Immortality: Vinyl Scratch's Challenge

by Tennis Match Fan

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Adventure
Length: 7447

The band of immortal ponies is up against an old friend turned evil with the loss of her friends.

The sequel to Pinkie Pie's Search.

Lyra, Vinyl, and Pinkie Pie are living in a new Equestria, so different from the one each of them left behind. What's changed the most is the ruler: a lavender unicorn has now taken the throne.
Lyra may have the most experience with magic as well as the oldest, and Pinkie might have been the Element of Laughter, but Vinyl Scratch is the pony that will lead them when they are accidentally discovered by the Unicorn Princess, Twilight Sparkle. She is the pony that will defeat the unicorn, gone dark with the loss of her friends.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-07 13:06:55 UTC

Friendless Princess

The doors of the palace opened with a loud Clang! A lavender unicorn walked briskly through the empty hall towards her throne, were she would spend another day passing laws and listening to the complaints of her subjects.

But Princess Twilight Sparkle, better known as the Unicorn Princess, couldn't stop her gaze from sliding to one of the glass panes. It depicted a very familiar scene to her: six young ponies, united together defeating a villain. It happened every time she passed through. She couldn't resist looking back.

Princess Twilight increased her speed to get out of that hall.

"Guards!" She called in a stiff voice as she sat down in her throne. "Let the civilians enter!"

"Yes, your majesty." The guards bowed and went to unlock the gates.

Rainbow Dash- I'm glad I wasn't around for her accident. Princess Twilight clenched her jaw as the guards escorted a young mare into the throne room. Princess Twilight listened intently to her problem, then quickly resolved it.

Rarity's death was all Rising Star's fault. If he hadn't had a concert, Rarity wouldn't have been on that train- or in the train wreck. Princess Twilight ignored the thoughts in her mind.

"Oh Unicorn Princess of Equestria," the next pony greeted her humbly. "My library experiences are not up to standards. I request you have a guard inspect the Canterlot Equestrian Library Society."

"I'll look into it myself," Princess Twilight responded coldly. "You are dismissed."

Applejack broke her back, the stubborn pony. I had to take a break off from Royal duties to attend her funeral. Princess Twilight rolled her eyes as she listened to the next request. Her subconscious was elsewhere.

Fluttershy- Fifty years ago. Nopony told me until days after the funeral. Princess Twilight gave a half hearted response to request and focused more on her thoughts.

Pinkie Pie- disappeared before all of them. Princess Twilight's thoughts had never completely been rid of the disappearance. She was searching for immortality. Those two ponies- the mint one and the DJ, wasn't it?

"Princess." She turned to the guard that had spoken.

"Yes?" She asked, forcing a small smile.

"You were not responding, Princess," he replied. Princess Twilight sighed.

"I am finished here. My mind dwells on other things." What did that letter say? She had been right? About immortality. Silly pony, immortality doesn't exist.

"You have a meeting with the Mayor of Los Pegasus today," the guard reminded her. Princess Twilight narrowed her eyes.

"I do, don't I? Well, I'll be there for it." It was hard to be intimidating when she was the same height as her guard. Even the crown and silver hoof guards didn't help. Princess Twilight strode down the hall. She didn't have friends. She was the Element of Magic, and her friends were all dead. And why was she thinking about this now?

Friendship doesn't matter when you're ruling a country, Princess Twilight thought bitterly. Diplomacy and etiquette. That's what matters.

Beat the Boredom

Vinyl Scratch stuck her head out from behind a pizza stand.

"This is going to be so fun!" She whispered to her companion, Pinkie Pie. The pair was disguised as a pair of twin Pegasus foals. Vinyl's horn was hidden, and they both sported unusable wings. Pinkie giggled in response.

"What do you have in mind this time?" She asked. Vinyl pointed to her wings.

"I'm going to convince somepony I can do magic without a horn," she replied. Pinkie grinned.

"That will be hilarious! But won't they see your magic aura? That's not invisible, right?" She asked. Vinyl fluffled her pink mane.

"This stuff is covering my horn," she responded. "Now come on, let's go!" Vinyl darted out from behind the pizza stand. She concentrated and managed to lift Pinkie into the air. Pinkie giggled.

"That tickles! Put me down!" She squealed. A passing stallion stopped.

"How are you doing that?" he asked Vinyl. Vinyl grinned.

"I can do magic without a horn," she told him. The stallion looked around.

"Where are your parents?" He asked. Vinyl's smile wavered.

"My parents are, um, shopping! My sister and I are aloud to walk around while they're shopping!" Vinyl flipped Pinkie over.

"That's right!" Pinkie agreed. "They're so proud of my sister. She can do magic without a horn! But I don't mind." The stallion arched his eyebrows in a disbelieving way.

"Let me go talk to them," he replied, walking over and setting Pinkie on the ground. "The Unicorn Princess has strict laws governing foal care." Vinyl flashed a glance at Pinkie. Her face was scrunched up. Vinyl knew it was hard whenever Twilight was mentioned.

"Gotta go!" Vinyl yelled, grabbing Pinkie in her magic aura and dashing in the opposite direction.

"Hey! Come back!" The stallion galloped after them.

"I hate this small body," Vinyl grumbled as she ran. "My legs are too short." She turned down an alleyway and dove into a trashcan. She and Pinkie held their breath as they heard him walk through the alleyway.

