Whatever Happened to Pinkie?

by 70monkies3eatchowder6

Rating: mature
Tags: Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 40976

It's been 6 months since Pinkie Pie wandered into the Everfree Forest and disappeared. Now she's returned, but something is...off.

We were all saddened and horrified when Pinkie Pie disappeared in the Everfree Forest 6 months ago. We tried looking for her for months. After a while, we assumed she died. But then today, she just...came back, as though nothing happened. I can't put my hoof on it. Something just isn't right.

Published 2014-10-06 03:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2017-02-01 05:04:46 UTC

Day 1

I look out at the horizon, thinking. I can't get my mind off Pinkie. Some days have been like that. Adjusting to her absence has been hard for everypony. She was beloved by everypony in Ponyville. I had decided to take a break from my studies today to speak with AJ a little. I had wanted to see if she could help me get things off my mind. She had helped, gave me some of that good farm pony honesty but... I can't stop thinking about Pinkie, about what happened, about the way it happened. The whole nature of it was so odd and unexpected.

I had come outside just a few moments ago to enjoy Celestia's work. Her sunsets are always beautiful. I had thought that it might distract me from my nagging mind, but even the sun is failing that. AJ probably thinks I'm odd, to say the least, for hanging on her fence staring out this late in the evening. I stretch out my wings and try to relax.

Six months. It makes no sense. Pinkie knew about a special flower that only grew in the Everfree Forest. Only she knew where it was, and she thought they would be the perfect present for Fluttershy's birthday. A singing flower, one of a kind, beauty in multiple ways. Pinkie had said that Fluttershy would "absamolutely love it." I had agreed. The flower sounded amazing. I had offered to help Pinkie gather them at the time, but Pinkie refused. She had said that it was an amazing flower and as the official party planner for Fluttershy, she was going to deliver a bouquet of these personally herself. It was stupid of me. I shouldn't have let her go by herself like that. She knew, and I know that it's dangerous to go alone. If only I had stopped her.

AJ approaches me, walks out next to me on the fence.

"Still bothered about it?" she says.

"Yeah. I just can't help thinking it's my fault, AJ. I should have said something. I should have stopped her."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You didn't know, and we were all responsible for what happened to Pinkie if that's the case. We all know how dangerous the forest is."

AJ puts her arm around me in a hug. It's comforting. It's needed. It helps me relax a little, but it doesn't ease my mind.

"It's just not right. Nothing about it is right."

"We went over this, sugarcube. It doesn't feel right for any o' us, but it is what happened, and it don't change the past."

"But it doesn't add up."

"I know."

"But it makes no-"

"What are ya tryin' to say, Twilight? That we need to bring back the search parties? Do 'nother investigation? Search again?"

"It seems like the only right thing to do. She was our friend, AJ."

"Was, Twilight. Was. It ain't healthy what you're doin'. She's gone. I know it don't make sense, but ya have to accept it, or you'll drive yerself crazy. We've investigated this to death. We searched all over Everfree. There's no sign o' nothin'. Even Celestia herself helped you look, and nothin' came up."

I throw up my hooves. "That's just it. It makes even less sense that they couldn't find her. Pinkie is the Element of Laughter and Celestia has a special connection with all of the elements. It's as though both Pinkie and her element just vanished off the face of Equestria. Doesn't that bother you?"

A loud slam on the fence throws me off balance. I jerk back. Her face is red and her lips are trembling. I look at her and she refuses to break her focus on the sunset. We both share silence. I don't dare interrupt it. Finally, the anger fades.

"Oh course it bothers me." She says it softly. "She could have been family, Twilight. And even if she wasn't, she was. We never found out." She takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

"It's tempting to keep searching for her, Twilight. It's a might tempting to keep lookin', but that's how a pony goes crazy. Better to just drop it and move on."

"But...you haven't moved on either."

"At least I'm trying."

I don't know what to say. She's right, but I suppose that's kind of her thing. But, what if there was more we could have done? Six months ago she went into the forest and never returned. We found nothing. No footsteps. No hairs. No trace. Weeks and weeks of search parties in the forest, and...nothing.

If she ran away, she chose an odd time to do it, just before Fluttershy's birthday. That's not like her. If she did run away, why? What possible reason could she have had? Was she in trouble? After about three months of searching we had finally declared her dead. We held a funeral, but we never so much as found a body, let alone confirmed her actual death. Her family, I didn't think it was possible to be more sober than they already were, but they proved me wrong. They all shed quiet tears at the time. It was a disturbingly quiet funeral, especially for a pony who was so...excitable.

"I...miss her."

"Me too, sugarcube. Me too."

"Thanks for talking, Applejack."

"Anytime, Twi."

We say our goodbyes and I set for home. The sun is almost set now. On the way back to my palace, I keep thinking about her, about how Rainbow had it the hardest. She's still in denial of the way she felt. Her and Pinkie were especially close. I also keep going back to the big question. Why did this happen, and what if she is somehow...okay?

I'm still getting used to my palace. It's larger and roomier than I'm used to. I mean, I appreciate the Elements of Harmony for giving me a new place to live, but it's kind of isolated and lonely. I still have Spike, of course, and I still have my books. It's just ironic that a palace of friendship can be so empty. In either case, I climb into bed. It's late and I have much to do. Spike is already asleep. Little dragon, he works so hard. Owlowiscious is out somewhere. Sometimes, he'll go out and get himself a dinner snack before returning to assist me with my research. Either way, the day's been rough and I have a long one ahead of me. I hop into bed, turn out the light and relax. Some time passes. and I relax more. I feel myself getting heavy. Everything is cloudy...

My eyelids flip open, but my body is frozen. It is now nearly pitch dark out. Something is wrong. I just instinctively feel that way. I look up. I can't tell what time of night it is but it has to be late. In my ears, I hear this weird, faint humming sound. It's just this strange buzz. I turn my eyes to the left and then I see it, in the corner of my room. It looks like a dark silhouette, an outline of a pony. It's too far to make out, but it's getting closer. It's pink. Pink? Pinkie Pie? Is that you?

I try to open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I cannot move a muscle. I begin to try to move myself out of it, to scream, to move. Nothing is working. It's Pinkie alright. She's hunched over and smiling. She approaches me in a staggered manner, moving unnaturally between bouts of slow rocking and alarming speed. Finally she is mere feet away from me. She smiles. And then I hear her, but her voice is in my head.

"It's okay, Twilight. I'm smiling, and I want to see you smile, too."

She just stands there, smiling, and slowly her smile grows. It just keeps widening and widening. Her face itself warps to accommodate the growing grin. The smile stretches unnaturally past her nose, past her eyes and wider still. It is a joyless grin. I can't describe it. Her eyes penetrate through me, and past me. She giggles, but it isn't her usual Pinkie giggle. It almost sounds artificial, doll-like.

"Smile, smile, smile." Pinkie's voice taunts me.

I hear the giggle again. The giggle grows into outright laughter, mad laughter, but I only hear the laughter in my head. Her face isn't laughing. She just keeps smiling at me with the grin.

Suddenly a bright light flashes, and she is gone. Once again, I'm able to move. I bolt upright immediately. I go to the bathroom. Grab a cup of water. My hooves quaver. I'm not sure what just happened, but it felt so real. I drink the water. Take a few deep breaths. I'm still exhausted. Spike is still out. Owlowiscious is back, but I'm too tired to speak to her and everypony in town already thinks I'm batty. I lay back in bed and try to relax, but it isn't easy. I begin to drift off...

I'm outside. I just left a social gathering, it's like a small school house or something made up of two buildings. The first has a large meeting area and people are slowly fanning out of it. I'm older, and I'm searching for something or someone. It starts to rain. I look everywhere I can, and people are slowly starting to leave. I search all around the meeting area and I find nothing. There's a basement in the schoolhouse but I'm not sure if it's locked. I ask one of the people to hold the door open to the meeting area for me, just in case she turns up. They protest, say they are about to leave. But I insist, just for a moment. The schoolhouse has two doors. I run to the closest one. It's locked. "Hold on," I call. "Keep the door open."

"I'm sorry, we can't wait any longer. We have to go." is the response back. I hear the door shut. It doesn't matter. I run out in the rain to the back entrance. The stairwell is on the outside of the building. The stairs travel underground to an old-looking wooden door. I try it. It's unlocked. I step a few more steps in and hear a sound. At first I think it's a whisper, but then I hear it again. A giggle. That giggle. I breathe inward and freeze. I attempt to call out but my voice is horse. Finally, I swallow and squeeze it out.

"Hello? Who's there?"

The giggle again. It seems to be coming from the left hallway. There is a small maze of hallways each with various classrooms. The floor is lined with mustard-yellow tiles and...and...

"Oh sweet Celestia."

In the leftmost hallway there are streaks of blood, like something was dragged across the floor leading to a door 2 doors down. The florescent lighting above flickers wildly. I approach slowly, quietly. If something is here that's going to attack me, I'm not about to let it know I'm here. I walk softly toward the second door. I pass the first door. The door is dark, closed. I get closer. I look into the second door. I see her. I see Pinkie. She's standing in the corner, her back to me. She's looking at something, like a body. I duck back. I don't think she saw me. All I can think is that I need a plan. I need to have a plan.

That's when I hear the first door creak open behind me. I spin around, and out creeps a small filly. She has the same mane style that I do, a blue coat and a cutie mark that is similar to mine but with subtle differences. Hers too is a 6 pointed star, but the center of it almost seems like it's scribbled. Her face has the same wide, unnatural smile that Pinkie had before.

"Hi mommy, Pinkie wants to play."

Mommy? Did she just say mommy?

I stammer, confused. What do I say to that? Her whole body twitches around like a ragdoll. I can't explain it, but there's nothing in all of Equestria that can move the way she's moving. The closest I can think is the way a moth twitches when exposed to the light.

I slowly back up. Then I hear the giggle again, right behind me. It's Pinkie. Her smile the same.

"Hiya Twilight. You ready to start smiling yet?"

I stand there, petrified. She stands motionless. Then, the buzzing returns, louder and louder. Pain surges to my head. I cover my ears.

"Please, stop. Stop!"

I bolt upright in bed and look at the clock. Six a.m. I shudder.

Author's Note

So I'm super stoked about this. Initially it was going to be a one-shot that I planned to release all before Halloween, but then it started getting bigger, so I've expanded it into chapters for "Days" and this way I don't have to worry if the entire thing isn't completed before Halloween rolls around. I'm almost finished with Day 2 already by the way, so w00t. And yes, things will be getting much darker from here.

Day 2

"Well. I am not going back to sleep." I say to nopony but myself. "Ever."

The morning air feels ice cold. I hold myself together and shivers travel all over my body. The window outside is open. I know I closed it last night. I start to panic, but then decide it was probably Owlowiscious back from a late night. I close the window and take a breath. The nightmares felt so real. It was as though for a moment I really had a daughter, and for a moment she really transformed into that. I struggle to push the image from my mind. I decide to go through my morning routine early. Nothing better to do right now. Amidst me brushing my teeth I hear a groggy voice.

"Ung. Twilight. You up already?"

"Mmhhmm."

The dragon rubs his eyes. "Everything OK?"

"Mmhmm." Thank Celestia for the toothbrush. I really don't feel like sharing. Don't want to traumatize the little guy.
He blinks a few times. Looks closer. Why does this dragon have to know me so well?

"You're sure?"

I roll my eyes to keep up the charade. "Mmhmm."

"Okay..."

He drifts back to sleep. I breathe out a sigh through my nose and spit. Then, I hear a knock. Odd. This time of the morning. I take a few slow steps to the door and open it with a creak. Outside is a figure with her head downcast.

"Rainbow?"

She looks up. "Hey, Twilight. Kind of had a rough night. Can we talk?"

I've never seen Rainbow looking so down. "Sure. Come in."

"No offense to Spike, but I kind of want to talk alone. Care for a flight?"

"Sure Rainbow. Of course. Everything okay?" She looks over her shoulder for a moment. She seems distracted. "Rainbow?"

"Wha?"

"I was just asking if you're okay."

"Aw geez. At this rate, I don't even know. Can we just fly?"

"Sure. Anything you want."

Dash takes off quickly but rather absentmindedly, wavering low past a few tree tops, seeming to put the minimum effort needed to watch where she is going. I struggle to keep up with her erratic flying.

"Rainbow, wait up!"

"She looks back at me and slows up. Oh. Sorry Twilight."

I finally catch up. "So what's the deal? What did you want to talk to me about?"

Dash stops midair and hovers. "I uh...let's go a little higher. I don't want anypony to overhear."

"Okay..."

We both ascend higher into the morning sky. I'm surprised by how high Dash takes us. After what seems like an eternity of flying upward, she stops. The air is thin and cold.

"Dash," I say. "Did we need to go this high?"

"Sorry," She says. "I just can't focus." She seems unusually insecure today. I'm not used to seeing this side of her.

"What's wrong, Dash?"

"Okay. Here goes. Twilight. If I tell you this, you have to absolutely promise me not laugh or tell anypony."

I shrug. "Okay."

"I mean it, Twilight!"

"Okay. I understand! It's not like I go around gossiping about other ponies!"

"Yeah. I know. That's why I wanted to talk to you about it."

"Okay. Well?"

"So...it's about Pinkie."

I feel a stone drop in my stomach. Pinkie. The nightmare floods back to me. I hesitate for a moment and hope Rainbow doesn't catch it. "Go on?"

"I thought I was over her...well you know, her passing. But now, I'm not so sure," She looks away from me and lands on a cirrus cloud. "I had a nightmare, Twilight. About her. I haven't had a nightmare for years and even when I have, well this was different. It was almost like I was looking into my future or something, only -- Oh god, Twilight. It can't be true. It can't be."

Tears form. Her eyes stare off, broken.

"What is it, Rainbow? What's wrong?" She sniffs.

"Look at me, Twilight. Bawling like a foal. All because of this stupid dream."

I force myself to fly in front of her despite my own reservations. I want to help her and I have to know. "Rainbow. What did you dream?"

She shudders. "I dreamt it was sometime in the future. I was a Wonderbolt. I was performing at a big event in Cloudsdale. We were soaring past. You were all there, cheering us on. All of you, as in Pinkie too. Scootaloo was there too. It was weird to see her as a teenager. We decided to take a turn and fly past the grandstands. Just as we flew by everyone, everything froze. You, AJ, Rarity, Fluttershy, you were all frozen, just cheering your hearts out, but Pinkie...she was moving. She had this huge, creepy smile all the way across her face. She called out my name. I couldn't move a muscle. I was just frozen in the air."

Dash wipes tears from her eyes, then continues. "Pinkie, she just reaches out her hoof. She reaches out toward Scootaloo. I try to yell not to touch her, but nothing comes out. She touches Scootaloo, and then something awful happens. Scootaloo's head just starts twitching around every which way real quickly. It's terrible to see, Twilight. Her head is moving so quickly I can't even see her face, and then it just...stops. And Scootaloo, she," Rainbow tries to control herself. She takes a breath, closes her eyes. "She had the same freakish smile that Pinkie had. I don't know why I dreamt that, Twilight. Why would I dream that?" Dash just breaks down into further tears. "What is wrong with me to dream of something so awful?"

"It's okay, Dash. Nothing is wrong with you." I hug Dash. "That sounds like a terrible dream."

"Oh you have no idea. If you had been there."

I hesitate. I want to tell her. I want to let her know she's not alone, but something inside of me makes me hold off. I have to protect this dream. I have to make sure nopony thinks there is something wrong with me. It's strange that we both had similar bad dreams, but no. I should tell her.

"Dash?"

"Yeah, Twilight?"

"I...can't begin to imagine how hard that dream was for you. You're not crazy. We all just underestimate how crazy our dreams can be."

"Heh, thanks Twilight." Dash sniffles one last time. "Thanks for listening. I knew I could trust you."

"Sure." I let out a sheepish smile. "Anytime."

I wait until she is out of sight, then lower myself into the trees. I don't know what to think. Dash just had a dream about Pinkie that was incredibly creepy and similar to mine. I don't know why I felt I couldn't tell her. It just felt like the wrong thing to do somehow. I fly back down toward town. Apparently, Dash flew us all the way nearby the Everfree Forest. I fly away from the forest, back toward town...The forest. I pause. I look toward it. I don't know what I'm looking for. All I know is there is a longing there. A longing to know. I fly away until I find Fluttershy's cottage. I lower myself. I wonder if Fluttershy has had any weird dreams? I knock lightly on her cottage door. No answer.

"Fluttershy?"

No answer. I knock again. I hear a faint grumble and a very soft "Coming." I have to strain myself to hear it.
I hear the sounds of multiple locks unlocking and a door opening slightly with just a little creak.

"Hello?" She says softly.

"Hey Fluttershy," I scratch my ear nervously. I didn't really think of how I was going to bring all this up without sounding crazy. "I hope I didn't wake you up?"

"Oh. No, no. Though it is a little early if you don't mind me saying so. What brings you here?"

"Well..." I begin. "This is going to sound strange, but I was just curious if you've had any bad dreams lately?"

Fluttershy shrugs. "You're right, that is a strange question. I can't say I have. Is something wrong Twilight?"

I blush a little. "Oh no no. Nevermind then. Just curious. Sorry to wake you. If you could do me a favor and not mention that I talked to you about this?"

"Sure Twilight. Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Yeah. Of course, just make sure you don't mention this to anypony."

"You have my word, Twilight."

I breathe a sigh of relief. Fluttershy keeps her word. ""Thank you Fluttershy, I'll let you rest now."

"Oh, well that's okay. I'm already up, so I'm probably not going to get back to sleep now anyway. May I come with you?"

"Sure! I could use a little company. Don't know where I'm going though."

Fluttershy smiles back. A soft smile. A normal smile. The two of us go for a walk in the general direction toward Applejacks's barn.

"So..." Fluttershy begins meekly. "Why don't you know where you are going?"

I walk for a little while and pause. "Well, I...guess I don't know. I wasn't planning on being up this early, but I had sleeping troubles."

Fluttershy walks with me calmly for a few moments and then her face scrunches. "Did you have a nightmare Twilight? Is that why you asked me this morning?"

"Well, yes." I nod. "I really don't want to talk about it though."

"Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't ask you to share that. To be honest, I'd kind of be afraid to hear it. You should speak with Luna about it. She would know what to do."

Of course. Luna. Why didn't I think of that? She looks at me, concern on her face.

"Are you sure you're alright, Twilight? You look really frazzled, if you don't mind me saying so. It must have been some dream."

I look down at the path I'm walking. "Luna...Yeah. Luna would be perfect! Thanks, Fluttershy, I'll be sure to do that."

I notice that we haven't moved very far from the Everfree Forest yet, and then I notice something even stranger, just on the outskirts. Fluttershy's animals, they're all gathered together but they are a bit away.

"Fluttershy? Do you see that?"

"See what, Twilight?" She looks at me. "Everything ok?"

"Your animal friends, why are they all gathered over there like that?"

"Hunh?"

We both approach the animals. They're all there, beavers, squirrels, bunnies, Mr. bear, and somehow it looks like Winona got loose and is over there as well. All of the animals just stare at the same spot in the Everfree. Winona won't stop looking. She just keeps whimpering.

"What are they doing, Fluttershy?"

"I...I don't know," she walks up to the animals. "Mr. bear? Um guys? Hello? What's wrong?" Fluttershy uses her caring parent voice to no avail. The animals just keep staring there like they see something. They look scared. "I don't understand," Fluttershy says.

We hear a voice calling in the distance. "Winona! Winona! Where in tarnation did you run off too?"

AJ is running toward our direction in the distance. She looks out of breath. She finally sees us. "Winona! What are you doin' all the way out here? You know better than to go near the forest! What do yall...hunh?"

All at once she senses the oddity of the situation. She sees Winona whimpering, the other animals paralyzed with fear. "What are yall lookin' at?"

"The animals just all gathered here and started acting this way," I shrug. "We have no idea." More and more animals join the group and stare off in the distance.

AJ narrows her eyes and stares outward. "I don't see nothin'. C'mon Winona." AJ reaches out her hoof and grabs Winona's collar. She doesn't budge. "I said c'mon!" AJ tugs harder and harder. I start to feel a pressure around my chest. She pulls with all her might until finally Winona topples on top of her. The other animals scatter and Winona starts barking wildly and gnashing her teeth at AJ.

"Whoa there, Winona! Easy, easy."

She's absolutely feral. She's wild, thrashing about, trying her hardest to bite AJ. I'm shaking. Fluttershy is trying her best to coo softly at her, to reassure her, when Winona flips around and tries to bite Fluttershy. I cast a quick spell to make her sleep. Her eyes shut. She drops to the ground, and resumes her whimpering.

"Fluttershy! Applejack! Are you okay?"

Fluttershy nods, terrified. AJ stands up and brushes herself off.

"Yeah...I'm alright." she mumbles.

"What just happened?"

"More importantly, Twilight, what did ya just do ta Winona?"

"Don't worry, AJ. She's just sleeping. But I mean, Applejack. She just tried to bite you and Fluttershy. What are you going to do with her?"

"Oh, don't worry about her. She was jest scared."

Fluttershy is still shaking. I look over at her and back to AJ. "I don't know, AJ. I've never seen her like that."

A quiet voice speaks up behind me. "Has...has she had all of her shots, Applejack?"

"Of course she has! What kind of question is that? I'm tellin' ya, she jest got scared is all!"

"What happens if she's still scared when she wakes up?"

AJ pauses and thinks it over. "I s'pose yall have a point. We got a kennel for her, but I'd hate to put her into it. I still don't know why she wandered off though. She's never done that before."

"Well, we better get her back. I'll help you out. I'm not really sure what else to do about this."

"I'm coming too." Fluttershy says. "I want to be there for her when she wakes up."

AJ sighs. "Thanks, Fluttershy. I don't like what jest happened. The Everfree forest of all places."

We get Winona back home, set her in the kennel. Fluttershy chooses to sleep next to her. As soon as I drop her off I race back to the palace so I can write a letter to the Princesses. They absolutely need to know what's going on. Something is...very off. I don't know what, but I'm starting to get really uncomfortable with everything, my dream, Rainbow's dream, and now this. I don't like it. I hope they have some ideas. I get home a little weary for the time of day.

"Hey Twilight. How are things?"

"Good Spike. I need you to take a letter."

"You got it."

"Dear Princess Celestia: things are strange here in Ponyville. I've had the strangest dream I ever had and was wondering if Luna was around to investigate. The details of the dream are personal, but I was hoping I could get her assistance in figuring it out. In addition, several animals in the area began collecting in one place and staring at the Everfree Forest for no real reason. Applejack's dog, Winona was among them. AJ went to get her dog and she would not budge. Suddenly, Winona turned on Applejack and tried to bite her and Fluttershy."

"Wait. What?" Spike looks up with a wild face.

"Focus Spike! This is important." He makes a worried grunt-like sound then resumes.

"I used a spell to pacify her and she seems calm now. I know it does not seem exactly pressing, but I'm really not sure what to do. Winona would never try to do that normally. Applejack believes that something just spooked her, but I'm not so sure. I've never seen her like that. It's like she was a different animal. Please respond back at your earliest convenience. I know some of this almost seems silly, but I could really use your advice."
Spike finishes catching up on his writing. "Anything else?"

"Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike raises an eyebrow, but writes it.

"Send it."

A puff of green flame and the message is off. Then, Spike turns to me. "So, when were you planning on telling me about this?"

"Spike, it just happened."

"What? Is Winona okay?"

"Yeah, as far as I know. Fluttershy and Applejack are with her."

Spike glares at me. "You left her alone...with the two ponies who she just a few moments ago tried to bite?"

"Well yeah...but Winona's not going to hurt anypony."

"Twilight, I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but think. She just tried to hurt not one, but two ponies. Whatever is going on with Winona, she's not herself. Are you really sure that a sleep spell is enough to prevent her from biting again if she's still acting weird when she wakes up?"

"I'm sure AJ and Fluttershy have it handled."

He lays one eye directly on me. "You mean like they did when you used the sleep spell?"

"She's in a kennel, Spike. They'll be fine."

He shifts in place. "I hope you're right."

I shift in place. My eyes drift up, thinking. "Spike, would it make you feel better if I went back over there and helped watch over everypony?"
He nods his head up and down.

"Okay, then I'll--"

I'm interrupted by a loud green belch and a scroll in my face.

"That was quick," Spike says. I unravel the scroll.

