Everfree: Innocence Lost

Chapters

Divine Punishment
Not Welcome
Terror Rising
A Divine Reunion

Divine Punishment

When she first came knocking on my door, I did what any reasonable pony would do: I slammed the door in her face and tried to run away. However, one does not simply escape the likes of her. For a mage of her power, obstacles such as doors are not an issue. I was cornered in mere moments. As I cowered in fear, mentally saying my goodbyes to my family and friends, she did the last thing I could possibly expect.

She began to tell me a story. She even started with, "Once upon a time," too, even though it was nowhere near a fairy tale.

In the days to come, she came back many times, always telling another story that seemed to have little to do with the last. However, it soon dawned on me that these stories were all pieces of the same epic, an epic driven by the forgotten annals of history and written in the blood of countless ponies to come. The tale she started to spin had little rhyme or rhythm. There was little sense of chronology or causality. It was as if she were merely speaking her mind. Maybe she needed to get things off of her chest so to speak. Maybe this was her penance for her past sins.

Maybe she just wanted someone to understand...

My name is Broken Record. I am a unicorn court scribe in Canterlot. I write down exactly what was said in government gatherings and keep track of where discussions have been going from day to day. Why she chose a scribe to write her biography is beyond me. Maybe it is because I write things verbatim. She did mention she's used to being quoted exactly, what with all those letters to the princess. There are a lot of maybe's, but I am not one to judge, only record and repeat.

So join me dear reader. See how things came to be as they are. Hear now how the peace of Equestria was lost, how a millennium of prosperity was ruined, how we became Everfree. This is the legacy of the late Terra Firma. This is the story of the night terror who even the princesses fear, she who reminded us of the atrocities a pony is capable of, the arcane horror Twilight Sparkle.

Chapter 1: Divine Punishment – 4 Years ANM

This place is a cesspool, she thought.

In all actuality, the bar Twilight Sparkle sat at was a rather respectable joint. The patrons sat in their own groups, keeping their conversations down to a dull roar with the exception of the occasional bout of raucous laughter, no doubt amplified by the ample supply of premium cider. The tables were clean, the staff amicable, and incidents of violence were rarely heard of.

Twilight sat alone on a stool in front of the bar itself, watching the ponies behind prepare drinks or put together sandwiches for the merry customers at the tables behind her. She sipped at a single tankard of cider, once again checking her mild shock at the sight of her newly colored blue hair above her hoof. Appearances had to be maintained. Once again she checked on the spell coloring her coat blue and mane red. Such an easy enchantment; it would last until morning even without her focus on it. However, it also hid her horn, and one cannot pass as an earth pony without using hooves to lift things. Refraining from using magic was a difficult task, even during Winter Wrap Up, but Twilight endured. She winced suddenly and forced herself to sit still as her right eye itched furiously.

A cesspool.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she forced herself to ignore the itching eye much like one would ignore a bug bite. Oh how she wished she could be back in her library, reading yet another volume of Starswirl the Bearded's writings, but she could not ignore the itch forever. Bad things happened when she ignored it too long.

When she opened her eyes again, she emptied the last of her cider and placed the tankard back on the counter with a dull thunk. She very carefully kept her expression bored and facing forward until the sound of hoofsteps came up behind her.

"Well what's a pretty little pony like yourself doing all by your lonesome?"

Twilight glanced at the stallion who had approached her with a practiced smile. Her eye almost burned as she took in his off-white coat and well kept brown mane. The telltale lack of wings or horn made him an earth pony. Twilight silently thanked Celestia she had chosen to impersonate an earth pony as well. It saved time, and that was something she was quite short on. A gold scale often seen outside courthouses resided on his flank. Clearly his special talent had something to do with the judicial system. So this was the pony, hmm? The burning had never steered her wrong before. But she had to be sure. Flippantly, she replied, "Oh, just enjoying a drink."

The stallion chuckled. "Well how are you going to do that with an empty cup? Bartender! Another round for the filly and a tankard of cider for myself." He slid onto the stool to her left as their drinks arrived. Twilight carefully checked the other spell she had cast to keep herself to filter alcohol out of her system. Not a single flaw. She took a hold of her now full tankard and lifted it towards the stallion in thanks. The stallion replied in kind and said, "Cheers!" before they both took a quick drink. The stallion didn't give her time to say anything else. "The name's Eustice, attorney at law," punctuating the introduction with a winning smile.

"Starla," Twilight lied simply, taking another sip. It was too bad she couldn't change her cutie mark, so the name would have to suffice. Anypony would assume that she simply had a gift related to stargazing.

Eustice pushed more. "So what brings you around this part of Manehatten? Most visitors usually tend to hang around downtown."

She quickly tried weighing her options, but the burn in her eye was distracting. She decided to stall a moment. "What makes you think I'm new around here?"

"Starla dear, I know everyone in this place," Eustice said, gesturing to the tables behind him, "And I've never seen you around before. I'd remember such a pretty face."

The burning was dying down a little, and Twilight let a little smirk appear on her face. She had played this role before, and he was making this too easy. "I'm visiting a friend, but she's gone out with an old flame tonight."

"Now what kind of friend abandons their guest?" He gave a slight nod to her. "A mare like you shouldn't be out on her own. The streets aren't as safe as they used to be. Perhaps you'd enjoy some company this evening?"

Twilight chuckled a bit and raised an eyebrow playfully, "Somepony like you?"

Eustice smiled cheekily, "Maybe. I am an attorney after all." He sipped his cider. "No safer place than with an upstanding pony of the law."

Twilight liked this stallion. It was too bad her eye was burning again. A year ago, she might have engaged him in a academic conversation, maybe become friends, maybe a special somepony. But now...

The eye called, and it would not go unanswered.

The next hour was spent carefully dodging around Eustice's queries and encouraging him to talk more and more about himself. Twilights charade became easier and easier as the tankards continued to be refilled. Finally after the fifth drink, Twilight suggested moving to more comfortable surroundings. The now eager and giddy Eustice quickly paid the bill for both his and Twilight's drinks and trotted after her as she walked between the tables. She pretended not to notice the small congratulations for Eustice as she added an extra swagger to each step. Her eye was on fire now. It would have to be soon, and she couldn't afford to let anyone else follow them.

As they exited the bar Eustice swayed slightly as he asked, "So where would you like to go? I have a rather cozy place if you'd like."