"Foals?" He asked. "I need to take you to foster care if you don't have parents. And the one that can do magic without a horn, she can be brought to the Unicorn Princess. She's been looking for a protege, you know. It would 've fun!"

"Her name is Twilight Sparkle!" Pinkie burst out suddenly. She immediately clapped a hoof over her muzzle. The stallion appeared in their line of vision. He grabbed Vinyl and Pinkie by their hooves.

"Come on, there's no reason to be afraid," he coaxed. "I'm going to give you a nice home, much better than this dump."

"This isn't our home," Vinyl snapped. "Let us go!"

"Excuse me." All three of them turned to see a mint green unicorn standing in the entrance to the alley.

"Mommy!" Pinkie cried. Vinyl got the drift.

"Mommy!" She chimed in. "This stallion was trying to take us away!"

"Well, no," he stammered, dropping Pinkie and Vinyl. "You see, ma'am, I thought they didn't have parents. They ran away when I went to get you."

"Oh, Pinkamena and Vinylla are mischievous," Lyra replied, giving a stern glare to Vinyl and Pinkie. "They must have been frightened. Vinylla, were you showing off your magic?" Vinyl hung her head.

"Yes, mom," she replied.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Lyra told the stallion. The stallion walked right past them.

"Quite alright. You should take that foal to the Unicorn Princess, though. She needs a protege."

Lyra's expression was tight as she watched him walk away.

"Pinkamena Pie, Vinyl Scratch! That was reckless!" She exclaimed, changing them back to their regular selves.

"Not disguising yourself was reckless," Vinyl pointed out cheerfully. "I mean, nopony has a lyre for a Cutie Mark anymore." Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Why don't you two just head on home?" She suggested. Vinyl thought about returning to her grumpy roommate Spade and shuddered.

"No thanks," she responded. Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Vinyl, if Spade annoys you so much, why don't you room with somepony else?" She asked. Vinyl shrugged.

"It would be rude, I guess. I mean, I don't think she hates me, just the world. It would be mean."

"You'd have to leave her sometime," Pinkie pointed out softly. Vinyl ran a hoof through her mane.

"Yeah, I know. But that won't be for a while. Now, how about we go out for gelato? My treat!" Pinkie and Lyra looked at each other.

"Sure!" Pinkie agreed and did a little skip.

"Alright," Lyra agreed.

"Let me lead the way!" Vinyl waved her hoof and led them down to the gelato place. Of the three of them, she was able to accept the changes around them the easiest. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't mind. It was fun to remind her friends that stuff like gelato existed.

When they entered the gelato shop, Vinyl immediately ordered herself a triple berry swirl.

"What flavor do you want, guys?" She asked Lyra and Pinkie. Pinkie grinned.

"Candy Floss, please," she replied. Lyra looked thoughtfully at the gelato.

"I think I'll have a vanilla one," she said. Vinyl rolled her eyes.

"I'm paying," she told the pony running the gelato store, then told Lyra, "Pretty plain, huh?"

"I'm not in the mood for fancy right now," Lyra replied flatly. Vinyl shrugged.

"You were in the mood for fancy when we lived in Ponyville," she pointed out. When the manager pony came back with their gelato, Vinyl shoved her bits across the countertop.

"I guess it felt nice there," Lyra agreed. The three ponies went outside and sat on a bench. "Ponyville then was a lot like Canterlot... when I was a filly." She glanced around. Vinyl grinned at the paranoia.

"Buildings and that stuff didn't change much over a thousand years," Lyra continued. "Just clothes and language. But now, there's faster trains- subways, right? -gelato, all these new products, and the buildings are different. It doesn't look like... how it used to."

"Hey, don't focus on that stuff," Vinyl advised Lyra. "Maybe knowing change is gonna happen doesn't make nostalgia easier to bear, but you have to stop looking so far back, Lyra." She took a bite of her gelato. Delicious. "Am I right, Pinkie?"

"Yeah," Pinkie responded between gulps of gelato. "You're fine, Vinyl Scratch." Lyra sighed.

"You guys are right," she admitted. "So, can-" The loud blast of a trumpet cut Lyra off. Vinyl turned to see three royal guards standing in the middle of the street. Uh oh.

Bearer of Laughter

"Attention!" The head guard cleared his throat. Ponies gathered around them, Vinyl, Lyra, and Pinkie Pie included.

"The Unicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle wishes to hold auditions for the Elements of Harmony!" The guard announced. "Any ponies wishing to earn fame and fortune by bearing one of these titles must go to Canterlot in three days." Pinkie gasped. The guard turned to suspiciously look at her.

"Is there a problem?" He asked. Vinyl and Lyra shook their heads, but Pinkie nodded.

"Yes, there is! Princess Twilight should know that's not how the Elements work! She was the bearer of Magic once! The bearers have to be friends, not random ponies that won a contest!" Vinyl noticed Lyra facehoof. Pinkie stood firm, and the audience stood still in shock.

"I think you should be escorted to Canterlot," the guard suggested coldly. Pinkie backed up, ears suddenly flattened.

"No, sir, I don't. I am not capable of bearing an Element," she replied.

"That is a royal order," the guard snapped, he and his colleagues stepping closer.

"Pinkie, that wasn't a good idea," Vinyl whispered.