"My dear Princess Twilight. You should never feel that an issue is non-pressing or non-important to me. Thank you for taking the time to write. Unfortunately, in regards to your dreams, I'm afraid Luna is unavailable to help. Last night, I went to wake her for her shift, and she did not wake. She has stayed asleep since then. Up until now, I figured she was just exhausted, but I too am starting to worry.

Please visit me as soon as possible regarding these events, though if you are trying to handle things there at Ponyville, I understand. I fear what has happened to Luna may somehow be related to what is going on there at Ponyville. As always, thank you for keeping me informed.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia."

I look over to Spike, unsure what to do. I think he senses the pleading in my eyes. "You're going to go visit the Princess, aren't you?"

I nod. "I have to see what this is about."

"Well...If you're going to do that, then somepony needs to check on Winona."

"I think AJ and Fluttershy have that handled, Spike. Besides, if something happens, I need you to stay safe. You're the only one who can keep me informed if more weird stuff starts to happen."

Now he's the one pleading. "Twilight, please. I'm really worried about them."

I think it over. "Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I understand, Spike. Be back here before it gets dark though. I've got an uneasy feeling about everything going on here. I'm not sure what's happening."

Spike smiles and salutes. "You can count on me, Twilight."

He runs out the door. "I know I can Spike. I always do."

I begin packing my things. I figure I can meet up with everypony in a few minutes and explain what has happened and then I'll be on my way to the castle. I try to pack light. In the midst of my packing, I'm startled by a distant sound, but it is slowly getting closer. It sounds like screaming. Wild, high-pitched, almost panicked screaming. I open my door to look outside and what I see is honestly the last thing I suspect.

It's...Snails...Snails from the school, but he doesn't seem at all like himself. He's thrashing about wildly, throwing his whole body around and screaming. Three local police ponies are holding and restraining him. He flails his hooves and hits the other police ponies. He looks like he's fighting them, trying to make his way toward me.

"Snails...what's wrong? Snails!" My shouts don't even register to him. He just keeps batting and throwing his elbows at the officers. "Snails!"

He stops and looks at me, stares in my direction. "Hey Twilight..." he says. He smiles, then he begins just bashing his face into the ground over and over and over. I scream at him to stop, but he doesn't listen. Finally, with blood pouring down his face and in his mouth, he spits in my face. I stagger backwards. I feel sick to my stomach. Then he says it. "Don't forget to smile." He grins and lets the police carry him away.

"Sorry, Princess," the police ponies say. "We're not sure what happened. According to his classmates, he started screaming and kicking like this around lunchtime and hasn't stopped until...well until now."

"Don't forget to smile, Twilight!" He shouts it back to me again. I freeze. I don't know what else to do. I know I should clean off the blood, but I can't bring myself to move, after what had just happened...after what he just said. I shudder. I grow cold, and finally after what seems like an eternity, I bring myself to re-enter the palace. I clean myself up and pack, and I do it quickly.

I meet up with the girls at the train station, and tell everypony what's happened. Well, not everything. Not my dream. Not rainbow's dream, but everything else. I don't want to plant ideas into everypony's mind or cause a panic or anything. Rarity is the first to speak her mind.

"Are you quite sure you don't want us to come with you, my dear?" She says. "We can help you sort things out as well?"
I shake my head.

"No thank you Rarity. I need you all to keep an eye on Ponyville. Something's amiss. I can't put my hoof on it, but something's up. I need you all to stay in town and keep your eyes peeled for anything odd."

Rainbow looks back at me. "Do ya...you know, need to go tonight?" Her eyes are watching the sun. It's around 4 p.m. now. I know what's on her mind. I know she's thinking about her nightmare, about what she may dream tonight. I know because the same fears are in the back of my mind.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow, but the sooner I get there, the sooner maybe I can find out what exactly is going on here."

"Oh, I mean, it's no biggie. Come back when you can. We got you covered, Twilight." She gives me a confident nod, but I know better. I worry for Rainbow.

"We'll miss ya," AJ says. "Get back on over here soon, will ya?"

I smile. "Of course."

I of course could fly to Celestia, but the train is quicker and I need to save my energy. When I'm on the train, I try really hard not to think about what has happened so far, but the ride is uneventful...so it doesn't work. My thoughts go to immediately trying to process what happened to Snails. It was completely unexpected, completely unlike him. I've never seen Snails like that. I've heard of some ponies with mental problems acting out violently, but Snails has never done anything like that before, has he?

I push the idea as far to the back of my mind as I can but it just comes back. What if I dream tonight again? I know that the short answer to that question is that I just deal with it. I wish it were that simple though. I've never had a dream quite so realistic. Why did that filly with the scribbles on her cutie mark call me her mommy? And I know that Pinkie Pie would never behave this way normally. Is she trying to tell me something? What if it is something different altogether, some kind of monster something? And why has Luna been asleep this whole time? Something is very very wrong and I need to know what's going on.

I arrive in Canterlot without any further surprises. I offer to visit Princess Luna when I get there but Celestia politely declines. She requests that I let her rest for just one more night just to see if it changes anything. I understand.

By now it is mid evening and Celestia offers me dinner . I had not realized until now but I haven't eaten anything all day. I guess today's events have totally thrown me off. I happily and greedily accept her offer. It is a delicious three course meal with a daffodil salad, roasted eggplant Parmesan, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. I tell her all about today's events during our meal. I even share my dream with her. With each sentence I utter, her eyebrows tighten more and more.

"I see," she finally utters. "It sounds like the work of some dark entity. We have to be on our guard. I will leave you to rest Twilight, and I will see how my sister is faring in the morning."

" I understand Princess, thank you."

"And thank you, Princess Twilight, for alerting me to the situation. Perhaps we'll be able to figure out yet what is going on. Goodnight."

The Princess takes her leave, and that last word hits me like a manticore charging full speed. Goodnight. It is night time. Early night, but night. Which means I have to...try to sleep again.

I retire to my old study. Lots of memories here. It's a place of comfort. I didn't really pack much because I thought I'd be back in Ponyville before nightfall. I'm kicking myself now for it. What I wouldn't do for my toothbrush. I swish some water and plop into bed. I really am exhausted. I guess I didn't exactly have a restful sleep last night. I always enjoyed the night here. The telescope couldn't be in a more perfect place. It's such a joy to watch the stars, but not tonight. My eyelids get heavy. I close my eyes and a few moments pass, but I'm still restless. I wait for a while, then climb back out of bed.

I pace for a bit, then walk over toward the mirror. I look tired. I know I need sleep. I stare into the mirror a bit longer, but then a smile slowly grows on my reflection, wider and wider, unnaturally wide. I jolt back, far enough from the mirror to not see my face. A stare at the mirror on the dresser for moments. Those moments grow to minutes and I finally work up the courage to get closer. Something is written in what looks like black oil on the mirror:

"Eyth dame em milse."

I study it closer. "Eyth dame em milse? What does that mean?"

The mirror cracks right down the middle. I jump back again.

"What the?" I hear the doll-like giggle. I turn around and Pinkie is in front of my bed, smiling her sick smile. I hear her voice in my head again.

"Smile, smile, smile, Twililght! Eyth dame ym reas zuzb."

I'm frozen again. Her stare pierces my soul. She gets closer and closer and the ringing returns to my ears. It gets louder and louder. I cover my ears.

"Please! Make it stop!" The ringing amplifies more and more until I feel like my ears are going to explode. Then it simply stops. In fact, everything becomes silent. The typical sounds of the night are gone. No crickets. No bullfrogs. Nothing. I look up. Pinkie is gone.

"What is going on?" I ask out loud, only I don't hear myself talk. I try to scream, but I again hear nothing. I notice something on the bed. It's a small onesie, the kind used for small foals when they are first born. It looks familiar. Attached is a note written in oil.

"Did you forget, Twilight?"

I stare at the note for a few moments, studying it and the onesie, trying to understand what it means, and then I...no.

It can't mean...no.

No, no, no no no. Not that. Anything but that. I hold myself together and push the thoughts as far from my mind as I can. I try again to scream and nothing, but the buzzing comes back. Louder and louder...

I wake up. Look at the clock. 3 a.m. I refuse to sleep again tonight. Maybe I'll just watch the stars.

*****

"Winona? What are you doing in there?"

It is midnight and Applebloom comes down for a midnight snack. She had tried to resist but she was restless and hungry. She had planned to just sneak an apple up to bed. Spike had gone back home, her sister had gone to her room and Fluttershy had insisted on staying with Winona until she woke up. Fluttershy, however, had awoken a little early the night before and now lay softly snoring next to the kennel.

"I wonder why Fluttershy is sleeping over there?" Applebloom says rhetorically. She looks into the kennel, sees Winona resting softly, and decides that she knows exactly what she needs to comfort her restless mind. She unlocks the kennel.

"Here, sweetie," she coos. The dog numbly gets up and follows her to her room.

Author's Note

FYI you guys I'm loving this story so far. Next Day will be a bit more of a wait with real life in the way, but enjoy this in the meantime.

Day 3 (Ponyville)

Applebloom awakes with a start. The sun is just peering over the horizon. She always loves the sunrise. At Sweet Apple Acres, the hills and apple trees in the distance frame everything perfectly. She smiles at the warm feeling of the sunlight on her bed. She doesn't have her usual chores to do this morning, so she had planned to sleep in, but something else had awoken her. She looks around the room and notices Winona staring at her.

"Hey girl? What is it?"

Winona stares a few moments more, then turns around and heads toward the door.

"Seriously? This early? You have to pee already?"

Applebloom grumbles about the coldness of the outside this time of morning, grabs her bow, and follows Winona outside.

"Please girl, make this quick. I wanna go back to bed."

Winona walks outside. She doesn't sniff. She walks toward the fence and then makes a break for it. She begins digging underneath it.

"Winona! Bad girl! You know better than to dig under there!"

Applebloom runs and tries to catch up to her, but Winona succeeds in her digging and crawls under the fence.

"Winona, come back here!"

Applebloom opens the fence and charges after her.

"Winona? What are you doing?"

Winona continues to run full speed toward the Everfree Forest. Applebloom tries her best to keep up, but her little legs grow tired.

"Winona, wait up, will ya?"

Applebloom runs up to the top of a hill in time to see her go into the forest.

"You trying ta tell me something, girl?"

She slows down her pace and walks slowly into the forest. "Alright Applebloom, you can do this. Ya need ta get Winona back. I'm sure she just got excited is all." She takes a breath and begins walking.

The rooster crows bright and early. Applejack's eyes slowly lift. She rubs the drool off her face with her hoof.

"Welp," she says. "Guess it's 'bout time I got some breakfast going."

She mumbles as she walks down the hallway past her sister's open door. Her eyes glance by the empty bed.

"Hunh, sister's up already? That don't happen often. Wonder what that filly's up ta?"

She creaks down the steps toward the kitchen. "Hey Applebloom!" She calls out. "Did ya get breakfast already? Whatcha hungry for?"

She hears no response, but Fluttershy groggily looks up. "Oh, what time is it, Applejack?"

Applejack points to the sun. "Sunrise," she pauses for a moment before adding, "Sorry ta wake ya. Have ya seen Applebloom? I just can't imagine where that filly has run off to."

Fluttershy stretches out a little. "Oh, no, I'm sure though that wherever she is, she's behaving herself and everything is just..."

AJ yawns. "Just what?"

Fluttershy's eyes dilate and tremble. Her mouth drops and quivers. "AJ...I...I'm sorry. Oh. I'm so, so sorry."

"What is it? What are ya on about?"

Fluttershy points to the open kennel. "I'm sorry AJ. I stayed here all night, but I fell asleep. She must have gotten out when she was gone."

AJ's face turns pale. "We got ta find Applebloom!"

Applejack charges out the door with Fluttershy trailing a little behind her. She sees the gate to the pen outdoors. She sees the hole where Winona dug. "I'm coming, Applebloom," she says. "Jest gotta find ya." AJ sees a fresh set of hoof-prints and paw-prints heading straight in one direction.

"Fluttershy, look at these tracks! Do you realize where they lead?"

Fluttershy looks for a second, then looks up. "No. Not there! Not the forest...Anything but that."

"We have to find her now. I'm not about to let what happened to Pinkie happen to her."

Fluttershy nods to Applejack and together they race to the forest.

Applebloom shakes as she watches the trees sway in the forest. She remembers the last time she was here with Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell, how she had mocked the forest. At the time, she had only faced a Cockatrice, and Fluttershy had stepped in to protect her. Now she is alone, and she has never felt that way more in her life.

"Winona?" Her voice is greeted by emptiness and the occasional sounds of the woods. "Come here, girl." Applebloom tries not to let her voice quiver as she speaks. She tries to hold her ground and stand confident, but more and more she shakes as she walks. She isn't as naive as she was the last time she was here. She knows exactly the sort of creatures that lurk here, none of them pleasant. Most of them terrifying.

"Winona!" She hollers out, "Where in the hay have you gone off to? Aw gee, sis is going to kill me if I can't get Winona back." An idea bounces off the tip of her head. "Hey wait a minute, I wonder if Zecora is nearby? Maybe she could help me look for her!"

All at once she hears something. It is so distant that her ears barely pick up on it. She hears the distant sound of barking and howling.

"Winona!" The word bursts out of her. She charges with all her heart and all her might toward the sound and then something makes her slow her pace.

As she approaches she hears the sound the animal is making. She hears how wild it sounds, almost as though it is a pain. She knows that she has to go this way to find out what Winona is doing, but as she slowly gets closer she begins to wonder. What if it's not Winona? What if it's timberwolves, or something worse? As she approaches even closer and hears the despairing sound of the animal a different fear comes to mind. What if the animal is Winona? By the time she is close enough to the animal she's not sure she even wants to know anymore. She comes to the source of the sound, a clearing in the forest. There is a large tree in the middle of the clearing and a small hill next to the tree. Winona is barking at the tree, more specifically at the hill beside it. She's barking wildly, ferociously. The hair on her back stands straight up. Her teeth are bared and her eyes wild. She just keeps barking and barking, until she sees Applebloom. Then she stops.

Winona now is digging at the hill. For a few moments, Applebloom's fear turns into curiosity. "What the hay are you doing out here girl? We shouldn't be out here. Winona simply ignores her and keeps digging.

Eventually she finds something. "What is that?"

She watches with a kind of morbid curiosity as Winona frantically digs away at the hill. The more Winona digs the more Applebloom realizes that something is buried there. The more she digs, the more Applebloom's face fades from curiosity to terror. She can see what is under the hill now: a partially decomposing body. The skin is long gone but the muscles are still there, discolored on the body. The figure is too decomposed to really tell who it might have been but she can tell it is a pony. Apple Bloom takes a few steps back. She feels a shudder through her body and then when she can't control it anymore she screams at full volume. She runs. She runs back the way she came, screaming all the way. Winona begins to bark again, even more wildly than before.

Applebloom runs as hard as he can until she can't run anymore but she keeps pushing herself. Her chest is on fire, but she can't stop, not until she runs into something.

"No! No no no! Don't hurt me please! Please I didn't want to know! Please don't hurt me I just want to go home." Tears pour down her face.

"Sugarcube? Thank Celestia I found you! Applebloom, I was so worried." She cradles Applebloom in her hooves. "What's Wrong sis? What happened?" Nothing comes out of Applebloom's mouth that makes any sense. She points in the direction of Winona and the barking.

"Fluttershy," Applejack says, "Stay with Applebloom. I need to know what's over there. What that bark is all about."

"Applejack? Are you-"

"Yes I'm sure Fluttershy. She needs somepony right now, and I need to make sure that we're safe." She walks toward the bark.

Winona's bark has turned loud and raspy. She has been barking so loudly and so hard for such a while now that her throat is going out, yet she keeps barking. She howls like a banshee. Applejack gets close enough to see her now and suddenly again Winona stops and returns to digging up the remains of the pony in the mound.

"What in the? Where did you? Is that? I think I'm gonna be sick."

She dry heaves, her whole body shaking , though nothing quite comes up. The stench is overpowering. She holds her hooves to her face. She takes a few steps to look closer. The body is decayed enough to be unidentifiable. She can tell it was at least relatively recent because it is still decomposing.

Winona is quiet and she simply stares at the body entranced. Then a soft hum begins. At first Applejack can barely hear it but then it gets louder and louder and louder. She feels her whole body vibrating with the hum.

Winona goes berserk. She moves in an agitated fashion, not attacking Applejack, but thrashing about as though she's in pain. She runs back and charges full speed, ramming her own head into the tree. She does it again and again, over and over. Applejack tries to stop her, tries to get in her way and slow her down.

"Winona! No girl. Stop, stop!"

Finally, Winona runs full speed and charges head first into the tree one last time. She briefly yelps and then she stops moving. AJ runs over to her. "Winona! Winona!"

Winona lies there unmoving. Her chest does not rise or fall. Tears flow down Applejack's cheeks. She cradles her. "It's alright girl," she says "Everything's going to be okay. You're okay now."

Applejack presses her ear hard against Winona's chest praying for any sign of life. There's no heartbeat. There is no breath. Blood seeps out of her nose. AJ can tell Winona is not coming back from this. She is gone. AJ doesn't know what to think. All she can think about is making sure her sister is safe and getting away from this wretched place. She heaves back hard tears. She trudges wearily back the way she came. She makes her way back to Fluttershy and Applebloom who are still clutching each other in fear.

"What happened?" Fluttershy says. "Where is Winona?"

"Winona is gone," Applejack says.

"What do you mean Winona is gone?" Applebloom bursts out. "We've got to find her! We got to go get her!"

Applebloom runs in the direction of the clearing and Applejack catches her.

"Now Applebloom, I'm only going to say this one more time. Winona is gone. I want you to make me a promise. I don't want you to ever bring her up again. She's gone, that's all there is to it and we're going home."

"I'm not promising that!" Applebloom says. "Ya got to be crazy if you think I'm doing that. There's no way we can give up on her."

"I said she's gone and we're going home now." Applejack says. "End of story. You're coming home if I have to drag you."

"Applejack? I don't understand. What happened?" Applejack says nothing and walks away. Applebloom cries. She's confused. She's never seen Applejack like this. She cries the whole way back. Applejack is silent. When Applebloom gets back to the house, she runs up to her room, slams the door and returns her sister's silence.

"What's wrong Applejack?" Fluttershy says. "Why don't you want to look for Winona now? Did something happen? What can I do to help you?"

"There ain't nothing you can do to help, Fluttershy. She's gone and she's not coming back. Just do me a favor and don't go looking for her. I wish I could unsee what I saw."

Fluttershy's face drops at the implication.

Suddenly the door to the Apple family house swings open. It's Spike and he's out of breath.

"Hey everypony, I've got fantastic news!"

Spike looks at the faces of the ponies around him. He sees the open kennel.

"Hey," He says. "Where's Winona?"

Fluttershy quickly hushes him.

He looks confused for a moment and then shrugs. "Well anyway, it's important. You'll never guess who just came back to Twilight's palace."

Author's Note

Day 3 Canterlot should not be too much longer everybody.

Day 3 (Twilight)

I wake with a dull soreness in my eye. Slowly the haze lifts from around me and I discover why. I fell asleep at the telescope again. Wouldn't be the first time. I rub my eyes and try to wake up again. My mind feels numb. The sun peaks out a soft greeting over the horizon. Then, the memories of last night flood back to me. The mirror, Pinkie Pie, the onesie. I inspect my room. The onesie is not there. The mirror is in pristine condition. I had dreamt everything, but that doesn't make it any less real. I stumble about getting myself ready in the morning, still regretting my toothbrush. I quickly rinse out my mouth, shower and go to meet with Celestia, and hopefully, Luna.

The hall of the sisters' castle is beautiful. The sun shining through the windows is almost enough to wake even someone as sleep deprived as myself. I stumble a little, still apparently waking up. The guards outside my room hold their positions, though I'm pretty sure my staggering caused the younger one to lift an eyebrow. I wander over to the throne room. Celestia is already awake and handling the activities of the morning.

"Ah, Twilight Sparkle! Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

I hesitate, though I don't mean to. "Ah, well..."

A moment of understanding flashes across her face. "It's alright." She beams her warm smile at me. "Have some tea. It will help you wake up."

"Thank you." I'm always so grateful for her kindness. She's always been there for me, even at times when I thought nopony else would be.

I help myself to the tea. The warm aura of it is divine. It's like Celestia put the sun itself in the cup. I take a few breaths and enjoy the aroma.

"I hope it helps," She says. "Did you have more nightmares last night?"

I pause for a while and look at the cup. "Yes," I nod. "But...I've been thinking about it. As terrible as the nightmares are, I think maybe...maybe Pinkie's trying to tell me something, like maybe there is some kind of message to everything.

"Hmm. Interesting idea. Why do you say that?"

"Well, she always says the same thing, that she wants me to smile, and last night she...well she brought up some things from my past that I thought were long buried. I don't know if there's a connection, or even if it really is Pinkie. I don't know why the real Pinkie would ever act that way and deliberately try to scare me though."

"So, you think the dreams are real, or that Pinkie is trying to tell you something?"

I frown in thought. "Well, see that's the thing. I don't believe it any of that stuff, do I? I mean, once a pony passes, she passes. That's it. Right? I suppose being immortal, you'd know more than anypony. It just all seems too real not to be true, especially with all the weird stuff that happened in town."

Celestia half laughs to herself. "I suppose being immortal, I would be the last person you should ask about death, as I have no experience." She smiles lightly.

I look at her with a lost look on my face. "Celestia, was...that a joke?"

She doesn't answer, but she doesn't need to. Her light smile says it all. After a few moments, I laugh, more than I've laughed in a long time. "Thanks, Celestia. I needed that."

"Perhaps now would be a good time to check on my sister."

Princess Celestia and I trot over to her sister's chambers. We approach her door as quietly as we can. Celestia quickly looks over to me and then back to the door. She knocks politely. We hear nothing.

"Well," she says. "I suppose she's not awake yet." A light frown pulls down on her face.

We both tiptoe into her room as quietly as we can, and we both see her there quietly resting. It is odd to think that she has been sleeping for over two days now. She even looks hungry. It is no wonder Celestia is worried for her.

The castle assistants have been giving her water in her sleep, though she hasn't been taking any food.

I look a little closer at her. She seems so peaceful. I wonder what she's dreaming about.

Her eyelids suddenly flip open, her eyeballs rolled to the back of her head. I jump back. She sits up in bed, whites of her eyes still showing and grabs me tightly with both of her hooves. She's holding me tightly as though she's in a trance. She won't let go. Then she opens her mouth.

"boko fo pissirt hacpter 19. tage mujpers. Tage mujpers rae ecratreus hatt vile ni noareth midseinon. Eyth rae blae ot tesal vilign niebgs romf sith midseinon nad rrayc hemt no nito hetir midseinon. Hety od sith ni rdoer ot efed no het siitpovse neegry fo vidiaulnd nopeis. Cabesue ti si fifdictlu orf a tage mujper ot od os eyth icpk arttseg atht vahe ihig velelsb fo siitpovse neegry ni hetir pisirt. Fi eyth artteg a nopy ithw oot umhc siitpove neegry eyth nowt eb blae ot bsoarb veryeignht. Snietad hawt eyth od si eyth plist eth pisirt ni wot, eth artp eyth anc efed no nad eth artp htat eyth anct od nyainght ithw. Eth noncenit, aiven arpt eftl voer si sued ot peon tehro tasge nad ncahor hemtlseves ot hits orlwd. Het noly awy orf hemt ot orcfe hemt uto si fi het tage si dlosec. Oyu avhe ot losec het tage Witghilt. Oyu aveh ot estodry het ncaroh."

At this, Luna's eyelids close, her hooves loosen and she flops back onto the bed. I simply shake. Celestia stares in silence.

"I...I don't like this," I finally say. "Maybe I should write to Spike so I can see how he's doing?"

"I've never seen anything like this. I think that would be a good idea, Twilight. Whatever is happening its not getting any better. We have to be prepared for anything."

I levitate a nearby quill and parchment from Luna's desk and write:

"Dear Spike,

It's me, Twilight. How are things back in Ponyville? Things here at Canterlot have been relatively well with the exception of Luna. She still has not awakened. I am more anxious, however, to know what has transpired in Ponyville. Is there any news? Is everyone okay? How are things with Applejack and Winona? Please inform me if there's anything even a little odd going on lately. Thank you Spike. Yours truly,

Twilight Sparkle."