Twilight turned to him with a minxy smile. "How about my hotel? There's bound to be less... distractions." Eustice eagerly nodded, clearly intoxicated enough to not ask why she wasn't staying with her "friend" she was visiting. Small favors, Twilight thought as she began to lead the way. Heading down the streets towards the hotel she had spotted hours ago, Twilight kept an alert gaze forwards, eyes flicking between the ponies enjoying late night strolls or on their ways home. The moon was past its peak, and the streets were emptying. Turning a corner and nopony in sight, Twilight trotted ahead of Eustice to an alleyway. She paused for a moment and shot him a sultry smile before entering.

Out of sight from the street, Twilight quickly went to work, her face adopting a look of pure concentration as she raised spell after spell of insulation around the alley,. She wouldn't want anypony intruding. Eustice rounded the corner after her and blearily looked at her face. "Huh, thought I saw something."

Twilight stopped casting and turned back toward him, the smile back on her face. She slowly walked up to him and put her mouth right up to his ear. "You know what I want right now?" she whispered huskily. This had to end. The fire in her eye was almost unbearable now. The seal was demanding its dues. She quickly put the finishing touches on her wards while her face was out of his line of vision. Apparently the enchantment couldn't completely mask casting spells. He might have seen a flash of light or even her horn itself. She made a mental note to perform some tests before next time, but couldn't start planning what. It burned. Burned in her eye, burned in her mind, yearning for release. But she needed to be sure. She couldn't live with herself if she wasn't sure.

Eustice gulped and whispered back, "No, what?"

Twilight slowly brought herself face to face with him, almost close enough to kiss. Then she abruptly threw him against the wall on her left with telekinesis.

Eustice let out a cry of pain, then groaned as he crumpled to the ground. Apparently head injuries were terrible to mix with intoxication as he suddenly became violently ill. He groaned again as Twilight loomed over him. "Wha-? What the-?"

Twilght grabbed him again and brought them nose to nose. "Look at me!" she commanded. Eustice moaned again and closed his eyes in pain. Twilight shook him violently. "Look in my eyes!" she yelled. Finally, Eustice looked her in the eyes, a dazed expression on his face. Twilight quickly cast the spell and dove into his mind.

Light flashed all around her as she rushed forward, moving deeper and deeper. Ponies and rooms rushed by, but she paid them no heed. She knew what she was looking for, and the burn in her eye told her she was getting closer. Finally she stopped. Images, thoughts, and feelings rolled over her.

A filly with a cream coat and blond mane smiling back at her. She was giving Twilight a cup now. Twilight was flirting with her. A night of passion. A night of need. The need slowly changing to something sinister. Twilight watched her scream. Blood was flowing from the cream coat as Twilight roughly shaved her mane. A knife in her hoof. More blood. She needed this. It filled her with ecstasy. Twilight's heart sang in her chest as she felt the filly's heart stop. Then the panic set in. What to do? What to do? But she knew what to do. She had planned for this. She knew how the justice system worked. No one would find her body, and even if they did, it was all an accident. A terrible, terrible accident that had nothing to do with her. She could get away with it. And she could do it again and again, like with that blue mare with the red mane named Starla, sitting at the bar.

Twilight screamed as she pulled her mind back to herself. Shaking her head, she reminded herself that they were not her thoughts. She had never met that mare in her life. She was Twilight Sparkle, not Eustice the ponykiller. It was frightening as well. She'd never come across a pony who had been planning to kill her as well. Twilight breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.

Another groan from behind reminded her of where she was. Apparently she had thrown Eustice again in her shock. "Help..." he cried weakly as he began crawling toward the street. "Please... someone..." He paused in disbelief as a pony passed by the alley without a single glance. Twilight walked up to him breathing heavily. He looked back at her from the ground, his expression becoming manic. "No. Please stop, I'll do anything."

Twilight snapped. She threw him again away from the street where he collapsed in a heap, moaning and crying in pain. "DID YOU STOP FOR HER?" It was getting worse. Ponycide was horrible enough. "WOULD YOU HAVE STOPPED FOR ME?!?" Nopony should have to deal with the loss. Fury coursing through her veins, Twilight marched up to him. "Eustice, I find you guilty of ponycide!" she roared at him. Serial ponykillers... nopony should have to deal with that. Nopony should have to deal with the guilt. Nopony but her. "In the name of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, I sentence you to death!"

Eustice yelled in terror. Then he screamed in pain, yelping only as a pony in torment can. The alley was filled with multicolored lights and fire, but nopony on the streets noticed a thing. The burning in Twilight's eye started dying out, and all the while, she tried to ignore how her heart was singing just as Eustice's had.

Not Welcome

Everfree: Innocence Lost

How ought I to tell this story? What pony in their right mind would entrust the story of a lifetime to a court scribe? Good old Broken Record, always ready to clarify that one little detail mentioned twenty minutes ago, always ready to rekindle the debate of yesterday with good notes and summaries. But I am no author. I can barely do the tales justice. I rarely can verify the dates. All I can do is write down what she told me as it was told to me. But none of that matters. This is her story, not mine.

After my first run in with Twilight, she soon graced me with what I can only assume is the beginning of her story. It was a rare temporal grounding that I deeply missed in the days to come. It shocked me, as I suppose it might shock yourself, to learn that the beginning took place not two years after the Nightmare Moon incident. So soon after the return of the moon Goddess to the throne, a Goddess fewer know about came to visit our fair nation.

Chapter 2: Not Welcome – 1 Year, 8 Months ANM

Celestia's early morning sun shone brightly in the windows of the library providing light for the lavender unicorn within. Twilight Sparkle stood at her desk, quill at the ready, overlooking her latest checklist. She raised her eyebrow, scrutinizing, as the quill floated up to her face to tickle her chin. Finally, a smile broke out on her face. She brought the quill down and added one more item before nodding satisfied.

"There. That takes care of today's schedule." Happily, she placed the quill back on the desk and began rolling her checklist into a scroll. "Spike, how's breakfast coming?" she called over her shoulder.

Spike tiredly leaned over from the kitchen doorway, his exasperation for so-called morning ponies clear on his face. An apron covered his front scales and a chef's had covered the spikes on his head. "You asked two minutes ago and I told you five then, Twilight."

