Misadventures of Trixie

Chapters

Phantom of the Everfree
Rainy Friendship
Partners in Crime
Piepocalypse
Marrow Escape
Relaxing Cup of Chaos
Eastern Sensibilities
Fashion Forward
Smoke and Mirrors
Applebat Season
Stars and Stripes
Daring Dash
Truth of the Cutie
This Strange Other World
Worst Night Ever
Shadow of the Moon
Of Ebon and Equinox
Hive Mentality
Simplicity
In Your Dreams
Northward
Call to Arms

Phantom of the Everfree

Few places in Equestria were threatened with as much arbitrary turmoil and chaos as Ponyville. There were, however, some remote towns and holdings where danger was always ready to rear its ugly head. Timberbane was one such town. Built more out of defiance than for any practical reason, the place was a mixture between a peaceful town and a fortress, surrounded by mighty walls and protected by potent magic.

Such measures were necessary when one settled within the Everfree forest. The beginning of something new, the architects and sponsors had claimed. The start of their conquest of the wildest woods. In the end, a lone soldier, standing defiantly in the darkness with a magic torch. To her, it did not matter how treacherous the area, the town had an audience. And it was her duty to entertain.

She had set up her stage in the shadow of the fort-town's dominant structure, a tower rising into the sky, radiating magical energy into its surroundings. Timberbane's torch against the darkness. A battle raged on her makeshift podium as two stallions clashed using fake, but nonetheless impressive magic. They were hyperbolic opposites, light and darkness, good and evil. Her audience, young and impressionable as they were, waited with baited breath. The sky-blue showpony sat at the edge of the stage, narrating:
"It was then that Quicksilver finally gained the upper hand," with a final blast of light, the hero knocked his opponent to the ground, "and it was time to end it!"
A proud, male voice sounded from the illusory stallion:
"You are finished, Dreadmor! Your evil will never taint Equestria again!"
"And with one final attack," a pillar of light rose around the shadowy construct and caused it to vanish, "lord Dreadmor was vanquished! Quicksilver could finally sigh with relief. Equestria, and the entire world, were finally safe."

Trixie got up and walked to the centre of her stage. Her other 'actors' appeared next to her and mimicked her movements as she bowed. The audience cheered and stomped, which made the sole performer smile:
"Thank you, thank you! The Great and Powerful Trixie was glad to entertain such a wonderful audience!"

"Are you sure you do not need an escort, Trixie? We have more than enough soldiers to spare."
She smiled at the charcoal mare in full body armour reassuringly:
"You need not worry about me, commander. I travel the Everfree frequently. You are the ones who never move from it."
"If you say so. And again, thank you for braving the way to us," she chuckled, "Blueberry loved the play."
"And that is all a showpony needs," though, the handsome amount of bits which weighed down her bag was a welcome bonus, "farewell. And do not worry, I will most definitely be back."

The gates were shut behind her and she marched into the shadow of the forest. She had braved its crooked paths many times while travelling. The place was dangerous, for sure, but circumventing it entirely could often cost several days of travel. Some traders had made an entire business out of transporting goods through the Everfree, faster than their more cowardly competition. Just as many such daredevils had lost their lives.

As always, it was silent, unnervingly so. Its denizens always watched from the shadows, waiting for travellers to stray just a bit too close to their domain. The air was always cool, since very few of the sun's rays actually managed to pierce the thick canopy. And then there was the horrid stench that... no, wait. The stench wasn't always there.

She froze and looked around. The forest was calm. Deceptively so. She grunted to herself as her horn started glowing. A sudden flash of blinding light filled the area and an irritated growl sounded to her right. Immediately, she broke out into a gallop. A howl sounded behind her and more answered from multiple directions. This was no idle run-in with a beast. This was a full-on hunt.

A blur moved at the edge of her vision and she made a sudden turn into the forest, dodging a vicious lunge in the process. Growls and barks seemed to multiply around her, and soon enough, she spotted two sets of glowing, green eyes in the shadows. The wooden mutts seemed to mock her, or perhaps her imagination was acting up. Whatever the case may have been, with a flash from her horn, one galloping mare turned to three.

The malicious gazes grew unsure, yet attacked all the same. Their claws swiped in a wide arc, striking all of the presented targets, only for the doppelgangers to dissipate into smoke. The wolves stood in confusion, before another flash above them attracted their gaze. Trixie landed on their heads hooves-first, taking them out of the hunt for a few crucial seconds.

The chase continued, however, and she soon entered what amounted to a clearing. Several massive trees stood close to each other, keeping sunlight all to themselves and not allowing anything but grass to grow bellow. She came to a stop in the middle and scanned her surroundings with all of her senses. Their stench was almost overpowering at that point, it must have been an entire pack. Grunts sounded from all around as more demonic eyes came into view. The simple, lingering question, 'Why?', took a backseat for a moment. The magician stomped her hooves and shouted at the timberwolves:
"Well, come on! What's the matter, afraid?"

She was quite sure timberwolves were not exactly the conversing type, but her tone seemed to get the point across. One of the wooden wraiths darted towards her. She turned, her horn already glowing, invoking magic she only seldom used. A bright, intense ray of light shot from her horn, swatting the wolf aside and setting fire to its mane of moss. It yelped in panic and ran off. The pack grew more cautious, circling the clearing, waiting for a sign of weakness. Unsuccessfully trying to mimic her panting, caused mostly by the chosen magic rather than the previous chase, she shouted once more:
"Hah, is that, oh, all? You mess with the, ah, wrong showpony!"

And then, they seemed to take a few steps away. The air rapidly grew colder and she felt a new presence close by. The smell of raw magic dominated the air as a thousand voices cried out in perfect unison:

"This one strong. Proud. Defiant," Trixie turned, only to immediately back off. The creature... was it even a creature? A cloud of smoke hovered in the clearing, with a single, discerning feature. A giant azure orb, probably as large as her head, floated in its middle. The voices seemed to emanate from the orb, "like us. Allow it to pass, but no other."
The wolves growled in response. A brief look revealed that their numbers had nearly tripled. Mustering what courage she had, she spoke up, her pride faltering at the last second:
"W-who or what are you?"
It seemed to gaze at her, it was hard to tell without any form of body language:
"Simplicity, child of Equinox," the name meant nothing to her, "we are the Everfree. Invader though it is, its qualities are undeniable. This day, it is spared."
At the mention of that, she regained her defiant tone:
"What are you talking about?"
"Its kin taint the Everfree. Our tolerance is gone, they shall be removed. It may go."
"Go? Hmph," she tried to stand proud, even as chills ran down her spine, "I don't think so."
"Defiance. Expected. This is for its own good."
"What a-are you," the orb suddenly turned purple. Immediately, her brain slowed down to a crawl, her entire body suddenly feeling centuries of exhaustion, "doi..."

With that, she collapsed into a seemingly peaceful slumber. The wolves closed in and sniffed her form. She giggled from her dream. The entity spoke to its children:
"Take it to cave. Ursa obeys, will keep safe. Then, prepare for war."

"Granny, I made it! I made it!"
A blue bolt of lightning darted into the apartment. It was all rather small, but it was home all the same. She made her way into the largest room, which served as both a bedroom and living room. A violet mare sat at a table, next to a sewing machine. She slowly got up from her chair and stretched her legs out just in time for the little filly to throw herself into tight hug. The mare looked down through a set of glasses thicker than her hooves, her lips curled into a wide smile:
"Och, I knew you would! Come on, show me!"

Trixie dug into her decorated bag, bought mere days prior for the occasion, and fished out a meticulously folded piece of parchment. Large golden letters were at the very top, followed by more common text:
"Congratulations to Miss Trixie Lulamoon for successfully enrolling at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns! Entrance exam grade: Excellent."
"Now this is a sight for sore eyes! I'm so proud of you, Trixie! And just because I knew you'd make it, I have something for you!"
"Ooooh, what?"

Rubbing her side, grandma turned to the table and picked up something beautiful. Covered in stars of all sizes and colours, the flowing cape and rather elegant magician's hat were amazing. Just like the ones she had found in the history books. She soon found out they were a few sizes too big. The hat engulfed her entire head, while the cape could have functioned like a tent. Lifting the stylish traffic cone off her face, she spoke again:
"Aren't these a little too big?"
"You'll grow into them, silly muffin," she started chuckling, but that was soon replaced by a few gasps. She clutched her side again, "och."
"Granny!"
The magician held her tightly and the mare smiled again:
"Don't worry, just these old bones, is all. I'm going to take a little nap. You behave until grandpa gets back from work, okay?"
"I will, don't you worry!"

She was among the living again, feeling returning to her limbs. Shakily, she rose. She was in some sort of cavern or cave. With a gasp, she realised her bag was gone. The only things around her were dirt, the cave's rocky walls and... light, at least in her immediate area. Without any torches. She looked down at her shadow, then turned, only to immediately suffer a minor heart attack.

The beast was massive, easily the size of a large house. Its fur was azure and shone with a strange, ethereal energy, illuminating its surroundings. The briefest look upwards revealed nothing but darkness, with no ceiling in sight. An ursa. Ursa minor, she added with an extra jolt of adrenaline in her veins. It was staring right at her, studying her every move, but did nothing else. She seemed to be in some sort of alcove, with the only paths out leading dangerously close to the giant. She took a step closer and shakily spoke:
"H-h-hello," it tilted its head, "ummm, I-I take it you understand m-me," a brief nod, followed by a monstrous yawn, "splendid. Well, I would very much appreciate if you'd just let me..."

She took a few steps towards the edges of the alcove and the creature slammed its paw in her way. Well, at least the answer was clear. Without another word, she just smiled at the ursa and sat down, her mind already racing, gathering all the information she knew about the super-sized bear and its kin.
Large, ferocious if provoked, deadly. Nothing helpful, nothing that wasn't completely obvious from a simple look. Then came memories of her first visit to Ponyville. The beast was eventually stopped by a... bottle. It was basically a giant baby. What did babies like? Oh, how she wished Fluttershy hadn't been so, well, shy during the slumber party. What did she like when she was little? Eureka.

She stood up and approached the creature, earning herself a growl:
"Calm down, I have something for you. Come down here," the bear looked... puzzled, she guessed? It did however lower its head. Gosh, it was bigger than her. With a sigh, she reached up with her front hooves, "just like that. Good boy."

She managed to reach just high enough to rub it behind one of its ears. The ursa emitted something that distantly resembled a purr, but on a monstrous scale. She could feel just how tough its fur and hide were. A direct attack wouldn't have even scratched the creature. She stopped for a moment and walked to the other side of the ursa's head to rub the other ear, an act she had never even considered likely in her lifetime. It whined slightly, then rolled onto its back without warning, causing a localised tremor.

Trixie smiled nervously as she approached its torso:
"What's the matter? Does baby want a belly wub," approved by DJ-Pon3. It whined again in response. She put all of her strength into it, and the bear approved, but she grew tired in mere moments, "okay, hah, plan B."

She slowly climbed on top of the now-puzzled beast and then lay down on its belly. Rolling from side to side, she managed to create the same purr from before and the ursa let out another content whine. Slowly, she got back up and walked up to its head, making sure not to lose footing on the uneven... terrain, she supposed. The ursa looked at her as she spoke:
"Listen, you were probably sent to guard me. I know it's important, but I have to get back to Timberbane. I've made friends there and they're in danger. I don't care if the entire Everfree forest tries to stop me, I need to go back to help. So, please, could you let me go?"

She put on her best determined look as the ursa continued to stare. Without warning one of its front paws grabbed hold of her and placed her gently onto the ground. It then lay down onto its belly and motioned towards itself. She did not understand at first, before it clumsily pointed first at her, then at its neck. Immediately, she smiled.

"Unicorns, I want fire and lightning on the big one, now! Earth, assemble beyond the gate! Pegasi, strike the back line! Timberbane holds!"

Her commands were complied with immediately and she looked at the state of the battleground. Dozens upon dozens of timberwolves circled the walls, eager to get in. Her pegasi made hit-and-run attacks on the wooden terrors, their speed and manoeuvrability too much even for the wooden wraiths. The big one, though, that was a problem.

It looked like a timberwolf, but on a much larger scale, built for brute strength, rather than the swift deadliness of its cousins, it continuously rammed its form against the main gate, which threatened to give way any moment. Worse yet, it seemed to shrug off the usual counters to a timberwolf, as if it was protected by foul forces. The situation was grim, and the constant howling wasn't helping her mind relax one bit. And then, suddenly, everything came to a halt, as a mighty roar echoed throughout the forest. Both sides froze in place, unsure as to what was happening.

Distant, barely perceptible shockwaves soon turned into proper tremors as a new form suddenly burst from the tree line. The bear-beast roared menacingly once again, turning towards the largest of the wolves as it did so. The siege wolf roared back, though it was obvious it was several weight categories below the ursa. And of all things that could be attached to a giant bear's head, the commander had not expected a mare in a fabulous cape. The showpony shouted:
"Ahah! You underestimated the Great and Pow-oaaaaaaaaaah!"

Her oversized companion lunged at the wolf, forcing her to hold on for dear life. It wasn't even a contest. With a single, mighty swipe, the large wolf was shattered into a thousand twigs. Those soon started reforming into individual smaller wolves, which ran as soon as they had legs of any sort. With a single look from the giant, the rest of the army got similar ideas and dispersed.
As the defenders cheered, she gave her mount another rub behind the ears. She jumped down onto the ground and looked up:
"Thank you, for everything," in response, she received an affectionate lick over her entire front, with a small puddle of slobber gathering along the edges of her hat. She wanted nothing else but to start spitting, but managed to speak, "you're too, ugh, kind."

With another whine, the largest friend a pony could have darted back into the forest. Her hat lit up from the inside as she used magic to remove the slobber. A charcoal mare in full body armour soon entered her cone of vision:
"Trixie, h-how, what?!"
"Those questions can wait. I am afraid we are not done here, yet."
"What do you have in mind? A counterattack?"
"No," she smiled, faintly, "diplomacy."

They walked in two lines, a stage magician and a handful of soldiers. Trixie and the commander walked at the very front, taking note of the watchers. Countless emerald orbs watched from the darkness, but did not yet act. She was not quite sure where they were heading, only that they needed to be deep in the forest. Finally, it came, the sudden chilling temperature. The entity manifested right before them, flanked by a dozen timberwolves. The troops grew nervous, but she stepped forward. They spoke:
"The children of Equinox taste victory. They seek vengeance. Folly." barks sounded in agreement.
"The only thing we seek is an agreement," the showpony turned to the commander, "all yours, Lucent."
"I'm not sure if I should be thankful," nonetheless, she stepped forward, "it is true."

A strange sound echoed from the creature, like a dialogue several miles away. Then, it retorted:
"They wish an agreement. Uncharacteristic. We shall listen."
She took a deep breath:
"I do not know exactly what you are and really, I don’t care. We have lived in Timberbane a few years now and only now you send your army," she motioned at the wolves, "against us. Why?"
"We lacked consensus," the orb pulsed a little, "some thought the forest would claim land back alone. Falsehood. Their taint kept it at bay."
"Our... taint?"
For the briefest of moments, the orb took on a shade of crimson:
"Yes. Their magic. Burns roots. Brings pain to children. Taint to the Everfree."
She considered her words carefully:
"Then we have an offer," the smoke seemed to draw just a little closer, "we are willing to disable the magic we possess, in exchange for a truce."
"They wish peace. Yet they still tame the Everfree."
"If it is war you want, fiend," the soldiers immediately formed up around Trixie and the commander, "know that we will fight to the last. Whaddaya’ say, ponies?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the troops shouted in unison.
There was a long silence before it spoke again, though it almost seemed like it was thinking out loud:
"Unity. Determination. Willpower," the orb changed colour several times, before settling back on its default azure, "we have reached consensus," the assembled ponies tensed up, “they are like us. For so long as their taint is gone, they may call the Everfree home. So we decree.”
After a slight cheer from the ponies, the commander spoke again:
“We shall remove it immediately.”
“They are wise.”

One of the wolves howled and the pack moved deeper into the forest. The guards bowed slightly, then hurried off. As soon as she tried to follow, the entity spoke up once more:
“Sorceress,” Trixie turned, “we have a request.”
“What is it?” her tone carried just a tinge of annoyance.
“Your name.”
The sudden change in pronoun caught her off-guard:
“Trixie Lulamoon.”
“Tri-xie Lu-la-moon,” it spoke syllable by syllable, “your stubborn involvement brings peace. Unexpected, though, we are grateful. The children are spared,” it suddenly flashed bright yellow, “the taint already recedes. Trixie Lulamoon, may you be known by all as Friend of the Everfree.”
Not quite knowing how to respond, she said only:
“It is an honour.”
“We know. There is one last matter,” a wolf suddenly appeared at its side, clutching something in its teeth, “this is yours.”

The wolf placed the bag at her hooves, producing a soft clink from the bits inside. Worn from her travels, the bag was her constant companion, the violet rose sown into its fabrics faded due to years of use. Its weight, resting on her side, was almost reassuring:
“Thank you.”
“Walk now, Trixie Lulamoon, with the blessing of the Everfree.”
She turned without a second thought and galloped to Timberbane. The orb glowed violet once more, before vanishing without a trace.

After deciding to stay the night at Timberbane, both to get some rest and join in on the predictable celebrations, she was again on the road. The forest was not silent. Chirps and groans sounded from surrounding creatures as she passed. Without warning, the menacing form of a timberwolf walked across the forest path, regarding her with a slight nod of its head before disappearing in the undergrowth once more.

She stood for a few moments, just taking it all in. This would take some getting used to.

Rainy Friendship

Another bolt of lightning tore the sky asunder as she made her way through the streets of Ponyville. The night sky was not visible, blocked by countless storm clouds which continued to bombard the world below with raindrops. She was glad her bag was resilient to such an assault, because every other hair on her body was completely soaked. Taking refuge under an extended roof, she sighed.

Two inns, both full, apparently due to some sort of cider fest coming to the town soon. Just her luck. She stared blankly into space, considering what little options she still had. Most involved standing in the cool breeze, which was not appealing at all. As she was contemplating her fate, a familiar voice came from behind her:
"Trixie?"

It was none other than Equestria's youngest princess, protecting herself from the rain with what looked like a conjured umbrella. Her violet eyes almost shone in the dim light of the street, as did her horn. The showpony smiled faintly, shivering slightly:
"Ah, hello Twilight."
"What are you doing here at a time like this?"
"Hoping the third inn has some free rooms. And what about you?"
"Oh, Pinkie Pie threw a party, so I'm heading home from there," on closer inspection, there seemed to be a bit of frosting stuck in her mane, "speaking of which, come with me. My hou... castle has more than enough space."
"Etiquette dictates I protest, but I am sick of this rain. I'll take you up on your offer."
"Excellent," the umbrella grew large enough to shield them both, "come on!"

They walked side by side as the storm continued to rage. Trixie was the first to speak again:
"Don't you just hate it when the pegasi mess up their scheduling?"
"We all make mistakes sometimes."
"I guess I, of all ponies, should know that, eh?" she chuckled slightly.
"And just like the pegasi, I hear you've been helping out in places, Timberbane in particular."
"How do you...?"
"Word travels fast. Especially when you are the closest 'royal authority'," she said the words with a hint of disgust, "to the Everfree forest."
"That's one perk, I suppose. And yes, I may have lent a hoof. Though the experience was strange, overall. I'll tell you all about it once we get out of this cold."
"It's not far, just one last corner."

Once they rounded said corner, the majestic structure came into view. Tree-castle was a quick and dirty way to describe it, but it did not do the structure justice. Even in the rain, it was a dazzling display of colour, its bark-like crystals shining faintly. The gate was ornate and probably large enough to let an ursa through.

The hollow trunk of the crystalline tree housed a large, spiral staircase. Ascending was a bit of a chore overall, but not being bombarded by water sure felt great. A minute or so of ascending and they were finally inside the castle proper. The entrance hall was expansive, to say the least, with several pathways splitting in every direction. Its walls had numerous spots reserved for large, violet banners, which carried Twilight's cutie mark. Said princess shot her a warm smile:
"Let's go to the library. It has a nice, big fireplace."
"That sounds lovely."

Oh, Celestia, the heavenly warmth. Her mane was already dry, if a bit messy due to the ordeal, and her things had more than enough time to do the same. She sipped her tea slowly, savouring both its flavour and blessed heat, while Twilight processed the information presented to her.

The library was overwhelmingly large, and Trixie was sure Twilight loved it that way. It had two separate floors filled with row after row of bookcases, each filled with books of all shapes, sizes and theme. There were clearly-defined sections, their books alphabetically organised. For a moment, she wondered if organising could be considered a hobby. The alicorn interrupted those thoughts:
"A creature controlling the Everfree. Fascinating."
"I'm not even sure I'd call it a creature. It always referred to itself in the plural."
"Like the Royal We?"
"I suppose, though, I think it was meant literally in this case."
"I'll have to look into the subject a bit more, but I do believe I've read at least a vague mention of something like that," she sighed, "ah, well. That can wait. Timberbane is safe, thanks to you."
"I can't take credit for the whole thing. The ponies in there are fighters to the core. They also don't almost freeze in the rain."
Twilight giggled:
"You were soaked, that much is true," her eye wandered towards the showpony's cape and hat, resting on a few nearby chairs, "you know, I've always wondered. Where did you get your outfit?"
"My grandma sewed it together for me. Why?"
"I've just never seen such a perfect rendition of Lucretia Stargazer's robe. She must be very talented."
A bitter smile formed:
"She was," Twilight immediately went into flustered mode, which was overall rather adorable. Trixie decided to spare her, "I'm surprised someone else even knows about Lucretia."
"She was one of Starswirl's pupils, and I know my Starswirl trivia. Not the most successful of them, unfortunately."
"I've always kind of admired her, truthfully. The stories of her paint her as a pony of utter determination. Never stopping to try and achieve her dreams."
"Which, ultimately, led to her untimely end."
"Yes."

A brief silence ensued as Trixie stared down at her hooves. She could only hope her own fall was already behind her and not just waiting around a corner. Waiting for her to tread down a dark path again. The thought sent a shiver down her spine and she tried to clear her mind:
"In any case, it is getting quite late. We should get some rest."
"Oh, indeed. The guest rooms are still not quite done," the lack of beds in some of them only the tip of the iceberg, "but my own room has quite a few beds."
"Why so?"
"P.P.E.S.P.P," she spelled out an intimidating acronym.
"W-what?"
"Pinkie Pie Emergency Slumber Party Protocol."
They stared at each other for a few moments, then burst out laughing.

She stopped running long after she had left Ponyville, at a crossroad between several equally important destinations. That was the official version, anyway, since each city or town considered itself to be the cream of the crop. Such thoughts had no place in her mind at the time. She had to stop and think of where to keep running. Yet thinking was the last thing she wanted at that point.

She stood there, exhausted, gasping for air. Her eyes darted between the signs, yet her mind did not even consider them. After everything that had happened, she decided to part with that?! Great and Apologetic Trixie... smooth thinking, Trixie. And yet the violet unicorn had smiled at her. After misusing forbidden magic, general cruelty and just... just being herself. She was disgusted with herself. Too little, too late.

Her legs suddenly lost their strength and she collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. Tears streamed down her face as she just cried, for the first time in years. She was worthless. Her magic was weak, her other skills sorely lacking.

A voice suddenly sounded, ethereal, distant. She opened her eyes.

The recurring dream vanished slowly, as if swept away by a light breeze. All she could see instead was the worried face of an alicorn princess. A second set of emerald eyes watched from a distance. Right, her dragon. What was his name, again? Spear? Slice? Her mind was forced to concentrate again as Twlight placed a hoof on her side:
"Trixie, what's wrong?"

She looked up and tried to muster the strength to speak, to make up some excuse, a quick lie, only to break down sobbing even harder. Nothing happened for a moment, and then, she felt a pleasant warmth as something brushed against her lightly. Feathers. After some difficulties, Twilight had stretched out one of her wings enveloped her in it. Not something you experience every tear-filled night, that was for sure. Princess Sparkle spoke:
"It's okay, it's okay. Everything's fine," gradually, the sobbing stopped as Trixie calmed down and leaned against her, "nightmares can't get you here."

The silence seemed to last an eternity, and the showpony almost wished it had. Her breathing returned to its regular levels as she allowed herself to relax. She felt... safe. And just a little bit embarrassed, but those thoughts were suppressed for the moment. Finally, she looked up into the alicorn's eyes and said, her voice a faint whisper:
"W-why are you so nice to me?"
Twilight responded in kind:
"What?"
"You heard me, Sparkle. You have every reason to hate me. Every reason to never speak to me again."
She chuckled:
"I already forgave you, remember?"
"But... I..."
"No buts. You've changed for the better, and that's all that matters. The past can often teach us many things. But sometimes, it just hurts. Besides," another one of those smiles, the sort that threatened to melt one's heart, "I wouldn't be much of a Princess of Friendship if I didn't cut a friend some slack, now would I?"
The words disarmed her as she again leaned against the alicorn's wing and muttered:
"I don't deserve a friend like you."
"Well, whether you like it or not, that's how it's gonna' be. Now, turn that frown upside down."

The smile was a bit brief, but it was there. One last request sprung to her mind. She hesitated for a moment, but then asked:
"I know this will sound strange, but... could you keep your wing like this just a little longer?"
"Of course. As long as you need it."
"Thanks... friend."
"Anytime, friend."

She finally noticed the full moon up above, its rays reflecting off the crystalline walls to create a beautiful, almost ethereal glow. Unimportant. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the princess and let the warmth wash over her. Friend. Such a nice word.

Twilight's eyes opened sluggishly. With a loud yawn, she stretched out her wings and looked around the room. Spike and Trixie were nowhere in sight, which meant one of two things awaited her downstairs. A trap or an ambush. Something in her gut just knew it had to be so.

She descended from her bedroom and could soon hear a conversation, though the words were unintelligible. She pinpointed the location, however. The kitchen. Cautiously, she made her way there like a clumsy assassin, making as little noise as possible. After barely catching a vase that her wings knocked aside, she finally made it to the door. Placing one ear on it, she listened:
"Could you run that by me again?" Spike sounded just a teensy bit nervous.
"Simplicity itself, dear draconite. Just a mild flame, aimed directly into the bubble. Leave the rest to me."
"O-okay. Here goes nothing."

As the sound of exhaled dragon fire sounded, she opened the door. She was not quite sure what was happening, though it did remind her of certain occult rituals she had read about. Trixie stood in the middle of the kitchen, creating some sort of protective bubble so that Spike's flame remained contained.
At the same time, she was levitating several slices of bread. She lowered the slices into the fire for just a short moment, then took them out. The resulting toast had a quire lovely golden colour and was lowered onto a plate. Smiling, she nodded towards the little dragon and he stopped.
"Good job, Spike!"
"Yeah!"
Hoof and claws clashed in the air and only then did they notice the alicorn, leaning against one of the counters, obviously amused:
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two are trying to burn down the castle."
"We'd never!"
"What she said!"

She chuckled and made her way to the plates. The smell was lovely, though, there was something exotic about it. Trixie retrieved more ingredients, mostly various vegetables, but also some cheese, and placed them neatly on the toasts. She bowed to her slightly and proclaimed:
"Authentic Saddle Arabian dragon-toast! Yes, that is the actual name. A meal fit for a princess, if I do say so myself!"
"You're too kind."
"Look who's talking. Dig in. Dragon fire gives it a unique aftertaste!"

She mustered her courage and took a nice, big bite. It was rather great, actually. The sensation the showpony had mentioned was the slightest tinge of very specific spicyness. Probably not for everyone, but gosh, she liked it a lot. Between bites, they chatted:
"It's good to see you two getting along."
"Yah," Spike spoke through a small gemstone lodged in his mouth, "she'sh real coow."
"And he's just the most adorable thing."
"I must say, this is very good. Where did you learn how to make it?"
"Believe it or not, I actually cook," she looked away, "well, I can do simple food, for now. My last stew tried to eat me," Twilight chuckled, though Trixie did not, "I'm afraid I'm serious."
"Woah. I do not even want to know how that happened."
"You and me both."

It was not too long after breakfast when she once more donned her star struck hat and cape. Ready to continue her travels. One more time, she turned to her friends. Just thinking about that made her all tingly inside:
"Bye for now. And again, thanks for everything."
"Do try and avoid getting in trouble, you hear?"
"Twilight, with all due respect and modesty, trouble should watch out for me! I'll make sure to stop by soon."
"Already looking forward to it."

After a shared giggle, Trixie chose a random direction and began another journey, in a much better mood than usual.

It took her a good few minutes to finally pull herself together. In her state, she hadn't noticed her magic going haywire, which resulted in little more than a small orb of light hovering around her. Instead of throwing another tantrum about uselessness, she gazed at the orb and wiped away a few lingering tears.

What kind of damned pony was she? That was right, a showpony. Moping around at some random crossroad wouldn't help her at all. All she needed was to step up her act. Show ponies everywhere what a real show was. That would require a fair bit of training, but she was up to the challenge. She was Trixie Lulamoon, after all, the greatest travelling showpony in all of Equestria!

Partners in Crime

Saddleton was a nice enough town. Far from major trade routes, tourism hotspots and generally any source of potential conflict or problems. A peaceful little place, ideal for a peaceful little stop on one's travels. And the locals even seemed to enjoy her theatrics quite a bit. An almost ideal town, really.

She gave the bartender a carefully-calculated tip, then greedily took a mean gulp from her apple cider. One of the few treats she occasionally allowed herself. It was cool, but not enough to make her teeth ache. Just right. The tavern was rather full, most of the patrons locals. Sights like her or the handful of traders in the corner were a rare thing in these parts.

Suddenly, from the outside, shouting could be heard, whimsical rather than angry. It got closer and closer, until finally two stallions entered the tavern. Trixie almost spit out her drink when she looked at them. Of all the places in Equestria, they showed up there?

The two were practically identical. Same shade of yellow for the fur, same crimson-white mane, even their striped outfits and silly little hats matched. The only differentiating mark was that one had a meticulously groomed, rather alluring moustache. There was no doubt about it, it was them.

