she replied. "I'd say, go for it."

Snorting, Rolling Stone nodded tensely. "Right. We’ll cross one at a time." He instructed, then set hoof on the bridge without a hint of hesitation; quickly crossing to the other side under the watchful eyes of his team.

Ornate Charm was the next to cross and Blue Ice after her; both hurrying across in fear of any ghostly trap, or ploy, despite the others having set hoof on the bridge without any ill effect as far as they could tell.

Still, the group did take a moment to scan themselves just to be safe.

When all scans came back clear, they turned to the half rotten, partially unhinged doors of the ruined castle. Blue Ice, scanner in hoof, slowly moved the device from left to right, frowning as she read the results.

"Ornate, you're seeing the same I'm seeing?"

"If with that you mean one massive blot of spectral activity a stone's throw away, then yes."

"We're getting close to something," Rolling Stone grunted, glancing at the display of Blue Ice's scanner, then looked at the abandoned castle. "Stay sharp!"

Several confirmations followed and the four ponies slowly made their way inside; their hooves' clopping unnervingly loud on the ancient stone while Blue Ice and Ornate Charm were slowly sweeping their scanners around.

"Wow, this place is lit," Blue Ice muttered quietly, not wanting to draw any more attention to herself, or the rest of the group this close to whatever they were getting close to.

"How bad we're talking about?" Rolling Stone asked.

"Jack Fenton near an all you can eat buffet kind of bad."

"Oh Tartarus. I still have nightmares about that," Sound Wave shuddered from the recollection of that particular memory.

"Can you pick up anything specific?" Rolling Stone wanted to know.

"It's all just one big spectral hotspot. No way to pinpoint the source of it," Blue Ice informed him, never averting her eyes from her scanner while sweeping it around.

"Alright, everypony. Stay on guard and keep your eyes open. We're getting close to something, and I don't want any avoidable surprises," Rolling Stone commanded them, while a faint sound coming from behind her caught Sound Wave's attention.

As she turned around to investigate, her eyes locked with that of the last thing she wanted to have sneak up on her.

"You mean like a big, green glowing dog?" She asked with a faint waver in her voice as she stared into the partially open mouth of the mentioned dog.

"Oddly specific, but yes," Rolling Stone replied, turning to look at his subordinate and locking eyes with the green hound standing behind them.

"WE'VE GOT CONTACT!" Rolling Stone roared at the same time the dog released a ferocious growl, their voices echoing away through the dark passages of the castle.

<<>><<>><<>>

Shouting, barking and weapons firing filled the ancient chamber with echoing cacophony as the Ghost-keteers fought the Tartarus spawned hound.

Bright flashes of green cut through the darkness with each shot they fired, scorching the walls, floor and some of the support columns, while also filling their vision with green blotches from the brief, but intense bright flashes.

The dog, however, managed to evade all of their attacks so far; running and jumping around them, with a daring snap at their legs whenever there was a lull in the firing.

It was at one such instance, the hunters' weapons stuck in between charge cycles, that the green hound struck; charging towards Ornate Charm who managed to dodge out of the way, but at the cost of her scanner, which flew out of her saddlebag during the wild motion.

Not even batting an eye, the dog snatched the device out of the air with its mouth at the same time as Sound Wave's weapon cycled through and she fired her blaster; scoring a hit on the dog's upper back.

A loud yelp escaped the beast when struck, almost dropping the scanner in the process, but managing to catch it again as it scampered out, the way the hunters had come.

"Wha- After it!" Rolling Stone ordered through hard breath, already in pursuit himself.

And as they followed with pounding hooves, none of them noticed the shouting, silver filly running from the passage behind them; yelling as she charged in moments after they had left.

<<>><<>><<>>

Green beams of searing energy soared past the green hound as he ran, literally, through the castle doors and over the bridge of ice; leaping from left to right to avoid the wildly aimed beams fired by the hunters as they ran past the obstructing doors, only managing to hit the bridge, flash melting potholes in the frozen surface and spraying hot water over the dog.

A moment later, when the hunters crossed the bridge themselves, the pungent smell of wet, unwashed dog assaulted their sense of smell to such extent they didn't even consider the worries they faced when first crossing the frozen construct. Instead they pushed through, grimacing as they followed the ghost dog along the path of the ravine.

Of course, Sound Wave didn't face the same difficulties as the rest of her team. Being a pegasus, she quickly took to the air, close on the dog's tail while aiming her blaster.

Firing, the charged beam of energy soared just over the ghost's head, impacting the ground before him and forcing him to change course; veering off into the thick of the forest, the hunters close behind.

Running towards one of the more sizable trees, the hound phased through, using the split second delay it caused as the hunters were forced to go around it, to venture deeper into the darkness. Fortunately for Rolling Stone and his team, the ghost's glowing nature made it stand out all too easily in the darkness of the forest. The searing beams of energy they subsequently shot at the ghost also served to further illuminate the suffocating foliage.

More energy beams impacted the ground closely behind the dog and he glanced back to the hunters; missing the tree right in his path as he did so.

Unaware and thus fully tangible, he slammed head first into the unyielding giant; his mouth snapping forcefully shut, his teeth crunching the metal device he'd nabbed earlier.

Stumbling back, the hunters closed in while he shook his head in disorientation; feeling the burn of several beams of energy impacting on his body and he growled loudly in pain and anger.

Kicking off, he resumed his run deeper into the forest, drawing the hunters along with him; though the gap between them had now all but closed and it wasn't long until Sound Wave managed to circle around the ghost, and block his path as they entered a bone, and carcass covered clearing.

With a growl, the dog jumped to the side, right as Sound Wave fired her weapon.

Not expecting this sudden evasion, nor having the foresight of realizing the position of the rest of her team, the path of the searing beam of green glowing energy coursed right towards the three grounded ponies, who only managed to jump out of the way at the last possible second.

"HEY, LOOK WHERE YOU'RE FIRING THAT THING!" Blue Ice yelled in anger, glaring at the shocked, then embarrassed pegasus whose apologetic look soon morphed into one of anger as she turned her attention back to the large hound.

The ghost, of course, didn't stick around to find out what they would do next and took the opportunity the split second distraction provided to circle around, and get the drop on the ghost hunting ponies. However, Sound Wave's vantage point, as well as the shorter than expected amount of time for her to return her attention back to the green hound, meant he had only managed to make it halfway around them before she shouted her alarm to the rest and renewed firing on the ghost, forcing the canine to dive behind a pile of bones draped over a sizable rock.

Rolling Stone, blaster at the ready, slowly moved around the obstruction, making sure to give it a wide berth, while Blue Ice and Ornate Charm did the same, but moving the other direction. Sound Wave, able to see what happened, slowly flew over the same obstruction, seeing and relaying the position of the hound.

Holding her position, Blue Ice aimed her blaster at the pile of rock and bone, fully aware this beast could just as easily phase through it should they all circle around its chosen cover, while Ornate Charm continued onwards with the same, slow, deliberate pace.

"We've got you now," Rolling Stone muttered grimly, blaster primed and ready to fire as he finally rounded the obstruction. "Ornate?" He barked, never taking his eyes off the target.

"Ready!" The dark pink mare confirmed her position as she pulled the spectral containment unit, better known as the Fenton Thermos out of her saddlebag.

"There's no way he's getting away from us now!" Blue Ice shouted with confidence while the dog growled, eying the hunters one at a time.

Closing in, Sound Wave fired his blaster near the ghost's paws, drawing the large dog's attention and forcing his back to Ornate Charm.

"GOTCHA NO-" Ornate shouted victoriously, only for an unexpected and loud whistle to cut her off abruptly.

Everypony, as well as the massive dog, turned to the source; seeing a weather stripped bone hover in the air.

"What the!" Blue Ice shouted her surprise as they all saw the sizable bone wave around in the air.

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!" Sound Wave yelled, her voice breaking slightly.

The dog barked loudly, wagging his tail while also reminding the hunters he was there as well; doing their best to keep him in their fields of view, while also keeping an eye on this other ghost, which they were only able to see thanks to the bone still waving around.

A moment later, the bone pulled back, then flung towards them with a spin; flying over them, then continued onwards into the darkness of the forest just past the bone littered clearing; landing on the ground with a dull thud, right at the hooves of a startled purple unicorn who stared at the bone with wide eyes.

An unexpected, loud bark tore her attention towards the green glowing dog, which, to her shock, she saw running towards her.

Without thought, Twilight dove for the nearest cover she could find: a large root system of a nearby tree.

Peeking over the thick root she was currently hiding behind, she watched as the large hound came to a grinding stop not even three steps away from her; her breath frozen in her lungs and her body unwilling to move.

With an elated bark, the dog pounced at the bone, overshot and crashed into a nearby, young tree which snapped from the impact, and toppled over.

Not deterred in the slightest, the dog quickly ran back to the bone, barking as he did; dirt kicking up as his paws dug deeply in the earth as he sprang to his current fixation; showering the hiding unicorn with dirt, twigs and small rocks, and Twilight had to stifle a yell lest she draw any attention to herself.

Fortunately, the dog seemed more interested in the bone, which he picked up with his mouth, threw up in the air, then grabbed it again as it dropped down, before running back to the clearing with a spring in his steps.

Twilight did not move and only the faintest of whimpers escaped her as she took shallow breaths as she heard, but didn't see the continuing chaos just beyond the veil of night's darkness.

Then the night lit up, repeatedly, as she heard the unfamiliar, yet distinct sound of spectral weapons firing.

Yet despite her fear, she could not ignore her need to know; her mind pleading, begging with her more rational side of her psyche to move out of cover and see what was happening. It wanted to know. She needed to know.

Slowly, with a small step, Twilight moved closer; fighting herself as she took another step and another. Each step took her more effort, yet each step also brought her closer to something she wasn't sure she wanted to see.

But she needed to know.

Eventually, blocked only by a tree, the last obstruction she almost deliberately put in her path as a last defense, she stopped; pressed closely against the bark. Then she shuffled to the right, following the tree's natural curve until she was able to see past the wooden giant and saw the ghost hunters fight off an unseeable adversary.

The dog, she noted, was laying not too far from her, and she froze up once again. Yet as the impossibly long seconds ticked by, she realized it had no interest in her, or the hunters for that matter; content on just chewing on the bone she saw him retrieve only a moment before.

Realizing this, the part of her mind screaming at her to flee, find her friends, run back to Ponyville and alert the princesses was muzzled, tied up and thrown back to the darker recesses of her mind, and she once more focused on the ghost hunters.

"What!?" The pegasus hunter, whose name eluded her at the moment, shouted in response. To what, or who, Twilight didn't know. That changed quickly, however, when a new, disembodied voice answered.

"My point exactly," she heard, ears swiveling around to locate the source. A sudden salvo of green beams fired by the hunters stopped any attempt, however. And it was with stocked breath she saw a green glowing shield materialize out of thin air, easily blocking the incoming beams; illuminating the forest with the same light for the duration of the hunters' attack.

"Look," the voice spoke again, and this time Twilight didn't have any problem identifying the source, invisible as the ghost may be. "Let me just make this as clear as I can possibly make it. You four don't pose much of a threat to me. Not to say you're bad at what you do, but other than your training, it's clear you have yet to actually face a ghost in combat like this and I'm not even fighting you. Heck, you were struggling with Cu-, eh, this dog over here and all he really did was just run around for you to chase him. So, how about this. You lower those weapons and try talking instea-" The invisible ghost was promptly cut of when Rolling Stone fired his blaster; yet still managing to miss his intended target. Twilight, however, cried out as the beam of sizzling energy impacted the tree she was hiding behind, just a hoofs width away from her face. Her cry of fear and surprise went unheard, fortunately, when the nearby hound jumped up and growled loudly, and aggressively.

Now retreated back behind the protective wood the tree provided her with, Twilight stood with her back pressed against the bark, a hoof pressed against her chest as she tried to calm her frantic breathing; smelling the charred wood still sizzling slightly while her eyes shifted around frantically.

After feeling confidently enough she had regained control over her breathing, Twilight once again inched her way around the tree until she was once more able to see the hunters. When she did, her eyes widened once again when she heard a shout from the ghost as one of the hunters fired at bright blue beam at the ghost from what looked like a thermos.

For a moment, she hoped that this was it. That the hunters were successful in the capture of such an dangerous entity.

Her hope was short lived, however, as a beam of toxic green fired out of thin air, blasting the strangely shaped apparatus out of the pony's grasp and flunging it through the air before they all lost sight of it somewhere in the pile of bony remains.

A dejectedly sounding sigh came from frighteningly close to her hiding spot, and she realized the ghost was practically on top of her and she quickly jerked back behind the tree.

"Can't say I'm surprised. Just make sure that, when you report back with your tails between your legs, you mention you were the ones to shoot first."

That was the ghost, she realized. Fear keeping her from realizing just how familiar the voice sounded. What did caught her attention was the way the ghost spoke, indicating this horrible creature was facing the hunters and had hopefully missed her moving back behind cover.

"Last chance to run, cause this won't take long!"

She just hoped the hunters were every bit as good as she had heard them to be.

<<>><<>><<>>

Applejack and Rarity found themselves wandering aimlessly through the forest, pressed close together while nervously scanning the forest around them.

They had run into each other shortly after that ghost had once again snuck up on them, breaking the group apart as they fled. Unfortunately they didn't realize this until it was already too late and now they were desperately looking for the others, without much success save the two of them.

Now, with each passing moment, their worry about the safety of their friends grew; not knowing what fate befell them. Twilight had already made it perfectly clear why they shouldn't split up, only for this ghost to show up again and make them do what they just agreed would be a foolish mistake.

'Almost as if it was planned,' Applejack thought.

Shaking this distracting thought away, she instead focused on the fashionista at her side; her once pristine coat and mane now a tangled mess of dirt and twigs. And once again Applejack wondered just what happened to her friend before they found each other. Not that she got an answer when asked. All Rarity said is that she would not talk about it, as she shuddered at the memory.

Applejack did not press further, mostly due to their immediate and dire situation. And instead, as her ears perked up at some sound, she gave voice to another question both mares have asked each other numerous times already: "Did ya hear somethang too?"

"Hear what?" Rarity asked, concerned. A silent shriek escaped her immediately after when a low rumbling roar could be heard.

"That," Applejack said, uncomfortable.

"Applejack, dear," Rarity pressed even closer to the much stronger farm pony. "I'm all for finding our friends, but perhaps we should look for them elsewhere. Some place not here."

"Ah hear ya, Rarity," Applejack agreed wholeheartedly, both ponies shuffling back quietly while keeping their eyes and ears sharp.

After a short moment of backtracking their steps, then heading for a not specified direction away from whatever creature did the growling, the two mares found themselves arguably even more lost than before. They certainly hadn't had any luck locating their friends. Yet as they rounded a particular wide, and menacing looking tree, the two ponies found themselves stepping onto rather soggy terrain. A pungent smell of rotting vegetation also slamming onto them rather suddenly as their hooves partially sunk into the water soaked ground.

Rarity immediately reared back, looking at her mud caked hoof in abject horror.

"Ah guess we ain't going this way either," Applejack sighed out, looking at her friend's overly dramatic response. Before Rarity could reply, however, a low growl rolled out of the darkness behind them; forcing both mares several steps onto the murky ground, only adding to Rarity's continuously growing dread.

"Stay close," Applejack told her, stepping in front of her friend.

"Don't think that just because I'm filthy, I can't defend myself, Applejack." Rarity sneered as she glared into the darkness, her horn flickering to life as she readied a spell.

"Ah know," Applejack said, bracing herself to fight if needed while staring intently into the dark.

Neither mare moved, nor spoke as they waited and watched for any sign of their invisible stalker. They knew it was there, cautious footsteps audible to them as this beast of the Everfree drew closer.

Then, slowly, a large form presented itself as it stepped closer; revealing first it's wild lion's mane, then it's partially flared bat wings, while a bulbous tip of a scorpion's tail hung high above the pink maned pegasus riding on the beast's back.

Wait, what.

"Fluttershy?" Applejack balked, confused.

"Oh, Applejack, Rarity. I'm so glad to see you," Fluttershy sighed in relief, gingerly fluttering to the ground. "When that ghost found us and we all ran away, I thought I would never find any of you. I was so scared." Her voice lowered into a faint squeak as she trembled at the memory. A large muzzle gently nudged her head and her spirit lifted immediately. "But fortunately Manny found me and he has helped me find you," she introduced the hulking predator with a warm smile. "You remember him, don't you? We met him when we searched for the Elements to stop Nightmare Moon."

Both Applejack and Rarity moved their mouths, but no sound escaped them as they looked at the manticore, then at their shy friend; once again confounded how she of all ponies, afraid of her own shadow, could be so calm and confident with such inherently dangerous animals.

Still, it came as no big surprise, and it didn't take either mare long to finally find their voice.

"Fluttershy, dear," Rarity pulled her friend into a hug. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you. You wouldn't believe the hardship I have gone through; how much dirt has stained my coat."

"Really?" Applejack deadpanned, eyes rolling. A warm smile soon overtook her annoyance as she, too, turned her attention to her feathered friend. "But Ah'm really glad to see ya too, Fluttershy. Ya and, eh, Manny, of course."

Fluttershy smiled happily while petting Manny on the head, much to his enjoyment.

"Oh, but did you find anypony else?" Fluttershy asked, worried.

"Other than each other, no," Rarity answered with a shake of the head.

"How 'bout you?" asked Applejack.

"I'm sorry, but no," Fluttershy answered apologetic, looking down.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy. It ain't your fault."

"Indeed," Rarity nodded. "We just need to keep looking. And with you with us now, I'm certain we will find the others before long."

"You really think so?" the shy mare asked hopefully.

"I know so," Rarity answered, brushing her curled mane back, only to realize her mistake when she saw the wet muck, previously dirtying her hoof, now staining her meticulously stylized hairdo.

Pupils shrinking to small dots as she stared at a thick dollop of muck lazily drip to the ground with a wet splat, one of her eyes begining to spasm. Before she could scream in anguish, however, Fluttershy daintily pressed a hoof against her lips, eyes shifting around nervously.

"Oh, please don't scream, Rarity. Manny says a hydra lives here. And apparently she's rather mean."

Nodding in understanding, Rarity kept herself composed as Fluttershy removed her hoof.

A brilliant flash of icy blue light suddenly lit up the forest and Fluttershy shrieked out in fear, latching onto Manny's head with earth pony like strength, trembling severely.

<<>><<>>

With the occasional flap of her wings, Rainbow Dash hovered through the forest, looking for the source of that flash while keeping her noise down to an absolute minimum.

Not because she was scared, or anything. THE Rainbow Dash doesn't do scared. Instead, she was keeping herself as quiet as Fluttershy, so she would be able to hear her friends, should they call out for her.

Yes, that was the only reason, and definitely nothing else.

"Hoo!"

"Ghyaaaaa!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she shot off in a blur. Leaving behind the horror which had startled, and definitely not scared, her out of her fur.

The owl in question merely sat on a branch, preening his left wing while watching the fleeing blur with calculating eyes.

A look matched by the well groomed, white feline sitting besides him.

"You know, the way they're going at it, it makes you wonder how they even managed to do anything at all." She 'said', turning to her feathered companion.

Taking a moment to reply, he took the time to align a primary. "Can you fault them for it?"

"No, not really, I suppose. But still, one would expect better. I expected better."

"They are still young."

"That is hardly an excuse."

"No, it's not. I admit. But that's why they need to learn. For all our sakes. If left unchecked, their biased, understandable, or not, opinion about ghosts will only worsen events to come should they not be taught."

"Like those fillies are right now," she looked off to the side, seemingly staring at a tree, never blinking.

"Yes. If anything, it shows they are capable, but naive."

"They're mortals. What did you expect?"

"Potential. Nothing more, nothing less."

"I suppose that is all we can expect from them, yes. Though I have a hard time understanding their thought processes. True, that one human, this Samantha, is putting in an active effort to keep them from realizing the truth. But still, how do they not see? Your charge even! She stood no less than a couple of steps away from Daniel, heard him speak and still did not realize the obvious truth."

"They are young. Their souls are young. Just look," he pointed a wing at the distant pegasus as she neared a shadow covered, snarling hill. "We can see because we understand. And we understand because we can see. Right now, though, she can neither. How would you react to the unknown? Don't judge a young mortal's lack of understanding because of their lacking senses. You would not fare any better had it been you in her place."

"..."

"Would you?"

"No… I suppose not."

"Don't lose sight of the smaller details amidst the bigger picture. Just like them, we are capable of making mistakes. But when we do, the results are far more catastrophic."

"Agreed. At least she's only approaching an ice bound, angered hydra."

"If only we all could be so lucky."

<<>><<>><<>>

Rainbow Dash swallowed heavily as she quietly moved further into the woods.

After her initial, totally not panicked, fright and subsequent daring dash, and definitely not fleeing in fright, into the unknown, she now faced another obstacle to overcome: a strange, out of place hill.

A moving hill, with freezingly cold mist hanging at the base of the strange incline, obscuring it from sight.

"H-hello?" she said carefully as she moved to round the hill, passing through a wisp of cold vapor which set her hairs on end.

Jumping back, she stared in shock at the low hanging cloud.

"That… how… No cloud can be that cold," she stated to herself while looking at one of her hooves. Slowly stepping closer, she pressed into the cold vapor. The second she did, a bone numbing chill traveled up her leg and she quickly pulled back.

"What the hay is going on in this forest?"

Not finding any answers, and not wanting to remain standing there, she nervously continued on her way; following the oddly shaped hill's circumference until a faint, unusual glow became visible through the mist. Intrigued, she looked left, then right to see if she was still reasonably safe.

Satisfied that she was, she turned back to the faint blue light.

Biting her lower lip in contemplating thought, she shrugged, steeled herself and stepped into the biting cold of the low hanging mist.

Silence.

"GHYAAAAAAAA!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Pinkie Pie pronked through the forest with confidence, eyes set in determination; locked on the direction this mysterious flash of light came from, never blinking.

Macintosh and Bellflower, both following after the pronking pony, had given voice against her idea of finding out what this flash of light was, but neither were able to persuade the energetic mare as she set off before they even finished voicing their concerns.

Not wanting to be left in a forest they knew even less than Pinkie, they carefully followed after the Element of Laughter with nervously shifting eyes; the sounds of the forest, or lack of them at present, only added to their feeling of unease; their most basic of instincts screaming at them to turn around and flee.

Of course, this basic instinct also seemed to be absent in the pronking pink pony, seeing how she laughed and giggled at the shadows around them more often than they screamed in fright.

"Are you sure we shouldn't go back to town?" Bellflower tried once again, looking at the shadows around her, expecting anything to pop out and attack them.

"Nope," Pinkie replied readily, not slowing down. "You heard what Twilight said. Going back to Ponyville is what that meany ghost want."

"So instead we go deeper into the forest?" Bellflower stammered.

"Yup!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Why?" Macintosh asked, swiveling his lantern from one shadow to the next.

"To find the others of course, silly."

"By going towards whatever that flash of light was?" Bellflower asked.

"Now you're getting it!" Pinkie said with glee.

"Why?" Bellflower wanted to know. "What makes you think our friends are wherever this light came from?"

"Because Zecora gave us a neat bottle with flash lightning in it back when we were looking for Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle last time they were here. I'm sure she used one of those flash thingys to tell us where she is now."

Bellflower and Macintosh stopped in their tracks, looking at the pronking pony. Somehow, that made just a bit too much sense.

With a shiver going down both spines, they picked up the pace, fearful of what else this night would bring.

For minutes they followed after Pinkie Pie in silence, not wanting to draw any more attention to themselves than they already had, when a resounding SPLAT made both ponies flinch in fright.

Pinkie, too, had come to a stop; looking bemused at her hooves which had disappeared halfway into the water lodged ground.

Pulling a hoof free with a wet squelch, a string of muck still clinging on for a moment until the pull of gravity returned it to the ground, Pinkie looked up and at the rest of the terrain.

"Huh, soggy."

Putting her hoof back down, she continued onwards. Though this time she walked, as the ground wouldn't allow for much else. Still, she did not allow this to lower her spirit. Though, had Bellflower, or Macintosh looked at her face, they would have stumbled in shock upon the sight of the slight frown compromising her trademark smile.

Despite her upbeat attitude, Pinkie Pie did have reasons to frown and she didn't like it one bit.

That ghost had scared her and her friends. Not once, but twice. And even worse, this ghost and its baddy bad friends were also responsible for Danny, and Zecora suddenly vanishing. And though her dearest granny Pie taught her to always giggle at the ghostly, right now she couldn't help but feel like the scared little filly she was back when the ghosts attacked the city she and her big sis Maud were when visiting their grandmother.

She smiled, because it was the best way to fight such meanies, but she frowned because, deep down, she worried for all her friends. And not the good kind of worry, like if she got the right kind of punch, or the right flavor of cake. No, this was the worrying kind of worry. The kind of worry that made her worry about worrying. Which only made her more worried.

This worried her greatly.

Stopping in front of a menacing looking tree, Pinkie blew a raspberry at the evil silhouette the combination of darkness and faint moonlight created on its bark.

Looking left, right, then left again, she scratched her head, somehow not smearing the muck covering her hoof into her coat and mane.

Rarity would have been green with envy had she been there to see it.

Though, she doesn't like green. So maybe not.

"Do you know where to go now?" Pinkie asked the two ponies behind her, not realizing the sudden tensing of their bodies when they realized the pony they were following didn't know where they were going either.

A loud scream cutting through the dark took them by complete surprise and all three ponies jumped up in fear; Pinkie's mane also joining in on the act as it stood straight up and remained in its rigor mortis state even after the pink mare had returned to her hooves, looking towards where the familiar voiced scream came from.

"Never mind," she said nonplussed. "I've figured it out."

<<>><<>><<>>

The two groups, coming from different directions, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Manny, Pinkie Pie, Big Mac, and Bellflower unexpectedly ran into each other while hurrying towards where they heard Rainbow Dash's yell come from.

The ensuing crash as a result of their hurried pace, combined with poor visibility, left the group groaning in pain and irritation, not to mention the weight pressing down on them as Manny ended up on top of them all; only Fluttershy being spared as she lay spread out over his head.

Of course the situation only grew worse when Macintosh and Bellflower realized a manticore lay on them, and their ensuing wild struggle to free themselves only increased the tangle of interlocking limbs, leaving all of them groaning, yelling, and shouting as they tried to pull free.

All the while, a most perplexed pegasus watched this strange turn of events unfold from the side.

"Eehhh… What are you guys doing?" asked Rainbow Dash.

Everypony and manticore seized their struggle as they, when possible from their position, looked towards the prismatic mare.

"Euhh… Rainbow Dash? Aren't ya supposed ta be in trouble, or somethaing?" Applejack was the first to ask.

"Yeah," Pinkie Pie called out from somewhere in the mass of bodies. "We heard you screaming halfway through the forest."

"And that is saying something, because my ears were still ringing from Fluttershy's scream just before that," Rarity droned, annoyed, her muzzle poking out from Manny's wild mane.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized to her friend.

"Is no pony going to mention the manticore on top of us?" Bellflower asked, almost hysterical.

"His name's Manny. He's a friend of Fluttershy," Applejack groaned, once again trying to pull free.

"Hi Manny!" Pinkie Pie immediately greeted, to which Manny purred happily.

"Great, have we all met?" Rarity sighed in annoyance, "Then, Fluttershy, can you please tell Manny to get off of us?"

"Ah reckon that's a good idea," Applejack slumped back into the mass of bodies as she was unsuccessful in freeing herself.

"E…. yup," Big Mac wheezed, lying on the bottom and carrying the full weight of the group.

An awkward shuffle later, during which numerous grunts, groans and squeaks came from the group, they finally managed to pull free, and were now focusing on Rainbow Dash while pretending the unintended gropes during their struggle didn't happen.

Fluttershy's face was still beet red.

The fact that she lay on top of the pile, and could've simply flown off only added to the confusion.

Averting her gaze everytime somepony looked at her, she instead kept herself occupied by patting Manny on the head, thanking him for keeping her safe while looking for her friends and send him on his way back to his home.

"So, Rainbow. Mind tellin' us what happened here?" Applejack asked while this happened.

"I could," she replied, frowning, "But it's easier to just show."

Turning around, she motioned for her friends to follow.

Looking at each other, shrugging, they followed after Rainbow Dash. Though Fluttershy, Bellflower and Big Mac did lag behind a bit in hesitation, but eventually they, too, followed after the rest.

"Just let me say right now," Rainbow Dash added as if there hadn't been a lull in the conversation, "I was just caught off guard when I found him."

"Found who?" asked Applejack.

"Is it Danny?" Pinkie Pie asked, hopeful but worried.

"No," Rainbow Dash shook her head, "Not Danny." Stopping, she took a deep breath as she looked at the fog covered beast she first mistook for a hill. "Him!"

Looking around, Applejack scratched herself behind an ear, "... Mind giving us a clue what we're lookin' at?"

"Just follow the light," Rainbow Dash told her, pointing a hoof.

Squinting her eyes, Applejack now noticed the faint light coming from deep into the mist.

Stepping besides her, Rarity, too, saw the faint illumination just barely shining through the layer of mist surrounding the base of the odd shaped incline. "Is that what made that flash of light we saw earlier?"

"Don't know," said Rainbow Dash, frowning pensively.

"But what was it that scared you so much?" Bellflower hesitantly asked.

"Hey," Rainbow looked at her adoptive sister's caretaker, "I didn't get scared. I was just taken by surprise."

"Not important right now, Dash," Applejack said sternly, "Just tell us what spooked ya…" Blinking, she realized the rather poor choice of words and smiled sheepishly. "Eh, ya know what Ah mean."

Snorting, Rainbow Dash looked at the creature she first mistook for a hill. "You see that hydra over there?" She asked them, and everypony reacted exactly how she expected them to; a shocked jerk back, eyes wide and shifting around, ears perked, and a barely audible, frightened whimper from Fluttershy. Though none of them seemed to see the beast she knew was there. "Yeah, neither did I, at first."

"You mean there is a hydra here? As in, right HERE!?" Rarity demanded.

"Yeah, right there," Rainbow nodded once towards the misidentified hill. "Though, that's not the scary part."

"Then what is?" Macintosh asked, voice wracked with nerves.

"What happened to him," and with a powerful flap of her wings, she created a gust of air which blew away the obscuring fog layer, revealing the five heads of the hydra locked in place on the ground by a thick layer of ice encasing them wholly, save for small holes for the beast to breath through.

Everypony, save Rainbow Dash, reared back in shock.

"Told ya," she said matter of factly, then created another gust of wind, revealing the ice encased legs as well. "Whatever this guy tried to attack, it certainly knew how to fight back."

"A- actually," Fluttershy said meekly, eyes wide, "it's a she."

Those not too shocked by what they were seeing turned to look at the shy pegasus, confused.

"She's the hydra Manny warned me about," she said quietly, shying away from the gazes locked on her.

"... Okay," Applejack said with uncertainty, looking back at the hydra. "At least it ain't in any place ta attack us. A hydra attack is tha last any of us need right now."

"You said it," Rainbow Dash agreed wholeheartedly.

"So, just to make sure I get all this," Pinkie Pie said, completely serious. "First the Crusaders went missing, then Danny vanished, only for a ghost to scare us away and we lost Zecora. Then this ghost shows up again and we all rush off into the forest, while Twilight just told us not to split up, because that is what the ghost wanted, and now we were drawn here by a strange light, and Rainbow Dash yelling, only to find each other, and a hydra frozen in place." She paused there for a moment, her alert eyes locking with everypony present, some of them nodding in agreement with the summed up events they have experienced this troublesome night. "That just leaves one question," she stomped a hoof for emphasis.

"Eh, which is?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Where's Twilight?"

A gasp escaped all present as they finally realized there was yet another pony missing in their group.

"Oh, this is bad. Real bad!" Rainbow Dash muttered as she rapidly looked around, expecting the same ghost that had terrorized them twice before to suddenly pop up again.

"It must be trying to pick us off one by one," Rarity surmised.

"Okay, that's IT!" Applejack stomped a hoof, "Twilight warned us 'bout this and now she's the one ta go missin' next. We're sticking together from now on out."

"Okay, but what do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asked

"Maybe we should try and find the ghost hunters," Bellflower suggested, unnerved. "Certainly they know what to do, right?"

"Ah s'pose," Applejack muttered pensively. "Though they ran off chasing that other ghost."

"What if it was the same ghost and it took them just as it did Danny, and Zecora?" Pinkie Pie asked with an almost casual air.

This question made everypony freeze up, staring at the pink pony with worry and fear. Pinkie Pie didn't seem to notice this, though, as she looked up at the canopy, rubbing a hoof under her chin, lost in thought.

"Or what if this is all one big misunderstanding and everypony, human, and zebra is perfectly okay, while all these ghosts are just here on some mission to try, and help one of their own who has been living amongst us, hidden in plain sight, but lost his, or her way, and us running into them is just random chance as our own actions caused us to cross their paths?"

Now everypony looked at her in confusion.

"Or maybe…" Pinkie Pie continued, only for Rarity to step up and slowly push a hoof against her mouth, looking absolutely distraught.

"I think that's more than enough weirdness for tonight, Pinkie. Why don't we just focus on what we do know and get out of this forest without losing more of our friends."

"Phokay," Pinkie Pie sputtered around Rarity's hoof.

"Uhmm… But what do we do about the hydra?" Fluttershy asked after a few silent, awkward seconds. "We can't just leave her like this, can we?"

"Ah don't know, Fluttershy. If Ah was trapped in there, Ah would be mighty angry. If we free her, we would all be in danger. More than we are now," Applejack countered, looking at the trapped but clearly angry predator. " 'Side's, it's ice she's stuck in. Don't know how that happened, but Ah do know ice melts. She'll be free before long, a recon."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Fluttershy agreed doubtfully, looking at the trapped animal with pity and concern.

"Don't you worry your pretty head about her, Fluttershy," Pinkie Pie said warmly, placing a leg around her withers. "Soon she'll be free to hunt, kill and eat all the smaller, but also dangerous animals in this forest."

Of course, this did little to make the animal loving pony feel better and she visibly paled at the scene sketched by her friend.

"PINKIE!" the rest of the group shouted, while the owl and cat sitting on a nearby branch both rolled their eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

A short time loop ago.

Scootaloo rode on the back of the small windigo, putting in a serious effort to control the spectral equine by making her walk around, slowly, lest she fall off again.

For the better part of an hour she tried to maneuver the windigo, with increasing success the longer she was at it. Realizing quickly she needed to steer herself as much as she did the windigo, just like her scooter. Except, unlike her scooter, this smaller than the other windigos did have a mind of her own. And as she had experienced several times, if she did something the windigo didn't like, she'd end up face first into the snow.

Numerous face prints already pock marked the snowy surface, only added to her determination for the last time to be actually the last.

Commanding the windigo to stop, she leaned back a bit, eyes closed, and exhaled a billowing cloud of hot air in the cold, ghost chilled night.

Eyes snapping open, she stared up at the starry sky with burning determination.

"Let's do this!" she said with force, getting back in position to steer the windigo.

Locking herself in place with her hind legs and pressing forward on the windigo's neck, the spectral equine started to walk. Applying more pressure, the pair began to move faster. Pressing further, Scootaloo urged the windigo on to pick up even more speed. Then, as both their manes whipped wildly in the rushing wind, Scootaloo pulled up and with an expected, but still surprising lurch the small windigo shot up; followed close behind by the rest of the herd.

Scootaloo, gritting her teeth and clenching her legs to keep herself from falling off, kept going for as long as she dared before easing back on the pressure and leveling out the flight.

Holding her position, sitting perfectly still, she waited, expecting something, anything to go wrong. When nothing did, she released a breath she didn't even realize she was holding, and finally allowed herself to take in her surroundings.

With widening eyes, the full ramifications of what she just did finally registered. And with it, her place in the sky.

It began with a low chuckle, but it soon grew in a full belly laughter of excitement as Scootaloo whooped and hollered in sheer elation as they punched through a cloud.

She was finally home.

<<>><<>><<>>

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Screaming as loud as her lunges would allow, Abella held the back of Eclipse's neck in a deathgrip, eyes closed so tightly the pressure of it could crush coal into diamond.

"ABELLA, LOOK!" Sweetie Belle, sitting behind Abella, shouted excitedly, her voice barely audible over the howling wind.

"YOU'RE CRAZY! ALL OF YOU PONIES ARE CRAZY!" Abella screamed in anger, mixed with terror.

"I KNOW. ERLEA HAS TOLD US THAT ALREADY," Sweetie Belle replied with an excited laugh, joined by Eclipse. "JUST LOOK!"

"NO! NOLING IS SUPPOSED TO GO THIS FAST! IT'S NOT NORMAL!"

"NOT NORMAL IS NORMAL WITH US," Sweetie Belle laughed. "REALLY, OPEN YOUR EYES! YOU WANT TO SEE THIS!"

"YOU'RE CRAZY!"

"NOW YOU'RE JUST REPEATING YOURSELF!" Sweetie Belle chuckled, looking around wide eyed at the moonlight illuminated ground below; seeing it rush past in a blur as Eclipse soared high and fast through the night's sky; a distant glitter revealing the reflective surface of the frozen land created by the windigos, while, high above, a true spectacle was created by Princess Luna herself as a borealis of fantastic colors graced the night's sky, complemented by several shooting stars.

"WE'RE NEARING THE HIVE!" Eclipse informed them, angling down towards the snow and ice covered land below.

"YOU'RE REALLY MISSING OUT!" Sweetie Belle tried once again, but to no avail as Abella kept her eyes tightly shut.

Admitting defeat, Sweetie Belle instead looked around in wonder, never before having seen the world in such a way.

Eventually, unfortunately, the amazing spectacle came to an end as Eclipse slowed down; though she didn't lower herself to the ground. Instead, she slowed, then stopped in a hover, staring forwards in silence.

"Eclipse, is something wrong?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"I'm not sure," came the hesitant reply, and Eclipse moved forwards at a cautious pace.

Leaning to the side trying to see what Eclipse was looking at, Sweetie Belle started to fall off. Grasping at Eclipse's back in a panicked flail of legs to keep herself from falling to the unyielding ground below, Sweetie Belle managed to find purchase and stop gravity's call to her.

Of course it was only after the fact she remembered she could fly and, looking at Eclipse, she smiled sheepishly at the unamused look she shot her way.

"Ehh, sorry," she apologized, then quickly flew off the shadow's back and joined her in flight.

Rolling her eyes, Eclipse turned back at the unexpected sight before her.

"Hey guys!" Scootaloo greeted them excitedly, waving a hoof at them while sitting on the back of a small windigo, slowing down to a hover before the trio while the rest of the frost emitting herd slowly circled around them.

"Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle gasped out. "You're controlling them?"

"I know!" Scootaloo's wings buzzed with excitement. "Isn't it awesome?"

"But… how?" Sweetie Belle sought to know, amazed. Before Scootaloo could even calm down enough to respond, however, Abella made herself heard.

"WHAT THE!?" she yelled peeking up over Eclipse's head, struggling a bit with her ethereal mane and stared, almost glared at the orange pegasus.

"Hey, Abella!" Scootaloo said exuberantly, completely missing the steely gaze the changeling aimed at her. "Isn't this awesome?"

"Awesome…" Abella slowly repeated the word, one of her eyes twitching. "WHY DO YOU PONIES ALWAYS DO THIS!?" she screamed, Eclipse flinching from the unexpected, hard assault on her ears, which was promptly ignored by the angry filly as she seemed to climb on top of the shade's head just to be able to properly glare at Scootaloo. But before she could continue to vent her frustration further, an annoyed voice cut her off.

"Alright," Danny half groaned, hovering behind Eclipse and scaring both Sweetie Belle, and Abella as he spoke, while Scootaloo merely looked up at him in excitement as she saw him approach. "Though I'm sure there is a story to be told here, I find myself currently short on time and sleep. So, why don't we instead just ignore what is going on here for now, and just do what we've been trying to do from the start? Meaning, helping the changelings."

"FINALLY!" Abella huffed, then leered at Danny. "You've better brought that wolf guy!"

"Hey, yeah. Where is Fenris?" asked Scootaloo, seemingly oblivious to Abella's mood as she looked down, scanning the ground despite it still being too dark to see anything from that high up.

"And where's Wind Chill… and Cujo?" added Sweetie Belle.

"Long story," Danny told them, the tiredness in his voice palpable. "Wind Chill will come later, I hope. Cujo's looking for him last I saw him. As for Fenris, let's just get down there and you'll find out soon enough." He then stopped, blinked, then looked at the filly riding the windigo. "You do know how to get down, right?"

"Do I?" Said Scootaloo, a competitive edge to her voice. "Watch this!"

Sitting back down, her hooves back on the windigo's neck, Scootaloo turned her around and pushed down. Immediately, the windigo dove down, followed moments later by the rest of the herd, while Danny, Sweetie Belle, Eclipse and Abella were left watching with wide eyes.

With the wind howling in her ears, Scootaloo forced her vision to remain clear despite the tears forming thanks to the cutting winds; mentally counting down as she watched the ground approach with startling speed and pulling back with her hooves at the last possible second.

A small whinny escaped the windigo, lost to the howl of the wind as she pulled up sharply, leveling out in command by Scootaloo's actions; her hooves lightly scraping over the snow and ice covered ground before connecting with the ground fully in a ready gallop.

Grinning ear to ear, Scootaloo steered the windigo to the Hive's entrance, coming to a full stop near the tunnel leading deeper underground.

Releasing a shuddering breath in excitement, she jumped off the spectral equine's back, turned around and looked back up at the rest, watching them slowly descend after her with perked wings, and a winning smile.

Dropping down, breaking through the thin crust of iced up snow, Danny's feet sunk a bit into the frost before settling down near his ankles; clumps of snow sticking to his boots' soles while Eclipse dropped down just behind him.

Sighing out, Danny looked at the entrance tiredly, knowing there was still much left to be done. "Eclipse," he called out to his shade.

"As ready as you are," she answered as she stepped closer to him.

"Then let's not waste any more time," Danny said to all. "Let's go!"

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom was tired. All night long she'd run from one sick changeling to the next, doing whatever she could to help, but never able to do much more than to help them lay in a more comfortable position, or move them closer to the dying fires.

At least the effort from Danny to remove the cold had been a helpful change, but was nowhere near enough on its own to truly help the changelings.

Fenris on the other hoof, or should that be claw, was able to really make a difference with his ability to cut out most of the infectious hate. Unfortunately his temperament towards Eclipse, and in extent to Danny quickly proved to be his undoing in ways none really understood.

Worse still, this left those still unattended to in an ever declining state, some of them having even passed the tipping point and passed on.

The first time Apple Bloom witnessed this, watching as a young stallion breathed his last before going still, any traces of tiredness were quickly shoved aside as she rushed from one patient to the next with frantic pace; tears in her eyes.

Of course, the way she felt now was what the changelings had lived with for far longer than they had any right to. Even if they did attack Canterlot and disrupted the royal wedding, they didn't deserve this, a cost far too high.

'Do Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor even know what they did?' She wondered, hurrying towards the one changeling who got hit the hardest: Queen Chrysalis.

The tall changeling was a wreck; a husk of her former self. At first glance, one would think she had died long ago, yet she proved to still be clinging to life with each faint, raspy breath which seemed to do more harm than good.

They needed nothing short of a miracle if they wanted to save her, or anyone of them for that matter.

With a loud bang, the doors of the throne room slammed open as Danny barged inside; dropping out of flight and skidding to a halt while Apple Bloom and the changeling foals stared at him with wide eyes.

"Danny!?" Apple Bloom shouted her surprise, then a relieved smile replaced her surprise as she ran towards the human and Eclipse. "You're back!"

"I am. So is Eclipse. Fenris is here too, but I don't have time to explain why he's nowhere to be seen," Danny said quickly, looking around. "Where's the queen?"

"Here," Erlea's voice came from his right and he saw the filly leer at him, standing before the prone form of her mother. "Where's Abella!?" She demanded to know, despite her connection with her friend.

"I'm here!" Abella said, gasping, out of breath as she stormed into the throne room with Sweetie Belle.

Quickly stepping towards Chrysalis, Danny knelt down as he looked at the unmoving mare with worry and concern. "Is she-" a faint, ragged gasp answered his unfinished question, though it also showed just how close to the brink she was.

Standing back up, Danny's frown of worry was replaced by a glare of determination.

"Eclipse, Fenris, it's time to do our thing!"

"Right."

"Do what thing?" Asked Apple Bloom as she looked around, "An’ where's Fenris?"

"I dunno?” Scootaloo shrugged as she stared at Danny as he stood awkwardly on the spot, unmoving.

"I think Fenris somehow became part of Danny,… or something?" Sweetie Belle thought aloud.

"Wait, what?" Apple Bloom balked, blinking rapidly as she stared first at her friend, then back at Danny. "How would that even work?"

"Honestly," Sweetie Belle sighed out as she shook her head. "I've stopped understanding what was going on sometime shortly after finding that book in Twilight's basement… Just… just go with it, I guess."

Unconvinced, and in need of answers, Apple Bloom approached the still unmoving human; though his face shifted through numerous expressions while he stood there.

"Ehh, Danny?" Apple Bloom said hesitantly.

"Hold on," Danny said hastily. "Trying to sort something out with the others… It's really crowded up here right now."

"Our lives are in the hands of a nut job!" Abella said in disbelief, staring at Danny with shocked, wide eyes.

"And this is how we changelings die!" Erlea cried out. "Fools amidst fools."

"Hey, don't give up like that!" Sweetie Belle yelled back.

"YEAH!" Scootaloo cried out. "Danny will totally come through for you!"

"Right!" Eclipse suddenly shouted, catching the foals by surprise, the youngest flinching back in fright.

With burning eyes, Eclipse suddenly flew up, losing form as she arched up, then back down to Danny; becoming a column of darkness which slammed against, then seeped into his chest.

Danny gasped out as he staggered back, hands instinctively reaching for his chest, then looked down. Shock was clearly visible on his face. A look mirrored by the children as they saw his body fall apart into nothing more than a toxic green cloud with a pitch black stain dead in the center, spreading out like an oil spill.

With a roar, Danny fell to his knees, his eyes burning fiercely as the stained smoke spread out, consuming his lower body and shoulders first; then continuing further and further as his entire being fell apart.

Horrified, there was nothing they could do as they saw Danny, or what had once been Danny topple over and fall apart on the floor in nothing more than a haze of dark smoke.

Ugly Truth

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Ugly Truth

<<>><<>><<>>

With a weak growl, the timberwolf Alpha stirred; flailing his legs in an unfocused attempt to push himself up, only really managing to roll to his side in the process.

For a moment he remained in this unwanted position, anger building at the uncooperation of his limbs, while his vision colluded against him as well, only revealing blurry shapes at best.

Despite his unresponsive senses, his mind was as sharp as ever; and while he tried to determine what could have caused his current predicament, there was a persistent itch at the back of his mind; growing stronger the more he became aware of it, soon demanding the full focus of him as something demanded to be known.

'Remember what I said.'

His eyes snapped open as the memories of that vision came back, too real to be a mere dream, yet too impossible to have actually happened.

"Ah, you are finally awake," an infuriatingly familiar voice demanded his attention.

Willing his eyes to focus, he saw two distinct shapes just out of his reach. One a large white blur, giving him some pause whether to attack, or not. The other a small blur of black and white, with glints of gold present as well.

Grunting, he willed his limbs to obey, and this time successfully putting his paws under him; pushing himself up into a sitting position first, then slowly back to his full height as his vision cleared up.

Now able to properly see who spoke, he recognized the robe wearing giant as she stood before him, glowing staff in hand, basking the room in the recognizable red light that allowed them to speak in one tongue.

Shifting his focus near the giant's feet, he noticed the overly familiar zebra, who had clubbed her fair share of his pack members. What her presence entailed here, however, he could not begin to deduce.

"What manner of magic did you bring down upon me?" he asked with deep rumble, noticing numerous other wolves from his pack still down on the ground. "To my brethren?"

"The kind that forces you to see and understand, instead of just stare and bite," the Elder answered simply, humming thoughtfully. "Now we come to the part where we find out if it actually stuck."

The Alpha growled in response, ignoring the persistent voice from his vision, instead trying to assert his dominance over the giant before him.

Not impressed in the least, the Elder stepped closer, forcing the wolf to crane his neck back to still be able to glare at her face, while she looked down with barely a hint of annoyance.

"Do not think weak displays of imagined might faze me," she said simply, stopping just a step shy of the wolf; her much larger stature now casting a shadow over the Alpha who stubbornly held his ground. "I know who you are, what you once were. I know the fate that befell you, the curse plaguing you and your brethren. And I know what it was you did to deserve the fate forced upon you," her glowing eyes narrowed as she stared down at the wolf with intensity. "The atrocities you committed in search for something as meaningless as eternity. I may not always agree with 'He who cursed you', but I can not deny the poetic justice. Trapped in a body made of decay, forced to roam the lands eternal, undying. Given one simple, but grandiose task: Protect and maintain the constants you once upset. And yet, cursed as you are, reminded of your sins each and every day, you still hold on to the ways that led you down this path to begin with; claiming to uphold the task given to you, yet never acting on it unless it serves your own interest."

The Alpha growled menacingly, his wooden claws flexing as he sought for an opening, but knowing on a deeply rooted instinctual level she had the upper hand… for now.

"You know nothing of our curse; what we've gone through. Your words are hollow, just as your attempt at intimidation."

"You killed without discrimination. Young, old, healthy, weak. All of them died by your and your brethren's claws. The reason for which, only making sense to you. Yet your reasons were lacking, and thus becoming more and more twisted as what you sought could never be found. And now, as a result of your decisions and actions, here you are. Still stuck in your own worldview and ignoring the voice of reason even as it's screaming at you this very moment," she pointed out, a minute twitch visible on the Alpha's face. "You say my words are hollow? Maybe they are. But compared to your pitiful existence, they still hold more weight than anything you could say, or do."

Anger building at what the giant said, the Alpha growled again; cut off almost immediately as the Elder pushed the tip of her staff against his neck, leaning down a fraction as her glare bore into him.

"Anger, hate, aggression. It is all you truly know. And because of this, you will never be able to best me. Blinded by your own insignificance, unable to rise up and become what so many others of your kind have done. But here is a chance to change that. A chance to, finally, become something more; something better than what you are now. Let go of your hatred, fueled by your unattainable desires and for once in your existence, listen to the voice of reason; remember what she said!"

The Alpha's eyes narrowed threateningly, glaring back at the giant, when a pulse of light shone from her staff; his eyes flashing red for a brief instance as his vision blurred, the words of that young pony brought back in perfect clarity to the forefront of his mind.

****

"Why are you afraid?" the image of Sweetie Belle asked as she sat besides him, eyes locked on the unmoving form of Fenris after Danny had possessed him, pressing a hoof on the wolf's shoulder.

A spike of anger welled up, and instinctively he wanted to lash out at the insult. Yet, to his surprise, he didn't. The anger was there, true, but he didn't act on it. Instead, his body moved as if controlled by another as he sat down besides the young filly; realizing he did so without difficulty, his wounds gone as if they were never inflicted upon him.

Blinking, the young pony turned to look at him; craning her neck to see his face while he stared down at the child.

With a rumble in his throat, he felt compelled to answer: "I fear nothing."

Snorting, Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "That's stupid. And not true. We all fear something, anything, you included."

Again, anger welled up, yet again he did not act upon his impulses as he glared at the foal.

Undeterred, she merely raised an eyebrow.

"Then if you're not afraid of anything, then why did you seek eternal life?"

She waited a moment, giving the wolf a chance to speak. When he didn't, however, she continued herself.

"Sounds to me like you're afraid of death; the unknown after life. Even now, as you are, you still don't know for sure what awaits on the other side and it scares you. So much in fact, that you sought out the means to avert the most basic truth of life. A way to stop the end from coming, even if you had to end the lives of so many others while you did. And worse still, this fear of yours spread like a disease with each body left at your feet; others joining either in fear of you, or the same desires to avert the inevitable. It was fear that drove you; is still driving you; hiding behind anger and rage, as these are easier to accept, lashing out at others because of it." One of her ears twitched as she paused for a short moment, giving the wolf another chance to speak his mind. But he didn't, as she knew he wouldn't.

Snorting, she looked back at the slightly swaying, but otherwise unmoving form of Fenris.

"You know what that makes you?" she asked, receiving only a restrained growl in answer. "A coward," she answered for him. "And some place deep down, you know this. It's why you aren't lashing out at me, because somewhere in that mind of yours, there is a small, small part that knows this is true, and is fighting to be heard."

"LIES!" he roared.

"Then prove me wrong. Attack me. Silence my words," and she spread her front legs to the side, presenting an open target.

Moving with blurring speed, he drew back his claw, then slashed with all the strength he had, fully intend to cut the lying pony down. Instead of blood and bone, however, all he managed to scar was the ground in between them.

Shocked, confused, enraged, he tried again; met only with the same result and again there after.

Confounded, he leaped back from the pony, who sat unmoving, still presenting herself as a easy target; uncertainty flashing in his eyes as he struggled to understand.

Lowering her hooves, Sweetie Belle shook the dirt thrown on her from her coat and mane, looking at the wolf with a pitiful gaze.

"You see now? Even with an open target, not doing anything to stop you, you fail to land even one hit. Why do you think that is?" She slowly advanced towards the wolf, who took a half step away from her, before catching himself and forcing himself to stand his ground.

"You're afraid. Everything about you says so. Everything, except you yourself. Stop hiding behind misplaced anger and stubbornness, and admit the truth you've been avoiding for all those centuries. A truth that could have saved countless lives, including your own, if you had the courage to admit it."

She didn't shout, or raise her voice, yet her presence dominated him completely with every word she spoke; stepping closer to the disgraced and cursed beast, who, against his will and desires, backed away just as fast; eyes locked on the small, white pony who suddenly seemed so much larger.

"You seek an end to your curse. A curse placed upon you, rightfully so, all because you wouldn't admit a simple truth: You are afraid!" She stomped a hoof for emphasis, leering up at him with hardened eyes.

"You now stand at a crossroad," she suddenly said, backing off and sitting down again. "Either you continue your sad existence the way you always have; forget everything said and done, and always seek for a way to free yourself, but never be able to do so. Or accept the truth, admit it, to yourself, to those who followed and maybe, just maybe, find the redemption you've been looking for."

"... And what makes you think such a thing is even possible?" he asked through growling breath, glaring at the child with uncertain anger.

"We all make mistakes," she answered simply, turning herself around to look at Fenris again as she patted the ground next to her, inviting the wolf to join her. "You, Fenris, Danny, me, everyone. And it is always so much simpler to blame another, but never yourself. Simpler, but much more damaging. But if you're able to look past the veil of self assured ignorance and see how things truly are; admit to them, and accept them, well…" she watched as Fenris' eyes started to glow a vibrant orange.

Confused but compelled for reasons beyond his understanding, the wolf slowly stepped closer. Then, against his better judgment, lay down next to the pony much in the same way as when he first met her; her hoof resting on his shoulder almost as if to assure he would remain where he was.

"...If you can accept your failings, then anything is possible."

The world around them started to break apart as the illusion holding them had ran its course.

"Remember what I said," she said, then they, too, vanished.

<<>><<>><<>>

Shaking his head vigorously, taking a large, wild step back from the Elder and the slowly dimming staff, the Alpha panted through teeth while holding his head with a wooden claw; this fact confusing him even further, until realization kicked in and the pieces all fell back into place.

"So," the Elder drew his attention. "What do you choose?"

Slowly dropping his hand, staring at the shifting wood, he slowly looked back at his still slumbering brethren; uncertainty weighing down on him strongly as, for the first time in his unholy existence he realized what he felt truly was.

It scared him more than anything had ever done before.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deprived of breath, but unwilling to inhale, lest she make a noise that could draw the horror that was this ghost to her, Twilight stood with her back pressed against the tree she hid behind, watching the ghost hunters fight, and lose against the very foe she was hiding from now.

Still, as much she tried, she could not resist the increasing burning of her lungs. With an explosive gasp, prompting her to clasp both hooves over her mouth to stifle the sound, she greedily sucked in as much air as she could; eyes wide and flashing from left to right, then up and down, hoping she hadn't been heard.

"Is anyone out there?"

A frightened squeak almost escaped her, while her heart leaped up, pounding like a jackhammer as she struggled to control herself.

Realizing nothing bad had happened to her so far, the voice she heard finally registered as belonging to one of the hunters.

Carefully and as quietly as she could manage, she slid around the tree trunk, keeping herself as small as possible while peeking past the curve until she could see the hunters; all four of them quite literally frozen on the spot.

"A- are you alright?" she asked, still scanning around for any sign of the ghost.

"Well, horse apples," Blue Ice swore as she caught sight of the purple pony peeking past the tree. "Not only did we get our flanks kicked to Canterlot and back, but it seems we've had an audience as well."

"Can it," Rolling Stone grunted, pulling a leg in an attempt to break free with little success. "At least this ghost didn't catch sight of her. Had it gone after her, or worse, the situation would have been so much worse for us."

"Yes yes, Element and all that," Ornate Charm muttered as she struggled to free herself as well. "Though this ghost's behavior is worrying in it's own right. It doesn't fit any known profile we've studied," she sighed out tiredly as she slacked her stance, unable to pull free. "Not to mention what it said. It wanted us to go back to the Princesses, tell them what happened here. And, honestly, it almost seemed like it wanted us to get better at hunting him."

"That does not make any sense, and you know it!" Sound Wave argued back with a irritated growl as she attempted to break the ice surrounding and locking her hooves on the ground.

"Exactly!" Ornate Charm agreed, then sighed out again as she looked at the sheet of ice trapping her and her team. "It doesn't make any sense, and that's what worries me. Just look at the position we're currently in," she stressed, frowning deeply. "I hate to say it, and I know you will hate me for saying it, but in a way that ghost was right. Clearly we have no idea what we're doing."

This confession made Twilight gasp, reminding the hunters of her presence, even if their eyes remained firmly locked on Ornate Charm.

"I mean, just look at what happened. Four of us, two of them; one being an overactive dog that stayed on the sidelines while the other beat us down as if we were nothing. Four against one in our favor. And we lost, badly. And that's not even mentioning the issues we have with the scanners."

"But what if that is its plan?" asked Twilight, much to the surprise of the hunters, and herself.

Again, all eyes were on her and she required a moment to compose herself. Then, stepping closer to the hunters, horn aglow as she prepared the same spell she used to thaw the frozen lake, she explained. "I mean, what if it wants you to think as such? I… saw the fight. Most of it, at least," she admitted, ears folded flat on her head. "This ghost, it… he was invisible the entire time. And you just said these scanners were giving you trouble… Maybe there were more ghosts than just the one you fought… and that dog? Maybe they helped, but remained quiet, invisible, creating the illusion just this one ghost fought and beat you, all to make you question your training and abilities," with a flash of her horn, the ice broke apart in a small explosion; the relative weak energy still coursing in the ice reacting to her spell's magic, and destroyed itself; showering all present in a mix of hot water and half molten chunks of ice.

Shouting in surprise, mixed with a few grunts of pain when some of the larger chunks collided with the hunters, as well as a cry from Twilight as she was forcefully pushed back from the unexpected interference, a thick but dissipating layer of fog now covered them, leaving them fumble disorientated on the spot as they tried to regain their bearing.

"Wh- what just happened?" asked Twilight as she shook her head, then pressed a hoof at the base of her unpleasantly tingling horn.

"A trap," Blue Ice grunted, a small streak of blood flowing from a shallow cut near her right ear. "I knew this was too easy. And nothing too serious either. Just enough to rub it in our faces."

Grunting in irritation, Rolling Stone picked up the scanner that lay discarded on the ground; flicking his hoof to shake off the water clinging to the metal casing of the device before activating it; satisfied to see it turn on without problems. His sliver of satisfaction was short lived, however, when the scanner showed no signal of any spectral entity in the device's active range.

"Damn, nothing," he murmured, shaking his head. "And the way these thing have been acting, we can't say for certain if it's working properly, or not."

"We've lost them," Sound Wave groaned her displeasure.

"At least we have a lead with the Princesses old castle," Ornate Charm added.

"True," Rolling Stone mulled over that particular bit of information. "But it won't do us any good now. We've been there already and were clearly led away, thinking about it now. Whatever is going on over there, our presence must have set something in motion. Going back now, after what just happened, especially if miss Twilight's hypothesis is true. We need to regroup, plan our next course of action. And more importantly, find out where those fillies have gone to."

"But what if they're held in the castle?" Blue Ice asked heatedly, flicking her ear while ignoring the stinging from the cut just below it.

"Then the last we must do is rush in without a plan. Especially after being defeated so easily," Rolling Stone countered swiftly.

"True, but if we wait too long, things may only get worse as a result," Ornate Charm warned.

"Actually," Twilight cut in nervously. "Things have already gotten worse. After you left Zecora's, something happened to Danny after he and Zecora stepped outside for a moment to talk. Neither I, nor my friends saw what happened. But we did hear Danny scream… He's gone missing now, too… And then a ghost revealed itself, forcing us to flee… though we lost Zecora in the chaos as well." Blinking, she looked around, realizing another important detail. "And it seems I've lost sight of my friends after we ran off into the forest."

All four hunters shared a concerned glance over this new information.

"You say this happened after we left?" Rolling Stone sought confirmation, to which the purple unicorn nodded once.

"Yes, just a short moment after. I… After Danny's disappearance, I even cast a shield over Zecora's home, but that didn't stop this ghost… But maybe it was already inside when I casted the spell?" Shaking her head, she glanced back in the direction where Zecora lived, biting her lower lip in worry.

"Sir, I'd say we don't have any time left to regroup and plan our next approach," Ornate Charm spoke up. "Whatever plan these ghosts have, it's clear by Twilight's account that our presence here has accelerated their time table. The longer we wait, the more we play into their hooves, or whatever appendages they have."

"Agreed," Rolling Stone grunted.

"Is there anything I could do to help?" Twilight asked as she took a nervous step forwards.

"No," Rolling Stone shot her down immediately with a strong shake of his head. "Circumstances have changed, even more so than when my team and I first revealed ourselves to you. And it has become clear that this forest has become even more dangerous than it already was to begin with. Should anything happen to you, or your friends, rendering the Elements useless, there is no knowing what could happen," he looked down at the shorter mare with respect, but knowing what needed to be done. "Ornate, Ice, escort miss Twilight back to the village; look out for her friends and take them back as well, should you encounter them. Whether you find them, or not, send a message to the princesses informing them about the situation."

"While you do what? Take Sound Wave to the castle on some half assed infil exfil opp?" Blue Ice asked incredulously.

"And even if so, you know any response from the princesses will take some time. Even if they use a mass teleportation spell, with the current situation over at Canterlot, our resources are spread thin," Ornate Charm voiced her thoughts to the matter.

"Wait, what happened at Canterlot?" Twilight asked, worried. She'd only returned from her home city a few hours ago.

"Nothing you need to worry about, miss," Rolling Stone told her, frowning deeply.

"Like hay it is!" Twilight protested. "Canterlot is where I was born, where I lived most of my life and where my parents are as well. Furthermore-" she pressed onwards, only to be silenced as Rolling Stone put his hoof down, literally, thumping loudly on the forest floor.

"Miss Twilight, while I thank you for your assistance freeing my team and I just now, this forest is no longer safe for you, or your friends. Nor do we have the luxury of time to stand and talk." He then addressed his team. "I have given my orders, now follow up!" he barked, leaving no room for argument.

""Sir,"" Blue Ice and Ornate Charm saluted, then turned to Twilight, only to halt when they saw the no nonsense, determined glare she shot at them.

"I'll only say this once," she began, voice calm and leveled, but not concealing the frustration, and anger one bit. "I'm not going anywhere. Not without my friends! If that means I must remain in this 'dangerous' forest, which I have traversed numerous times already before today, so be it. But if you think I will turn my back on my friends when they need me most, clearly you don't understand the magic of friendship."

"Don't think I don't understand what you're going through, miss," Rolling Stone stepped closer, his larger stature forcing Twilight to look up. "I had friends stuck in Baltimare, some of which I never saw alive again. But neither I, nor you can ignore the facts that these ghosts are able to sneak up on us, despite our best efforts," he paused momentarily, staring down at the librarian. "More importantly, my team and I are expendable. You are not!"

"Wh- what!?" Twilight shouted, stepping back in shock.

"It's the ugly truth of any guard, no matter the division. We're the first to enter battle, protect our fellow pony and give our lives if need be to ensure the safety of others. If harm were to come to us, others will take our place. If something were to happen to you, or your friends, we will lose one of this nation's strongest defences. And how long before a new, suitable bearer is found? No, protest all you want, but the facts speak for themselves. As does my duty." Backing down, he flicked an ear; signaling Blue Ice and Ornate Charm to move. "You're not a guard, so I can't order you to listen, but I can't let you follow us and put yourself at risk. Ornate, Blue, see to it she's escorted out of here safely. Sound Wave and I will proceed back to the castle, and, hopefully, find, and extract those missing."

""Sir,""Both ponies saluted again, then flanked Twilight, preventing her from stepping forwards in silent protest; mouth moving as if she wanted to say more, but failing to find the words. Eventually, having reached the conclusion that Rolling Stone was right, even if she didn't like admitting to this, she slowly closed her mouth.

These ghosts, as demonstrated earlier this night, proved that her magic did little to stop them. Her strongest asset. And even though she was an Element, to use this power required both her crown, as well as her friends, wielding their respective jewelry as well. As it was now, though, she was almost completely powerless. And not the kind where she couldn't find a friendship problem to solve, or worse, unable to find an answer to her problems in her books.

Nodding once, she sighed out in reservation, looking up at the ghost hunter's leader.

"Please be careful," she told him, to which he replied with a curt nod.

"Of course, miss."

Waiting a moment and watching to make sure Twilight was led away by Ornate Charm, and Blue Ice, Rolling Stone finally addressed the pegasus still beside him.

"Prep our gear and make sure it all works. See if some of our weapons can be salvaged as well. We need them. We've got a castle to raid."

"Sir, yes sir," Sound Wave saluted with a wing, a secondary thermos already in hoof.

<<>><<>><<>>

Wide eyed, Zecora stood on the other side of the portal, watching the white, frozen land before her, oblivious to the cold creeping up her legs, too transfixed to even notice as she saw the, not too distant, village and, even from this distance, massive forms of the giants going about their business.

Shaking her head to pull herself out of her stupor, she turned her head to look at the cloaked giant standing beside her.

"Let me be the first to welcome you to my realm," the Elder spoke, smiling as she looked down at the amazed zebra. "True, the scenery is a bit lackluster, but it is home all the same."

"I'll admit, I'm no stranger to ice and snow, but circumstances do differ in this improbable show," Zecora responded, no less amazed by what she saw.

"Yes," the Elder nodded her agreement, looking towards her village with a fond smile. "Circumstances often dictate how we react to the world around us. Especially considering everything that has transpired this day. But please, follow me. There is much we must discuss and unfortunately, there is not much time for us to do so," she moved for the village, Zecora following after a moment's pause. "The ghost hunters will return shortly and I must be ready to receive them, lest they upset a very precarious balance of events unfolding."

"I see how these hunters would pose a certain threat, but surely they could see reason and become a valuable asset?"

"They certainly would, yes," the Elder agreed thoughtfully. "However, for them to see reason, they would also need an open mind and to allow us the chance to speak. As it is, however, with their history and other factors to consider as well, they would not allow us this chance… yet. Additionally, were you, the children, or even Danny to speak up, suspicion would only work against us. With you 'missing', as well as Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Danny, they may believe your minds are influenced to speak out for us ghosts, after being rescued from our clutches. No, for us to gain a chance to get through to them, more drastic measures are required. Not all of them for the better, I am afraid."

"To change a mind, thoroughly set in stone, it would take drastic measures. Most often those for which one must-" Zecora fell silent, coming to a full stop in the middle of the village; many of the giants either passing by without much thought, though numerous looks were aimed at the small zebra in their midst.

"Atone," the Elder finished for her with a sigh.

"You wish for Danny's past to be revealed. Events from which he has only barely healed."

"I can't say I wish for this to happen, but the path Danny is on now makes this all, but inevitable. The ponies will learn of his dual nature, this is a certainty. What makes this work for us, however, is what Danny has done and is still doing as we speak; all those he has helped, either as his human self, or more direct, yet invisible as his ghost counterpart."

"Though I see your reasoning, experience has shown the ponies are easy to fright. His reveal will cause panic, or worse a fight."

"True," the Elder looked out into the distance. "But, unfortunately, this too is inevitable."

Wide eyed, Zecora gasped out.

"Please hold your questions, there is not much time left and much to discuss," the Elder picked up her pace, leading them through, and then out of the village. "Do know this, Zecora. Unknowingly, you too have helped forge this path we all walk on now. Now though, it is time for me to shed light on the path traversed and to show you where we are heading… if all goes well."

<<>><<>><<>>

For a while the two walked on in silence, the Elder leading Zecora to a tall ice mountain, then through a perfectly concealed door leading deep into the heart of the mountain. There, once again taking Zecora by surprise with the seemingly impossible, stood a massive tree, illuminated by the light emitted from the ice itself.

It was here the Elder revealed to Zecora the depth of influence she and other spectral entities had over their magical world; events set in motion so long ago that time itself had faded away any knowledge which could be led back and only those who were there themselves able, but unwilling to tell their story.

The tale of origin, the shared nature of her world with ghosts and humans, to the spectral nature of the timberwolves, and the ghosts who faded away into legends, to myths, to stories shared at a campfire, yet who continued to linger in the shadows of ignorance, watching, waiting.

Yet for all she revealed, there was even more, deliberately left in obscurity. Though proven to be trustworthy, knowing what still had to happen, what must happen no matter what, the Elder could not reveal those things, so intricately woven into the threads of Destiny, to Zecora, lest everything would unravel, as a thought, an idea she accidentally planted would spell disaster.

No, when the time came that the world in general would come to know these individuals, that what was set in motion could no longer be stopped and the fates of two worlds would hang in the balance.

Still, there was one thing, one immensely important subject which had to be brought to Zecora's attention.

"Which brings us here," the Elder said as she came to a stop, looking up at the Tree of Life. "Know this, Zecora. Everything I told you, as important and world shaking as it is, still doesn't compare to the significance of what is happening here, for those events lie either in ancient past, or transpire as we speak, but this, this is about the future."

Looking down at her, she waited a moment to allow the gravity of it all to settle in on Zecora. Once it had, Zecora nodded once for her to continue.

"You know about your friends, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the power they wield?"

"The Elements of Harmony, of this I do know. Are they somehow involved as well, in this crazy show?"

"Aren't we all?" the Elder said cryptically, shaking her head. "What I want to know from you: do you know where the Elements of Harmony originate from?"

"They're objects of ancient times, with magical powers untold. But to their origins I have sadly been blindfold."

"The Elements of Harmony are the creation of a powerful entity known as Tree of Harmony; planted in secrecy on your world where the barrier between life and death is at its weakest. The seed from which the Tree of Harmony grew, however, came from here… from her," the Elder revealed, looking up at the massive tree they stood under. "Zecora, meet Tree of Life, mother of Tree of Harmony, grandmother to the Elements."

Zecora, expectedly shocked by this revelation, took several steps back, mouth opening and closing with half formed rhymes, and disbelief, eyes flashing between the frost giant, and the tree from which, supposedly, some of the most powerful artifacts of the magical world originated from.

"So you see," the Elder continued, "though ghosts haven't actively shown themselves, we still have a strong presence on your world. One which continues to evolve even as we speak."

Zecora, completely at a loss for words, merely looked at the Elder with an almost pleading look, desperate for answers.

"The Elements are immensely powerful due to their nature; created by someone grown not just in the soil of your world, but its magic as well. Yet for all their might, they are not all powerful. They can fail, become dormant, nothing more than useless chunks of rock. This too is a part of their nature; embodying a single virtue of friendship, split five ways to create a spark of magic. A powerful bond, which can also be its undoing should it break. Something I understand has already transpired at least once. However, there is a force more powerful than these Elements embody: Life itself. And with it, death as well."

Again, Zecora gasped out, shocked.

"Life changes who we are through the experiences we gather during this time; sometimes causing friends to drift apart. And death, well… That truly is one of the more obvious flaws of these Elements, though this has more to do with the fact no one chooses to remain as the thing they fear and hate the most. But even more importantly, life and death are the different sides of the same coin; joined together no matter what. And they form a power far greater than these Elements of Harmony could possess."

Looking up and reaching out, the Elder gently brushed away some of the leaves obscuring the seeds from view.

"And that is where the children come in. You see, Zecora, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom have been chosen to become part of something much greater than themselves. These seeds Tree of Life grows is testimony of that. Seeds that grow in response to the growth of the children as they learn their place in the world and forging bonds that transcend the limitations of the Elements of Harmony. They are chosen to become life and death; bridging the two, and healing a scar so old no one even remembers its existence."

Suddenly, a bright flash caught them unaware and one of the seeds glowed brightly, as it grew in size; its branch hanging down from the increased weight while Zecora gasped out, witnessing the event as she stood besides the Elder; eyes wide and unblinking.

"And so another grows into their destined role," the Elder hummed proudly.

The Simple Act of Conversation

Author's Note

Well, what have we here. A new chapter, so soon? And a short one as well, again. What is going on?

Simply put, after the response I got with the previous update, I decided to try and make shorter chapters and see how that would go. Surprisingly, writing shorter chapters also means you're done faster. Who knew?

Anyhow, I'll try this smaller format out for a bit, and see where it leads me. Though with the recent release of Spider-man on PS4, and Tomb Raider, both of which are sucking away what little free time I have, I really need to force myself to sit down and write.

With that said, share your thoughts, ideas, or spotted mistakes down in the comments.

The Simple Act of Conversation

Edited by Slayerseba, and Clawder.

The Simple Act of Conversation

<<>><<>><<>>

"What the," Sound Wave shot out before clamping her mouth shut, eyes flicking around and hoping no ghost had heard her outburst.

The reason for it: she and Rolling Stone had only just reached the castle, with the only thing separating them from their goal, being the chasm between them and it. Which, of course, being a pegasus, meant little to her. But Rolling Stone, as an earth pony, had significantly more trouble.

Not that they considered this to be a problem, until they arrived back there and discovered the ice bridge they used previously to cross had collapsed, which prompted the mare to shout her frustration before she could think better of it.

Fortunately, there was no sign of hostility, and she breathed a quiet sigh of relief while her team leader stepped closer to where the bridge once was.

"No way this is an accident," Rolling Stone muttered, looking over the edge and glaring into the darkness below; swearing to himself.

"Can't say it's much of a surprise, though," Sound Wave said as she prodded a small chunk of melting ice still attached to the ground. "After what happened, of course there would be a response."

"This makes the situation more complicated, though," Rolling Stone grunted. "Makes it near impossible to extract those missing like this, should they be held in there."

"Yes… I could fly you over there with some effort," she said, calculating the distance, then looked at her superior who stood a full head taller, and was much bulkier than she was. "A lot of effort," Rolling Stone snorted in reply. "But if we find the fillies, the zebra, and the human, then what. We must assume that, if we do, the ghosts won't let us go without a fight. And standing there, waiting for me to lift you over one by one will never work. We'd all be sitting ducks."

"That's putting it lightly. With you busy lifting the captives to the other side, only I would be capable to put up any form of resistance. And what happened with that ghost back in the forest, us four against the one, it's clear a fight is the last we want. With these odds against us, it would be a slaughter."

"... Yeah," Sound Wave sighed in frustration as she dislodged the chunk of ice she was prodding earlier, watching it fall down in the darkness below. "We're not fighting against idiots here."

"No, we're not."

"Then what do we do now?"

"Only one thing we can do. Infiltrate, assess the situation, determine if those missing are there, and if so, where. Pull out, send for backup, and save the captives when the numbers are in our favor."

"Sure that's a good idea?" Sound Wave doubted. "I know by heart what Jack Fenton has taught us, but… I'm not sure now. That one ghost beat us without effort… Maybe we need to rethink our approach?"

"I'm listening."

"Okay… we can safely assume that these ghosts are skilled in fighting us hunters. We also know there are more than one, meaning we're outgunned and outmatched. They can also turn invisible, and move through walls as if they don't exist. Add to that the capabilities they have in terms of combat; firing beams and bolts of spectral energy and such. Plus, they know we're here; destroyed the bridge because of it, and the chance of us being able to sneak in undetected are slim to none. Honestly, they probably already know we're standing here, watching us, waiting for us to make the first move. So how great a chance do you think this is all an elaborate trap for us? They did take out the only means for you, Ornate and Blue to cross to the other side, forcing me to either carry you and leave us horribly vulnerable, or force us to retreat and leave those taken in their grasp. Either way, we lose."

Rolling Stone stood in grim silence, frowning deeply.

"Damn it," he muttered as he stepped away from the edge. "You're right. No matter how we play this, we're on the losing side."

"Perhaps not," Sound Wave countered. "It's just like that ghost said, we must stop thinking three dimensionally."

"You're taking advice from a ghost now?" Rolling Stone rumbled warningly, glaring at the mare.

"Only because, as much as I hate to admit it, it makes sense. Look," she pointed a wing at the remaining chunks of ice. "We can't move in a straight line because the bridge is gone. Neither can we fly, because of obvious reasons. But maybe there is a way to do what these ghosts do… move through walls. Or, more precisely, through the floor."

"Come again?" Rolling blinked, confused.

"This is the princesses old castle, built I don't even know how long ago. How much would you bet on the chance there are tunnels and passages carved in the rock underneath the place? And maybe, just maybe, we can enter one of these from down there," she explained, looking down into the darkness below. "Either way, we avoid the obvious route, and most likely take these undead freaks by surprise by taking their advantage and use it against them. And if there is a way in, then we can also take the foals, zebra and human back the same way."

"Four dimensional, huh?"

Looking back at her commanding officer, she quickly spotted the winning grin as he joined her side, looking down once again in the darkness below.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Please follow us, miss Sparkle," Ornate Charm said as she paved the way for the purple unicorn, while Blue Ice kept to the rear.

Sighing and muttering under her breath in frustration, Twilight followed obediently after the guard, turned ghost hunter, not liking their situation one bit, while keeping her hoof noise to a minimum, lest they draw any unwanted attention. For that same reason, they didn't use their horns to light the way, and stumbled around in the dark, only aided here and there by the moon as its light managed to breach the otherwise all consuming and suffocating canopy.

Naturally, this led to many stumbles and heated muttering as they tripped over tree root after tree root, and get their tails caught in the far too large, thorny bushes. And none of them mentioned the truly horrible ordeal when Ornate Charm walked head first into that truly massive spider web, in which Twilight risked the usage of her magic to free the mare, after which they ran away as fast they could lest the web's creator came looking for them.

Now though, after rushing, walking, sneaking, stumbling and tripping halfway back to Ponyville, Twilight glanced back to where she thought the old castle to be, still somewhat lost after rushing through the forest without thought for direction, other than away, she couldn't help but sigh out in worry. Worry for the two remaining hunters who, despite all odds against them, chose to venture out into certain danger to, maybe, find and rescue her missing friends.

The thought of her friends then turned her mind to the rest of the group with who she had set out to look for Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. But instead of finding the foals, they managed to lose Danny, then Zecora, before she lost everypony else. Worse, she didn't even know if she lost the others the same way they lost Danny and Zecora, or if they were still 'safe', and looking for her out here in the Everfree.

"You sure we're going in the right direction?" Blue Ice asked, breaking the oppressing silence and Twilight's train of thought.

"More, or less," Ornate Charm replied tensely. "Didn't have much of a chance to check our heading when we were running away from that web," she shuddered at the memory. "Still, the few times we saw it, I used the moon to estimate our heading."

"So, not entirely lost, but close to it?" Blue Ice asked almost sarcastically.

"Close to it," Ornate snipped back as she pushed aside a low hanging branch, stepping aside to allow Twilight and Blue Ice pass before allowing it to snap back. "But not quite there yet," she finished with a smirk as they saw the flickering candle light from within Zecora's hut.

"Lucky guess," Blue Ice shot back, visibly relieved to be back on track.

"Maybe, but we're not out of the woods yet, no pun intended. Keep your eyes and ears open. Who knows what might sneak up on us if we don-" a sudden high pitched noise cut her off, and with ears and eyes moving around to find the source, they still were taken by surprise when a high speed pink blur slammed into Twilight, knocking her to the ground.

"TWILIGHT!" Pinkie Pie cried loudly while holding the now immobilized mare in a crushing, full body hug.

"Pi- Pinkie?" Twilight gasped out, in part of shock, and because her ability to breath was suddenly severely hindered while the shock caused her heart rate to spike, and the vital organ was currently trying its hardest to beat its way out of her chest.

When she realized she wasn't in immediate danger, she slowly calmed down, despite the increasing need to breathe.

Ignoring her lungs pleas for air at the moment, she returned the pink mare's embrace with one of her own, despite her being unable to do much more than pat Pinkie on her sides, as her legs were firmly pinned to her body.

Still, the message got across, and Pinkie pulled away slightly, looking at her friend with wide, worried, but relieved, bright blue eyes.

The sound of twigs snapping, leaves rustling and a feminine whine about a horribly disheveled mane, heralded the arrival of the rest of Twilight's friends.

"Pinkie, everypony. You're alright," Twilight gasped out in relief, the burning in her lungs becoming unbearable.

"Uhm, Pinkie. Ya might want ta let go of Twilight now," Applejack said as she quickly assessed the situation.

"Hm-hmm,” Pinkie shook her head, and tightened her hold even further, much to the now growing panic of the purple mare, who was now beginning to flail her legs. "I do that, and we might lose her again."

"Well, we will lose her anyhow, if she doesn't breath soon," Applejack quickly argued back and Pinkie blinked, then looked down at the struggling mare still in her grasp; pondering over that bit of foresight for a moment… a long moment while ignoring her friends flailing limbs.

"Why doesn't she just teleport out of there?" Bellflower asked, standing at the back of the group.

Twilight froze in place, and would have face hooved if Pinkie hadn't her locked in a chokehold. A second later, with her signature purple glow, magical chime and pop, she stood several legs lengths away from Pinkie, sucking in the life giving oxygen with great heaves while Pinkie Pie looked at her now empty hooves, perplexed, before staring up at Twilight.

"SHE'S GETTING AWAY!" Pinkie Pie shouted in worry, and catapulted to her learned friend, intending to grab hold of her once more and to never let her out of her sight again, only for Applejack to step up, and clamp down her teeth on the, more harmful than intended, pink pony's tail. Though this did not stop her dead in her tracks as it would do with a normal pony. Pinkie Pie being, in fact, the complete opposite of the generally accepted standard of normality, instead had her tail stretched out like a rubber band pulled taut, slowing down the closer she got to the wide eyed unicorn, then stopped in mid air just close enough to boop Twilight on the muzzle, before she was flung back by her own tail's elastic properties and slammed into a horrified Applejack, unable to do anything else, but watch the unavoidable perky pink party pony's posterior closing in on her.

Lying on the ground Applejack groaned several choice words to herself and her decision to stop Pinkie Pie, despite knowing what that meant, while said pony was sitting on top of her, giggling and snorting to some unheard joke.

"Is… is that normal?" Ornate Charm asked, flummoxed, sharing a bewildered look with Blue Ice.

"Yes," all ponies, except Applejack and Pinkie Pie, answered as one.

Shaking the sudden turn for the absurd off, Twilight turned to her friends with a large, relieved smile. One mirrored by the others as they pulled her into a group hug, with Pinkie Pie’s legs wrapped around the entire group, which was only the second strangest thing right then, as Macintosh, Bellflower, and even Blue Ice and Ornate Charm were stuck in the middle of it all; the latter two struggling to figure out how they ended up in such a position as they stood off to the side a second prior.

"Don't question it," Rainbow Dash said as she noticed their looks. "It's just Pinkie being Pinkie."

One glance at the pink mare later, and both hunters came to the same conclusion: ""She scares me.""

Pinkie giggled in reply, tightening her hold just a smidge.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Do you see anything?" Sound Wave asked Rolling Stone, as they carefully searched the bottom of the ravine separating the ancient castle from the rest of the forest; able to get down there in quick succession thanks to a rough path Sound Wave spotted shortly after explaining her plan. This was a welcome relief for both, as it meant she didn't have to strain her wings carrying her superior, saving them both the embarrassment and potential danger from the ghosts, should they attack them in such a compromising position.

Fortunately, the latter didn't happen either way and now the two ghost hunters were quietly shuffling forwards, using a single flashlight to aid them in their search, but keeping the chance of detection to a minimum.

"Do you see anything?" Sound Wave repeated, slowly sweeping the light, held in a wing, from left to right; casting eerie shadows on the walls while doing so.

"Other than ghosts in every shadow I see? No," Rolling Stone replied gruffly. "Let's keep moving. Can't risk standing still for too long around here."

Nodding wordlessly, Sound Wave moved forwards, continuously panning the light from side to side, hoping they would find something, anything, that could help them get an advantage over their enemy. But after shuffling forwards for what seemed forever with nothing to speak of, the two found themselves standing before an ancient rockslide, blocking their path.

"By Luna's flank," Sound Wave groaned. "Now what?"

"What're the odds there is a passage behind this slide?" Rolling asked, sizing up the precarious, uneven slope.

"You can't seriously consider climbing this thing?"

"We've come this far and circling back will take too long, especially if it turns out there is no path on the other side. And we both know carrying me was never really an option to begin with."

Sighing in frustration, Sound Wave aimed the flashlight to the ground while kicking a loose rock. "Dammit. This night has been one blow after the next. What would it take for us to get a lucky brea- wait, what's that?" she refocused the light on the random spot she'd aimed the flashlight to, seeing the same reflection that drew her attention.

"What've you got?" Rolling Stone asked.

"Not sure," she answered, stepping closer to the object she had spotted, giving it a slight tap with a hoof against the long, but narrow thing; noting after the small tap it was stuck in the ground.

"What is this?"

Stepping closer, Rolling Stone eyed her discovery with a critical eye.

"It's a crystal," he told her.

"Really?"

"Yes. Gramps used to grow them. Picked up a thing, or two myself," he revealed about himself, tapping the crystal with the tip of a hoof. "Strange, though."

"What?"

"It doesn't feel like any crystal I have ever held, though that doesn't say much. What is worth noting, is that this place has the wrong environment for a crystal to grow," he explained, giving a push against the mineral, unable to move it. "Very strange."

"It certainly doesn't agree with you on that," Sound Wave said as she followed the glittering object with her light, leading her all the way to the cliff side and moving up towards the castle, until they lost sight of it in the dark.

Looking back, she then illuminated the long, but narrow stretch of crystal the other way until it led them to a passage in the rock; partially concealed by the rockslide.

Their eyes met, and with a barely perceivable nod the two slowly moved for the entrance; dented and singed blasters, hastily repaired with the parts of the weapons beyond saving, at the ready, they took position on the passage's side.

Waiting a moment in which they both took a calming breath, they moved in; Rolling stone first, Sound Wave covering his rear. Neither of them noticing the pair of orange glowing eyes watching them from a distance.

Following the passage, they were surprised to see faint light coming from just around a bend; coming to a full stop with a gasp of awe at what they saw the moment they followed the curve.

A large, spacious cavern. A large, crystal clear pond filling the area, with numerous water lilies decorating its surface and a small island in its center; a path of boulders sticking up from the water's surface leading to it. Gentle dripping echoed off the walls, while small fireflies illuminated the area; their glow reflecting with thousands of specs of light and, the most amazing sight the two ponies had ever seen: A massive tree made of the purest of crystal; branches spreading out far and wide and a curious star shaped hole in its trunk's center.

"Oh… oh wow," Sound Wave gasped, at a loss for words.

"Incredible," Rolling Stone said under his breath.

"Yes she is," an unknown voice said in agreement and it took the two ponies the better part of ten seconds, to realize it was neither of them speaking. When they did, they whirled around with enough speed to whip their tails with an audible crack, only to freeze on the spot and fall silent once again as they craned their heads back, way back to look up at the massive creature now standing before them; wearing a concealing cloak, its hood pulled down and a large, ice crafted staff of which the top glowed red in her, ( they both just knew that it had to be her,) massive hand as she looked down at them with orange glowing eyes.

Adrenaline spiking, the two jumped back while bringing their blasters up to aim; firing at the giant the second they had a shot. Except, nothing happened.

"Oh, having a bit of a problem there?" The giant chuckled while the hunters tried to figure out why their weapons didn't work.

"Firing a weapon at someone you've just met. Now, that doesn't sound all that harmonious at all," she said as she took a step closer.

"Stay back!" Rolling Stone barked while Sound Wave fumbled with her thermos.

Still chuckling, the giant pushed forwards, walking past the two with scarcely a glance.

With her back now turned to them, and Sound Wave finally able to get a grip to hold the Fenton Thermos steady in her hoof, the mare uncapped the containment unit and aimed it at the giant's unguarded back.

Again, nothing happened.

The giant now laughed in mirth, sitting down on a rock near the wall, looking at the crystal tree in the center of the cave while submerging her feet in the calm water and resting the glowing staff on her lap.

"You can try all you want, but your weapons and nifty gadgets will not work here. Not in the presence of Harmony. And the more you struggle, the more she will turn your effort against you.

Rolling Stone and Sound Wave, now stuck in a situation where they had to face the largest ghost they ever had the displeasure of meeting without working weapons and thermos, and their most recent defeat still embarrassingly fresh in mind, unanimously decided a tactical retreat was preferable over any alternative. But as they backed away, eyes locked on the ghost calmly sitting at the water's edge, they walked butt first into the wall. A wall where the passage they had followed in here used to be.

Eyes widening in alarm, both ponies risked a glance back to confirm what their posterior already told them. Somehow, the way out had vanished.

"As for the way out. It is still there, do not worry. It is, however, lost in obscurity for the time being."

Growling, Rolling Stone turned to the giant ghost. "I know what your kind can do, what it has done to my fellow ponies. Don't think we'll go down without a fight just because our weapons don't work."

Again, the ghost chuckled. "Child, if I wanted to fight you, I would have defeated you already. No, I am not here to fight, but it is conflict that brings me here all the same. Conflict afflicting more than the few you think and spanning further than just this world. But, please, come sit with me. I do so prefer to look at those I talk to."

"You want to talk, huh? Then tell me this: Where are the foals? The zebra, and the human!" Rolling Stone barked, his voice bouncing off the walls.

"Well, if that is not a difficult question. And so many ways to answer it, too. I could say I do not know who you are talking about, but I doubt you believe that regardless if it were true, or not. I could say they are not here, but that would also imply I do know who they are, and that they were here. And if they were, then where are they now? Or maybe only some of them passed through here, while I am oblivious to the fate of the others. But who? Were it the foals that found their way here? This zebra, or the human? So many answers, all leading to new questions, with a multitude of answers to each of them. What is true? What isn't? How can you know the questions you ask are the ones you need answered and, which are the ones you need to ask? How can you know the truth you see is also the truth as it truly is? After all, eyes can be deceiving. Nor do they see everything that is. And many do so often make the mistake to believe that what they perceive to be, is also the true state of being, completely oblivious to the bigger picture. You ask me where these individuals are. Allow me to ask of you: Why are you here?"

"What?!" Rolling Stone balked, confused but unwilling to back down as he raised his weapon and tried firing a warning shot. "Last chance, where are the- ...Wait," he stopped mid-sentence as something wrapped around his hoof.

Time for his confusion to fully register was not allowed, however, as with a startling lurch, he suddenly found himself flung through the air, and landed face first in the crisp water, ruining the calm serenity with his less than elegant dive.

"ROLLING!" Sound Wave yelled after him, seeing a smaller stretch of crystal like the one that led them to here slowly slink back to the ground, able to trace it back to the tree which suddenly seemed much more menacing than it had mere seconds before, and realizing it must be one of the tree's roots.

"I did warn you about continuing to struggle before Harmony," the giant said calmly as Rolling Stone resurfaced, sputtering water from his mouth while glaring daggers at the ghost.

"I would suggest you calm your temper, lest she gets… creative," the ghost warned him. Spreading out with an open hand, palm turned up, she gestured to a pair of rocks. "Please, sit. It would surprise you just how much troubles can be avoided just through the simple act of conversation. You have my word no harm shall come to you."

Rolling Stone grumbled to himself, not trusting the words of a ghost, and he frantically sought for a way to turn this situation around. But when he felt some less than subtle prodding at his hooves, and noticed several smaller crystal roots waving and coiling around each other he dashed out of the water without a second thought, leaving behind the wiggling mass, poking teasingly out of the water.

"Like I said, creative," the ghost chuckled. "Oh, she has the same humor as her mother."

"JUST WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON HERE!?" Sound Wave shouted, voice amplified by, and bouncing off the walls.

"And there is the question that could answer so much… or so little," the giant turned her head and looked at the confused and irritated mare. "Please, sit. And maybe we can lift the obscurity from the path you are walking."

Rolling Stone, dripping wet, met Sound Wave's eyes. Both were unsure, but agreed that, for the time being, they had to play along.

Grunting and keeping his glare focused on the giant ghost, with the occasional flick to the now slowly submerging roots, he moved to the indicated rocks, taking seat on a boulder, Sound Wave joining him moments later.

"Well then, where to begin, hmm?" the giant asked as she studied the pair before her.

Rolling Stone tensed, gritting his teeth, but it was Sound Wave who took the initiative.

"Where are the foals you took?" she demanded, staring up at the ghost without fear.

"A good question," the ghost nodded while stroking her chin. "But one based on a misplaced assumption. I did not take these foals you speak of. Nor this zebra, or the human."

"You say you didn't take them. So you know who did," Sound Wave was quick to point out.

Smiling, the ghost's orange eyes glinted. "Intuitive, but no. I do not know of anyone who may have taken those you are looking for."

"And yet it were ghosts who took them from right under our nose," Rolling Stone seethed through gritting teeth. "So you're not fooling anyone, and WILL tell us where they are. NOW!"

"Even if it was a ghost that did this, why do you think I am involved with such a heinous crime? Surely not just because I am a ghost, too. Because, if I were to apply such logic to you, does that mean all of your kind are loud mouthed ghost hunters?"

"What!?" Rolling Stone was taken aback, literally, and fell of his boulder.

"Do not assume all ghosts are the same based on your experience with a small number of us," the giant said, voice lowered, smile gone and eyes hardened. "And, yes. I am all too aware of what happened on this world those years back. And know there are many of us who want, and have nothing to do with this. We prefer peace and quiet, and tend to leave you mortals alone, unless you keep seeking us out. And for your claim that it were ghosts that took those missing. Did you see this happen yourself, or do you act on the account of others?"

Rolling Stone froze mid motion while pushing himself back up, looking at the ghost with contempt.

"A small number of you!" he said through gritted teeth. "Your kind completely overran our city!" He then pushed himself back to all fours, standing tall while glaring at the ghost with burning hatred. "And don't think I don't see what it is you're trying to do; spreading doubt with your deceitful words. It won't work. Maybe our weapons won't work, but we'll fight you. We'll always fight you unholy abominations. And nothing you say, or do will change that!"

"Sir?" Sound Wave said, a waiver of uncertainty in her voice as she stared at her commanding officer.

Exhaling a tired sigh, the giant ghost leaned back. "I see. I had hoped your experiences of this night had shifted your perception enough for words to make a difference, but it seems now I was mistaken. Words alone will not suffice to one blinded such as you, so more drastic measures are required." Standing back up, the giant stepped away from the two ponies.

"And what do you mean by that?" Sound Wave asked before thinking, staring at the ghost's back as she came to a stop.

"As I said from the start. It is conflict that had brought me here. And even if you don't want to hear my words, I suggest you do heed my warning: A storm is coming, tonight marking the first howling blows of events set in motion long, long ago."

Walking through the passage, which had mysteriously reappeared, she stopped one final time, looking back at the two ponies; to Sound Wave specifically.