Twilight adopted a bashful smile as she turned to face him fully. "Sorry Spike. I just don't want to be late today." She trotted over to the bookcases perusing titles as she continued, "I promised Rainbow Dash I would help her with a new training schedule that fits in with how the Wonderbolts train. I had to plan on losing an hour just trying to wake her up." She pulled a book off the shelf considering briefly, before replacing it. No doubt she would lose interest in watching Rainbow Dash's workout at some point. That pony was amazing, but acrobatics just weren't Twilight's thing.

Realizing Spike hadn't answered her, she turned towards the kitchen, only to find him missing from the doorway. Sighing, she grabbed another book with her telekinesis. Naturally, that was when her front door slammed open.

"TWILIGHT!"

Twilight jumped, dropping her book to the ground. Mildly horrified, she quickly inspected the tome to make sure no pages had been bent, but she had been lucky. The book had remained closed as it landed. She glared at the pony who almost caused damage to such a precious font of knowledge.

Calling Pinkie Pie energetic was like calling the Everfree Forest spooky. They were both understatements taken to the extreme. The pink pony with the bouncy mane looked positively manic as she rushed up to Twilight faster than should have been physically possible. She leaned right up into Twilight's face. "You've gotta help me Twilight. There's somepony new out there, but I can't find them!" she said in a rush. As Twilight took a startled step backwards, Pinkie began bouncing from side to side nervously.

Twilight shook her head, turning Pinkie's flurry of words into common Equestrian. Then she chuckled, "Pinkie, how could you possibly know if someone new had arrived if you haven't even seen them yet?"

Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing for a moment. "Weeeeellll –"

Twilight frowned as she drew out the word, then frowned deeper as Spike reappeared in the kitchen doorway. "Oh hi, Pinkie Pie. What brings you over here this early?"

Twilight sighed and pulled out her checklist. Clearly, it was impossible to schedule for Pinkie's randomness. She had only allowed for fifteen minutes, and that was only after 11:00. Shaking her head, she resigned herself to being late for the rest of the day.

Pinkie promptly sat down and addressed Spike with a huge smile and a wave. "Hi Spike! I was just asking Twilight to help me find the new pony in Ponyville." She hopped back to her hooves. "What are you doing up so early?"

Spike stifled a yawn before answering, "Oh, not much. Just making Twilight some breakfast before she goes to wake up Rainbow Dash." He suddenly began sniffing the air. "Oh horseapples!" he exclaimed as he ran back into the kitchen, following the smoke lazily floating into the library proper. Twilight groaned and turned back to Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie, I don't have time for this. I know you like to greet everypony who comes to Ponyville, but there's no way you could know when visitors show up."

"Sure I could Twilight. My Pinkie Sense kicked in! I got a knee shake, eye twitch, knee shake, and then I tripped!" She paused and brought her hoof to her chin in thought, "Though I don't know for sure if tripping is part of my Pinkie Sense. It just sorta happens a lot when you're not paying attention, and boy, is it hard to pay attention to walking when you get that kind of combo. I almost fell on the twins, and that wouldn't have ended well."

Twilight shoved a hoof in Pinkie Pie's mouth. "Pinkie! I get it. But what's got you so worked up? It's not even nine in the morning. You're bound to run into them sometime today."

Pinkie pulled back from Twilight so she could speak unimpeded. "That's just it Twilight! It's the wrong combo! I know somepony new is out there, but that combo means that Gummy is somewhere he shouldn't be. But he was in my room with me when it happened."

"So you're Pinkie Sense is off today?"

"It's not just off!" Pinkie cried hysterically. She leaned in close to Twilight, trying to impart the gravity of the situation. "It's wrong. And usually when I get this feeling, the new pony's just around the corner. I've never gone more than five minutes knowing I'll meet someone new without actually meeting them!"

Twilight simply stood there a moment. "Uh huh. Tell you what Pinkie, if I see somepony new in town, I'll make sure you get to meet them. That ought to fix your Pinkie Sense, right?"

Pinkie's bubbly persona was back in an instant. She hopped up and down saying, "Oh thank you Twilight. Thank you thank you thank you!"

"Uh Twilight?" Spike said hesitantly from behind. Twilight turned to see her breakfast in his claw, a guilty expression on his face. The lettuce was burnt.

"Spike, what were you doing? You're not even supposed to cook salads!"

"Sorry Twilight! I was going to heat up some quartz, and then Pinkie came in, and... I must've put your breakfast on the stove when I got distracted."

Twilight brought a hoof to her face and growled in irritation. This was not a good start to her day.

Nothing was going according to plan. Despite Twilight's assurances, it had taken nearly half an hour to placate Pinkie Pie. She even forgot to bring along her book. At least it had given Spike time to prepare a second breakfast. However, it seemed that being on time would have been a waste of time anyways. She had done nothing but shout up to Rainbow Dash's home for the past hour. Her progress thus far indicated that it was going to take at least another before the pegasus even peaked her head out the window.

"Rainbow Dash! Wake up now!" She stomped her hoof angrily. In response, she heard Rainbow Dash's snores grow louder. Reflexive snoring to block out unwanted sounds? It certainly explained how she was able to sleep all day long. At this rate she would never get to go shopping or visit Rarity. Looking around, she found a small rock. Picking it up with her magic, she threw it at the cloud house. Her aim was true, and the rock went through Rainbow Dash's bedroom window, then fell out of the floor near the center of the house back towards the earth. The clouds immediately began repairing themselves, but the snoring stopped. "Ha! You're awake now!"

Rainbow Dash flew out her front door, a glare on her face and a red mark on her muzzle. Twilight winced, "Uh, I didn't mean to hit you." Dash flew to a cloud and brought it right over Twilight's head. "Now wait a minute, I'm sorry I threw the rock – " Dash stomped on the cloud causing a small bolt of lightning shot past Twilight's horn. She jumped and squeaked in fright flattening herself on the ground, hooves covering her head.

When nothing further happened, she looked up to find Rainbow Dash gone, snores already starting to come from her window again. Twilight's indignant glare was suddenly covered by her mane as the cloud expelled its contents in a contained downpour. "I give up!" she shrieked, walking out from the dwindling rain. She shook the excess water out of her mane, then spelled the rest off of herself. This morning was quickly turning into a disaster. Maybe if she crossed out Dash's practice time (that filly wasn't waking up anytime soon) she could salvage the rest of the day.

