Author's Note

EDIT: I didn't mean to publish this so early! HAVE A SUB-PLOT CONCLUSION!

Solved the riddle for you guys, sorry 'bout that

Chapter 20: Unanswered Questions

Ponyville Hospital: Room 8

The strange mare checked Nurse Redheart, tapped her on the side of her head and teleported her away. Rarity remained tense as the mare got up, turned towards her, and spoke; lacing each of her words with a form of soul-piercing magic "Put away the stiletto"

Rarity began to shiver, there was something about the mare that was severely off. Rarity found that the hat that the mare was wearing covered its eyes with shadows. she raised her stiletto "No, not until you tell Sparrow and I who you are!"

The mare took her hat off, revealing she had a horn "Then I guess I'll have to recognize your pluck. . .Element of Generosity. . .Threatening to kill me in front of my own child? While I'm attempting to influence you with spellspeach? That takes. . .determination" Rarity looked right at the mare's eyes. N-no! She can't be a pony! Sh-she must be a demon or something!

The whites of the mare's eyes were pitch black, while her actual eye color was a deep, glowing, purple. "I shall award your pluck with the answer to my riddle, I am nothing"

Rarity was at a loss for words "S-surely you can't be nothing! You would be a walking void! You exist, you have to be something! Y-you mentioned you were Diamond's mother, therefore you are something!"

"I am something. . . you're correct about that. . . in response to your question of who I am, Starlight Abyss is my name. . . I am a witch, a daughter, an artist, a wife. . ." she took her hair tie out and let her black mane fall down "And I am a mother." Her eyes began to glow brighter "Now, put down the stiletto"

Rarity felt herself begin to move involuntarily. She couldn't fight the influencing spell that Starlight was using, but it was oddly familiar. Rarity came to a sudden realization. Starlight's using The Stare on me! I thought only Fluttershy could use it! she screamed mentally. She watched herself sheathe her stiletto in her hoofbag and close it. She turned to look at Starlight and saw blood streaming from her eyes and down her face, the close her eyes to end the spell. "I-if you ponies would just listen t-to me when I say to do something, the world would be a much better place, and I wouldn't have to apply my artistry to other ponies. . .If they would just listen. . ." it was almost as if Starlight was crying.

Rarity decided it was time to leave, there was too much to do and so much had already happened, she needed a break. She turned to Sparrow "Sparrow, listen to the nurses, get some rest, no roughhousing, and no magic, at least until you recover, agreed?"

Sparrow nodded, but continued to stare at Starlight. There was something oddly familiar about her. He heard Rarity's voice again "Sparrow, I'll be leaving for the day, they'll have you out in a few days. . ." Sparrow snapped back to reality and back to Rarity "Oh. . .Is this going to cost you anything?"

Starlight sat up, seeming to have recovered "My husband is covering your bill and Diamond's bill, and I think I should let you know he's currently getting Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's insurance revoked"

"That's great that he's covering Sparrow's bill, but why is revoking other ponies insurance? Isn't that unethical or unlawful?"

"Generosity, you don't know my husband, he's very protective of Diamond Mind, he sees Sparrow's rampage as Diamond Tiara's fault. So he's punishing their entire family. Old nobility values and such"

"Well, have a good afternoon Sparrow, Starlight Abyss." Rarity said as she left

Starlight somehow managed to move from Diamond's side of the room over to Sparrow the moment the door shut. She looked him over "You're the one mother had her wings broken over, I don't see what she saw in you"

Sparrow was caught off guard by the mare's speed "I h-have n-n-no idea wh-who you're t-talking about!"

"Figures, the cleansing ritual usually destroys or buries memories. Bringing cleansed ponies back usually has terribly mental repercussions on the pony. Like behavioral imprinting, or memories that aren't theirs"

"W-well now that you m-mention it. . ." Sparrow was cut off by Diamond beginning to wake up.

"I'm terribly sorry, we'll have to continue this talk another time" Starlight said as she put her hat on, flash-stepped across the room, and was sitting down in the chair next to Diamond's bed before he even awoke.

Sparrow decided it was time for some rest himself, and tapped the button to call a nurse in to help him, since he was still restrained. Oh well, these restraints are for the best

Starlight watched from across the room. Mother, what were you thinking, bringing him back into the void? His soul seems to escape no matter what. Whatever Tyrannus has planned for him better not include us. . .

Cadence walked into the southern wing of the tower. She checked every single room as she walked past, all locked and empty. She finally came across an unlocked door, and was shocked at what she saw.

Papers covered the floor, burnt and unreadable, there was a desk that was smashed in two at one end of the room, and a bed that was burnt to a crisp on the other side. Celestia must have done this in a fit of rage. Cadence told herself. She approached the desk and found one piece of paper that wasn't burnt, it was written by Lynchinus. Cadence decided the best course of action was to take the paper and leave, who knew what horrors waited in here for her. . .