"At least one of you has shown growth of mind. Who knows, in time, this can be said for all of you," and she vanished around the bend.

Rolling Stone, not wasting any more time, grabbed his blaster and ran after the unnatural entity, running out the cave fast enough to easily catch up with her. But as he emerged back out in the pitch black of night, there was no ghost to be found.

"Sir," Sound Wave spoke up, stepping out of the tunnel and joining his side. "What do we do now?"

With gritted teeth and blaster held in trembling hoof, there was only one thing left for them to do.

"Retreat."

The Darkness Within

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

The Darkness Within

<<>><<>><<>>

"Soo… now what?"

Silence settled down after this was asked and Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom, Abella, and a couple more changelings with her; all of them noticeably tired, blinking owlishly.

"Whadda ya mean?" asked Apple Bloom in turn. "We help tha changelings."

"I know that. But, right now. What're we going to do?" Scootaloo replied. "I mean, we've done just about all we can and Sweetie Belle is already sleeping as we speak."

As stated, the unicorn filly was currently asleep, unable to remain standing on her hooves after everything she'd gone through ever since they first went to the city of the changelings. Naturally, with how much they owed them, the changelings were quick to bring the young pony to a room with a bed, which Sweetie Belle flopped down on like a limp noodle, asleep the second her head hit the pillow.

Of course her friends continued their efforts for some time longer, but after Danny explained his plan to free the changelings still held captive at Canterlot and the older group of changelings still up, and active joined him in his effort, much of the tasks that required immediate attention now fell on the shoulders of those who remained behind. Unfortunately, this also meant that anything Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could help with was limited to retrieving and bringing what little medical supplies were left, as well as pillow patrol, as Scootaloo had come to call it.

Now though, with all the supplies moved from one place to the next and all pillows properly fluffed, they were left with nothing to do, but wait for Danny and the accompanying swarm to return.

Yawning mightily, Apple Bloom rubbed an eye with her fetlock.

"Sleep does sound kinda nice. We've been up all night after all."

"I guess," Scootaloo murmured, unsure. "But shouldn't somepony, eh… someone—" she quickly corrected herself, eyes flicking to the changelings around her "—go and see if Wind Chill is coming? Danny did say he'd send Cujo to get him… Guess that means Cujo's coming as well," she tapped her muzzle in thought. Shrugging, her tired, burning eyes looked back at her apple loving friend. "And who knows what the windigos are up to now? Can't have them go wild again and I don't want to go through everything I did again to stop them."

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom said through a yawn. Scootaloo, unsuccessfully tried to suppress the yawn that spread to her, shaking her head and tossing her mane around to keep herself from nodding off. "But we ain't much use ta anyone if we fall asleep where we're standin' either."

Conceding to that point, Scootaloo half heartedly nodded in agreement, though she didn't give in to it completely.

"But we've got to do something, right? I mean, Danny is out there right now. Shouldn't we be ready for when he returns with who knows how many changelings who need our help?"

Blinking with heavy lids, Apple Bloom looked at her winged friend, staring into her blood shot eyes. "Ah'm all for helping them an' all, but ain't ya tryin' jus' a bit tah much?" she asked, forcing back another yawn. "We need some sleep, now, or we won't be able ta help anyone. No matter how much ya want ta." She shook her head and sighed out; her bow now partially undone after the day's strenuous activities, her mane partially spilled out in an unwashed mess.

"You do realize you don't have to do everything, right?" Abella asked, still confused to the full motives behind their helpfulness. Still, not one to turn down any potential aid to the Hive; and these ponies had proven to be that, and then some, she allowed herself to trust them. But only a bit. "We still have some of the older lings around, they can keep watch while you rest. And we will wake you when something happens, or when the others, and this Danny return."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at Abella with slow blinking and somewhat dull eyes, taking a moment to fully process what she had just suggested. When they did, a tired, but grateful smile worked its way onto Apple Bloom's lips and she gave a single, thankful nod.

"That works, right Scootaloo?" she asked, turning back to her friend.

A slight snore was Scootaloo's answer and a nudge in the side shook her awake with a squawk, before nodding her consent.

"Just follow me," Abella sighed out, rolling her eyes, trying to hide the fact she was just as tired as they were.

With dragging hooves, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed after Abella; moving through several of the seemingly identical halls, passing numerous onyx portals before coming to a stop before one of them, where, according to Abella, Sweetie Belle already was sleeping inside.

"How do you even tell them apart?" Scootaloo wanted to know, asking through a yawn. "It all looks the same to me."

"Because there is an order to how things work here, instead of the chaos you call a city," Abella shot back. Sighing out in frustration, she instead turned to the closed door. "Hold on, I'll open the room for you."

"Why don't ya jus' leave it open?" Apple Bloom asked. "Makes it easier fer us ta get out if we need ta."

"That won't work," Abella told her, horn flickering with weak green light. "We open the rock, but not remove it. And if we don't close it ourselves, the rock will do so on its own."

"Whu?" Scootaloo uttered intelligently.

Rolling her eyes, Abella simplified: "It closes on its own after a while."

""Ooohh,"" both fillies uttered in understanding.

"But, wait. Does tha mean we're locked 'n there until ya, or 'nother changeling comes ta open tha door?"

"Pretty much," Abella said simply, powering the runes around the door.

"I'm not sure I like that idea," Scootaloo said, uncertain as she looked at the fading onyx.

"Well, it's either that, or sleeping out on the street," Abella snapped irritably. "And believe me, that is not where you want to be!"

A flash of the numerous changelings lying gathered around the few weak fires flashed before her mind's eye and Scootaloo quietly muttered something to herself before slowly stepping inside the room; joined by Apple Bloom, both taking moment to look around.

The room was not particularly large, nor did it have much of any furniture to speak of. There was a small table near a corner, a wilted, long dead plant in a vase in its center and a couple of seating cushions placed around the furniture.

They also spotted a bookcase, but all the shelves were empty. The reason for this soon clicking in their minds, as they realized the paper had been used to keep the fires burning.

"Beds are over there," Abella pointed a hoof to an open arch to the left, leading to an adjacent room. "Your friend is already there."

"What is this place?" Scootaloo asked, tired but unable to wonder.

"Guest room," came the clipped reply.

"Ya have guests?" Apple Bloom asked, confused.

"Obviously," Abella deadpanned, looking at the pony.

"No, Ah mean, others actually come an visit here? Ah thought ya kept yerselfs hidden for everyone."

Silence.

Neither Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, or Abella said anything as the latter stared at the former with a scornful look, while Scootaloo found herself standing in between, gaze alternating between her friend and Abella.

"You really have no idea, do you?" Abella said finally, snorting.

"About what?"

Groaning in frustration, Abella merely shook her head and turned to the arched passage. "Just go over there," she said forcefully, stepping into the other room to point at the beds; only two of them, but each large enough to hold even Princess Celestia in comfort with their size.

Another thing that quickly drew attention to itself was a rather worrying detail...

"What the?" Abella muttered.

One of the beds was an absolute mess…

"Are those burn marks?" Scootaloo asked, worry creeping into her voice.

Numerous black scorch marks marked the mattress, blanket and pillows…

"... Where is Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked, confused, looking around with wide eyes.

And Sweetie Belle was not there.

<<>><<>><<>>

Some time earlier.

Sweetie Belle was trapped, confined in constricting bonds surrounding her entire body. No matter how much she struggled, she was unable to free herself.

With gritting teeth and eyes aglow with spectral might, she unleashed a burst of searing power from all hooves, burning away her bonds.

Shaking off the smouldering shreds of fabric from her dark grey fur, she looked around with cold, slitted eyes while her mane seeped out from her like dense smoke.

Snarling, she jumped to the ground and exited the room; finding nothing of interest on the other side, though she did have half a mind to destroy the wilted flowers.

Ugly things.

Her hoof already raised and aglow, a growl from within stopped her. Frowning deeply, glaring at her belly with anger, she knew she had to preserve her strength.

Breaking free from her shackles had already taken most of her power, even despite the feast she'd consumed earlier. But she hungered for more. Much more.

Stepping towards the door, she frowned when it failed to open.

Glaring, she considered destroying it but, again the need to conserve her power kept her from enacting such a destructive deed. At least the problem itself was merely a minor inconvenience.

Phasing through the door, she found herself standing in a long hallway; with several more closed onyx doors on the left and right. Slowly looking from side to side, she took it all in with a cold, calculating gaze; slitted pupils narrowing as she heard others approach.

With a hiss, she turned invisible, flying up to the ceiling as two ponies and a changeling approached.

Lips slightly parted, the tip of her tongue flicked out for the briefest of seconds; gracing over the tip of one of two small fangs poking out past her upper lip, she tasted the air.

A small shudder of delight went through her when she tasted the clear irritation of the changeling, but the feeling was fleeting and not at all fulfilling. Worry was also present, coming from the two ponies, strangely familiar to her, but these feelings were nothing more than a light snack, and not at all what she wanted; what she needed.

With no further interest in those three beneath her, she flew off in search of food.

For she hungered for fear.

<<>><<>><<>>

The Elder slowly stepped through the ancient castle, passing through the low passages with a lowered head lest she hit the ceiling, entering the old throne room and stepping to the anomalous portal which refused to close.

Sighing while shaking her head, she regretted the sheer stubbornness of the hunters, and their unwillingness to listen.

Though there did seem to be hope for the mare, the stallion of the pair was too blinded by past grievances to be able to see any possibility other than ghosts being nothing, but evil.

As such, more drastic measures were required to shake his world view to the point cracks would appear in his accepted understanding of the reality he lived in. Drastic measures, which the timberwolves would be able to put in motion. They and her brother, who still wandered through the forest, separated from Danny, and the children under his care.

Halfway through the low hallway, she came to an abrupt stop, eyes widening in worry as she turned back, looking past the old stone, the forest, and distance towards where the changelings had their city. Seeing some of her worries had become reality.

"Oh no."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Well, Ah sure am glad we found ya back, Twilight," Applejack said as the group stepped out of the forest, and could finally see their village in the light of the rising sun. "Ya know, with tha fillies gone missin', then Danny an' Zecora, findin' back at least one friend after what happened in this forest tonight sure gives me hope for tha others."

"What the hay are you talking about!?" Rainbow Dash shouted in frustration. "We're missing more ponies… humans… zebras… whatever, than when we started. How can you be hopeful after that?"

Applejack looked at her winged friend, the usual light in her eyes gone, making Rainbow Dash flinch when she noticed.

"What else am Ah supposed ta do then?"

Rainbow Dash was at a complete loss for words. Something the others, too, were struggling with as they knew they could not, would not answer that.

"Don't worry," Ornate Charm spoke up with practiced stoicness one would learn from standing still on the spot for hours on end, staring at the wall before being accepted in a brand new outfit for the guards as a ghost hunter. "Rolling Stone and Sound Wave are looking into this matter as we speak. They will find those missing."

Twilight, having told to her friends everything that had happened from the moment they lost each other while fleeing from that ghost, looked at the hunter, unconvinced. A look shared by most, though it was difficult to tell with Fluttershy, as she was hiding behind her mane, while staying near the back of Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

"I really wish I could believe that," Twilight sighed out, ears folded flat as she scuffed a hoof on the ground. "But after what I saw happen, between you and that ghost. All I can do is worry about everypony, your fellow ghost hunters included."

"Yeah, what's up with that anyhow?" Rainbow Dash pushed closer to the hunters, looking at them accusingly. "Aren't you supposed to, you know, be trained for these sorta things? But according to Twilight, you got your flanks handed to you and then some."

Frowning, Blue Ice gritted her teeth as she thought back to what had happened.

"We underestimated our opponent, yes," she admitted begrudgingly. "That won't happen again."

"Be that as it may, but that ain't helpin' us finding tha fillies, nor Danny, or Zecora," Applejack said sternly. "More so, ya lot have been here for weeks now, right?" she turned to Bellflower, who nodded once in confirmation. "So ya'll knew something, or 'nother was goin' on. So how come ya weren't able ta stop things from happenin' before it got this bad?"

Both hunters shared an uneasy glance, silently debating what they could say, or not.

Ornate Charm was the first to cave, sighing out, ears lowered, shaking her head. "Look, we can't tell you about everything that's been going on. Who knows who is listening. Just know we've been trying our hardest to get to the bottom of things before everything turned into this manure storm. But we have been looking into several unusual leads that may yield some answers."

Applejack snorted, loudly. "A lotta words ta say nothin'."

"At least tell us how you plan on finding Danny and Zecora," Twilight told them, giving them a hard stare. "After all, they were with us, in the forest when they vanished. And please don't say your colleagues are looking into it. We both know there is little they can do right now."

"Miss..." Ornate Charm paused for a moment, releasing a deep sigh. "You're right. There is very little that can be done with the current situation. But we must trust Rolling Stone and Sound Wave to pull through. At the least, they will try to find out where your friends and family are, so we can go in with sufficient numbers to rescue them."

"And when will that be, huh?" Rainbow Dash spat, glaring at the hunters. "They need our help, now!" she angrily pointed a hoof back at the forest. " 'Cause it's not like they will suddenly walk out of there on their own!"

Rainbow Dash looked back expectantly at the forest, but when nothing happened she dropped her leg and muttered to herself.

"Dammit, that's usually when they suddenly show up in the stories."

"Miss Dash, this is no mere story," Ornate Charm told her. "What happened here, and is still happening, is serious, and not something we can solve by simply charging in. We've tried that already and look where that got us. No, we need to step back and go through everything we know so far, to form a proper plan, to tackle this problem. Favorably before anyone else ends up missing. Now, please, trust in Rolling Stone and Sound Wave. They know what they are doing."

"And what are you expecting us to do?" Twilight asked them with forced calm. "Our friends are missing. Our family is missing. you can't expect us to just sit by and do nothing."

"I can't answer that, miss," Ornate Charm told her, then was interrupted by Blue Ice.

"Yes, this situation is crap. We know. But we don't have all the answers either. If we did, all of this would already be resolved. All we can do is what we were trained to do, which also means keeping you save. You may not like it, you may hate us for it, but we will not let you become a victim of those things too," she told them, venom thick in her voice on the subject of ghosts. "Now please return back to town and let us deal with this situation, before it becomes even worse."

Biting her lower lip in worry, Twilight looked at Blue Ice, then shifted her gaze to her friends; all looking distressed and worried, with most of them clearly having half a mind of rushing back in the forest, despite the dangers, to look for their loved ones.

Still, despite it all, she knew Blue Ice had a point. Just like Rolling Stone had a point back in the forest.

"Fine," she sighed out in resignation.

"Twilight?" Rarity looked at her friend, eyes wide and wet with unshed tears.

"I don't like this any more than you do, Rarity. But she's right. I've seen one of those ghosts fight against the hunters, and even with my magic, it would be a difficult fight. Not to mention what we've been through already with the Empire and Sombra. Admit it, we're all tired and in no state to fight one, or more ghosts. Especially considering our inability to fight Sombra, even. And I really hate to say it, but the best we can do now is to let them do their work, while we return home to do…. I don't know… something, maybe… I…" a dreary sigh escaped her, head hung low as she looked back at the two hunters before her. "Please, just find them."

"We will," Blue Ice nodded. "Even if it's the last thing we do, we will."

<<>><<>><<>>

With hooves pounding on the forest's floor, Rolling Stone weaved past trees and jumped through thorny bushes while Sound Wave flew above, weapon in hooves and firing at the creatures pursuing her earthbound leader.

It had all seemed too easy at first, their encounter with this giant ghost, but after they made a hasty retreat and returned to higher ground, they found themselves firmly in the sights of a pack of timberwolves.

And now, being the only one present who could fly and thus stay out of reach, Sound Wave was quick to take to the sky and use her blaster to fire at the wooden wolves. And though the weapon was intended to be used against ghost, it proves to be surprisingly effective as a timberwolf repellant as well.

Unfortunately, they were still vastly outnumbered as more, and more wolves of this massive pack showed themselves, blocking off Rolling Stone's path, and forcing him to steer further into the woods.

These wolves acted smarter than they had any right to be.

Scouting ahead after blasting one of the wolves in pursuit in the head with her blaster, Sound Wave saw two more wolves lying in wait just up ahead.

Eyes narrowing in dedicated focus, she aimed and fired, blasting one wolf to pieces and forcing the other to flee.

Pointing out the opening to her commanding officer, Rolling Stone wasted no time and ran through the twitching pieces of wood; knocking them apart even further and delaying the wolf's attempt to reconstruct itself.

"DAMMIT. JUST HOW MANY ARE THERE?!" Sound Wave shouted, firing bolt after bolt with her abused blaster, each shot taking longer to fire as the device sparked and sputtered, before dying completely. "DAMMIT!" she yelled, then lobbed the now useless piece of scrap at one of the wolves biting at Rolling Stone's tail, missing completely.

"HERE, CATCH!" Rolling Stone shouted back at her, using his mouth to grab his blaster from its holster, then flung it at the mare.

"Alright you sons of wood rot, chew on this!" she said darkly, promising Tartarus's fury with each word as she aligned her shot and fired.

In a blur of action, the weapon inner circuitry whirred to life, charging the shot from its power core, focusing the bolt of volatile power, then fired; the energy bursting from the barrel with a flash of hellish green, cutting through the air with heat distortion, slamming into the back of the wolf's head, burning away part of the wood while the rest collapsed to the ground.

"YEAH!" Sound Wave roared as she quickly aligned for another shot, but was forced to evade a tree on her path, giving the pursuing wolves a split second window to close the gap while several more wolves showed up to block Rolling Stone's retreat.

"Oh, come on," Sound Wave grumbled, firing wild shots to disperse the wolves behind Rolling Stone, then took aim at those rapidly approaching. "If it aren't ghosts, we've got to deal with the other monsters of this world," she grumbled to herself, punching through a jumble of low hanging branches, which ripped through her saddlebags and spilling some of the items, including her scanner, to the ground.

"CELESTIA DAMMIT!" she shouted as she saw her belongings fall to the ground, unable to retrieve them.

Shaking it off, she pressed on with gritted teeth, neither seeing, nor hearing the scanner hit the ground, activate from the jolt, and release a shrill alarm to alert to the presence of ghosts in close proximity, as numerous timber wolves ran past.

Flying low and besides her commanding officer, she fired her weapon a couple more times to clear the path. "We need to get out of here!"

"Tell me something I don't know!" he shouted back at her, panting but not yet exhausted. "Push ahead, find a path out of here!"

"Sir," Sound Wave nodded once, glancing back and blasting two more wolves apart, then beat her wings with all she had to shoot forwards; delivering a barrage of glowing green bolts at the wolves lying in wait, clearing the way while looking for any sign for a way out.

A sudden glare of light coming from her right drew her attention, and it was with a sense of elation when she spotted a break in the foliage through which the rising sun could be seen.

"OVER HERE!" she shouted back, pointing out where to go to the rapidly approaching pony chased by timberwolves. "THIS WAY!" she pressed on when Rolling Stone had drawn nearer. "I CAN SEE SUNLIGHT!"

'Thank Celestia for that,' he thought wryly.

Both ponies pushed forwards, weaving past trees and pushing through thorny bushes on the ground, or more obstructing branches up high until they broke through. Sound Wave was the first to exit the deadly woods, with Rolling Stone close on her tail, only for both to come to a screeching stop.

Standing before them, in a number they didn't think was possible, were timber wolves, with behind these wolves the same forest they thought they had just escaped from.

Now out in a clearing, with wolves before them, and closing in on their rear, both ponies looked around desperately to find a way out while several of the wolves moved to block their sides as well.

Realizing he was trapped, Rolling Stone took a deep breath, eyes closed, exhaling slowly.

"Sound Wave, get out of here. Report back to the princesses and tell them what we discovered."

"I'm not leaving yo-"

"That is an order!" he barked.

Several tense seconds ticked by, Sound Wave locked in dilemma before her training took over. Checking her blaster, she threw it towards Rolling Stone, gave a single confirming nod, then flew off as fast as she could, not looking back.

A growl rumbling deep in his throat, Rolling Stone picked up the weapon, inspected it himself with a glance, then secured his stance.

"It's the ugly truth of any guard," he said to himself, repeating what he said to Twilight only hours before. "We're the first to enter battle, protect our fellow pony and give our lives if need be to ensure the safety of others."

Aiming his weapon at one of the nearest wolves, he stared at the wooden beasts with steel in his eyes.

"But I won't be giving my life away freely either," and he fired.

<<>><<>><<>>

A faint glow shone in the dark of the forest, down on the ground and partially covered with dirt, leaves and small twigs.

Still active, the scanner Sound Wave lost in their wild escape from the timberwolves still sounded its shrill alarm, though quieter and with less distress, but picking up in intensity as two blips on its screen slowly approached.

A scurry through the leaves and branches covering the ground, accompanied by rapid sniffing soon brought the inquisitive nose of Cujo to the device; now blaring an alarm as it was carefully scooped up with two rough fingers, the device comically small in the giant's hand.

Frowning, Wind Chill stared at the mirriade of tracks on the ground, following their path with a keen eye.

"Come, Cujo. I believe we may yet have a task which needs tending to," he said, shutting the device down with a far too big finger.

"I just hope we're not too late."

Author's Note

Fallen Angel

Author's Note

And here we are yet again, with a whole new update. As I mentioned a while back in my blog post, I planned a multi-update for my fics. Four in total, to celebrate the completion of my twenty ninth lap around the sun. And I somehow managed to pull it off, too.

Seriously, two of my fics I left to gather an unholy amount of dust, and it took a while to clear out the mess I allowed it to become.

But here we are, with the multi-update I promised.

Now, as per usual, please inform me down in the comments about any mistake you spotted, or to tell me what you liked/disliked.

Enjoy,

~Powerdrainer

Fallen Angel

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Fallen Angel

<<>><<>><<>>

"Bark!"

"Yes, yes. I'm coming," Wind Chill called out, following after Cujo with a subdued sigh.

"Arf," Cujo responded in kind.

"You are aware I can't understand a word of what you're saying, right?"

"Yup."

"Wait, what!?"

"Bark," Cujo barked innocently, tail wagging.

"..."

Shaking his head, Wind Chill trudged on, unsure if what he heard was real, or not.

"So then, where to go next?" he asked, only for Cujo to remain silent.

Stopping, he turned around to see Cujo standing at attention, ears perked up while growling softly.

"What's going on?" he asked and Cujo ran off.

"Hey, wait!" he called after the small pup, following the canine through the obstructing foliage with large steps, until a most unusual sound reached him and he came to a stop once again, listening.

Following his ears as much as he did Cujo, he eventually found the source of the strange and obnoxious noise. A device which lay on the ground. A device, partially covered with dirt, leaves and small twigs, glowing with a faint light from a display. A device he knew well.

A ghost scanner.

A scurry through the leaves and branches covering the ground, accompanied by rapid sniffing, soon brought the inquisitive nose of Cujo to the device; now blaring an alarm from the close proximity of ghosts as it was carefully scooped up with two rough fingers, the device comically small in Wind Chill's hand.

Frowning, Wind Chill stared at the mirriade of tracks on the ground, following their path with a keen eye.

"Come, Cujo. I believe we may yet have a task which needs tending to," he said, shutting the device down with a far too big finger.

"I just hope we're not too late."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a stomp of a hoof, Rolling Stone broke the timberwolf's back; panting heavily from exertion, yet unable to pause for even a second, as other wolves were quick to attack.

Aiming his abused blaster, he fired a charged shot through the head of a wolf mid jump, its body collapsing and falling to the ground in pieces.

Whirling around, Rolling aimed his weapon onto the next target and pulled the trigger.

Nothing.

Eyes flicking down for just a moment to glance at the weapon, he saw the blaster had died. Time to curse about this he didn't have, as the split second confusion created by the failing weapon had been enough for the wolf to find his mark and slammed into Rolling Stone.

Thrown back from the blow, the ghost hunter slammed into the ground, hard. Rolling end over end, he came to a stop lying on his back, his trained mind snapping back into focus quick enough for him to see the attacking wolf pounce, pinning him on the ground, open maw closing in on his throat.

Struggling with all he had left, he freed one of his legs and punched the wolf in the face, partially breaking off the lower jaw which then hung limply as the wolf swiped at Rolling with one of its claws.

The wolf's attack struck and Rolling Stone struggled to keep himself from crying out as the claw sliced through his chest, leaving behind three bleeding gashes.

"GET. OFF. ME!" he shouted, able to free his hind legs and kicked the wolf in its nonexistent stomach, breaking the wood the beast was made of.

The wolf's hind body fell apart, yet it persisted in its attempt to claw at its prey, who used the literal opening he created to scamper out from underneath the beast.

Breathing heavily and ignoring the burning in his chest as blood continued to flow from the gashes, Rolling Stone pushed away, flipped himself back to his hooves and delivered a hasty buck to the remainder of the wolf; lacking in strength, but still strong enough that it fell apart. That left him to deal with only dozens more timberwolves, which were already advancing on their weakened prey.

Gritting his teeth, Rolling Stone slowly looked around, seeing the numerous glowing eyes of the wolves surrounding him.

Spitting a mix of saliva, dirt, and splinters on the ground, he growled in anger.

"You want a piece of me? WELL, COME AND GET IT!" he shouted, securing his stance and preparing for his final fight.

What he didn't prepare for, was the sudden appearance of a massive beast slamming into the wolves with a ferocious war cry, which grew into a bestial roar as he swung a massive hand at the wolves; slamming three of them apart with the first swing, scattering their pieces all around.

Another loud growl introduced the massive hound as it jumped over Rolling Stone, slamming into one wolf, and grabbing another in his mouth; shaking it to pieces.

"What the…" Rolling Stone stammered, unable to wrap his mind around what had just happened as he stared at the two ghosts; taking a stumbling step back due to his injuries which continued to bleed severely.

With a final, brutal roar, the massive ghost chased away the wolves, then slowly stood up to its full height, turning around to look at Rolling with its glowing eyes.

It was the last thing he saw, as he collapsed to the ground.

<<>><<>><<>>

"We've got a problem."

Erlea groaned, loudly.

Ever since meeting these ponies, it would seem one problem would lead to another, even bigger problem. And it also seemed these ponies were doing their best at proving her unspoken theory true. This time with Abella being the bringer of bad news as she all, but flew into the throne room towards Erlea; seated before the throne, not daring to take place on her mother's seat, while awaiting for any news of the swarm over at Canterlot.

"What did the ponies do this time?"

"Sweetie Belle is… hey," Apple Bloom rushed in, only to come to a stop as Erlea's words registered.

"So, the white one," Erlea droned, blinking slowly as she gave a leveled gaze at the bow wearing pony. "The weirdest of you three."

"And the bed is all burn-" Scootaloo cried out as she rushed in a moment later, continuing their shout of warning Apple Bloom never truly started, only to run head first into her friend; both tumbling to the ground with shouts and flailing limbs.

Erlea looked at the two with a flat stare and a long, slow exhale.

Ignoring the wriggling fillies, she turned to Abella.

"Do I want to know?"

"No," she answered truthfully, sighing out while shaking her head. "But you're going to find out about it anyhow," she indicated at the two struggling ponies. "Put simply. Their friend is missing. She somehow managed to get out of the guest room… and the bed she used is damaged with burn marks."

Erlea blinked, slowly, then a grumble rose up from her throat; a hoof pressed against her face.

Taking a deep breath and counting to ten, she composed herself. Despite her feelings about ponies in general, she could not ignore what these three had done for her kind. Them, and this human. And so, releasing her breath in a sigh, putting her hoof back down, she turned to the two ponies who managed to untangle themselves in the short moment she took.

"Explain," she said simply, voice flat.

"Well, ehh… Abella pretty much explained it already," Apple Bloom said. "Sweetie Belle's gone, an' her bed is burned."

"I'm telling ya, it's her spirit powers going all crazy," Scootaloo half shouted, flailing her hooves in panic.

Apple Bloom, Erlea, Abella, and some of the passing changelings all stared at Scootaloo, bewildered.

"... Didn't Danny say Sweetie Belle was alright, an' that she was jus' tired," Apple Bloom reminded her friend.

"Well, what does he know?"

"He's a ghost," Apple Bloom deadpanned.

"Oh, right. I knew that," Scootaloo said evasively.

A hoof stomping on the floor brought their attention back to Erlea, stopping whatever argument might have started if they were left to bicker as they stared at the thoroughly annoyed changeling.

"So, your friend is gone. Somehow able to leave her room, even though she couldn't open the portal on her own, and is now somewhere in our city," Erlea summed up. "And you want us to do what about it?"

"Err… maybe help and look for her?" Scootaloo suggested.

Erlea turned to the pegasus fully, blinking slowly. "You want us to help you search the city, the few of us who are actually able to take more than two steps before collapsing? The few of us who are currently busy tending to all the others who, until very recently, were dying of poisonous hate," she paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "No," she said strongly.

"But Sweetie Belle-"

"Can take care of herself," Erlea cut off Apple Bloom. Then she stopped, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "... Look, don't take this the wrong way, but we can't help you now. There are not enough of us healthy changelings left to do so. Besides, we are still waiting for the swarm to return with those held as prisoners. They take priority, first and foremos-" Stopping suddenly, she looked off to the side, ears twitching ever so slightly.

Looking around, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo noticed Abella did the same as well.

"They're here," Abella spoke up, then hurried out of the throne room, leaving Erlea to deal with the ponies.

"Like I said. They take priority," Erlea told them as she stepped away from her mother's throne. "We’ll help you after we've helped our family. But right now, we've got more important things to take care of."

Not waiting for a reply, Erlea ran out of the throne room, leaving behind two fidgeting ponies, locked in indecision between looking for their friend, who might be in trouble, or helping the changelings, who were most definitely in trouble.

Sighing out and tiredly rubbing an eye with her fetlock, Apple Bloom looked around in the empty throne room.

"Ah hate to say it, but Erlea has a point."

"About what?" Scootaloo asked.

"Sweetie Belle. As crazy as all of it is, she does know how ta take care of herself."

"So… we're going to help them instead of looking for Sweetie Belle?"

"Nah," Apple Bloom shook her head, tossing her bedraggled mane and half loose bow around. "We're goin' ta help them, then look for Sweetie Belle."

Bolstered by her friend's words, Scootaloo took a step to the open doors. "And with Danny helping, we can save those changelings in no time at all."

"So, what're we waiting for then?" Apple Bloom sped past her winged friend.

Not one to be outdone, Scootaloo gave a resounding: "Yeah!", then rushed after her friend.

<<>><<>><<>>

Through the dark she moved, passing through walls and rooms without hindrance, closing in on her desire. It was near, she could tell; feel it deep down, a vacuum demanding to be filled.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE ISN'T WITH YOU!"

The shouting also helped.

Gliding invisible through the air with single minded purpose, she moved between stalactites the insects had made their houses out of, and towards the large bridge connecting the city with the cave's entrance.

Crowding on the bridge were the two ponies she vaguely recalled, and a large number of changelings.

"AND WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!" the now much louder voice echoed throughout the city, directing her attention to the changeling responsible.

With fangs bared and anger radiating off of her, the changeling in charge stood before a group of older changelings; a few of them carrying the near death husks of their fellow shapeshifters, the fear for their survival coming off them in waves.

Sweetie Belle took it all in with a shudder of delight.

But it wasn't enough.

She needed more.

Much more.

With a hiss and a wicked snarl, she dropped down.

<<>><<>><<>>

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE ISN'T WITH YOU!" Erlea shouted, staring at the returned swarm in anger and disbelief, while also feeling a pit of nauseating fear form deep down at the sight of those freed from Canterlot.

She knew they would be in bad shape. Everyling else had been. But the true horror she found when rushing to meet with the rescue swarm made her feel as if the bridge had collapsed from underneath her and she was swallowed by the abyss below.

Six. Only six of them were 'rescued'. And those six already were three legs and both wings in their grave. And worse still, their only means of curing them from the hate poisoning was not with them.

"He stayed behind in the city of ponies," one of them informed her.

"He said there was still something he needed to do," another added.

"AND WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!" Erlea shouted, fangs bared.

"Probably that there was something he still needed to do," Scootaloo said without thought, the spike of adrenaline she had a moment ago fading and she stood tiredly swaying on her hooves.

Erlea rounded on her so fast her tail snapped like a whip, but before she could do so much as glare at the flight addled pegasi, a bone piercing shriek send icy tendrils down to their core.

With a slam, something flew into the group of shapeshifters; the sudden confusion and panic making it impossible to see who, or what it had been. The snarl coming off of it though, they all heard clearly.

"WHAT IS THAT THING!?" One of the colts shouted, back paddling in fear.

"Yessss," a shuddering hiss came.

"GET AWAY FROM IT!"

"More."

"WHAT IS IT DOING?!"

"More!"

"IT'S GOING TO THE SICK!"

"MORE!"

"SWEETIE BELLE?!" Apple Bloom cried out in shock, staring with wide eyes and open mouth at the transformed filly; unable to believe what she was seeing as dark red energy seemed to flow into her mouth.

Turning around at the call of… was that her name? Not that it mattered, as the fear she felt radiating off of everyone around pushed such trivial concerns to the back of her mind to forget. Especially that delectable flavor wafting off the two ponies, which she greedily sucked up with a shudder.

Seeing the swirl of dark red energy escape from her, Apple Bloom jumped back in fright, mirrored by Scootaloo when the same happened to her.

"WHAT'S SHE DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?!" Yelled Apple Bloom.

"IT MUST BE HER SPIRIT POWERS GOING CRAZY!" Scootaloo shouted back. "I TOLD YA I HAD A BAD FEELING ABOUT IT!"

As they shouted, more and more of the dark red energy flowed from them and towards Sweetie Belle; both ponies panicking, worrying about their friend and having no idea what was going on.

Erlea, as well as every changeling with her however, understood perfectly what was happening, even if they didn't know what was happening.

As strange, confusing and downright impossible what they were seeing was, none of them could deny what they saw; what they could feel, and Erlea remembered what she realized at the start of this impossible night when she learned the pony unknowingly ate fear.

'Like a changeling…, but not like a changeling.'

Realizing what was happening, though not understanding the reason why, or how, Erlea acted as swift as a proper ruler should.

With a running start, she swung her body around and bucked Sweetie Belle in the jaw; snapping shut her mouth and cutting off the seemingly endless stream of fear.

With a hiss, turned snarl, turned growl; Sweetie Belle glared with her slitted eyes at Erlea, the color of her already dark coat becoming several shades darker as anger took over.

"EVERYLING, SEIZE HER!" Erlea commanded, not stopping in her attack and was already leaping for the impossible pony.

Jumping up at their princess' command, every able changeling, afraid, or not, leaped into the fray with buzzing wings and barely glowing horns. But with a fearsome, blood curdling screech, Sweetie Belle produced a shockwave with her voice that blasted away all the advancing changelings in front of her.

Not letting up, the second her voice died down, she whipped around and rapidly fired bolt, after bolt, into the changelings behind her, knocking the weakened insectoids down to the ground.

Shocked by what they were seeing, it took Apple Bloom and Scootaloo a moment to fully understand what happened. When they did, though, it was with reluctance that they jumped in to help Erlea and her friends; understanding that, right now, Sweetie Belle was a threat. A threat to those they had worked so hard to help.

"SWEETIE BELLE, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Apple Bloom cried out as she dodged a bolt meant for her, which slammed into the ground, scorching the surface black.

"SHE ISN'T LISTENING!" Scootaloo called out, jumping over two changelings down on the ground.

"DON'T LET HER FEED ANY MORE!" Erlea screeched, struggling to rise to her hooves.

"WHAT!?" Apple Bloom shouted, confused. "WHADDA YA MEAN?"

The answer came in a multitude of streams of dark red coming from all those surrounding Sweetie Belle, who greedily sucked up the energy with a feral glint in her eyes.

"SHE'S EATING OUR FEAR!" Devora shouted, unable to stop the pull of energy the pony had on her. "HOW?"

"WORRY ABOUT THAT LATER!" Abella yelled. "STOP HER!"

Seeing their target and understanding the urgency of this new threat, several changelings scrambled to their hooves and ran to Sweetie Belle; all intent on somehow bucking her down.

Seeing this, Sweetie Belle merely smirked, while continuing to siphon all the fear she could from her victims.

Seeing their chance, the changelings attacked en mass, only to hit each other as they all phased through the intangible filly.

Seeing this and with anger born from irritation, lack of sleep, and a sense of helplessness, Scootaloo all but growled, as she ran to her friend; eyes set in determination, wings a blurr.

Seeing the obvious attack, Sweetie Belle stood her ground, remaining intangible, confident in her ability not to be harmed.

Great was her shock when, with a bone snapping crack, Scootaloo's rear hooves connected with her jaw; sending her flying backwards with an arc, a small stream of green glowing ectoplasm escaping from her mouth, before slamming into the ground.

Twitching, trying to get back up, Sweetie Belle struggled to move. Then, with a final weak groan, she lost consciousness and a blinding band of light surrounded her.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Oh, but what are we going to do?" Bellflower fretted, pacing around in worry, making good progress in wearing a groove in the floor of Twilight's library, while the others either sat, or stood near one of Twilight's reading tables. All except for Fluttershy, who lay hiding underneath a seating cushion, trembling in fear, eyes barely peeking out from underneath, while Spike tried to comfort her.

"For now, all we really can do is wait for Rolling Stone and Sound Wave," Ornate Charm told her, standing beside the door, keeping an eye on those present, while Blue Ice kept a close eye on the outside through a window.

"Heck no," Rainbow Dash balked back. "Their sisters, our friends are missing and all we've been able to do is run around screaming," she said with anger and shame. "I say, let's get our Elements and just blast that entire forest; get them all in one go."

"Rainbow, I don't think that the Elements work like that," Twilight told her.

"And why not, huh?" the prismatic mare shot back defiantly.

"Ah’d like to know as well," Applejack spoke up. "Using tha Elements seems like tha right thaing ta do right now."

"Yes," Twilight sighed out, "but on what?"

"Whadda ya mean?" Rainbow Dash shot back heatedly. "On those Luna cursed ghosts, of course!"

"And do you know where they are?" Twilight asked simply, looking at her friend.

"No, that's why I said we should blast the whole forest," Rainbow pointed animatedly at where the Everfree was. "In fact, we probably should have done so long ago. That place could use a blast of rainbows up its tailho-"

"Ahum!" Rarity loudly cleared her throat.

"Rainbow, I understand how you feel. Believe me, I do," Twilight said, releasing a desponed sigh. "But simply using the Elements like that probably won't work."

"Probably?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"And why not?!" Rainbow Dash argued. "They worked on Nightmare Moon and Discord. They probably would have been able to beat down those changelings, if we've had the chance. So why not ghosts too, huh?"

"I don't know if they do, or do not work on them, and that is just one of the problems. On the off chance they don't work on ghosts, we would simply put ourselves back in real danger. Besides, when we faced Nightmare Moon and Discord, we used the Elements on them directly, which is something we can't really do right now with these ghosts. Heck, we probably wouldn't have been able to hit Discord, if he wasn't so full of himself and allowed us to hit him, thinking he had us beat. And, yes, they undid the chaos of Discord all around Equestria, but only because they sealed away the one who caused it in the first place. unleashing their power like that, on the Everfree Forest, a place quite unnatural in its own right, could potentially do more damage than it would fix. And furthermore, even if it would all work out without any new disaster unfolding as a result, we still wouldn't know where the girls, Zecora, or Danny are. So, right now, even if I want to do nothing more than go out there and find our friends, we can't. We don't know how to fight these ghosts. And even if we did—" her eyes shifted to the two guards in the room "—there is no guarantee we would be able to win."

"Twilight is right," Rarity moved besides the purple pony. "I fear for the safety of Sweetie Belle and the others, but risking getting captured ourselves isn't going to save them. All we can do right now, is let the professionals take care of it all and hope for their safe return."

"Somepony's coming," Blue Ice suddenly cut in, leering out in the dark. "Pegasi."

"Sound Wave?" Ornate Charm asked.

"Looks like," Blue Ice confirmed, frowning. "Only her, though."

"Trouble," Ornate Charm stated, frowning herself.

"You know it."

"What- what's going on?" Rarity asked, worried, eyes shifting between the two.

"We're about to find out," Blue Ice informed her, and a loud crash came from outside the front door.

Looking at one another, Blue Ice and Ornate Charm gave each a confirming nod. Then, with a burst of her horn, Ornate Charm opened the door, ready to jump at anything hostile.

What she found, however, was Sound Wave, lying in a heap at the threshold, panting heavily, looking worse for wear.

"Sound Wave?" Ornate Charm said cautiously while Blue Ice used her scanner on the downed pony.

Giving a confirming nod as the scan came clear, Ornate Charm closed the distance and helped her fellow hunter back to her hooves.

"What happened?"

"Too much to say in just a few words," she said hastily.

"But did you find Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo?!" Rarity asked, panicked. "And what about Danny, or Zecora? You must have found something, anything?!"

Frowning, glaring at the ground, Sound Wave shook her head. "We found something alright. Not sure what, though. But right now, Rolling Stone needs help. Fast! We were ambushed by a pack of timberwolves… or all of them. We tried to fight them off, but they just kept coming. I was sent here, so all of what we learned could make its way to the princesses, but he won't be able to hold out on his own for long," Sound Wave informed them rapidly, pulling several gasps out of Twilight and her friends.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Twilight quickly stepped up. "We may not know much about fighting ghosts, but we know plenty about timberwolves."

"Oh, please don't hurt them. They are probably only agitated by everything that has happened in their territory," Fluttershy softly spoke from underneath her cushion.

"Too dangerous," Ornate Charm shot them down. "We can't risk you getting caught up in this any more than you already have. We'll call for reinforcements-"

"Which would take too long, and you know it," Twilight said sternly, looking down on the mare. "Don't forget, my brother used to be the captain of the royal guard. And I did pick up a thing or two about military tactics while studying, literally, under Princess Celestia's wings. Besides, my friends and I have been in a couple of dire situations before. Let us help you help us. Whatever it is you've learned, Spike is more than willing to send all you know to the princesses. After which, we can, and will help you save your commander. Too many have been lost to us already. It has to stop here, now!" she emphasized with a stomp of her hoof, while Spike came running with a scroll and quill at the ready; which Sound Wave quickly took from him to write her report in relative secrecy.

"I-I-I don't know if I can do this," Bellflower stammered, breathing laboriously to the point of hyperventilating. "First Scootaloo going missing, now all of this. I… I just don't-"

"It's alright, Bell," Applejack put a comforting hoof on her withers. "We all know what yer goin' through. Nopony's blamin' ya for feeling lost right here. 'Sides, we could use a pony or two ta keep watch over things, jus'n case tha girls show up," she gave the worried mare a small, friendly smile, helping her calm down. "Big Mac, maybe ya should stay here as well, jus'n case."

Big Mac, clearly not too thrilled with this plan, shifted his weight from one hoof to the other, and back, wanting to protest. But one look at Bellflower and he understood that she needed somepony to watch over her, as she was trying her hardest not to break down right then, and there. And so, with a heavy sigh, he solemnly nodded his head.

"Eeyup… Jus' be careful, sis."

"Ah always am," she reassured with a nod as the air lit up with green dragon's fire, and the smell of a message sent.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Just what in tha hay happened ta her?" Apple Bloom asked aloud, looking at her friend in worry.

"I told you I had a bad feeling when she acted all weird," Scootaloo replied. "And do you have to do that!?" she urgently pointed a hoof at the three changelings encasing Sweetie Belle in a green cocoon on the very spot she fell after Scootaloo knocked her out.

"I'm not taking any more chances," Erlea snapped at her. "Too many things have already gone wrong- and make sure you encase her horn too!" she aimed at the changelings encasing the filly.

"But really, what tha hay happened?" Apple Bloom called out. "Why'd she turn inta that… that…"

"Nightmare," Scootaloo suggested with a sour look.

Apple Bloom fell silent, blinked, then looked at her friend now thoroughly trapped in changeling goop.

"... We're in trouble, aren't we?" she asked finally.

"Not as much as she is," Devora said, taking the two by surprise as she stepped up from behind them.

"Whadda ya mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

Devora was silent as she took a step closer to the unconscious pony, frowning while her horn glowed weakly.

"She was feeding on our fear," Abella answered them, joining Devora, horn also alight. "And some of the other negative emotions… but mostly fear."

"Feeding on them like a changeling would with love," Devora muttered, eyes still locked on the pony. "A starved changeling at that. Feral, without control, thought, or plan."

"But Sweetie Belle's no changeling," Apple Bloom said, confused.

"Honestly, do we even know what she is?" Scootaloo wondered.

"She's our friend. That's all that matters," Apple Bloom answered strongly.

"Well, yeah. But, really? I don't think Danny knew about this, or he would have said so, right? So, what happened?"

"That's what Ah've been asking the entire time," Apple Bloom shot back.

"Feeding frenzy," Erlea said simply, finally satisfied with the cocoon Sweetie Belle was held in. "It's something that happens to a truly starved changeling… something we've experienced in some manner, or other ourselves… But something this extreme… In a non-changeling… and with negative emotions. Nothing about this makes any sense."

"She's still full of them, too," Devora shut off her horn.

"Can we be sure the sedatives in the jelly will keep her down?" Abella asked.

"It would for any other pony," Erlea told her. "But her…" Shaking her head, she instead turned to Devora. "And how about the sick?"

"Not good," she answered with a tightened jaw. "We need that wolf guy, now. And even then, chances are low. Really low."

"There were only six," Abella said sadly, head hung low. "Artona wasn't with them."

"Who?" Scootaloo asked, earning her a shove from Apple Bloom and a harsh glare from Erlea and Devora.

"My brother," Abella sighed sadly.

"Oh, ehh…." Ears splayed flat on her head, Scootaloo stammered a quick apology, wondering for a moment just how far she could stuff her hoof in her mouth.

Shaking her head in disapproval, Apple Bloom returned her attention to Sweetie Belle.

"Ah understan' that things are difficult right now, an' that yer friends an' family comes first, but what should we do 'bout Sweetie Belle? She cain't stay like that, assuming this pod thaing works on her?"

"I'm not taking any more chances. Especially when it comes to you ponies," Erlea said bitterly. " The moment I met you, it's one impossible madness after the next. Unless you come up with a way that will keep her from hurting anyling else, she's staying in there."

"Well, it's the fear she ate that made her all nightmarish, right?" Scootaloo said. "Maybe Fenris can cut it out like the hate he did with the changelings?"

Apple Bloom's eyes widened in realization. "Hey, yeah. Just like he did when we first met him."

"He, what?" Scootaloo paused, surprised.

"Hmhmm," Apple Bloom nodded. "When she, Erlea an' Ah went inta tha Ghost Zone ta find a cure fer their sickness, an' found Fenris, Sweetie Belle kinda collapsed, or something and Fenris used his claws, jus' like he did with tha changelings. Saying something 'bout Sweetie Belle having a lot of fear in her."

"Which means," Erlea cut in sharply, "we need that damn human here to take care of it all. So, where the BUCK is he!?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at one another, neither filly able to give an answer.

"Well, they did say he had ta do somethaing back at Canterlot. Ah'm sure he's done with it by now. And Danny wouldn't jus' leave ya guys hangin'," Apple Bloom spoke up.

"I'm sure he's already on his way back here," Scootaloo said with some confidence. "I mean, he did show up like that before," and she looked around expectantly, expecting Danny to pop up out of nowhere right then and there. Unfortunately, no such luck.

Erlea breathed out a frustrated growl.

"Ah guess we'll just have ta wait," Apple Bloom said quickly, she and Scootaloo slowly backing away from the young shapeshifter.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Foes we are merely because you believe us to be so."

With a groan, Rolling Stone stirred.

"Whoa, what the hay!"

A searing pain shot through his barrel, forcing him to stop moving.

"He's alive!"

Seconds later, the pain dulled thanks to a strange, but welcome numbing cold.

"What happened to him!?"

Hooves grabbed hold of him, shooting another stab of pain through him.

"Oh, you're hurting him!"

With a groan, he slowly forced open his eyes.

"Is that ice?! And why is it red in places?"

Undefined shapes stood all around him, obscured by the rising light of the sun shining behind them.

"Sir, what happened? Are you alright?"

He tried to move his legs, but they responded sluggishly.

"I'm reading spectral signs coming from this… cast?"

He tried to remember where he was.

"How did he even get here?"

There were the wolves, attacking him, wounding him.

"And what about the timberwolves? Didn't you say they attacked the two of you?"

But there was something else. Something unworldly.

"There were, but I see no sign of them around here at all."

It was massive; glowing eyes, and terrifying strength.

"That doesn't matter right now! He needs medical attention, NOW!"

It spoke to him; words whispered through a haze.

"Don't worry, sir. We've got you."

And as Rolling Stone was carried away on the back of Applejack, a single, faint word spoken in doubt and confusion escaped him:

"Believe?"

<<>><<>><<>>

Suspended in green, Sweetie Belle hung unmoving, the world lost to her.

Two changelings, part of the oldest group still able to perform, stood guard by her cocoon; shooting uneasy glances at their captive from time to time, always finding her to be in the same suspended state.

Slowly, they paced around, looking out over the city from the bridge they stood on, finding a small sliver of joy at the sight of the empty streets, and the no longer freezing temperature.

With a sigh coming from one of them, they turned back around and looked once again at the cocooned pony.

They both froze on the spot, their breath hitching in their throat.

Sweetie Belle was looking back at them.

Looking back at them with angry, green glowing, slitted eyes.

Fear

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Fear

<<>><<>><<>>

Her body failed to respond as darkness surrounded her; binding her in her attempts to move, blinding her as she tried to see past the emptiness, deafening her as she strained her ears for any sounds and permeating her until any sense of self was lost. Nothing... was all that remained.

Except for one thing, which cut through the nothingness surrounding her like a scalpel through flesh.

A void, an emptiness from within, bigger and more consuming than that which bound her.

It festered. It hungered. It demanded more; more of that which gave it strength, power.

A twitch, one of her ears shifting ever so slightly.

A sound, piercing through the haze.

There were others, far away.

Their voices, young, subdued… afraid.

A twitch, one of her legs struggling to break its bounds.

She could taste it, the bitter sweet taste of their worries, their fear.

The hunger roared, not at all satisfied. It wanted more. It needed more. And it would not allow anything to get in its way to obtain it.

A twitch, and her eyes snapped open.

<<>><<>><<>>

"I don't know. Shouldn't we stay with her?" Scootaloo paced around the guest room they previously visited, nervously chewing on her lip as she stared at the floor, worry clear on her face.

"But what can we do?" Apple Bloom asked, the filly sitting tiredly on the ground; her bow, seemingly sharing in the fatigue of the day's events, hung limply in her hair.

"Stick with her, of course. THAT is what friends do," Scootaloo grunted, reaching the end of the room and giving a kick against the wall. "And not just leaving her there, stuck in that… thing."

Apple Bloom hung her head, sighing tiredly while rubbing her eyes with a fetlock.

"Ah guess so, yeah."

"And then what?" a deadpan voice interrupted, making both ponies turn toward the source.

"Whaddaya mean?" Apple Bloom asked as she looked at Abella, who herself stood on the burn damaged bed, taking a moment to inspect one of the scorch marks before answering.

"Then what?" Abella repeated. "Say you stay there with your friend, who is currently encased in one of our cocoons; which did cost us a lot of jelly to pull off, just so you know; while you two have no clue how to help. So, then what? What would you do?"

Apple Bloom blinked, locking eyes with Scootaloo for a moment, both agreeing on the simple answer.

"Be there for our friend, of course. What else?"

Abella stopped prodding the pillow, now looking at both ponies with her full attention. "And how would that help her, you, any of us?"

"Well, what are you doing that is of any use!?" Scootaloo shot back heatedly, wings flaring out.

"I am trying to figure out these burns," Abella answered simply, holding up the pillow of interest, looking at the fierce filly through the hole burned through it.

"It's Sweetie Belle's spirit powers," Apple Bloom informed her.

"Yes, that answers everything," Abella groaned with a roll of her eyes.

"Well, how are we supposed to know how they work?" Scootaloo balked.

"And that is why I am trying to figure them out. Cause it's not like we can just ask your friend now, can we?"

A sudden tremor in the room halted any rebuke she might have gotten, before a bone piercing screech echoed through the halls; all three fillies dropping down, covering their ears while crying out in distress. Similar shouts of pain and fear could be heard from elsewhere, before everything became deathly quiet.

Slowly lowering her hooves, Apple Bloom swallowed nervously.

"Maybe ya can after all."

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Abella ran out of the destroyed gate of the palace, joined by Erlea, and a few of the older changelings as well. While in the distance, they saw small groups of changelings run out in search of what happened as well.

"What in tha hay is going on?!" Apple Bloom asked aloud as she rapidly searched the city for any sign of what was going on.

With a rumble, a haunting shriek crashed through the Hive; shaking the rock the city was carved from and forcing all to the ground; screaming in pain and fear as they once again covered their ears in vain.

"It's Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo cried out past the ringing in her ears. "I knew we shouldn't have left her like that."

A blast of green lit up the air, and all watched as a bolt of green soared through the city and impacted one of the bridges spanning between the stalactites.

"NO!" Erlea cried out as she saw the bolt narrowly miss the two changelings running away, impacting on the ground behind them.

A small detonation shook the bridge, knocking the two off their hooves while a spray of rock rained down on them, and chunks of the bridge fell down through the hole blasted in the construct, disappearing into the depths below.

Acting on pure, adrenaline fueled instinct, Erlea shot off amidst shouts of warning of those behind her; paying them no mind, as she pumped her legs as hard as she could, all but flying through the city to those in danger.

Dimly aware of loud pounding in her ears and realizing that it wasn't her heart, only after she crossed the bridge connecting the castle with the rest of the city, she glanced back expecting Abella, Devora, or any of the others to keep up with her. Much to her surprise, however, it were Apple Bloom and Scootaloo who quickly closed the distance, matching her pace and ran with her on either side, with only a few other changelings following close behind.

"Wha-"

"This ain't jus' your problem," Apple Bloom said before she could even voice her thoughts.

"Sweetie Belle's in there too… and in just as much trouble," Scootaloo glared forwards, eyes narrowing slightly as she spotted a blur shoot through the sky. "No matter how you look at it."

"An' don't worry 'bout yer friends back there," Apple Bloom preempted Erlea, spotting the rampaging spirit herself; eyes hardening with determination. "Abella's taking care o' things there, while we stop Sweetie Belle an' save yer friends."

Erlea looked at the two, keeping the shock from showing, but deep down she felt…. something she couldn't quite place.

Shaking her head, she pushed those unwanted things to the back of her mind; focusing instead on what was truly important.

Yet as she ran past all the empty houses and crossed another bridge, one stray thought managed to sneak its way to the forefront of her mind.

'These ponies, they're all insane.'

And with it came a strange yet undeniable truth.

'They don't stop, don't give up. They just keep going, no matter what….'

And despite the situation, a ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

'They'd make good changelings.'

<<>><<>><<>>

Coming to a grinding halt as they neared the bridge they saw Sweetie Belle attack the two changelings, the small group wasted little time helping the two still forms lying on the ground; worry evident in Erlea's every action as she and Apple Bloom rolled one of them over, while Scootaloo and one of the joining shapeshifters rolled over the other, only to find they were unconscious, their chitin having taken the brunt of the blow.

Releasing the breath she didn't even know she was holding, Erlea looked up and into the city; able to hear the others scream through the hive mind, as well as see even more flashes of green lighting up the city in one place, or the other.

"This isn't going to work," she realized. "She's moving too fast."

"Cain't any of ya fly yourselves?" asked Apple Bloom.

Shaking her head, Erlea uttered a throaty groan. "Don't count on it. With the energy we had to use just to survive, even those who still can, won't be able to hold out for long."

"Isn't there a way for you guys to get your strength back, like, right now?" Scootaloo asked forcefully, grinding her teeth as she, too, saw the bright flashes, accompanied by numerous cries and shouts.

"There's one way," Apple Bloom answered for her, stepping up to Erlea much to the confusion of all others, holding up her right foreleg. An action, while confusing to Scootaloo, drew a gasp and murmur from the changelings with them as Erlea looked at Apple Bloom. Understanding what was being offered, but unable to believe it.

"Jus' like before, right," Apple Bloom said with calm certainty.

"Is she really doing what I think she's doing?" one of the changelings asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

"Is she doing, what?" Scootaloo asked, confused. "What are you doing?"

"The only thaing Ah can do right now," Apple Bloom replied, never looking away from Erlea.

"Are you sure?" Erlea asked with surprising care, taking a half step towards Apple Bloom.

A flash of green, followed by an explosion not too far away stopped her in her tracks.

"We've got ta stop Sweetie Belle an' help everyone, including her," Apple Bloom answered without flinching. "This is tha only way Ah can think of. So, yeah. Ah am."

"About what!?" Scootaloo wanted to know, but no one answered, as all changelings watched both Erlea and Apple Bloom with bated breath; the latter standing strong with her leg up in offer, the former slowly coming to accept the impossibility standing before her.

With a new sharpness to her eyes, Erlea nodded once, her fangs glistening in the flash of green destructive light.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Are you okay?" asked Scootaloo, supporting her friend as she stood on unsteady legs, still reeling from what she just witnessed.

"Ah am," Apple Bloom managed through a massive yawn. "It's not as bad as before. Easier, actually," she slurred, eyes blinking slightly out of sync.

"Uhu," Scootaloo uttered, not buying it as she looked at the small patch of green goop on her leg, covering up the… Well, whatever it was Erlea did. "You didn't have that last time, though," she pointed out. "And what is it?"

"Healing jelly," one of the changelings answered, a filly standing just half a head taller than Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "To cover up the punctures and accelerate the natural healing process. It won't stick for long, either. Half an hour, or so at the most."

"Hmhmm," Apple Bloom nodded slowly. "That's what happened the first time, too."

"You've… done this before?" the same changeling asked.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom smiled a tired smile. "Back when Ah first met Erlea…. Well, when we met properly, kinda. After mah friends and Ah saved her from tha timberwolves, she snuck inta mah room at night, which is where Ah learned about all of ya. She said she was lookin' for food… Didn't know it were emotions she meant, though, so Ah wanted to give her some of tha apples mah family and Ah grow. An, well, long story short, after that, Ah let her do, well, this--" she waved her jelly covered leg a bit "--which somehow brings us all the way back here. And…. and Ah'm going ta sit down now," she concluded, doing just that as her rump sank to the floor.

The changelings present chattered among themselves, both audible to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, as well as over their shared mind; a ripple spreading through their numbers over what this one pony had done.

"So, what exactly was it that Erlea did?" Scootaloo wanted to know, still completely clueless as to what had happened.

"Active feeding," came the response and both ponies looked at the few changelings with them, not sure who it was that had spoken.

"Whu?" was Scootaloo's intelligent reply.

"Active feeding," the filly who first spoke repeated. "It's what we call it when we absorb emotions directly from another. But it is... tiring for the one we feed upon."

"Ya don't say," Apple Bloom said with a chuckle.

The changeling looked at the earth pony with a measure of guilt, not telling the whole truth, which was missed by both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, as a flash of green lit up the city once again, followed by a cry of anger as Erlea buzzed through the air, horn aglow with an almost similar green color as Sweetie Belle's spectral might, before she fired a beam of magic at the rampaging spirit.

"Ah jus' hope it's enough," Apple Bloom said silently as they all looked at the fight unfolding.

<<>><<>><<>>

With buzzing wings, and the empowering energy of emotions willingly given coursing through her veins, Erlea shot through the air, eyes hardened as she glared her ire at her target.

With a hiss, she approached the rampaging spirit who already turned to face her, alerted by the sound of her wings, both her front hooves, as well as her horn alight with spectral energy.

Not intimidated in the slightest by this blatant display of power, Erlea lit up her own horn and they both fired their might at one another; a beam of searing light from Erlea, and a trio of bolts flung by Sweetie Belle.

Both attacks lit up the air, drawing the attention of everyone as they watched with wide eyes, before energies met, clashing together with destructive intent, amplified by their natural hostility to one another.

With a massive boom, the city shook and both Erlea, and Sweetie Belle, taken by surprise by the volatile blast, were flung away when the shockwave hit.

Both fillies fell down, joined by a mixture of rock and dust as the city groaned its displeasure.

With a cry of anger, Erlea flipped around and caught herself, before finding she was lost in the depths below her city; shaking her head to clear the ringing and stop the world from spinning all around her, she found herself lost for only a moment while the disorientation faded.

It was all Sweetie Belle needed.

Not at all shaken by the blast and only caught by the first few seconds before allowing her intangibility to render her immune for the remainder of the detonation, she found her bearings well before Erlea could, and used the opening presented to dive bomb Erlea. Flipping around at the last second and kicking her in the back with her hind legs.

With a cry, equal measures of pain, shock and anger, Erlea once again found herself falling down; only this time followed down by Sweetie Belle, as she fired bolts and beams of searing green at her; forcing her to dodge the incoming attacks in her already compromised position of flailing legs and wildly buzzing wings.

The first three shots missed. The fourth singed some of her frilled mane. The fifth hit dead center, slamming into her side, knocking the air out of her, but her chitin kept the damage to a minimum.

Then a sixth shot was fired. And Erlea watched with large eyes as the bolt flew with damaging precision, impacting mere seconds later... right into Sweetie Belle's unguarded back.

"Gotcha," Abella shouted as she grabbed Erlea's legs, slowing her fall and allowing her to get the wind beneath her wings again.

"Abella, wha-"

"Those ponies are even crazier than I thought," she answered readily. "That orange one, eh, Scootaloo, allowed me to feed on her emotions, too. Gave me the boost I needed to save your sorry flank once again."

Despite the jab at her, Erlea couldn't help but smile genuinely at her friend, only for the moment to be ruined when a beam of toxic green burned the air in between them, bringing their attention back to Sweetie Belle, who did not take kindly to Abella's surprise attack; slowly rising up from below with hooves aglow, and a feral snarl.

Both shapeshifters locked eyes, nodding once, then broke off; each moving in different directions, forcing Sweetie Belle to shift her attention between the two of them.

With a snarl, Sweetie Belle set her sights on Erlea, firing a trio of bolts as she chased after her.

Abella, taking note, quickly circled around; horn alight as she prepared another spell to use against the mad spirit. Continuously shifting her aim to compensate for the rapidly moving target, she eventually found her mark as she saw Sweetie Belle level out her flight as she prepared for another attack on Erlea.

'Too easy,' she thought.

Then, much to her shock, Sweetie Belle rapidly spun around and fired two beams of charged ectoplasm into her chest.

For a moment, it looked like she hung still in the air, not even her wings moving as in this split second she realized she had flown right into an obvious trap. Then the pain came, yet no sound escaped her, as she slowly fell down into the depths.

"NOOOO!" Erlea cried as she dove down after her friend, shooting past Sweetie Belle without a thought.

Looking down at her prey, Sweetie Belle grinned wickedly, one glowing hoof aimed at Erlea.

'NO!'

Before she could shoot, however, a stab shot through her head, and the energy surrounding her outstretched limb faded as she clutched her head; her eyes flashing back to their normal self before her pupils became slitted once more.

Shaking her head with a snarl, she ignored Erlea and Abella, instead moving back up to the city to hunt for more fear.

<<>>><<>><<>>

Erlea, wings a blur, dove down into the depths below her city, eyes locked on the falling form of her friend as slowly, the distance between the two grew shorter and shorter.

Yet as much as she raced time to catch her friend, she also faced an even bigger problem. The energy she drained from Apple Bloom, although filling, was far from enough to compensate for a lifetime of starvation. Add to that the energy spent in what proved to be a lopsided fight against a being until recently believed to be nothing more than fantasy, she felt her power dwindle rapidly.

She thought it was enough. Knew it had to be enough, as neither she, nor anyling else, were in any position for a prolonged fight of any kind. Yet reality once more proved just how wrong she was and now not only she, but her friend falling down in the abyss below the Hive were about to pay the price.

'NO!'

She would not allow that to happen.

Eyes narrowed to slits as she focused her all on her falling friend, the knowledge of everything that had happened to them, to her, to everyling flashing before her mind's eye and with it she found new strength.

All those years of hiding away from a world that feared them.

All those years of fighting for scraps, just to still be hungry.

All those times they asked, cried and begged for help, unanswered.

Her father, giving up what meal he had so she could eat.

Her father's death and her mother's plan that followed.

The invasion and its failure.

The disease.

All those who died.

"NO!" she growled, anger burning in her chest and eyes as their glow intensified. "NO MORE! NEVER AGAIN!" And with a burst of speed she closed the distance, caught her friend and forced her wings to beat faster than she had ever done before; crying out from the strain, but unwilling to give up. She would never give up. Not after everything she had managed to survive.

She would win.

She will live.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a grunt of strain, Erlea pushed herself up, holding the unconscious form of Abella in her legs as she finally reached the nearest bridge; seeing, but barely noticing the group of changelings and two ponies, rushing to them, as she allowed gravity to finally take hold over her, and the two of them fell to the carved stone of the, thankfully, unyielding construct.

Flopping to her side, Erlea sucked in air with labored breath, her wings feeling like they were about to snap off and her body burning from exertion.

Yet she did it. She saved her friend and herself.

Now she only had to save everyling else.

She heard murmuring, or was it shouting, she didn't know. She was too tired to fully register what was happening around her, other than the intense beating of her heart that she could both hear and feel.

"Oh, this is bad," Scootaloo stammered after they failed to get a reply from Erlea. "What do we do now?"

Looking at Apple Bloom, who in turn looked up and into the distance, to where Sweetie Belle was continuing her rampage, able to see streams of red, even from this far as Sweetie Belle feasted on the fear she caused.

"A- Ah don' know," she said without hope. "We need Danny, now!"

"Danny!" Scootaloo said.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom nodded as she sank to her haunches. "But he's gone doin' somethin' else."

"No," Scootaloo countered her, pointing with a hoof. "Look, it's Danny!"

All heads turned to where she was pointing, seeing the white haired ghost hover some distance above the main entrance to the city.

Eyes widening, Apple Bloom jumped up despite her body’s protest, still tired from a long, agonizing day and allowing Erlea to eat from her emotions.

Scootaloo, in a similar state, also ignored her body's plea to rest and instead, the two pushed themselves to run as fast as they could, towards the ghost slowly looking around with a worried frown.

""DANNY!"" The two shouted in full blown panic, drawing his attention.

Dropping down to the ground, a strange looking thermos clipped to his belt rattling slightly, Danny waited for the pair to cross the distance.

Coming to a screeching stop before him, both fillies sucking in air with great heaves.

"Girls, what is going on this time?" he asked, only sounding slightly worried.

"It's Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo managed between breaths.

"Somethaing's seriously wrong with her!" Apple Bloom added in urgency.

"She's gone all evil spirit on us and she doesn't even recognize Apple Bloom and me!"

"WHAT!?" Danny shouted. "What are you talking about?!"

A chance to answer, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo didn't have, when at that moment a bone chilling screech shook the city.

"... Oh, that can't be good," Danny remarked as he looked wide eyed at the approaching group of changeling younglings; and pursuing them from the air, Sweetie Belle.

"What happened to her?" he asked, shocked as he took in the changes Sweetie Belle had undergone.

Again, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo prepared to deliver their answer in unison, only for Danny to interrupt rather loudly.

"YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?!" Danny yelled, seemingly at himself, only adding to the chaos unfolding. "No, never mind. Can you stop this?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shared an uneasy look, not sure what was going on this time.

"... So, it has come down to this then, huh?" Danny muttered grimly, his hand moving for the strange thermos before he caught himself and let his hand fall to his side, slowly closing it into a fist. "Fine."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, looking up at Danny, before shifting their gaze to Sweetie Belle, missed Danny looking down at them with worry and pity.

"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo," he said authoritatively. Both fillies turned to him with a snap. "You go help the changelings. I'll deal with her," he instructed, as he flew up and towards Sweetie Belle.

"PLEASE DON'T HURT HER!" Scootaloo yelled after him, and unintentionally alerting Sweetie Belle who hissed and snarled at Danny, as he approached with speed.

Whatever reply Danny gave was lost as the distance between them had already grown too large and all the fillies could do was to watch with fear, and worry gnawing at them.

<<>><<>><<>>

All able to do so watched as bright flashes illuminated the city, as beams and bolts of searing green were fired wildly, impacting on walkways, walls, or were lost in the darkness below the hanging city. Watching as Sweetie Belle fired attack after attack in an increasingly wild manner, all of them dodged with almost shocking ease by Danny, which only served to further agitate the filly.

Some could hear Danny yell something at Sweetie Belle, but what he said was lost amidst the distance and sounds of more attacks fired by the young pony.

One of such attacks, a beam of energy fired from her horn, was once again easily avoided by the human and some watched, as the bright streak of green flew down into the city, before losing sight of it in the depths below.

Again, Danny said something and everyone tried to catch even a sliver of the one sided conversation, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

Looking with wide eyes as Danny suddenly held up an arm, some gasped out in shock, or amazement as a green shield flashed into being around him, absorbing the trio of spectral orbs Sweetie Belle had flung at him.

Seeing the futility of her attacks, Sweetie Belle growled as she instead flung herself at him, slamming into his shield, knocking into it with hooves aglow; trying to brute force her way through the energetic sphere with little success.

With a sigh, Danny lifted his left hand and Sweetie Belle found herself with no time left to react as, in an instant, he let his right hand fall, the shield flickering for a moment, before dissipating and a small orb of icy blue impacted on her body, flash freezing the pony in a block of ice which Danny quickly caught; his blue glowing eyes looking at the frozen filly with sadness.

"Wow," Scootaloo breathed out in awe. "He just stopped her like that."

"Yeah…" Apple Bloom muttered. "Jus' like that."

"So now we can help her and the changelings!" Scootaloo said, wings and ears perking up.

"Ah hope so, yeah."

"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked, wings slowly folding to her side, watching Apple Bloom chew on her lip.

"Don't ya think that… Ah dunno. It was ta easy. Sweetie Belle did all of this," she gestured with a hoof all around the city. "And then she's jus' stopped like tha'? Don't get me wrong, Ah'm glad. But… it's ta easy."

Both she and Scootaloo looked at the slowly descending human, seeing him talking to himself. Then their eyes shifted to the block of ice he carried underneath an arm and both their breaths got caught in their throat.

"Uh-oh" was all Scootaloo managed to say, when a burst of green slammed into Danny's unguarded back.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep in the sanctum of Tree of Life, a radiant light shone in between her branches, as one of the two separated seeds grew exponentially, its weight slightly bending the branch and Tree of Life shuddered.

One more had grown.

And as her growing roots reached out far underneath the ice towards the portal she allowed to open, she hoped it would be enough.

A Cry For Help

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

A New Lease On Life

<<>><<>><<>>

"DANNY!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shouted, horrified as they watched Danny get shot in the back by Sweetie Belle, then fall into the depths below the city.

Shocked by what had happened, both ponies stood frozen on the spot, unable to will their legs to move, and all they could do was to look up at their friend as she dove down with a shriek and glowing hooves.

A burst of green slammed into the stone in between the two ponies, finally snapping them out of their stupor, as they realized the rampaging spirit flew towards them.

Not waiting a second longer, both fillies turned tail and ran while Sweetie Belle threw bolt after bolt of ectoplasm, blowing holes in the stone, and leaving numerous scorch marks, but never hitting her intended target.

'NO!' Sweetie Belle faltered, dropping several feet before she caught herself, shaking the disorientation off as she continued her hunt. But the short moment of weakness allowed the two ponies to widen the distance and she could just catch a glimpse of a purple tail disappearing through one of the many onyx portals leading inside the rock.

Growling, she fired two bolts of ectoplasm towards the closing door, damaging it, but not destroying the obstruction while the runes etched around the edges of the magical stone shone brightly in response, before flickering and dying out.

With a snarl, she moved further into the city in search of fear.

<<>><<>><<>>

Chests heaving for breath, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood with their backs pressed against a wall after having run inside the first open door they found; sharing the room with three changelings. Two of which were a head taller than them, while the third was most likely several years younger than them.

"Is… is she gone?" the smallest of the three asked, huddling in a corner, hooves covering his head.

"The wall's closed," one of the older changelings risked a glance past the corner.

"Not that that means much," Scootaloo replied hastily. "She can move through walls."

"But how, and why?" Apple Bloom slowly lowered back to all fours. "She couldn't do that back when she was… still herself."

"How should I know?" Scootaloo shot back.

"Then what do we do now?" The third changeling asked, keeping a close eye on the runes encircling the onyx door for any sign of activation with a nervous twitch of her eyes.

"We have ta git through ta her, somehow," Apple Bloom started pacing in the room. "Sweetie Belle's still in there somewhere. Ah know she is."

"But she just shot down Danny," Scootaloo reminded them. "Danny! He's been a ghost for ages now and she just shot him down like that. What can we do to stop her?"

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom said defeatedly, her bow sagging in her mane. "Somethaing, anythaing."

"Any ideas?" Scootaloo asked the three changelings with them.

All three looked at one another, then back at Scootaloo; shaking their heads in unison.

"We know nothing about these spirits, or ghosts," one of the older changelings said.

"But…" the second changeling paused, looking off to the side. "She's gone, though," she said, focusing back on those with her. "Attacking the others further into the city."

"So we can go out?" Apple Bloom turned to look at the door.

"And do what?" asked Scootaloo.

"Whatever we can," the apple farming filly replied strongly. "We have ta. She would do tha same fer us."

"Yeah, but shouldn't we have, you know, a plan, or something?"

"Yeah, but we don't have any so we jus' need ta try whatever we can."

Taking a deep breath, and releasing it slowly, Scootaloo gave her friend a single, resolute nod.

"Right. Just wing it. Like we always do, right?"

"Right," Apple Bloom confirmed with a nod of her own.

"Okay," Scootaloo stepped closer to the closed door. "Can you guys open this thing for us? We have a spirit to stop."

Again all three changelings looked at one another, reaching the same conclusion over their shared mind: Ponies really are as crazy as they were told.

Still, something had to be done to stop Sweetie Belle, so they obliged; one of them powering the runes with a weak spark of the horn, taking several tries before the onyx melted away and allowing the two ponies to exit.

"Okay, now where-" Scootaloo jumped out, looking around for any sign of her corrupted friend, when everything lit up.

<<>><<>><<>>

Erlea ran, her hooves pounding on the stone of the walkways, not daring to look back while green flashes of light detonated just a step behind her; always a step behind her. Scorching her tail and pelting her with numerous small fragments bouncing off her chitin, but never quite hitting her.

Her hooves hurt, her lungs burned and exhaustion tried its best to grab hold of her, yet she pushed on; luring away this terror from the rest as they sought cover, taking with them the unconscious Abella after their failed attempt to fight Sweetie Belle.

But she couldn't keep this up. The ache she felt creeping up from her legs forced her to make more and more missteps, while the absolute drain on what little reserves she still had slowed her down more and more.

'There… there has to be a way. Some way to stop her!?' she wondered, tears starting to blur her vision as the green flashes came closer and closer. 'Someling, anyling, HELP!'

Thumb Thumb

"Wh- what?"

The city lit up.

With a gasp of shock and surprise, Erlea lost track of her legs and tumbled end over end as they tangled up; Sweetie Belle overshooting her while hissing out, a leg covering her eyes from the sudden brightness.

Looking up, eyes wide, Erlea stared slack-jawed at the Murgröna as its once dim glow increased exponentially, fully illuminating the city with brilliant light.

"It can't be," she half whispered, unable to believe her eyes. Eyes that widened even further when she saw the leaves ripple, all of them angling towards a blurring streak flying through the city towards Sweetie Belle; the spirit already targeting a group of other changelings unfortunately in her sight when the spots vanished from her vision.

Crossing the path of the two beams of energy she fired at the group, the white haired human blocked the attack with a glowing shield of his own, stopping one of the beams cold, while the other ricocheted away down into the depths.

Slowly picking herself up, Erlea watched as Danny tried to communicate with Sweetie Belle, but what he said was mostly lost to her as all she could really see were the uncountable leaves of the Murgröna as they aimed all at him.

"Impossible," she murmured, blinking slowly as she saw the budding, then blooming flowers grow above Danny.

A new glow drew her attention and she gasped out upon seeing Sweetie Belle creating a massive ball of destructive might above her horn. Then, with a shout of rage, she fired the intense gathering of power at Danny, and Erlea realized that she cried out in distress as the sphere of doom threatened to overpower his shield.

Her exhaustion completely forgotten, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her through the city and towards Danny, never taking her eyes off the combatants, shocked when she saw the human pushed back by the force of Sweetie Belle's attack.

Much greater was her relief when, to her absolute amazement, Danny somehow caught the sphere and then flung it away into a far wall of a hatchery. One of numerous in the city… and right now, thankfully, completely empty.

But then Sweetie Belle attacked again and she cried out a warning, before she even realized. Thankfully her warning came just in time and Danny managed to avoid the charging spirit, then used the momentum of his evasion to his advantage by hooking his arm around the pony's midsection.

Erlea lost sight of what happened after that, as she had to run around one of the stalagmites to reach the bridge crossing the chasm to the other side.

A bridge, she realized not much later, was also where Danny had brought the thrashing filly, his arm a mess of green glowing goop as Sweetie Belle had bit down with her fangs. Yet despite this, he seemed to ignore the injury as he spoke to her.

"You're nothing more than a frightened child, desperately reaching out for help. The mere thought of fighting you, while you are the one who needs help the most is revolting in more ways than I can think of," he spoke with a hardened edge to his voice. "Especially knowing who it is you really are. You are no monster. You never were. You never will be. And I will not, not now, not ever, fight with violence against someone who can just as easily be beaten by heartfelt kindness."

Erlea slowly stepped closer, confused as to why he would show kindness to someone who had attacked him, listening intently to his words… his convictions.

Somewhere, deep down, she felt something respond.

"I've got nothing to fear from you," Danny continued, slowly sitting down while keeping the filly close. "Because, deep down, you do not want to hurt me, your friends, the changelings, anyone. It's that part of you that is stronger than anything else. A part that can beat this. Maybe not alone, but with the help of your friends. But you must make the first move, Sweetie Belle. Fight this. I know you can. After all, you're a Cutie Mark Crusader. You and your friends have done crazier things than this."

"Danny's, right," Apple Bloom slowly approached and Erlea blinked, surprised by the pony's sudden appearance. It was only then she realized she hadn't been the only one led here by the Murgröna, as all around Danny, keeping a safe distance, stood every other changeling able to do so. And with them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as well.

"Sweetie Belle, ya ain't a monster. An' we'll help ya get through this--" she joined in on the hug, pressing her friend as close as she could, ignoring the slick green blood staining her coat, "--'cause that's what friends do."

"YEAH!" Scootaloo agreed, jumping up and wings buzzing for what little lift they could generate to be seen over the group of changelings as she stood somewhere at the back of them all. "Just, --hold on, let me through. C'mon," she strained as she pushed through the mass of shapeshifters, getting her rump stuck in between two larger changelings and, with all her strength, pulled unexpectedly free. Shooting forwards, rolling end over end she came to a stop, lying in a heap before the group hug in the process.

"Totally meant to do that," she was quick to point out. None of the changelings believed her.

Pulling herself up, she turned to Sweetie Belle.

"You're our friend, and you going all crazy spirit isn't going to change that. So snap out of this, alright. Danny knows you can do it. So does Apple Bloom and me."

In the silence that followed, all could hear Sweetie Belle sniffle before letting go of Danny's arm; a wave of revolt passing through the hive mind upon seeing the sickly green goop flowing out of her mouth and onto the ground.

"Help me," Sweetie Belle gasped between sobs, desperately clinging on her friends as if her life depended on it, inadvertently smearing the green glowing blood staining her fur on her friends as well.

Taking a half step closer, continuously looking at Danny and the blooming flowers growing high above him, their eyes met.

"I know time is a luxury we don't have, but could some of you help these three?" he asked of her, then turned back to the three ponies.

"Devora, where are you?" Erlea asked over the hive mind.

"Behind you," came the reply, and she joined her friend's side. "I got here as fast as I could when…" she waved a hoof at the Murgröna. "Abella's safe, too. Hurt, but safe."

"Good," Erlea sighed out, then looked back up at the Murgröna.

"Please don't tell me you're thinking what I know you're thinking."

"You know it just as well as I do," she said quietly. "The Murgröna has awakened. It has to be a sign."

Unable to find a proper response to this, Devora merely nodded her head as she, too, looked up at the blooming flowers above, before her gaze lowered to the human before her.

Their eyes met.

"Take her back to her guest room," he told her. "Get cleaned up; ectoplasm is difficult to get rid off when it has a chance to dry up, and keep her company. I'll be back to help her as soon as we have removed the hate from the group we broke out of prison."

"Aren't ya going ta remove the fear from Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked, confused.

Looking at the still distraught filly, Danny sighed out.

"Removing the fear she took won't fix this. From what I understand, she feeds upon it like a changeling feeds upon love. Right now, she has her fill, and this is probably part of the reason she is able to control herself. If I remove the fear-"

"She will be hungry again," Devora continued, doing so without realizing until after the fact. "And most likely lose control again." She blinked, confused, eyes flashing up at the glowing plant overhead, then back to Danny.

"Exactly," Danny confirmed. "Which is where you, all of you, come in," he aimed at the young shapeshifters around him. "She must learn to control this ability. An ability you share. Maybe not exactly the same, but close enough for it to work… hopefully," he sighed out, a hand placed on the back of his head. "Trying to figure out these powers without a clue of how they work is not easy. Never was, never will be. But at least some lessons can be learned from you. So help her, please," he implored.

Devora and Erlea looked at one another, nodding once as a consensus was reached over the hive mind; the other changelings present nodding as well.

"She… she has done terrible things, harmful things," Devora said and Sweetie Belle flinched as if struck. "But… we know what the hunger feels like, what it can do. If she has the same, it is up to us to help her."

"Like a changeling, but not like a changeling," Erlea spoke up, stepping away from the crowd as she carefully studied Danny; noticing the injury on his arm had already fully healed.

"So you'll help her?" Danny sought clarification.

Erlea looked up, staring at the bright glowing Murgröna in search of answers.

"The Murgröna has awakened," she replied cryptically, slowly looking back down at Danny. "Pulled from its slumber by you. You ask for help, we will answer."

"Eehh…?" Danny uttered, confused. "Is that a yes, or a no?"

"We will help, now and forever," she promised. A promise she knew would be remembered for eternity as her vow spread through the hive mind.

Danny blinked, then blinked again, looking at Erlea in bewilderment, then saw that all changelings present stood with their wings spread out, looking at him with a strange gleam to their eyes.

"Not again," he sighed out, much to the surprise and confusion of everyone else present.

<<>><<>><<>>

They were back at the guest room where this latest disaster had begun, the bed still burned in places, while Sweetie Belle lay in a fetal position on top of it, quietly shivering, while keeping her eyes clenched shut, while her friends lay beside her on the bed.

With her in the room also was Devora while, standing in the hallway outside, were several of the braver changelings standing guard just in case; some of them wearing ill fitting helmets, armor, or a combination of the two.

Pacing around while shooting nervous glances towards Sweetie Belle, Devora quietly muttered to herself, while they waited for Danny to return.

It had been nearly twenty minutes now, counting the time since Danny left to, hopefully, save the last six sick changelings and them returning to the guest chamber. And while she couldn't find any fault in the reasoning behind his choice to leave the clearly unstable pony with them, after somehow managing to break through to her hunger addled mind, this instability made her wary of what could happen at any given time, should Sweetie Belle turn on them again.

So far it seemed unlikely, watching the filly cry and shiver while her friends kept her company after having helped her clean up, before doing so themselves as well. Strangely at ease with their close proximity to their friend, despite what had happened not even an hour ago.

True, she too would stick by the side of her friends no matter what. But it was also a hard taught lesson to all changelings to avoid succumbing to the hunger, because those who did would become a danger to themselves and all around them. Exactly what they witnessed happen today… in a pony no less.

"Like a changeling, but not like a changeling," she mirrored Erlea in a mutter.

"What was that?" asked Scootaloo, ears perking up as she turned her attention towards the pacing shapeshifter.

"Just thinking aloud," Devora replied, not stopping her attempt to wear down a groove in the floor.

" 'bout what?" Apple Bloom joined in on the developing conversation.

Devora didn't answer immediately, completing three more laps before coming to a sudden stop, staring at the empty bookcase.

"Your friend, she has the hunger," she pointed out.

"Ah guess," Apple Bloom replied.

"No, you don't guess," Devora rebuked, finally turning to look at the ponies and shooting a heated glare at the earth pony. "I do not know how, or why. And right now it does not matter. She has the hunger. A hunger we changelings all have. But she is not a changeling. Nothing about this makes any sense!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shared a glance, Scootaloo replying with a halfhearted: "Meh," before Apple Bloom returned her focus on Devora.

"That sums us three up rather well, ta be honest," she said, pushing herself up, stretching out her legs, then jumped off the bed and sat down next to the flummoxed changeling. "We've done all kinds of weird things in our search fer our Cutie Marks. It's how Sweetie Belle became a spirit in tha first place."

"Yup," Scootaloo confirmed, then looked off to the side, a hoof pressed against her chin. "Coming to think of it, since that day, we haven't really been crusading for Cutie Marks either."

"Hey, yeah," Apple Bloom shared in her realization.

Looking at her flank, a pensive frown creased Scootaloo's face. "What do ya think a riding a windigo Cutie Mark looks like?"

"Ah dunno? Shouldn't ya already have gotten ya Cutie Mark if riding windigos is yer talent?"

"Pony feathers," Scootaloo muttered as she looked away from her flank.

"The stories were false," Devora said simply, having watched the exchange with growing confusion and bewilderment. "You ponies are even weirder than what we've been told."

Scootaloo shrugged in response. "Just the average Ponyville experience as far as I can tell."

"A lot more ghosts, though," Apple Bloom replied.

"True," Scootaloo nodded in agreement.

"... Crazy," was all Devora muttered as she took a step away from the ponies, instead looking intently at the door. "Shouldn't the human be done by now? I do not want to risk doing anything that might set her off again without him being here," she muttered iritably, not noticing the flinch coming from Sweetie Belle over her words.

Scootaloo, however, did notice and placed a comforting hoof on her friend's back.

"He'll be here soon enough," she said as much to Devora as to Sweetie Belle. "You'll see."

"Hmhmm," Apple Bloom nodded agreeably, then paused as she pressed a hoof against her chin in thought. "Say, Devora. Ah know there's a lot goin' on and all, but Ah was curious about tha' plant growin' all over tha city. Why did it suddenly become all bright like it did?"

Devora looked at the bow wearing pony, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. But before she could even begin to formulate a response, the glyphs surrounding the closed door lit up and the onyx melted away.

"See, there he is already," Scootaloo said confidently, only to falter when instead of Danny, one of the changelings on guard ran in.

"What's going on?" Devora asked, surprisingly calm as she turned to the colt who rushed in.

"It's the Murgröna," the colt gasped out. "It's doing… something. I don't know what."

"WHAT!?" Devora shouted, tuning in on her shared mind, only now hearing the wild chatter lost to her during her brief, but confusing conversation with the ponies.

Not able to learn anything from the multitude of overlapping voices, and no reply from Elrea either, she quickly rushed outside, ran through the endless hallways to the nearest exit, and all but flew outside; coming to a screeching stop the second she did, eyes and mouth wide open as she stared in shock and awe at the pulsating waves of light coming from their ancestral memories growing throughout the city. All moving towards the same area further into the city.

""By the hive," she breathed. "What is going on?"

Author's Note

Missing Pieces

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Missing Pieces

<<>><<>><<>>

Canterlot castle was in chaos.

Guards armed with both swords and ghost blasters searched the castle from top to bottom and, back again. The continuous and overlapping tone of active scanners mixing with the pounding of hooves the only sounds heard, while all non-essential staff was scanned, questioned, then sent home with strict orders to keep silent, lest they cause a panic.

The princesses, now together in a secure room underneath the castle, standing before a table containing a map of their land and all its cities, villages, and other population centers, began putting in place numerous pieces in accordance with the reports they received.

"It all began with Baltimare," Celestia said, her voice cold, with a sharp edge to it as she placed a large number of pawns on the map. "Too many of them to count, coming through a newly formed tear, overwhelming all."

"As indicated by Stable Pulse," Luna observed, moving away, a small number of the pawns. "It stands to reason one, or more ghosts left the city and lay in wait, while the remainder wrought death and destruction. None of us would know." The few pawns were scattered around the map.

"Then the tear opened again and human reinforcements arrived," Celestia continued, wiping the mass on Baltimare of the map. "Stomping this threat down."

"So it would seem," Luna levitated several pawns above the map. "Or, as they would have it seem, perhaps?" She placed a pawn on Canterlot. "Then there was a near breach at the tear facility here in Canterlot," a pawn moved to Ponyville. "Then your student reported a strange phenomenon; the village's lake being inexplicably frozen," several other pawns joined the first. "Add to that the following reports in that area."

A golden glow encompassed some of the pawns and one of them moved to where the Crystal Empire had recently returned.

"Then, Sombra," Celestia said, putting the piece down with force.

"Assuming Danny spoke true of Sombra's nature," Luna replied as she put a pawn on the city of Canterlot and two, on the castle.

"That is another thing that worries me," Celestia said as she put in place some more pawns. "His knowledge of ghosts is worrying, though understandable. Yet each sighting of a ghost coincides with where he has been present. Canterlot, Ponyville, the Crystal Empire, and now there are foals reported missing in Ponyville shortly after he returned."

"Though worrying, some of these events can't be tied to him directly," Luna shot back, changing some of the pawns' positions. "While his reasoning to join Twilight and her friends to the Empire sounds reasonable, and his knowledge proved invaluable, neither he, nor we could have foreseen Sombra's true nature. Nor had he been present during the foals' disappearance. So logically, while present, he can't be connected to these events as they happened before he became involved."

"True," Celestia hummed, studying the pieces on the map. "Yet there are too many coincidences for them to be anything but."

"As we agreed upon earlier, before this latest disaster. 'Twas why you sent this expert in all creatures unusual to keep track of him, did you not?"

"I did."

"And both of us agreed the Ghost-Keteers present in Ponyville made themselves known to aid in the search for the missing children. Thus, no longer working under the cover of secrecy, they would be able to directly approach Danny Manson and, mayhaps discover some new insights which could shed new light on this mystery and, unfolding disaster we're facing."

"I know," Celestia released a tense sigh, staring at Baltimare on the map. "But will it be in time, Luna?” She looked up at her younger sister. "You weren't there, back then. You didn't see what they did, who they harmed. In the many years I have lived, of the many things I have seen, there are but a scarce few instances that come close to the atrocities I witnessed that day. And while it took only a few years for the city to return to how it was, the scars it left behind will never heal. All those who lived through it and those who didn't survive. Those wounds will never go away and it won't be for many generations until the fear that was born that day will disappear; perhaps never."

"I wasn't there, true," Luna agreed, stone-faced. "But I have witnessed the nightmares of those who were. I know what hath transpired that day and I recognize the marks it has left on those afflicted. But what has happened, we can not change. What we may still be able to do, is stomp down this threat before it can achieve its final goal. But in doing so, we must have all the facts and understand what they mean."

"What they mean?" Celestia looked puzzled.

"Surely thou hasn't forgotten, sister dear. This dream that plagued my mind, which required thy aid for me to break free from it. A 'dream' which, despite my control over the dreamscape, has all but faded from my consciousness, leaving only what I told you to work with," she slowly put in place a new pawn next to the two already in place on their castle. "It occurred at the start of all of this. And yet, despite our best efforts, neither of us was able to find any answers to what it was I saw. A sight so repulsive that, not only can I not remember, but something which does not let itself be controlled by the master of dreams."

"You believe this to be the work of ghosts?" Celestia asked, shocked.

Looking at the map, Luna's eyes narrowed. "Considering all else that has happened so far, would this truly be such a strange suggestion? And if it is, what were they trying to do by showing me this vision, only for me to forget shortly after? No, until we have all the facts, and understand them, this is not going to be an easily won fight."

"A fight I hope will never happen," Celestia glared at the map.

A flash of light took them by surprise, and a hastily rolled-up scroll fell on the table; knocking over several pawns as it rolled towards Celestia.

With a flash of her horn, the scroll unfurled and lifted up; eyes quickly darting from left to right as Celestia read its contents; an expression of shock, worry, then anger taking hold before she gave the latest report of Ghost-Keteer Sound Wave to her sister.

"Danny's shadow reported being possessed and missing. A ghost sighted in the Everfree. Danny and the zebra, Zecora vanishing shortly thereafter. A ghost fought the hunters and, incapacitated, but not wounded them. The hunters splitting up to lead Twilight and her friends back to safety. Unknown activities at our former home. The Tree of Harmony! An enormous ghost revealing itself near it. A massive timberwolf attack, which forced the two remaining hunters to split up, leaving commanding officer Rolling Stone to fight them on his own while Sound Wave escaped in reason to report their findings!" Luna slowly lowered the report, eyes wide as she looked at her sister, who herself glared at the letter as if it was responsible for all that had happened.

"Events are set in motion, it would seem," she said, anger boiling behind each word. "We must prepare for anything."

"And it all seems to revolve around Danny in some manner. He is the key to understanding all of this, and they must know this, too. For him to vanish without a trace, as well as Zecora. But how can we prepare for something we don't know anything about?"

"By getting all the facts, and understanding them," Celestia mirrored her sister's earlier statement.

"Through the means of this expert, you send to investigate Danny? That may not be in time to make a difference. Especially now that he has gone missing as well."

"There may be another way," Celestia said, looking at Luna. "We can send her."

"You mean-"

"Yes!"

"And what about these scars you said may never heal? Forcing her back in may only make things worse."

"I know… but it is the life she chose. And her skills can't be ignored. They certainly didn't."

"So, we send her in. Then what?"

"We prepare for war."

<<>><<>><<>>

The group of mares quickly rushed to the hospital with Rolling Stone, the wounded stallion lying on Applejack's back, shifting around as a result of the ice cast covering his torso.

While the initial thought was to either magically carry, or better yet, teleport him, Twilight was quick to remember what had happened when she used her magic to free the hunters back in the forest.

And so, with that fresh experience working as a clear warning sign, she knew better than to magically remove such an apparent trap. A trap, she realized, meant that she, or anypony who tried to use magic to remove the ice would most likely deliver the finishing blow to the wounded hunter.

Knowing time was of the essence, Applejack had lifted the bulky stallion on her back with little more than a grunt. And now, despite the weight, she still ran ahead of the group as dirt exploded up with each thunderous strike of her hooves on the ground.

It was fortunate in a way that Ponyville was still a relatively small community, and as such, the hospital was mere minutes away from the edge of the Everfree Forest. And with a speed that even Rainbow Dash had to respect, the apple farming mare crossed the 'small' distance in record time; slamming through the door, knocking them partially off their hinges.

The receptionist, stuck in between dozing off, but forcefully keeping herself awake while hoping the recent ghost scare from the day before was just that, a scare, shrieked out when the doors all but exploded inwards; diving for cover behind the counter, fearfully peeking past the countertop for any sign of what hay burst through the door.

"AH NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE!" Applejack shouted while the rest of the group finally arrived.

"WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT HAPPENED?!" a white mare with pink mane, tied in a mostly undone bun, rushed in; a nurse cap resting atop her head as deep blue eyes surveyed the carnage.

"Redheart," Applejack swiftly turned to her, and Redheart gasped upon seeing the wounded, ice-covered stallion. "He needs immediate help!"

Nurse Redheart rushed to the injured stallion, years of training taking over as she called for assistance while making a quick assessment of the injuries.

"Numerous lacerations on the chest," she said, doing her best to see past the reddened ice. "But why is he covered in ice?" She looked at the group in general as several nurses and a doctor ran to their patient. One of them, a unicorn, had his horn aglow to lift Rolling Stone up.

"DON'T DO THAT!" Twilight cried out in warning. "He was attacked by a ghost! That ice is most certainly boobytrapped in some way!"