Movement in the distance caught her eye. It looked like it had come from the Everfree Forest. Twilight's eyes scoured the forest edge, looking for the culprit. There! That definitely looked like somepony's flank moving between bushes. But most ponies were frightened to even approach the forest, much enter it off a well laid path. Twilight decided she ought to investigate. Moving at a canter, she quickly made it to the forest. She gazed into the bushes under the trees' shade, peering around for the pony she knew she saw. "Hello? Is anypony there?"

A pair of eyes opened in the bush directly in front of her. Twilight gasped as she took in the mare's head. It was no wonder she hadn't seen her. Her coat and mane blended perfectly with the lush green of the bush. Her long horn suddenly became visible from under a bunch of leaves as she turned toward Twilight. "Hello," the new unicorn replied. From the tone of voice, she sounded quite a bit older than Twilight. She gazed at her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.

"Uh, hi there. My name's Twilight Sparkle."

The mare cocked her head to the side. "My name is Terra. You are Princess Celestia's personal protégé, aren't you?"

Twilight blushed slightly, both pleased and embarrassed to be recognized. She pawed the ground nervously. "Well, yes. I am. It's nice to meet you Terra." She thought for a moment. "You know, one of my friends told me somepony new was going to show up, but I didn't think I would run into anyone, and definitely not this close to the forest."

Terra hummed to herself. "This friend of yours predicted my arrival?"

Twilight nodded. "Oh yes, she's very good at making predictions like this."

"Interesting."

Terra was silent, still staring at Twilight. She fidgeted. "Uh, Miss Terra, would you mind coming out from the bush? It's making me a little uncomfortable."

"That would be unwise."

Twilight frowned. "What? Why?"

"Because somepony might take offense to my presence."

Twilight looked around. No one was in sight. Besides Rainbow Dash (who was not likely to look out her window), there wasn't a soul around to observe them. Maybe Terra was just shy. "Oh, I don't think so. Why don't you join me here?"

Terra blinked. "Is that an invitation?"

"Uh... Yes?" Twilight replied hesitantly.

Terra stared a moment more before nodding. Suddenly, her head rose far higher than any normal pony's. The brush parted as she stepped forward, forcing Twilight to step back. Terra was huge, possibly taller than Celestia. Two regal wings were held at her sides as she stepped gracefully out of the forest. Her coat and mane were covered in countless shades of green with hints of brown here and there. As she stepped into the sunlight, the colors blended into a solid forest green. A picture of a full tree planted in the earth resided on her flank. Twilight Sparkle suddenly found herself in awe of a goddess-like countenance.

"You're a... You're a..."

"An alicorn, yes," Terra finished for her. "You didn't think Celestia and Luna were the only two, now did you?"

"I – " Twilight gathered her thoughts. "Well of course not! I had an alicorn for a foalsitter. She even married my brother!"

Terra laughed. It was beautiful and melodious. "That is quite wonderful. I had wondered whether our mortal descendents were integrating with society. This gladdens me." Her grin faded suddenly as she looked up to the north, past Ponyville's western edges, towards Canterlot in the distance.

"What is it?" Twilight asked.

"Oh nothing, just some important business I must take care of in Canterlot. It isn't pressing though." Nonetheless, her gaze from Equestria's capital did not waver.

Twilight smiled. Maybe she could help out Pinkie Pie after all. "Well, if you aren't busy, why don't we go into Ponyville? I could show you around and introduce you to everypony."

Terra turned back to Twilight. "That sounds lovely. Perhaps I could visit this Ponyville a while before I continue on to the castle."

"Well, you're welcome to stay. But the castle? Does that mean you're going to speak with the princesses?"

Terra nodded, "Yes, Twilight Sparkle. My business does indeed... concern Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"You're in luck! I could send a letter to them saying you've arrived."

Terra shook her head and looked up into the sky. "That will not be necessary."

Twilight frowned in confusion. "Why not?"

"Because they are already on their way here."

No sooner than Terra finished speaking, a dark blur rocketed out of the sky and landed heavily beside Twilight. Princess Luna adopted a fighting crouch, wings flared, a fierce glare on her face. "Twilight Sparkle, get back!"

Twilight jumped, backing up a few paces. "What? Princess, what's going on?"

Both alicorns ignored her. Terra spoke calmly, "Princess Luna, it has been a while. How are you?"

"Silence!" Luna cried, not quite using the traditional Canterlot voice. "Celestia is coming. You should leave at once!"

Terra was not deterred. "Still faster than Princess Celestia? I would have thought she might have gained an edge after a millennium, but you always did excel in the sky."

Luna's glare intensified, but Twilight had had enough. "What's going on?!?" she shouted.

A boom prevented either of them from answering her and the ground shook with the landing of another alicorn beside Luna. Princess Celestia was not smiling as she stared at Terra, her eyes narrowed. She spoke, not with the soft and caring voice Twilight had grown accustomed to, but with the voice Twilight had last heard when the princess had addressed Queen Chrysalis at Cadence's wedding. "Princess Terra Firma, goddess of the earth, guardian of nature, and ruler of the Everfree Outlands, you are not welcome here." A brilliant light gathered at the tip of her horn as she pointed it directly at the green alicorn. "Leave Equestria now or face my wrath!"

Terror Rising

Everfree: Innocence Lost

Twilight Sparkle did not visit me the next day, nor the one after. She had cut her story off rather abruptly. At the time, I thought little of it, but something crossed her face whenever she mentioned Princess Celestia. It was a mixture of emotions. In a single instant, I saw anger, sorrow, fear, and bitterness. She barely made it through two sentences after the princess's arrival before she stood up and strode out my door without another word. I was mildly shocked, and then I was glad. I hoped she wouldn't come back.

But of course, I was a foal to think Twilight Sparkle would abandon anything before working her way through to the end.

The morning she came back I read in the papers that another pony had been viciously murdered. It had been a pegasus this time, and it carried all the calling cards of our arcane horror. The pony had been riddled with cuts and what wasn't cut had been burned by some as of then unidentified means. I heard later that it was meticulously controlled lightning which all but cemented the idea that it was Twilight's doing. They had found that the pegasus's basement had been converted into something of a hospital surgery, a surgery that had been used recently, and this pegasus clearly had no medical license. They found the bodies hours later.

