No Love Lostby EyvindChaptersIt Was All the Fault of Good IntentionsLet's Play a GameWhat Are Friends For?It Was All the Fault of Good Intentions“Achilles glared at him and answered, 'Fool, prate not to me about covenants. There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other out and out an through. Therefore there can be no understanding between you and me, nor may there be any covenants between us, till one or other shall fall'" -- Homer, The Iliad ~ ~ ~ "Sweetie Belle." The little unicorn filly rolled over in her bed. She pulled the covers over her head tightly, shunning the light from the morning sun that was now streaming through her bedroom window. "Sweetie Belle," Rarity called once more from downstairs, slightly louder this time. Sweetie grumbled irritably. It was too early for waking up. She snuggled deeper into the covers, hoping that her sister would just give up. "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity nearly shouted, dashing Sweetie's hopes. "Go away." Sweetie belle's muffled reply barely made it past the blanket over her face. The door to her bedroom opened suddenly, revealing a very irritated Rarity. She was panting slightly and her mane was only partially combed, giving her a crazed look. The smell of burnt toast wafted in after her, giving the filly a clear picture of what her breakfast would taste like; not exactly an incentive for her to wake up. "Sweetie Belle, you get out of that bed this instant!" Rarity commanded with all the authority of an older sibling. "Just five more minutes..." Sweetie replied from within her cocoon. "We're already late! Mother and father entrusted me with your care while you're here, and If I don't get you to school on time, they'll... they'll... well, I don't know what they would do, but it will NOT be pleasant!" Rarity dashed out of the room, her hoof beats fading as she ran towards the bathroom to finish her own morning ritual. "So get UP!" she called over her shoulder before closing the bathroom door forcefully. Sweetie belle hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not she should do as told. She realized the wisest course of action soon enough. Turning over, she removed the blanket from her head and squinted towards the ceiling, her eyes taking their sweet time adjusting to the brightness. "Sweetie Belle, are you out of bed yet?" Rarity called out from the bathroom down the hall. "Yeah!" Sweetie lied. She yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her hoof. She had only been awake for a few minutes, but she was already less than impressed with what the day had to offer. The bright side was that it could only get better. ~ ~ ~ "An F!?" Sweetie Belle and her teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, were alone in the schoolhouse during recess. Sweetie looked down at the paper that Cheerilee had just handed back to her in horror. It was a test on the whole history of Equestria, one of the biggest tests of the year. Sweetie had studied for weeks on end to get a perfect score. She had wanted to bring it home to show Rarity, to make her proud to be her sister. She had even tried to memorize the textbook word for word. "You're answers are the same as in the text book, word for word," Cheerilee said, voicing her thoughts. "The only way you could have done that was by cheating." "I didn't cheat!" Sweetie belle shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. "Calm down, Sweetie Belle," Cheerilee said soothingly. "I don't think you would have cheated on purpose, but maybe you thought it was an open-book test." Sweetie Belle shook her head forcefully. "I didn't look at the book! I swear to Celestia! I just memorized the words, that's all!" Cheerilee looked at her skeptically. "That's a little hard to believe, Sweetie." "It's the truth!" "Alright then." Cheerilee pulled out the text book from her desk drawer and opened it up to a chapter somewhere in the middle. "Start reading from chapter eighteen, 'The Establishment of the Royal Guard'." The Royal Guard... The Royal Guard... Sweetie Belle tried to remember the text, but between her emotional state and the fact that a week had passed since they took the test, she just couldn't. "I... I can't... remember..." The tears started to fall by that point. Cheerilee sighed as she closed the book. "It's alright, Sweetie Belle. I'll just give you a new test next week, so dry those tears. Alright?" All Sweetie Belle could do was nod meekly. ~ ~ ~ Sweetie Belle returned to recess after talking to Ms. Cheerilee, though she didn't feel like playing at all. She just wanted to go home so she could cry without getting laughed at by the putrid pink terror and her grey glasses-wearing shadow. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could tell she was upset about something, even though she had made sure her tears were dry before exiting the building. The swings creaked as Sweetie Belle gently sung her legs back and forth, eyes never leaving the ground as she told her friends about the test. "Ah can't believe Ms. Cheerilee thinks you cheated," Apple Bloom said sympathetically. "I can't believe you actually memorized that entire book!" Sweetie Belle's head hung even lower, causing Apple Bloom to punch Scootaloo lightly in the shoulder. "Ow! What'd I say?" "It's alright," Sweetie Belle said with a small sigh. "I just wanted to be perfect so I could show Rarity that I'm actually good at something; show her that I'm not just a... waste of space." "Rarity doesn't think you're a waste of space," Apple Bloom assured her, "and you don't need some dumb old test to prove anything, either. Sisters love each other, no matter what." "Yeah," Scootaloo chipped in. "If Rainbow Dash hated me every time I screwed up, she'd never speak to me again." Apple Bloom punched her in the shoulder again. "Ow! Quit it!" Sweetie Belle looked less than convinced. She hopped off the swing and made her way back towards the schoolhouse, head still hanging low in despair. The bell in the steeple rang a moment later, signifying the end of recess. Apple Bloom exchanged a worried glance with Scootaloo before they both followed their friend back inside for the afternoon lessons. ~ ~ ~ The school day ended without any further incident, much to Sweetie Belle's relief. All she wanted was for the day to be over. She said goodbye to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the school gate and went straight to Rarity's boutique. The bell above the door rang as Sweetie entered. "Is that you, Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called from the kitchen. "Yeah." Rarity appeared in the doorway a moment later wearing a cold expression. Sweetie's heart dropped right into her stomach at the sight of it. What could she have done wrong this time, she wondered. "I received an interesting letter from your teacher today," Rarity explained in an even tone. Sweetie Belle panicked as she imagined all the things the letter might have said. "Wait, I can explain--" "Explain!?" Rarity cut her off sharply. "You cheated on a test, Sweetie Belle! I thought you had been raised better than that." "But, I didn't--" "NOT another word. Now, you just march straight upstairs, go to your room, and start studying for that make-up test, because you're grounded until you can pass that test with honesty!" Rarity's disappointment was the last straw that broke Sweetie Belle's fragile shell. Her throat locked up, her tears springing forth like a tidal wave, as an immeasurable sadness squeezed every last ounce of joy from her heart. She felt empty as she ran out of the boutique sobbing, her hooves moving of their own accord. She didn't care where they took her; as long as it was