The half-formed spell failed immediately while all medical personnel and receptionists first stared at Twilight, then slowly turned their attention to Rolling Stone.

"He, what!?" Nurse Redheart gasped, already wide eyes widening further.

"None of that matters right now!" Ornate Charm pushed through the group, eyes set. "Time is of the essence here. The how and what can wait," she then glanced at Blue Ice. "Blue, any idea on how to remove this ice without triggering the trap?"

"Direct magic won't work, experience has taught us as much," she quickly drew closer, taking a moment to study the ice. "And carving him out will take far too long."

"But how are we supposed to help him if we can't reach his injuries?" Nurse Redheart asked, worried.

"Blue Ice?" Ornate looked at her fellow hunter who, in response, frowned deeply.

"I don't know. Nothing we've gone through during training matches with what we've encountered, this included. And any gear we might be able to use, without setting off this bomb in disguise, is back at Canterlot. Assuming it even works."

"But you can still use magic," Twilight cut in, looking at the ice herself, noticing something. "You can heat it with a spell, as long as you don't apply it directly. Look," she pointed at a small wet spot on the ground, "It's melting. Heat up the room instead of the ice, and we can accelerate the thaw, while also chipping away as much as possible," she looked at the hunters and medical staff. "It won't be perfect, but it's the only thing that may work on short notice."

Still in need of answers but, Rolling Stone's health taking precedence over the situation, Nurse Redheart quickly led Applejack to an available room where the two lifted Rolling Stone onto a movable bed. Immediately after, two other nurses moved the bed with Rolling Stone on it further into the hospital.

"Is there anything else we should know?" Nurse Redheart asked as she returned to the group. "Any other 'surprises' lying in wait?"

Sound Wave pushed forwards, face grim.

"Countering what Miss Twilight just said, it was timberwolves who attacked him. I was there, before he ordered me to leave. It would seem that after, a ghost got to him. But there is a lot we don't know and drawing conclusions on what-ifs will only work counterproductive."

" I, eh… Timberwolves, right," Nurse Redheart paused to gather her thoughts. "I'll inform the doctor. Anything else?"

"Is he going to be okay?" Fluttershy asked, barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," Nurse Redheart answered. "Timberwolf inflicted wounds, while thankfully not common, are difficult to treat as a result of their unusual magic. But if a ghost is involved," she shuddered at the thought. "But maybe that is a good thing?"

"HOW IN THE HAY IS THAT A GOOD THING?!" Rainbow Dash stood muzzle to muzzle in the blink of an eye, glaring at the mare.

Undeterred, by now well acquainted with the prismatic mare's behavior after her late-night library visit, after visiting hours, Nurse Redheart merely took a step back.

"I'm not saying it is a good thing a ghost is around here. I know what happened at Baltimare; most of the senior staff here were involved with helping some of the injured. And I, personally, saw some of the wounded during my internship at one of the hospitals. But, strange as it is, that ice cast, cause it clearly is a cast, may just have saved his life by keeping the blood in."

"Interesting," a droll voice cut through, and everypony turned to the damaged doors; a stone gray mare with a short, straight cut purple mane stepped in. Her white, tailored suit immaculate clean and, a small rock partially visible from a chest pocket. "That would suggest this ghost went to the effort of preserving the life of Lieutenant Rolling Stone. Contradicting everything known about ghosts," she surmised as she surveyed the room and those in it with a level, apathetic gaze "Assuming, for a moment, it isn't actually a trap as was previously suggested."

Sound Wave, Ornate Charm and Blue Ice went rigid; presenting a salute as the mare approached.

"Specialist extraordinaire, Maudileena Daisy Pie," Blue Ice called out. "We were not informed of your arrival."

"Maud?"

Maud blinked slowly, not answering the still saluting hunters as she turned to Pinkie.

"Hello, Pinkie," she greeted, stepping closer to the pink mare. "It is nice to see you again."

In a blur of pink and tears, Pinkie Pie latched on the stone-faced Maud who, seemingly contradicting the laws of motion, did not move at all as Pinkie slammed into her. Instead, she lifted her leg and calmly patted her on the back.

"Do not worry, Pinkie. Your big sister is here."

"WHAT!?" A collective gasp escaped Pinkie's friends while Maud still refused to show any hint of emotion.

"But why are you here?" Pinkie asked, sniffling, looking at her sister. "I thought you were in Saddle Arabia for a rock expedition?"

"There are some things about me you do not yet know, Pinkie," Maud said simply, then turned to the hunters. "At ease," she finally said and the trio let their legs fall. "To answer the questions you have, Pinkie. The rock expedition was a cover for an ongoing investigation I cannot speak about. While I study for my doctorate in rockology, I am, in fact, a ghost hunter. Recruited by the G.I.W shortly after Baltimare. As to why I am here. After the princesses received your latest report," she looked at Sound Wave, "the decision was made to include me in the investigation. At their command, I came here as soon as possible."

"But that message was sent not even half an hour ago," Rarity noted. "How did you get here so fast?"

"Did the princesses teleport you?" asked Twilight.

"No," Maud answered simply, blinking slowly. "I ran."

Not paying any attention to the half-formed replies to her statement, she once again focused on the trio of hunters. "While my orders are to assist you in this hunt, the potentially fatal injuries of your commanding officer have changed circumstances. Effective immediately, I hereby take over command of this unit. Once matters here are concluded, I need to be informed of all you have uncovered so far."

"Yes Ma'am," all three hunters saluted again.

"As for all of you," Maud looked at Pinkie and her friends. "Please return to your homes. You will be informed should any information about the whereabouts of your family and friends be uncovered."

"WHAT!? but, WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash balked, trying to make sense of it all.

"But what if a meany ghost comes for you?" Pinkie asked, looking questioningly at her sister.

"Don't worry, Pinkie. I made you a promise, remember?"

Instantly, Pinkie brightened and, after giving her stone-faced sister a crushing hug, she bounced back to her friends.

"Okay, everypony," Pinkie said. "My big sister, who I had no idea is actually a secret ghost hunter on a secret mission to secretly protect us from dangers kept secret from us, is here to help us in secret," she paused and looked back at Maud. "You are here in secret, right?"

"For now."

"Right, so don't tell anypony," Pinkie finished.

All her friends, their minds thoroughly blown, further addled by the trying events of late, failed to come up with any sort of coherent response; a couple of them mimicking a fish on dry land with how they opened and closed their mouths, yet no sound escaping them.

Eventually, it was Twilight who, in the most surprising way, put together the most logical response to all of the latest insanity.

"Nope, not going there," and she quickly walked out of the hospital, her mane already starting to poke out at places. "Not again."

Numerous seconds ticked by as half-formed protests died the moment the mares opened their mouths. Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, continued to bounce, waiting on her friends to make a decision while Maud simply watched them all with a neutral gaze.

Eventually, with some grumbling here and there, the group of ponies slowly followed after Twilight, leaving behind Maud, the hunters, and one thoroughly confused Nurse Redheart.

Maud waited long enough for herself to blink twice, watching her younger sibling and her friends leave, before turning around to face Nurse Redheart.

"Please inform your colleagues about the timberwolf inflicted injuries. Their skills will be served best when they have all the facts."

"I, eh… Yes, of course."

"And the crown will see to it the damages to the hospital will be compensated in a timely manner," Maud added, and one of the doors finally gave in, slamming on the tiled floor, cracking some of the ceramic. "That would be all."

It took Nurse Redheart an increasingly awkward moment to realize that this was indeed everything, as Maud continued to stare at her in silence.

"I, eh.. I'll be on my way then," she quickly moved away, Maud's expressionless gaze never leaving her, until she turned a corner.

"Private Sound Wave," Maud slowly turned to the hunter. "From my understanding you were with Lieutenant Rolling Stone when the timberwolves attacked."

"Yes, Ma'am," Sound Wave confirmed.

"Private Blue Ice, you will remain here in case the doctors require help with the removal of the ice and, as a safety precaution until we have a better understanding of the situation."

"Private Ornate Charm. Our presence will not be a secret for much longer, so there will be no need to hide under the guise of tourism. Gather what equipment you brought with you, then assist Blue Ice until I return."

Both ponies confirmed her orders with a salute.

"Private Sound Wave, lead the way."

As the group split up to carry out their orders, Blue Ice took the initiative to clean up some of the damage inflicted on the doors; at least so they could be closed, when a shaky voice drew her attention to the reception desk.

"Wh- what just happened?" the receptionist asked, peeking over the desk with fearful eyes.

"That," Blue Ice snorted, "is something we would all like to know."

<<>><<>><<>>

"What… the… hay?"

Sound Wave trailed off as she and Maud arrived at the clearing, after first showing where Rolling Stone was found.

Because of the injuries he had, as well as the spectral contamination encasing him, she had some expectations, but the battlefield that awaited them was something she wasn't prepared for.

Large clusters of ice dotted the terrain, with spikes rising up in places, twice the length of an average pony. A multitude of gashes scarred the ground, clearly made by claws. Some of the trees bordering the clearing showed signs of damage as well, with chunks of bark and wood missing, while some were snapped in half completely.

"Curious," Maud said simply, slowly scanning the terrain, noticing a trail of blood several feet away. "

Moving closer, she followed the trail leading further into the combat zone, past a collection of half reassembled timberwolves encased in ice.

"Curious, indeed," she hummed as she stared past her reflection and at the wooden claw.

"It has to be that ghost from before," Sound Wave said in a mix of shock and anger.

"A ghost from before?"

Sound Wave blinked, then nearly cried out in surprise as Maud was standing before her, where a second ago she wasn't; looking at her with the same, emotionless gaze she'd had since she first showed herself.

"Y-yes. Several hours ago, when my team ventured out into the forest, two ghosts attacked us. Only one showed itself, a massive hound. The other, clearly in control of the hound, remained invisible. It told the hound to stay back, then fought the four of us at once."

"Then, by all accounts, you must have defeated and captured this ghost. Yet you just said to believe this scene here must be the work of this ghost," Maud blinked slowly, "which would contradict this notion."

Sound Wave suppressed a flinch, meeting her superior's eyes. "It managed to overwhelm and incapacitate us; trapping our hooves in a large sheet of ice."

"Curious," Maud droned. "Any injuries?"

"I-eh…" Sound Wave paused, thinking. "No, not counting our pride. But it did speak to us. Saying we didn't know what we were doing; that we needed to think four-dimensional."

Maud slightly tilted her head.

"Most unusual. Not only would this suggest a ghost went out of its way to save a life, but even went to the effort of making you better at hunting it."

"But that does not make any sense!?"

Maud didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to the same ice-encased claw she looked at before; this time looking at her reflection.

"No, it does not," she said with the slightest crack to her voice, hearing the distant shouts of the victims in Baltimare.

She moved away, back to Ponyville.

"We need to regroup. Reevaluate everything we know so far. Find a pattern. Create a plan of attack."

"Yes, ma'am," Sound Wave agreed as she followed after Maud.

"And," Maud stopped, looking at Sound Wave from the corner of her eye. "Reassess your team's combat effectiveness."

Without another word, Maud continued walking; leaving a stunned Sound Wave behind who, despite having known it from the start, hearing it from the best among their numbers, she knew: They bucked up.

They bucked up severely.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Pinkie, what the hay was all of that?!" Rainbow Dash shouted shortly after they all returned to Twilight's library, none of them wanting to split up, despite being told to return home. And now, back in the relative safety of the town's library, all eyes were on the chipper pink mare.

"What was what about? What happened?" Bellflower asked. Her and Big Mac surprised by the group's quick return.

"Ya can ask tha again," Applejack snarked.

"Pinkie?" Twilight said, almost pleading. Despite having chosen sanity over madness by walking out earlier, her need to know could not be silenced.

"Oh, that was Maud. My big sister," Pinkie said innocently, lightly bouncing in the spot.

"Yes, darling. We understand that much. What we don't quite understand is everything else related to her being here," Rarity stepped up, brushing a messy lock of her mane out of her face.

Pinkie stopped bouncing, looked at her friend and released a loud gasp.

"You mean your parents never told you?!"

"I- eh… what?"

Pinkie stood beside her in the blink of an eye, a comforting leg wrapped around her withers.

"Don't worry, Rarity. Let your friend Pinkie explain it all to you," she noisily cleared her throat. "You see, when a mommy and a daddy love each other very, super-duper much they will do the mommy and daddy dance," she said chipper, then lowered her voice while stage whispering behind a hoof. "That means sex," she then resumed in a normal tone. "Which is where the daddy puts his pe-"

"PINKIE!!" All present shouted at her, eyes wide, most of them blushing.

"What?"

"Pinkie, why is your sister here, now, and a ghost hunter?" Twilight quickly clarified.

Pinkie Pie blinked twice as she processed the question, then she shrugged.

"I dunno. You were there when she told us everything, right?"

"Well, yes," Twilight admitted, frowning. "But you didn't know she was a ghost hunter?"

"Nope," Pinkie shook her head. "Not a clue."

"Wait, your sister is a ghost hunter?" Bellflower interjected, trying to figure out what happened.

"It seems like it," Applejack answered. "What she'd say? Got recruited by some sort, or 'nother?"

"G.I.W," Twilight remembered, pacing on the spot. "I have done a lot of studying about Earth, ghosts and everything related to it, but I can't remember ever reading about anything with those initials."

"So, what. We just make her tell us what that is all about when she comes back," Rainbow Dash cut in, aggressively scraping a hoof on the floor. "I'd say we deserve some answers by now."

"Everypony, hold on," Bellflower called out. "What about the fillies? Did you learn anything?"

Silence was her only answer as everypony hung their heads.

"... Ah guess with everything jus happening at once, we've been worrying too much 'bout the wrong thaing," Applejack sighed.

Everypony agreed with her statement as they all had to face facts. No matter the sudden arrival of Pinkie's sister, or her profession, none of that gave answer to the question that mattered most.

"Then can somepony please explain what it is that happened all at once?" Bellflower pleaded.

"Nothin' good," Applejack gave a weary sigh, then she and the others revealed everything that had happened in the short time they were gone.

<<>><<>><<>>

"And if we cross-reference his daily routine with his favorite choice of color clothes, we can clearly surmise Danny prefers to eat his spinach on Tuesdays, and not on Thursdays," Lyra smiled brightly, waiting for her marefriend's reaction.

Bon Bon, sitting next to her and, despite her best efforts, could not stop herself from zoning out and, instead stared blankly at the strange pony she loved for reasons she couldn't quite comprehend.

"Sooo…" Lyra said after far too many seconds had ticked by, "What do you think?"

Bon Bon blinked once, twice, three times, allowing her abused mind to reboot itself before answering. In that time, her focus slowly shifted from Lyra and her 'notebook', which in all honesty was a full novel in progress. One seemingly without end, if the numerous charts, notes, and other snippets of information that lay all around them, sorted neatly in stacks of 'crucial' and 'critical' importance were any indication.

Slowly Bon Bon shifted her focus back to the still smiling pony before her.

"Lyra… Remind me again. Why are we together?"

"Oh, this question again," Lyra said with a dismissive wave of her hoof, snorting while rolling her eyes. "You know why."

"Yes…" Bon Bon replied slowly. "Which is?"

"Because you love me," Lyra said matter of factly, leaning in closer. "And I love you," she placed a quick kiss on the muzzle. "But really, what do you think?" she asked again, leaning back.

At that moment, there were many things Bon Bon wanted to say in answer. Many things that needed to be said but, despite all the headaches Lyra had given her; was still giving her, she couldn't deny the truth when it was spoken. She did, for reasons she had been unable to properly answer thus far, love the silly, strange, perplexing and, yes, infuriating mare still waiting for an answer.

"You need a hobby."

Lyra was quick to hold up her 'notebook' in answer.

"A hobby, not an obsession."

"This is not an obsession!" Lyra defended. Bon Bon merely stared at her.

"I'm just thorough. You never know what might be important," Lyra deflected. Bon Bon continued staring.

"Can't it be both?" she asked instead, clutching her notes close to her chest. Bon Bon rose an eyebrow.

"Then why did you suddenly change your mind about not wanting to know about this?" she tried instead. To this Bon Bon sighed deeply.

"Because, as… strange as this all is," she looked at all the papers still surrounding them, "I know it is important to you. And you are important to me," she explained, looking back at Lyra when her eye caught sight of something.

"What's this?" she asked, carefully picking up a single, slightly wrinkled piece of paper from behind a tall stack of 'information' in which Lyra had mapped out numerous and, downright bizarre, ideas and notes which pony or ponies were most likely to get romantically involved with Danny.

She was both shocked and unsurprised to find both herself and Lyra were on the list, in various combinations she really did not wish to think about any more than she already had.

"What's what?" Lyra asked, waiting for Bon Bon to retrieve the paper.

Taking a moment to read what Lyra had written down, Bon Bon's eyes widened significantly.

"Lyra, what in goodness sake is this?" she asked, turning the paper so Lyra could see.

"Huh, oh that," Lyra waved it away. "Just something crazy, even for my standards. Don't even know why I wrote that down."

"Strange things with Danny," Bon Bon read aloud. "Saw him leave for work... After he already left for work."

"Meh, must have missed him going back to retrieve something he must've forgotten," Lyra shrugged.

"The Pinkie Invasion did not seem to faze Danny too much."

"I thought that was weird at first, but then I remembered he's used to ghosts… so, yeah."

"After the Pinkie invasion, he replaced his windows even though they were still intact."

"Okay, I admit. That one does confuse me. But, hay. His money."

"I heard from Junebug, who heard from Flitter, who overheard Rainbow Dash mentioning something about the lake close to Danny's home somehow freezing solid."

"Weird, I know… But hearing from a story by somepony who heard it from another, who heard it from another… who knows if it's real? Besides, I did not hear from anypony else the lake was frozen."

"Saw some weird ponies in town. Also noticed them near Danny's home," Bon Bon read, paused, then looked at Lyra. "Weird ponies?"

"Eh, four of em. Stallion and three mares. They're staying over at Bellflower's place. Don't know, they seem a bit weird to me. Added them to the list because I had it in hoof at the time."

"I see," Bon Bon muttered, returning to the next and last item on the list, which was mostly crossed out. "Saw a strange flash of green light coming from Sweet Apple Acres," she read past the lines.

"Don't even know why I added that one," Lyra threw up her hooves. "I only noticed it because I was observing Danny in his natural habitat during night hours." She was silent for two whole heartbeats, in which she could feel the piercing stare Bon Bon shot at her. "I'm not obsessed!"

"And I am the princesses' mother," Bon Bon snarked, crumpling up the paper and pretending to throw it behind her; instead she stealthily hid it under her tail for later analysis.

Lyra snorted, "Okay, okay. I get it. Sheesh. Can't a mare have a hobby?"

Once again, Bon Bon stared at the mint green unicorn sitting before her. Then, with a heavy sigh and a roll of the eyes, she stood up, jumped off the couch, and headed for the stairs.

"Lyra," Bon Bon paused, turning to look at her. "I know you're not going to stop with this, no matter what I say or do. So I won't. But I will ask you to take a break from it. Just look at all of this," she swept a hoof across the room and the various stacks of 'research' and 'field reports'. "Just take a break, please. Most of this is just random nonsense, and you have troubled Danny quite a bit to get it."

"But what if I make a discovery that would further our understanding of humanity. Think of all the great things that could accomplish."

"Lyra, you could literally go to their world and learn all you could ever want just by visiting a library there. No need to pester the one human we have in this town for it."

Lyra sat stunned, silenced.

"... This never occurred to you, did it?" Bon Bon sighed out, shaking her head, then turned back to the stairs. " Besides," she added. "What if, what you discover, would instead be something terrible? Think about that." And without another word she ascended the stairs, glancing back at her at the top, worried.

'Because should there be some dark secret, I fear it might break your heart.'

<<>><<>><<>>

It had been less than a day since the set world order crumbled away from underneath her, yet it felt like an eternity to Diamond Tiara.

Ever since discovering the double CMC and subsequent betrayal of the one pony she thought she could trust to have her back, and agree with everything she says, she knew it was up to her to do something about this disorder. To reassert herself as the superior pony above those Blank Flanks.

But the knife Silver Spoon stuck in her back left her paranoid, unable to trust anypony else.

Knowing she was alone in all of this, she wasted little time to come up with a scheme to expose those wretched Blank Flanks.

The moment she had returned home, pretending everything was fine to her father, her mother caring little to begin with, she locked herself up in her room to begin work on her plan to fix everything.

And now, with the light of the sun doing its best to pierce through the thick curtains blocking the windows, Diamond Tiara looked with bloodshot eyes at the clutter of papers hanging on her wall; strings of various colors connecting them in a criss-crossing web, which only made sense to her, as a multitude of notes accompanied the poorly drawn pictures she'd made of Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and, reduced to nothing more than a stick figure with a knife in hoof, Silver Spoon.

Rubbing an eye with her hoof, then pushing her dirty mane out of her face, her tiara discarded to a corner of the room, she inspected her work for any flaws.

"What am I missing?" she said, voice low and filled with suspicion.

She traced back the timeline she'd made, starting where she first met those Blank Flanks.

"Where did I lose my grip over them?"

the notes and pictures on the wall mocked her with no answer.

Groaning in frustration, she kicked her pillow to vent; something she had done numerous times during the night, at one point even hearing from her mother; yelling to her through the walls to be silent. This time, however, the seams tore, blinding her with a cloud of feathers.

For a while, she stood stock still, only her left eye twitching. Then, with a scream of frustration, she grabbed the mostly empty pillow and threw it at the wall; knocking down most of the strands connecting one paper to the next, dropping it all to the ground.

"DIAMOND TIARA!" her mother's shrill shriek rattled the door.

Flinching, Diamond Tiara turned to the door as she heard angry hoof-falls approaching; the door slamming open a moment later as her mother stepped in, eyes burning.

"Diamond Tiara," she seethed. "I have told you numerous times before, and I will not repeat myself any further after this. If you want to play, you do it outside; somewhere where I don't have to suffer through it. Am I clear!" she didn't ask, barely acknowledging the filly in the room with how far her nose was turned up; through her eyes did linger on the mess of papers, twine and feathers. "And clean up this mess. We're not some common dirt pony living in the filth," she harshly added, then turned around and left. "At least, I'm not," she added haughtily, not even giving her daughter a chance to reply as she closed the door on her.

Angry, tired and now also ashamed, Diamond Tiara blinked away the tears she refused to accept were there, dragging her hooves over to the mess she'd made; sifting through it with a desolate sigh.

"I'll get them for this. All of this," she hissed through teeth. "Everything was just fine before they did… whatever it is they did. I will find out! I will show them I am better than them."

A paper got stuck on her hoof; a clipping from an old newspaper reporting about the turbulent day leading up to the royal wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and captain of the royal guard, Shining Armor. A wedding in which she had learned, much to her disgust and horror, those three Blank Flanks were flower fillies.

Yet that was not what caught her eyes. Instead it was the report of the shapeshifters known as changelings that dominated most of the article.

"Of course," she gasped, eyes widening. "Two of each. Silver Spoon betraying me. It all makes sense now. Those Blank Flanks are working together with those insects. Which must mean they also replaced Silver Spoon."

With renewed energy, she all but dove for her trash bin looking for the newspaper from which this news article came; making an even bigger mess in the process, but she didn't care.

Finding what she sought after only a minute, she quickly read the full report, and everything the reporter had presented as fact detailing about the hostile insectoids.

"Oh, I've got you now," she cackled, eyes twitching madly.

"DIAMOND TIARA!" her mother cried out.

"I am sorry mother," she called back, just loud enough to be heard, glaring at the poorly drawn images of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo which lay on top of the pile. "But not as sorry as you three will be."

<<>><<>><<>>

With great strides, Wind Chill ran through the forest, Cujo close behind.

After saving the ghost hunting pony from the timberwolves, and applying a cast of ice, the giant and hound returned him to the forest's edge. Then, remaining in the shadows, waited to ensure he was found in time before returning to the children and the changelings.

And now, with nothing else to slow them down, the two exited the forest.

Taking them by surprise, Eclipse dropped down from the sky, slamming to the ground without a sound.

"So there you are," Eclipse said.

"Arf," Cujo barked in answer, tail wagging.

"Eclipse?" Wind Chill said questioningly as he took a moment to study the shade before him.

Nodding in confirmation, she half turned into the direction of the Hive. "You must hurry," she told them. "Much has happened while you were gone, and Danny needs your help." Anticipating the giant's next question, she shook her head. "And, no. It does not involve Fenris. Though I don't have time to explain either," she looked past them towards the forest. "Is Zecora still at your village?"

"I, ehh… I think so, yes. Though I have not seen her since we last parted ways," Wind Chill replied, clearly not expecting this question.

"Good enough," Eclipse spread her wings. "Hurry, time is of the essence," she said, then shot off into the air and towards the forest, leaving behind Wind Chill and Cujo with more questions than answers.

Once crossing the border between light and shadows, Eclipse felt a surge of energy wash over her now that the sun's light was blocked, and she blended in with the shadows around her.

Moving faster than she could have out in direct light, she covered the distance in blurring speed; fangs glistening as she grinned from the thrill of flight. Something she knew, deep down, she inherited from Danny through her father, Shadow.

This stopped, however, when she passed the massive pack of timberwolves. All of them moved deeper into the forest, much as she was, yet some of them seem injured, damaged, missing pieces of their wooden bodies. There were even some partially covered in ice as well.

'And what happened here?' she wondered, but didn't stick around to find out.

Leaving behind the wooden wolves, she flew for a while longer until she reached the old castle ruins.

Moving for the throne room and the portal hidden inside, she crossed the boundaries of the mortal plain and entered the Far Frozen; startling the two frost giants with her sudden appearance.

"Please don't attack," she said, looking at the pair, one with an ice club raised and ready to swing. "Danny Phantom, my master, has sent me. I'm looking for the zebra, Zecora. Her help is required, and I must bring her to Danny as soon as possible."

The giant with the raised club faltered, both looking at each other in confusion. But the name of the Great One was not to be ignored, and the second frost giant simply pointed a single finger towards their village.

"Thank you," Eclipse dipped her head, then resumed her flight, reaching the village in no time; landing in the village's center amidst a curious yet wary crowd.

"Could someone please tell me where to find Zecora?" she asked once again, ignoring the stares.

Instead of answering, the crowd moved to open a path for her.

"The Elder said she expected someone to arrive," a giant spoke, voice gruff. "But a shade?"

"Not just any shade," a familiar voice broke the tension, and Frostbite pushed through the masses, looking at Eclipse. "Last I saw you, you were merely a shapeless entity when the Elder aided in freeing the minds of Fenrir and the Great One. But those eyes I recognize everywhere. You are the Great One's shade, are you not? Eclipse, I believe."

Eclipse nodded.

A ripple moved through the crowd, all of them familiar with the shadow Danny possessed when he learned to control it years back. But to hear Frostbite identify the unrecognizable shade as one and the same, a rumble of overlapping voices rose up as all giants felt a rising sense of excitement.

"As unexpected my appearance here might be, I have little time to waste. I must find Zecora."

"And found her you have," the Elder approached through the path the giants had made earlier; following behind her, Zecora, coming to an abrupt stop as her eyes met those of Eclipse.

"The mare of the moon, an impossible sight. Did you return to once more bring eternal night?"

It took Eclipse a few seconds to realize what it was Zecora had asked. A chuckle escaped her when she did, which soon grew into full laughter.

"Ha, oh goodness me. No, I am not my mother. Nor do I plan to continue her plans for night eternal," Eclipse said after she managed to gain control over herself, though still chuckling all the while. "My name is Eclipse," she introduced herself. "Shadow of Danny Phantom, daughter of his shade, Shadow and Nightmare Moon."

"A child of a shadow and the mare of the night?! How could such a thing be, out in Celestia's light?"

Eclipse shrugged, "Eh, mostly by accident."

Zecora was about to reply, found words failed her, and slowly closed her mouth; sitting down and rubbing her temples with both hooves.

"By now, this shouldn't surprise me, yet here we are. So tell me why you need me, before things become even more bizarre."

"Danny needs your help," Eclipse informed her. "The changelings are in dire need for medicine and other potions to bolster their strength to overcome the after-effects of their illness, and your knowledge and skills in making these will be the difference between life and death for a significant portion of the changelings."

Zecora stood back up in a snap, eyes sharp.

"A call for aid is something I do not ignore. To help another, an oath I swore. Lead the way to where I am needed, I'll do all I can to help those affected."

"That will take too long, I'm afraid. It is quite the distance," Eclipse told her.

"Time is always short, yet you did come for me. For this you have an answer, to cross the distance quickly?"

"I do," Eclipse nodded. "Just a fair warning, I have never done this before."

That was all the warning Zecora got as, in a soundless explosion, Eclipse blew up into a cloud of darkness which quickly enveloped her, then flew away in a shapeless pillar; leaving behind numerous dumbfounded giants, while the Elder watched the two depart with slightly narrowed eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So," Maud began after the three ghost hunters standing before her finished their recounting of events. All four of them gathered in one of the rooms the Ghost-Keteers had first set up base. "You found Danny Manson's shadow missing, confirmed the presence of a ghost shortly after as it revealed itself to you, then left the civilians alone when all four of you proceeded to hunt this entity. Doing so without confirming the area was secure, and providing the opening for both the human and the zebra to go missing, and for a ghost to hunt the Element bearers, forcing them to split up in one of the more dangerous forests in this world. Not only that, but you all also fought one ghost, which managed to neutralize all four of you with little effort," she surmised, each word striking like a hammer blow; made worse by the level tone of voice, void of any emotion as she looked at the three hunters with the same expressionless gaze she had when she first made herself known. "This also resulted in the destruction and loss of several pieces of equipment. Equipment which, as far as the scanner is concerned, showed a strong inclination towards failure from the beginning. Potentially aiding in the problems of this latest hunt," she paused, taking a calm, measured breath.

"I am disappointed," she concluded as casually as one discussing a particularly boring book. "The only thing keeping this operation from being a complete failure is, you did manage to uncover some valuable leads which demand further investigation."

She turned around, moving for the ghost hunting equipment laid out on the table.

"A large amount of equipment has been lost as well," she pointed out. "Only some of which can be directly attributed to effective use."

She turned back to the three hunters, still standing at stiff attention.

"For a trained guard, this is sloppy to the point of compromise. For a ghost hunter, this is absolutely unacceptable. Who was your instructor?"

"Our training was conducted by Jack Fenton, Ma'am," Ornate Charm answered.

"Jack Fenton?" Maud repeated.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Interesting. I have read your files, and it is to my understanding your allotted instructor was Madeline Fenton, not Jack Fenton."

"Yes, Ma'am," Sound wave confirmed. "This was changed last minute by Jack Fenton himself. By his words: To make sure we got the best training there is."

Maud blinked, slowly. "I see," and returned back to the equipment. "Most informative," she picked up the one remaining Fenton Thermos, looking at the logo on its side.

With barely a sound, she uncapped the thermos, watching as the ghost capture device sprung to life; a beam of brilliant blue energy shooting out, splashing harmlessly against the wall.

She replaced the cap.

"Jack Fenton. Forty eight years old. Married to Madeline Fenton. Father of two. Severely overweight. Surprisingly adept at creating spectral orientated tools and equipment. Creator of most first-generation ghost hunting weapons, together with his wife. Sole inventor of the Fenton Thermos, made from the thermos he had used to keep his soup warm. Little to no combat training."

She put down the thermos.

"Madeline Fenton. Forty one years old. Married to Jack Fenton. Mother of two. Highly intelligent. Co-created numerous spectrally orientated tools and equipment with Jack Fenton. Highly trained in martial arts including, but not limited to: Hand to hand combat. Hand to claw combat. Hand to tentacle combat. Hand to undefinable limb combat. Weapons expert in all classes. Has one of the highest capture scores recorded."

She turned back to the three hunters.

"Recent events have demonstrated beyond a doubt your training is insufficient, and I will make a report about this to the princesses. You did not only needlessly endanger yourselves, but civilians as well. Including the Element Bearers. Effective immediately, you are removed from this operation. Return to Canterlot for new orders."

The three hunters looked shocked, ashamed, only their original training as guards keeping them from breaking decorum.

"Ma'am," Blue Ice spoke up. "Permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

"With all due respect, you could not possibly take on this task on your own. Even in light of our recent failures, the discoveries we made do suggest to a spectral activity far greater than currently encountered. You would be at great risk on your own."

Maud was silent, standing completely unmoving for nearly a minute.

"True," she eventually answered. "But such is the nature of our profession. Even then, I can not allow you to continue any further on that basis alone. On my own, I am at risk, but free to move without restraint. Should you remain to help, ignoring all that has transpired so far, the risk would be the same, if not greater should my attention be diverted from any and all ghosts to protect you. No, my assessment of the situation won't change, nor do my orders. Am I understood!?"

All three hunters managed to stand even more rigid, eyes forwards." Ma'am, yes, ma'am."

Maud blinked once. "Dismissed," and she calmly walked out of the room.

<<>><<>><<>>

Held in a column of darkness, Zecora moved with blurring speed; unable to keep herself from yelling in distress.

While blinded by smoke and shadows for the most part, the occasional flash of light and ground pierced through the haze, confirming what her senses already told her.

She was flying. Or, to be completely literal, was projected at great speed without any control through the air, too far away from the safe and comforting feel of solid ground under her hooves.

She was a zebra, one versed in the knowledge of nature, and with great respect for all creatures which walk, swim, and fly this world. However, with this, she also knew her place in this chain. And this high up, she did not belong.

Disconnected.

Uncontrolled.

Absolutely terrified.

If in this one moment she learned anything, it was that zebras were not meant to fly. A revelation so profound, it added to the fact she did not have wings to fly with in the first place.

Surely such a sign shouldn't be ignored.

For a moment her thoughts dwelled contemplating on her pony friends and, by extension, all of ponykind with their strange constructs to allow flight to the flightless, before her attention was pulled back by the here and now.

She was falling rapidly, the nauseating grip of gravity clearly fighting to reclaim her, and only the darkness surrounding her kept her from seeing just how close to the ground she really was.

Eclipse, the shapeless cloud she was, had already left the forest well behind her, and aimed straight for the tunnel entrance leading to the hidden city; twisting and weaving through the claustrophobic passages while hearing the numerous shouts of distress from Zecora.

Even then, she did not allow this to slow herself down and instead moved to the structure she sensed Danny's presence from.

Passing bridges and walkways, some of them containing gawking changeling foals, Eclipse reached her destination.

Touching down behind the large frame of Wind Chill, masking their arrival to those present, too busy to notice save one curious pup, Eclipse 'melted' away from Zecora; revealing the mare wobbling on her legs as she sought to regain her balance.

"Before our return here, Cujo and I intervened in an attack by these so-called timberwolves on one of the ghost hunters," they heard Wind Chill reply to a conversation they missed. "He was badly injured, but I froze his wounds and put in place a simple cast to keep him from making things worse while the others of his group would find him. The cold would also have helped. Maybe this can be used to weave a convincing story?"

"Maybe?" Danny turned around, hands on his back while overlooking the city. "But I'm still waiting for Eclipse to return with Zecora. We need their help regardless."

"Then it would seem I chose the right moment to return," Eclipse replied and all present turned to look at her and the windswept Zecora standing beside her.

"While I understand the haste to bring me to the changelings' den, I must ask you not to do that again," Zecora said as she wobbled on her hooves. She then turned to Danny, eyes large with worry. "Your shade, Eclipse, she has told what terrible things have unfolded. You have my help, this is a certainty. What must I do to relieve some of this misery?"

Cujo barked happily in recognition of Zecora, while the mare flinched upon hearing the familiar, and dreaded sound; nervously turning to the hound of nightmares as he lay innocently on the ground, tail wagging.

"And now we're all here," Danny muttered to himself. "Good. Zecora, Wind Chill, and you too Cujo," he looked at the still wagging pup near the balcony's railing. The hound's ears perked up, and the large canine leaped to his paws with an eager bark. "I need you all to stay here and ensure things don't go spiraling down into chaos again. Wind Chill," he looked at the giant. "I understand you have an honor bond with Apple Bloom, but as is, you can't return to the barn you've been staying in all this time. It has been discovered and will be kept under close examination. Besides, you are needed here to keep the windigos under control."

Danny then turned to Zecora before Wind Chill could even begin to object.

"Zecora, I won't repeat what Eclipse has already told you. I think it should be obvious where your help is required. Your skills with potions may make the difference between life and death for a great number of changelings while they are recovering, and the presence of an adult is something these foals need as well."

"Cujo," he turned to the now wagging dog, "Your skills to track just about anything are needed here as well. I don't know how long it may take for the changelings to find it in them to trust the ponies again, but until they do they need to find another source of food. Any forest creature would do, rabbits, birds, foxes, whatever. Something they can leech some energy from… and nothing too dangerous. And I'm sure Zecora will have needs of various supplies as well you should be able to find."

Cujo barked his confirmation.

"And most importantly, we're also here to make sure nothing goes wrong with Sweetie Belle. One rampant spirit attack is one too many already."

Zecora's eyes widened greatly, yet she remained quiet for now. Sure to find the answers to the questions which eluded her if she continued listening.

"We're?" Wind Chill mirrored. "Great One, do you not intend to return to your village with the children?"

Danny stood silent for several seconds. Then, a band of white light split him in two.

""No,"" two identical voices spoke at once. "I just have to be in two places at once."

And instead of answers, only more questions were found.

<<>><<>><<>>

With dragging hooves, Sweetie Belle forced herself forwards; eyes never leaving the ground while she fought every fiber of her being to not turn around, run away and hide for the rest of her life. The only thing keeping her from doing just that, her friends were keeping pace on each side, giving her words of encouragement as they followed after the two Dannys.

One of her ears twitched, slightly, upon hearing the grateful groan escaping Wind Chill, and the shyest of glances revealed he took a moment to stretch his back after having walked hunched over through the far too low for him hallways.

"Okay," Danny said when everyone was present, the ghost standing next to his human counterpart. "I'm not going to say this is going to be easy. Nothing this night has been, and there is a real chance this plan is going to fail regardless of how well we plan out our story. Still, we have to try and return some semblance of normalcy to the world, so if there are any last things we need to sort out with our story, now's the time," she heard him say from a distance, not really paying attention to what was said as her mind just continued to replay everything that had happened; what she had done.

'I hurt them,' she thought, repeating herself once again. 'All of them. The changeling, my friends. Danny. I- I bit him. I… I tasted his blood.'

A sickening churn came from her stomach, her face tinting green.

Noticing her distress, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were quick to comfort her; the former patting her back reassuringly.

'Why are they even still here?' she wondered. 'After everything I did? Why would they?'

"Sweetie Belle," Danny calling her pulled her out of her depressing thoughts. She twitched her ears to signal she was listening, but never lifted her eyes to meet his.

"I know this will be difficult for you, but this is where you must say goodby to your friends. At least for a while. I understand that this is the last you want to do, but you won't be alone here," he said in a lowered, caring voice.

Sweetie Belle sniffed, rubbed her nose with a hoof and meekly nodded.

"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, the same goes for you," she heard him explain to her friends.

"Ah-... okay, Danny," Apple Bloom replied with some hesitancy, sharing an uneasy glance with Scootaloo.

"Well, Ah guess this is goodbye for now," Apple Bloom said awkwardly, her heart clearly not in it.

"This blows," Scootaloo said simply, kicking the ground. "We can't just leave you here, but we can't not either. This is all kinds of messed up."

"Yer not helping, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom deadpanned, holding a shivering Sweetie Belle in a sideways hug.

"Oh, Sorry," Scootaloo mumbled, looking away.

"We'll try ta figure this out," Apple Bloom told her unicorn friend. "Together. An don't ya worry, Sweetie Belle. Danny an Wind Chill will look after ya while we're gone."

"Yeah, we never leave you hanging," Scootaloo agreed wholeheartedly. "We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders. We help each other. No matter what!"

Sweetie Belle gave a strangled sob in answer, tears flowing down her cheeks, unwilling to even meet her friends' eyes.

"Do any of you know someone called Mayfly? Strange, I know. But I doubt I will have another chance to ask this for some time," Danny's voice managed to cut through in the silence that fell between the two, and Scootaloo felt herself stiffen while her ears perked up.

"Mayfly?" Wind Chill repeated, puzzled.

"Mayfly?!" Scootaloo spoke up, surprised, memories of old resurfacing. "That… That's what my dad called me. Why… Wait, where did you hear that name?"

Both Danny’s stared at her, almost as if seeing her for the first time.

"Scootaloo," the human Danny said slowly. "...I think I just met your parents back in Canterlot."

A pin drop could be heard from a mile away in the silence that followed. A silence which was abruptly shattered half a second later when Scootaloo cried out a loudly echoing: "WHAT!?"

Both Dannys, taken aback by the volume of her outburst, took a step back as the young pegasus advanced on them.

"WHEN? HOW? WHY YOU, AND NOT ME?!" She wanted to know all at once, more questions demanding to be asked as her large eyes bored into the two humans before her, demanding answers.

"I don't know," human Danny answered. "They showed up when I was in trouble back at the castle, helped me escape and find a fix for my spectral exhaustion, then were just as quick to leave. The only reason I even know that name is, because your father, if it really was him, told me to go help his little Mayfly. I honestly don't know more than that."

"But… But…" words failed her as she tried to find an answer to her questions.

"Danny wouldn't lie to ya," Apple Bloom said, pulling her friend in a sideways hug. "Not about something like this. If 'twere ya parents, Ah'm sure they've got a reason for stayin' hidden."

"But why?"

"That is a good question," one of the Dannys said, frowning.

"But not a question we're going to answer standing here," the other remarked, and Scootaloo glared at him, which Danny didn't seem to notice. "And whether they were your parents, or not, we still need to leave if we want to have any chance to settle things down back home, giving us a chance to find some answers after that whole mess."

Scootaloo, clearly unsatisfied with this answer, scuffed the ground with a hoof. Then, begrudgingly said: "Fine."

Danny Phantom sighed. "Look, I don't like not knowing either, but this is how it is. Maybe, hopefully, we may find the truth once all this is over. But for now, try not to let this get to you too much. It won't do you any good."

'Try not to let this get to you?' Scootaloo repeated mentally, glaring at him. Before she could voice her protest, however, a small group of changeling foals hesitantly approached.

"Is there something wrong?" Danny Phantom asked, worry clear on his face.

The younglings spoke to one another with hushed voices and, after a moment, one of them eventually stepped forwards; awkwardly shuffling towards Apple Bloom, who stood closest to them.

Apple Bloom, a full head taller than the young shapeshifter, looked at the colt as he shifted on the spot, looking down at his hooves.

"... Uhm…. Thanks for helping," he squeaked, paused, then surprised all by hugging Apple Bloom.

Only allowing her surprise to keep her from reacting for a few short seconds, Apple Bloom wrapped a leg around the colt and reciprocated the gesture.

"O'course we help. No pony. No ling should have ta go through this alone."

With a grateful smile, the colt pulled away, only for his expression to morph into one of confusion, then shock. Something mirrored by the other changelings around, as well as both Dannys.

"What ta hay's that?" Apple Bloom shouted as she jerked back, a wavering stream of energy flowing from her to the colt.

"That," Danny Phantom said, a winning grin forming, "is trust renewed." He then looked at Erlea, "And hope for the future."

Erlea watched in stunned silence, eyes wide. Apple Bloom, at the same time, tried to flick the strange energy off of her, failing completely in doing so, until she stopped trying when she, and the rest, noticed the colt greedily sucking up the energy; a spark of life shining in his eyes which hadn't been there before.

A loud belch escaped him shortly after, echoing impressively long throughout the city, and earning a nod from both Dannys.

"Eehh…" Scootaloo began, unsure. "What just happened?"

"The first step to restoring a bond of trust between ponies and changelings," one of the Dannys answered, all still looking at the colt, who now lay on the ground, rubbing his slightly bloated belly.

"Okay. So… this stuff flowing out of my hoof is normal?"

"You, what?" All now looked at Scootaloo, realizing that she, too, gave off a steady stream of energy.

"It is more than that. So much more," Danny said, smiling broadly. "It is hope. Hope for the changeling to not just survive, but live."

Scootaloo blinked, looked at the energy, and took a moment to recall all the crazy things that had happened of late.

"... Meh," she shrugged. "Guess weirder stuff has happened. So, yeah," she looked at the groaning colt, putting the pieces together. "Anyling want to eat?"

The answer, as much expected as it was surprising and amusing, left Scootaloo and Apple Bloom covered under a mass of eager and oh so hungry changelings who wasted little time filling their bellies for the first time in their lives; leaving only a orange leg and red tail to poke out from underneath the pile; a faint cry for help coming from underneath.

<<>><<>><<>>

She stood alone.

Her friends were gone.

Their absence casting an even greater shadow over her than the giant standing behind her did.

The voices of all present didn't register, but she felt their eyes.

Fearful.

Angry.

She wasn't wanted here, and she didn't blame them.

"Chin up, child. Please do not cry. This is no farewell, just a short goodbye," Zecora gently lifted her head. "I know you are afraid, I see it in your eyes. You believe you are alone, but these are merely lies. I do not know what happened that caused you such distress, but I recognize the look of your regret nonetheless."

Sweetie Belle pulled away her head, looking back down at her hooves.

"I hurt so many," she mumbled, eyes clenched shut.

Zecora sat down beside her, pulling her to her side.

"To hurt another is never a good thing to do, but I know the filly beside me, and this does not sound like you."

"BUT I DID!" Sweetie Belle cried out, new tears running down her face. "I lost control over my powers. I hurt so many because of it!"

"Your powers are unknown, this I must admit. But some answers were given, and I know you are no evil spirit. You say you were lost, out of control. Whatever has happened, it clearly weighs on your soul. Yet this is a good thing, as terrible as you now feel. The pony now showing, this is who you are for real. You worry and fear, but not for your own. Yet you do not see this, for you believe yourself alone. Now look up young mare, and see what is here," Zecora calmy, but firmly lifted her head back up again. Waiting for Sweetie Belle to give in and open her wet eyes. "You have friends with you, who you must hold dear."

Sitting around her were Danny, Wind Chill and Cujo. Further back, conflicted but present all the same was Erlea and a few of the other foals.

"You are not in this alone, Sweetie Belle. You have my word," Danny said, showing a sad smile.

"As is my oath to young Apple Bloom, so it is to you. I shall remain by your side young spirit," Wind Chill said with a soft rumble.

"Arf," Cujo barked.

"Yeah… eh… What they say, I guess," Erlea mumbled, not quite looking at her.

A quiet sob escaped Sweetie Belle and another.

Then, a heart-wrenching cry rose up from her as she buried her face in Zecora's side, tears flowing freely while Zecora held her close.

Just as her friends remained close. Maybe not all in presence, but most certainly in heart. And she knew. Knew they didn't hate her. Knew they would stay with her. Knew they would help her. Knew she wasn't alone in this.

She cried. Cried until she had no tears left to spill, and sleep finally claimed her.

Author's Note

And with this, we have concluded the changeling arc.

Leave your thoughts and opinions down in the comments, and I'll see you with the next update.

~Powerdrainer

Hidden Truths

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Hidden Truths

<<>><<>><<>>

With a lazy groan, Danny woke up.

Comfortably wrapped in the warm blanket of the bed he found himself in, it took him several minutes to fully regain consciousness and remember what had happened before he was finally able to sleep.

When he did, he also became aware of the small form lying beside him under one of his arms.

Sweetie Belle curled up into herself, snored quietly as she slept; the fur under her eyes still matted with tears, a reminder of why Danny found himself waking up with her beside him.

After everything that had happened, no one wanted her to be alone. And with Zecora already hard at work making some rudimentary potions, Wind Chill looking after the windigos, and none of the changelings quite yet trusting her to be alone in the room with her, Danny did not hesitate a second to remain by her side.

The fact she all but latched on to him subconsciously showed just how much she needed someone to stay with her and, while Danny fought off his sleep for the better part of an hour to do just that, the trying events of the last day and night finally won out as he, too, fell asleep.

A snort pulled his attention from the filly still sleeping, to the green pup lying at the foot of the bed.

Cujo, too, didn't leave her alone. And with little need for sleep, other than being an excellent way to waste time, he kept true to his profession as a guard dog and vigilantly watched over the pair.

"How's she doing?" Cujo barked quietly.

"Still asleep," Danny replied with the same low voice. "Let's hope she feels a bit better when she wakes up."

"Yeah," Cujo agreed, then proceeded to scratch himself behind an ear.

Danny smiled at him in thanks, then slowly looked around the room. Now no longer burdened by a sleep-deprived mind, pushed on by the need to comfort a distressed child, he became increasingly aware of the incredible familiarity. Something that would have been unnerving had he not experienced all he did through the Murgröna.

"Anything special about this room?" Cujo asked, looking around himself but seeing nothing too special.

"Not really," Danny replied. "Just… I remember this place from when it was just an idea; nothing more than a chunk of rock waiting to be shaped. Just as I remember everything of this city; how it came to be, and who made it into a reality."

"Is that why you can now open those doors? You couldn't do that before," Cujo asked, looking at the closed onyx portal.

"It is," Danny confirmed. "It was a guess if I could, though," he lifted a hand, looking at it as he made it glow green. "I remember more than just this city being built. The magic the changelings were taught, and the magic they invented, I know it all. And it seems that, somehow, there is some overlap between magic and spectral energy."

"So you can do magic?"

"I'm not sure I want to go that far," Danny answered, looking at an empty flower pot standing on a small table in the adjacent room.

Reaching out with his hand, and focusing on the thousands of lessons in levitation magic he remembered, he focused intently on the pot.

The green glow surrounding his hand intensified, and the same glow began to shine around the item as it wobbled on the spot, then slowly rose up in the air; moving towards Danny while bobbing in the air.

"But it certainly looks like there are a few more tricks I can pull off now."

"Neat," Cujo watched the flower pot as it crossed the distance. "It's about time you learned levitation. Most ghosts learn that skill in their first year."

"I'm not most ghosts," he took hold of the flower pot, placing it on the bed. "And all things considered, I think I did alright."

"You ran away," Cujo stated flatly.

A heavy sigh escaped Danny as he nodded. "I did, yes."

"Why?"

Looking at the sleeping form of Sweetie Belle, Danny placed a hand on top of her head.

"To escape the guilt I felt."

Cujo tilted his head to the side. "That's stupid," he commented. "It's just like chasing your tail," he looked at his own tail. "Always there, always taunting you with its presence, but you can neither grab it nor run away from it, so you just need to accept it and learn to exist with it."

"That… is surprisingly insightful," Danny admitted. "And a lesson I very recently learned. But it does not change the fact that my guilt is what drove me away."

"The guilt of a phantom," Cujo snorted. "Well, you have always been one to care too much about others, so I guess it makes sense in a way. But what are you planning on doing now… after dealing with all of this, I mean? Go back home, to your friends, your family?"

Danny stiffened at that question, having avoided asking it himself because he knew the answer would not be easy.

"I… I suppose I should," he rubbed his neck. "I guess… I guess I owe it to them… show them I'm still there, you know. But how would I do that? I can't just show up, it has been years. And how would I explain it all? I mean, I can't tell my parents I'm Danny Phantom, Terror of Amity Park, the one 'proven' to be responsible for… for Sam's death. And what about Sam's parents, should they learn this as well. And what about Tucker, or Jazz. They know of my ghost side, but they clearly haven't told anyone. What would happen to them if this comes out?"

"Then why tell them at all?" Cujo asked, puzzled. "You never did before, so why bother doing it now? You ran away, and then you came back. Why make this more difficult than it needs to be?"

Danny was silent for several heartbeats, mulling this over.

"They would have questions. Questions I can't answer without some very big lies. And after everything that has happened… I'm sick and tired of lying just to keep living in peace. But if I don't… My other half is in Ponyville, lying for that exact reason," he sighed deeply. "My life just isn't that easy."

"No… I guess it isn't," Cujo rolled over on his back, kicking his hind legs.

"Let's change the topic," said Danny, looking down at the young pony next to him. "Sweetie Belle, how are you feeling now?"

Sweetie Belle didn't answer, lying completely still.

"I know you're awake," Danny told her, calmly stroking her back. "I spent enough time pretending to sleep, lying in misery to know what it looks like. Believe me, it may seem like the easier thing to do, but you just end up where I did. Lost, alone and miserable every minute of the day with seemingly no way to escape it. I've been there and only recently managed to get out of this hole I dug for myself, and I will not allow you to fall down into it now."

With stiff motions, Sweetie Belle curled tighter into herself.

"Sweetie Belle, you have to say something, anything. Don't allow this to fester. I know this is difficult, probably the most difficult step to take, but the sooner you talk about this, really talk about it, the better it will be for you."

"Why me?" she said, voice so low even Cujo had to strain his ears. Danny, though, understood perfectly. He had asked the same question many times himself.

"Why you," he repeated, looking up at the ceiling. "Why did you get those powers, and not someone else? Why did your powers come with such a dark side to them? Why did you lose control like that? What did you do to deserve what has happened to you? Why you?" he shook his head. "There is no easy answer to that question, maybe none at all. You, me, the other Halfas, we don't exist naturally. We are created through means outside our control. For two of us, it was an accident with my parent's ghost portal, another through means I will not go into detail about, and for you…" he paused, remembering something, "Didn't you say you go these powers after trying to summon a ghost, using the Necronomicon?"

The sudden shift in tone drew Sweetie Belle's attention, and she finally lifted her head to look up at Danny.

"Y-yes," she said, voice cracking.

Danny leaned back, resting his back against the headboard of the bed.

"The book of the dead," he muttered. "There is no way that book just happened to be in Twilight's library," he concluded. "In fact, everything I know tells me there should only be one place that particular book should be. So why here…. why you?" he fell silent, thinking.

"So what do you think?" Cujo asked.

"I'm not sure," Danny answered, confusing Sweetie Belle, "but there is only one place I can think of where I might find an answer."

"The library?" Cujo yawned.

"The library," he confirmed, then a loud growl drew everyone's attention to his stomach. "But we can worry about that later," he returned his attention back to Sweetie Belle. "How about we go and get something to eat, hmm?"

"I'm not hungry," Sweetie Belle mumbled, laying her head back down.

"Yes you are," Danny placed a hand on her head, gently stroking her mane. "You just don't feel like it with everything else going on."

Cujo rolled back upright as Sweetie Belle was silent. "Didn't she eat a lot of fear?"

New memories he'd experience in the Murgröna resurfaced, remembering the hunger he felt and what it drove him… The changelings to do what they did.

Pushing those thoughts back, trying not to show it too much, he continued comforting Sweetie Belle.

"I'm sure you'll feel better after eating something," he told her.

"... Do they even have food here?" she asked, rather unexpected.

Whatever reply Danny was about to give died before he could say it, thinking about it and only now realizing the changelings have had no need for a very long time to keep a supply of food edible for ponies.

"Well," he began awkwardly. "Guess I know what my first task of the day is."

<<>><<>><<>>

A vibrant red liquid boiled inside a cauldron while Zecora methodically stirred the contents, adding measured amounts of herbs and roots to the concoction.

Several glass bottles full of the same colored brew stood on the ground away from the fire, cooling down, while some of the changelings either returned empty bottles, or picked up a full glass sufficiently cooled down enough to be drunk without injury.

Stepping back from the cauldron, Zecora moved for the table on which she kept the meager amount of materials she used for her potions. It wasn't much to begin with, the changelings' supplies dangerously low from the start, but what little there was she used to create a simple elixir to help bolster the sick changelings' health.

It was a gamble, though. As little she could do with the materials given, there was even less she knew about changelings. Fortunately, so far, none of the sick showed any adverse reactions to ingesting the elixir. If it would help, however, remained to be seen.

Quietly speaking to herself in her mother tongue, she took stock of what remained of the materials, shaking her head with a sigh.

"Bad news, I take it?" Danny asked as he entered the room, Sweetie Belle following behind, head low and hooves dragging; Cujo keeping pace behind her.

If she was surprised by their unexpected appearance, Zecora didn't show it. Instead, she turned around to look at them with a tired smile.

"I've done all I can with what I was given, but more is needed to restore what is broken."

Looking at the few remaining items lying on the table, Danny sighed as well, nodding in understanding.

"I'm heading out to go and get something to eat for Sweetie Belle, you and myself. Most likely fly over to Sweet Apple Acres and take some apples. It's about the only thing I can think of doing without raising any suspicion. I could see if I can find some more stuff for you to work with while I'm at it," he suggested.

A rumble came from Zecora, and she averted her eyes as she worked to silence her stomach.

"Yes, I see how such would be a wise course of action. But of what I need, food is only a fraction. There is much required, but more important above all; I have need for numerous ingredients you may still find stored on my wall."

"Right," Danny scratched at his stubble, "Anything specific, or should I just take everything?"

"To explain everything in detail will take too long, and we can't risk you getting this wrong. So if you do not mind, please take everything you may still find."

"I can do that," Danny confirmed with a nod, then a band of light split him in two, and seconds later there were two of him. "This certainly makes things a lot easier," they both said, grinning at a flummoxed Zecora.

"Alright, be back in a bit," one of them said, transforming into his ghost counterpart and flying through the wall.

"Well, while I do that, anything else I could do to help you here?" Danny asked.

It took Zecora a moment to compose herself, still unable to fully wrap her mind around the enigma this human is.

She shook her head. "I can not ask for anything more, besides my need to sleep is something I can no longer ignore. While I wait for you to return with food and my supplies, getting some sleep seems to be most wise."

Danny nodded. "Yeah, I can understand that. It has been a long night, er… Shouldn't it be closer to mid-day by now?"

Zecora nodded in confirmation.

"Well, might as well use what day remains while we wait for the other me to return," he looked at Sweetie Belle, dropping to a knee. "Is there anything you want to do?"

Slowly, Sweetie Belle shook her head, not looking up at him.

"Okay," Danny sighed. "Then why don't we go for a walk through the city, see if we can be of help there?" he suggested.

Sweetie Belle did not reply, instead, she looked down at the ground, pretending not to notice the pair of changelings walking around her with a wide arch; empty bottles clinking together as they moved.

Danny frowned, thinking, then released a deep sigh.

"You know, there was a time where I hurt a lot of people; where I pretty much destroyed all of the world, and the few survivors all worked together to defeat me."

This drew a sharp breath from the filly, and she finally looked up to meet Danny's eyes.

In the back, Zecora stood still, ears at attention while several of the changelings coming and going stopped to stare at Danny.

All of this meant nothing to him, though, as he sat down, legs crossed, eyes closed as he thought back.

"I was fourteen at the time," he began, eyes opening. "Had my powers for almost a year at that point, trying to use them to do good, be a hero… managing to make a bit of a name for myself doing so. But then," he sighed, shaking his head. "... Would you believe me if I said everything went wrong because of a school exam?"

Sweetie Belle looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes, confused.

"Yeah, me neither," he responded to her silence. "Funny how such a seemingly unimportant thing can change the way your life goes… and how those around you suffer for it the most."

<<>><<>><<>>

'Any news from Ponyville?' asked Danny, white hair whipping wildly in the wind as he flew.

'Well, your other self certainly wishes he could trade places,' Eclipse replied.

'Oh?'

'Yes. It would seem that this hunter, Rolling Stone, was injured to the point he had to be hospitalized. This does line up with Wind Chill's story. But more importantly, the other hunters are dismissed after reviewing their actions, and are replaced by a pony called Maud… Pinkie Pie's older sister, and a member of the Guys in White.' Danny fell down several meters upon hearing this news before catching himself.

"That may prove to be a problem," he said aloud.

'Indeed,' Eclipse agreed. 'But the good news is that the cover story seems to have worked, and, as you expected, the scanner did not react to you.'

'All of the latest ghost hunting gear carries my family's name, or holds parts made by them. This only further confirms what I suspected. Tucker is still looking out for me, programming the scanners to ignore me.'

'And with Dani present here as well--'

"They are catching up to me,' Danny finished. 'I'm not sure how to feel about this.'

'Well, considering Dani was attacked, and of course what happened with you while there, there is no doubt a message was sent back, so a response is soon to follow. Which may also mean that the others, or some of them at the least, will come to this world.'

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Danny grunted, flying over the Everfree towards Sweet Apple Acres, close enough now to turn invisible for cover. "For now, there are more pressing matters I need to take care of."

The next twenty minutes he flew in silence, shooting past the ancient castle of Celestia and Luna, the portal hidden within, and the secrets he now knew were tied to this place. Moments later, he passed Zecora's hut, ignoring it for now as the need for food was more of an immediate priority to him, and he would return there on the way back. Then the forest ended, and he saw Ponyville a short distance away on his left while the thousands of apple trees before him still held a bountiful harvest waiting to be gathered.

Moving towards the barn near the farmhouse, Danny phased inside, looking around; spotting almost immediately what he sought, and the empty sack vanished from sight as he grabbed it.

Flying back outside, he moved to some of the trees farthest away from the farmhouse and the main road, then began to pick several dozens of apples from several trees, eating a pair of shining red fruits as he did so.

His hunger sated for now, and enough fruit with him to last at least a day or two, enough to find a better solution than to raid the orchard every other day, Danny flew back towards the forest; this time entering the oppressing darkness instead of flying over it as he made his way over to Zecora's hut.

Once there, however, he came to an abrupt stop.

He was not alone.

Walking around the hollow tree was a stone gray mare, wearing an immaculately clean white suit and holding a ghost scanner.

'And that would be Maud, right?'

'Yes.'

Silently, Danny watched Maud as she circled Zecora's home at a slow pace, stopping several times at different spots to either use her scanner for a more detailed survey, or inspect any potential lead with a bored, yet intense gaze.

Eventually, she stepped inside.

Curiosity piqued, Danny slowly moved to the hollow tree, first looking through the window, then phasing through the glass and wood when he was certain it was safe to do so.

A burst of green light flew past his face, slamming into the wall behind him as he cried out, almost dropping the sack of apples as he evaded a second burst of energy; this time seeing Maud stand at the ready with a blaster in the hoof, eyes scanning the area.

"Invisibility won't work, ghost," she said. Her voice level, but with a freezing edge to it that gave Danny chills despite the ice core near his heart. "I may not know how you fool the scanner, but your stench is unmistakable."

'Yes, definitely going to be a problem,' Danny thought as he slowly, quietly, phased through the wall back outside. Still, he needed the materials Zecora requested, which meant he couldn't leave and wait for another time. Too many lives were at stake. So, moving back a bit further, he placed the sack of apples high up in a tree where it couldn't be found after the invisibility dropped, he returned to the treehouse, peeking through the open door and seeing Maud standing completely motionless; eyes closed, ears at attention and the blaster charged, and ready.

This ghost hunter clearly did get the proper training.

Still, it was from the Guys In White, and he had dealt with them before.

"You know, you actually managed to take me by surprise there," Danny said after pulling his head back behind the wall. He paused, waiting. "And you're not blindly shooting at me just because I'm talking now. You clearly know what you're doing. Good."

No reply came.

"I'm sure you must be thinking I came here to fight you, or do something else harmful to you. After all, here is where ghosts were spotted, and some mortals went missing. And yes, I know about that. And I know you're here because of it, and now I show up as well. Whatever it is you may think right now, I want you to know one thing. I have no desire to harm you in any way. Some of us ghosts just wish to exist in peace, though there are those who only exist to do harm. Unfortunately, they are also the majority you deal with. As for me, all I want is to save lives…" still no reply, or any sound of any kind came from the other side of the wall, and Danny carefully peeked past the door inside.

Maud was gone.

One of the windows stood open.

Feeling a pit form in his stomach, Danny slowly turned around, seeing Maud stand stock still behind him; thermos up and ready.

"Clever girl," Danny remarked, then leaped through the wall at the same time a brilliant beam of blue energy slammed into it; missing him just barely.

Wasting no time in his search, he grabbed the still upturned cauldron and then used his newly acquired skill of levitation to pull every item he saw hanging from the wall to him, into the cauldron.

Bottles clinked together, while numerous herbs, leaves, and items he couldn't identify in his haste jammed into the cauldron at the same time.

He hoped nothing broke as he sped through the wall, flew to his hidden stash of apples, grabbed them with his one free hand, then retreated as fast he could.

'She's good,' Eclipse had to admit.

'Skill through damage,' Fenris made himself known.

'Meaning?'

'She survived a ghost attack,' Danny clarified, frowning. 'I could see it in her eyes. And there is only one attack I know of that had happened on this world."

'Baltimare.'

'She won't hear what I say. Nothing she lived through gives her a reason to. We better avoid her for now… my other self will have to deal with her for the time being.'

'I'll inform him about what happened.'

'You do that,' said Danny as he approached the ancient castle. 'Meanwhile, I have some answers to find.'

<<>><<>><<>>

With a grunt, Danny put both the cauldron and the sack of apples on the ground; rolling his shoulders and flexing his hands as he allowed them a moment to recover.

"I need to work on my heavy lifting," he murmured, staring at the open portal at the other end of the throne room. "Okay, let's see if I can make this a four-way split."

A band of light flashed into being, splitting him vertically. Moments later there were two of him, four in total.

"Neat," both said, grinning.

"I wonder what my limit is with this?"

Shrugging, "No idea, but we're not going to find that out today."

Both agreed to that, then looked down at the cauldron and sack of apples.

"So, who-"

"Rock, paper, scissors you for it."

"Fair enough."

Ten tries, and ten ties later it became clear that it wasn't as simple as that. Going up against yourself, an opponent with the exact same mindset, meant it was difficult to keep from making the same split-second decisions. So eventually, one of them just sighed, shook his head, then picked up the cauldron and apples and left without another word.

"Well then… time to find some answers," the remaining ghost said, and he entered through the portal.

<<>><<>><<>>

"And in the end, the explosion still happened, and my family and friends were all caught in the blast regardless of what I did. But Clockwork intervened and saved their lives, permanently changing the course of history and preventing my future, a future of death and destruction from ever happening," Danny concluded his story with a deep sigh. "But even if that future was prevented, it still happened. And my darker self still exists, trapped inside a thermos, imprisoned for eternity."

Sweetie Belle stared at him, mouth open, eyes wide. A look shared by the group of changelings seated around them.

Zecora, familiar with his story to some extent after they first met, (and she clubbed him on the head before learning of his dual nature,) still showed a great deal of shock. When he first told her his story, he did avoid certain details. He also made mention of these events hours before, after Scootaloo told her tale of her time travel exploits. But now, to hear the full extent of where his misery brought him; what efforts he had to go through to prevent it from even happening. She silently watched Danny, admiring his strength, and mourning the hardship his life had been despite his efforts.

"Did…. did that really happen?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Unfortunately, yes," Danny replied. "And while I haven't lost myself to such madness, seeing myself doing such things is just as bad. Knowing that the person I am would corrupt in such a way…. it's not easy living with that knowledge, with that image of this future me and what he did… what I did. So believe me when I tell you, I know what you're going through and how you feel right now."

Gingerly, Sweetie Belle lifted a hoof and placed it on Danny's leg; looking up at him with sad eyes. "But how can I change what happened?"

"You don't," he answered bluntly. "I was lucky… or unlucky, depending on how you look at it. My choices, my actions, all of them were so bad that time itself had to be changed. You, however, can't change what happened. But you can change what will happen. Look around you," he told her, finally acknowledging the changelings around him as he said so. "You did something that hurt some of them, there is no denying that," Sweetie Belle flinched back into herself. "But here they are, sitting around us, around you. They may be afraid of what you did, and what you might become again, but they also understand why it happened. The hunger you have is something they know all too well. And far too many changelings in the past have done awful things when the hunger took over. They don't fear you as much as they fear what you did, because it showed them what they could do, what they could become."

Quiet murmuring moved through the changelings as he spoke, most of the changelings present hanging their heads.

"So right now there are two things you can do. One," he held up a finger. "Allow this shadow to consume you and lose yourself entirely. Or two," another finger joined the first. "Accept what happened, difficult as it may be, and work to be better," he dropped his hand, exhaling loudly. "I've done the first myself, and I'm not proud of it. And it took me years to drag myself out of that hole I dug for myself. So I will not allow you to choose the first choice, because I know what misery it will bring."

"But how would I even stop myself from doing… that again?"

"Simple," he smiled, looking at the changelings around them. "You ask for help."

<<>><<>><<>>

The weight of everything Danny carried wore on him, made worse by the fact his powers were now split four ways, slowing him down even further.

As such, he returned to the Hive at a moderate pace, though keeping a close eye out for any sign of Maud, should she somehow have managed to follow him.

The last he and the changelings needed right now was a ghost hunter too blinded by her hatred to come knocking on the door. The changelings' already poor reputation would only be made worse if it was found out they were 'working together' with ghosts.

Once out in the open and a good distance away from the Everfree Forest, it became clear he hadn't been followed, and a sigh of relief escaped him as he continued his flight back; able to see the herd of windigos, and the frost giant towering out over them, up in the distance.

In the few minutes he spent flying over to the mass of spectral beings, he allowed his mind to wander. More specifically, reflect on the memories he was given.

The first time he came here, the land was frozen by the windigos. And while there was still a noticeable presence of snow and ice, the barren land underneath was clear to see. Yet as he stared, he clearly remembered the lush green valley this place used to be. The path the ancient, now gone river carved still visible, if eroded over time. Though no trace remained of the forest he knew lay just a bit further. The forest where so many young changelinks were taught the skills to hunt and provide for their family.

His gaze settled on the entrance to the underground city, now visible to him.

Little remained of the cluster of rocks, one of which hid the small entrance the changelinks once used to enter their home under the rock. Most of them had been moved or removed completely to create a proper entrance for their city. An entrance later generations worked hard on hiding in the rest of the landscape to keep from being found out.

A frown worked its way onto his face while a sigh escaped him. The memories he now had, all the lives he lived, the outrageous injustice he knew must be set right.

With a grunt, he shifted the weight he carried, then turned visible so Wind Chill could see him.

"Great One," the giant greeted. "I see you have been successful in your task."

"Not entirely," Danny answered, looking back over his shoulder. "I ran into a ghost hunter. A different hunter than the ones we dealt with last night. This one… she's different. Dangerous. Highly skilled as far as I was able to tell in the short time we've met."

"That may be a reason for concern," Wind Chill rumbled.

"Maybe. Just keep an eye out for a gray pony wearing a white suit. I don't think I was followed, been invisible the entire time, and duplicated myself so that might throw her off if she did. Still… keep an eye out for her, just to be on the safe side."

"I will, Great One."

"Good," Danny nodded, then looked at the tunnel. "Better not leave them waiting for too long," he remarked, then flew into the darkness underground.

<<>><<>><<>>

Thunderous cheering shook the frost giants' village, triggering an avalanche on several mountains nearby while all giants, save the guards by the portal, surrounded Danny.

"Great One!" Frostbite roared with unrestrained enthusiasm. "You have returned!"

"Frostbite, everyone," Danny greeted, smiling. "Nice to see you all again."

Another ground-shaking roar of cheers slammed into Danny, staggering him slightly.

"Oh, glorious is this day," Frostbite called out, elated. "A momentous occasion to add to the mural. The return of Danny Phantom."

Danny's face fell and he sighed while rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… I'm not so sure about that part," he countered, and all excitement around him came to a screeching stop.

"Great One, what are you talking about?" Frostbite asked, then his eyes widened. "Of course, your home… the great lie," all other frost giants now growled in unison.

"That's… one way to call it, I suppose," Danny shook his head. "Frostbite, there are certain things happening back in Equestria, not all of them good. I'm doing what I can to fix things, but there is only so much I can do," he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Wind Chill is currently busy keeping the windigo- er… what did you call them again? Those ice horses."

"You mean the Saldēti Zirgi," Frostbite informed him.

"Yeah, those. Wind Chill is keeping them calm so they won't cause any more problems, but they can't stay where they are. He's trying to find a way to bring them back himself, but his honor bond keeps him from doing this any time soon. Thought I'd ask if you can send someone over there to help him while I was here."

"Say no more," Frostbite replied, standing straighter as he scanned the crowd. "Snow Dune, Hailstorm," he shouted, and two giants pushed through the crowd towards him. "Aid the Great One and Wind Chill in their task."

Both giants nodded then turned to Danny with an eager glint in both their eyes.

"Well…" Danny said as he realized what he had to do. "Glad I am able to do this now," and he once again duplicated himself. "And that makes five," both Dannys announced.

A new ripple of excitement spread through the village upon seeing his mastery over this power.

"Okay, Snow Dune, Hailstorm, follow me," one of the Dannys said, flying off with the two giants close behind.

"Thanks," the remaining Danny said. "That will help with that problem, at the least."

"And those other problems?" Frostbite asked. "What is it that troubles you?"

"More than you would believe," Danny answered, frowning. "Though before I can work to fix them, I first need to find the truth."

"The truth?" Frostbite mirrored. "The truth about what?"

"A great injustice, and the one responsible for it," Danny answered, looking off into the distance. "Frostbite, I'll be going to the ghost library, hopefully finding what I need. Whether or not if I do, there are some things we need to discuss once I return," he paused, thinking. "I can probably duplicate myself again, but this is not the time to find out my limits. Nor do I want to spread my powers thinner than I have to."

"I understand, Danny," Frostbite replied, face set. "I'll await your return and hope you are successful in your task."

"As do I," Danny murmured as he rose up above the snow. "For their sake," and he flew away, all giants watching him leave. Including the Elder, standing at the edge of the village, close to her secluded home, following his every move with her orange glowing eyes, smiling ever so slightly.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Dinner time!" Danny called out as he returned to his other self, Sweetie Belle and Zecora. "And I got your things too, Zecora. Or, I think I did. Had a run-in with a tenacious ghost hunter, so I didn't have much time to look," he set down the cauldron before Zecora, then dropped the sack with apples next to it. "I just grabbed everything I saw hanging on the walls, and some of the stuff lying on the ground just to be sure, so I hope I got everything you need."

"So… Maud, huh?" Danny, the one who remained with Sweetie Belle said, grabbing an apple and biting into it. "Pinkie Pie's sister. That's rather unexpected."

"You're telling me," his counterpart replied. "Anyhow-" he began, then turned into a wisp of energy and shot into the remaining Danny's chest.

"-Unexpected as it may be, we have more pressing matters to worry about right now," he swallowed his bite. "Sweetie Belle," he grabbed another apple, "here."

Accepting the fruit after only a moment of hesitation, Sweetie Belle sat down, looked at the apple with a contemplative frown, then finally bit into it.

"Zecora," Danny turned to the zebra once he was sure Sweetie Belle made an effort to eat. "I leave it up to you to decide what you do, now that you have some more supplies. But as you said a while back, you do need to sleep. So if you do decide to stop for the day, we can take care of the sick in the meantime."

Zecora thought about that for a moment, studying the contents of her cauldron.

"I have done what I could with what I had, and to continue without proper rest can only be bad. I'll take my leave to go to rest. Once I resume I will be at my best."

"Sounds like a plan," Danny took another bite of his apple, then looked at the changelings near him. "Could one of you show Zecora to a room?"

The response was immediate, and several of the younger changelings jumped up.

"Of course," one of them replied, and the small group led Zecora away. (After she had grabbed a pair of apples herself to eat, putting them in the cauldron with the rest of her belongings, taking it with her.)

"And that is that taken care of," Danny mused, then he looked back at the remaining changelings. "Okay, storytime and all other weird things I have done just now are over," he looked at the cauldron in which Zecora had made the last batch of her elixir. "And I think that has had enough time to cool down, so better get moving and deliver it to those who need it."

A mad scramble followed as all the changelings quickly resumed their task.

"Oh," Danny added after a moment's thought. "Could someone tell me where I can find Erlea?"

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wait here for a moment," Danny instructed the two frost giants just before they were about to step through the castle entrance. "I had a run-in with a ghost hunter a while back, and I need to make sure she's not around here."

"Of course, Great One," Snow Dune nodded.

"We don't want to impose on the mortals' lives any more than we absolutely have to," Hailstorm added.

Nodding himself, Danny turned invisible and quickly surveyed the area, finding no sign of Maud.

"Guess she didn't feel like chasing after a ghost without knowing what else might be hiding out here."

'That just shows her ability for logical thought. Only adding to the danger she poses.'

"No doubt," Danny murmured, then returned to the two waiting giants. "It's clear, for as far as I can tell. But better not stick around for too long."

Both giants agreed to that sentiment, and followed after Danny; Snow Dune quickly creating a bridge across the chasm separating them from the forest, and Hailstorm destroying it after they crossed, leaving no evidence behind they had been there.

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny stood at the border separating the Far Frozen and the Ghost Zone, staring out into the dark green void, seeing the strange yet familiar sight of chunks of land floating around as if there was no gravity.

Slowly looking around, he took it all in, frowning, hesitating. Even though he would be invisible, there was no doubt in his mind one or more ghosts would find out he was back. And once word would spread…. Well, that would be a problem for later.

Sighing, shaking his head, and steeling his nerves, Danny jumped away from the frozen edge and entered the Ghost Zone proper.

'Well, here goes,' he thought. 'At least nothing seems to have changed much… A lot of moss on the rocks, though,' he realized, seeing the otherwise barren land he remembered from years past now partially covered in a layer of green. The healthy, natural kind. Not the spectral variation to this color.

Shaking off this distraction, he looked out into the distance; still clearly remembering the layout of the Zone back when he first drew a map of the place, and before he knew of the Infi-map's existence.

With his goal clearly in mind, he sped off into the Ghost Zone, shooting past numerous landmarks he recognized from one time or another in the Zone, remembering all that had happened back when he was still a kid. But it was a roar, an undeniably familiar engine roar that made him stop and turn to its source.

Out there, several hundred meters away, driving his bike over a desolate piece of dirt and rock, was Johnny Thirteen.

"I recognize that place," Danny said in a murmur. "It's where I possessed Johnny to get the Infi-map back. It's where my shadow became its own entity."

'It's where my father was created,' Eclipse gasped.

Both of them watched, Eclipse through Danny's eyes, how Johnny rode a well-ridden path, oblivious to being watched. His shadow, however, suddenly separated from him and rose up from the ground; staring out into the Zone, looking almost directly at Danny, clearly confused.

"We should go," Danny remarked, doing just that, leaving behind the ghost and shade; not seeing Johnny circle back to find out what his shade was doing.

<<>><<>><<>>

It came as no surprise to Danny when he learned where Erlea was, and he and Sweetie Belle now stood before the closed door to Chrysalis’s chamber.

"Danny," Sweetie Belle began, then hesitated for a moment, biting her lips as she looked at the closed door. "I- I'm not sure this is a good idea anymore. What if by doing this, I go evil again? I don't want to hurt anyone again."

"Sweetie Belle," Danny lowered himself to eye level. "You are not evil, nor did you turn evil back then. Ah-" he held up a hand, cutting her off before she could argue. "Don't. I know how you feel right now, and you are doubting yourself every step of the way. I understand why you do so, but doing that will only make things worse. First and foremost because you believe it more and more the longer you allow this to continue. So instead, we will work on controlling this part of you here and now. And the sooner you learn to control it, the sooner you will see you are not evil in any way. Different, yes. But not evil," he stood back up. "So, shall we continue, or do you need some more time?"

Sweetie Belle looked at him, then at the door, fidgeting on the spot. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, then nodded as she looked back up at Danny.

Nodding himself, Danny knocked on the door.

"Erlea, can we talk?"

A moment passed in silence, then the glyphs surrounding the portal glowed, and the onyx rock melted away, revealing the room beyond.

"Danny," Erlea said, looking up at him. "... And you," she glared at Sweetie Belle, who flinched in response.

"Please don't do that," Danny sighed out. "This is already difficult enough for her, and you know it."

"And why are you here?" Erlea asked.

"Sweetie Belle needs to ask you something," he explained, and gave room to Sweetie Belle.

"I-eh. I…" Sweetie Belle mumbled, scuffing a hoof on the floor, looking down.

Once more taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she looked up at Erlea, uncertain. "Can you teach me to control this… this hunger?"

"I've already said we would," was Erlea's monotone reply. "Once a suitable teacher becomes available, we'll let you know."

"Tha- I actually- uhmm…" she faltered, looking down again.

"She meant if you could teach her," Danny clarified.

"WHAT!?" Erlea shouted, taking a step back.

"She knows you the longest," Danny answered. "And she feels like she can trust you, or she wouldn't have chosen to ask you for help."

"Please," Sweetie Belle asked just above a whisper. "I don't want to hurt anyone else like that again."

Erlea moved her mouth, but no sound came from her as she obviously struggled with how to respond to this.

"You don't have to answer immediately," Danny told her, looking up and into the room. Watching the slow rise and fall of Chrysalis' chest as she slept. "You've got enough to worry about right now. But please think about this, okay?"

"I-" Erlea halted, looked back at her mother and the empty bottle of elixir Zecora made, lying on the ground next to her, her ears drooped as she released a tired sigh. "I'll think about it," she said, then quickly added: "No promises."

Danny nodded, so did Sweetie Belle.

"How is she doing?" Danny asked next, turning his attention back to the changeling queen.

"Asleep, fortunately. Whatever that zebra made, it seems to help."

"Zecora," Danny corrected. "And she has more supplies now. Not enough, of course. But at least some things to really get to work, after she had a chance to sleep. I'll help her too, when she begins, seeing how I now have a lot of experience through memories about changeling health… probably should have thought about that before she made that elixir," he said, standing silent for several seconds as he realized his mistake. "Crud."

"You… What did you see? What allowed the Murgröna you to see?" Erlea asked, looking expectantly at Danny, ignoring what he said last.

"What did I see?" Danny repeated. "More than I could begin to explain in just a few words," he paused, thinking. "But… I had met your father," he revealed, and Erlea released a gasp, eyes widening. "In fact, he was the first I met there, explaining to me what was going on. Not that I understood, though. That came later," he was silent for a moment, looking at Chrysalis, then Erlea, continuing in a much softer voice. "He loves you both a lot. You, and your sisters."

A sob escaped Erlea as she tried, and failed to hide her tears much to the surprise of Sweetie Belle. Danny, however, had expected as much and dropped to a knee, putting a hand on her withers.

"For what it's worth, I'm truly sorry about what happened here, to your family, to all of you. No one should go through what all of you went through, and I promise you I will do everything in my powers to set this right."

"How?" was all Erlea was able to ask, but the clear desperation in her voice was undeniable, heartbreaking, and before Danny knew what he did he pulled the young shapeshifter in a hug, to which she did not protest as he stroked her mane.

"I'll show all who the real monster is."

"She'll just lie about it."

"Or believes she tells the truth," Danny said somberly. "And I'm not sure which is worse. But that does not matter. One of my duplicates is now in the Ghost Zone looking for answers that may help."

Erlea looked up at the confusing creature, sniffling, hating herself for showing such weakness but unable to stop herself; knowing all he had done in such a short time, she knew, despite instincts telling her she shouldn't, she could trust him, that he told the truth.

"Thank you," she said, voice almost lost as she tried to regain control of her emotions.

"But… what if the other you can't find anything?" Sweetie Belle asked softly, Then flinched back into herself at the hard glare Erlea gave her. "Sorry."

"Don't be," Danny said, frowning. "It is a possibility, and one that has a lot of chance of proving true. If that's the case, and I hope not, then I need to find another way to prove the true truth."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Erlea looked back at him, voice more steady now.

"I don't know. Despite their memories being preserved, I doubt any of them would accept this as evidence. They would just say it is some kind of changeling mind manipulation," Danny snorted, rolling his eyes. "Nor do I think the Murgröna would even accept them to show the truth."

"No," Erlea stated flatly. "It would not."

"Isn't there anyone else who can tell what happened?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Someone princess Celestia can't just say is lying."

"You mean other than anyling here?" Erlea replied sarcastically, pushing away from Danny to better look at her.

"She doesn't mean it like that," Danny said, shaking his head.

"I'm just trying to help," Sweetie Belle mumbled.

"Or should we just call for Astina, the collector of souls to testify?!"

"Wait, what was that?" Danny cut in.

"Astina?" Sweetie Belle repeated, puzzled.

"It's nothing," Erlea grumbled. "Just some old tale."

"Of course," Danny said, slowly standing back up. "Astina, I remember her now. You were taught about the pale pony, the ponies' their reaper, and you came up with Astina."

"So?' Erlea asked. "It's just some old tale."

Danny grinned, looking down at the two while his eyes glowed green.

"Oh, is it now?"

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny stood at the threshold of the Library, remembering clearly the last time he was here, and why. Looking for the answer to save his friend, somehow, someway, ghost or not, but finding only despair. Now he was back to find the answers to save the lives of thousands, but knowing he may not find anything this time as well.

Shaking his head and breathing a desolate sigh, he entered the building.

"Oh, oh my," a faintly familiar voice spoke up almost immediately, and the old monk-like ghost Danny remembered from years back slowly glided towards him. "Do my eyes deceive me, or is it truly you? Danny Phantom, the ghost boy," the Librarian stopped before him. "Or 'man' as would be the case now."

"Yes… all grown up now," Danny replied with a small smile.

"It's good seeing you again, especially in light of your last visit."

"It wasn't an easy time for me then," Danny told him, looking away, frowning. "Nor is it an easy time for me now. I'm here because I need knowledge. Knowledge that can't be found through mortal means. Knowledge that may very well save a species from extinction."

"Only just returned and already back to being a hero, I see," the Librarian said with admiration. "Some things, it seems, do not change."

"And some do," Danny replied.

"True," the Librarian stroked his beard. "So which is this, then? You are back, but, I sense you have not returned."

"That sums it up well enough," Danny agreed. "I'm here because I need to, not because I want to. And the longer I stay around here, the greater the chance someone I don't want to know finds out. And if that happens… Those are problems I can't have right now."

"Then I shall not delay you any further," the Librarian moved aside, allowing Danny to pass. "And I shall do what I can to help. What knowledge is it you seek?"

"Several things. First, I need some books detailing about recently formed spirits and sirens; how they differ from other ghosts, how their powers work, that sort of thing."

"Oh, having trouble with a recently deceased soul who troubles the living?"

"In a manner of speaking," Danny deflected. "Second, I need access to the books of life… The books you showed me back then."

"What do you hope to find there?" he asked. "As I explained, they only show their story if you are allowed to know it."

"I remember. But I also count on the fact there are some skeletons hiding, banging on the door to be found out."

"I see."

"And third, what can you tell me about the Necronomicon?"

"Necky?!" the Librarian said, surprised.

"Necky?" Danny repeated, looking expectantly at the Librarian.

"That… would be the name he prefers."

"A book prefers to be named by an abbreviation of its name?"

"Necky is… He is not a book, though he chooses to look like one, and can be found amidst the books of this library."

"He's a ghost!?" Danny shouted.

"No," the Librarian shook his head. "He is something beyond us mere ghosts."

"Meaning?"

The Librarian hovered in silence for a long moment, thinking deeply.

"I did wonder what he was up to when I found him in that basement," he murmured.

"Basement?" Danny said, then remembered what Sweetie Belle told him. "Twilight's basement," his eyes then widened. "Her accident was no accident."

The Librarian's eyes darkened as he glared into the library. "NECKY!" he bellowed. "YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO!"

<<>><<>><<>>

"I swear, those mortals would forget to take their heads with them if it wasn't attached to their bodies," Necky grumbled quietly to himself, looking through one of the many windows of the Crystal Empire's library at the ponies outside.

"Hello, is anypony there?" the middle-aged Librarian asked, her coat now a sparkling, translucent crystal after the heroic actions that restored the Crystal Heart and drove away Sombra the day before.

Necky remained quiet, pretending to be nothing more than a book on the windowsill, out of sight, out of mind.

"Odd," the mare said to herself. "I could have sworn I heard something."

After she had left, Necky rustled some of his pages.

"Though I can't deny the results," he continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "And Daniel's growth has exceeded even my expectations. Now all there is left is to prepare for the turning of the fifth Halfa," and in a flash of green, he vanished from the library.

A split second later, a small flash of the same light came from the saddlebags lying discarded on the bed of Twilight. "And to keep an eye on my brother."

<<>><<>><<>>

The Librarian hovered still, glaring at the empty dias where previously a very specific book could be found.

"He's not here, is he," Danny said, not even asking for the obvious.

"Unsurprisingly, no," the Librarian sighed, hand covering his face.

"Any idea where he might be?"

"That's impossible to say. Wherever he wants to be, doesn't want to be, or where he needs to be."

"Meaning?" Danny asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I have known Necronomicon for many, many years. And while I have learned a good deal about the individual he wants to be, I also learned he is not always in control over the decisions he makes."

"Someone is controlling him?" Danny asked, worried.

"I… do not know. For all I have learned during my time here, all I have read, there are some things no book speaks of. As I said, Necronomicon is more than a mere ghost. What he is though, exactly, I have no clue."

"So, only more questions," Danny sighed. "Of course it would be too easy. Nothing else has gone my way."

"Not all may be lost, Danny," the Librarian turned to him. "While any question regarding Necky must be left unanswered, some of the other requests you made may be more satisfying in their conclusion."

"Well, at least for the books about spirits and sirens," Danny shrugged. "But whether or not I am able to read the books of certain individuals remains to be seen."

"Then let us not delay any further, and find out."

Danny nodded in agreement, and together the two flew to the ever-expanding isle of lifebooks.

"And who is it you're looking for?" asked the Librarian.

"Her name is Celestia. She's the princess of Equestria."

"Oh, this pony world I have heard of," the Librarian stroked his beard. "Hmm… let's see. That section would be the hundredth fifteenth isle left, eight hundred twelve up, then thirteen hundred right. This way please," he instructed, leading the way.

"Probably a stupid question," Danny began, books flashing by as they flew, "but does this place never run out of space?"

"It hasn't so far," the Librarian chuckled.

"That doesn't really answer my question."

"Well, how can you fit so many ghosts in such a small thermos?"

"... Fair enough."

The two continued in silence for the remainder of their flight, taking a good fifteen minutes just to reach the A section. At least C was close enough to A that it only took them another twenty minutes to reach the appropriate wall of books, stretching out farther than Danny could see.

Of course they still had to find Celestia's lifebook.

"Let me see," the Librarian hummed, moving past the books. "Ca. Ca. Very few books among the B, or the C. No D at all, hmm. And here we are, the E."

For a while, the two moved past the countless books, then moved back and tried again after failing to find the one titled Celestia.

"This is most perplexing," the Librarian said. "Daniel, this individual is a mortal, correct?"

"Immortal as I understand it, but she's definitely not a ghost of any kind, if that is what you're asking."

"Immortal? Most unusual among non-ghosts," the Librarian hummed in thought, then shook his head to focus on the more urgent matter. "But that matters not. What does is that she does not appear to have a lifebook."

"Which means?"

"One of two things. Either this individual does not exist, or her name is not as she says it is. Seeing you're here to find out more about her, I doubt it is the former which means-"

"Which means Celestia is not who she says she is," Danny finished, eyes widening.

"And without her name, it will be near impossible to find her lifebook," the Librarian gestured at the near-infinite wall of books. "You will need to inspect each and every single book. But without their permission to read their story, it would be an act in futility."

"Maybe," Danny murmured, thinking. "Eclipse," he looked at his shadow, and two orange and green glowing eyes materialized. The Librarian looked at this unexpected development in silent amazement. "Do you know anything that may help, using what memory you have from Nightmare Moon."

"I don't know," her voice rose up from the ground. "Most of it is still a blur."

"You say most of it, meaning not all of it."

"Yes…" she hesitated. "But what little I do recall is of little use to you now. Although…"

"Yes?"

"There is something. Some semblance of a memory, I think. I don't think it is a memory from my mother, but one from Luna. A memory that seemed to have engraved itself into her, then my mother when she possessed Luna, and now me, it seems."

"Rather convoluted, but okay. Anything useful?"

"Just something about sunny skies and starlight. Maybe a memory of a special day to her?"

"Maybe," Danny stroked his chin, "or… Sunny skies sounds pony enough. So does starlight. What are the odds these are actually names?" he looked back at the Librarian. "Could we look for Sunny Skies and Starlight? Maybe I'm in luck this time."

"Of course," was the ready response, and the two quickly flew to the appropriate section. It did not take long to find out that, yes, both Sunny Skies and Starlight were pony names as many books carried such names, or certain varieties of them.

"Well, this may take some time," Danny remarked dryly as he looked at all the books. "Still faster than an eternity, though."

"Yes…" the Librarian drew out the word, his attention pulled away by something out of place.

"Anything wrong?" asked Danny as he slowly glided away.

"I don't know," the Librarian answered, slowly reaching out to a dark blue book with no name on its side.

Pulling the book from its shelf, he looked at the cover, then dropped it as if shocked, a loud gasp escaping him.

"What happened?!" Danny moved closer, getting no answer as the Librarian kept his eyes locked on the book.

"What the…" Danny trailed off as he looked as well.

The name on the book read: Starlight. The name, however, was barely readable as a different name was written over it with elegant, yet bold letters; glowing faintly with power.

"Luna," Danny read, slowly picking up the book.

Opening the book, and flipping through the first several pages, it came to no surprise to him the pages were blank.

"... Maybe… Please tell me about Nightmare Moon," Danny said, and was only slightly surprised when the book responded; pages flipping rapidly as they moved through the years, creating a noticeable gust of wind.

Eventually, they slowed, then stopped, and words began to form on the pages.

Reading only the first page, Danny then closed the book with a snap, sighing, eyes closed.

"Well, at least this will help us clear up your memory, Eclipse," Danny said.

"It allowed you to read the life story?" the Librarian asked, surprised.

"This part of it, at the least," Danny answered, looking at the Librarian. "But we now know we're on the right track. So, let's go find this Sunny Skies, and see just what secrets are waiting to be found out."

The Librarian nodded silently, and the two quickly continued, finding the other book shortly thereafter as it was the only other book without a name on its spine. And like the previous book, this one had the name, Sunny Skies, also overwritten by another name: Celestia.

Holding the light yellow book in his hands, staring at the two names, Danny frowned deeply.

"And here may be the answers to redeem a species, and condemn the one left unpunished." He opened the book. "Tell me all about the changelings, start to finish."

Nothing happened.

"It would seem the knowledge you seek can not-" the Librarian said, only to be cut off by a sudden flash of light coming out of the pages; the book beginning to shake, then lift up in the air as its pages moved faster and faster while a wind blew hard enough to force Danny and the Librarian several steps back.

"What is happening?!" Danny shouted, an arm shielding his face.

"The skeletons in hiding," the Librarian shouted back. "They are demanding to be heard!" And a blinding flash of light filled the library.

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny had some experience when it came to reapers, small as it may be. His encounter with Mort revealing a world in between mortality and spectrality. The fact he found Mort as he moved to a dying pony in Ponyville hospital also gave some hint where he might find the one he now sought.

But with most changelings now recovering, and the few near the brink of death deserving a dignified final moment, Danny went to the next worst place he figured he might find Astina.

With cold, steel eyes, Danny glared at the bodies lying on the ground.

Many changelings had died, and with no one able to tend to the dead, they instead were brought here, placed in a far away and long ago abandoned stalactite complex after their numbers had dwindled too much to be of any use. Now, the dead lay here to decay, and the stench was horrific. Both Sweetie Belle and Erlea had followed him, and both stayed well clear of the structure; standing on the opposite side of the bridge connecting this mausoleum of the death with the adjacent stalactite.

Sweetie Belle still had to cover her nose.

"Not even a proper burial," Danny growled, hands clenched into fists, far too angry to even feel nauseated by the smell.

Slowly he looked at the bodies in various stages of decay, fists shaking, anger rising.

"ASTINA! I ASK YOU TO SHOW YOURSELF!"

Slowly he looked around, not sure what to expect but hoping for any form of an answer.

"I have met Mort, the reaper of ponies. I know you exist in some manner. Please, the changelings need your help. You have been there when they died. You know their suffering. You-" he froze mid-sentence; a cloud of condensation blowing from his mouth. Not his ghost sense, but his warm breath in the suddenly freezing air; the hairs on his neck standing on end.

Slowly Danny turned around, and he came face to face with an ash gray skull and piercing red eyes.