Still, noble intentions or not, I was horrified by Twilight's course of action. When she appeared again in my living room, I yelled and pleaded for her to leave me in peace, to find somepony else, to just go away. She simply stood in my living room, eyes closed, rubbing her right eye with her hoof. She waited for me to run out of pleas, accusations, and empty threats. When I ran out of words, she slowly opened her eyes and quietly asked me to calm down. It was a simple request, even with a polite "please" thrown in for my benefit, but her voice sounded drained. It was so empty, so sad. I could not even muster up another complaint as she sat down in one of my chairs.

I couldn't ask her to leave and I couldn't ask her what was wrong. Thoughts of the paper floated through my mind. I knew what was wrong. She was a ponykiller. And she was in my house. Again. Fear tickled at my spine. I had not done anything to incur her wrath, but I could not help but imagine myself in the same position as that pegasus. I could find no words, save for a single question: "Why are you here?"

Twilight had stared at me for a while longer, her calm expression losing its hold. There was sadness there, with a twinge of pity and regret. She knew what her presence in my house was doing to me, what a burden she had become on my mind. I was lucky the neighbors had not noticed her for who she was. I spent every day dreading her next visit. She was a curse to me, but she did not apologize. She simply answered my question, or not perhaps. Maybe she simply knew I could not resist letting the spoken word die in the recesses of mere memory. Great ponies' words must be remembered, and terrible as she was, Twilight Sparkle was a definitive example of a great pony. I simply cannot let the record skip entirely. After all, what is a record if it is incomplete? So she told me another story, another dreadful story that started with those truly horrible words:

"Once upon a time..."

And I sat down, quill and parchment at the ready. At that moment I became resigned to my fate to see this through. I could do nothing else, for this is my calling, my life, my special talent: record and repeat, record and repeat.

Chapter 3: Terror Rising –2 Years, 5 Months ANM

The streets of Fillydelphia weren't as full as Manehatten, but it still surprised Twilight how many were going about their business. What was it with large cities and the night life? It was approaching two in the morning and still ponies lingered, walking, flying, and even a few talented unicorns teleporting about. It made trailing Cloudsurfer a little safer, less likely to be noticed. Apparently she was an artist of some sort, trying to introduce a new medium into the culture: that of cloud art.

She had gotten some recognition a while back for sculpting a ten story ice cream cone in a single day. Her special talent for gathering moisture for clouds aided her exploits greatly. Unfortunately, the creation also offset the weather patterns quite a bit and nearly caused an unexpected torrential downpour that would have lasted for days. The weather ponies and police of Fillydelphia were not amused. They had banned her from performing any further cloud art over the city.

However, Twilight was never much of a connoisseur of art. The seal on her eye burned furiously whenever she looked in the pegasus's direction, and that was reason enough to be suspicious. The seal could guide her, but it had burned for other reasons before. It had not been wrong yet, but Twilight needed to be sure. She couldn't do it if she wasn't sure, and if she couldn't release it now, she didn't know what would happen. An uncontrolled release... Twilight shuddered. She wouldn't want to be anywhere near another pony if that happened.

So here she was, carefully trotting and teleporting after the silver pegasus as she flitted about in the air, obviously trying to get somewhere but looking around every so often. Twilight teleported again, reducing the flash that accompanied her as much as possible. As Cloudsurfer stopped yet again midflight, Twilight ducked under a stand with an umbrella on the street, pretending to be interested in a trinket that wasn't there. The owner had probably closed shop hours ago and taken his merchandise home. Still, from Cloudsurfer's height, it would look like she was just another pony doing some last minute shopping before hitting the hay.

After a few seconds Cloudsurfer seemed satisfied. She adjusted the strap holding the bag across her back and began flying straight down the street. Seriously, how could she think she was being inconspicuous? Even Pinkie Pie would have noticed somepony that paranoid, and she could be pretty oblivious at times. Regardless, Twilight was glad that she had read Urban Stealth: Tips and Tricks last week. There was no way Twilight could have followed her otherwise. She trotted along after Cloudsurfer, hoping this game of Red Light-Green Light would end soon. She had been following the pegasus for the past ten minutes and the tall buildings and shop filled streets were giving way to the quiet residential suburbs. Twilight didn't know if she could successfully tail Cloudsurfer if there was no way to disguise her movements.

Suddenly, Cloudsurfer darted down into a small park. She zipped towards a cluster of trees before beating her powerful wings to bring herself to a graceful stop. Twilight froze for a moment, breathing heavily before deciding to walk past the park as if her destination lay beyond. A couple ponies looked at her strangely, but then began ignoring her. Thank Celestia for the impersonal nature of the city. She watched Cloudsurfer out of the corner of her eye as she passed, taking in the fact that the pegasus was undoing the strap for her bag. Twilight's eye began to itch again as Cloudsurfer stepped between the trees and put the bag down. Twilight would have watched more had her view not been cut off by another house.

Quickly, she doubled back, peering around the corner at the pegasus. The trees blocked most of her view, but she could tell Cloudsurfer was doing something in the center of the cluster. The seal flared again, and Twilight brought a hoof to her eye, wincing. She bit her tongue a bit to keep herself from making noise. A fierce rage gripped her, and she trembled as she tried to restrain herself from using magic to rip apart the cluster of trees. She wanted that pegasus. She wanted her to feel pain. She wanted her DEAD! KILL HER NOW!

Twilight gasped for breath and tried to calm down. This was not her. It was the seal. The buildup. She couldn't do this. Not yet. She needed to be sure. She couldn't do it if she wasn't sure. Slowly, the waves of fury began to calm. As Twilight came back to herself, she felt a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead and past her horn. This was not good. She couldn't contain it much longer. Her gasps slowly died down as she regained control of her breathing as well. She frowned in confusion. When had she leaned on the wall for support? Had she stumbled?

"Are you alright miss?" Twilight jumped as a stallion spoke up behind her. He was a unicorn that looked much like her brother. A purple earth pony mare stood a few steps behind him. Both were staring at her concernedly.

Twilight tried to give them a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. Her eye burned again, but not quite so fiercely. "I'll be fine. I'm just on my way home."

The mare stepped forward tentatively. "Would you like us to walk you there? You don't look great."

"No, no," Twilight said shaking her head. "It's just down the road here. I'm fine thanks."