far away from here. She could hear Rarity calling her name as she ran, but she ignored her. Eventually her sister's cries faded away to birdsong and the rustling of leaves. Sweetie Belle came to her senses as she looked around her, realizing where she was heading for the first time. She was standing just outside of the Everfree Forest. Why was I running this way? Sweetie Belle wondered. She only hesitated for a moment before continuing down the path that lead into the dense undergrowth of the Forest. Maybe I'll just disappear for a little while. I'm sure Rarity will remember she loves me when she starts to worry about me. As the setting sun cast the shadows of the forest over Sweetie Belle's head, she found it difficult to stop her knees from shaking. I hope she starts to worry soon. Let's Play a Game“We fear violence less than our own feelings. Personal, private, solitary pain is more terrifying than what anyone else can inflict.” -- Jim Morrison ~ ~ ~ The darkness of the Everfree Forest was oppressing. Outside, the sun was still setting. Inside, it had set hours ago. Sweetie Belle found herself squinting just to make sure she was staying on the path. If the darkness wasn't bad enough, the forest was also dead silent. No birdsong. Not even the rustling of leaves as a gust of wind passed by. That took 'eerie' to a whole new level. This probably wasn't my best idea ever, she thought to herself. Maybe I should just go home and-- "Sweetie Belle..." Sweetie froze in place as she heard her name spoken from behind her. It had been quiet, barely more than whisper in the wind, but it had been there. She was sure of it. "Who's there?" Her fear prevented her from turning her head as she called out challengingly--well, as challengingly as her higher pitch allowed. "Just a friend." This time the words were clearer, no longer carried by the breeze but spoken naturally. The voice sounded young as well, like it was another filly talking to her. Sweetie Belle's fear lessened, and she chanced a glance over her shoulder. What she saw was... nothing. Just the path that she had come from and the darkness beyond. "W-where are you?" She tried to keep the shakiness out of her voice as she addressed the air. "I'm right in front of you, silly." Sweetie Belle's head snapped forward at that. Hovering there, just inches away from her nose, was a tiny blue ball of light. She yelped, stumbling backwards and falling heavily on her rump. The light giggled merrily as it bounced up and down in the air. "You're pretty funny, Sweetie Belle." Now that she had gotten some distance between her and the... thing... Sweetie Belle eyed it warily. It didn't appear to have a solid form. The closest thing she could have compared it to was a blue fire, but without the flame. It did flicker like a fire, though the flickering didn't seem random. It appeared to be connected to the voice somehow, the light changing ever so slightly with each syllable spoken. "How do you know my name?" she asked from her sitting position, trying as best she could to sound threatening. It might have been more convincing if her legs weren't still frozen in fear. "I know lots of things," the light replied casually as it started making figure eights in the air. "Like you think your friends are too good for you." "What!?" Sweetie squeaked. "No I don't!" "Yes you do," the light continued in its casual tone. "And you're right, you know." "I don't think that at all!" Sweetie Belle stood, her fear of the light forgotten in her new anger towards it. "Really?" The light slowed to a halt before floating closer to her, causing Sweetie Belle to take a step back. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have wandered into the forest, just to make other ponies worry about them?" The light's words hurt Sweetie Belle more than she would have liked to admit. Her expression became doubtful as she thought about what her friends might have done. "Well, uh--" "How about getting grounded?" the light continued, floating towards her once more, again causing Sweetie Belle to backpedal. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have run away crying?" Sweetie Belle didn't say anything; there was no need. She knew the answer to that question, and she knew the light knew too. "Exactly." The light backed off as it resumed its figure eight motion. "Well, what's your point?" Sweetie spat angrily. "So I'm a pathetic cry baby, big deal." "Oh, but that is a big deal. I mean, the sister of the most talented seamstress in all of Equestria, a pathetic cry baby? The scandal." The voice turned mocking, adding even more sting to its words. Sweetie Belle's face became flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She turned around with a humph and started to walk away. "If you're just going to insult me, I'm done talking to you," she called over her shoulder. "I could have stayed in Ponyville if I wanted that!" As she turned her eyes to the path ahead, she saw the light floating directly in front of her. This elicited the same response as the first time, leaving Sweetie Belle with a sore rump. "I'm not here to hurt your feelings, Sweetie Belle." There was a surprising amount of sympathy in its voice. "I told you, I'm a friend." "Some friend," she said under her breath as she stood and dusted off her flank. "Watch, I'll prove it." The light sounded determined, causing Sweetie to gulp nervously. She was caught off guard by what it said next. "Want to play a game?" "A... game?" The light bounced up and down in what could only have a been a nod. "I'm not really in the mood for games right now" Sweetie Belle deadpanned. "I know, but this is a really fun game. And you get something if you win." Sweetie Belle eyed the light suspiciously. "What kind of game is it?" "It's really simple. All you have to do is answer 'yes' or 'no'." "It sounds like a boring game to me." "That's because you haven't heard the question yet." "Well, then what's the question?" "I'll only tell you if you agree to play the game." That set off a few warning bells in Sweetie's head. Wasn't there an old pony saying about not trusting floating blue lights in the Everfree Forest at night? She sat quietly and thought about the offer, the light waiting patiently for her response. It took Sweetie Belle about a minute to realize that her curiosity was stronger than her instinct. "Alright, I'll play your game. But what's the prize?" "That you won't feel sad anymore." Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow. That sounded like a bogus prize if she'd ever heard one. Like when they played hoofball in class and Ms. Cheerilee told them they were all winners as long as they had fun, but everyone knew there was only one real winner. "Alright, so what's the question?" May as well get this stupid game over with, she thought. "Your teacher doesn't trust you, your friends pity you, your sister hates you--" "Not hearing a question." "--and when you go back, nothing will have changed," the light continued, ignoring her interruption. "They'll all look at you and still see nothing but a failure. I can't change how they feel... but I can change how you do." Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" "I can take away your feelings. Your doubts, your fears, your insecurities... They can all disappear. You wouldn't have a care in the world." "Wait." Sweetie Belle held up a hoof to pause the explanation. "You said you can take away my feelings... what about the good ones? Like happiness? Or love? Would those go away too?" "Well, everything comes with a price," the light replied. "But how many of those happy feelings do you have? I'd say the price is more than fair in this case. So, Sweetie Belle. The question is, 'do you want to feel this way?'" Sweetie put a hoof to her chin in thought. Was it worth it? It was certainly true that her sorrow outweighed her joy, but to give up both... A minute passed. Then another. The little blue light waited patiently for Sweetie Belle to make up her mind. Then, when it had seemed as though she had turned to stone... "No." Sweetie Belle lifted her chin and looked at the light in sadness as her eyes shimmered with approaching tears. "No, I don't want to feel this way anymore." What Are Friends For?