"I know," Pinkie whispered back. "I'm sorry." Then she added, louder, to the guard, "I'm sorry, I can't come. I really don't think that I'd be a good element."

"Yes she would!" Vinyl, Pinkie, and Lyra turned to see Pinkie's roommate, Cloud Patch, speak up. Lyra facehoofed again.

"Pinkie is exciting and fun!" Cloud Patch continued. "She always goes and plays funny pranks with her friends that make ponies laugh. Pinkie would make a great Element of Laughter!" Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "And just think, I'd be her former roommate!" The guards turned back to Pinkie, who grinned sheepishly.

"It looks like you are a candidate after all," he said coolly.

"Hey, guard pony!" Vinyl shouted. "What makes you think that she'll come? You can't just force her to be an Element against her will!"

"She would be a traitor to the Unicorn Princess and to Equestria," the guard snapped. "The penalty for that, is, well, death." Pinkie frowned.

"No, it's not! It's fifty years in prison!" She replied. Vinyl inwardly facehoofed. Pinkie had to get with the program. Twilight Sparkle had changed the penalty after the griffon terrorists had attacked Manehattan, with the help of a group of ponies. That had been around forty years ago.

Before the guard could say anything, Vinyl was gone. She realized Lyra had teleported the three of them.

In another second, they were in the Crystal Empire. Vinyl saw crystals spinning around her.

"Warn me next time!" She exclaimed, rubbing her head. She looked at the other two. "Pinkie- what's wrong?" Pinkie's eyes were filling up with tears.

"Cadence is here," she whispered. Lyra and Vinyl both hugged her.

"I remember her wedding," Vinyl tried to comfort her. "We DJayed together, remember?"

"And you took my place as a bridlemaid, Pinkie," Lyra added. "It's alright. We're safe from those nasty guards."

"It's like I don't know Twilight anymore," Pinkie replied sadly. "I think... I think she lost her friendship."

"You could help her get it back," Vinyl suggested. "We pretend you're a ghost, maybe like in A Hearths Warming Eve Carol. I could be the ghost of Hearths Warming present, and Lyra-" she stopped as she saw Lyra shake her head.

"Well, Lyra, what do you think we should do?" Vinyl asked, a little impatient. Lyra shrugged.

"I just don't know, Vinyl," she admitted. "But we can't do that. Even after thousands of years of practice, my magic isn't strong enough to do that."

"I just want to die," Pinkie whispered. Vinyl hugged her again.

"Hang in there, Pinkie. Hey, here's a thought! Maybe Twilight can make us mortal! She could mix up a potion or something!" Vinyl was excited until Lyra shot that idea down, too.

"I doubt that could ever work."

"Excuse me, can I help you three?" A passing crystal pony asked. "Can I take you to Princess Cadence?" Lyra, Pinkie, and Vinyl exchanged glances.

"Uh, no thanks," Lyra replied. "We're quite alright."

"Hey, Rose Glass!" A stallion in a blue helmet called to the mare. "Who are you talking to?"

"Visitors!" Rose Glass, the mare, shouted back. The stallion trotted over.

"Who are they- wait a minute." His expression hardened. Vinyl did her best to put on a poker face. "Aren't you three the mares the guards were looking for?" Lyra shook her head.

"The guards are looking for someponies?" Vinyl asked. "Why?"

"How did you find out so fast?" Pinkie blurted. The stallion looked triumphant.

"So you are! Well, I am Captain Crystal Crash, and you three are under arrest!" Her lunged forward and clasped his hooves around Lyra's horn. Lyra didn't resist. Neither did Pinkie as two guards suddenly came out of nowhere. Vinyl was the only one left.

"Come on, guys, help me!" She exclaimed, backing up from two more guards. "I left my bass canon at home, and they can't take us to Twilight!" She dodged one guard's attempt to tackle her and shot a blast of music out of her horn. The guards covered their ears until the music faded.

"Vinyl, just surrender," Pinkie said glumly. "We're, we're going to see Twilight. There's no avoiding it." Vinyl stared at her in shock.

"Pinkie! What's wrong with you! Why are you cracking up? Twilight will do her best to kill us! She- oof!" Vinyl chest hurt as one guard shoved her to the ground.

"And Pinkie?" Vinyl whispered. "The guards knew about us because of a thing called radios."

Meeting the Princess

"This is bad," Vinyl whispered as she walked down the corridors of Canterlot Palace, sandwhiched between Pinkie Pie and Lyra.

"I know," Lyra replied miserably. "I don't think there's any hope for us."

"Hush," snapped one of the guards who was escorting them. He walked just in front of them. Another guard walked behind the trio.

"Maybe if she sees me, she'll be nice again!" Pinkie suggested in a hopeful whisper. "We can help Twilight!" Vinyl gave a small smile to Pinkie. In truth, she doubted that would be the case. Still, she wanted to encourage her friend.

As they reached the end of the corridor, one of the guards cleared his throat.

"You will now enter into the presence of the Unicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle," he announced.

Even 700 years acts my time, the princess stuff is still pretty intense, Vinyl thought as the doors were opened. She stood stock still as Twilight came into her vision.

Twilight was practically the same as ever. Her height had not changed, nor had her colors. Her straight indigo mane had grown longer, though. She wore golden sandals on her hoods, and a golden crown on her head.