She need not introduce them, of course, that was always the favourite part of their routine. The moustachioed one walked first and spoke, his voice loud and audible throughout the tavern:
"Flim, brother of mine, what do you see?"
A perfectly rehearsed routine, memorised days in advance:
"Flam, dear brother, I see a tavern fit for you and me."
"The establishment is fine, if you have a lot of time!"
"Or bits, dear brother, isn't it just a bother?"

They dispersed among the patrons, who watched in states between mild curiosity and genuine
interest. Flim was the one to start once again, shouting across the bar:
"I wonder, Flam, how else could you relax?"
"You mean, Flim, forget about worries and fear of tax?"
"Yes, indeed! Can you not see all these ponies in need?"
"Well, then, perhaps we can lend some aid?"
"With a product, most certainly well-made!"
And then, they joined together:
"For we have for you, a special kind of view! The Flim Flam Amazing Zen-maker!"

Flim held out a small object in one of his hooves, while the brother gazed at it in practised bewilderment:
"But brother, how does it work?"
"Easy as cider squeezy! A simple roll betwixt your hooves, and you will be the master of your moods!"
"I feel our audience has doubts about our claim!"
"Let us demonstrate, so that none remain! Would anyone care to give it a try?"
Not letting anyone else make up their mind, Trixie immediately shouted from the bar:
"Let's see what all this fuss is about, boys."

Some patrons let out an approving chuckle as the showpony stood up, in full show attire, no less. The brothers' eyes grew wide with surprise, but they kept up the act without error. They were, after all, professionals:
"Yes, my dear! Come here and leave your beer!"

She walked closer and gave them an equally practised, doubtful look. Flim handed her the object. It was akin to a small ball, covered with spike-like protrusions. Those were, upon further observation, thankfully not sharp. As instructed, she rolled it between her hooves. It was an interesting sensation, the various little spikes pushing against various spots with just enough force to register. It was rather calming, she had to admit. A few more rolls, putting on a faint smile in the process, and she gave her verdict:
"It is rather nice. I could get used to this, for sure."

Flam took it back and exclaimed:
"There you have it," the moustache swayed wildly as he grinned, "and with a little practice, everypony can easily find a technique they enjoy the most! For those days with too much commotion to spend time at your favourite establishment, nothing will substitute!"
"A one-time purchase, it is as durable as a suit of armour," to demonstrate, he threw it against the ground with obvious force. It bounced off without an issue as the audience gasped, "what do you say, mares and gentlecolts? The price is reasonable, ten bits for a lifetime!"
After a brief pause, one of the patrons shouted:
"Ah, what the hay, I'll take it!"
Many others followed suite:
"Yeah, give me one, too!"
"I'll take two, please."
The brothers grinned widely, while Trixie allowed herself a smirk.

******

At the outskirts of Saddleton a campfire was set up. The three accomplices sat around it, helping themselves to some fresh vegetables and other treats. For once, they were bought legitimately.
"I say, you were the last pony we expected to see, Trixie," Flim spoke and afterwards buried his face in a bowl of salad.
"Indeed, dear brother. Though, I must say, your intervention was timely. It guaranteed sales."
"Oh, anything for my old compatriots. Though, I must ask, what brings you all the way here to a small town like this?"
"That very fact! Small, peaceful, out of the way! Wouldn't have heard of some of our more infamous escapades."
"You wouldn't, by any chance, be referring to the miracle tonic debacle?"
Flam nodded:
"That too, but you'd be surprised how many still remember our old," he suddenly put on his stage persona, "Flim Flam Universal Lubricant Extreme!"
"In hind sight, we should have specified it was for industrial use only."
"You forget," Trixie added, "that we ourselves didn't know what it was good for at the time. Much like the Infinite Bounce-o-Tronic 4000, which actually did never stop. Kids who threw it learned the hard way."
"That one did have an attached disclaimer, though. Luckily for us."
"Indeed, brother."

"Speaking of products, how did you find these things," she rolled the ball around a little, "they're actually something I'd consider buying, even from you two."

"Luck mixed with the skills of a salespony," Flim stared at one of his hooves with a smug grin, "we met this fellow close to a rock farm near Foal Mountain. Said he had found these peculiar things during his daily activities and he wanted to get rid of them. As entrepreneurs, we saw the opportunities."
"And we actually tested it, too. I hit the things with a sledgehammer almost twenty times. The hammer was in worse shape than them by the end of it."
"Why did you even have a sledgehammer, anyway?"
"Always prepared for a potential buyer, I say."
"It's been prepared for five years, in fact."
"Right," subconsciously, she kept rolling the little ball. She suddenly came to a halt as she noticed something. One of the spines was missing. She looked down and saw tiny cracks all over its surface, "umm, guys?"

Without warning, the ball suddenly cracked open and a black, liquid-like substance poured outside. In gathered into a small mound on the ground, looking like some sort of bizarre gelatin. The brothers commented as one:
"What in the world?!"

The mound stirred once again, pulling itself together into a somewhat-round shape. Soon enough, three large, yellow orbs formed on top. The creature took in its surroundings, somehow able to separate its trio of eyes in different directions. Trixie immediately knew what the creature was, thanks to many hours of semi-useful subjects:
"A deepling!"

******

The classroom was silent, everyone was busy scribbling down notes while the professor continued his lecture. He was a rather tall brown stallion, obviously fit and still in his best years. Many classmates had expressed having a crush on him. Ah, the perils of classroom romance. A large, green book floated next to him and lay on every table in the room. Biologica Arcana.

He turned to the blackboard, where animated pieces of chalk were already busy drawing a likeness of the creature:
"Now, one of the most interesting dwellers when it comes to the underground is the aptly-named deepling. They are a cautious species and are generally only seen during mining or excavations efforts, even then rarely. The most peculiar thing about the deepling is its lack of a solid form. Not burdened by a skeletal structure of any kind, it possesses the miraculous ability to change the shape of its body and organs at will. This allows it to traverse even the most narrow of passageways in its quest for food," a dark green filly with an azure mane raised a hoof, "yes?"
"What does it eat, sir?"
"Impatient as always, Miss Strike," he put on a playful grin as the class chuckled, "I'll get to that soon enough."

She slumped down in her seat and looked over to her closest neighbour, a certain Miss Lulamoon, with a whisper:
"Why do you never stop me?"
"Because you're always too mesmerised by professor Faun to care."
"Am not, you dolt."
"Keep telling yourself that."

The two chuckled and turned their heads back to the lecture.

******

"What the hay is a deepling?" again, in perfect unison.
"A creature from underground. Oh, Celestia, this is bad."
"How come? It looks quite adorable to me."

Flim extended one hoof towards the creature. All three eyes narrowed on him and it revealed the existence of a maw. Flim could not quite make out what was inside the creature, as he was preoccupied dodging a set of razor-sharp teeth. At least, she thought that was how they were classified, seeing as there was no sign of bone. They looked more like jagged pieces of rock. Both brothers screamed as the creature was suddenly lifted off the ground in a magical bubble. It struggled against its prison, to no avail.
"The demon almost took off my leg!"
"I saw, dear brother! It is a menace!"
"Ugh, you two..."

They both froze as they stared right at Trixie, who seemed ready to incinerate them with a simple stare. They threw themselves into each other's arms and started trembling. Just like old times.
"You incapable half-wits have not only bought a defective product, you've bought an army of rock-eating, easily provoked underground beasts!"
Even the deepling seemed to cower before her at that point. Flam dared ask a question:
"Rock-eating?"
"Yes! They use the minerals for their daily functioning and to conjure useful things like teeth," the captive revealed its own set with a snarl, "and if we don't hurry, they'll eat most of Saddleton come morning."
"W-we," she shot Flim a look that would make Discord himself behave, "I mean, of course we! We caused this, we'll help clean it, right brother?"
"Yes, yes!"
Their smiles were nervous at best. Her look changed to one of determination:
"Good. Follow me, we'll need to round these up."
With that, she galloped towards town. The brothers shared a look:
"Now I remember why we don't travel together anymore."
"I still have trouble sleeping sometimes, brother."

They caught up to her with some difficulties. The deepling still hovered next to her and seemed to be enjoying the ride. The moustache-owner shouted:
"Do we have a plan?"
"Yes! There is an abandoned dig site not too far from here. We just need to capture them and throw them in. They'll be happy to be back in the dark."
"Sounds good to me."
"One more thing. When you find one, keep it in its own bubble."
"Why?"
"Let's just say they're stronger when together."
"Alright."

A scream suddenly sounded from ahead. Without another word, they rushed to the scene.

******

Saddleton was in a bit of a pickle, if a horde of building-munching monsters counted as just a pickle. Ponies ran to and fro in panic, protecting their lives, and in some cases jewellery, from the invaders. One such mare kept one of the beasts at bay with nothing but a fashionable umbrella. Trixie dashed in and apprehended the deepling. The rescued pony sighed in relief:
"Oh, by Celestia, thank you!"
"'Twas nothing. Now come on, you two!"

They dashed from street to street, capturing deeplings wherever they went. Saddleton seemed to be handling the siege well so far, with only a few buildings damaged by the ever-hungry critters. Nobody seemed to be hurt, either. Really, as far as invasions went, this one wasn't half-bad.

After a while, they stood in the town square, panting heavily. Each of the trio carried at least a dozen, but they finally seemed to have all of them. The townsfolk were relieved, even if they shot the salesponies quite a few glares. Trixie sighed:
"Phew. I think we've got all of them."
"Thank Celestia. You know where the dig site is, right?"
"Yes, so just follow me and..."
"Aaaaaaaagh!"

Flim screamed in surprise as one last creature dropped on him from a nearby rooftop. Losing his concentration for just long enough, the rest managed to break free. In just a few moments, the area descended into chaos, with Flam and Trixie also forced to relinquish their prisoners. The formless critters rushed onto a single pile and started... building a body. Each deepling fell perfectly into the design, like a building block.

Some became one of four large, powerful legs. Others formed a pair of mighty arms. The resulting abomination stood at nearly thrice a pony's height, its metaphorical crew protected by thick plates of rock. A dozen yellow eyes were located on its form, gazing in every conceivable angle at once. The deep one roared with a mouth that possessed several jaws and crushed a part of the pavement under its armoured foot.

Flim fainted on the spot and as Flam gazed down, he commented:
"Excellent idea, brother of mine," and did the same.

Her mind raced. They were fearsome, yes, but they were also holding together like a horrific package. A potentially useful fact. Her horn started glowing as the townsfolk ran for cover. She tried her best to make the image absolutely perfect, irresistible for creatures such as them. With a semi-confident voice, she then shouted:
"Over here, boys," the deep one turned and all of its eyes suddenly changed position to stare in her direction. Excellent, "look what I have!"

A massive emerald hovered next to her, easily as large as her head. It was polished and reflected any nearby light to a ridiculous degree. She could swear she saw the construct start salivating. With a wicked grin, she started running. The beast followed in a much more primal fashion, smashing any debris or objects in their way. Its pursuit was single-minded, driven by raw hunger. And while that did mean it did not consider the possibility of a ruse, that same fact also made it that much harder to run away from the creature.

Its steps were akin to mighty leaps, trampling anything in its path to get to the promised jewel. Even trees offered no refuge as they were swatted aside like insects. The showpony was forced to dart between its swipes and slams, all the while maintaining her ruse It wasn't too far now. Just a little bit longer.

Finally they came upon a clearing. Another flash of magic bathed the area as the monster caused a tremor with one last leap. The pony just stood there, panting heavily. She looked up at it and shouted:
"Fine, you win. Here."

She was not sure if it could register words, but it could surely register deeds. With a flick of her head, the gem was thrown onto the ground with an audible thump. It roared in triumph and Trixie stepped to the side to avoid its ravenous charge. It leapt onto the spot, its arms stretched out to seize the prize. And then, it was no more, gone without a trace. To an onlooker, it would have looked as if the ground itself had eaten the monster. A loud crash sounded mere moments afterwards.

The showpony smiled and finally undid her magic. Where there had been a peaceful clearing, there now stood a large hole, nearly a dozen metres across. A precarious path winded down its edge, the only entrance to a once-bountiful mining operation. In the faint light of the evening, she could barely make out several small forms, scurrying deeper into the darkness. With a final nod, she turned and began her walk back to Saddleton.

******

"Excellent work, everyone," the town mayor, an orange mare in a quite dapper ensemble, oversaw the repair efforts, "Saddleton will be back in top shape in no time."

Among the locals, three sore thumbs stood out, The two brothers, shamed but forgiven, were busy due to a sudden influx of refund requests. Well, that was Flim's job, and he wept for every bit returned. Flam, meanwhile, put his skillset to good use, and was using their sledgehammer to create manageable chunks from any debris.
"I must say, this is actually quite relaxing!"
"Oh, shut up, brother."
"At least you finally have a use for the thing," Trixie aided with her magic, using either levitation or see-through illusions to indicate how the building should proceed, "and I do believe you've learned a valuable lesson, boys."
Flim agreed:
"Yes. Never buy things from rock farmers."
"Perhaps, but this whole sledgehammer thing has given me an idea! What if we make a deal with that rock farmer and have a sort of stress relief programme?" Flam talked normally, as if he wasn't crushing boulders into dust at the same time.
"Hmmm... that may be an idea, brother of mine. But what would we call it?"
A pony in line spoke:
"Can you figure that out after I get my refund?"
"Oh, sorry."
"How about the Flim Flam De-Stressing Facility?"
"Oh, heavens, no! It needs to roll off the tongue! How about..."

Trixie sighed to herself, but then put on a smile. Some things never changed.

******

Professor Faun left the classroom, to the disappointment of many fillies. Nova Strike was among them, gazing dreamily as the stallion walked out. A slight jab to the side was all it took to bring her back to reality.
"Hey!"
She turned to the blue filly, who was already giggling like crazy.
"Keep your brain under control, Miss Strike! You'll be impatient again!"
The dark green filly retorted with a smirk:
"Not as impatient as you are during alchemy, Miss Lulamoon! Or did you forget our last unintentional fireworks display?"

They bumped heads together, putting on their finest battle stares. Those soon devolved into uncontrollable chuckles. Chatting about their day, they grabbed their things and headed for their next lesson. Like the best of friends.

Piepocalypse

Equestria was such a wonderful place to travel in, as long as one stayed clear of the Everfree. Meadows and forests covered most of the land, filled with pretty and frankly delicious flowers. A peaceful land, where one need not worry about being robbed or attacked. Enough time to just take in one's surroundings.

All the same, it did sometimes get boring and having a little company never hurt. Usually she crossed paths with traders and other such elements. That day, however, was peaceful. Her only company were never-ending trees and a light breeze. A state of affairs that would not last for much longer.

Not too far, an important crossing stood and she needed to start thinking about where her next destination lay. Perhaps a quick hop to Trottingham? Her thoughts were interrupted by an excited, strangely familiar squeal. Her ears perked up, trying to better hear the other travellers:
"Oh, Celestia, this is going to be amazing!"
There was little doubt in her mind who the voice belonged to. Even less when it came to the second one:
"Calm down, Pinkie. We still have at least a day of travel ahead of us."
"I know, that just makes it even more unbearable!"

With a smile, the showpony accelerated towards the clearing. Sure enough, two ponies made their way along the road. A royal princess, complete with a fashionable silver tiara, and what amounted to the physical manifestation of energy, wrapped up in eye-pleasing pink, hopping next to her while also towing a cart. She called out to them:
"Well, well, who do we ha-urk!?"
Where Twilight shot her a smile, Pinkie somehow managed to lose the cart and propel herself like a bullet into a bone-crunching hug:
"Oh my gosh, Trixie!"
"C-can't... breathe."
"Oh, sorry," the iron grip was loosened and the magician gasped for air, "I was just so super-excited to see you!"

The alicorn came closer and after a few more blessed breaths, it was Trixie who became the hug initiator:
"Good to see you, too, Trix."
With the faintest blush, she withdrew and swiftly commented:
"What brings you two here?"
"We are on our own way to Sugarville for the annual..."
"Pastry Appreciation Day," Pinkie pushed herself between the two, "and it's not just annual! It's the fifth-hundredth one! Five, zero, zero! The big, important number!"
"Which is why I'm tagging along. Seems only proper to have a short speech on the spot for the occasion."
"Sounds splendid," she chuckled, "I haven't been there in a while. Mind if I join you for some company?"

Pinkie went into overdrive, performing three somersaults, all the while shooting confetti into the air. As soon as she landed, she launched into another crushing hug:
"Of course! The more, the funner!"
"Ugh, right."

"And so I have seven different types of frosting, on four different designs of cupcake. I'm sure everyone will love them, save for the few lingering doubts at the back of my mind, ready to surface at any moment and shatter my confidence like a flimsy window. Made of cakes."
"Riiight."

Trixie was never quite sure how to respond to the pink mare. Her words seemed to oscillate between over-enthusiasm and deep existential philosophy without reason, though her mood never seemed to change. Always cheerful, always smiling, always hopping along. There was something endearing about her, as if her personality was dangerously infectious. She couldn't help but smile with her.

The day had gone by swifter than Pinkie's dialogue. The moon shone brightly above, almost full, but not quite. Twilight spoke:
"We should find a spot where we can spend the night."
"There's a little clearing not too far from here. We can camp there."
"Leave it to the traveller to know these things."
"Yeah, your memory is super-duper-luper."
"You two give me too much credit."

The camp did not amount to much more than a campfire and some bedrolls, but that was fine by her. She was used to worse and having a few friends nearby was nice for a change. Pinkie had used some of her excess energy to create a small twig house around her bedroll, complete with a leafy roof. Twilight and Trixie set up the fire and its pleasant warmth spread defiantly against the night.

"This is totally great! Like a nature party," she removed a few twigs from her little shed, creating windows. Somehow, the structure still stood, despite the existence of gravity, "except we're making it as unnatural as possible."
"Okay, we need to figure out who keeps watch."
Pinkie waved her hoof in the air like a mane-iac:
"Ooooh, ooh, me! I'm so responsible and so not even sleepy I could..."

Like a critical systems failure, she suddenly collapsed onto her bedroll, snoring slightly and mumbling about cupcakes. The two magical ponies shared a look, followed by a short giggle. Twilight commented:
"She can take last shift, I think. Would you mind taking the first? I'm not really used to travelling such long distances."
The showpony smiled:
"Sure, go ahead. Me and the moon are friends."

She loved moments like that one, when she could just close her eyes and let her other senses roam free. To hear the breeze rustling the leaves of surrounding trees, the movement all around in the grass, the calm, peaceful breathing of her companions. To smell the evening air mixed with lavender shampoo and a cartload of cupcakes.

And then there was the magic. Where usually it was barely even noticeable, a slight ambient infusion that made her horn tingle, that night it was an almost overwhelming sensation. She shot a brief look to the culprit. Twilight slept with a blissful smile, her wings twitching now and again outside of the bedroll. Trixie walked closer and hesitated for a moment. It almost felt like a crime, interrupting such slumber, but she had already caught herself almost dozing off.

She rubbed the princess' cheek as gently as she could. Slowly, two purple gems once again gazed at the real world. Twilight rose with a yawn:
"My turn?"
"Yes."
"Have a good sleep, Trix."
"Thanks, Twi."
The magician lied down, making sure her clothes were neatly folded and secure, then drifted into the land of dreams.

Her best friend hopped excitedly next to her, muttering something at a pace too rapid to follow. From the mess of sign language sent her way, Trixie eventually deduced the fuss was about the poster attached to the wall.

A silhouette of a unicorn mare, her horn shooting stars into the night sky, dominated the poster. Golden letters literally shone along the top and she read them out loud:
"Celestia's Contest for Gifted Duelists?"
"Uhuh!" the dark green filly was still too preoccupied with hopping to form a more coherent response.
Trixie skimmed over some of the much smaller letters near the bottom. Consent of parent or ward required, non-lethal magic only, no forbidden artefacts, bla bla, yada yada. She gasped once she spotted what the grand prize was. Payment of all tuition fees for the remainder of studies. Her mind wandered, imagining how much that could help out her grandparents, before she snapped back to reality with a sigh. Nova stopped hopping, her excited face turned to a frown:
"What's wrong?"
"I don't think it's for me. I've never been good at attack magic."
"Hey," she received a hug, "I'd say you're at least equal with the ponies in our grade, and that is our category."
"And then there's you."
Strike giggled:
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think I was one of the favourites, that's true. But hey, it'll be fun! We can meet loads of ponies from all the other classes. And if someone acts like a jerk, you can then beat him with magic," she suddenly put on a teasing smirk, "and besides, I could always use a cheerleader."
"You'd wish. But okay, I'll join. You make it sound fun."
"Awesome! Come on, the sign-ups are this way!"

Their run turned into a little friendly race through the hallways. After all, what was so wrong about a little competition?

Her slumber was interrupted by the Apocalypse. At least, the scream was suitably deafening to qualify. Birds for miles away rose to the sky in exceedingly dramatic fashion, fleeing from the shockwave. Upon closer inspection using senses other than hearing, she finally located the source of the unholy sound.

Pinkie Pie was screaming, the force of this action enough to make nearby trees sway in the wind. Twilight crept ever closer to the distraught mare and finally got within hoof's reach. A slap ensued, the silence afterwards strangely unnerving. Pinkie shot one of her many trademark smiles:
"Oh, thanks, I needed that."
"What is going on?!" the princess was much less enthusiastic in that moment.
"My cupcakes," she pointed to a now-vacant spot in the camp, "they're gone like the flour I used to make them!"

A dramatic gasp came from the remaining travellers, before Twilight went into investigative mode:
"But how did this happen? You were the final watch."
"Oh, yeah, about that," the baker rubbed the back of her neck, "I may have... dozed off. For just a teensy, tiny smidge of time," they shot her disbelieving looks, "okay, maybe it was an hour. Or two."
"Great," Twilight facehoofed, "how can you be so bad at protecting anything related to a baked product?"
"Nopony's perfect, silly!"
"At least it's not on a moving train this time," she sighed, "well, let's get to it."
Trixie was utterly confused:
"Get to what, exactly?"
"You'll see."

Out of a parallel dimension, Pinkie retrieved a trio of strange, old-fashioned hats. Her own was by far the largest and after she put it on, she completed her look with a few puffs of a bubble-producing pipe. She did that for a few painfully long seconds, before turning to her silly assistants:
"Worry not, Sparkston, I am on the case! And inspector Lulastrade, so good to see you! With our combined skills, the culprit is practically captured already."
Showpony and princess met gazes:
"Just roll with it."
"I'll do my best."

Pinkie was already searching the area with a magnifying glass as big as her head. She walked in circles for a good minute, taking in the surroundings of the campsite, as well as violating several personal space standards. Finally, she came to a halt and screamed:
"Ahah, a clue!"
"What is it?" the two assistants said in unison as they approached. Grass near the camp was flattened from two sets of tracks. One set belonged to wheels, the other to something bigger.
"A perfect silly question, my dears. Tracks, leading into the foreboding depths of," she pointed towards the tree line, "the forest!"
"Well, it's not the Everfree, so it's not that foreboding."
"An excellent point, Sparkston. Now, come! We have a cakenapper to catch!"

Without waiting for a response, she lowered her trusty magnifying glass and followed the trail. With a brief look at each other, Twilight and Trixie followed.

"What sort of creature could want a cart of cupcakes?" Trixie thought out loud.
"I'd love to answer, but there are many possibilities. This may not be the Everfree, but that doesn't mean more unusual animals can't be present."
"Yuppers," Pinkie chirped in, her muzzle still glued to the tracks, "like that giant hydra we ran from in the swamp. Aaaaah, the memories."
"Scary memories. In any case, it could just be a regular animal with a sweet tooth, or something more dangerous. I do sincerely hope it's the former."
"Do you think we're that lucky?"
The princess sighed:
"Nope."

They travelled for a few more minutes, and then finally heard something. A distant snoring. Creeping ever closer to the source, they kept giving each other nervous looks. It grew louder and louder with every step. One could tell it did not belong to any ordinary denizen of the woods. It was, put simply, monstrous, with an innate rasp to it. Pushing past one last bit of undergrowth, they found themselves at the mouth of a rocky cave. A breeze washed over them in sync with the snoring within. The tracks lead inside.

Without so much as a word, the trio entered. Trixie and Twilight, after finally disposing of their bowler hats, illuminated the path. The cave was wide, no doubt to accommodate its owner, and rather straightforward, save for a single bend near the end. Pinkie was the first to gaze around the corner, then immediately covered her mouth to contain a squeal. The other two peeked as well.

The pathway opened up into a rather expansive chamber. Light trickled in through several holes in the ceiling and illuminated the ground. And the beast. Laying there on its modest hoard, its scales shining like sapphires in the morning sun. With each snore, the reptile released a small cloud of smoke. Its breath stank of sulphur. The two hid behind the corner, as well. Twilight whispered as quietly as possible:
"Of course it's a dragon."
"This is NOT okie-dokie-lokie."
"Did you notice, though? It has no wings. It's also rather small. For a dragon, I mean."

Twilight took another peek. The creature did in fact lack wings of any sort. The closest thing to that were two small protrusions on its back. Its size, while still formidable, was also nothing like some of the ones she had seen with her own eyes. Even from a distance, she could tell its head was still a bit bigger than her, which did not help her relax. Finally, she noticed what it was clutching in one of its claws. Their missing cart. She turned back to the combat meeting:
"It must be a young one. Hasn't had time to build its hoard yet."
"And the wings?"
"I don't know. What I do know is that I do not feel like fighting it in the slightest."
"What do we do, then? We need to get my cupcakes!"
The princess smiled:
"I propose an old-fashioned bait-and-switch."

Out of nowhere, a deafening gong sounded within the cave. The owner woke abruptly and immediately stood up on all four of his muscular legs. A tiny creature had invaded his realm, wearing a rather fashionable cape and hat. The sound seemed to be magical in nature, he could feel the ambient sensation on the tip of his tongue. He roared mightily and the pony immediately started running, but not towards the exit.

Turning to pursue the invader, he was suddenly blinded by a flash of violet light. He screeched in fury at the overconfident fly and made a swipe in its direction. After thankfully not hitting anything, his sight was restored. He paused for just a moment, examining the creature. The horn of a unicorn and the wings of a pegasus in one? He had seen only one such specimen in his life. Not that he was extremely old or anything, of course.

He rose onto his hind legs and blew with his mouth. The resulting gust of wind knocked the alicorn aside. The other one immediately rushed to her aid and he once again landed on all fours. Such a bother. Suddenly, his tail knocked into something. The cart of sweets was thrown onto its side, though, thankfully, its contents seemed to still be intact. The pink mare that had been towing it seemed much less enthused by that fact:
"Hey! What's the big idea, cakenapper?"
What a deliciously cute phrase. He responded with a deep, booming voice, as was normal for a proper dragon:
"I should ask you the same, pony!"
"You stole my cupcakes, you meanie!"
Perhaps asserting a bit of dominance wasn't out of the question:
"And what are you going to do about it, filly?"
"Oh, you asked for this!"

Her following actions seemed to happen out of touch with their local dimension's time. In several blinks of an eye, the pink one put on a rainbow-coloured helmet, conjured a large, decorated cannon out of thin air, loaded herself into it and fired. Before his brain could even process the impossibility of such a slew of events, she had already impacted his skull like a small, energetic comet, sending him down for the count.

So much for being a proper dragon... as always.

The dragon's fall created a tremor. Pinkie ricocheted off the cave's walls for a few seconds, before finally landing on the ground, her head spinning. They rushed over to her and Trixie was the first to shout:
"Pinkie, are you okay?!"
She stumbled for a few more seconds, then shot a smile in the wrong direction:
"Okie-dokie-lokie!"

A groan came from the beast. All three turned to see his head rise into the air, one claw rubbing the jaw. With an almost desperate voice, he pleaded:
"Okay, I give! I give," his eyes opened again, crimson rubies in contrast to his scales, "by Tiamath, you pack a mean punch, filly."
Twilight put on a perplexed face, while Pinkie just smiled as if the situation was completely normal:
"Thanks! And serves you right!"
"I suppose," he sighed, "and I apologise. Go now, leave a beaten dragon to his everlasting shame."
No silence could come, as the showpony exclaimed:
"Oh, my," she was standing close to the hoard, admiring a bronze statue of a charging knight-pony, complete with a lance, "this one is wonderful."

Twilight could swear the dragon smiled, though it was hard to read its facial expressions at the best of times. A single claw reached out and stroked the statue:
"One of my favourites. Traded it for a few scales when I was younger."
"The pose is really dynamic. You can almost picture it in motion."
"Indeed."
She looked up, absorbed in the moment:
"I've never heard of a dragon with such good taste."

He emitted something akin to a guffaw, then responded:
"Well, I suppose I see things differently from other dragons. How could I not? Where others soar high in the sky, noticing little more than cities, forests and mountains, I am grounded," the two protrusions on its back moved, mimicking healthy wings, "robbed of flight by a rockslide during youth. And as it goes with dragons, if you cannot keep up, you are left behind."
The three sat down and listened intently, Pinkie with a pronounced, sad frown.
"Weren't you ever in trouble," Twilight asked, "being alone and all?"

He continued:
"Ah, no matter my size, few things would dare threaten a dragon. Our scales, after all, protect even against our own kin. Where others searched far and wide for food, be it the delicacy of gems or more simple metals, I was forced to walk, traverse your lands at a comparably slow pace. And seeing your world from up close was positively infectious. The constant cheer, the friendliness. And all this rather lovely art," he pointed to his modest hoard, "of which I have acquired some select pieces over the decades. Most through trade. Some early pieces, by thievery. I could not control my urges as easily when I was younger."
"Wait, wait, wait," Pinkie stood back up, "so if you trade for things these days, why did you steal my cupcakes? Hay, why do you even want cupcakes in the first place? I mean, I know they are scrumptious, I made them, but you know?"

He looked away, as if ashamed:
"It is true we dragons usually feast on gems and metals, like our distant underground cousins. But we are more than capable of eating plants, animals, even ponies," his eyes shot open and he quickly added, "not that I have done anything as vile. I can barely stomach plants. But I have over the years developed what you would call a sweet tooth. And last night, I picked up the most agonizingly wonderful smell," he got up onto his hind legs, "I lost control and took them for breakfast. Even now, the light scent of marzipan you added to about a third of the batch tantalizes me."
"Woah, I don't even know half of those words, but wow, your nose is good."
"I can sniff a gem, or cupcake, from a mile away."
"Well, you should have asked for some, instead of stealing!"
"Are you claiming you would have actually given some to a dragon?"
"Of course," to prove her point, she opened the cart and retrieved one of many boxes located within. As soon as she opened it, the dragon took a deep, blissful breath, "I love it when someone loves the things I bake! Here, catch!"