“'Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You've been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.'" -- E. B. White, Charlotte's Web ~ ~ ~ "Sweetie!" Rarity shouted with a hoarse voice. She had lost sight of her sister hours ago, and had been roaming the streets of Ponyville calling out for her since. "Sweetie Belle! Where are you?!" Luna's night had fallen fast. The dim light of the lampposts softly lit Rarity's surroundings as the ponies returned to their homes for the night. Lovers walked side by side, sharing their warmth with each other. Exhausted parents guided their energetic foals with kind words and gentle nudges. If only she had shown Sweetie Belle such compassion earlier, then maybe... "Hey, big sis!" Rarity turned towards the voice, hope soaring in her chest. "Sweetie Bel--" Her hope plummeted as a filly Rarity didn't know ran past her, only to stop beside a young mare up ahead. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. How could she have messed up so much, she wondered. Why was she so bad at being a sister? "Hey big sis, do you think I'll be as talented as you someday?" Sweetie Belle... "Rarity? What's wrong?" Fluttershy had snuck up on her while she wasn't looking. She looked like she was on the verge of crying too, just from seeing Rarity's tears. Rarity wiped them away with a hoof and a sniffle. It wouldn't do to make Fluttershy cry; her conscience was guilty enough. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I made a mistake." Rarity didn't know why she was apologizing to her. Fluttershy wasn't the one she hurt. "Oh... Well, um, as long as you fix it, then you can still be happy. Right?" Leave it to Fluttershy. Somehow, without knowing any of the details, she knew exactly what to say. Of course they could still have a happy ending! There was no doubt in her mind that Rarity had failed at being a big sister, but that didn't mean she had to keep failing. She had to find Sweetie Belle and put things right, for both their sakes. "Fluttershy... Thank you." Rarity pulled her into a hug, producing a cute little "eep" from her friend. "I promise I'll fix it, so we can all be happy." She didn't respond, merely electing to return Rarity's hug. A sudden boom shook the earth, sending both of them sprawling. She heard Fluttershy gasp, looking at something over her shoulder as the entire town became bathed in an eerie blue light. Rarity turned, and quickly saw why. A bright blue beam of magical energy was being shot into the sky, somewhere out of the Everfree Forest. A feeling of dread washed over Rarity as she continued to gaze at it. Sweetie Belle was over there, she knew it. She could feel it. "Fluttershy, I have to go," Rarity said as she got back on her hooves. "But first, can you do a favor for me?" ~ ~ ~ Rainbow Dash sat at the window of her cloud home as she watched the magical light show. The energy made her hair stand on end, sending a shiver down her spine. She didn't know what was happening, but she knew it wasn't good. Energy like that never lead to good things. Dash blinked as she noticed a pegasus approaching from the direction of Ponyville. "Fluttershy...? "Woah!" Rainbow threw herself sideways just as Fluttershy came barreling through the window. She landed with a light poof on the cloud floor, completely exhausted and panting for breath. "Hey, Flutters', you alright?" Rainbow asked, swooping to her side. "Speak to me!" Fluttershy took a few moments to catch her breath. Her wings were shaking from overexertion, with feathers jutting out all over the place. What could have made her fly so hard, Rainbow Dash wondered. "Rarity... needs... our... help..." she finally managed to say between pained gasps. Of course she did. How? How did these things always seem to happen to her and her friends? Rainbow looked back outside. The light was gone, no traces of it to be seen. Oh well, there was no use whining about it. She offered her hoof to help Fluttershy up, determination burning in her eyes. "Tell me everything." ~ ~ ~ Apple Bloom had watched the light from her bedroom window until it finally faded from sight. The afterimage still burned in her retinas as she pondered all the possibilities for the light's origin. Witches? Mad scientists? The Occult? The more crazy ideas that popped into her head, the more she wanted to go out there and find out the truth. A rapid knocking at the front door distracted Apple Bloom from her thoughts. Who in the hay would come knocking this late? She hopped off her bed and headed out of her room and down the hall to the stairs, until the front door came into view. Apple Bloom knelt there at the top step as Applejack opened it for Rainbow Dash. "Hey, Rainbow. Little late for a visit, ain't it?" "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. I wouldn't have come unless it was really super important." Applejack sighed. "Let me guess. This got somethin' to do with that weird blue light that went off a few minutes ago. Right?" "Hehe," she chuckled dryly. "You nailed it." "So, any idea what set it off?" "I guess Rarity thinks it has something to do with Sweetie Belle." What? Sweetie Belle was connected to that light somehow? Sudden worry for her friend felt like a weight in Apple Bloom's chest. "Rarity's already gone ahead to the forest," Rainbow continued. "She sent Fluttershy to get me, you, Pinkie, and Twilight." "Wait, are you tellin' me Rarity is in that forest alone right now?" "Don't worry, Fluttershy made her Pinkie Promise that she would wait for us," Rainbow assured her. "Otherwise I would have flown ahead to get her myself." "Well, that's good at least." She turned to head up the stairs, causing Apple Bloom to scurry behind the wall. "Ah'll be ready to go in a minute, first I gotta tell Apple Bloom where Ah'm off to, and then--" "Are you sure that's a good idea?" The stairs creaked as Applejack stopped walking. "What do ya mean?" The question almost sounded threatening. Rainbow Dash didn't heed her tone as she explained, "Telling Apple Bloom that her best friend may be in mortal danger; are you sure that's the right thing to do? I know if I heard that, nothing would stop me from following them, no matter how dangerous it might be." AJ said nothing for a long time. Apple Bloom stared at the faded wallpaper in front of her, not daring to breath as the silence between them stretched on. "Of course tellin' her that her best friend is in danger is the right thing to do..." Applejack finally spoke softly. "But... maybe, just this once, doin' the wrong thing is better. Ah know she would go after her, even after Ah tell her no. That's just the kind of friend she is." Applejack... "...Let's go," she said with all the conviction she could muster. Apple Bloom sat there until she heard the screen door close, and then she continued to sit. Her sister had just left to go save her best friend, without telling her anything. She didn't know whether to be angry or sad at that. She finally settled on a mixture of the two as she stood. Damn straight she would go after Sweetie Belle! If her friend really needed help, she would never forgive herself for sitting inside and doing nothing. It was time for this filly to make a stand. Buck the consequences. Applebloom bounded out of the front door and leaped over the porch steps. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hey, wait up!" She skidded to a halt and turned to see her other best friend emerge from the darkness. "Scootaloo? what the hay were ya doin' around the side of mah house?" "I've been throwing rocks at your window for like five minutes," she said accusingly. "When you didn't come out I tried a bigger rock, but I think that just broke your window." "Scootaloo!" "Hey, you're the one that wasn't in your room! Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. Like finding out what that crazy light was all about!" Her wings buzzed excitedly as she leaped at the thought of adventure. Applebloom sighed in defeat. "Well, at least Ah'm ahead of you there." Scootaloo stopped jumping and looked at her quizzically. "Huh?" ~ ~ ~ Three friends were gathered outside the Everfree Forest in the dead of night. Twilight read a book while Applejack had her lasso around Rainbow dash's tail as she tried to fly into the dark forest. They were arguing at the same time about whether to wait for the others or not. As soon as Rainbow realized Rarity had broken her Pinkie Promise and gone into the forest alone, it was all AJ could do to stop her from going in herself. Twilight felt the same as Rainbow Dash, but she knew running in blindly wouldn't help the situation. The best thing she could do for them until the others arrived was to find out what that light was. That's why she was now nose deep in a book titled Ancient Magics and Lore. "Dammit, AJ, let me go! I gotta go help her!" Rainbow Dash pleaded again, only to feel another tug on her tail. "Ah know. Don't yah think Ah feel the same way? But we need to wait for Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie." "Just think," Twilight added, "what if you needed to use the Elements of Harmony in there? Like it or not, we have to wait for everyone." "Rarity could be dead by the time they get here! Let GO!" A sudden burst in Rainbow's strength caused AJ to be pulled forward a few feet like a plow, leaving a long trough behind her. She replanted her hooves for a better grip. "Stop bein' a drama queen, that's Rarity's job." "Oh my, what happened?" Fluttershy touched down a good distance from the two playing tug of war, Pinkie Pie hopping along behind her. "Where's Rarity? Wasn't she going to wait for us?" "Nope. She broke her Pinkie Promise, and now she's probably being chewed on by some inter-dimensional space creature, and we're sitting around here like it's Hearth's Warming Eve or something!" Rainbow Dash's frustration was turning into anger, causing Fluttershy to make herself smaller. Twilight just frowned. "Well we're all here now, so we may as well head out," she decided, slipping her book into her saddlebag. "I just wish I had been able to find out what that light was first. I don't like walking in without a plan." "Here's the plan," Rainbow explained, already halfway to the tree line. "We save Sweetie Belle, we save Rarity, and we crush anything that tries to get in our way." "I like it," Pinkie exclaimed as she bounced along after her. "It's simple, and easy to remember... like cupcakes!" "Can't argue with that," AJ chuckled. "Oh, I hope we make it in time." Twilight had a sinking feeling in the pit her stomach as she followed her friends, but she tried to hide her anxiety for their sakes. "Me too, Fluttershy. Me too." ~ ~ ~ Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked side by side through the dense undergrowth of the Everfree Forest. The darkness around them was so oppressing they could barely see their own hooves, let alone the path. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Apple Bloom asked for the third time. Scootaloo groaned. "Yes, for the thousandth time, I'm sure. I was watching the light when it vanished, so I know exactly where it is." "So was Ah, but Ah'm still lost." "That's only because you don't have my awesome sense of direction." She could feel her eyes roll as she replied, "Yeah, right." Scootaloo stopped moving, halting Apple Bloom with a hoof. "Hey, shh. Do you hear that?" She swiveled her ears around, trying to hear what Scootaloo was hearing. "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom recognized the voice first. "That sounds like Rarity! That must mean the others are nearby. Come on!" The two started galloping through the darkness toward the shouts. They grew louder and more intelligible as they approached. "Sweetie Belle! Come back home, please! Why won't you listen?! Sweetie Belle!" The light from Luna's moon stung their eyes as they emerged from the darkness. The stark silhouette of a crumbling castle met their sight, but it was the two ponies in the foreground that immediately caught their attention. Sweetie Belle was halfway across a rope bridge that spanned the width of a chasm, walking away from Rarity who stood with all four hooves on solid ground. Her pleas seemingly fell on deaf ears as Sweetie Belle got further and further away. "Rarity!" Scootaloo called to her as they ran up. "Girls?! what on earth are you doing out-- Oh, never mind. I can't get through to Sweetie Belle, there's something wrong with her!" "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom shouted at the top of her lungs. Sweetie stopped for a moment and looked back at them. But it was only for a moment, and then she went back to walking away. Apple Bloom's eyes went wide as she tried to comprehend what she'd just seen. "What in the name of Celestia..." "You saw it, too?" Rarity asked. "Saw what? What is it?" "Her eyes..." Apple Bloom whispered. "Their... Blue. Like ice." "Gah, who cares what color her eyes are!" Scootaloo fumed. "We can fix that later! Right now we just need to get her back to Ponyville!" "Have ya tried goin' out there an' just pickin' her up?" Apple Bloom asked, turning to Rarity. "Of course I have," she replied defensively. "But when I got close, she threatened to cut the bridge and kill us both--" "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom and Rarity both turned to see Scootaloo racing across the rickety bridge towards her friend, much to their horror. "Scootaloo!" "Come back!" Their cries were just as ineffective as before, leaving them to helplessly watch whatever happened next as they sent silent prayers to Luna and Celestia. Scootaloo was already past the halfway point by the time Sweetie Belle reached the other side. "I don't care what's wrong with you!" she shouted angrily, tears stinging her eyes. "Do you know why?! Because we're going to bring you back home! And then we're going to cure you! And then we'll play together everyday, and we'll go on so many crusades, that you'll never, ever be sad again!" Sweetie Belle finally turned around, when Scootaloo was mere seconds from barreling into her. In that split second, their eyes locked, and she felt an immeasurable sadness in that moment. Her friend's eyes were indeed blue, but that wasn't what made Scootaloo sad. It was the look behind the eye. It was as though a stranger were looking at her through those eyes. Sweetie Belle's horn glowed with that same icy blueness, and then the sound of snapping ropes filled the air. Scootaloo could no longer feel rickety planks of wood beneath her hooves, and for a fleeting instant, she allowed herself to believe she was flying. Reality came all too soon. Scootaloo fell, the disinterest on Sweetie Belle's face her last sight, and her friends pained shrieks her last sound. A stillness settled over her mind as she understood her demise. All that was left was to close her eyes as that final darkness embraced her.