She heard a sniffle from Pinkie. Twilight's face contorted in confusion.

"Pinkie Pie?" She asked, leaning forward on her throne. "Pinkamena Diane Pie?"

"That's me," Pinkie confirmed. Twilight shook her head.

"No... that can't be right. Pinkie Pie disappeared over a hundred years ago."

"Looking for us," Lyra interjected. "Don't you remember, Twilight? Pinkie Pie thought we were immortal." Twilight glared at her.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Lyra Heartstrings," Lyra replied. "Don't you remember me from your days in Ponyville?" Twilight shook her head.

"And Vinyl Scratch," she said, turning to Vinyl, "I faintly remember reading about your death in the paper." Vinyl shuffled her hooves.

She mumbled, "I was a famous musician. I had to fake my death."

After that, the room was silent for a moment. Vinyl suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"How are you immortal?" Twilight asked. "How is it possible?" Vinyl heard her coldness edging away, and curiosity taking its place.

"We don't know," Lyra replied. "I'm about 1,100 years old, actually."

"I'm 700 years old," Vinyl added. Twilight turned to Pinkie.

"What about you?" She asked, the coldness creeping in once more. "Are you older than, say, [iCelestia?" Pinkie shook her head.

"I'm only a hundred," she admitted. "I'm just as old as you." Twilight smiled a tight smile.

"Why didn't you return, Pinkie?" She asked. "You could have told us about it. We could have helped you."

"I... I didn't want to watch you all die. I returned once, for Fluttershy's funeral." Pinkie sniffed. "I met Buttercream and Pumpkin Cake. They were older. It was weird. And sad." Twilight tossed her head.

"Buttercream was depressed for weeks, you know that?" She asked. "You left her and Lucky Clover. That type of inconsideration is not what I'd expect from Pinkie Pie." Pinkie hung her head but said nothing.

"Wait a minute, are you immortal?" Vinyl cut in. "I mean, you look young, and what about Cadence? Are you two immortal?" Twilight smirked.

"Don't interrupt like that," she snapped. "You're still my subject, and you must respect me. And no, I am not immortal. Neither Cadence nor I is. I'm a princess; princesses have longer lifespans, but not everlasting. Which makes you three so interesting. I need to run some tests." She ignited her horn, and the floor beneath them began to lower.

"What's going on?" Vinyl asked.

"Nothing," Twilight replied calmly. "We're just descending to my laboratory." Vinyl noticed a smile creeping up on Pinkie's face.

"You still have your favorite pastimes, even as a princess?" She asked.

"No," Twilight replied. "I hardly ever use it, and when I do it's for Government purposes."

"Oh." Pinkie's voice sounded deflated.

Vinyl watched as the laboratory came into view. It was filled with test tubes and science stuff that Vinyl had never really paid attention to. She saw bags full of liquids hooked up to machines. Some things looked like they belonged in a hospital. Vinyl noticed one machine that looked like it monitored heart rate.

"Woah!" Vinyl lurched forward as the platform came to a halt. Twilight wasn't affected by the sudden lack of movement.

"Come on," she said calmly. "This way."

Tests and Memories

Vinyl wasn't too keen on being strapped to several different machines in the very back of the lab. Still, what choice did she have?

"Reminds you of old time, right, Twilight?" Pinkie asked with a giggle. Twilight didn't reply; instead, she focused on hooking Pinkie up to her own set of machines.

Vinyl marveled at how Twilight had changed. Her hair was longer, but she was just as tall as the average mare. She seemed so distant and cold.

"So, Twilight, how do you like your job? Being a princess and all?" Vinyl asked. Lyra shot her a dirty look. Twilight locked her gaze on Vinyl, who regretted her question.

"I have big plans for Equestria," she replied slowly. "Equestria is lucky to have me as a ruler."

"Ow!" Lyra cried. Vinyl felt as sharp pain on her head.

"What gives, Twilight?" She asked. Twilight rolled her eyes.

"I suppose it's obvious I need your DNA to perform several tests," she responded.

"Well, couldn't it be less painful?"

"It was one second, Vinyl. Watch your tone, though." Vinyl knew Twilight meant business. A thought suddenly occurred to Vinyl.

"How can you threaten me if I'm immortal?" She asked. Lyra groaned. Twilight stared at Vinyl.

"I don't yet know the full extent of your immortality. Until I do, you must watch it, Vinyl. Have I mentioned I know how to take away unicorn magic?" Twilight's voice was soft, but Vinyl detected the venom in her voice. "Or maybe I've already said too much."

Vinyl decided to sit back and not say anything else. It was clear that whatever she did just provoked Twilight, for whatever reason. She turned her attention to the machines around her.

Vinyl was in a glass capsule, with her back to the stuff that was going to analyze her. She could feel the machines humming behind her; it felt weird. Vinyl cast a sideways glance at Pinkie Pie. Her hair was straighter. She must be disappointed in the negative changes in Twilight.

Twilight paced in front of them, watches things unknown to Vinyl. She suddenly broke her pace and consulted a sheet of paper being dispensed from a printer.

"Lyra. Pinkie. Vinyl. Think back to your earliest memories," Twilight ordered. "Go through your memories chronologically, you don't have to think about all of them."

Vinyl faintly remembered her first day of school. She had been teased a little bit for her weird name. At her eight birthday party, she had blown out two of the eight candles on the cake.