The unicorn frowned at her. "You're sure? It wouldn't be a bother."

"No thank you," Twilight said a little more forcefully. The couple jerked their heads back a bit surprised. Twilight cleared her throat nervously before trying again. "I mean, thanks, but I just need a moment and then I'll be on my way. You don't need to worry about me."

The couple looked at each other, then back at her. "Well, if you're sure," the unicorn said as he started to walk past her. "Come on dear. Let's get home too." The mare was slightly more hesitant, but she too began walking again.

Sighing in relief, Twilight looked back towards the park only to see Cloudsurfer taking off. She flew above the trees before soaring up and away towards the skyscrapers and downtown where she lived, apparently no longer concerned about being followed. Twilight growled in frustration. Now she couldn't follow the pegasus. She was long gone. But maybe...

Twilight trotted towards the trees Cloudsurfer had been hiding in. As she stepped in the center, she silently thanked Princess Luna for the bright moon and stars that let her see the loose dirt on the ground. Cloudsurfer had been digging here. But for what? Twilight carefully began scraping around the earth with her magic, moving only small layers at a time. After a few short moments, the light from her horn lit up a bit of black cloth. Cloudsurfer's bag! What did she need to hide? And why would she hide it in such a shallow hole?

Carefully, Twilight unearthed the bag. It was moderately large and round, with a single side extending outward from the center and ending in a point. Satisfied there was nothing else in the hole, Twilight tipped the bag upside down, dumping the contents onto the ground.

She had to stop herself from screaming as the charred unicorn head hit the earth.

Gasping, she quickly covered the head with the bag again. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. This wasn't right. This shouldn't be happening. Wasn't the seal enough?

The seal.

It burned, but it did not sear so much as simmer angrily in her eye, and this time Twilight did nothing to hold back the rage. Cloudsurfer was going to pay for this. She gathered the head in the bag and held onto it as she concentrated. A bright glow gathered around her horn, and then with a flash, she was gone.

Cloudsurfer's home was dark when Twilight appeared. The irony of a pegasus living on a ground level apartment struck Twilight for a moment, but she brushed it off. Even in downtown, a "view" probably cost extra, and out of work artists were not known to be in financially sound situations. The streets were emptying now, and nopony gave her a second look as she trotted up to Cloudsurfer's window. Just to be safe though, she quickly checked to make sure Cloudsurfer's bag was still closed. It was. Satisfied, she glanced into the window. The curtains were open. Excellent. With a twinge of concentration, Twilight lit her horn just enough to see inside. Landing next to the round table in the living room would do nicely.

She turned away from the window and walked down the street. Either Cloudsurfer could fall asleep faster than Rainbow Dash or she hadn't returned yet. The seal made Twilight's eye twitch. Perhaps she ought to be there to welcome the artist home. Deeming a block far enough to conceal her destination, she concentrated on the living room next to the table and teleported as softly as possible.

There was barely a flash of lavender light as she materialized in the Cloudsurfer's apartment. Twilight stayed still a moment, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dark. It truly was a tiny apartment. The living room was not divided from the kitchen at all and the table was clearly the only piece of furniture suitable for eating off of. Only one other door led out of the living room besides the front door and it was open. No doubt that was Cloudsurfer's bedroom. Silently thanking city ponies for their absolute need to light the streets at all hours of the night, Twilight stalked forward towards the bedroom. She passed through the doorway and took in the nearly bare room. There was a single dresser with a small mirror on it, a pegasus lying at the foot of the single bed, a window above it, and a small pile of personal belongings in the far corner. "Wait, a pegasus?" she thought, freezing where she was.

"You took your time," Cloudsurfer said quietly.

Twilight dropped the bag holding the unicorn head, distantly noting it rolling away from the door as she stood just inside the room with her mouth agape. Cloudsurfer hopped off the bed, knocking what looked like a pillow to the floor, and landed on her feet. She took a glance at the bag before facing Twilight fully. How? How could she have been waiting? Twilight's mind raced with possibilities and scenarios, and yet she came up with nothing. "You knew?" she managed to choke out. Her rebellious throat and tongue made her sound even more incredulous than she felt.

Cloudsurfer chuckled. "I saw you following me way back on sixth street."

Twilight shook her head. No, that couldn't be right. Sixth street was only four blocks away. She had followed Cloudsurfer for ten whole minutes with the pegasus being none the wiser. How? Unless... "It was all an act then?"

The pegasus scoffed. "Of course it was! What kind of pony flies around like that? But I had to think of something to keep you interested." She adopted a knowing grin, taunting Twilight.

"But then you wanted me to find it!"

"Of course I did!" Again Twilight was speechless. Cloudsurfer laughed quietly at her shocked expression. "I had a feeling about you. I knew it. You didn't call the police, did you? You came alone?" Numbly, Twilight nodded. Cloudsurfer pushed harder. "You came for me, didn't you? You – " she paused, apparently awed by her own thought. She finally whispered, "You're like me."

A cold stone dropped into the pit of Twilight's stomach. She reflexively swallowed as her mouth went dry. The seal burned in her eye, but for once she could not feel the rage generated from it. Her breath quickened as she slowly shook her head. She wasn't like this pony. She wasn't.

Cloudsurfer adopted a blank stare, seeing past Twilight. "I thought I was the only one. That something was so wrong with me. The anger, the need to hurt, to kill..." She looked back into Twilight's eyes. "And then you showed up. Now I know I'm not alone."

Twilight's eye was positively on fire now. She clenched both eyes shut as she violently shook her head this time. She bit her lip, trying not to whimper. She was nearly snorting as she breathed through her nose now.

"I'm glad I got to meet you," Cloudsurfer said, oblivious or not caring about Twilight's state.

"No," Twilight whispered, struggling not to cry. "I'm not like you."

Cloudsurfer sighed. "No, I suppose not. You see, it's much easier if you let your victims come to you."

Twilight's world stopped.

Adrenaline shot through her veins as she opened her eyes. Cloudsurfer's wings were flared as she reared onto her hind legs. Twilight made a mad grab at Cloudsurfer with her telekinesis, but it didn't stop the pegasus from stomping down on her fluffy pillow.

A pillow that shot a bolt of lightning straight at Twilight.