It Was All the Fault of Good Intentions“Achilles glared at him and answered, 'Fool, prate not to me about covenants. There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other out and out an through. Therefore there can be no understanding between you and me, nor may there be any covenants between us, till one or other shall fall'" -- Homer, The Iliad ~ ~ ~ "Sweetie Belle." The little unicorn filly rolled over in her bed. She pulled the covers over her head tightly, shunning the light from the morning sun that was now streaming through her bedroom window. "Sweetie Belle," Rarity called once more from downstairs, slightly louder this time. Sweetie grumbled irritably. It was too early for waking up. She snuggled deeper into the covers, hoping that her sister would just give up. "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity nearly shouted, dashing Sweetie's hopes. "Go away." Sweetie belle's muffled reply barely made it past the blanket over her face. The door to her bedroom opened suddenly, revealing a very irritated Rarity. She was panting slightly and her mane was only partially combed, giving her a crazed look. The smell of burnt toast wafted in after her, giving the filly a clear picture of what her breakfast would taste like; not exactly an incentive for her to wake up. "Sweetie Belle, you get out of that bed this instant!" Rarity commanded with all the authority of an older sibling. "Just five more minutes..." Sweetie replied from within her cocoon. "We're already late! Mother and father entrusted me with your care while you're here, and If I don't get you to school on time, they'll... they'll... well, I don't know what they would do, but it will NOT be pleasant!" Rarity dashed out of the room, her hoof beats fading as she ran towards the bathroom to finish her own morning ritual. "So get UP!" she called over her shoulder before closing the bathroom door forcefully. Sweetie belle hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not she should do as told. She realized the wisest course of action soon enough. Turning over, she removed the blanket from her head and squinted towards the ceiling, her eyes taking their sweet time adjusting to the brightness. "Sweetie Belle, are you out of bed yet?" Rarity called out from the bathroom down the hall. "Yeah!" Sweetie lied. She yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her hoof. She had only been awake for a few minutes, but she was already less than impressed with what the day had to offer. The bright side was that it could only get better. ~ ~ ~ "An F!?" Sweetie Belle and her teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, were alone in the schoolhouse during recess. Sweetie looked down at the paper that Cheerilee had just handed back to her in horror. It was a test on the whole history of Equestria, one of the biggest tests of the year. Sweetie had studied for weeks on end to get a perfect score. She had wanted to bring it home to show Rarity, to make her proud to be her sister. She had even tried to memorize the textbook word for word. "You're answers are the same as in the text book, word for word," Cheerilee said, voicing her thoughts. "The only way you could have done that was by cheating." "I didn't cheat!" Sweetie belle shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. "Calm down, Sweetie Belle," Cheerilee said soothingly. "I don't think you would have cheated on purpose, but maybe you thought it was an open-book test." Sweetie Belle shook her head forcefully. "I didn't look at the book! I swear to Celestia! I just memorized the words, that's all!" Cheerilee looked at her skeptically. "That's a little hard to believe, Sweetie." "It's the truth!" "Alright then." Cheerilee pulled out the text book from her desk drawer and opened it up to a chapter somewhere in the middle. "Start reading from chapter eighteen, 'The Establishment of the Royal Guard'." The Royal Guard... The Royal Guard... Sweetie Belle tried to remember the text, but between her emotional state and the fact that a week had passed since they took the test, she just couldn't. "I... I can't... remember..." The tears started to fall by that point. Cheerilee sighed as she closed the book. "It's alright, Sweetie Belle. I'll just give you a new test next week, so dry those tears. Alright?" All Sweetie Belle could do was nod meekly. ~ ~ ~ Sweetie Belle returned to recess after talking to Ms. Cheerilee, though she didn't feel like playing at all. She just wanted to go home so she could cry without getting laughed at by the putrid pink terror and her grey glasses-wearing shadow. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could tell she was upset about something, even though she had made sure her tears were dry before exiting the building. The swings creaked as Sweetie Belle gently sung her legs back and forth, eyes never leaving the ground as she told her friends about the test. "Ah can't believe Ms. Cheerilee thinks you cheated," Apple Bloom said sympathetically. "I can't believe you actually memorized that entire book!" Sweetie Belle's head hung even lower, causing Apple Bloom to punch Scootaloo lightly in the shoulder. "Ow! What'd I say?" "It's alright," Sweetie Belle said with a small sigh. "I just wanted to be perfect so I could show Rarity that I'm actually good at something; show her that I'm not just a... waste of space." "Rarity doesn't think you're a waste of space," Apple Bloom assured her, "and you don't need some dumb old test to prove anything, either. Sisters love each other, no matter what." "Yeah," Scootaloo chipped in. "If Rainbow Dash hated me every time I screwed up, she'd never speak to me again." Apple Bloom punched her in the shoulder again. "Ow! Quit it!" Sweetie Belle looked less than convinced. She hopped off the swing and made her way back towards the schoolhouse, head still hanging low in despair. The bell in the steeple rang a moment later, signifying the end of recess. Apple Bloom exchanged a worried glance with Scootaloo before they both followed their friend back inside for the afternoon lessons. ~ ~ ~ The school day ended without any further incident, much to Sweetie Belle's relief. All she wanted was for the day to be over. She said goodbye to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the school gate and went straight to Rarity's boutique. The bell above the door rang as Sweetie entered. "Is that you, Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called from the kitchen. "Yeah." Rarity appeared in the doorway a moment later wearing a cold expression. Sweetie's heart dropped right into her stomach at the sight of it. What could she have done wrong this time, she wondered. "I received an interesting letter from your teacher today," Rarity explained in an even tone. Sweetie Belle panicked as she imagined all the things the letter might have said. "Wait, I can explain--" "Explain!?" Rarity cut her off sharply. "You cheated on a test, Sweetie Belle! I thought you had been raised better than that." "But, I didn't--" "NOT another word. Now, you just march straight upstairs, go to your room, and start studying for that make-up test, because you're grounded until you can pass that test with honesty!" Rarity's disappointment was the last straw that broke Sweetie Belle's fragile shell. Her throat locked up, her tears springing forth like a tidal wave, as an immeasurable sadness squeezed every last ounce of joy from her heart. She felt empty as she ran out of the boutique sobbing, her hooves moving of their own accord. She didn't care where they took her; as long as it was far away from here. She could hear Rarity calling her name as she ran, but she ignored her. Eventually her sister's cries faded away to birdsong and the rustling of leaves. Sweetie Belle came to her senses as she looked around her, realizing where she was heading for the first time. She was standing just outside of the Everfree Forest. Why was I running this way? Sweetie Belle wondered. She only hesitated for a moment before continuing down the path that lead into the dense undergrowth of the Forest. Maybe I'll just disappear for a little while. I'm sure Rarity will remember she loves me when she starts to worry about me. As the setting sun cast the shadows of the forest over Sweetie Belle's head, she found it difficult to stop her knees from shaking. I hope she starts to worry soon.