She threw a couple into the air. Deftly, a forked tongue was extended and wrapped itself around them. They were little more than morsels to him, yet he seemed to savour them to the fullest, chewing as slow as dragonly possible. Trixie and Twilight helped themselves to a few, as well, and chewed happily. He finally swallowed down:
"Och, simply delectable. The slight tinge of mascarpone you added really sets them apart," he bowed his head slightly, "your kindness knows no equal, dear filly."
"You clearly haven't met Fluttershy, heheheh! Oh, also, we totally haven't introduced ourselves! I'm Pinkie Pie, the magician with the cool hat is Trixie Lulamoon and the royalty over there is Twilight Sparkle!"
"Pinkie!" the princess seemed just a bit embarrassed.
"My true name is a bit complicated to pronounce, but you may call me Glint."

"Glint, I like that, almost as much as baking! By the way, you definitely know a thing or two about sweet stuff!"
"I have been tasting it for a long while."
"Yes," Twilight had a mischievous grin, "and I think that gives me an idea."
The other three stared right at her and responded in uncanny unison:
"What do you mean?"
"Let's say I know where you could fit right in."

The day was coming to a close and what a day it had been! After Twilight delivered some royal guarantees and insurances, everyone seemed to calm down and just get into the spirit of things. Pastry Appreciation Day was quite the thing, with hundreds of ponies attending parades and tastings all over the town. And then, of course, there was the main event. The Supreme Pastry Maker Awards, a prestigious prize that any baker worth his sugar desired. Divided into several categories, many hopefuls could already see themselves with a medal around their necks.

Pinkie entered an uncharacteristically nervous state as soon as a loud gong sounded. That marked that the judges had made their decisions. The crowd went silent and gazed as the ponies, and their honourable guest, made their way to a wooden stage in the middle of the crowd. Well, the crowd had to make room for Glint, but it was otherwise working as intended. With nods to each other, the long-time judges turned to the dragon. He took a deep breath, then began, needing no magic or device to amplify his voice:

"Fillies and gentlecolts! We have gathered here today to celebrate a most important anniversary, celebrated by one of Equestria's most popular events! From its humble beginnings to today's massive event, Pastry Appreciation Day has shown us some of the most delicious creations the world has ever seen! The competition this year was especially fierce, with every baker bringing their finest craft! Each of them is already a winner and I do believe they deserve an applause," the crowd erupted into joyous clopping and stomping, "however, there are some that stood out even among the best! And after much deliberation, we have come to a conclusion on who they are! Now, without further ado."

He turned to the judges and bowed his head down to their height. The categories were many and varied, as the initial celebration had grown far beyond its original, literal veneration of only pastries. Cakes, donuts and other utterly delicious creations were on display, shining with every colour of the rainbow. Pinkie rocked back and forth with baited breath, her eyes rolling in opposite directions.

Finally, an orange mare stepped forth, her mane a lovely shade of black, and spoke:
"In the category that began it all, Pastries and Other Delicious Small Bites," a name from simpler times, passed down through tradition, "the process of choosing was long and arduous. The winner, then, is to be seen as an exceedingly talented pony, whose name may one day be synonymous with scrumptiousness. This year's winner," a dramatic pause, "due to the sheer creativity of the design and varied, yet complementing tastes they were able to mix together," and another, "is none other than," several audience members fainted due to sheer suspense, "Miss Pinkie Pie of Ponyville!"

Her smile was wider than her head, her eyes flashing with every conceivable colour. She shot a dozen metres into the air and let out a heartfelt squeal:
"Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

After some more celebrating, princess Sparkle stepped up on stage and the crowd went silent on its own. The judges bowed to her and she bid them to rise. She assumed her position at the podium:
"Fillies and gentlecolts! The fifth-hundredth annual Pastry Appreciation Day slowly draws to a close. Earlier, our guest of honour, Glint, pointed out just how many fantastic culinary creations have been brought today. What I would like to stress, however, is that it is so much more than that. On this day, we have shown one thing above all. That no matter what may separate us, be it age, jobs, social status, even species," many looked at the scaled attendee, "none of that truly matters, as long as we can find one thing that unites us! So remember this day, as not only a celebration of taste, but also a celebration of family and friendship! Now, scream with me! Hurrah!"

That was her cue. Behind the scenes, Trixie directed several volunteer unicorns and gave them the signal. In unison, they shot out magical fireworks into the sky. In the middle of the display, an illusory alicorn raised its hooves to the sky in triumph. The crowd cheered and the showpony smiled. Another fine performance.

Not having to travel a long distance on one's own hooves was a welcome change of pace. Even better when the thing carrying her was large enough to lie down on comfortably. Glint carried them from Sugarville all the way to the fateful clearing, conversing with Pinkie Pie, who sat comfortably on his upper jaw. Finally, he came to a stop and dropped them off, before bowing slightly:
"This was the greatest day of my life, I have to say."
"Uhhh, duh! It was obviously going to be super-duper! And now you can do this every year, too!"
"I do hope we will meet before then, Pinkie."
"You bet! I go to Sugarville pretty often and I always throw a party! You'll love it!"
"I wouldn't dare doubt your skills. And to you, Miss Lulamoon, Miss Sparkle, a thank you, as well. The three of you have given a beaten dragon a new pair of wings."
"Anything for a friend, right Twilight?"
"Definitely."

With a mighty roar, they parted ways, though it took Glint a while to truly disappear from sight. The afternoon sun shone brightly on the trio as they set destination for Ponyville, with smiles as wide as miles.

Author's Note

Because dragons rule.

Marrow Escape

Travelling to more remote towns was always a bit of a chore. Sure, the audience was always welcoming and generous, but the journey there, och! Between uncharted paths, roads fallen into disrepair and even dangerous beasties, there was no shortage of arguments against such a trek. The land was often an obstacle in and of itself, with swamps, treacherous hills and even a solitary desert standing in a would-be traveller's way.

The San Palomino Desert was something of an anomaly when compared to the rest of Equestria. Located in the very south of the land, it was home to several mountain ranges which prevented most rainfall from reaching it. A land of barren, dry plains and scorching heat, but also a land of great wealth. Those willing to dig under the surface found the soil rich in valuable metals and gemstones.

Several mining colonies had been set up for the sole purpose of their retrieval and were handsomely supplied by ever-grateful mine owners. Visitors to the San Palomino usually travelled with these supply caravans, for added protection. For no matter how unforgiving the desert was, some creatures still found a way to live in it.

All these thoughts and more raced through the showpony's mind as she traversed the endless wastes. Her breathing was heavy as she desperately tried to ventilate in the heat. Two days of aimless, panicked walking had done no good. She was still in the same spot where she had been separated during the sandstorm. In the middle of nowhere.

Her modest supply of water had run out long ago. Too long. What little shade her hat provided could not hope to protect her against the wrathful rays of the sun, nor could her cape negate the bone-chilling cold of the night. Images of distant lands and objects flickered at the edge of her vision, the remainder of it more blurry by the minute.

She tripped on a crack in the earth and fell on her side. With the last bits of strength remaining, she tried to get up, only to falter. With the sun still mercilessly gazing upon her, she finally drifted out of consciousness. Hardly a fitting end.

******

Trixie woke. Perhaps most surprisingly, she did not see long-dead friends or enemies, but a rather fashionable, crimson curtain. The air was pleasantly cool. She lay on a bed, her clothes folded neatly on a nearby nightstand, both items made of fine, polished wood. She could hear steps beyond the curtain, along with some incoherent mumbling. She mustered her courage and called out:
"H-hello?"
The muttering stopped immediately, though it seemed the other performed some actions beyond the curtain. Finally, he responded, in a rather high-pitched voice:
"Ah, I see our patient is back among the living."

The curtain was pushed to the side and she stared at a peculiar figure. Wrapped from head to hoof in an elaborate robe, the stallion's face was hidden behind a strange, multicoloured mask. Not a single inch of him was visible, save perhaps, for his horn, which was of a golden hue. He spoke once more:
"You are fortunate. An hour or two more and we would have found you too late. How do you feel?"
"As fine as can be, I suppose."
"No pain or other discomfort?"
"No."

His head moved as if to sigh, yet no air coursed through the room. Retrieving a small bottle from a nearby table, he handed it to her. The water within was crystal clear, cool to the touch. A gift from heaven. Without even waiting for a prompt, she took a big gulp. At that moment, it felt like the greatest beverage in the world.

"You must stay hydrated, even here. The air lacks moisture."
"I will keep that in mind. And sorry if this comes off blunt, but who are you?"
"Shariq will do. And yourself?"
"Trixie."
"It is a pleasure, dear Trixie."
"How can I repay you for, well... everything?"
"It is the least we could do. No debts incurred."
"In that case," slowly, she slid off the bed, her legs still a bit weak, and looked where she presumed the eyes would be behind the mask, "may I see the face of a most kind and generous pony?"

Something stirred in the room. Her horn tingled, reacting to the sudden shift of ambient magic. Shariq looked away and replied:
"You should be careful what you wish for. Perhaps you would wish to rest a bit more beforehand?"
She shot him her warmest smile, taught by the Element of Laughter herself:
"If you are hiding wounds, I understand."
"I wish I was," again, the sigh with no breath, "bah, might as well get it over with. Do you promise not to scream?"
She nodded:
"I promise."

The magic of the room seemed to calm down a bit. His hooves reached for the mask. They were dry, their colour faded. Slowly, he slid it off and her heart skipped a few beats. Where she had expected fur, or skin, there was nothing but bone. A skeletal visage stared at her, the bones weathered with years. What was even stranger, however, was the cloud of golden dust that floated within his skull.

Her first instinct was to flinch and then gallop for safety, but she managed to contain herself, somehow, and even kept her promise. She straightened herself and looked him in the eye sockets:
"Well, I umm... didn't quite expect that."
Shariq tilted his head:
"You and me both," his jaw did not move during speech, "usually, the patient starts running by now. They're all so dead serious about the whole ordeal."
She tried to stiffen a chuckle, to no avail. Had that been intentional? She had to be sure:
"Would you say there were many of these neigh-sayers?"
His cackle did not require any air, either:
"Oh-hoh, quite! And they were missing out. I can be quite humerus."
"Och, you should stop ribbing on them so hard."
"Throw me a bone here, I never get to reap any gratitude!"

Finally, they both burst out laughing. Humour, the ultimate icebreaker. Trixie was at a distinct disadvantage, however, as she had to breathe to keep laughing. As soon as she started gasping for air, Shariq stopped and allowed her to recover. He then knelt on his front legs and bowed his head:
"Gratitude and appreciation for a fellow punsmith."
She mimicked his actions:
"And the same to you, good sir!"

******

Finally, the two made their way outside, Trixie in full attire. The place was unlike anything she had seen before. They seemed to be inside of a mountain, but completely hollowed out, with the sun peeking in though strategically placed slits and holes. The structures she saw were elaborately decorated with carvings, shaped from the mountain's own rock rather than actually built, and stretched for at least a mile in every direction. The streets, however, were properly paved.

The only other constant were the livid dead. Unicorns of all shapes and sizes walked through the streets, the only distinction between them being the colour of their horns, which matched the arcane dust swirling within. Most were clothed, though some did not bother with such implements, perhaps seeing them as a waste of time.

"Welcome to Kost," Shariq motioned with his hoof, "the Kingdom of Marrow."
"It is most certainly a sight unlike any other."
"Quite so. The inhabitants, especially, I imagine."
A few passers-by gave them slight bows as they passed. There were so many questions on her mind, so she asked the first:
"How many?"
"Nearing three thousand now and growing, I am afraid."
"Why?"

He looked at her, then back at the city, before he started walking. She followed, ponies bowing as they passed, and he started speaking:
"We call it the Restless Curse. It affects all unicorns of a certain level of magic, should they meet their end within the San Palomino. Afterwards, they rise, animated by their own gifts. We make sure they end up in Kost. It has become something of a refuge for our kind."
"How long has this been happening?"
"Many centuries. I, myself, was among the first to rise. We do not know what in the San Palomino causes this phenomenon and we have been trying to find out ever since the beginning. To either prevent it or put a stop to it. Fruitlessly, so far."
"Eternity is a long while, I take it?"
"You could say that. We lead lives as normal as possible. But the years are not kind. Even those who were initially enthusiastic eventually saw the error in their thinking. Nothing ever changes. Rest is never within reach," he shook his head, "but these are our problems, no need to trouble you with them."
"Others know about this place, however," they met gazes, so to speak, "I saw the furniture in your home. Wood like that does not grow for hundreds of miles."
"You have a keen eye, Trixie. Select few know, from the upper echelons of Equestria and other countries, plus those necessary to enact the trades."
"Trades?"
"The San Palomino is rich, for those who can dig. And one of the perks of being a risen abomination from beyond the grave," he would have said it with a smirk if he could have, she was sure, "is that safety precautions go out the window. We can dig deeper, with less lighting, in water, you name it. Why, this one time, a group of miners dug themselves out while we were still preparing a rescue effort."

Her lingering questions were of a more practical or personal nature:
"I'm sorry if this sounds strange, but why are you so cheerful?"
"Your full question would also include, 'despite living in an endless purgatory inside of a hollow mountain', correct?"
"Yes, I suppose it would."
"You should have seen the first decade. I was a wreck. Hopeless, with no motivation. Then, I found my calling. To aid others who have passed into this state of being. And to never let them get as down as I was. It's hard enough being like this, I reasoned, without some spineless stallion making it even worse."
"I feel you and me see eye-to-socket," he reacted with a chuckle, "I changed my life for the better, as well."
"The best thing one can do. For the sake of the others, if nothing else."
"Speaking of others, and I'd hate for this to sound insensitive..."
"Come on, I've been making bone-related puns for half an hour now. Ask away."
"As you wish. How do you, well, tell each other apart? I see the horn colour remains, and seems to influence the dust, but..."

He came to a sudden halt and chuckled for just a fraction of a moment. Then, he stood in front of her and 'looked' into her eyes:
"Your senses are well and good, but in this matter, they blind you. Tell me, do you ever just close your eyes and listen to the world?"
"Surprisingly often, actually."
"Good. Do that for me now," with a smile, she did as she was told, "now, what do you hear and feel?"

She told him everything she could make out. Distant conversations, whispers, laughter. Two metallic objects clashing together further down the street, a friendly game of dice just behind her back. The sounds of life. A light wind blew against her mane.
"Now, I want you to concentrate. Phase out the sound. Ignore the breeze. Leave only your final sense."

She must have stood there for a good minute before it finally clicked. The talking and laughter faded, replaced by several distinct, clearly identifiable currents of raw magic. The metalworker was a mare, standing proudly amidst her work. The players reacted warmly to each other, in a bond of friendship. Shariq felt... timeless. His magic had bits of everything wrapped into its whole. Overcome with the new sensations, she blurted out:
"You're old," immediately, she snapped out of her trance and covered her mouth, "sorry, I didn't...!
"Hahah, calm down, friend! I, of all ponies, know that much! You saw how we see. Though, a little bit of vision magic never hurt, either. Now come, our destination is not too far."

A few paved streets later, it finally came into view. The building was much larger than all those surrounding it, its walls decorated with the Kost's main export, gems of all colours and sizes. In the distance, a strange tower stood tall, radiating arcane energy. The showpony spoke, pointing at the gemmed building:
"That's where the council you mentioned sits, I presume."
"Yes, those are the chambers of the Awakened Council, headed by the Grand Vizier."
"Is there something to that title?"
"Truthfully, no. We found it in a dictionary and thought it sounded nice. A fancy word for a fancy post."
"Practical."
"Quite."
"And the tower?"
"That marks the Sleepless Archives, buried in the mountain. We keep the results of our research within."
"Does everything have to have a name that reminds you of your condition?"
He shrugged:
"Keeps you on your hooves."

She sighed:
"Okay, before we get there, tell me how this whole vow of silence works."
"It is less of a vow, more of an enchantment. It prevents a pony from speaking or otherwise indicating that the city and, by extent, we, exist. For our safety."
"Better safe than sorry, I suppose."
"Many fear what they do not understand. Some ponies are just afraid of walking skeletons."
"Heheh, when you put it that way. Let's get it over with, shall we?"
"No objections or last-minute second thoughts?"
"Not today, friend. I can well imagine the possible repercussions."
"Your determination is second only to your compassion. Let's go, then."

They did not make it far, a dozen steps at most, before disaster struck. A nearby building simply burst asunder, chunks of wall raining down on the street. She gazed in panic as one such piece of debris headed for her, before she was unceremoniously shoved aside. The crack of bone filled the street as her companion was crushed beneath it.
"Shariq!" she cried out and rushed to him. Several other locals were already helping clear the debris.
To her slight surprise, his skull turned up to her and he replied in a tone as normal as if he was talking about breakfast:
"I'm fine, I'm fine. If this was all it took to get rid of us, we wouldn't be here anymore. But," suddenly, his tone shifted, "who in the hay?!"

She followed his gaze and her eyes went wide. A distinctly equine figure floated in the air above the destroyed structure, surrounded by an azure ball of arcane energy. Without another thought, the pony shot through the air and headed straight for the tower in the distance. Shariq shouted, desperation clear in his voice:
"The archive! Quick, get the guards, we could lose centuries of progress! Trixie, please stay," he looked around and scanned for her magic, yet she was nowhere nearby, "Trixie?"

Rapid flashes of violet energy surrounded her as she teleported from roof to roof, avoiding the panicked civilians in the streets. The fireball was still ahead, but she was gaining on it. She could not believe it. No, she didn't believe it. It wasn't her. It couldn't be her.

******

"Would our semi-finalists please step into the ring? Everyone, please give an applause for Trixie Lulamoon," she waved at the audience, obviously nervous, as she took her designated spot in the duellist ring, "and Nova Strike!"

The dark green filly seemed much less enthused than during her previous duels, as well. Gone was the smug grin, replaced by grim determination.

The two friends stared at each other, not even caring about the announcer repeating the rules for the umpteenth time, or the semi-excited audience. It was just the two of them, best friends. Strike spoke first:
"Still not too late to back down, Trixie."
"I signed up and I intend to do my best, Nova."
"Good, because I'm not gonna' go easy on you."
The announcer finally came through:
"Fillies, ready your magic!"

They assumed combat stances. In theory, it wouldn't last long. The first one to get knocked to the ground twice would lose. Simple. In theory.

******

With a final teleport mid-leap, she appeared at the top of the tower. Two skeletal guards, their armour painted pure white, lay on the ground, literally in pieces. One spoke, though could not offer any other input:
"She went down. Stop her, please."

She galloped down the nearby staircase like a mare possessed, shouting at the top of her lungs. She reached its end, a long, narrow hallway still within the tower. At the other end, near another such staircase, stood an all-too-familiar mare. Her coat and mane were still the same shades of dark green and azure, yet even from a distance, she could see something new. The similarly azure, wild flame of her cutie mark.

The two ponies stared at each other, not even caring about the audible commotion outside, or the possibility of anyone else being inside, still. It was just the two of them, former friends. Strike spoke first:
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Trixie. Come to ruin my life again?"
"Only if you try to kill me again."
"Hmph," she took a step forward and Trixie mimicked her, "none of it would have happened had you just backed down."
"Just so you could have everything like you wanted, as always? What are you trying to pull here, Nova?"

Strike leaned against the wall and gazed at one of her hooves, seemingly disinterested:
"Oh, just a little friendly payback. You of all ponies know how that goes, I hear."
"What did these ponies ever do to you?"
"Apart from being a bunch of monsters who forced a silence curse on me? Not much, I guess you're right. Miss Lulamoon could never be wrong."
The showpony stomped with her front hooves:
"Stop this! Right now."
"Or else what? You're gonna' stop me?"
Their eyes narrowed as she replied:
"Yes."
"We'll see about that."

Nova's lips curled into a wicked grin as azure energy gathered around her body.

******

The duel was positively nerve-wracking. The first round had, perhaps predictably, ended with Trixie knocked down. In the second, however, she had made a comeback and managed to slip a good strike between Strike's defences. And the third round was taking much too long.

Both fillies fired off idle magical attacks, while blocking their opponent's. To a more practised magic user, the fight would have seemed cute, adorable, but for them, it was everything. Panting heavily, neither seemed ready to back down. Strike launched a barrage of attacks with a shout, but Trixie managed to keep standing and earned herself a shout:
"Just go down already!"
"It won't be, hah, that easy!"
"We'll see about that!" her voice was filled with rage.

Trixie immediately knew something was wrong as a strange field of azure energy surrounded the other filly. With a shout, it was released and she put all of her strength into the defensive spell. It was shattered like a twig and the shockwave hit her hard, sending her flying through the air until she met a wall. The last thing she heard before blacking out was:
"What were you thinking, Strike?!"

******

The tower's side exploded as Strike barrelled her way through. Trixie appeared on a nearby roof with a flash and gazed up at her opponent. Nova did not waste any time and tried to ram her once more, but again, the showpony managed to get to safety. The building was not as fortunate. An annoyed shout came:
"Stand still!"
"Not likely."

A sidestep resulted in a patch of pavement next to her literally melting under Strike's attack. Such was their game of cat and mouse. Or perhaps timberwolf and pony? Whichever was applicable, both unicorns darted around the area with their magic, one constantly on the defence, dodging and avoiding, the other executing a series of all-out attacks. After a few such fruitless charges, the dark green aggressor came to a sudden halt. A small crowd was gathering in their surroundings, and she pointed at them:
"Why?! Why do you side with these monsters?!"
"They've been nothing but kind to me, unlike some ponies I know! Besides, what gives you the right to judge?!"
"I'm not a freak," she crossed her forelegs, "and what gave them the right to put a bucking spell on me, huh?!"
"Funny you should say that," her eyes narrowed, "since you're providing perfect examples of what could go wrong otherwise."
"Shut up! You and your Celestia-damned attitude. I've had just about enough of it," the energy around her suddenly grew to nearly thrice its original size, "I'll burn this entire city if I have to! Starting with you!"

For a moment, she flinched from the raw power on display. Mustering courage, she closed her eyes, felt the raw arcane might in front of her... and all around. Her eyes shot open and she shouted back:
"Do your worst!"
"Don't worry, I will!"

With that, Strike charged, scorching everything in her path. The showpony readied a defensive spell, not too different from the one so many years ago. An illusory shield accompanied it, created subconsciously, unwittingly. It began as pure violet, but before long, dozens and hundreds more colours joined within, colouring parts of it like some chaotic heraldry. She closed her eyes once more. Power flowed in from every direction as the ponies of Kost lent her aid. It was now or never.

The magics clashed in a spectacular display of blinding light, consuming the entire city for a few moments. Once the light faded and the dust settled, the shield shone brightly amidst a fair amount of damage. The skeletal citizens all around allowed themselves a cheer. She remained serious as she took a few steps forward.

Nova's glare was much the same as on that day, though she was obviously fighting to even stand:
"You... ruined everything. Again."
"No, Nova. As always, you ruined it for yourself," her horn started glowing, "I do believe it's time for some friendly payback. You know how it goes."

The attack spell was as simple as back in the day, just a bit amplified. In her state, Nova could not hope to block it and was knocked to the ground, slipping out of consciousness soon afterwards.

******

She stood nervously in front of the Sanctum of Knowledge, a fancy name for a fancy room within the chambers of the Awakened Council. She wasn't nervous because of the eight guard ponies in white armour, though they were intimidating, to be sure. She was nervous because Shariq said he'd be there, to put in a word in her favour. She wasn't sure how much good something like that would do, but not having to go inside the room alone would have been enough, really.

Finally, the ornate door in front of her was opened. Another guard pony ushered her in with a deep bow. The room was dark, illuminated only by a dozen or so candles, strategically placed to allow maximum ominous shadow, she imagined. The council sat there on large, decorated thrones, all thirteen of them. The largest, middle one, belonged undoubtedly to the Grand Vizier, with his elaborate, fancy headdress and... golden horn. She blinked rapidly for a few moments, then closed her eyes, just to be sure. Yup.

Shariq rose from the largest throne and spoke, his tone uncannily serious:

"Mares and Stallions of the Awakened Council, we have gathered here today, in theory, to receive this brave mare's vow of silence," the other councillors nodded, "though, on this particular day, I believe we may have come here for nothing. I took it upon myself to evaluate her today. She is a kind, compassionate soul. Scarred in places, but unbroken, she is able to see under the skin," at that, one of councillors cackled, setting off a chain reaction, "and see a pony for who they are, instead of what. Her actions today clearly illustrate that she is willing to stand in defence of complete strangers, without a second thought for her own safety. In light of these qualities, I am assured beyond a doubt that our secret is safe with her, with or without some finicky spell. I hereby declare my vote against."
"Hear, hear," one of the mares bumped her forelegs against her throne, "to Trixie Lulamoon!"
One by one, they joined into a shout:
"To Trixie!"

She couldn't help but smile.

******

The afternoon sun rose on the horizon, over the endless rock of the San Palomino Desert. A distinctly foreign carriage waited not too far, towed by two pegasi clad in the colours of the Canterlot royal guard. The dark green assailant was already inside, her hooves and horn both bound by magic. A tall, white pony, his armour especially decorated, stepped closer to her:
"We are ready to leave, Miss Lulamoon."
"I will be right there, sir Armour."

He bowed and headed for the carriage. Such a handsome stallion, that captain. Skilled unicorn, privy to certain information thanks to his post, and even happily married to a princess. Quite the perks, really. She turned back to her own companion with a faint smile.

Shariq was back in his casual attire and only alone because he insisted he knew how to find the exit without a platoon of guards at his side. He took one glance at the carriage, then met her gaze:
"Again, I'm sorry for the deception."
"Oh, stop it. I must say, you looked a bit silly in that headdress. Doesn't suit your chiselled features at all."
"I know! But it is tradition at this point," he sighed, "we're both just not saying goodbye at this point."
"True. I want to say goodbye for now," she winked at him, "I'd love to come back and put on a performance sometime."
"That would be a welcome change of pace and I'd definitely attend. Just a shame I'm... well, stuck here. I'd love to travel with a mare like you."
She blushed slightly and replied, teasingly:
"You think your old bones could keep up?"
"They've seen worse. Haah, if only I had a bit of muscle, maybe even my mane and..."

His train of thought ended there as she planted a light kiss on the tip of his muzzle. Their gazes met once again afterwards:
"No matter what you look like, you're great the way you are, Shariq."
For the first time, he was at a loss for words, but finally formed a sentence:
"I'll remember this moment for the remainder of my days."
"That could be a while. Are you ready for that sort of commitment?"
"I've never backed down from a challenge."

They shared one last chuckle, then shared their last words:
"Goodbye for now, friend."
"Goodbye for now, friend."

******

Sitting in the carriage was uncomfortable, overall. Oh, the seats were exquisite, clearly fit for even a royal behind. It was the constant, unending glare Nova was sending her. She kept telling herself it wouldn't take much longer as she turned to the handsome stallion:
"Captain Armour?"
"Yes?"
"Would it be possible to drop me off at Ponyville? I could go for a relaxing cup of tea with a friend."
"I don't blame you, truly. And it won't be a problem, it is on the way, after all."
"Thank you."

She gazed outside, at the endless wastes below. What a day.

Relaxing Cup of Chaos

The afternoon sun was well on its way, descending into the horizon, when she said her final goodbyes to the handsome captain. The quaint houses of Ponyville were in sight, along with Twilight's impressive abode. It still seemed so out of place. With a sigh, reflecting on the day's happenings, she headed for the town, humming a tune to herself.

It was on the outskirts of town that she heard another voice singing, as well. It was absolutely beautiful, melodic. The air itself seemed to willingly bend to allow it to spread far and wide. The showpony found herself enchanted and followed the voice to its source. From the undergrowth, she secretly looked into a clearing.

A small group of various woodland creatures had gathered around a very familiar pegasus. The meticulously groomed, beautiful pink mane, coupled with the way her yellow fur shone in the sunlight, left little doubt. And that was without taking into account her graceful, carefully thought out movements.

Fluttershy entered what seemed to be the final part of the song, her lyrics exchanged for a single tone. But what she could do with just that! Her voice rose to impossible heights just as she took flight and performed a pirouette in mid-air, before gliding slowly to the ground with a bow. The critters were absolutely ecstatic and the pegasus giggled.

Enchanted, Trixie decided to reveal herself, walking out into the clearing. The critters immediately took notice, though the pegasus herself was oblivious:
"W-what's wrong? Was I too loud?"
"Perhaps too amazing."

Her demeanour changed completely as she jumped into the air with a squeak, then hid her head in the grass. About as effective at hiding as ostriches in those myths about them. With a worried expression, she slowly walked closer and spoke again, quieter this time:
"I'm sorry, did I startle you?"
Her ears perked up once she heard the voice and she peeked, before sitting right back up:
"O-oh, Trixie, it was you. And no need to be sorry. Everything startles me," she smiled sheepishly as the critters nodded in agreement, before a new wave of panic washed over her face, "w-were you alone?"
"Ummm, yes."
"Oh, good," she sighed with relief, "I'm not good with crowds."
"Somehow, I am not surprised."

They shared a giggle. Fluttershy's almost made her ears tingle in delight. The pegasus pointed down into the grass, where a blanket was set in preparation for a picnic. Various fruit was on display, as well as what looked like juice:
"Would you like to join us?"
"Sounds wonderful."

The fruit was fresh and absolutely delicious. Somehow, it tasted better when surrounded by nature. Fluttershy spoke between tiny nibbles:
"So, what brings you to Ponyville? Just passing through?"
"Och, no. I was hoping to get in touch with Twilight, have a relaxing cup of tea and all."
"Oh, dear! You just missed her!"
"Huh?"
"Yes. She left for Canterlot, said she needed to look into the archives there for some project."
Trixie sighed:
"Just my luck, I suppose."
"Umm, you could always stay with us," quickly, she added, "I mean, that is, if you don't mind."
She shot the graceful pony a reassuring smile:
"That sounds wonderful, actually."
"Yay," she clopped her hooves enthusiastically, almost drowning out her 'scream' in the process, "good thing, too. He should be here any minute now."
"Who?"

