Thunder boomed again, this time so loud the sound of someone knocking on the door was barely discernible from the sky’s outcry. Waiting until the thunder’s roar subsided, Yuuki turned to the door and shouted, “It’s open!”

The door opened, and in strode Twilight and Spike (both of whom were decked out in soaked rain coats). The lavender unicorn’s horn glowed, and the rain that had accumulated on her and Spike’s coats was promptly sent out the door, making the two look dry. The door was then closed in short order.

“What brings you here?” Kaguya asked, brow arched.

Twilight took her coat off, and produced a coat rack on which to hang it. “Princess Celestia sent me another letter, telling me to come here again.” She answered.

“Why?” Takashi inquired, also cocking a brow.

“She wanted me to inform you of something.” Twilight answered, trotting to the table. “Namely, about a stallion named Paladin Blade.”

“What would that be?” Rekka asked, eyes widening. He blinked a few times.

“Well, she heard about the guards searching for him and two ponies who helped him, and told them to lay off upon also hearing he died.” Twilight answered with a sigh escaping her lips afterwards.

Rekka and Yuuki exchanged wide-eyed glances then and there. They then looked back at Twilight, the wide-eyed expressions not leaving their faces for a second.

“I take it you two helped Paladin?” Twilight asked, noticing the shocked looks dotting the faces of the two. Both nodded in response. “I see. There’s more that Celestia wanted me to inform you two about.” She said.

Both waited for her words intently.

“Have either of you heard of the Black Feathers Mafia?” Twilight asked.

“I did.” Rekka answered, blinking again.

“Well, Celestia said that those ponies have been detained thanks to vital evidence.” Twilight said, a faint smile on her face.

Yuuki cringed, remembering the body she’d seen during her very first few hours in Equestria. The poor guard didn’t deserve his demise, especially with how he wound up strung to a lightpost. “I...saw a body…” She murmured.

“What did the body look like?” Twilight asked, blinking.

“Well...a guard...strung up to a lightpost upside-down...and he was already rotting…” Yuuki answered, cringing again.

“I...think Celestia mentioned that guard in the letter she sent me…” Twilight murmured, ears flat on her skull for a moment.

“She did.” Spike stated, producing a scroll in his hand. He gave it to Twilight, whose magic unrolled it so she could read its contents.

“Ah. Thanks, Spike.” Twilight said, smiling a little bit.

“You’re welcome.” Spike replied, also grinning.

“Anyway, let’s just say those gang members were sent to Outlaw Island.” Twilight sighed, rolling up the scroll again.

“There’s an island solely for criminals?” Takashi asked, cocking a brow again.

“Yeah, but that island’s only for really bad ponies. The other places are either the sun, moon, or Tartarus if what the ponies did was really bad.” Twilight answered with a nod.

“Why the sun, moon, or Tartarus?” Koto asked, one of her brows arching now.

“Those are reserved for those who...well, danger Equestria as a whole, or perhaps even the world itself. Things like Nightmare Moon before she was reformed, Discord, even though he was never banished to begin with...there’re very few things that threaten Equestria as a whole.” Twilight answered with a nod.

Koto’s eyes widened. She recalled what Rarity had told her about Nightmare Moon. “Oh, I see.” She murmured, blinking. “You know of any more?” She asked.

“No, but since I’m studying half the time, I may find more information on that subject.” Twilight answered, smiling warmly.

“Alright.” Kaguya started, causing the lavender unicorn to look at her. “That all you needed?”

“As far as Celestia telling me to relay a message, I’d say I’m about done on that front.” Twilight answered with a nod. “But hey, could I learn more about where you guys come from? You never really say much about your homeland anyway.” She added, causing the group to exchange glances amongst themselves for a moment or two.

“Oh dear...where do we even begin?” Raki asked, beads of sweat dotting her face. A contorted grin adorned her muzzle, and her pupils were meager pinpricks.

“There’s so much to tell her…” Koto whispered, ears flat on her skull. She too was sweating.

Nagare’s wings shifted slightly. “I’m not sure what to make of it either…” He murmured, cringing.

“I still feel a bit homesick…” Rekka stated, legs shaking a bit.

“As do I…” Yuuki agreed with a shaky nod of her head.

“Can we change the subject please?” Tenmei asked, his face beginning to turn a light shade of green. “I don’t feel so good…”

Raki wiped the sweat off her brow with a hoof, then she got up from her seat and hoisted the earth pony onto her back with her magic. She shot a glance at Twilight. “Pardon me for leaving suddenly, but my friend kind of needs to use the toilet…” She sighed.

“I understand.” Twilight replied with a nod. “He doesn’t look so good.”

The white unicorn nodded back and quickly but carefully made her way to, then up, the stairs. As she had continued to the bathroom, the poor stallion on her back covered his mouth with a hoof, cheeks expanding to plump circles as if he were trying to hold his breath. His face went even greener at this point, and his eyes began to water.

“What made him want to puke?” Spike inquired, quickly finding himself getting stared at by the others at the table.

“I’ve no clue. He’s never turned as green as my pelt when confronted with that question before…” Nagare replied, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m starting to think that something’s up.” He added, wings shifting again.

“Perhaps breakfast decided it did not agree with him.” Kaguya murmured, rubbing a foreleg with a hoof.

“He did ask to change the subject.” Koto swiftly pointed out, ears twitching. “I’m siding with Nagare on this one: something’s up.”

“I’m agreeing with them. It’s not like him…” Rekka mumbled, shooting a glance at the green pegasus and blue unicorn and nodded to them. They nodded back.

“Ditto.” Yuuki concurred with another nod of her head, this one less shaky than the first.

“Whatever it is, I think I’ll abide by his request.” Twilight sighed, once more causing those still at the table to look at her. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I’m getting a bad feeling…” Nagare murmured, looking to the ceiling.

“About what?” Spike asked, brow arched.

“I don’t know…” The pegasus trailed off, pausing briefly to bite his lip, “...and that’s what worries me.”

Author's Note

Finale's next. I talked with one of the other contribs about it, and I've stalled long enough. Let the final chapter commence, and hopefully very soon.

~Dragon