The loud thunderclap that shook the room almost covered Twilight's scream as the pain hit her. Her legs spasmed as she collapsed on top of them. Her chest burned and the smell of burnt hair filled her nostrils. Gasping, she opened her eyes to find Cloudsurfer looming over her, a small cloud in hoof. Desperately, Twilight cast a shield just as the pegasus slammed the cloud down on the floor in front of her face.

The lightning bolt blinded her as it lit up her shield and the thunderclap was deafening. Adrenaline and panic flowed through her body as she scrambled to her hooves. She backed up into the door and almost tripped herself as she made her way around the corner into the living room. Black spots filled her already ruined night vision, but they let her see the blur just before it crashed into her.

Cloudsurfer had been flying too fast. The hit hurt, but the pegasus rolled past Twilight into the far wall. Both ponies raced to their hooves again and Twilight barely raised her shield fast enough to stop a repeat tackle. Cloudsurfer screamed in rage and flew in a circle around the physical dome Twilight had erected.

Still trying to catch her breath, Twilight barely kept track of the pegasus as she came to a stop in the bedroom doorway. Cloudsurfer reared up and stomped on the cloud she had dropped there. Again lightning struck her shield and again, Twilight stumbled back blind, only to be shocked as the pegasus shattered the shield and tackled her. Cloudsurfer landed on top of Twilight, straddling her as the unicorn tried to make sense of why she was now on her back. "Die!" Cloudsurfer yelled as she reared again, only this time Twilight's head was going to be the cloud. Desperately, Twilight concentrated on the living room table and teleported. Cloudsurfer's hooves came down not a moment later.

Groaning from where she now lay, Twilight once again raised her shield, but this time she was ready. The lightning blast and subsequent slam against the shield no longer phased her. The shield held. Slowly, she regained her hooves, trembling in pain. She fought the urge to throw up as she mentally felt the pegasus impact on the shield again. The world spun as she looked up for her assailant. No, the world wasn't spinning.

Cloudsurfer was circling the shield.

The pegasus was really pushing herself to the limits. She would have given Dash a run for her money. As she flew, Twilight's coat stood on end. It was getting harder to see Cloudsurfer. It was almost like she was leaving a smoke trail. No, not smoke. It moved like fog.

A cloud. Cloudsurfer was building a huge electrical charge.

Realizing what the pegasus was doing, Twilight quickly modified her shield. She could do this again, couldn't she? And that had been a real lightning bolt last time. This should be easy. Slowly, the top of the purple shield began to collapse inward until a circular funnel formed, a funnel that ended right at the tip of her horn.

Cloudsurfer yelled as she abruptly stopped. Still flying, she kicked her rear hooves at Twilight, and a vast lightning bolt shot out, at least ten times larger than the ones stored in the little cloud. Twilight shook as the bolt hit and was channeled directly into her horn like a lightning rod. The energy lit her mind on fire, but she had played with lightning before. With a yell of her own, she dropped the shield and pointed her horn back where she had last seen the pegasus and everything went white.

The force of the thunderclap threw Twilight backwards and sent her rolling into the kitchen. The scent of ozone was overpowering now and ringing filled her ears. She groaned as she regained her hooves, looking for Cloudsurfer.

The pegasus was lying on her side, smoke rising from her twitching body. Her plumage looked absolutely ruined and a great deal of her coat was much darker than before, even in the dim light. As the ringing died away, Twilight could faintly hear Cloudsurfer coughing weakly and gasping for breath. Twilight stumbled over and was suddenly very conscious of the burning in her right eye. She tried not to relish this reversal of roles as she now stood over the pegasus. Cloudsurfer's eyes were almost closed, but she still managed to look up at Twilight, no longer angry, but fearful.

"You know," Twilight said, "I'm not like you." The eye burned. It burned so much. "I was there when all of this started. I chose this." Now was the time. Ponies were shouting outside. They were pounding at the door, but it didn't matter. She concentrated, and a lavender wedge of pure force formed above Cloudsurfer's head. "I'm not like you." Not a wedge. An axe head. "I'm much worse."

With that said, Twilight brought the axe down at Cloudsurfer's neck and executed the pegasus.

The burning sensation in Twilight's eye disappeared instantly. Sighing, she took a moment to revel in the relief, but the yelling and pounding was becoming quite insistent. They were going to break the door down any moment now. She closed her eyes and began to focus on teleporting long distance. She winced in pain. Breathing deeply, she forced it out of her mind. Cloudsurfer had really done a number on her. This was going to be very difficult to explain. Why couldn't she have gone down as easily as the earth ponies and unicorns?

Bucking pegasi...

A Divine Reunion

Author's Note: For those of you who didn't notice, Chapter 3 is now 1800 words longer as of this update. Not essential, but still, go read it.

Everfree: Innocence Lost

She continued! It took me a moment to realize it but she continued! Oh you have no idea how relieved I am. I was beginning to think that it would just be random stories, tales of woe and murder, but she continued. It means there is a purpose to all of this. All the death, all the suffering, there is a reason for it, and she is going to tell me! The tales will likely come together eventually. She just needs to paint the whole picture. If I simply struggle through maybe -

She -

Twilight Sparkle is going to...

This will not end any time soon, will it?

...

Why? Why me? Do I even want to know?

Chapter 4: A Divine Reunion –1 Year, 8 Months ANM

Motes of golden light dropped off of Princess Celestia's horn. The alicorn was furious if the intensity of the gathered spell was anything to go by. Twilight trembled as the magic washed over her. Celestia's spell wasn't going to be a beam of light designed to subdue. This was the full power of the sun, ready to set Terra and the Everfree Forest behind her ablaze. It sucked the air from Twilight's lungs. It distorted the air around them.

It terrified Twilight.

Celestia was truly this powerful? But where was that power two months ago at her brother's wedding? Celestia's display of power then had been impressive, but nothing like this. How could she command such a spell and still lose so easily to the Changeling queen? It didn't make sense.

For a moment, no pony moved. Terra stared at Celestia through the blinding light of her horn while Princess Luna's eyes shifted back and forth between the two before flicking back towards Twilight. The dark alicorn slowly angled herself so that she stood between the unicorn and Celestia. Luna's ethereal mane floated up to block off Celestia's horn from Twilight's line of sight. Suddenly she felt much better. It felt like walking into a cold room after being out in the sun on a scorching summer day for hours. It was only then that Twilight realized she was gasping, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead past her horn.