The answer came in the form of a proper sea shanty, shouted behind her back, scaring away a good number of the critters present:
"Shiver me timbers, shiver me soul, yo, ho, ho!"
She turned and her jaw dropped.

A proper pirate ship sailed in the air, protruding from what Trixie could only describe as a portal in time and space. Its crew was a band of salty dogs, literally, and she could feel the stench of the seventy-seven seas from their fur. Each one of them had at least one of their legs replaced with a peg. Most had black eye patches. Only one had a hook for a hand.

The creature was a veritable mishmash of every species one could think of, with each body part completely different. Even his horns were asymmetric, yet the fashionable black hat on his head seemed designed for them. At the top of his lungs, one of the crewmen shouted:
"Land, ho!"
An anchor was thrown overboard and floated into the air like a balloon. The draconequus pulled out a set of binoculars from his ear and looked at the clearing ten feet below. He began a mighty chant:
"Avast, Fluttershy's..."
The pegasus interrupted, somehow perfectly audible above the commotion:
"Discord, we have guests."
"Oh, well then," his hook and hat turned into marshmallows and fell onto the deck. He turned to the scurvy dogs, "thank you for the afternoon, gentlehounds."

They barked in response. As soon as he touched land, they sailed back through the portal and vanished without a trace. He bowed to the two ponies, while his tail seemed to dig within hammerspace, looking for something:
"I am sorry for being late, we couldn't find the seventy-seventh sea. These old maps are sooooo hard to read sometimes. However, I did bring," his tail finally found what it was looking for, a tray with deliciousness on top. His voice grew even more excited, "the cucumber sandwicheeees!"

With a less-than graceful movement, he slid along the grass towards them like a deformed ballerina. He vanished into nothingness, only to reappear right next to them wearing a pair of fashionable, golden sunglasses. Trixie flinched as he raised the tray of sandwiches, which seemed to have multiplied:
"May I interest you in a sandwich, Miss Lulamoon?"
"I, wait," she met gazes with the king of all tricksters, "how do you...?"
"Know who you might be? Oh, Fluttershy has told me so much about you. Let's see if I recall some tidbits," a plushie suddenly appeared in his arms, almost a clone of the magician, "travelling showpony, a bit full of herself, turned to power-mad tyrant," a replica of the Alicorn Amulet appeared around its neck and it put on a wicked grin, "turned into a bit of a heroine. Fighting timberwolves and other such exciting things. Sound accurate enough?"

The doll found itself shooting little fake stars at a little fake wolf. Trixie was sure that if the whole element of chaos thing ever stopped being exciting, Discord would make an excellent toymaker. She nodded:
"Accurate, if begging for context."
"And the answer to my own question?"
"I suppose I can have one."

She chewed slowly, deliberately, not taking an eye off the serpentine devil for even a second. Oh, sure, she had heard tales of his reform. But she had also heard tales of him helping out certain megalomaniacal, magic-devouring demigods. As the saying went, fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice...

They met gazes when the creature lifted its shades. Behind those serpentine orbs, she could feel mischief. A drive to entertain oneself. But there was a glint of something else, some genuine feeling. Discord did not let her contemplate the issue, speaking out in a teasing tone:
"Now, call me a paranoid old badger, but I do believe I can tell a scornful look when I see one."
"Well," she took a swift bite from the sandwich and had to admit it was delicious, "in my defence, you can hardly blame me, oh mighty Discord."
"Oh, Discord is quite enough. No need for pleasantries among friends, after all," teasingly, he flicked against her muzzle with one finger, "unless, of course, you feel there is an underlying current of animosity?"
"If I may be frank..."
"Stop!"

Both of them recoiled from the sudden noise. It wasn't overly too loud, just about enough to be heard. Fluttershy gazed between the two with an obvious frown. The face was disarming, it immediately sent Trixie on a small guilt-trip. Discord seemed to be experiencing a similar sensation, as he suddenly shrunk in size, until he was no larger than her leg. They were allowed to relax when the frown turned back into a timid smile:
"Listen, you two. I know that, maybe, it's hard seeing eye-to-eye on some things. But if anything, I think you two are alike. Troubled pasts and a bright future! So come on, make up and just enjoy the picnic," her dose of assertiveness seemed to run out, "that is, umm, if you would be so kind."

The two met gazes:
"I did go a bit overboard with the ribbing, perhaps," the draconequus bowed slightly, "sorry."
"And I guess I should know better than to judge someone based on the past. Sorry."
"There you go!"

Chatting with the physical manifestation of chaos was a fascinating experience. Discord had no shortage of topics at his disposal, from past hilarity to present blunders. She was sure he left out a crucial detail here or there, but the talk was rather pleasant. It was most certainly nice to bounce her ideas for future performances off someone. Second opinions were common, but only rarely helpful. And whenever the topic so much as skirted along one of the other six special ponies, he was always eager to praise them in some way, it seemed. Fluttershy, most of all.

"And you should see some of the photos that were made, she looks fabulous in every one!"
The yellow pony in question looked like she wanted to just disappear:
"Oh, no, not this again! I hated doing that!"
"Oh, come off it! Here, look," a humongous yellow photo album appeared in his hands and he placed it on the ground, flicking between page after page of Fluttershy pictures, "look, these ones here! Used in advertising all over Equestria, some to this day!"
"Oh, noooooo."

The showpony looked at them for a little while. Gosh, she looked stunning, really. Timid, reserved in whichever pose she chose or involuntarily receded into. A graceful beauty. She had to agree with him:
"You looked, and still look, marvellous, indeed," Fluttershy made another ostrich imitation as Trixie turned to the mishmash of species, "you have more of these albums, I take it?"
"One for each of my friends," a small tower of similar books appeared on the ground, each in a different colour, each but a fraction of Fluttershy's. At the very top, there was an especially small tome, light blue, "don't expect anything raunchy! I have standards."
"Whose is the one on top?"
"Yours, of course!"
"Huh?"
"Oh, yes," he grabbed and opened it in one swift motion using seven hands. There was but a handful of pictures, all of them from that very day, "look, here's you stuffing your face with sandwiches, from three minutes ago!"

She looked like she hadn't eaten in a day or two. She really needed to work on her table manners. Although, those didn't apply when not at a table, did they? Ach, loopholes were glorious. Discord broke her thought process by looking at a tiny grandfather clock attached to his wrist:
"Good heavens, look at the time," he let her take a closer look at the clock. Every single point was labelled 'FUN', "it is time for our exciting deviation of the day!"

Fluttershy's face was a mixture of glee, cautious anticipation and absolute terror:
"Yay?"
"Yay! Now, let's see what we get," with an impossible snap of his one cloven hoof, a cloud of smoke engulfed the area. When it cleared, Discord stood there in a fashionable, crimson faire outfit, right next to a large, floating wheel. The wheel was divided into dozens of sections, each with a different 'prize' attached. He grabbed hold of the wheel and gave it a mighty spin, "and 'round, 'round it goes, where it stops, nobody knows! Well, maybe I do."

The two ponies spun their heads with it in a rather comical fashion, before it finally came to a screeching halt. The field was blue, with two golden words attached. High Stakes. Discord's head positively erupted with dandelions, while Fluttershy audibly gulped. With another snap of his fingers, Trixie suddenly found out she was the proud owner of a fashionable purple scarf and boots. The graceful pony's ensemble also included a coy-looking wool hat. Discord screamed out with joy:
"Oh, you look smashing, my dear fillies! Now, let's get going, shall we?"

Before they could protest in any way, they vanished with a snap of a cloven hoof.

The feeling of being forcibly transported was one you could never get used to, she reckoned. The way your gut twisted for a split second, followed by a nauseous sensation right after arrival. Finally, there was that moment of utter panic as one tried to figure out where they were. The answer to that question was rather simple, at least. They were on a snow-covered mountain in the middle of nowhere.

Fluttershy was curled into a ball, as far from the nearby cliff-face as possible, trembling with fear. Discord stood just a little bit above them on a pair of skis, breathing in the chilling air. With a satisfied sigh, he slid down towards his companions with a grin:
"Aaaah, what a beautiful day for a bit of height appreciation, don't you think?"
"Not particularly. Look at Fluttershy, for Celestia's sake!"
"Oh, but that is exactly why we are here!"
"To terrify her?!"
"No, because she is terrified. Feel free to just sit down and watch, we've got this."

Not quite convinced, she remained standing with a doubtful look. His skis disappeared and he crouched down right next to her. She looked up at him, already starting to tear up:
"It's... so h-high."
"It sure is. But nothing you can't handle, dear. Take a peek."
After a few moments and deep breaths, she calmed down and looked around:
"I g-guess so."
"Shall we give it a go, then?"
"O-okay."

Trixie finally sat down and watched the two. Discord held her front hooves and walked with her to the very edge of the cliff. He was the first to step off and floated in mid-air as the graceful one's breathing intensified. His usually wicked smile was warm and reassuring as he said:
"Now, what are you?"
"I'm a p-pegasus."
"And what is a pegasus never afraid of?"
"Heights."
"That's right! Because you have what?"
"Wings."
"Beautiful wings, at that! So come on, leap forward and fly with me!"
"O-okay."

With one last, deep breath, her hind legs bent and she jumped, her eyes closed. Instinctively, she flapped her wings and hovered in mid-air, already smiling. She opened her eyes, looked down for just a fraction of a second, then back up at her flying buddy. Discord smiled, then spoke:
"Well, now, look who's a brave pony! At this rate, we'll get rid of this particular fear before you can sa-och," she flung herself around him in a hug as gentle as falling snow, "well, now, I didn't do that much."
"Of course you did! I'd never be able to do all these things every day without you."
"Aw, shucks, I..."
"You two need your own mountain?" Trixie's mischievous grin could have been detected by a satellite.
Fluttershy emitted a soft 'eek', while Discord replied with a grin of his own:
"Oh, don't mind her, Flutters. She's just jealous she can't fly. Speaking of which."

He snapped his fingers for a change. She could feel a sudden pull on her cape, and then a strange sensation, as if... she could feel the cape itself. A brief backwards revealed that its fabrics had twisted into a pair of large, majestic wings, almost bat-like in appearance. Her immediate reaction was panic, but Discord said:
"Do not worry, it is only a temporary little trick. Your cape will be as good as new once it wears off," he beckoned her closer, "now get over here!"

Fluttershy clapped happily as Trixie spread her newfound wings, jumped, and then soared.

They materialised before a quaint little cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville, the darkness of night their only companion. It was a simple building overall, but put together just right. It was surrounded by a small army of bird houses and other dens for various critters of various sizes. Fluttershy was still giggling as she headed for the door, her two companions in tow.

Trixie asked:
"Are you certain it is okay for me to stay here for the night?"
"Of course, it's the least I could do for a friend! Now," for the briefest moment, she sang a deep tone. A squirrel suddenly appeared from a nearby tree, an ornate key tied around its neck, "thank you, Fuzz!"

The critter squeaked something in reply, then scurried off. As soon as she pushed the key into its hole, a scratching could be heard on the other side of the door. Opening it revealed a fuzzy little critter, his fur white as snow. His big, floppy ears stood at attention and he hopped repeatedly before Fluttershy finally grabbed hold of him:
"It's good to see you too, Angel," she turned with the bunny towards Trixie, "Angel, this is Trixie. Say hello."

The adorable bunny suddenly shot her a horrific glare. Its paw suddenly moved to his face, his digits clumsily pointing at his eyes, before he pointed back to the showpony. The draconequus leaned in closer and whispered:
"Don't be fooled. I am quite sure he's a disguised demon."
"I'll keep that in mind."

They both put on their best smiles as they were ushered inside. A few leftover cucumber sandwiches and a lovely cup of tea later, they were quite ready for bedtime. What a day.

The full moon shone brightly in the night sky, accompanied by a thousand stars. There was something incredibly enchanting about moonlight. Where the sun was a warm, loving mother, the moon felt like a devoted friend, looking out for you in even the darkest corners of the world. Trixie welcomed such a companion as she stood alone in Fluttershy's kitchen, bathed in moonlight.

She couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts raced within her head, fought for her attention and made her question things. Too many doubts about past choices. The tea kettle screamed for attention and she quickly deactivated the fire under it, then poured herself a cup. Fluttershy had such a wonderful selection of tea available. Almost overwhelming, really. Eastern Lily would do for now.

She grasped a spoon with her mind and stirred. So absorbed was she in her own thoughts, it took her a few seconds to register footsteps. A deformed, but not frightening figure entered the kitchen, and smiled at her. As always, the smile made his one prolonged tooth jut out at a strange angle. Somehow, that made the smile seem cuter, rather than repulsive. The draconequus walked by her and poured himself a simple glass of water from a prepared jug. After taking a sip, he spoke:
"I see someone is a nocturnal animal. You should go live with the bat ponies."
"I am not, truly. It's just," she sighed, "so much has happened today and..."
His mischievous gaze suddenly seemed... not colder, per se. Just more serious. He leaned in just a bit closer and spoke, his tone a little off, as well:
"And you are doubting your past decisions."
"Aren't I always. Wait," they met gazes, "how do you know that?"

He stood upright, a good several feet taller than her, and replied:
"Och, I know so much! I practically know more about my pony friends than they know about themselves," he raised both hands to the ceiling, "why, sometimes I would almost describe myself as an instigator, gently nudging them towards making the plot progress in the correct direction," she was giving him a doubtful look, "though I am sure that is just me being silly. Now, to the matter at hand. My friend has a problem. I like fixing problems almost as much as causing them."
"And how exactly do you intend to do that?"
"Good, old-fashioned communication!"

She suddenly found herself on comfortable, sizeable couch of a crimson colour. Discord sat in an ornate chair, some would have said throne, a pair of rose-tinted glasses on his nose, plus quill and parchment in his hands. He coughed rather convincingly, then said:
"Now then, there are two basic methods at my disposal. The first involves you talking extensively about your problem. The second involves answering yes or no to specific, extremely personal questions based on information you had previously locked in your soul and thought unreachable by anypony else. That one is faster."
"I... I guess the yes and no, then."

"Splendid," he scribbled some notes onto the parchment, "let us begin. Your current dilemma is due to a friend from childhood."
"Yes." she complied without prompt.
"The divide between you was caused due to a competition, wherein your friend stopped at nothing to try and win, even going so far as to cause you harm."
"Y-yes." it felt so strange, just having her somewhat-secret past being told by someone else.
"Recently, and by that I mean earlier on this very day, you met that somepony again. You saw them turned into something you never thought possible, consumed by bitterness and hate. And you wondered, had you let them win on that fateful day, would things have turned out different, perhaps for the better?"
"Yes." with every answer, she became more sombre.
"And finally," that mischievous smirk was back, "does it even matter?"

She lay there for a good while, just contemplating that question. So deceptively simple, so deviously complex. Discord rose from his chair-throne and made his way to the kitchen table, grabbing hold of the jug of water. Several dozen toothpicks floated onto the table and assembled themselves into a tiny bridge. Holding the jug with both arms, he continued:

"Allow me a visual metaphor. The bridge is the present. The water represents events in your life," he poured the jug onto the table and she almost yelped. The water behaved nonsensically, as if it were a river, forming a few waterfalls before slowly snaking their way under the bridge, "your life goes on while the water keeps flowing," conveniently enough, the water in the jug finally ran out, "but I ask you, where does the water go, after it passes your bridge?"
She used basic knowledge to find the answer:
"The... sea?"
"Very good! And this case, that sea is called," he moved the jug just in time for the water to flow into it. Soon enough he gathered all of it and showed her the jug. It was now marked by the symbol of a half-moon and magic wand. Her cutie mark, "Trixie Lulamoon. Whether the water was good or bad is irrelevant. In the end, it still creates who you are. And that is something nopony can avoid."
"And... dwelling on the past does nothing but make my road to the future harder."
"Very good! And?"
"I should not try to fight the flow or some other metaphysical wisdom? Is that what you're going for here?"

He burst out laughing, almost spilling the jug onto the ground:
"Bah, not quite, but close enough. I may have been just a tad bit pretentious during the whole thing."
"No, I needed that. Someone to go over the issue with me. Someone to talk to."
"Never keep things like this bottled up. Worse results than firecrackers in a crystal. Believe me, I've tried," he suddenly grabbed his cloven hoof and detached it from the rest of his body, then extended it for a hoofshake, "I'd be more than happy to help you again, friend."
She shook it with a smile:
"I'll be sure to take you up on that offer, friend."
"Splendid! Now, come on, we should return to bed. Fluttershy might think we were stolen by gremlins or somesuch," Trixie chuckled, "you laugh now, but that actually happened once."
"You're joking."
"It is true! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! I just went for a nice midnight walk and I found her looking for me with a candle in the cold."
"That silly worrywart."
"I know! Poor thing had sniffles for a few days afterwards!"

They chuckled together, before tip-hoofing to their beds. She could hear what could only be fluttershy snoring. Light breathing, followed by an almost bird-like exhale. It was like she was singing tones subconsciously.

Celestia, it was good to do things like in the good old days. To just get locked in the Canterlot Archives for the entire night, researching, locating and identifying. There was something innately calming to it and felt as natural and effortless as breathing. Truly something everypony should try out at some point.

Another dusty old tome floated back to its spot on the shelves and the young princess allowed herself a sigh. No luck so far and with the size of the archive itself, it could even take a few days to find mention of that one specific thing Glint had said. Tiamath. Why did it sound so familiar, like she had brushed over it on some random other book hunt?

None of Starswirl's tomes seemed to contain it, though. Powerful magic based on time and even some forbidden practices from his rebellious youth, tolerated only because of his further accomplishments? Sure, those were readily available in the restricted part of the library. But nothing on this one word.

It belonged to some deity-esque entity, she was sure of it. Glint's speech patterns would imply as much, anyway. Bah, if only they knew more about dragons in general. In the end, her best bet may be just going with Pinkie and asking Glint directly. And then, something clicked in her head.

Perhaps it hadn't been Starswirl's publication. And not a thoroughly scientific piece, either. Perhaps it was... that one. The alicorn rushed over to another of the shelves, where several surviving works of Starswirl's pupils were kept. Invariably less protected than the wizard's own tomes, many such works had been lost to the sands of time. She found it after a mere extra hour.

Lucretia Stargazer's Comprehensive Almanac of Myths and Unconfirmed Tales. A result of her countless travels into the untamed wilds of Equestria and beyond. The cover was rather colourful, depicting various creatures that had been debunked or successfully found since the tome's publication. As with the several dozen prior books, she flipped to the register under T. That letter had few entries, thankfully for her.

There it was, right above Traxex. Tiamath, with several categorising words and phrases next to it. Draconite, Greater Deity, Creation Myth. See also: Equinox, Ebon. Twilight squealed in delight. She had so much reading ahead of her, how exciting!

Eastern Sensibilities

The Everfree. Once a constant source of stress, making her consider every step with utmost care. Now, it was almost homely. She hummed a tune to herself as she navigated its twisting trails, unhindered by the locals. Avian beasts made their cacophonies of sound in the treetops above, while grounded creatures of almost nonsensical shapes foraged for food in the undergrowth. Not a single wolf so far, perhaps for the best. No matter how friendly those became, the horrid stench was always present.

A howl suddenly sounded in the distance, answered by a dozen more. A hunt was declared, but on what? The showpony quickened her pace, though dared not leave the trail. As friendly as the locals now were, their home was still a maze. Growls and roars could soon be heard, coupled with more relatable grunting. Her quick walk turned to a gallop. She reached the edge of a crossroad and there saw something quite unexpected.

A silver pony stood alone against the pack, clad in a set of lightweight, crimson armour, obviously designed to not hinder her movements in any way. Her mane, much like her cutie mark, was not visible, hidden under a wide-brimmed, straw hat. Most eye-catching, perhaps, was the pony's armament. A long, thin sword, impossibly sharp. It had to be, considering how easily it cut through the wolves.

The blade floated next to her, illuminated by a pink glow. Within the blink of an eye, she dashed between a pair of the beasts, slicing them in half horizontally, as if they were made of paper. In another moment, she was high in the air and came crashing down on another, impaling the creature's head. Yet where she possessed deadly skill, the timberwolves possessed hardiness.

In mere seconds, their bark regrew, their cuts vanishing altogether. The swordsmare took a few deep breaths, then readied her weapon for another round. She wasn't going down without a fight, that much was obvious. Trixie finally decided to intervene by running into their midst and shouting:
"Stop," where the other mare regarded her with a confused stare, the wolves watched with complete focus. She realised she needed to elaborate further, "umm, she's with me. I'll lead her outside of the Everfree."

A few barks sounded in response. One by one, the wooden wraiths retreated into the shadows, leaving the two ponies alone. They both sighed with relief and met gazes. The mare's eyes were pink, matching her magic. She bowed immediately and spoke:
"Thank you for your aid. I was starting to lose hope."
"That's quite alright, no need to bow."
The armoured mare didn't seem to be paying too much attention to what she said:
"I do not know what arcane technique you used to persuade them. Could you perhaps teach it to me?"
"Woah, woah, calm down. I didn't use any technique."
"But then how...?"
"That is a long story and we can go over it later. For now, however," she bowed slightly, "I am Trixie Lulamoon. And you?"
She seemed horrified as she replied:
"T-terribly sorry. I forgot my manners."
"That's quite alright. But may I finally know your name?"
"Right. My full name is a bit long, but please, call me Lotus."
"Pleased to meet you! Now, come, we can talk on the way. The Everfree is not the most welcoming place."
Lotus finally put on a timid smile:
"So I've noticed."

The forest was silent again. After getting used to the other state of affairs, reverting back to its former state made it even more unnerving. The two nonetheless persevered, following its crooked paths to relative safety. The first question of 'How in the hay did you do that?' proved to be the most time-consuming. The swordsmare remained silent during her explanation, nodding at regular intervals. As soon as Trixie finished, her companion exclaimed:
"Fascinating. Most certainly a strange relationship, but I see it has its perks."
"Quite. And that's enough about me for now, I think. I'd love to know something about yourself. For one, you're obviously not from around here."
"Indeed. I hail from Neighpon, to the far east."
"That's quite the distance. What brought you all the way to Equestria?"
"Wanderlust has always dominated my spirit. Since foalhood, I always wanted to explore new things. As I grew older, my destinations got farther and farther away. And here I am."
"Would you say Equestria was worth the trek?"

Without so much as a thought, she answered:
"Definitely. Equestria is such a magical place. Excuse the pun."
"You need not apologise for puns in my vicinity, worry not."
"Heh, very well. But yes, it is an amazing place. Beautiful, ancient. And the ponies! I have never seen so many unicorns and pegasi."
"I hear that often," it was true. Equestria was strange in many ways and its ponies were no exception. Most other countries were made up of primarily earth ponies, with pegasi and unicorns being minorities at most. In Equestria, the three tribes were almost equal in number, "we're not the world's capital of the arcane for nothing."
"No kidding. Back home, we have so few pegasi that only the two largest cities have regulated weather. And unicorns are even scarcer, practically revered by the populace" she suddenly blinked, "not to imply I'm better than anyone else based on that alone."
"You worry too much, Lotus. Besides, you are obviously skilled in your craft."

She glanced down at her sharp companion, then back at Trixie:
"I have trained for many years. It takes great concentration to wield a weapon like this properly."
"I can only imagine, though I know what it must be like."
"If I may, what sort of magic do you wield?"
"Well, let's just say."
Her horn started glowing. Their group of two soon turned to twelve, as a small host of indistinguishable clones marched with them, one half mimicking Trixie, the other Lotus. The Lotus clones said in unison, perfectly copying her voice:
"That I am amazing at costume parties."
The host disappeared and Lotus laughed:
"Most impressive! That's another thing I've noticed. The unicorns here all generate their magic without. That is a rarity back home. Must be the martial tradition."
"I am not sure I quite follow."
"I think this calls for a practical demonstration. I'll show you once we get out of this blasted forest."
"Sounds good to me."

They had settled for a nice, secluded spot at the very edge of the Everfree. Their routine was quite similar, from the way they carefully stacked their clothes, to the way they set up their bedrolls. Lotus' mane was soon revealed as being short and black as charcoal, tied into a rather fashionable knot. Her cutie mark was a crimson shield, partly obscured by pink flower petals.

Lotus stood on a single hind hoof, performing an elaborate exercise of some sort. With a final, elaborate movement of her forelegs, which Trixie was sure would throw the swordsmare off balance, the ritual came to an end. Her breathing was absolutely calm as she returned to a regular standing position on all fours. With a smile, she addressed the showpony:
"I needed that. Now, may I demonstrate?"
"By all means."

"Right. It is quite simple, really. Unicorns here in the west are taught to focus their magic outward. To animate items, create images and affect the world," Lotus assumed something akin to a combat stance, her legs bent as if bracing for impact, "we are taught differently. To keep our power hidden within," Trixie felt a slight tingle as the eastern pony's horn started glowing, "to become one with the flow of magic. Until the time is right."

Trixie could feel power gathering within the swordsmare. For a moment, it almost seemed as though she would pop like a party balloon. But then, she dashed like the wind itself, going from a standing position to the other side of their little camp in the blink of an eye. The sensation of magic was strong in the air. Lotus continued:

"When that moment arrives, we become the wind, slipping past attacks and foes alike," she looked around for a few moments, until she finally spotted a large rock, "we are the tidal wave," with a swift kick of her hind legs, the stone was broken in two and the showpony gasped, "breaking through an enemy's defences. And when the dust settles," she regained her previous composure without skipping a beat, "we are the stream. Calm, collected. Ready to face adversity with a clear mind."

The end of her performance was met with the clopping of hooves. She blushed slightly and bowed, while Trixie shouted:
"That is amazing, Lotus!"
"Oh, it's not, really. I'm just good. You should see what some of my teachers can do."
"Heh, I might have to plan a trip to Neighpon to take a look, then."
"I'm sure you'd love it, it is a beautiful place. Especially this time of year, when the trees blossom," she sighed, "I'm very much looking forward to returning, once my adventures here are done."
"Home sweet home, eh?"
"Indeed. Now, while the moon is a wonderful companion, let us rest. The day was long."
"I wholeheartedly agree."

The room was silent, empty save for a young, dark blue filly. She was not crying, despite having plenty of reasons to. A candle was placed on a table in front of her, burning away like the precious seconds of life. It was in no way special, except for the fact that it was for grandma. The most special pony in Equestria.

With a sigh, she took the frail flame into her hooves and carried it towards another small table. Pictures were on the table, showing various ponies. Grandma, grandpa, her parents... and her. She was a prominent feature in almost all of the new ones, always smiling. She placed the candle there, her hooves shaking slightly.

With the main part of the ritual already over, all that remained was to spread the ashes on a meadow or field. To become one with the sun, then be reunited with the earth below. The Equestrian way of burial. She turned to leave, but could not help looking at the pictures one last time.

Finally, her sorrow washed over her and she broke down crying.

A not-so-gentle nudge woke her from her dreams. In the dark of the night, she could make out Lotus, standing there in full armour. She looked worried. Trixie mustered a response as she drowsily rose:
"W-what's going on?"
"We are not alone."

That woke her up rather quickly, her senses going into overdrive. There was movement in the tree line all around them. The two ponies stood rump-to-rump, gazing into the night. The hunters appeared together, a dozen strong.

At first sight, it seemed to be a number of swords, very similar to Lotus' own, floating in the air. A closer look revealed the true enemy. Frightening, shadowy claws gripped the weapons, attached to strange, chaotic bodies standing on two legs. One of the apparitions hissed and the rest readied their weapons. Lotus muttered under her breath:
"Tsukumogami."
"What?"
"Spirits that possess items," Trixie could already feel energy gathering within the swordsmare, "break their swords!"

Not letting the enemy engage first, Lotus charged forward, leaving Trixie with a neat half of the group. She gulped, but braced herself nonetheless. With a united hiss, they charged, swinging their weapons at various angles. After a flash of light, they struck nothing but air. While they paused in confusion, she charged a spell from behind them. Her repertoire of attack magic was not the widest, but she did remember one that she hoped would do the trick.

A swift bolt of magic struck one of the blades. The blade suddenly started vibrating at an incredible pace, the vibrations differing depending on location. It literally shook itself apart as the shadow slowly vanished into nothingness with a horrific wail. The others hissed in fury and charged once again. Some ghosts would never learn. As she displaced herself once more, she glanced in Lotus' direction.

Rather than avoiding their attacks entirely, she parried and danced between her foes. The deadly waltz was interrupted when she rose high into the air and brought her blade down in a mighty slash. One of the spirits raised its own weapon to meet her, and it was shattered like glass. As soon as she landed, she locked blades with another two, as a third crept from behind. Trixie shouted:
"Behind you!"

She quickly darted to the side, letting her foes clash with themselves, then nodded in her direction. The showpony turned her attention back to her own share of attackers. For all their skill and intimidating presence, the creatures did not seem to know how to handle such an elusive opponent. They were soon reduced to four and they spaced out, trying to cover every possible angle of attack. They were only mildly successful and after another spellcast, their job was made even harder.

The battle continued for a few more minutes, until only a single shadow remained. It stood there, clutching its blade, though it did not seem phased by the loss of its comrades. The two ponies, panting heavily, shared a look. Trixie said:
"All, hah, yours."
"Got it.”

With a final charge, the battle was over. They stood there, panting for a good minute among now-shatered blades. Trixie was the first to speak:
"What was that all about?!"
"Assassins," Lotus said matter-of-factly, bending down to examine one of the swords, "these are finely crafted," she returned back to full height, "there is trouble back home."
"Wait, assassins? How do you... why would there be assassins after you?"
"Perhaps it is time I tell you my full name," she sighed, "I am Lotus Windrider the Third, heiress of the Empire of the Rising Moon."

Trixie was sure her jaw would have hit the floor, but stopped somewhere on the way. Lotus seemed flustered, nervous and just watched as Trixie's brain reset and processed the available information. Finally, the blue mare exclaimed:
"Oh. Oooooooooooooooooh."
"Please, do not be angry."
"Angry? Why would I be?"
"I didn't exactly tell you the truth."
"And I understand why. Travelling with credentials like those attracts unwanted attention. Don't worry, though," she smiled, "your secret is safe with me"
Lotus smiled right back and closed in for a hug:
"Thank you," she cancelled the hug, her face suddenly serious, "had you not been here, I," she blinked and shook her head, "may I ask for your help in this matter, as well?"
"Of course. What are friends for?"
"It is an honour to be considered such. I need to return to Neighpon. As fast as possible."
"You are in luck," she allowed herself a grin, along with some stage presence, "the Great and Powerful Trixie has connections within this land!"