Author's Note

As you have no doubt noticed by now, this chapter focused mostly on Danny despite this fic being Sweetie Belle's side of events. This of course was because of everything Danny has, and will set in motion. It also wouldn't be too much fun to read about how Sweetie Belle is stuck in her depression for too long, so most of those things happened off screen.

And now with Celestia and Luna lifebooks found, and Danny having reached out to the changelings their reaper, what will happen next? Stay tuned, and maybe the answers will come twenty or so chapters from now.

~Powerdrainer

Revelations

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Revelations

<<>><<>><<>>

"Gha- What is that smell?" asked Sweetie Belle as she and Erlea followed after Danny; the tall biped moving with long strides, face set.

"You don't want to know," Erlea answered darkly, as they watched Danny cross a bridge connecting their stalactite with another. "But you'll find out soon enough," she added as they passed as well, and the smell became that much worse.

Gagging, Sweetie Belle came to a dead stop, backing away immediately to escape the horrid stench while her eyes shifted from left to right to find the source.

When she did, she almost threw up.

Bodies. Hundreds of them. Thousands. All of them just lying there, rotting.

"What…" she gasped, holding her hoof over her nose to try and block the smell. Part of her wanting to block her eyes as well, but shock kept her from doing so.

"We could barely take care of the sick with how few were still able to help," Erlea said, looking at the numerous dead, eyes void of emotion. "There wasn't anyling who could take care of them after they died, so we put them in Despair instead."

"Despair?" Sweetie Belle's voice cracked.

"What else would you call this place?"

She couldn't answer, and both watched as Danny crossed the distance, ignoring the stench of rot and decay, then came to a stop before the bodies, standing completely unmoving for almost a minute; fists shaking.

"ASTINA! I ASK YOU TO SHOW YOURSELF!" he suddenly shouted, and both fillies jolted back from the anger, near rage they heard in his voice.

Both watched in silence as he continued, only to come to an abrupt stop. The air, suddenly freezing, and their breaths formed clouds in the air.

Then it appeared, and both Sweetie Belle and Erlea tumbled back in fright.

<<>><<>><<>>

A small cloud blew from Danny's mouth, stopping him mid-sentence as he slowly turned around, coming face to face with an ash gray skull only inches away.

He didn't panic nor scream, but he couldn't stop himself from taking several steps back, arms raising in reflex, hands aglow.

Before he could do anything else, however, the entity now before him, spoke.

"Phantom," it said with a distinctively feminine, dual-toned hiss, so cold it could shatter steel.

"Astina, I presume," Danny said, taking in the creature before him.

The voice sounded female, which was also the only clue Danny got to the gender of this reaper as, much like Mort, she was nothing but a skeleton. Or, more precisely, exo-skeleton.

She stood as tall as Chrysalis, but her entire body was composed out of nothing more than ash gray chitinous plates with empty voids where normally the soft tissue could be seen, while her wings were nothing more than spectral wisps flowing over her back

However, it was her eyes that genuinely drew his attention.

Two small dots of piercing red shining deep within the empty sockets, while green tears flowed down without stop.

The entity moved closer instantly, closing the gap Danny had made between them while her eyes bore into his, and Danny felt his knees go weak.

"What do you want?!" she demanded.

"To help."

"Why?!"

"Because they need it."

"From you!?"

"No… from you," he shot back, glaring back at her with green glowing eyes.

For nearly a minute, they stood silent, glaring back at one another, then she spoke: "I have watched for untold centuries, the pain, the suffering, the injustice, all of it. No one helped when they asked, and no one helped on their own. No one!" her voice was akin to a glacial storm. "Not a single one," her tone softened as she stepped away, "until now...." She was silent for a moment, the glowing dots in her eyes' sockets fading, then returned as she 'blinked.’ "I am Astina, collector of changeling souls."

Danny relaxed his stance, nodded, then glanced over his shoulder at the bodies.

"This needs to stop," he said. "Something as atrocious like this shouldn't even be allowed to happen in the first place, and the one responsible must answer for what she has done. But on my own, this is almost an impossible task. I could really use your help. They could use your help."

"To do what, exactly?"

Danny looked back at her. "To confront Celestia."

A hollow laugh escaped Astina.

"Confront the soul stained. If only it was that easy."

"Soul stained?" Danny repeated, confused.

"The touch of death," she said, tracing a hollow hoof over his chest, "held within the soul of the living. Just like you, Daniel Phantom."

Danny's eyes widened, and he took a step back in shock. "You mean… they're like me? They're ghosts?!"

"In a way," Astina said, setting her hoof down. "Only different. They can't become a ghost, like you, their transformation is their physical self."

Danny's mind was awhirl, eyes shifting from left to right as he processed this unexpected revelation. "This changes nothing," he said finally. "The lies and crimes Celestia committed must be exposed, not to mention the role Luna had in this as well. You can't let your fear for them stop you from doing what is right."

"Fear them?" Astina said in mock surprise. "No, Phantom, I do not fear them. I hate them," her eyes burned bright. "I can forgive Luna for her fall in corruption by Fenrir, but it was her weakness that allowed this to happen in the first place. But the changelings might have been able to recover, had it not been for Celestia."

"Then why do you not want to confront them? Reveal the truth to all."

"Because of that which made them."

"Made them?"

"Ah, of course, you don't know," Astina shook her head. "Life and death do not mix naturally. It's one, or the other, but never both at once. Not unless something or someone makes it so. Them, you, Sweetie Belle, Dani, Vlad. None of you are what you are through an accident. And whether it was through the push of a button, an illegal clone, or summoning a ghost, you were created because that is what Destiny demanded for you to happen."

Danny stood silent, mouth agape, not prepared at all for what he was hearing.

"My accident was no accident?" he said in disbelief. "How, why… and by who?"

"I already told you," Astina said bitterly. "Destiny," she spat.

Now Danny's disbelief turned to skepticism, frowning deeply. "What? That makes no sense. We make our own destiny."

"Oh, such a foolish notion. What little measure of control you think you have is nothing more than an illusion. Everything that has happened, it happened because it was going to happen. And all happened in response to a previous instance; just one link after the next in this endless chain, binding everything together. Pushing and pulling us where we need to be, even if we don't wish to be there. We're all slaves, Daniel Fenton. Chained from the moment we came to be."

"No," Danny stated firmly, eyes burning. "I refuse to believe that. All of us are free to choose, good or bad."

"Ignorance may be bliss, Phantom. But this does not change facts. And you're a fool for thinking otherwise."

"A fool I may be, but at least I'm no coward," he shot back. "I called you here to help, expecting to find someone willing to make a difference. Someone who knows the pain and suffering that has happened here, which is still happening, like no other. Instead, I find you endlessly crying, but unwilling to do anything about this misery because you believe you have no choice. And in doing so, you are just as much responsible for what happened here, if not more so than Celestia-"

A wall of force slammed into him, pushing him back several body lengths and close to the far too low railing separating him from the abyss below; raising his arms in a belated response to shield his face while Astina slowly, menacingly approached; her eyes a blazing red of fury.

"Know your place, Halfa!" she seethed through teeth while the walkway underneath them began to crack and crumble.

"My place is right here," he returned with a growl as the force of her might continue to push into him. Gritting his teeth, he pushed towards her one challenging step after the other. "Because I will not stand by idly when others are dying! And instead of making a difference yourself, you are now lashing out at one of the few who are willing to try. And don't tell me it is destiny that makes you do this because this is the choice you made yourself; to deny the help the changelings need, and allowing more of them to die. And I," he took another step forward, "Will not," another step, "ALLOW YOU," and another, "TO HARM THEM!"

Thumb Thumb

<<>><<>><<>>

Erlea and Sweetie Belle watched in silence, shocked, confused, and terrified.

Neither of them knew what to expect; Erlea not even expecting much, to begin with. The stories of Astina being just that, stories. A pleasant lie to tell those dying that they wouldn't be alone, that Astina would be there to take them; guide them; comfort them.

Never in her short life had she considered she could be real. And never had she imagined she looked like… that.

A shiver ran down her spine as she looked at the exo-skeletal being, and the fear she felt radiating off of Sweetie Belle told her just as much.

For a moment, the thought of Sweetie Belle consuming this fear crossed her mind, but any notion of this was swept away the second Astina lashed out at Danny. But it was what happened next that wholly obliterated any semblance of coherent thought when Danny pushed back at whatever unseen force she brought down upon him.

"And I. Will not. ALLOW YOU. TO HARM THEM!"

Thumb Thumb

"Wha-?" Erlea felt dazed.

In a blur of motion, Danny lashed out and punched Astina in the muzzle, his glowing green eyes shifting to pure blue-white for a full second, wisps of the same colored energy seeping from the corners before reverting to normal.

****

Flying ahead to lead Snow Dune and Hailstorm through the forest, a groan escaped Danny as a strange sensation washed over him. Shaking his head, neither he nor the giants noticed the wisp of pure blue-white come from the corners of his eyes.

****

Danny, lost amidst the voices of ages past as Celestia's lifebook revealed all to him, was unaware of the sudden ache in his eyes. In contrast, the Librarian, with him when the book reacted to Danny, was blinded by its energetic light, unable to see the wisps of energy flowing from Danny's eyes.

****

Having just left behind the library to return home and get a better look at the mess he was almost sure Dani had made, Danny found himself watching the retreating forms of all the others as they returned to their own homes; the streets otherwise empty as the other villagers were still hiding in their homes.

"I still don't think this is a good idea, Danny," he heard Twilight say behind him as she closed the door.

A grunt escaped Danny as he held a hand against his head, eyes clenched shut as a strange sensation washed over him. A small wisp of energy wisping from the corners of his eyes.

Sure her door was adequately locked, Twilight turned to Danny. "Please think about this, Danny. It would be much safer to stay here with me."

The sensation was gone as quick as it occurred, and Danny looked down at the frowning mare, smiling reassuringly at her.

Neither of them noticed Owlicious, perched on the balcony's railing, watching him with interest.

A look mirrored by Necky as he watched the pair through her bedroom window.

****

It only took mere seconds, yet it seemed like hours as Erlea, and Sweetie Belle watched Danny punch Death in the face. The time after that seemed to last even longer as Danny and Astina both stood unmoving; his fist still planted firmly against her muzzle, while she, pushed back by the unexpected force, stood cross-eyed, staring at his fist.

Slowly Danny withdrew his hand, revealing a small crack in Astina's chitin where he struck.

Lifting a hoof, she carefully touched the damage, eyes wide as her sight shifted to Danny, standing firm, and ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"I will fight for them, even if that means I must fight you as well."

"So it is true," Astina said quietly, lowering her hoof; the crack in her muzzle gone."I apologize for my earlier behavior, but I had to make sure."

Danny shifted his stance, confused by this sudden turn in behavior. "Make sure of what?"

"There are many who say they will do something, but there are few who hold to their word when the task proves more difficult than anticipated. I needed to know which one you are, before entrusting the fate of all changelings onto you. They are but one disaster away from extinction, and I cannot take any chances on good faith alone."

"You tested me?"

"I did."

"By making me fight you?" he asked, blinked, then his eyes grew wide in realization. "I just punched Death in the face."

Astina chuckled, shaking her head. "I am not Death, Phantom. We reapers do not kill our charges. We guide their souls after Death comes for them."

"... Then was everything you just said a lie to get me angry?"

"No, most of what I said was true."

"Most?"

"We may be free to choose, but our choices do not come free. And there are rules to follow. Rules neither I, nor my fellow reapers can circumvent without there being a reaction."

"A reaction from what… who?"

"Destiny."

"But you said Destiny doesn't allow you to choose, while just now you said you could. Which one is it?"

"Both," she stepped closer. "I could have chosen not to reveal myself to you, remaining nothing more than a story to my charges and allowing things to continue as they have for so long. Instead, I chose to break this rule and face uncertainty by placing my trust in you, hoping you will hold to your word."

"So, no pressure there, huh?"

"As I said, our choices do not come free."

"But will you face Celestia?"

Astina turned around, looking away into the distance.

"You claimed to have met Mort, the one ponies have as their reaper. Correct?"

"I did, yes, for a short moment. Neither of us expected to do so… Why?"

"He was there when they turned Celestia and Luna."

"He made them!?" Danny asked, shocked.

"No, he did not," she turned back around. "As I said, we are chained. Forced to do things we may not wish to do. The only difference between you and I was, I was aware of this, you were not. And while he could have chosen not to aid in their transformation, the alternative would have been even more catastrophic."

"Why do I feel I'm going to regret asking this, but what do you mean?"

"Discord," was all she said.

"Ehh…?"

Astina looked away again. "You'll find out soon enough."

Danny sighed out, dragging a hand down his face. "Always with the unanswered questions," he muttered. "And speaking of which," he stepped around Astina, back into view. "Will you help me, them, and face Celestia?"

"The rules forbid me to interact with the mortal world in any way, other than to help the recently departed."

"Like you're doing now?" he crossed his arms, cocking an eyebrow.

"I choose to break this rule."

"So, yes or no?"

Astina walked past him, towards the bridge, seeing the two fillies on the other side, hiding behind the guard railing, peeking back at her.

In silence, she crossed the bridge and approached the two fillies who tried to make themselves as small as possible as Astina towered over them.

"Rest assured, children," she spoke to them. "No more changelings will die of the sickness."

Erlea gasped, looking up at the reaper, unable to speak to words stuck in her mouth.

"Your mother will wake up soon," she added reassuringly.

"So, a yes," Danny noted, standing behind her.

Once again, Astina looked out into the distance. "When the time comes, call for me, and I shall answer."

She vanished without a trace.

<<>><<>><<>>

"It's over here," Danny called out, pointing the two giants towards the herd of windigos from the air.

Snow Dune and Hailstorm, both moving with long strides, panted heavily; the high temperature and their thick fur a terrible combination which they ignored in favor of helping both their brother and the Great One.

Besides, it wasn't like they would die from heatstroke.

Even then, they did not desire to remain in this sweltering heat for any longer than they had to as the sun-dried, barren ground cracked underneath their feet with each substantial step they took, kicking up small clouds of dust as they climbed up a hill; able to see the partially molten slate of snow and ice just a short run ahead before they reached the top.

Not long after their first sight, both giants stepped into the white mush with a sigh of contentment at its cooling effect on their soles.

"Snow Dune, Hailstorm? What brings you here?" Wind Chill approached, pushing through the herd of spectral equines.

"I brought them here," Danny answered. "Thought you could use the help bringing the windigos back to the Far Frozen without having to break your honor bond."

"It is as the Great One says, Wind Chill," Hailstorm added. "His desire to help others include you as well."

"You honor me with your selfless thoughts for others," Wind Chill rumbled gratefully, bowing to him.

Danny had to keep himself from rolling his eyes and instead turned to the other two giants. "The windigos are over there, obviously. Wind Chill had some time to adjust to the warmth, you have not, so do you want to take them now, or do you need to cool down first?"

"The warmth is bothersome, but nothing we can't deal with. We will waste no time to remove this burden from both your shoulders," Snow Dune answered as he and Hailstorm approached the herd.

"Did you identify the herd's leader?" Hailstorm asked, looking at Wind Chill.

"I believe I have, though it was of great surprise to me when I did," Wind Chill replied.

"How so?"

"It would seem this herd does not answer to a stallion or mare of stature or strength, but one small enough to be mistaken for a foal."

"... Please don't tell me it's the same windigo Scootaloo managed to ride. The last I need right now is a herd of spectral ice horses answering to the whims of a child unaware she managed to tame the herd's leader," Danny groaned, hand placed against his head, already knowing the answer.

"Eeuh… I would not know about this, Great One," Wind Chill looked confused.

"Right, you weren't there then," Danny sighed. "Long story short. Scootaloo managed to, somehow, gain the thrust of a small windigo, climb on her back, and, again somehow, find a way to control and fly her. And the rest of the herd followed."

Silence.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Danny shook his head. "Please take them back to the Far Frozen before they decide to seek her out. Ponyville is a ghost scared mess enough as is. Should these guys show up unannounced, even I wouldn't be able to clean up that disaster."

"Say no more," Snow Dune answered readily, while Wind Chill pointed out the familiar, small windigo Danny recalled Scootaloo riding last night.

"And while you do that, I will remove the tracks I noticed were left in the ground," Danny added. "No need to leave a trail for any ghost hunter to find."

"Good thinking, Great One," Hailstorm praised as the herd began to move.

"Just keep them low to the ground," Danny pointed out as he saw the first of the windigos take to the sky. "We have no idea where the ghost hunter I saw before is, and the last we want is her seeing a ghost fly above the forest."

""Understood,"" both giants confirmed.

"And Wind Chill, could you please remove all this snow and ice that hasn't already melted? It also sticks out like a sore thumb."

"Of course, Danny. It shall be done."

"Good," Danny nodded, satisfied. "Then, shall we go?" he asked Snow Dune and Hailstorm, both confirming their readiness to leave.

"Great. One large mass of ghosts to sneak past an observant ghost hunter," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "What could possibly go wrong with that?"

<<>><<>><<>>

It had only been minutes after Astina left, but the impression she made lasted far longer as Erlea was unable to move or speak; too shocked by the revelation the collector of souls was real. And she talked to her! Promising noling else would die and her mother would wake up.

All of it was too much for the young shapeshifter, and no sooner had Astina disappeared, she passed out.

Now she slowly came to by a strange, rhythmic bouncing, still needing several minutes even to realize this bouncing happened in the first place.

"Whu-" she slurred, legs twitching, and the bouncing stopped.

"Well, hello there," she heard Danny say from a surprisingly close distance. "Glad to see you're still with us."

Opening her eyes, blinking owlishly, it took her a moment to figure out what it was she was looking at.

"Up here," Danny said with humor.

"Wha-" she did as he said, and she shifted her sight from Danny's unshaved chin to his eyes a bit higher up. "Huh?" she blinked, clearing her vision. "What?"

"You gave us a bit of a scare there," he said. "Are you alright?"

"What happened?" she asked, realizing Danny held her in his arms against his chest and tried to push away.

Lowering himself, he allowed Erlea to jump down.

"You fainted," Sweetie Belle answered.

"I guess after everything that has happened, you just couldn't take any more." Danny supplied. "And with how tired you must have been, you just shut down. Can't say I blame you. Your world has changed drastically over the last twenty-four hours. I know what that's like. I had quite a bit of a panic attack when I first became a ghost."

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle muttered quietly, looking down at her hooves. "Tell me about it."

Danny put a comforting hand on both their heads, both looking up at him.

"Hey, no need to be down like that," he smiled at Sweetie Belle. "You both have been dealt a harsh blow, but that's in the past. Together we will make a better tomorrow, and let's not forget the good news we were just told. No other changeling will die from the sickness, and-" he now looked at Erlea "-your mother should wake up soon. So why don't we go to her, help her get back on her hooves, and do the same for all of the others?"

Neither Sweetie Belle nor Erlea said anything as they looked up at the human doing his best to comfort them, to help them, all of them despite the overwhelming odds against them. Inspiring confidence and hope with his words as much as with his smile, and both fillies nodded.

"Okay," he stood back up, "let's get going then, shall we?" he said, and all three continued, following the curve of the walkway circling the stalactite, then crossed the bridge connecting to another.

As they did, Despair came back into view, and Danny's hardened gaze lingered on the structure, and the horror it contained.

'And once the living are saved, I'll make sure you will be too.'

<<>><<>><<>>

With a 'WHAM', Celestia's Lifebook slammed to the floor, its blinding light gone, and Danny fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

"Daniel, are you alright? What did the book tell you?" the Librarian rushed to his side.

Danny fell forwards, catching himself with his hands, slamming the floor with a fist as this newly gained knowledge sunk correctly in.

Already burdened by the experience of the Murgröna, he now knew the terrible truth of both sides. And with it, a burning desire to punch something.

"It didn't show you, did it?" he asked, voice rough and angry.

"It did not. And judging by your reaction, I am glad it hasn't," the Librarian replied. "Was it that bad?"

Slowly pushing himself back on his feet, Danny grabbed the book with his levitation, pulling it towards him and glaring at the name on its cover.

"I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this-" he almost growled "-This is inexcusable." His grip on the book tightened as his hand shook in anger. "She could have stopped the suffering so many times, instead, making things worse and worse based on a lie she has accepted as truth herself."

A hand on his shoulder pulled him out of his enraged thoughts, and he glared at the Librarian who hovered silently beside him.

"Then, knowing all this, what will you do now?"

"Reveal the truth, and expose Celestia for the monster she truly is."

"And how do you plan on doing this? Surely not by storming the castle, so to speak, and shout it from the roofs. You are certainly angry enough for such a rash course of action, but I doubt it would yield the desired results."

"No," Danny agreed, breathing hard. "No, it would not," he returned his glare to the book in his hand. "I need time to make a plan. And I have more important things that I must resolve first before I could even try to do this."

He closed his eyes, breathing in and holding his breath for as long as he could.

"Okay," he breathed out. "Right. First, save the changelings and help Sweetie Belle, then expose Celestia."

"Sounds like the beginning of a plan," the Librarian said, an excited gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, yes, it does," Danny agreed. "Okay, with that sorted out, could you please give me some books about spirits and sirens. It will help with one of the problems."

"Of course. Follow me," the Librarian told him.

"One moment," Danny halted him. "Eclipse, can you inform my other selves I found Celestia and Luna's Lifebooks, and that I can read the important parts."

"Most certainly, Danny," Eclipse's voice rose from the floor. "And there has been another development you might want to know about."

"Oh?" he arched an eyebrow.

"Your other self still in the Hive has managed to contact Astina, the changelings' reaper. She has agreed to confront Celestia when the time comes."

"A reaper has agreed to help you!?" the Librarian shouted in shock, eyes wide.

"So it would seem," Danny said with no humor.

"Just how terrible is the injustice this Celestia has brought down upon those you try to help for a reaper to agree to such a thing?!"

"You do not want to know," Danny answered darkly. "For if you did, you would want nothing more than to forget. Now, let's go and get those books."

<<>><<>><<>>

Two Phantoms hovered in the frigid air of the Far Frozen, one carrying a stack of books, the other unencumbered. Locking eyes, both nodded in silent agreement, and the ghost carrying the books flew to the portal, shimmering in the distance while the other moved to the frost giant's village.

His arrival didn't go unnoticed either, and within moments the villagers had swarmed around him with renewed cheers of excitement. Their excitement was short-lived, however, as they saw his tense look, and a nervous silence quickly overtook the crowd.

"Great One," Frostbite approached, worried. "Were you not successful in your endeavor?"

"Unfortunately, I was," Danny answered. "Which is why we need that conversation I mentioned before now." His eyes locked on Frostbite's ice forged arm, and he subconsciously clenched his hand.

Danny's eyes shifted from toxic green into icy blue while his skin grew paler and paler; ice beginning to build as he sucked in the cold around him, and before long, he stood before the giants as the ice behemoth he recently learned he could become.

A gasp of shock rippled through the crowd around him as they stared wide-eyed at the ice forged human, still smaller in stature than even the smallest giant, but a great deal more imposing than what he had just been before.

"Great One," Frostbite said almost in reverent awe.

"I only recently learned how to do this, and have only some control over it." Danny told him with a rumbling voice. "But if I want to expose the lie that has devastated the lives of so many, I need every advantage I can get. Frostbite," his eyes locked with the village leader, "please help me master this ability."

Frostbite's look of awe and amazement slowly turned to resolute conviction at Danny's request, and he gave a firm nod in agreement.

"It would be my honor, Great One. I will teach you about Frostbite," he loudly closed his frozen fist with an aggressive snap. "And the power it possesses."

<<>><<>><<>>

Cleaning up the prints left behind from the numerous times he and the others traversed from the forest to the Hive, and back was easy enough, which left him with the task of ensuring no-one would be in a position to see the enormous procession of ghosts moving through the forest. As such, Danny scouted ahead, moving through the woods in search of any sign of Maud, or any other ghost hunter prowling the area.

He wasn't confident what he could do should he have a run-in with Maud. She had proven to be extremely capable, and he didn't think he would have the chance to possess her and turn a blind eye. And even if he could somehow get the drop on her, she would undoubtedly know something had happened after he left her, which would not aid in how she thought of ghosts in general.

Worse still was the possibility of other capable hunters out and about.

Eclipse hadn't said anything about this, but the possibility was there. Just like with ghosts, if there is one, there usually are more. And if these potential hunters were of the same caliber as Maud, then this would prove to be a real pain in the backside for him and the group of ghosts now coming up behind.

So far, though, the general area seemed clear. But having been a ghost for long enough, he knew that it seeming clear was not the same as it being clear.

Keeping his eyes open and ears at attention, he crossed a murky stream, phased through a particularly nasty-looking tree, looked inside several thorny bushes, checked the branches up above, and surveyed the area in general.

Nothing.

'I don't trust this,' he thought. 'Not following after me after our first encounter I can understand, but by now I would expect some kind of response.'

'Such as?' Eclipse asked.

'Don’t know. Something, anything.'

'You would be right in your expectations,' Fenris spoke up, a hint of annoyance in his voice. 'Yet you search the forest without utilizing all your senses.'

'What do you me-' Danny stopped mid-sentence. 'Of course. How could I forget?'

Dropping down to the ground, he stood silent, eyes closed. Waiting, listening, breathing.

Inhale.

He could feel the damp air on his skin.

Exhale.

He heard the creaking of swinging branches up above.

Inhale.

A faint rumble traveled from the ground up to his feet as the windigos drew near.

Exhale.

Rustling in the leaves around him alerted him to the presence of moving creatures.

Inhale.

A muffled mechanical whir reminiscent of a blaster charging could be heard from his left.

Exhale.

The telltale sound of a thermos being uncapped came from the same location; its sound suppressed with great care.

Inhale.

Leaves began to rustle.

Exhale.

Eclipse spoke to him.

Inhale.

His eyes snapped open, and he leaped backward as a bolt of green glowing energy flew through the air where his chest was split second prior.

Still invisible but not intangible, the sudden movement in the leaf and twig covered dirt gave away his new position to Maud as she leaped out of a bush Danny was sure he had inspected just moments before.

"You're good. I'll give you that," he said as he rapidly flew into the air, a trio of bolts impacting the ground he just left. "But you're fighting the wrong ghost, I'm afraid."

Maud didn't reply as she tracked his voice with her blaster, her eyes cold, calculating, but an intense fire burning deep within.

"Look," Danny said, and Maud snapped to her right but kept from firing a bolt, knowing the ghost had already moved. "I don't know what happened to you in Baltimare," he continued, now on Maud's left side. "But it's obvious it was bad. And I don't blame you for your anger and hate," he quickly moved position again as twin bolts of energy were fired, subtly moving further and further away from Snow Dune, Hailstorm, and the windigoes, hopefully drawing Maud away as he did. At least the sound of the blaster discharge would alert the giants before they drew too close. "But there are good ghosts as well out there, but you wouldn't know that because they like to keep to themselves."

"Don't think I'm stupid, ghost," Maud almost hissed. "Your attempt to lure me into a trap is obvious."

A tired sigh came from behind her, and she whirled around to face this monster, seeing a pair of green glowing eyes looking down at her with pity.

She fired a sustained burst of energy at his center mass, only for her to hit a tree further back.

"Intangibility," she spat.

"Actually, I'm hanging upside down," she could hear the shrug in his voice. "The other hunters made the same mistake, so don't blame yourself for that, but-" another burst of energy came his way, this time above the eyes; the shots passing harmlessly through Danny.

"Okay, now I am intangible."

Maud secured her stance, teeth bare.

"Really, how long does this need to go on before you realize I haven't even fired a single shot at you? I really don't want to hurt you, even if you think I do. All I want is to talk. Just talk. No tricks, mind control, possession, or other things harmful."

A swirling beam of blue energy was fired his way as Maud held her thermos, but Danny had already moved out of the way before she had the chance to fire.

"And now you must think I'm trying to gain you trust just to betray you later, I guess," he shook his head. "I guess it can't be helped," he once more dodged another attempt at capture. "Look, believe it or not, but we're on the same team. You protect others from ghosts. I protect others from ghosts. There is no need for all this hostility."

Maud glared hard at her invisible foe, following its movement through the sound of its voice. Then, a faint twitch in her left ear and her glare increased.

"So you say," she said coldly, rolling away to the side, "But I hear the other ghost sneaking up behind me," and she fired her blaster at the empty air behind her.

A tired sigh came from her right.

"You're good. Very good. Unfortunately, you're also blinded by your hatred," the ghost said, coming from her left and far too close.

She reacted in an instant and swung her blaster towards her enemy. Before she even had a chance to fire, though, a green aura surrounded the weapon, and it was ripped out of her grasp, clattering to the ground several body lengths away, disappearing in between a tangle of tree roots.

Not allowing this to stop her, she quickly shifted to her thermos, only to find it already gone.

A thud on the ground pulled her attention to the device as it was flung towards the blaster, the roots suddenly freezing over and encasing the devices under a thick layer of ice.

Maud growled as she leaped away, eyes moving from left to right as she scanned the forest while her ears stood up at attention, listening for any sound that would give away the ghosts’ new position.

"Okay, now that you aren't able to shoot at either one of us, let's try this again," Danny said as he dropped to the ground with noise, his doppelganger flying off to inform the giants; Maud's eyes locking on to the shifting and crunched leaves on the ground several meters before her.

"Whatever trick you try on me, it won't work, ghost," Maud spat as she lowered herself, legs tense and ready to leap into action.

Danny sighed, shaking his head. Unseen by Maud, of course.

"This isn't going to work. So I guess you just have to see," Danny said as he reached out with his telekinesis, pulling the ghost scanner out of a pocket of Maud's suit who followed it carefully with her eyes; ears still strained on the entity before her.

With a flick of his hand, the device activated, and a shrill alarm sounded like a massive gathering of spectral entities was detected.

Maud's eyes widened in alarm, her legs shifting as she nearly lost her balance.

"Right now, a large gathering of ghosts is approaching. Don't know the exact number, didn't count them. But there are more than just you can deal with on your own. The thing is, these ghosts are mere animals. Not particularly smart, but more than capable of causing a lot of damage if left unchecked. My friends and I are keeping them under control as we move them back to where they belong, but should they be attacked… Well, let's just say it would be in the best interest of everyone, you, me, the mortals living in the village further back, that this doesn't happen."

Danny paused for a moment, allowing Maud to digest this sudden revelation.

"Now, there are a few ways this can go. One, you don't believe me and act accordingly. While I would understand it, should you do this, do know my associates, or I will have no choice but to fight you then. None of us want to, but we will if we have to. Two, you don't believe me, retreat to report what has happened here and call for reinforcements. No doubt, you will get them, but we will be long gone by then, and you will have learned nothing worthwhile. Or three, you take a chance and believe me when I say we mean you no harm. We move through here, you don't attack us and cause a potential disaster where a herd of windigos goes wild, and we all have a wonderful day."

"Windigos?" Maud said quietly.

"Yes," Danny confirmed. "Certainly changes key parts of your history, doesn't it?"

"Lies!"

"Why don't you find out for yourself," Danny shot back. "They should be here soon. So what do you choose? Fight, flight, or take a risk."

Maud didn't answer, eyes still on the massive signal the scanner alerted her about, a shuddering breath escaping her, creating a small cloud before her as it drifted off.

"What?" she gasped as more clouds formed, and she became increasingly aware of the growing chill in the air and the faint but growing tremor in the ground.

"I will repeat this, you have my word no harm will come to you, as long as you do not attack us," he reminded her.

Maud's eyes flashed between the scanner, the invisible ghost standing before her, the distant, still obscured mass of ghosts approaching, and back to the scanner; her legs moving on their own while she was stuck in indecision and her mind frozen in fear.

"But, you need to choose now!"

And Maud chose.

<<>><<>><<>>

The runes around the onyx portal glowed brightly, and the rock melted away.

Danny, a hand aglow, waited for Erlea and Sweetie Belle to enter before stepping inside himself.

"MOM!" Erlea cried out, running to her mother, who struggled to push herself up.

Danny, too, moved to her side, catching her as her strength gave out and helped her as she tried to put her hooves underneath her.

"Don't push yourself," he told her. "You're still weak."

"Don't… tell me... what... to do," Chrysalis managed to gasp with effort. "My people need me."

"Alive," Danny added firmly. "They need you alive, so don't push yourself past the tipping point, or you will be the first to die of something other than the sickness or hunger."

Chrysalis didn't reply, only breathing hard, but her pointed glare spoke volumes. Even then, she relented and allowed him to push her into an upright position.

A sudden wave of dizziness joined by nausea overcame her the moment she lifted her head, and she moaned sickly as she clenched her eyes shut, sitting still for several minutes where she focused on keeping her bile down through slow, deep breaths.

"Just take it easy," Danny said after she pried open her eyes. "Your daughter and her friends have done an amazing job taking care of the others, and they will keep doing so until you recover. No need to force yourself."

"What kind of queen would I be if I didn't put the well being of my subjects before my own?"

"A bad one," Danny said simply. "And in your current situation, a dead queen."

"I… I can't say whether you're brave or stupid, talking to royalty like that."

"Both," he answered readily. "And believe me, I've done a lot worse to royalty than merely telling the truth. Plan to do a lot worse, too. Once I have a plan to do it," he shook his head. "But that's not important right now."

He slowly stepped away from Chrysalis after he was sure she wouldn't fall over, and Erlea immediately jumped on the bed to hug her mother.

With a silent nudge with his leg, he motioned Sweetie Belle to the door, and they quietly left the two.

"Danny," Chrysalis said weakly, and Danny turned to look at her. "That is your name, right?" he nodded, and her eyes drifted to Sweetie Belle. "And you are Sweetie Belle, sister of Rarity?"

"Y-yes."

Chrysalis closed her eyes as she laid her head back on the bed.

"Thank you."

<<>><<>><<>>

"She ran, didn't she?"

"Yeah."

Both Dannys stood near the frozen tree roots where Maud's blaster and thermos lay sealed away, watching the progression of windigos as Snow Dune and Hailstorm herded them.

"Thanks for showing up when you did, though," one of them said half-jokingly.

"I was in the neighborhood," the other replied with a shrug.

"Still though," both looked at the frozen devices. "Why did she run? Because she truly thinks I was lying and went to sound the alarm or the trauma she'd gone through?"

"Probably a mix of both," his double replied, and for a moment, they stood in relative silence (the pounding of many hundreds of hooves on the ground filling the air).

"Which means she will call the calvary on us without actually knowing what is going on; working with half facts and whatever truth she decides is real."

"The frost giants will most likely be able to secure the portal. Or maybe the Elder can prevent it from being found, should this be necessary."

"Assuming, of course, Maud has already left the forest to call for help."

"I get what you're getting at."

"How could you not?"

"Her trauma that pushed her into this line of work, and which possibly played a role in her fleeing, is also why she may decide not to do any of that; and right now she is lying in wait, possibly even watching all of us from a safe distance."

"Which is why we're still invisible."

"Just in case she is trying to prove something."

"That she isn't afraid. And running away now proved the opposite, and she can't accept this herself."

"Which means she will lie to herself about why she ran, and turn it into a truth where she didn't run at all."

"One step further than what we did back then."

"Yeah. We ran, but never lied about the why."

"Neither are good coping mechanisms."

"Which also means she never truly worked on processing what happened to her. Instead, she uses it to fuel her anger and hate, but who it is aimed at gets blurred more and more each day. And while the obvious target for her ire is us ghosts-"

"Obviously."

"A small part of her is angry at herself for allowing this fear to control her."

"Skill through damage," Danny repeated Fenris' words. "Her anger pushed her to train to become a ghost hunter, giving her an outlet without actually resolving the cause of the anger. Meaning it will grow and fester."

"And then we show up, going against everything she knows and believes, shaking this foundation and only adding to it."

Silence.

"She needs help."

"Yeah."

Both looked at the ice-encased devices still sealed away amidst the tree roots, one of them lifting an ice blue, glowing hand.

The ice shattered and fell away, and the two devices floated towards one of the two ghosts, followed by the ghost scanner the other still held with him.

"I'll go look for her. Maybe we're in luck."

"Or maybe she is."

"One step at a time."

The ghost carrying the ghost hunting gear flew away, leaving his double behind.

Hands behind his head and leaning back a bit, Danny looked at the canopy above, wondering how he ended up in this mess in the first place.

The rustling leaves provided him with no answer.

Shaking his head, he slowly flew over to Snow Dune, informing him he would take his leave. He then retrieved the books he had hidden inside a tree burrow and left the procession of ghosts behind.

<<>><<>><<>>

Once again, using Fenris' teaching to sharpen his senses, the forest spoke to Danny in ways he still had difficulties understanding how it worked. Even then, it served its purpose, and now trees flashed by in a blur as he followed after the trail he now recognized to belong to Maud; a particular stony smell contrasting sharply with the natural scents of the forest, leading him deeper into the mass of trees instead of out.

"Hmm," Danny hummed, frowning. "So not calling for back-up then."

He continued for several more minutes, finding no sign of the mare other than the trail she had left, while the forest around him became more and more menacing; the trees themselves now looking like ferocious monsters when not looking directly at them. And still, the trail continued.

"And she doesn't seem like the type to just get lost either."

Suddenly the scent of Maud went no further. Instead, it pooled over a small area, most of it on top of a little body of murky water with many weak reeds sticking out near the sides while ripples in the water showed it had recently been disturbed.

"Of course," Danny deadpanned, eyes half-closed as he hovered above the scent pool.

Sighing, he hovered over to a nearby dead tree, dropped down, placed the ghost hunting gear on the ground and casually leaned against the trunk.

"Guess you realized I was following you, huh?"

A gray hoof slammed through the bark next to his head.

"Yes," Maud answered bitterly, as she grabbed the still invisible ghost in his confusion, then pulled Danny through the hollow tree amidst a shower of splinters and bark.

'she is good.'

Slamming into a tree, Danny slowly slid down the trunk with a groan.

"You!" Maud all but growled.

"Me?" Danny said, puzzled as he pulled himself up, rubbing his head with a hand, then realized to his great shock his invisibility had dropped. "Oh, me," he stared at his hand. "…. Shit."

Maud launched into action with explosive force, closing the distance between them faster than Danny could blink.

It was almost as if a freight train slammed into him, not a pony, as the air blew from his lungs in an explosive wheeze while Maud rocketed him through the tree he had slammed into a moment before.

With creaking and snapping wood, the tree slowly toppled over, crashing onto the ground with a massive tremor.

Painfully rolling himself to his back, Danny groaned silently as he stared up with slightly unfocused eyes.

"Ow."

Maud came falling from the sky, her eyes ablaze with fury, a hoof pulled back.

"Oh."

Quickly sinking through the ground, Danny could still feel the impact despite his intangibility as it shook the ground.

Realizing whatever chance he might have had to break through to her was gone forever, and without a desire to fight Maud lest he makes things even worse, he knew this was a battle he had lost.

Slowly slipping out of the ground and towards the top of the trees, he looked down at the ferocious hunter with equal measures of fear and pity.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you," he said sadly, and Maud turned towards him with burning eyes.

Before she could do anything more, Danny fell apart in a flash as his energy rushed back to the rest of him, leaving the mare behind as she quickly lost sight of the small wisp amidst the trees.

Making Preparations

Author's Note

And here we are with a new chapter. Let me know what you think, or if you found any mistake that needs correcting down in the comments.

~Powerdrainer

Making Preparations

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Making Preparations

<<>><<>><<>>

It had been several hours since Danny's unfortunate encounter with Maud, forcing him to leave her behind after she discovered his identity.

Well, one of them. But also the one he really didn't want to be found out… more than it already had.

Now though, with the windigos back where they belonged, Danny himself returned to the Hive; and with the night slowly moving in to claim the land, he and Sweetie Belle were busy reading the books he had brought back, sitting on the bed in their guestroom; Cujo lying asleep on a cushion behind them.

"You know, I could have really used this back when I was still trying to figure things out," Danny remarked as he flipped a page in the Ghosting For The Recently Departed he was reading. "We can store items within our spectral self?" he said, blinked, then realization struck. "Like my clothes, your boots… and the thermos I recently acquired. How did I not notice this before?"

Sweetie Belle, lying next to him, busy reading the book detailing about sirens, as much as she disliked doing so, glanced up at him.

"You never went to this library to learn about your powers?"

"No," Danny shook his head. "Didn't even know it existed back then, or that the Ghost Zone existed for that matter. Had to figure things out the hard way, like you did, too."

"Oh," Sweetie Belle thought about that for a bit.

"None of this makes any sense," the fourth occupant of the room called out, staring at the open book before her with wide, confused eyes.

"What doesn't?" asked Danny, looking at Erlea; the young shapeshifter having joined them after some of the, still healthy, adults arrived to take care of her mother.

"Just… all of it," she pointed at the book. "Spirits, specters, poltergeists, phantoms, shades, genies, jinns, so many more. And all of them are ghosts, but different. And the powers this book says they have… how is this real?"

"Well, you did get a first-hand look at what Sweetie Belle and I can do. And of course Eclipse and Fenris, too. Is it really that difficult to believe?"

"The power to grant any wish, warping reality to accomplish this," Erlea read aloud, then looked back at Danny. "I only know of one creature who can warp reality, and he does not grant wishes."

"You do? Who?"

"Discord," Erlea and Sweetie Belle said as one.

"Discord? Astina has mentioned him, who is he?"

"And THAT is another thing!" Erlea said loudly, ignoring Danny's question. "Astina is nothing more than a myth, a story we tell those who are dying. How can she be real?"

Ignoring his own need for answers, Danny put his book away as he looked at both Erlea and Sweetie Belle.

"I cannot answer about Astina," he told them. "I only learned reapers were real after I encountered Mort, the ponies' reaper, who also told me about the reaper we humans have. Eddie, apparently," he shrugged. "As for ghosts who can bend reality; they are real, though as far as I know, they are also rare. I only encountered one such ghost, pretty sure she was a genie. Maybe a jinn? But she did grant wishes, as that book said."

"Really?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Anything you wish for?"

"Yes," Danny replied grimly. "But never the way you want it to. Her name's Desiree, which is a play on the word desire, which links to the wishing thing she does. But whatever you wish for, she corrupts. You wish to fly, you can fly, but are never able to land again. You wish to be known around the world, she makes you a most wanted criminal," he looked at Erlea. "You wish for the changelings not die of the sickness, she makes them immortal. They aren't cured, but they won't die."

"That's horrible," gasped Sweetie Belle.

"You tell me," Danny sighed. "She caused a lot of trouble for my friends and me back then. A lot of it. But that was then. More importantly," he turned the attention back to the book Erlea was reading, "us ghosts come in many varieties with many strange and bizarre powers to match. I could spend all night telling you about all the crazy things I've seen and done; all the strange and insanely powerful ghosts I have fought, but what you two need to know; what you need to understand is that there are ghosts who are powerful to the point they can be considered a force of nature. And as powerful a ghost who can warp reality to fulfill corrupted wishes might seem, Desiree is not even close to the strongest ghost I have encountered."

Both fillies felt a shiver go down their spines at his words, and Erlea hesitantly pawed at the open book before her.

"Ghosts are scary," she eventually said, pushing the book away.

"No," Danny countered. "It ain't ghosts you fear, but what they could do to you. Unfortunately, the only ghosts this world has encountered so far, are those who enjoy hurting. Not including Wind Chill, Sweetie Belle, Eclipse, Fenris, Cujo, and I. Truth is, the ghosts who are either kind or uninterested in mortals keep to themselves; rarely showing themselves. Only once did I encounter such a ghost in my world, and only because he felt the need to help me after I got caught by Vlad… The first half-ghost, half-mortal," a deep sigh escaped him. "And a real scumbag in every sense of the word."

Neither filly asked what he meant, the frustration, anger, and hurt clearly noticeable in his voice.

"But none of that matters now," he continued, picking up his book. "What does is getting a better understanding of what we are, and how our powers work," he aimed at Sweetie Belle. "And it certainly wouldn't hurt to learn about ghosts in general, too," he looked at Erlea. "Like it, or not, but this is our reality now. So better be prepared for when the next near-disaster comes knocking on our door."

"How many more could there be?" asked Sweetie Belle, worried.

"Always one more than you expect."

It wasn't Danny who said this, and he and Sweetie Belle looked at Erlea, the young shapeshifter sighing deeply.

"Yes," Danny agreed, voice soft. "Always one more. Which is why we need to be ready for when it comes."

Erlea was silent, staring at the book before her with slightly unfocused eyes.

"Fine," she sighed, almost begrudgingly turning to look at Sweetie Belle. "I'll teach you. Maybe some good will come out of this."

"You will?!" Sweetie Belle perked up, elated Erlea had decided to help her control her changeling like hunger.

"Just don't make me regret this, pony," she added.

"I won't. I promise."

Erlea didn't say anything more, for now returning to her book while she thought, glad she had decided to tune out of the Hive mind, lest she accidentally shared just exactly what she thought of this insane mess her life had become.

'But at least everyling is safe now,' she glanced at both Sweetie Belle and Danny, the latter explaining something to the former from the book he was reading. 'I guess I owe it to her.

Shaking those thoughts away, she returned her attention to the book, and the one line she has been reading over and over again.

'But seriously. This does not make any bucking sense!'

<<>><<>><<>>

Emerging from the forest without a wrinkle or stain on her suit, Maud surveyed the quiet town before her; the anger and disgust she felt ever since learning the identity of the ghost expertly hidden behind a mask of apathy.

Both her scanner, thermos, and blaster were stored away for later examination. The time the ghost, no, Danny Phantom had them in his possession far too long for comfort, and their use was most likely compromised.

Even so, after his shameful retreat, she did attempt to track his position, if only to gain new, useful intel. Unfortunately, any hint or trace to the Terror's current position proved fruitless.

Backtracking to where the mass gathering of ghosts were, proved just as much a waste of time, as the ghosts themselves were long gone by then. She couldn't scan for any energy signature left behind, due to the possible compromised state of her scanner, and the ghosts had the foresight to wipe clean any tracks they might have left behind.

All that she was left with was a general direction where they could have gone, based on her own position when they first approached. But without knowing just how far into the forest they went, she could not make any conclusive assessment if they even were still in the forest.

With no other option available to her, she had to admit that, for now, the ghosts had gotten away from her. But at the least, a key player was now identified, which meant she now had access to a detailed dossier detailing Danny Phantom's modus operandi.

But this also meant she needed time. Time to read, to plan, and for now, rest; as princess Luna had already begun the task of raising the moon and starting the night.

A slight frown compromised her otherwise stoic expression. She knew that time was against her, and that finding out who one of the ghosts was most likely accelerated whatever plan these undead fiends had.

She just hoped she still had time enough, before another Baltimare happened.

<<>><<>><<>>

The night was running at its end as the first light of the day began to brighten the land, but Diamond Tiara was already wide awake.

Twisting and turning on her bed, unable to shake the images of what she had seen. Two of each of those Blank Flanks. And even worse, the betrayal of one she thought was her friend. Of course, the later realization that changelings had to be involved did little to lessen her turmoil, but it at least gave an answer to why Silver Spoon did what she did. Either she was mind-controlled or replaced, and the only one who even knew something was wrong was Diamond Tiara herself.

Of course, the timing of yesterday's ghost scare was far too convenient, too. She was sure those Blank Flanks had something to do with it as well. Most likely to cover their traitorous schemes. And had the school not been closed as a result as well, she would have exposed those three, seen them punished, and be hailed as a hero herself. Just as it should be.

"Soon," she told herself. "Soon things will be back to normal, with me on top."

<<>><<>><<>>

Silver Spoon lay still in bed, staring up at the ceiling while worry gnawed at her.

'What happened? Really? What did I see? What was that weird magic Sweetie Belle used? Why are they helping a changeling? And why did I choose to keep their secret?' she tilted her head, looking at the quietly ticking clock on her nightstand, a faint beam of light penetrating through the curtains providing enough illumination to see the time.

'Diamond and I always picked on them, and I never felt bad about it,' she shook her head with a groan, then grabbed her pillow and pulled it around her head. 'So why do I feel so terrible now, thinking back on it? And why… Why do I feel like a bad pony?'

'And why do I feel like I did the right thing keeping their secret?'

And as she lay nearly unmoving, her mind throwing more and more questions of doubt and growing guilt at her, the feeling of shame and regret manifested itself stronger and stronger. Yet hidden underneath all of this, the spark she felt the day before, a sense of warmth she hadn't truly felt until recently, began to grow. And with it, something else resonated, too.

Hidden under a mountain of ice, Tree of Life sensed this growth, and one of the two separated seeds reacted in kind; growing slightly with a faint glow. A glow that didn't fade once the seed stopped growing.

A clear sign Silver Spoon had just made the first step on the long road ahead of her.

<<>><<>><<>>

Rolling Stone lay unmoving on a bed, bandages wrapped tightly around three of his legs and torso. Numerous thick blankets lay over him as much as possible, while an IV bag hung next to his bed, slowly feeding its contents through the tube leading to his right foreleg. A heart monitor's slow and faint beeping filled the room, while magical heaters were working overtime to prevent the stallion from slipping into hypothermia.

The other occupant of the room, one of the night shift nurses, sat quietly on a stool; watching over him and ready to leap into action at a moment's notice while ignoring her own discomfort; wiping away the stream of sweat trickling into her eyes.

It was unknown if or when Rolling stone would come to. His injuries were severe and his core temperature dangerously low. The fact he still clung on to life gave hope he would survive, but his vitals were poor and he stood before death's door.

Or it stood next to him.

Mort, looking at the injured stallion, sighed as he shook his head sadly; his scythe hovering beside him, while his horn glowed with a pale light.

"What the!?" Rolling Stone uttered, looking around in confusion, then saw Mort.

"Please don't be afrai-"

"GHOST!" Rolling shouted aggressively, and he leaped at the threat; phasing harmlessly through the skeletal pony, then the bed he still lay on.

"What?" he gasped as he pushed himself back up, and saw his own beaten and broken body lying unmoving on the bed; the heart monitor still beeping at a slow rhythm.

"This must be difficult for you to understand," the same meek voice pulled his attention, and steadily growing anger back to the skeleton in the room; standing before the nurse, who was completely oblivious to what was happening in front of her.

"What did you do to me?!" Rolling Stone said through gritted teeth.

Shrinking into himself from the aggression aimed at him, Mort fumbled for words.

"Not... Nothing. Well, nothing much. I mean... Eh," pausing to collect himself, he straightened his posture, locking eyes with the enraged stallion. "Rolling Stone," he said, "I am the Grim Galloper, the Pale Pony, or as you guards have come to call me, Early Retirement," the piercing red dots in his otherwise empty sockets vanished as he blinked. "But you may call me Mort."

"WHAT!?" Rolling Stone shouted, almost rearing back in shock, only for his training to keep him from doing so.

"I understand you must have a lot of questions, and no reason to trust me to even ask them, but-"

"DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I WOULD BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU SAY, GHOST? I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MIND GAMES YOU'RE PLAYING, BUT I'M NOT FALLING FOR IT!"

Mort almost fell apart from the force of the stallion's voice, and he backed away in a hurry, only to trip over his own legs and fall to the floor.

This time he did fall apart, and as his bones scattered around, his skull rolled away under the bed.

"Oh, Thanasia," Mort muttered.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a grunt of exertion, Frostbite dug his heels in the snow, leaving deep gouges in the already upturned frost as he was shoved back forcefully.

Slowly lowering his arms, which he held crossed before him to shield his head, he took an unsteady step forwards before finding his balance while clumps of ice broke off his fur.

"I must say," he grunted, "you managed to learn this skill far faster than I expected. " He looked at the ghost before him, the ice fading from his body. "But you still lack the finer control, which resulted in this unintended ice blast."

Looking at his still frozen arm, and the visible bone, Danny flexed his hand as his flesh slowly returned.

"Still more control than I had yesterday," he commented, reflecting on the intense training he put himself through throughout the night. "But yes," he looked at the ravaged terrain, "still a lot of collateral damage."

"Perhaps it would be wise to take a break for now. You need to rest and allow your powers to recharge. Especially in your duplicated state."

"Agreed," Danny nodded, then yawned mightily.

"And while we rest, there is an urgent matter you need to be made aware of."

"Oh? What?"

"Vlad," Frostbite answered, face set.

Danny stiffened noticeably, "And I already know I'm not going to like this."

"Come, Great One. Let us return to my home. There is much to discuss."

<<>><<>><<>>

Just like any other day, the Apple Family was up early. This time though, it was not to prepare for a long day of work ahead of them, nor was it because of the terrible ordeal Apple Bloom had gone through the day before, but because Twilight Sparkle had rushed in to gather Applejack, offering a hasty explanation regarding Discord which set all present on edge; save the lone human who was, by the looks of it, dragged along without really understanding why.

Apple Bloom, standing behind the legs of her older brother as he stood protectively before her, glanced up at Danny; the human giving a small nod in turn before turning his attention back to Twilight as she finished her explanation.

While he didn't understand much of it, Applejack gave a firm nod, rushed to her room to grab her Stetson, and before he even knew it Twilight pulled him along using her magic.

As the door slammed shut behind the three, Apple Bloom looked up at her older brother.

"They'll be alright, right?"

Big Mac did not answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

Once properly seated, and a steaming mug of hot cocoa to warm their bodies in hand, Frostbite began.

"I should start by apologizing it took me this long to bring this to your attention, and on Wind Chill's behalf for not informing you sooner. While there have been a lot of developments demanding your attention, this is something you should have been told about far sooner," he said with a grave voice, pausing only a second to take a sip of his drink; then continued with a chocolate mustache.

"Not too long ago, when Wind Chill brought young Sweetie Belle and her friends here, he also encountered something most worrisome; one of Vlad's spy drones."

"What!?"

"Indeed," frostbite agreed with his outburst. "So far, he only encountered one, which has since been destroyed. But you know Vlad well enough to know it is never just one."

"But that means… Oh, shit."

"Yes. There is a good chance he is aware of your whereabouts, as well that Sweetie Belle is a half-ghost like you. Of course, there is no way to know for sure what exactly he knows or how far he has spread his influence, but even encountering one such device of his is cause for alarm."

Danny was silent for a good minute, staring at the slowly cooling liquid held in his mug.

"And here I honestly thought he couldn't mess with my life any more than he already had; that, at the least, he was a nightmare that would stay in my past," he took a long swig. "Of course he would find a way to spread his corruption to other worlds as well."

"It is troublesome, yes," Frostbite agreed, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Troublesome doesn't cover the load," Danny grunted in reply. "But in the end, it doesn't change much. At least not in the way I must go on about things. He was already present during all of what happened, changing things now would only draw his attention. But knowing his drones are in Equestria does mean I may be able to use them against him," he took another sip from his drink. "I need to think about this."

"It is troubling, though," Frostbite looked at his drink. "It is no secret to us Vlad is one to scheme and manipulate. And while it has become difficult, almost impossible at times, word from your world does reach us," he sighed heavily. "With you gone, and humanity having increased their defenses against ghosts, in no small part after the crime you're being accused of, Vlad has used the chaos to tighten his invisible grip over your world."

"I know," Danny said, bringing the cup to his lips, then stopped halfway and stared at the liquid. "I saw it happen, from a distance… when I was hiding from everyone. Maybe I could have stopped him, but…" He put the cup down, no longer thirsty.

"What is done is done," Frostbite said. "And no-one here blames you for what you did. A tragedy like that would affect everyone, but you especially. You have, after all, a kind heart," Danny looked up at him, confused. "You could have done anything you wished for when you gained your powers," Frostbite explained. "Yet you chose to help others; dedicating yourself to the path of a hero, despite the cost to your own well-being. Going out of your way to defend and protect anyone and everyone, even when they hated you, hunted you. And doing so with confidence and a smile, because you knew that others would live their lives without needing to worry. And asking for nothing in return, because you knew, deep down, they were thankful; even if they didn't know this themselves."

"I'm not so sure about that," Danny murmured, thinking back to all the times he was hunted and shot at.

"The good has long been overshadowed by the bad, but you can't truly believe that yourself? But if you need a reminder, why do you think we frost giants call you Great One?"

"Because I defeated Pariah Dark."

"No," Frostbite shook his head. "While your victory over Pariah Dark certainly plays part in it, it was not just this fight that earned you your title. You see, Danny. Shortly after you started your path of the hero, word began to spread. We, too, heard of this. And while at first we thought nothing more of it than over-exaggerated stories from some insignificant ghosts looking for attention, when the stories continued to come from more and more ghosts, some of us began to look further into this. And when they did, more accurate accounts of your accomplishments started to come our way. Before long, vague stories detailing a ghost of questionable appearance became tales of great adventure and discovery; a single being, a mere child, half-ghost, half-mortal, doing things far beyond anyone would have expected. And as the stories grew so did your fame, or notoriety depending on who you ask," he paused, allowing his words to sink in.

"You, Danny, became something more than just yourself to us. You became a symbol, an ideal; someone to follow and someone to compare ourselves with as we strived to be better. You are a natural leader who inspires confidence in those around you, who will go through any length to help and who will not hesitate to do what is right. You are the Great One because you are one who is great."

"You… I… what?"

"Then let me ask this of you: since your arrival on the ponies' world, what is it you have done to help others?"

Danny was silent as he thought back, eyes shifting from left to right as he tried to find some flaw in Frostbite's reasoning, yet all of it leading back to where he was right now.

Slowly he grabbed his luke-warm cup and took a long, slow drag.

"Damn."

"Damn, indeed," Frostbite agreed with a chuckle.

"Do I really mean that much to you guys?"

"You most certainly do, Great One," Frostbite grinned. "And the way you are going at it, not only to us. You are, after all, doing everything you can to save a species for no more reason other than that they need the help."

"... Yeah. Pretty sure I've already been elevated to the rank of Great One among the changelings," Danny shook his head. "And I didn't even cure the sickness. Fenris did. And it was Sweetie Belle and her friends who found him to begin with."

"Yet Fenris merged with you… Which, admittedly, is something I'm still ill at ease about. But regardless of my own feelings on that matter, there is no denying you played a vital role in all of this. So stop looking for reasons why you aren't deserving of the praise coming your way. You wouldn't have gotten it if it wasn't earned."

Danny looked at the mug before him, picked it up, and drained the last of its contents in one go.

"Thanks," he replied, setting the mug down with a clang.

"You are most welcome," Frostbite finished his own drink. "Now, with what needed to be said, said, what will you do now?"

"I'm not sure, but for now-" he fell silent.

"Yes?"

"Something's happening back in Ponyville," he said suddenly. "Eclipse is removing herself from me and the others so she can move on her own over there."

Looking down at his shadow, both saw it was no longer present.

"Let us hope it isn't anything that would cause trouble for you."

Danny flinched, then gave a deadpan stare at Frostbite, the giant quickly realizing his mistake.

"And now we can be sure it will be," Danny groaned.

"Yes… perhaps a refill is in order?"

"Please do," Danny pushed his mug over to Frostbite. "And make it extra decadent."

<<>><<>><<>>

A near-continuous stream of changelings moved back and forth, carrying the newly brewed elixir Zecora had made.

This time, when she had begun her work, Danny quickly joined her; sharing with her all he knew about changeling physiology from his time in the Murgröna, allowing Zecora to change her recipe to better suit the ill.

Already a noticeable improvement could be seen in the first group who were given the brew, spurring the many foals on to rush back and forth with as many flasks they could carry.

Unfortunately, with the amount Zecora made, the limited supply of ingredients Danny had retrieved from her home was already beginning to run out.

With the knowledge he had to go out and find more materials, Danny spent a good portion of time studying the various plants and herbs Zecora used.

Cujo, too, was there to prepare; taking a good whiff in order to learn the scents.

A trio of changelings, some of the few young adults still standing, were also busy preparing for the same reason to maximize their efficiency.

While they worked, Danny did feel his mind wander; questioning what was happening in Ponyville, and, in extension with all the other versions of him.

Eclipse had only been with him for little more than a day, but she had proven to be an invaluable asset, far more than Shadow had been, and right now he was really missing her.

At least he had some idea what his most recent duplicate was up to, having split himself an hour prior to staying with Sweetie Belle while going out to help Zecora.

About ten minutes ago, though, Eclipse informed him Sweetie Belle, Erlea, and his other self were leaving as, being told by Erlea, Abella had just woken up and she needed to check up on her friend.

Sweetie Belle, too, wanted to go, with much reluctance, but a clear need to apologise for what she had done when the fear had consumed her.

Naturally, Danny went along to make sure nothing too bad would happen when Abella and Sweetie Belle would meet.

Not long after that, Eclipse left to do her thing in Ponyville, cutting him off from the rest.

Shaking his head, Danny refocused on the hand full, orange, marble-sized berries Zecora had said needed to be resupplied more than anything else, lying amidst the other ingredients Zecora required.

"You guys all know where to find these things?" he asked the trio of shapeshifters with him, to which they nodded.

"Most of these materials can be found in the Everfree Forest," one of them answered. "But the vine root only grows in a few swamp-like areas, and the haze berries can only be found near manticore territory as far as we know."

"I'll be taking care of those," Danny told them. "And anything else in hard, or dangerous to reach places. It's less of a threat to me than it is to you. You go for the easier stuff," he moved some of the materials aside, "I go for the rest. This way we will get most of what we need, without risking anyone getting hurt, or worse."

All three nodded in understanding.

"Also, when you're out there. If you find anything in terms of food, berries, fruit, or something like that, and you're not overburdened with anything else, please take some of that as well. The apples I brought the other day are not going to last much longer with how much Wind Chill ate, and Zecora, Sweetie Belle, and I can only go so far on apples alone."

"Hey!"

"And Cujo, too," Danny added. "... What do you even eat?"

"I'm a dog. What do you think?"

"So anything found at the bottom of a trashcan. That's simple enough."

Cujo's teeth gleamed, then became much larger as he bit at Danny's behind.

"Right, sorry," he hastily apologised. "Just focus on the ingredients Zecora needs," he quickly focused back on the changelings. "But if possible, take whatever kind of food you may come across that would be edible to Zecora and Sweetie Belle. Cujo, Wind Chill, and I will be fine with that as well, for the most part, but it is not a priority."

Again the three shapeshifters nodded, though with some confusion after his interaction with Cujo who, to them, only barked.

"Okay then, let's go out there," Danny stepped away from the table, transforming as he did. "And good luck."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a flash of green, runes surrounding a door lit up, and the onyx portal melted away, allowing entrance to the three individuals outside.

Erlea, the glow around her horn winking out, stepped inside without a word. Sweetie Belle, however, only managed half a hesitant step.

"I know this is difficult for you," said Danny, easily picking up on her discomfort. "But the longer you wait, the harder it will be."

"I know," Sweetie Belle said quietly, hanging her head.

Lowering himself, Danny put a hand on her back.

"I have said this before, but I'll keep saying this as many times as it will take. You are not a bad pony. Yes, you did something bad, but you weren't in your right mind. And right now you are trying to make it right by apologizing."

"But what if she doesn't accept my apology?" Sweetie Belle asked while the door closed before her.

"Then you will need to try again, as many times as it would take. After all, if apologizing was easy, it wouldn't be worth much. Believe me, I know. I still have a lot to apologize for running away as I have done, but I honestly don't know how I would do that. But that is a future problem for me, and this is a present problem for you. And I will do something for you I wished someone had done for me years back. I won't let you run away from this. So chin up, take a deep breath, go in there and tell Abella you're sorry for what happened."

"Right," Sweetie Belle said, looking back up as her confidence grew. "I can do that. I will do that."

"That's the spirit," Danny remarked, paused, then chuckled while Sweetie Belle gave a flat stare.

"Please just open the door," Sweetie Belle said, and Danny obliged, allowing the two to step inside the city's hospital.

instantly, any good feelings vanished as they entered, and it should have come as no surprise to Danny what they found, but both he and Sweetie Belle came to a grinding halt only a couple of steps in.

"Of course, this is where the worst of the illness played out during the first days," Danny said, voice hollow as they both saw the great number of beds pushed in every free spot available; all incredibly filthy, yet all occupied with the weakest of the ill. "But I don't remember being here when Fenris cut out the hate. They must have brought them here sometime after."

A large collection of empty flasks lying scattered near the door gave some indication of the reasoning behind this.

"Gather them all in one place, making it easier to orchestrate a supply run for the elixir Zecora makes," Danny murmured as he watched some of the foals leaping from bed to bed, helping those bedbound to drink the contents in the flasks they carried with them. "Clever, but horrible. This should never have been allowed to happen to begin with," his eye then fell on the multitude of vines snaking around the walls and ceiling, interacting with the bed-bound whenever they weren't helped to drink the elixir.

"The Murgröna's busy too, I see," he added, then spotted Erlea and Abella, sitting side by side on one of the beds at the far end of the room, one of them clearly showing bandages around her barrel as they watched the others work in complete silence.

"There they are," Danny pointed out, failing to realize Sweetie Belle, being much shorter, was unable to see past the first few rows of beds and moving vines.

"Where?"

"Right, sorry," he shook his head. "Just follow me," he told her, then flew up, moving close to the ceiling to avoid bumping into anyone.

Sweetie Belle looked up at him, then down at the changelings moving from one bed to the next, then back up at Danny who looked down expectantly at her.

Biting her lip, she steeled herself for what she knew would happen and slowly flew up to join him.

Almost instantly, the changelings took notice of her and those closest to her hurried away in a scramble of flailing limbs, tripping over unconscious bodies and vines in their way.

"I'm sor-" Sweetie Belle squeaked, tears already forming.

"STOP!" Erlea shouted, standing at full height on the bed, eyes slowly taking in the chaos erupting before her. "She may pass…" her eyes settled on Danny who held a hand on the filly's back to keep her from retreating. "... unhindered."

Under the watchful eyes of numerous foals, Danny pushed Sweetie Belle closer to Erlea and Abella; the latter, surprisingly, not reacting with any fear or hate towards Sweetie Belle, but looking at her with a calculating gaze as she moved closer.

Slowly lowering herself to the bed, Sweetie Belle sat down in front of Abella with her eyes firmly locked on the stained mattress.

Danny chose to stand instead. Using his intangibility to do so, as there was no room otherwise, and his legs were hidden from view as they phased through the bed.

"I'm… I want to say…"

"I'm impressed."

"Wha?" Sweetie Belle derailed, looking up at Abella, confused.

"Even with the feral state you were in, you managed to devise a working strategy against two opponents by pretending to only focus on Erlea, then attack me when I got close enough that I wouldn't be able to dodge," Abella summed up. "Cracking my chitin with it as well. Impressive. Painful, but impressive."

"Y… You're not angry or… or afraid?" Sweetie Belle stammered.

"What good would that do? Besides, it looks like you've got a grip over yourself again," Abela said simply. "Plus, that stuff the zebra makes really takes the edge of things."

"But I attacked you, hurt you. I almost ki-" Sweetie Belle looked sick, "I almost killed you."

"A lot of changelings have died here. And more would have died, if you and your friends hadn't shown up and did--" she made a vague hoof gesture "--any of that."

"Gotta say, you seem to be far more relaxed about things than you were before," Danny remarked.

"I can't move too much with my chitin cracked," Abella turned to him, "which means all I really can do is watch," she gave a nod at the room in general. "And what do I see? A room packed with beds full of changelings; changelings who have been freed from the hate poisoning them; who are receiving what medical care is available; who are actually recovering. Slowly. Very slowly. But they are getting better. There hasn't even been a death since last night, I've been told," she paused, blinking slowly.

"Just a day ago, we as a species were standing on a crumbling edge. But now, somehow, you four have done what none of us thought possible; what we did 't even dared to hope was possible. And then you somehow awakened the Murgröna."

Danny cocked an eyebrow, surprised.

"You're rather up to date with what has happened."

Abella carefully turned to the wall closest to them, looking at the cluster of vines snaking their way into the room.

"Of course," Danny said in realization. "The Murgröna. With it awake, it can interact with you again; take in the memories of those dying, or provide comfort through the memories of those you've lost."

"It was nice seeing my family again," Abella said with a sad smile. "But the Murgröna also showed me something else," she turned back to Danny and Sweetie Belle, through her eyes locked on Danny's and didn't let go.

"What?"

"That you are someone who can be trusted without question; someone who will go through any length to help us. I am relaxed about things because for the first time in my life, I know I can be."

A silence fell, with Danny unable to find a response, and Erlea and Sweetie Belle not wanting to interrupt. But before it could lapse into awkwardness, Abella blinked and looked at Sweetie Belle.

"As for you. I don't harbor any ill feelings for you. Not after having seen all of this," she gestured into the room with a hoof. "But you will need to learn to control yourself before it happens again."

"Erlea already agreed on teaching me to control this hunger," Sweetie Belle quickly pointed out.

"She did?" Abella flicked an ear. "Huh."

"What of it?" Erlea shot back at her friend.

"Oh, nothing. Just the thought of you teaching a pony," Abella said, her calm, relaxed posture beginning cracking as she started to chuckle. "It's just… just, pfhhhaha-" she couldn't finish her sentence as she fell down backward on the bed laughing and wincing at the same time, holding a hoof against her chest, over her injury.

"Wonderful," Erlea groaned, looking at her friend's mirth with tangible annoyance, ignoring the many stares of all the other changelings in the room as they watched Abella writhe in humor and pain.

Her laughter would continue for many minutes to come.

<<>><<>><<>>

Wind Chill released a groan as he stretched his back. Several pops and cracks came from his vertebrae as he worked out the kinks, the low ceilings and tight passages in the city paying him no favors.

Now out in the city and with ample room to stand to his full height, he made himself useful in whatever way he could.

True, his first priority was to aid and protect young Sweetie Belle. But with the rooms and hallways too narrow for him, this became a difficult task. Luckily, the Great One aided where he could not, which allowed him some leeway within his honor-bound.

As such, while separated from Sweetie Belle, but both in the same city, he instead decided to use his skills to aid the changelings; and in extension Sweetie Belle as well, by removing the worst of the destruction the filly had caused.

And so, with another grunt from exertion, he lifted up a large chunk of stone; formerly a piece of one of the stalactites.

With heavy footfall, he carried the rock back to the entrance of the city, placing it on the grand mosaic he hadn't noticed until he brought the first of many chunks; by now a sizable pile of destroyed real-estate.

Once more he found himself drawn to the now partially hidden image of a changeling and pony shaking hooves and wondered how such a seemingly friendly interaction could become hostile intent, where the shapeshifters were pushed to the brink of extinction.

He turned his attention back to the city, remembering the steel he saw in Danny's eyes upon his return. He didn't say much on the matter, but it became obvious he had learned something, and Wind Chill worried for what was to come.

The signs had already been there; some obvious, others more obscure, but when all put together; young Sweetie Belle becoming a spirit, the portal in the Dead Zone, the Saldēti Zirgi, everything that had happened with Danny…

A storm was coming. One like which this world has never seen before.

A storm that would wreak great havoc, and which the survivors would only barely be able to overcome once it has passed.

Question is though. At the end of it all, who would be left standing to rebuild with the pieces left behind? And how would this come to affect the world in the days, months, and years to come?

But with all these questions rising up, there was one question louder than any other; a collection of voices resounding throughout the years; echoing within the city as nothing more than a whisper, yet deafening all the same: Why?

It was a question that demanded an answer, and they had found the one to find it for them.

But if the answer was found, would it be enough?

No, of course not. Whatever the answer would be, it could never justify the horrors inflicted. And with that realization, at least one question was already answered.

Regardless of how this would come to its conclusion, it would not be a happy end.

Echoes Of The Past

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Special thanks to JarOfHearts

Echoes Of The Past

<<>><<>><<>>

Plunging into the depths below the city, hair whipping around in the wind, energy began to build as Danny silently argued with Eclipse and Fenris.

The burn mark on his back, inflicted by Sweetie Belle, lost to the fear she consumed, still smoked as he gritted his teeth in anger.

"Because they are worth fighting for!" he roared.

Thumb Thumb

With an instant burst of light, the Murgröna awoke; its light spreading out into the city as Danny shot up to save Sweetie Belle from herself.

Yet unknown to any there, something else reacted as well.

Slowly spinning on its pedestal, the Crystal Heart began to pulse; a rhythmic beating, lasting for only a few seconds, yet it sent a ripple of shock through all the crystal ponies present to witness this event. And before long word reached the recently crowned royal couple.

Of course, this unexpected event sparked an investigation, while rumors and fear began to spread like wildfire.

What happened to the Heart? Why did it beat like it did, only to fall silent again? Was it somehow related to Sombra?

Princess Cadance and Shining Armour did their best to calm their subjects to the best of their abilities, but the shadow of Sombra still hanging over the crystal ponies after all those centuries of subjugation could not be easily undone with mere words.

Adding to it was that neither Cadance nor Shining Armour witnessed the event; nor was Cadance able to find anything wrong with the Crystal Heart itself. Yet those who did were insistent on what happened, and with no explanation available and Sombra potentially still out there, the Heart was placed under twenty-four-hour watch and princess Cadance had to be notified the instant another event transpired.

"And I. Will not. ALLOW YOU. TO HARM THEM!"

Thumb Thumb

The Heart pulsed again with a vibrant light, lasting for nearly ten seconds with a dozen guards and hundreds of crystal ponies to witness; the light fading in the last pulse right as Princess Cadance teleported to the scene.

Again no explanation could be found or given, and the Heart resumed its slow spin as it spread its protective influence across the empire; watching the one it connected with; waiting for the one whose heart beats true.

A protector.

A savior.

A crystal knight

<<>><<>><<>>

"And that is how we changelings drain the various positive emotions from our targets," Erlea finished, her voice echoing in the mostly empty and long unused classroom. "So knowing that-"

"Hold on," Sweetie Belle interrupted, sitting on the floor near a lectern; the only wooden item still present of the original furniture. "I get the active feeding thing, where you use your bite. But this passive feeding, eh…"

With a sigh bordering on a groan Erlea sat down on the spot, a hoof held against her head. "I already explained this three times now," she grumbled.

"Sorry," Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"We latch on to the bond of love, in whatever form it exists between our target and the pony, or other, we're impersonating. Then we use it to siphon this energy into ourselves," Abella explained, also present in the room because, by her own words, she did not want to miss this.

"But how does that work?"

"Trust," Danny said, leaning against a wall as he watched, mostly silent until now. "Kinda obvious in hindsight," he remarked, scratching at his stubble. "They think the disguised changeling is their friend, family, or loved one, which has its own bond of trust. And trust is what they need to latch onto to feed as it happened with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. The difference is, this trust is not for them, nor do they trust whoever it is they feed upon, which may explain why this passive feeding is not as filling to them, and damaging to their target in the long run. They take something that is not theirs."

He paused for a moment, lost in thought.

"Of course this is different with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. It's still passive feeding, but there is trust between both parties. And as we have seen, it is far more filling than the other option."

All three present looked at him, Sweetie Belle in dawning understanding, Abella and Erlea in surprise and awe.

"I've seen a lot in the Murgröna," he answered to their stares. "Please, continue."

"Right… yes, that," Erlea fumbled. "Ehh… so apparently trust is a big part of this… which we somehow missed… ehh… Hold on a moment," she groaned, rubbing her temples.

"Need some help?" Abella snickered.

"No, I can do this. Just give me a moment."

"It's okay to struggle with this," Danny told her. "Before now, all you had to worry about was surviving and screw the finer details. But now, a change like this isn't easy. Even for the tribe of change. So take your time."

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle agreed. "... Wait, a tribe of change?"

"Right, you wouldn't know," he said. "Why not explain this to Sweetie Belle," he suggested, looking at Erlea. "Perhaps you'll figure out how to continue as you do so."

"But that means we need to tell her our entire history up until the fall of Yoke," Erlea replied, confused.

"Yes, yes it does," he grinned slightly. "And who knows, maybe you can both learn something from this."

"You're plotting something," Abella said suspiciously, leering at him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Danny answered with obvious fake innocence.

"Right," Abella drew out the word, then snorted. "Might as well give it a shot. Erlea certainly isn't getting anywhere with her incredible teaching."

"Hey!" Erlea protested, but failed to counter the point. "If we do this, you need to help as well," she grumbled, looking at Danny. "We all know the story, but only from being told by the others. The Murgröna wasn't able to show us any of that due to its dormancy."

"Fair enough," Danny agreed as he sat down beside Sweetie Belle. "Still, this is your history. So you two tell this story, and I'll add the finer detail when required."

For a moment Erlea was silent, though the small ear twitches gave way to Danny she was conversing over the hive mind.

"I'm right here, you know," Abella deadpanned, revealing the recipient of this unheard conversation.

"Eh, what?" Sweetie Belle said, confused.

"Erlea most likely asked her over the hive mind if she agreed with my suggestion," Danny chuckled as Erlea looked at him, surprised. "The ear twitches gave it away."

With a groan, Erlea slunk down, hooves over her ears. "Of course you would recognize that now."

Danny laughed in amusement, needing a moment to compose himself before nodding in agreement.

"That, and more. But we're getting distracted here. Sweetie Belle still needs to learn how to control her hunger, and you need to relearn what it is to be a changelink."

"So that is what you're up to," Abella jumped up, then hissed in pain; slowly sitting back down again while holding a hoof to her bandaged barrel.

"Yes, it is," Danny confirmed. "And when you teach Sweetie Belle about what you are, you can rediscover who you were in turn".

"Eh… What?" Sweetie Belle said, completely lost.

"Well then," Danny smiled. "Time to tell a story."

<<>><<>><<>>

"There is also another matter we need to discuss," Frostbite said after draining his mug.

"Which is?"

"The numerous duplicates of you, and the problems this will cause in the long run."

"Problems? What do you mean?"

"Right now several different versions of you are out there. This on its own is nothing to worry about. In fact, if all of you were focused on the same task there would not even be a problem. But each different version of you is living a vastly different life compared to you. The longer this goes on, the more out of sync you will be with the rest. This will cause a lot of strain on your mind once you remerge with them, as different memories will overlap. It would be most wise to keep the time split to no longer than a day, otherwise, it may become a difficult ordeal to merge all of you together again."

"That… sounds kinda obvious now that you said it."

"These things usually do, but worry not. The time you have been split should not have been too much to cause any major problems; though do expect some… discomfort. Especially from your side of the experience, with everything you have learned in the short time you have been here."

"And then there is whatever is going on over at Ponyville," Danny sighed out as he reached for the lukewarm drink on the table before him. "Life can never be simple to me, can it?"

'Master, something has happened!'

Eclipse’s return was as sudden as it was alarming. So much so Danny leaped up from his seat, alarmed, he didn't even realize he knocked over his half-full mug of cocoa.

"Great One, what is it?" Frostbite asked, alarmed by Danny's sudden movement.

"Apologies," Eclipse's voice came from the floor, and two glowing eyes materialized in the returned shade. "A lot has happened since I left, not all of it good."

"Explain!" Danny demanded, and Eclipse did; relaying everything his Ponyville counterpart said had happened to him and the need for knowledge to possibly have a fighting chance against Discord.

"No," Danny groaned. "Never simple at all."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a bark, Cujo phased through a tree in chase of the scent he was following. Behind him, Danny flew around the obstruction carrying the same duffle bag he 'borrowed' from the Apples when he was out to gather something to eat.

This time, however, the contents of the bag were vastly different.

Numerous herbs and berries filled the bag for about a quarter, though it was already too much as far as Danny was concerned. The reason for which being the pungent stench coming from the haze berries he collected.

He did know they stunk, the knowledge of the Murgröna aiding him. It was a strange method this type of magical foliage used to maximize its spread.

At first, the smell it produced was sweet and enticing, drawing animals in. But when they eat a certain amount, the smell becomes one of rot and decay, scaring them away. Then it reversed the process to draw in new carriers for its seeds.

The stench also gave away just how potent the berries were, and these stank worse than anything he had smelled before this.

Of course, it would fade over time, but the less stink there is the less potent the brew would be the berries were used in.

In fact, the handful of berries Danny studied back in the hive barely had any smell to them, which explained in part why he was so ill-prepared when harvesting them fresh from the plant and why Zecora used so much of them in the first place.

It was also why Cujo kept a distance between the two of them.

At least the smell would scare away any creature in the forest otherwise interested in hunting them. Except for any and all manticores who held these plants within their territory for their initial attraction to animals. Bring their prey to them, so to speak.

The stench emitted and now hanging thickly around Danny could very well bring them to him, knowing the scent of a potential prey wandering too deep into their hunting grounds.

"I really should have gotten those things last," Danny muttered, breathing through his mouth.

Still, what's done is done, and now he followed after Cujo as they searched for the remainder of ingredients Zecora needs.

With a bark, Cujo slowed down, nose in the air and sniffing rapidly.

"It's close," he called out as Danny landed, putting the bag on the ground between a tangle of tree roots.

"How close?" he asked. However, before Cujo could answer something slammed into his chest, knocking him off his feet with a cry.

"Are you okay?" Cujo asked, cautiously stepping into view for the downed human.

Danny, lying dazed on the ground, looked up at the entangled branches. A substantial weight pressing down on his now bruised chest.

"Tackle weed," he groaned as the softball-sized seed rolled off him; the fine barbs covering its surface, meant to hook into an animal's fur like velcro, unable to grab onto his spandex suit.

"Well," Cujo said, his nose close to the large seed, "found it."

"Yay," Danny groaned unenthusiastically.

Slowly sitting up, Danny glared at the seed the appropriately named tackle weed had flung at him.

"Magical world, magical creatures, magical plants… eugh. And this is not even the first time I've been attacked by a plant. At least I know there aren't any more of these things around."

"You sure?" Cujo asked.

"Yeah, tackle weeds always grow a distance from each other due to how they spread their seeds: throwing them at high speed at any creature they feel approaching through their root system. The seed will then get stuck in their fur, forcing them to carry the damned things around for a few days before it falls off. Though each plant only produces one seed, because of how large it is. Fortunately, that also means one should be enough for us… I hope."

Grabbing the slightly malleable seed, Danny shoved it in the bag; its many barbs instantly hooking onto the rough fabric and forcing him to apply some intangibility to stuff it all the way in.

With a grunt he swung the bag over his right shoulder, once again regretting his decision to collect the more difficult to gather ingredients.

Shaking his head, and forcing himself to ignore the smell hanging around him, he took to the air once more.

"Let's just go and get the rest of the things we need," he muttered.

'Master, I return with news,' Eclipse made herself known, almost causing Danny to drop his bag.

"Gha! Eclipse, don't do that," he called out after catching himself.

"I'm sorry," she said as her eyes materialized in the shadow now returned to Danny.

Shaking his head, noticing Cujo looking at him, he gave a small upwards nod to the green pup telling him to continue.

"Fine," Danny replied as he followed after Cujo. "You can talk on the way. But I'm sure that whatever it is, it can't be worse than the stink I'm carrying right now."

Eclipse quickly informed him, and he soon learned he was wrong about his assessment.

<<>><<>><<>>

Having observed the progress of Danny from a distance, the Elder had retreated back to the sanctum of Tree of Life.

Just like the young man, others were working on improving themselves. Though not always aware of doing so, or with a clear goal in mind.

Even then, it came as no surprise to her when she found one of the seeds fully grown; shining a bright but not blinding orange, and she knew young Scootaloo had grown in ways she did not yet realize herself.

Sadly, her friends seemed to be far behind, though the growth of this kind cannot be rushed.

It did come to some surprise, when she inspected the remaining two seeds, she found one of them glowing. It was a faint but strong glow, and she knew the one connected had taken her first step towards growth.

Done with her inspection of Tree of Life's children, she set her sight on Tree of Life herself.

"Your daughter has grown incredibly since we last saw her," she said warmly. "Necronomicon found a wonderful spot for her to take root. I'm sure you would approve. She certainly enjoys her place in the world. And she has your sense of humor as well," she added with a chuckle.

Some of Tree of Life's leaves rustled in a non-existent wind and the Elder's smile faded.

"But there is still a lot that needs to happen before they are truly ready. The children still have much to learn, and Daniel has only just accepted his role of savior after so many years of denial and regret. They all need time to mature. Time, I fear, they do not have. Their paths are clear to me for the next few steps, but blurred in uncertainty the further I look."

Tree of Life stood silent.

"I fear for what is to come, and that I will not be able to see it in time," she placed a hand on Tree of Life's trunk, sighing deeply.

"I hope this plan works."

<<>><<>><<>>

After the worrying warning from Eclipse regarding Discord, Danny had made his way over to the library once more, avoiding several familiar, and a couple of unfamiliar ghosts on his way there.

Now standing at the entrance, the doors open and uncountable rows of books greeting him, he stepped inside and moved towards the reading nook in which he knew he could find the Librarian.

Hovering on the spot near a burning fireplace, a stack of literature on either side and several sizable books hovering before him, the pages turning every now and then, the Librarian hummed contently as he took a sip from a steaming cup; the distinct smell of tea reaching Danny as he approached.

"Hello," he called out, and the Librarian paused mid-sip.

"Daniel Fenton," the Librarian said, lowering his cup and books to a table, then turned to look at his guest. "Back so soon? And not to return a book I see, which means the allure of knowledge has beckoned you once more."

"It has," Danny nodded. "The books you lent me have proven invaluable already, but other things have happened after that."

"As they usually do. So, tell me, how may I be able to assist you this time?"

"Apparently a powerful reality bender is out there. Name's Discord, and a real pain in the backside. I hoped there is a book here that may help me figure this guy out. Maybe even his lifebook, though I doubt I'll be that lucky."

"Discord?" the Librarian repeated, slightly shocked.

"You know him?"

"No, but I have heard of him. Once. Necronomicon spoke of him during one of our conversations, though he quickly changed the subject when he did and refused to speak any more of it, nor did I pry any further into this matter."

"And the secrets just keep coming," Danny muttered, shaking his head. "So Necronomicon knows Discord. Probably the other way around as well, which tells me absolutely nothing," he sighed. "Nothing new there. Anyway, I think I still know my way over to the lifebooks. Is it okay if I go there myself and see if I can find anything that could be of use to me?"

"I have no problems with you going on your own. The lifebooks will be blank to you if you are not allowed to know their story, and all other knowledge stored here is free to all who seek it."

"Thanks," Danny nodded. "I'll let you know if I have more questions."

"Of course," the Librarian nodded as well. "And I hope you find the answers you're looking for."

"So do I," Danny said, leaving the helpful ghost behind.

Retracing his steps back to the lifebook section was simple enough. Finding the right aisle in the ever-expanding area, not so much. Worse still was that he wasn't sure if Discord's name was his real name, just as it was with Celestia and Luna. At least with them, he had Eclipse to help him out, but now he probably needs to check each book starting with D just to be sure.

At least he could now duplicate himself.

Passing numerous rows of bookcases, he eventually found himself back where he first was brought by the Librarian when searching for Celestia and Luna's lifebooks.

Following the markers on the sides of each bookcase at the start of a new aisle, he located the D section quickly enough. Passing through the aisle with speed, scanning the spine of each book until the second letter of the alphabet moved up to i, he slowed down, muttering some of the names as he read them.

"Dia Slide, Dinged Bell, Disco Fever… These are some weird names," he remarked as he slowed down. "Okay… Disco. Disco. Even more Disco… Guess their parents had a severe case of boogie fever when they named them… Which is probably a name as well. Ponies are weird. Hmm…" A band of energy split him in two, and moments later four of his were quickly scanning the shelves.

"Anything?" one of them asked after nearly twenty minutes of searching.

"Nothing here," another replied. "Found some griffon names. Or, I think they are griffon names. Maybe something else. I dunno."

""Same,"" the remaining two replied simultaneously.

"To no-one's surprise," the first one remarked.

"Well, Necronomicon apparently doesn't have a lifebook. What if Discord is the same?"

"It certainly looks like it, but then again, we have only searched this small part of the library. Discord's lifebook could be hiding anywhere."

"Well, he is all about chaos. Maybe his book is under C?"

"Sounds too predictable, so I doubt it."

"And going with the chaos thing, it could just as well be hiding among the cookbooks. Assuming there is a lifebook to start with.

"I think the Librarian would have said something if that was the case. He certainly knows more about this place, and the books in it than we do."

"True," the other three agreed simultaneously.

"So, no lifebook of this guy?"

"Guess not, no."

"It would have been too easy anyhow," one of them snorted. "Besides, even if we did find it, chances are I can't read it anyhow."

"So, what do we do then?" one asked.

"Some books about chaos in general sound like a good idea. Maybe something detailing Equestria's history. That should tell me something."

"We could get that back in Ponyville as well," another remarked. "And what Eclipse has told us, Twilight and her friends have a lot of experience with the guy."

"Still wouldn't hurt to see if there is anything here, though."

"True."

"If I may interject," Eclipse spoke up, drawing their attention to their shadows. "Something else has happened as well."

"Great, more bad news," one Danny groaned.

"Not bad news, per se," Eclipse said. "Your other self in Ponyville has encountered a mare he believes to be a descendent of someone called Spring Breeze. Her Cutie Mark is apparently the same."

"Spring Breeze?" one of them said, surprised. "But that means-"

"If true, she is one of them," another cut in. "Has she shown any signs other than a similar Cutie Mark? Changelink like wings, fangs, transformation capabilities?"

"Not that I know of, but your other self is positive she is related… He did find her in your home, searching the place for something."

All four stiffened at that news.

"No doubt about it then. Celestia only uses those who are 'cursed'."

"Doing her dirty work in exchange for a cure that will never be found."

"Spying on me while Celestia herself stays on the sidelines."

"Your other self wants you to find Spring Breeze's lifebook for this mare to learn the truth about herself," Eclipse informed them.

"Right," all four nodded, then rejoined in a burst of light. "Discord can wait a little while longer. This comes first," and he flew off without another word.

<<>><<>><<>>

Well, can't say I expected this to be easy," Danny remarked as he pulled one of many books titled Spring Breeze from the shelves.

"Just how many are there?" he wondered as he looked at the mass of books. "Thousands… More?"

"Just as with us humans, it is not uncommon for them to share the same name," the Librarian made himself known, approaching Danny. "Apologies for sneaking up on you like this, but after you mentioned Discord I couldn't stop thinking about how Necronomicon reacted when he spoke of him, and I can't shake the feeling this was far more important than I initially believed it to be."

"You're probably right," Danny told him. "As far as I can tell, he does not have a lifebook. Or if he does, it's hidden someplace."

"No lifebook?! Are you sure?"

"Nothing on the shelf with his name. It could be the same as with Celestia and Luna, but I have no idea where to start looking if that's the case."

"This is most puzzling," the Librarian replied, surprised and confused. "And quite worrying as well. The books of Celestia and Luna were frightening in their own way; their names altered as they were. The idea there might be another is troubling. But if there is no book to start with then… then this Discord may be similar to Necronomicon."

"Neither option appeals to me," Danny said, shaking his head. "But right now I need to find the lifebook of someone else."

"Another lifebook? What for, if I may ask?"

"There is someone back there, a descendant of this pony. She's a child of mixed heritage but believes this to be a curse. Not really her fault, though. She's been lied to, her whole life. I want to set that right."

"You certainly are busy trying to help so many."

"Yeah, no kidding. Now I just need to figure out which Spring Breeze is the one I'm looking for."

"That may prove to be a time-consuming task," the Librarian commented as they both looked at the numerous books.

"At least I can duplicate myself, but still…" he fell silent, thinking. "Say, you once told me these books are, for a lack of better words, alive."

"It's not a good way to describe these books, but yes. It's how they know who is trying to read them, and if they are allowed to do so."

"Which means they understand what is happening with them… Sort of. Hmmm," he looked at the book in his hand, then the many others. "I wonder," he put the book back in place, then took a step away.

"I'm looking for the lifebook belonging to Spring Breeze of Yoke from over a thousand years ago. Her descendant needs to know of her heritage and the lies she was made to believe."

"I'm afraid that is not going to work," the Librarian said. "The books-"

With a flurry of sound, as if millions of pages turned all at once, the books around them started to shift and move and both Danny and the Librarian watched as some of them sprung off their shelves, floated in the air, then returned to their places.

More and more books began to move, almost making the walls of literature seem like an endless wave as the two stood there and watched without a sound.

For minutes this continued before the library calmed down again, and all the books returned to their proper places except one. A book of which the cover seemed to shift in color depending on the angle you looked at it slowly floated over to Danny, then bobbed in the air before him; the name on the cover reading: Spring Breeze.

Holding out a hand, the book lowered itself and opened to the first page.

The page was blank to Danny, but as he watched the book produced a detailed family tree starting with Spring Breeze's parents; her mother Fire Blitz, and her father Chip. Named so for the chipped fang he gained as a colt.

Danny quickly moved through the names as the family tree continued on the next page, then the next, until he reached the end, leaving only a handful of names. All of which he didn't recognize, except one.

"Eclipse," he said, never looking away from the book. "Did my other self figure out who this mare is by any chance?"

"Yes," she replied. "It's B-"

"Bon Bon," with a snap Danny closed the book.

"Danny," Eclipse said. "She has the ability to transform."

"And believing it to be a curse," Danny muttered darkly. "She needs this book."

"It… The books, they heard you… They answered," the Librarian said barely above a whisper, looking at Danny as if seeing him for the first time. "How? In all the years I have watched over this library, never has anything like this happened. But you, the lifebooks allowed you to read them, and now they answer your call. This… this is not normal. It is as if the books know something, and you are the one who needs to be told to make it happen."

"What do you mean?"

Before the Librarian could even begin to formulate a response, a small shadow moved over the pair, and both looked up to see another book hovering over towards Danny.

Surprised, Danny reached out with his free hand and grabbed the light blue book out of the air.

"Apple Pie," he gasped upon seeing the name, and the book flipped open; a detailed family tree appearing to him again.

His eyes widened when the last names were written down.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Ponies and Changelings had foals together?!" Sweetie Belle half-shouted her surprise.

"That's what I just said," Erlea deadpanned.

"But… but… why does nopony know about this?"

"You already know the answer," Abella said without humor and Sweetie Belle stiffened in shock.

"You mean Princess Celestia made everypony forget?" she gasped, not quite believing it.

"Worse," Danny told her. "She made everyone believe the foals of pony and changelink heritage are cursed. Linking it to Nightmare Moon, and refusing to see them as anything more than that."

"We changelings…" Erlea paused, blinked, then corrected herself. "Changelinks still show some traits we got from our pony ancestors. Mom has her eyes, and the frills of several of us look more like manes. Almost all of us can eat pony food now, but it won't sustain us, though we can throw it back up in the form of this jelly we used to encase you."

This bit of news caused Sweetie Belle to flinch, her face turning a few shades of green.

"There used to be larger differences, depending on what our fathers were," Abella continued. "If they were a pegasus, any changelink would grow larger wings and be able to fly for much longer than usual. Earth pony meant greater strength. And if they were a unicorn their nymphs would have greater magical strength, and a different color corona compared to the usual dark green."

"Most of that is gone now," Erlea said bitterly. "Sometimes a nymph hatches with a pony trait, but it's rare. Especially with how few of us do hatch… Nor have there been any eggs for almost four years now."

Sweetie Belle was silent, looking at the floor as she thought.

"It's different for the pony side of things," Danny said when no one else seemed to do so. "Though this is mostly because of their healthy numbers, and they are not starving to death. Still, it is somewhat uncommon for a foal to be born with changelink traits with how diluted their changelink blood has become. But when it shows… Well, Celestia happens. Though… " he trailed off, tapping a foot as he thought.

"Though, what?"

"There is something I have been wondering ever since the Murgröna showed me the memories of Apple Pie. And I'm surprised you haven't as well," he looked at Sweetie Belle. "Though seeing it and being told about it are two different things entirely."

"What are you talking about?" asked Erlea.

"Besides the obvious differences a pony/changelink hybrid has, there are other, more subtle differences as well. Like the ability to sense the emotions of others. It is in no way as noticeable as fangs, changelink like wings, or the ability to change the color of your mane and coat, which means it is possible Celestia doesn't know about these traits being connected, or that it exists at all. With that in mind, and the pony Apple Pie was, I can't help but wonder if there may be a connection between them?"