Princess Celestia sends the letter off herself. A rare awkward moment passes between us. Normally I can carry on a conversation with her just fine. We tend to have so much to talk about. I suppose though that the situation with Luna does make things more awkward. I mean, what do you say to something like this? It just doesn't make sense. With these letters it seems like the timing is always off. You're always just about to do something or say something when it arrives, so I hold off saying anything. It seems like ages go by. My worries grow by the moment.

"Maybe while we're waiting we should-"

The letter comes returns. Botched the timing again.

"Dear Princess Twilight," I read. "That's Spike, alright, always so formal." I say.

"Just like his mentor."

"So far everything seems fine here. I've been keeping an eye out but as far as I'm aware nothing weird has happened. The only thing I can think of is that Rainbow Dash has been acting a little bit more mopey than usual. She's supposed to be busting some clouds and nobody's seen her so it's getting kind of stormy. Outside of that. I can't really think of anything else. I am planning on checking in on Winona and seeing how she's doing, and also I have some amazing news to share with everypony. You're never gonna believe this, so hold unto your horns.

Pinkie Pie is back! I know it sounds incredibly hard to believe but she's here. She came to the palace about an hour ago and she's talking to me as I write to you. She seems super happy. It is odd though because she has no memory of disappearing for six months. When I told her that she was gone that long she was confused. She says she just left yesterday and insists that Fluttershy's birthday party is tomorrow. It's as though she went into a time warp or something. Either way, Twilight, I hope you can get back as fast as you can. We have a lot of celebrating to do and Pinkie's already got some ideas for some parties.

Your trusty assistant, Spike."

I drop the scroll, and look up at Celestia. I'm not really sure what to say. Could Spike be in danger? Is that really Pinkie? How could it be? Spike wouldn't fall for it if she turned out to be a changeling, would he? How? How could she be back? I inform Celestia politely that this changes everything and I really need to get back to Ponyville. She graciously nods, smiles, and says that she understands. She tells me that if I have any other questions just write. Celestia offers me a chariot so I can get back to Ponyville quicker. Normally I would decline something like that, but I need to get back home as fast as I can. She of course as always, understands.

The flight back home is swift, and cold. The wind tears at my face. Being a princess, I could have requested for them to slow down the pace but it is not the cold that worries me. As I near Ponyville I see a storm coming up. It looks to be a nasty one. Rainbow Dash is nowhere to be seen. As soon as my palace comes into view I make no attempt to wait for the soldiers to land. I jump out of the chariot.

"Thank you very much for your help, I'll take it from here." I fly straight to the palace. "Please tell Celestia I made it back fine."

I throw open the door to the palace. Everything seems quiet enough with the exception of the storm outside. I hear a soft rustle . My ears pike straight up. It sounded like it came from...

My sight is instantly cut off as I'm tackled from behind. It has me in a tight grip that I cannot escape. I struggle to get loose. It all at once lets go.

"Twilight! Boy am I glad to see you! Spike was acting so funny."

"Pinkie, is that you? How? I mean, you disappeared?"

"Oh not you too." A pouty frown forms on Pinkie Pie's face. "I didn't disappear! Why are you guys saying that?"

"...Because you did?"

"Okay then, prove it."

"Okay...hmmm." I struggle to think of how I can prove this to Pinkie, or how she would even not be aware of this, but her face is more serious than I'm used to ever seeing with her. My eyes wander over to the calendar, and that's when I get an idea.

"Pinkie, when is Fluttershy's birthday?"

"That's an easy one! April 20th. You think a party pony like me would forget something like that?"

"Exactly. Now look at the calendar. You know how neurotic i am about crossing an 'x' on every old day on the calendar every morning?"

"Oh yes, you're absolutely right Twilight. You absolutely cross it out every single day."

"Look at the date on the calendar."

She peers over quizzically. "Hmm. October twen..." She trails off and her face turns sour. "This isn't funny, Twilight. I'm all for a good prank, but this is too far."

"That's what I'm saying, Pinkie. This isn't a prank. You've been missing for 6 months."

It's like a switch is flicked in her. I don't understand it. Her face instantly turns a deep shade of red and her eyes widen. "Oh, sure, Twilight, and I suppose the fact that I have a recurring nightmare every year of my life on that same day has nothing to do with anything huh?"

"Wait, nightmare? Pinkie, what do you -?"

"October 20th every year. I don't know how you found out, but...how could you Twilight? Do you know what those dreams are like? It's not like a normal dream. It's...it's terrible."

"Pinkie..."

We are interrupted when the door to the palace swings wide open.

"Alright, everypony, at least it's nice and dry in here." It's Spike's voice. I'm glad he's OK. Fluttershy and AJ are behind. AJ looks jittery and stressed. If anybody knows about stress, it's me, and she doesn't look good.

"Pinkie, it's true!" Applejack runs to her and embraces her. "I didn't want to believe Spike but when he said you were here, but...well...after the day I've had you're a sight for sore eyes." Something interrupts her train of thought. "Wait a minute if you are back then... I don't understand. What about...I need to sit down for a minute." Her face looks pale, but I need to deal with whatever is going on with Pinkie first.

"Nice to see you too," Pinkie grits through her teeth. "Just tell me one thing, Applejack."

Applejack is staring off, apparently lost in thought. "What was that, Pinkie?" she says.

"What's today's date Applejack?"

"What? Oh I don't know," she says "October something? The 19th or 20th yeah something like that. Why do you ask?"

"Applejack's in on the prank?"

"What prank, exactly?" Applejack asks.

"Oh cut it out!" Pinkie fires back. "You know what!"

"I have no idea what you're talkin' bout, sugar cube, but I'm not playin' any kind of prank. Fact is, that's about the last thing I'm in the mood for."

"Fluttershy, tell me it is April 20th."

Fluttershy tilts her head in confusion. "Wha...why would I do that, Pinkie? My birthday isn't for another six months."

"Alright guys, this isn't funny anymore. I'm heading back to sugar cube corner." Pinkie goes to open the door and the rain is pouring down. She takes a few steps outside and hears the thunder. She runs back inside. "Argh! Fine! I'll stay here, but nopony talk to me. I don't want to hear anything about the date or anything else."

Fluttershy tries to beam back to her the best smile she can. "Welcome back, Pinkie. I'm just glad you're back." Pinkie looks over at Fluttershy's smile and for a moment she almost seems like a smile is coming back to her, but then she pauses and looks away. Her hair deflates.

"I can't believe my friends would play such a cruel trick." she says.

"Pinkie, please," I say. She turns her back away from me. I sigh. "So about this weather, what's with Rainbow Dash? Where is she?"

Fluttershy shrugs "Nopony's seen her all day."

"That's not important right now," Applejack says. "We got somethin' more serious to worry about."

"What do you mean, not important?" I ask. "We're in the middle of a giant thunderstorm and Dash is nowhere to be found. How is that not important?"

"Just listen, okay?"

I stop myself, though holding back my questions is difficult.

"Okay look...how do I say this." She takes a deep breath. "Fluttershy and I went to the Everfree forest today and we found something awful."

"Um, actually I didn't see what it was, Applejack was the one who checked." Fluttershy says. AJ glares at her.

"It was a body," She says. "It was the body of a pony."

Fluttershy gasps. Pinkie's ears perk up and she turns around with a raised eyebrow.

"That's why I was so confused when she came back. Because I figured it had to have been Pinkie's body."

"How did you find the body?" I say.

"Winona found her." AJ says.

"Winona? But I thought you guys put her in a kennel?"

"We did, but Applebloom didn't know that. Applebloom let her out and she ran away. And we followed them."

"Well where's Winona now?"

"She's...gone, Twilight. She's gone for good. If it's alright with you I don't really want to talk about it."

We all stand quietly horrified as we realize what she means. I cover my mouth with my book. I have no words for that. I just keep staring in awkward horrible silence.

"Twilight?" Pinkie says. She walks quietly towards me. "This isn't a prank is it? Today really is October 20th?"

"Yes Pinkie, it is. If you need us to be here with you, you are more than welcome to stay here and sleep out the storm."

Tears stream down her face. "Thank You, Twilight. Oh thank you, thank you so much. I don't know what happened but I'm glad I have my friends here with me to protect me and be there with me when I need them. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's okay, Pinkie." I embrace her. I don't know what to make of everything that's happening the last couple of days. One day you believe your good friend is dead, and the next it's different. She's back. None of this seems to make any sense at all. But a body, in the forest? How could it be? We need a plan.

"Hey everypony. I'm not really sure what to do today with the storm but I think we need to do some investigating tomorrow and see if we can get to the bottom of all this. Hopefully the storm will die down by then. Is everypony fine with crashing at my place tonight?"

AJ is the only one who looks nervous. "I'm worried about Applebloom," AJ says. "I don't know if she'll be safe especially with everything going on around here. I need to get back."

My heart goes out to her. "Applejack, that rain is awful. I'm not sure you'd be safe going to get her."

"It's just rain, Twilight," Applejack says. "Besides, I have no problem sticking my neck out if that means making sure she's safe."

I suppose she has a point. "Alright," I say. "But I think we should meet back here tomorrow morning to make a plan. Are you sure you'll get back just fine?"

"Don't you worry, Applejack says. I'll be okay."

With that AJ throws on her hat and heads out the door.

"I really hope she'll be okay out there."

"Don't worry," Spike says. "This is AJ we're talking about. I'm sure she can take care of herself just fine."

My attention turns to Pinkie. "Hey, are you going to be okay?"

"She very slowly nods. "I think so," She finally says. She looks up at me. "I've got my friends here with me, so I'm already better off than any other time I had to be alone with my nightmares. Thank you, Twilight. Fluttershy, I'm sorry I missed your birthday."

"It's okay," Fluttershy says. Her smile is serene and peaceful.

A few silent moments pass. Slowly, a smile returns to Pinkie's face. "Well, I just spent so much time getting you a present for a party we're never going to have."

"PinkIe, it's going to be okay. We're here with you." I say.

"We can have the party when all of this craziness dies down." Fluttershy says.

Pinkie then hugs me. "Thanks, Twilight," she says. "You really know how to make a pony smile."

"What was that?" I say.

Pinkie's smile is light and heartfelt. I can see that. She says, "Thank you, Twilight for making me smile. Maybe you should be the party planner? Anyway, thank you. She wanders off to a nearby couch in the palace and prepares herself for bed. I do the same, making sure to comb my mane, brush my teeth, and then I lay down in bed to relax. It almost seems as though my exhaustion has been snowballing exponentially every night. Tonight I feel utterly exhausted. My eyelids are heavy and I won't be surprised if I fall asleep fast.

*****

I'm dreaming again, I can tell, but this one feels different. This one feels more familiar. It almost feels like a memory. I look around. I am my 14 year old self. Across to me is my uncle, Evening Light.

"Thanks for coming over in such a short notice, Twilight," he says. "Misty loves it when you babysit, and she's been so much more needy since her mother passed. If she calls you mommy, don't freak out. It just means she likes you. It's a phase she's going through. Everything good is mommy now to her." He sniffles. "I wish it wouldn't have happened. I wish to all hope that it never happened. But I guess I don't get to decide that do I?"

"It's going to be okay uncle," I say. "I feel it. I feel like you two are going to be okay."

"I sure hope you're right," he says. "Oh, and about the night terrors, she only usually does it around midnight and I should be back by then. But if she does start freaking out just sing to her. She really loves that song I used to sing to you. Remember? The Touch of a Dove? Maybe you can soothe her with that. But hey like I said you probably don't even have to worry about it. I'm sure she'll be fine and i should be back before then. Dinner's already in the oven. It's just a matter setting it to 350 degrees and turning it on."

"Okay," I say. "I think I can take it from here."

"Of course you can, Twilight, I'll see you later tonight. Thanks again."

"Time seems to skip forward in the dream and night falls. I'm relaxing downstairs with a book. Then I hear the screams. I grab a doll for her.

"It's okay," I say in the most soothing voice I can muster. She continues to scream at the top of her lungs, a wild terrified scream. It's definitely a night terror. I begin singing the song as I approach her room.

"Hello, songbird, where have you been? I've heard some gossip from Mr. Wren..."

She keeps screaming. I feel so bad for her.

"Mr. Wren said you needed some love, so he told his friend Mrs. Dove..."

As I approach with my song, her screaming only seems to intensify. I place my hoof on the door handle and then the screaming stops. It's bizarre. It's as though touching the handle was enough to turn off a switch in her and make her stop screaming.

I already know what happens next but I don't want to admit it to myself. I freeze for a few moments. I open the door, and she's not there.

Bewildered, I search all around the room. It was only moments ago when I heard her screaming. Now she's not in her crib, or anywhere else in the room for that matter. The windows are shut and locked. The closet door is closed and she's not there either. She simply...vanished.

"Smile, smile smile, mommy."

She's there now, older, standing next to me. The crooked smile on her face.

"Misty? It's you?" I shake. Her twisted cutie mark, her twisted smile. She's older? Is she alive? "I'm so sorry, Misty. I looked everywhere for you. I'm not sure what happened to you, but I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

She cackles at me. Her doll-like laugh echoes in my mind. The buzz returns. The laugh intensifies, and I hold my hooves over my ears. Then...

Silence.

The haze disappears. I look at the clock.

4:30 a.m. I keep waking up earlier. Fluttershy is out cold. Pinkie...not so much.

"Hey," she says. "You too?" I silently nod. She smiles. "Its gonna be okay, alright?" Pinkie looks down at her hooves. "I don't know why this is happening, but we can get through this, together." I nod again and smile...She nods a knowing nod and we both hold each other and cry for a time. I decide to get up and go read. I'm glad at least Pinkie is back. It makes no sense, I know, but our lives could use a little laughter right now.

Day 4 (The Need for Sleep)

AJ starts today like most of her friends, sleep deprived. The walk home the night before had been wet and miserable, but she had gotten home safe. At home she had talked to Granny Smith and Big Mac about what happened the previous day. Their faces had said it all: shock with a complete lack of understanding, but they weren't there.

Together, they decide to tell Applebloom what happened. Apple Bloom had already spent most of the previous day alone in her room crying. They decide the best way for them to move on is to get everybody together, dress up and hold a funeral for Winona. It is a lot for Applejack to take in. She had been with Winona since she was little. The family had decided a few years back that they needed a farm dog, and Winona's energy had been perfect for herding animals.

Now she's gone. Yesterday, Applejack had forced her emotions away. She had done what needed to be done and left it at that. Today, however, is different. Her emotions refuse to leave her and even as she gets dressed tears form at her eyes. Winona had been her dog. Applejack had taught her everything she knew. And now she was gone.

AJ dresses herself in the most formal wear she can find. She had always kept one formal dress stashed in the back of her closet just for unusual special occasions such as these. She isn't certain that special is the best term for it, especially not this particular situation, but she dresses herself anyway. It's a hot day, but regardless, she puts on the long, grey, unflattering, wool dress. She can feel the uncomfortable heat, but it's the last thing on her mind today.

The sun rises and Applebloom does not. Her room is silent. The family lets her rest for a few hours. Normally, there would be the usual morning chores, herding cattle, planting apple trees, but nobody pushes the issue. As the morning gets later, however, Big Mac gives AJ a look. She knows the look and knows it's time.

AJ trudges up the stairs, her hooves feeling weighed down as though anchors were tied to them. She pauses in front of Applebloom's door and takes a deep breath. She tries to bring herself to knock, but stops. She stares at the door for a few minutes more, breathes again and mutters to herself, "Here goes nothing."

"Don't bother." Says the voice on the other side before AJ can even reach up her hoof. "I'm not coming outside today. I'll do my chores tomorrow."

"Sugarcube, I didn't come up here to tell ya that, I just-"

"I said I don't want to talk."

AJ struggles to think of something to say in the silence that follows. The door had seemed like a barrier enough, but a second wall of silence? AJ winces at the silence and feels her heart drop into her stomach. She cannot bring herself to say anything.

"Look," Applebloom says "Just...go, okay?"

"Wait," AJ says, "Before you silence me again, ah jest want to speak my peace. Then, if ya still want, I'll leave ya alone, okay?'

There is only silence on the other end of the door. Once more AJ takes a deep breath.

"First, ah wanted to let ya know that we're havin' a funeral for Winona. You're welcome to come if ya like. If not, ah...understand."

More silence.

"Second, I wanted to apologize, Applebloom. I'm sorry you had to be around when this happened to her."

AJ pauses to hear if there is a response. Applebloom still says nothing. "I'm not sure what happened myself, but there was nothing I could do to stop her. There was no preventing it."

"No preventing it!" AJ hears the shout through the door and then the door opens. Applebloom's face is a bright cherry red. Her eyes look red and swollen from crying. "You didn't even do anything! You didn't even try to help her! You just said 'Oh well, guess my dog is dead. Time to move on.'"

Now Applejack turns red. "It wasn't like that! What was I supposed to do?"

"Oh, I don't know, how about picking her up and taking her to a vet, or to Twilight? Her magic could have helped. Fluttershy was right there. You just gave up on her. Why didn't you take her?

"I couldn't, Applebloom. By the time I got there, she was already-"

"Already what?"

AJ's face drops and turns pale. She shivers. "Applebloom, what I saw...nopony should have to see that, especially you. I love you too much to ever let you see something so awful," AJ looks around the room, trying to distract herself from her tears. "That's why I was so quick to leave. I didn't..." She practically chokes on her tears. "I didn't want you to be near whatever the thing was that did that to Winona."

"You should have done something." More tears well up inside of her and Applebloom cries on her sister's chest. AJ cries too.

"I'm so sorry, Applebloom. Maybe you're right. Maybe I could have done something more, but I didn't want you to get hurt like she did. I could never forgive myself if that happened to you."

Applebloom sniffles and regains her self control. "Sis, I want ya ta promise me somethin."

"Anything, sugarcube," AJ says.

"Promise me that if something happens to me, you won't give up on me."

AJ looks Applebloom in the eye. "Sugarcube, you have my word. But nothing like that will happen to you, because I'm gonna find out what happened to Winona, and I'm gonna put a stop to it."

Applebloom smiles like a puzzle missing a few pieces. "Whatever that thing is, sis, you whip it good."

"Oh, I will, Applebloom. Ya don't have to worry about that."

A short cry and a long hug later, Applejack softly steps down the stairs. The rest of the family look up at her hopefully. "She's comin' down, just getting dressed is all."

Granny Smith nods and smiles. Applebloom comes down wearing her flowery blue dress. While not appropriate for a funeral, it is the only formal wear she owns. Her sniffles have now softened to light spasms.

The heat outside the farmhouse is repressive. The members of the Apple family stand awkwardly and stare toward the ground.

"We...uhn haven't really organized this or nuthin, but we set this special stone here to mark Winona's grave. If anypony wishes to say any words, please do so now."

Applebloom looks at the others nervously, then steps forward. "Winona was...a good dog. Not just a good dog, she was a great dog, and a companion, and...she was jest the most friendly animal that you'd ever meet. Ah don't know what happened to her, not sure I want to after talkin' to Applejack, but...what happened to her wasn't fair." She sniffles again and tries to control her crying. "I think that's why this is so hard. She was such a loving dog, and all of this is so unfair."

Applebloom steps back, her face like broken glass. Applejack swallows. "Well, I spose I should go next," She ruffles her wool dress and takes off her hat in respect. "Winona wasn't just a dog. She was my dog, and I loved her. She was obedient, loyal, and a wonderful companion. She was there ta listen ta ya when ya needed to relax, and she wasn't demanding or nothin'. I'm going to miss her so much, and I would do anything to have her back." She sighs. "She was more than just a dog. She was a close friend."

Granny Smith and Big Mac have their turns at a few brief words, then together the family quietly goes inside. AJ walks upstairs. Applebloom follows behind. "Sis?"

"Yeah, sweetpea?"

"Please. Whatever did this to Winona, make sure it can't hurt anypony else, okay?"

AJ takes off her dress, tosses it aside in the closet, and puts on her hat. Her eyes are solid and focused. "Oh, don't you worry about that one bit, sis."

Normally, I would be impatiently pacing around by now, waiting for the others, but I think the past few nights have caught up to me. My face rests on the crystal meeting table in front of me, my cheeks squished. I don't really care right not how dorky it looks. I breath rhythmically, on the table. My body refuses to move. I can close my eyes, just for a few moments. The others will probably take a while to arrive.

"Uh Twilight?"

My eyes open and I see a familiar pink mare smiling back at me. I jolt back on pure instinct, but quickly realize it's the right kind of smile and the right Pinkie. I instantly take a relaxed breath.

"Wow, someone's jumpy today. Just making sure you're okay!" She practically singsongs her words and then trots away. "I hope AJ shows up soon."

"Me too," I mutter half awake.

Pinkie bounces around a little and stops to look at me.

"It's okay, Twilight. I can wake you up when she gets here. Go on back to bed."

I mumble out some nonsense that even I don't understand.

"No no, I won't take no for an answer. To bed for you."

She attempts to pull me up.

"No, Pinkie. Mmmgle..."

"C'mon! You silly filly, you need your sleep!"

"Mmmm. Pinkie, I'm okayyyyyy..."

Fluttershy walks in. "Good morning, Pinkie." She looks at my disheveled state and cocks her head. "Is Twilight okay?"

"No she's not okay! She's tired! And she won't get to bed while she's waiting for AJ!"

"She'll be here any minute. I can..." My eyelids droop shut. "Okay, maybe just a few minutes." The two help me into bed. I fall asleep quickly to the first dreamless sleep I've had in three weeks.

I feel like I'm in a fog, until a soft thump bumps my forehead. It jolts me a little and the fog begins to lift. I feel it again. "Hello? It's time!"

My eyelids slowly open. I discover its Pinkie's hoof thumping me. "Pinkie? I thought you were going to have me nap. Is she here already?"

"Already? You've been sleeping here for 2 hours. Good thing we took you to bed because AJ just got here 10 minutes ago."

I sit up quickly. "What? AJ's been waiting for me? Why didn't you say so?"

"We just were chatting with AJ real quick," Fluttershy adds. "We didn't want to wake you right away. You were so tired."

"Well," I sigh. "I suppose I did need it. Its just that things are getting really weird around here and we have no idea who or what is behind this. We don't have time to lay around."

We walk together back to the meeting table where AJ is waiting.

"Howdy, Twilight. Don't know 'bout you, but ah've got a mighty itch to figure out this thing and put a stop to it."

"I couldn't agree more," I say. "Let's start by sharing what we already know." I lean back and try to relax. "Okay, so we know Pinkie disappeared about 6 months ago and then just came back yesterday. Pinkie has no memory of this. Animals in the area have been acting funny, including..." I clear my throat. This next part is going to be hard. I don't have the chance to speak.

"Including Winona," AJ says. "No sense beating around the bush. We don't have time. Winona took her life in a manner I'd rather not give details on."

Rarity covers her mouth, and Fluttershy shudders. I don't know what to say.

"What?" Applejack says. "Look. We don't have time to sit around. The longer we wait, then longer this thing, whatever it is, can hurt somepony else I care about. Let's stay focused, here!"

I shake myself out of my trance. "Yes, of course. In addition to this, Snails threw a big commotion the other day and bashed his head into the floor, then spit blood on me."

"Oh my Celestia!" Rarity gasps.

"What?" Pinkie says.

"Luna has also been stuck sleeping for over 24 hours straight now. When I visited her, she sat up straight for a period, held onto me, said a bunch of gibberish and went back to sleep. Finally, Rainbow Dash has gone missing. Have I overlooked anything?"

"Winona found a body."

"What?" The sound is universal around the room.

"Winona, before she went crazy and um...did what she did, there was a body there. The body of a pony. That's why I was so surprised when I saw Pinkie here. I thought...I thought the body was Pinkie."

"That's...well that's unexpected."

"Yeah..."

"Is there anything else?"

A silent moment passes. Everypony looks around at each other quietly.

"Okay then, well-"

"Um. Excuse me?"

I stop and look at Fluttershy. "Yes, Fluttershy?"

"I know you asked me not to say anything, Twilight, but don't you think you should talk about the other thing?"

"Other thing?" I ask.

"Yes...I know I said I didn't want to hear it, but I think it might be a good idea if it helps us figure out what is going on."

I pause. My face drops like a heavy stone. It feels like the stone lands all the way in my gut. I begin to feel myself sweat.

"What other thang, Shy?" AJ speaks up. "What's she talkin' bout, Twi?"