Having a castle sure would be great, said oblivious ponies. Perhaps when one had a large numbers of servants to take care of everything. Not her case. Sure, she gladly hired some cleaning ponies to keep the place in good shape, but she had been against accepting part of the EUP guard as her own.

The princess didn't truly know why she was so against such an arrangement. Perhaps it would just make the place seem less... homely? Like it was just some military post or something. Besides, the constant patrols would undoubtedly ruin her concentration during late-night study sessions.

With a frown, she made her way down the spiral staircase, which was much too large to be practical in any way. The whole place was just too big. Castles just weren't for her, it seemed. She finally reached the bottom, as the knocking came once again. She could almost imagine this being one of Pinkie' s or Rainbow's pranks. A bit grumpily, she called out:
"Yes, yes, I'm coming," after undoing a few arcane locks, she finally opened the mighty, unnecessarily large gate and peeked outside. Immediately, she stuffed her whole head into the opening, "Trixie?"
"Hello, Twilight," she pointed one hoof to her armoured companion, "I have a friend in need."

Showpony and swordsmare embraced each other one last time, bathed in the rays of the morning sun. Lotus spoke, her face troubled, but with a smile:
"As soon as things get sorted out, I'll come see you, I promise," she turned to the alicorn, who stood not too far, "and princess Twilight, thank you for the help, as well."
"It's nothing, really. I hope everything goes well."
"I wish I could be so optimistic. In any case, goodbye for now, friends."

She walked towards the prepared carriage and nodded towards the two pegasi at the front. In moments, they rose to the sky. The two magicians watched in disappear in the distance, silent as a pair of stones. Finally, Twilight said:
"You sure seem to have a knack for attracting strange things."
"Oh, not really. Considering how many of my travels were uneventful, events like this are but a fraction."
"And so are the events in Kost, I imagine?"
For a moment, Trixie looked surprised, but then merely commented:
"Well, that did let me meet your brother. Handsome stallion, that one."
"And happily married." the princess added with a smirk.
"Unfortunately."

Twilight suddenly hopped a little and started digging in a small bag at her side:
"Oh, that reminds me. You've caught many eyes over in Canterlot. I have something for you, from princess Celestia."
Her knees almost buckled. It felt just like her first case of stage fright as she blurted out:
"P-p-princ-cess C-celestia?"
"Uhuh! Now where... ahah," she pulled out some sort of golden ticket and handed it to Trixie, "surprise."
She gazed at the letter, immediately forming a smile:
"An invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala?!"
Twilight sighed:
"Me and the others will be there, too, after a two-year hiatus. It's not as great as everyone makes it sound, let me tell you."
"All the same, this is simply wonderful. Oh, horseapples," primal fear took over, "I have nothing to wear!"

Twilight put on a knowing smile:
"That can be remedied, my dear Trixie."

Fashion Forward

Ponyville seemed to have everything it needed. If it was not in the town proper, it was easily accessible even by hoof. Canterlot and many other cities were easily reachable by train. And then, there were the Gem Fields.

A vast swathe of land stretching for miles. Its soil was infertile, incapable of supporting even the likes of grass, but it was rich nonetheless. Gemstones of all colours lay scattered beneath the surface, ready to be dug up by those with the appropriate skill set. Some found it strange that no mining operations were underway.

The simple truth was they wouldn't have been profitable. The gems were plentiful, yes, however, they were also scattered. There was no large concentration, just small patches here and there, waiting to be dug up. If miners had wanted to gather them all, they would have had to dig through the entire area, tremendous effort for too little gain. These same qualities make it a haven for individuals just looking for a wagon or two of stones, though.

It was somewhere in this barren land, that Trixie had been told to look for Ponyville's fabulous fashionista. Considering the size of the place, not the easiest of tasks, but not insurmountable. Especially when their chatter could be heard from at least a mile away. Sound didn't have too many obstructions in such a place.

Finally, she spotted the duo of pony and dragon, walking at a steady pace, and she rushed to meet them. The clop of her hooves spread far and wide as the two gem hunters turned her way, waving their hooves and claws, respectively. A short gallop later, she finally got a good view of them.

Even in the middle of a wasteland, Rarity looked amazing. Her violet mane and tail were meticulously brushed and styled, her snow-white coat glistened in the rays of the afternoon sun. With her magic, she held onto a beautiful silk umbrella, decorated by a web of various shapes, usually gems and almost lifelike flowers.

Spike looked much more... mundane. Purple-and-green scales, with a touch of cuteness that only he seemed capable of possessing. In his claws, he held onto a decorated fan, and waved it in Rarity's direction in regular intervals. With an enthusiastic hop, the little draconite cried out:
"Hey, Trixie!"
"Hello, Spike," she finally came to a stop and bowed in the white mare's direction, "and good day, Rarity."
"Same to you, Trixie, darling," they both came closer, "what brings you here, of all places? Not the best terrain for travelling."
"Actually, I was looking for you. I have something to ask of you."
Without even skipping a beat, she smiled and replied:
"Of course! Name it and I will do my best to help you!"
"You're too kind. You see, I have received this," from her bag, the showpony pulled out the fateful ticket. Rarity frowned for just a fraction of a second, but then her smile returned, "and I seem to lack a proper dress."
A spark could be seen within the fashionista's eyes as she stomped her hooves enthusiastically:
"Darling, you have come to the right mare! I can get to work as soon as me and Spike are done here."
"Thank you. And don't worry, I have enough bits to pay for it."
"Do not insult me, darling! For you, free of charge."
"But-!"

As she tried to protest, Rarity wrapped one hoof around the showpony and confirmed her position:
"Trixie, I know we had a bit of a rocky start, but you are a friend. One that clearly knows the value of proper headwear, might I add! A dress is the least I can make for you."
She couldn't help but smile:
"Well, if you insist."
"I do, darling."
"Can I at least help you with your gem hunt?"
At that, Spike blurted out:
"Well, we're not on a hunt, per se," this earned him a light kick with a hind hoof, "ow!"
"What Spike is trying to say, is that we already have a few volunteers joining us. You don't have to trouble yourself."
"It wouldn't be trouble at all," she played Rarity's own cards against her, "please, I insist."

"Listen, I," with a defeated sigh, she straightened herself back up, "oh, horseapples, I can't lie. Trixie, dear, can you keep a secret?"
With a smirk, she replied:
"Cross my heart, hope to fly," the final hoof movement was incredibly important, if only because one had to be careful not to actually hurt their eye, "stick a cupcake in my eye."
"Och, a Pinkie promise! You mean it, then. Alright, you can come with us. I'll explain later. It's easier to show than to tell."
"Lead the way, then."

They travelled for a few minutes, until they reached a small hill, perhaps the only one of its kind in the Gem Fields. A pathway was dug into its side, its walls reinforced by wooden pillars. Small torches were attached to them to provide light. Without a hint of hesitation, Rarity packed her umbrella and headed downwards, Trixie in hot, if reluctant pursuit. The path winded down in a circular fashion, until finally, they reached a simple, wooden door.

With a smile, Rarity knocked on it. A deep, raspy voice sounded from the other side:
"Coming," part of the door slid to the side, revealing a pair of yellow eyes, "ah, Miss Rarity! And friends. Come in, I open!"

Trixie expected to see many things once the door opened. Most of them related to mythical beasts or an old pony miner. What she got instead was a large, muscular canine. His fur was dark brown, covered in plates of thick, metal armour. He stank of... daffodils? Yes, the pleasant aroma of daffodils spread from his surprisingly well-groomed fur. Rarity addressed the hound:
"Thank you, dear!"
"No problem! Come, they wait for you."

While the fashionista and dragon walked in without a second thought, she merely crept inside. The guard's strange, canine smile did not help her relax at all. Beyond the door, she saw a completely new world.

Lit by gem torches, undoubtedly magical in nature, the underground was a large maze of massive chambers connected by a confusing web of pathways, often dead ends. Watchdogs patrolled the paths and greeted them, always referring to the white mare as 'Miss Rarity'. Other hounds were busy digging out any gemstones that they discovered. Finally, the trio reached an especially large chamber. The pillars of rock left in place to support the ceiling could have easily passed for towers.

A large group of hounds was gathered in the middle. Most of them did not seem too different, but one stood out. He was not as muscular, nor as tall, but his ears were especially large and he wore an eye-catching, crimson vest. Unlike the others, he also wore a gemmed collar. As they entered the room, he turned their way, revealing a set of emerald eyes. She could see a fair bit of cunning behind them. The brains of the operation, as far as she could tell. With a growl towards the assembled workers, he addressed the new arrivals:
"Good day, Miss Rarity."
"Good day, Rover."
"I see more ponies join. They search, too?"
"No, just visiting. Her name is Trixie."
"Hello, Miss Trixie."
"Umm, hello." she was unsure whether to add 'Sir' to the end of that.
"We start now, yes?"
"Absolutely!"
"You hear Miss Rarity, dogs! Follow and dig, yes!"

They traversed the underground tunnels along with their canine entourage. Rarity's horn glowed constantly, as she used her talents to search for and mark patches of gemstones, which the dogs eagerly dug out. Trixie had many questions, but the most obvious one was:
"Rarity, how did this all come about?"
"Oh, simple, really. We did have a bit of a rocky start."
"By which she means they kidnapped her." Spike chimed in.
"We still sorry!"
"I know, dear. Anyway, I got out, no harm done. But I still needed gems from these parts, for new ensembles and such. So we kept running into each other. Our meetings were all rather awkward affairs, but eventually, I got an idea!" she delivered the final word with a burst of unexpected pazazz.

"Miss Rarity come, say we could help each other. Good deal."
"Indeed! We worked out our differences and now we cooperate. I find the gems and they dig them up. We then split the earnings, seventy-thirty."
"In whose favour?"
Rarity gave her a bewildered look:
"Theirs, of course! The poor dears do most of the work, after all."
"Miss Rarity also help set up showers," Rover smelled like a tulip, "always willing to help."
"It's the least I could do."
"Your catchphrase is not entirely accurate," the chique mare blushed ever so slightly. Trixie turned to the lead hound, "what do you need all these gems for, anyway?"
"Simple. We trade for food and other stuff. Deep down, nasty things live. But nasty things like gems. Give gems, get stuff in return. Sometimes, even trade with ponies."
"Quite the operation you have here. If you don't mind me asking, though, where are your, ummm... females? I haven't seen a single one since we entered."
His ears dropped for a moment before he answered:
"Elsewhere. Some nasty, deep things not want gems. Want meat. Mates and pups kept away, safe. Safer."
"I'm sorry if I..."
"No apology, Miss Trixie. We choose living deep. We endure living deep. World up there cannot compare," his face lit up again, his ears standing at full attention, "I can prove point! We find nice thing, few days ago. Missas... Missos... ladies will like!"
Spike grumbled something to himself as Rarity looked up at the hound:
"I must say, Rover, I am intrigued."
"Show when finish digging. No rush."

The leader was accompanied by two other dogs with collars. One was uncharacteristically small, the runt of the litter, but there was a fierceness behind each of his movements, as if he was compensating for his size with some amount of aggression. The other was the polar opposite, large even by their standards, but timid, reserved. The short one shouted, his voice high-pitched and energetic:
"Not too far now. Worth the walk."
The large one's voice was deep and a bit slow, as if every word was a chore:
"Careful stepping. Pony-pedy safe that way."
Trixie whispered to Rarity:
"Pony-pedy?"
"Long story."

The pathway they traversed was obviously freshly dug, with only a few torches lighting the way. After a few minutes of precarious descent, they reached another large, dimly lit chamber. Trixie could make out the beginning of an underground lake, before darkness reclaimed its domain. They watched silently as Rover pulled out a few gems from a prepared satchel:
"Not seem like much, but watch now!"

He tossed the gems with all his strength and they landed somewhere in the darkness with an echoing splash. For a few moments, there was no reaction. Then, suddenly, lights appeared underwater. A closer look revealed strange eels, their burst of activity somehow causing them to luminesce. Their numbers grew from a few, to a dozen, to over a hundred in a short span of time.

There seemed to be some fighting among them, undoubtedly over the thrown gems. Suddenly, one of them glowed bright green, like an emerald. More and more colours appeared among them, reacting to their chosen meal. The lead hound threw in some more gems and soon, the entire cavern was illuminated by the underwater light show. The waves in the lake created incredible shapes on the ceiling and walls of the place.

Rarity squealed in delight as she watched it all transpire, while Spike mourned the loss of delectable gems. Trixie tried to commit the sight to memory as best as she could. Beauty could truly be found in every corner of the world.

Tagging along with Rarity and Spike had turned out to be a good idea in other ways, as well. The day's bounty had been particularly large, so much so that it resulted in an extra wagon for towing. And the showpony was more than happy to lend a hoof. They reached Carousel Boutique along with her old friend, the moon.

After carefully separating the gems based on type, stashing them and saying goodbye to Spike, the two entered the living quarters of the building. Everything was so stylish inside. The colours always matched, the paintings and hues chosen to promote certain feelings or attitudes in specific areas. Rarity's mark was clearly felt throughout. Trixie commented:
"Your home is lovely."
"Thank you, darling, I try my best. Sweetie Belle, my sister, is having a sleepover at one of her friend's, so we'll be alone. Now, before I get started on your dress, I simply must take a bath. I think we'd both appreciate one, actually."
"Indeed. Though, you don't have to work overnight. There is time enough."
"Nonsense, dear! The night is the finest time for this sort of work. Especially one like this, without a single cloud. The stars in the sky simply overflow with inspiration!"
"If you say so."
"I do, darling! Now, it is fortunate that I had two bathrooms installed for just such an emergency! Let the bathing begin!"

"There we go," Rarity whisked the measuring tape away and jotted down the last few numbers into a small, purple notepad, "I have all the figures I need! Don't you worry, your dress will be simply fabulous."
"I have no doubt about it, Rarity."
"You may go to sleep now, if you want."
"Would it be okay if I stayed for a little while? I'd love to see how you work. I wouldn't even know where to start, myself."
"Oh, the art of the dress is no intimidating matter, darling! All you need is a little," she spun around towards a wall with several papers attached to it. Each paper had an image of a pony on it, bare and colourless, "inspiration!"

She drew several lines on one of the papers and the process began. Humming a tune to herself, Rarity was a mare possessed. Several different initial sketches were made, each with minute alterations to the original. With a final, content nod, one design was chosen as the winner.

The entire boutique obeyed her as needles, spools of thread and fabric floated towards her through the air, animated by magic. Magic and careful hoof movements worked in perfect unison, cutting out patterns from the fabric before stitching them back together. The whole time, Rarity was in a trance, completely consumed by her work. Trixie was quite sure nothing short of a bomb could have caught her attention at that point. With a smile, she headed to the guest room, which was, much like the rest of the building, posh.

"Are you ready, dear?" Rarity cried out towards a set of folded curtains, connected to a miniature stage within Carousel Boutique. Rarity was prepared for everything.

Unlike Trixie, who was still struggling with the dress:
"Ugh, almost."
"Has the Great and Powerful Trixie," the teasing voice of an alicorn princess filled the room, "found her match at last?"
"Oh, shut up, Twi. Okay, ready or not, here I come."
The curtains parted and immediately, Spike burst out:
"Woah!"

The showpony's usual simple charm was replaced by elegance and undeniable style. The dress rode high on the flank, but by no means made her look like a tank. It was breezy, by no means cheesy. Its fabrics were violet and pearlescent blue, almost matching her mane. Stars were placed in visible areas, drawing one's eyes closer to the intricate patterns of the dress. The look was completed by a sapphire-adorned, silver tiara. Not even Twilight could contain herself:
"Wow, Trixie! You look like a million bits!"
She smirked:
"Uhuh! And it's all thanks to the Equestria's greatest trend-setting fashionista!"
"Oh, you are too kind. Now, if you want, you can keep it here for now. The gala is still some time away and I'm sure you have some travelling to do."
"That would be splendid, actually. Now, Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"After I reluctantly slip out of this beautiful thing, how about a cup of afternoon tea? We have much to discuss, I believe."
"Absolutely. I'd love to."

Smoke and Mirrors

Travelling to Tall Tale was always a bit of a chore, mostly because one had to cross the Smokey Mountain. Oh, sure, most ponies just travelled by train, but that would mean losing out on the sights. And while the mountain was a roundabout, difficult trek, it was hauntingly beautiful.

An ever-bubbling, disguised volcano, it constantly released fumes, which then descended into the surrounding valleys. Some paths could become treacherous at a moment's notice, as the pseudo-mist descended from above. But once it moved past, seeing the land below hidden within the smoke was a strangely calming sight. Equestria was full of such wonders.

There were even those adventurous types, who had built homes high up, on the cheap properties the mountain provided. Most were empty, hollow ruins at this point, standing a bit away from the road like scarecrows. Abandoned, because apparently having an active volcano right above your roof did not reflect well on one's nerves.

Another wave of mist passed and Trixie allowed herself a sigh. She could once again quicken her pace without fear of tumbling down into the valley bellow. She froze in place when she gazed up and saw... a filly. Rather tiny in all ways, her coat and mane were green and black, respectively, but... faded. As if something had tried to drain the colour from them.

It wasn't so much the pony's sudden appearance that had startled her, the mist had been thick. It was the way the filly stared at her. An unblinking, focused gaze from a pair of sad, purple eyes. Without a word, the filly turned towards a nearby rocky path and headed up the mountain, out of sight. Despite her better judgement, Trixie followed.

The path was narrow and twisted upwards like a snake. She could sometimes catch glimpses of the filly, but could only hear her own hoofsteps, echoing in solitude. In the distance, she could make out a roof of some structure.

With a final gasp for air, she finally reached the structure. It was like most other buildings on Smokey Mountain. Old, derelict, falling apart on its own accord. It was rather large, two stories in height, though, she could see large holes in the walls. The filly was there, taking one last glance at the showpony, before running inside.

"Wait," she cried out and rushed after the foal, "it's not safe in there!"

The once-ornate, wooden door of the place hung at an angle from about half of its original hinges. The insides were a mess, with items and furniture haphazardly strewn about the floor. The air stank, but it wasn't just the decaying wood. Trixie could make out the scent of alchemical reagents in the air. Some of the damage reflected that of an explosion. Just what had happened there?

Hoofsteps sounded from above her, on the second floor and she rushed towards a nearby staircase... or, well, what was left of it. She ascended carefully and then stared down a narrow hallway. No one and nothing, except for a lone door at the very end. Entire rooms seemed to be missing, replaced by holes in the structure. Slowly, she made her way towards the door, despite every fibre in her body telling her it was a bad idea.

How did the saying go? Curiosity killed the foal?

It seemed like a bedroom of some sort, though after an apocalypse. The bed was in ruin, with nearby cabinets deteriorating with age. And then, there was the mirror. Standing proud in its casing of polished brass, it defied the destruction around it. Gemstones of various colours were inserted along its edges. The mirror itself did not have even a hint of damage or filth. It was pristine. A small, white circle was drawn around its base, with strange writing attached along its edges.

And then there was a picture, partially covered with debris. She pushed it aside with her hoof and picked up the photo. The colours were faded, but she could clearly identify the little filly from earlier. Next to her stood two smiling unicorn mares, one snow-white, the other dark blue, almost bordering on black. They stood there, holding hooves, smiling towards the camera. A happy family.

For the moment, she placed it in her bag, then looked back at the mirror. Her reflection stared right back, with the same mix of concern and confusion. It too examined the brass casing of the mirror more closely, taking note of several deliberate etchings along the edges. But when she looked back with a frown, her reflection carried a wicked smile. Without a chance to react, she suddenly felt extremely tired, as if she hadn't slept for years, and collapsed into a dreamless slumber at the base of the mirror.

She woke up after an indeterminable amount of time and her eyes shot open. She was staring at herself, waking up in much the same fashion. For a moment, the two Trixies stared at each other, each wondering whether their magic was going haywire. Then, they noticed the others.

At least two dozen Trixies sat around the fateful mirror, though the room itself was suddenly expansive, completely white, featureless. No doors or windows of any sort, just a smooth, white prison. The prisoners gazed at each other with various amounts of confusion. They were all obviously Trixie, yet all of them were obviously not Trixie.

Each was slightly different. Different mane style, different hats, different overall demeanour. One, with an especially fierce look and short-cut mane, shouted out, impatience and aggression audible in her voice:
"What the buck is going on here?!"
A reply came from a clone with unkempt hair and thick spectacles on her muzzle:
"It would appear we have gotten ourselves trapped. Thanks, Curiosity." one, covered in bruises and scratches, smiled sheepishly before lying down on the ground, "also, the trap is arcane in nature."
"I must say, however," this clone wore Trixie's new dress with flair, "this place is a bit dull, isn't it?"
"No time for that," the aggressor stomped her hooves and turned towards the mirror, "we're getting out of here, right now!"

Nopony had the time to stop her. Her horn glowing in a bright red hue, she charged, forming what appeared to be a sword with her magic. She swung it in a downward arc, aiming for the mirror's top. The strike never landed, as an unseen force suddenly sent her flying. With a loud crash, she impacted the ground, sliding along for a few metres afterwards. Another clone, wearing a nurse uniform, approached her:
"Are you alright?"
"Just fine. Ow, don't touch me there!"
The stylish one called out:
"My, you made quite the fool of yourself! As expected!"
"Buck you! I don't see you having any better ideas!"
"No idea is better than what you came up with, I'd say!"
"Guys," one on the ground, in a set of star-struck pyjamas, "simmer down. I'm trying to take a nap."

The spectacled one conjured an illusory notepad and scribbled some information into it. She then took a step towards the mirror and readied her magic. Her horn glowed bright blue as she commented, more to herself than anyone else:
"Practical experiment number two."

A beam of light shot from her horn, aiming right at one of the mirror's inserted gems. Without warning, the beam refracted and burned a line in the ground. Luckily, the other clones managed to scatter in time. One was especially freaked out by the event, trembling in her suit of armour:
"Oh, my gosh, you almost hit me with that! That was dangerous!"

The scientist did not even seem to register her as she jotted down more information. Suddenly, she was roughly turned around by the brash doppelganger:
"What's the big idea, egghead?"
"Well, we had to try it sooner or later, knucklehead. Not like I have any other choice, considering our lack of resources."
"Oooooh, let me!"

With that, an energetic whirlwind in an orange party hat showered the mirror's vicinity in streamers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this did absolutely nothing whatsoever, other than get streamers stuck in everyone's mane. The scientist sighed to herself:
"No, I don't think that helped. If only I had," her sentence was cut short as her eyes suddenly went wide, "woaaaah!"

They all turned their heads. In the blink of an eye, without any warning, the room had changed. A large, ornate doorway and a set of walls now stood separate from the surrounding featureless prison. Inside, they could see a library, impossibly vast considering the space it occupied. The scientist almost drooled as she approached:
"Oh, my! The answers we seek must be within! Just give me some time, I can find them!"

The brash one wanted to object, but something else caught her eyes. Another door, another convenient room, leading to what looked like an arena or fighting pit. Other ponies were already within, sparring against each other:
"I guess I have time for a little bit of training. Not like egghead needs my help."

Similar scenes played out in every corner. An expansive boutique for the fashionista. A castle complete with defences for the cowardly knight. The world's most comfortable bed for the sleeper. Each and every facet of Trixie's mind was slowly catered to. Until just one last clone remained.

She looked almost exactly like the original in her show attire, though some details were off. Her magician's hat and cape were, instead of just stars, decorated by a whole host of different shapes, from gems, to butterflies, lightning bolts and, perhaps most prominently, hearts. Instead of a worn travel bag, she carried a pair of large photo albums of equal size. One was a dazzling display of colour, from sky-blue and graceful yellow to pink and even a faded bone-white. The other was in comparison a simple, dark shade of purple.

She stood there, watching as all the others were captivated by these gifts with an uneasiness in her stomach. And then, she heard a voice, soft as a spring breeze, call out from behind her:
"Trixie!"
She turned and her eyes went wide. The room was gone, replaced by a calm, beautiful forest meadow. A small structure, part tree, part house stood in the clearing. In its doorway, stood an alicorn princess with the warmest smile imaginable. The clone called back:
"T-Twilight?"
"Of course, silly," her giggle was like music, "who else would it be? Come on in, I've missed you so much!"
The first steps were instinctual, brash and quick. But she soon slowed down to a crawl, before stopping altogether. This wasn't right. This wasn't her. The purple doppelganger put on a worried expression, identical to the one from the rainy night:
"What's the matter? Is something wrong?"
Through gritted teeth, part of the showpony replied:
"Get out of my head, monster."
"M-monster? Trixie, what are you...?!"
"GET OUT!"

The illusion was shattered at once, as the shout echoed throughout the now-feature-rich room. All the others stopped dead in their tracks, moments before entering their cells within the prison. She looked back into the mirror with a face of grim determination. The creature within looked back in a mixture of awe and fear. Turning to her kindred, she levitated the two albums into the air and shouted:
"Everyone! Don't let this creature fool you! If we wait any longer, we'll never get out of this nightmare! We'll never get to travel again, never go back to Ponyville! We'll never see Twilight," the purple album was opened, revealing dozens of pictures of the princess, "or anyone else, for that matter," the other album had pictures of every other friend they knew, from every corner of Equestria, "so come on! Together, we can do this!"

One by one, the false gifts and promises were shattered, as the ponies assembled before the mirror. The scientist adjusted her glasses and spoke:
"A miscalculation on my part. Surely, our combined arcane energy is formidable," she nudged the brash one in the ribs, "especially with you on our side."
"Awww, shucks, egghead. You're not giving yourself enough credit, as usual."
"I must say," the fashionista spoke, while filing her hooves, "we make an adorable troupe, don't we!"
"Yeah! Now let's party!"

The album-carrier stood at their head, staring right at the manipulator beyond the glass. The creature had a look of true terror, perhaps for the first time in its existence. She shouted, as a leader would:
"On my mark," the warden's features grew more monstrous, sprouting a set of horns and large fangs, "ready," its eyes turned blood red, its coat and mane a toxic, bright green, "aim," it screeched at them in defiance, in an alien, high-pitched voice, "fire!"

United as one, the Trixies blasted the mirror in a brilliant display of colourful magic. The entity's screech turned to a roar as the entire area faded into darkness.

Trixie woke up on the cold floor. Shakily, she rose, noting the shards of glass all around her hooves. The mirror was now just like the house. Shattered and abandoned. Somehow, the place no longer seemed so ominous as she made her way back outside. It was just another lonely building on Smokey Mountain now. Nothing less, nothing more.

As soon as she stepped outside, she froze. A small host of ponies suddenly stood there, in the small clearing in front of the house. Travelers, traders and others, shooting smiles in her direction. In the very front, were the two unicorn mares and their filly, just like in the picture. The filly came closer to her, her coat's colours shining brightly again, and bowed. The others mimicked the motion and the showpony bowed in reply.

With that, the little one rejoined her family. A brief mist washed over the area, but a small puff by the mountain's standards, and the ponies were gone. Trixie put on a timid smile as she made her back down to the main path, not daring to break the ensuing silence.

Applebat Season

The gigs at Tall Tale always lasted well into the night. They also paid good bits, so she could hardly complain. With a cheerful tune and a bag full of money, she headed to the city's outskirts to find a place to spend the night. It took a while to finally find a nice, secluded spot, but she did not mind. The moon, her fateful friend, illuminated the path ahead.

But as soon as she wanted to take out her supplies and settle down for the night, a distant tune reached her ears. Two melodic voices, all-too-familiar, sang in perfect, practiced unison:
"We're Appleeeees forever, Apples together! We're family but so much mooooooore!"

She couldn't help but bob her head to the tune as she walked in its direction. In but a few moments, the singers were within sight, different in size if not in singing prowess. Upon spotting the showpony, the little filly's walk turned into a dash. The large cart she was towing did not seem to hinder her in the slightest as she flung herself into a hug, her red mane almost breaking free of a pink bow, its eternal prison. Two golden eyes, not too dissimilar from her coat, gazed up at the entertainer as she shouted:
"Trixie!"
Trixie giggled, before returning the embrace:
"It's good to see you too, Apple Bloom."
"And what about me?"

The other mare stared at them with a smile. Orange coat coupled with a blond, braided mane. Stylish, western-style hat, obviously her favourite judging by the signs of age. She wasn't just anypony, of course. Obviously athletic, the farmpony was gorgeous in her own way. Trixie smiled her way, as well:
"Sorry, Applejack, but you can't beat this cute little face."
Apple Bloom stuck her tongue out as her sister chuckled:
"Is that so? Well, shucks, can't really disagree. What brings ya' to these parts?"
"I had a little performance in Tall Tale. What about you two?"
The little filly hopped excitedly:
"We're making a delivery! A big one!"
"And it conveniently lets me show her the route, so she can run it later if she wants."
"Are you planning to spend the night in Tall Tale, then?"
"Ah, not quite. The delivery spot is not too far from here, and we'll spend the night there."
"Mind if I tag along, then?"

Apple Bloom almost exploded with excitement, while Applejack put on a nervous smile:
"Well, Ah dunno'. Our clients are... not the most normal sort."
"Come on, sis! You told me they were real nice!"
"That's not what Ah," she resigned with a defeated sigh, "aww, hay, sure you can join. The more, the merrier."
Trixie smiled:
"Splendid."

******

The delivery spot seemed a bit... barren. Just a small little clearing overlooked by a nearby mountain. Tiredness was starting to get the best of her and she yawned loudly, before turning to the big sister:
"Applejack, where exactly is this client of yours?"
"Give it one more minute. She's forgetful at times."

More moments passed, before she finally heard something other than the night breeze. The flapping of wings. A blur moved from a nearby treetop and expertly landed on the ground in front of them on all fours. Trixie couldn't quite make out her features due to the dark, but she could hear the constant humming she made. In a cheerful, high-pitched voice, the newcomer shouted:
"Applejack!"
"Good to see ya', sugarcube."
"Wish I could say the same, heheh," that comment immediately put Trixie on edge, though the other two seemed relaxed as ever, "oh, you have company!"