Vinyl skimmed through memories until she arrived at one important memory. She had been at the entrance of the Museum, 45 years old, and Lyra had arrived, attempting to sell her diary to the Museum for bits.

She remembered visiting Cloudsdale after Lyra had discovered an ancient walk-on-cloud spell. She remembered falling into a river with Lyra. She remembered building a cabin out in the woods and getting all muddy.

She remembered her time in Ponyville, and her roommate Octavia. Octavia was the pony she had grown closest to, outside of Lyra and Pinkie. She remembered Octavia practicing until ten o'clock at night. She remembered being DJ for Princess Cadence's wedding.

Vinyl skipped to the day Lyra insisted they pack up and move because Pinkie Pie was suspicious. She remembered working at the cherry orchard until Lyra, disguised as a filly, came and warned her Pinkie was on the way.

She remembered faking her death, and Pinkie finally catching her and Lyra. Explaining to Pinkie. Finding out Pinkie was immortal, too. Playing pranks with Pinkie, while Lyra looked on with an almost motherly disapproval. Lyra had changed over the years. The many years. She was cautious now.

Vinyl refocused on her memories until Twilight announced they could stop.

"Princess Twilight, what will those memories be used for?" Lyra asked.

"Searching for patterns," Twilight replied simply, pushing a button. The glass capsules surrounding Vinyl and her friends lifted. "Patterns are very useful. Now, you will be guests at Canterlot Castle for a while. And of course-" she smiled at Pinkie "-we won't need to hold auditions for the Element of Laughter." She led the girls back to her throne room.

"That wasn't a real smile," Pinkie muttered. "She's forgotten friendship."

"Oh, Pinkie," Lyra responded quietly.

Twilight's guards took Vinyl, Lyra, and Pinkie to a small room down the hallway.

"You will be staying here," one of the guards told them, edging them into the room.

"Oh, alright," Lyra replied. "Thanks." The guard nodded and shut the door.

Lyra swung around to face them.

"I think Twilight is up to something," she proclaimed. Vinyl noticed a camera in the room and shook her head.

"Yeah, maybe she'll finally help us figure out why we're immortal," she replied loudly, nodding in the direction of the camera. "Now, let me see these beds!" She flopped onto a small bed in the back of the room.

"Please don't tell me we're sharing that," Pinkie remarked, coming up to the bed. "I don't see any other beds here!" Lyra flopped in the bed as well.

"You do know we're being held here, against our will," she murmured in a low voice. Vinyl nodded.

"Sure. But for now, let's figure out where we're sleeping. Does that sound good?" Pinkie and Lyra nodded.

"I'll just- hey, my magic isn't working!" Lyra exclaimed as she tried to cast a spell. "Help!"

"Lyra, they know you can teleport. You've probably had the spell on you all day," Vinyl suggested. "Now, let's play rock, paper, scissors, shall we?"

"Count me in!" Pinkie agreed. Lyra stopped tugging at her horn.

"Fine. But we should still be watchful of where we step," she murmured. Vinyl knew Lyra was right. Twilight wasn't the nice studious pony she knew from Ponyville. Not anymore.

The New Elements

Vinyl could sense Pinkie's unease and disapproval as the trio was escorted down the hall days later. They would be present as Princess Twilight interviewed ponies for the Element Bearers.

"I don't agree with this," Pinkie muttered.

"I know, Pinkie," Lyra responded with a sigh. "It's not like we have any choice to go, do we?" Vinyl looked over to see Lyra jerking her head, as if to get her magic working.

"Just try not to anger Twilight," Vinyl commented. Lyra cast an annoyed glance in my direction.

"I don't know how we're going to get out of here, but we have to be prepared for anything," she told us in a low voice. Vinyl couldn't believe Lyra was risking this stuff in front of the guards, who were mere yards away.

Vinyl glanced out the castle's windows. She was mildly shocked to see hundreds of ponies down below, waiting to be called in for an audience. This was a big event, but this many ponies wanted to be a Element of Harmony? Vinyl couldn't believe it.

When they finally made it to the throne room, Twilight was wearing a different tiara, and her hair was styled into an elegant look.

"Pinkie shall sit closest to me," she directed. Pinkie did so, sitting in a shorter chair next to Twilight. Vinyl and Lyra sat on Pinkie's right. Vinyl tried not to look bored. She had a feeling the guards were watching her closely.

"Bring in the first pony," Twilight ordered. Vinyl watched the guards escort a blue Pegasus mare into the room. Her hair was tied into a ponytail.

"Good morning, Unicorn Princess," she said, bowing.

"What is your name?" Twilight asked.

"Lightning Strike," the mare replied confidently but politely.

"And which Element do you believe you should represent?"

"I think, your Highness, that I would be most suited for the Element of Loyalty," Lighting Strike answered.

"Why?"

"I know how important it is to stick by my friends, and, as an athlete, I know how important it is to be loyal to your team," Lighting Strike explained. Twilight nodded.

"Next."

Lightning Strike was shepherded out of the room, and another pony, a tan Earth Pony, came into the room.

"I'm Bonnie Drops," she introduced herself before Twilight could speak.

"Bonnie Drops?" Lyra burst out. "Are you related to Sweetie Drops?"