"Well," I say. "I didn't want to say anything at first, because I was afraid you would all think I was crazy...I've been having awful dreams every night. The dreams are so awful that, well I was afraid people would accuse me of being crazy or dangerous just for having them." I don't even realize the tears until they start pouring down. "The dreams...they're so...awful. And, now that I think about it, Dash was telling me the other day that she was having awful dreams, too."

Fluttershy looks back at me and blinks a few times. Her head turns to the floor. "So that's why you were asking me if I had any bad dreams?"

"Why didn't you say something earlier, darling?" Rarity looks at me with sympathetic eyes.

"I didn't want to...I was so afraid of what you all would think."

AJ huffs. "Twilight, crazy stuff is happenin' to everypony. We wouldn't have judged ya. If we are to figure this thang out, we need ta work together and be 100 percent open. I'm not letting anything happen to anypony like it did ta Winona."

I nod. "You're right AJ. I'm sorry."

"So..." Pinkie starts hesitantly. "What are your dreams about, Twilight?"

I freeze. "They're...about you Pinkie." Pinkie's eyes grow wide. "In my dreams, you have this wide, unnatural smile, and you have to remember, up until now, I thought you were gone. Really gone. You tell me to smile, and then you start twitching violently. It's awful. There's also another pony. She looks like a smaller me, with a different cutie mark. She does it too, the twitching, the awful smile. It's...why I wanted to see Luna, because I thought she could help. Dash was dreaming about Pinkie too. Dreamt that Pinkie touched Scootaloo and Scootaloo did the same thing, smiling, twitching. And then Snails, he said the same thing. Told me to smile before he let the Ponyville guard drag him away. Once he said it, he stopped struggling, like he was delivering a message."

"You mentioned another Pony, dear?" Rarity tilts her head slightly. "Do you know who she is?"

I look down. I cannot make eye contact with anypony while I talk about this.

"I...might. When I was a teenager, I babysat my niece...She...she disappeared when I was watching her."

"Twilight, darling, you're shaking!" Rarity wraps a blanket around me.

"No trace of her was ever found, no cause, no reason. Her mother had died a few months earlier from a strange illness. My niece was an only child. I searched the house in a panic for about an hour and then called the police. I stayed awake all night, terrified of what happened."

The others stare at me with their mouths open. I've seen that stare before. They think I'm a freak.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy looks up at me, fear in her eyes. "What happened to her father?"

"When he found out, he completely lost it. He had to be institutionalized. I don't know if he's still there or what happened after that."

I can't stand anymore. My legs force me down into a chair, the tears keep coming. "There, there," Fluttershy cooes. "You've been keeping that in for a long time. Just let it out."

I gasp for air. "Nobody believed me. Everybody just thought I did it. The police, Evening Light, the questions the police asked me, there was no end to them. They just kept on pushing. They wanted me to be at fault, because that made sense. It's one of the reasons I've studied magic so intensely. I wanted to see if maybe, I could find out why."

"Well," Applejack says, "You're closer now than ever."

"Who's Evening Light?" Fluttershy asks.

"Oh, that was my niece's father."

Pinkie gasps loudly. "Evening Light? You mean Snails's adoptive father Evening Light?"

"What?"

"Yeah." Pinkie shrugs. "He's actually a really nice guy. Not crazy or anything. He cares a lot about Snails."

"I would too if I knew my son was in the crazy house," AJ scratches her head. I give her one of my patented glares. "What? Oh...sorry Twi. Didn't mean nuthin' by it."

I sigh. "I know...Look. This Snails thing needs investigation, but we also have to deal with the body in the forest, and we need Rainbow's help."

AJ rolls her eyes. "Are you suggesting we split up?"

I shrug. "I don't like it either, but do you have a better idea?"

AJ places her hoof on her cheek and pauses. "Naw. We got a lot of ground to cover, and we need ta be quick. Splitting up is the only way."

"Um..." Fluttershy mumbles. "Are you sure we should be messing with the..." She gulps. "The body? Shouldn't the police handle that?"

"Oh my fritters! We forgot to tell tha police! How'd we forget?"

"Oooh" I start to shake. "This is going to look so bad! If we go to the police now, after seeing a dead body and just going to sleep, we'll look suspicious. The police will make us the prime suspects. We could go to jail! What do we do?"

"Now hold on, Twilight. I think yer overreacting. We'll just tell them the truth. I'll tell them that you didn't know."

"Then, you'll look suspicious, AJ. Think about it. You find the body of dead pony in the forest, and then you just go home to sleep. Nothing more to it. You don't call the police, you don't say anything to anyone else but us, and even then, not until the next day. They'll think you did it."

"Except I didn't even touch the body, and it has decomposed for a long time. Twilight, get it together. Remember? If we're gonna see this through, we have to be honest with each other."

"No, AJ. You don't understand what it's like to be questioned by the police. They'll ask you every little thing, make you relive the moment, over and over and over. You can't-"

"Hold on there, you two." Rarity sticks her hoof between us. "There's another part of this we're missing."

"Oh? And what's that?" AJ snorts.

"If you tell the police now, they'll set up a crime scene around the body and strongly, ahem, discourage any further investigation from us. We won't find out who the body belongs to, and Twilight is probably right about the questioning. AJ, if you're tied up answering a bunch of questions to the police, you can't investigate. If Twilight is right, and this is getting worse, the police won't be able to figure it out until it's too late. Please also consider that Twilight is the one getting haunted by dreams and spitted on. The police have nothing to go off of. If the police get involved, we could be putting the entire fate of Equestria in danger!"

"Hmmm..." AJ thinks it over. "Normally, I'd say you're being dramatic, but ah think ah actually agree with ya, Rares...Don't like it though. Think it's an awful stupid thang to do that'll no doubt bite us in the hindquarters."

Fluttershy pales. "I...don't like it either. N-n-no police? We have to do this...ourselves?"

Pinkie gives Fluttershy a hug. "It's gonna be okay, okay?" Fluttershy smiles.

I take a deep breath. "Well, now I guess the only thing left to do is decide who should go where."

"AJ, Fluttershy. You knew where the body was in the forest so-"

"I don't wanna go back there." I look over at Fluttershy.

"Why not, Fluttershy?"

"Please, just the thought of...a body. Don't make me go there."

"Okay...well, we need to search for Dash and you and I have wings. How about you come with me to her house? She could probably use your soothing nature."

"Oh thank you, thank you Twilight!"

"So I'm goin' alone to tha forest?"

I tilt my head. "No...I don't think sending anypony to the Everfree forest alone is a good idea. We should probably have two ponies go there."

"I'll come with her!" Pinkie practically jumps in the air.

"You? really?"

Her face sobers. "I have to know who this is, Twilight. I need answers. Please. Let me go."

I hesitate...The dream. What if she is...a killer? No. I push the idea from my mind. "Okay."

"What of me, dear?"

"Rarity, I'm sorry to make you go it alone, but I think this is the safest of the three, especially since Snails doesn't know you as well and doesn't have any reason to harass you, and whatever is going on doesn't seem to have been impacting you directly. I need you to speak to Evening Light, and then head to the hospital to see what you can find out about Snails. Please.

"I won't let you down, Twilight."

Though we go our own ways, together, we will get to the bottom of this.

Day 4 (Scoots Knows How to Smile)

Rainbow's house always is something to behold, a majestic palace in the clouds. You'd think she is a princess or something, but that's always Dash for you. That's why I was so disturbed when I saw her the other day. She's always been about the bluster. She would have to be going through something pretty awful and intense to drop the act. I know just the sort of awful she's dealing with. I just hope she's here. Shy and I fly upwards and knock on her door. We don't hear anything.

"Gee," She says. "I hope Rainbow is okay."

Me too. At first, it seems like an odd choice to take Fluttershy with me on this, but it may work out well. She's very gentle, and if Rainbow is depressed or something, Fluttershy will be there for her. I hope I made the right choice.

"We need to get in," Fluttershy says.

"The door's locked, Fluttershy. What are we supposed to do?"

"Do what Pinkie does." She smiles and walks through the cloud palace. Yup. She's the right choice alright.

Rainbow's house is trashed, and not like the occasional messy, lazy athlete trashed. Trophies and posters are laying all over the floor. A gold medal she won is smashed and broken on the floor. Even Tank's bed is overturned. Her bedroom door is shut. We knock.

"Go away Pinkie! Leave me alone! You win, do you hear me?"

She yells it at the top of her lungs. Shy and I exchange puzzled looks. I can hear Dash softly sobbing.

"Please...please leave me alone. I...can't bear this anymore. Why Pinkie, why are you doing this?"

"Dash...it's us. It's Twilight, and Fluttershy."

"Oh, like I believe that. Nice try, Pinkie, or whatever it is you are. Please. You got what you want. Leave me alone."

Shy motions for us to go through the wall. We walk through. Dash screams and starts throwing things at us.

"No! Go away!" Trophies, a lamp. It doesn't matter. She throws it all at us.

"Dash," she says. "It's us. It's really us, okay?"

Dash stares at us for a while. "Twilight? Fluttershy? It's really you? Really?"

"Yes." I nod.

Fluttershy smiles. "Really."

Her reaction is one of laughter, of disbelief, like the whole world has come back to her. She shakes her head in shock. "You guys, you're here? You came here for me?"

"Of course we did. Storms are brewing all across Equestria!"

Dash blushes. "Oh, sorry about that."

"What have you been doing in here? Why is your room destroyed?"

"Oh, well Twilight, I uh I was trying to do a little reorganizing. Yup. Can't organize unless you disorganize first. That's what I always say."

"Funny," Fluttershy says. "That's what Discord always says when I try to organize the house."

"Well, yes. Well, anyway, I guess you best be on, sorry about the weather, but I'll get it done. Why don't you-"

"Dash. She knows about your dream."

"W-Wh-What?" Her eyes are wide. "But Twilight! You promised! You said I could trust you! How could you?"

" I had too, rainbow."

"N-no you didn't!"

"Yes, I did."

"No you didn't!"

"Yes I-"

"Girls!" Fluttershy's stern tone surprises us both. Note to self: Stop underestimating Fluttershy. She clears her throat and continues.

"Now Twilight didn't give any details on your dream, Dash. All she really told us was that they were similar to hers."

"Wait. What? Twilight... Is this true?"

She looks confused...hurt. I look away.

"I'm sorry, Dash. Of all ponies, I should have told you."

Her head tilts, she looks straight down.

"I confided in you. You know I don't ever confide in anypony, Twilight. I was afraid to do so, because I thought you would think I'm a freak. And here you are, having the same thing, and you don't say a thing."

"I wanted to, Dash. I so wanted to."

"Then why didn't you, hunh? I could have really used that. It would have been so nice to know that even though I'm having these awful dreams, one of my best friends is too. We could have helped each other get through this. Aren't you supposed to be the princess of friendship? Isn't that what friendship is all about?"

"Dash, please." My head aches and so does my heart. I don't get what is with me lately. Normally, I feel so composed, yet lately it's like all I want to do is cry. I failed her. I look her straight in the eye. "Please forgive me."

She huffs. "Just tell me one thing. Why? Why couldn't you tell me?"

I swallow hard. "Same reason you didn't want to tell me. I was afraid of what you'd think. I was afraid you'd tell others and everypony would think I was crazy again."

"Why would I think that? I just told you my dream."

"I don't know why. I was just scared. I was dumb and I'm sorry."

"Naw. I can't blame you for that. That's how I felt. Wait, what do you mean by again?"

Fluttershy intervenes. "Um, if I may intervene, I think that's something we need to explain later. You see Dash, it's not just you and Twilight who are going through these troubles. All of Ponyville could be in danger!"

Dash raises her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

I snap back to reality. "Dash, Fluttershy is right. We'll be happy to explain, but first we need to know what happened to you, and what you meant when you thought we were Pinkie and trying to make us go away."

Her face sobers instantly. "I'm...sorry Twilight, but this time I really don't want to talk about it."

Fluttershy puts her hoof on Dash's back. "Dash. Please understand. A lot of awful things have been happening to ponies, and if we don't find out why, they're going to keep happening. Please. We really, really need your help."

Dash looks away. "Why don't you ask your good buddy Discord if you're so desperate?"

I scratch my chin. "You know, I don't know why I didn't think of that before! That's a great idea!"

"Great. You can leave me alone."

"We can't."

Rainbow turns her head. "Oh yes, you can. And you will."

"No!" Fluttershy says, "I mean, we can't ask Discord."

Fluttershy is motionless. "What do you mean we can't, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy shakes a little. "Well...it's because...Discord has gone missing."

"What?"

Dash looks at Fluttershy with a sudden interest. "What do you mean Discord is missing? How do you lose a god of chaos?"

"Well, I guess I didn't really realize he was missing until all of this started happening. We were scheduled to meet for our weekly Thursday tea, and he just never showed up. Usually, he visits me once a day, but I haven't seen him in a couple of days now."

"Why didn't you bring it up to us at the meeting?"

"Well," She says, "I didn't think he really was missing. You know how he is, liking to be unpredictable and all. With everything else going on, I didn't even think about it. I just figured he was off doing one of his little pranks."

I begin to feel antsy, like we can't waste anymore time here. We have to let the others know so we can figure out what it means. "Fluttershy, we have to get back to the others and find out what they've learned before anypony else goes missing."

"Too late." The voice sounds sickly and heavy, and it's coming from Dash. Her eyes look distant, like she's trying to remember something she really doesn't want to remember.

"Please Dash, Tell us what's going on."

"Fine." She takes a deep breath. Her body is frozen. "Shortly after I told you about the dream, I went home. I didn't feel like doing my usual routine, you know? I was tired from last night, so I went home and laid down to get a little rest. Then I heard that laugh again. Pinkie's giggle. I open my eyes, only this time, I'm not dreaming. She's standing right there next to my bed with that awful smile, and she's twitching all over like a...like a moth or something. I swear on Celestia's flank, Twilight, Pinkie was standing right where you are now. She walks up to me within just a few feet, and I can hear her giggle, but it's in my head, Twilight, like it's her laughter but I hear it in my mind. And then she stares right through me, and she says something. S-s-she..."

Dash is visibly shaking, trying to get the words out. She swallows, breathes, then looks back at me. "...She says that Scootaloo is going with her, that they're both going to go away for a while. Then she starts laughing again, her face with that smile, and then...Scootaloo walks in too, same smile, same twitching, same dead stare. They freeze like that for a little bit and then they're gone."

"Oh my," Fluttershy says, eyes wide. "What did you do?"

"Well, first thing I did was fly over to where Scoots lives. She's kinda, you know, on her own and everything, so I went to look for her at her foster home. They told me that she left there yesterday and hasn't come back since," Dash sniffs. "I looked all over Ponyville, all over Cloudsdale. I asked Sweetie Bell if she knew anything, and Applebloom I couldn't really find. I think she was busy doing something with Applejack. I searched all over the area, and I just...I just couldn't find her. It's like she just disappeared. Just like...Pinkie."

"Oh Dash..." I don't know what to say.

"After that I went back home and tried to sleep, but I couldn't knowing what happened to Scootaloo. I guess I started to lose it a little. I started seeing Pinkie's face everywhere I went. I threw stuff at her, but it'd go right through her. She'd just keep coming back, giggling and telling me to smile."

Fluttershy looks at Dash with concern. "Why didn't you tell the police?"

"Are you kidding? And make me look like the prime suspect? No way! Besides, I thought I could find her...but...I haven't."

"Well, now we know she's missing, and we can help you find her."

Dash's eyes bore into me. "Please, Twilight. We can't let her be like Pinkie. We have to find her. We can't let Scootaloo turn into one of those...things."

Fluttershy and I look at each other, then back to Dash. "Well..." I begin. "We kind of...already found Pinkie."

"What?"

"She came back last night, and I swear Dash, it was the Pinkie. The only unusual thing is that she was insisting she never disappeared. She said last night was the same night she had recurring dreams for years."

Dash stares at me with a blank expression on her face.

"Dash. She thought we were playing a trick on her."

"What? How?" Dash starts pacing back and forth. "How is she alive? How? If she's alive, then what is that thing that's following me?" How?"

Fluttershy haunches her shoulders as if to hide from Dash.

"I don't know, Dash. I...don't know. It's following me too." Dash looks over at me and sighs. "Look," I say. "We need to find Scootaloo."

Dash scoffs. "Assuming she hasn't already turned into one of those...things."

"No. There has to be a logical reason for all of this happening. There has to be."

"Like what, Twilight? How could you possibly explain this away with logic? It's always making sense with you. What if this is just one of those things that don't make sense, Twilight? Did you ever think of that?"

I look at my own hooves and sigh. "Yes. Yes I have, Dash. One thing is for sure. We have to find her. We have to try...It can't happen. Not again. We have to do everything we can."

Dash looks confused. Fluttershy looks into my eyes, knowing exactly who I'm thinking of. "Twilight..." she says. She says nothing else.

Dash, Fluttershy, and I travel back to Ponyville. We find the Cutie Mark Crusaders at their clubhouse. Apple Bloom is there, though strangely quiet. Sweetie Bell is her usual self, but Scootaloo is nowhere to be found.

"Hey girls, have either of you seen Scootaloo lately?" Sweetie Belle looks up to me with a large crease across her face.

"What do you mean? I thought she was hanging out with Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash shakes her head.

"Well, she always comes over here in the afternoons. This is the second day in a row she hasn't shown. We just figured she was hanging out with Dash."

Apple Bloom looks me straight in the eye. "Hey now, this...this doesn't have anything to do with the monster that killed Winona, right?"

"Wait," Dash looks straight to me. "Winona's dead. What?"

"Well, yes." I look to her sheepishly. "There's a lot that's happened, Dash."

"I see. I'm sorry I got angry before, Twilight. You guys clearly had your hooves full."

"It's okay. Applebloom, I'm sure it's unrelated. We're just trying to find her."

"It ain't like her, disappearin' like that, Twilight. I'm scared for her."

I'm scared too. I can't begin to tell the filly how scared I am. I look her in the eye and try my best to project confidence.

"We'll find her."

We start to look elsewhere when I hear Applebloom again from behind me. Her voice sounds shaky and sick. "Twilight?"

I turn around. "Yes, Applebloom?"

"No matter what you do, don't give up on her, okay? You have to promise me. Tell me you won't give up until you find her."

I never give up. I never gave up, not on Misty, not on Pinkie, and I won't give up on Scootaloo. My thoughts are interrupted when Dash steps in.

"You can count on that, kiddo. We'll find her, alright, if we have to search the ends of Equestria. We promise. Right, Twilight?"

Applebloom looks up to us, worry streaked across her face. I look down, nod confidently, and smile. She smiles back. We will find her. There is no other option.

We decide to put out a public alert with Mayor Mare. It's unnerving, because we don't want to panic anypony, but we need to find Scootaloo, and fast. Dash, Fluttershy, and I fly to city hall. We knock at the door to her office.

"Hunh, Wha?"

"Mayor Mare? It's me, Twilight."

"Oh, Twilight, come in!"

The mayor's office has papers scattered about her desk, including one still partially stuck to her face. She catches it and pulls it off quickly.

"I apologize, Twilight, for the state of my office. Things have been weird in Ponyville lately, so I'm backlogged in paperwork. I haven't slept much lately, so things are getting...a little behind." She sighs.

"Strange?" I look around at the office. Her calendar is tilted, a full inbox. "What sort of things?"

"Well," She straightens out her vest and glasses. "People are seeing things, hallucinations, having weird nightmares. It's pretty bizarre. I sent out work orders to check if there's a gas leak. Nothing's turned up. I even sent out for these four individuals who say they're experts in these situations, but they just spouted some nonsense about ectoplasm and left. No help at all," She sighs again, he whole body slumping over. "Anyway, what can I do for you?"

Dash and I look at each other and back over to Mayor Mare. "I'd like to file a missing filly report."

"What? A missing filly? How awful! Who is it?"

"Scootaloo." Dash says.

"Oh no, not her." The mayor looks over to Dash. "I know you two are very close. We'll get our best ponies on it, right away. When did she disappear?"

"Yesterday was the last time anypony saw her. Her friends haven't seen her, nor has Dash, and the foster home she lives in hasn't seen her either."

"That's...just terrible. We'll get the word out immediately. This other stuff can wait," Mayor Mare pushes a pile of papers off her desk and begins writing everything. "Please, tell me everything."

Winded, I open the door to my treehouse. Fluttershy and Dash have left to search elsewhere in Ponyville. I stand in the doorway a few moments, then shout up to Spike as soon as I can speak.

"Spike! Take a letter!"

"Wha? Twilight? What's going on?"

"I need to send this off as soon as possible, Spike. You ready?"

"Yes, yes...hold on," The baby dragon runs and grabs his quill and paper. "Ok."

"Dear Princess Celestia. I'm writing this to put out a public alert for a missing filly. Scootaloo has gone missing since this morning, and despite the best efforts of many ponies here in Ponyville, and our own Mayor Mare, nopony can seem to find her."

Spike looks up in shock. "What?"

"Not now, Spike! I need you to write. Please sent out a public alert as soon as possible. With all the other weird things going on here, I'm very concerned for her. Please also note that Discord has gone missing as well. If you have any information, please let us know. Has Princess Luna improved at all? We are of course still concerned for her as well. Any information you have at all would be extraordinarily useful. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle."

The dragon finishes his scrawling.

"Alright, send it."

The usual green flame engulfs the letter, and I can only hope to wonder if it will do any good. I'm not going to let Scootaloo disappear too, not like Misty. When the last of the message disappears to smoke, I snap back into reality.

"Twilight, what's going on?"

Spike looks at me with worry streaked across his face. My shoulders heave.

"I'm sorry Spike. I promise I'll explain the first chance I get when I get home. Right now, I need to spend all of time looking for Scootaloo."

"I'll help you look!"

"No. I need you to stay here in case Scootaloo comes here, and to also wait for Celestia's letter."

Spike slumps over. "I never get to take part in any of your adventures."

"Spike, this isn't an adventure. Scootaloo could be in real danger. She's gone missing and nopony knows where. This isn't about adventure. This is about making sure she's okay."

"I'm sorry, Twilight."

"Don't worry about it. Look, right now I really need to look for her. When I get home, I'll talk with you about it then."

"Ok. Please, Twilight. Let me know when you find her."

"Ok."

I run out the door, forgetting to even shut it. Spike takes care of it for me. He really is a good assistant. I'll have to thank him when I get back for putting up with my curt attitude. Right now, I have to find Scootaloo. I can only wonder what Dash is going through. She was like a mother or a big sister to that filly. I can't let Dash down. This time, I don't care what anypony says. I'm not going to stop. I'm not resting until I find her, period. No matter what.

Day 4 (Questions)

AJ walks with a heavy wrinkle on her head, her body slumped over. They aren't there yet, but with each step they get closer to the darkness. The sound of Fluttershy's birds sweetly singing slowly fades. Meanwhile, Pinkie hops, her usual self.

"How do you do it, Pinke?"

Pinkie stops. "Do what, AJ?"

"How do you stay positive...even after all this?"

"Simple," Pinkie beams a smile. "I think of all my friends. I think of how much all of you still care about me. I think that even though bad things happen, good things happen too, and if you focus on the bad, you can forget about the good. So...I just don't let that happen."

"Hmm," AJ's shoulders lighten slightly, but the lightness does not stay. "I suppose you're right," She looks at the ground in front of her. "Not far from the forest now."

"Something wrong?"

AJ nods toward the forest.

"Oh..." She giggles. "That. Of course that."

"It just bothers me, Pinkie. That body was not fully decomposed, so whichever pony died there had to have died probably less than a year ago, but Ponyville hasn't had anyone missing since around that time, no missing fillies, no stallions, nothin' as far as I know. Nopony 'cept for you. Can you think of anypony else that body could be?"

Pinkie shrugs. "I dunno, AJ, but the way things have been going, I don't think there's a way it can make sense. Also, I've been gone for six months. I tried to catch up with everypony since I got back, but haven't gotten to everypony yet. Haven't seen anypony missing so far." She shrugs again.

"I...really don't want to go back here."

AJ stares Pinkie in the eyes. Pinkie looks back at her. AJ's face is weak and contorted. She almost has tears in her eyes.

"Hey...hey it's okay, alright?"

"Ah don't cry!" She practically yells it with the tears streaming further.

Pinkie holds AJ in her hooves. "Hey, we're cousins. You can cry to me." She smiles down to AJ.