"You should wonder no more," Eclipse said as she slid up the wall; her eyes materializing in the dark image.

"Eclipse? What do you mean?"

"Events transpiring in both Ponyville and the Ghost Library have uncovered an expected, but no less surprising revelation. I'll leave it to your other self to explain everything in detail, but this is something you all should know. Apple Pie's descendants are still alive and numerous. And as you derived from her name, she is the ancestor of both the Apples and the Pies."

"""WHAT!?""" a trio of voices shouted.

"You mean they are of changeling blood?" Erlea jumped up, shocked.

"Changelink, and yes," Danny said. "And it explains a lot. Applejack's ability to tell a lie. Pinkie Pie's sensitivity to the emotions of others. They are traits they inherited from Buzz and the other changelinks in their ancestry."

"Then Apple Bloom is part changeling, eh, link as well," Sweetie Belle gasped.

"A small part, but yes."

Abella and Erlea were stunned into silence, though the less than subtle ear twitches gave away they had a lot to say about what they just learned. And Danny knew that right now, every changelink able to hear them would no doubt have a similar reaction to them.

After all, it is not everyday you learn that some of the ponies who they fought during the invasion of Canterlot were also the descendants of the pony who first taught them to talk.

"We should tell Apple Bloom this," said Sweetie Belle.

"Danny's other self is already planning to give her Apple Pie's lifebook," Eclipse informed her. "The Librarian said it may be possible for her to read it."

"Learning more about herself and her lost history may prove worthwhile in the long run," Danny nodded.

"For her and Bon Bon," said Eclipse.

"Wait, what?"

"Bon Bon is also related to the changelinks. She has unknowingly revealed her color shift capability to your other self, and she turns out to be related to Spring Breeze."

Sweetie Belle looked surprised, but Danny seemed almost angry at this news.

"Which also means she has to be working for Celestia."

Now the ear twitching of Abella and Erlea stopped as well, and both stared at both him and Eclipse with large, disbelieving eyes.

"I take it my other self also has a lifebook for her to read."

"Yes."

"Good."

"There are some other things as well, but as I said earlier your other self will be better at explaining everything in detail. He should return here after delivering the books to the version of you in Ponyville."

"Okay," he nodded. "Maybe something good may come out of this."

Eclipse nodded, then fell from the wall and returned to Danny's feet.

Standing in silence for a moment as he mulled all of this over, Danny eventually turned back to the fillies.

"Okay, th-"

"How?" asked Erlea.

Danny was confused for only a moment, then showed a thin smile.

"These things have a habit of happening to me. But I don't know any more than what Eclipse just told us. Not until my other self returns here, at least."

"But… what do you mean by Bon Bon working for Celestia? She makes candy, and sells it in her store," Sweetie Belle said, confused.

"She does, yes," Danny grimaced. "But that is not all she does, apparently." A frustrated sigh came from him, "I learned this from Celestia's lifebook. Whenever a pony is found with 'symptoms' of this 'curse', specialized agents of hers will ascertain the severity of this corruption. Those of them with fangs or changelink wings, or some other thing not pony which is not easily hidden will be taken away under some cover story. In truth they are recruited in an organization who do Celestia's dirty work, sometimes with risk to their lives, in exchange for any and all treatments that may cure them," he revealed with poorly concealed disgust.

"The second worst part is that these ponies are almost always foals when they are found. Born with their 'abnormalities', or develop them in their early years. Meaning they are told from the start that they are cursed, abnormal, and what they have is something to be ashamed of. The worst thing is that because of this, some of them will have cosmetic changes done on them. The removal of their fangs or wings. This so they look normal again, allowing them to return to their families under the guise of being cured, while in reality, they will stare at their reflection in disgust because they are not normal."
No one said anything, their shock keeping them from doing so.

"S.M.I.L.E., that is what Celestia called this organization," Danny continued. "The Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria. They are the ones who go out and find any hidden threat and subdue it before it threatens society at large. This of course also includes those like themselves, which really puts the 'Monster' part of the name in perspective. Though the only monster there is the one who came up with the name."

"Tha- that is terrible," Sweetie Belle stuttered.

"And the reason… One of the reasons she needs to be brought down. Hard."

"But how would you do that?" Abella, overcoming her shock, asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Danny admitted, sighing deeply. "It has to be done in a way where she can't just deny it, cover it up, or twist the truth in some way where she goes free. Her lifebook helps, but on its own, it will not be enough. And if I go there, reveal everything, myself included by calling Astina it will probably become an even bigger mess," he held up his hands in a fake panic to ward off danger. "The Terror of Amity Park here to attack the princess with his minion of darkness," he let his arms fall to his sides. "Or something else ridiculous. But you get the idea."

"Then what will you do?" Abella asked.

"For now, prepare. Find as much evidence against her. And just as important, train. If I go against Celestia, I need every advantage I can get. It's why my other self is back in the Far Frozen, to gain mastery over this ice power I have."

"This… I can't believe she did all of this," Sweetie Belle said, voice breaking.

"Why would she even think it is a curse?!" Erlea shouted, jumping to her hooves in righteous anger.

"Nightmare Moon," Danny answered. "When Luna got corrupted, her fur became black, her eyes became slit, and she gained fangs. This was because of Fenrir, but Celestia did not know this. Even more, when Luna was corrupted, she also infected her closest guards, twisting and corrupting them into true monsters. Monsters I once fought before, back on my world after they were released from Pandora's box," he grimly added, then held up a hand. "Long story, and not at all important right now. It's already causing a lot of frustration for Fenris, and neither of us knows how they ended up in Pandora's box in the first place. As for Celestia, when she first encountered the ponies and changelinks in Yoke, she saw ponies with fangs, pitch-black changelinks, and several of them with slitted eyes. I won't excuse her for what she did, but at the time she believed them to be afflicted in a similar way as Luna. Though she purposely ignored all the signs that proved otherwise, because what else could it be? And in doing so, she turned a terrible mistake into a gruesome crime."

"That- but- she- GHAA!" Erlea shook in rage as words failed her.

A pair of legs wrapped around her neck, and before she even realized what was happening Sweetie Belle had pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

Surprise and shock quickly replaced the anger she felt, and for a moment Erlea stood stunned on the spot.

"What are you apologizing for?" Abella asked. "You didn't do this."

"No, I didn't," Sweetie Belle answered, still holding Erlea. "But I did hurt you, and the others and it made me feel awful. But to know you were hurt so much worse by… by somepony everypony thinks is the kindest and most beloved pony there is… I may not have done those things, but I have to apologize for it. No pony else has done so for so long," she squeezed a bit tighter, enough for Erlea to start flailing her legs while trying to pull her off, much to Abella's amusement.

Finally, Sweetie Belle released her, and the ivory filly stepped away with a sad smile.

"Feeling better?" asked Danny.

"Not really," Sweetie Belle shook her head.

"... Ponies are weird," Erlea responded after a second. "And no, not at all."

"Me neither," Danny sighed. "Not until this has stopped. All of it."

"But not on your own," Sweetie Belle stomped a hoof, looking up at him with determination burning in her eyes. "You said you were training to be better; to prepare for when the time comes to stop Celestia. Then I will too! I will learn to control this… this hunger. And I will learn to control my powers!"

Danny looked at the young pony with wide eyes, recognizing his younger self in her desire to do what is right.

Of course having lived that life he knew the dangers it posed and had no intentions of allowing her to get into any more danger than she has already gotten.

He also knew there was no stopping her, or her friends once they made up their minds.

"It won't be easy, you know that," he said, and Sweetie Belle gave a single, firm nod. "You also do realize that if you start to train your powers, you most likely burn through the fear you have already consumed? Meaning you will need to eat more fear to keep going," Sweetie Belle faltered for only a second, then nodded again. "And you do know that if you go through with this, your life will become much more difficult in the long run, with ghost hunters out there to take you down?"

"Wouldn't they try to do that anyhow?"

"... Yeah," Danny had to admit. "They would."

"Besides, if I don't learn to use these powers my life would be even more difficult."

For a moment Danny's mind flashed back to all the times he had numerous mugs, plates and glasses shatter on the floor as he went intangible outside his control; all the times he sunk through the floor for the same reason, the accidental discharges of his ectoplasm when he sneezed and all the other things that drew attention he didn't want.

"Yes it would be," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, if we're doing this then we're doing it properly. First, you need to learn about this hunger, to prevent another feral phase to happen."

"Right," Sweetie Belle nodded.

"I'm not expecting you to master it on the first try, but some measure to control it is needed before anything else. The books I brought will have to do before then, so study them inside and out."

"Hm," Sweetie Belle once more nodded determinedly.

"And the same goes for you two," Danny turned to the two changelinks in the room. "Even without your hivemind, I know what you're thinking. Besides the questions, if ponies and I are crazy, yes, by the way, you all need to know what to expect."

"That's why I have been reading that book you gave me," Erlea deadpanned.

"Yes, but only you," Danny countered. I'm not saying all of you need to learn each book inside and out, but this city does house several ghosts now. Wind Chill and I will keep the more extreme events to a minimum, but even so, you need to know what to do just in case. As you have already experienced, it may very well be the difference between life and death."

Both Erlea and Abella looked at him with large eyes, but it wasn't until Sweetie Belle gasped he realized they were looking past him.

"Well then," a weak but determined voice spoke up, and Danny turned around to see Chrysalis standing on slightly shaking legs in the open doorway. "Then I suggest we all start teaching each other."

Author's Note

The tackle weed was created by, and used with permission from JarOfHearts.

Please share your thoughts and opinions down in the comments.

~powerdrainer

Education

Edited by Slayerseba, Halusm, and Clawder.

Education

<<>><<>><<>>

"MOM!" Erlea cried as she ran to her mother, and Chrysalis lowered her head to nuzzle the top of her daughter's head.

"What are you doing here?" asked Danny. "I can see your legs shaking from here. You should still be in bed, recovering."

"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do!" Chrysalis said with a hiss. "If I can stand, I'm healthy enough to lead."

"And if you're barely able to stand?" Danny retorted, crossing his arms. "I can see where Erlea gets her stubbornness from," he added with a shake of the head.

Chrysalis didn't answer immediately as she raised her head back up, regarding him at eye level.

"Not nearly as stubborn as you. Even in my delirious state, I still remember that wolf attacking you; impaling you on his claws; wounding you far beyond what anyone would be able to survive. Yet here you are, unharmed, healthy, and already planning on taking down one of the most powerful beings in this world."

"It comes with the job," Danny half-joked. "Both the injuries, and taking down so-called royalty."

"So you have said," Chrysalis slowly closed the distance between them, Erlea following beside her while Abella and Sweetie Belle watched silently. "And so I have seen."

Danny arched an eyebrow, "The Murgröna, I presume. Not sure how I feel about my past being so easily accessible after the trouble I went through to keep it hidden. Though I certainly saw a lot in return, so I can't really complain about it either."

Now face to face, Danny was able to notice the labored breath Chrysalis was trying to hide, and the various cracks in her chitin she couldn't hide without transforming.

"I'm going to be honest here, you look like crap," he said bluntly. "Ignoring the disease you suffered through, your chitin is compromised to the point you need to mold before it has a chance to cause infections. Which of course does mean you need to be in a state to be able to do so, which is obviously not the case right now. Bringing me back to my point, you need to rest. "

"And if I don't, are you going to force me?"

"If I have to."

For a while, Chrysalis stared at him with tired but intense eyes. Then, as if a bubble burst, she laughed; which was promptly interrupted by a coughing fit.

"Ye -Hack- es, you would. And in my state, I would most likely lose as well."

"Glad we're on the same page here," Danny said, smirking faintly as he uncrossed his arms. "And I take it this well-thought-out plan of yours to edge the brink of collapse is the result of you overhearing everything Erlea and Devora learned here the last hour."

"Yes," Chrysalis coughed again, wiping away some spit from her mouth. "And I'll admit it is not one of my more thought-out plans. But as I just said. If I am able to stand, I am able to lead."

Unimpressed, Danny gave her a weak shove.

With a strangled cry, Chrysalis fell over, only to be caught by Danny's spectral hold.

"Guess you're not yet ready to lead after all," he said without humor as he returned her to her hooves.

"YOU DARE!"

"We've been over this already. Just accept the fact you're currently at my mercy," he said, eyes glowing a strong green as he looked into Chrysalis' eyes. "So rest. Recover."

"If I didn't know better I'd think this was an intricate plot for you to take the throne," Chrysalis said with a grunt as she put weight on her hooves. "Earn our trust, then strike me down when I am most vulnerable."

"I'm not Celestia. And If I wanted your throne, I could have easily done so already," Danny remarked grimly. "And honestly, I have no interest in becoming a king, or a ruler of any kind. It just feels wrong, especially considering I have already beaten down three kings. Though admittedly, I was mostly unconscious during the fight against Sombra. So does that one count?" he hummed, losing himself in thought for a moment there.

Shaking those thoughts away, he released his hold over Chrysalis and allowed her to stand on her own again.

"Now, seeing you're here anyway, might as well make the most of this. Sweetie Belle needs to learn about this hunger you have, how to control it. Erlea has been doing a good job so far, but you might have some insights she doesn't yet know about."

With somewhat stiff motions, Chrysalis turned to look at Sweetie Belle who, in turn, looked back at the royal changeling with a mixture of hope and worry.

"I suppose I can teach her a few things," Chrysalis said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Great," Danny nodded. "And after that, I'll answer what I can about us ghosts."

"Very well," Chrysalis agreed, then shakily moved to sit beside the lectern. "Class is in session."

Danny chuckled at that, joining her on the other side of the relic of better times.

"Yes, time to get educated."

<<>><<>><<>>

It had been several hours since the duplicate Danny returned from his trip to collect the various ingredients for Zecora, yet the pungent stench of the haze berries had not diminished in the slightest.

Somehow, through what had to be divine intervention, Zecora seemed to be immune to the stench. It had to be because Danny simply couldn't believe her to just ignore the smell of rot and decay. A smell, he grimly noted, was identical in potency as to that surrounding Despair.

As such, neither Cujo nor any of the changelinks were present in the room, leaving only him and Zecora. The former breathing through his mouth while watching from a distance, while the latter worked with single minded focus on the brew bubbling in her cauldron, and thus in the thick of the stench.

Every now and then, when Zecora deemed the next batch ready, she would fill as many flasks as she could.

Danny, after a moment of insight after waiting for what seemed like an eternity with the first batch, and approval from Zecora when he suggested the idea, would then apply a small amount of his ice to hasten the cooling process, after which he would deliver the elixir to the waiting foals several rooms further down the hall.

This was always met with mixed reactions.

The foals were always excited when he arrived with more potions to help heal their loved ones, but then there was the smell surrounding him.

He really, really needed a bath.

At least it was for a good cause.

"Fuck me, I stink," Danny gasped in shocked disgust, and with a groan Danny turned around to see his white hair counterpart hover some distance away, pinching his nose shut.

"Gee, thanks. Hadn't noticed myself," he replied with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

"No, really. It makes Tucker's homemade cologne smell like roses."

"Just get to the point," Danny crossed his arms, staring flatly at his double.

"Well, I came here to remerge and share the knowledge I have gained. But now… I'm not sure. Don't want to either reek like you or have the memories of it eith- Ghaouch!" He suddenly yelled out as a wooden ladle slammed against the back of his head; the wet utensil clattering to the floor a second later where it was picked up by an irritated Zecora.

"You will do what needs to be done. And do it now, before all my concentration is gone!"

"Yes Ma'am," Danny hastily complied, and, turning into a wisp of energy, he flew into his other self's chest.

Staggering back, hand holding into his head, Danny groaned in displeasure as a flood of mismatched memories came rushing in, clashing with his own.

"Shit. Frostbite wasn't kidding," he grunted as he slowly straightened himself. "... And now I remember this smell from another perspective as well."

Shaking his thoughts free from the mess of memories still sorting themselves out, he smiled apologetic at Zecora.

"Sorry about that."

Zecora gave a single nod, returning to her cauldron.

"The remaining work you can leave to me, so I suggest you go where you need to be."

"Thanks," Danny said gratefully, noticing Zecora was already back in the zone working on her elixir, and he quickly left a block of ice to help cool the next batch, then left the wise zebra to her work in silence.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So active feeding is done by siphoning energy directly from the, eh, target through your bite as this makes them panic, breaking any potential defenses they would otherwise have and allowing you to… drain them?" Sweetie Belle summed up, slightly green in the face.

"Not exactly, but not too far off," Chrysalis commented. "We bite our prey first and foremost to prevent their escape. This, of course, is easier said than done, and becomes more difficult with larger prey. As such, active feeding is only done on smaller, weaker or incapacitated targets. Or, as has been the case for many of us for such a long time, without care in starved desperation," she exhaled a deep sigh. "As for the feeding itself. Once bitten, and if able, the target will fight to escape, meaning a great deal of energy will be spent to resist these attempts while holding them down. As such, we must make sure the expenditure is worth the effort. If not, there is little reason for us to go through with the attempt."

Sweetie Belle quietly looked at the floor between herself and Chrysalis.

"As for the draining of energy… That is not so easily explained. All of us changeling...ks instinctively know how to do this. Our young only need to learn how to properly control this, lest they drain too much too quickly. Though such a thing has not been a problem to us for a long time either," she closed her eyes as another deep sigh escaped her. "But what I can tell you is that, when we feed, we can 'feel' the energy we need, while blocking those we don't want."

"But how do you feel this?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Hmmm," Chrysalis looked up, thinking.

"Think about the best thing you have ever eaten," Danny suggested. "And the worst. How do either make you feel? Now imagine feeling those things while you are eating them. One you would practically inhale, while the other you would preferably throw in the thrash."

"Hmm, is that how you interpret this?" asked Chrysalis.

"It's the closest I can get," Danny shrugged.

"Then we shall work with that."

"So… I need to focus on the worst thing I have ever eaten then?"

"No," Erlea said, having sitten quietly close to her mother until now. "The opposite."

"What?!"

"She's right," Abella, sitting next to Sweetie Belle, spoke up. "To you, fear is a good thing. You were sucking it out of all of us, as if inhaling a great meal. Just as Danny said."

"Bu- bu- No, I would never like that."

"You wouldn't, no," Danny frowned. "Your powers, however, would."

"W- what do you mean?"

"I mean that, until you gain control over your powers, they will act on their own. You must have noticed this already with your invisibility and intangibility, right?"

"I… yes," Sweetie Belle quietly confirmed.

"This is no different. It happened to me, too. Not in the same way as what you are going through, but similar in a way."

"You went crazy and attacked others in feral rage?" Erlea asked, surprised.

"Thankfully not. No, my ice powers manifested themselves by slowly freezing me solid, and I had no idea what was going on. Eventually, I got cold to the point my surroundings were affected as well. The frost giants were able to help me, and taught me what was happening and how to control it. But even then, that power will always act on its own, sucking in as much cold as it can. And if I don't let it out every now and then, I will freeze up again. Best guess, this is something similar," he returned his attention to Sweetie Belle. "You have been slowly feeding upon the fear around you without knowing it, the power slowly growing and growing until it consumed you, too."

Danny cocked his head to the side, frowning as another thought came to mind.

"And thinking about it, this power most likely becomes all the stronger from the fear you feel for it as well."

"If her hunger is anything like ours, she would not be able to consume her own fear," said Chrysalis.

"True. But even then, her own fear could just as easily consume her."

"The fear of fear itself," Chrysalis hummed, nodding in understanding. "Denying it, fighting it and inadvertently adding to it until no more can be pushed away and it explodes with far more power than it alone couldn't have."

"Exactly. Which means you need to let it out in a controlled manner," he said, looking back at Sweetie Belle.

"But how?"

"Good question," Danny scratched at his stubble. "I have some ideas… Well, one actually. But before we can even begin to work on that, we should first finish this class before starting another. So, Chrysalis. Please contin-"

"Yeeeah, might want to plan in an extended recess," Danny interrupted as he flew through the door, and all present immediately gagged and clamped shut their nose. "Yeah yeah, I stink," Danny sighed out, rolling his eyes.

"Seriously, what happened to you? You smell like you died."

"Only half," the hovering human said without humor, crossing his arms. "And it's worse for Zecora. Don't know how she's ignoring this stench, but she has her nose right on top of it."

"Right… And how's things in Ponyville?"

"Would take too long to explain it all through words. In fact, I leave that to you. That, and this stink," Danny said with some smugness and, before his other self could respond, he turned into a wisp of energy and shot into the remaining human's chest.

"Ghnnhaa," Danny grunted as he sunk to a knee, clutching his head with a hand. "Son of a- Frostbite wasn't joking… And why does my breath stink like that now? he gagged. "Eugh, these powers just don't make sense sometimes."

"Are you alright?'' asked Sweetie Belle.

"I'll be once I get some mouthwash," Danny said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Standing back up, grimacing from the awful taste he could now sense as well, he sighed out deeply as every new memory was put in place.

"Okay, both lifebooks have been placed where they can be found," he began. "Shouldn't be too difficult for Bon Bon to find hers, though Apple Bloom may need to get a bit creative to get a chance to retrieve the one for her. Couldn't risk placing it in her room, with the chance of her family finding it. Hmmm…" he turned to Chrysalis. "Is there anything you can tell me about Discord?"

"Discord?" Chrysalis repeated, surprised. "Not much. The memories in the Murgröna only show so much, as no changelink was near the worst of his chaos when he rampaged over the world a millennia ago. And his reign of terror was cut short after he escaped last time. But why would this be important to you?"

"Because both Celestia and Luna, in their infinite wisdom, thought it a good idea to release Discord and have him help against the ghosts terrorizing the nation."

"WHAT All present shouted in disbelief. Chrysalis then coughed violently.

"Oh, it gets better," Danny added darkly. "Their plan failed before they even thought of it because, as it turns out, Discord was never captured to begin with. He tricked them into believing they did. Also, Sweetie Belle. You and your friends apparently never set him free back then."

"What? But wasn't the chaos from our argument what broke the seal placed upon him?"

"No," Danny frowned deeply. "He and I… my other self had an in depth conversation after he 'took' me to his home… I think," he shook his head. "Long story short, he broke free long before that. Calling the chaos you created a drop in the ocean. In fact, apparently, me opening the first tear, and the chaos it caused was what set him free, and he has been doing who knows what behind the scenes. Oh, and apparently he knows all about me, you-" he looked at Sweetie Belle "-and all of you-" he turned to Chrysalis "-and what Celestia has done to you. And he is eager to see the chaos I will create by taking down Celestia."

No one spoke, shaken by what they were just told.

"So… anything you know about the guy would be useful."

"I… don't know what to say," Chrysalis said after a moment. "To any of it."

"Not too surprising," Danny sighed, then grimaced from the taste in his mouth. "Guess everything you know has already been shown in the Murgröna. And everything else… Well, don't think anyone would have an answer to that. Guess I just leave that problem to my Ponyville counterpart to figure out, because we have enough to deal with as is-and if you'll excuse me. I'm going to get some water to hopefully wash away this awful taste and stink the other me cursed me with," he added in the same breath, no longer able to ignore his rebelling senses of smell and taste. "Chrysalis, please continue. I'll be back in a minute," and he quickly left before any could respond.

"... This is all crazy, right?" asked Abella.

"Crazy doesn't begin to cover it," Erlea replied.

"It's certainly… different," Chrysalis agreed.

"Eh, I've seen weirder back at school," said Sweetie Belle, and the others all looked at her.

"Explain," Chrysalis said.

****

"NO, IT HAD THREE HEADS, AND ACID TEETH!" Button Mash shouted.

"NOPONY CARES ABOUT YOUR GAME!" Peach Fuzz shouted just as loud. "WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GHOST!"

"OH YEAH," Button replied. "IT HAD SIX HEADS, AND SPITS ACID!"

Scootaloo slammed her face onto her desk with an exasperating groan while Devora could only sit in silence, wondering how these ponies managed to create a functional society.

****

'THESE PONIES ARE INSANE!' was shouted over the hivemind.

"On second thought, I don't think I want to know," Chrysalis added quickly.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle sighed. "Me neither."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Aah… I feel clean again," Danny sighed contently, back in the classroom, standing in a growing puddle of water as the wet stuff rained down from his water logged clothes while his soaked hair clung to his face.

"Danny… why are you leaking all over the floor?" Chrysalis asked warily.

"I took a dive in that waterfall you have over there," he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Got a good power wash both outside and in."

"And in?" Erlea repeated, confused.

"Intangibility has its uses," Danny remarked and, on cue, all the water soaking him fell to the floor at once. With a shake of his head, his hair jumped back to its spiky self. "And dangers as well," he added as he stepped out of the small lake he had created.

"Hmm," he stood silent for a second, then held out a blue glowing hand towards the water.

In a burst of blue, the water froze solid. Then, with another burst, the ice was pulled into his outstretched hand.

"Neat. That works," he cheered. "Right, where were we?"

"... Mom finished explaining how our hunger works," Erlea answered, staring at the tall human in a strange sense of wonder.

"And do you understand it as well?" Danny aimed at Sweetie Belle.

"I… think so," Sweetie Belle said uncertainly, frowning as she thought. "Their hunger… I guess my hunger as well, requires the intake of energy from others so I can remain healthy and use my powers. Similar to why we eat food. Though, unlike the changelinks, I also need food, which may slow down or reduce the hunger I have. Or… or…"

"We don't quite know," Chrysalis said. "This is something we have never seen before."

"Well, we already knew this would be more trial and error than anything else. But anything that can be learned from you is more than what we had before that. Combine it with the books I brought back, we will figure this one out in no time at all."

"I hope so," Sweetie Belle said morosely.

"Hey, don't be like that. I know things are scary and weird right now, but chin up. I've been there, too. And I can tell you this much. Soon this whole thing will stop being scary, and instead will be just weird," Danny said with a reassuring smile. "Now, why don't we get out of this room and go get some practical education, hmm?"

"You mean-"

"Yes, ghost training. You and I. Also, Erlea, Abella, you come too. This will be just as important for you to learn. And Chrysalis," he turned to the bedragged queen. "Go to bed."

"And if I don't?"

Danny crossed his arms while his eyes flashed green.

"Try me."

Chrysalis glared at him, obviously wanting to retort. Before she had a chance to do so, however, a band of energy flashed into existence around Danny, and a moment later two of him stood before her.

"Not going to happen," they both said.

"Wha-"

"Bed," one Danny said, taking a step closer while pointing his index finger in a warning manner at her. "Now!"

"I… I was starting to feel tired anyhow," Chrysalis fumbled, glaring at Danny while not directly looking at him.

"Hmhmm," Danny hummed in amusement, smirking slightly. "I got this one," he said over his shoulder at his other self. "You go and do the other thing."

"Way ahead of you," the other replied as he led the fillies out of the classroom, smirking as well while both Erlea and Abella looked at both Chrysalis and the human close to her with large, disbelieving eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Oh, good. You're here too, Wind Chill," said Danny as he stepped off the bridge and towards the giant depositing yet another chunk of destroyed real estate on the floor near the entrance.

"Great One," Wind Chill greeted, elated. "And Sweetie Belle and her friends as well. How wonderful to see you all up and about again," he smiled at the three of them.

"Uhm… thanks," Abella said, uncertain while Sweetie Belle gave a faint smile at the giant.

"You've been busy as well, I see," Danny remarked, standing off to the side, hands in pockets while surveying the bits and pieces of the city scattered out before him.

"I have," Wind Chill agreed, standing back up to his full height and joining Danny. "It's the least I could do, and it allows the children to navigate the city without worrying about blockades or other hazards."

"Good thinking," Danny nodded. "So, Erlea. Is it alright if I use some of these pieces for a bit of ghost training? I can't promise they will remain intact, but seeing as they are already destroyed…"

"What would you even do with these things? Also, didn't you say you wouldn't train Sweetie Belle until she has control over her hunger so she wouldn't go on another rampage as she burns through the fear she'd consumed?"

"I did, and I wasn't lying. I will be doing most of the things, while you watch. Maybe Sweetie Belle can try out some of the stuff I show, if she's up to it. After all, she will need the training if she is to control that power she has. But right now, it's mostly show and tell. And only the basics. No need to make things too difficult right from the start, got enough of that already," Danny explained. "So, may I use some of this debris?"

"I, ehh… Sure, I guess."

"Thanks," Danny smiled at her, then transformed.

"Now, Wind Chill. You have been moving these pieces with muscle alone, right?"

"I have indeed," Wind Chill confirmed.

"Right," Danny nodded, stepping closer to a chunk of rock that had once been part of a wall almost as tall as him, and twice his width.

Placing his hand on the rock, he looked at the fillies behind him.

"Obviously this thing weighs a ton. No way for us to just pick it up and carry it away like Wind Chill did. But my powers allow me to do things where my muscles would fail me, like this," he explained, and the aura around his hand began to intensify while the glow in his eyes became stronger.

A moment later, the same aura that surrounded Danny encompassed the destroyed wall. And, with a grunt of exertion, the weight slowly lifted from the ground.

Taking a few steps with noticeable effort, Danny moved the wall.

Slowly lowering the weight to the floor, Danny let go, breathing heavy as he stepped away.

"Obviously the heavier the object you try to move, the more difficult it gets," he explained as he caught his breath, turning to see the fillies with their mouths hanging open.

"Ho- how did you do that?" asked Abella.

"We ghosts have the ability to extend some of our abilities to the objects or persons we touch. As I just demonstrated, I extended my flight ability to this chunk of stone. But because it is so much heavier than me, I could only keep it up for a few seconds. That said, I have used this ability to lift both myself and two of my friends easily for an extended duration. And a large group of people for a short while during an emergency. And that is just the ability to fly. I can do the same with intangibility and invisibility," he explained.

"Now, Sweetie Belle. I know you were trained a bit by the frost giants, so this is probably nothing new to you. Probably used those abilities a bit here and there back in Ponyville, right?"

"Eh, yes. I have. I even used the flying and invisibility power with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, but I can't use this intangibility I have," she answered.

"Let me guess. It just activates on its own, without any control?"

"Yes, but… I can't control it, at all. The Elder said it had to do with my magic interfering, or something."

"Interesting," Danny hummed, hand on his chin. Then his eyes lit up, figuratively speaking. "And has your intangibility acted up in any way recently?"

"Eh… I don't think so," she said thoughtfully, thinking back. "Why?"

"Because, when you were going through your… phase, you used intangibility to escape from the ice I put you in," Danny said.

"She also managed to escape from the jelly we put her in, somehow," Erlea informed them.

"And she was able to get out of the guest room, despite the door being closed," Abella added.

"Sounds like intangibility to me," Danny said, nodding. Then realization struck. "And when I found you and your friends amidst the chaos in the restaurant…?" he looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Eh…" she smiled sheepishly.

"Well, that explains that," he sighed, shaking his head. "Anyhow, getting back on topic. Since your powers acted up like they have, you have also been able to use your intangibility. My guess is that, whatever imbalance there was between your magic and spectral energy, may have sorted itself out because of it. So, if you're willing to try, I want you to push a leg through one of these pieces lying around here."

"I, uhm… I'm not sure," Sweetie Belle said quietly. "What if it doesn't work, and instead I go crazy again?"

"That won't happen," Danny said firmly. "Both Wind Chill and I are here should something go wrong, so there is no need to worry. But more importantly, you must learn to trust yourself again. Obviously, you are shaken by what happened; what you did. Anyone with a good heart would be. But the worst you can do right now is deny this new side of yours. Doing that will only make things worse in the long run as your own fear will only increase the danger of your powers. So, taking one step at a time, we will help you understand your powers, control them, and teach you not to fear them."

"The Great One is right, young spirit. Both in us keeping you and the others safe, and to help you better understand yourself," Wind Chill added reassuringly.

Sweetie Belle looked down at the floor, biting her lip while quietly muttering to herself.

"Okay," she sighed out, looking back up at Danny and Wind Chill. "I'll try."

"Awesome," Danny smiled, watching as the young unicorn stepped closer to a fragment of a former wall.

Holding up a hoof, Sweetie Belle closed the distance and pressed her hoof against the stone.

"Uhmm," she paused, blinked, pulled back her hoof, looked at it with confusion, then tried again with the same result. "How do I go intangible?"

"Hmm, good one," Danny said. "Best way I can say it is by thinking four dimensional."

"Huh?"

"Ehh… How do I explain this?"

"Try to imagine yourself moving through this stone," said Wind Chill. "And how you think this may feel."

"But if I'm intangible, wouldn't I be unable to feel anything?"

"Euehh… yes, you wouldn't..."

"So I need to imagine not feeling anything?"

"Hmm… this is far more difficult to put to words than I believed it to be," Wind Chill rumbled to himself.

"Video games," Danny said. "You have those here too, right? I'm sure I saw one of your classmates play on a hand, eh, hoof held gameboy thingy."

"You mean a Joy Boy?" said Sweetie Belle. "And what do video games have to do with this?"

"Depends. Have you ever played any?"

"A little, on the arcades when Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and I were trying to get our videogame Cutie Mark."

"You have arcades here? Nice. Ahum, anyway. In those games, you probably had to do things that, in real life, wouldn't be possible, right?"

"Eh, like falling from really high without injury?"

"Yes, like that. But did you question this when it happened, or did you accept the fact that, in that game, it is just how things worked?"

"I thought it was weird nothing happened when I fell, but Scootaloo found it funny so we kept playing and didn't question it when it happened again."

"Good. Now, think of this as a game as well, and you are the main character. You can do things that normally wouldn't be possible, but in this game it is. Don't question the how and why, just hit the button required to activate the skill, and have a laugh about how silly it is after the fact."

"That doesn't make any sense," Erlea called out.

"Yes… That's the point," Danny said simply.

"And why even videogames?" Erlea asked further.

"Well, I once possessed a video game to take the place of the game character in order to fight another ghost who had taken control over said game, and who threatened to use the game to gain access to the internet. The internet, being a worldwide connection of all computers containing the full knowledge of humanity," he explained. "So," he shrugged, "not like it is outside the realm of possibilities."

"... You're making this up, aren't you?" Erlea said after a short pause, obviously not believing a word of it.

"I wish," Danny sighed, eyes slightly unfocused as he thought back. "But it really did happen."

Silence.

"Anyhow, let's get back to you trying to use your intangibility," he said, looking back at Sweetie Belle. "And don't worry if it doesn't work. Weird attempts to explain it aside, I'm sure you'll figure it out in your own way. So go ahead and give it a try," he encouraged her.

Sweetie Belle looked up at Danny, blinked, then settled her gaze on the broken wall lying before her.

Taking a deep breath and holding it, she closed her eyes, thought back to the arcade games she and her friends had played in their crusade for a Cutie Mark, then stepped forwards… and walked face first into the wall.

"Ow!" she stumbled back, falling on her rump while she rubbed her now sore muzzle.

"Nice try," Danny said with a guilty smile. "But maybe stick with holding out a hoof before trying anything else."

"But how did you manage to control this?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Honestly… I'm not sure, really. It kinda came natural to me after the first few days. Before that it was a real struggle, with me sinking through the floor, or anything I held falling through me and shattering on the floor," he told her. "But don't let that discourage you. Just have to keep trying, and before long you will get the hang of this."

"Great One, if I may? Perhaps Sweetie Belle would be able to better understand her intangibility if you aid her during her first attempts."

"What do you me- Oh… that could work."

"What could?" Sweetie Belle looked at both Danny and Wind Chill.

"Remember how we both flew through the walls back in the palace in search of the throne room?" Danny asked, to which Sweetie Belle nodded. "Why not try something like that again? I'll use my intangibility on us both, and you focus on how it feels."

Sweetie Belle thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Okay."

"Okay," Danny mirrored.

Kneeling down, he placed a hand on the fillies back.

"Right, how do you feel right now?"

"Uhm… Confused? When are you going to use your intangibility?"

"Already am. And a bit of levitation as well, to keep you from sinking through the floor," he informed her.

"You are?" Sweetie Belle reacted in surprise. "But I'm not feeling anything."

"Try touching this piece of the wall again, see what happens."

Carefully Sweetie Belle lifted a hoof and pushed it against the wall. A gasp escaped her when there was no resistance and her hoof phased effortlessly through the rock.

Startled, she quickly pulled back, looking at her hoof with wide eyes.

"Try it again," Danny told her, "and keep your hoof in there for a moment. Get a feel for it, so to speak."

With deliberate slowness, Sweetie Belle reached out again. And just as she had done before, she phased effortlessly through the obviously solid object.

"This is so weird," she said after a moment, pulling her leg back, then pushed back in again.

"Want to try walking through?" Danny asked.

Sweetie Belle hesitated for a bit, looked at Danny, then gave a nod.

Slowly they moved forwards, with Danny in a half crouch to keep his hand on Sweetie Belle's back. And together they phased through the stone wall, disappeared from sight, then emerged on the other side a moment later.

"How does that even work?!" Erlea half shouted in disbelief, eyes wide.

"I don't know," said Sweetie Belle, looking herself over for anything out of place. "... That was weird."

"Yes, it was," Danny chuckled. "Want to try again?"

"Yes," was the instant reply, all of the young filly's anxiety gone, replaced with eager curiosity.

"Alright," Danny smiled knowingly, and the both turned around to move back through the wall.

This time Sweetie Belle moved with a faster pace; so eager to try out this weird power she didn't even notice Danny let go of her back as she confidently phased through the wall.

Standing back up to his full height, crossing his arms, Danny had a winning smile as he watched the filly use her own powers without even knowing it.

"That is so weird," Sweetie Belle said as she emerged from the other side. "And how can I see without seeing anything?" she asked, looking up at Danny. "Wait… Danny?"

"Over here," he said, the smile audible in his voice.

"Whu… What?" Sweetie Belle looked around, then stepped around the wall fragment to see Danny stand beside Wind Chill.

"Guess this power comes easier to you than you thought it would. Don't you agree, Wind Chill?"

"Indeed it does," he agreed enthusiastically. "The young spirit just required the confidence of knowing you were there with her, and everything else came naturally."

"Whu… But I… you… What?!"

"You were too busy second guessing everything, including yourself that you made it impossible for yourself to use your intangibility," Danny explained. "Part of that comes from the problems you had with it before all of this, no doubt. And what happened earlier didn't help either. You just needed the confidence to see past all that, which is all I did. You did the rest."

"You mean I went intangible without even knowing it?"

"Certainly seemed like it. But why not try it out again, just to be sure. And remember, you did already do it once."

Sweetie Belle stood silent for a moment, stunned. Eventually she turned back to the destroyed wall, lifted up a hoof, and pressed it against the stone.

A gasp escaped her when she met no resistance and saw her hoof simply phase through the solidity of the stone.

She quickly pulled her hoof back, looked at it, then tried again with the same result; a chuckle escaping her, which soon grew into genuine laughter as she continued to play with her newfound control of her power.

Letting her play around with her intangibility, Danny moved to Erlea and Abella; the two changelinks watching Sweetie Belle with a mixture of surprise, confusion, worry, and perhaps even a bit of envy.

"If you want, I could extend my intangibility to you two. Let you experience it yourself."

"No way," Erlea shook her head. "All of this stuff is just too freaky."

"I'd like to try," Abella stepped forwards, an eager glint in her eyes while her friend looked at her as if she'd gone crazy.

"Okay," Danny chuckled, lowering himself as he extended a hand. "I do need to try something first, though. I have not really used my intangibility on anyone except Sweetie Belle, and the changelinks I freed from Canterlot. And while Sweetie Belle has these powers herself, Magic and spectral energy are hostile opposites and I can't say for certain it won't affect you in any way. " He then released a weary sigh. "Nor were those I freed in any state to say one way or the other, so I want to make sure this actually works. Is that alright with you?"

"Ehh… okay," Abella replied, now a bit less certain.

"Good. Just let me know if anything feels weird or wrong, and I'll stop," he reassured her and placed his hand on her back just below the wings to avoid touching her bandages.

Only a second passed where Danny channeled his powers, and Abella let loose a pained hiss, quickly pulling away while the startled human did likewise.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Erlea rushed to her friend.

"That… Ghnn… That hurt… a lot"

"I wasn't expecting this to happen," said Danny, looking at his hand.

"What happened?" asked Sweetie Belle, quickly joining the group after hearing Abella's pained hiss.

"I tried using my intangibility on Abella, but it somehow hurt her. It has to be the difference between her magic and my spectral energy."

"Really?" Sweetie Belle looked surprised. "But I did use my intangibility on Apple Bloom and Scootaloo a few times… Before I knew how to use it. They never said it hurt them."

"... And you have magic as well," Danny said, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"Eh, yes?"

"Hmm…"

"I feel we both are suspecting the same, Great One," Wind Chill spoke up.

Standing back up, Danny looked at the giant. "She is an intermediary."

"I'm a what?"

"An intermediary," Danny repeated. "It's only a guess, but it would explain quite a lot. Especially considering the fact magic and spectral energy are hostile opposites, yet you possess both. It would probably also explain the problems with your intangibility up until this point."

"…What?" Sweetie Belle shook her head, completely lost.

"Young spirit," Wind Chill said. "The Great One, and I suspect that you, possessing both kinds of energy, may act as a bridge between these two powers. Using both without ill effect, whereas young Abella just showed a strong negative reaction when Danny tried to use his intangibility on her."

"... And what does this mean?" asked Sweetie Belle

"It may mean you are able to use your abilities on other magical beings without any problems. Though no way to know for certain unless we try, though I am hesitant to do so again. Especially considering that, if it is indeed like this, those I freed back in Canterlot suffered quite a bit, but lacked any strength and consciousness to express this," Danny explained, chin in hand and a finger curled over his lips as he thought; a troubled frown crossing his features. "Unless," he looked at both Erlea and Abella, "either one of you is willing to help try this out with Sweetie Belle's help."

All three fillies were taken aback, with Sweetie Belle looking up at Danny with wide eyes, while the rapid twitching of Abella and Erlea's ears showed they were having an avid discussion on this matter.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Danny?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I'm not sure if I can use my intangibility on others like that just yet."

"You won't have to. Invisibility should work as well, which you have already mastered. Right?"

"Right," she answered, already more at ease.

"Good," Danny nodded. "All of this is a test as much for me as it is for all of you, to find out what's what, and to determine the rules we have to work with. Back in my world, I pretty much had free reign with my powers, but here, with magic involved, the rules have obviously changed somewhat."

"I guess that makes sense," Abella commented with a noticeable tone of unease. "So, ehh… Guess we should try this out," and she carefully held out a hoof.

"No," Erlea cut in abruptly. "You're still healing from those wounds, and I'm not going to let you take such a risk again. What if this time hurts even worse?"

"So you do it instead?"

"I- ehh…"

"You really don't have to if you don't want to do this," Danny reminded them. "There are other ways I can-

"No," Erlea said firmly, shaking her head, then releasing a deep sigh. "No, I'll do it. Guess I have to start trusting Sweetie Belle at some point. Might as well be now."

Standing as tall as she could, a few inches taller than Sweetie Belle, Erlea looked at the ivory pony and held out a hoof.

"Let's just get this over with."

Taken aback for only a moment, Sweetie Belle stood tall as well, giving a confirming nod, then grabbed the offered hoof with her own.

"Well, are you going to do this thing, or what?" Erlea said after only a few seconds.

"I already am..." said Sweetie Belle.

"You are? Then why am… I… oh…" she faltered as she took a look at her extended leg, and was unable to see anything.

Inspecting further quickly revealed that the rest of her body had vanished as well.

"WHAT!?" she shouted as she pulled away, the invisibility breaking the moment she let go of Sweetie Belle while she fell to the floor as her legs got tangled up with each other.

"Are you alright?" asked Danny while helping Erlea back onto her hooves.

"I… I guess."

"Good," Danny breathed a sigh of relief. "And I take it from this you didn't feel anything?"

"...No, I didn't."

"From an outside perspective, it also appeared to be just a regular extension of one's abilities to another," Wind Chill interjected.

"Hmm," Danny hummed, thinking.

"This does confirm our suspicion, but still…"

"But still, what?" Abella asked, surprisingly intrigued.

"Back in the classroom, I used my powers to keep Chrysalis from falling without any ill effect. Question is, why did nothing happen there, while you had a clear negative reaction?"

Both Abella and Erlea looked at one another, shocked at this realization.

"On the flip side," Danny continued, "I have been subjected to a similar thing when Twilight used her levitation on me. Nothing bad happened there, either, but I did feel a strange tingling sensation while in her magic."

"Perhaps I can shed some light on this problem," Wind Chill said. "When we ghosts channel our power into another through direct contact, the entirety of their being is affected. Whereas, if we use certain skills which do not require physical contact, such as telekinesis, those subjected to this are affected merely superficially."

"That… actually makes a lot of sense," said Danny, and he looked at his hand, flexing it. "The few times I used my telekinesis, there was a noticeable weight behind it. Nothing like making something or someone fly through touch."

"I do believe this is where I should mention I did possess both of young Apple Bloom's siblings without any hindrance," Wind Chill added.

"And both my shadow and I once possessed the same manticore. Which is a magical creature as well. Not in the same way as the ponies or changelinks, but still it does contradict what we just established."

"Perhaps. Or maybe not," Wind Chill said with a rumble in his voice, scratching at the fur under his chin. "There is much we still do not know, and there could very well be some effect of this possession we have yet to discover."

"True," Danny agreed. "But still… I really don't like all these open questions."

"Neither do I, Great One."

"And there is one other thing I wonder about," Danny said in a mutter, and he aimed a blue glowing hand at a small chunk of rock, freezing it solid.

"Erlea, could you please hit that ice with your magic? A mere spark will do."

"Ehh… why?"

"I fear I may have unintentionally left those ghost hunters in the forest trapped in a two stage trigger bomb without knowing it. And I really, really hope I am wrong about this. So, please use your magic on that ice."

"Eh… okay," Erlea said hesitantly, her horn beginning to glow weakly while both Danny and Wind Chill watched the frozen stone with grim set faces.

With a flicker of her horn, a small spark of magic was released; lazily flying at its target.

Then it struck, and in a flash, the ice exploded in a shower of steaming water and small pieces of stone.

"Wind Chill," Danny said, voice low and dark. "We need to be very careful with where and how we use our powers. Lives may very well depend on it."

"Indeed it does, Great One," the shaken giant agreed without objection, all watching the small shower of water and stone rain down before them.

"Indeed it does."

<<>><<>><<>>

To say the discovery just how volatile magic and spectral energy interacting with each other was a shock would be an understatement, as both Danny and Wind Chill now understood a simple touch could potentially spell disaster to all involved.

But the fact that despite this power struggle between energies, Sweetie Belle possessing both also showed a balance could be found between the two extremes.

Add to that the revelation given by Astina that both Celestia and Luna were 'soul stained'; part ghosts like himself and Sweetie Belle, but different, and all new kinds of questions formed about Sweetie Belle's true potential.

For now, though, those questions were pushed back until such times the aforementioned filly would be ready for it.

She still needed to learn so much. Both her, and Erlea and Abella as well.

As such, the three fillies and Wind Chill followed Danny as he made his way over to the tunnel leading back outside, then walked past it and headed for what seemed to be a collapsed wall.

"Why are we going this way?" asked Erlea as she looked at the ancient debris.

"You know what is behind this, don't you?"

"Of course I do. We all do. Which is why I ask why we are going this way."

"Eh, what's behind what?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"This pile of rocks and dirt is covering the original entrance to this city," said Danny. "The changelinks deliberately collapsed it some time after Celestia's… mistake."

"What, why?"

"It's where our ancestors used to live," Abella answered, looking at the ancient rubble with mixed emotions. "And it is the path down here the ponies of Yoke knew of. After… that happened, some of the ponies tried to reason with your princess. They, and all changeling… ks with them were never seen again. And not knowing what Celestia may have forced out of them, our ancestors collapsed numerous tunnels in our original home in the hopes that, should Celestia go search for us, all she would find was a collapsed, abandoned burrow."

Sweetie Belle was shocked beyond words, and even Wind Chill, while more composed, couldn't stop his disgust from showing.

"Yes," Erlea muttered. "So I'll ask again. Why are we here?"

"To learn from the past," Danny answered, reaching out at the rubble with a glowing hand; the stones beginning to glow and slightly shift in response. "To reclaim what is yours," his eyes began to burn a bright green, obscuring his iris and pupils in the glare while a rumble was felt through the floor. "And to restore the dream of your ancestors!" he shouted, closing his hand in a fist and pulling it back forcefully.

With a burst of toxic green, the pile of stone blocking the long abandoned tunnel all but exploded away as Danny flung them down the depths of the chasm the city hung above as dry, stale air mixed with a cloud of dust slammed into them.

After a rough bout of coughs and sneezes, the dust had settled and the once sealed tunnel now lay before them.

"Right," Danny muttered, looking into the darkness. "Wind Chill, these tunnels will be cramped for you, but it should be manageable should you join us."

Bending down to get a better look, Wind Chill gave a rough grunt.

"I don't think that would be wise, Great One. While it seems possible for me to traverse this passage with some difficulty, it is impossible to tell what lies beyond. And in all probability, I will most likely end up blocking both myself and all of you should I join you into there."

"Fair enough," Danny nodded. "Then why not take a break. You've been working hard cleaning up all that debris, so you've earned as much. There are still some apples left, and there's plenty of water, so go and take it easy for a bit. We both know such opportunities don't come around often."

"No, they do not," Wind Chill had to agree with a deep sigh. "Very well, I shall take your advice and rest. But do not hesitate to call for me should anything happen."

"You'll be the first to know," Danny gave a nod, which Wind Chill returned, then left.

Watching the giant return to the city, Danny took a deep breath, then returned his attention to the reopened tunnel.

"Okay," he said, holding up a hand and making it glow to act as a torch in the darkness. "Let's go."

Moving into the tunnel, all three fillies stayed behind, watching as Danny progressed, green light illuminating the rough walls.

Sweetie Belle was the first to follow, quickly catching up with Danny as he stood before an incline, looking back over his shoulder at Erlea and Abella.

"You two coming?"

Abella and Erlea looked at Danny and the tunnel he stood in, not quite sure how to feel to enter such an important yet unknown part of their own history, and their ears twitched rapidly in fervent conversation.

Eventually, they stopped, looked at one another, nodded, then set hoof into their ancestors' burrow.

Both fillies paused then and there as a profound sensation washed over them.

It had only been a step forwards, but in doing so they had also begun their journey of rediscovery and reclamation and they knew everyling, no everylink in the Hive was following them.

Even the Murgrona shimmered as the living memories of their ancestors observed this momentous event.

Slowly, the two took another step forwards, then another, and another. Sensing the presence of their long gone ancestors, feeling the dedication in their work as they moved past the hewn walls until they joined Danny and Sweetie Belle; neither saying anything, and a knowing nod from Danny was all that was needed as they continued onwards into their lost legacy.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this new chapter, and don't forget to leave a comment.

Buried Secrets

Edited by Halusm, and Clawder.

Buried Secrets

<<>><<>><<>>

With slow steps and dragging hooves, Chrysalis moved through the city under the watchful eyes of Danny following behind, and all the foals and young adults unaffected by the illness that had ravaged so many.

Feeling especially worn out, but unwilling to admit and show this, she kept her slow but even pace, head held high.

Besides ingrained stubbornness, it also served a purpose as she could already see and feel over their shared mind the boost in morale.

Even so, she knew this was an act she couldn't keep up for much longer. And while she loathed to admit to it, Danny had been right. A leader barely able to stand would be barely able to lead.

And so, walking with as much false confidence in her steps as she could manage, she gradually made her way back to the palace.

She did eventually come to a stop, breathing hard despite attempts to hide this, as she reached the destroyed gate.

"It was Sweetie Belle who did this, correct?" she asked, partially turning her head to look at Danny with one eye while trying to hide the fact this served as a much needed break to catch her breath.

"She did," Danny confirmed, moving to the destroyed remains and picking up a fragmented piece. "Before she had her episode, I was told."

He slowly rotated the shattered onyx in his hand, then closed a fist around it.

"It would take a tremendous amount of power to do such a thing," Chrysalis observed, looking at the hole where the gate used to be.

"It would, yes," Danny agreed, frowning while Eclipse quietly spoke to him. "And if what my other self had just found out is anything to go by, this could be a mere fraction of what she may be capable of."

"What do you mean?"

Danny looked at her in silence for a moment, then motioned for her to continue walking.

With some reluctance, Chrysalis began moving again, stepping inside her palace and towards her bedchamber.

"I did say I’d tell as much as I could about us ghosts," he started, "but there is still much I don't know myself. Though I am beginning to put the pieces together. What I do know now; what my other self just learned with the help of Sweetie Belle, Erlea and Abella is that magic and Spectral energy are hostile opposites. And while I learned of this a little while ago, just now my other self discovered just how destructive the two are combined," he held up the fragment of the gate he took earlier. "And somehow, Sweetie Belle possesses both. And if Astina is to be believed, it may very well be that powerwise Sweetie Belle is on the same level as Celestia and Luna."

This halted Chrysalis in her tracks, a look of utter shock plastered on her face.

"You mean she, a foal, could potentially hold the power to move the sun and moon?!"

"I don't know," Danny said, shrugging. "But probably not. The ponies do have these special talents they excel at, with Celestia and Luna's talent revolving around the sun and the moon. Which, if we really think about it, may very well be by design as well. Astina did say they were part ghost, just not like Sweetie Belle or I. And while I'm not going to say I am an expert on these things, I do know this: Us Halfas do not exist naturally. There is always some external factor that makes us. For me, it was the accident with my parents' ghost portal. Vlad," he said the name with venom in his voice, "suffered the same fate with the prototype portal, while Dani came to be by Vlad trying to clone me. And now Sweetie Belle, who became what she now is through the Necronomicon. Or just Necronomicon, as this is apparently a creature of immense power pretending to be a book. And who is somehow related to Discord as well," he held a hand against his head, sighing deeply. "This is all just a gigantic mess… But as far as Sweetie Belle is concerned… She hasn't yet found her talent, so there is no telling how this may turn out. But considering she is a spirit, and siren apparently, we should probably expect her powers to develop in a manner that fits these roles."

Chrysalis had long since stopped moving, standing in shocked silence, mouth hanging partially open as she stared at Danny.

"It is a lot to take in, yes," Danny agreed to her stupor.

"A lot doesn't cover it," Chrysalis managed to say, mind reeling. "Both the implied potential of that filly, but what you just shared of your own life as well."

"Hmm… Didn't you see that stuff in the Murgröna?"

"Some of it, not everything. Some secrets are buried deep for a reason."

"... Shit," Danny swore. "Then please forget all that stuff for now. I've got enough to deal with already, and I really don't feel like explaining all of that mess right now."

"Very well, I-" Chrysalis fell silent, turning her head back to the destroyed gate while her ears stood at attention. "They have entered the old burrow," she said in barely a whisper.

Danny rose an eyebrow, then listened to Eclipse as she came with new information.

"And some secrets are meant to be unearthed," he said as he, too, looked past the gate.

<<>><<>><<>>

Green light cast strange shadows on the walls as the human, pony and two changelinks slowly advanced into the ancient tunnel.

Nothing was said as the four followed the incline up, entering a sizable chamber with more tunnels branching out to long lost places, and the history they held.

Coming to a stop, Danny slowly looked around with a strange sense of wonder and alien familiarity while Abella and Erlea slowly stepped past him, eyes wide as they felt… something.

As for Sweetie Belle, she looked around in confusion, not quite seeing things as the other three did.

"What is this place?" she asked.

"The last chamber," Danny answered.

"Eh… what?"

"This is the last chamber the changelinks dug before they found the cave back there--" he gave a nod at the tunnel they had come from, "--and where they then built their village." He looked around for a moment, then nodded to himself. "Sweetie Belle, I'm going to extinguish this light. Erlea and Abella are able to see in the dark, so this won't be a problem for them. But for you, this will be a good opportunity to use your ghost vision."

"My what?" Sweetie Belle replied, confused.

Stopping channeling his power, the glow around Danny's hand vanished and darkness consumed them all.

"Make your eyes glow," Danny explained as he did the same.

"Make them glow?" she said, confused, yet did as she was told. "Wait… Whoa?" she looked around in surprise. "How am I able to see like that?"

"Ghost vision," Danny explained. "It's more than just glowing eyes. It enhances our natural ability to see in the dark, without having to wait for our eyes to adjust. The colors are more muted, though."

"This is so weird," said Sweetie Belle as she looked at her light grayish colored hoof.

"Now, let's keep moving," Danny told her. "This is only the last chamber, and it is left incomplete as the changelinks abandoned the work they had planned here in favor of building the Hive. But further up ahead, there is something I want Abella and Erlea to see."

"There is?" Erlea asked, curious. "What?"

"The first spell," Danny answered. "And where Elinora became the first, true changelink."

Both Abella and Erlea looked up at him with large eyes.

"The first spell?" Abella said quietly. "I've only heard about it, but never seen it. Not even in the Murgröna."

"You've really seen all their memories, didn't you," Erlea said just as quietly.

Danny placed a hand on the wall, feeling the rough grooves dug in the unfinished chamber.

"Seen them. Lived them. Remembering them," he exhaled a deep breath. "I have never been here before, yet these walls are as familiar to me as the back of my own hand. And I can't begin to explain just how much it saddens and angers me to see this place abandoned like this."

Shaking his head, he moved to one of the tunnels on his right.

"This is the longest route to where I want to take you, but it is also the least obstructed by blockades," he told them, looking down at the fillies. "You ready for this?"

All three gave a confirming nod, to which Danny looked back up at the passage before him.

"Then let's go," and the four of them ventured deeper into the cold and silent burrow.

<<>><<>><<>>

With loud, curious sniffing, Cujo moved through the city; zig-zagging through the streets as all kinds of new and unknown scents demanded his attention.

It certainly had been a while since he had an opportunity like this, to just go about his own business and explore as he pleased.

He had missed it. But not as much as he had missed his friend. Even if finding him also invariably led to the rollercoaster of events that took them from a sleepy town near a wild forest, to an underground city of sickness and death.

Now though, after Danny had done what he always does and somehow managed to do what was thought to be impossible, Cujo had taken a moment just for himself.

Not that he disliked being with Danny. He was his friend. He helped him get his squeaky toy back years ago, and he really knew how to scritch that certain spot behind his ear. Even then, he, Cujo, did enjoy his alone time. And right now felt like a good time to go and discover what strange new things this city had to offer.

The fact Danny smelled like an overripe trashcan not playing any part in that decision. It just accelerated his plans.

He stopped mid stride, pulling his nose from the stone as he noticed two of those young shapeshifters looking at him.

Both foals, a colt and filly, each carrying an empty bottle still smelling of the stink that this foul seed produced in their mouths, had stopped in their tracks as they crossed paths with the spectral dog.

Cujo wrinkled his nose in disgust, yet surprised and saddened they seemed to have such a terrible sense of smell. Though, in this instance, it was probably a blessing instead of a curse.

Slowly, the filly set the bottle she held on the ground, never taking her eyes off of Cujo.

"Eh… Nice doggy," she said hesitantly, carefully edging closer to the small, green glowing pup while carefully holding out a hoof towards him.

Recognizing the intent, Cujo barked excitedly, ears perked up and tail wagging.

Taken by surprise by the sudden excitement, the filly jerked back.

Not letting a chance to get some ear scratches go to waste, he sprinted to the filly and pressed his head against her hoof.

With wagging tail, tongue lolling out of his mouth while panting, he looked at the filly with the biggest, most innocent puppy eyes he could. An act that had never failed him before, and it certainly didn't fail him now either as the filly laughed at his antics and patted his head.

Admittedly, the hoof felt rather rough compared to a hand, and Cujo's act faltered for only a second before the filly hit a spot with the edge of her hoof and his hindleg kicked in response.

Seeing what happened, and what she had done when it happened, the filly repeated her action and moments later Cujo's higher brain functions left him as he could only feel pure bliss while his leg continued to assault the air.

Maybe hooves weren't so bad after all.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a grunt of exertion and a flash of green, Danny pulled apart the blockade obstructing the path, revealing the chamber hidden behind. Then, with more spectral display, he flung the mass of stone into an adjacent tunnel he knew was of little importance to them right now.

"We're here," he said, stepping into the large chamber, green glowing eyes scanning their surroundings before settling on the dust covered lines and symbols carved in the floor.

"We're here," Erlea said quietly, almost reverently as she and Abella slowly stepped past Danny.

"I never thought I would be able to see this," Abella said. "To be here myself."

Carefully tracing a hoof through one of the lines closest to her, scooping up some of the millenia old dust and dirt, Erlea looked at the ancient spell her ancestors had created.

"This is where it all began. Where we became creatures of change," she said.

"And it is a testimony to the bond your kind had with the ponies, long ago," Danny said, joining her on her right side.

"What exactly is this?" Sweetie Belle asked, staring intently at the partially obscured spell. "It looks… weird, somehow."

"This is the first spell the changelinks made as a species," Danny answered. "Before this, before they met the ponies, they couldn't use magic; didn't know what it was or that they even had it. Then, once they met the ponies, they were taught how to do so. But all of that was magic the ponies had learned to master long before them. But this, they took what they had learned, and created this spell; combining spells in a way the ponies had never thought of; creating something the ponies didn't understand and believed to be dangerous. Yet this didn't stop them. It didn't stop Elinora as she was the first this spell was used on, and afterwards she had changed. She became the first changelink, able to change into anyone and anything. And this-" he gestured at the spell, "- is where it all began."

Beginning to understand the importance of what she was seeing, Sweetie Belle slowly joined Erlea and Danny, while Abella did likewise; all four of them looking at the ancient work with various emotions.

"... But why did you take us here?" asked Erlea.

"To remind you who you used to be; what you used to be, and who helped you to become what you are now."

"What?" said Erlea as all three fillies looked up at him.

"You have been living in fear and hatred for the ponies for so long, it is all you know," Danny began, kneeling down and tracing a couple of fingers through the line closest to him. "And it also made you forget, despite the Murgröna and all the stories you were told. You all forgot about the friendship you once shared with the ponies, and all you accomplished because of it. So I brought you here to remember what was, and could be once again."

"But the ponies-" Erlea began to protest, but Danny silenced her as he placed a hand on her head.

"The ponies are as much a victim of Celestia as you are. They just don't know it yet. But once the truth is revealed, once they know and understand the lies they have been told by her, and for how long… Well, that should certainly shake things up. And of course there will be those who will continue to believe everything she has said, because doing otherwise may mean everything they know and believe could be false. And it is far easier to live a convenient lie than the painful truth, but the majority will hopefully see things for what they are. And when this happens, well… Things will change, for all of you. Besides, you already have three ponies helping you, don't ya? They are living proof that not all ponies are out to get you."

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle agreed excitedly. "And I'm sure my sister and her friends will be happy to help you all when they know what has happened."

"Your sister and her friends," Erlea said with an edge to her voice. "You mean the Element bearers? The ponies who fought against us in Canterlot? One of which helped set in motion the magic blast that created the sickness that killed so many? You mean those ponies?"

"I, eh…"

"Hey now, that's not fair," Danny chided her. "Like I said, they are as much a victim of Celestia's lies. Besides, you did attack them. So it's not like they acted unprovoked in that situation. And I know they did not intend to create this disease with that spell."

"I guess," Erlea grumbled, obviously not liking the thought but unable to counter it.

"Even if they didn't mean for that to happen-" Abella cut in "-it still did. And we won't pretend it didn't happen just because they were a victim, too."

"Nor am I saying you should," Danny told her, slowly standing back up. "All I am telling you is who the real monster is, and that those who follow her just don't know any better. And while you should never forget, you should give them a chance. After all, how do you think Cadance and Shining Armor will react when they learn their spell to repel you from Canterlot also created a disease that nearly wiped you all out? Their reaction should be quite telling in whether they meant for this to happen, or if they unwittingly assisted Celestia in this hidden genocide. And from my interaction with those two, I'm certain learning the truth will be quite devastating to them. In fact, they might even offer their help in any way they can."

"We would never accept their help. Not after all of this!" Erlea stomped a hoof.

"Not even as penance for what they did?"

"No!"

"So you would rather face an uncertain future without any help, not knowing what could happen next while there are those who may be willing to assist you."

"But we have you, don't we?" Erlea countered.

"And I am only one person. And you deliberately didn't mention Sweetie Belle and her friends, because you know the truth as well as I do. But all those years of spite and anger now demand you to deny the thing you know needs to be done."

"And that is?" Abella was the one to ask.

"One of the hardest things one can do," Danny said solemnly. "To forgive."

Neither Abella or Erlea were able to reply, too aghast with the mere notion.

"Like I said, one of the hardest things one can do," Danny answered to their silence, then he turned to Sweetie Belle "And the same goes for you."

"What?"

"You need to forgive yourself for what has happened back there," he told her.

"What?! But I… I did all those horrible things."

"You did, but only because you were not in control of a power you didn't know you had."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," she said quietly, looking down.

"Which is exactly why you need to forgive yourself. Trust me, I know what I am talking about," Danny told her, once again kneeling down so he could put a hand on her back. "For years I lived with the guilt and shame for letting Sam die. Replaying that day over and over again in my mind, second guessing every decision I made, always finding more ways to blame myself for what happened. And I tried so hard to fix it, somehow, someway, but always failing. And though I can't say I didn't make any mistake, I never intended for that to happen. And it took me years to find the strength to forgive myself. When I did though, I was able to regain the confidence I used to have, and tackle anything life would throw at me."

"But where would I even start?"

"Start by telling yourself this: What happened was an accident. You did not know what was about to happen to you, nor did you have any control over it. It-" he poked a finger in her chest "-Was. An. Accident. And you are working to prevent it from happening again."

"It was an accident…?" she repeated quietly.

"Again, but louder."

"It was an accident."

"Again!"

"It was an accident."

"One mo-"

"It was an accident, and I will never let it happen again!" Sweetie Belle shouted, eyes clenched shut as she fought back her tears. "Never!"

As the last of her voice echoed away, Sweetie Belle felt a comforting pressure on her withers. Opening her eyes, she saw Danny with a hand on her back, looking at her with a sad smile.

"Feeling better?"

"No," she said immediately, then hesitated. "... Yes… Maybe…? I don't know. I just feel tired."

"I know the feeling," Danny told her. "But it'll make more sense to you later, now that you have acknowledged it."

"I hope so."

"I know so," Danny gave her withers a little squeeze, then he stood back up.

"... Why do you do this?" Erlea asked suddenly. "Helping us in all those ways, and her as well. Why? What do you gain from all of this?"

"It's simple, really," Danny said, looking at the young shapeshifter and the ancient spell on the ground behind her. "Because it is right."

"What?" Erlea was confused.

Danny chuckled.

"Because it is right," and for a moment, he imagined the approving nod of Elinora as she stood in the center of the spell.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a sigh of satisfaction, Zecora placed the last bottle on the partially molten slab of ice, allowing the brew to cool down before being collected by one of the numerous foals.

And with this tiring task complete, for the time being at the least, she could now focus on the next emergency.

She stank.

Terribly so.

It was an unfortunate side effect of the elixir she had made, and in the greater picture an insignificant detail. With that held in mind she was able to continue her work while mostly ignoring the nauseating stench terrorizing her sense of smell. Now that she was done though, with no task to help focus her mind, those hours spent in disgust all came back at her with a vengeance.

She knew what would happen next, yet also knew there was little she could do to stop it.

A sudden bout of dizziness, joined by the worst nausea she had ever felt, she stumbled back several unsteady steps, then quickly lay down before she would fall over.

Eyes clenched shut, breathing through her mouth, all her focus was now placed upon keeping control over herself. Especially her stomach, which churned and groaned a loud protest.

How long she lay there she didn't know. The passing of time lost to her as she took slow, deep breaths. But the first clue she got things had changed was when she felt a small prod in her left side.

"Eh, miss zebra. Are you alright?" a young but muffled voice asked.

Slowly opening her eyes, Zecora turned to the foal by her side; a young filly no older than five or six, as far as she could tell.

"Yes young one, I am fine. Though recovering from all that work will take me some time. And that hoof over your nose does reveal what you think. And I certainly have noticed, as I do carry quite a stink."

"Yes," the filly agreed with childlike innocence. "You want to wash?"

"A chance to get clean would be a boon indeed, but I can wai-"

"Does that mean yes?" the filly asked, tilting her head a bit as Zecora's rhymes confused her while still unknown to the social etiquette to allow one to finish speaking.

"I, eh…" Zecora for once found herself at a loss for words, then settled for a nod and tired but kind smile.

The filly noticeably perked up at Zecora's confirmation, and her ears began to twitch rapidly for several seconds.

"I can show you where a bath is," she said eagerly.

Chuckling ever so slightly, Zecora pushed herself back on her hooves.

"Then please, lead the way. The sooner the better for me to make this odor go away."

With an eager trot, the filly sped away with Zecora following after her; a deeply satisfying sense of pride blooming within Zecora's chest as she saw the genuine smile on the filly's face and knew she was in part responsible for the child to have a reason to smile again.

Though she knew they still had a long, long way to go. And she still had a great many potions to make before any of them were truly out of danger.

But for now, she would take her reward and cherish the knowledge she made a true difference for so many here.

That, and as she was led through several hallways and into an empty residence with an already running shower, as well as several other foals rushing in with what little soap they could find, and the cleanest towel still available, Zecora knew just how grateful they were for her help. Which left only one other thing still awaiting her: The absolute satisfaction of feeling clean again after a thorough washing.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a true display of spectral might, Danny destroyed the last, and by far most extensive blockade the ancient changelinks had created. And as the last of the rock, dirt and dust fell away, a light could be seen further ahead.

"What is that light?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It can't be," Erlea gasped.

"What else could it be," said Abella

"It is," Danny told them, leaving Sweetie Belle confused as he continued down the tunnel.

"It is, what?" Sweetie Belle sought an answer as she, Abella and Erlea quickly followed after Danny.

"The Murgröna," he answered.

"The plant growing all over the city?" said Sweetie Belle, confused.

"Yes," Danny confirmed with a nod. "But something more as well."

"What do you mean?"

Danny looked at her, but didn't answer. And instead the group continued onwards in silence.

Abella gasped, and they came to a stop next to an irregularly shaped rock standing in an alcove. "Is that what I think it is?"

"The Mother's Horn," Danny said, looking at the rock roughly hewn to resemble a bent and crooked horn not too dissimilar to Chrysalis' horn.

"It is real," Abella slowly stepped closer, looking up at the sculpture.

"It survived all this time," Erlea said quietly.

"Ehmm…" Sweetie Belle shifted awkwardly on the spot. "What is this mother horn?"

"A relic of better times," Danny answered. "Something that the changelinks learned from the ponies," he stepped closer to the object, carefully placing his hand on it.

Closing his eyes, feeling the ancient chips and grooves left behind during its construction, his mind jumped back as he recalled how his hooves had cracked when creating this work.

"Art," he said after a moment, eyes opening. "The ponies taught the changelinks much, and art was one of those things. And this," he patted the sculpture. "This is the very first sculpture, the very first work of art made by the changelinks. The horn of their mother, Verae, who would later become the first queen."

Sweetie Belle looked at the sculpture while putting it in perspective with everything Danny had just said.

"It's kinda rough," she said, looking back at Danny. "But… it's just like them, back then. Still learning about everything, making mistakes, not knowing how to do the things we ponies do. But they learned. They got better, and then did things we ponies can't. It's rough… but it is something else as well."

"And that is?" Danny asked while he, Erlea and Abelle looked at her.

Sweetie Belle looked at The Mother's Horn, silent for a minute.

"Growth," she said. "Becoming something more with each cut of the stone."

"That's surprisingly insightful," said Danny.

Sweetie Belle looked back at the sculpture, silently staring at it.

'Still rough. Still learning… Just like me.'

"But why was it left behind?" she asked suddenly, looking at Abella and Erlea.

"From what we know," Abella said. "Our ancestors believed they would return here some day. So they left behind the things that would be too difficult to move on short notice. But ‘someday’ never came."

"Are you so sure about that?" asked Danny. "You two are here now, aren't you?"

"I, uhm… Yes?"

"So wouldn't you say that someday is today?"

Abella and Erlea both stood in silence as his words sunk in.

Chuckling, Danny stepped away from the sculpture.

"It's still difficult to believe all of this is happening, right?" he asked knowingly, and both fillies slowly nodded in response.

"It feels more like some bizarre dream," said Abella.

"I bet it does," Danny laughed. "But I can guarantee you it is not."

"Should… Should we take this thing back with us? To the Hive, I mean," Sweetie Belle suggested.

"No!" Erlea protested. "No. Our ancestors left it here with the promise to return here one day… We should keep that promise, return here ourselves and restore our ancestral home… once we're able to."

"And I'll make sure that day comes," Danny promised.

And in the silence that followed, all four looked at the sculpture, vowing to themselves to make sure those promises would be kept.

<<>><<>><<>>

At the Great One's suggestion, Wind Chill had taken a well earned break. And, carrying the now almost empty sack of apples, slowly chewing on the pair he ate at once, he now traversed the city at a leisurely pace without any real direction.

Everything had been a whirlwind of one disaster after the other, with very little chance to just slow down and really see what was around them. But now, with the worst of events behind them, for now at least, he could take a moment and really appreciate the grandeur of the changelinks' creation.

Of course it was impossible to ignore the death and despair all around him; the foals running around to aid all those recovering, the lack of adults for the same reason, the abysmal numbers of changelinks he did see compared to the scale of the city, and of course the overall decay of the city due to lack of upkeep.

But even then, the city had persevered.

Not without help, of course, but the fact it and those who built it were still here, even after so much hardship was testimony of strong blood and a will to survive.

And as he passed over one of the many bridges, he stopped halfway to observe the splendor of the waterfall cascading down the stalactites the changelinks had carved their homes into, with numerous platforms suspended between the rocky spires by chains, on which the dead and mostly decayed remains of former gardens could be seen.

Gardens, he realized, which had to be placed there for the ponies who used to live here.

It was a truly alien place, yet strangely beautiful as well. And he hoped that with time, the tragedy that stained everything he saw would be overcome; that the city and changelinks would be able to return to how things used to be. How they should be.

Laughter reached his ears, and he turned around to find a most amusing sight. A group of foals standing around Cujo; the green glowing pup lying on his back, legs kicking sporadically, tongue lolled out of his mouth while several of the youngsters were scratching his belly.

"And here is the first true sign of recovery," Wind Chill said to himself as pride welled up within. "Children laughing."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Wow," Sweetie Belle gasped out in awe as they entered a small but well lit chamber.

The source of the light being the Murgröna, growing all over the walls, ceiling and around, but not touching several highly detailed sculptures placed equally spaced around the walls. Its numerous veins twisting and coiling over each other while a multitude of massive flowers bloomed all around them.

"They're happy you are here," Danny told Abella and Erlea, looking at the wriggling mass.

"This is it," Erlea looked in awe. "I'm really here."

"The first chamber," Abella whispered. "The oldest memories."

"It's incredible," said Sweetie Belle as she looked around.

"It is," Danny agreed, stepping further into the chamber.

From the ceiling, a single vein descended towards him, stopping a bit below eye level where it gently swayed from side to side.

Holding out a hand, the vine moved towards him and coiled around his arm.

"Like old friends meeting after a long time," he said quietly. "Even though this is the first time I have been here myself, I know so much about this place it's almost frightening."

Two more vines dropped down from above, moving towards Erlea and Abella;, the latter being booped on the nose by the vine before her.

"Very funny, Artona," Abella groaned, looking cross eyed at the vine still pressed against her nose.

"Who?" Sweetie Belle asked, confused.

"My brother," was the annoyed reply as Abella swatted at the vine.

Sweetie Belle was confused for only a moment before realization struck.

"Oh… I'm sorry," she said, then looked back up at the Murgröna; her eyes widening as she saw a vine slowly drop down towards her.

"Ehh… Danny?" she called out, not sure what was happening.

Letting go of the vine, Danny moved towards Sweetie Belle, looking up.

"It's reaching out for you," he said, searching for something.

"It is what?!" Erlea called out, shocked.

"But why?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"I'm not quite su-" he paused, eyes locking onto the bright blue flower near the vine snaking down. "Apple Pie," he said, shaking his head but grinning slightly. "Should have seen that one coming. Of course she would like to meet you."

"You mean Apple Bloom's ancestor?"

"Sure do."

"She wants to meet me?"

"That's what it looks like."

Sweetie Belle looked at the vine, then at Danny, then back at the vine now playfully swinging before her.

"... Why?"

"I'm not the one you should ask," Danny told her.

Looking back at the vine, Sweetie Belle gave it a cautious push with a hoof.

"So… how does this wor-"

Before she could finish, the vine flexed and its tip pressed against her forehead; her question left unfinished as her eyes unfocused.

"Just like that," said Danny, then he turned to Erlea and Abella. "Have to say, I'm surprised you haven't said anything about-... Oh."

Both Erlea and Abella were lying on the ground, the Murgröna connecting with them as well.

"Right," he muttered, placing a hand on his neck, "should have seen that coming as well."

Looking around, he half expected the vine from earlier to be there waiting for him. Instead, there was nothing for him to find as the vine had retracted back to the ceiling.

"So I'm not going to be a part of this I guess?" he asked aloud, naturally not receiving any answer. "Alright… I'll just stand here and do… something. Something sounds good."

Still nothing happened, and eventually Danny sighed deeply.

"Man, I hate being sidelined like that."

<<>><<>><<>>

Standing outside in a field of lush green grass, Sweetie Belle looked around in growing confusion, unsure as to how she was suddenly brought outside, nor recognizing any of her surroundings.

The churning of water pulled her attention to a nearby river, a fish jumping out with an arch, the light of the sun glistening on its wet scales before it dived back in with a minimal splash.

Beyond the river she saw a massive forest, the trees swaying slightly in a calm but pleasant breeze.

"Where am I?" she asked.

Looking behind her, she spotted a collection of rocks and boulders on a hill.

"... Why does that look familiar?" she wondered.

Laughter came from behind her, but before she could turn around and see who or what had snuck up on her, a weight fell on her back.

"GHAA!" she shouted, rearing up in reflex, yet the weight remained and the laughing became louder.

Running away as fast she could, zig-zagging to shake off whatever rode on her, a squeal of joy came from her back.

"Faser!" a very young voice cried out. "Faser!"

Digging in her hooves, Sweetie Belle came to a skidding stop.

Turning her head to get a look at what it was exactly that had grabbed hold onto her, she was surprised to see a small foal; a filly whose fur was a light shade of red and a small horn poking out through muddy brown mane tied into a braid.

Large, innocent eyes sparkled with joy as she stared up at Sweetie Belle, while a toothy grin revealed the small fangs she had.

"Hi," the filly all but shouted in excitement.

"Uh… Hi?"

"Am Appul Seed. Who are you?"

"I, uhm. I'm Sweet-"

"Apple Seed!" another voice called out, and Sweetie Belle saw another filly, closer to her own age, stand amidst the boulders on the hill she spotted earlier; having run towards it without realizing.

"You know you can't just jump on other ponies like that," the other filly, with a stone gray coat blending nicely with the stone around her, and a mane with an eerily familiar hot pink color, said warningly.

"Sowwy," Apple Seed said quietly, sliding off Sweetie Belle's back.

Shaking her head, the other filly addressed Sweetie Belle next.

"Sorry for my little sister," she said. "I'm Mud Pie. And you are? I haven't seen you around here before. Are you a new memory?"

"Memory?" Sweetie Belle blinked, confused.

"You know. An imprint of ourselves stored in the Murgröna."

"Wait, I'm in the Murgröna?" Sweetie Belle jerked back in surprise, looking around in astonishment. "Whu… but I was just in the first chamber with Danny, Erlea and Devora. How did I… What?"

Mud Pie's eyes widened, and she quickly turned around, revealing her frilled wings as she shouted to somepony unseen: "MOM! I FOUND HER."

In the blink of an eye, a new pony appeared beside Mud Pie. An adult this time, with a horn sticking out through the same colored hot pink mane as Mud Pie, tied in a braid similar to Apple Seed.

"You have," the mare said, and she quickly noticed both Sweetie Belle and Apple Seed; her bright blue eyes locking on the young filly beside Sweetie Belle as a small sigh came from her.

"Apple Seed, did you hijack this young mare's connection so you could meet her first?"

Apple Seed rapidly shook her head.

The mare, obviously her mother, arched an eyebrow.

"Your father and I did not raise a liar, did we?"

Again Apple Seed shook her head, albeit more hesitant.

"So, did you hijack her connection?"

Apple Seed hung her head while nodding weakly.

With a patient smile, the mare walked down the hill towards her daughter, stopping before the young filly.

"Apple, look at me."

Doing as instructed, Apple Seed looked away from her hooves and up at her mother.

In a quick motion, the mare sat down and picked up her daughter.

"Now, I know it is always exciting to meet new ponies, but you can't just go and pull them away like that. You should know better than that."

"Am sowwy," Apple Seed said, shamefaced.

"I'm not the pony you should say that to."

Turning around as best she could in her mother's hold, Apple Seed then apologized to Sweetie Belle.

"It's… Okay," said Sweetie Belle, more confused than anything.

"There you go," the filly's mother said, nuzzling her daughter on the head. "Now you and your sister go back home while I have a talk with the young mare here."

"Okay," Apple Seed quickly ran off after her mother put her back down, and both she and Mud Pie disappeared from sight as they moved away.

The mare shook her head, sighing slightly. "As much as I love my daughters, they can be quite a hoofull in these earlier memories."

Standing back up to all fours, she finally turned to address Sweetie Belle.

"I'm terribly sorry about all that," she said with a dip of the head. "I have no idea where she gets this from. But where are my manners? I'm Apple Pie, and I have been quite eager to meet you, Sweetie Belle."

"How do you know my name?" was the first thing Sweetie Belle could think of, taking a step back. Then the rest registered, and she froze mid-motion. "Wait… Apple Pie? As in the ancestor of the Apples and the Pies?"

"Ancestor?" Apple Pie laughed. "You're making me feel old, but yes! I suppose I am. And I know your name because I have been watching you and your friends for some time now. And I can't say just how glad I am to see how hard you have worked to help all of my friends. And to think one of my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great-" she continued like that for a good three minutes, with a level of enthusiasm that instantly revealed where Pinkie Pie got it from, "-great grand foals is part of it as well," she wiped away a tear of pride, "I couldn't be happier."

"I, ehh…" Sweetie Belle struggled to reply.

"Oh, but you must be wondering why I brought you here," Apple Pie continued without interruption. "Or, not here here. It was Apple Seed who brought you here here, while I tried to bring you here there," she made some vague indication below the hill, "And I do apologize for that. I really didn't want this to become confusing for you, but we're here here now, so instead of here there, I must instead explain why I tried to bring you here there here here so you understand why I tried to bring you here there."

Sweetie Belle sat in unmoving silence, her brain trying to comprehend what it was she just heard. Yet Apple Pie did not notice.

"The reason I brought you here there here here is quite simple."

"It is?" Sweetie Belle was doubtful about this.

"Hmhmm," Apple Pie nodded. "You see, when I saw how much you were suffering from what had happened after you lost control of your powers, I knew I had to help you. Which is why I brought you here there here here, so we could talk. And so I could show you."

"... Show me, what?" was asked with some trepidation.

"~A world of wonder and imagination~" Apple Pie, suddenly sitting next to Sweetie Belle, one hoof on the filly's back, the other gesturing grandiosity, said in a sing-song voice.

"... I think I need an adult," Sweetie Belle quickly scooted away, yet Apple Pie held on firmly.

"Oh, silly filly. I am an adult!" and before Sweetie Belle could say or do anything in response, she suddenly found herself on Apple Pie's back; holding on for dear life as the excited mare rushed up the hill with a shout of elation.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Where are we?"

The question hung in the air as a cloud of condensation, breath clearly visible in the frigid world of snow and ice as Abella and Erlea looked around, shivering as the snow they stood in reached halfway up their bodies.

"Why did the Murgröna bring us here?" Erlea said through clattering teeth.

"Who brought us here?" Abella added.

THWOMP

Both fillies turned towards the sound, and a forest, which they were sure hadn't been there a moment ago, rose up out of the snow.

THWOMP

"I guess we're going that way," said Abella, and the two slowly dug trenches in the snow as they moved towards the sound.

It took them minutes to cross the small distance, but eventually they reached the border of the forest. Stopping for a moment, both fillies listened for the sound that had drawn them closer.

THWOMP

"What kind of memory is this?" Erlea asked, shivering uncontrollably as they trudged forwards. "It feels… wrong. Desperate."

THWOMP

"It's coming from over there," Abella pointed out, both turning towards the sound, only for their view to be blocked by a massive oak.

Slowly, with difficulty, they moved around the tree; tripping several times over roots hidden underneath the snow.

By now their teeth were clattering so loud they could barely hear anything else, yet they still listened for the sound that had drawn them there.

Silence.

"Wh-what happened?" Abella asked with a shivering voice. "Why is everything silent now?"

"Look there," Erlea pointed a hoof at an area of severely disturbed snow, a stump of a felled tree, and a path in the frost leading away from there.

Both fillies shared a glance, then silently continued onwards; reaching the area of compacted snow, and from there they followed the path laid out before them.

Neither of them noticed the figure observing them from behind.

<<>><<>><<>>

In a blur faster than Sweetie Belle could keep up with, Apple Pie took her up the hill, down a hole under a rock, through tunnels seemingly at random, and finally came to a stop in the massive cavern the Hive was built.

Except, as she shook away her disorientation, she noticed the city was much smaller.

Much, much smaller.

Where she remembered dozens of stalactites with walkways spiraling up and down their length, with countless doors and windows hewn into the rock, bridges connecting it all, hundreds of (dead) hanging gardens, and the Murgröna covering the entire ceiling and most of the stone spires, now there were only two stalactites she could see where a spiral walkway had been constructed.

There were no gardens, and only a couple of bridges. The waterfall she recalled falling down into the depths below the city was completely absent, and most of the light came from lanterns placed around the Hive. Only a small bit of illumination could be contributed to the Murgröna, which only covered a small portion of the ceiling barely worth mentioning.

But the thing that stood out the most to her, something she had not seen anywhere in the Hive, were the large number of changelinks and ponies walking and flying side by side; talking, laughing and, close by, foals of both species playing with a wicker ball.

And somehow, during all of this, she had gone from Apple Pie's back to standing next to the mare.

"Whu?" she uttered unintelligibly, making Apple Pie laugh as she looked at it all in bewilderment.

"It's quite something, isn't it?" Apple Pie asked.

"Bu- but how is this possible?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I thought the Murgröna only held the memories of the changelinks? How are you all alive in here?"

"We aren't," said Apple Pie, her previously cheerful demeanor gone. "It's complicated," she added quickly. "Let's not worry about that now," she returned to her exuberant self, smiling broadly.

Obviously confused, but understanding this was a sensitive subject, Sweetie Belle instead turned her attention to the much smaller Hive.

"Is this the city as you remember it?"

"City?" Apple Pie mirrored, then giggled. "I guess that is what it has become later. But yes, this is the Hive as I remember it. The village I helped build when the changelinks came to my village and told us what they were planning."

"You helped build this?!" Sweetie Belle gasped.

"We all did! See those doors?"

Sweetie Belle stared into the distance, just barely able to see the-

"Wait, are those wooden doors"

"Of course they are. My friend, Rusty Nail's father made them."

"But… There weren't any wooden doors in the Hive when I was there. They have these strange onyx walls that melt away."

"Ooh, that sounds neat."

Sweetie Belle fell silent, her mind trying to wrap itself around the situation she found herself in until it decided on the most logical action to take.

"Ehh…"

And with that out of the way, she followed with: "Why did you bring me here?"

"To show you what is possible… What was possible, and what could be possible again," Apple Pie told her. "My friends and I did all this," she slowly swept a hoof, "which was only the beginning. You saw what the Hive has become, how big it has grown. All of it through the cooperation between the changelinks and the ponies."

"... But when I got there almost everylink was sick or… or worse" Sweetie Belle shuddered at the memory.

"Yes," Apple Pie nodded, "because the trust was broken. And now it's up to you and your friends to change this."

"But what can I do? I'm just one pony. And they don't trust me at all. And I don't blame them for it either."

"Oh silly filly," Apple Pie laughed, booping Sweetie Belle's nose. "I was also just one pony, but that didn't stop me from teaching them to speak. Besides, you're never just one anything if you have friends to help you. But more importantly, why would you think the changelinks don't trust you? Just look at all the incredible things you have done already."

"Because I did something horrible," Sweetie Belle looked away, ashamed.

"Yes," Apple Pie sat down beside her, pulling the filly against her side. "But we all do that at some point. Whether we meant for it, or not, it does happen. When the changelinks came to my village, I wanted to share my homemade apple pie with them. But they couldn't eat the food we eat, and when Buzz tried he got really sick and I felt soooo terrible about it. But I didn't allow that to hold me back. Because as bad as I felt about it, I knew it would be even worse if I let it stop me from doing what I love most."

"Which is?"

"Making friends, of course. So I said I was sorry. That I didn't know that would happen. Then I gave Buzz a big apology hug and made sure to never do something like that again. And I know he forgave me, because we have two wonderful fillies together."

Sweetie Belle was surprised, then silently thought about what was told.

"Of course the changelinks who have pony fathers did enjoy my apple pies," Apple Pie continued without pause. "Though they don't poop them out like we do."

Sweetie Belle's train of thought completely derailed, slammed through the train station, and then exploded. Twice.

"What?!"

"Oh yeah, it's the craziest thing," Apple Pie told her. "They instead turn it into this weird goop that they then spew up. A bit like how bees make honey, except it is really gross… and not tasty at all."

"What!?"

"It works great for glue, though."

"I'm sorry. What?!"

"Though it took the better part of a day to unstick Glacy's teeth, which is also how we know these things.

Any rescue efforts to save what could be salvaged from the train's wreck went up in flames as the metaphorical rescue cart broke an axle, swirled out of control, crashed through a fence and tumbled down a mountainside towards its untimely demise.

Slowly Sweetie Belle scooted away from the prototype Pinkie Pie in fear of her own sanity

"Which brings me back to my point. We all make mistakes, but don't let that hold you back. If I did that; if anypony in my village had done that, this would never have been possible," she said, looking fondly at the Hive.

"I know," Sweetie Belle said quietly. "Or, I think I do. Danny keeps saying similar things."

"That is because he knows what he is talking about," Apple Pie said knowingly and Sweetie Belle looked at her questionly.

Giggling, Apple Pie tapped her temple.

"He's been in there for a bit, so I know a little bit about him as well. Enough to know he will stop at nothing to help those who need help."

"Also… Where is Danny? And Erlea and Abella, too?" Sweetie Belle asked suddenly.

"Oh, don't worry about them," Apple Pie gave a casual wave with a hoof. "This is about you."

"About me? Why?"

"Because we have been watching you. You and your friends. And we believe, we hope that you will be able to set right all the terrible things that have happened."

"... We?" was the first thing that came to Sweetie Belle's mind. The next thing she noticed was a shift in the activities around her as all changelinks stopped in their movements, turning to look at her while all ponies, except Apple Pie, continued onwards as if nothing had happened.

"All of us," Apple Pie said. "All of us who remember. All of us who are remembered. All of us who hope for a better future. A better future you and your friends have made possible by doing everything you could to save our descendants. A glimpse of hope to restore our dream, to restore all that was lost, and to bring peace to those who were lost far too soon."

Sweetie Belle squeaked in fright, shrinking down into herself from the severity of Apple Pie's words.

A wicker ball rolled into her side, then came to a wobbly stop before her and three of the changelink foals approached while the other changelinks watched.

"To bring joy back to us."

"To play without care."

"To live without fear."

"To be alive again!" all changelinks said as one, the Hive rumbling with the strength of their voices.

"We are the voice of those who can't speak any more," Apple Pie said, looking at Sweetie Belle. "And we need to say: Please. Save us."

A Taste of fear

Edited by Slayerseba and Halusm

A Taste of fear

<<>><<>><<>>

With a pull, the vine retracted back into the mass of green, and Sweetie Belle stumbled on the spot, then dropped to her barrel as she lost her balance; eyes unfocused and blinking uncoordinated.

"Yeah, been there," a strangely familiar voice said, sounding both far away, and nearby.

She sluggishly looked around for the source and almost flipped over on her side.

"Easy there," the same voice said, and she felt a hand on her back to help her keep her balance. "Wait for the disorientation to pass."

"Whu," she uttered unintelligently, following the arm in her vision up to the tall human crouched next to her. "Wha?"

"Deep breaths," Danny told her. "Exhale slowly."

Doing as instructed, Sweetie Belle slowly felt herself improve as her vision sharpened, and her balance returned. And after several minutes, she was confident enough in her ability to stand and pushed herself back up on all fours.

"Don't push yourself. You've been in there for a long time," said Danny, hand still on her back.

"I'm fine," she told him, eyes closed and shaking her head to help clear her mind. "I think."

Nodding, Danny slowly stood back up and looked at Abella and Erlea; the two changelinks standing nearby and looking at Sweetie Belle with quizzical eyes.

"And how are you two doing?" He asked.

"Alright, I guess," Abella answered, shrugging.

"I'm… unsure," said Erlea, looking at her hoof. "A lot has happened in the Murgröna, and I don't know what this may mean for us, but…"

"But what?" Danny asked after a moment.

Setting her hoof back down, Erlea looked at Sweetie Belle. "But I guess we will find out… together."

An eyebrow quirked, Danny looked at Erlea, then Sweetie Belle, seeing the ivory filly smile in response.

"Alright, now I am more than a bit curious. What happened in there?" He asked.

"More than we can say in just a few words," said Sweetie Belle.

"It's probably best if we tell the queen what happened, too. I'm sure she would want to know about this," Abelle suggested, looking at Erlea.

"Yeah, I guess she would," Erlea agreed.

"Alright. Let's head back and do that, then," said Danny.

Together, the group slowly left the first chamber, with Danny the last to leave. Looking back over his shoulder at the Murgröna, he smirked slightly as he saw a single vine wave at them, a blue glowing flower near its base.

And, after he left, the vine retracted, and the mass coiled and shifted as, in the center on the ceiling, two new buds began to grow.

A faint glow of light green tinged with red shone from within one bud, a toxic green coming from the other.

<<>><<>><<>>

The shower had been bliss, and the few hours of uninterrupted sleep heavenly, but now Zecora found herself wide awake due to several reasons.

First, the quiet around her. While the city around her was abuzz with active foals running back and forth to tend to the sick, very little noise leaked into her room. And being used to the ever-present sounds of the forest she lived in, this soon proved to be unnerving enough to pull her out of her slumber.

Second, she would usually be at her busiest during this time of day. And tired as she might have been, certain habits are challenging to break.

Not that she would complain about this. In fact, she might even argue it was a good thing she was already awake and active again, as it meant she could go back out there and help the changelinks.

Yet there was one more reason why she was awake right now. One reason far more prominent than the other two.

"Arf!"

Cujo had found her room.

"Why are you here, hound of destructive doom? Don't tell me you plan to also upturn this room," she rhymed warningly, leering at the seemingly innocent pup.

"Bark." Cujo shook his head, ears and tongue flopping around.

Zecora continued to glare at Cujo as she slowly moved for the door, backing away from the eager wagging pup, until her rump bumped into the unyielding rock of the onyx portal.

It didn't open.

Eyes widening, she glanced back for a split second.

It was all the time Cujo needed.

Happy barking and shouts of frustration filled the room, yet were muffled at best on the other side of the door as changelinks ran back and forth, oblivious to the unfortunate zebra's plight.

<<>><<>><<>>

The small group had left the old burrow and were well on their way back to the palace, walking mostly in silence. Sweetie Belle mentally replayed everything that had happened while in the Murgröna, while Erlea silently debated the course of actions she had taken, and how this would affect her, and everylink else.

As for Abella, she tried and failed to reach out to her friend over the hivemind several times, which drew the attention of the few others not otherwise occupied, and were listening in. Even then, their curiosity couldn't be sated as Abella refused to explain what had happened. Not until they could do so with the queen present, personally.