Bonnie nodded as Twilight hissed, "Be quiet, Heartstrings!"

"My deepest apologies, Unicorn Princess," Lyra responded, bowing her head. "I forgot myself."

Lyra knows her manners, Vinyl thought as ponies came in and out of the room. There was Berrybug, a Pegasus who was auditioning for Generosity, a Unicorn named Beignet auditioned for Honestly. Vinyl was amused when one stallion, a orange Unicorn with scraggly yellow hair, didn't realize the Element of Laughter was already taken. She almost laughed out loud at his confusion. Twilight wasn't so amused. She immediately had him leave the room and suspended from entering Canterlot.

Hours passed, with more ponies coming in and out. Vinyl passed the time by matching up the ponies with another pony from her memories that looked similar. For example, one mare, Dark Dusk, had the same grey color scheme as Octavia.

Finally, Twilight was finished listening to ponies. Vinyl and Pinkie breathed sighs of relief when Twilight announced they were done. Lyra stayed still and respectful.

"Did you see that mare Cloudpuff?" Vinyl asked Lyra. "I felt bad for her when she tripped." Lyra looked at her. Vinyl knew Lyra, and she knew how to read Lyra. The look in Lyra's eyes made Vinyl realize Lyra knew something about Twilight.

"I will call the new Elements in tonight," Twilight announced. "Everypony is dismissed.

"Except you, Pinkie," Twilight added. "You'll stay with me."

"What about my friends?" Pinkie asked.

"They'll be escorted back to their room," Twilight responded simply. On cue, two guards approached Lyra and Vinyl.

"We know, we know," Vinyl grumbled. "We'll go back to our room."

"Watch it!" Lyra hissed. "We may be immortal but we can still get very very hurt." Vinyl sighed.

"I don't want them following me everywhere," she complained.

"Be quiet," one of the guards snapped. Lyra's expression said I told you so.

Lyra and Vinyl were left alone in their room. Lyra immediately flopped onto her bed.

"I sometimes want to pretend I'm a little filly, when I didn't know I was immortal," she sighed.

"Then why don't you? Pretend, I mean."

"Because there's no point." Lyra turned to face Vinyl. "I would have to come and face reality sooner or later."

"I guess so," Vinyl responded. "What do we do now?"

"Wait for Pinkie to come back, I guess," Lyra replied. Vinyl nodded. She used her telekinesis to bring a pen to her side, and she began to doodle a comic.

Bass Mare is the newest superpony! She thought as she drew. With her awesome bass cannon, she can defeat anypony! But the evil Shadow Lurker hates music, and plans to rid Equestria of it!

But, she continued her narration, Bass Mare is always one step ahead of him! With secret information revealed to her, she travels to his lair and blows it up with her bass cannon!

Vinyl paused to draw the scene, then continued, With the Shadow Lurker defeated, Equestria's music is safe once again! As an added bonus, Bass Mare gets to DJ at the hottest party in all of Equestria!

"The end," she said aloud.

"End of what?" Lyra asked from the bed.

"Nothing," Vinyl quickly replied.

~

It seemed like forever to Vinyl, but they were finally escorted down the hall to listen to Twilight's proclamation as to whom the Elements would be harnessed by.

"There's Pinkie!" Lyra muttered. Vinyl saw Pinkie standing at the foot of Twilight's throne, looking miserable.

"Poor her!" Vinyl whispered as a guard told them, "Sit here, please." Vinyl and Lyra silently slid onto one of the benches that had apparently been created for the announcement.

Vinyl swung her hooves like an impatient foal as more ponies filed into the room.

"Vinyl," Lyra whispered. "Twilight's going to do something very bad."

"I take your word for it," Vinyl responded in a low voice. Before they could continue their conversation, Twilight cleared her throat. The assembly quieted.

"I, the Unicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle, will now announce the new bearers for the Elements of Harmony," she proclaimed with a solemn expression on her face. "If and when I call your name, you will come up and stand next to Pinkamena Diane Pie, who has automatically become the Element of Laughter.

"The Element of Loyalty shall be Lightning Strike. The Element of Honesty shall be Bonnie Drops. The Element of Kindness shall be Flaire Flask. The Element of Generosity shall be Dark Dusk. The Element of Laughter shall be the aforementioned Pinkamena Diane Pie. The Element of Magic shall be the Unicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle." Twilight rose from her throne as the other five ponies gathered underneath her.

"My decision," she added, "is final."

Lyra's Magic

As everypony clapped, Lyra leaned over to Vinyl.

"Twilight's planning to invade the Griffon Kingdom!" She whispered. Vinyl's mouth dropped open.

"That's impossible!" She exclaimed, glancing around to make sure nopony was listening. Thankfully, the loud sound of hooves masked their conversation. "How? What? When?" Lyra shook her head.

"I can't tell you the details," she whispered as the clapping died down. "I have a crazy idea, though. We have to get out of here." Vinyl smiled.

"You're finally going crazy!" She exclaimed. Lyra rolled her eyes.

Their interactions were interrupted by one of Twilight's guards in sunglasses, who beckoned them with his hoof.

"Follow me," he instructed them. Vinyl and Lyra stood up and followed him through the throngs of ponies that were beginning to exit the room.

The guard took them down a narrow passageway decorated with royal purple and bright yellow diamonds.