She was not silent for even a second. As soon as she stopped talking, she resumed her humming. The client made its way to Apple Bloom and bowed down to her height:
"Who might you be, little filly?"
"Ah'm Apple Bloom. Pleased to meet ya'."
"She'll be helpin' me run this route sometimes."
"Awesome! Hoofbump!"

The two were different in size, but their demeanours seemed to match. Finally, the pony turned to Trixie. Instead of addressing her immediately, she hummed for a few seconds, tilting her head into several angles. Trixie would have felt awkward, had she not finally noticed some of the newcomer's traits. Elongated, pointy ears. Sharp fangs. Wings that consisted of a few bones connected by thick, leathery membranes. The puzzle pieces fell together.

The bat pony finally stopped humming. Even in the dark, she could tell that a blush appeared under her dark brown fur. What little mane she had was a pearlescent blue, similar to the showpony's own. Finally, the client spoke:
"Wow, you're pretty."
She blushed in response, as well:
"Oh, um. Thank you. My name is Trixie. And yours?"
"Call me Nox," the hybrid stood right in front of her now, fangs on prominent display thanks to a smile, "great to meet you."
Her response took a while longer to form as she finally looked into the other's eyes. They managed to stare right into hers, but they were colourless. Even the iris was faded, going from black to grey. She finally stammered out a response:
"L-likewise."
"Oh, it's the eyes again, isn't it," Nox tried to play it off as something funny, like a bad running gag. But Trixie could discern a bit of sadness in that voice, "yeah, I'm blind as a bat. Accident when I was little."

Trixie remembered enough from her anatomy lessons to try and steer the conversation elsewhere:
"Those pretty ears of yours come in handy, I imagine."
She blushed again, just a little:
"Y-yeah. Not just for show like those on fruit bats. And I can smell an apple from a mile away, too. Speaking of which," she turned back to the Apple sisters, "the batch you brought smells lovely as always. Can I have a bite?"

"Sure thing," the orange sister dug inside of her cart, retrieving a quite delicious-looking apple, "catch!"
It was thrown into the air and Nox darted after it. With a marksman's precision, she snatched it out of the air with her mouth, before curling down on the ground, suckling happily. Slurping sounds filled her vicinity as she slowly drained the fruit of its juices without mercy, leaving behind a dry, shrivelled husk. With a delighted gasp, she turned back to them:
"Oh, my, they are scrumptious! Oh, what am I saying, Sweet Apple Acres never produced any other sort!"
"Heh, we do try. Shall we drop them off, then?"
"Absolutely! Follow me!"

With another playful humming, she made way for the mountain, the three travellers right behind.

******

Upon closer inspection, the mountain was dotted with dozens of small holes. If Nox was to be believed, and she most assuredly was, they all led deep down, into the City of Night. Their own path was a bit wider than most, permitting their carts to pass unhindered. It was illuminated by dimmed, arcane lamps, which were weak enough to not irritate the residents' sensitive eyes.

"Oh, we could travel during the day, but the sun is harsh on our eyes. That's what they tell me, anyway." their guide had said.

It did not take long for them to reach the city itself. In many ways, it was similar to Kost. Buildings carved out of the mountain itself, stretching across the entire mountain. Unlike Kost, however, the locals very much liked being wrapped in shadow. The dim lamps made the place seem almost eerie to a newcomer, used to the comfort of daylight. The citizens still had muscles and fur attached, as well. That was an undeniable plus.

The bat ponies were all quite a civil bunch, all things considered, though she could see that the smell of the apples was almost intoxicating to them. Nox pointed out a few notable buildings. Opera house here, archeology museum there. She noticed that the structures were not overtly decorated in any way, like a similar building would have been on the surface. Instead, they were architecturally bold, often foregoing blocky shapes for smooth, round ones. When presented the question, their guide replied:
"Round things make a different echo. Much nicer than a blocky building. Makes them stand out if your ears are good enough. Oh, there's the warehouse!"

The delivery was made, bags of bits were gratefully given and the trio soon made their way to the only night-time motel in the area. The place wasn't exactly a tourist attraction. The asking price was reasonable and the beds comfortable enough. The only thing that was really different was the commotion outside, as the bat ponies carried on with their nightly lives. Somehow, the hustle and bustle of civilisation was calming. She supposed she was used to it from Canterlot.

******

What Trixie was not used to, however, was waking up to the same dusk she had fallen asleep in. It took her extra time to rise without the sun to annoy her out of bed. With a yawn, she decided to go for a stroll through the City of Night. It was still filled with activity, with mostly young ponies partaking in its daylife. The ever-present shadows did not make it any easier to traverse. That was when she heard it.

A beautiful, yet haunting voice could faintly be heard somewhere in the distance and Trixie found herself drawn to it. She found a familiar half-bat sitting at the entrance to an especially expansive cavern. Her singing consisted of regular, long, sorrowful tones giving way to a sharp intake of air. The showpony listened to the melody as if in a trance, before finally speaking:
"Nox?"
The other finished another tone before replying:
"Your hoofsteps are loud."
"But do they echo as beautifully as your voice?"
The bat chuckled:
"Heh, perhaps not."
"What are you doing here so early? Or, well, it's late for you."
"Oh, not much. I just like 'looking', you know? To try and... remember."

She gazed back into space, but this time, she did not sing, or hum. They just sat in complete silence, gazing out into the darkness, both figuratively and literally. Nox continued:
"I'm sorry. I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to me whine."
"Better than helping a pony out? I don't think so. Don't keep things bottled up inside," she smirked, "worse results than firecrackers in a crystal."
Nox's smile was faint:
"It's just... I feel like I shouldn't complain. I mean, I can still function almost like normal. Sure, I need a special book now and then, but my bat parts keep me productive otherwise. Other ponies have it far worse than me."
"Just because others have it worse doesn't mean you don't have a problem. Don't worry, I'm one big ear."

"Okay, okay. The main thing is, well, I sometimes wish I was just born this way. With no knowledge of how everything looked. I can 'see' shapes, nothing more. That lets me do things, sure," Trixie could see the beginning of tears well up in her eyes, "but then, my mind wants more. It demands colours of a thousand hues. But I find myself having to think. To recall what those colours even were," she sobbed, "like, I hear 'blue' and then have to just stop and think what that means. I have to stand still to even recall the shade of my mother's coat. Something that I once took for granted, now just gone."

As her sobbing intensified, Trixie gently grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. Gradually, sobs turned to sniffles, before disappearing altogether. They sat there for a few moments, before Trixie finally said:
"Better now?"
"A-actually, yes."
"Is there anything I can do for you, Nox?"
"Well, m-maybe. Dunno' if you could make that sort of magic, though."
"I will have you know, my repertoire is varied."
"Heh, okay. Well, it's just I haven't... 'seen' myself in so long. We filter that information out from the echoes. Is there any way you could, maybe?"
"Hmmmm," a challenge, certainly, but one she was sure she could undertake, "let's try and see."

Illusions were simple enough in principle. You used magic to bend light in just the right way and voila, an image. Even those took refinement. Adding sound was relatively common. But reflecting it in just the right way to mimic an object? Would that even be considered an illusion? One way to find out.

She started first with an image, copying the bat pony so that her mind could more easily grasp what was needed. Carefully, she formed arcane wards that would, in theory, prevent sound from just passing through. Much easier than actually trying to conjure a new object from raw magic, but considering they had to reflect sound in just the right way, still taxing. Her breathing intensified as she spoke:
"I think I've, hah, got it."

Nervously, Nox hummed, only to fall silent, smiling. Her next sounds were more confident, as she slowly flew around the doppelganger, observing it from every conceivable angle. Her smile grew wider with each passing moment:
"Woah, I'm... not too bad in the looks department," without warning, the clone spread its wings, "ooooh, my wings are," instinctivelly, she reached out to feel the texture, but her hoof passed right through, "not really there. Right. This is awesome, Trixie!"
"Well, I did my best, oof. It's surprisingly tiring, though."
"Get some rest, then! I'm already indebted to you enough," she flung herself around the showpony with the ruthlessness of a constrictor snake as the illusion vanished, "thank you so much!"
"Anything for a friend."
"An' that ain't no lie."

Both of them jumped as a certain farmpony's voice reached them. They turned to see not one, but two earth ponies. Apple Bloom hopped excitedly as she commented:
"Ah told ya' Ah saw some funny lights!"
The showpony grinned:
"Eavesdropping is not nice, you know."
"Sugarcube, ya' wound me! Ah would never think of somethin' of that sort!"
"Well, I guess I..."

At that moment, the entire mountain shook in a series of mighty quakes. Nox immediately took to the air, while the two farmers grabbed Trixie before she could fall. It lasted for only a few moments, but already most of the citizens were up and about, looking for signs of damage. Applejack was the first to recover and speak:
"What in tarnation was that?!"

As if in reply, a loud bell started ringing, deeper in the mountain. The bat pony knew its exact nature of an alarm:
"That's from the new dig site! Something must have happened!"
"Dig site?"
"There's lots of neat stuff under the mountain. Archeological stuff. There were ponies down there, if a tunnel or something collapsed..."
"They'll need help," Trixie turned to the sisters, "you coming?"
"Darn right we are!"
"Wait a minute," the filly among them seemed confused, puzzled... confuzzled, "ya' ain't gonna' say somethin' about it bein' dangerous and me stayin' here?"
"Yer implyin' that would stop ya'?"
"Fair point."
"Come on, follow me!"

Nox sped off ahead, while Trixie's horn turned into a potent flashlight. With a nod to each other, the three grounded ponies followed as fast as their legs could carry them.

******

The tunnels beneath formed a truly terrifying, poorly-lit labyrinth, practically impossible to navigate without a map of some sorts. Nox seemed to have little trouble following the bell's sound, as if she had the route memorised. They reached their destination soon enough, an especially expansive chamber, partially illuminated by arcane lamps.

Bat Ponies were mostly on the ground, groaning in pain. The three mares immediately started helping, trying to find if anypony was buried under rocks or worse. Apple Bloom stood frozen, as she watched some of the distant lights disappear, one by one. A large shadow crept towards them, snuffing out the light as it went. Obviously nervous, she whispered:
"Guys," she went unheard, and tried increasing the volume, "guys," a bit peeved, she almost shouted, "guys!"
"What is it, Apple Bloo-," Trixie's sentence was cut off as her light shined into the chamber and illuminated the beast.

It was easily twice their size, muscular, its hide covered with stone and other minerals. Its proportions were almost comical, with its upper body being much larger than the lower half, like a gorilla taken to extremes. A pair of massive, bat-like wings rested on its back. Finally, there was its monstrous head. It roared as the light reached its crimson eyes, its jaw divided into several separate sections, revealing several rows of razor-sharp teeth.

It seemed to be sensitive to light, much like a bat pony. Unlike them, however, it was fiercely aggressive. With a frightening growl, it rose into the air and dived right at Trixie with incredible speed for something of its size. In that moment, primal fear over came her and tried to flee, only to trip and fall, her magic faltering.

The monster was almost upon her, when a speeding bullet delivered a kick to its side. It impacted the ground with a crash, but rose up in the blink of an eye. With only dim light in the room now, the grounded trio could only see two silhouettes. Bat pony and bat demon stared at each other, before yelling their respective battlecries and charging.

Nox had speed on her side as she flew circles around her large opponent, who seemed to have trouble keeping up. Yet any blow the pony inflicted resulted in little more than a grunt from the brute. The monster struck once, but struck true. With a loud yelp, Nox was sent into one of the chamber's walls. The creature roared in triumph, while Trixie called out:
"Nox! You'll pay for that, you flying monkey!"
"Darn right!"

The three ponies stood proud. Their noses flared as they snorted in an aggressive manner. Their enemy was not particularly impressed and emitted a powerful howl. Without warning, the remaining arcane lights suddenly died, as if their energy had been drained. The sisters panicked, but the showpony stayed resolute:
"To the side. I'll ground him, you do the rest."
"Ah' trust that ya' have a plan."
"I do."

Immediately, she closed her eyes, letting her other senses take over. Applejack and Apple Bloom took several steps away. The creature screeched, its mighty wings flapping, creating a breeze that brushed against her fur. The air shifted suddenly, as it went for the kill, its claws rubbing against each other as it came closer. Magic gathered within her horn and at just the right moment, she released it.
A ray of light shot from her horn, illuminating the entire area and blasting right into the thing's horrific visage. It roared in agony and spiralled off-course, crashing back down onto the ground. Trixie's spell spent for the moment, it was up to the sisters to attack.

Apple Bloom jumped onto the demon's head, attracting its attention. It swiped at her to no avail, the agile little filly much too fast. As it turned in fury, it met Applejack's oldest friends. Bucky McGillycuddy and Kicks McGee. Catching it square in the jaw, the kick was powerful enough to make the beast topple backwards onto its back. Trixie managed to spot a few teeth flying through the air.
With uncanny agility, however, it rose once more and blew his opponents away with a mighty flap of its wings. Its eyes were on the showpony, who cowered, still tired from her previous offensive spell. It charged right past the Apple sisters on all fours and Trixie closed her eyes.

Her horn tingled, then vibrated in response to magic. She opened her eyes in time to see an azure bolt of lightning strike the monster and send it flying through the air. A voice, strangely familiar, shouted:
"Back, you curr!"

More arcane bolts bombarded the creature and their effect was frightening. Wherever they struck, the creature's apparent flesh crumbled into pebbles. Its wings turned to dust. With a final strike to the head, two perfectly round rubies clinked against the ground, while the rest crumbled. Trixie immediately turned back to thank her saviour. Several elaborate sentences were lost in an instant as her eyes rested upon the newcomer, her mouth wide open.

The mare was larger than even an adult stallion, but her physique was impeccable, no doubt kept as such through rigorous training. Her fur was a dark shade of blue, almost invisible in the dark, but her mane! It flowed in the air on its accord, needing no wind or arcane aid, and was a nearly perfect image of the night sky. Trixie immediately identified several constellations. Her wings were mighty, her horn nearly twice as long as a regular unicorn's, her cutie mark a glowing image of a crescent-moon.

The Princess of the Night allowed herself a sigh of relief and walked forward with calculated, graceful steps. Trixie couldn't help but keep staring. The countless tales of her beauty did not do the alicorn justice. She then noticed the sisters were bowing and she mentally slapped herself, before doing the same. The princess called out, her voice like a sweet lullaby:
"Please, rise, my friends," the trio complied, "had it not been for your bravery, the gargoyle might have hurt so many more."

As soon as she said that, Trixie yelped:
"Nox," she gallopped over to the wounded pony, lying on her side near her point of impact. The ground clearly indicated she had slid several metres before coming to a stop. Carefully, she shook the half-bat with her hooves, "Nox, can you hear me?"
"Y-yeah," it was more grumbling than speech, "I think the bastard broke... a rib."
"We'll get you patched up, don't worry."

"That we will," the voice made the showpony turn. Princess Luna gazed at her with a smile, "Trixie Lulamoon. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Instead of a hoofshake, the princess offered a royal bow and Trixie mimicked her, before saying:
"It is an honour, Your Highness. If I may ask, how did you know it was me?"
"Twilight Sparkle speaks highly of you whenever we have a chance to converse. Plus, I have more than once gazed into your dreams," she leaned in closer, so that only Trixie could hear, "often, to prevent them from turning to nightmares. Though, such problems seemed to no longer ail you in the present."
"I have a hunch my many friends helped with that."
"Princess Sparkle most of all, I reckon," Luna's knowing, mischievous smile made Trixie blush. She stood upright once more, "in any case, we can perhaps discuss more later. Let's help my children back to the city.”

As one, the trio shouted:
"Yes, princess!"

******

The rays of the afternoon shone upon the three ponies as they walked along the road to Ponyville. The sisters shared a look, before turning to the entertainer:
"Sugarcube, wanna' help us sing?"
"Well, I don't know. I'm not really that good at singing, frankly."
"Oh, horseapples, come off it."
Trixie tried to find another way out:
"But I'm not even an Apple."
Apple Bloom had a mischievous grin as she spoke, with forced child-like innocence and puppy dog eyes:
"Pleaaaase Trixie! It'd be so much fun!"
"And besides, ya' can always be an honorary Apple."
"But, ummm... gah, fine. Let's do this, girls!"

Applejack began the song, known across all of Equestria due to the unnaturally widespread, strong bonds of the Apple family:
"We've travelled the road of generations, joined by a common booooond!"
Trixie continued, her voice not quite fitting in, but with its own charm nonetheless:
"We're singing our song 'cross the pony nation, from Equestria and beyoooond!"

The trio sang cheerfully for quite a while, like a true family.

******

The Everfree forest was always foreboding, but especially so on that night. Was it the fact she galloped through it, the clop of her hooves echoing for quite a distance? Was it the uneasiness she felt in her stomach? Was it the fact she didn't know why exactly she felt compelled to be there? Probably all the above.

The purple pony raced between its gnarled roots, until she finally reached the long, stone stairs. The long, stone stairs that lead down to the Tree of Harmony. Something had changed, she could feel it in her gut.

The cave that housed the Tree of Harmony always gave her the creeps. She could never shake the feeling that some strange creature was waiting, somewhere in the shadows. Nonetheless, she had to get to the bottom of things.

Twilight finally reached the majestic plant. At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. The Elements of Harmony were still within their spots, keeping the power of the Everfree forest in check. A natural balancing mechanism, and an infinitely fascinating one, at that. She dared not study it too deeply, though, in fear of messing something up.

And then, she noticed it. A sixth mighty branch was growing out of the tree. In its grasp was a new symbol, which, as Twilight was sure she knew, corresponded to a cutie mark. The sun and a crescent moon, intertwined into one.

Author's Note

I had to rewrite some sentences due to bat facts.

I don't do these note things often, but when I do, it's out of spite.

Stars and Stripes

Ponyville's crystalline tree-castle was alive with chatter that day. How could it not be, with two good friends just enjoying a lovely cup of afternoon tea? Och, and the tales were the best kind! Adventure, deception, danger, beautiful alicorns! It was like one of Rarity's horrid sappy novels, except real and with better writing! Oops, let me mend that wall for you.

Truthfully, Trixie could scarcely even remember a day so normal. No horrific catastrophes, no blunders or misadventures, just her, Twilight and some tea with a side of gossip. There was that nagging fear at the back of her mind, saying everything was too perfect, but what did it know? Everything would most certainly be fine, of that, she was certain.

It was then, that reality came knocking on the castle's gate. Somehow, the sound could travel through the structure almost unhindered, audible above all else. There was some rustling as Spike probably opened the door, then rapid hoofsteps on the staircase. With a look at each other, the two magical ponies rose from their seats and went to meet the new arrival.

They met her at the top of the staircase, gasping for breath. Even through the tattered cloak, Trixie could easily make out her features. Earrings and other small baubles, coupled with a striped coat of black and white. Only one creature possessed such a strangely alluring combination in these parts. Zecora, steward of the Everfree forest. The zebra, still panting heavily, said:
"Twilight, hah, Sparkle! I bring news most dire, worse than last year's fire!"
The showpony had always found her way of speaking utmost fascinating. If anything, her mannerisms belied her vast intelligence and vocabulary. Stringing together rhymes without skipping a beat was truly a feat. Twilight replied, already obviously nervous:
"What happened, Zecora?!"
"It is utmost tragic! The amulet is gone, stolen by magic!"

The princess gasped, but Trixie just froze in place. She, of all ponies, knew what amulet she was talking about only too well.

They galloped deep into the Everfree, throwing caution to the wind. So many things were at stake, after all. The further they went, the grander the plants became, often sporting dizzying displays of colour, or simply growing larger than their more tame counterparts. At last, they reached what must have been the mightiest of them all.

The mighty tree was unlike anything she had ever seen. Its trunk was as large as a house, its incredible roots easily thicker than her. She suddenly felt like a miniscule, powerless rodent, hoping to find shelter. Zecora was unfazed and made her way into the network of roots. They followed and she soon led them to the base of the tree. A small hole between the roots was visible, large enough for a trinket of forbidden power. Her horn tingled intensely as the zebra spoke:
"Here is where it last lay, safe, out of the way. The mighty roots have powers arcane, and yet, the thief brought their bane," she pointed towards a patch of withered wood, crumbling into dust, as if drained of life, "dark magic was used to make the wood wither. This foe had stopped at nothing to come hither."
"Zecora," the princess spoke, "we need to find it immediately. Can we somehow track the amulet?"
"The artefact is a devious thing, no trace does it leave or bring. However, our thief may not be in luck! The foul taint of dark arts on his clothes is stuck."
"Got it," Trixie called out, already closing her eyes, "we can use our horns to track him!"
"Indeed you must, before the trail is hidden by dust!"

It took her a while to phase out the various sounds, scents and magic of the Everfree. But then, she could make out something. The remnants of foul energy. Even sensing it made her stomach feel uneasy. Once she knew what to look for, it was relatively easy to chart a path through their surroundings and back into the forest. Her concentration was broken when Twilight spoke:
"I can feel it... but, there's something strange."
Trixie's expression was worried:
"What do you mean?"
"I've... felt this before. This magic. I think I've already met this unicorn."
"Well, it's either someone you knew gone foul or an old acquaintance come for some payback. Whatever the case may be, we need to find and stop them."
"Trixie is right, lest they manage to misuse their newfound might!"

Twilight nodded with a look of grim determination. The hunt was on.

Surprisingly, however, the trail did not lead towards the outskirts of the forest. Rather, it snaked its way to a different part of the horrid woods. Twilight and Trixie walked side-by-side, each making sure the other did not lose track. Zecora spoke, while keeping watch for any local dangers:
"The two of you make quite a pair. We are sure to find the fiend's lair."
Twilight chuckled:
"Yup, we make a good team. Much better than before."
"Yes, heh, before." Trixie's smile and giggle were nervous.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just... my past always seems to come bite me in the rump."
"What do you mean?"
"Equestria to Sparkle," she gave the princess a light bump on the head, "have you forgotten what we're looking for? I'm the whole reason the blasted amulet is even in these parts!"
"You mean, as opposed to being in the hooves of a collector with extremely lacking safety standards?"
"Well, I... when you put it that way, I guess it could be worse."
"You must not let such thoughts trouble your mind," Zecora walked up next to them, "they serve to only keep you in a bind."
"I've already gotten over things," mostly thanks to a certain shape-shifting mischief-maker, "I guess I'm just getting tired of it, you know?"
"In that case, put your mind at ease by catching this crook with... with..."
"Ahah! Finally, you can't make a rhyme!"

Zecora looked just a tad bit irritated. The three then burst out into chuckles, before resuming their tracking.

It did not take them long to reach their destination. The crumbling ruin that had once been the capital of Equestria. If there was an archetype for a haunted structure, the castle was it. Malformed, weathered statues watched over the entrance gate, guardians from a bygone age. Trixie made one more sweep with her horn, but there was no doubt about it. The trail lead inside and she could already feel a more intense concentration of dark power within. The crook was inside.

With only a nod to each other, the trio entered, the castles gates creaking horribly due to centuries-old rust. The entrance hall still managed to carry an air of grandeur. Despite its many cobwebs, torn banners and crumbling architecture, its sheer size was still awe-inspiring. A small town could have fit inside without too many problems.

They only managed to make a few steps before the door was shut behind them. It was then that Trixie finally realised how dark the place was. With its braziers and torches unlit, light could only stream inside through several stained-glass windows, and even those were dirty due to neglect. Immediately, her horn alerted her to the presence of new magic. Her gut told her its attributes. A cloud of black smoke suddenly swirled around a nearby pillar and flew across the hall. All three of them assumed battle stances as the smoke gathered in the distance. A voice, deep, male, came from nowhere, yet everywhere:
"You arrive at last. I was growing impatient."
Twilight's eyes grew wide:
"That voice..."

The cloud swirled once more, forming into a distinct shape. The stallion was large, his coat a dark grey, his mane black like a moonless night. Wrapped in suit of armour, a crimson, royal cape was draped over his back. His most distinct features were a jagged, blood red horn and his green eyes, which shone with a malevolent, violet glow. The most eye-catching, however, was the winged amulet tied around his neck. The former king gave a slight bow:
"We meet once more," the last word was said mockingly, "Princess."
"Sombra!"
"Not even going to add the title? Has Princess Celestia taught you nothing about proper etiquette?"
"I am sorry, I was under the impression your reign of terror had ended."
"Hmph, technicalities. With this," he lifted the alicorn amulet with one hoof, "my dominion shall spread far and wide! Starting, I think, with that little town of yours."
"Not if we stop you first!" Trixie joined in, taking a spot right next to Twilight.
"Two fillies against the power I now wield? I'll take you up on that challenge!"

A maniacal laughter filled the hall as the fallen monarch charged into battle, his horn shining with dark energy. Twilight spread her wings and rose into the air, immediately raining down a barrage of magical bolts. Sombra avoided them by once again turning into smoke, then rose to meet her in the air. She attempted to ward him off with a barrier, but the king was swift and managed to sneak past her defences. Trixie could hear a muffled yelp, before Twilight plummeted down to the ground and the cloud descended before her. Sombra manifested once more with a wicked grin:
"Checkmate," he looked up at her, the showpony's face equal parts rage and worry. Her horn was ready to fire off an offensive spell. He replied, his voice suddenly shaky, "s-save your breath, filly. I'm not your biggest c-concern now."

With that, he suddenly collapsed onto the ground with a pain-filled wail, once again turning into smoke. Being so close, Trixie finally noticed something flying within the cloud. A single, small, violet crystal. The smoke seemed to emanate from it and it glowed whenever he spoke:
"Just in the nick of time, ugh."
"What sort of trickery is this?!"
The zebra seemed to understand:
"He is weak, broken. It is a miracle that he was able to awoken."
"Quite. This last little gem is all I have left. Just enough strength to get my revenge."
"What are you," it was then that she noticed something. Something missing, "oh no. Please, no."
"Yeeeeesssss," he hissed like a snake, before once again taking flight in his mist, "after all, it's not called the alicorn amulet for nothing, heheh! Hahahaahahahahah!"

His laughter spread through the lonely castle like a virus. It sent shivers down Trixie's spine and made her entire digestive system feel uneasy. And then, another shout came:
"Silence!"
A massive ray of energy engulfed what remained of the fallen king, yet the laughter did not stop, rather, it merged with a final, painful wail. Then, there was silence. Absolute, horrifying silence as a bit of crystalline dust floated to the ground. Trixie managed to take a step closer, her entire body shivering, and said:
"Twilight?"
"I get it now," her voice was different, "I can finally see why you found this so intoxicating," the purple alicorn turned, sporting a wicked grin and an innate, crimson glow in her eyes, "the power, the possibilities! It's simply incredible!"

For whatever reason, the amulet seemed to be working its corruption more rapidly. Her horn flashed as she stomped her front hooves and the entire area hook in a series of violent quakes. A few of remaining stone guardians came crashing down, while the zebra and the showpony had to fight to stay upright. Finally, the tremors subsided and those crimson eyes looked over them:
"Heheh, this strength! Not even Tirek could compare with me now!"
"Be that as it may," Zecora jumped closer, her voice pleading, "the amulet leads you astray! Please, come to your senses, otherwi-aaack!"

Out of nowhere, an invisible force crashed into the zebra and sent her flying through the air. She impacted a wall and slid down onto the ground, unconscious. Trixie called out:
"Zecora!"
"I don't need any more lectures from the likes of you! I am supreme now! I am the essence of magic!"

The light of the afternoon sun faded, the sky growing dark in the blink of an eye. Bolts of violet lightning crackled around the alicorn, burning through solid stone wherever they landed. Trixie called out to her friend:
"Twilight! You have to stop this!"
"Is that so? And if I do not, hmm? What are you going to do about it, Lulamoon?"
"I..." it was the first thing that came to mind, though she knew her chances. Nonetheless, with grim determination, she finished her sentence, "I challenge you to a duel."
The other cackled, before bursting out laughing. Then, those crimson eyes narrowed as she answered:
"Very well. And as a courtesy, you have the first shot."

She sighed, then concentrated. She gathered her strength over several seconds, her horn lighting up intensely due to the magic. She put all she had into the attack spell and fired. The ray was the largest she had ever conjured, by far. It was therefore especially disheartening when Twilight swatted it aside without even blinking. An explosion consumed one of the still-standing guardians as the alicorn spoke, her voice cold:
"That's all? Well, then, my turn!"

For purely dramatic effect, Twilight rose into the air and made a mighty flap with her wings. Trixie mustered some form of defence, to no avail. The unseen force crashed into her like a tidal wave, crushing her barrier like a fly and sending her tumbling a few dozen metres. Beaten, bruised, and breathless, she nonetheless managed to somehow get back on her hooves. The Element of Magic hovered closer with a wicked grin:
"You didn't really think you could do anything, did you? You're just a pathetic, worthless dropout," the words cut into Trixie like a knife, "considering yourself my rival is an insult! You couldn't beat me with the amulet, and now our positions are reversed!"

Twilight continued her megalomaniacal rant, but Trixie wasn't really listening. Twilight was right. She, or well, they had beaten Trixie. Without using even a speck of magic. And while trickery was not an option in her current state, there was another way. A different sort of magic. She stood proud, or well, at least tried to, and shouted back:
"You call yourself so great and mighty, yet I still stand!"
"Don't test my temper, Lulamoon. I could destroy you with a single thought!"
"Do it, then! Or is the Great and Powerful Twilight Sparkle just a hoax?"
"How dare you," the area shook once again, "fine! You signed your death warrant!"

Even from a distance, she could feel the raw arcane power that Twilight gathered for the attack. With a roar, the princess released a blast of energy and Trixie closed her eyes, doubt filling her mind in what could be her last moments. It seemed to last an eternity, but finally, her horn vibrated as the blast passed inches away from her mane, close enough to singe a few loose strands of hair. She opened her eyes. The alicorn was furious:
"What sort of defensive spell was that?!"
"I didn't use any."
"Impossible! You should have been utterly obliterated!"
"Perhaps," she took a step closer, "you missed on purpose."
"Nonsense! I'll prove it!"