Danny on the other hand, while curious himself, also acknowledged their need to mull things over. Besides, it wasn't like he didn't keep things to himself until the time was there to reveal those secrets.

He really hoped his gamble with Bon Bon would pay off, but it wouldn't be until much later his counterpart would find out.

Crossing the bridge to the palace, and stepping through the destroyed gate, the group moved without delay to Chrysalis' bedroom; the runes surrounding the door lit up, and the onyx wall melted away before Danny could do so much as make his hand glow.

"Chrysalis said you were near," Danny said as Danny, Erlea, Sweetie Belle and Abella entered. "She's quite eager to hear what happened."

"That makes two of us," Danny remarked, then turned into a wisp of energy and rejoined his other self, who flinched slightly from the influx of new memories.

Closing the door with a burst of green of his hand, Danny led the fillies to Chrysalis, who was seated before her bed. Looking a lot more fit and composed since the last time they had seen her.

"MOM." Erlea cried out, rushing to her mother who was quick to pull her into a hug and nuzzle the top of her head.

For a moment nothing was said as Chrysalis held her daughter. Then, setting Erlea back down, she turned to the others in the room, completely serious.

"You have opened and entered our ancestral burrow, going where none of us have gone in over millennia, doing that which we could only have dreamed of. This is no small feat, and several have already expressed their desire to do the same. But our ancestors closed those tunnels with good reason, and we wouldn't dare open them unless we could bring a stop to Celestia and bring peace to those she killed," her eyes bore into Danny. "This better has been worth it."

"I hope so, too," he replied, arms crossed, looking down at the fillies.

"The Murgröna connected with us," Erlea began, looking at her mother. "All of us, except Danny. Abella and I… We were taken into the memories of her, and followed her path; see what she saw, learn what she learned and…" She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "And the courage to accept the hoof extended to help."

"... I see," Queen Chrysalis said, then looked at Abella.

"I mostly stood on the sideline there," Abella was quick to point out. "Still don't understand exactly what happened there."

"That's because you didn't wear the cap," Erlea told her once again.

They all looked at Erlea, confused. Except for Danny, who smirked slightly in understanding.

"Well, it makes sense to me," she grumbled.

"Riiight," Abella flittered her wings. "Anyhow, after… that Erlea suddenly knew Sweetie Belle was in trouble, and the Murgröna brought us to her. Which is where things got a bit… violent."

"Violent? How?" Queen Chrysalis demanded to know.

Sweetie Belle looked down at the floor, a deep sigh escaping her.

"Apple Pie brought me to the Hive, back when it was just built. She talked to me, asked for my help, then…" another sigh came from her, "then she made me face my darkness; the thing I had turned into before. It… was difficult," she said, then revealed everything that had happened. Erlea and Abella shared their side of the story when appropriate, but remained otherwise quiet as Sweetie Belle spoke.

"And in the end, I had to accept this darker side of my powers. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Because doing anything else would have just prolonged the fight."

All were silent, with Danny and Queen Chrysalis noticeably going over everything she had just said; a look of shock and perplexion grew on the queen's face, while a troubled frown showed on Danny's.

"After that," Sweetie Belle continued, "Apple Pie came to us again. Telling us that the things we can't change are always the most difficult to accept. And then she showed us…"

"She showed you, what?" Asked Danny, a hint of worry noticeable in his voice.

"She showed us what had happened to you, and your world when you were lost to your own darkness."

Danny stiffened, jaw set and hands clenching as he mulled over that revelation.

"I see," he said tensely.

"After that, we returned from the Murgröna and came here as quickly as we could," Erlea added.

Queen Chrysalis was quiet for a long while, thinking things through until she felt a careful prod on her leg. Looking down, she saw her daughter stare up at her, worried.

"I am fine, dear. Just thinking," she smiled reassuringly.

"How do you want to proceed from here?" Danny asked her.

"I am uncertain," she admitted with a tired sigh. "After everything that has happened, all the horrible things we have survived- that some of us survived, and the long road to recovery still ahead of us," she closed her eyes again, taking a moment to breathe. "Sweetie Belle," she looked at the ivory filly. "You said it was Apple Pie who brought you in. That she, and in extent, everyling else existing in the Murgröna asked for your help."

"Yes," Sweetie Belle confirmed with an accompanying voice crack.

"And before that, you-" she looked at Danny, "-were shown our entire history. And all in response to the miracle you both managed to pull off." Her chest swelled with the breath she took, holding it in for a moment. "For centuries we struggled just to survive, and now, in merely a day you have turned everything around in ways we couldn't even dare to hope." Her eyes locked on Danny. "The Murgröna showed you, so you can understand." She turned to Sweetie Belle. "And you were aided, so you can help." And finally, she turned to Erlea and Abella. "And you were reminded of what you are, and who we might be again." She addressed all of them next. "What has happened here, what is still happening as we speak, this is too big to be just a passing moment. Before, I had my hope. But now I am certain," she said, voice rising in strength and volume. "We stand at the forefront of a new dawn. The revival of our kind, the resurrection of our ancestors' dream, and the chance- no, the right to live with our heads held hig- ackh!" She was interrupted by a rough coughing fit.

"Holding your head up high is fine and all," Danny commented after she managed to compose herself, "but do that after you're fit enough to do so. You've only had a few hours' worth of sleep. Nowhere near enough to undo the damage your body has sustained."

Chrysalis glared at him but didn't argue the point as her breathing leveled out.

"What's more, we need a plan for the here and now," he continued. "There are still many challenges to overcome before such times will come, so let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"I suppose you're right," Chrysalis said bitterly, less than happy with her current state of being. Then, with a sigh, she looked at Danny. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Why are you asking me?" He asked, taken aback.

Chrysalis chuckled over his confusion. "Isn't it obvious? In your own words, a leader barely able to stand is barely able to lead. And I am not going to put even more of a burden on my daughter. Not after everything she was forced to take care of. Which means the next logical choice would be somelin-k who is healthy, old enough, and capable enough to take control of crisis situations when the time calls for it."

"Oh no," Danny took a step back, shaking his head. "No no no. I already told you, I am not interested in being a leader of any kind."

"Which hasn't stopped you from doing just that," Chrysalis chuckled, then coughed. "Who was it that took charge to save those held captive at Canterlot? Who was it that made the plans to keep the truth from being found out by friends and family in Ponyville? Who was it that didn't hesitate to help a dying species he had never heard of before the moment he found them?"

Danny stood silent, face tense.

"Who was it that faced the collector of souls and asked for her help, all just to take down Celestia?"

Danny's silence was telling.

"Not to mention, if my recollection of events is accurate, my daughter made a Hive-linked oath that, if you ever ask for help, we shall answer." Erlea shifted uncomfortably on the spot, looking at her mother.

"My subjects have already taken your commands and advice. Few can claim the same. So you should not hesitate to share your thoughts, Danny. In fact, you will find your words carry a great deal of weight here."

Shoulders sagging, head angled back a bit and eyes closed, Danny took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

"Shit," he murmured, less than pleased with the situation. "Fine," he grumbled, straightening himself. "Right now, we continue with how things have gone so far. Take care of those recovering, with a select few capable of doing so going out there to search for resources. While the immediate threat of starvation was mitigated thanks to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, we still need a stable source of food in the long run. And that is not counting Zecora, Sweetie Belle, and I. Though it will be easier to secure food for us. Wind Chill and Cujo, while not strictly requiring any food, also shouldn't be forgotten," he summed up, hand on his chin as he thought. "And Zecora also needs more ingredients for her potions. All of those tasks can be accomplished at the same time by those who go out and search for these things, but how much they can find, or carry is a limiting factor. Made worse by the limited number we can send out there. My ability to duplicate will help with that, to some degree. But I don't know the limit of how often I can split myself, and I become weaker with each split as my power is spread between all versions of me."

He paused for a moment as he considered this.

"So I need to find out how many times I can duplicate myself, and how much this will affect my capabilities." He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "But that can wait, for now. More important is the immediate care for all afflicted changelinks." He looked at Chrysalis, "Can you tell how many are conscious and aware? And how many are still balancing on the edge? We need to prioritize the help we give to those who need it the most, instead of trying to help everyone at once. That will be more damaging in the long run."

Chrysalis nodded, then closed her eyes, reaching out over the Hive mind and issuing commands and orders.

Several minutes passed before she spoke.

"A large number is responsive and, while not active in any meaningful capacity, able to take their medicine with some assistance. A good number is worse off. Those hit immediately in the blast that forced us out of Canterlot. Few of them have regained consciousness. Which makes me, being active as I am, seem like quite the miracle," she added, shaking her head. "As for those you freed from captivity… " She fell silent, head hanging slightly. "Only one is still with us, barely. And it is doubtful she will pull through."

Erlea, Abella, and Sweetie Belle flinched as if kicked in the gut, while Danny merely released a tense sigh, shaking his head.

"While that comes as little surprise, it's still not the outcome we wanted." He pulled a hand through his hair, frowning. "Alright, those who are awake and aware will be alright, for the most part. Focus the most attention on the others, especially the last survivor from Canterlot. Hopefully, she has enough fight left in her for a miracle."

There was a momentary silence as he weighed his option.

"Just as important, have those who helped me with the previous supply run meet me near the entrance, if they are able, plus whoever else we can spare. The earlier group already has a good idea of what we're looking for, so they can effectively coordinate with the others joining us to get the most resources as fast as possible. We're going to need those sooner, rather than later," he instructed, and a band of light split him in half; a duplicate flying off in a hurry without further comment.

"Some assistance must also be given to Zecora. I can do that, for the most part. So no need to draw away anyone who could be more useful elsewhere," he added, and another flash of light sent a second duplicate on his way; much to the amazement of the wide-eyed changelinks and pony in the room.

"Which should cover most bases, for now," he concluded. "Still plenty of other things that need to be done, but this will secure the most vital issues for the time being. Which leaves just one last thing," he turned to Sweetie Belle. "We shouldn't forget about you, either."

"Uhmm…" Sweetie Belle shifted nervously on the spot.

"How do you feel after everything that happened in the Murgröna?"

"I… don't know," she told him.

"There is a mess of emotions mixed together," Erlea said, tongue flicking past her lips as she tasted the air.

"Makes sense," Danny nodded in understanding. "It will take some time for this to process and settle down. And what about you two?" He aimed at Erlea and Abella.

"Confused, for the most part," was Abella's ready reply.

Erlea was silent, lifting and looking at her hoof; the same hoof she extended in help and friendship to Sweetie Belle.

"I've found what I need to do," she said after a moment, then fell silent.

"Which is?" Chrysalis asked after a moment.

Erlea blinked, set her hoof down, and looked at her mother. "To help restore the bond of trust-" she looked at Sweetie Belle- "one pony at a time."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Not. A. Word," Zecora said, her anger clearly noticeable.

The fact she didn't rhyme as she stepped out of the door Danny just opened for her was also a good indicator of how she felt.

"What?" Cujo barked innocently, head cocked to the side as he looked up at an annoyed Danny.

"I'll deal with you later," Danny muttered.

Closing the door behind him, knowing Cujo would find his own way out, Danny watched Zecora walk down the hallway and toward the exit.

Following after her in silence, they stepped out of the stalagmite and moved to the guardrail surrounding the walkway.

Standing still and looking out into the distance, Zecora took several minutes to compose herself before turning to Danny.

"For my behavior, an apology I must give. But that hound's actions are far too abrasive."

"Don't worry about it. I understand," Danny reassured her. "It just means he likes you. But even then, Cujo should know better than that."

Shaking his head, he looked out into the city, face set.

"We're going to be busy again. There is still a need for more potions and such, and a duplicate of me is already organizing a new supply run for anything you might need. Food as well, for us and Sweetie Belle," he closed his eyes, sighing. "Several changelinks unfortunately passed, despite our best efforts. I have had them prioritize the help to the weakest among them. Hopefully, we can prevent further losses of life. Even then, they are dependent on you for any and all potions that might give them a chance to pull through. So if there are any ingredients you need more than others, tell me and I'll inform my other self. Otherwise, we're going to gather more of what we already did so you have a solid supply of ingredients. Though I don't expect to find too much right now. It won't be long until night comes, and we can't go out too far, either. So right now will most likely be a food run, which is also important to keep us going.

He looked at Zecora, seeing her nod in understanding.

"Then we should make haste and see what we got, otherwise your efforts might be for naught."

Nodding in agreement, Danny stepped away from the too-low for him guard rail, then he and Zecora made haste to the room her cauldron was left to cool and air.

Hopefully, most of the stink would be gone by now.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Are you certain you want to do this now?" Danny asked, watching Sweetie Belle shift uncomfortably on the spot.

"Yeah," she answered reluctantly. "Not because I want to, but because I need to."

Sighing, Danny nodded in understanding as he opened the door to the classroom they had used earlier.

Sweetie Belle entered after a moment, biting her lip in nervousness. Followed not long thereafter by both Abella and Erlea.

"Alright then," Danny entered last, the door closing behind him. "I guess we're doing this now." He moved to the lectern, sitting down before it, crossing his legs.

All three fillies joined him. Erlea and Abella sat down on either side of him, while Sweetie Belle sat down before them.

"So…" Danny said after a short moment. "Eating fear."

Sweetie Belle flinched, caught herself, then nodded. Looking at the floor between herself and Danny.

"Accepting my darkness won't matter much if I don't learn to control it," she said. "And I don't want to go all crazy again, either. So I must do this. For myself… and to be able to help the others."

"I understand," he replied, "but don't expect yourself to succeed on the first try. This is something that goes against your nature. And if it is anything like my duplicating, it will take a lot of practice to pull off… Or a magical pool to drain the energy from," he added, to some confusion.

"Never mind that," he held up a hand. "Just… expect yourself to fail the first few times. And don't force yourself either."

Sweetie Belle nodded in understanding, then looked at Erlea. "I know we had those lessons earlier, but is there anything else I should know?"

Erlea was silent for a moment, thinking with the occasional ear twitches.

"I guess," Abella replied to Erlea, shrugging.

"You still remember everything mom told you?" Erlea asked, to which Sweetie Belle nodded. "And to feel out the fear as if it is a great meal like Danny suggested?" Once more Sweetie Belle nodded. "Then there is not much for me to add. All there is to do now is to just do it."

Sweetie Belle looked at Erlea, then gave a somewhat reluctant nod.

"I will add one thing," said Abella, and they all looked at her. "Accepting your darkness is only half the struggle. If you want to do this, you need to let it out. There is no way around that. Either you let it out on your terms, or it will do so on its own. And we all know what comes next if that happens."

Sweetie Belle grimaced but nodded.

"And there should be plenty of fear around here for you to feed on," Abella added matter-of-factly. "Which will probably help in drawing out this other side of yours."

Sweetie Belle sighed. "Please don't make this any more difficult than it already is."

Abella closed her mouth, nodded, then readjusted her position, to be less irritating on her injury.

"Okay," Sweetie Belle said, more to herself, looking down. "Let out my darkness and feed on fear while remaining in control. I can do this… I hope."

Closing her eyes, she searched inside herself for her darker self while, at the same time, thinking about all the delicious things she had eaten.

Several long, frustrating minutes passed where she sat shifting on the spot; a frown growing more extensive and deeper on her face as if nothing seemed to happen.

"Don't try to forc-" Danny said, but was silenced by Erlea nudging him in the side; her eyes locked on Sweetie Belle while her tongue flicked past her fangs— an action mirrored by Abella.

A small grunt of frustration came from Sweetie Belle as she began to run out of foods she liked, and nothing seemed to happen. And it was in the split second after she decided to give up, her mind wandered to a day, years ago, when Rarity took her to the ice cream store and bought her her favorite ice cream.

Something latched onto the memory, and she suddenly found herself floating in the same dark void she had seen once before, during her time training in the Far Frozen, and where she found her trigger to transform.

"Huh?" She said, noticing the sound did not reach far, as if the void around her swallowed her voice before it could spread beyond her.

Looking around, she noticed the same green glow she saw the first time as well.

Moving to the glow, she soon found herself pulled into the energy, and found her silver gleaming counterpart hanging suspended in the center; eyes closed and dormant.

Moving closer, she poked her other side with a hoof.

In an instant, Silver Spirit had vanished, and she noticed her outstretched leg was now covered with a pitch-black boot, and her fur had turned a gleaming silver.

Sweetie Belle jerked back as she realized she was now in her spirit form, and it took her a moment longer to realize that her unexpected transformation wasn't the only thing that had changed.

Looking past the green glow she was in, she saw strange swirls of… something twist and coil.

For a moment, the image of a constrictor snake coiling around its prey entered her mind. And she, in the center, was the victim.

"M̶̥̉ö̶̩r̵̨̎e̶̬̎."

"Her ear twitched, and she looked around in confusion, not sure if she heard something.

"M̶̳̿ȍ̸̬r̸̢̽e̷̛͇."

She spun around, this time sure she heard something.

"M̸̹̆o̵͚͒r̴̹̈́ȅ̷̩."

"Hello?" She called out, scared, the sound she heard was strange and warbled.

The coiling outside of the green energy intensified, and a tendril of darkness slithered in.

"F̵e̴e̶d̷ ̶m̵e̷ ̶m̴o̴r̵e̴!̶"

Sweetie Belle backed away from the tendril, now understanding what it was, and what she was saying.

"M̸o̵r̸e̵ ̴f̴e̶a̷r̸.̷ ̶F̸e̶e̷d̵ ̸m̴e̸ ̶m̶o̴r̷e̵ ̶f̸e̶a̵r̵!̴ ̷"

Sweetie Belle forced herself to hold the position as the tendril moved closer, then began coiling around her.

Gritting her teeth, she stared at the darkness around her.

"I chose to accept you because doing anything else would only cause more suffering to myself, and others. Now you need to make a choice, too. Do you want fear? Fine. You can have it. But only under my conditions, because I will not allow you to take control over me like that again!"

"M̸O̶R̵E̵!̷" The darkness pushed closer, washing over Sweetie Belle.

"NO!" Sweetie Belle shouted, a burst of energy coming from her form, pushing away the darkness. "You only take and take, hurting others to get it, yet it is never enough. Never again. You can have your fear, but only that what you need. What we need. Nothing more. And never at the cost of somepony else's well-being. Do this, and I will allow you to eat your fill."

A hiss was the response, and the coiling outside the green energy intensified.

"And don't think you can just take over again, either," she warned. "I know you're here now. A part of me. And I will not allow you- allow myself to go feral again because I am better than that!"

The coiling seemed to slow down for a moment.

"So if you want to eat, it will be by my rules," she glared at the tendril with green glowing eyes. "Deal?"

The tendril moved closer, then before Sweetie Belle could react, it stabbed and flowed into her chest.

"D̵e̸a̵l̷.̴ ̴"

<<>><<>><<>>

"Don't try to forc-" Danny said, but was silenced by Erlea nudging him in the side; her eyes locked on Sweetie Belle while her tongue flicked past her fangs—an action mirrored by Abella.

A small grunt came from Sweetie Belle as she clearly struggled. Then, quite unexpectedly, she noticeably relaxed.

"Something is happening," said Abella, tongue flicking past her lips once more.

Without warning, Sweetie Belle suddenly transformed, surprising them. Even more worrying, her relaxed stance became more and more rigid.

Then, shocking all three of them, Sweetie Belle's ethereal mane and fur started to darken. Small fangs poked past her upper lip, and a fine red glow began to flow to her from out of the air itself.

With a gasp, Sweetie Belle lurched forwards, her pupils, now visible to them, slit and wide.

Catching herself before hitting the ground, Sweetie Belle stood wide, panting for air… and something more.

Stepping forwards, and keeping Erlea and Abele behind him, Danny carefully approached the doubly transformed filly.

"Sweetie Belle?" He asked cautiously, hoping she was still in control but preparing for the worst.

"Ghnhh," Sweetie Belle grunted, shaking her head. "What… What is- ghu."

"Calm down," Danny quickly knelt down, placing a hand on her back, realizing she was still in control, but clearly struggling. "Take slow breaths."

"I- I can't. It's so thi-" she gasped. "It's everywhere."

Danny then realized the delicate glow of red he noticed earlier hung around her muzzle, seemingly blocking her nose and mouth.

"Don't fight it," Abella spoke up, stepping past Danny. "You managed to draw out your hunger, now allow it to eat."

"How?" Sweetie Belle gasped, panting for air.

"Like you're inhaling a great meal," Abella told her.

Sweetie Belle looked at her with slightly teary eyes, then saw Erlea give her a confirming nod while Danny softly squeezed her back.

Closing her eyes and gritting her teeth while trying to get just a bit more air inside, she struggled to remember what it was that had first triggered this hunger to come forth.

Once again the image of the ice cream she liked as a little filly came to her, and something flared up inside of her.

Instincts she didn't know she had took over, and she bit down on the fear coalescing around her muzzle.

Her eyes shot open as the first wisps of red flowed passed her tongue, and she stood frozen for only a moment before greedily sucking in all there was to take.

A minute later, the last of the red had vanished down her gullet and Sweetie Belle smacked her lips happily.

"It tastes just like ice cream," she remarked, then realized what she said and did.

Eyes growing wide in worry, she looked up at Danny.

"Guess this thing came easier to you than I expected," he said, surprised.

"Just like she inhaled a great meal, at the first taste she got," Abella commented. "Not sure how ice cream can be considered a meal, but I guess if you eat enough of it…" She shrugged.

"How do you feel now?" Erlea asked.

Sweetie Belle looked down, thinking, glad they didn't seem to judge her for what she just did; calming down somewhat because of it.

"I feel… okay, I guess. Don't feel anything strange."

"And what about…" Erlea paused for a moment, then shrugged. "You do realize what you look like right now… right?"

Sweetie Belle was silent, looking at Erlea in confusion.

"Yeah, no surprise there," said Danny. He then held up a blue glowing hand and created a mirror-smooth slab of ice, allowing Sweetie Belle to see her reflection.

"Ghaaa!" She stumbled back as she saw the dark gray, slit-eyed pony look back at her.

"Guess we'll need to work on that next," Danny commented, trying to calm down the panicking child.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several hours had passed, and the sun began to dip past the horizon. And in that time a lot had happened.

Wind Chill moved with heavy steps through the city, carrying one of the final pieces of debris and clearing out the last blockade.

With a grunt, he deposited the chunk of stone on the sizable pile near the city's entrance.

Wiping away the sweat that had soaked in the fur around his brow, he sighed, nodding over a job well done.

An echoing buzz drew his attention to the tunnel leading to the outside, and a small swarm of changelinks, joined by Danny flew back inside. All of them carried a partially filled bag, which they immediately took to their intended destination.

Danny gave him a nod in passing but was otherwise silent.

"The road to recovery is long and difficult," Wind Chill said, "but the first steps have already been taken. For now, they are merely surviving, one day after the next. But I know; feel it down into my core, with our help, soon, they will be able to not just live, but thrive."

He took a deep breath, holding it for a moment.

"And I know that one day soon, you, the both of you, Great One, young spirit; you will bring peace to them, too."

Author's Note

And... we're back.

Welcome back down here at the author's notes. I hope you've enjoyed this long overdue chapter. And you may be wondering how long it will take for the next addition to this story to be released. Next month? Coming December? One year from now?

Well, don't worry. It will not be that long. Next week, I will publish a new chapter for Goap. But only that fic. But that doesn't mean this fic is going to be ignored, because the next chapters after that are well under way. They still need a good deal of work, so I can't say when those will come, but I don't expect it to be months. But we'll see how it goes.

Also, to those who have missed my last blog. I have also updated all previous chapters in GoaP and SS. This because I realized I made a rather large mistake with some crucial elements in my stories. Things are fixed now, and improved in other places as well. So if you ever thought about going for a re-read, now would be a good time to do so.

Anyhow, with this all said and done, I like to ask you to please report any and all mistakes you did find down in the comments below. Or maybe just leave a comment in general. It would be most appreciated.

Thanks for sticking with me all this time.

~Powerdrainer

Lost

Edited by Slayerseba and Halusm

Lost

<<>><<>><<>>

It had been several hours since Bon Bon re-emerged from the Murgröna, and the distraught mare had learned the horrific truth about herself.

Leaning into Danny, she cried and cried, inconsolable with the knowledge that all she believed to be true had been nothing more than a lie.

At one point, through means she couldn't recall, she was brought to a private room and placed on a bed, yet there would be no sleep for her.

Hours more passed and her loud sobs slowly turned to quiet weeping, trying to reason with herself how things weren't so bad, but failing miserably at it time and time again as the knowledge from the Murgöna was burned into her mind.

She cried, she wept, and she grieved for the life she lost as a filly, and for the lie she had lived ever since; sinking deeper and deeper into a pit of despair.

<<>><<>><<>>

Slowly activity in the Hive began to pick up as the day started anew, and a clearly noticeable tension hung in the air.

By now everylink capable and conscious had heard about the strange new pony Danny had brought in, and how she had broken down after being connected with the Murgröna, yet very few answers as to why this was were given, and the Hivemind was cluttered with the many, many questions surrounding this mystery mare, and what this could mean to them.

Erlea eventually had to step up and tell everylink to shut it and focus on their tasks.

They would be told more eventually, once she herself knew what the buck was going on.

"Okay," Erlea said, hoof against her head from the headache of dealing with the Hivemind just now. "Who is that pony, why is she here, and what does the Murgröna have to do with any of this?"

"I'd like to know, too," said Sweetie Belle.

Danny sighed, nodded, but didn't say anything immediately as he looked out into the city; standing on the bridge leading to the palace where it all had happened.

With him were, obviously, Erlea and Sweetie Belle. But Abella was there, too. And Wind Chill, Zecora, and even Cujo as well.

"I already explained this to Chrysalis, but she kept silent about it at my request. Figured I should be the one to explain this," Danny sighed. "To start with, her name's Bon Bon."

Sweetie Belle gasped, loudly.

"I mentioned this a while back," he reminded them. "How Celestia searches for, then takes in foals who show changelink traits, indoctrinates them into her organization, and does her dirty work. Well, I used Spring Breeze's lifebook to show her the truth, which eventually allowed me to bring her here and see the full truth through the Murgröna."

He turned to Wind Chill and Zecora.

"Her entire life was a fabrication forced upon her by Princess Celestia because of a curse that doesn't exist, all because of her changelink heritage, and a terrible mistake turned crime Celestia has committed, and is still committing as we speak."

"You're talking about her ongoing genocide against the changelinks, correct?" Wind Chill sought confirmation, and Danny nodded.

Zecora was at a loss for words, shocked.

"Her time in the Murgröna, while short, was enough to shatter the lies that clouded her worldview, but at a cost. Something like this you just don't walk away from. That's why she screamed like she did last night."

Wind Chill stood tense, ill at ease.

"Right now, my double and I managed to get her into a private room, and my double has been with her all night to make sure she wouldn't do anything… regrettable. At the very least, I know nothing happened, cause we wouldn't be having this conversation otherwise." He pulled a hand through his hair, clearly disgusted with the situation.

"I hope that she will pull through, but it will be difficult. To have your life destroyed as such… You don't just pick up the pieces and move on. You'll need help with that. She needs help with that."

"Is there anything I can do?" Sweetie Belle asked immediately.

"Hopefully," Danny nodded. "A friendly face will go a long way with this."

"And what about us," Wind Chill queried.

"For now, nothing. The last thing she needs right now is another shock so soon after what happened. But she may seek you out later."

"Then I shall prepare for that time, and assist her however may be required to move past this trauma," Wind Chill promised.

"As for you, Zecora," Danny looked at the shocked mare. "I don't think you two have much of a history together, am I right?"

"We have met a time, or two. But to say I know her, that I cannot do."

"Then I think it would be best for you to keep focusing on the potions and such. But, the same goes for you. She may come and see you. Just be prepared for that."

Zecora nodded in understanding.

"And what about us?" Abella asked, also speaking for Erlea.

"That depends," Danny sighed.

"On what?" Asked Abella.

"Are you willing to help a complete stranger, a pony who, until recently, worked for Celestia herself?"

Both fillies stood shocked, mouths partially open.

Then Erlea looked at her hoof, remembered her newfound purpose, and gave Danny a resolute nod.

Abella followed suit a second later.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle, Erlea, and Abella followed after Danny as he led them to Bon Bon's room, keeping their questions to themselves as they could easily feel the tension coming off of him, and in silence, they moved through the hallways of the palace.

"We're here," said Danny, approaching one of the many similar doors.

Lighting up a hand, the runes surrounding the door glowed strongly, then the onyx melted away and he stepped inside.

"How's she doing?" He asked quietly, seeing his double sit on the floor, exhausted.

"Asleep, finally," his other self answered through a large yawn.

"Good. Let's hope she will feel better once she wakes up," he replied, seeing the torn-up pillow, wet from tears.

"Would you?"

"No."

Danny, the one on the floor, rubbed one of his burning eyes with the back of his hand, head bobbing.

"You go and get some sleep, too. I'll take over," Danny said to his sleep-deprived double.

The other nodded slowly, then stood up with some effort and stumbled out of the room, almost tripping over Sweetie Belle who stood in the open door, looking inside.

Sweetie Belle quickly moved out of the way, then watched Danny phase through the door opposite of the one she stood, and vanish into the room there.

"Is she going to be okay?" Sweetie Belle asked after she returned her attention back to Bon Bon.

"I hope so, Sweetie Belle. I really do," Danny sighed, then quietly approached the sleeping mare.

"So she's the one of our blood?" Abella asked, also looking inside with Erlea.

"She is," he replied, then turned to the fillies. "And we really shouldn't invade her privacy like this," he guided them back to the hallway. "I'm going to stay with her, to be safe. You go and do the things you need to do. I'll let you know when she wakes up."

Sweetie Belle looked at Danny, then Bon Bon, not able to recognize the mare with a patchwork of colors, and then back to Danny.

Nodding, she stepped away from the door.

"Will we even be able to help her?" Erlea asked, frowning.

"Only one way to find out," was Danny's reply.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle, Abella, and Erlea made their way back to the classroom once more to continue their efforts to improve Sweetie Belle's understanding and control over her hunger.

The previous day, after first tapping into the darker aspects of her spirit powers, and the subsequent transformation as a result, she had worked hard to at least control the changes she went through.

The results of her efforts were… mixed.

Either she would turn completely into her darker counterpart, or only her mane and tail would change. Another time, only one of her eyes turned slit, while she had fangs poking past her lip.

It was clear this power would not allow itself to be tamed that easily, but she demonstrated enough control after those hours that Danny was confident enough in them continuing their efforts while he kept an eye on Bon Bon.

Even then, they weren't completely unsupervised as Cujo had found a spot on the floor near them.

And so, they were back in the classroom. A place they didn't really have to go to each time, but something about it just felt right. As if the changelinks of old rejoiced that their school was used once again for education, regardless of what was taught.

"Okay," Erlea sat before the lectern, observing Sweetie Belle. "Like we practiced yesterday. Try to take in some fear but without any kind of transformation."

Sweetie Belle nodded, then secured her stance as she reached out to her darkness while thinking about the food that triggered it.

A flash came from her body the same time wisps of red were pulled out of the air, and towards her.

"I transformed again, didn't I?" Asked Sweetie Belle, not even looking as she swatted away the red wisps with a boot-covered hoof.

"Well, it's only your right eye that is slit," Abella commented as she circled around her. "And your tail," she added.

"And she turned into a spirit," Erlea pointed out the obvious.

"Well, obviously," Abela rolled her eyes.

"I don't know why this keeps happening," Sweetie Belle sighed, turning back to her mortal self as she sat down.

"I'm starting to think it's pretty simple why," Abella finished her inspection of Sweetie Belle, standing before her now.

"Meaning?" Erlea asked her friend.

"Because she tries to do something she could not possibly do as a pony. That's why she keeps transforming. She changes herself in response to her body's need to feed."

Both Elrea and Sweetie Belle blinked, surprised at this insight.

"So even if she manages to keep herself from turning into Dark and Feral, she still needs to transform to be able to eat."

"You really think so?" Sweetie Belle asked, sounding hopeful.

"Well, not like I'm an expert, but after all the effort you've put into not changing, you seem to have gotten a pretty good grasp on staying you. But despite this, you do keep transforming, so it seems like the logical answer to me."

"That actually makes sense, in a weird kind of way," Erlea had to agree.

"Well, of course. I'm the one who said it," Abella boasted.

Erlea gave her a deadpan stare, to which Abella grinned

"So, I need to be a spirit to eat fear," Sweetie Belle looked down, thinking.

"At the very least, it might make it easier to keep your change under control if you're already transformed," Abella suggested. "After all, we've been so focused on you trying to stop transforming all together, perhaps the problem lies there."

"But Danny can use his powers without transforming," Sweetie Belle countered.

"Arf!" Cujo barked, drawing the fillies' attention, then shook his head in a clear show of disagreement.

"Is he… disagreeing with you?" Abella asked, surprised.

"Well Danny said he could talk, but we can't understand him," said Sweetie Belle.

Cujo nodded.

"Chitin rust, he really is talking to us," Abella said, shocked.

"Arf arf," Cujo told them.

"Eh… what?"

Cujo was silent, scratching at his muzzle while looking down in thought.

Jumping up, he walked over to Sweetie Belle, looking at her with a surprisingly serious look, pointing a paw at her.

"Uhm…" Sweetie Belle looked at the two changelinks for any clue.

Cujo barked, drawing her attention back to him, and then he turned into the massive hound he was.

Sweetie Belle took a step back.

"Bark!" Cujo said loudly, then turned small again. Then, lifting his paw, it grew to its full size, looking comically large on the small pup. Turning it back to normal, he then grew his teeth, and they obviously didn't fit in his mouth. Then his head grew to compensate, but it was too heavy for his body, and he toppled over.

Turning back to a pup, he looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Eh, sorry. But I don't understand," said Sweetie Belle, not sure what to make of the strange display.

Cujo huffed, thought, and then sighed.

Looking at Sweetie Belle, he lifted both left legs up and promptly fell over as he lost his balance.

"Uhh?"

A gasp came from Erlea.

"I think he means balance," she said, and Cujo jumped up, barking in agreement.

"Of course," Abella's eyes lit up. "You're out of balance," Cujo nodded.

"So that means I can feed on fear as a pony once I find my balance?" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully.

Cujo shook his head.

"No?" Sweetie Belle said, to which Cujo agreed.

"I think he means you need to find a balance between the two," Abella suggested, to which Cujo nodded.

Once again his teeth grew too large for his mouth, only for them to shrink down a moment later. Once they were less than half their size, they stopped shrinking and he showed he could use his jaw again. After this demonstration, he once again turned into the massive hound he was, then a pup again. Doing so several times more, looking at Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle was silent, thinking about what he was trying to say to her, but coming up with nothing.

With a huff, Cujo proceeded to give her a slobbering lick all over her muzzle.

"Euhh," she shuddered, pushing away from the confusing dog, then turned intangible without even realizing it, allowing the saliva to fall away from her. "What was that for?" She said, stepping away from the puddle of drool.

Freezing in her steps, she looked back at the puddle, realizing what she had just done.

"First get control over the whole, and the rest will come on its own," she gasped, eyes wide, looking at Cujo.

Cujo barked, nodding happily with floppy ears and tongue.

"To run, you first need to walk and to do that, you need to first find your balance," said Abellea. "All this time, we've been focusing on getting you to run, while instead, we should focus on the balance to walk."

Cujo agreed with a bark and an arf.

"And that's why you keep having trouble," Erlea picked up. "You are simply falling over, again and again."

Cujo, seeing his work was done, returned to his spot on the floor, rolled over onto his back, and then watched the fillies return to their training with renewed vigor.

"Dang, I'm good," he barked happily, unable to be understood as he wagged his tail.

<<>><<>><<>>

It was with great relief to Danny and Zecora, to discover the nauseating stench had dispersed enough to be nothing more than a nuisance than a problem and was easily ignored as they focused on their work.

Through Zecora's rhymed explanation, Danny now understood the elixir she first made was one of extreme potency, but also one that should only be used in the most dire of circumstances as its effects could have significant drawbacks. Something that was rarely worth the trouble.

Of course, the changelinks' situation was far beyond dire, and as such, Zecora wasted little time debating the possible side effects. In all honesty, if they lived long enough to potentially develop these conditions, that would have been an incredible victory in her book.

But now, with a large number clearly recovering, she needed to prepare for a good number of things. From simple things such as headaches, nausea, or a persistently itching nose, to more severe issues such as complete loss of sight or hearing.

Creating cures for most issues wouldn't be too difficult, and some side effects would even pass on their own. And some couldn't be cured, no matter what. But the fact these were changelinks she was dealing with, also meant her potions needed to be adjusted to better suit their physiology.

Danny proved an excellent source of information in that regard, and when the first foals came in and made mention of some of the more benign effects, she was quick to get to work, using the various new ingredients Danny and the accompanying swarm had gathered the day before.

Additionally, the fact this brew was considerably less taxing on the senses was a great boon indeed.

Together Danny and Zecora worked, with the human bringing her any and all ingredients she requested, while also providing the cold to speed up the cooling process. And before long, a new line of foals was running back and forth to bring the medicine to their loved ones. Helping them recover, while the foals themselves healed as well. Able to once again hug their parents, siblings, aunts, or uncles, and they couldn't recall ever having smiled so much as they had done these last few days.

<<>><<>><<>>

Trudging through the city with several concerns weighing heavily on him, Wind Chill allowed his feet to guide him while he thought about everything that had happened recently.

The portal in the Far Frozen. Sweetie Belle and her friends. His honor bond with young Apple Bloom. The return of the Great One. Everything they did in this city in such a short amount of time. It was a true whirlwind of events he had trouble connecting.

He knew there was a pattern to be found in the chaos, somewhere, but he had no idea where to even begin looking.

A scent caught his attention, and he stopped where he stood and turned to the source.

A truly deep grimace of disgust and horror grew on his face as he recognized the structure and the terrible truth it contained.

"Despair," he muttered, having learned from Danny, and then seen for himself what lay there. "A more fitting name does not exist," he shook his head. "I promise you'll find peace one day."

He turned away from the horrific tale of loss of hope, moving back the way he came. His concerns suddenly a lot less troublesome.

Several minutes passed as he moved through the city without aim until he came upon a sight that allowed him to push away the darkness of Despair for the time being.

Foals running in a clear race, laughing happily while carrying empty bottles.

"Our efforts have already borne fruits," he said, watching the foals run away. "I can only wonder how bountiful our harvest will be once it is all over and done."

"You grow food?" A young voice piped up, and Wind Chill looked down, surprised, seeing several foals standing near his feet.

"I, euhh… No, I do not. It was just a metaphor," he explained.

"What's a mepafor?" A filly no older than six asked, looking up at the giant with wide, curious eyes.

"Eh, it's a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable."

The foals looked at him with blank eyes, some of them cocking their heads to the side.

"Uhh, it means that you use a comparable example to describe a situation."

Still only blank looks.

"... Yes, I grow food," he gave in.

"Really?" One of them asked, curious. "What kind?"

Wind Chill thought for a moment about how to work with this situation, then smiled.

"You know, before I came here I lived in an apple orchard."

The foals gasped, looking at him with excitement.

"Do you want me to tell you about this?" he asked, and they all eagerly nodded.

"Well then, allow me to tell you a story," he began, sitting down and allowing the foals to climb on his legs.

<<>><<>><<>>

Bon Bon was awake. She had been for some time now, but couldn't bring herself to move, or even make a sound. The momentary relief sleep had offered her was gone, and the soul-numbing knowledge that was, almost literally, poured into her mind blocked any need for her to do things like getting up, shower, eat, or take care of herself in any other shape or form.

What was the point?

Her entire life had been a lie. A lie forced upon her by the one pony everypony looked up to for kindness, intelligence, and leadership.

A pony who had committed horrific crimes.

Why should she continue living the lie Celestia forced on her?

Why continue doing anything? It was all fake anyhow.

"I don't know what you're thinking right now, but I can make a good guess."

Bon Bon's ears twitched instinctively.

"I noticed your breathing became more tense, but you weren't thrashing so I knew you weren't having a bad dream. I'm quite familiar with those myself."

Bon Bon didn't reply in any way.

"I'm not going to force you to do anything. You need to do this at your own pace, by your own rules to come to terms with what you just learned. But I can't just let you wallow in misery either."

She heard movement, then a weight settled down on the mattress.

"I've placed some berries and carrots next to you. It isn't much. Food is a luxury here that is hard to come by, but we're working on that. But you should try to eat something."

"Why did you do this? ...To me?" She croaked, voice hoarse and broken.

A deep, tired sigh came in answer.

"Not because I wanted to, but because you needed to know. And… because I need your help."

Slowly Bon Bon opened her tear-filled eyes, then turned to look at Danny, seeing the human sit next to the bed, back against the wall, one leg propped up and resting an arm on it.

"What?"

Danny shook his head. "Ignore that for now. This is not about me," he then looked at the plate of food. "Please try to eat something. You'll need it."

Bon Bon looked at the few berries and carrots, then lay down her head, closing her eyes.

"What's the point? I'll just continue her lie."

"Do you really believe that?"

Bon Bon didn't answer.

"Not everything in your life has been a lie. You know that, right?"

Bon Bon didn't reply, but Danny noticed one of her ears twitched in his direction.

"Despite the deception to keep things hidden from her, wouldn't you say that the life you lived with Lyra was the most honest you've been with yourself?"

Bon Bon gasped, eyes cracking open.

"Think about it," he said. "All the things you have done together. All the plans you've made. Was that done to keep up appearances, or because you truly, honestly wanted to do those things? And to do them with the mare you love."

Bon Bon continued her silence, but Danny could see he touched something.

"The life Celestia forced you to live is a lie, true. But the life you chose to live with Lyra was by your own choice, keeping the two apart as much as possible because you knew, even if you didn't know the true truth at the time."

Slowly, Bon Bon lifted her head again, looking at Danny.

"Why… Why are you doing this?" She sniffed.

"Because it is who I am," Danny told her, giving a small smile.

Bon Bon looked away, rubbing an eye with her fetlock, then froze as she noticed the color of her fur.

"You lost control over your ability because of the distress you were in," he preempted her question. "Emotions are strongly connected to this, after all."

Bon Bon continued to stare at her hoof, various emotions playing out over her face.

"Who even am I?" She asked in a small voice.

"That is for you to determine, without interference from me, Celestia, or anyone else. But forging a new identity for yourself is not going to be easy, and it will involve many hard choices."

"What kind of choices?"

"The kind where you choose what to keep, and what to remove," Danny answered, grimacing. "And take my word for it, take your time to think this through before making a decision that you will come to regret later on. I made that mistake, and I still don't know how to fix that mess." He shook his head, sighing. "One problem at a time, though," he turned his attention back to Bon Bon. "I understand you have mixed feelings about your appearance right now, changed as you are. And ultimately, you're the only one who can decide one way, or the other what to do. But for now, may I suggest you allow this to remain as is? I have a feeling it might work out in your favor."

"Not like I can control this, even if I wanted to," Bon Bon muttered, dropping her hoof. "I can only influence the change to some degree, and never undo it."

"I see," Danny muttered, a distinct edge to his voice.

"Where are we?" Bon Bon suddenly asked, more to get her mind off the subject, looking around the room.

"One of the guest rooms in the palace," Danny told her. "I brought you here after you collapsed, giving you some privacy."

"And you… you were here the entire time?"

"... In a way, yes," he nodded.

Bon Bon sucked in a breath, closing her eyes, understanding his reason for doing so.

"Thank you."

Hearing this, Danny felt a sense of relief wash over him, and he noticeably relaxed as he slumped down against the wall.

"You have no idea how glad I am for you to say that," he said, unable to stop a chuckle from escaping. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you ended up hating me for what I did."

"Maybe I do," Bon Bon replied. "I… I just don't know what to think right now." Danny nodded in understanding.

"Maybe I can help you clear up some thoughts," he offered.

"How?"

"If you're up for it, will you join me for a walk? There are some people I think you would like to meet."

"What kind of people?" Bon Bon asked, rightfully worried.

Danny smiled. "Why, your distant family of course."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a flash of green coming from his hand, Danny closed the door behind him and approached Chrysalis, who was resting on her bed.

"Time for your medicine," he called out, rousing the changelink queen.

Pushing herself up with somewhat unsteady legs, Chrysalis looked around while smacking her dry lips; seeing the partially obscured human past the bands of her frilled mane.

"Sorry for waking you," he said, holding the bottle out for her to take. "But Zecora was insistent you drink this as soon as possible."

"I feel like I should complain, regardless of your intentions," she complained, using a hoof to pull her mane out of her face.

Danny pulled the cap of the bottle, then allowed her to grab the item in her magic.

With a noticeable sloshing in the liquid, she brought the bottle to her mouth and then drained its contents in one go.

Nodding, Danny accepted the bottle back and put on the cap, then used his levitation to place it near the door for later.

"That tasted… different." Chrysalis said, licking one of her fangs. "It was not the same potion I was given before."

"Danny shook his head. "You're right about that. This one is better suited for long-term recovery."

"And what does that mean?"

"The first potion Zecora made was for absolute emergencies only, where short-term gains were more important because there was a good chance there wouldn't be a long-term," he informed her. "Now that a good majority are recovering, she has made potions that are less taxing on the body."

"I see," Chrysalis looked away.

"I should also mention, now that we can talk long term, there is a good chance that a number of you will develop side effects as a result of that potion."

"WHAT!?" Chrysalis bellowed, then lost her composure as a violent cough took control.

Danny waited for her to catch her breath.

"Like I said, short-term gains with no thought for long-term chances. It was that, or risk losing far more lives. I can't fault Zecora for her decision, and in her place, I would probably have done the same."

Chrysalis closed her eyes and focused on her breathing for a long minute.

"I understand," she said. "What side effects can we expect, and what can be done about them?

"It's a wide range, including headaches, nausea, or a persistent itch on the light side," he informed, then continued with some reluctance. "Or more severe, complete loss of sight, hearing, or both. And those were the things Zecora told me about."

Chrysalis stared at him with unblinking eyes.

"She's working on potions that should counter most of those," he quickly added. "But she also made it clear that some things even she can't undo."

Once more Chrysalis closed her eyes, holding her breath.

"I see," she eventually sighed out. "I suppose I should take comfort in the knowledge that it could have ended far worse."

"Yeah," Danny agreed, sighing as well.

"I shall inform the Hive," she told him. "Tell them what to expect."

"That would be the smart thing, yes," he nodded. "There are also a few other things I want to discuss with you."

"Which are?" She looked back at him, curiosity piqued.

"First off, the continuous need for resources. Last night we were able to find some things to help out, both with Zecora's potions, and food for her, Sweetie Belle, and I. But it's already running out. So besides the supply run, we need to make, again, we need to come up with a more sustainable method of gaining these materials."

"And I take it you have a plan."

"Well, it isn't my plan, but your ancestors," Danny grinned, and Chrysalis looked at him in surprise. "There are a lot of dead gardens hanging around, waiting to be used again." Chrysalis' eyes widened. "It will take time, obviously. But if we were to plant seeds and the like, we would be able to grow our own medicinal crops, and food as well. It would still require us to go out and find resources in the time these plants need to grow, but in the long run, this will greatly aid all of you. It may even work as a morale boost, as it would return a part of the city to how it once was."

"Second, all of you need food as well. It's one of the main reasons why you ended up in this mess. And while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were able to feed a good number of the foals and to an extent, some of the older changelinks, it still is nowhere near enough to undo years of starvation. Sweetie Belle still hasn't shown signs of being able to feed you, and neither have I. I begin to think this may be because of our spectral nature. Same with Wind Chill or Cujo. But I haven't seen this happen with Zecora either, and I can say fairly certainly that you have come to trust her quite a bit. Which makes me question whether or not this energy you feed on is something exclusively found among ponies, or if there is some other reason why this hasn't happened with any of us yet."

"Is that why you brought that pony here?" Chrysalis asked, now clearly worried.

"No," Danny shook his head. "If it were to happen, awesome. But her reason for being here is not to feed you."

"Then what plan do you have to accomplish what we couldn't in all those centuries?"

"Short term? Not sure yet. Hopefully, Sweetie Belle and Zecora will develop the ability, and perhaps even me. Otherwise, we may need to risk sending some changelinks over to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to gather some of their energy. It will need to be rationed, but it might work. Long term, however. That's a different matter entirely."

"Explain… please."

"It's for after Celestia is exposed, which may take some time. But once I manage to do this, show the world who she really is, and what she has done, it will also break the populace's perception of their flawless, benevolent ruler. And once they learn about the lies and the truth about you, it may be possible to mend relations between the two of you." He held up a hand, stopping Chrysalis before she could speak. "I have no illusions. Doing this is going to be a massive undertaking, and there will be those who are unable, or unwilling to accept the truth. But I have a plan to help with that."

"Which is?"

"Bon Bon," Danny answered and then explained his plan.

<<>><<>><<>>

With dragging hooves and head held down, Bon Bon followed after Danny as he led her through the castle hallways, and out into the city.

She wasn't sure exactly how she felt, but she couldn't deny some curiosity to see the changelinks. And thus she finally found the energy to get moving, if only to help her get her mind off things.

For some time, they walked in silence, with Bon Bon only seeing the city from the corners of her eyes, her gaze firmly locked on the ground.

"Tell me, Bon Bon. How much were you shown about the Hive?" Danny asked, looking over his shoulder at her.

"A little bit," she mumbled.

"Do you know who first built it?"

"The changelinks, right?"

"Well, you're not wrong," he replied, holding his neck. "But there's a bit more to it than that. While it was the changelinks who found this place, and came up with the idea and plans to make a village here; jumping into this with single-minded dedication, it was also the ponies of Yoke that helped. Which means that the oldest part of this city is a creation of both races." He came to a slow stop, allowing Bon Bon to notice while he looked off in the distance.

"You see that spire there?" He pointed to one of the more distant stalagmites, and Bon Bon looked up at him, then where he pointed.

"Yes."

"That is the first stalagmite they claimed. It's where they first lived. All of them. Every single changelink, and ponies, too." He looked back at her. "Think about that, and then look around and see how far they have come."

Bon Bon was silent, doing as Danny suggested, and took a moment to look at the city around her.

"And now they are all gone," she said, head dropping. "All because of Celestia."

"Not all of them," he said. "But she got close. A year more, maybe, and the changelinks would have gone extinct."

"...How many are left?" Bon Bon asked, worry breaking through her voice.

"I can't say for certain, but a few thousand at best," he shook his head. "In fact, there are far more ponies like you, with changelink heritage, than there are changelinks."

"And Celestia makes all of us work for her," Bon Bon said, sounding sick.

"Not all of you," Danny revealed, and she looked up at him, confused. "There are those who don't show any outward signs, and manage to go unnoticed."

"Really?"

Danny nodded. "Yes. And what's more, we both know several of them, too."

"We do?"

Danny smiled. "Do you know the name of the mare who was the first to marry a changelink?" Bon Bon shook her head. "Her name was Apple Pie. She's the ancestor of both the Apples and the Pies. Which means each and every single one of them is a descendant of the changelinks."

Bon Bon's mouth hung open.

"And neither Applejack nor Pinkie Pie was found out by Celestia."

"What?"

"Think about it. Applejack's uncanny ability to tell a lie from the truth, or Pinkie's oversensitivity to how others feel. It all has to do with their ability to sense emotions."

Bon Bon was stunned, looking at Danny with wide eyes.

"Makes you think, doesn't it?" He chuckled, then resumed walking once he was sure Bon Bon would follow.

"But… If that is true, then how many others are out there that Celestia doesn't know about?"

"Impossible to tell," he told her. "Most of the ponies of changelink descent don't show the signs, their genes are too diluted. But sometimes, like with yourself, their heritage flares up, and then they end up in the very position you are in, too. Lost, deceived, and worse."

They crossed another bridge, moving further into the city, and the first signs of life began to show themselves to Bon Bon as she saw foals run around, carrying bottles on them, either full or empty.

Danny, too, noticed. And he looked at the sight with a grimace. "And then there is this," he shook his head."

"What are they doing?" Bon Bon asked while some of the foals began to take notice of her, slowing in their pace to stare at her.

"Bringing medicine to their friends and family, or going back to get a refill," Danny informed her.

By now the foals had slowed down to a crawl, their eyes boring into Bon Bon who quickly looked away, overly self-conscious.

"Are you okay?" A young voice asked, and Bon Bon saw, with a startled gasp, one of the foals now stood before her; looking up at her with large, quizzical eyes.

"Y- yes. I am fine," she lied, doing her best to fake a smile.

"You don't taste okay to me," the child said, confused, tongue flicking past small fangs.

"Can't hide your true feelings among those who eat emotions," Danny told her.

Bon Bon was unable to reply, shaken that such a young foal could so easily tell how she truly felt.

A gasp escaped her when she suddenly felt two small legs hold on to her, while some weight pressed into her.

"Wha-" she looked down, shocked to see the foal holding her in a hug.

"I always feel better when mom hugs me," the child said, peering up at Bon Bon with large eyes. "So I thought maybe you would, too."

Bon Bon stood frozen on the spot for a long moment, but then something burst and she held onto the foal, tears streaming down her face

"Thank you."

In the back, Danny watched the emotional moment in silence, smiling sadly, but happy with the first step of trust renewed.

<<>><<>><<>>

With excitement, the foals guided Bon Bon through the city, with Danny following close behind.

He already knew where they were taking her, and he had no inclination to stop them.

In fact, he had planned on taking her there himself. But this was far better than he could have planned for.

Even then, he did give his double a quick heads-up so he could hide.

No need to needlessly freak out Bon Bon with unexplained ghostly activity.

Not yet, at least.

With excited chittering and clanging bottles, the foals rushed down the spiral walkway, entered a door that was purposely disabled to remain open to allow the room to air out, and were downright ecstatic at the sight of more bottles filled with medicine cooling on a block of ice.

A good-natured laugh came in response to their antics and Bon Bon, still catching up, slowed down as her ears perked up in recognition.

"Your excitement is telling, children of change. And don't worry, I have prepared enough potions for you to exchange."

A cheer came from the grateful foals, and they quickly dropped off their empty bottles, then rushed over to grab a new potion to bring to their family or friend.

"Zecora?" Bon Bon stood in the open doorway, eyes wide, looking at the zebra.

Upon hearing her name, Zecora turned to Bon Bon, looking at the mare with a studious gaze.

"And you must be Bon Bon, mare of sweet delight. To see you up and active is a most promising sight."

Bon Bon took a step back and bumped into Danny standing behind her.

"What? What are you doing here? How are you even here?" Bon Bon asked rapidly, shocked. "How- how do you know who I am?"

"Your questions are understandable, and answers I will give. And the first thing you must know, I am not the changelinks' captive," Zecora informed her, making sure that no misunderstanding could be made. "I am here by my own choice and desire, with the goal to save lives, as I aspire. As for how I came to arrive in this place. That answer requires you to merely turn your face."

Bon Bon was silent, then looked behind her, and up at Danny.

"Zecora's telling the truth," he said. "I brought her here. Or, well, Eclipse did. Same as how she brought you here," he shrugged. "Zecora and I have been working tirelessly to make as many potions to help the changelinks recover. And if it wasn't for her, and her extensive knowledge, they wouldn't be in as good a situation as they are now." He paused for a moment. "As for how she knows it's you. I told her. Not like we keep many secrets here when it comes to these sorts of things. Lives depend on it."

Bon Bon remained silent, looking from Danny to Zecora, to the foals standing near a block of ice, looking puzzled at the adults in the room, then back to Zecora.

"So you were never abducted by ghosts?" Bon Bon asked, unable to keep the agent inside of her from solving this mystery.

Zecora shook her head, smiling knowingly.

"And ghosts are actively helping the changelinks?" She wasn't sure if she asked, or stated the current situation.

"Pretty much," Danny confirmed.

"And I am part changelink, while you are half ghost," Bon Bon sat down, eyes closed as she tried to keep it together.

The foals nearby reacted immediately, their faces turning to disgust.

A moment later, Bon Bon felt several small bodies press into her as the foals tried their hardest to help her feel better, and a shocked gasp escaped her from the sudden surge of emotions she felt; fresh tears starting to form.

"No be sad," an especially young foal chirped, snuggled up into her chest fluff.

Despite herself, Bon Bon could not keep herself from smiling at the adorable sight, and the foals instantly brightened as well when they noticed the shift in emotions.

This did not stop them from their combined assault, and Bon Bon found herself held captive for a good while longer.

And in the background, Danny and Zecora watched the faint stream of energy flow from Bon Bon.

<<>><<>><<>>

After numerous new attempts with the new insight shared with them by Cujo, Sweetie Belle had worked hard in her ability to control her hunger, and in extent, her transformation.

Abella and Erlea, at the same time, work hard to improve their understanding of Sweetie Belle's hunger; how it was similar to their own, and how it differed.

By now Sweetie Belle, after having given up on using her hunger while staying a pony, was able to draw out the ambient fear in the air around her without any alterations to her spirit form. Something she was most thankful for after Abella pointed this out.

Yet the more she continued practicing, the more she became aware of something else. Something she couldn't quite place, nor did she know if it was good or bad. Just that it was there, and it felt…

"Weird," she murmured, shaking her head.

"Anything wrong?" Asked Erlea.

"I don't know," she replied, frowning, looking around. "It's just… I'm feeling something… odd."

"Odd, how?" Abella asked curiously.

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle replied. "I just feel… something. And all around me."

Stepping closer, Abella inspected Sweetie Belle's spirit form, finding nothing out of the ordinary… besides her being a silver gleaming spirit, that is.

"Well, I don't see anything wrong," she said. "But that hardly means anything, all things considered."

"You sure?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"As sure as I can be," Abella shrugged. "Any thoughts?" She asked Erlea.

"All around you, you said?" Erlea queried, tongue flicking past her lips.

"Yes."

Erlea looked at Sweetie Belle, then Abella.

"What does the air taste like to you?"

"What do you- oh."

"Oh? Oh, what?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"There are a lot of different emotions hanging around us. Fear is only one of them," said Erlea. "But it is also one of the more powerful. But with how much you've sucked out of the air, the other emotions are a lot more noticeable now."

"Anger, sadness, grief, hopelessness," Abella said, frowning. "You're sensing all of those."

"WHAT!?" Sweetie Belle stumbled back, eyes wide. "I can feel those emotions, too?"

"Apparently," Abella commented. "Makes sense too, if you think about it."

"Like a changelink, but not like a changelink," Erlea said, making sure she used the correct term for her kind.

"Wha- what does that mean?" Sweetie Belle asked, concerned.

"Probably nothing more than just that," Abella answered. "You can sense emotions, like us. And you eat them, like us."

"So… I can feel what other ponies feel?"

"In a way, I guess," Abella shrugged.

Something drew Sweetie Belle's attention, and she looked around in confusion at the sensation.

Abella and Erlea, too, seemed to pick up on something.

A strong source of negative emotions slowly moving closer.

Sweetie Belle's stomach growled.

"Yeah, she's picking up on them alright," Abella remarked as she and Erlea looked at an embarrassed Sweetie Belle.

With a flash, Sweetie Belle turned back to her mortal self when a knock came on the door.

All three fillies looked at one another, then, with a shrug coming from Abella, Erlea used her limited magic to open the door; revealing Danny, and the mare known as Bon Bon on the other side.

Sweetie Belle could practically see the delicious negative emotions radiate off of her.

<<>><<>><<>>

Several minutes earlier

Far more composed, but with no fewer questions and doubts, Bon Bon left the foals and Zecora behind as she once again followed after Danny.

"So how're you feeling right now?" Danny asked, looking at her

"I… 'm not sure," she hesitated, biting her lip. "There is so much that still doesn't make sense to me."

"I know the feeling," Danny shared, frowning ever so slightly.

"Why…" Bon Bon started, then hesitated and fell silent again.

Danny didn't question her, allowing her to sort her thoughts in her own time.

"Why weren't the foals afraid of me?" She eventually asked. "I'm an agent of Celestia. Shouldn't they be scared of-"

"No," Danny cut her off. "They shouldn't, and they aren't." He looked down at her with hardened eyes. "They fear and hate Celestia, for obvious reasons. But you are not her. In fact, you are just as much a victim of her as they are. And they know it."

"But… I did all those horrible things, all for the princess, and the good of my-"

"Because of her lies," Danny reminded her. "Yes, you believed her. So does everypony else. And that is her true power. Her lies have gone on for so long, that there is no one left to say otherwise. Well, almost no one. But that does not mean you're a monster yourself. I know this. The changelinks know this. Now you need to admit this to yourself."

Bon Bon looked away. "I don't know if I can."

"Maybe not alone," Danny countered. "But with help, I'm sure you can." He stopped before a closed door, several muffled voices coming from inside.

Danny knocked on the door, and the voices stopped. A moment later, with a weak flash of the runes surrounding the onyx, the door melted away, revealing a confused Erlea. And, standing in the background, Abella and, to Bon Bon's next shock and surprise, Sweetie Belle.

"WHAT?!" She shouted, eyes wide as she stared at the ivory filly, completely ignoring the changelink before her.

Erlea looked less than pleased over the fact Bon Bon just shouted in her face the way she had.

"Sweetie Belle? What- how- you- but-" Her mind sputtered and failed.

"Eh… Hi Bon Bon," Sweetie Belle awkwardly waved a hoof at her. "Nice meeting you… here." There was a forced tension in her smile.

"But- but you can't be here. I saw you back in Ponyville, with your friends, after Danny had save-" She froze mid-sentence, finally registering the changelinks in the room with her.

"They're all changelinks!?" She shouted, shocked.

Again, Erlea was less than pleased with the assault on her ears.

"Danny," she said with obvious frustration. "Is there any reason why your… guest keeps shouting in my face?"

This snapped Bon Bon out of her stupor, and she took a few steps away from the annoyed shapeshifter.

"Just working out all the shock in her system," he commented, trying to hide his amusement, but not fooling the emotivores in the room and all three fillies looked at him with raised eyebrows. Danny took notice and chuckled while giving an acknowledging nod to Sweetie Belle. "And they're not all changelinks," he then clarified to Bon Bon. "Only Sweetie Belle is swapped, and for good reasons."

"What?" Bon Bon turned to him. "Why? What reason?"

Danny looked back at Sweetie Belle, seeing the clear hesitance in her eyes, he gave her a reassuring nod, then looked back to Bon Bon. "She's here to help mend relations between changelinks and ponies. Learning from them, while they learn from her."

"But why is she here? This is not something you would let a foal do. And why her of all ponies? Why did you even bring her here? And does she know… about you?"

"I do," Sweetie Belle piped up. "And Danny didn't bring me here. My friends and I were brought here by Erlea."

"Who?" Was the first thing Bon Bon asked.

"Me," Erlea, still standing in the same spot, replied flatly. Abella snickered behind a hoof.

"Yeah, her," Sweetie Belle confirmed. "After that, we found this city and all the sick and dying changelinks, and we did everything we could to help them. Then Danny found us, and we did manage to save them."

"It is a very abridged version," Danny added.

Bon Bon blinked once, mind sputtering, turning to Danny with more questions on her mind than she could process at once.

"How-"

"They're the Cutie Mark Crusaders," he answered readily. "As for me, it's a pretty standard affair in my day-to-day life, to be honest," he shrugged.

Bon Bon stared blankly at him.

"So how're things going?" Danny asked the fillies.

"Pretty good," Abella answered. "There were some problems due to lack of understanding, but that dog turned out to be a decent enough teacher… Once we figured out what he was trying to say."

"Cujo?" Danny asked, puzzled.

"Yo!" A bark came from behind the lectern, and Cujo wriggled into view; lying on his back, and legs kicking randomly as he snaked his way forwards.

Five pairs of eyes looked blankly at the pup.

"He taught you?" Danny sought confirmation, looking back at Abella with obvious disbelief.

"Hey, I know stuff," Cujo barked back before Abella could answer.

"I never doubted that," said Danny. "But I can't believe it was anything useful to others."

Cujo glared at Danny, then kicked his hindlegs and continued his wriggle on the floor. "Fair enough."

"Is… is that a ghost dog?" Came Bon Bon's meek voice.

"Yeah," Danny confirmed with a sigh.

"And you can understand it?"

"It surprises me too," he admitted. "His name's Cujo and he is a real handful."

"Not as full as I can be," Cujo replied, then turned into his much larger form, still scraping his back on the floor as he did so.

Bon Bon stumbled back, eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

"Really," Danny sighed, shaking his head. "Just ignore him," he looked at Bon Bon. "He just wants the attention."

"What are you even learning here that would allow a ghost dog to help?" Bon Bon asked, not sure if she actually wanted to know the answer.

"Good question," he replied, and they both looked at the fillies for an answer.

"Balance," Sweetie Belle replied.

"Balance?" Danny repeated, puzzled for a moment, and then understanding dawned.

"Balance?" Bon Bon said, not understanding.

"Balance," Erlea mirrored with a nod.

"Balance," Abella confirmed.

"Balance," Cujo barked happily, deeply satisfied with how his back was scratched, treating the group to a perfect view of his wagging butt without shame or care.

<<>><<>><<>>

Deciding then and there that they had better things to do than watch Cujo's antics, Danny, Bon Bon, Sweetie Belle, Erlea and Abella swiftly left the classroom.

Cujo, still happily doing what he was doing, either didn't notice or care they left.

Now back out in the city, Bon Bon slowly followed after the group, lagging behind ever so slightly. The distinct look of someone completely lost on her face as she went over everything she had seen and learned, both in the Murgröna and just now.

All her life she had known one unshakable fact around which she had built her life. Princess Celestia was a kind-hearted, good-natured pony who would not dare hurt a fly without good reason. And later, with the emergence of ghosts, those entities were the purest of evil from the deepest pits of Tartarus. But now. Having seen the memories of those Celestia had wronged. And further, Cujo's shaking butt, she had trouble coming to terms with it all.

It was just so much to take in all at once.

What did all of this mean for her?

How would this influence her life?

How would this affect others?

How would this affect Lyra?

Would she still be a part of her life? And what kind of life would they both even have after this?

And maybe even more important than all of that.

"Who am I?"

"Huh?" Danny stopped, looking back at her. "What was that?"

Bon Bon snapped out of her thoughts, not realizing she spoke aloud until Danny spoke up, and she found he and all three fillies were looking at her with various levels of concern.

"It's nothing," she deflected, looking away.

"With everything that you've gone through, I very much doubt it is nothing," Danny replied. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but I don't think it will do you any good if you keep it inside."

Bon Bon looked down, scuffing a hoof on the ground.

"Listen to Danny," said Abella. "He knows what he's talking about. Besides, I can feel the depression coming from you," she shuddered. "Don't let it fester."

"How… Why are you all so nice to me?" The question rushed out before she could stop herself. "I work for Celestia. I did all those things for her! And now… now all of this. I… I… I just don't even know who I am anymore!" She cried out, dropping down in defeat as tears flowed freely. "Who am I? Sweetie Drops? Bon Bon? Both? Neither? I- I just don't know what to do anymor-" Her breath got caught as Sweetie Belle rushed over to her, and held onto her tightly in a hug.

"You are you!" She said with tears in her eyes. "Your name doesn't matter. Your past doesn't matter. What does is what you choose to do now. Who you chose to be now. But you don't have to make that choice on your own. We're here to help you. All of us."

"We are?" Erlea said, confused. Then she recalled her newfound purpose. "Right, we are." Then she muttered under her breath, "Dung Beetle, old habits are hard to break."

Slowly, Bon Bon calmed down, sniffing loudly as she held onto Sweetie Belle.

"Thank you," she said. "I just don't know what to do with myself right now."

Sweetie Belle held on a bit tighter. "I know what that's like," she told her. "To not be in control of yourself. To be at the mercy of somepony else's actions. To hurt others, even if you don't want to do so. The guilt afterward," she sniffed herself. "We're both here for a reason, and I will not let you go through something similar I went through, too. Not on your own."

Bon Bon pushed away slightly, looking down at Sweetie Belle in shock.

"What are you talking about?"

Sweetie Belle didn't look up. "I have… powers, too. Not like you, but they also caused me a lot of trouble. Erlea and Abella, they are helping me learn and understand them so I won't do anything harmful again."

"You… you're part changelink, too?!" Bon Bon asked, shocked, then felt disturbed when her thoughts wondered how she never noticed any signs of the curse.

"It's… complicated," Sweetie Belle deflected. "And not something I want to talk about all that much right now. Maybe later, after you've had the time to sort out your own thoughts."

"I… Yes, I suppose that would be for the better," Bon Bon replied, uncertain.

After a moment longer, the two parted; both wiping away the tears in their eyes.

"Thank you," Bon Bon said to Sweetie Belle, then she looked back at the others. "And sorry."

"Don't be," Erlea said somewhat forced. "We all need to come to terms with the changes in our lives, one way, or the other. I doubt it will ever be easy."

"We just need to keep moving forward, one step at a time," Abella added. "And sometimes you stumble."

"But you should know you are among friends here. If you fall, we are there to help you back on your hooves," Danny smoothly added, and despite how she felt about her situation, Bon Bon couldn't help but genuinely smile at their words.

"Thank you," she said gratefully, and the three fillies could sense the relief she felt.

<<>><<>><<>>

The group was moving again, making their way back to the palace.

Sweetie Belle kept pace beside Bon Bon, while Erlea and Abella walked a few steps ahead and on her right. As for Danny. He once more had taken the lead as he moved through the city, making sure to keep their walk long enough to give Bon Bon time to think while also keeping busy, but not too long for it to drag on and on.

But as he moved up with the natural bend of the walkway, a most entertaining sight came into view.

"And that is how I came to meet young Apple Bloom and her friends, which eventually brought me here," Wind Chill said, sitting on the ground and entertaining a group of enraptured foals sitting and hanging on his legs. One of them even had made their way up onto his shoulder and lay curled up, listening intently.

Danny couldn't help himself as he laughed at the adorable sight, bringing their attention to his group.

"Great One," Wind Chill greeted, elated. "How wonderful to see you again. And young Sweetie Belle and her friends, too. How are you all doing?"

"We're doing alright, all things considered," Danny answered for the group, and Wind Chill gave a single nod at the hidden meaning behind his words, his smile dropping ever so slightly.

"I see. Well, I'm glad to hear this."

"And what about you?" Danny smirked. "Has anything interesting happened to you?"

Wind Chill blew a theatrical sigh of disappointment, shaking his head. "I'm afraid not. All I have done is sit here and talk. In fact, it must have been so boring, that the children opted to use me as a climbing rack instead."

The foals quickly voiced their disagreement, much to the amusement of the adults present. This also caused a mental flinch for Bon Bon as, the second after, she realized how much of an adorable sight this was for her.

A massive ghost, climbed on by changelink foals while he told them a story.

It further broke down her old beliefs, and she silently observed the improbable sight. Seeing, but not hearing as Danny and Wind Chill spoke to one another, while Erlea and Abella made the foals climb down. Sweetie Belle, at the same time, seemed hesitant to approach the young shapeshifters. Seemingly ill at ease with something. Then one of the young foals broke away from the group and rushed to her, and Sweetie Belle seemed rather shocked.

Much to her surprise, the young child quickly wrapped herself around one of her legs, hugging her.

This simple act deeply moved Sweetie Belle, and tears welled up in her eyes as she returned the gesture.

And then Bon Bon saw something that she couldn't believe she was seeing.

Energy began to flow from Sweetie Belle, which the foal greedily sucked up.

She knew what it was; had seen it in Spring Breeze's lifebook. But to see it for herself, for real, was something different altogether. But sounds of elation came from Danny and Wind Chill, while Erlea and Abella looked only slightly stunned. And it was at this moment that understanding began to grow within Bon Bon.

She just needs the time to figure out what this would mean for her.

<<>><<>><<>>

The group had moved once more and were now passing through the hallways of the palace, leaving Wind Chill behind as, in his own words, the narrow passages would only serve to slow everyone down.

Some idle conversation took place between Abella and Danny, while Erlea and Sweetie Belle kept close to Bon Bon. Erlea did appear to have some reservations about her place near Bon Bon, an agent of Celestia, yet she tried her hardest to make true to her newfound purpose.

As for Bon Bon herself, a pensive look had shown on her face ever since their encounter with Wind Chill a moment ago, quietly following after Danny without a word, obviously deep in thought.

"We're here," Danny suddenly said, and Bon Bon snapped out of her thoughts, blinked, and looked around, then saw the large doors before them.

Pushing against one of the two doors, Danny opened the way into the throne room.

"Why did you take us here?" Asked Erlea, confused.

"Your mother basically demanded it," he answered, shrugging, then stepped aside and allowed them in.

"My mom did?" Erlea asked, confused. "Why?"

"So I can have a proper word with our… guest," the voice of Queen Chrysalis came in answer, and Bon Bon sucked in a gasp as she looked inside and saw the bedraggled queen sit on her throne, looking down on her with cold eyes.

A chill went down Bon Bon's spine at the sight of the being who once bested Princess Celestia, and she found herself rooted on the spot.

"Is she in trouble?" Asked Sweetie Belle, looking worriedly at Bon Bon.

"Not quite," Queen Chrysalis stated, never averting her eyes from Bon Bon. "You were brought here by Danny, and as such are under his protection. We owe him too much to betray his trust so easily, nor can I deny the willingness of the Murgröna to connect with you, as well as your obvious changelink heritage. But," she stomped a hoof, "you are still an agent of Celestia. This is a transgression I can't just ignore. Danny has informed me about your situation, and his reasons for bringing you here. But none of that matters if you fail to uphold the trust he has placed in you. So, for that same reason, I am willing to give you a chance, one chance to speak your thoughts and try to convince me you are worthy of the time, effort, and trust put in you." She breathed heavily after saying all that but managed to keep herself from coughing.

"I don't think putting her on the spot so soon is wise," Danny remarked, looking unamused at the queen.

"So you have told me earlier."

"Yeah, figured as much," he sighed, seeing his double stand out of sight for Bon Bon behind the opened door, back against the wall, arms crossed and frowning.

"Approach," Queen Chrysalis ordered Bon Bon.

Bon Bon stood frozen on the spot, eyes wide.

"Don't worry," said Sweetie Belle, reaching up and placing a hoof on her withers. "Just be honest and you'll be fine."

Bon Bon snapped out of her stupor, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Then nodded, looked at the queen with new found conviction, and approached.

"Your name is Bon Bon, correct?" Queen Chrysalis asked immediately.

"It was, yes."

"Was?" Queen Chrysalis asked, puzzled.

"All my life I used my name as a cover, pretending to be somepony else. I don't know if I can still call myself as such, knowing what I know now. But not knowing what to call myself either, Bon Bon will suffice."

Queen Chrysalis was taken aback for only a moment. "I see," she said. "And knowing all you know now, what will you report to Celestia?"

Bon Bon was silent, looking down, and most present could feel the waging conflict within her.

"I don't know," she admitted. "Before, I wouldn't hesitate to inform her about everything. But now… Nothing makes sense anymore. But I know I can't just walk away from her. It would raise too many questions. They will investigate me, and everyone near me to find out what happened; what changed. So I must report something to her. But I don't know what. I just… I don't know."

Queen Chrysalis stood up despite her body's protest, glaring down at the pony before her, her shadow covering Bon Bon's entire form.

"Will you reveal everything about the Hive to save yourself?! Our numbers?! Our weakness?! Where to find us?!"

"What?!" Bon Bon balked. "Why would I do that? How could I do that?"

Queen Chrysalis' eyes narrowed. "You just said you wouldn't hesitate before. What's stopping you from deciding to do so again?"

"SHE LIED TO ME!" Bon Bon shouted back, anger flaring up. Queen Chrysalis managed to hide her reaction to this sudden shift in emotions, but the fillies in the back were less capable. "SHE LIED TO ALL OF US! FORCING US TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN SHAME AND DISGUST. MAKING US DO THINGS THAT WOULD KEEP US AWAKE AT NIGHT FOR WEEKS FROM A GUILTY CONSCIOUS. BUT WE DID IT ANYHOW BECAUSE WE KNEW SHE HAD OUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART. THAT SHE WOULD FIND A WAY TO CURE OUR CURSE. NONE OF US KNOWING THAT SHE… that she is the curse in our lives," the flame inside of her dimmed down, a new wave of depression slamming over her. "I have given my entire life to her, all because she lied to me. How could I possibly give her more?"

Silence.

"Very well," Queen Chrysalis said, then began to heave and cough messily, her legs giving out.

"Oh crud," Danny jumped into action as he reached out with a glowing hand, catching the ill queen before she fell to the floor.

"MOM!" Erlea cried out as she rushed to her mother.

"What?" Bon Bon looked around, shocked. Caught unaware by the queen suddenly collapsing, then hearing Erlea call Chrysalis her mother.

"I warned you not to push yourself repeatedly," Danny said, worry and annoyance mixing together as he carefully lowered Chrysalis to the floor.

"I'm fine," Chrysalis heaved.

"No, you are not. And stop pretending you are," Danny scolded, clearly fed up with her overly stubborn behavior. "You need to rest and recover. Instead, you keep running around trying to take charge of things while you clearly are in no state to do so."

"I had to make sure she could be trusted," Chrysalis defended her decision, blinking repeatedly.

"Well, I hope it was worth it," Danny grumbled.

"It was," she said, breathing laboriously.

"Is- is everything alright?" Bon Bon asked hesitantly, not sure what to make of this situation.

"About as well as you can expect," Danny answered, shaking his head. "This is the result of her pushing past her limitations, and she knows she does so. Nothing new there."

"Can I… is there anything I can do to help?"

Danny looked at Bon Bon, a thankful smile showing as he shook his head. "No, but thanks. She needs to rest and allow her medicine to work." He looked past Bon Bon, at Abella, Sweetie Belle, and himself still standing out of sight. "I'll take care of her. You take over from here."

"You sure?" Danny asked, startling Abella and Sweetie Belle, who quickly moved to see his double stand behind the door. At the same time, Bon Bon stumbled back in disbelief, eyes wide in shock yet again.

"Not much of a choice here," the first Danny commented.

"No, not really," Danny agreed, shoulders sagging as he sighed. "Alright," he stepped away from his hiding spot, "first things first." He turned to Bon Bon. "Not the way I had planned on doing this, but here we are. Yes, there's two of me. Yes, I am real. Yes, it's a ghost thing. No, not all ghosts can do this. Yes, this thing gets confusing fast. Questions?"

Bon Bon rose a shaking hoof.

"Yes?"

"Is this a nightmare?" She asked, voice shaking.

"I wish," Danny sighed. "Okay, Abella, Sweetie Belle, let's get out of here," he guided them to the door. "Erlea, you coming? Or do you want to stay with your mom?" Erlea silently stared at him. "Fair enough," he nodded. "Alright. Bon Bon, please follow me."

Bon Bon stood still, head swiveling from left to right as she looked at both Dannys.

"I'll try to explain what is going on if that makes you feel better," Danny told her. "But I doubt it will make much sense to you. Heck, it barely makes sense to me, and I live this mess of a life."

More on auto-pilot than anything else, Bon Bon slowly followed after the second Danny, still glancing back at the first with large, confused eyes.

With a green glow, the door swung shut, leaving Danny, Erlea, and Chrysalis alone in the room.

"She stood firm to me," Chrysalis coughed. "Knowing without a shred of doubt the harm Celestia has caused to us all," she looked up at Danny with unfocused eyes. "She will be of help to us, I'm certain."

"Glad to hear it," Danny said grimly.

"Now, please go to Zecora," Chrysalis groaned. "I am no longer able to see."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a flash of his hand, Danny opened the door to the room Bon Bon had stayed the night, allowing her, and both fillies inside.

"Alright, Eclipse has filled me in on pretty much everything that has happened with my other self and you," he informed them. "Which just leaves everything else to deal with."

"Is Chrysalis going to be okay?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

Danny grimaced. "Probably. She's just too stubborn for her own good. It's most likely also part of the reason why she has developed those side effects."

"Side effects?" Abella said, worried. "Those things my queen warned us about earlier?"

Danny nodded. "She just admitted to my other self she lost her sight, so Erlea is already on her way to Zecora for help."

The room was silent, all eyes on him.

"And I'm not sure what else to say about that," he shrugged. "Anyhow, Bon Bon. I still owe an explanation about there being two of me just now. So do you want the long version or the short? They will both be confusing and not answer a whole lot."

"I think…" She sat down, shaking her head. "I just don't know," she sighed. "All of this, it just makes no sense." She lifted up a hoof and looked at her red fur, "I make no sense.

"Then maybe we can help you make sense of it," Danny offered. "After all, you're among the shapeshifters from which you inherited your ability. I'm sure that, with their help, you will be able to not just make sense of things, but control it without issue."

"But I have never been able to control this," she replied, "only influence it to some extent."

"Yes," Danny muttered. "I suppose that's true."

'Abella. Erlea. This apple pony claims to be the descendant of Apple Pie!' Devora called out over the hivemind.

"Hmuh?" Abella perked up, ears twitching, and everyone else looked at her in either confusion or understanding.

"What is going on?" Asked Bon Bon, but Danny held up a hand, telling her to wait.

'Yeah, Danny found out about that a little while ago,' Abella replied almost instantly. Didn't we tell you that?'

'WHAT? No.

'Oh… Well, apparently all Apples and all Pies are the descendants of Apple Pie and Buzz. Which also means they are of changelink blood, and some of them show the signs through their appearances or abilities,' she informed her friend.

'Wait… WHAT?

'We actually have one of those ponies here in the Hive right now,' she replied, looking at Bon Bon, much to the mare's confusion. 'Not one from Apple Pie, though. But she has the gift of change.

'...'

'So, there you have it

Silence was the only answer she got until she felt her friend pull away from their shared mind with clear irritation.

"What just happened?" Asked Bon Bon.

"My friend just found out about the Apples and the Pies through Apple Bloom," Abella answered.

"Didn't you already tell her that after I found out?" Danny asked, surprised.

"Nope," Abella grinned awkwardly.

Danny shook his head, unable to hide his smirk. "Well, at least it sounds like Apple Bloom learned something worthwhile. So I guess the Lifebook I left for her also showed her the truth."

"So Apple Bloom now knows about her ancestors?" Sweetie Belle said hopefully.

"Probably, yes," Danny nodded, frowning. "Eclipse," he called out next, and a pair of orange eyes materialized in his shadow. "Let me know when more is known about this. Apple Bloom learning the truth about herself could both be a good thing and bad, depending on how this plays out."

"Understood," she confirmed, and her eyes vanished.

"Well, with that taken care of…" He turned back to Bon Bon and found her standing with her mouth hanging open. "Right, that kinda cut in between things, didn't it?"

"Bwuha?"

"Right," he scratched his neck. "This will take some explaining."

<<>><<>><<>>

It took some time. A lot of time, actually. But eventually, Bon Bon was brought up to speed, learning all about the rare ability some ghosts have to duplicate themselves, and the ongoing efforts to reveal the truth to other ponies like her. So far, it only was her, and Apple Bloom; but to an extent, hopefully someday, the entire Apple and Pie families.

Not stopping there, she was also told about Devora who currently posed as Sweetie Belle back in Ponyville. And a far greater shock, Discord.

But with the new understanding also came questions. And with them, doubt. Doubt in herself, and her abilities to help.

She saw the truth in the Murgröna, witnessed the terrible state of things first hoof in the Hive, and experienced the kindness of those she once thought to be nothing more than monsters. And now, once again looking at her hoof, and her red fur, she knew something had to change.

She had to change.

And so, after a long talk, Danny, Sweetie Belle, and Abella all agreed to help her do just that.

And so, after some consideration, the group made their way back to the classroom for no other reason other than that it felt right.

Elinora smiled proudly within the Murgröna.

"Okay, transformation magic," Abella said, sitting before the lectern. "It's a bit difficult to explain exactly how we do it, as it comes naturally to us after we pupate. We already know how to do it, and all we need to learn is how to control it in a meaningful way. Not to say we're all experts at it, of course. I mean, Erlea can't turn into a zebra without also including purple polka dots," she snickered at the thought.

"As for you," she continued, looking at Bon Bon seated before her. "I can't say for certain how your ability works. It comes from us, yes. But there are few left who have this ability. In fact, you're the only one I know of. There may be more, but I wouldn't know," she shrugged.

"As for transforming itself, it requires a clear image in your mind. The more detailed, the better. But don't overdo it, either. Too much clutter will only end up working against you. Also, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. Strong emotions have a large impact on this ability as well," she took a moment to observe the various colors of Bon Bon's coat. "Once you have a clear image to work with, you focus on it with your entire being, and your magic should react to it."

Bon Bon looked down, frowning deeply.

"Is there anything wrong?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"Not wrong, per se," Bon Bon answered, her frown deepening. "But I have always tried doing just that when I was put in a position I had to change my appearance. Focus on what I wanted to change, and allow the cu- my magic to do its thing. But it never worked as I wanted, and rarely would I end up with things as I had envisioned. In fact, I always have to use the countermeasure spell Celestia has issued to me to keep my changes under control."

"Well, you were resisting this magic all the time," Sweetie Belle told her. "Maybe it will work now that you know what it is?"

"I'm curious as well," said Danny, a strange tone to his voice, arms crossed and a pensive frown showing. "It's all on you whether or not you want to give this a try, but I have a feeling that things may go easier for you right now."

Bon Bon looked at him with clear doubt in her eyes, yet nodded despite this.

Closing her eyes, she imagined her normal self; the colors of her coat, her mane and tail, and her eyes. Remembering her own self from all the times she stared at her reflection in the mirror after undoing the change using the green emerald she kept in her secret base.

She felt a familiar itch as the base of her skull, which quickly traveled down her spine as she stopped resisting her magic and allowing it to run its course.

An excited gasp came from Sweetie Belle, while a thoughtful hum came from Abella.

"Did… did it work?" Bon Bon asked, terrified.

"See for yourself," said Danny, and Bon Bon could see the blue flash through closed lids.

Opening her eyes, she looked around in confusion, seeing both Sweetie Belle and Abella looking at her. The former with a large smile, the latter thoughtfully rubbing her chin. And then she looked at Danny, and the large slab of mirror-smooth ice standing next to him.

Confused, it took her a moment to realize she could see herself in the frozen slab, and a gasp escaped her the moment she did.

Staring back at her, with all the right colors in their expected places, was Bon Bon, exactly as she remembered herself to look like.

"WHAT?!" She jerked back, unable to believe her eyes. "How?"

"Maybe knowing the truth really did help," Sweetie Belle said excitedly.

"I don't think so," said Danny.

"How do you mean?" Abella looked at him. "This looked like a perfect change to me."

"Yes, it is," he answered, eyes set. "A perfect change, first try, while she normally only has had problems, even though she did everything right to start with."

"Why do you not sound surprised?" Abella asked nervously.

"I had a feeling this might happen. But I needed to be sure." He shook his head, clearly disgusted with something. "Bon Bon, you've always had those problems with your change not working correctly, right?"

"Y- yes. Ever since they first started as a foal. Why?"

"And then you met this specialist, who used a counterspell to 'undo' the symptoms of this curse. A spell placed inside a gem of some kind, like an emerald, correct?"

Bon Bon nodded, becoming more and more distressed.

A growl came from the back of Danny's throat.

"A similar emerald-like you yourself possess, down in your basement base," he didn't ask, the answer all too obvious. "A counterspell you've used every single day since the first time you've started showing those changes."

"You think it is this counterspell that is causing those problems?" Asked Abella.

"I know so," he replied. "I saw everything I need to know in Celestia's lifebook. I know what messed up things she's done. And this is no exception," he felt the need to spit the disgusting taste out of his mouth but kept from doing so. "Bon Bon, what you have been using on yourself is dark magic," he revealed, and Sweetie Belle and Abella gasped out. Bon Bon stumbled back, horrified.

"WHAT!?"

"Just like Abella said, all foals, after they pupate, know how to transform. They just don't know how to control it. Which they will learn over time. And just like she said, strong emotions affect this ability, too. And then there was you, a young filly with no idea what was going on, and terrified because of it. Of course, this would make things worse. But they didn't give you a chance to learn how to control this. Because there were those like you, long ago. Having the same abilities, but no way to control them… initially. Without a means to stop the changes, they eventually learned how to use their abilities. That alone wouldn't have been a problem, but some of them decided that they were fine with things, and didn't want to risk their lives doing something they didn't believe in. A few even found others and helped them control their ability, and allowed them to remain hidden from Celestia. Which means she lost control." He clenched his right hand into a tight fist, eyes burning.

"So Celestia used some of the tricks she learned from Sombra to create those gems, then used black magic to create this so-called countermeasure," he slammed his fist into the ice mirror, cracking it. "All for one reason. Control. You become unable to use your power properly and become dependent on her spell to keep the truth hidden. And with no reason to doubt her word, you've been subjecting yourself to this vile act day after day. That's why you were never able to use your ability as it should. Dark Magic."

Bon Bon looked ready to throw up.

"But it needs to be applied once a day to remain effective," he informed them all. "When was the last time you used it?"

"Ye- yesterday morning, before the princesses took Lyra into custody," she stammered, tears in her eyes over this new betrayal.

"Meaning that curse is no longer tainting you. And all the years where you tried and failed to control it yourself are finally coming into play."

Bon Bon was dry heaving, her legs giving out.

Sweetie Belle rushed over to her, helping her lay down before she could collapse completely.

"You're not lying," Abella said, voice weak as she looked up at Danny with shocked eyes.

"No," Danny growled. "I had a good understanding of Bon Bon's situation the moment I saw her use that emerald, but it wasn't until I gained the knowledge of Celestia's lifebook that everything became clear to me. And believe me when I say this. I saw a lot more stuff that I wish I could burn out of my mind. Celestia may have made a mistake once, terrible as it might have been. But now, after all those years… Nothing she can say or do will ever make up for all the pain and horror she has caused.

"We need to stop her," Sweetie Belle said softly, tears in her eyes.

"And we will… someday," Danny promised. "Once we have all the pieces put together, and make sure she can't run, hide, or bend the truth in her favor."

"And what do we do until then?" Bon Bon asked, tears running freely, but an intense fire burning in her eyes.

"Prepare, and grow."

<<>><<>><<>>

Shock, anger, grief, nausea, hate, despair. These were some of the more prominent feelings Bon Bon felt after all that had happened; all that she had learned. Feeling it in such an intensity most changelinks now carefully walked around the area she was at.

Yet through it all, a newfound understanding was also born. And once the initial shock had worn off, the burning rage Bon Bon felt pushed her on to not only get better at her ability to change but master it.

For hours she worked with dedicated focus to improve herself, to become capable enough to be able to stand in the shadow of her ancestors, to reach even a fraction of Spring Breeze's capabilities.

Abella, Danny, and Sweetie Belle all stood back, watching her, coaching her, and, truth be told, feeling some fear over her ferocity.

But with not having eaten anything for over a day, and only her rage to fuel her, she eventually collapsed, exhausted, starving.

Flopping down like a wet noodle, sucking in air with great heaves, Bon Bon just lay there for several minutes, hearing nothing but the pounding of her heart.

She was vaguely aware of some motion around her, and a flash of green shone through her closed lids, but nothing which seemed to affect her and so she ignored it.

A moment later, when her heart had calmed down, and the world around her became a bit more focused, a soft 'clack' drew her attention.

Opening her eyes, she saw a plate with some berries, nuts, and a single carrot placed on the floor before her. Next to it, a glass of water.

"Figured you would be hungry by now," Danny said, and she saw him sit next to her, his legs crossed. "You certainly seem like you worked up an appetite," he added, trying to make light of the situation.

Bon Bon grumbled something, but couldn't deny the ache in her stomach.

With tired motions, she rolled upright, then grabbed the carrot with her muzzle and ate.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Sweetie Belle, sitting on her other side.

Bon Bon's chewing slowed as she thought, staring down at the plate before her.

"Angry," she said through a half-chewed carrot. "Tired. Worn out."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sweetie Belle offered.

Bon Bon swallowed, then sighed. "I don't know. It's just… All of it. How am I supposed to feel about this? How is anypony supposed to make sense of this?"

"They're not," said Abella. "All you can do is work with what you have, even if it is nothing. It's how we had to do things."

Bon Bon looked at the young shapeshifter with a newfound understanding of their plight. She then hung her head, aimlessly pushing the plate with a hoof.

"How do you even live like that?" She asked.

"Look around," Abella said bitterly. "You'll have your answer."

"I can never go back to how things were, can I?"

"No," Danny shook his head. "But do you want to?"

"... No," Bon Bon had to admit.

"What will you do now?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Bon Bon was silent, staring intently at the rolling berries and nuts on the plate as she pushed them, half expecting to find the answers to her questions in the random patterns of their movement.

She suddenly stopped her motions and then looked at Danny.

"Earlier, you said you needed my help. Why? With what?"

"I did," Danny confirmed with a nod. "And to help me bring justice to Celestia."

"You want, what?" Bon Bon pushed herself up, eyes wide as she stared at Danny.

"I want to take down Celestia, and I could use your help in doing so."

"But… how could I possibly help? This is Celestia we're talking about. You can't just take her down like that."

"Then it is a good thing that I wasn't planning on just rushing in and seeing how far I can get," Danny half-joked. "No, I have no illusions about the challenges of doing this. That is why I have been working hard to find evidence and allies. I've got a little bit of both right now, but I need much more if I want to have a chance. Which is where you come in, if you want to."

"Please help us," Sweetie Belle pleaded, looking at Bon Bon with large eyes.

"But what could I even do?"

"Aren't you a highly trained agent, with skills in a wide variety of fields?" Danny asked. "Believe me, there is a lot you can do to help. And there is a lot to do. Find evidence of Celestia's crimes. Find a stable source of food for the changelinks. Revive the gardens so we can grow plants, both medicinal and edible," he counted out on his fingers. "And so much more. "A lot more."

"Well, I am an earth pony. I could help with the plants," she suggested.

"Yes," Danny nodded, "that could work. But I have something bigger in mind if you're willing. But before that, there is one more thing you should know about; who it is you're working with. So I need to ask, are you able to handle one more shock?"

"What else is left for me to be shocked about?" Bon Bon asked, defeated.

"You'd be surprised. And most likely not in a good way, either."

"Of course not," Bon Bon sighed. "But I guess you want a proper answer…"

"Only if you feel like giving me one."

"I… Celestia needs to be stopped, I know that now. And if I can help to make that happen, even if it is by growing some plants, I will do it. So, yes. I will help you," she looked at Abella, "all of you." She looked back at Danny. "Tell me what you must."

Nodding, Danny stood upright and took a large step back.

"Just keep in mind that there are a lot of lies being told. Both about you… and about me."

With a flash of light, a band of energy appeared around Danny.

Bon Bon's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, and her mouth dropped open.

"And he isn't the only one," Sweetie Belle added, and a second flash went off a second later.

Bon Bon promptly passed out.

"Well," Abella poked Bon Bon in the side. "That's about what I expected."

<<>><<>><<>>

Hours passed, and night had fully claimed the land before Bon Bon would wake again. When she did, she was immediately greeted by the sight of Danny Phantom standing near her bed, watching over her.

She screamed. Loudly.

This then elicited a reaction from the other individual now in the room, as Sweetie Belle, or in this case Silver Spirit phased through the door, looked around in alarm, saw Bon Bon awake and terrified, gave a nod in understanding, then flew over to Danny.

Once Bon Bon's heart had stopped running a marathon, the three of them had a long talk about everything Halfa-related.

Eventually, Sweetie Belle, up all day and busy training herself, nodded off and Danny, one of his doubles, brought her to her private bedroom, leaving Bon Bon and Danny to finish their talk, after which Eclipse was called for.

Once again, Bon Bon found herself encased within the darkness of the shadow mare, yet feeling far more at ease in the blinding, orange glowing mass of shadows as she was brought to some new place unknown.

She couldn't really tell just how long it took for them to arrive, and instead tried to pass the time with some idle chat with Eclipse; getting to know her a bit better, and in turn, Danny, her master.