"Applebloom is right. Ah...gave up too quick. Winona was a good dog. She was a good, good dog, and I left her when she needed me, Pinkie. We gave up too quick on you, too. Ah should have been like Twilight. Ah should've kept lookin' fer you. But I didn't. I closed up because it was the least painful thing to do. I'm sorry, Pinkie."

"Silly, we didn't give up. It's why we're here! I mean, you thought I was a goner. I would have done the same thing."

"Really?"

Pinkie snorts the notion away. "Yeah. I mean, I was gone for six months. No sane pony would come looking for me for that long, and I wouldn't want you to."

"Heh." AJ smiles. "Nopony except for Twilight."

Pinkie looks up to the last of the sky before they enter the forest, her mind focused elsewhere. "She really kept looking for me that whole time, hunh?"

"Yup. Thought she'd never stop, too. Glad yer back, if for that reason alone."

"Happy to be back." She tilts her head sideways and beams a smile.

The ponies walk further and the darkness of the forest befalls them. The birds are all but impossible to hear now, replaced by ambiguous noises. The two ponies tread softly, never quite sure if the sounds of their feet are really their feet or the sound of a nearby timberwolf. Various animals make their calls, different birds, wild birds. Their screeches attack the ears of the ponies intermittently. Very little light falls in the section of forest AJ and Pinkie travel, and their view is further blinded by a dull fog that seems to permeate everything.

"So...do you remember where it is, AJ?"

"Yeah, hard to forget anything after having that image of Winona burned into my skull."

"What...happened to her, Applejack? Why does it bother you so much?"

AJ freezes in place. She sighs. "Pinkie...she...I can't say it. It's too hard. It's awful, Pinkie. You don't want to hear it."

"I do if it makes you feel better, but it's okay. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

AJ moves forward a few more steps and stops herself. "No. I...I think I do. I think it will help," Once more AJ sighs. "She killed herself, Pinkie. She bashed her own head into a tree over and over again until she was dead. What kind of animal does that, Pinkie? She had all her shots. Weren't like it were rabies or nuthin'. She came out here, found that body, dug it up, howled like a blasted Banshee and she went and killed herself. It don't make a lick o' sense."

Pinkie stares at AJ, her pupils dilated. "Oh my Celestia. I'm sorry AJ. I...didn't know."

"Ah know. I feel better tho." AJ smiles at Pinkie. Pinkie returns an understanding lip curl. "We have to stop this thang. Whatever's doing this. Whatever's causing this, we have to stop it."

Pinkie nods sharply.

"There. Not much further. I think I see it up ahead."

A jolt runs through Pinkie. A fragment of a memory dragged loose from her subconscious. "This place...looks familiar..." she murmurs.

"How's that now?"

"I'm not sure why, but I really, really don't like it here." Sickness runs across her body. She shivers.

"You okay, Pinkie?"

"Yeah...." her voice trails off. "I'm gonna sit down, if that's okay."

"What, you mean right here when we're so close?"

"I don't want to get any closer right now."

"Pinkie, if ya got a reason now, you better spill it."

"I don't. I don't know why, AJ. I just don't want to get closer right now. I don't understand it. I just really, really, really don't want to go there right now. Can you please go over there instead, please?" Pinkie's face pales. She goes quiet and holds herself. She looks ahead of herself, but not toward the clearing. Her eyes are focused away, elsewhere.

AJ stares at Pinkie for a few moments, flicks her eyes back to the clearing, then back to Pinkie. She tilts her head aside and raises her eyebrow. Finally, she turns her full self over to face the clearing and approaches it.

The screeches, skittles and wild sounds of the forest are quiet here, just like last time. Unnaturally quiet. The last time, AJ didn't get a good look at the body. She was too freaked out by Winona, too scared of what would happen to Applebloom. Now, she has time. It is definitely the body of a pony, most likely a mare from the bone structure. No signs of wear on the bones, so not likely old. Too large to be a filly. It would have to be a mare around Pinkie's age.

She stops herself. "It's not Pinkie," Nopony is there to say it to, but she says it aloud. "She repeats herself. "It's not Pinkie. It can't be Pinkie, because Pinkie is over there huddled in a corner, and Pinkie ain't a ghost. I hugged her. I touched her. She's there, alright." She looks back to make sure. Pinkie remains huddled. "See? Not dead. Now AJ, get ahold of yerself and look at the apple-bucking body."

She looks closer. While the cutie mark has rotted away, there is still plenty of flesh on the corpse. The face has cuts on it, starting from each side of the mouth up the cheeks in a wicked looking smile. The cuts are uneven. It wasn't from a knife. It was done with something similar to a saw. A glimpse of light catches on something on the body, and AJ looks closer.

"What is that?" Again nopony is around to hear her wonder out loud. The glimmer seems to come from the pony's ear. She pulls out a small metallic, brass colored object, cylinder shaped. "What the hay?" She checks the other ear and sees the same thing. "What in the name of Celestia's rump are these things?"

AJ gets up and runs back toward Pinkie. "Hey Pinkie! I found something! Check these out and tell me what ya think they are."

Pinkie doesn't get up. She continues to hold herself, shivering.

"Pinkie!"

She says nothing. AJ snorts loudly.

"Pinkie!" AJ waits a few moments, staring at her. "Pinkie Pie!"

Finally she looks up. "Wha? Oh hi Applejack. Sorry I spaced out there..."

"What is with you, anyway?" AJ keeps looking at Pinkie.

"I...I don't know AJ."

"You don't space out. Well you do, but usually ya ain't quiet when ya do it."

"Sorry." Her lip turns up slightly into a half smile. "I'm feeling a little better now, though. So...what did you find?"

"Well...can't tell much by the body. Definitely a mare. Definitely our age. Can't see the cutie mark. The face was messed up though."

Pinkie furrows her eyebrows. "What do you mean? What's wrong with it?"

"It's got a cut on both sides of the mouth, all the way up to the cheeks. Looks like it was done by a saw or somethin'."

Pinkie gasps. "What? Why is that?"

"Ya ain't gonna freak out on me again, are ya?"

She pauses. "No...no...anything else?"

"Jest these," AJ shows Pinkie the metal objects.

"What?" Pinkie stumbles backward. "H-how? Where? Where did you get those?"

"I found them on the body."

"Show me."

"Hold on, now. Jest a minute ago you said ya didn't-"

"Now." Pinkie's face is wild, like Winona's was. She catches herself and takes a deep breath. "Please, Applejack, show me the body. I have to know."

The two jog back over to the body. "Have to know what?"

"Alright, AJ, where is it?"

AJ stops and looks around. "Well, that don't make no sense."

"Where is it, AJ?"

"I...I don't know."

"AJ, it was here a minute ago. You took these metal things from it. Where is it?"

"Ah said I don't know!"

"Whadya mean you don't know? It was here a second ago. I mean it AJ. Where is the body? WHERE IS IT?"

"I'm not playin' round, and Ah'm tellin' you, I don't know." The two lock eyes in a desperate stare.

Tears flood Pinkie's eyes. "AJ. Please. Please tell me this whole thing has just been an elaborate trick. Please..."

"Pinkie, I swear to ya...I...I...I don't understand it. Please...jest tell me what ya remember."

"I can't AJ. Not right now. I just...I just can't."

"Pinkie..."

"I want to be left alone for a while, okay? Just, don't follow me. I want to be alone."

More tears flood her face, as Pinkie runs out of the forest in the direction that she came.

A few moments alone, and Applejack stomps her hoof straight down. "Ahm gettin' REALLY tired of this!" She shouts as loud as she possible can. "Will somepony please tell me what's going on? Somepony, anypony. Any thing! Spirit, monster, I don't even care anymore!"

She pants from her tirade, her whole body shakes, her face red with fury. She looks over at the tree and breathes. She sees something. The word 'smile' is carved into the tree. She stares at it a few moments longer.

"Hunh. Guess I better get back and go tell Twilight what happened to Pinkie. Not sure I know myself." She spits on the ground. "Apple-pickin' forest. I hate it here."

Pinkie runs back to the cakes, runs up to her room and slams the door. She covers herself with the blanket and shudders.

"I remember now..." She mutters. "But it doesn't make any sense. I'm not dead. I'm not. It didn't happen. It couldn't have happened. It was a dream. It was always a dream." She opens her hoof, looks at the metal pins. She shudders and tosses them away. She knows exactly what they were for.

Day 4 (Answers)

Rarity sits at the boutique, brushing her hair, contemplating how to go about researching for Twilight. Pinkie Pie had given her Evening Light's address. She finishes primping and getting herself dressed for the occasion. Rarity recalls a time she spoke to Sweetie Bell about the importance of managing one's appearance. Rarity and Sweetie Bell had met Diamond Tiara's father and didn't want to dress up nice just to impress Diamond Tiara.

"Sweetie Bell dear," she had said. "It is always important to make a good first impression, even with company that is, how shall I say, less ideal." It turned out for the better, too. Filthy Rich is now a client of hers and Diamond Tiara seems to have toned down the bullying a little bit lately.

For this occasion, Rarity is wearing a red and black block stripe dress with a matching scarlet scarf to accessorize. She adjusts a stray hair with her brush, takes one last look in the mirror and confidently nods. "Perfect."

She walks out the door toward Evening Light's address. She looks at the paper that Pinkie gave her. His house is all the way down on the other side of Baker Street, toward the outskirts of town. She trots a relaxed stride, thinking over what to say and how to ask it of him, without coming off as accusatory. In a way, Twilight was right to pick her for this job. It does require a little discretion. She smiles, knowing details and discretion are her specialty.

The town is bustling at this time of day, not too far out from lunchtime, but slowly as she approaches Light's House the noise filters down to a dull hum. There are very few places near him. Light's house is a little plain and quaint. It is a small house with mostly beige painting. The paint in parts of the outside is chipped. The lawn is slightly overgrown, as though it's occasionally paid attention to, but not in the last few weeks. A few old newspapers lie at his door. Rarity looks at the date on one of them. Its dated from about two weeks out. She remembers that paper because Mayor Mare announced a new law that would allow for free dental care for all ponies living in Ponyville. She shrugs and looks to the door, scrunches her muzzle, hesitates for a moment, then knocks on the door.

For a moment, the house is quiet. She waits a few moments more. She knocks again. Nothing. She is about to step out when the door opens.

"Yes?"

"Oh, uh hello, yes, hi!" Rarity scratches her hoof and smiles. "My name is Rarity, and..."

"I know who you are."

"Oh, uh you do?"

"Yeah. You're part of my niece's little entourage. You own that little dress shop, too."

"Yes, the boutique." Rarity intakes a quick, short breath. "Well, yes. Thank you. I'm flattered."

"Oh, no need for that, Miss Rarity. I just like to know my surroundings is all. No need for you to be flattered."

"Oh...well okay then." Rarity smiles. She looks over at the stallion in front of her. She can tell he's older than her, though not elderly by any means. He seems to be middle aged. His fur is coal colored with a bright yellow mane, very course hair. Not kept up very well. Rarity considers asking to help him with it, but controls her impulse. His cutie mark is similar to twilight's but with differences. Like Twilight's, he has a large star, but his does not have other stars around the outside. The star is the same color as his hair. Further from the star is a smaller telescope icon.

"Well, that is a fantastic cutie mark! What do you do?"

Light smirks and gives out a light snort. "That was before I retired. I used to work at an observatory, observe various celestial bodies. Don't really do much of that anymore. I tend to be pretty good at keeping myself busy." He looks right at her. "What can I do for you today, Miss Rarity?"

The question throws her off. It's not what he says, but the way he says it. It comes across as a mixture of politeness, but somehow it feels threatening. She cannot place it, but her body subconsciously shudders.

"Well, yes. I'm calling to ask about your child."

His eyes widen. "My child?"

"Yes...Snails?"

"Oh. Yes."

"How's he doing? There's been some weird things happening lately and Twilight saw how he acted. I heard he was sent to a mental hospital?"

"Oh yes, well he's been under a lot of stress lately. It's difficult enough for a boy his age without having to endure his little...well you know his brain, it doesn't work like most kids, so...The doctors tell me he should be fine and back in a few days. He's making a lot of progress, they tell me."

"Oh, well I'm so happy to hear that!"

"Good. Well, thank you for taking the time to talk, but if you don't..."

"Oh yes, yes, I understand," Rarity sticks her hoof in his door. She hopes it doesn't hurt, but Light catches the door for her. "But I just wanted to know if you knew where the hospital is? We were hoping to visit him to see if he's doing okay."

"Honestly, Rarity, I don't think you need to go to any trouble. He's a pretty tough little colt and he's doing okay. Thank you though."

"Oh no, I insist. I really must be there for him in his time of need."

Light pauses for a moment, raises an eyebrow at Rarity. "I'll be right back," He retreats into his house. A few moments later, he returns with an address. "The hospital closes visiting hours mid afternoon, so I suggest going over there tomorrow. If you leave today, you'll just be wasting your time," He looks her over a little longer. "The hospital doesn't like late night visitors."

Rarity smiles back. "Well thank you so much again, Mr. Light. Do you by chance know where I can meet up with his friend Snips?"

"Afraid not. I suppose his school, but I don't know."

"Okay. Well thank you for your time."

He shoots a quick half-hearted smile, then shuts the door. Rarity breathes. "Well," She shrugs. "That was interesting. I suppose I should talk to Snips."

She turns around and trots over toward Miss Cherilee's school. She spends her time analyzing the conversation between her and Evening Light. He was brief, as though hiding something. He seems polite enough, but something about his tone bothers her, intimidates her, even. She knows to go tonight, despite what Light said. Hopefully, he's wrong. At least the day seems sunny enough. After Rainbow Dash's shenanigans, it is a welcome break. She had read that other pegasi from Cloudsdale were called in to temporarily fix the weather since Dash disappeared. Rarity's thoughts wander over to her, wondering how Dash is faring.

The schoolyard is close by. Rarity trots over to Cherilee with a friendly smile. "Good morning, Miss Cherilee."

"Oh, good morning, Rarity. How are you today?"

"Oh just marvelous. It is such a gorgeous day, do you not agree?"

Cherilee nods and smiles. "Very much so. How can I help you?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you have seen Snails's friend Snips today?"

Cherilee scrunches up her face. "Oh no, I'm afraid he's been out of school the last two days, ever since Snails had his little...episode."

"Is...is Snips okay?"

"Oh, yes, I'm sure of it. He has a note for both instances. If you ask me, he's probably not really sick, but just recovering from what happened to his friend. Those two are so close, and we're all rooting for Snails."

"That's why I'm trying to find Snips. I was planning on visiting the hospital near Canterlot today and wanted to see if he wanted to give Snails a message."

"Oh, well that's awfully thoughtful of you, Rarity," Cherilee smiles. "As luck would have it, we all made Snails a card. We were going to mail it out today, but if you're going there anyway, would you mind if I just gave it to you?"

"Oh, well not at all!"

Cherilee walks with Rarity over to her school desk to retrieve the card. "Here you are, and here is Snips's address. I'm sure it would really cheer him up to know you're going over there to visit him."

"Why thank you so much, dear. I really appreciate everything."

"Oh course."

Rarity sees the address and sees it is over on the other side of town. If she's going to make it to the hospital tonight, she's going to need to hurry. Her trot turns into a quick cantor. Quick enough to get there fast, not so quick as to mess up her perfectly crafted hair.

Rarity knocks on the door.

"Who is it?" she hears muffled on the other side. The door opens.

"Oh, hi! Rarity, is it? What brings you here?"

"Hi there, um, I'm sorry I don't have your name?"

"Lana."

"Yes, Lana. Pleasure to meet you. I'm here to check on your son, Snips, because I was going to visit his little friend Snails in the hospital and wanted to know if there was anything he wanted to say to him."

Lana's eyes bulge with excitement. "Oh, you couldn't have had better timing, Miss Rarity. He's been moping around like a little mopey moper ever since Snails left. Let me go get him." She leaves the door open a crack.

"SNAILS!" She hollers up the stairway. "SNAILS COME DOWN HERE,"

"MOM!" she hears back. "I WANNA BE LEFT ALONE."

"But Snails...I have a special surprise for you..." Lana singsongs.

"I don't wanna surprise, mom."

"Oh I think you'll like this surprise."

"I doubt it, mom."

"Come on, Snails. Only for a moment. You have a visitor."

"MOM! I told you I don't want to see any of the kids from school."

"It's not."

"...It's not? Who is it?"

"Come on down and see."

Lana opens the door and smiles. "I'm so sorry you had to hear that. He can be so stubborn sometimes."

"Oh it's quite alright, darling." Rarity flicks her name back into position. She hears Snips approaching.

"Is it Snails? Is it Snails?"

"Well no, sweetie, it's..."

The door swings open. "Miss Rarity?" His mouth hangs open. "What are you doing here?"

Rarity laughs lightly. "Well...I was going to go pay a visit to your friend Snails, and wanted to know if there was anything you wanted to-"

"Oh boy! Do I!" Snips runs up the stairs and hollers down. "I'll be right back!"

Lana smiles a fake smile. "Lot of energy, that one. Sorry he interrupted you."

Rarity laughs again. "Oh no harm, my sister Sweetie Bell is the same way when she's excited about something. It's just the age."

"I agree."

Snips appears at the door again. "I'm so happy you're going to visit him, Miss Rarity. I've been begging my parents to take me, but they keep having to work and they say it's a long trip." Snips pouts. "I miss him."

Rarity beams a smile over to him. "Well, what would you like me to tell him?"

Snips jumps up. "Yeah! Tell him I miss him and that I can't wait to race him again once he gets back."

"Race him?"

"Yeah! So as a joke, we gave each other pets. I gave him a pet snail named Scissors and he gave me a pair of scissors he found in his dad's kitchen and named it Snaily."

Rarity giggles. "Wonderful."

"Yeah! But the thing is, when Snails left to the hospital, he left Scissors behind. Here."

Snails grabs a small snail and places it in Rarity's hoof. She does her best to stifle a horrified howl.

Lana rolls her eyes. "Snips, you've been keeping that in the house?"

"I had to, momma, I had to hold onto it for Snails."

Rarity squirms as she says it, "Well, it's very sweet and...thoughtful of you to give this to him. I don't suppose you might have a, um jar to place him in so I don't lose him?"

Lana nods. "Of course."

Lana walks off to find the jar. Rarity leans over to Snips. "So, if you don't mind me asking, do you know anything about why Snails did what he did?"

Snips frowns a little. "Naw. I mean, his dad's always been a little weird. Didn't really like you guys much, and Diamond Tiara's been picking on us both quite a bit."

"Yeah," Rarity rolls her eyes. "I know how she can be. Anything happen right before or did he say anything to you?"

Snips rolls his eyes to the upper left. "Hmmm. Well, there was this one thing that's kind of bugged me. Don't know why though."

"What's that?"

"Well, you see a long time ago, Snails told me he was going on a camping trip with his dad. Him and his dad don't do a whole lot of stuff very often. He mostly hangs out with me, so he was super excited. I was kind of sad that he wasn't hanging out with me, but I get it."

"Oh?"

"But see, when he came back, he was really, really quiet. Didn't really say anything for a few days. He spoke to me a little, but not very much, and that's it. I asked him what was wrong and he didn't say anything."

"How long ago was this?"

Snips shrugs. "I guess months ago. I don't really remember."

Months ago. Rarity shudders.

"So, why is this weird now?"

"Well see that's the thing. He told me the day before he freaked, that his dad wanted to do another camping trip this weekend, and Snails was freaking out. Totally opposite of the way he acted last time. He said he told his dad he wasn't going, and his dad got mad at him. Told him he needed to enjoy the wilderness with him or he would be grounded for a week. I've never seen Snails so upset. I mean, you don't know him like I do. He does everything slowly, but he was practically running around in a panic."

"Oh my. Thank you, Snips, for telling me this. I best be off, and I'll be sure to bring, um, Snaily is it?"

"Yeah!"

"Yes. Snaily, over for Snails to keep. I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear from you."

Snips bounces excited. "Gee, Rarity, you think so?"

Rarity nods a single, solid, nod. "Yes."

"Woohoo! Thank you, Rarity! Have fun."

Rarity takes the snail jar. "Thank you for the jar, darling. I'll be sure to return it as soon as I return."

Lana shakes her head no with a look of disgust and mouths the words, "Keep it."

The walking distance from Lana's house to the train station is fortunately not far, as Rarity's hooves begin to ache from all her walking.

"One train to the Canterlot Mental Health Hospital please."

The ticker seller looks at her with a blank, empty face. "Alright. Will you be visiting or staying there?"

Rarity looks at the ticket booth operator with an open mouth. "Excuse me?"

"Yes ma'am, I said will you-"

"Oh I heard you quite alright! I will be visiting, you colt!"

The booth operator's face remains expressionless. "Okay, one round trip ticket."

Rarity fluffs her main, snatches the tickets away and boards the train. "The nerve of some ponies."

She looks to the sun. It's getting a little later in the sky. According to the address written to her by Light, it is about 3 hours away, a little outside of Canterlot. Rarity sighs and sits. Nothing else to do. At least she is able to rest her legs.

"I'm on a train to Canterlot, and I cannot even see the newest fashions, and I am riding on the train with a snail. A snail. And not even a cute one."

She looks at the snail, then back toward the window. "I apologize, little guy. You just don't know how to accessorize, being a snail and all."

She sighs again, thinking over what Snips said about the camping trip. He said months ago, but he didn't say how many months. Snips didn't say where, but what if Pinkie was involved somehow? What if she was a part of the trip? What if that's why she disappeared? But that didn't explain her memory being gone. It didn't explain the dead body in the Everfree forest, and it didn't...well it didn't explain much of anything. Pinkie is still alive. Why did Snails not want to go camping? What happened?

Rarity spends her time watching the trees fly by and rehearsing to herself what she will say to Snails, what she will say to the nurses when she arrives later in the evening than preferred. She enjoys a light dinner on the train, a salad, light dressing, and combs her mane and tail. Even when visiting a mental hospital, she is mindful of her appearance, of the eyes of others.

An hour left on the train, and she naps.

"All arriving, Canterlot Mental Health Hospital!" The conductor shouts it, but Rarity does not move. The conductor sees her sleeping, and approaches. "Miss," He taps her arm. This is your stop, madam."

Rarity shoots up, horrified at the trail of drool left by her on the arm of the seat.

"Oh, I am so sorry, sir."

"No problem. Head on down. Exit's that way."

"Thank you."

Canterlot Mental Health Hospital looms on a high hilltop. The building's exterior looks well enough, if a little dated, but almost appears more like a mansion than a hospital. The only seeming indication to the latter is the glass double doors that automatically open. The building is made from sturdy old oak, built to last for ages. Rarity walks through the door.

"Oh, hello! Welcome to Canterlot Mental Health Hospital. Do you have an appointment?"

"Erhm, no, I don't...I'm here to visit a patient of yours."

The inside of the hospital is nothing like the outside. Everything seems new, and clean. The floors are white tile with tan-painted walls. On the side of the entrance, the receptionist sits behind a desk, and a wide metal door stands nearby.

"Oh? How wonderful!" The receptionist smiles. "Most of our patients don't get too many visitors. Most visitors tend to be a little intimidated. But, you seem okay!"

Rarity puts on a fake smile and half laughs. "Heheh, well I always was a brave one."

"That, you certainly must be." The receptionist smiles back, oblivious to the counterfeit nature of Rarity's smile. "Who are you here to see?"

"Snails."

"Ah! Snails. He just finished his group session according to the schedule here, so he should be open. Let me ring in Doctor Gears."

"Doctor Gears?"

"Yes. The psychologist assigned to Snails's case."

"Oh."

The intercom buzzes loudly. "Doctor Gears? We have a visitor for Snails."

"Oh, wonderful! It'd do the lad some good. Who is it?

"I'm sorry," The receptionist slightly frowns. "I didn't catch your-"

"Rarity." She nods. "A Miss Rarity, sir."

"Alright, well bring her in. I should like to speak briefly with her myself before she speaks with him, if it is alright with her."

The receptionist looks back at Rarity. Rarity nods again. "Of course."

The intercom buzzes and the metal door opens. "Just so you know," the receptionist says, "Visiting hours are until 6, so you have about an hour before we'll need you to leave. We try to get the patients fed and start their bedtime routine, so that's when they get the most troublesome. I'm sure you understand."

Rarity nods and attempts to fake a smile again. The receptionist shoots her smile back. "Good!"