Let's Play a Game“We fear violence less than our own feelings. Personal, private, solitary pain is more terrifying than what anyone else can inflict.” -- Jim Morrison ~ ~ ~ The darkness of the Everfree Forest was oppressing. Outside, the sun was still setting. Inside, it had set hours ago. Sweetie Belle found herself squinting just to make sure she was staying on the path. If the darkness wasn't bad enough, the forest was also dead silent. No birdsong. Not even the rustling of leaves as a gust of wind passed by. That took 'eerie' to a whole new level. This probably wasn't my best idea ever, she thought to herself. Maybe I should just go home and-- "Sweetie Belle..." Sweetie froze in place as she heard her name spoken from behind her. It had been quiet, barely more than whisper in the wind, but it had been there. She was sure of it. "Who's there?" Her fear prevented her from turning her head as she called out challengingly--well, as challengingly as her higher pitch allowed. "Just a friend." This time the words were clearer, no longer carried by the breeze but spoken naturally. The voice sounded young as well, like it was another filly talking to her. Sweetie Belle's fear lessened, and she chanced a glance over her shoulder. What she saw was... nothing. Just the path that she had come from and the darkness beyond. "W-where are you?" She tried to keep the shakiness out of her voice as she addressed the air. "I'm right in front of you, silly." Sweetie Belle's head snapped forward at that. Hovering there, just inches away from her nose, was a tiny blue ball of light. She yelped, stumbling backwards and falling heavily on her rump. The light giggled merrily as it bounced up and down in the air. "You're pretty funny, Sweetie Belle." Now that she had gotten some distance between her and the... thing... Sweetie Belle eyed it warily. It didn't appear to have a solid form. The closest thing she could have compared it to was a blue fire, but without the flame. It did flicker like a fire, though the flickering didn't seem random. It appeared to be connected to the voice somehow, the light changing ever so slightly with each syllable spoken. "How do you know my name?" she asked from her sitting position, trying as best she could to sound threatening. It might have been more convincing if her legs weren't still frozen in fear. "I know lots of things," the light replied casually as it started making figure eights in the air. "Like you think your friends are too good for you." "What!?" Sweetie squeaked. "No I don't!" "Yes you do," the light continued in its casual tone. "And you're right, you know." "I don't think that at all!" Sweetie Belle stood, her fear of the light forgotten in her new anger towards it. "Really?" The light slowed to a halt before floating closer to her, causing Sweetie Belle to take a step back. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have wandered into the forest, just to make other ponies worry about them?" The light's words hurt Sweetie Belle more than she would have liked to admit. Her expression became doubtful as she thought about what her friends might have done. "Well, uh--" "How about getting grounded?" the light continued, floating towards her once more, again causing Sweetie Belle to backpedal. "Do you think Apple Bloom or Scootaloo would have run away crying?" Sweetie Belle didn't say anything; there was no need. She knew the answer to that question, and she knew the light knew too. "Exactly." The light backed off as it resumed its figure eight motion. "Well, what's your point?" Sweetie spat angrily. "So I'm a pathetic cry baby, big deal." "Oh, but that is a big deal. I mean, the sister of the most talented seamstress in all of Equestria, a pathetic cry baby? The scandal." The voice turned mocking, adding even more sting to its words. Sweetie Belle's face became flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She turned around with a humph and started to walk away. "If you're just going to insult me, I'm done talking to you," she called over her shoulder. "I could have stayed in Ponyville if I wanted that!" As she turned her eyes to the path ahead, she saw the light floating directly in front of her. This elicited the same response as the first time, leaving Sweetie Belle with a sore rump. "I'm not here to hurt your feelings, Sweetie Belle." There was a surprising amount of sympathy in its voice. "I told you, I'm a friend." "Some friend," she said under her breath as she stood and dusted off her flank. "Watch, I'll prove it." The light sounded determined, causing Sweetie to gulp nervously. She was caught off guard by what it said next. "Want to play a game?" "A... game?" The light bounced up and down in what could only have a been a nod. "I'm not really in the mood for games right now" Sweetie Belle deadpanned. "I know, but this is a really fun game. And you get something if you win." Sweetie Belle eyed the light suspiciously. "What kind of game is it?" "It's really simple. All you have to do is answer 'yes' or 'no'." "It sounds like a boring game to me." "That's because you haven't heard the question yet." "Well, then what's the question?" "I'll only tell you if you agree to play the game." That set off a few warning bells in Sweetie's head. Wasn't there an old pony saying about not trusting floating blue lights in the Everfree Forest at night? She sat quietly and thought about the offer, the light waiting patiently for her response. It took Sweetie Belle about a minute to realize that her curiosity was stronger than her instinct. "Alright, I'll play your game. But what's the prize?" "That you won't feel sad anymore." Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow. That sounded like a bogus prize if she'd ever heard one. Like when they played hoofball in class and Ms. Cheerilee told them they were all winners as long as they had fun, but everyone knew there was only one real winner. "Alright, so what's the question?" May as well get this stupid game over with, she thought. "Your teacher doesn't trust you, your friends pity you, your sister hates you--" "Not hearing a question." "--and when you go back, nothing will have changed," the light continued, ignoring her interruption. "They'll all look at you and still see nothing but a failure. I can't change how they feel... but I can change how you do." Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" "I can take away your feelings. Your doubts, your fears, your insecurities... They can all disappear. You wouldn't have a care in the world." "Wait." Sweetie Belle held up a hoof to pause the explanation. "You said you can take away my feelings... what about the good ones? Like happiness? Or love? Would those go away too?" "Well, everything comes with a price," the light replied. "But how many of those happy feelings do you have? I'd say the price is more than fair in this case. So, Sweetie Belle. The question is, 'do you want to feel this way?'" Sweetie put a hoof to her chin in thought. Was it worth it? It was certainly true that her sorrow outweighed her joy, but to give up both... A minute passed. Then another. The little blue light waited patiently for Sweetie Belle to make up her mind. Then, when it had seemed as though she had turned to stone... "No." Sweetie Belle lifted her chin and looked at the light in sadness as her eyes shimmered with approaching tears. "No, I don't want to feel this way anymore."