But eventually, the darkness surrounding her lifted, and Bon Bon looked around in confusion; slowly turning on the spot as she took in the numerous, uncountable books.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Welcome to the ghost library," said Danny. "A place with more knowledge than you can begin to imagine."

"... Why did you take me here?"

The white-haired ghost looked at her, face set.

"I said I needed your help, which is why I brought you here. So you can understand what I am planning to do. You see these books?" He asked, looking at the endless rows of bookcases all around them. "These are the lifebooks of all creatures alive, and dead. All their stories, written down right here."

Bon Bon once again looked at the many books, unable to believe what he had just said.

"It is where I got the book of Spring Breeze, which I then gave to you," he said as he retrieved said book out of his spectral self.

The book promptly pulled out of his hand, hovered before them, and then flew away, returning to its spot.

"Why am I here?" Bon Bon asked, worried.

Danny looked away, scanning the many books.

"I used the knowledge found here to help you see the truth. It brought you to me and allowed you to see beyond past convictions. But there are others out there. The other ponies Celestia has under her control. I want to set them free. And I'd like you to help me to do this."

Bon Bon took a step back, shocked.

"You want to turn the agents of S.M.I.L.E. against the princess."

"Yes, and for multiple reasons. The first is the most obvious. Like you, they deserve to know the lies they were told. The lie their life is. But I also need help. I need eyes and ears wherever I can. And while I can duplicate myself, the more I do this, the weaker I become. And I have the feeling I need to conserve my power as much as I can, just in case. Not to mention, you and the other agents have a much better understanding of how things work; where things can be hidden, and how to retrieve them. To use what Celestia forced upon all of you against her. To find the skeletons she's hiding, and to help me bring her down."

He looked at Bon Bon, his green glowing eyes filled with determination and conviction.

"So I will need your help to make this happen. You are in a position where you can approach the other agents without suspicion, and give them the lifebooks linked to their ancestors. But I need to know the names of those to call for them. And I need to be sure they can be trusted, because I have no illusion about their loyalty to Celestia, either. Some of them are not ready, or unwilling to learn the truth. Their lives, tragic as it may be, too important to give up on. It's why I am as sorry as I am for having done this to you in the first place."

"You- you do know what you're asking me to do?" Bon Bon said, voice cracking slightly.

"To betray everything you swore to protect and help destroy it. Yes," Danny nodded once. "But knowing what you know now, are you able to walk away from it all?"

"I… I," Bon Bon closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and holding it for as long as she could. "No. No, I can't. Celestia needs to be stopped. But I don't know every single agent by name. Most of us use aliases, for security."

"Not a problem," said Danny, then he turned back to the books. "Please allow me to see the lifebook of Bon Bon of Ponyville."

Bon Bon looked at Danny in confusion, then eeped when a shift around them occurred, and a small wave spread through the books as they moved ever so slightly on their shelves.

A minute later, a book with a color-shifting cover levitated over to Danny, and he held out a hand for the book to land in.

"Like I said," he looked at the name on the cover. "These books hold the full story of our lives. That includes all the names we carry." He turned around the book, allowing Bon Bon to see the title on the cover.

Bon Bon/Sweetie Drops

Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

Danny gave her her lifebook.

"As we speak your story is being written," the book opened on its own, pages flipping to the last page, and Bon Bon saw he spoke the truth. "But how that story unfolds is entirely up to you."

Bon Bon sat down and held the book in her hooves, staring at the words as they appeared on the paper. Then, sensing the one it was connected to, the pages turned back to the early beginning of her story, and Bon Bon reread the moment when she first met the specialist, and something inside her solidified.

Sensing the change in her, the pages flipped to the very end, and a list of names was written down.

Names she knew.

The aliases of all the agents she knew personally. Even those she couldn't recall anymore.

With a shocked gasp, she looked at the names, then up at Danny as her eyes hardened, giving him a single, resolute nod and a cacophony of sound filled the library, almost as if millions of pages were turned at once while books jumped from their shelves.

Author's Note

And welcome back down here.

I hope you've enjoyed this new addition to this ever growing story, and to let me know your thoughts and opinions down in the comments.

The next upload will only contain a chapter for GoaP because of certain events happening in a certain time frame, leaving little time for anything to happen on Sweetie Belle's side of things.

Anyhow, that's all I've got to say.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

~Powerdrainer

Influence

Edited by Slayerseba and Halusm

Influence

<<>><<>><<>>

Shortly after Queen Chrysalis collapsed

With a green glow encompassing her body, a weakly protesting Queen Chrysalis was lifted back onto her bed.

Danny, his hand aglow, ignored the weak threats against his being over such humiliation and instead kept the struggling, yet cooperative queen firmly locked in his spectral hold.

And standing next to him, Erlea looked at her mother with large, concerned eyes.

"Release me, human! I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"Now that's a lie if I ever heard one," Danny commented, not amused in the slightest. "I told you time and time again to take it easy, to allow the medicine to work and for your body to recover. Instead, you keep pushing yourself well past your limits, and look where it got you. So, no. I will not release you. Not until I am certain you won't do anything else stupid."

"YOU DARE!?" Queen Chrysalis snapped, glaring in the direction she heard his voice come from.

"Yes, I do!" Danny said strongly. "And misplaced anger over your own fault aside, I will not allow you to continue like this," he stepped closer to her, and both Chrysalis and Erlea recoiled from the wave of anger they felt coming from him. "You will rest! And I will see to it that you do so, even if I have to knock you out and tie you to your bed. But I will not let you kill yourself because of your own foolhardiness. So kindly shut up and go to sleep. NOW!"

The suppressed anger in his voice left no room for argument, yet this did little to deter the stubborn queen.

"You will liste-"

"No, you will listen to me! So shut it, and no more arguments."

"Mom!" Erlea spoke up as her mother tried to retort. "Please listen to Danny. We can take care of ourselves. Don't make things worse by pushing yourself even further than this."

Hearing this come from her daughter doused the anger she felt. An anger born from her own folly, but unable to accept her own shortcomings she aimed it at the wrong being.

Deflating, Chrysalis stopped her struggles and allowed Danny to lay her down fully.

Danny sighed, shaking his head. "You're too stubborn for your own good, you know that?"

"So I have been told," she murmured through her teeth, eyes closed.

"Good. Next time maybe also listen to it," he released his hold over the queen. "Erlea," he then looked at the young shapeshifter. "One of my doubles has already informed Zecora, and she's working on a potion that may help your mother but it will be some time before it is ready."

He looked off to the side, listening.

"And Zecora also said any further stress may make things even worse," he added after a short moment, looking at the bedraggled queen. "So if you needed any more reason to stay put, there you have it."

"I already agreed to rest," Chrysalis half growled through her teeth.

Danny merely rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"I can feel that," she added in a hiss.

"I know," he replied. "Erlea," he returned his attention to the young shapeshifter, "I take it you wish to stay here with your mom, right?"

Erlra nodded in reply.

"Alright. Probably for the better, too. Your mom does tend to listen to you, so hopefully you can talk some sense to her before she does anything else stupid."

Chrysalis replied with a growl.

"Don't give me a reason," Danny warned her.

"Is there- Is there anything else I can do to help?" Asked Erlea.

"For now, just keep any panic from spreading. No doubt word has already gotten out about what happened, so it's better to get on top of that before it gets out of hand," he told her. "And don't get any ideas of getting creative with the truth," he aimed at Chrysalis. "You're resting, and that also means you're not going to spend your time talking over the hive mind."

"And how do you plan to stop me if I do?"

Danny crossed his arms. "Possession is still a valid option," he warned.

"... Noted," she said begrudgingly.

"Glad we're on the same page here. Now rest!"

And as the ill queen reluctantly did as she was told, Erlea couldn't help herself but to stare in awe at the tall human as he managed to perform yet another impossible feat.

Threatening her mother to behave, and getting away with it.

<<>><<>><<>>

Word had gotten in of Queen Chrysalis' condition, and Zecora wasted no time on preparing the required potion to, potentially, undo the damage.

Of course, she was also told, repeatedly, by Danny how the stubborn changelink refused to listen, and more than once pushed herself past her limits. Which of course also left no doubt in Zecora's mind why she was stricken by one of the more severe side effects.

She told Danny, who then relayed this to his double, that bedrest was an absolute necessity to prevent further complications.

How effective that would be remained to be seen.

Regardless, she had work to do, and time to dwell on those thoughts she didn't have as she added more ingredients to her brew, then stirred it exactly thirty four times clockwise, before adding another batch of ingredients.

"This potion is nearly done, but I can't guarantee the affliction can be overcome," she spoke up, never looking away from her work, drawing Danny's attention. "An hour more is left to brew, after that the cooling I will leave up to you."

"Understood," Danny nodded, relaying the info to his double. "And how're you holding up for ingredients?" He asked a moment later.

"What I have now will suffice, but I won't be able to make this potion twice."

"Orchestrate another supply run, got it" Danny nodded. "We have to find a way to make this easier for us," he added, more to himself.

"To this, I will agree. But a direct answer I do not see," Zecora replied.

"Yeah, no kidding," Danny agreed with a sigh. "We're stretched thin as it is, and even with the few changelinks available, there is only so much area we can cover in a reasonable time. And what places we can go to, we've pretty much picked clean already."

"An answer will come, of that I am sure. Until such times, we just need to endure."

"Easy to say for you and me, but them? They may not have the luxury."

"Yet worrying will help you not, so it's better to focus your attention where it won't be for naught."

"Guess I can't argue with that," Danny had to agree. "Still don't like it, but you're right," he sighed deeply. "Okay. Finish this potion first, heal the queen, and we'll see what happens from there."

Zecora nodded in agreement, then returned her focus on her work.

'I just hope that whatever happens next won't end up biting us in the ass,' Danny added in thought.

<<>><<>><<>>

The next morning

Danny nodded awake and sluggishly looked around, then down as he became aware of a weight pressing down on his chest.

Snoring slightly, Sweetie Belle lay partially over him, pinning him down.

His mind still working out the basic faculties of coherent thought, he blinked owlishly for a good minute before he fully registered what he was looking at.

When he did, a quizzical eyebrow rose up while he glanced off to the other side of the room, and the now unoccupied bed.

A loud, rumbling snort immediately pulled his attention to the foot of his bed. Pushing up his head as far as he could without disturbing the slumbering filly, he noticed the small green ball of fur that was Cujo, fast asleep as well.

'Now when did this happen?' He wondered.

He lay there for a little while longer, but it didn't look like Sweetie Belle was about to wake up. And not wanting to disturb the young filly either, he slowly sank down the mattress using his intangibility until the slumbering filly lay flat on the bed.

Slipping out from underneath the bed, chalking up another win for intangibility, Danny stretched himself out, then noticed Cujo looking at him with one eye partially open.

Danny silently hushed him, and Cujo returned back to sleep.

Nodding to himself, Danny quietly left the room, missing the golden shimmer beginning to glow around Sweetie Belle's horn.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So, how's she holding up?" Asked Danny, once more finding himself in Chrysalis' bedchamber, looking at the bedraggled queen as she pretended to sleep, while Erlea lay next to her, awake and alert.

"It went as well as you expected," she answered with a sigh. "That potion Zecora made had some strong side effects that kept mom up all night."

"Yeah, no surprise there," Danny sighed as well, hand on the back of his head.

Much like the initial potion that had the undesirable of Chrysalis losing her sight, the potential cure also left much to desire when it came to benign side reactions. And while nowhere as extreme as losing function in one or more organs, full body shivers combined with severe vertigo and nausea certainly did a number on the worn out queen.

"Any sign her sight is coming back, or too soon to tell?"

"Too soon to tell," Erlea answered.

"Figured as much. Okay, I'll go and get something to drink. Maybe it will help, maybe it won't. But at least she needs some fluids."

"Okay," Erlea replied, tired.

"I'll be back soon," he promised, then quickly and quietly left the room.

"Thank you," Erlea said softly after he was gone, laying her head down on the mattress. "Truly, thank you."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a groan, Sweetie Belle stirred.

For a while she blindly fumbled, grasping, searching for something her still very much asleep mind couldn't identify.

A weight moved, then settled down before her, and her hooves automatically reached out and grabbed whatever it was, pulling it closer to her as she nuzzled her face into the mass.

Something struck her face.

Then again, and again and again.

The sudden, relentless assault jarred her awake and she tried to push away, only to get caught in a constricting hold keeping her pinned into place.

"GHWA-" She cried out, flailing her only free foreleg, unfocused eyes shooting open and trying to find the source of the attack.

"Ruff!" Cujo barked happily.

"Cujo? What is hap-"

She was struck in the face again, and this time she noticed the energetically wagging tail as it approached for another hit, then another.

"WHA- NO!" Wap wap wap. "Bad dog," she swiped at the tail with her hoof. "Cut it out!" Wap wap wap. "Please, stop."

"Ruff," Cujo barked, quickly spinning around and delivering a slobbering lick all over Sweetie Belle's face.

"GHAA-" Sweetie Belle gasped, then shuddered as slobber dripped down her chin and onto the bed.

"Arf," Cujo said, looking mightily pleased with himself.

"So this is what Zecora went through," Sweetie Belle groaned, trying to keep her mouth from moving too much and keep the coating of saliva from seeping into her mouth.

Cujo replied by scratching himself behind an ear, then shook his head and leaped off the bed; barking excitedly while chasing his tail.

'This is going to be a long day,' Sweetie Belle mentally groaned.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a quick application of intangibility, Sweetie Belle was slobber-free once again. Of course, this only encouraged Cujo to begin another slobbering assault, which forced Sweetie Belle into a hasty escape. Using all abilities available to her to try and evade the hyperactive pup hellbent on showing her his affection.

Dodging and weaving through the many different hallways, phasing through walls and floors, and hiding in whatever shadowy corner she could find, she quickly realized there was no escape from Cujo's keen sense of smell, nor far greater experience in utilizing his powers for chaos and mayhem. And as she rounded another corner, the inevitable happened. She collided with a most unfortunate changelink.

"GHWA-" The air exploded out of Abella as Sweetie Belle rocketed into her, and together the two tumbled over the floor before coming to a stop.

"WHAT THE HAY!" Abella wheezed, biting away the pain, the collision aggravating her injuries.

"I'm sorry. I-" Sweetie Belle stammered a reply, then froze as her ears twitched, hearing the rapidly approaching puppy-shaped disaster just around the corner. "We've got to run," she said, panicking.

"What?" Said Abella, confused.

"No time to explain," she grabbed Abella around the barrel and flew off with her. At the same time, Cujo jumped around the corner, barking energetically and wagging so fast his tail was near imperceptible.

Seeing his current target fly off, now holding onto a struggling Abella, he barked even louder and continued the chase: tongue lolling out of his mouth and flapping in the air as he ran as fast as his little legs could manage. But when this eventually proved to be insufficient, a quick growth spurt was all that was required to allow him to close the gap some more.

"Arf," he called out, far louder and deeper as he chased the retreating fillies.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Shouted Abella, looking at the rapidly approaching hound with large eyes.

"NOTHING," shouted Sweetie Belle. "HE JUST DID THAT RIGHT AFTER I WOKE UP!"

"WELL YOU MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT!"

This back and forth continued for a little while longer as Sweetie Belle flew as fast as she could, doors flashing by in a blur, not really paying attention to what or who they passed.

****

A couple of minutes earlier

Danny moved through the castle at a leisurely pace, a pitcher of water, a couple of glasses, and a small vial with more medicine levitating by his side.

Once again he marveled at the fact he could now use levitation and in extent wondered how similar magic and spectral energy were to allow for him to do so, despite their apparent hostility to each other.

His thoughts were rudely interrupted, however, when from a distance, rapidly growing louder, he heard Sweetie Belle and Abella shouting. And, even more worrisome, Cujo barking.

"Oh hell," he muttered, already feeling a headache begin to form when Sweetie Belle flew around the corner, carrying Abella with her, clearly not noticing him standing off to the side.

A moment later, Cujo skidded around the corner, clearly hyperactive and obviously enjoying himself as he, too, ran past Danny without noticing the annoyed human.

Silence.

"Yep," Danny muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

He slowly placed the items he carried down on the floor, using the few seconds to force down his headache. Then he stood straight, looked down the path of canine chaos, pulled his head to the side until a pop came from his neck, and then sighed loudly.

"Well, nothing has gone wrong for the last couple of hours. Guess we were long overdue for some chaos," and he joined the chase.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle flew as fast as she could, moving through hallway after hallway with blurring speed; passing several confused and shocked changelink foals, who in turn ran away the moment Cujo made himself known.

"GO FASTER!" Shouted Abella. "HE'S GAINING ON US."

"I'M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN!"

True enough, despite her best efforts, Cujo was closing the gap between them; his slobbering tongue a clear giveaway of what his plan was upon capture of his prey.

A sudden bright ice-blue flash lit up the place behind them, and a confused bark came from Cujo.

Risking a glance back, Sweetie Belle almost crashed into a wall upon seeing what had happened.

Cujo, locked in his stance, slid forward to them, encased in a chunk of ice, leaving only his head exposed.

Still, this did little to curb his enthusiasm, and he playfully bit the air as he slid closer to the pair.

A wavering blue glow encompassed the ice, and gradually Cujo came to a stop, then began to slide back the way he came; moving towards Danny, standing with a blue glowing hand held out towards the rampaging dog.

Rotating around until he faced the annoyed human, Cujo barked happily.

"Hiya!"

Danny sighed out, shaking his head.

"Any reason why you decided to chase after those two?" He asked.

"What two? I only went after Sweetie Belle."

"Okay. Any reason why you decided to chase after Sweetie Belle?"

"Cause she hugged my butt."

"She, what?" Danny faltered, surprised.

"She hugged-" his tail began moving so fast it melted the ice around it "-my butt!"

Danny stood silent, barely even blinking as he processed that.

"What did he say?" Sweetie Belle asked from a distance, still holding on to Abella.

"Butt hugger!" Cujo barked excitedly.

Danny placed a hand over his face, groaning loudly. "You can let go of Abella," he said, hand still covering his face. "He has no interest in her. Just you."

"What? But why?" Asked Sweetie Belle while she lowered Abella to the ground.

"Because, and I can't believe I'm saying this, you hugged his butt."

"BUTT HUGGER!" Cujo agreed with gusto.

"WHAT!?" Shouted Sweetie Belle, clearly disgusted. "No, I didn't."

"Yes, she did!" Cujo countered happily.

Danny gave him a side eye, suppressing a groan. "Did you grab hold of something while asleep?" He asked the filly, having a good idea what might have happened.

"What? Eh… I mean, maybe? Can't really remember if I did."

"Okay, did you wake up near Cujo?"

"Well, yeah. But only because his tail kept hitting my-" She fell silent.

"Butt hugger!" Cujo said once again, pleased with himself.

"And there it is," Danny sighed out, shaking his head. He then looked back at Sweetie Belle, the filly looking at Cujo in abject horror.

"You hugged the dog's butt?" Abells asked, disgusted, looking at Sweetie Belle.

"Yes, she did!" Said Cujo, unable to be understood by Abella, while his tail had now wagged its way through the ice.

"... I need a shower," said Sweetie Belle, and she quickly rushed off.

"You do that, yes," Danny replied as she ran past him. "As for you," he looked at Cujo with blue glowing eyes. "You and I are going to have a talk about your behavior."

"What did I do?" Cujo asked innocently.

"Oh, I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about," and with a glow from his hand, he dragged the no longer wagging dog with him.

<<>><<>><<>>

"So… butt hugger?" Abella said, standing around a corner while Sweetie Belle stepped out of the shower of her guest room.

"Not a word," she grumbled, then allowed the water to fall to the floor by using her intangibility, just like she had seen Danny do in the classroom.

"Good luck with that" Abella replied, her smirk audible. "Word has already spread over the hive mind.

"Perfect," Sweetie Belle groaned as she stepped out of the bathroom, looking at Abella waiting for her. "At least this day can't get any worse."

"Don't you ponies have a saying about saying such things?"

"Oh, pony feathers," Sweetie Belle grumbled, sighing deeply.

"Maybe we should just move on from this," Abella suggested. "Are you hungry? You ate a lot of emotions the other day, but you're still a pony and we don't really know how that would affect you."

"I do feel a bit hungry, yes," Sweetie Belle replied, glad for the change of topic.

"Interesting," Abella hummed.

"What is?"

"The amount of energy you consumed would be enough to keep us fed for a week or so, so the fact you have room for more does say something."

"What does it say?"

"Either you burn through the energy a lot faster than us changeling- ks do, or negative emotions are less fulfilling. Or maybe you are just a glutton."

"Hey!"

"Either way, we learned something. What it is, no idea. But it's something."

Sweetie Belle sighed out. "Great. More unexplained questions about my powers."

"Nothing new there," Abella shrugged. "At least you're not out of control, so there's that."

"That doesn't really make me feel any better."

"Maybe we should just focus on your training; figure out the answer."

"Yeah… let's do that," Sweetie Belle replied with some forced enthusiasm.

Abella nodded, and together the two left the guest room.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Sorry about the delay," said Danny as he entered Chrysalis' bedroom. "Had a bit of an issue with a certain pup who should know better," he closed the door behind him.

"It's okay," said Erlea, sitting on her mother's bed; the ill queen was also awake and her eyes open, yet staring at nothing.

"I brought you some more medicine," Danny said, looking at Chrysalis, her eyes moving to where she heard his voice come from. "And some water to wash it down," he sloshed the pitcher, then poured some water into one of the glasses he carried.

With effort, Chrysalis pushed herself upright, swaying slightly. "I suppose I should be thankful. But seeing what that medicine did to me last night, this feels more like a punishment than healing."

Danny bit his tongue and kept from commenting on that, and instead moved closer with the now full glass of water, and the medicine.

"Here's the bottle," he gently pressed the item against Chrysalis' muzzle to feel. "Drink this first," he instructed, and a weak glow surrounded the bottle as Chrysalis took hold of it.

With clumsy motions, Chrysalis drained the contents with a grimace, swallowing heavily.

"And here's some water," Danny similarly offered the glass while taking the empty bottle.

Far more greedily, Chrysalis drained the glass with clear relief as she could wash away the horrid taste in her mouth.

"Need a refill?" He asked, and Chrysalis moved the glass to, then past him.

Reaching out and grabbing the glass with his free hand, Danny refilled the glass and then returned it to Chrysalis.

After the second glass was empty, Chrysalis lay back down, leaving Danny to grab the glass out of her weak magical hold before it fell.

"Zecora said the effects may be lesser this time," he then informed her, "but it still won't be pleasant. Try to get as much rest as you can, and let me know if anything is wrong."

"She will," Erlea answered for her mother.

"Good," Danny nodded, then pulled the second glass to him with his spectral hold. "Do you need a drink, too?" He asked her.

Erlea looked at him with grateful, yet confused eyes. Not at all used to anyone to ever show this much kindness and consideration to any of her kind.

"Yes please," she said, looking away.

Filling the second glass, he allowed Erlea to take it out of his grasp as she levitated it to herself with noticeably more control than her visually impaired mother.

"Thanks," she said, taking a small sip.

"No problem," said Danny. "I'll also leave this," he held up the half-full pitcher, "on the table here in case either of you want more."

"You're leaving?" Asked Erlea, surprised.

"For a little while," he answered. "I'm gonna check up on Sweetie Belle. See how she's doing."

"Why don't you duplicate yourself?"

"Because I already have a few others running around, and I don't want to stretch myself too thin, power-wise, in case of an emergency. That said, I do need to orchestrate another supply run before Zecora runs out, so I will duplicate for that."

"Right, right. Makes sense," Erlea said, looking at her glass. "How long do you think that will take? I mean, with how far you need to go just to find anything?"

"With some luck, not long at all," he replied, and the sudden wave of excitement flowing from him made both Erlea and Chrysalis look up in confusion.

"Explain," said Chrysalis.

"Something went down last night. Something that may very well buy us the time needed to solve all the urgent problems we're facing," Danny said, not really answering anything.

"What did?" Erlea asked.

"First off, Bon Bon may have figured out a way to get a semi-stable supply of food for you guys. Still need to work out the details on that one, but it looks promising," Erlea gasped, while Chrysalis managed to hide her surprise.

"And the other thing?"

"Fenris fought for dominance with the timberwolves' leader, and he, and to an extent, I, are now the new Alpha of the timberwolves. They've been searching the Everfree all night for any and all medicinal plants, so with some luck, there should be a sizable amount of ingredients waiting for me to pick up."

Silence.

"You, what?!" Chrysalis balked.

"I'm the new leader of the timberwolves, alongside Fenris," he calmly repeated.

Both changelinks stared at Danny. The fact she was blind not stopping Chrysalis in the slightest

"So anyway, I'm off to see how Sweetie Belle's doing. And then gather more supplies," he said, then, when no reply came his way, he stepped out of the room, chuckling silently to himself.

Silence.

"Just what is that human?" Asked Chrysalis.

Erlea had no answer to give.

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle and Abella made their way through the city, crossing a bridge from one stalactite to another, and seeing the many foals running around as, with a new day, a new run for medicine had begun.

A good number of sick changelinks had begun to recover, as Abella explained to Sweetie Belle, yet it would still be many weeks before any of them would be in a state that could be considered healthy.

Even then, Sweetie Belle didn't fail to pick up on the wave of relief coming from Abella.

"We may actually recover from this," Abella said thankfully. "I'd never thought it was possible until now."

They stopped as a group of foals ran past, numerous empty bottles clinking together.

"Not may recover," Sweetie Belle disagreed. "You will recover. My friends and I will see to it."

Abella was quiet for a moment, clearly having a silent debate with herself.

"Yes, I suppose I should say that," she agreed, and the two continued moving again."Still difficult to believe that all of this happened because you and your friends managed to find us. Our enemy, saving us. And then Danny found us as well," she chuckled ruefully. "Centuries of hiding, with nopony even finding us. Then you three show up, then more and more."

"Well, doing the things nopony wants us to do is kinda what we do," Sweetie Belle chuckled. "Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and I've gotten in a lot of trouble because of it. Never thought we would also get others out of trouble because of it."

"You ponies are weird," Abella smiled.

"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Sweetie Belle laughed.

"How did my ancestors ever manage to live together with yours?" Abella asked jokingly.

"Maybe you changelinks are a bit weird, too," Sweetie Belle supplied.

Abella gasped in mock shock. "Us changelinks being as weird as you ponies? Never."

"Well it certainly looked that way when you and your friends had that argument back at the orchard," she recalled, remembering how one of them even transformed into a zebra with purple dots just to make her point to Erlea.

"That was different."

"Really? How?"

"Devora and I had to tell Erlea just how crazy she was for getting involved with you lot."

Sweetie Belle smirked. "So she did something crazy, huh?"

"Don't twist my words, pony!"

"What's there to twist, changelink?"

Abella was taken aback, staring at a smugly looking Sweetie Belle. Then she chuckled.

"Well played, butt hugger."

Sweetie Belle faltered in her step, almost tripping, much to Abella's amusement.

"Very funny," Sweetie Belle glared at the bug next to her.

"I know," Abella tittered.

Sweetie Belle's glare intensified, her eyes staring to glow.

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

"Don't know. Is it?"

"You'll have to try harder than that to make a meal out of me," Abella replied, unimpressed.

Sweetie Belle flinched back, her eyes stopping to glow.

"I wasn't trying to do that," she strongly denied.

"Didn't you say a moment ago you could eat?"

"Yes. Real food. Not whatever that other side needs."

"And what I eat isn't real?"

"You know what I mean," Sweetie Belle groaned. "Besides, not like you can eat any of that to begin with."

"True, but can't say I'm picky either. Never had the chance. I don't even know if I have a favorite food. Never had enough to be able to tell, so the fact we now actually had enough to fill us, even if only for a moment, is rather overwhelming."

"I can't imagine," Sweetie Belle replied, looking down.

"In all honesty, if it wasn't for your friends suddenly radiating all that food, I don't know we would be doing this well. And the thought of some of us risking going back and forth between your town and here just to get more makes me ill just thinking about it, and what could no doubt go wrong."

"I guess it's a good thing you've got me then," Sweetie Belle said, smiling weakly.

Recently she, too, began to radiate the energy the changelinks ate. It was a moment that moved her deeply as it showed they had managed to forgive her for what she did when her powers ran rampant, even when she still struggled with the guilt she felt.

"Yeah," Abella agreed. "It gives us a bit more time. I just hope it will be enough."

"It will be," Sweetie Belle assured her.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we're here now. Me, Danny, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Zecora, Wind Chill, all of us."

"And what about Cujo?" Abella asked, smirking.

"I have no idea who you're talking about," Sweetie Belle turned up her nose in a similar fashion as her older sister.

"Suuure," Abella chuckled.

They slowed down as they approached the school, seeing Danny lean against the closed door, arms crossed and looking around.

"Danny?" Sweetie Belle called out, and Danny turned his attention to them, pushing away from the door.

"Sweetie Belle, Abella, how're you two doing?" He asked. "Getting chased by Cujo is never a fun experience, so I thought I'd check up on you two."

"I'm fine," answered Sweetie Belle. "More frustrated than anything."

Danny nodded in understanding.

"Me?" Abella shrugged. "Mostly amused," she chuckled. Sweetie Belle looked at her with a deadpan stare.

"That's good to hear," said Danny. "Cujo means well, but he doesn't really understand the concept of moderation… or boundaries."

"I noticed," Sweetie Belle said flatly.

Abella snickered.

"Anyhow, need any help with your training?"

"Maybe?" Sweetie Belle replied. "We just figured something out about my powers. Not sure what though."

"Oh?"

"She seems to burn rather fast through the energy she's consumed," said Abella. "No idea why that is."

"Interesting," Danny murmured, looking away in thought. "There could be a variety of reasons for that. Normally, for me at least, using your powers excessively also increases your appetite. But you instead took in energy, so that counters that idea. But…" He trailed off.

"But what?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"It's nothing more than speculation. But maybe it holds some similarities to my ice powers."

"How is eating emotions similar to controlling ice?" Abella asked, confused.

"It isn't," Danny replied. "But I can take in the cold around me. Maybe it works in a similar way to Sweetie Belle taking in emotions, though I admit it is a stretch," he shrugged.

"Yeah, that's really stretching it," Abella remarked.

"Honestly, you'd never know with these powers. But I agree that I'm most likely wrong with this. Still, if you want-" he looked at Sweetie Belle, "-I can ask the Elder about it. Maybe she knows."

"You're going to the Far Frozen?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"I'm going to the Everfree to get more ingredients for Zecora. Not much of a detour to the Far Frozen."

"Yes please," she nodded. "I would rather find out now what this is. Not after…. I lose control again."

Danny nodded in understanding. "Alright. I'll see what I can learn. But don't forget about the books I brought you, too. Maybe you can find an answer in there."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about those."

"Okay then. You'll have a go and read those while I go and see the Elder."

"Okay," Sweetie Belle replied cheerfully, making Danny chuckle.

"Keep an eye on her for me, will ya?" He aimed at Abella.

"I can do that, sure," Abella grinned. "Will there be a double of you around here?"

"At Zecora's," Danny replied as he lifted up in the air.

"Noted," Abella nodded.

"Alright, time to head out. I'll see you two later," and he flew away.

The two fillies watched as he left, then looked back at each other.

"So shall we start with those books?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"Sure, I guess. Where did you leave them?"

"I, ehh…" Sweetie Belle was silent for a moment. "Back at the guest room."

Abella stared at her flatly.

"Alright," she sighed heavily. "Back we go."

<<>><<>><<>>

Moving through the city with little purpose, Wind Chill studied his surroundings, frowning slightly.

Ever since the immediate crisis had been resolved and the first signs of recovery began to show, he couldn't help but feel on edge. The problems they had faced, and subsequently resolved merely were the results of a far greater disaster lurking beneath the surface.

Of course, this was well known, as was the true cause, but therein lay the danger, and the worry.

He knew the Great One could not and would not leave this unresolved, and he would face the coming challenges head on. But he, Wind Chill, also knew this is where everything would collide. Something would go wrong. This was a fact. But what, where, when, and by who were questions he could not give an answer to.

But he also knew it would serve little purpose to worry about the things he couldn't change, much to his frustration.

Whatever blow would come, it would undoubtedly cause some form of damage. He just hoped it wouldn't cause the Great One to vanish once more. Or worse, push the changelinks over the edge they had just narrowly managed to avoid.

With a heavy sigh, he stopped on one of the many bridges, taking a moment to take in the city's splendor.

"There is much at stake," he said to no one. "Far too much."

"You can say that again."

Startled, Wind Chill turned around, seeing Danny hover behind him.

"Sorry, didn't mean to jump you like that," Danny apologized.

"Do not worry, Great One. No harm was done."

"So what have you worried so much?"

"Just worrying about things to come."

Nodding, Danny looked at the sight before him as well.

"There really is far too much at stake here, and even more to lose. We can't afford too many mistakes, or they will end up paying the price."

"Indeed," Wind Chill agreed.

Sighing, Danny scratched his head, messing up his hair. "Look, there's something you should know about. Just learned it from my double, and already told Chrysalis when I gave her her meds."

"Is anything wrong?"

"No," Danny shook his head. "The opposite, actually," and he explained what happened between Fenris and the timberwolves' Alpha the night before.

"The timberwolves are under your command!? I find this hard to believe, yet I do not doubt your word," said Wind Chill, amazed.

"Yeah, not sure how I feel about that, to be honest. The idea of being any kind of leader like that… Don't know. It just feels wrong, somehow," Danny admitted. "I mean, I know next to nothing about them. But they had their own rules and customs, no matter how good or bad they were. Then, just like that, Fenris takes over. And to an extent, me as well. And now I have this pack of undead wolves at my command, searching the forest for any materials useful to Zecora. Does that make me a bad leader, making them do all that even though I didn't win that fight, or know anything about them other than what I've seen?"

"Far from it," Wind Chill shook his head in clear disagreement. "You steered those lost souls back onto a path where they can help others, which, from what you just told me, they accepted readily. Maybe they wanted, perhaps even needed for someone who doesn't know them to take over. To lead them without the full knowledge of their past mistakes and sins; to give them a second chance and make amends."

"Second chance, huh?" Danny chuckled. "Seems fitting."

"How so?"

"Dua ŝanco," said Danny.

"That is Fenris' language, isn't it? What does it mean?"

"It means Second Chance," Danny explained. "It's my pack's new name."

Wind Chill smiled. "A name worthy of a pack led by one such as yourself. And, perhaps, even the answer to your question."

"Maybe, yeah," Danny looked into the distance. "Maybe." He sighed. "Anyhow, I need to go and get the ingredients the timberwolves have collected."

"I understand Great One. Good luck."

"Thanks. You too," and as Danny left, Wind Chill watched him leave until he disappeared in the tunnel leading out of the city.

"You do always give second chances to those you feel deserve them, and your judgment hasn't been wrong about that yet," he said with great respect. "Whatever challenges may arise, we shall overcome them together. All of us, thanks for the second chance you have given. Of this I am sure."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Nothing of this makes any sense."

Sweetie Belle looked up from her book, seeing a thoroughly confused changelink staring at a book of her own; a deep frown and scrunched muzzle seemingly frozen on her face as she continued to stare at the source of her mental frustration.

"What doesn't?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"This. All of this," Abella pointed at the book.

Sweetie Belle looked at the book, read its title, and then stared in confusion at Abella.

"That's a cookbook."

"I know it is," said Abella. "And it doesn't make any sense at all. Why put so much effort in preparing this stuff when it all turns to cr-"

"Why are you reading a cookbook? Where did you even get it?" Sweetie Belle cut in.

"It's from Devora."

"That answers nothing."

Abella looked away from the book. "Devora snatched this shortly before we met you and your friends. Said it was interesting. And seeing how we were going to read anyhow, I thought I'd see what she was talking about. But this," she tapped the book, "makes no sense at all. Why would you put in so much effort on something that you're gonna chew into mush and then po-"

"Because it tastes good," Sweetie Belle cut her off again. "And some ponies really like doing it."

"Well, I still don't get it," she looked at the recipe detailing the proper presentation.

"Weren't we supposed to learn more about my powers?"

"We were, and you are. Doesn't mean I can't use my time to find new ways to tease my friends."

"And what's so wrong about Devora reading a cookbook?"

"We're changeling- eh- ks. We don't eat pony food. We don't have any need for it. So why bother?"

"Well, she likes it. Isn't that enough?"

"Oh, it is. Never said it wasn't. Doesn't stop me from using it against her," Abella grinned, showing teeth. "Besides, not like it is completely useless. This knowledge is really valuable if we're replacing somepony who cooks for a living, but that's not why Devora took it."

"Then why? Because she wants to cook?" Sweetie Belle half asked with some measure of disapproval.

"Well, yes," Abella answered, taken aback by the level glare she got.

"And why would you make fun of that? I think it is great she wants to do something like that."

"It's because she can't stand pony food."

"Wait… what?"

"Exactly," Abella chuckled. "And from what I've managed to pick up, she really enjoys your sister's cooking."

"... huh," Sweetie Belle stared at nothing. "That does make it a bit weird, I guess."

"That's what we told her, too."

"Weird like us ponies, I suppose."

"Ye- wait, what?!" Abella's train of thought derailed, and she stared at a smugly grinning Sweetie Belle.

"Maybe we're not so different after all, hmm?"

"Oh no. No no no. Not going there. I'm nothing like you ponies."

"You? I thought we were talking about Devora?"

"We are," Abella agreed a bit too quickly.

"Really?" Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow, trying, and partially succeeding in keeping her smirk hidden.

"Yes!"

"Hmm, I'm not so sure." Sweetie Belle grinned devilishly. "After all, you don't need to read that cookbook just to make fun of your friend. Sounds to me like a convenient excuse to shift the focus from you to another."

"WHAT!? No," Abella disagreed, shaking her head.

Sweetie Belle leaned in a bit closer. "You like to cook, don't ya?"

"LIES!" Abella shouted, jumping up.

"Well, one of us is lying," said Sweetie Belle, her tongue flicking past her lips, "and it certainly doesn't taste like me."

Abella looked at the ivory unicorn with a mix of horror and respect.

"You can't do that!" She said, pointing a slightly trembling hoof at Sweetie Belle.

"Do what?" Sweetie Belle asked innocently.

"Use our abilities against us."

"However do you mean?" She replied.

"Tasting my emotions to tell I'm lying!" Abella replied accusatively.

"Oh, so you admit you were lying then?"

"I, what? Yes. Wait, no. I mean no," Abella backpaddled nervously, scooting away a bit from the devilishly grinning pony, and pushed herself past the point of no return.

With a startled gasp, she fell off the bed, dragging a pillow with her which fell on her head.

"Chitin rust," came her muffled swear, and Sweetie Belle lost it; rolling on the bed, clutching her sides while laughing.

Abella slowly pushed her head up to leer at the mirthful pony, only for the pillow, snagged on her horn, to sag in front of her face.

"This is not funny!" She exclaimed, and Sweetie Belle bit her hoof to stifle her laughter.

Zzrriiiiiippp

Both pony and changelink looked at the pillow, the latter cross-eyed, as the fabric gave way around Abella's sharp horn; leaving just enough time for dread to set in before Abella's world became consumed by feather and fluff.

Silence

"Snrrt."

"Not. A. Sound!"

"Mmpfhhaha."

"I'm warning you!"

"Phfhahahahahahahahah."

Sweetie Belle lost all control once more and laughed uproariously, legs kicking at the sight of Abella's new plumage.

"Oh, you'll have it now," Abella promised and, with a burst of her horn, the ripped pillow was flung into Sweetie Belle's face while a cloud of feathers flew through the air.

This time Abella was the one who grinned devilishly at Sweetie Belle's stunned expression. Yet it was short-lived as only a few seconds later a still intact pillow smacked her squarely in the face.

Slowly pulling the pillow down, Abella glared at the infuriatingly grinning pony.

"Oh, it is on!" And she leaped at her target, pillow primed and ready.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a familiar cheer, Danny was greeted by the frost giants as he arrived in their village. A crowd quickly gathered as all wanted to greet the Great One properly.

"Hey everyone. It's nice seeing all of you again," he replied, smiling.

"Great One, how wonderful to have you with us once more," Frostbite was quick to move through the masses, smiling warmly at his friend.

Danny chuckled, turning to the village leader. "It couldn't have been that long since the last time. My double was here not too long ago, right?"

"Be that as it may, but you haven't," Frostbite pointed out.

"Can't argue with that," Danny laughed. "Anyhow, is the Elder around? There's something I need to ask her. It's about Sweetie Belle's powers."

"Is anything wrong with the young spirit?" Frostbite asked, all humor gone.

"No, nothing wrong. Just some questions," Danny replied, shaking his head. "Her powers continue to develop, and there are some things that we're having trouble figuring out."

Frostbite relaxed his stance. "Good. For a moment I worried young Sweetie Belle might be in trouble again."

"Not this time, fortunately."

Frostbite nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. As for the Elder. She is currently unavailable, though it shouldn't be long for her to return. You are welcome to join us while waiting for her."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," said Danny.

"Wonderful," Frostbite replied elated, and an agreeing murmur came from all the other giants.

"So how are things going here?" Danny asked as he and Frostbite walked away, several other giants following close behind.

"Quite well, Great One. We have secured the books you, well, your double have brought here for safekeeping."

"We are truly grateful for the trust you have placed in us with such a task," one of the giants added.

"Glad to hear it," Danny replied, smiling. "And what about the windigos?"

"The Saldēti Zirgi have been returned to their fields where they run free as normal," another giant answered.

"Though from time to time, it does seem like they're looking, almost searching for something," another added, and Danny slowed down a bit.

"Searching? Searching for what?"

"We don't know," the giant shook her head. "But other than that, they remain docile."

Danny frowned as he picked up the pace. "Well, let's hope it stays like that."

"Now allow me to ask, how are you doing, Danny?" Asked Frostbite as they approached his home.

"Me specifically, or all of me?"

"Just you, for now," Frostbite clarified with a knowing smile.

"All things considered, I'm doing pretty good. We finally got a hold over the majority of all the problems and challenges we're facing, giving us some breathing room. But I also worry about saying such things out loud cause, well, you know."

"That I do," Frostbite agreed, joined by the other giants still following behind.

"And I can't help but worry about everything that's still to come. There is so much that could go wrong, and far too many lives are involved," he sighed deeply, slowing down as they reached Frostbite's house. "And most of these lives all look towards me for help, answers, hell, even guidance. And I don't know how to feel about that. I honestly don't feel like I am the kind of guy who should be in charge like that. Joining up with a group to take down a ghost or two, sure. I can do that. Go around and provide some invisible assistance where needed, no problem. But this… all of this. Not to mention the timberwolves. There is so much at stake. So many who now depend on me. I'm put in a position of power I don't think I deserve, and I'm sure I'll make some mistake that will get others hurt… That is something I never want to experience ever again. Never."

The giants around him patiently waited for him to finish before voicing their disagreement.

"You are wrong, Great One," one of them said before all others. "Those you speak of wouldn't have put so much trust in you if you hadn't earned it."

"Snow Glare is right, Danny," said Frostbite. "And the fact you worry for their well-being proves as much. Even if you don't wish to be in a position of power, you still accept the responsibility that comes with it in order to help those in need. And they all see it, or they wouldn't so willingly listen to you. And while it is true that a mistake could spell disaster, it is also true that it is almost impossible to avoid making a mistake. Yet this doesn't stop you. Instead, you keep going with the courage to face those problems, all for the sake of others " He placed a finger on Danny's shoulder, as his full hand was far too large. "That is the true hallmark of a leader, even if you don't yet see it that way."

Danny sighed, then chuckled.

"Guess it isn't too different from the last talk we had," he replied, smiling up at Frostbite. "Sorry for needing to remind me again."

"Not at all, Danny. We are here to help you, just as you help others. After all, that is what friends do."

The other giants readily agreed.

"And if you ever doubt yourself again, we'll just remind you again," Frostbite added. "Now, how about we grab something to drink and you can fill me in on everything that has happened since last we met."

Smiling, Danny nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

<<>><<>><<>>

Deep underneath the ice mountain, in the sanctum of Tree of Life, the Elder diligently tended to her friend while inspecting the growing seeds.

Naturally, her attention was drawn to the largest of the bunch, two fully grown seeds glowing with a soft but vibrant color. And then there was a much smaller seed, with little sign of growth from its future wielder.

And further up, on a different branch, the last two seeds were hidden. One fully grown, both showing promise, with the smaller seed proving the clear change in its wielder's life.

Satisfied, the Elder stepped away.

"Most of the children have taken the first step towards growth, with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Erlea already firmly on the path of maturity. But I worry for the young one who has yet to see the path before her. Obviously, these things can not be rushed, but I fear growth may come too late if something doesn't change soon," she sighed, placing a hand on Tree of Life's trunk.

"You always saw things more clearly than I do. Or perhaps I should say you have the confidence in believing everything will work out for the better," she closed her eyes, sighing. "Whichever it is, dear friend, I could use some of the confidence you always show because, no matter how much I am able to see, some things do evade my sight. And it is these things that are often the most damning."

A faint flitter pressed down on her hand, and she noticed a single glowing leaf lying between her fingers.

For a moment the Elder was silent, then a bemused chuckle came from her.

"I suppose that, at times, it is indeed that simple." She took the leaf, holding it close. "Thank you, my friend."

The leaves of Tree of Life rustled.

"And now, it seems, my attention is required elsewhere," said the Elder as she stepped away. "Goodbye, Tree of Life. Until we meet again."

<<>><<>><<>>

Disaster had struck. There was no denying this. Despite careful planning and having the home-field advantage, Abella still found herself pinned down, held in place by the restrictive hold of a blanket tangled up with her legs. And worse still, her captor stood looming above her, bringing down her unforgiving judgment one fluff-filled strike at a time.

"Sto- gha- stop!" She gasped out.

"Hmm, I don't know," said Sweetie Belle as she brought down the pillow once more. "Do you give up?"

"Neve-" POMF.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I will make you pa-" POMF.

"Cease your actions, pon-" POMF.

"..." POMF.

"I DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING!"

"It was preemptive," said Sweetie Belle. "Also," POMF.

"Why are you like this?" Abella groused, muzzle poking out from underneath the pillow.

"Like what?" Sweetie Belle asked, amused.

"I'm serious," Abella replied with half a groan. "You weren't this… excitable before. The opposite, actually."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," said Abella, using a small amount of magic to pull away the pillow and free her legs. "You're far too happy compared to how you were earlier. It's weird, and not in the 'ponies are weird' kind of weird."

"Well, I don't feel any different," Sweetie Belle countered.

"Which, considering what you are, means very little," Abella pointed out, then used the opportunity to launch the pillow, striking Sweetie Belle in the face.

"HEY!" She cried out as the fluffy object fell to the floor.

Abella grinned smugly.

Her victory only lasted for a second as, with a blinding flash of gold, Sweetie Belle pounced.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a steaming mug of hot cocoa before them, Frostbite and Danny discussed the various events that had happened, as well as the ever-looming threat of Vlad's spy drones and what they might find when a knock on the door interrupted them.

"One moment, Danny," Frostbite excused himself as he went to answer the door.

"Hello, Frostbite. I believe my presence is required here."

"Elder," Frostbite said, stepping aside. "Please come in."

"Thank you," she said as she entered.

"Elder," Danny gave a nod in greeting. "I'm glad to see you."

"The feeling is mutual," she replied as she approached Danny. "It is to my understanding you were looking for me."

"Yes," Danny confirmed. "There may be something up with Sweetie Belle's powers, or not. We're not entirely sure, so I thought I'd ask you."

"I would be delighted to offer any insight I can provide," she said as she sat down on a free seat. "So, please. Tell me what is wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong as far as I can tell, but I have been wrong before," he shook those thoughts away. "She has been practicing a lot lately with this emotion eating aspect of her powers, but she seems to burn through the energy she gains from it rather fast. At least compared to a changelink, which isn't really the best comparison considering the vast differences. Yet at the same time they are remarkably similar in certain ways," he sighed. "Either way, we don't know if this is normal or not. For all we know it is just the result of her using her powers that much, but seeing how most of that is her taking in all that energy seems to counter that idea."

Silently, Frostbite placed a fresh mug of hot cocoa for the Elder, who thanked him in turn.

"It certainly sounds like young Sweetie Belle has been busy discovering her powers," she began, taking a small sip of her drink.

"She has, yes."

The Elder thought for a moment.

"You are right in your assumption this new development is the result of her using her powers, but not in the way you may think."

"How do you mean?" Asked Danny.

"Tell me, Danny. After you got your powers and started to learn how to use them, what happened over time?"

"What didn't happen?" He remarked, remembering the absolute rollercoaster of events that his life became after becoming a half-ghost. "But to answer the question. I got stronger. My powers got stronger. I even developed new pow-" he fell silent. "Sweetie Belle's powers are developing, which is why she's using so much energy."

"Indeed," the Elder drank from her mug. "And she has the added benefit of having the help of not just you, but the changelinks as well, which served to accelerate her development."

"So this is a good thing, then. Not something to worry about… well, not more than normal as far as these powers of ours are concerned."

"... Not quite," the Elder said after a moment's pause.

The relief Danny felt quickly washed away as he picked up on the shift in tone, and he grabbed his mug and took a long drag.

"Okay, let's hear the bad news."

"Tell me, Danny. How much do you know about sirens?"

"About as much as I was told by you guys, and a bit from those books I took from the library. Why?"

"There are things about sirens that aren't widespread knowledge. Not due to secrecy, but because of how rare these instances are."

"And Sweetie Belle being a halfa, and the first pony halfa at that, is about as rare as it gets," Danny added. "Not to mention the involvement of this Necronomicon in her becoming one, and Discord even telling me to be wary of him…" he sighed, head shaking. "Please just tell me what we're dealing with here "

"Very well," the Elder finished her drink. "Sirens in general are creatures drawn to negative emotions, for obvious reasons. However, in the event that there are no negative emotions to draw strength from, they will cause them to happen themselves."

"You mean like Sweetie Belle's feral state?"

"No," she shook her head. "Sweetie Belle's feral state was caused due to her not feeding, pushing her spirit side to starvation and drawing out that side of hers to ensure its survival without thought or care. But a healthy siren, normally, would use their powers to spread discontent and chaos in a controlled, thought-out way to maximize the negative emotions over a long period of time. Energy they would then use to enhance and increase their influence." She paused for a moment.

"Naturally, those who do such things often find enjoyment out of the suffering of others."

"But Sweetie Belle isn't like that," Danny argued back.

"No, she is not," the Elder agreed. "Which is what makes it so rare among sirens."

"... And this 'unnatural' behavior has some unintended side effects, doesn't it?"

"In a way, yes."

Danny groaned, hand covering his face.

"But not necessarily in a bad way."

He stared at the elder through his fingers.

"Is it too much to ask for a straight answer?"

"Like I said, sirens use the energy they gain to further spread their influence. This is a fact that applies to all sirens. However, due to Sweetie Belle's natural kindness, it is highly likely she will use the negative energy she gains and turn it into something more positive."

Danny was silent for a moment.

"You mean she is instead spreading joy and laughter?"

"Unintentionally, but yes."

"The young spirit's powers certainly are full of surprises," said Frostbite, just as surprised as Danny.

"Eclipse," Danny called out to his shade, and his shadow turned to look at him. "Inform my double back at the Hive. I'm starting to think what happened with Cujo may be a result of this. And who knows what might happen if this goes unchecked."

"Before you do so, do allow me to offer some additional advice," the Elder said, and both Danny and Eclipse looked at her. "In a way, this power of hers can be compared to our ice powers. The more she stores up, the more difficult it will be to contain, and the more it will leak out. She will need to find a proper outlet for the excess energy, much like how you have to release the build up of ice from time to time."

Danny was silent for a moment, almost amazed his original analogy was actually correct. But then another thought came to him.

"Hold on, if she does that doesn't that mean she will grow hungry again?"

"You are correct, and therein lies part of the danger of a siren. They need this energy to survive, but the same energy must be spent to do so. As a result, they exist in a state of perpetual hunger, hence why they seek to increase their influence as much as possible."

"Only part of it?" Danny said, worried. "And the other part."

"To assume their control over others, they must take away their ability of free thought; to bend their thinking in ways that benefit the sirens, and only the sirens."

"You're talking about mind control," Danny said, shocked.

"I am afraid so."

"Is there anything else I should know about?" Danny asked, tensely. "Something that should have been said far earlier?"

"I understand your frustration, Danny. I truly do," the Elder said apologetically. "But just as you keep the full extent of intangibility's dangers to yourself, so too do I with these matters. Not because I find enjoyment out of it, but to steer you, all of you, to the proper outcome. To learn without fear of what could be looming over you. Had Sweetie Belle known about the full extent her powers can affect others, she would no doubt have desperately tried to contain it within. It takes little imagination to see what would happen if she did that. No," she shook her head. "She must learn to control all aspects of her powers and do so willingly. Not through force or fear."

Danny clenched a fist, clearly not happy with this.

"Tell me, with an actual answer, how will this influence affect the changelinks, or me when exposed to it?"

"That is difficult to say, but the siren's personality strongly influences the effect. So at least I believe no true harm will come to any of you. However, as I said. Sirens increase their influence to gain more negative emotions to feed on. But with Sweetie Belle this is the opposite, and as such she won't be able to gain any new energy. Meaning, if left unchecked, she will reach a point of starvation again."

"Which will trigger a new feral state," Danny finished.

"Yes."

"Eclipse. Now!"

"I'm on it," Eclipse confirmed, and she hurriedly left to relay the information.

Eyes closed, Danny held a deep breath, then released it slowly.

"Sweetie Belle's powers are proving far more dangerous than even I had thought," he said eventually."

"They most certainly are," the Elder agreed.

"Elder, I must ask," Frostbite spoke up. "Is there anything else that is important to know? All intentions you stated aside, the Great One needs to know what to expect sooner, rather than later. His efforts to aid young Sweetie Belle will only be hindered by not knowing."

The Elder was silent for a moment.

"You must understand that there are things even I don't know," she started. "My gift; my curse allows me to see more than most. But just because I can see, doesn't mean I understand the full meaning of what I saw. It's only through the experience I gained from the many, many years of wandering the plains of mortality, and later the afterlife that I am able to discern some of the meaning of what I see. But it is also this experience that tells me when it is pertinent to reveal the more decisive details to others. And this is mostly due to the fact I don't know what the ramifications are of what I saw, and sharing my knowledge prematurely could be far more damaging as others will act on half facts or faulty interpretations." She shook her head, sighing. "Are there things I could reveal to you? Yes. But oftentimes it is far less damaging to let events transpire naturally, and only to step in when it is abundantly clear intervention is required."

"A lot of words for saying you're keeping secrets," Danny replied irritably.

"Out of necessity," the Elder stated.

Danny slammed a fist on the table, rattling his mug.

"Necessity my ass. Half of the problems I had to deal with were because I didn't know what was going on. How much trouble; how much suffering could have been avoided had you told me, us, anyone about what you know?!"

Frostbite sucked in a breath over Danny's outburst, while the Elder looked at her mug, clearly unhappy.

"Well?!"

The Elder sighed, looking at the angry half-ghost. "I have held the title of Elder for a long, long time now. Yet it rarely happens where one calls me out, and who is right in doing so," she closed her eyes, shaking her head. "There is much that I have seen. Far too much. But right now, I am unable to see the answer that would satisfy you… Yes, had I shared some of my knowledge, the outcome of events could, and would have changed. But so too would the ensuing consequences as a result of these changes."

"Action, reaction, consequences," Danny grumbled. "Yes, Discord and I have had that talk. Against my will, I should add."

"Yes… That doesn't surprise me. Discord has always been an unpredictable entity."

Danny leaped up.

"You know him?!" He said, almost accusatory.

"In a way, yes," she confirmed. "Though my interactions with him were limited at best. Most of what I do know about him is from what I was told by… others closer to him."

Danny slowly sat down again.

"You will tell me everything you know about him, without vague hints or riddles, or omitting certain facts. Everything!"

"Very well, Danny. I will share what I know.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Damn, damn, damn, damn!" Danny repeated over and over again as he flew through the hallways.

Only moments ago Eclipse had told him what his double had learned, and the ticking time bomb that Sweetie Belle's powers really were.

Without any warning, he sped off, leaving a confused Zecora behind while he rushed back to Sweetie Belle, hoping there would still be time to find a way for her to safely release the excess energy before others would be caught in whatever it was that would happen when the metaphorical dam burst.

Yet the closer he got to her guestroom, the more and more worrying signs started to show, starting with small groups of foals moving the same direction he was, all strangely energetic; almost playful in their behavior. Which on its own wasn't a bad thing. In fact, he would've been glad to see the foals acting as foals in any other circumstance. But the closer he got, the less coherent they all seemed to get. And worse, he could feel his thoughts starting to slip and, on more than one occasion, he had to slap himself in the face to keep on task.

He already heard the disaster before he rounded the last corner, and when he finally came to face the spectral mishap it took him a good minute to process what he was seeing. This was in part from the fog that seemed to try and work his way into his mind.

Thankfully both Fenris and Eclipse helped to keep him from succumbing entirely.

Foals were everywhere. Laughing, shouting, running, literally climbing the walls and ceiling, and pillows. Lots and lots of pillows were swung, launched, and thrown in every direction.

For a moment Danny wondered where they had managed to acquire so many of them, and where he could get his own, but that thought was quickly stomped down by Fenris.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he scanned the joyful chaos before him, having difficulty finding his target in the mass of hyperactive changelink foals, flying pillows, and clouds of feathers. Then a flash of gold drew his attention, and he felt a new layer of fog creep into his mind.

"Damn it. How did things get out of hand this fast?" He grunted, holding his head as if he had a bad headache. "Ah hell. Eclipse, restrict their movement!"

Without a word, Eclipse detached herself from him and disappeared within the mass of foals.

A moment later, darkness began to consume the room, slowing down, but not completely stopping the activities. Then Eclipse struck, and all foals found themselves bound by tendrils of darkness.

"Hey, what's going on?!"

Sighing deeply, Danny stepped into the room, all eyes on him while he approached the one who spoke; the source of this latest headache.

"Danny, what happened? Why are we all caught in… is this Eclipse?" Sweetie Belle looked around and then spotted a familiar pair of glowing eyes on the wall.

"Sweetie Belle," he began cautiously, "do you have any idea what's going on right now?"

"What do you mean? We're just having some fun."

"Fun," a chorus of overlapping voices mimicked.

Looking at some of them, Danny noticed a barely perceptible golden glint in the changelinks' eyes.

"Right… and do you know why everyone decided to join in on the fun just now?"

Sweetie Belle blinked, confused.

"Well, it was just between Abella and me, but others joined us, then more. Why?"

Danny sighed deeply, massaging his forehead.

"Where's Abella?" He asked.

"She is here, master," Eclipse singled out the surprisingly docile filly as Danny approached.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine," she said with a wide grin. "We're having fun!"

"""Fun!"""

"... Okay, that's a bit weird," said Sweetie Belle.

"You don't know the half of it," said Danny as he saw the clearly wet stains of fresh blood in Abella's bandages.

A band of light split him in half, and a moment later three of him stood before the injured filly.

"I'm going to find Erlea. Hopefully, she's not affected," one of them said and flew off rapidly.

"I'll get Zecora," the other left as well.

"Danny," said Sweetie Belle, panic starting to creep into her voice. "What is wrong?"

Wanting to sigh tiredly, but keeping it contained, Danny turned back to the now clearly frightened filly, keeping his composure for her sake.

"My double had a talk with the Elder," he began. "And it seems your powers have a bit more of a… drawback than I knew."

"What do you mean?" She asked, voice cracking.

Danny stepped closer while Eclipse carefully released her hold over Sweetie Belle.

Kneeling down to be more on eye level, he took a moment to find the right words.

"It seems that part of being a siren means spreading your influence in order to gain more negative energy. Except, in your case, you draw out positive energy instead. This wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for two reasons. First off, doing this means you're burning through the energy you have without replenishing it, pushing you closer to another feral state," Sweetie Belle gasped, horrified. "And second… all of this is done through mind control."

Sweetie Belle locked up, pupils shrunken to pinpricks, and seemingly no longer breathing from the shock.

This time Danny couldn't contain his sigh, shaking his head as he looked at the unresponsive filly, a hand on her back.

"I'm sorry," he said as he heard rapidly approaching hooves galloping on the stone floor. "I truly am."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a deep frown, Danny had left the Far Frozen to collect the materials gathered by the timberwolves.

Moving on autopilot, he flew through the forest while debating everything the Elder had told him.

'So, being the lord of chaos is merely a self-appointed title to distract from his true nature,' he said in thought.

'But a distraction to who? The world at large, or just himself?' Fenris replied.

'Probably himself, but denying it as well, Eclipse surmised.

'But a distraction all the same,' said Danny. '... A natural Embodiment. Have you ever heard of something like that?' he asked Fenris.

'I have not. Nor anything that might hint at it.

'Can't say I'm surprised. There is so much we don't know. Yet with each new thing we do learn, we also end up with far more concerning questions.'

'Who, or what are these natural embodiments? How many of them are there? What is their goal? And what does this mean for us?'

'You are missing the far more important detail in all of this.'

'Which is?'

'The fact the Elder spoke of natural embodiments also means there must be something akin to artificial embodiments.'

Danny slowed down, coming to a stop near a small pond.

"Hold on, what do you mean?" He said aloud.

'Isn't it obvious?' Fenris snorted. 'Perhaps not, or you would have asked the moment the Elder told you about this.'

"Please just explain what you mean," Danny grunted.

'Discord is a natural embodiment. A creature of great power. It stands to reason that these other natural embodiments are the same, or similar in power. Perhaps this Necronomicon is a natural embodiment as well. Yet from all of this, we can surmise one thing. Those labeled as a natural embodiment are one of great might. Might not too dissimilar to what your enemy wields.'

Danny's eyes widened as he understood what Fenris was saying.

"You mean Celestia is an artificial embodiment."

'It does make sense. She represents the sun and has the power to move it. Similar to Luna with the moon. And both have magic that far exceeds anything the rest of the ponies can accomplish. And as we know, this is because-'

"Because they're half ghost," Danny finished. "And we know they were made as such, thanks to Astina."

'And we know this Necronomicon had a hand in the transformation of Sweetie Belle. So what does that mean for her?'

"And if what Astina said is true, my accident was no accident... Perhaps it's the same with Vlad?"

'Which should also mean Dani could be counted in the same category. Perhaps even more so than either of you.'

"But then again, do any of us possess great power? Comparative to other ghosts, I mean. Cause despite what I can do, I don't think I'm able to move a sun or moon. And I doubt Dani can either, seeing she's a clone of me. And if Vlad was able to do so, he would have done so already."

'Yet I was able to perform such a feat, alongside my brothers. And neither of us were half ghosts during my days alive. What does that mean. Are we natural embodiments, or just creatures of power unrelated to larger events?'

Danny stared at his reflection, finding no answers there.

"Just more questions without answers. That's what it means," he sighed out. "And standing here won't help us find them either. We have more important things to take care of, so let's not waste any more time. We can try to figure this out once there aren't so many lives at stake."

Both Fenris and Eclipse agreed, and Danny resumed his flight.

<<>><<>><<>>

"What the hay happened here?!" Erlea asked, voice raised slightly as she looked at the many changelinks around her. "Why are their voices silenced?"

"This most certainly does not seem right," Zecora studied one of the foals up close. "Do you know what caused this newest fright?"

Danny sighed, looking at the mass of unmoving foals, then at the quivering mass that Sweetie Belle had devolved into as she lay partially hidden under the bed.

"It would seem that Sweetie Belle's powers are more dangerous than any of us suspected," he explained. "And she has unintentionally put all of them under a form of mind control."

"SHE WHAT?!" Erlea shouted, causing the bed to jostle as Sweetie Belle jumped.

Holding up a hand, Danny waited for her to calm down, then explained what the Elder had told him.

"So she uses the energy she eats to change the behavior of others through mind control in order to gain more energy. Except the energy that is created is positive, instead of negative. Meaning she can't eat it, and thus drains herself to the point where another feral state could happen," Erlea summed up after Danny finished, trying and failing to rub away a headache.

"Yes, though she was unaware she did this," Danny pointed out. "Had she known, she wouldn't have let this happen. Seeing how this power is as much controlled by conscious and subconscious thought."

"That may be so," Erlea groaned. "But we still have dozens of changelinks under her thrall, and no idea how close she is to starvation either."

A strangled squeak came from under the bed.

"This is certainly an unexpected blow. But we can help her now that we know," said Zecora as she approached the bed, lowering herself to look down. "Your kindness is a reflection of your soul, don't blame yourself for things out of your control."

"But I hurt them… again!" Sweetie Belle cried. "Abella's wound is bleeding again because of what I did. And all of them are like… that because of me."

"True," said Danny as he lowered himself as well. "But like Zecora said, you had no idea you did this. And despite what happened, it happened because you wanted them to feel better; to have some fun."

"""Fun,""" the changelinks droned as one.

"... Yeah," Danny was silent for a moment. "Any idea how to break this mind control?" He asked Erlea.

"How should I know?" She replied exasperated. Then a deep sigh followed as she sat down, rubbing a temple. "I don't know. If this is in any way similar to how we changelings, eh, links use mind control, then maybe."

"Well her hunger has shown enough similarities to work along the same principle, so who knows. It's worth a shot."

"Might as well," Erlea sighed, head shaking.

Approaching Abella, she slowly circled around her mind-controlled friend. Then, stopping before her, she looked into her friend's eyes for any sign of recognition.

"Well, here goes," she said when her friend remained silent.

Grabbing Abella on both sides, Erlea proceeded to vigorously shake her while shouting: "WAKE UP YOU LAZY BUG!"

"Euhh…?" Danny uttered, confused and surprised. A sentiment that was shared by Zecora and, peeking out from under the bed, Sweetie Belle.

"WHUAGHHUHH," Abella uttered unintelligently as her head swung back and forth.

"I SAID WAKE UP!" Erlea proceeded to shake her friend even harder.

"Whuhuaaatsss goinn onnn?!" Abella slurred, head swinging back and forth as she blinked owlishly; her slow-to-process mind trying its hardest to figure out what was happening.

Erlea slowed, but not stopped her shaking. "Get to your senses already," she said demandingly.

"Did… that can't be how it is actually done, right?" Asked Danny, flummoxed.

"It works, doesn't it?" Erlea replied shortly. "Now are you here again, or do I need to shake you some more?"

"Bite me," Abella hissed painfully.

"If that is what it takes."

With a magical shove, Abella forced Erlea away from her. Clutching her wound as she fell forward, she caught herself with her free hoof, breathing heavily.

"Okay… can anylink please tell me what the buck is going on?!"

"You were mind-controlled," said Erlea.

"I was, WHAT?!"

"So are all of them," Erlea pointed out.

Blinking, Abella looked around, seeing the enthralled changelinks around her.

"What the actual buck happened?"

"Sweetie Belle did."

A squeak came from under the bed.

"What?"

"Perhaps we should break the others out of their state so we don't have to explain everything dozens of times?" Danny suggested, though with clear unease showing on his face. "Though I can't say I'm a fan of the whole shaking thing."

"Yes… one moment," said Erlea as she moved to one of the enthralled foals, horn glowing.

A sudden, almost blinding flash came from her horn, forcing Danny, Zecora, and Sweetie Belle to shield their eyes.

"Wh- wha happen?" A young, disorientated voice spoke up, and as Danny lowered his arm he noticed several of the foals nearest to Erlea shake their heads and stumble on the spot.

"We're in luck," said Erlea. "Her control is quite weak."

"Wait, if you can do that, then why-"

"It's what she got from allowing herself to be controlled so easily," Erlea answered before Danny could finish.

"I hate you," Abella glowered at her so-called friend.

"Not that I am keeping count, but that would be the third time she managed to best you."

Abella glared at Erlea but didn't comment on the fact.

"What did I do? What did all of us do?" She asked instead.

"You were all involved in a massive pillow fight," Danny answered as Erlea began dispelling more of the foals. "And you were rather actively involved. It opened up your wound, which is why you are in pain like that."

"Fantastic," Abella groaned.

"I'm sorry," Sweetie Belle's timid voice came from under the bed.

"Oh, so we're back to doing this again," said Abella, looking at the poorly concealed pony. "Apologizing endlessly while feeling sorry for yourself?" She grimaced and noticed some small stains of blood on her hoof, and then the wet splotches coming through her bandages. "Just great," she sighed, shaking her head.

"I'm so-"

"Don't," Abella stopped her. "We all knew there were plenty of things we didn't know about your powers. It's why we spent so much time trying to figure them out. And from what Danny just said, I doubt you made me do this because you wanted to."

Sweetie Belle carefully poked her head out from under the bed, eyes red with tears.

"Well, I was surprised you were as active as you were, but you seemed to have fun so I didn't want to stop you. But…" she looked around, seeing the many changelinks, most still under her control, "why are there so many? I didn't leave the room to get them, they came to us."

Danny sighed. "You did walk through the city on your way to the classroom, spreading your influence as you went. It's most likely also what caused Cujo to do what he did, seeing how he was with you all night."

"If that's true, then why weren't you influenced?" Asked Erlea.

"Perhaps I was," Danny replied. "I do recall feeling amused when I told you and your mom about what happened with the timberwolves, and your reaction to that, despite my feelings about being a leader. And I most certainly felt the effects when I came back here. Luckily Fenris and Eclipse were able to keep me on track… which does make me wonder how they were not influenced."

'My mind is not that weak, Phantom.'

'Perhaps it is because I exist spread out between all of you?'

"Well, I guess that answers that," said Danny, to the confusion of all present, and aware.

"What answers what?" Asked Abella.

"Right, sorry. Just Eclipse and Fenris talking to me."

"Can we focus on the more pressing matter right now?" Erlea called out. "Cause I only have so much magic I can spend, and there are still a lot of changelinks whose minds are clouded."

"Yeah yeah, give me a moment," said Abella, then winced in pain as she stepped closer to one of the controlled foals.

"I'm not sure you should move," Danny told her.

"Well, not like there are many others who can undo this unless Sweetie Belle can break her hold over them."

"I don't know how," she was quick to point out, sounding guilty and apologetic.

"And why aren't you trying?" Erlea aimed at Danny. "Don't you have all of our knowledge in that head of yours?"

Danny stood silent, blinked, and then facepalmed hard. "Yes. Yes, I do. How did I even manage to forget?"

"Perhaps your thoughts were occluded more than you thought. You did mention your mind might have been caught," Zecora suggested.

"True," Danny groaned, "but somehow that feels like taking the easy way out." He shook his head. "Let's just ignore that for now and focus on the problem at hand."

Stepping towards several of the foals, he knelt down while holding up a glowing hand.

"Alright, let's see if this works," he muttered as he recalled all he was taught in the Murgröna.

The glow around his hand intensified while a grunt of effort escaped him. Then the spectral aura surrounding his hand flashed intensely, knocking Danny down.

"GHAA," Danny yelled as he grabbed his smoking hand by the wrist, writhing on the ground.

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" Erlea shouted.

"DANNY!" Sweetie Belle yelled while she and Zecora rushed to his aid.

"I'm, gha, I'm fine," he groaned as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Looking at the damage while it was already healing. "Glad I was in my ghost form while I tried this," he grunted, flexing his newly mended fingers. "Wouldn't have been able to grow those back otherwise."

"I repeat, WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?" Erlea demanded to know.

"Just me finding out the hard way that I can not use that particular brand of magic in any shape or form," Danny replied, frustrated. "How's he doing?" he asked, looking at the young colt he tried to free."

"Why does my head hurt?"

"Ah shit," Danny scrambled into motion to help the unfortunate child as he lay crumpled on the floor, holding his head in both hooves.

"Hold on kid, we'll get you some help," he said, looking at Zecora for assistance.

Acting without pause, Zecora grabbed a small vial from the bag she brought and gave it to Danny, who popped the cap and helped the colt drink the liquid.

"Alright, here you go. Drink this. It'll help you feel better," he said, then shook his head with a deep sigh. "Not going to try that again. Sorry Erlea, but I'm useless in this situation. Can you and Abella free their minds on your own?"

"No need. There are still others who weren't enthralled by Sweetie Belle, they're on their way now to help."

"Okay, that's good," said Danny, slowly helping the colt up. "And can you do me a favor?" He asked. "Next time I try to mimic some of your magic, make sure you whack me on the head."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a glide, Danny landed on the forest ground as many eyes turned to him.

The timberwolves quickly made room for him as Danny approached their cave while Vidar stepped out, then held a fist on his chest in salute.

"Alpha," he greeted. "We have scoured the forest for that which you seek. We hope our spoils are worthy of your favor."

"If it is enough to save even a single life, it will be," Danny replied, looking up at Vidar. "Show me what you have."

"Of course, Alpha," Vidar motioned Danny to enter his cave.

Stepping inside, several timberwolves stood around a mound of materials, almost half as high as Danny was tall, and the half-ghost stood frozen on the spot for almost a minute, greatly unnerving the wolves near him.

"Have we done something to offend you, Alpha," one of them asked, concerned.

"Offend me?" Said Danny, stepping closer to the massive pile before him. "For the last few days, the changelinks and I have searched high and low for anything that could be of use, but only finding the bare minimum. But this…" he grabbed a handful of the various ingredients, looking at it with large eyes. "This goes far beyond my wildest expectations," he said with barely restrained enthusiasm, which was easily noticed by the now excited timberwolves. "With this, we can really make a difference. Zecora will have all the ingredients she needs without having to worry about it running out. I can't begin to explain just how many lives will be saved because of what you, all of you have done here," he looked at the wolves around him and knew those outside could hear him. "Thank you. Truly."

Loud barks and howls rose up in cheer as, for the first time in centuries, a true sense of pride and accomplishment spread through the pack.

"Your words have brought us honor," Vidar said, bowing his head.

"No," Danny turned to him. "The honor is of your own making. I just steered your path."

Vidar's chest swelled with pride over Danny's praise.

"Then, by all means, Alpha. Please continue to steer our path. Your word is our command."

Danny was silent for a moment as he conversed with Fenris.

"Alright," he nodded. "I have a few tasks for the Dua ŝanco. First off, I need you to patrol the forest. There are ghost hunters out there, working by misguided and poorly understood facts, and we can't have them stumble onto any of our secrets. Find them, but do not attack them. Keep a close eye on them and, if needed, steer them away from the castle," he instructed as he moved back outside, seeing the full pack watching and listening.

"Whatever you do, do not kill them. They are not my enemy, even if they think I am theirs. The fight between us is something I must resolve," he said with an authoritative voice.

"Second, the pony who was with me the other day, Bon Bon shall be allowed to pass through the forest unimpeded. The same goes for anyone she may bring with her. Thirdly," he pulled something out of his spectral self, "one of my enemies has spread his corruption upon this world," he held out an open hand, showing the crushed remains of one of Vlad's spy drones.

Vidar leaned in closer, looking at the strange insect-like contraption.

"What trickery is this? Unnatural, metallic creatures?"

"This is technology from my world. Creations made not through magic or spectral power, but knowledge. And the one who made them, my enemy, he is a creature like me. Half mortal, half ghost. But where I seek to help and save others, he merely seeks to destroy and control. He uses machines like this to see and hear where he himself cannot and has spread them over this land. Just how far his reach has extended I do not know, but I do know my village has already been compromised for some time. He knows where I am, and he knows about Sweetie Belle. There are many more of these machines, some of them may even be hiding in this forest. But while they are small, they are not of nature, and as such have a distinct smell and sound. So if any of you encounter one of these machines, these drones, destroy them."

"We shall vanquish your foe's pawns, and prove worthy of your trust in us, Alpha," Vidar saluted.

"Good," Danny nodded. "I'm going to take these resources back to the Hive now. Once my tasks are completed there I shall return to hear what you have learned."

"Yes, Alpha," Vidar bowed his head.

With a flash, several Dannys walked into the cave. And with their combined effort they managed to carry the large quantity of ingredients in their spectral hold.

"Oh, and Vidar," the group of Dannys stopped as they exited the cave, looking at the large timberwolf. "Should it happen another human shows up in this forest, a half-mortal like me, tell her to be careful of those around her. The true monsters are those who hide in plain sight."

<<>><<>><<>>

With a thud, the massive pile of ingredients was dropped in front of a wide-eyed Zecora. And, with a flash, all present Dannys, save one, rejoined into one being.

"So… I brought you some more material to work with," he said, grinning just a bit as he noticed the mound of magical plants was actually a good inch taller than Zecora.

The stunned zebra slowly turned her head towards Danny.

"You truly are a creature of mystery and surprise, for once again I cannot believe my eyes."

"Yeah, I felt the same when I saw this pile," he admitted. "Those timberwolves really went above and beyond when I ordered them to look for magical ingredients."

"Such an abundance can only leave me reeling, but instead I should focus on healing. What you have brought does more than suffice, I can now produce a potion not double but thrice."

"That is what I like to hear," Danny said, elated. "This will free up a lot of our time that we can now use for other tasks."

Zecora nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I'll leave you two to it then," he said to Zecora and his remaining double. "And I will inform Chrysalis about the good news."

"You do that," his double replied as the other left the room. "That just leaves one last thing to do," he added with a deep sigh as he looked at the large pile of ingredients. "Sorting out this mess." Both he and Zecora stared at the mixed mess before them. "Next time, I should tell them to keep them apart."

Once more, Zecora nodded in agreement.

Author's Note

What's this? A new chapter, after so long? What dark magic is this?

But yes, once again, I'm back with some more horse words. And if you're reading this, I take it you must've liked my work enough to read all the way down here. Or you just scrolled down to see what excuse I have for taking so long.

[Insert generic excuse here]

So there you have it.

Anyhow, please share your thoughts and opinions down in the comments, and do let me know about any and all mistakes you may have found.

~Powerdrainer

Prologue. Better Safe Than Sorry, Right?

I want to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter.

Prologue.

Better safe than sorry, right?

<<>><<>><<>>

It was a day like any other. Sunshine, a gentle breeze, and birds singing from every branch of every tree. It was a perfect day for any pony to relax, have fun, and enjoy the day. Unfortunately for the room full of fillies and colts, school had only just begun, and they still had many hours of long, boring learning ahead of them.

Of course, their teacher, the joyful pony named Cheerilee, took it upon herself to make each and every class as enjoyable as possible. But, as was, and would always be the case. The young ponies under her care all sat slumped behind their desks, bored out of their minds.

One pony in particular, a filly named Sweetie Belle, sat with her hoof underneath her head, staring absentmindedly out of the window to her side, only listening with half an ear to what her teacher was telling them. She, as well as her two best friends and fellow crusaders, were still thinking about the events of last night. After all, it wasn't everyday that you were almost eaten by a manticore, only to be saved by your older sister and friends. No, that only happened once or twice every two weeks, not every day.

She thought and thought, but couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. She and her friends, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, were only trying to earn their Cutie Marks in manticore catching. She was sure that they would have succeeded too, if the manticore hadn't woken up and started to hunt them down. It was fortunate that Rainbow Dash had managed to find them, and put up a fight with the enraged animal. It was less fortunate that the manticore managed to land a blow on her, and knock her out.

What had confused her, though, was what happened to the manticore after that. Glowing green eyes, stumbling around on his paws as if he didn't know how to walk on four legs, and a few more things that didn't seem right. She didn't pay it any mind at the time, as she was just relieved that she hadn't become a late night snack. Now though, thinking back to it, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to all of this.

"Sweetie Belle!" Cheerilee called out.

Her hoof slipped out from underneath her head, and a loud thud sounded throughout the class as her head had an unexpected meet and greet with her school desk, much to the amusement of the rest of the foals in the class. Especially to the two school bullies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"Sweetie Belle, would you please repeat what I just said."

"...Ehhh..." came the sheepish reply as she tried to remember what it was that her teacher had just told her.

"Sweetie Belle. You have to pay more attention," Cheerilee said calm, but sternly, "or you will fail this class."

"Yes Miss Cheerilee. I'm sorry Miss Cheerilee." Sweetie replied.

"Not that it will do her any good," Diamond Tiara said mockingly. "A blank flank like her won't be able to do anything good." which made Silver Spoon snicker behind a hoof.

"Hey, don't call her a blank flank!" Apple Bloom said as she pushed herself up on her desk.

"Yeah, she has ten times more talent than the two of you combined." Scootaloo added, standing up for her friend.

"Really, then why doesn't she have her cutie mark, huh? Unless her talent is in being useless, just like you. Blank flanks." Diamond snarled at the two other fillies that dared to speak back to her.

"GIRLS!" Cheerilee shouted as she stomped her hoof on the floor, making every foal in the room look at her.

"That is no way to talk to each other. Diamond Tiara, I want you to apologize to them for calling them a blank flank."

"But Mi—"

"No buts young lady," she cut her off, giving her a stern look. "Apologize, now!"

Grumbling under her breath, Diamond Tiara muttered an apology to her classmates.

"What was that!?" Cheerilee said, not liking the mumbling.

"I'm sorry," Diamond repeated through gritted teeth, forelegs crossed over her chest.

Sighing out while shaking her head, Cheerilee looked at the troublesome filly.

"I suppose that's the best we can expect," she said, the disappointment noticeable in her voice, which didn't seem to faze Diamond Tiara in the slightest.

"And you three," she resumed as she looked at Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, "I don't want you to disturb the lesson either, understood?"

"Yes Miss Cheerilee," sounded the trio of voices.

Giving an acknowledging nod, Cheerilee turned her back to the class as she resumed her lesson, pointing at the information on the board.

"Stupid blank flanks," Diamond grumbled under her breath, just loud enough for Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to hear it. The three shot her a glare, but were unable to call her out on it, as Cheerilee hadn't heard her. A fact Diamond was well aware of, if her mocking smirk was any indication.

"One day," Sweetie thought, "One day we'll get back at you."

<<>><<>><<>>

The bell rung, and a dozen hyperactive ponies ran out of the classroom, yelling and laughing as they were finally free from their boring obligations. Sweetie Belle, too, was elated to finally be out of that cramped classroom, but for entirely different reasons than most of her other classmates. No, she was just glad to finally be able to put some distance between herself and Diamond Tiara, and her ever present shadow called Silver Spoon.

She, along with her two friends, were quick to leave their school for another afternoon filled with crusading, always trying the next new thing to earn their Cutie Marks. This time, however, things were a bit different. Or, they were more of the same. After last night's stunt, they weren't allowed to do anything that could be placed in their trademark yell: Cutie Mark Crusader, we’re grounded, YAY!

So, with the entire afternoon free to them, but nothing to do, they faced a problem that they normally only faced during their classes, or if Miss Twilight held one of her lectures. They were bored. Sure, they could do all those games all the other kids around were doing. Play a game of hoofball, or some hide and seek, or even those video games that colt Button Mash liked so much, and who Sweetie Belle might have a crush on, although she wouldn't admit to such a thing in front of her friends. But all those things were normal things to do, and the word normal does not exist in the crusaders dictionary. If there was anything that would give them their Cutie Marks, it would be so over the top awesome, so super ultra amazingly wonderifically incredible that they would talk about it for years to come. And not something normal.

So, with a sigh, the three sat down under the shadow of a lone tree found at the path leading to their home town, Ponyville.

"So what do we do now?" Applebloom asked, sighing, her ribbon hanging limply in her hair.

"I don't know? We aren't allowed to do anything to earn our Cutie Marks," Scootaloo said, falling on her back, and kicking her legs in the air.

"We can't really blame them, can we?" Sweetie Belle said with a downtrodden tone, remembering last night’s events again.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at her, trying to come up with some reply, but were unable to, as they knew she was right.

"But then what do we do? We can't go crusading, or my big sis will make me buck all the apple trees in the orchard by myself."

"You think that's bad? My sister would make me model for her all day long," Sweetie Belle said with a shudder.

"And Rainbow Dash will probably say she is disappointed in me," Scootaloo said with fear in her voice, which made the other two look at her with flat expressions.

"Riiigghhhtt," Apple Bloom deadpanned. "Which brings us back to what I said to begin with. What do we do now?"

She only got a shrug in response from Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle, however, seemed lost in thought.

"HELLOOO! Ponyville to Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said as she waved a hoof before her face, snapping her friend out of whatever thought she was having.

"Huh, what?" Sweetie said confused as she looked at her friend.

"Are you alright? You've been kinda out there all day," Apple Bloom asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about what happened last night, that's all," she replied.

"What's there to think about?" Scootaloo said grumbling, "We were almost eaten by a manticore, and it ran away after Rainbow Dash showed it who's boss."

"Riight," Apple Bloom said with an eyeroll, "and Rainbow being knocked out, and unable to fight the manticore has nothing to do with you being Miss Sunshine."

"Hey, it wasn't Rainbow's fault that he managed to knock her down. The manticore must have cheated somehow," Scootaloo said, raising her voice in defense of her idol.

"The manticore cheated… How?" Apple Bloom asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Ow, come on. You saw it too. The glowing green eyes and such. I know he did something to give himself an edge."

"He?" Apple Bloom said, cocking her head to the side. "I didn't know the manticore was a he."

"He, she. Whatever. The thing is that he cheated."

"That's just ridiculous. How would he even do that? " Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know," Scootaloo admitted as she deflated a bit, "but I am sure something was going on with him. Right, Sweetie Belle?"

Both of them turned to look at their unicorn friend, and saw she was once more lost in thought. Giving her a light tap on the head, Scootaloo was able to bring Sweetie Belle back to the fair land of Equestria.

"Right?" she repeated.

"Eh, sure," Sweetie answered unsure, not having payed any attention to what her friends were talking about.

"There you have it, I win," Scootaloo said triumphantly.

"Sure you did, Scootaloo," came the unimpressed reply.

Shaking her head, Apple Bloom turned to look at Sweetie Belle, who was drifting away into her own thoughts again.

"Sheesh, Sweetie. What is it with you?" she asked, giving her friend a scrutinizing glance.

"Nothing, nothing. It's just that… Well, you know those green glowing eyes the manticore had last night?" she asked her two friends. Earning an eyeroll from Apple Bloom, as she was talking about the same thing Scootaloo was, and an eager nod from said pegasus for the same reason.

"Yeah, what about it?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's just that, I think I've heard about something like that before."

"Wait! What?" both her friends shouted.

"But I'm not sure. I just have this nagging suspicion, nothing more," Sweetie Belle quickly countered, almost being pushed backwards from the two ponies leaning towards her.

"How do you mean? Where did you hear something like that?" Scootaloo asked eagerly, almost obsessive.

"I- I'm not sure."

"Well, what else comes to mind? Maybe that will help you remember," offered Apple Bloom who, although more restricted than Scootaloo, was also becoming eager to find out what her friend knew.

"Hmmm..." Sweetie Belle hummed while rubbing her chin with a hoof, "I think… I think I heard my sister say something about it shortly after the royal wedding."

"Yeah, go on," Scootaloo said, urging her friend on.

"Hmmm. I think it was something like this."

"Eugh, those nasty changelings, and their almost glowing eyes. Especially that queen of theirs, with her glowing green eyes. It almost looked like she was a ghost."

Silence.

"A ghost?!" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said in unison, staring at their friend with a blank look.

Sweetie Belle looked back at her friends, who slowly turned to look at each other. The gears in their heads starting to turn as they slowly began to realize what it was that Sweetie Belle had said, and what it might mean.

"Glowing green eyes," Scootaloo said slowly, staring into the distance.

"Stumbling on four legs," Apple Bloom continued, eyes equally unfocused.

"And those green flashes in the dark," Sweetie Belle finished.

Their eyes met, and their pupils grew in size with their shared realization.

"It was a ghost!"

The three of them said loudly, drawing some attention to themselves from the passing ponies, but they were too excited to notice.

"We have to find it," Scootaloo said excitedly. "We could earn our ghost hunting Cutie Marks!"

"No wait!" Apple Bloom yelled, and she grabbed her friend by the tail before she could run off. "We're not allowed to do any crusading, remember?"

"Oh, yeah," Scootaloo sighed, deflating a bit.

"But that doesn't mean we can't work with it some other way," Sweetie said, rubbing her chin in thought.

"What do you mean? How would we do that?" Scootaloo asked, suddenly full of energy again with the prospect of bending the rules, and allowing them to go crusading again.

"Okay, just hear me out here," she said, and took a deep breath, for what she was about to suggest was something neither one of them would do on a voluntary basis, unless there was something to gain from it. "We know next to nothing about ghosts, and if this really is one, then we need to know as much we can, or we will probably just end up hanging from some tree branch covered in tree sap."

"I guess that makes sense," Apple Bloom said thoughtful, "but how does that help us?"

"It doesn't, what I'm trying to say is that we need to..." she took a deep breath and, swallowing the lump in her throat, said, "study."

"WHAT!" Scootaloo shouted, looking at Sweetie Belle as if she had gone crazy.

"Just listen to me, please?" Sweetie pleaded as she held out her hoof towards Scootaloo, urging her to calm down. "I don't like it any more than you do, but I really, really don't want to take any chances on this one. Or I might end up doing modeling work for Rarity for a month. No, I'm sure that Twilight has a book or something about ghosts in her library, maybe we can find something in there. Maybe even how to catch a ghost, that would be useful, wouldn't it?"

"I guess," Scootaloo said, hesitantly. Not liking the idea all that much, but being unable to come up with a counter argument.

"Just let me get this straight," Apple Bloom said, shooting an inquiring glance at her friend. "You want to spend the free time we have inside some stuffy old library learning?"

"No I don- Ehh, I guess so. But only this one time, just to be sure what we are dealing with," Sweetie Belle was forced to admit. "Just think of it like this. Maybe we come up with even more ways to earn our Cutie Marks," she quickly added, hoping to win her friends over.

"I guess it makes sense," Apple Bloom muttered as she kicked the ground, "but only this time, right?"

"Right," Sweetie Belle confirmed with a nod.

Looking at her two friends, Scootaloo already knew where this was going, and that she didn't have much of a say in it, seeing as her friends had already made up their minds.

"Fine," she grumbled in forced agreement, not looking forward to a day with her muzzle stuffed in some boring old book, "but only this time!"

"Of course, only this time," Sweetie confirmed with a happy smile to her friend as they began their quest for knowledge, and started walking to the library. "After all, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shared an uneasy glance between each other, hoping those words wouldn't come back to bite them in the flank.

And, together, the three of them made their way to Ponyville. Hoping to find their destiny, and their Cutie Marks.

Shadow of Past Sins

Edited by Halusm and Clawder.

Shadow of Past Sins

<<>><<>><<>>

"Hello, Sam."

Sam gasped out, partially flinching back into the shadows after having been found out.

"It is good seeing you again," said the frost giant, looking at her with glowing orange eyes and a kind smile.

Shaking herself out of her stupor, Sam stepped out into full view.

"You know me?" She asked with a faint hint of suspicion.

"Of course," the giant confirmed. "After all, my village rarely receives guests. Let alone of the Great One and his friends. You three did draw quite the crowd, if memory serves me well."

Sam blinked, "I guess that makes sense. Though, I have no idea who you are." She said rather bluntly.

The giant chuckled a bit. "As straight forwards as always, I see. And, no. You would not. Though there was quite the gathering when you and your friends came to visit, I remained on the sidelines. Watching, but not interacting," the giant explained.

"Well, you know my name. So what should I call you?" Sam asked.

"Call me the Elder. Everyone else does. As for those unspoken questions you are still debating to ask or not, I am a friend of Clockwork. And, yes. I am also here to help Danny… among others."

Sam blinked again, looking surprised at the Elder.

"Samantha," Clockwork spoke up. "The Elder has the gift to see more than most. Whereas I control time, she sees the truth. All of the truth. And she can even influence it, to some extend."

"You mean she's like you?" Asked Sam.

"Indeed," the Elder nodded once. "I, too, am an Embodiment. And I see Clockwork explained a thing or two about us."

"Just the gist of things. And only about himself. Even then, he barely said anything."

"Yes, he does like to do that," the Elder agreed, a humorous glint showing in her eyes. "Though, I do recall a certain young ghost I once met long ago. He had so many questions, yet received almost no answers. It frustrated him to no end." She chuckled mirthfully as she glanced at Clockwork. "How the tables have turned, wouldn't you agree?"

Clockwork's only reply was a roll of his eyes. Though the Elder did see the faintest of grins.

"Wait, you mean Clockwork used to be like me?" Sam asked in disbelief.

"Not like you," Clockwork countered. "Though there are similarities," he admitted. "...I, too, was once young." He sighed out, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Young and naive. And that's all I will say about this."

The Elder laughed for a moment, but nodded in agreement after.

"I'm not getting anything else out of you, am I?" Sam droned, arms crossed.

"She really has come to know you quite well," the Elder commented.

"Yes. She is quite perceptive," Clockwork agreed. "But so am I," he added. "And I know there is more to you being here than what we've just talked about."

"How right you are," the Elder nodded. She then turned to Sam. "Sam, I am well aware of what you and Clockwork have been doing. And I must commend you for the choice you have made. Deciding to remain here, instead of trying to return to your friends could not have been easy. Especially after seeing what your death did to them."

"... Yeah," Sam said, voice lowered as she looked down. "It isn't easy. Especially considering…. But I know this is for the best. We… I need to do this… to help Danny."

"Indeed," the Elder concurred. "And speaking of which, right now Danny needs your help again."

Sam looked up at the giant, surprised, and even a bit shocked.

"How do you mean?" Clockwork asked, surprised as well.

The Elder silently looked at Clockwork for several long moments, puzzled.

"I am surprised, Clockwork. Did you truly miss this?"

"Missed, what?" He asked, worried.

"Back when the children were with me, asking for help to cure the disease which is killing the changelings, I saw a most unusual deviation on their path… Or, more precisely, their path crossed with that of Danny."

"What!?" Clockwork said, shocked. "But right now, he should still be in Ponyville, searching for those three. How did he find them?"

"It would seem an unexpected addition steered him off course," the Elder told him. "Someone who has been looking for Danny ever since he left."

"Who?" Asked Sam.

"A certain pup, who seems to have formed a particularly strong bond with Danny," the Elder answered.

"Cujo?" Sam gasped.

"Hmhmm," the Elder nodded. "I noticed him when he entered the Far Frozen, and subsequently traversed through the portal."

"You mean to tell me a ghost has been present in Equestria looking for Danny?"

"And found him," the Elder added.

"Oh, this can't be good," Sam remarkt. "Cujo looks all small and cute, but if threatened or angered you don't want to be anywhere near him…. Still," she hummed. "Cujo is a trained guard dog. He could easily pick up on the fillies' scent and lead Danny to them. But if he's there, then what is happening in Ponyville. I mean, it's not like he can just tell the others a ghost dog showed him the way."

"No, he could not. Nor could he just leave without a trace.

"Don't tell me-" Clockwork groaned, then turned to the viewing portal.

With a wave of his staff, an image cleared out. Danny, in his bedroom, duplicating himself. One half of him joining with Twilight, the other staying behind for a bit, only to be surprised by Cujo tackling him to the ground and slobbering his face.

Danny's suspicion over the sudden increase of ghosts grew apparent, only for the recently 'born' Eclipse to steer him back on track.

Moving forwards, Clockwork, Sam, and the Elder then watched as Danny inspected the barn which Wind Chill had made into his home. Finding numerous hoof prints in the snow covered ground, Cujo was quick to pick up a scent trail, and promptly led Danny out into the Everfree Forest, and from there, towards the changelings' city. Only to be met with a herd of spectral equines which froze everything in their wake. And fighting them off, Wind Chill and Sweetie Belle.

Watching the rest of the events play out, Clockwork quietly muttered to himself while frowning deeply.

"This is not good," he finally spoke up.

"Perhaps. Or maybe this could be a turning point for Danny. Even to me, this is unclear. However, this is not the trouble I was referring to, despite all the implications this event may pose."

Sensing what she was talking about, Clockwork shifted the view to Danny's other half, and this time audibly swore in ancient tongue.

"Indeed," the Elder agreed.

"You mean… Danny gets found out?" Sam gasped, eyes wide as she watched how Danny, surrounded by many, cornered in a hut of a zebra by a small team of ghost hunters, was revealed to all."