Rarity walks down the hallway. Quiet, calm music plays in the halls. She sees the patients as she walks along and she smiles, a bit nervous. A few stare off into space, a few stare directly at her, and others approach a little closer, trying not to look, but occasionally peeking. Rarity holds her face, but her body shrinks a little, unnerved at the glances she is getting.

A stallion in a white coat and stethoscope approaches her. "Oh hello!" She calls out the distance. "You must be Doctor Gears! Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The Doctor says nothing and just keeps walking toward her. A few of the patients start to snicker.

Rarity stares down at the tiled floor a few moments and then looks back up. The Doctor continues his quiet approach. "Excuse me. Doctor Gears?"

The Doctor continues to approach Rarity silently. The patients start to laugh a little harder. "What? What is it?" Rarity backs up a few steps. "Doctor...Doctor Gears?"

The stallion stares at Rarity. Rarity stares back, and subconsciously moves her head back a little. The stallion jumps right in front of her and belts out at the top of his lungs, "Figaro! Figaro, figaro, figaroooooooo!"

Rarity jumps backwards. The entire area goes wild. The other people in the ward start laughing at the top of their lungs. "Ha! Doctor Gears!" One of them says. "It never gets old."

"Now, now, break it up, gentlemen. Let's not be rude to our guest."

Rarity spins around and sees an older stallion with grey hair and a white coat, no stethoscope. "I'm sorry if our patients here scared you. They very much quite like that gag. Thought I could get over here in time, but I don't move as quickly as I like anymore." The old stallion smiles, a genuine one. Rarity returns with a genuine smile of her own, perhaps a smile of relief. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Doctor Gears."

"Rarity." She looks back. "So who is that?"

"That is 'Doctor Opera,' though most of the residents here just nickname him Bubbles. He's easier to handle if we let him wear the Doctor coat and stethoscope. What can I say? Sometimes the delusionals can be the most fun around here."

"Yes, haha." Rarity laughs a little nervously. "So, um..."

"Yes, you're here to visit Snails? Are you family?"

"No, uh actually. Closer to friend. I'm doing it for a friend of mine who is a um, well I suppose she's a aunt of his. We didn't find out until recently."

"Well, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, nonetheless." The doctor smiles.

"So...how is he?"

The doctor leans back and smiles. "Mostly okay, I suppose,"

Rarity furrows her brow. "Mostly?"

"Yes. Well," The doctor's words are clipped and short. "Step into my office please." Under his genuine smile is a slight air of hesitancy, as though not sure who he's dealing with. "He's very quiet. But he's far better than when he came here. We had to use some medicines to calm him. We've got him speaking again. That's a major improvement, but there are certain things he still refuses to talk about. Perhaps you can shine some light on it?"

"What sort of things?"

"Well, for one, he absolutely refuses to talk about his father, or what made him act the way he did the day he was sent here. His symptoms are very similar to that of a trauma patient's."

"His father? You mean, Evening Light?"

"Wha-" The doctor's face pales. "E-Excuse me. What did you just say?"

"Evening Light. Snails father," She watches as the Doctor's eyes dilate. "Why? What's wrong?"

"He...he was a patient here."

Rarity jerks his head back. "What?"

"You didn't know?"

"No. I...just met him today."

The doctor looks out the window. "That explains a lot. He was a rough one, too. This poor colt."

"What do you mean? What happened to Light?"

The doctor grimaces. "I'm afraid I cannot share that with you. Revealing confidential patient information like that could cost me my job. I might never work as a mental health professional again if word of something like that got out. In fact, I may have already crossed that line. I'm sorry. I'm sure you understand, but I simply cannot share information like that."

"Dr. Gears, are you familiar with the circumstances as they were before Snails was brought here?"

"Yes, but I don't see how-"

"I need you to listen to me. It's true that I'm here to visit Snails, but I'm also here because I'm trying to get to the bottom of mystery that could have many innocent ponies lives in danger."

"Nice try."

"Please," Rarity stops him by throwing her hoof in front of his chest. "Please listen to me. The other day, my friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, was shocked to watch this boy smash his own face onto the ground, and then spit blood on her."

"Wait, you're that Rarity?"

"Yes. Now this colt, Snails has never done anything like this before. Since around that time a few days ago, Ponyville has been going crazy. People have been having nightmares, my friend's dog killed itself by running into a tree over and over. Twilight herself has been having horrible nightmares involving static noises and buzzing and seeing just awful, awful images, and I don't think things are getting better. Even Princess Luna is in a coma."

"Excuse me, did you say buzzing?"

Rarity stops mid rant. Her face drops. "Pardon, but did you hear me just now? I just said Princess Luna is in a coma, and you're worried about buzzing?"

The doctor has a distant look on his face. "I'm sorry. It's...it's just all so coincidental."

Rarity stares at him a moment. "Perhaps not. What happened, doctor?"

The doctor bites his lip, nods left and right. Rarity can see how close he is to breaking. She widens her eyes. "Please? For me?"

Doctor Gears sighs and closes the blinds to his office, speaking in a low voice. He looks around the office like a teenager trying to steal candy at a gas station. "Now, miss Rarity. You listen here. I'm going to share something with you that really ought not be shared. We're talking not just my career on the line here. We're talking scandal. This hospital has done a lot of good, and if word of what I'm talking about gets out, this whole hospital could go under. So I'm trusting you, do you understand?"

Rarity nods a confused nod.

"Good." He holds his hand out. "And I'm only telling you this because I believe you when you say weird things are going on. Truth is, a few weird things have been going on here as well."

Rarity tilts her head back. "What kind of weird things."

The Doctor sighs again. "I'll start at the beginning."

"When I was a new doctor here, years ago, I was not a member of senior staff. I worked with patients, I helped them, but I was not a decision maker. When Evening Light came here, he was temperamental. He was what we call a delusional. His daughter mysteriously disappeared, possibly kidnapped. This was after his wife had passed. As best as I could tell, he loved his daughter as much as anypony could. I don't believe he killed her, but the man was positively convinced that his babysitter had."

Rarity tilts her head. "Babysitter?"

"He used to yell her name, but the mere thought of that babysitter would drive the man to mad fits, thrashing about. We would give him medicine to calm him down, but sometimes that wouldn't be enough. He would bash his head into the walls, find anyway he could to cut himself and then just write her name on the walls over and over."

"Oh my. Why was he so sure it was her?"

"That's what delusionals do. They want an explanation for something they can't explain so badly that they invent one, fight for it, and don't let go until some level of reality shatters the glass forever. In some people, it never happens. When he was more healthy, he would swear to me that he would do anything he could to get revenge on her for murdering his daughter. Those were his best times."

"So he hated Twilight, then?"

"Oh that's right! That's the name. Oh my. I can't believe I never made the connection before. Princess Twilight Sparkle? That Twilight?"

"Yes, my friend."

The doctor's face pales more. "I'm not sure I have the stomach to tell you the rest of this."

"Please, doctor, I need to know."

The doctor pauses for a moment. "Okay, well. One day, Evening Light suddenly begins to improve at a drastic rate. No nightmares, denying his previous delusions, no swearing to kill Twilight, no writing her name in blood. Nothing. It's like overnight he becomes this outstanding, well-adjusted member of society. I and the other doctors in his care see this change. He keeps it up for a solid month. The other doctors meet and they decide to release him. I write that I am against it, and that he still risks a danger to society. In my opinion he was faking it so he can go about his mission of revenge on Twilight, but they ignore me and set him free. To know that he's Snail's father, well, no wonder that boy is the way he is."

Rarity looks toward the door.

"Don't worry," the doctor says. "I'll give you a little extra time with Snails. "

"Thank you," she nods. "Is...there more?"

"No." He says the word a little too shortly. "Nothing more."

"That doesn't sound too scandalous."

"I've changed my mind. I'm not going to tell you about that. It's too awful and it has nothing to do with this."

"Please."

"I'm sorry, miss Rarity, I've already made up my mind."

She snorts and opens the door. "Fine."

The doctor looks sadly at her. "Let me know if he opens up to you at all."

Rarity shuts the door behind her. A nurse quickly approaches her. "He didn't tell you everything, did he?"

Rarity looks over confused. "Why no, but-"

"Go ahead and talk to the boy. I overheard your conversation. When you're done, there's something I want to show you."

She opens the door to Snail's room. "Hey Snails! We have a visitor!"

"Oh goody! Who?" Snails looks over as Rarity enters. "M-Miss Rarity? What are you doing here?"

Rarity beams a large smile. "I brought you something." She pulls the snail out of the jar and tries her best not to scream.

"Scissors!" Snails jumps up and down excitedly. "Oh thank you! Thank you, miss Rarity! Did you talk to Snips? How is he doing?"

"And this is from your classmates," She hands Snails the card.

"Wow. Thanks, Rarity."

"Snails is doing very fine. He misses you."

"I miss him too."

"Have you been well?"

"Yeah. Yeah I have. At least, I feel a little better."

"Oh? Is there anything you'd like to talk to me about?"

Snips. looks down. "Well..."

Rarity leans in. Snails looks away. "No. There's not."

"Snails. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Snails, I understand you don't want to talk about things. People I care about have been hurt, and I'm worried about them. I need your help because I don't know why they're getting hurt."

He looks up. "Did...did dad hurt them?"

"I...don't know yet. Do you think he might?"

Snails contorts his face and begins to cry. "Please...Miss Rarity. I don't want to remember. Don't make me remember. Please."

Rarity sits, silent and awkward. She opens her mouth to speak, but shuts it again. "Oh Snails. I don't know what happened, but I promise you everything is going to be okay."

The tears flow more strongly. "No it's not. Dad isn't going to stop. He wants to hurt you too, Miss Rarity. All of you. I like you Rarity. I don't want to hurt you."

"No one said you have to."

"Don't make me go back."

"Snails, I'm so sorry. I don't know what he's done, but anything you can tell me to help, please let me know."

His cries die down to a light sniffle. "Dad, he has imaginary friends. I'm the only one who knows about them. He talks to them when he thinks I'm asleep. They're going to help him hurt her."

"Hurt who, Snails?"

"Twilight!" His crying returns, stronger then ever.

"Hey hey, it's okay, it's okay. We'll stop him, okay?"

"You can't, Miss Rarity. Nopony can. His friends won't let you."

Rarity looks him in the eye. "We'll find a way. Okay?"

His sniffles die down, and finally Snails nods.

"I have to go now, okay? I have to help Twilight."

Snails nods again. Rarity walks out the door. "Miss Rarity?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about Pinkie."

"It's okay, dear," Rarity smiles. The door shuts. "Wait, what?" Rarity does a full spin and is about to reenter the room when the nurse from before stops her. "I'm sorry Miss Rarity, but it seems we're out of time." The nurse lifts her eyes upward to catch her attention.

"Yes one moment, I just need to as-"

She pulls Rarity back. "Please. He needs to rest, and I don't have a lot of time. My shift is ending and if I hang around too long I'll look suspicious. I want to show you something."

The nurse is older, though not quite as old as Doctor Gears seems to be. "It's this way," She leads Rarity down a long hallway towards what looks like a maintenance closet. "Please hurry." She half-whispers it.

Rarity looks around her for signs of anything else. "Are...are you taking me to a maintenance closet?"

"Yes," The nurse walks up to the closet and pulls out a ring of keys. She unlocks it. The door slowly creaks open.

"What's in there?" Rarity asks.

The nurse points. "Take a look,"

"Um...it's empty,"

"Was,"

"Was?"

"It wasn't empty about 6 months ago. It had something very awful in there that I remember from the past. And about six months ago, there was a break in, and someone took it." The nurse look expectantly at Rarity. She returns a confused glance. "Wow," the nurse continues. "Dr. Gears really didn't tell you anything, did he? Okay look, when Evening Light came here, he was very, very manic. He would scream, attack us, attack himself, just anything. It was so awful that our medicines stopped working after a while. Medicine or not, he would power through and be a danger to anypony around him."

"What happened?"

"Well," The nurse nods to the side. "I'm the only pony outside of Dr. Gears who was working around the time it happened. Nopony else here has been around long enough to remember it, but we had to rely on out-of-the-box thinking and alternative methods to calm him in a way that didn't endanger anypony, so we did something...a bit...illegal."

"Illegal? But what could you have possibly done?"

"Well, you know those old electro-therapy devices hospitals would use for their patients?"

"Well, those are so archaic that- You don't mean that-"

The nurse slowly nods. "At the time Evening Light was here, we still used them. It was pretty rare, there were only a few like Light that we used it on, if only because it was the only way to help them stay calm. It did it's job."

"Oh. Oh my?"

"Now, you're not going to run off saying anything, are you? This is still a hospital, and we've put it behind us now. I feel bad to have been part of the whole thing, especially with what happened to Evening Light."

"What happened?"

"One of our new staff who wasn't aware of the machine until a few hours before we decided to tell her, well one day she was assigned to give Light the treatment for the day. She had no idea what she was doing and we instructed her to be quiet about it. We left her with no documentation on how to use the thing. Everypony just thought it was an obvious, evident thing. We strapped him securely and left the room for her to do it. It was no excuse for that level of negligence."

"What did she do?"

"Well, the part where the electrical current goes through, there's two pins, one for each side of the temple. When current runs through it, it's supposed to relax the brain. Maybe she was frazzled, or maybe just that inexperienced, but she accidentally instead stuck the pins in his ears."

"Oh. Oh my." Rarity covers her mouth without realizing it. "I can't begin to imagine how painful that would be. How awful."

The nurse nods some more. "That's around the same time that Light stopped being so wild, stopped thrashing about. At the time, I thought maybe it had somehow accidentally done the trick, accidentally healed him. Maybe he just decided to put aside his anger and work toward something else."

Rarity gulps. "So...it was just stolen about six months ago, you said?"

"Yeah, sounds about right. Maybe a little earlier than that. Why? Have you seen him?"

"Yes. Yes I have. I think it's time I left to go back to my friends."

The nurse nods. "I'll tell Snails you said goodbye."

Rarity sits in her seat at the train, contemplating what to do. She sees the sun fade away in haste, trying to imagine where to go to first when she gets back. She wonders how Celestia is handling raising both the sun and the moon every day. She considers that Celestia used to do that, so it must be no different. The ride is long, winding, and bumpy, but Rarity refuses to fall asleep again. Her friends need her too much. Beauty rest is great, but she has to tell Twilight. She has to find out if she's okay.

It is complete nightfall when Rarity arrives in Ponyville, and she immediately makes a beeline toward Twilight's palace. Something catches her eye. Evening Light's house, the door is open. She pauses, takes a few steps backwards and walks up to the door.

"H-h-hello?" She calls out a safe distance away. She hears nothing. She backs up a few steps. "Oh dear, what do I do? Twilight could be in danger, but then, if I go in, maybe I'll find out something about him, about where he plans to go. What he plans to do."

She hesitates, looks at the house, then over toward the palace. Her instinct tells her there's safety in numbers, but if he is out, this may be her only chance. She rocks back and forth for a few moments. "Oooh," She moans. "Fine." She takes a short, deep breath, and enters Light's House.

Day 4 (Deepest Sleep)

"Hello?" Rarity shouts. "Is there anypony here?"

The dimness of the light is far from the only distressing thing about the entryway to Evening Light's house. Everything is out of place, neglected. Rarity gags a little from what appears to be an old, musty smell coming from the kitchen. A few books and newspapers lay scattered about the den, and the living room is no better, un-dusted, unvacummed for at least a few weeks.

About the time since Snails left, Rarity notes.

The smell from the kitchen wafts closer as she walks further from the doorway. She struggles to find a light switch, stumbling unnaturally as she walks down the steps toward the kitchen. Her fingers luckily find their place and flick the switch.

Rarity gasps at what she sees. Moths, fluttering around moldy food, left out in the kitchen for what looks like weeks at a time. Garbage is piled up and thrown in a corner, with maggots crawling across. The refrigerator is closed, but little to no attention or care is given to keeping the kitchen clean.

"Mr. Light," She says aloud to nopony. "This is...quite the sight." Another blast of the putrid smell causes Rarity to constrict her nose and she wanders away from the kitchen toward the further hallway. The lights are off, and she once again hesitates.

"I really shouldn't be...Well maybe something happened and he needs a doctor. Maybe Twilight is here."

She catches herself and regains her composure, then continues forward.

She walks past the bathroom, and continues toward the back bedroom. The door is closed. She takes a deep breath for a moment, waits, then finally knocks.

"Mr. Light? Mr. Evening Light? Are you there?"

She hears nothing. She holds her breath and silently begs to herself that he isn't. She softly opens the door and it gives off a light creak. The room is pitch black. She opens the door further and reaches for the light. A sudden chill wind picks up outside and bangs the door to the house. The door slams shut. She races back to the front door, but there is nopony inside. She calms her nerves once again and returns to the bedroom door. She flicks on the light.

Strangely, the bedroom is in completely different condition from the rest of the house. Everything is in complete order, made sheets, no clothes strewn about, and a few books on a bookshelf pertaining to unusual topics, such as the occult. She sees a large red book that seems to stand out. The title reads, Make Yourself Known.

"Hmm," she says. "How odd," She grabs the book and reaches to open it, but when she grabs it, she hears an unusual loud metallic clack sound, like something moving. She jumps a little. "What the..."

She walks in the direction of the sound. There is a closet there. The air from the closet feels cold. She feels along the hanging clothes and find an empty space behind it. Again, she feels for a light and finds one.

She gasps audibly and stares numbly at the image in front of her. On the wall are pictures of Twilight and her friends, each with a thread attaching one to the other. She sees her own picture up there and shutters. Below the wall is a desk with a small leatherbound black book and a single unlit candle. She sees two unopened drawers below the desk. She begins to reach for the book and then notices something on the wall. The pictures on the wall, two of them, Pinkie Pie's and Spike's, are crossed out. The threads on each of them leading back to Twilgiht are also cut. She backs away.

All color on her face fades to grey and she stares weakly for a moment. "Oh sweet Celestia. Please tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means,"

She grabs the book and then runs out of the house as fast as she can back toward the treehouse.

"Please Spike, please be okay,"

It's been a long day, and I return to the palace exhausted.

"Hey Twilight, any luck finding Scootaloo?"

"No Spike, I tried everywhere. Haven't heard back from Pinkie Pie or Applejack either,"

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry, we'll find 'em."

"What makes you so sure, Spike? Everything is going crazy! I can't keep doing this. I can't keep having sleepless nights, and days that make no sense, with Winona dieing and...Spike, we've had threats in the past, but I can't remember the last time I've seen an animal like Winona die from one, and I still have no idea what happened with Pinkie, and right now, I really just need answers, and I need sleep, and I need things to just go back to normal. I can't take this anymore, Spike. Winona doesn't deserve this, and niether does Pinkie, or Scootaloo, or anypony."

I release tears that have been a long time coming. "What changed, Spike? Why now? Why is everything going wrong now?"

He rests his gentle claw on me. "Twilight, you're always the hardest on yourself, you know. This is an impossible situation. You're doing everything you can and I know you're going to get answers because that's what you always do. We'll make the best of this, insane happenings or not. I mean, come on, you bested Discord."

I sniffle a little. "Yeah Spike, I guess you're right. You've always been there for me, you know."

"Aww, shucks. You too, you know. You've bailed me out of a lot of situations."

I smile. He smiles back. "We're in this together."

"That we are."

"Okay," I say, "Then we can't give up. First order of buisness-"

"Is that you sleep,"

"I can't stop now, I've got to-"

"Sleep. Because you can't help anypony if you're barely awake. You won't be able to find Scootaloo faster by not sleeping. You'll only hinder your usefulness."

I smile. "Heh. I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right."

"Oh, and sorry I was so curt with you earlier today."

"Don't worry about it."

"Thanks Spike. Goodnight." On my way to bed, I think I see a letter back from Celestia, but I really am beat, and Spike makes a good point. I'll read it when I wake.

The static is all too familiar now. The loud crackle, the buzzing. I find myself in what appears to be a completely dark room. It echoes with my steps. I do, however see a small light out front of me. I walk nervously in the direction of the light. It magnifies quickly which each step, as though each step I travel a mile.

Finally, I realize I'm in some kind of darkened theatre. I look to the stage and can see the haziest of outlines of several figures there. I cannot see who they are. Everything is quiet, except the buzzing.

A stage light floods the first figure. Discord stares back at me with the same twisted smile as the others from my dreams. His eyes follow me even as I try to look away. His smile grows even wider and he begins to sing.
"Hello, songbird, how have you been?"

Another spotlight turns on. Scootaloo turns toward me with the same awful face and joins the song. "I've heard some gossip from Mr. Wren,"

Another spotlight, this time Luna. She too joins the song "Mr. Wren said you needed som love, so he told his friend Mrs. Dove."

The next spotlight is Pinkie "That love is just what you're gonna get, and Mrs Dove said,"

The final spotlight turns on. It's Misty. "Don't forget."

Everything goes silent. The smiling figures approach. The buzzing grows, louder and louder. I scream and close my eyes.

The buzzing stops. I open my eyes and find myself at the familiar house from my youth. I hear Pinkie's voice in my head.

"I think it's time you remember. What happened after she disappeared, Twilight? You remember, don'tcha?"

"No...please."

"Sorry, no can do. You only have one choice, and that's to remember, whether you want to or not."

"I...I... don't take me back here. I don't want to be here."

The sound of crashing dishes echo from the kitchen.

"Sure, you remember what happened vaguely, from what other's told you, but do you remember? Really, really remember?"

"I know you're not really Pinkie. Who are you?"

The voice giggles again, doll-like, lifeless.

"Careful now, don't want to catch his attention."

Another glass shatters on the floor. I stand paralyzed. My body shivers and my ears turn back. I try to steady my breath, to keep calm, to listen. I hear a male yelling and a voice crying.

I approach from behind him. Across, I see a younger self cowering in fear.

"P-please, I just want to go home."

He slams his hoof down on the kitchen table.

"You want to go home? What about my Misty? Doesn't she want to go home?"

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Quiet, girl! You killed my daughter, and you expect me to buy your scared girl act?"

" Please, I didn't kill her!"

"I said quiet! You see this glass? I gave it to my wife when she had Misty. No point for this to be hanging around anymore."

Evening Light shatters the glass directly on the floor.

"Come to think of it, don't really need anything at all anymore."

He grabs multiple glasses and dishes and throws them around the kitchen. Young me starts to cry.

"Oh enough of the act," his face relaxes a little. "I've come to accept that you took her life," Tears fill his eyes. "Please, I beg you. Just tell me where the body is."

Young me shrinks. "I would never take her life, uncle. I don't know how or why, but she just disappeared. You have to believe me!"

His face hardens. "Unbelievable. Even now... Even now you deny it."

He pulls a kitchen knife from the drawer and walks closer. "So...How did you do it? How did you kill my baby?"

"Uncle...I, I didn't..."

"Stop that now. Did you cut her ear to ear? Maybe you didn't use a knife at all. There's no blood. Maybe you suffocated her."

"I didn't kill her!"

He grabs young me and puts a knife to her throat. "If you say that again, I'll slit your neck."

Young me whimpers in tears. P.p.please...

"Maybe I'll slit it anyway. You certainly deserve it."

I can't stand it anymore. I won't watch this.

"Leave her alone!"

I jump in front of them ready to fire my magic, but I simply freeze. He looks directly at me. My face is unable to move. His face distorts as he looks at me. Eyes glowing red.

"If only you knew, Twilight. You could have told me what happened. You could have stopped all of this. You could have saved her."

"I...I didn't.. "

"My madness, your pain, her disappearance, you're responsible."

"But I couldn't have..."

"That's what drew you to the Royal Academy. That's why you study, because if only you knew, you would have been safe. None of this would have happened."

"I...I..."

"Tell me, for all your studies, do you know why?"

"No."

"Then what good are you?"

I shudder. The phantom is right.

"...Nothing."

I wake up covered in tears, my whole body shivering and damp. I look at the time. 3 a.m. again. I drag myself to the mirror and rub the moisture off my face. That's when I notice the blood on my face.

I don't feel any pain, so I must've hit something in my sleep. Either that or a nosebleed or something.

I hear a faint dripping sound as I get my teeth brushed. I'll need to remind Spike that the roof is leaking again. I don't bother trying to go back to bed. I already know I'm not sleeping any more tonight.

I decide to get myself ready and plan my day. I brush my teeth. The first thing on my to do list is to read that letter Spike got from the Princess. Hopefully she'll have some news.