Another deadly ray flew through the air next to her, obliterating part of a pillar. Trixie took another few steps and the princess shouted:
"No, impossible! Stay away!"
"Not a chance. Because I'm fighting for a friend," with added confidence, she started walking continuously, "and I don't intend to lose," they met gazes and Twilight was suddenly glued to the spot. Tears rolled down the showpony's face, "I won't lose. Not after having to leave school once my grandparents died and I couldn't keep up with payments. Not after I spent a few years growing more bitter and smug with each passing day," she had to stop for a few moments to wipe the tears away, "not after a wonderful pony forgave me and showed me the magic of friendship," she was close now, almost face-to-face. Twilight was shaking, "I refuse to lose you to some stupid trinket. So please, Twilight, come back to me... come back to all of us!"

With that, she threw herself into a hug. The alicorn's shivers intensified and she stammered:
"N-no. No. I am supreme. I am," suddenly, her eyes turned pure white and Trixie could feel a more familiar sort of magic fill the area, "your friend!"
The ground shook again, but Trixie did not let go. Instead, she held on even more tightly. A new sound suddenly reached her ears. It was miniscule when compared to the castle's very foundations shaking, but there nonetheless. The sound of a gem cracking. Blinding light filled the area. She closed her eyes and kept holding. Soon enough, the light and the tremors both faded and a pair of hooves wrapped themselves around her.

Twilight was crying. Twilight should not have been crying. The thought of Twilight crying made her want to cry more. She tightened her hug, probably to the point where it became uncomfortable, and spoke, a smile forming on her lips:
"There, it's okay. You're back."
Twilight could barely even speak:
"I, hah, I s-said such, hah, such horrid things."
"It wasn't you. The Twilight I know is the kindest pony in all of Equestria. So, come on. Turn that frown upside down. For me."

She let the princess out of her vice-like grip and looked her in the eyes. They were still teary, but her lips were curled into a faint smile. Everything was right again.

Zecora's hut was a strangely quaint place. Oh, sure the countless tribal masks, doodads and other decorations were a bit off-putting at first. But they also filled the place with so many colours and intricate shapes, not to mention giving a bit of exotic charm. For the owner, however, they were far more than just little design choices. They were a reminder of home.

The zebra in question gathered a steaming liquid from her cauldron into a trio of bowls, before placing them onto the table in front of her guests. Trixie sniffed and almost licked her lips afterwards. It smelled heavenly. Zecora sat down next to them, visibly quite ready to dig in:
"This meal soothes body and spirit both. So eat hearty, it will aid your growth!"

Trixie blew at the soup a few times, took a sip, then emitted a delighted 'Mmm!', before taking another. Zecora shared her enthusiasm, but Twilight seemed a bit distant, her mind preoccupied. She followed the alicorn's gaze to the remains of the wicked amulet. It was little more than an accessory at that point, its gem of power broken into a thousand shards. The showpony commented:
"What's wrong, Twi?"
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking."
"About?"
"About what we know about the amulet. It is, or well, was an ancient artefact, for sure, by all accounts dating back to the beginning of pony civilization. I'm just wondering why someone would create something like it. A power focus that warps your mind? Seems rather strange as a design choice."
"The hunger for power has always been strong. If the heart is already tainted, one could do no wrong."
Trixie nodded:
"I personally can easily imagine someone like Sombra crafting it without issue."
"I suppose you're right," she sighed and finally turned to her soup, "phew, quite the day we've had, eh?"
"Indeed, friend. But it all worked out in the end."
"I believe it's time for a saying quite classic. Friendship is magic."
Trixie frowned:
"That one was a bit of a stretch, wasn't it?"
"Thinking it is easy to rhyme should be a crime."
"Just a little teasing among friends, Zecora," she giggled.
"Oh, I am by no means angry, perhaps just still hungry. I have however noticed something grand, it involves the two mares at hand," Trixie wondered what exactly a 'hand' was, "you two have become friends to the core," she suddenly put on a mischievous grin, "or perhaps, something more?"

Princess and showpony met gazes and lingered for a few seconds, before turning away, blushing.

It was Zecora's turn to giggle.

Daring Dash

Two ponies walked together at a steady pace. Friends to the core, magicians, royal purple and star-struck blue. The morning sun shone upon them as they chatted, while autumn's colourful leaves made for wonderful scenery. The stage magician asked:
"Are you sure this method of yours works?"
The bookworm princess replied:
"Oh, indeed! Researched, tried and tested."
"It does make sense when you describe it, though I still fear the initial loss will make it hard to catch up to the others."
"Fear not, dear Trixie! The first time I used it, I even managed to score a medal!"
"Well, I do trust you. And whatever happens, we can have a nice, pleasant chat on the way."
"Yup. Complete with some nature watching!"

The starting line was already in sight, and boy, was it crowded! Dozens of ponies had gathered for the event and were busy stretching or conversing with their fellow runners. Other ponies seemed to have come as spectators. Among the crowd, Trixie could see several familiar faces.
Of all ponies, Fluttershy seemed to be competing, sporting a set of jogging gear and one of her trademark unsure expressions. Rarity assumed her rightful position as drama queen, sitting on a comfortable-looking couch and enjoying some refreshments before the event began in earnest. Applejack was at the very front, and waved at them with a smile. They both waved back as an energetic voice sounded from above:
"Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the annual Running of the Leaves!"

From within a large, pink balloon, Pinkie Pie oversaw the world. Or well, part of it, though one could never be sure with that mare involved. At her side sat an adorable and infinitely-helpful purple-green dragonling, clutching a microphone in his claws. He continued their greeting:
"Coverage of the event is brought to you by your favourite announcing duo from the friendly skies! Spike!"
"And Pinkie Pie! The fun will be starting soon, so get your knickers out of a bunch mighty quick," she turned to her co-host and asked, still audible to the world below, "hey, did you bring the fudge?"
"Pinkie, your microphone!"
"Oh, hihi, silly me!"

Twilight looked around the area, then frowned. Trixie asked:
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just, she should be here by now."
"Who?"

As if on cue, nearby ponies started pointing to the sky. Was it a bird? Was it a dragon? Of course not, it was a pegasus! And what a pegasus, at that! At speeds other ponies could barely comprehend, she performed dizzying somersaults, pirouettes and acrobatics, all the while staying on-course and even avoiding actual birds. With a final nosedive worthy of the finest daredevils, she landed right on the starting line, light as a feather. Applejack immediately greeted the sky-blue pony with a hoofbump:
"Ah knew you'd make it, sugarcube."
The speed freak put on massive grin, brushing aside her striped, colourful mane:
"You know I wouldn't miss our run for anything. Not even a Wonderbolt invitation."
"About that, Ah ain't so sure."

The two athletes laughed and started chatting. The atmosphere of the entire event was laid-back and friendly. The proper kind. Rustling could suddenly be heard from above, as Pinkie accidentally flipped a switch:
"Where did that darned thing go," Trixie didn't know how she could have lost something in the balloon's limited space, but knew better than to question anything when Pinkie was involved, "Spike, tell them to get ready while I grab the fishing rod!"
"Umm, you already kind of... how does that even... ahem, runners, get to your positions! The Running of the Leaves is about to begin!"
"Good job. Now hold this barracuda."
"Aaaaaaaah!"

With many confused expressions, the ponies assumed their positions, Applejack and Rainbow at the very front, obviously excited. Trixie and Twilight were somewhere in the middle of the bunch and Fluttershy... where was Fluttershy? Bowing out at the last moment from anxiety, perhaps? That seemed logical.
"Ahah, I found it! Do it, Spike!"
"With pleasure. Runners! Get ready," she took a deep breath, "get set," she bent her knees just a little. At that moment, Pinkie pulled out what looked like a tribal warhorn, complete with intricate carvings and blew on it, drowning out Spike's final word, "go!"

And they were off! Speeding among Ponyville's colourful trees in order to get them ready for the winter cold. Well, except for two. Twilight and Trixie did not exactly move fast, their pace more akin to a swift walk than a proper run. It was a calm, relaxing experience, that much she had to admit. Especially since they were allowed to watch as throngs of leaves fell to the ground. It was all rather lovely. Pinkie and Spike flew ahead with the main group, as well, their often-nonsensical banter still audible in the distance. Something else was audible, too. The clatter of dozens of small feet. An enthusiastic voice soon reached them:
"Good day, mademoiselles!"

They both turned in surprise to see none other than the Master of Chaos. His body was changed greatly, even longer than usual, and he now sported countless sets of small, insectoid legs, like some sort of oversized millipede. Fluttershy sat comfortably on his back, enjoying a cup of afternoon tea. Twilight wasn't quite sure how to respond to that, but Trixie remained nonchalant:
"Ah, hello, Discord! And you too, Fluttershy!"
"The leaves falling is a wonderful sight, isn't it?" the shy pony replied.
"She wanted to see it, but knew she couldn't keep up, so I offered a few hundred helping legs."
"And here I thought you were helping her overcome a fear related to pseudo-racing."
"Funnily enough, that is an unintended bonus. Now, let's see how the rest are doing," his neck extended like a periscope until he could see above the trees. He shouted back down, "oh, yes, Rainbow and Applejack are in the lead. How utterly predictable. Not exactly a popcorn flick, this race. Speaking of which, anyone want some cotton candy?"

A generous serving appeared in his outstretched hand. Fluttershy received a specifically-calculated portion without even having to ask. Trixie and Twilight both shook their heads and the princess answered:
"No thanks, Discord."
"Suit yourselves, more for me! Oh, my, they may wish to watch out for that wyvern."
It took just a few moments for the information presented to reach the three ponies' brains. Once it did, though, they shouted in unison:
"Wyvern?!"
"Oh, yes, the one flying at low altitu-ah," after feeling a sudden increase in pressure, Discord turned around to see two extra ponies on his back, "hey, what gives?"
"Step on it!"
He just shrugged, happy to get a bit of excitement:
"Aye, aye, Princess!"

Trixie didn't exactly know how Discord accelerated at least threefold without her feeling anything. She did know wyverns, however. Distant cousins of dragons More akin to large, aerial lizards than legendary beasts. No fire breathing shenanigans, either, but still trouble. Their trusty steed caught up to the main group just in time to see a blur swoop above the tree line with a roar. This was followed by a different sort of scream:
"Woaaaaah! Mayday, heyday, Sunday! We've been hit!"
"And we're going down!"

As the two announcers screamed, a blue streak rose to the sky. It reached the damaged balloon in a second flat and pulled the crew to safety in the nick of time. Their transport crashed into the tree line moments afterward. Rainbow Dash descended down to the ground, not even hindered by the dragonling on her back or the ever-grateful mare in her front hooves:
"You're a real hero, Rainbow! And if I've read the stories right, the hero deserves a kiss," she giggled, before giving Rainbow a playful peck on the cheek, "there!"
"Yeah, heheh," Rainbow seemed a bit flustered, before once again kicking into high gear, "now, where's that fat flying lizard?!"
Discord, still high above the trees, shouted while pointing with an elongated arm:
"Over there and still flying!"
"I'll teach him to mess with my friends!"

She rose and Twilight tried to stop her:
"Rainbow," but the speedster was already gone, hell-bent on getting some payback, "oh, crud. Fluttershy, come with me! Something is very wrong with that wyvern and we need to know what."
"Ummm, okay!"
As the two rose into the air and followed Rainbow, Trixie felt just a little bit dejected. But then, she realised how multi-talented her circle of friends was. She turned to her favourite shape-shifting Lord of Nonsense:
"Hey, Discord..."

Of all the things that could have happened, Twilight did not expect Trixie to suddenly almost ram into them with the help of large, bat-like wings. She did an involuntary pirouette as she tried to fly straight, then met gazes with the princess:
"These bloody wings are impossible!"
"How did you even get them?!"
Fluttershy giggled:
"I feel Discord might have had a hoof in that. I must say, though, it's still better than your first time, Trixie."
"That's not saying much," she growled, "how's Rainbow doing?"
"I'd say she's doing just fine, actually."

And by the gods, she was. The pegasus was little more than a colourful blur, flying circle around the brown, winged lizard. The wyvern's jaw tried to snap at her in annoyance, but its teeth only managed to chomp against each other. It flapped its large, leathery wings and hovered in the air, finally coming to a halt and growling at the brash pony. As they closed the distance, they could hear her shout:
"Hah, can't touch this! Think you can do better, scale-brains?!"

The beast seemed ready to attack, when a far more graceful pegasus flew between the two with a shout:
"Stop," the combatants froze in place and gazed at her, "you should both be ashamed of yourselves, just behaving like a pair of children," a guilt trip was immediately obvious on both, "is this any way to solve a disagreement?"
Suddenly, the creature spoke up, in a very properly pronounced accent:
"In my defence, my lady, this hooligan assaulted me first. I do agree I might have lost my temper and I apologise deeply for this."

Trixie and Twilight just shared a confused look, but Rainbow was in full confrontation mode:
"I attacked first?! You hit my friends' balloon so hard it crashed!"
The wyvern's charcoal, serpentine eyes grew just a bit wider:
"What, what, what?! Oh, dear, was that the bump I felt?! I do hope everyone is alright."
"Yeah they are. Because I'm awesome."
"By Tiamath, that is good to hear," Twilight perked up at the mention of the name, "I am terribly sorry. In my panic, I flew without considering the danger I could potentially pose. Please, forgive my ignorance."
Fluttershy flew closer and rubbed her muzzle against its bestial snout, earning herself a monstrous purr:
"It's okay. You're not a bad wyvern at all."

Trixie homed in on the important part:
"If I may, you said you were panicking?"
"Oh, yes. The creatures appeared so suddenly I barely had time to pack my tea set," with its head, it motioned to a comically tiny backpack tied around the base of its wing, "would have been a dreadful loss, mmmyes."
"Creatures?" Twilight joined the interrogation.
"Oh, yes. Nasty things, seemed quite flustered about something overall. Decided it might be good to find a new lair. The old one was getting a bit small, anyway."
"Could you please describe them in more detail?"
"Hmmm, well, let's see. They looked very much," at that moment, the earth below trembled as a massive new shape burst from the ground and towered above the surrounding tree line, "like that, actually."

The being was absolutely massive in size, easily dwarfing even the proper wyvern. It was akin to a horrific snake, its scales a very dark purple. Its head was a jarring contrast of light pink, with a red, mane-like structure attached. Briefly, it looked around with numerous large, black eyes, then roared. Its entire head opened into three separate parts, revealing several long, prehensile tongues. Rainbow immediately commented:
"Ugh, why did it have to be tentacles?"

Trixie, meanwhile, identified their foe:
"A tatzlwurm! This far east," the others were giving her that look. The one that begged for exposition, "what? Nobody else is subscribed to 'Fantastical Fauna Monthly'?"
"I haven't read the newest issue yet, I'll admit," the princess frowned, "but I have tackled this particular kind of creature before," a second monstrous snake burst from the ground, and screeched, "though, it was alone last time."
"This is bad," the showpony said, "we need to calm them down before they hurt someone!"
"Umm, maybe I could calm them down, a bit. But they seem to be really angry right now, for some reason. We'd need to make them listen."
"Hah, I bet a good kick would do the trick."
Fluttershy, to their surprise, agreed:
"That just might work. They seem tough, they can take a bit of roughing up," she turned to their noble friend, "mister wyvern, would you be willing to help us with this?"
"And teach these ruffians some manners in the process? Why, I must say, my lady, count me in!"
"Alright, everyone! Two teams! Me, Fluttershy and, ummm..."
"Gerald."
"Right, Gerald. Team two, Trixie and Rainbow. Keep that one busy, we'll get to you as soon as we subdue the other one."
One by one, her non-conventional army responded:
"Got it!"
"Yeah, let's roll!"
"Umm, right."
"To victory!"

Team one grouped and flew to meet their monstrous opponent. Rainbow and Trixie shared a look, Rainbow obviously optimistic about the whole ordeal:
"Alright, Trix, ready to rock?"
"Ready when you are."
"Hah, we'll see if you can keep up."
"Before you rush off to danger, allow me to do this!"
"What are ya'," the pegasus spun around as a small flight of clones suddenly appeared around her, saluting. Her grin grew wider, "woah, radical! He won't be able to keep track of me now!"
"My plan exactly! Go get him, Rainbows!"
"Oh, we will!"

Equestria's first one-pony squadron set off to meet its foe in combat. Trixie nodded with a satisfied smile, when a small bucket suddenly appeared before her, filled to the brim with popcorn. She followed the strangely elastic arm that held it back to her mysterious benefactor. Discord's single fang was at a particularly strange angle as he grinned:
"Popcorn, Trix?"
"Don't mind if I do," she lapped up a good number with her tongue and as she chewed, looked over the battlefield. The Running of the Leaves seemed to have been forgotten, as spectators and runners alike gathered to watch the battle. The world's most proper wyvern, while much smaller than his opponent, seemed to be having little trouble with keeping the massive worm subdued, "look at the grip on Gerald!"
"Oh, yes! The way he holds onto its neck with those shapely talons of his is almost enchanting."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were ready to profess your love to a wyvern."
"Och, Trixie," the draconequus winked, his grin growing wider, "I'll have you know, I am an equal opportunity romantic."
"Somehow, that does not surprise me," she looked towards the other worm. Her illusions were performing as intended, flying around in a seemingly random pattern, but the original was something else, "look at her go!"

Rainbow was... was there something faster than a blur, or would that mean she was invisible? In any case, the pegasus let loose her inner daredevil, performing somersaults and darting between the creature's furious, flailing attacks. Its tentacle-like tongues lashed around it, swatting at the incorporeal attackers to no avail. Rainbow let out a cocky chuckle and taunted the worm:
"Hah! Not even close, ugly!"

In hindsight, this proved to be an error. The creature's many eyes narrowed as it followed the sound to its source. With a roar, the tentacles lunged in her direction. She yelped and performed a few more dizzying manoeuvres. The first and second tentacles snapped at nothing but air, but the third managed to grab hold of her hind leg. She struggled to free herself of the iron grip, but more and more soon wrapped themselves around her. She did not stop struggling, though she was doing little more than wasting energy at that point. Slowly, the beast pulled her closer to its monstrous maw.

"Oh, no," the showpony shouted, turning to her shape-shifting accomplice, "Discord, plan B!"
"W-what's plan B?! Plan C has chocolate, wouldn't you rather..."
"No! I need you to propel me at that monster!"
"Propel you? But what will yo-?
"Leave that to me! Just do it!"

Without another word, he saluted her like a trained soldier. With a snap of his cloven hoof, a sizeable slingshot suddenly materialised in the air. It seemed to be equipped to fire elephants, if need be. Trixie also received a complimentary helmet on her head, its stars and colours almost identical to those on her regular hat. A pair of blue goggles appeared shortly afterwards. Without a second thought, she assumed her position. Discord pulled back and looked down at her:
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer the chocolate?"
"Fire me. Now."
"As you say," at the top of his lungs, he then shouted, "foooooooooooooooooore!"

Internally dismissing the improper use of the warning, Trixie tried to concentrate on her spell, only to finally realise just how fast she was going. The world around her was little more than a blur and she had to struggle against the wind to maintain her path. It was... amazing. Exhilarating. If Rainbow felt like this every time she flew, she understood the pegasi's lust for speed perfectly. But she had a job to do. And she hoped it would work.

Her horn glowed once more and Rainbow's doppelgangers vanished, much to the tatzlwurm's confusion. She needed every bit of arcane power she could get. With a grunt, a familiar, violet shield appeared before her. Staunch defender in almost all cases. On that day, it would be on the offensive. The snake noticed her approach, but was too preoccupied with trying to devour his captive to do anything.

Unicorn and monstrous snake clashed with devastating results. The worm was almost uprooted from the ground by the impact, but instead merely came crashing down, taking a good few trees along with it. Trixie, meanwhile, spun out of control, her flight skills actually hindering her efforts to regain control. And then, the unpleasant sensation stopped, as a pair of hooves swept her from the air.

She looked up at her dashing hero, Rainbow's smile already back on prominent display:
"That. Was. Awesome! You were like a missile, just flying, and then, boom! Right in the," Rainbows stream of thoughts was interrupted by a light peck on the cheek, "w-wha?"
"Haven't you heard," Trixie replied teasingly, "a hero deserves a kiss."
She blushed, but regained her composure in record time:
"Bah, shouldn't I kiss you, then? Without you, I'd be dinner. Besides, what you did was incredible."
"The great Rainbow Dash giving out praise? How unexpected."
"Hey, credit where credit's due."

They finally landed and Trixie thanked the gods for blessed ground. Familiar faces soon appeared, not dissuaded by potential danger. Rarity rushed closer with a handkerchief and immediately got to work on getting dirt out of her fur:
"Darling, look what that dangerous stunt did to your coat!"
"I'm more worried about what this helmet is doing to my mane."

Rarity gasped and Pinkie handed her a cool drink to calm her down. It was then that team one appeared, Fluttershy at the very front. They hovered closer to the beaten tatzlwurm's head. The creature's fighting spirit was visibly gone, replaced with exhaustion. Equestria's most graceful pony floated right in front it and Trixie could finally make out strange marks in the creature's scales, akin to burn marks. She spoke to it, her usual timid nature put on hold:
"Hello, mister tatzlwurm," it regarded her with a few eyes, "I talked with your friend over there and he mentioned you were the one who persuaded her to come all the way here. Could you please tell me why you travelled so far to cause trouble?"

For a few moments, it seemed as though it would ignore her, but the pegasi's lovely voice was not so easily ignored. It replied with a low growl, barely audible, but there. No one but Fluttershy could understand, of course:
"Payback? What sort of payback are you talking about," one of its prehensile tongues slowly slithered out, turned around and rubbed one of its scars, "someone hurt you."
At that, the purple alicorn stepped closer and looked at the worm:
"And I think that someone was me," the worm's eyes narrowed and it grunted, "was that a yes?"
"He mentions there was another, too."
"You'd have to go north to find her, I'm afraid. And if you remember, you're the one who attacked us."
There again came a set of growls which necessitated translation:
"He says you two were aggressors, because you invaded his territory. His kin are very protective of that."
Twilight frowned, but then her lips curled into a faint smile:
"In that case, I am extremely sorry for our intrusion. We were just trying to help a friend," she turned towards Discord with an annoyed glare and the mischievous spirit whistled innocently, "at the time, we defended ourselves in a manner we considered appropriate. If you let us, we can find a way to treat those scars and make your scales good as new. In return, I merely ask of you to be less immediately forceful when defending your territory. A simple warning growl would perhaps be better than an all-out attack."

The monstrous snake was silent, contemplating the offer. It was then that the other worm moved its head closer with a high-pitched wail. The burnt one looked up and growled in response. They went back and forth in this manner for a good while and Trixie leaned in to Fluttershy, who was listening intently:
"Hey, Flutters, what are they saying?"
"Oh, they're just talking it out. Gandr, the female one, is telling Jormun he should just let it go, especially after we offered to patch the scars up. She also agrees that he has a bit of an explosive personality. Overall, she seems to care about his well-being quite a bit, even though he's stubborn. Oooh, and they've agreed!"

Before anyone had the opportunity to ask, Jormun's extensive tongue slowly made its way to Twilight. Gently, it wrapped itself around her right front hoof and slowly shook it. The assembled ponies cheered.

"Runners and watchers, put your smiles back on! The annual Running of the Leaves can now come back like a good cup of afternoon tea! From the friendly skies, these are your favourite commentators! Pinkie Pie!"
"And Spike!"
"And today with a guest host, a wyvern of good manners and even better flying!"
"Oh, yes, that would be me, Gerald! And I must say, the world always looks lovely from up here!"

Trixie smiled as the commentating trio passed overhead. She was sure it was less comfortable than sitting in the balloon, but beggars could not be choosers. The first thing to greet her when she looked back down was a familiar, colourful mane. Dashie's trademark grin was there, immovable as a mountain:
"Hey, Trix."
"Hiya! Ready to run like the wind?"
"You bet, heheh. Listen, I just wanted to say... well, thanks. For saving me back there and stuff."
"You saved me afterwards, remember? If anything, we're even."
"Yeah, well, I've given you tough times in the past. Even after Twilight said you'd changed and stuff," she looked down at the ground, "I should have opened my eyes, I guess. And I'm sorry for all that. You're actually pretty rad.”
"Coming from you, that's a high honour, heh. And don't worry. Loyalty must be earned, as they say.”

Rainbow chuckled, then presented one of her legs for a hoofbump. Trixie grinned and their hooves clopped together. With that, they assumed their positions. There were still lazy leaves to take care of, after all.

Truth of the Cutie

The trail. The road. The journey. Pretty much the best things about Trixie's chosen occupation. The long treks throughout the world, with nopony else around, sometimes even for days at a time. An opportunity to just take in the sights, let the mind wander and forget about one's worries. That was, of course, if one was sure they were alone.

Trixie wasn't. She couldn't quite explain how she suspected something was amiss. Was it her ears telling her some rustling or distant noise did not belong? Was it that unnamed, unexplored extra sense, the one that seemed to always know she was being watched? Whatever it was, her eyes saw nothing but pretty nature whenever they scanned the area for danger.

She had to stop and look several times before she finally pinpointed the culprit. While the scenery changed, one thing remained the same. A small, green bush, just at the outskirts of the tree line. She tried to remain nonchalant and kept walking, her mind racing for an answer. She wasn't sure she was equipped to deal with sentient shrubbery of any sort. Or was it some sort of predator in disguise, cunningly using the forest to their advantage? Only one way to find out.

Swiftly, the showpony spun around and faced the bush, catching it mid-movement. Her horn glowed as she prepared an offensive spell and shouted:
"Show yourself, fiend!"
"Woah, we give, we give," came a strangely familiar voice from the leafy pursuer. It talked to someone else, "Ah told ya' she'd find us."
"Guess stalking isn't it, either..."

Three fillies appeared from the deceitful shrubbery. One was very much familiar, with her light yellow coat, red mane and frankly unmistakeable pink bow. The other two Trixie had never met, though they were obviously partners in crime. In a playful tone, the showpony said:
"Well, if it isn't Apple Bloom and friends."
"Welp, ya' sure got us. Ah knew a lil' bush wouldn't fool ya'."
"Have you been following me all the way from Ponyville? As in, for a good four hours now?"
"Yup."
"While I do love my adoring fans," they giggled, "everyone must be worried at this point. Applejack most of all, I think."
"Yup. Oh, Ah don't think you've met my friends. These are..."
"Allow me."

The trio gazed in wonder as she slowly walked around them, taking in all the important details. Trixie then sat back down in front of them, looked each in the eyes and continued, starting with the unicorn:
"Now then, the snow-white shade of your coat is quite familiar. The way you walked out was fairly graceful, undoubtedly practiced. Furthermore, your mane is just lovely! Someone undoubtedly helped you get it done so stylishly, most probably an expert in the craft. You are none other than Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle!"

She literally hopped from excitement, said purple-pink mane maintaining its shape despite the activity. Rarity knew her sister well, that much was certain. Her voice was a bit squeaky, all thing considered, but it had something to it that Trixie couldn't quite put her hoof on. Something that made it very pleasant to listen to:
"Oh, wow! That's awesome!"

With a smirk, Trixie turned her attention to the final member of the trio:
"And you. Orange coat, unkempt, purple mane. Small bruises and scratches all over. No doubt an adventurous filly, used to trying just about everything. And while your wings may be just a bit on the small side for now, I bet you'll tear the skies asunder one day. Rainbow Dash's favourite little flyer-in-training, Scootaloo," her wings flapped rapidly as she hovered in the air for just a moment, with a smile, "and together, you are the infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders."
The trio clapped their hooves and Trixie bowed with a smirk. Apple Bloom asked:
"Are ya' a detective in disguise or somethin'?"
"Oh, no, I just notice the important things. Speaking of which, what in the hay are the three of you doing, following me?"

Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and spoke, as if she was their official representative:
"It was not on our own accord, in our defence. Pinkie Pie finished making a few cheesecakes shortly after you left Ponyville," gently, she nudged the young farmpony, who nodded and ran to their bush, "in that way only Pinkie can, she asked us if we would be willing to bring you a few slices for the road."
"Yeah," Scootaloo continued just as Apple Bloom returned with a small basket in her mouth, "and then I had the idea that we could hit two birds with one rock. So we scrounged up some camouflage and followed. And, well," they all smiled sheepishly, "I guess we lost track of time in the excitement."
"And lose track you did, indeed," she looked up to the sky. The sun was already beginning to dip into the horizon, "it'll be dark soon. I'll need to find a good spot for us to camp for the night."
"Wouldn't it be best if we jus' get back real quick?"
"Travelling at night is dangerous. Many dangerous creatures are nocturnal. A small campfire is all we need to keep them away, thankfully. Now, let me do this."

A glow surrounded her horn and her eyes flashed. A small bolt of arcane energy shot into the air and vanished in the distance in the blink of an eye. Sweetie seemed to be the most interested in the display:
"Wow, what was that?"
"A little communication spell that Twilight taught me. I let her know the three of you are okay and we'll return tomorrow. Now, come on. You will help me set up camp."
"Yes, Trixie!" they replied like good little filly scouts. She couldn't help but smile.

Good little filly scouts, her plot. The trio more than lived up to every harrowing tale she had heard. The crux of the issue, Trixie thought, was in the unique blend of traits the fillies possessed.

Apple Bloom was a filly of action, headstrong and courageous to a fault. Coupled with her ability to always cut to the point and being able to keep the other two in line, if need be, she was the closest thing the crusaders had to a leader.

Scootaloo had energy to spare for several fillies and spent every free moment on stunts or more tame acrobatics. She was taking after her idol, to be sure. It never took long for her to make up another sly jest or wisecracking comment.

And then there was Sweetie Belle, a demon in angel's clothing. On the outside a stylish, well-behaved little filly, she was however just as energetic as her friends, if not more so. Her curiosity was unmatched and her hearing... her ears could pick up on tones in one's voice and other verbal cues easily. Coupled with her devious little mind, she was most certainly not to be underestimated.

But the more she walked next to them as they hopped, dashed, chatted and asked ever-more-cunning questions, the more she could make out their good sides. While undoubtedly a handful, the three were friends to the core, united and driven by their singular mission. There was a passion in them she couldn't help but admire. Fillies would be fillies, in the end, and these three had found perhaps the most important things in the world. Each other.