"I am afraid so," the Elder sighed out. "Danny has been on the run, hiding for so long. Eventually his luck would have run out. Unfortunately, that happened at the worst possible time and place. Surrounded by friends and unexpected enemy, all paranoid about ghosts. And, to some extent, rightfully so. This is where you come in, Sam."

"Me?"

Nodding, the Elder looked at her fully. "Yes. Even if Danny does not know it, we are still there to help him. And with Clockwork's help, we can intercept this event before everything falls apart. However, it is up to you to pull this attention away from Danny."

"Why?"

"Because, like no other, you know what is at stake here. And I know you can succeed, and keep most of our involvement hidden."

"Most of our involvement?" Sam repeated, worried.

"Regardless of how we respond to this, Danny has become suspicious. But, depending on how we act, we may be able to steer things back on track."

"But how come Clockwork didn't know anything about this?" Sam asked, looking at the time ghost.

Clockwork, frowning deeply, back still turned to Sam as he continued staring into the viewing portal, didn't answer. Though Sam did notice the tightening of his hand with which he held his staff.

"... What do I need to do?" Sam asked, clearly picking up on the unspoken worries from Clockwork.

"Go there," the Elder instructed. "Clockwork will open a portal for you, mere moments before Danny would be found out. As for what you will need to do once there… that is something you must decide for yourself."

Sam stood silent, biting her lower lip, deep in thought.

"But how will I get close enough to help, without setting of Danny's ghost sense? Surrounded as he is, it would be difficult to hide, let alone explain when a puff of cold air escapes his mouth."

"You are correct. Which is why you will not set off his ghost sense," the Elder told her.

"Huh?"

"Clockwork, could you please give me one of your medallions?"

Clockwork, silently watching events play out in the viewing portal, snapped out of his thoughts; turning around to look at the two individuals.

"A medallion? Why-... Oh, I see," he murmured, somewhat lost.

Unable to hide her growing concern, Sam turned back to the Elder as Clockwork flew of.

"What is going on with him? I've never seen him act like this."

"Indeed," the Elder nodded.

"And Clockwork doesn't just miss something as important as this, so how did he?"

"Clockwork is one of control. It is one of the reasons why he was chosen for the task, and burden he carries. If he were to lose control, however…"

"However, what?" Sam asked, but got no answer. Moments later, Clockwork returned, and presented the Elder with one of his time medallions.

"Thank you," the Elder said, accepting the object.

Holding the medallion in her hand, she closed her eyes in concentration. A wavering aura of orange surrounded the medallion, which quickly absorbed the energy. For several minutes, the Elder stood there, channelling her energy into the medallion. Then, the glow subsided, and she opened her eyes again.

"Good, it took hold," she said as she inspected her work. "Sam, if you would?" She offered the medallion to Sam.

"What did you do to it?" Sam asked.

"As Clockwork said, I can see the truth; even influence it to some extent. Which is what I have done with this medallion. As you wear it, it will not only maintain your presence in a time not your own, but hide your ghostly presence from Danny. You will not set off his ghost sense. Though the same can not be said for these ghost hunters and their equipment. After all, you do need to lead them away from Danny," the Elder explained.

Accepting the medallion with the slightest hint of reluctance, Sam placed it around her neck; feeling a most strange energy she hadn't felt during her previous interactions with these medallions.

"Clockwork, if you would?" The Elder said.

"Yes, of course," he replied readily, opening a passage through time with a wave of his staff.

"Samantha," the Elder said. "Whatever it is you will do, under no circumstances may Danny find out about you. Everything that is happening, has happened, and is going to happen is because of his deeply rooted belief he has lost you. If he were to see you, find out you are still part of the mortal plain of existence, everything we have worked for will be lost. You know what it means should this happen."

The gravity of the situation pressing down on her, Sam swallowed loudly, nodding once; eyes wide.

Taking several deep breaths, Sam stepped towards the portal, holding the medallion in a closed fist pressed against her chest.

"Good luck, child," the Elder encouraged her, and Sam vanished into the maelstrom of time.

Silence.

"You still do not know what caused it… Or is going to cause it?" The Elder asked after a moment.

"No," Clockwork admitted.

"Though the effects are already making themselves known," the Elder continued.

"Time is changing… breaking, and I do not know why," Clockwork spoke, tensely. Using his staff, he closed the portal, and tried to open a window in the not too distant future. All they saw was a horrible distortion. "The very fact events are playing out differently than they should is… worrying, to say the least… Maybe Necronomicons' involvement-"

"No," the Elder quiet him. "Despite his meddling with your plans, Necronomicon is not to blame for what is going to happen. He is merely following a different path, by a different plan other than your own. Both, however, are meant to yield the same result. To stop what is going to happen."

"And what is going to happen?"

The Elder looked up and into the viewing portal herself, standing silent for a long time.

"... I do not know," she admitted. "And it frightens me to think about what this could mean."

"Two Embodiments, one of time, the other of truth. Yet neither able to discern what is going to happen," Clockwork surmised. "We're dealing with something much more powerful than either one of us."

"On that, we agree."

"We must prepare for something we do not know how to prepare for. And even our actions so far, there is no telling if we will succeed in the long run," Clockwork worried.

"Then it is best we focus on the here and now, instead," the Elder told him with stern reassurance. "Fretting about what is to come will get us nowhere."

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am. Have I ever been wrong?"

"In rare instances, yes. Most commonly after you've drank half of your village's supply of strong liquor"

The Eldert laughed, embarrassed. "Even I need to cut loose every now and then."

"Yes," Clockwork agreed with a lopsided grin. "I just wished it didn't involve so much groping."

Even her dense fur couldn't hide the radiant blush now burning its way onto her face. And with a fake cough, the Elder turned away from Clockwork.

"Well, yes. I suppose so."

Chuckling, Clockwork returned the viewing portal back to its normal, blank state. Then, his slight smile fell, replaced by a frown.

"There is something else that is bothering me, though," he said.

"Oh, and what might this be?"

"The new Embodiments Tree of Life grows," Clockwork answered. "You said there is one for each of the children, but you also said these Embodiments embody one of the stages of grief. However, there are five stages, but only three Embodiments you spoke off."

"Three I have seen… Clockwork, as you know, there are things even I can not see. Though, in this instance, I understand the underlying reason why my sight is clouded. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are well on their way traversing the path laid out before them. The other two, however… Well, assuming there are two more."

"Right now, it would seem only logical to assume," Clockwork told her.

"I am afraid you are correct," the Elder sighed heavily. "And, continuing on their assumed path of what if, then it stands to reason these other two would connect with the children in some way, or the other. Most likely a child, like themselves. This, however, forces us to ask us some serious questions. Who are these two? How are they connected with the children? And in what way are they connected with death?"

"Apple Bloom and Scootaloo lost both their parents. And though Sweetie Belle did not suffer such a loss, she herself has become a Halfa through the actions of Necronomicon," Clockwork surmised, slowly stroking his long beard.

"Indeed. However, their connection has been revealed to me shortly after we discovered about Sweetie Belle's dual nature, and Tree of Life grew these new Embodiments. The other two, however, we can only speculate."

"It must be someone they know. Someone they connected with in ways no normal bond would allow for."

"What makes you think they have already met?" The Elder asked.

"I don't. But I sincerely hope they've done so. Tree of Life doesn't just grow anything new, unless it is absolutely warranted. Knowing this, and taking in account the imminent disaster, it only stands to reason that those meant to be involved are already so."

"I see," the Elder hummed her agreement, thinking.

"Perhaps you should take your own advice, and focus on the here and now," Clockwork said after a short moment. "Regardless of what we think could, should, or has to be, we both know all too well that Destiny works in ways we can't predict. If there are two more Embodiments, they will reveal themselves when the time is right."

"Agreed," the Elder nodded. "I do need to ask you for a favor," she added after a short moment.

"Yes," Clockwork turned back to her.

"Would you mind opening a portal near the entrance to the Far Frozen? There are some delicate matters which require my attention, and It is a rather long walk, and my old legs do not cooperate as well these days."

Clockwork snorted, raising an eyebrow. "It is no surprise to me that the Embodiment of Truth is a bad liar."

The Elder sighed out, chuckling ever so slightly. "I know, but I enjoy trying every now and then. However, I must request you open this passage for me. I am required back at the village, and time is of the essence."

"Anything I need to know about?"

"Just a final confrontation," the Elder revealed.

"Between who?"

"Fenris, and the shadow of his past sin."

Clockwork sucked in a deep breath, clenching his staff tightly as he opened a passage for the Elder.

"So, this loose end will finally be dealt with?"

"... In a way… but not how you think it will."

"Then how will it end?"

"That will depend solely on Danny. And it will not be the end. Merely the beginning." The Elder said cryptically, then stepped through the portal, leaving Clockwork behind.

Silence.

Frowning deeply, Clockwork looked at the portal as he closed it behind the Elder. One thought more prominent in his mind above all others: 'I hate it when I'm not getting any answers.'

<<>><<>><<>>

After Apple Bloom's suggestion to combine the fires, and move the sick near the walls where the fire's heat would be most effective, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle spent most of their time since Danny left to make the sick as comfortable as they could.

The fact Danny was able to 'suck' the cold from the air aiding them greatly. Though it was quite the shock to see him afterwards. The transformation he'd gone through severe and somewhat unexpected.

True, they saw what happened to his arm when he first attempted his plan. But the full body encasement of ice was not something they first expected. Nor had Danny, as he admitted shortly after returning to the throne room.

Still, he'd had a good idea how to revert his body to normal, though it required him to leave once again.

Now the group of foals, one shadowy image of Nightmare Moon, and an angry, ancient wolf capable of 'cutting' out some of the disease killing the changelings were left behind once again. And with them, an ever increasing tension between Fenris and Eclipse.

At least Eclipse stopped her attempt to talk with Fenris after Danny had a strong word with her. Yet her desire to 'rejoin' with Fenris only escalated the latter’s hostility.

With consistent growling, sheathing and unsheathing claws, and never letting Eclipse out of his sight, it was quickly decided everyone should stay far, far away from Fenris.

Yet, despite this more than fragile cooperation, everything seemed to work out for the better. At least, until Danny returned once again.

With a bark, and moving before anyone could act, let alone process what happened, Fenris attacked Danny; pinning him against the far wall with a single, muscular arm.

It took a few seconds for everyone to fully register what had just happened, but when they did, all hell broke loose.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gasped out. So did Erlea, Abella, Devora, and several of the older changelings. Yet where Apple bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle remained standing with partially open mouths and wide eyes, Erlea quickly released a growl of her own as she began stomping towards Fenris; anger radiating off her as the air once more filled with sour emotions.

Before she had a chance to give the two a piece of her mind, however, Danny yelled for Fenris to let him go; pushing into his chest with green glowing hands which burned into the wolf's flesh.

"MASTER!" Eclipse shouted as she rushed to Danny's aid, almost toppling over Erlea in her hurry.

"HEY!" Erlea cried out in anger, yet her voice was lost on the enraged trio

With Danny firmly pinned against the wall, Fenris lifted his free paw; claws unsheathed, his intent clear.

"Oh no," Sweetie Belle gasped out, quickly scanning the room to try and find something she could use to break the two apart. Then she froze, blinked, and looked at her green glowing hoof. "Oh."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Danny roared, his struggle intensifying.

"What I should have done from the start," Fenris rumbled. "I cannot allow my sin to exist any longer."

"RELEASE HIM!" Eclipse shouted, slamming her full weight into the wolf, only for her form to partially fall apart, and the resulting impact did little more than stagger Fenris. Not enough for him to lose his grip.

"I give you this one chance," Fenris rumbled, crossing eyes with Eclipse. "Leave this host willingly, and your destruction will be quick."

"And if I refuse?" Eclipse hissed.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gasped out when they heard Danny groan in pain; watching as Fenris pushed his glowing claw into Danny's chest, much like how he'd cut out the disease from the changelings.

"Sweetie Belle, do something!" Apple Bloom shouted at her friend.

"But I don't know what!" Sweetie Belle cried back.

"Just shoot him, or something," Scootaloo interjected with urgency.

"Then I'll cut you out, like I've done to myself," Fenris rumbled darkly.

"THAT WILL KILL HIM!" Eclipse screamed in outrage, readying herself to strike.

Groaning in part strain, part pain, Danny grabbed hold onto the wrist of Fenris' claw partially piercing his chest.

"You ghnn- know," Danny grunted, his eyes starting to glow an icy blue. "I wanted to give you a chance, thinking that maybe what I was told wasn't, nghh- true. But now, there's not a doubt in my mind you're dangerous." Then his grip tightened, and voice darkened. "And there is no way in Hell I'll let you stay near the children."

With a burst of freezing might, Danny froze Fenris' wrist through and through. Then, twisting his arms, he broke free, while also breaking off the intruding claw.

For a moment, Fenris stood silently, almost as if he hadn't noticed what had just happened. Then, realization kicked in, and Fenris dropped to his knees, howling in anguish, holding the frozen stump with his remaining hand. While, standing in the back, the fillies all looked with wide, horror filled eyes; Sweetie Belle standing frozen with a glowing hoof raised up at Fenris.

Falling to the floor, Danny panted while clutching his chest; glaring with burning eyes at the dark wolf as the glowing puncture wounds slowly closed.

"Danny!" Sweetie Belle squeaked as she and her friends were snapped out of their stupor, rushing to Danny's aid.

"STAY BACK!" Danny yelled, and the three young ponies all came to a screeching stop; eyes wide, unsure what to do as they stared at the angry human, the panting, growling wolf, and the shadow mare ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"So," Danny grunted, slowly standing up, hands aglow. "You want to do this here, or do we take this outside? Either way, I'm more than ready to tango."

Slowly rising himself, Fenris flexed his remaining hand, glaring momentarily to the injury inflicted on him. Then his cold eyes locked with Danny's.

"You willingly chose to defend this corruption," he spat. "Your soul has already been lost, now all I can do is set it free."

Still trying to figure out what was going on, and how they could help to stop it, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked in shock and surprise as Fenris grabbed hold of the frozen stump where his claw once used to be. Then, they all gasped, then heaved as they witnessed Fenris crush the ice, opening the savage wound, and green glowing blood flowed out and onto the floor where it collected in a small, but rapidly growing pool.

They felt sick, through and through. Unable to comprehend what they'd just say, or even why Fenris would do such a thing to himself. And though they wanted to look away, they couldn't. Their sights remained firmly locked on the glowing puddle of ectoplasmic blood, as well as the still bleeding, severed claw now lying on the ground.

Much to their shock, a wavering aura surrounded the severed limb. And with a noticeable gasp echoing through the chamber, they watched as Fenris' paw twitched, slightly moved, then flew back towards Fenris' arm; connecting with a wet squelch, followed by a spine shivering crack as Fenris flexed the newly knitted wrist bone.

"Still haven't gotten an answer," Danny reminded Fenris, his posture becoming more aggressive, and in no way did it seem he was shocked, let alone surprised by what had just happen.

Yet, as they watched from the sidelines at the horrific display of violence and bloodshed, their attention was finally pulled away from the combatants when they heard Erlea gasp out in shock. Turning to her, they soon saw what, or more precisely who she had reacted to.

Queen Chrysalis.

No longer was she seated on her throne. Instead, she sluggishly pulled herself towards the fighters with unsteady steps; breathing shallowly, but laborious.

"Mom!" Erlea gasped, horrified as Chrysalis lost her strength and collapsed. Yet despite her rapidly dwindling strength, Chrysalis stared with partially closed eyes at the three combatants over their aggression.

Struggling to push herself back up, Chrysalis never averted her gaze from Danny.

"Stop this…. Now," she demanded, attempting to sound authoritative, but her weak, raspy voice made it sound pitiful instead.

Only managing to push herself partially up, Chrysalis' strength left her fully, and she fell to the ground again. Only Danny, acting in reflex, was able to catch her before she'd slammed into the floor once again.

However, in his act to catch Chrysalis, he dropped his guard and left his back wide open to Fenris. A mistake which the large wolf exploited without a second thought.

"DANNY! LOOK OUT!" Cried Apple Bloom.

"WATCH YOUR BACK!" Yelled Scootaloo.

"LOOK OUT, BEHIND YOU!" Screamed Sweetie belle.

All of them watched as Danny turned around, but not in time to stop the sharp claw from boring down onto him.

"NO!" Eclipse shouted, and, turning into a column of shadowy smoke, rapidly flew in between Danny and her former host.

Fenris punched his claw, slicing cleanly through Eclipse, and into Danny's open back; his claw sticking out through his chest, and a splatter of green glowing ectoplasm stained Chrysalis' face.

"""NOOOOOO!!!""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out. And, acting in blind panic and reflex, Sweetie Belle fired a searing beam into Fenris' back out of her own control.

Fenris roared out in pain as the energy burned into his flesh.

Then the world around him went dark.

<<>><<>><<>>

"SWEETIE BELLE, WHAT DID YOU DO?" Scootaloo yelled, she, as well as everyone else capable of doing so, stared wide eyed and afraid at the unfolding disaster.

"WHAT DID I DO?" Sweetie Belle cried. "WHAT DID HE DO?"

"WELL, YOU SHOT HIM IN THE BACK!" Scootaloo shouted back.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT! IT JUST HAPPENED!"

"WELL, SOMETHANG HAPPENED, ALRIGHT!" Apple Bloom panicked as she stared unblinkingly at the massive vortex of darkness which had consumed Danny and Fenris; and only just missing Chrysalis, who was now slowly pulled back by Erlea, Abela and Devora.

"WELL, IT'S NOT MY FAULT ECLIPSE EXPLODED, OR SOMETHING!" Sweetie Belle cried out, hooves pulling at her mane.

It all happened so suddenly. First, the shock and absolute disbelief over Fenris' actions. Him stabbing Danny, through Eclipse, completely stunned them. Yet in some unknown, panic induced instinct Sweetie Belle didn't even bother try to understand right now, she shot Fenris in the back; only for Eclipse to seemingly explode nearly instantaneous afterwards.

The massive cloud of suffocating darkness which once was Eclipse rapidly consumed Danny and Fenris, and was now swirling rapidly around them like a miniature hurricane; the occasional flash of orange visible from deep within.

"BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?" Scootaloo shouted, eyes flashing from her friends to the hurricane of darkness, and back.

"WHAT!?" Sweetie Belle shouted the simple, yet impossible to answer reply.

"I DON'T KNOW! SOMETHING!"

"GO GET WIND CHILL!" Apple Bloom shouted. "MAYBE HE CAN HELP!?"

"BUT WHAT ABOUT DANNY?" Sweetie Belle yelled back. "I CAN'T LEAVE HIM LIKE THIS!"

"DO YOU HAVE A BETTER IDEA?" Scootaloo shouted back, and Sweetie Belle faltered.

"GO GET WIND CHILL," Scootaloo repeated urgently. "WE'LL DO… I DUNNO. SOMETHING. JUST HURRY!"

Eyes wide in fear and shock, flashing between her friends and the vortex of darkness, Sweetie Belle found herself completely rooted on the spot.

"GO!!" Scootaloo yelled, spurring her ivory friend into motion.

Giving a single, hesitant nod, Sweetie Belle transformed and flew out of the chamber and back into the maze of hallways; desperately trying to find the way outside once more.

'Why do these things always happen to us?' she thought, panicked as she flew through one hall after the other.

<<>><<>><<>>

Thirty minutes earlier.

Darkness reigned supreme, and not even the light of the moon could penetrate the dense foliage of the Everfree Forest.

The suffocating darkness only filled by the numerous growls, barks, hisses, and even ominous sounding hooting from all the nocturnal creatures on the prowl for prey.

Then, an almost blinding flash of green illuminated the forest, scaring away whatever creature unfortunate enough to be near the phenomena; a portal opening half a meter above the ground.

Stepping out, and dropping the short distance, Sam quietly but quickly scanned her surroundings; her boots slightly rustling the few leaves, and snapping a small twig as she took a single hesitant step away from the portal.

"Okay," she spoke to herself. "Where am I, exactly?"

She didn't find an answer where she was standing, and slowly took several steps further into the darkness. Then, with only a faint hiss, the portal closed behind her, plunging the forest back into darkness; the only thing left to be seen were Sam's glowing eyes, and the faint aura surrounding her body.

Standing still, she took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she closed her eyes and listened for any sounds out of the ordinary.

She knew she was sent back before Danny was found out, and she knew the group of ponies and lone human were still heading for the zebra's hut. Knowing this, she also knew there would be sounds to indicate to her where they were; as well as the glow of their lanterns and magic.

Sighing out after a moment, she shook her head as she failed to hear anything that could tell her which direction to head to. Then, quite unexpectedly, a snap echoed past the trees behind her, and she spun around, leering into the darkness now in front of her; her ghost vision cutting through the darkness, and revealing what lay hidden far better than her mortal eyes could have ever done.

There, out in the distance, a light; swaying ever so slightly, indicating that, whoever was holding it, walked with a slow pace.

"Found ya," she whispered.

Hovering from the ground, legs turning into an intangible tail, she quickly moved to the source of the light; making sure to circle behind the group she was expecting to find, and hid behind a tree despite her now invisible form.

It was a sense of precaution she was glad to have listened to, for instead of the group, and Danny, she instead found four other individuals she wasn't expecting. Though, in hindsight, she realized it made perfect sense.

Four ponies. A pegasus mare walking at the back, and two unicorns walking at center. Mares, too, Sam quickly realized. While walking at the front was an earth pony stallion, easily a full head taller than the rest, and a flashlight secured to his saddlebags; bobbing up and down with his every step.

"The ghost hunters," Sam realized, slowly hiding away behind the tree. "Of course."

Realizing now when she was exactly, she also determined her next course of action.

Knowing she had to lure them away from Danny, she also recognized the problem with this. It was easy for them to split up should she just show up and make a show. Trying to stop them here and now would be preferable, though this would create its own set of problems. Firstly, she didn't know just how close she was from Danny, and any action she might undertake here and now could just as easily draw him, as well as anyone else from his group back here. Furthermore, if she were to intervene now, and draw them away from Danny, she would only buy him some time while the hunters regrouped. They would come for Danny again, she was sure, so she had to find a way for them to lose interest in Danny… somehow.

She understood patience was preferable right now, though she also understood she couldn't wait too long. So, for now at least, she quietly followed after the four ponies, making sure to stay far enough away so she wouldn't trigger any of their detection gear, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

<<>><<>><<>>

Following after the four ghost hunting ponies, Sam didn't have to wait long until they reached the hut in which she witnessed Danny being exposed through Clockwork's viewing portal.

The hut's door stood wide open, and numerous stressed voices were clearly recognizable, along with the occasional gasp and startled scream, though the full context of what was said was lost to Sam from the distance she had to maintain to remain hidden from the hunter's scanners.

Still, working from the knowledge of what she had seen, she had a good enough idea of what point of time she currently was in in this unwanted development, and she slowly moved closer, readying herself to take action.

As she did, the voices became more and more clear to her. And eventually, after carefully and slowly closing the gap inch by agonizing inch, and somewhat straining her ears, she could listen in on the conversation with little effort; hearing the leading pony of the group she'd followed knock on the open door frame, and making himself known to those inside.

"Yes, speaking of such," he said in reply of some conversation Sam only partially heard. "That's where we come in."

"Whoa!" The prismatic mare Sam knew as Rainbow Dash shouted, alarmed, shooting towards the stallion in the blink of an eye. "And who the hay are you supposed to be?!"

"Miss Dash, my name is Rolling Stone, and these are Blue Ice, Sound Wave and Ornate Charm. We are her Highness' specialized spectral investigative and containment team, and we are here to help."

At this statement, Sam heard a gasp.

"You're the Ghost-Keteers?" She heard Twilight say. "I've heard about you and your team from the princess… but I never thought I'd meet any of you,"

"That's because we aren't supposed to be publicly known. The only reason we're even here, breaking our standing order to secrecy is because of the immediate danger these fillies could be in." Rolling Stone explained. "That also included you, miss Flower."

"B-but you have been here for days… weeks, almost." A voice Sam concluded belonged to this Bellflower sputtered.

"Weeks?" Rainbow Dash repeated, puzzled. "There hasn't been any ghost around here for that long."

"That you know of," Rolling Stone countered.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Sam heard Danny, sounding very nervous.

"Had the situation been any different, none of you would have know about our mission here—" she heard the stallion reply with a grunt "— with the exception of Miss Twilight, who the Princess has informed herself not too long ago.But we're here because of you."

"Me?" Danny said.

"Yes. Ever since you came to Equestria, strange things have happened. Starting with your shadow, mere moments after you entered the scanner."

"Shadow?" Rainbow Dash spoke up with noticeable confusion.

Sam heard a startled gasp, recognizing it as Twilight. "This is about that ghost that damaged the scanner, isn't it?"

"Okay!" Rainbow spoke up, loudly. "What the hay is this all about?"

As Twilight gave her explanation, Sam risked moving closer just a bit further. Though her apprehension towards the ghost hunters and their detection gear soon stopped her in her tracks; not wanting to risk everything just to hear things a bit better.

"Which is where you come in," she heard Rolling Stone explain, his voice now just a bit louder. But not by much. "It was your shadow which was possessed."

For a moment, it was deathly quiet. Not even the forest itself generated any sound, and tension rapidly grew to impossible to contain heights.

"WHAT!!??" A cacophony of voices cried out, and Sam jerked away, almost grunting in surprise over the sudden increase of volume.

"S-so what if? The guards there destroyed it," she heard Danny stutter with convincing nervousness.

"If that's true, then why don't you have a shadow?" A new voice spoke up, and Sam could only surmise it belonged to one of the hunters.

"I, ehhm…" She heard Danny faltered, followed moments later by a loud scream from Fluttershy.

This time Sam did grunt as she jerked her head away, though the overly present vocalisation of Fluttershy's feelings towards this particular revelation did help to mask any sounds Sam had made.

"Shit." Danny cursed, and Sam silently agreed wholeheartedly as she rubbed one of her ringing ears.

"Ornate?" Rolling Stone said gruffly.

A few seconds ticked by, slowly. Then Ornate spoke up: "He's clean. Well, clean as far as he can be, considering."

"You sure?"

"Positive. I'm not detecting any spectral energy on him," Ornate replied, only to suddenly fall silent.

"Wait, nothing?" Yet another unknown voice spoke up, which had to be the last member of this team.

"His shadow is missing, and has been confirmed to be possessed before. There is no way he's clean."

'Why do these guys always seem to find their brain at the worst possible moments?' Sam wondered, frowning deeply.

"Are you positive the scanner is working?" Rolling Stone asked.

"Absolutely. The last calibrations should've eliminated all interference."

"Any chance you decreased its sensitivity to the point it can't detect anything anymore?" Sound Wave asked.

"Of course not. I'm not some kind of amateur."

'That is debatable. I have a good idea who helped train you,' Sam smirked just a bit.

"Then why doesn't the scanner pick up any signature?"

'...Which would also include Maddie… Shit.' She realized shortly after. Realizing now she'd waited too long, Sam spurred into motion.

"Contact!" The ghost hunter called out in alarm as she aimed her loudly beeping scanner towards the open door. Sam, having hoped for this, increased the vibrant glow of her eyes as she flashed by; glaring inside at the group, and more specifically, towards Danny in that split second she allowed herself to be seen. Though she did stay as far away in the shadows as she could to mask her features to those inside.

"What the-" She heard Danny's voice, which was soon washed away by the shouts and shrieks of numerous mares, and one stallion. Applejack's brother, if she remembered correctly. 'Huh, almost forgot that guy was there too. He sure is quiet for such a large guy.'

Long to dwell on that particular matter she didn't have, as with a loud, authoritative bark, Rolling Stone ordered his team after her.

'Good, let's see just how lost you four can get in here,' Sam thought, allowing the four ponies to catch up with her, while still keeping enough of a distance between her and them to keep them from doing anything other than pursue her.

'Now, what do I do next?' She wondered, realizing she hadn't thought this far ahead.

'..... Crap.'

<<>><<>><<>>

As the hunters left to chase after the supposed ghost, they left behind the group of ponies and Danny. The latter, still trying to get a read on what exactly had happened, partially filtered out the ensuing conversation which arose upon this new development, and he quietly tried to signal for Zecora. However, it would seem the remarkable insightful zebra was already a step ahead of him, as she stood near the open door, beckoning him with the faintest of nods. However, before Danny had even the chance to set one step towards her, the heated conversation between the rest of the group focused back on him.

"And Danny. Don't forget about Danny!" Pinkie Pie's voice snapped Danny back to them, and he froze where he stood.

"Yeaaah. Speaking of which," Rainbow said, slowly turning to the lone human; soon followed by her friends. "Let's not forget about him."

"Eehhh," Danny stuttered as all ponies present looked at him in fright, with Fluttershy peeking at him from underneath Zecora's cauldron, which she now hid in much like a tortoise would in its shell.

Though, despite their apparent fear, there was also worry and concern, and after only a moment's pause, Applejack approached.

"Are ya alright, Danny?"

"I-... I'll let you know when I figure that out myself," Danny answered with slightly lowered voice, frowning deeply as he looked at his feet.

"Danny?" Twilight hesitantly stepped forwards. "Do you feel anything? Different, I mean."

"Honestly," Danny spoke with hesitance and reluctance. "Right now, all I feel is the need to go to bed and start an early hibernation to wait for all of this to blow over." He then sighed out explosively. "Though, knowing my luck, it'd be morning before I can even attempt going to bed."

"... Yer taking this surprisingly well," Applejack remarked, looking at him quizzically.

"Well, worse things have happened to me than just my shadow missing," Danny answered honestly. "In fact, it seems like it only happened earlier today when we came up against this powerful, shadow type ghost who abducted an entire empire, citizens and all, over a thousand years ago."

"Pfff, silly. That was today," Pinkie Pie chirped.

"Ah, so that's why," Danny half joked.

"Ehh… what's a shadow type ghost?" Bellflower asked, reluctantly, while Zecora arched a single eyebrow, glancing at Danny.

Looking at one another, the ponies tried to figure out how to quickly explain the situation.

"It's a ghost made of shadows," Danny answered quickly, not feeling like any extended explanation. Which was also why he held up a hand to silence Bellfower before she could ask any further. "It's a long story, and I don't think we have the time."

"Hold on," Twilight gasped, eyes slowly widening as a realization came to mind. "Sombra was a shadow type ghost, and now your shadow is missing… What if the two are connected?"

"Like, how?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Sombra stole his shadow?"

"Well, Danny was separated from us for quite some time," Rarity spoke up.

"True. But Ah'm sure that if somethang happened ta him, Danny would've told us," Applejack voiced her thoughts.

Getting caught in yet another debate of what ifs, Danny found his chance to 'slip' away while the rest kept themselves preoccupied with possibilities of influence regarding Sombra and himself. And though Danny did pay it half a mind of attention, he also quickly dismissed their claims, knowing from closely guarded experience just what happened, and just how wrong they were. However, despite most of the group being caught up in either shock, disbelief, suspicion, confusion, or an unhealthy combination of them all, one quiet mare took notice of Danny's silent retreat.

"Ehmm, girls," Fluttershy timidly tried to speak up as Danny quickly slipped out of the door alongside Zecora.

Quickly moving out of hearing distance, Danny looked down at Zecora, a troubled frown creasing his forehead.

"It doesn't take an expert to read that frown. You are aware of what has gone down," Zecora spoke up before Danny could.

Sighing in a deep breath, Danny held it for several seconds, then slowly exhaled; eyes closed as he went through everything that had happened from the moment he'd first woken up today.

"Only partially," he answered. "Enough to know there is more going on than either one of us know… And to know who wrecked your home," he said with another sigh.

"You know this beast, this hound? This creature which won't lay still within the ground."

"Yeah... " Danny admitted. "His name's Cujo, and he can be... enthusiastic, to say the least. Especially if he's angered, or played with."

"I'm sure I didn't anger him, and invoked his wrath. But neither did I follow a playful path."

"Did you wave around with a stick or something to chase him away?" Danny asked, and Zecora fell silent, her mouth standing open ever so slightly.

"... Well, that answers that."

"I see. The fault was not his, but me."

"Don't blame yourself," Danny told her. "It happened to me, too. Though, because of that, Cujo seems to have bonded with me… But what I don't understand is how he got here. Or that ghost just now. Nor do I know why my ghost sense didn't respond to it, which makes me wonder if it even was a ghost to begin with. And then there is the mess going on with Sweetie Belle right now," Danny groaned as he wildly moved his hands through his hair.

"The way you speak, the anger and fright. You know where they are this troubling night."

"Unfortunately I do, and I honestly don't understand how or why, but at least they're safe… I think," Danny groaned. "... Say, Zecora. What can you tell me about changelin-" Danny suddenly fell quiet, mouth hanging open mid word, his eyes widening in shock.

"GHAA!" Danny yelled as he clutched his chest, dropping to his knees before the startled zebra. Then, a wavering aura surrounded his body, and he vanished in a flash.

Moments later, Twilight came rushing out of Zecora's hut, followed moments later by her friends.

"Zecora, what happened?!" Twilight asked, urgently. Zecora, however, could only stare in shock at where Danny just stood, unable to answer the question she asked herself.

"Zecora," Twilight tried again with rising panic. "Where's Danny?!"

Zecora didn't answer.

<<>><<>><<>>

"WIND CHILL!" Sweetie Belle cried out as she finally found her way back to the surface, again. The distress in her voice palpable, and the frost giant immediately turned to face her.

"Young spirit, what happened? Is everything alright?"

"No," Sweetie Belle hastily replied. "Something happened with Danny. Fenris attacked him, an-"

"WHAT!" Wind Chill bellowed, his roaring voice echoing over the frozen plains, and several of the windigoes neighed in fright. "And the Great One even dared standing up for this wretched beast. And this is how he was repaid?... What did he do?!" Wind Chill implored urgently.

"I don't know!" Sweetie Belle cried out. "One-moment, Fenris-attacks-Danny, then-Eclipse-jumped-in-between, then-I-fired-at-Fenris, only-for-Eclipse-to-explode-and-swallow-them-both, or-something," she rushed out in a single breath.

"What?" Wind Chill uttered, flummoxed.

"Just… come with me! NOW!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

Jaw set, Wind Chill looked down at the young pony with grim determination. Slowly shifting his gaze to the now mostly grounded herd of Saldēti Zirgi. Confident they were reasonably calm, enough to not cause any trouble at the moment, he looked back at Sweetie Belle, nodding once.

"Lead the way, spirit," he answered, clenching a fist. "If the Great One requires my help, there is no time to waste."

Nodding, Sweetie Belle turned around and flew back through the tunnel, Wind Chill following closely.

"Just so you know," Sweetie Belle called back over her shoulder. "These tunnels do get a bit narrow further down."

"Worry not," Wind Chill rumbled. "I'll find a way to fit."

Though hesitant, Sweetie Belle didn't reply, and quickly resumed her path, picking up a bit more speed; biting her lower lip, hoping he was right.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Let's not speak of this again," Wind Chill said, embarrassed after Sweetie Belle was forced to help him squeeze through several of the narrower passages… five times.

But now, after much embarrassment on the giant's behalf, the two entered the changelings' city.

"This way," Sweetie Belle said hurriedly. "The castle is this way."

With only a gruff grunt in confirmation, Wind Chill once again followed after the filly who, after going back and forth so many times, by now knew the quickest route.

"By Frostbite's claw, what happened here?!" Wind Chill remarked as he approached the destroyed gate leading into the castle.

"I blew it up when I couldn't get through," Sweetie Belle answered as she and Wind Chill rushed past the obliterated gate.

"You blew it up?" Wind Chill repeated, surprised as he eyes the damage. "Young spirit, do tell. Just how much power did you use to accomplish that level of destruction?"

"I don't know?!" Sweetie Belle answered as she led him through one of of the many identical hallways. "I haven't had a clue what's been going on ever since we've gotten here."

"I see," Wind Chill murmured.

"This way," the filly instructed as she rounded another corner.

"You seem quite knowledgeable about the route we must take. All these halls seem the same to me."

"Me too, that's why I left markings on the walls," Sweetie Belle replied, and now Wind Chill took notice of several scorch marks which could've only been made by a spectral discharge.

Nodding in understanding, and appreciating the filly's foresight, Wind Chill spoke no further as he was led to the throne room.

Bursting inside the moment they arrived, numerous gasps immediately answered his arrival as most of the changelings looked at the massive beast rushing inside. Wind Chill, however, paid them no heed as he quickly scanned the room and found the source of Sweetie Belle's distress.

A large swirling vortex of darkness, stretching from floor to ceiling, with the occasional flash of orange within.

"The Great One is in there?!" Wind Chill asked, shocked.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle squeaked, eyes wide. "I- It's grown bigger, too."

"Ancestors," Wind Chill murmured as he slowly approached the vortex.

"What's going on?" Scootaloo asked almost immediately after Wind Chill stood less than a step away from the swirling darkness.

"Can ya help Danny?" Apple Bloom asked not a second later.

"I do not know," Wind Chill said slowly, answering both as he carefully studied the vortex.

"Why are there so many disgusting emotions coming out of this… thing?" Erlea demanded to know as she stomped towards Wind Chill.

"Emotions?" Scootaloo said, confused.

"What are ya talkin' 'bout?" Apple Bloom asked.

Not even looking at the two, Erlea instead glared up at the giant.

"Yes, emotions!" She stated. "Anger, hate, fear, guilt, shame, and numerous others. Explain, now!"

Wind Chill blinked as he looked down at the enraged filly, then slowly shifted his gaze back to the vortex. Then, with slowly widening eyes, he sucked in a deep breath, backing away a full step.

"It can't be," he spoke, more to himself than the fillies.

"What can't be?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"Young spirit, you said Fenris attacked Danny, but that Eclipse stepped in between, correct?"

"Yes, bu-" Sweetie Belle answered, but was interrupted immediately.

"Tell me. Is there any connection between Eclipse and Fenris? Anything at all?" Wind Chill asked urgently.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, then back at Wind Chill.

"Well, yeah," answered Apple Bloom.

"Eclipse said Fenris was her first host, or something," Scootaloo told him.

Wind Chill released a shocked gasp over this revelation, and he stared at the wild vortex with fearful eyes.

"Wind Chill?" Sweetie Belle hesitantly spoke up, stepping closer to the frost giant and placing a hoof on his leg.

"I- I'm afraid I can't do anything to help," Wind Chill answered with slight stutter. "Danny and Fenris, they're trapped in each other's negativity. Nothing I can do can separate them."

"Then what can we do?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"Nothing," Wind Chill answered, dismayed.

"But there has to be something!?" Scootaloo shot back, not accepting this. "Maybe the Elder can help? Or someone else?"

"Maybe?" Wind Chill replied. "But that would also mean they need to come here. Because, as they are, neither Danny nor Fenris are able to leave. Not like this."

"And wha' 'bout Eclipse?" Apple Bloom asked. "She's in there, too."

"Maybe she can help. Do something to stop this?"

"No," Wind Chill shook his head. "If what you told me is true, then she's the catalyst of this disaster. Locking in, and locked in between these two clashing minds. If only we could reach out to Danny, pull his mind free from this grasp of darkness."

Erlea, less than thrilled with what was happening, and even more irritated over the prospect of bringing yet another… thing into the Hive, still couldn't help but look at Wind Chill with confusion.

'Reaching out to him?' she repeated in thought, recalling the familiar, yet alien sensation she felt emanating from Danny a while back.

"Reach out, how?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Go in there?"

Frowning deeply, Erlea prodded her reserves of emotional energy; biting her lip in thought. 'Maybe?'

"NO, you must not!" Wind Chill bellowed. "You will only lose yourself in there along with them."

"Maybe we can throw a rope in there?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Ah don' think tha will work either," Apple Bloom responded. A single nod from Wind Chill confirmed what she said.

"Dang," Scootaloo muttered. Then she looked up in surprise, as well as most others there when they noticed Erlea slowly approach the ominous vortex.

"CHILD, STAY BACK!" Wind Chill shouted. Erlea, however, had already stopped a full body's length away. Which, with how small she still was, wasn't all that far away.

""Erlea?"" Both Abella and Devora called out to their friend, worried for her safety. "What are you doing?" Devora asked.

"Whatever I have to to protect the Hive," she declared, and lit up her horn.

""WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Abella and Devora both yelled, eyes wide as they recognized the magic Erlea was using.

"Reaching out," she answered, eyes shut in concentration, and a faint beam of her emotive energy flowed into the vortex.

THUMB THUMB

Erlea reared back with a gasping yell, while all the conscious changelings took a startled step back; all eyes on the vortex as, with a flicker of orange, the vortex diminished; growing smaller and smaller until a figure could be seen at the center of it all, dropping down to the ground.

"Danny?" Sweetie Belle squeaked, frightened but hopeful.

The figure slowly stood up, revealing the massive frame of Fenris, and only Fenris.

"No," Wind Chill gasped. "It can't be." Yet as he continued to stare at the massive wolf, it became abundantly clear no one else but Fenris had emerged from within.

"Where's Danny?" Scootaloo asked with small voice.

Slowly, the wolf turned to face them; eyes closed.

"I- I- I fear he was lost to the darkness of Fenris," Wind Chill choked out, unable to belief, nor willing to accept what he was seeing.

Then Fenris slowly opened his eyes, and all present gasped out.

They were blue.

Mortal blue.

They were Danny's.

Acceptance

Edited by Slayerseba

Acceptance

<<>><<>><<>>

An onyx portal melted away, and Chrysalis slowly walked into her chamber with Danny close behind.

Tiredly, Chrysalis looked at her bed, wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep but refusing to give in to this urge and show weakness in front of another. Instead, she looked at Danny, numerous questions still demanding an answer.

"So what else can you tell me about ghosts? Especially that which would be important to us changelin… ks."

"Plenty," Danny answered, closing the door behind them with a glowing hand. "And I will, eventually. But I can see you're pushing yourself, so I won't spend hours talking and keeping you up when you need rest more than anything else right now."

"I think I know my limits better than you, Phantom."

"And I've been you," he said simply, looking at her, arms crossed.

Chrysalis jerked back, eyes wide. "You mean-"

"Peculya. Aethina. I know," he said, eyes downcast. "And I am truly sorry."

Chrysalis wavered, then lost her strength completely and collapsed.

Acting on reflex, Danny caught her in his spectral hold before she could hit the ground, then carefully lifted her onto the bed further into the chamber.

"I'm sorry," he said as he released his hold, shaking his head. "Should have known that would hit hard."

"You… you saw them. My- my daughters," she choked out, turning away from Danny as she fought, and lost to keep back her tears.

"Them, and Mantodea," he answered. "Your husband was the one who first greeted me in the Murgröna."

Nothing more was said as Chrysalis quietly sobbed, tears falling down on the mattress, while Danny sat down on an old and beaten table; one of the very few pieces of furniture still present in the room, as everything else had been used to keep the fires burning.

Slowly Chrysalis stopped sobbing, and her breathing became deeper and calmer as she drifted off.

"I hope you find some piece of mind while you sleep," said Danny as he watched over her. "You'll need it. Hell, after everything you have gone through, you deserve it. And when you wake up, I'll tell you everything you need to know about ghosts. Starting with one of the most dangerous powers we ghosts have," he looked at his hand, fingers flexing. "Intangibility."

<<>><<>><<>

"Save you?" Sweetie Belle squeaked.

With a sigh Apple Pie hung her head, looking at the floor before Sweetie Belle.

"I'm sorry for us to just push this onto you. I really am, but there is so much at stake, and we have almost no time left."

She looked back up at Sweetie Belle, then out into the Hive; all present changelinks were watching them unblinkingly.

"What you need to understand is that we are not alive in here. But neither are we dead. We are memories preserved by the Murgröna and shared with our descendants. We 'live' only because of this bond between the two. If one falls, so does the other."

"What?"

Apple Pie showed a sad smile. "Remember how the Murgröna was much dimmer when you first saw it?"

"Y-yes. But then Danny did something, right?"

Apple Pie chuckled and nodded, then shook her head. "He did, but he didn't," Sweetie Belle stared blankly at her. "Let me explain. The Murgröna and changelinks live in symbiosis. One needs the other, and vice versa."

"But what would the Murgröna need the changelinks for?!"

"Food."

"What?!" Sweetie Belle jerked back, eyes wide.

"Oh, nothing like that," Apple Pie laughed, shaking her head. "The Murgröna doesn't eat changelinks or ponies for that matter. No, it feeds on their energy in a manner similar to how changelinks feed on the emotions of others. It takes a little bit from the changelinks it interacts with, allowing it to grow and flourish, while everything the changelinks know gets preserved in return. But this can only happen if there is any energy to take."

Understanding dawned, and Sweetie Belle's eyes widened as she looked at the much smaller Hive.

"When the Hive grew, so did the Murgröna. The increasing number of changelinks allows it to grow bigger and bigger. But when their numbers fell, there was less and less energy to take, so the Murgröna had to take more and more to sustain itself, only making things worse as a result. But the changelinks couldn't just allow it to die either so-" she said, starting to understand.

"So things spiraled out of control until their numbers had fallen to a point where the Murgröna fell into a slumber to preserve itself. It, and all of us who reside in it, were in… I guess you could say we were in a coma of sorts," Apple Pie finished.

Sweetie Belle was aghast, unable to speak.

"But then Danny came and somehow touched the Murgröna; energizing it just by being there. How he did this, though, we don't know. Just that he did. It's part of the reason he was brought into this place. Not just for him to learn about us, but for us to learn about him. Though this left us with more questions than answers. And in the end, it is of little importance as this did create a much greater problem that needs to be solved first."

"Which is?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried.

"Food," Apple Pie answered with a grimace.

"What do you-" once again realization struck like a punch to the gut.

"With the Murgröna awake again, it needs to eat just as much as our descendants, but they have nothing left to give."

"But… But I saw the Murgröna reach out to all those in the hospital," said Sweetie Belle. "Wouldn't that harm them?"

With a small smile, Apple Pie shook her head. "Fortunately not. And all thanks to Danny. Maybe it is because he is human, or maybe it's because of who he is as a person, but when the Murgröna touched him, it also touched an unfathomable wellspring of energy. Enough to sustain us for some time, but not forever."

"But if Danny has that much energy, I'm sure he would share it with you whenever you need it."

"Oh, I'm certain he would," Apple Pie nodded. "But this does not solve the problem, only delaying the inevitable."

"What do you mean?"

"The Murgröna needs the changelinks, just as the changelinks need the murgröna. Because we are their past, and they are our future. And while the changelinks may be able to live without the Murgröna, it would mean they need to give up everything they were. The good, the bad, everything that is remembered. Everything that shaped them into what they are now. And, in a way, it means they would have to let us die as well."

"That's horrible," Sweetie Belle gasped out.

"And that is why we need your help," Apple Pie said, looking at her. "For us to live, we need to changelinks to live. And for them to live, they need the help of us, ponies. Because for as much as you and your friends have done, it will only be in vain if nopony else will step up and help."

"But… what can I possibly do?"

"Far more than you think," Apple Pie answered, placing a hoof on Sweetie Belle's wither. "Just look at what you have done already," and the world around the two changed.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were down in Twilight's basement, each wearing a piece of protective lab gear while drawing a summoning symbol on the floor with crayons.

"What is going on?" asked Sweetie Belle as she watched her friends and herself run in a panic as their attempt to summon a ghost went horribly wrong.

"A small reminder of the incredible things you have done," said Apple Pie as the world changed again.

"Girls..." Sweetie responded in a haze, "I just flew..."

"I JUST FLEW!"

The world shifted again, and again, and again, each new scene showing Sweetie Belle learning to control and use her powers. And with it, a growth in confidence.

The world shifted again, and Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom jumped out of hiding to save a helpless changelink under attack by timberwolves.

From here the world sped up around the two, showing all that happened since that point faster and faster until everything was but a blur, yet somehow recognizable to the young filly

Then the world stopped all at once, the images around them gone save one scene right before them and Sweetie Belle flinched.

"You're nothing more than a frightened child, desperately reaching out for help. The mere thought of fighting you, while you are the one who needs help the most is revolting in more ways than I can think of," Danny said as he held Sweetie Belle tightly against his chest, an arm wrapped around her. An arm she had bitten into with sharp fangs, and green ectoplasmic blood flowing from both the wound and her mouth.

"Especially knowing who it is you really are," Danny continued, ignoring the wound. "You are no monster. You never were. You never will be. And I will not, not now, not ever, fight with violence against someone who can just as easily be beaten by heartfelt kindness."

Sweetie Belle felt sick, desperately trying to look away but unable to do so.

"I've got nothing to fear from you," Danny continued, slowly sitting down while keeping the filly close. "Because, deep down, you do not want to hurt me, your friends, the changelings, anyone. It's that part of you that is stronger than anything else. A part that can beat this. Maybe not alone, but with the help of your friends. But you must make the first move, Sweetie Belle. Fight this. I know you can. After all, you're a Cutie Mark Crusader. You and your friends have done crazier things than this."

The world stopped, and Sweetie Belle and Apple Pie looked at the unmoving image of Danny and Sweetie Belle. The latter with a sad frown, the former dry heaving while tears ran down her face.

"Why- why would you show me this?" Sweetie Belle asked through heavy breaths.

"To help you understand," Apple Pie told her.

"To understand, WHAT?!" Sweetie Belle shouted, turning away from the cursed sight and glaring at Apple Pie. "THAT I AM SOME KIND OF MONSTER!?"

"A monster?" Apple Pie said questioningly. "I don't think you are. Neither does Danny, or your friends," she told her, looking back at the still image, now showing Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as well as they hugged their friend tightly to help her break free from herself. "And neither do the changelinks. Not really. Because they know a true monster, and you are not it."

"Then why?" asked Sweetie Belle, all anger gone from her voice, replaced with tiredness and defeat.

"Because there is only one in all the Hive who truly believes you to be a monster," Apple Pie told her.

"... Who?" Sweetie Belle dreading the answer.

"See for yourself."

Sweetie Belle looked up at Apple Pie, confused. Seeing the mare look at something behind her, Sweetie Belle slowly, reluctantly turned around herself and stumbled back into Apple Pie, horrified.

Standing there, looking back at her was herself.

"Wha- what?!" she tried to push herself further away, but Apple Pie blocked her.

"Your friends already know the truth. Even the changelinks know it, despite their fear. But you, Sweetie Belle. You continue to lie, despite everything that you have done so far since it happened. You keep telling yourself you're a monster because deep down a part of you needs you to be a monster. It's also that part you need to face," Sweetie Belle's mirror image warped; the coat turning a dark gray while the mane and tail became even darker as they moved in an ethereal breeze, pupils becoming slitted and small fangs poking out of her upper lip.

"Th- this isn't me," Sweetie Belle squeaked, still trying to escape.

"No, this is what you don't want to be," Apple Pie corrected. "But it is a part of you, no matter how much you deny it," Apple Pie put a hoof on Sweetie Belle's back. "And right now you need to make a choice."

"A choice? What are you talking about?" Sweetie Belle asked, never averting her gaze from her nightmarish self.

"The choice to keep running and allowing this fear to consume you, or to accept this darkness within and grow stronger because of it."

Sweetie Belle continued to press further into Apple Pie when, much to her horror, her twisted mirror image began to snarl and move, eyes locked onto her.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" she shouted, terrified.

"That's the thing," Apple Pie said, and Sweetie Belle fell backwards as the mare had suddenly vanished. "I'm not."

Sweetie Belle scampered back as her darker self advanced.

"This is a trial of your own making," Apple Pie's voice came from everywhere and nowhere. "A challenge you need to overcome yourself."

The evil spirit pounced, and Sweetie Belle turned tail, running as fast she could.

"But I can offer you some advice," said Apple Pie. "Giggle at the ghostly."

<<>><<>><<>>

The freezing wind howled through barren trees, blowing up clouds of powder snow while Erlea and Abella slowly advanced through the thick layer of frost, following the trail obviously left for them.

The forest they were in was now some distance behind them as they pushed onwards over a seemingly endless expanse of white.

"What kind of memory is this?" Abella groused, voice raised to be heard over the wind. "Where even is this taking us?"

"How would I know?" Erlea shouted back, hoof held before her eyes to shield herself from a particularly harsh gust of wind and snow. "This trail has to lead somewhere, so let's just keep moving."

For minutes more they pushed on, not able to see more than a few body lengths ahead. But then, slowly fading into view, structures revealed themselves.

"Is that a village?" Abella asked

"It looks like it. No idea what village, though."

With no other option available to them, the two entered the village, moving to the closest building to them, seeing flickering light coming from a window just out of their reach.

Looking at each other, Abella cocked an eyebrow and Erlea groaned in response before moving underneath the window and allowing Abella to clamber on her back to reach the windowsill.

"See anything?" Erlea asked almost immediately.

"Give me a moment, sheesh."

Looking inside, Abella saw little of interest. Some pieces of furniture, a few books, a table, and a small fire in a fireplace.

"Well?" Erlea grunted.

"There's nothing her- wait, some… thing just entered."

"Something?"

Abella wasn't sure how to describe the creature she saw entering. It roughly resembled a pony in form, but it was something else entirely, covered in strange, fleshy skin covering the body from top to bottom with bulging pouches on its side.

The creature looked around, then moved to the fireplace and used magic to pull a piece of wood from one of its pouches, tossing it in the fire.

Then it proceeded to pull the skin off of its face, and Abella screamed as she fell down, followed by a mad scramble to get away.

Erlea, confused by what happened but easily recognizing the horror in her friend's actions, and hearing numerous unintelligible sounds rise up from the village, didn't hesitate to follow after her as they fled the place.

However, both fillies failed to realize the ground underneath was actually a frozen river, and in their rush to escape enough snow was kicked aside for the slippery surface to be reached.

Hooves slipped, legs tangled up, and two bodies collided as they tumbled through the snow. Coming to a sudden, concussive stop as they slammed head first into a rock hidden under the snow, and their world went dark.

From a distance, a silent form watched as the creatures from the village closed in on the pair, tugging on the cap she wore; a sign of kindness and friendship gave to her so long ago.

A lesson these two had to learn for themselves now as well, no matter how many times she would have to hit them on the head to learn it.

<<>><<>><<>>

With a groan, Chrysalis stirred, and for several blissful moments, reality allowed her to remain in the haze between asleep and awake as she groggily rolled over, one eye-opening slightly as her slow-to-start mind searched for something.

Exactly what this was she wasn't quite sure about, just that it was important.

While her mind still struggled to remember how to perform the most basic of functions, Chrysalis slowly pushed herself up, only to flop onto her side.

For several seconds she lay there, not entirely sure what had gone wrong.

Trying again, this time more successful, Chrysalis once again looked through the room, blinking owlishly as her eyes refused to coordinate their actions.

A green glow pulled her attention.

"Ah, awake I see."

Turning to the source of the voice, Chrysalis saw the tall, bipedal form of Danny enter the room.

"Whu?" she replied unintelligibly.

Danny paused in his movement for a split second, then chuckled as he closed the distance.

"Must have been some good sleep," he commented, placing something on a nearby table, then turning to the still drowsy queen. "How're you feeling?"

The sight of the human before her gave the jolt her mind needed to shift gear, and her eyes sharpened as memories came flooding back.

"I… you-" she closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it. "Better, I suppose," she answered, looking back at Danny. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Not too long. A few hours. It's late afternoon now."

Chrysalis gave a faint nod, then frowned.

"You know it is a crime to just enter my chamber without my permission." She didn't ask, glaring at Danny.

"Oh I am well aware of your laws and rules," Danny replied, smirking. "I also know none of those rules specify humans and ghosts. So technically I did nothing wrong."

Chrysalis glared at him for a moment longer, then turned away. "I suppose I can't complain about a willing servant catering to my wishes," she then noticed the pitcher of water and empty glasses on the table and realized just how dry her throat felt.

Acting on his own, Danny partially filled a glass and offered it to Chrysalis with a knowing smile.

"Figured you would be thirsty," he told her, not making any remarks about the tears she shed or the noticeable wet mark on her pillow.

Igniting her horn with what little magic she could muster, the glass shakily levitated to the parched queen who then greedily drained the glass from its contents.

"Better?" Danny asked, and Chrysalis almost threw the glass back at him.

"More… Please."

Chuckling, Danny refilled the glass.

One more clumsy levitation followed, and this time Chrysalis drained the contents a bit more dignified. Then she set the glass down on the floor and returned her attention to Danny.

"So you know of my daughters and husband," she forced herself to say, glaring at the human who had seen parts of her personal life.

"I do," Danny confirmed, pushing aside the mostly full pitcher, and sat down on the table. "Not by my own choice, of course. I know what it is like to have others pry into your personal life, and am not a fan of it. The Murgröna however, or I suppose those residing within it saw it fit to share with me as much as they could. Everything they believed I should know. All the good, the bad, and worse."

Chrysalis held her glare for a moment longer, then closed her eyes.

"As much as this angers me, I can't fault you for this. The Murgröna's actions are not something for me to control, and it can even be considered a great honor for you to be allowed to interact with it as you have."

"I know," Danny nodded. "And the same would go for Sweetie Belle, too."

"What!?" Chrysalis jumped up, blanket sliding off her back.

Not answering immediately, Danny grabbed the unused glass and poured himself some water. Taking a sip, he answered.

"This is something I learned from my other self. The one with Erlea, Abella, and Sweetie Belle in the old burrow. Both your daughter and Abella are interacting with the Murgröna there. And so is Sweetie Belle. And if my understanding of events is accurate, it is most likely Apple Pie who is responsible for this."

"But for what reason would she be brought in?"

"You will need to ask her that, once she returns. Honestly, I was in there for only a few minutes and lived thousands of lives. But they, it's been hours." He looked at the glass in his hand, then took another sip. "Whatever it is they are doing in there, it must be important."

Chrysalis was silent, so Danny continued.

"And speaking off seeing things inside the Murgröna. May I ask what exactly you saw of my life? You mentioned you saw some of the mess that is my life. So did Abella, and probably most of everyone else who has interacted with it at this point. Knowing this would help me out when I explain everything ghost related. You know, skip over the stuff you already know."

Lowering herself back on the bed, Chrysalis studied Danny for a long moment.

"Enough to understand why you are able to react so calmly to all of this, yet not enough to understand you personally. Most of it are flashes gleaned through an obscuring fog, with only moments of clarity."

"Must be because I am a human and half ghost. Something the Murgröna has no experience with at all."

"Probably, yes. Even so, what I saw explains much, yet so little at the same time."

"Story of my life right there," Dany sighed, head shaking. "But nothing much that would instantly answer anything you want to know about ghosts. Alright, guess I'll start filling in the blanks then. Starting with one of the most dangerous powers we ghosts have."

"And why not start with something more basic first? I did just woke up."

"Because this power is one of the most basic abilities we have," Danny told her. "In fact, as far as I know, all ghosts can do this. Though I am not sure if all of them realize it can be used in such a way. More importantly, it is also the one power Sweetie Belle has consistently struggled with, which is why I was so adamant she'd learn to control it sooner, rather than later. This to prevent accidents from happening outside of her control… Or worse."

"You mean this… feral state she was in?"

"No," he shook his head. "Something far more dangerous."

Looking at his mostly full glass, a pair of ice cubes froze into existence with a blue flash of his eyes, and he took another sip.

"I'm talking about intangibility, and the many, many ways it can hurt, and even kill."

<<>><<>><<>>

There were voices around her. Strange, unintelligible voices coming from someplace far away.

For a moment Erlea tried to figure out what these voices were saying, but failed to do so as a thick fog seemed to cloud her mind and numbed her body.

Her legs felt cold, heavy, and unwilling to respond to her commands while a strange pressure wrapped around her head, and a tiny groan escaped her as she tried to move.

The voices changed.

A response.

A reaction.

Erlea stopped her attempts to move and instead tried to listen.

Lying there, straining her ears, the voices slowly became louder, and clearer, and she eventually realized the voices were much closer to her than she first thought them to be.

Even then, the words were unknown, jumbled. More like random sounds strung together without logic behind them.

Slowly her mind began to connect the pieces, yet certain crucial parts were still missing and she ran through everything she remembered up until this point.

The moment she did, everything suddenly made perfect, horrible sense.

She and Abella were running from… something. Exactly what, she didn't know. But it had terrified her friend in a way she had rarely seen. Worse, she remembered slipping, slamming into Abella, then hitting her head and blacking out.

Obviously, the creatures of the village must have found them. But was she alone, or was Abella still with her?

Still numb, she did her best to ignore the cold, stiff protests of her body as she tried to feel her surroundings without moving.

She was lying on a floor, and not on the ground. The rough texture of the wood revealed this to her. Unable to feel any wind on her hide must mean she was taken inside somewhere. A frightening idea and she fought to suppress a shudder. But more importantly, she felt someone lying beside her.

Hoping it was her friend, she tried to reach out with their shared mind, only to realize one of the voices she heard was much, much closer. It was also shouting, and unlike all the others, she perfectly understood what was said.

'FOR HIVE'S SAKE, SAY SOMETHING ALREADY YOU "I'M TOO LAZY TO BOTHER REPLYING TO MY FRIEND" BUG!'

'Who are you calling a lazy bug?' Erlea shot back.

'Finally!' Abella replied, exasperated. 'I've been calling you for minutes now.

'Well sorry that I was out cold after hitting my head when you had a panic attack.'

'You would panic too if you saw what I saw. But that is not important right now.'

'Oh, then what is?'

'We're captured.'

This jolted the last parts of her brain awake, and finally fully registered what her numb, muted senses were telling her.

'And surrounded, going by the voices around us,' Erlea added.

'More or less, yes.

'By who, or what? I've never heard this language before.'

'... You know you can open your eyes, right?'

'And give away I'm awake?!'

'Yeah, because you're doing such an incredible job of hiding this,' Erlea could practically hear the eye-roll.

'What do you-... Ear twitches?'

'Ear twitches.'

'Citin rust.'

With a deep, mental sigh Erlea slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

As expected, she found herself on a wooden floor, inside what looked like a storage house. The barrels around her seemed to indicate as much. More importantly, however, were the ponies she saw standing nearby, looking at her in confusion and curiosity.

Erlea however only felt a sense of irritation, and she looked at her friend who was lying beside her.

'You freaked out over ponies? Are you kidding me?!'

'That was not what I saw in there,' Abella shot back.

'Uhu,' Erlea intoned.

'At least I'm not the one with bandages around her head,' Abella countered.

'Wait, what?'

Reaching up with a hoof, Erlea soon felt the rough fabric these ponies had used to bandage her head, which in turn explained the pressure she had felt.

One of the ponies, a unicorn stallion, carefully stepped forwards, looking at both Abella and Erlea, then said something.

'What language even is that?' asked Abella, confused by the string of gibberish coming from the stallion.

'How should I know?

'What kind of memory even is this?'

'I repeat. How should I know?'

Ignoring the stallion, for now, Erlea focused her attention on the other ponies there. Another unicorn, as well as a massive earth pony. Both stallions. And there was a mare. A pegasus who looked eerily familiar.

'Is it just me, or does she look like the pony in the mosaic near the entrance?'

Abella looked at her friend, confused. Then she turned her attention to the mare, studying her more closely.

'It can't be,' she said. 'Can it?'

'We're in the Murgröna, of course, it can. But why?'

Neither could answer that, and they silently looked at the ponies trying to find some clue as to what was happening and why this was happening.

'But if she is indeed the pony from the mosaic, that means this is Yoke,' Erlea realized.

'The first encounter,' Abella gasped. 'That means we're reliving it.'

'But for what reason?'

A flurry of images suddenly assaulted their minds, showing them numerous hardships, struggles, and desperation. Seeing numerous changelinks head out into a frozen world in search of food, yet none return while those left in the burrow grew weaker and weaker.

Then the images left them, and the two found themselves back in the storage house, with the ponies looking at them in confusion.

The stallion from before took a small step closer to them, again speaking in incoherent gibberish.

It was here the cold surrounding them finally got the better of Abella, and a shudder ran up her spine despite her attempts to suppress it, ending in a compromising sneeze.

'Really?' Erlea deadpanned while the ponies looked at one another.

'Hey, it's not like I wanted to do that,' Abella protested.

With a slam, the doors of the storage house closed, and both fillies shot up in fright, caught unaware, and were now hanging upside down from the ceiling.

Three ponies were looking up at them in shock, surprise, confusion, and amazement.

The fourth pony, the pegasus mare, was nowhere to be found.

She returned quickly enough, entering the storage while carrying a tightly bundled-up package of fabric underneath a wing.

A package which soon dropped to the ground with the same speed her mouth fell open as she, too, saw the two young fillies hanging from the ceiling.

'We are so bucked right now, aren't we?' Abella groaned in resignation.

Let's just get down there and see what happens,' Erlea said with similar enthusiasm.

Slowly, the pair climbed down, keeping their eyes firmly on the ponies who, in turn, did the same.

Once down and with a wall firmly against their back, Erlea and Abella turned their attention to the mare who, after picking up the package she dropped, slowly approached them.

Stopping a few body lengths away, she then placed the package on the floor, revealing it to be a bunch of bundled-up clothes, laying them out one at a time before them.

'What is she doing?' asked Abella.

'Giving us clothes, it seems,' Erlea answered, looking at the clothes with a pensive frown.

'But why? Not to mention, there is no way those will fit us. They are way too big.'

'Look at that cap,' Erlea told her. 'It's the same as she wears in the mosaic.'

Standing in silent thought for a moment, Erlea looked at the cap, then at the mare watching back at them with kind expectation.

'It's almost like back at the orchard, where I woke up in this treehouse of theirs and where they tried to figure out what to do with me. And later, when Apple Bloom gave me some of her clothes to keep warm before they took me to this ghost world,' she said, more to herself yet sharing the thought with her friend all the same. Then she took a step forward.

'What are you doing?'

'I'm not sure,' Erlea slowly approached the mare, then moved to the blue cap on the floor and picked it up. 'But I think I am about to find out.'

Acting before her friend could voice any protest, Erlea put on the cap, wiggling her ears so they would fit through the appropriate holes, then looked expectantly at the mare.

The mare smiled, nodding her head in approval, then motioned at the rest of the clothes and soon enough Erlea stood fully covered in various mismatching pieces of far too large clothing.

The mare made a sound of happy approval, then held a hoof up in front of her.

Recognizing the intent but hesitating herself, Erlea nervously glanced back at Abella.

'Don't look at me. You decided to do this.'

With a mental sigh, Erlea looked back at the patiently waiting mare, lifted her own hoof, and placed it against the mare's, shaking it in greeting.

A storm tore apart the building, stripping away everything except Abella, Erlea, and the mare as the world disintegrated around them.

"WHAT IS GOING ON!?" Abella shouted in alarm.

"I DON-" Erlea began, then froze as the mare before her transformed, turning into an adult changelink wearing the same clothes she was, looking at her with calculating eyes.

"WHAT THE BUCK!" Abella cursed while Erlea could only stare in silence, eyes wide. "WHAT ARE YOU WEARING NOW?"

This broke Erlea out of her stupor and she glanced back at herself, discovering she now wore the clothes she was given by Apple Bloom to shield her from the cold of the Far Frozen.

Slowly she turned her attention back to the changelink before her, still watching her with a calculating gaze, still holding her hoof; watching, waiting.

Lightning struck and Erlea gasped, eyes shifting rapidly as the pieces began to fall in place, then she looked up at her.

"I understand."

She gave a single nod, releasing Erlea's hoof, and stepped away into the raging storm, fading from view as the world around them fell apart completely.

"YOU UNDERSTAND, WHAT?!" Abella shouted, shielding her eyes from the storm.

"It's exactly as Danny said," Erlea said quietly, looking at the clothes she still wore. "History repeating itself," she looked at the raging storm consuming everything. "And once the storm settles and the destruction has stopped, a chance to build something new," she looked at her hoof. "And all it takes is a helping hoof, and the willingness; the trust to accept it."

The storm around them settled near instantly, leaving the two fillies suspended in an empty void, a small dot of light shining in the distance before them.

"... I guess that is where we need to go next," Abella said hesitantly, not understanding what just happened.

"And sometimes we are the ones who need to extend a helping hoof," Erlea muttered.

"What?"

"Let's go," Erlea moved forwards. "She needs our help."

<<>><<>><<>>

"Kill!?" Chrysalis repeated, trying and failing to hide her shock. "How?"

"Selective intangibility," Danny answered, looking at his glass. "I have been able to do this almost from the start, but I never realized this until after Sam died, and I spent many, many days second guessing everything I did, and overthinking everything I could have done," he took another sip of his water. "The first time I used selective intangibility was only a few months after I got my powers. It was during a lunch break at school and, in my rush to finish eating, I accidentally swallowed a fork."

"You swallowed… a fork."

"Yeah…. not sure how I managed that either," he shook his head. "But it is what I did next, without thinking, which shows the potential, and dangers of intangibility. I used intangibility to reach through my abdomen and into my stomach, grab the fork, and pull it out."

"You… what?!"

"Selective intangibility," Danny answered. "The ability to make me, and everything I touch intangible while allowing certain things to still be tangible at the same time. It is the only way I could have done such a thing. Reach through my own flesh, yet be able to grab a fork while intangible… and there lies the danger," he held up his half-full glass, the pair of ice cubes clinking together.

"Imagine this glass is you," he said, and the remaining water suddenly phased through the glass and splattered on the floor while the ice cubes remained inside. "Complete insanguation in less than a second."

Chrysalis felt her blood run cold as she stared at the puddle of water on her floor.

"The ability to kill with a mere touch," Danny added darkly, a crack forming in the glass from the sudden pressure he put on it.

Slowly Chrysalis looked up at the grim human with fearful eyes.

"An- and all ghosts can do this?"

"As far as I know, yes. All ghosts, to my knowledge, are capable of intangibility. Though whether or not they use it in such a manner, or are even aware of it is a different matter. Which is why I want Sweetie Belle to learn to control this power. But more importantly, I won't tell her about the full extent of it. Not until she is ready for it. And after what has happened with a different part of her powers, this may take some time. Not that I am in any rush to tell her, of course."

"But if she were to lose control again-"

"Then I will stop her," Danny intercepted. "And even if she loses control, it is no guarantee she will use her intangibility like that. It is controlled as much by conscious thought, as it is by subconscious thought. And even if Sweetie Belle would lose control again, her subconscious would fight against such a thing."

"And what if you're wrong?"

"I have been wrong about many things in my life," Danny said with an edge to his voice. "But not about this. If- IF Sweetie Belle loses control again, I will stop her. But whether or not this will happen, she will not use her powers in a way that would kill. It just isn't in her nature."

Chrysalis was silent, looking back down at the puddle on the floor.

"How are these things even possible?"

That is a question I have asked myself many times as well," said Danny. "And only now am I beginning to find some answers, but not all. Probably never will. But what I do know; what I have learned from my time here, the powers we ghosts have are in many ways similar to the magic of the ponies."

"Impossible. Ponies can't do what you can."

"They can't do everything I can, no," Danny corrected. "Nor can I do everything they can. There are differences that no one can deny. But there are also a lot of similarities. In fact, they are so similar I am now able to use levitation thanks to the lessons I remember from my time in the Murgröna. But what I meant is that, just like with the ponies, our powers are partially based on what type of ghost we are," Danny explained. "Earth pony, pegasi, unicorn. Spirit, phantom, shade," he summed up, "and the list goes on and on. Honestly, I don't even know just how many different types of ghosts exist. But that isn't important. What is, is that there are many different forms of spectral powers, but a lot of similar abilities as well. The basics you could say. Flight, invisibility, intangibility, spectral discharges, shields, that sort of thing. But even these are affected by spectral type, with some more powerful than others while using the same ability."

Chrysalis snorted, "It almost sounds like you're about to tell me ghosts have special talents and Cutie Marks as well."

"Perhaps we do," Danny said simply. "Special talents that is. Never heard of a ghost acquiring something like a Cutie Mark like that."

Chrysalis groaned, lowering her head and rubbing her temples, "All of this makes no sense at all."

"You'll get used to it after a while."

"That would suggest this becomes a recurring part of my life," Chrysalis said with evident displeasure.

"It also means you have enough life ahead of you for it to become as such," Danny added. "Silver linings and all that."

Chrysalis halfheartedly glared at him, then sighed, "I suppose that much is true." Pushing herself back up, swaying only slightly before finding her balance again, she pointed a hoof at the puddle of water. "Clean that up… Please. Then tell me everything you can."

Smirking, Danny lowered a blue glowing hand to the water, freezing it instantly. Then, with another burst of blue, the ice was sucked into him, vanishing from sight.

"Alright then, where to even begin."

<<>><<>><<>>

Sweetie Belle ran. She ran as fast as her legs would allow, and still, it was not enough. It was never enough as the nightmarish mirror image of herself continued to chase her; hunting her.

She was afraid. Terrified even, and no matter how much she tried, she could not shake this monster. No matter where she hid, that monster would find her. No matter what she said, the nightmare didn't listen; she didn't care.

Her nightmarish self did not care for her, for others, for anyone but herself, and the desire for the fear she instilled in those hunted.

And now, with no one to hunt but Sweetie Belle herself, her focus was firmly locked on the terrified filly.

She shuddered in gruesome delight as she sucked the fear in a never-ending stream from Sweetie Belle.

Once more Sweetie Belle dove for cover, hiding under a desk in some unknown room found in the confusingly identical hallways in the Hive.

She wasn't sure exactly where she was, or how long she had been there since Apple Pie had unleashed this monster upon her. Nor did there seem to be anyone else but her, despite her cries for anypony and anylink to help her.

During some precious few moments where she could stop, catch her breath, and think about those things, there were also stray thoughts wondering why she hadn't grown tired, hungry, or thirsty while running for as long as she had. However long that might have been.

Long to ponder these, and more questions, she didn't have as that monster would always find her before she had a chance to do so.

'I need to get out of here!' her mind screamed, the only place where she could still do so without drawing attention to herself. Escape however had proven to be impossible.

The entrance she remembered leading into the city was gone, and any attempt to instead run for the tunnel leading to the old burrow was thwarted by her nightmarish self each time she tried.

And to make matters worse, her spirit powers, the very thing that had spawned this monster, were gone. Making it impossible, if not downright lethal to even consider fighting back.

With a burst of toxic green, the desk was blown away, revealing the shivering filly.

With a cry, Sweetie Belle jumped away just in time to narrowly dodge a burst of energy, singing the tip of her tail as she once again fled for nonexistent safety.

Doors flashed by in a blur as she ran through hallway after hallway, eventually finding herself outside again and following the spiral path around the stalactite down while her evil self never let her out of her sight; shooting beams and bolts at the fleeing filly, but never hitting her directly while she feasted on the fear unleashed.

Inevitably the path ended, and Sweetie Belle dug her hooves, turning around while grinding to a halt, pressing her back against the guard rail as she stared at her impending doom slowly approaching.

Sweetie Belle visibly trembled while her eyes darted around in search of any way of escape, but finding none.

"P-please don't hurt me," she pleaded, pressing back into herself as her evil counterpart moved closer.

A snarl was the only reply she got, then her evil self attacked.

Sweetie Belle screamed, jumping away as best she could, feeling the heat of the ectoplasm as it slammed into the railing, blowing it up and peppering her with sharp, hot chunks.

"SOMEPONY, PLEASE HELP ME!" she cried out, cowering on the ground, legs held over her head as she trembled uncontrollably.

A cry of anger came in response, and another burst of green, bright enough for her to see through closed lids lit up the area.

A pained shriek followed next, but to Sweetie Belle's great shock and surprise, it wasn't her who cried out.

Peeking open a teary eye, she saw her evil self lying on the street some distance away; pulling herself back up while hissing venomously at a black form hovering above her with buzzing wings.

"Oh, that felt good," Abella purred in satisfaction. "I wanted a rematch."

With a bone-piercing shriek, the rampaging spirit launched herself at Abella who, in turn, avoided the wild shot with a taunting laugh.

"Is that the best you can do!?" she shouted at her foe, then dodged a trio of green glowing orbs. "Guess it is!"

Not allowing this insult to stand, the feral spirit chased after Abella who led it away from the two fillies on the walkway.

"Whu?" Sweetie Belle uttered, confused as she saw her evil self follow after Abella.

"Are you alright," asked Erlea as she ran to the downed filly.

"Wh- what is going on?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"We're saving you," Erlea said matter of factly. "From you," something blew up in the empty city. "And Abella is getting some revenge as an added bonus."

Sweetie Belle looked at Erlea in silence, blinking slowly.

"Just get up already," Erlea added, holding out a hoof for Sweetie Belle to grab.

Grabbing the offered hoof, Sweetie Belle was pulled back to all fours, standing eye to eye with Erlea.

"... Thanks," Sweetie Belle mumbled, looking away.

"Don't thank me yet," Erlea said, letting go of Sweetie Belle's hoof. "We still have this mess of yours to deal with-" numerous flashes of green lit up the city, joined by explosions, shrieks, screams, and some over-energetic shouting and taunting, "-and as much as Abella is enjoying herself right now, neither of us are able to stop this thing."

"But what can I do? I don't have my powers anymore. And somehow that thing made everyone here disappear! I haven't seen anyone until you showed up."

Erlea, puzzled, was silent for several long seconds.

"You have no idea, do you?"

"About what?"

"Where do you think you are right now?"

"The Hive, of course. But a much earlier version," Sweetie Belle answered, confused, worried as she saw her evil self chase after Abella some distance away.

"Wrong," Erlea said, shaking her head. "You're in the Murgröna, and all of this is nothing but a construct of our shared memories."

"I, what?!"

"Where were you before you got here?"

"Outside," Sweetie Belle answered, "Then Apple Pie brought me down here where we talked."

"You met Apple Pie!?" Erlea said loudly, then shook her head. "No, wait. Not important right now. What did you talk about?"

"She said everyone in the Murgröna needs the changelinks to live, otherwise they would die, too. Then all of them asked me for help before Apple Pie made me fight that… thing."

Erlea looked at Sweetie Belle unblinkingly.

"Ignoring all other questions, why would she make you fight yourself?"

"She said this was a trial of my own making because the only one who truly fears me, is me."

"And you said you don't have your powers, right?"

Something blew up in the distance.

"CAN YOU TWO HURRY UP ALREADY!" Abella shouted from afar.

"Y-yes," Sweetie Belle answered.

"Pon-" Erlea paused, then released a tense sigh. "Sweetie Belle. In here you are how you see yourself; your mental image made real." You don't have your powers because you don't see them as a part of you-" Abella cried out as she narrowly dodged a burst of searing energy "-just as you are unable to fight that thing as you don't see it as a part of you either. That is why you can't run from it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You can't use your powers because you don't accept them as your own. You can't fight that thing there because you don't accept it as your own," Erlea repeated. "And until you do, you might as well try to run away from your shadow. See how well that works."

"But how can I do that?! I never even wanted those powers. I never wanted… that!" Sweetie Belle cried out, pointing at the rampaging spirit in pursuit of Abella.

"And I never wanted to starve to death each and every day since the time I broke out of my egg," Erlea said with a level voice, yet a fire burned in her eyes. "Or for my older sisters to die, and then my father as he gave what little food he had to me just so I would have enough to be hungry," Sweetie Belle gasped, taking a step back, horrified. "Nor did I want to live in constant pain and anger for the life I lived because of Celestia. But it didn't matter what I wanted because it was the life I lived regardless. And I accept this. Not because I want to, but because doing anything else would deny my very existence and the sacrifices so many of my kind have made."

"I- I-"

"But more than anything," Erlea continued strongly, "I need to accept that being angry with you ponies isn't going to help me. So I need to accept that maybe, maybe not all ponies are like Celestia. And I am willing to do that, as difficult as it may be," she held out her hoof again, looking at Sweetie Belle. "So I will, like my ancestors before me, extend a hoof in friendship," Sweetie Belle looked at the offered hoof, eyes wide. "Now prove to me you're worth it. Accept the life you live and face your own darkness. You think you can do that?"

Sweetie Belle was silent, stunned as she looked at Erlea, seeing the fire in her eyes.

For a moment the world around Sweetie Belle shifted as all that had happened up until now played out before her again, just as it had done when Apple Pie showed her the first time.

This time, however, all parts of her life flashed by; all the good, the bad, the amazing, the horrible, the exciting, and the embarrassing. Everything that had made her who she was.

And then, an image appeared. A vision of herself as who she wanted to be. Her dreams, her desires, her ideal life. All she ever wanted. The perfect image.

It then shattered into a thousand pieces, which then began to reassemble themselves into a new image. One where her perfect ideal was no more, and instead a bruised and dirty mare looked back at her with green glowing eyes and a confident smirk as she stood with her head held high.

"Yes," Sweetie Belle said as she accepted Erlea's hoof, eyes beginning to glow green. "I think I can."

<<>><<>><<>>

A few minutes earlier

Abella flew around one of the many unclaimed stalactites, wings buzzing loudly as she pushed herself harder than she had ever done before.

Behind her, hissing and snarling, the rampaging filly, barely resembling Sweetie Belle at this point, continued to fire beams and bolts of searing green as she tried to close the distance.

Energy impacted stone, and detonated with terrifying force, filling the air with dangerous shrapnel forcing Abella to dodge and weave to avoid the more dangerous pieces while also trying to keep the gap between them as wide as possible.

A hasty jerk to the side saved her from the bolt of energy that was flung at her, and it instead fell down into the abyss below.

With no time to waste, Abella quickly dove down to regain lost speed, then shot past the nearest stalactite, putting it between her and the feral spirit while she flew towards the hanging spire where Erlea was busy knocking some sense into Sweetie Belle. And by the looks of it, not a whole lot had happened since the last time she flew past them.

"CAN YOU TWO HURRY UP ALREADY!" she shouted, then banked hard to the right, avoiding a beam of energy, and the one who fired it moments thereafter as the spectral fiend shot past her, not expecting the sudden change in direction.

"HA!" Abella shouted in triumph as she watched the fear-sucking ghost fly into an adjacent stalactite, only for her to phase through the rock, then shoot back out a second later, right back at her.

"Oh yeah, she can do that," she swore, then hastily tried to regain the distance between them as her momentary lapse had cost her valuable time to react.

Once again diving down to do just that, Abella plunged into the inky darkness even her eyes couldn't begin to pierce, and instead she flew blind for as long as she dared before pulling up sharply, while at the same time the ever-increasing number of a green burst of energy played havoc on her vision as well.

Unfortunately, even though she had regained her speed, the upwards climb robbed her of vital momentum. And with the dark spirit coming down on her, her luck had run out as the rampaging ghost flew right at her on a meteoric course.

"Oh, dungbeetle," Abella swore just before impact.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

Only a hair's width away from reaching her, the malevolent spirit was hit in the side by a silver blur, knocking her off course and away from the winded and confused changelink.

"You know that would have been the second time she bested you."

Confusion turned to annoyance as Abella turned to her friend, seeing Erlea fly towards her.

"Took you long enough," she shot back, ignoring Erlea's comment.

"Yes, tell me about it. She really was in denial about her true self," Erlea shook her head as they both watched the two opposing spirits tumble through the air.

"At least you managed to knock some sense into her."

"I suppose I did, yes."

"And how did you even know she needed our help? I mean, it was obvious once we got here, but before that… Something changed back there, in Yoke."

"I guess I had some sense knocked into me as well."

"Meaning?"

Erlea looked at Sweetie Belle as she fought her dark self, frowning.

"We all have our own darkness, our own fights. And while we need to face them to beat them, we don't need to be alone to do this."

"... You're not making any sense right now."

"That's because you never wore the cap," Erlea said, eyes still locked on the two spirits.

"What?!"

Erlea finally turned to look at her friend, "Without her, without her friends, without Danny, his shadow, and that wolf, where would we be right now?"

"What do y-"

"Where would we be?"

"We… 'd be struggling as most of us would have died by now. Most likely end up extinct before the year is over. But what-"

"And now?"

"... We have a chance to survive… Maybe more."

"They did that. All of them, and only because we needed help, even if we didn't trust them to do so. They helped us in our time of need, just as it happened to our ancestors. They helped us, so isn't it only fair that we do the same in return?"

"...You're starting to sound like a pony. What's next, the magic of friendship will save us?"

Erlea was silent, frowning slightly as she looked at her hoof. The same hoof she had just extended in friendship.

"Maybe it will," she answered, and Abella looked at her, shocked. "Maybe… But only if we all try our best to make it happen," she looked at the distant fight. "And friends help each other when they are in trouble," she dropped her hoof. "Let's go."

<<>><<>><<>>

A few minutes earlier

She saw Abella dive down into the darkness underneath the Hive, trying to gain as much speed as she could to get away from the rampaging spirit hunting her.

But even then Abella could only go down so far, and eventually, she had to climb or risk being lost in the void.

It was an opportunity Sweetie Belle's darkness took advantage of as she closed the distance and was ready to strike when from the corner of her eye, she saw a silver blur coming for her.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she slammed hooves first into her twisted mirror image, knocking her away from Abella with no time to spare.

The dark spirit hissed in anger and pain, and she threw a punch at her counterpart, but lacking in strength as the blow Sweetie Belle had delivered left her disorientation.

Nearing the cave wall, Sweetie Belle pushed away from her dark self, seeing her slam into the unyielding rock while she narrowly avoided doing the same. Instead, she flew up, following the stone's rough bends and curves as she slowed down, angled away onto a backwards loop, then hung suspended in the air as she glared down at the growling beast.

A trio of green bursts shot up towards her, which she dodged, only to be hit by a beam in the back as her counterpart had used the temporary distraction to get a clean shot.

With a cry, Sweetie Belle dropped down, smoke drifting from her back.

Gritting her teeth, she twisted around and fired a burst of the same volatile energy back at the pursuing enemy while slowing her fall, then flew back up.

"YOU'LL LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she fired a burst of energy.

Mirroring the action, the dark spirit fired a burst of energy, too. The two orbs of destruction met in the middle, then detonated with startling force.

Ignoring the blast, Sweetie Belle flew through the lingering energy and slammed once again into her other half, throwing wild punches, most of them being blocked while she let herself wide open.

A punch to the gut knocked the fight out of her as she was left wheezing, doubling over while trying to get air into her lungs.

Not allowing this opportunity to go to waste, the dark spirit then sank her fangs into the nape of Sweetie Belle's neck, biting down hard.

A soundless scream escaped the struggling filly as the sharp pain sent a shock through her system, her body twisting away in reflex, and teeth tore through flesh as a result.

Green glowing ectoplasmic blood sprayed through the air, and what little oxygen Sweetie Belle had managed to suck in escaped as a bone-piercing scream.

Pain and shock debilitated her and she fell down, never seeing the shockwave delivering a glancing blow against her enemy as painful spasms wracked her body.

"You really have no idea what you're doing, do you?" Abella grabbed hold of the falling filly, careful not to touch the horrific wound only to discover it had already healed.

Sweetie Belle groaned in pain as she looked up at Abella.

"Are you alright?" Abella asked, not quite looking at Sweetie Belle as most of her attention was on the rampaging spirit and Erlea, the latter now fighting this beast while she recovered.

"No," Sweetie Belle croaked, voice still laced with pain.

"You've never been hurt like that, have you," Abella said matter of factly.

Sweetie Belle merely shook her head.

"Can you fly? Cause it isn't easy holding you up like this."

"I- I think so," Sweetie Belle stammered, then slowly drifted away from Abella and held her place in the air.

Free from her burden, Abella crossed her arms, looking at Sweetie Belle.

"So you flew in there thinking you could beat that thing with some wild punches; no thought or plan besides that, and no expectation you would get hurt?"

"I've never been in a fight like this before," Sweetie Belle replied, wincing from some lingering phantom pain. "I didn't think it would be this difficult, now that I have my powers again."

"You're fighting yourself!" Abella said heatedly, pointing at the shrieking spirit. "Of course it is difficult. Did you think you'd be able to hug this thing into submission? This is not one of those problems you can just magic away with the power of friendship."

Sweetie Belle froze.

"I can't magic this problem away with friendship," Sweetie Belle muttered.

'You can't fight that thing there because you don't accept it as your own' she remembered Erlea saying.

She looked at her darker self, chasing and firing at Erlea.

'Because there is only one in all the Hive who truly believes you to be a monster,' Apple Pie's words echoed in her mind

"I fear and hate that thing…"

'But it is a part of you, no matter how much you deny it.'

"I fear and hate myself..."

'And right now you need to make a choice.'

"A choice…"

'The choice to keep running and allowing this fear to consume you, or to accept this darkness within and grow stronger because of it'

"Magic it away with friendship…"

'Giggle at the ghostly'

"What are you mumbling about?" Abella asked.

"I'm not sure," Sweetie Belle looked at her darker self. "But I am about to find out."

"Wha-" before Abella could finish Sweetie Belle shot away, leaving her in a confused stupor for several long seconds. "... Are all ponies this confusing?"

<<>><<>><<>>

Moving as fast she could, Sweetie Belle closed in on her target, seeing the rampaging ghost hunt after Erlea with green glowing hooves.

Eyes narrowing, Sweetie Belle angled herself so she would intercept her counterpart from below, hopefully out of sight with their focus on Erlea in front.

Then, as her other self prepared to fire yet another beam of destructive energy, she shot up.

Slamming into the unprotected soft tissue, the shot went wild, blasting into a distant stalactite as Sweetie Belle wrapped her front legs around her adversary's barrel.

Together the two fell down in a wild, chaotic thrashing where the dark spirit tried to break free, while Sweetie Belle held on with all her might.

Above them, Erlea, breathing heavily, and Abella watched the two as they crashed onto the walkway spiraling around the original spire claimed by their ancestors.

"What even is she doing?" asked Erlea, trying, and failing to get her breathing under control.

"I think…" Abella trailed off as she watched the two wrestle. "I think she is trying to hug that thing into submission."

"She, WHAT?!"

Abella looked at her friend. "And I think she got the idea from me."

Erlea stared at her friend in silence which quickly turned awkward.

"We have been hanging around those ponies for too long," she finally said.

"Haven't we all?" Erlea groaned.

A flash lit up the air, and, startled, both fillies looked back at the struggling duo, only to see only Sweetie Belle sitting on the street, head hanging.

"What… just happened?"

"I… don't know. Let's get down there, quick!"

<<>><<>><<>>

A short minute earlier

Shouting, struggling, and groaning, Sweetie Belle and her other self slammed into the street; the former almost losing her hold from the impact, but managing to keep the thrashing spirit firmly pressed against herself.

"WILL YOU STO- GHA!" Sweetie Belle struggled. "I'M NOT LETTING GO, NO MATTER HOW MUCH- BWAH."

A punch to the gut left her wheezing, yet she persisted in her attempt to hold the thrashing spirit in her arms.

Gritting her teeth and squeezing just a bit harder, Sweetie Belle forced herself to continue speaking.

"I don't like you. No, I hate you. I hate what you are… What I am. What you turn me into. What you made me do," the struggling intensified. "But it doesn't matter how much I hate you because you're a part of these powers. Powers I didn't want or asked for, but got regardless."

The feral spirit hissed, trying to bite into one of the legs wrapped around her.

"And it is difficult, these powers, doing things outside of my control. But with the help of my friends, I managed to learn to control some of them. But then you showed up, and you made me hurt my friends and I wished I never got these powers," she tightened her hold further, restraining the thrashing ghost, clenching teary eyes shut.

"But this isn't about what I want. This is about what I need to do. To make a choice. To choose to resent you, fight you, run away from you, or accept you… to accept myself."

The struggling spirit suddenly slowed down her fight.

"And I've tried running away from you. I've tried fighting you. And no matter how much I resent you, all it did is make things worse. So there is only one thing I can do. I don't like doing it. I doubt I ever will, but I choose to accept you; to accept what I am, what I can do, and choose to be better."

The filly in her arms had stopped fighting completely now, and Sweetie Belle used this opportunity to finally look at her; the rampaging spirit sitting still, head hanging while tears streamed down her face.

"I choose to accept myself," Sweetie Belle finished, tears falling from her eyes as well.

With a flash of light, her other half vanished, leaving her sitting alone on the street as a flood of emotions came crashing down on her.

Shame, anger, disgust, grief, hope, relief, and eventually a sense of inner peace as her darkness, now acknowledged and accepted, finally found a place within the greater whole.

"Are… Are you alright?"

"What even happened? Where did that beast go?"

Sniffling, Sweetie Belle looked up at Abella and Erlea.

"Is it gone?" asked Erlea.

"No," Sweetie Belle shook her head. "It's inside me. Part of me… I just needed to accept this," she held up her front leg, looking at the oversized boot and the silver fur on her leg. "Just as I needed to accept this side of me, too."

With a flash, a band of white energy split her in half as she transformed back.

"No matter how much I dislike it," she finished with a sigh.

"Accepting the things you can't change is always difficult."

All three fillies, startled, looked at the figure now standing off to the side, walking down towards them with a sad smile.

"Apple Pie?" said Sweetie Belle, confused at first, but then anger welled up inside. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME!?"

Undeterred, Apple Pie shook her head.

"As I said before, I didn't. This was a conflict raging within your own soul. We merely brought it out for you to confront it, learn from it, grow from it."

"But why?"

The world changed around them, and the four stood amidst the ruins of a destroyed city on a desolate world; numerous destroyed vehicles of the human design lay scattered around the roads and punched through walls as fire and smoke filled the air while, high above, a figure hovered.

A figure with pale green skin, red glowing eyes, a broad, muscular chest, and white hair moving as if it was fire.

The ghost laughed menacingly, then unleashed a devastating wail, knocking down a building.

"WHAT IS THIS!?" Erlea shouted, terrified.

"This is what happens to those who do not dare face their demons and instead try to run from it," Apple Pie said as she looked up at the vile ghost. "This is what happened to Danny… What would have happened to him had he not changed his own future," she looked down at the fillies. "He told you about this, remember? The struggle he had to go through to stop this from happening. To change his own future and with it the future of his world and all who live there. He knows what horrible things can happen to those who lose themselves, and he doesn't want this to happen to you, too. All of you. It is why we brought you here-" numerous changelinks stepped out of the destroyed buildings, one of them wearing an assortment of clothes, "-to learn from our past-" ponies stepped out to join the group. A great number showed various changelink-like traits, "-who we were. Who you are. What you are. What you can be, and what might come after that. But before any of that can happen, you first needed to heal."

Sweetie Belle looked away, glowering.

"Well, I don't feel healed. If anything, I feel sick after what happened."

Apple Pie placed a hoof on her wither, "Sometimes the only way to get better is to allow the affliction to run its course, after which a balance is found," she gave a kind smile at the filly. "And before you know it, you feel better than you have before."

"And how would you know that?"

"Mothers intuition."

Sweetie Belle looked back at Apple Pie, then the changelinks and ponies around them, and finally she looked at Abella and Erlea.

Closing her eyes and sighing deeply, she allowed those words to sink in.

"So what happens next?"

"That is for you to decide," Apple Pie stepped away. "But know that whatever happens, you will have your friends to help you," she gave them a smile, then looked off to the side. "It's time for you to return," she told them, looking back. "We've certainly kept Danny waiting long enough," she chuckled. "Goodbye Sweetie Belle, Erlea, Abella. And good luck."

<<>><<>><<>>

Hidden within the icy mountain of the Far Frozen, Tree Of Life stood silent while nurturing her children, sensing those connected to them, and their struggles towards growth.

Two of her seeds responded, and a blazing light consumed both as they grew to maturity, leaving only two more to reach their full potential.

Tree Of Life stood silent, waiting for the final pieces to come together, and for everything to fall apart.

Author's Note

Well it certainly has been a while since the last update. Let's just say life was a bit difficult at times. Even got a nasty case of Covid for a good 3 weeks, though that does not explain the long gap inbetween... Though this is something that you are probably used to by now.

One reason why I took so long is because I started streaming, and just sunk more time into it than I realized.

Eitherway, I hope you enjoyed this newest addition to this slowly progressing story.

Please let me know down in the comments what you think, and point out any and all mistakes you found.

~Powerdrainer