Unfortunately, he's still asleep, and the dripping is persistent, and frankly, a little irritating. I don't remember the hole in the castle roof being so large. I decide to get some fresh air and to do some investigation on my own.

I step outside in the cool night air, but something is off. There's no rain. The ground is dry; there's not even a cloud in the sky. So where's that dripping coming from? The blood. Spike. My whole body becomes cold. Celestia no. I dash back upstairs to Spike's hammock.

"Spike! Spike wake up!"

No response but the dripping. His blood, right on my bed. No. He...He can't be.

"Spike! Spike wake up! Get up Spike!"

He's a heavy sleeper. It is 3 am after all. Or, or maybe it's all just an elaborate prank.

"Spike this is not funny. Get up now!"

...

"Spike get up, get up!"

He just lies there motionless. That's when I noticed several stab wounds on him, more than I can count at first glance. In his hands still is the letter from Celestia. On the back is something written with Spike's blood.

"Now you know what it is like."

I grow cold and numb. I hear a distant voice call my name, but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters.

"Twilight! Twilight! Spike's in danger, we have to-"

She stops upon seeing my face. She sees Spike, and lets out the most terrified scream I've ever heard. She faints. Me, I just sit here. I shouldn't have slept. I-I shouldn't have listened to Spike...I shouldn't have...I...

Author's Note

Olny daeth.
No rtrbieh.
No rrbteih.
No rrtbeih. Olny dteah.
Dteah aonle. Olny detah.
No rirebth.
Tmie is out.
Olny
Viod
Riamens.

Day 5 (Comparing Notes)

"Spike's dead. He's really dead."

"Oh, Twilight, don't...Please."

I have no will to do anything. Evening Light won. I didn't even know for sure I was fighting against him, and now he's murdered my oldest companion, the one who's been with me through it all. The floors of the palace are filling with tears and blood. I'm utterly demolished. How could he? How could he stoop so low?

I know what happens next. It won't be long before the Canterlot Royal Investigation Agency starts asking questions, before I'm accused, once again, of murdering those close to me. His blood is on my face, for crying out loud. I push my grief down. I have to handle this first. I'm not going to go through that again.

"Rarity, I need to ask you a favor, and it's a pretty big one."

Rarity walks over to me and puts a hoof around me. "Anything, darling. Spike was close to me, but not in near the same way as you, so I can't begin to imagine what you're going through. Anything in your time of need."

I sigh. Here goes. "I need you to help me clean up this mess, bury Spike, and lie about his death. Tell everypony you know he's on a vacation or something."

"Pardon?"

"I know it sounds awful but, look. I can't handle going through another CRIA investigation. When Misty went missing, I was the prime suspect, despite the fact that Evening Light almost killed me. The questions were never-ending. They wouldn't leave me alone until they were sure I didn't do it, and even then they kept me under custody. I...just can't go through that again right now, and even if I could, if they throw me in prison, I won't be able to stop this thing in time. I won't be able to find out the truth."

"Twilight, I don't know if I could do that. That's...that's wrong, Twilight."

Tears fill my eyes. "I know," I moan on Rarity's shoulder like a baby.

"Darling, darling it's okay. You won't go through this alone. I promise I'll be by your side through the whole ordeal. They will help us. Okay? They can help us catch Evening Light and make sure he doesn't hurt anyone else."

"They won't find him in time. We are dooming ourselves if we submit to them."

"You're a princess now. You can call off the CRIA."

I shake my head. "No. The CRIA operates outside of normal jurisdictions or authorities. Agents are given a pseudonym so that it is harder to track them back to their actual families. The CRIA could accuse Celestia of a crime if they wanted to. Celestia intended it that way to make sure beings like changelings can't just impersonate her and go on a crime spree."

"I have plenty of useful evidence against Evening Light. I'm not worried about us clearing your name in the least. Besides, they haven't arrived yet, have they?"

"I'm afraid that is not correct." Two stallions wearing black suits, red ties and black, mirrored shades stand in the doorway to the castle. The one on the left is creme colored with a grey slicked back mane and tail. He seems to be the senior of the two agents. The one on the right has dark brown fur and a yellow mane and tail, also slicked back.

"How are you here already?" Rarity asks. "This just happened?"

The elder agent speaks. "We were informed by several witnesses, including Celestia herself of the strange things happening in this town. Much of this information was supplied by Twilight herself in her letter. The fact we arrived right after a murder is an unfortunate coincidence. It does change the nature of things, though."

"Hold on," Rarity says, "You aren't suggesting?"

The younger agent speaks up. "Many of the things written in Princess Twilight's letter would have required a being with extraordinary magical ability to succeed in. There are few in Equestria who could match Princess Twilight's power. In addition, she has been linked to a previous case of a missing filly. She was never officially arrested due to lack of evidence, but she was one of two ponies present of the day, and the other Stallion went mad for grief of his missing filly. We aren't here to make baseless accusations, but she is a suspect."

I sigh. It's happening all over again. When will this nightmare end?

"Wait," Rarity says. "You want evidence? I'll show you evidence. There is a pony named Evening Light. I've been in his house."

I start at that. "What? Rarity? Why would you take such a risk?"

"The man has a hate shrine dedicated to Twilight, and guess who he's crossed off his list? Spike, and Pinkie Pie."

"Did you say Evening Light?"

"Yes."

The two agents look to each other and whisper a little. One of them produces a grimace.

"It looks like we have a second suspect. We will investigate the man's house like you request."

"However," says the younger agent. "First we must seal off this area and collect evidence here."

I jump in, perhaps unexpectedly. "Wait! Celestia wrote me a letter before Spike was killed. The killer wrote on the back of it, but I never had a chance to read the actual letter. Please, I need to see what Celestia wrote."

The elder agent thinks for a moment. "Hmm. Well, we don't want to interfere with official business from the Princess, despite you being a suspect. Very well. One of us will retrieve the letter and read it to you."

"I understand," I say. "It's in the back room where I sleep."

The younger agent walks toward the room with the hammock.

"Interesting," Rarity says. "Both of your cutie marks just say CRIA."

The agent nods. "We are magically given these on missions to protect our identity."

"May I ask what your names are?"

"You can call me Agent Withers," He points in the direction of his partner. "Agent Saddle."

He hears a voice call back. "Withers, you got to see this,"

Withers nods in the direction of my bedroom. My face pales.

"Please, Mr. Withers, don't make me go back there again. Don't make me look at him."

Withers eyes me suspiciously at first, then his eyes soften. "You know, in this line of work, I have to be careful. I'm sorry Princess, but I'll need you to stay with me."

I nod and follow along. I close my eyes, because I don't need or want to see it again, but I can smell it. I can smell the disgusting rusty smell of Spike's blood. Tears begin to flow again.

Rarity puts her hoof on my back. "It's okay, Darling. It's...going to be okay."

I look up at her, Her face shows a ragged smile, but I can tell she's not okay. She is barely holding back tears herself, trying to be strong for me. I try to look at her and not the scene around me.

"He...he just told me yesterday that we were in this together." I said, tears streaming from my face. I'm surprised by Rarity. For someone known to be a bit dramatic, she's holding herself together quite well. She's doing it for me. She begins to sniffle as well, though.

"My Spikey-Wikey is gone."

Agent Withers returns to us. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have the letter."

I return a quiet nod. Agent Saddle reads.

"My Dearest Twilight. Thank you for informing me about Scootaloo. I put in a public alert immediately after I read your letter. It's been a few days, so I thought that I would take the time to update you on a few important events here at the castle. First and foremost, I am saddened to say that Luna has as of yet made no recovery and continues to be in what the doctors here call a coma. However, yesterday, something unusual happened while I was visiting her bedside. She sat up in bed, almost instantaneously and was, as far as I can tell, awake and lucid. She looked me right in the eyes and said, 'I don't have much time. Tell Twilight she has to destroy the anchor. That's the only way for her to fix this. She has to destroy the anchor, she has to-'

Then, just like nothing, she immediately fell back asleep. I'm not sure what it means, but I can't help but wonder if it is somehow connected to your situation or if it the ramblings of someone who woke from a dream. In either case, I hope it helps you out.

I also wanted to inform you that I am sending agents from the CRIA to assist in the investigation over there. Understand that they may investigate you as well, but that is part of their job and what they do. I don't need to remind you that I put them in the positions they have as a check on us as well. I have faith, however, that they will be vital in assisting you to find out the true culprits of these crimes, be they magical or otherwise.

As always, my greatest of blessings to you.

Most Sincerely,

Princess Celestia."

Anchor? I begin to wonder. What anchor? What's she talking about? Maybe there's more to this than just Evening Light.

"Is this filly still missing?" Agent Saddle looks at me.

I nod. "Yes. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and I spent the greater part of the day looking for her."

I hear a voice shout from outside of the palace. "Hey Twilight! I thought of some more places where we can look for Scootaloo. Maybe if we check-"

Saddle and Withers escort me outside the bedroom into the main room of the palace. They position us to block entryway to the door. Rarity follows. We see Applejack and Dash looking at us curiously.

Dash steps forward. "Twilight, what's going on. Who are these ponies?"

Withers nods. "Agents Saddle and Withers. CRIA."

"CR what now?" Applejack removes her hat and scratches her head.

"Dash, Spike is dead. They're here to investigate."

Dash freezes. "Wha? What do you mean, Spike's dead? That, that can't be r...Let me through there. Let me see."

"I'm sorry," Agent Saddle states coldly. "There's a crime scene. We can't let you p-"

Dash charges through them only to freeze a few steps later. She comes back pale. "H-how? Why? Did this happen?"

"We don't know yet," Withers says, "But we're here to find out."

"Oh sweet Celestia," Rainbow moves in place nervously. "What if it's the same creep that has Scootaloo?"

I try to encourage him. "We don't know that yet," I say. "AJ? Where is Pinkie?"

AJ shakes her head. "I don't...I can't rightly say. She's probably still at the Cakes. As soon as I showed her the b- AJ stops herself, the thing I found in the forest, she freaked out and locked herself in her room. It really bothered her. I don't really know why."

We hear yet another voice from outside the palace. "I do. Because I died. Evening Light killed me,"

We turn to see a grief stricken pink mare, flattened mane, eyes red from presumably crying. She let's out a tired sigh and looks at AJ. "And it wasn't the body that freaked me out, it was these," She holds out two metal pins in her hooves.

The agents look at each other, confused. "Body? What body?" Saddle says.

"Whadya mean, Pinkie? You're right here. He didn't kill ya." Applejack says.

"Yes, he did AJ. I don't know why I'm alive now. I can't explain it, but I remember everything he did. It wasn't a dream, Twilight. He actually did this to me."

I'm not sure what to believe anymore, but I know none of this makes sense and she needs me. "I believe you, Pinkie."

"Thank you, Twilight."

"I'm not sure I understand," Withers says, but please tell us everything you can.

"All I know is that I was out looking for a special rare flower in the forest to celebrate Fluttershy's birthday. This was about 6 months ago." She sniffles. "I remember getting conked in the head really hard by something and blacking out. When I woke up, I was tied to a tree. Evening Light was there, and so was Snails, but he looked like he really didn't want to be.

Evening Light, he looked at me, and said, 'So, I hear you like to smile.' He smiled at me too, except it wasn't a friendly smile. It was like the kind of smile a dog makes before it's about to bite you. He was scaring me. I nodded yes to his question, then asked him why I was tied to the tree. He ignored me.

'Because,' he said 'I found a way for you to smile all the time.' Then he,"

Tears stream from her face as she struggles to finish explaining. "He cut a smile from my mouth up to my cheeks on both sides. He laughed while he was doing it, just kept saying 'Smile, Smile, Smile, Pinkie.'

He...he made Snails help him. Snails didn't want to, but he told Snails he would cut him if he didn't. Snails was crying to. I hope he's okay. I feel really sorry for him."

"Is that everything?" Withers asks.

"No...he then untied me from the tree. I tried to escape but I guess he had already tied my hooves together because I tripped and couldn't move anymore. Then he took this machine...this awful machine. It buzzed with electricity. He strapped my head into it and took these," She holds out the pins, "And stuck them in my ears."

Rarity points at the pins and gasps. "That's what the nurse told me!"

"What nurse?" Says Saddle.

"Yesterday, I visited the place where Snails was being held. Turns out it was the same place that Evening Light was institutionalized. The nurse told me a story where Evening Light was strapped into such a machine but the nurse accidentally put the pins in his ears. She said he acted differently after that, and then she said the machine was stolen around 6 months ago."

Pinkie sighs, "So he wanted me to feel what he felt. He turned the thing on, and it was the most painful thing I ever felt. There was this awful, static, buzzing sound, and that's what I saw too. Nothing but static. I remember jolting all over, my muscles writhing, and twitching my body into unnatural positions and then, that's everything. That's all I saw."

We all stood for a moment in silence. Unsure what to do next. Trying to process what Pinkie just shared with us.

"This all sounds suspicious," Saddle says. "Where's the body now?"

"Well," AJ says. "It disappeared."

"Come again?"

"I know it sounds strange. I don't understand it myself, but after I took these," Applejack points to the pins. "The body vanished."

"It doesn't sound strange," Saddle says, "It sounds unbelievable. We're going to need to take all of you in for questioning."

"Wait!" An idea popped into my head. "Guys, I think I know where Scootaloo and Evening Light might be."

Withers raises and eyebrow at me. "Well? Go on."

"Evening Light has it out for me because he thinks I killed his daughter. It wouldn't surprise me if he took Scootaloo back to his old house where she was killed, to complete his revenge. He probably is expecting me to look for him there. We should go immediately to Canter-"

"No." Withers says. "If you are right and Evening Light is there, then you are staying here. In fact, we've set up a perimeter around Ponyville. Nopony leaves or enters without our permission first."

"Are you kidding me?" I can't believe this. I practically want to smack the old stallion. "This is an opportunity to save Scootaloo's life and you aren't letting me look for him?"

"No," He says flatly. "At least, not you. You are still a suspect and we are not about to give you an opportunity to escape should you be the culprit. Besides, if he is after you, he's bound to return to try to get to you, which means we'll have a chance to apprehend him."

"Well then, who?"

"Agent Saddle will investigate the address in question. I will stay here with you. You may assist me in certain parts of the investigation, but you should know that we agents are equipped with tools to protect ourselves should you decide to use your magic."

Pinkie nods. "I'll stay with you, Twilight. Maybe we can figure out together how I came back to life."

Rainbow Dash looks over to agent saddle. "Please, take me with you. Scoots has been like a kid to me. I want nothing more than to bring him back."

"As far as I'm concerned, you're still part of the investigation. Everypony is a suspect until proven otherwise."

"Then you'll have the chance to speak with me during the trip. Please? I have to make sure she's okay."

Saddle huffs, rolls his eyes, and nods. "Just stay out of the way. I don't want you endangering yourself."

Rainbow nods. "Oh don't worry, I'm not the risk taking type."

"Not a risk taker! By all the apples in my orchard, listen to yerself! Look, I'm comin' too. I'm not about ta let ya get yerself killed. Besides, I owe that creep one for what happened to Winona."

Saddle rolls his eyes again. "Fine. Anypony else? Anypony at all?"

Fluttershy shrinks at the though of chasing down a known killer.

"No thank you," Rarity says. "I think I've gotten as close as I want to ever be to that Stallion."

Saddle mutters something to himself about it being a rhetorical question, and then, "Alright then you two, prepare your things. We leave in an hour. Twilight, I'll need that address."

"Of course."

"Fluttershy slinks back up to me. "So, Twilight, where do you plan to look first?"

"I'm going back to the Everfree forest."

"What?" She squeaks a little louder than she is used to doing. "You're going back to look for the body?"

"No, actually. I can't help but thinking that there's something else here, like we're overlooking something. I still have no idea what happened to Misty or why Pinkie is alive now, if what she is saying is true."

"So why go to the Everfree?"

"Because Zecora might have some ideas, especially since some of this seems magical in nature. Maybe he's getting help from a powerful magical being."

"I hope you're not referring to Discord," Her eyes look furiously at me. "He would never do such a thing."

"I'm not necessarily suggesting that, Fluttershy, though he has gone missing. It could be any magical being. But we have to rule out all possibilities, before I have to deal with another nightmare again."

"I'm afraid," Withers says, "I can't let you do that, Twilight."

"Why not?"

"Because I need your assistance in investigating Evening Light's house. How much do you know about forensics?"

"Oh, quite a bit. I have books upon books on the subject. Did you know, for example, that you can use bleach to disguise the presence of blood in a house? Oh, of course you do, you probably do this stuff every day, I-"

I stop myself. "This probably isn't helping me look innocent is it?"

He slowly shakes his head and grimaces. "Not exactly."

Rarity looks back at me, "That will take all day for you to investigate. How will you have time to speak to Zecora."

"We won't," Withers admits. "It can take a very long time to complete the investigation of a crime scene, and I still have this one to finish. I don't think you'd find anything from a magic zebra, but We likely won't get out there in time even if we did want to."

"I'll go," Pinkie says. It's the first time her hair re-inflates since this morning."

"You're going back to the Everfree again?" Rarity says. "Do you think that's wise, sweetheart?"

"I've been given a second chance at life. I have to know why."

"Well, I'm not going to leave you to do it alone. I'm going with you."

Surprisingly, Fluttershy steps forward. "I'll go too."

"Fluttershy? Really?"

She shrugs. "I know it's scary there, but my knowledge of animals may help you. Plus we're merely going to visit Zecora. It's not like we're going to go back...there," She shudders for a moment then brightens. "I need to make sure Discord isn't falsely accused of anything. Discord is my friend, and he's not behind this."

We all nod in agreement on our plan and once again go our separate ways. Myself, I pray that things go back to normal. I have to fix this. I have to make this right, for Spike.

Day 5 (Warnings and Realizations)

"Okay," I say to Withers. "Where do we start?"

The old stallion stretches and sighs. "We start by finishing up the investigation here. Only here, since you were directly involved with the crime scene, you are not permitted to help, so I suggest you find a way to keep yourself entertained while I wrap up. Also, I'll need you to wear this."

He holds a metallic-looking ring and attempts to attach the thing to my horn. I instinctively back away. "What is that?"

"This," the old Stallion nods, "Is pretty state of the art. If you attempt to take it off, I'll know. If you attempt to use magic, I'll know. If you attempt to teleport away, I'll know the exact coordinates as to where."

My heart sinks and I let him put it on me. "You really believe that I did this, don't you?"

Withers lifts himself up for a moment before clamping the thing on me. He bores me through with his tired eyes. "Princess, I've been doing this far too long to allow myself the liberty of making those kind of judgments early. Either you did it or you didn't, and until I have the evidence I don't know. But until I know, I have to treat you like you did do it."

I nod understandingly. Withers resumes his investigation. "For what it's worth, though. I really hope you didn't. You seem like a real down to earth pony. It would be a shame."

I'll take what I can get. "Thank you, Withers. Well, I'm not going to go back into the room where Spike is. Can I wait in my library? A little reading may help calm my nerves."

"Of course. Between the device on your horn and our perimeter, I have less to fear from you trying to run off."

I search my library for a book that will calm my nerves. Comfort books, if you will. I initially think a good Daring Do adventure would help me relax, but my eyes slowly drift over to a different book. One that I read several times when I was a young mare. "Unsolved Cases of Missing Ponies."

I turn open the page. "There have been many unsolved cases of ponies disappearing in Equestria, as far back as the discovery of Equestria itself. Some believe there to be a common thread to these disappearances, a supernatural element, while others attribute more common means, such as killers and traffickers. However, few discover the truth because of the nature of these crimes and very few clues are left at the scene. There have been stories of fillies and mares, and yes, some stallions disappearing from locked rooms and other such places where a kidnapper should not be able to access. It makes one...wonder..."

My eyelids get heavy. I'm still tired I guess. I drift off again...

At first, it seems like a normal rest. No static this time. I dream of purple clouds in the air. It seems like eternity since I last had a normal dream. Then, something happens to the clouds. Luna's face appears through it.

"Twilight, Listen to me. You have to destroy the anchor. The anchor is your relation to P-P-P-" Her face suddenly starts twitching violently.

"Luna! No! Please!"

She breaks free momentarily as dark claws seem to hold her and draw her back. "The anchor, Twilight. It's not what you think it is! Don't let yourself be deceived! There's another-"

The claws succeed in dragging her back. The purple clouds swirl chaotically. "Luna, please! I don't even know what the anchor is! Luna!"

I jolt up with the pages of the book stuck to my face. I get up and pace. "Anchor, anchor. Think Twilight, think! What anchor? What could she be talking about?"

I turn to be startled by Withers. "Oh! Oh my! How...how long was I out?"

"A few hours," he snorts. "You okay?"

"Yeah..." I look distantly.

"Well, I'm finished here. All the evidence has been collected and sent to be processed. We can move on to Evening Light's house now. I suspect it's abandoned, given what you've deduced. If he was home, he would have been there at the time Rarity arrived there, unless he's a serious night owl."

I shrug. "It does seem to run in the family."

"Let's hope it's the only thing that does, yes?" His face smiles but his eyes show a serious undertone.

A simple walk across town and we arrive there in short order.

"Withers?" I ask. "When all of this is over, when I'm cleared of any wrongdoing, I hope we can be friends."

Withers nods and says, "If you're cleared, then yes, I would like that too. However we would have to be friends at a distance. Being friends with a princess could compromise my identity, and put my family in danger. You understand."

"Of course," I nod. "And Withers, thank you."

The old stallion laughs at that. "Whatever for? I clamped a tracking device on you, and I haven't exactly treated you nicely."

"You have, actually," I said. "When I was a filly, the CRIA sent two agents to investigate me for Misty's disappearance. One of them was really cruel. Left me in tears. Practically yelled at me, just the way Evening Light had."

The old stallion sighs. "When you're a younger agent, you tend to be that way. More headstrong. More willing to jump to conclusions. When you're a young agent, you're eager to make a name for yourself and yes, make things right, so when something comes along that doesn't fit your worldview, something that makes no sense, then yes, you lose it a little. Agent Saddle is a little like that, though he wasn't as bad as me."

"Oh come on," I say, "You couldn't have been that rough."

Withers sighs again. "Twilight, you really don't remember, do you?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's another reason I wanted to be part of the investigating team. That young stallion who was so hard on you...that stallion was me."

I jump back. "What?" It couldn't be. Behind his grey features though, I begin to recognize him now.

"You were that pony? How could you? I was just a young mare. I didn't do it! I didn't..."

I cry on his shoulder. I don't know why. He should be the last one I'm crying on, but nopony else is there.

"There, there, Twilight. I really hope you're innocent. He looks at me with understanding. This is going to be really hard if you aren't. And I'm sorry I was so hard on you."

I sniffle. "Thanks, for what it's worth."

We both look at the open door. "Well. Shall we?"

Immediately, I'm knocked back by the stench of old kitchen food, before I even get through the door. Rarity was not exaggerating. The fridge has an awful stench emanating from it.

"Please don't open that," I say. He opens it anyway.

"Part of being an investigator is being thorough, and killers love nothing more to stash stuff in their fridge."

"I think Light is a little smarter than that," I say. He's in it for the long game. He's not going to just leave clues lying around to get convicted."

"True," Withers says, "But it looks like he left in a hurry. He didn't have time to tidy up. Normally, I only get one shot at these kind of investigations, so I need to find everything we need to convict him for crime now."

Withers peruses the fridge but only turns up week old yogurt, rotten vegetables and the like. Nothing useful. "It appears in this case, you're right about the fridge, though."

I move toward the bedroom. "I want to see this hate shrine Rarity was talking about."

"That's an odd thing to want to see?" Withers raises an eyebrow.

"What can I say? I'm a curious one." I smile. Somehow, the presence of this CRIA agent puts me more at ease. It's nice feeling like you can trust someone. "Here's the book she mentioned, Make Yourself Known. Such an odd title." I open it and press the button. I feel the draft in the closet. Sure enough, the shrine is there, plain as day. I see a single unlit candle, a book laying on the desk, two drawers which appear to be locked, and the creepiest part...the pictures on the wall. All of my friends around me, threads connected to each. The threads connecting Pinkie and Spike are cut and their pictures crossed out. Withers pulls out a 9 mm camera and takes a picture of the wall, then begins bagging up the evidence.

"Well," He says, "Rarity wasn't lying. This here, is pretty strong evidence if I've ever seen it."