"Very pretty," Lyra commented. The guard did not reply.

Vinyl was surprised to see that the corridor entered into a small room, probably big enough to fit only a dozen ponies.

"Wait here," he rumbled, stepping back into the hall. Vinyl watched him leave.

"What's happening?" She asked Lyra. "What are we doing here?" Lyra shook her head.

"Sometimes I just wish I had left Equestria," she murmured, as nostalgic look flooding into her golden eyes. "Then we wouldn't be in this mess, and Twilight wouldn't be a lonely tyrant."

"Mmhm," Vinyl responded. She watched the entrance until Twilight walked down the hallway, a determined look on her face. Vinyl narrowed her eyes. Was there a look of triumph in Twilight's eyes? Triumph over what?

"I'm sure you've been wondering when you'll be leaving Canterlot," Twilight said in her usual cold voice. Lyra nodded, but Vinyl shouted, "You bet we have!" Twilight turned her gaze specifically on Vinyl.

I don't like you, her eyes said. Vinyl met her stare.

"You will stay in Canterlot," Twilight continued, not breaking eye contact. "For the remainder of your life." Vinyl was taken aback by this revelation.

"You can't keep us in Canterlot forever!" She yelled angrily. "That's insane!" Twilight stomped her hoof on the ground. Vinyl flicked her tail angrily.

"I can, and I will," she answered. Lyra put her hoof on Vinyl's shoulder. Vinyl sighed.

"Fine. Whatever. Where's Pinkie?"

"Pinkie won't be staying with you," Twilight answered. "She will be out of town with the Elements, as will I. But guards will be watching your every move." Her gaze swept to Lyra, and, more specifically, Lyra's horn.

"Don't try anything," Twilight advised.

"Or what?" Vinyl asked, a valid retort entering her mind. "You'll kill us?" Twilight lit her horn and the three were instantly transported to the room Vinyl and Lyra had been sleeping in.

"Those tests I ran prove that you are more than capable of being on the brink of death." Twilight smirked. "Maybe I'll have you burried in an avalanche." Lyra turned her head to stare the ground.

"Bye, girls," Twilight said before igniting her horn. In a flash of bright purple, the ruler of Equestria disappeared.

"I think the loss of her close friends made her go insane," Vinyl suggested.

"I think you're right," Lyra agreed. "Vinyl, Twilight is taking the Elements down to the borders of Equestria."

"Oh." Vinyl realized what Lyra was saying. Somehow, she had discovered Twilight was planning to use the Elements of Harmony to invade the Griffon Kingdom. "How can we stop her?" Lyra narrowed her eyes.

"We can't." Vinyl almost missed the subtle movements of Lyra as her mouth formed the word "tonight."

"Got it," Vinyl responded. "Anyway, do they have a game of checkers we can use? Checkers isn't my thing, but it'll have to do if we're stuck here."

"I'm sure they have stuff somewhere!" Lyra exclaimed. "Let's go check."

~

Vinyl snuggled into her bed. Stupid and evil as it was to be trapped in a castle forever, she had to admit the sheets and pillows were fluffy, like the puffiest clouds that had ever come out of Cloudsdale.

Vinyl heard a rustle from the other bed.

Lyra must be going to the bathroom, she thought. The statement was followed by, I wonder if I'm being watched right now. I wonder if their are cameras in the bathroom. Ugh!

Vinyl buried her head under the covers. A minute later, she heard the sounds of a running sink. She could barely hear Lyra's returning hoofsteps.

"Vinyl." Vinyl's eyes widened as Lyra crawled under her covers.

"What are you doing?" Vinyl whispered. "This looks-" Lyra stuck a hoof in Vinyl's mouth.

"The guards can't see us," she whispered. "Look, I'm to transfer all my magic to you."

"What?" Vinyl asked, struggling to keep her voice low. "How is that possible?"

"I have a spell for you. I found it once, long ago. I memorized it," Lyra explained in a barely whisper as she passed Vinyl a sheet. "You'll take every spell I ever learned over a thousand years, combined with your own magic. Then you need to teleport us to the Elements of Harmony- and Twilight." Vinyl examined the paper. The words on it were gibberish- Vinyl had never been one for history, but she assumed it was some olden language from before Equestria.

"Read it," Lyra hissed. "Then immediately teleport us out of here!"

"Alright, alright, don't get your tail in a twist." Vinyl repeated the strange words in her head. Taking a deep breath, she began to whisper the enchantment, doing her best not to stumble over words such as 'incantethemoust.'

No sooner had the last word died on Vinyl's lips than both unicorns' horns began to glow. The golden glow of Lyra's Magic arched up to connect with the blue aura of Vinyl's magic. She winced as energy flooded through her.

It was the strangest sensation Vinyl had ever felt. She could almost feel the new magic and energy seeping through her horn. Vinyl had no words to describe it.

After a few moments, the gold and blue flare dissolved, and everything was dark again. But not all was silent.

"I'm guessing they saw that light," Vinyl said, listening as hooves began thundering down the halls.

"Vinyl, teleport," Lyra responded weakly. Vinyl grabbed Lyra's hoof.

"What do I do?" She asked.

"Think."

Vinyl searched her mind before the teleportation spell floated to the surface. She lit her horn, and in a brilliant flash, Vinyl could no longer see or feel the fluffy bedsheets.