What Are Friends For?“'Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You've been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.'" -- E. B. White, Charlotte's Web ~ ~ ~ "Sweetie!" Rarity shouted with a hoarse voice. She had lost sight of her sister hours ago, and had been roaming the streets of Ponyville calling out for her since. "Sweetie Belle! Where are you?!" Luna's night had fallen fast. The dim light of the lampposts softly lit Rarity's surroundings as the ponies returned to their homes for the night. Lovers walked side by side, sharing their warmth with each other. Exhausted parents guided their energetic foals with kind words and gentle nudges. If only she had shown Sweetie Belle such compassion earlier, then maybe... "Hey, big sis!" Rarity turned towards the voice, hope soaring in her chest. "Sweetie Bel--" Her hope plummeted as a filly Rarity didn't know ran past her, only to stop beside a young mare up ahead. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. How could she have messed up so much, she wondered. Why was she so bad at being a sister? "Hey big sis, do you think I'll be as talented as you someday?" Sweetie Belle... "Rarity? What's wrong?" Fluttershy had snuck up on her while she wasn't looking. She looked like she was on the verge of crying too, just from seeing Rarity's tears. Rarity wiped them away with a hoof and a sniffle. It wouldn't do to make Fluttershy cry; her conscience was guilty enough. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I made a mistake." Rarity didn't know why she was apologizing to her. Fluttershy wasn't the one she hurt. "Oh... Well, um, as long as you fix it, then you can still be happy. Right?" Leave it to Fluttershy. Somehow, without knowing any of the details, she knew exactly what to say. Of course they could still have a happy ending! There was no doubt in her mind that Rarity had failed at being a big sister, but that didn't mean she had to keep failing. She had to find Sweetie Belle and put things right, for both their sakes. "Fluttershy... Thank you." Rarity pulled her into a hug, producing a cute little "eep" from her friend. "I promise I'll fix it, so we can all be happy." She didn't respond, merely electing to return Rarity's hug. A sudden boom shook the earth, sending both of them sprawling. She heard Fluttershy gasp, looking at something over her shoulder as the entire town became bathed in an eerie blue light. Rarity turned, and quickly saw why. A bright blue beam of magical energy was being shot into the sky, somewhere out of the Everfree Forest. A feeling of dread washed over Rarity as she continued to gaze at it. Sweetie Belle was over there, she knew it. She could feel it. "Fluttershy, I have to go," Rarity said as she got back on her hooves. "But first, can you do a favor for me?" ~ ~ ~ Rainbow Dash sat at the window of her cloud home as she watched the magical light show. The energy made her hair stand on end, sending a shiver down her spine. She didn't know what was happening, but she knew it wasn't good. Energy like that never lead to good things. Dash blinked as she noticed a pegasus approaching from the direction of Ponyville. "Fluttershy...? "Woah!" Rainbow threw herself sideways just as Fluttershy came barreling through the window. She landed with a light poof on the cloud floor, completely exhausted and panting for breath. "Hey, Flutters', you alright?" Rainbow asked, swooping to her side. "Speak to me!" Fluttershy took a few moments to catch her breath. Her wings were shaking from overexertion, with feathers jutting out all over the place. What could have made her fly so hard, Rainbow Dash wondered. "Rarity... needs... our... help..." she finally managed to say between pained gasps. Of course she did. How? How did these things always seem to happen to her and her friends? Rainbow looked back outside. The light was gone, no traces of it to be seen. Oh well, there was no use whining about it. She offered her hoof to help Fluttershy up, determination burning in her eyes. "Tell me everything." ~ ~ ~ Apple Bloom had watched the light from her bedroom window until it finally faded from sight. The afterimage still burned in her retinas as she pondered all the possibilities for the light's origin. Witches? Mad scientists? The Occult? The more crazy ideas that popped into her head, the more she wanted to go out there and find out the truth. A rapid knocking at the front door distracted Apple Bloom from her thoughts. Who in the hay would come knocking this late? She hopped off her bed and headed out of her room and down the hall to the stairs, until the front door came into view. Apple Bloom knelt there at the top step as Applejack opened it for Rainbow Dash. "Hey, Rainbow. Little late for a visit, ain't it?" "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. I wouldn't have come unless it was really super important." Applejack sighed. "Let me guess. This got somethin' to do with that weird blue light that went off a few minutes ago. Right?" "Hehe," she chuckled dryly. "You nailed it." "So, any idea what set it off?" "I guess Rarity thinks it has something to do with Sweetie Belle." What? Sweetie Belle was connected to that light somehow? Sudden worry for her friend felt like a weight in Apple Bloom's chest. "Rarity's already gone ahead to the forest," Rainbow continued. "She sent Fluttershy to get me, you, Pinkie, and Twilight." "Wait, are you tellin' me Rarity is in that forest alone right now?" "Don't worry, Fluttershy made her Pinkie Promise that she would wait for us," Rainbow assured her. "Otherwise I would have flown ahead to get her myself." "Well, that's good at least." She turned to head up the stairs, causing Apple Bloom to scurry behind the wall. "Ah'll be ready to go in a minute, first I gotta tell Apple Bloom where Ah'm off to, and then--" "Are you sure that's a good idea?" The stairs creaked as Applejack stopped walking. "What do ya mean?" The question almost sounded threatening. Rainbow Dash didn't heed her tone as she explained, "Telling Apple Bloom that her best friend may be in mortal danger; are you sure that's the right thing to do? I know if I heard that, nothing would stop me from following them, no matter how dangerous it might be." AJ said nothing for a long time. Apple Bloom stared at the faded wallpaper in front of her, not daring to breath as the silence between them stretched on. "Of course tellin' her that her best friend is in danger is the right thing to do..." Applejack finally spoke softly. "But... maybe, just this once, doin' the wrong thing is better. Ah know she would go after her, even after Ah tell her no. That's just the kind of friend she is." Applejack... "...Let's go," she said with all the conviction she could muster. Apple Bloom sat there until she heard the screen door close, and then she continued to sit. Her sister had just left to go save her best friend, without telling her anything. She didn't know whether to be angry or sad at that. She finally settled on a mixture of the two as she stood. Damn straight she would go after Sweetie Belle! If her friend really needed help, she would never forgive herself for sitting inside and doing nothing. It was time for this filly to make a stand. Buck the consequences. Applebloom bounded out of the front door and leaped over the porch steps. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Hey, wait up!" She skidded to a halt and turned to see her other best friend emerge from the darkness. "Scootaloo? what the hay were ya doin' around the side of mah house?" "I've been throwing rocks at your window for like five minutes," she said accusingly. "When you didn't come out I tried a bigger rock, but I think that just broke your window." "Scootaloo!" "Hey, you're the one that wasn't in your room! Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. Like finding out what that crazy light was all about!" Her wings buzzed excitedly as she leaped at the thought of adventure. Applebloom sighed in defeat. "Well, at least Ah'm ahead of you there." Scootaloo stopped jumping and looked at her quizzically. "Huh?" ~ ~ ~ Three friends were gathered outside the Everfree Forest in the dead of night. Twilight read a book while Applejack had her lasso around Rainbow dash's tail as she tried to fly into the dark forest. They were arguing at the same time about whether to wait for the others or not. As soon as Rainbow realized Rarity had broken her Pinkie Promise and gone into the forest alone, it was all AJ could do to stop her from going in herself. Twilight felt the same as Rainbow Dash, but she knew running in blindly wouldn't help the situation. The best thing she could do for them until the others arrived was to find out what that light was. That's why she was now nose deep in a book titled Ancient Magics and Lore. "Dammit, AJ, let me go! I gotta go help her!" Rainbow Dash pleaded again, only to feel another tug on her tail. "Ah know. Don't yah think Ah feel the same way? But we need to wait for Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie." "Just think," Twilight added, "what if you needed to use the Elements of Harmony in there? Like it or not, we have to wait for everyone." "Rarity could be dead by the time they get here! Let GO!" A sudden burst in Rainbow's strength caused AJ to be pulled forward a few feet like a plow, leaving a long trough behind her. She replanted her hooves for a better grip. "Stop bein' a drama queen, that's Rarity's job." "Oh my, what happened?" Fluttershy touched down a good distance from the two playing tug of war, Pinkie Pie hopping along behind her. "Where's Rarity? Wasn't she going to wait for us?" "Nope. She broke her Pinkie Promise, and now she's probably being chewed on by some inter-dimensional space creature, and we're sitting around here like it's Hearth's Warming Eve or something!" Rainbow Dash's frustration was turning into anger, causing Fluttershy to make herself smaller. Twilight just frowned. "Well we're all here now, so we may as well head out," she decided, slipping her book into her saddlebag. "I just wish I had been able to find out what that light was first. I don't like walking in without a plan." "Here's the plan," Rainbow explained, already halfway to the tree line. "We save Sweetie Belle, we save Rarity, and we crush anything that tries to get in our way." "I like it," Pinkie exclaimed as she bounced along after her. "It's simple, and easy to remember... like cupcakes!" "Can't argue with that," AJ chuckled. "Oh, I hope we make it in time." Twilight had a sinking feeling in the pit her stomach as she followed her friends, but she tried to hide her anxiety for their sakes. "Me too, Fluttershy. Me too." ~ ~ ~ Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked side by side through the dense undergrowth of the Everfree Forest. The darkness around them was so oppressing they could barely see their own hooves, let alone the path. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Apple Bloom asked for the third time. Scootaloo groaned. "Yes, for the thousandth time, I'm sure. I was watching the light when it vanished, so I know exactly where it is." "So was Ah, but Ah'm still lost." "That's only because you don't have my awesome sense of direction." She could feel her eyes roll as she replied, "Yeah, right." Scootaloo stopped moving, halting Apple Bloom with a hoof. "Hey, shh. Do you hear that?" She swiveled her ears around, trying to hear what Scootaloo was hearing. "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom recognized the voice first. "That sounds like Rarity! That must mean the others are nearby. Come on!" The two started galloping through the darkness toward the shouts. They grew louder and more intelligible as they approached. "Sweetie Belle! Come back home, please! Why won't you listen?! Sweetie Belle!" The light from Luna's moon stung their eyes as they emerged from the darkness. The stark silhouette of a crumbling castle met their sight, but it was the two ponies in the foreground that immediately caught their attention. Sweetie Belle was halfway across a rope bridge that spanned the width of a chasm, walking away from Rarity who stood with all four hooves on solid ground. Her pleas seemingly fell on deaf ears as Sweetie Belle got further and further away. "Rarity!" Scootaloo called to her as they ran up. "Girls?! what on earth are you doing out-- Oh, never mind. I can't get through to Sweetie Belle, there's something wrong with her!" "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom shouted at the top of her lungs. Sweetie stopped for a moment and looked back at them. But it was only for a moment, and then she went back to walking away. Apple Bloom's eyes went wide as she tried to comprehend what she'd just seen. "What in the name of Celestia..." "You saw it, too?" Rarity asked. "Saw what? What is it?" "Her eyes..." Apple Bloom whispered. "Their... Blue. Like ice." "Gah, who cares what color her eyes are!" Scootaloo fumed. "We can fix that later! Right now we just need to get her back to Ponyville!" "Have ya tried goin' out there an' just pickin' her up?" Apple Bloom asked, turning to Rarity. "Of course I have," she replied defensively. "But when I got close, she threatened to cut the bridge and kill us both--" "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom and Rarity both turned to see Scootaloo racing across the rickety bridge towards her friend, much to their horror. "Scootaloo!" "Come back!" Their cries were just as ineffective as before, leaving them to helplessly watch whatever happened next as they sent silent prayers to Luna and Celestia. Scootaloo was already past the halfway point by the time Sweetie Belle reached the other side. "I don't care what's wrong with you!" she shouted angrily, tears stinging her eyes. "Do you know why?! Because we're going to bring you back home! And then we're going to cure you! And then we'll play together everyday, and we'll go on so many crusades, that you'll never, ever be sad again!" Sweetie Belle finally turned around, when Scootaloo was mere seconds from barreling into her. In that split second, their eyes locked, and she felt an immeasurable sadness in that moment. Her friend's eyes were indeed blue, but that wasn't what made Scootaloo sad. It was the look behind the eye. It was as though a stranger were looking at her through those eyes. Sweetie Belle's horn glowed with that same icy blueness, and then the sound of snapping ropes filled the air. Scootaloo could no longer feel rickety planks of wood beneath her hooves, and for a fleeting instant, she allowed herself to believe she was flying. Reality came all too soon. Scootaloo fell, the disinterest on Sweetie Belle's face her last sight, and her friends pained shrieks her last sound. A stillness settled over her mind as she understood her demise. All that was left was to close her eyes as that final darkness embraced her.