I reach over toward the book. "I wonder what that book says," I stop myself. "Something's not right. Withers, did you already collect Rainbow Dash's picture?"

"No, why?"

"It's not here."

"What?"

We both stare at the mural of hate dumbfounded. "He must have Dash's picture with him," Wither supplies.

"Then that must mean...He's not after me at all. He's after Dash! Scootaloo is...bait." My face pales for what seems like the hundredth time today.

Agent Withers flips open a phone and attempts to call Saddle. "Hmm. He's not answering. He pulls out a device with a little red dot on it.

"What is that?"

"Each of us has a watch with GPS embedded directly in it. If one of us goes missing, we can use it to track him. A similar tracker is on that device on your horn. He's been stationary for ten minutes."

"Oh my God, what if he's dead? We have to help him."

Withers waves away the thought. If he has been attacked, we won't get there in time. We have to focus our investigation here so we can use anything we find to catch him, put a stop to him, and make sure he doesn't walk."

"You're just going to leave him there to die?"

"Of course not," He pulls out his phone and dials another number. All agents in the area of central Canterlot please convene on the following coordinates. X 750 y 320. Suspect has a telescope for a cutie mark..."

I listen to him rattle off the orders but I can't stand to wait around. "I'm sorry Withers, but I can't stand by while my friend is in danger."

I prepare myself to teleport. "Twilight, wait! You don't want to-"

Too late, I think. I begin using my magic to teleport but instead a light shock travels through my body.

"Eeaah!"

I twitch on the ground for a few minutes before recovering.

"I'm sorry, Twilight."

"You little! Why didn't you tell me it would do that?"

"Because if I told you, you wouldn't let me put it on you, would you?"

"Still, I rub my head. You could have told me afterwards."

The old agent shrugs. "Sorry, I forgot."

"You have to let me go. I can't let him get Rainbow Dash."

"No. I'm sorry but no."

"You can't do this to me! Dash is in danger!"

"I know, but I'm not about to put you in danger by going to rescue her. We have an entire squad sent to the location. Dash will be okay. You have to trust us."

"I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

"Well, no. I guess not."

"Fine. But don't act like I'm going to be focused. I still think it's wrong."

I reach out to the book with my magic. "Looks like a diary."

"Hmm." He says. "Now there's something we could use." Let's bag it.

Thankfully the device doesn't interfere we me levitating things. "Anything we can do about this locked drawer? I don't see a key."

"He probably has it on his person. I wonder if he has that machine stored in there."

"Maybe. The drawer does look deep enough."

A moment of awkward silence.

"Look, I'm sorry," Withers says. "This is for your own protection too."

"I know," I sigh. "I'm just worried."

Withers' phone rings.

"Yes? Thank goodness you're alright! What's the status?" He nods a few times. "I see. We have agents triangulating on your position. You're in good hands, Saddle."

"Well?"

Withers looks at me. "Agent Saddle has sustained severe injuries, but he's alive. They found Scootaloo, but then they were attacked...Applejack is okay, but they...don't know where Rainbow Dash or Scootaloo are."

I burst into tears. "You stupid Stallion! You should have let me go! I could have used my magic! I could have saved them!"

"You wouldn't have arrived in time,"

"Well we have to go there now. We have to find Evening Light."

"You won't have to. He's coming back here."

"Oh? And what makes you think he would do that?"

"He has a shrine to complete."

I stop in my tracks. "Huh. He does, doesn't he?"

"And when he arrives, we'll be waiting."

Author's Note

Huh. Two chapters in one day. That's got to be a new record.

Day 5 (Omen)

Despite all that has happened to her, Pinkie Pie's trademark mane slowly restores itself.

"You know Pinkie, I have to hand it to you," Rarity says, "You're pretty brave to come back here after everything that happened."

Pinkie just shrugs. "Well I'm learning to make my peace with it little bit by little bit." She smiles. If I was killed and brought back to life, if you think about it, I've been given a second chance, a chance to make things right, so we can't give up hope."

Fluttershy nods in agreement.

"You're pretty brave, yourself, Fluttershy," Pinkie says.

"Oh I don't know about that," she shrinks.

"Don't sell yourself short." says Rarity. "You are returning to the Everfree Forest even after knowing what happened to Winona and Pinkie there."

"Well," Fluttershy shrugs. "I figure it's just a visit to Zecora, I'm not going back there," She shudders. "Besides, you may need my help if we encounter any unusual animals. It's not that brave really."

"You're still coming along," Rarity says. "At least give yourself some credit."

"I guess you're right."

The route to Zecora's house was mostly unencumbered, aside from the usual disquiet and odd noises emnating from the forest. Fluttershy had thought she spotted timberwolves on more than one occasion, but if the three of them were being stalked, their presence had definitely dispersed once the ponies reached Zecora's house. Whether through her magic or some other means, the timberwolves tended to leave Zecora alone.

Pinkie was the first to knock. When the door opened, they were met with a warm smile from the zebra.

"A surprise visit from ponies three! To what do I owe this company?"

Pinkie jumps in place with her usual vigor. "Hiya, Zecora! We need your help. I died and then came back to life and need to know why."

Zecora snorts and raises a puzzled eyebrow. "A most unusual thing you ask of me. Please, tell me how this came to be?"

"Well," Fluttershy says, "It's kind of a long story."

Rarity jumps in. "Weird things have been happening all over Ponyville. Applejack's dog killed itself. We found a body in the forest and believe it to be Pinkie's. She remembers dieing around 6 months ago, but she just came back a few days ago with no memory of anything after that. Several ponies have been haunted with very awful nightmares, including Twilight. Even Princess Luna is in a coma."

"Don't forget the serial killer!" Pinkie says.

Fluttershy shudders.

"Yes, there's also a serial killer on the loose, but we don't believe he's causing any of the other things, at least I don't."

Up until this point, Zecora had been busy mixing tea in her pot. After hearing the news, she abandons everything.

"How could I not hear of this? We have a killer in our midst?"

Rarity nods. "Zecora, he killed Spike, and he may have Scootaloo."

Zecora looks back to Rarity. "This is dire news. I'm sorry to hear this. You have my condolences.

"No rhyme?" Rarity asks?

"A zebra shaman rhymes as often as they must, but for such a deep statement, would be unjust."

Rarity nods and sniffles. "I understand. Thank you"

"I see how vital your need is for knowledge. On the topic of the killer, I can bring no solace. On the supernatural , perhaps I can assist. Find your friend, Twilight, and deliver her this."

Zecora hands Pinkie a book. Pinkie looks at the title. "The Book of Spirits?" Zecora nods as Pinkie opens the book. "Hey what gives? Everything in here is gibberish. Even I can't understand it!"

Zecora laughs lightly and hands Fluttershy a small, unlit candle that gives off its own greenish aura. "Some alicorn magic combined with this candle, should help her unravel that riddle."

"Where in that book should we look? What should we be looking for?" Fluttershy asks.

"I know not myself the contents of that book, but if the problem is supernatural, she had better take a look. Only alicorn magic will unlock the book to be used. At that time, she can then peruse."

"I hope it helps," Rarity says.

"Me too," Pinkie shrugs. "Thank you Zecora, for everything." Pinkie hugs Zecora before walking out the door.

The three mares walk back the way they came. It appears that this time the timberwolves have elected to leave them alone entirely.

"Well, that was mostly painless," Rarity says.

"Agreed," Fluttershy nods.

"But I suppose we're not out of the woods yet, so I suppose we should still be on guard."

"Pinkie, you okay dear? You seem to be quiet."

"Oh, yes Rarity. Sorry. It's just...does it seem really quiet here to you guys?"

Fluttershy looks around. "No more than normal. What do you mean?"

"Well...it's just, usually the Everfree Forest is really noisy with various, odd sounds, birds chirping, animals in the distance. I just don't hear any of that."

Fluttershy shudders. "You're right, Pinkie. It was like that when Winona...well you know."

"We need to be on our guard then. Be ready for anything," Rarity says.

Pinkie walks a little behind the others, apparently lost in thought. Suddenly, she starts.

"Did you guys just hear that?"

"Hear what, darling?"

"That sound...it sounded like a giggle."

"It must be the forest, darling, just playing tricks on your mind."

Pinkie hears it again. "There! There! Plain as day, you had to have heard it that time!"

The buzzing. Pinkie begins to hear the static. "No...no...not again. no!"

In front of her appears her mirror image, twitching grotesquely, walking straight at her with a smile far longer than it should be.

"You! Who are you and why are you impersonating me?"

The doppelganger giggles again. "Soon Pinkie. Soon you will know what you have to do."

Pinkie looks confused at the apparition. "What do you mean?"

"Don't forget to smile, Pinkie." The being giggles once more, then twitches suddenly right at her. Pinkie falls backward.

"Pinkie! Are you okay?" Fluttershy is the first to try helping her up.

"Pinkie, who were you talking to?" Rarity asks.

Pinkie looks around confused. "You didn't see anything? Didn't hear anything?"

Rarity and Fluttershy look at each other and back at Pinkie Pie.

"I'm sorry, Pinkie," Fluttershy haunches. "But I didn't see anything. Was I supposed to?"

"It was me, Rarity. Evil me. It told me that soon I was going to know what I have to do. I don't know why, but I'm scared Rarity. What do you think it means?"

Rarity and Fluttershy hug her. "I...don't know dear. I don't know. Let's get you home."

Author's Note

This chapter was a struggle because it seems so short. There really wasn't a whole lot going on there, other than, "get book, walk back," so I ended up cutting unnecessary fluff. I figured a short chapter was better than a chapter with a whole lot of extra stuff that's not needed. I wanted to keep the story moving.

Day 5 (Fishing)

If Dash and Apple were complete strangers, they might not have said a word on the train to Canterlot. As it stands, however, the two ponies speak wildly to each other, with Dash talking about what he plans to do to Evening Light once they rescue Scootaloo, and AJ talking about how Evening Light deserves a good kick to the flank. Saddle, however makes no efforts at talking at all except to go over the vitals of their mission. After an hour of the boisterous behavior, Saddle loses his patience.

"Do I really need to remind you two what we are doing here? This is a pony who allegedly killed your friend. He has another of your friends hostage, and you two are treating this trip like you're going to a pep rally. You, Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah?"

"Do you care about this...Scootaloo?"

"What? How dare you ask me a question like that! Of course I care about him!"

"Then act like it."

"Act like it? How about I kick your flank? Maybe that will convince you."

Applejack stands between them. "Enough. He's right."

"What?"

"Yall, we need to go inta this cool headed. Yer right, Mr. Saddle. I was just trying to get us focused for tha task at hand. I'm sorry."

"How are you taking his side?"

"It's not about takin' sides, Rainbow. It's about doin' what we need ta save Scootaloo. Ya don't know if he's got a weapon. If we go blarin' in there like the wild west, we could get Scootaloo killed."

Rainbow gulps. "You're right, AJ. Sorry Saddle."

Saddle sighs. "No problem. I just need to know you're both serious about this. We can get your friend out alive, but you need to listen to me and follow my direction, understood?"

Rainbow huffs. "I don't know..."

"They're trained for these kinds of things, Rainbow. Aren't you, Mr. Saddle?"

"Of course, and please just call me Saddle."

"F-fine. But if you let Scootaloo get hurt, so help me, I'll-"

"I'll take it to my grave," Saddle interrupts with a grim lip.

The rest of the train ride is awkwardly silent. They arrive in town mid afternoon.

"Okay," AJ says, "So according to this here address, Evening Light's house is on the opposite end of Canterlot, a few miles away from the palace."

"Decent real estate," Saddle raises an eyebrow. "Curious what the place looks like."

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "It's going to take us forever to get there. What are we waiting for guys? Scootaloo is in danger. We got to get there quicker. Taxi! Hey taxi!"

The taxis, ignore her and drive straight past. "Oh no you don't." Rainbow flies right in front of a taxi and it screeches just in time to stop. "And that, is how you stop a taxi." She smiles smugly and gets in. The other two follow behind quickly.

"Rainbow, you buckhead, you could've gotten yourself killed."

"Nah. I have lightning reflexes. I still would have had time to move. What's the address, AJ?"

"Erhm, 25th and Whinny Street."

"Hmm. I know where that is," the cab driver says. "Strange request, though."

"Oh?" Saddle says. "Why's that?"

"Well, there's not really anything up there except an old, abandoned mansion. It's owned by somepony, but nopony ever comes around to fix it up or something, so I guess the property owned just doesn't care. Anyway, lots of ponies say ghost stories about that old house. They reckon it's haunted, which is why nopony goes there."

"Hunh, I almost wish it was haunted," AJ says. "Would be a darn sight better."

Rainbow hushes AJ. "We're just visiting it. An old friend of ours stayed there once and we wanted to see if its still the way it was."

"Well," the cabbie says. "Good luck with that. The place has a large gate around it to keep ponies out. I doubt you'll be able to get far. Plus, if the owner doesn't want you there, you'd be trespassing."

"I get the feeling he does want us there." Saddle says. "Thank you for your drive, Mr."

"Just call me Speedy." The cabbie smiles.

Saddle hands a small bag of bits to Speedy. "Will you do us a favor? Will you stay here and wait for us until our business is finished?"

Speedy eyes the bits. "Sure thing, sir. You aren't doing anything illegal are ya?"

"No." Saddle says the word flatly. Speedy does not appear convinced.

"Everything will be alright," Dash says. "We wouldn't leave you stuck in a weird position like that." Rainbow winks.

"Alright, well take care of yourselves and let me know if you see any ghosts."

AJ, Saddle, and Rainbow make their way up the hill by the gate. The gate is wide open. The three walk past and trudge their way up to the mansion.

"Wow," Rainbow says. "Twilight didn't say anything about this guy being loaded. Look at this place!"

"I don't like this, Saddle," AJ says. "A building that big, Scootaloo could be anywhere, and he could easily get the drop on us."

Saddle stares at the mansion for a moment. "This is the right address, correct?"

AJ nods. "Sure as I am of anythang."

"Either of you ever fire a gun before?"

Rainbow turns her head to Saddle. "You're asking us now?"

I'm going to give you each a weapon. "Only use it in emergencies. Don't take it out unless you're certain it's him, and for the love of Celestia don't shoot me. Keep it hidden from sight. When you shoot, line up your eyes between the cross-hairs, take a breath, hold it, and squeeze just the trigger. Don't try any crazy shots. You will miss."

AJ nods. "Got it."

"You're seriously giving me a gun."

He sighs. "I hate to say this, but it's our best shot. I know it's stupid."

Rainbow looks forward. "Well, you put it like that, I feel much better."

"Rainbow and I will start at the front door. AJ, you take the back."

"What? We're not going together?"

"He will expect Rainbow to come after Scootaloo. He may even suspect an agent like myself. You have the best chance to sneak up on him and take him by surprise. Walk carefully, AJ, and stay quiet. We're in this together."

AJ nods quietly and approaches the back. Rainbow and Saddle walk slowly up the steps to the front door. It creaks. Saddle motions for Rainbow to be silent. Saddle tries the doorknob, half expecting to have to break the door down. It opens without issue. The main entryway is a disheveled mess. Old coats, dust and shoes litter the floors. A few walls have graffiti sprayed all about. The graffiti looks as old as the dust on the walls.

Dash's ears pick up something and her coat bristles. She hears a voice. It sounds like crying. The crying is coming from upstairs.

"Scootaloo!" Dash audibly says. She starts to dart up when a hoof catches her.

"Are you crazy?" Saddle whispers. "Slow down. Are you trying to get her killed?"

Dash shrugs him off and whispers sharply. "Any second we waste is a chance for her to get hurt. I'm going."

She flies straight up past the stairs and follows the sound of the crying. Saddle rolls his eyes and runs up after her. Dash slows down as she nears the source of the sound. It's definitely Scootaloo's voice. She sees a door with a picture of a crib drawn on the outside. The nursery. Dash reaches her hoof to the door. The door is not all the way shut. She hesitates, draws the gun, then opens the door slowly.

Saddle catches up to her, hears the sound, and also draws his weapon. The room is mostly dark, and the most destroyed of all the rooms. In one corner, Dash sees a crib, smashed to pieces. In another, a family picture complete with Misty shattered into hundreds of pieces on the floor. On the wall where the picture was, is carved the words "Nothing left," and "Revenge" over and over. Both ponies turn toward the source of the sound. The crying is loud enough to be heard but not too loud, almost a soft whimpering. A pony shape sits in the corner across from the closet. It is covered by a blanket with a rope tied around it.

Rainbow walks toward the figure but Saddle stops him. Saddle motions Rainbow toward the closet and begins to walk up to the blanketed figure. Rainbow raises an eyebrow, but points her gun toward the closet. Saddle takes a few steps closer to the figure. He reaches out his hoof at the rope, only to see the figure slump down. He sees a pillow and a tape recorder playing the sound of Scootaloo's cries.

Saddle flips around. "Rainbow, the closet!"

A loud gunshot fires off, hitting Saddle twice in the stomach. He slumps over. Rainbow covers her ears instinctively from the sound of gunshots, then spins toward the closet and fires every shot in her gun at the closet at once. After six deafening shots, her gun makes a click, no more bullets, then something hits her on the head hard. She stumbles, and then the world fades.

Things are fuzzy at first, blurred and hazy. Dash hears a few sounds and words but doesn't really understand them. A few words snap her back into reality, "Die like Scootaloo." She shrugs off the haze and realizes where she is.

"Ah! That brought her back." Rainbow sees a malevolent smile across from her. The smile belongs to a stallion with a coal colored fur and a course yellow mane. She tries to say something but the duct tape across her mouth prevents her.

"She really is a ball of fire, that one. I can see why you care for her. You two have much in common. It must drive you crazy to know that you're going to lose her, that you failed, that you're both going to die."

Dash shakes and tries to kick herself free, but she is shackled to heavy chains that won't even budge. "Oh relax, Rainbow Dash," he throws his mane back with pride. "It's not like I'm going to take my time with her. No. She's simply going to...disappear."

"In case you're wondering about your friend from the CRIA, the shots he's sustained are enough to keep him from moving. I disarmed him and left him to die. He's CRIA, so he deserves his fate for his poor detective work."

Dash jolts and stops in thought. He never mentioned Applejack. Maybe he doesn't know.

He takes the gun and points it at her, then brings it back down with a smile. "You were the easiest one to kill yet. Just wanted you to know that. So easy to catch you off guard. All it took was a little tugging at your heartstrings." He takes out a picture of Dash and crosses it out slowly with red marker. A few tears go down Dash's cheeks.

"You know what it's like to lose your entire family, Rainbow Dash?" Light sits down next to her. "We're chummy right? We can share. Well, it's like this. Imagine your entire world is turned upside down. Everything that made you you, all of it is erased because all of a sudden you have to act like the people you care about no longer matter. Everyone moves on and expects you to do the same. They expect you to be the same pony when literally everything that gave you purpose has been removed. There's no reason for me to do anything anymore Dash, you understand? That's why I'm fine with splattering this wall with your brain, because it stopped mattering years ago. It stopped mattering when Misty was taken. I want Twilight to know what this is like. That's why I'm doing this to you and your friends. She's the one who has to pay. She will know what it's like to have everything taken from her."

Light spends a moment looking off distantly, then stands up.

"Alright, let's get this over with." He stands up and readies his gun. "Wait, this is missing something!" A wicked grin crawls across his face. "Do you know what this is missing, Dash? What's better than a hero dieing? How about a hero dieing in front of her greatest admirer? I think it's time I went to retrieve your little friend."

Light walks over and lifts the door in the ceiling. She sees the night sky outside. Light smiles one last smile before closing the door to complete darkness. "Don't go anywhere."

AJ walks as quietly as she can muster. The grass is wet, so thankfully it doesn't crunch under her feet. She peeks at the windows before heading toward the door. Nothing. She tries the door but it is locked. She prepares to buck it but catches herself.

Silence. She needs to be quiet, hopefully catch him off guard. She looks for spare key, checks under the mat, looks under what looks to be a fake rock but with no success. She looks over back to the window and attempts to open it. Luckily, it opens up fine and she slips in. She finds herself near the kitchen and walks in the general direction. Broken glass and china lies on the floor everywhere and everything is covered in dust. "What in the devil?" she quietly asks herself. She carefully navigates the floor in an attempt not to make noise from the glass. She hears a distant sound that sounds like crying at first. She steps in the direction of the sound and hears Rainbow and Saddle moving toward it, but then she hears a different sound. Muffled. It's coming from somewhere in the kitchen. She sees a double-doored pantry on the opposite end of the kitchen. It is barely audible, but muffled and the sound is coming from there.

Applejack at first doesn't see anything but then notices something odd with the back of the pantry. There appears to be a crack. She opens up the pantry and finds a hidden wall behind what appeared to be the back wall of it. She sees Scootaloo, duct tape over her mouth, tied tightly, eyes red from tears, and with several cuts on her body and wings. The filly quakes and shivers and at first lurches back, until she realizes it's Applejack. She starts crying. AJ hugs her quickly.

"There, there now. It's going to be okay," The Filly keeps crying in her arms and AJ looks around to make sure everything is okay. "Let's get you out of here. It's not safe."

AJ unties her and removes her gag and motions for Scootaloo to be quiet. The two ponies hear gunshots coming from upstairs. Scootaloo just about screams and bolts, but AJ covers her mouth at the last second and looks her in the eyes. The two sneak out the back and around to the cab. AJ quietly opens the door, and sets Scootaloo inside.

"What the, is that a Filly? What happened to her?"

AJ turns to Speedy, "Speedy, I need ya ta get this Filly ta the nearest hotel and then call tha police. She's been through a lot. Her name is Scootaloo and she is a resident of Ponyville. I don't have money ta give ya right now, but I swear by my word I will take care of tha bill. Please, just make sure she's safe."

"Don't worry about the money," Speedy says. "This is more important. I'll make sure she's taken care of." Speedy pauses and raises an eyebrow. "Question is, where are you going?"

"I'm going back for my friends. The stallion who did this is still there, and I need to make sure they're safe as well. As soon as you get her to a safe place, please call the police. Promise you'll do that for me, Speedy."

"You got it. You all are some brave ponies. Best of luck to you."

Dash sits in quiet terror, shaking in fear. She hears little, until an unexpected shout fills her ears. The screaming seems to be coming from Light, somewhat distant but getting louder. She hears a door open and slam and now the shouting, or perhaps cursing grows exponentially louder.

The cellar door opens with an unoiled creak. Anger streaks across his face. He pulls out a knife. "I'm going to ask this one time and only one time. You will nod yes if yes, nod no if no. If I think you're lying, I'll cut your face. Now. Do you know what happened to the Filly?"

Dash's eyes widen with surprise. She shakes her head no, but almost starts to cry. Applejack must have got her out.

"You have another friend here, don't you? Which one is it? Twilight? Please tell me you brought her here. It would be glorious if you brought her. No...I can tell in your eyes. No matter, I'll take her out just the same. I'll get you later." He grabs his gun, and opens the door to the cellar, only to be met with an immediate kick to the face. He tumbles down the stairs. He turns and hides. Applejack walks cautiously down the steps. Light breaks his hoof through a step and trips her. The pony stumbles and lands on her back. Light points his gun down at her.

"Hunh. The farm pony. Didn't see that coming." He aims and then hears sirens. He hesitates and then runs. AJ takes the tape off of Rainbow.

"What are you doing?" Rainbow says, "You can come back to me. You've got him right where you want him. Don't let him get away!"

AJ nods and runs up out of the cellar, but Light is nowhere to be found. She doesn't know where to look, but knows if she goes after Light he could get the drop on her again, and then both of them would be in danger. She unties Rainbow.

"Sorry Rainbow, he's gone."

"Not on my watch, he ain't." Rainbow bursts out of the cellar and attempts to fly but loses her balance, the pain from her head still throbbing. She lands wobbily.

"Dammit, no..." She tries to fly again.

"Rainbow, let it go."

"No. That bastard shot Saddle, AJ. He was going to shoot me in front of Scootaloo. I'll make him pay." She flies upward. "I'll make him pay if it's the last thing I," Rainbow flops back down again.

"Hey, we'll get him, okay? Scootaloo is safe. I promise. He's safe."

"Yeah...ok."

"Let's check on agent Saddle."

Police lights fill the area, and soon CRIA agents are all around. The two exchange partially worried, partially relieved glances and hobble toward the nursery in hopes of finding an alive agent Saddle.