Locate the Elements

Vinyl wasn't disoriented by the sudden change of scenery. Not that she could see much in the dark of the night. From what Vinyl could make out, she and Lyra were now in a grassy clearing among some trees.

"Where are we?" Lyra asked. Vinyl lit her horn and looked down at her friend. She was surprised by what she saw. Lyra looked weak, almost old. Their were circles under her eyes, a nd her Mane was ruffled. Maybe it was the dim lighting, but Lyra's golden eyes looked faded and pale. Being immortal and ageless, it wasn't a look Vinyl had ever seen on Lyra. Transferring energy must be hard.

Vinyl hesitated before answering, "I don't know."

Lyra staggered to her hooves.

"I'm alright," she said before Vinyl reached out to steady her. "I swear, I'm fine."

"If you say so, Lyra. So, what do we do now?" Vinyl asked. Lyra looked up, and Vinyl followed her gaze. The sky was inky black, only a few stars shining down.

"I think that's the North Star." Lyra pointed at one star to Vinyl's left. "So we go this way." She pointed in another direction. Vinyl followed Lyra in the direction. At the same time, she was drifting around her thoughts, trying to figure out what magic she had.

"So, what's the deal with this spell?" She asked as they walked. "Is it permanent? Do you still remember how to do the spells?"

"I think I'll remember in a while," Lyra responded without looking back at Vinyl. "I haven't felt this tired since the time I almost died in that fire." Vinyl remembered Lyra's story: how she had defended her best friend against robbers and, when they angrily set the house on fire, Lyra had been knocked unconscious and assumed dead.

"Well, how long do we have?" Vinyl asked. "Until Twilight invades?" Lyra was silent. The only sound was the soft clip clop of the girl's hooves.

Finally, Lyra replied, "Probably before the end of the week. I imagine maybe Twilight will take the Elements down to 'train' them, then use them to invade."

"So we have seven days to find Twilight, stop the Elements, reform her so this never happens again, rescue Pinkie, then go back into hiding?"

"Probably less time than that. And Vinyl," Lyra added, "I think Twilight wanted to keep us in Canterlot... So she could figure out how she could be immortal."

"What?" Vinyl hadn't thought of that. "Why in Equestria would she want to be immortal?"

"To rule Equestria forever," Lyra responded, stopping and turning to face Vinyl. "She's probably analyzing our DNA to reconstruct her own to match it or something like that."

"Yeah." Vinyl didn't know what to say to that. "So, what spell should I try to find out where the Elements are?"

"Let me think. Um, how about the Instant Locate Spell?" Lyra suggested. "We can figure out where we are, and then from there we can get to the Equestria-Griffon Border."

"Alright," Vinyl agreed. She searched her brain for the spell. "You know, searching through my brain is both awesome and disturbing." When she found the spell, Vinyl shut her eyes and cast it. She didn't know what to expect, but suddenly, she was sure of her location. It was like the answer had just appeared in bubble letters in her brain.

"We're just north of the Hayseed Swamps," she announced, opening her eyes. Lyra nodded.

"Okay, Vinyl. Thanks." She smiled, but it looked sad and nostalgic on her tired face. "Now, we should just keep walking East."

And walk they did. Vinyl had done a lot of bass-canon pushing over the years, so she didn't mind walking long distances. Lyra, on the other hoof, had the strength taken out of her and didn't go very far before she insisted on a short break.

"When do you think your strength'll return?" Vinyl asked when they began walking again. Her horn was lit up, and it shone brightly before dimming a few yards away. Lyra was silent.

"I'm not sure," she replied after a while.

"Should I teleport us?" Vinyl asked. "Do you have a spell that can locate other ponies?"

"Not sure," Lyra responded. "Why don't you... search your brain."

"Sure, Lyra." Vinyl closed her eyes and sent her consciousness to the back of her brain, searching through spells to find something that would be useful.

"Hey Lyra, I found an Object Location Spell. Would that work?"

"It... I don't think it works on ponies," Lyra pointed out.

"Well... maybe we could use it on Twilight's crown!" Vinyl suggested. "Or the Elements!" More silence from Lyra.

"That's a great idea, Vinyl!" She exclaimed, then coughed afterwards.

"Jeez, Lyra, are you alright?" Vinyl asked. Lyra nodded.

"Go on, Vinyl. Use that spell," she directed, stepping closer.

"If you say so," Vinyl answered. She shut her eyes and felt her horn light up with magic. She concentrated on the physical Elements of Harmony, the necklace she had seen on Pinkie's neck, the crown that Twilight used.

"Vinyl, look." Vinyl opened her eyes to see a glowing blue line in front of them. The color matched Vinyl's magic aura exactly, and it was about an inch in width.

"This will take us to the Elements," Lyra realized.

"Agreed," Vinyl agreed. "Let's move!" She began to trot next to the thread.

"Wait, Vinyl!" Lyra gasped. "I'm... out of... breath." Vinyl turned around.

"Already?!" She asked in shock. Lyra nodded, still panting.

"That spell really took its toll on you," Vinyl commented. An idea came to her, and she conjured up a cart. "Here, I'll pull you." Lyra climbed in and smiled.

"Thanks, Vinyl," she said, smiling.

"No problemo," Vinyl answered. She narrowed her eyes. "Now let's kick some evil tyrant flank!"