Terra raised an eyebrow. "I'm so glad to see you too Princess. Such a wonderful greeting after all this time. It's no wonder we get along so fabulously."

Celestia grit her teeth. "You are trespassing on Equestrian land. Leave or I will make you leave."

"Really now," Terra scoffed. "There's no need for violence."

Celestia growled and stepped forward. The instant her horn cleared Luna's mane, Twilight felt a huge rush of heat hit her. She felt sick. Twilight swayed dangerously before deciding it was a good idea to lie down. She slowly crumpled to the ground, her stomach rumbling uncomfortably and a pounding headache growing around her horn. Luna jumped fully in between Twilight and Celestia this time, calling in a fear laden voice, "Sister!"

The relief wasn't as palpable this time, but it was there. Dazed and weak, Twilight mumbled, "What's happening?"

"Enough, Celestia." For once, Terra's voice dropped to pure scorn, as if she were disgusted by saying the princess's name aloud. Celestia winced when she heard it. "Look what you're doing to the poor filly! We can settle this peacefully." Her eyes narrowed as she lowered her voice. "Remember the last time we met."

Celestia took several deep breaths, still snarling at the emerald alicorn. Then she glanced at Twilight's pitiful form on the ground. Slowly, she released her hold on her spell. As the light on her horn faded, so too did Twilight's headache fade. She still felt queasy though. Luna concernedly knelt over the unicorn and began examining her. Twilight felt too weak to care. She instead devoted all her attention to the white and emerald alicorns. Celestia once again brought her attention to Terra. "What do you want?"

Terra's expression was wiped clean of her serious expression in an instant. "Why, to visit, Princess. It has been so long since I have spoken with you and Luna or even seen Equestria."

"You expect me to believe that is all?" Celestia spat back.

Terra stared, then murmured, "It has been more than a thousand years." Above Twilight, Luna's wings twitched and Celestia's anger turned sour. The white alicorn drooped visibly. "Besides," she continued, "I am not trespassing."

The fire returned to Celestia's eyes. "You dare?" She whispered.

Terra's tinkling laughter seemed out of place. "No, no, Princess. I make no claim on this place. Twilight Sparkle merely invited me to see Ponyville before I go to meet you in Canterlot."

"What?" Celestia asked, alarmed.

She looked over to Twilight whose ears flattened against her head. "I – I was just being friendly!" she stammered. Had she done something wrong?

Quickly, Celestia's gaze returned to Terra. "Twilight does not represent my court in this matter," she said in a rush.

Terra scoffed. "Truly? Your own protégé, the Element of Magic does not hold a high enough position to host a visit from a foreign diplomat?" She chuckled again. "I knew you kept the government on a tight leash but this? Who knew you ruled with such an iron hoof?"

Celestia glared as Luna stopped her ministrations over Twilight. "Terra, stop this," she chided.

The emerald alicorn ignored her. "I can't decide whether the griffins would be impressed or threatened. Oh Zebrica would absolutely love to hear about this."

"That's enough Terra!" called Luna. This time, Terra stopped, but it didn't wipe the triumphant grin off her face. Yet again, Luna nervously moved in front of Twilight, ready to shield her.

Celestia shook with rage now. She took several deep breaths through her nostrils, almost snorting with their intensity, before opening her mouth again. "Very well," she said, turning away from them all. "I expect you and Twilight in Canterlot within the week." With that, she began to walk away.

Fear gripped Twilight's heart. Was the princess angry with her? She struggled to her feet and stumbled after the alicorn. "Princess Celestia! I'm sorry!" she called out.

Celestia stopped and let Twilight catch up to her. The princess's wings were drooping, and her head held low. "No, Twilight, you did nothing wrong. I am sorry that you had to see me this way." She turned her gaze north and whispered, "Terra is a good pony." Celestia spread her wings and took off, leaving Twilight behind. She flew back towards Canterlot much, much slower than her arrival. Twilight stared after her mentor open mouthed. The princess had apologized to her.

But she still didn't look at her.

Dejectedly, Twilight sat in the grass and glanced back at Luna and Terra. The two seemed to be discussing something in a much more cordial manner now that Celestia was gone. The unicorn returned her gaze forward and stared blankly at the ground, sadly wondering about the whole encounter. The sound of hoofsteps startled her out of her reverie. She looked up to find Luna approaching.

"Twilight, try not to be upset about this." The alicorn sat beside her. "Celestia and Terra have always had a strained relationship. Celestia's mood has nothing to do with you."

Twilight looked up at Luna pleadingly. "Really?"

The princess nodded sincerely. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle." Twilight sighed in relief. Hearing that certainly made her feel better. Luna smiled in return, but then looked up towards Canterlot. "But now I must go. You must believe me when I say my sister needs me more than I am needed here."

"But –" Twilight began to protest, but she was cut off.

"No, Twilight Sparkle. I will return later, but for now, stay with Terra. She is your guest now."

Twilight turned a glare of her own back towards the emerald alicorn who hadn't moved from her spot. She had been used. Tricked. And now she had to show this pony around?

Luna rose. "And one final thing." Twilight dropped her glare as she too got to her hooves. She almost sat down in shock at the sight of how much of a pleading expression had come over Luna. "Please don't blame her. She truly had no choice."

Numbly, Twilight nodded. Luna gave a nod of her own before straightening her posture. Once again, she assumed the regal persona of the Princess of the Night. With powerful flaps of her wings, she took off, following the path of her sister and leaving Twilight behind.

Again Twilight stared after the departure as the last alicorn approached her. Snorting, she turned a glare back at the emerald pony. Terra looked sheepish as she spoke. "I know you are angry, but I believe we can both agree that this can wait until you have eaten and cleaned up a bit."

Twilight tried to continue glaring, but her stomach gave a growl at the mention of food.

Terra continued hopefully, "There's no better cure for exposure to the solar wind than food and drink. My treat."

The purple unicorn sighed and resigned herself to her fate. "Alright, but don't think this makes up for using me like that."

Terra chuckled. "I would never dream of buying your friendship. Consider this the start of an apology."

"Fine," Twilight replied. "We'll go to Sugarcube Corner." She began to lead the way, hiding a smirk. After all that there was no way she was going to warn the alicorn about Pinkie Pie.