Finally, they came across a decently-sized clearing where they could camp for the night. And not a moment too soon. As soon as they finished making a fire, the crusaders gathering the required twigs and branches in record time, a howl filled the evening air. Scootaloo and Sweetie immediately grew nervous and the disguised devil asked:
"W-was that a t-timberwolf?"
Trixie chuckled to herself, though Apple Bloom beat her to the answer:
"Nah, ya' dummy. Timberwolf howlin' be a lot more raspy and deep. 'Sides, we ain't even in the Everfree. That there was a regular ol' wolf."
"Which does not mean it wouldn't love to snack on some naughty little fillies," they collectively yelped and she chuckled, "which is why we have the fire. Not only that, we also have cheesecake!"

They cheered as the delicious creation was shared around the campfire. Smiling as they were, the trio was reaching dangerous levels of cuteness. To prevent a possible overload, Trixie asked a question that had been on her mind for a while:
"You know, I've wanted to ask, why is it that you search for your cutie marks in the way you do?"
"Whaddaya' mean?" replied Apple Bloom, between bites.
"You make use of, how would I say it, a rapid-fire method? Try as many things as fast as possible?"
"That was my idea," came the ever-vigilant Scoots, "it's real simple, really. The more things you try, the more likely you are to find your special talent. It's fool-proof!"

The showpony at first just giggled. Then, she snortled. Finally, she let out a heartfelt laugh. Her acquaintances were obviously not in on the joke and Scoots asked:
"Ummm, what's so funny?"
She managed to contain herself and met gazes with the filly:
"That you still think it's all so simple. Has nopony ever talked to you about this?"
Sweetie was quick to blurt out:
"No. Well, that is," she gave it more thought, "I don't think we ever listened."
"Somehow, that does not surprise me. Listen to me now, then. To demonstrate my point... Scootaloo."
"Yes?"
"What is Rainbow’s special talent?"
"Oh, I know that! It's... it's..."

The filly's eyes grew wide as she found herself at a loss for words. Trixie smirked, before resuming her strangely expository dialogue:
"You can't say, because your view of it is too simple. A cutie mark is not just some badge or tattoo, proclaiming to the world: 'Hey everypony, I'm pretty good at this!' It is much more complex than that. It's a sign that a pony has found their true calling, their place in the world."

Her horn glowed as a tiny, helpful puppet materialised above the campfire. It was a likeness of Rainbow Dash, perhaps not too dissimilar to something a practitioner of voodoo could have used. Trixie continued:
"Take Rainbow. She is defined by adrenaline. The rush and thrill that only speed and adventure may provide," the image looped around the fire in a second flat, "but her desire is tempered. She never leaves her friends behind, no matter what. In the thick of things as much for herself as for others."

Suddenly, the puppet landed in front of Apple Bloom. Its wings vanished, its coat and mane taking on shades of orange and blond, respectively. The filly squeaked excitedly:
"Sis!"
"Yes, good old Applejack. Not just some 'farmpony'. A mare built on ideals of hard, honest work and family. Looking out for others, perhaps to a fault, she'd give everything she has to make sure her friends and family alike stay together, strong as the healthiest apple trees."

The doppelganger flickered, its mane twisting into a bold, well-groomed display. Snow-white and violet. Even with minimal detail, she was a dashing display. It walked over to Sweetie Belle and bowed, as Trixie continued:
"Eye-catching Rarity. Oh, she does love her fancy outfits and gems, but is that all she is? One needs to take but a glance at her during her work to know otherwise. In the end, she is there for others. Her creations are dazzling, yet personal. With all the right touches and intimate details, she tries to bring out the best in you. And I must say, she always succeeds."

The three were quiet for an unfathomably long moment by their standards. The stylish filly asked:
"How can you tell that just by looking at the cutie mark?"
She had to fight a snortle again, then replied:
"You can't. A cutie mark is important, but it's still just that. A mark, a picture. At best, it gives you a hint," at worst, it served only to confuse, like that one mailmare, Ditzy, "that's why you should never just assume something about a pony with just a look. Talk with them, get to know them. Truth be told, it's easier for some ponies than others."

With an unnecessary, purely dramatic stomp of a hoof, the clone suddenly split in two. One was a chaotic jumble of various shades of pink, the other a mix of creamy yellow and... still pink. While the graceful imposter remained composed, the pink one somehow ignored her careful commands and hopped onto a nearby rock, then started dancing. Nothing could ever remain normal with that mare involved, could it?

Apple Bloom said:
"Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy!"
"Indeed. On the surface, night and day. Yin and yang. Yet, when you get to know them, they are similar in so many ways. Both simply want to make others happy, in any way possible. They perfectly complement each other. Where Fluttershy gets along well with the animals, but her shy nature makes her distance herself from other ponies, Pinkie simply covers their world in smiles. She'd be just as likely to frighten animals with her antics as make them smile, though. Together, they make everyone feel great."

The campfire flickered, starting to get dangerously low. Trixie got up to add a few twigs to it. Fake Fluttershy vanished with a polite nod, while Mini-Pinkie finished her routine before jumping into the ground. Trixie turned to her miniature audience:
"Do you see what I mean?"
Still, they just sat there in silence, before finally, the farmhand said:
"Ah guess. Gettin' a cutie mark be a real important thing."
"It shows that you know what you want to be. What you were born for."
"Whether it's something cool and awesome, or well... not as much."
"Very good," she clapped her hooves with a smile, yet they did not seem to share her enthusiasm, "what's the matter?"

Scootaloo replied:
"Well, it's just," her tiny wings flapped a few times, slowly, "we had all these things set up for Cutie Mark Crusading. And now, well, I think we don't know where to go from here."
"Oh, come now," the showpony grinned, "a bit of realism can't possibly hold back the Cutie Mark Crusaders! You'll just have to put some more work into your ideas, tailor them to what you think would work best. Most importantly, however, keep that bond you share strong. It is rare to see a friendship as strong as yours."

The trio giggled and one by one, they said:
"Ah think we can do that."
"We'll try our best, Miss Trixie."
"It'll take longer but we can do it, because we are..."
In unison, they shook the forest around them and frightened would-be predators:
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
She waited for the trees to stop swaying before commenting:
"Oh, don't worry, you have all the time in the world. Why, I've only had my cutie mark for a few years now."
Their jaws dropped. Sweetie Belle was the first to recover:
"You got it so late?"
"Uhuh."
"How?"
"Well..."

It all happened shortly after I had to leave Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. After some debts were paid, I was not left with much in the way of bits. I needed to find a way to make some, quick. An idea then came to mind, deviously great.

You see, even though I never finished my studies, I was still far better than the average unicorn when it came to magic. I reasoned, therefore, that I could make a little magic show. Make some quick bits before I find something more permanent. Luckily for me, I even had an outfit, the same one I wear these days.

On that fateful night, the moon shone brightly, reassuringly. The crowd wasn't too large and even so, I was used to public performances. My show was nothing like what I do today with my little illusory helpers. It was more an ensemble of tricks and other magic, simple by most standards, yet effective nonetheless. The ponies cheered and I loved it.

Then there was that one pony, you know the sort. Stands up from the crowd, all proud and mighty, and says something derogatory, usually targeting your production values. I can't quite recall what he had said, but I do recall my retort was witty enough to make him sit back down with his face looking like a tomato.

The rest of the performance went swimmingly and at the end, a few of the attendees even stomped for me! I was ecstatic, you can imagine. I simply adored being... well, adored. A few chanted my name, and my heart skipped a few beats. I bowed with a wide smile and vanished. I heard them clapping from backstage and almost couldn't contain myself.

And later, when I looked into a mirror, I finally saw it. A strange image of the crescent moon and a magic wand. It was a neat cherry on top of it all, I can tell you that.

She caught herself gazing into the fire as it crackled. Her mind had wandered, creating a simplified replica of the entire scene. She snuffed it out of existence in the blink of an eye, then turned back to the crusaders:
"Afterwards, I packed my things and knew what I wanted. What I didn't do is use any self-control. I was too ambitious about the whole ordeal, I think. Eventually, I considered only myself and nopony else," she frowned, "and you know how that went."
"Yup," Apple Bloom put on a bitter smile, "Twilight beat ya'. But now the two of ya' are best friends, so it don't matter anymore, do it?"
"No," Trixie smiled, "not anymore."

"Hey," Scootaloo's ears perked up, "you gave us a little summary about everyone except Twilight! What can you see in Twilight?"
Her mind was immediately flooded by so many memories and images. Sifting through all the information, she started forming a response:
"Hmmm, Twilight Sparkle. What can I say that you don't already know? Incredibly smart, amazing at magic," owner of the most adorable giggle, "born leader, even though she sometimes hates to admit it," owner of such beautiful eyes, "and all around, just a great pony to know. Kind, understanding, forgiving. She is," a one-of-a-kind pony, "the best friend one could wish for. Just amazing, overall, don't you think?"

She finally noticed they were staring downwards, near the fire. A new doppelganger stood there, mimicking the alicorn princess. But where the others were overall simple, essentially just tools to get her point across, this one was... crafted. While small, it possessed life-like detail, down to the smallest little mannerisms or touches. The showpony smiled and the clone smiled back at her, in that way that always made her heart skip a few beats.

"Miss Trixie?"
She snapped out of her trance and Twilight vanished. Turning to Sweetie Belle, she said:
"Sorry, got lost in my thoughts there. In any case, it is getting rather late. I have a bedroll in my bag, so you can sleep on that one."
"What about you?" came from Ponyville's energetic pegasus.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll cast a little spell to keep the fire going, then I'll sleep on the ground."

The trio shared a look. Without needing to say anything, they nodded at each other, then turned back to her, speaking in unison:
"We've got a better idea."

She wished more of life's problems could be solved by applying geometry. The bedroll, while rather small, now housed all four of them. Even better, laying on her side, she could keep an eye on all three of the little devils at once, curled up next to her. And mischievous little demons though they were, when she looked at them then, she saw only three little angels taking a nap. Looks could be so deceiving.

******

Twilight smiled when she saw the curious group in the distance, alerted her companions, then waved. Sweetie Belle returned the wave from Trixie's back, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo hopped around them. Applejack and Rarity released a joint sigh of relief, while Rainbow simply chuckled.

As soon as they got closer, the three troublemakers dispersed to their respective responsibles. Scoots was the only one to not receive an intense scolding, rather, she was very briefly lectured in that laidback way only Rainbow could muster. Nonetheless, at the end of it, the little pegasus seemed to be the most affected. Idols had a profound influence, that much was certain.

Princess and showpony met gazes and Trixie said:
"Well, here you have them, safe and sound."
"Thanks for taking care of them. I know how much of a handful they can be."
"I will have you know we actually get along just fine," she turned to her cohorts, " crusaders, assemble!"

As if through magic, the trio assembled into an orderly line, saluted, then called out:
"Yes, Trixie!"
"Good! Now, you said you had something for me, cadets! And I want to see it, on the double!"
Scootaloo took a step forward:
"Ma'am, an honorary title, ma'am! It shall be presented at the clubh... I mean, at HQ, ma'am!"
"Very good! Lead the way, cadets!"

They marched once again in an orderly line as alicorn and companions just stared with their jaws open. The showpony shot them a smirk:
"What? I'm good with devils."

The mock-soldiers travelled through Ponyville, earning themselves quite a few gazes. The drill chant they shouted one by one certainly helped in that regard:
"I don't know what you've been told!"
"We know that we are quite bold!"
"Questing for our cutie marks!"
"With no rest like hungry sharks!"

Author's Note

Obligatory Cutie Mark Crusaders chapter.

I'm pretty sure there's a rule that makes it obligatory.

This Strange Other World

The Everfree was silent, if only because of the mighty storm that raged far above. Trixie trudged on through the rain, all of her concentration focused on maintaining a crude magical field that functioned as an umbrella. Twilight made it seem so easy, but then again, that was Twilight.

The rain wasn't the main issue, though. Lightning and thunder worked in tandem, trying to rip the world itself asunder. Bolts dashed across the sky, often reaching for the ground itself, which made her all-the-more nervous. She was quite sure that her little water deterrent wouldn't be quite as effective as a lightning rod.

One such bolt suddenly cut through the air, close enough for the thunder to make her ears hurt and her bones tremble. She yelped and glanced in its direction. It had thankfully avoided the trees, so... her body tensed as she suddenly felt an intense surge of raw magic. Lightning had always been seen as a very strange force. On one hand explained by scientific methods, on the other still possessing strange, arcane qualities.

Often, mad wizards sought to channel its power for experiments and rituals of a dangerous, unpredictable nature. Other times, a fateful strike would bring to life ancient artefacts or relics, forgotten remnants of long-gone civilisations.

Whichever it was, it was bound to be troublesome, if not downright dangerous. Against her better judgement, the showpony decided to investigate.

She crept through the undergrowth for a few metres, when a bestial groan attracted her attention. She turned and to her relief, it was a timberwolf. Now there was a sentence few other ponies would utter. What pleased her the most was the absence of its regular odour. The wood-wraith stood in the rain and it seemed almost delighted. It regarded her with a bark and she replied:
"Enjoy yourself. You lot could use a shower more often, frankly."

Trixie returned to the task at hand. Finally, after a few more moments of careful creeping, she came to the source of the magic. The rain, being as thick as it was, had filled some sort of crater, hopefully not a massive footprint or anything of the sort, resulting in a small pond. Immediately, she knew something was off.

The water did not ripple in the rain. It sat perfectly still, so much so that Trixie could see her reflection clearly. With a frown, she levitated a tiny stone and threw it. It vanished, again without a ripple or any other sign of its passing. She took a few steps closer and gazed into the pond. A fateful mistake.

The edge of the pond was not exactly reinforced. As the showpony moved her weight, the ground under her hooves crumbled. Her trusted travel bag did not help, either, throwing her off-balance and accelerating the fall. She fell face-first into the pond, yet felt no moisture. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

A strange sensation washed over her for but a fraction of a second. Her entire body tingled, twisted and turned, yet without pain or greater discomfort. Her muzzle itched, her hooves felt like they could burst asunder. And then, it was over. She stared at the ground, more precisely at a rather fashionable violet rug. It was wet. Not too far, she could see a tiny stone.

A strangely familiar, female voice filled her surroundings:
"Who... what... how is this even?"

She looked up and froze. She had never seen a creature like the one before her. Distantly, it reminded her of a monkey, or ape, yet it did not seem to have actual fur, just smooth skin. It was slender, overall, with a clear distinction between its upper and lower body parts. Its skin was a slightly dark shade of blue, its hair a... pale, pearlescent blue. Its eyes were violet, just like her own.

Trixie's mind worked overtime, putting the puzzle pieces together. She raised her front hoof and... where in the hay was her front hoof?! In its stead, she gazed at what she could only describe as a dragon-like claw, yet far less lethal-looking. It did seem to have something akin to talons, but they were trimmed and... rather fashionable? Where did that thought come from? And how did these digits work? She flailed them about for a few seconds, then managed hit her forehead. Her horn was missing?! How could it...?!

Trixie took a few deep breaths to calm down, then gazed again at her other self. Her twin sported a set of what she assumed was casual wear. Short-sleeved, violet shirt with simple, matching pants. A quick glance revealed that she was in full show attire, with several pieces of added garment which now hid her bare skin. Such an uncanny transformation.

The two Trixies met gazes once more, mouths wide open. They sat in silence, breathing heavily, before the ex-pony finally commented:
"Ummm... I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced. This is all rather strange."
She... that is, the other her chuckled. This was already getting confusing:
"I do believe our current feelings are... mirrored."
She snortled and took herself up on this game:
"I will have to reflect upon this later."
"Not with alcohol, though. You might see double."
"I... hmmm," clumsily, her digits curled into a fist and she rubbed her now-existing chin, "is that all the puns? We need a thesaurus."
"I would agree, but I think I need some answers, first."
"Oh, right."

Considering the vast number of potential questions, their little session got to the gist of things in record time. Parallel universes, parallel Trixies, no magic but advanced technology, yada yada. Twilight had mentioned visiting this place, hay, she had a humongous machine set up in the castle for that very purpose. These facts also explained her twin's rather nonchalant behaviour. Apparently, this place had seen far weirder things than a dimensional twin. Then came perhaps the most interesting part of the conversation. The whole 'What the buck am I in another dimension?' thing.

A rare topic for discussion, surely. The ex-pony answered first:
"Well, currently I'm running a little travelling theatre. It's all a one-mare show, thanks to illusions and a few patented tricks. Making a name for myself and doing quite well, actually."
Her normally-humanoid twin continued:
"Well, I'm still technically studying, but me and a few friends have a popular band. Popular by local standards, anyway. With some luck, we could get it going places. Maybe."
"Ooooh, a band! What's it called?"
"The Illusions," she smirked, "used to be Trixie and the Illusions, but we agreed that didn't sound good at all."

She did not respond immediately. A name like that had a vibe of arrogance and ego to it. Arrogance and ego pony-Trixie had left behind. No, she did not wish to judge based on just a few titbits. She needed to know more:
"You said you were still studying?"
"Yup, at Canterlot High. Pretty great place, especially, as the local students have learned in recent times, if you like the occasional dash of magic and evil masterminds. A unique selling point, if you ask me."

She nodded while scanning the area. It seemed to be a small place, but more than enough for a single student. A couple of rooms, a bed and basic necessities. A comfortable space for living, almost luxurious based on her usual setup. She attempted to get up on her strange, thin legs, only to almost fall over. Luckily, human-Trixie caught her in time:
"Careful there."
"Ugh, thanks, this will take some getting used to."
"I can't even imagine."
"Is this place, well, yours?"
"Technically rented, but yes. That reminds me, I still need to pay this month's rent."

At first, the showpony pondered the fact that her twin was able to keep up with payments, something she had not been able to do in her time. That band must have really been popular. Then, she noticed a nearby cabinet. It was unremarkable by itself, but several photos were placed on top. One immediately caught her eye and she froze.

Slowly, she took a few clumsy steps forward and just gazed at it. A purple-skinned man with unfittingly yellow hair, a grey-skinned, beautiful redhead. And between them, a smiling little girl. Her.
Supporting herself against the cabinet, her free hand awkwardly fished through her travel bag, until finally, she managed to grab hold of the desired item. Encased in a protective shell, was a photo. A proud stallion with a purple coat and unfitting yellow mane, a beautiful mare sporting a crimson manestyle. And between them, a smiling little filly. Her.

Other-Trixie noticed the photograph and remained silent for a moment. Then, she said:
"My... our parents. They're... well..."
"Gone."
"Y-yes. In a..."
"Train accident?"

The two doppelgangers met gazes and both nodded solemnly. Some things, it seemed, were a constant. Without another word, the two shared a hug. It felt good, if all-too-brief. They parted and just smiled at each other for a few second, before the bandmate said:
"While I do enjoy the company of myself immensely, I think we need to find a way for you to get back to your world."
"I would tend to agree. I need to somehow get in touch with Twilight Sparkle."
"Oh, her? Haven't seen her around in a while," native Trixie rubbed her chin, "our best bet is talking to her friends. As far as I know, they have some way for contacting her."
"In that case, our mission is clear! Now we just need a way to slip by without causing commotion."
"Commotion?"
"Dimensional duplicates, remember?"
"Honey, this town has seen weirder things than that. If someone particularly nosy comes along, I can always just claim you're an especially adoring fan."
"More like unhealthily attached fan."
"Either way, it works."

Of all the things that impressed her, it was what the locals called ‘mass transit’. A large carriage without handsome stallions or complex magic, yet capable of movement through some sort of technological means. She was aware that similar constructs existed in her reality as well, mostly in the countries to the far west of Equestria, though they were always very... purposeful. Always looked more like a siege engine than a proper vehicle.

This was comfortable. Non-aggressive, without random levers or cogs waiting to dig into her side. Stranger yet, the other pon... people within did not seem to particularly care about the two of them, the identical girl and magician duo. She turned to her twin, who was happily bobbing her head to music, carried to her ears via some sort of cable from a tiny, box-like gadget:
“Hey.”
“Hmm?” the twin mumbled, pulling out one of her earphones.

She looked around and continued in a whisper:
“Why... why is nobody even glancing in our direction? We are quite eye-catching, in more ways than one.”
“We’re on a bus,” her twin grinned, “the only thing people care about on the bus is getting off the bus.”
“I can’t imagine why, this is rather nice.”
“The magic wears off after the first rush hour,” she sighed, then suddenly, her eyes seemed to flash, “say, you wanna’ listen to a song me and the band made?”
“Oh, I’d love to!”

The other presented the earbud. Slowly, with a face of pure concentration, she managed to close her fist around it. After realising the potential complications this approach caused, she let her twin, more experienced with blasted fingers, to put it in her ear instead. She then fiddled with her little music box and...

As soon as Trixie heard it, her eyes grew wide. The instruments themselves were different, but the melody was unmistakeable. They both listened to the tune, before her twin started quietly singing the first verse:
“Ya’ better believe, I got tricks up my sleeve.”
Much to the human’s surprise, she continued:
“And I captivate, ‘cause I’m powerful and grea-ea-eat.”
Native Trixie stared in confusion for just a second, but then smiled anew and continued:
“Ya’ better believe, I got tricks up my sleeve.”
“See me dominate, ‘cause I’m powerful and grea-ea-eat!”

Needless to say, the remainder of the bus ride was quite enjoyable.

They exited the bus in a united giggle. The building was beautiful. Its rose-tinted walls stood tall, while the expansive courtyard before it housed not only well-groomed plants, but also a large statue. A stallion on his hind legs, roaring at the world. Beautiful, she had to say.

The place was filled with what she assumed were students. As the two walked, many stared with a bit of confusion, before shrugging and returning to their previous activities. She tried to return any waves sent their way as best she could, though her limited finger control proved troublesome.

They approached a strangely familiar trio. Gray skin, some rather feral traits. One was large, but very timid. Another was almost comically short, bursting with energy. The third, and perhaps most recognisable, was tall and slim, with a very recognisable, crimson jacket. The duo approached and native Trixie called out to him:
"Hey, Rover!"

They all looked up from their work. It seemed like they were just digging at a random spot in the ground. The leader called back:
"Oh, hi... Trixies?!"
"Long story, I'll tell you later. Listen, have you seen the Rainbooms?"
The not-dog rubbed his chin:
"I think they're practicing right now, so I'd start there."
"Thanks a bunch!"
"No problem!"

They made their way inside, attracting many more gazes as they passed through the halls. She asked:
"Were they, by any chance, digging for gems?"
"How'd you know? Ever since they've found this funky old map, they've been digging for treasure that's supposed to be buried on the school grounds."
"Is that even, well, allowed?"
"No, but Principal Celestia gave up after a while. Now, as long as they fix it back up, they don't get in trouble. They're actually nice guys, once you get to know them."
"That much I know."
Her doppelganger shot her a puzzled look:
"You know, this whole dimensional twin business is a lot to wrap my head around."
"I concur. It feels like I'm seeing double."
"I already used that pun!"
"Darn, you're right..."

As they went deeper into the school, the hustle and bustle slowly died down. It seemed this part of the building was reserved for various maintenance and utility rooms, plus the odd science lab here and there. And then, she heard the music. Energetic, light-hearted, put simply, it rocked. Five voices could be heard, singing in unison:
"Now we're better than ever! Wo-oah, wo-oah!"

Five familiar voices, she thought. They approached the door and she turned to her twin with a smile:
"Let's wait for them to finish and then we," the other's demeanour was changed, suddenly nervous, unsure, "you okay?"
"Yeah It's just, ummm, m-maybe you should... go in alone."
"What are you talking about," Trixie's eyes narrowed, "what's wrong?"
"Well, I just... has Sparkle told you about the last time she was here?"
"Let's see... seductive, music-powered demigoddesses, right?"
"Yeah, that's one way to put it. Even though the whole school went crazy, I... I took it further than most. I almost ruined everything, then I just left like some spoiled brat. I was so ashamed of myself when I got back home."

She came closer and placed a hoof, err, hand on her twin's shoulder. They met gazes, one was smiling, the other still extremely nervous. The ex-pony said:
"And let me guess, you just kind of avoided them until now."
"Well, yes. I just... I never knew how to start the conversation."
"Buck it," her eyes narrowed and she smirked, "we're going in there right now, so you better think real quick."
"But, I-!"
"No buts," their song finally reached its climax and came to an end, "right here, right now!"

Grabbing her twin by the arm, she almost yanked her through the door. At first, the entire reunion was dominated by silence, as each group took in the important details. For one, she hadn't expected them to possess pony-like ears, or for them all to have long braids that ended in something which resembled a tail.

Nonetheless, it was still undoubtedly them, five of the six Elements of Harmony. Eye-catching Rarity. Athletic Rainbow Dash. Timid Fluttershy. Down-to-Earth Applejack. Physical-law-shattering Pinkie Pie. All in fashionable, fitting little outfits. She could even locate their 'cutie marks', or local equivalent, on earrings or other such accessories.

Applejack was the first to break the silence:
"What in tarnation is going on here?"
As Trixie tried to muster a response, Pinkie, of course, beat her to it:
"One of you is actually a Trixie from another dimension slash world, probably the one Twilight is from herself. You got here after a craaaazy magical mishap of some sorts and you need to find a way back home!"
The group first looked at her, then at the Trixies, who nodded. The dimensional traveller added:
"Yes, but there is also another matter. I have... that is, your Trixie has something to say. Celestia, I'm getting confused again."
"Well, I," being gazed at by everyone certainly did not help her stammer it out faster, "I... I'm sorry. For what I did during the band battle. And for just... just being myself. You have every right to be angry with me and I understand if you don't want to talk to me or anything, but..."

"Stop right there, sugarcube," Applejack smiled first at her, then the rest of the group, "Ah'd say what's done, is done. Ya' were caught up in the moment, them sirens’ magic sure as hay didn't help, either. If ya' ask me, yer a-okay. Forgiven."
Pinkie almost jumped to the ceiling:
"Yes indeedilly!"
Rainbow gave her a thumbs up, while Rarity and Fluttershy simply smiled. She teared up on the spot, though she did try to hide it:
"T-thank you."
Crying was out of the question, and one pink-skinned ball of energy had just the trick:
"Group huuuuuug!"

All seven of them joined in, giggling as they did so. Personal space standards be damned, it was a rather nice experience, what with all the friendship and everything. Then, however, the dimensional traveller heard a female voice that she did not recognise:
"Well, I seem to have missed more than just band practice."

She did not remember a pony like her, certainly. Her skin was a bright shade of yellow. Her hair was like a firestorm, bright crimson mixed with flaming yellow. Her clothes were dominated by a black jacket, complimented by a stylish skirt and a light blue shirt. An image was emblazoned on the shirt, a blazing sun which matched the colours of her hair. On her back, a guitar or similar instrument rested in a purple case. A pair of sky-blue eyes gazed from one Trixie to the other, putting two and two together. She crossed her arms with a grin and finally addressed the magician:
"I take it you came looking for a way to call back home."
The showpony answered:
"That is indeed the case. Mending some relationships is an added bonus."
The fiery newcomer glanced at the local Trixie, then back:
"I can see that," she offered her hand, "my name is..."
"Sunset Shimmer," Trixie shook it, noting the surprised expression, "Twilight Sparkle has mentioned you on numerous occasions."
"Has she, now? Well, isn't that sweet. And speaking of her, your timing is strangely perfect!"
"How so?"
"We were planning on inviting her for a little performance we're having tomorrow evening. I now cunningly intend to use your presence as leverage, making sure she cannot refuse the invitation to join us."
"A masterful strategy, I must say!"
"Quite," the fiery student turned once again to the still-progressing group hug, "and I do believe this little reunion has presented us with new options."

The Trixies met gazes, then looked back at Sunset.

The building itself wasn't anything too special. A small, unassuming structure close to the city centre, sporting a shiny neon sign to attract clientele. The words on that sign immediately caught her attention, however. Sirens' Bar and Karaoke. A single look and nod from Sunset Shimmer answered all her initial questions.

The twins and their blazing guide entered. The insides were quite spacious, and, she had to admit, rather stylish. The whole decor had a very futuristic tinge to it, with sharp angles and bright, neon lights. Most prominent was a small stage nestled between the tables, often used, judging by the many scratch marks on its surface.

The place was almost completely empty, save for a few patrons in the corners, probably wishing to be alone with their beverages. It therefore did not take long for them to be noticed. An overly-excited, high-pitched scream filled the entire building:
"Shimmyyyyyyyyy!"

A blue missile in mostly pink clothing locked onto its target and launched itself, her long ponytail waving in the air majestically. Sunset somehow withstood the impact and even returned the hug with the warmest smile imaginable. As soon the shockwave faded, she commented:
"Good to see you, too, Sonata."

The girl reminded her so much of Pinkie Pie, it was frightening. The way every movement seemed to have just a bit too much energy behind it, that constant, excited spark in her raspberry eyes. That dangerously infectious, impossibly wide smile. After hugging Sunset just a while longer, her attention turned to the two Trixies:
"Oh, my gosh, duplicates! I knew Pinkie was onto something with those pod people stories!"
"No, you dummy," Sunset said it in such a loving way, "this Trixie is from Equestria."
"Oh. Oooooooooh. That makes loads more sense, actually," she gave a small curtsy, "Sonata Dusk. Super-great to meet you!"
"The pleasure is mine."
"We need to talk to Dagi, is she in?"
"Oh, yeah! Wait here, I'll go get her!"

She sped off on what Trixie noticed was a pair of roller skates, dashing between the tables with uncanny agility. She turned to Sunset:
"You two are an item, I take it?"
Again, she received a surprised look:
"You're perceptive, you know that?"
"I wouldn't say so. Not even Pinkie throws hugs of that magnitude lightly."
"Heheh, I guess. But yeah. A bit of a weird start, what with the whole world domination scheme and all, but we worked it out."
"Well, you look quite cute together. Wouldn't you agree, me?"
"Oh, indeed, myself!"
"You two are enjoying this whole twin business, aren't you?"
In perfect unison, they answered:
"You can't even imagine."

A new figure soon entered the area. Tall and slim, she seemed to have a natural, commanding presence. Her skin was yellow, her hair orange with streaks of gold. The size of her hairdo was quite impressive, probably large enough for a person to hide within rather comfortably. She regarded them all with a stern look, but Trixie could see a spark flash in her violet eyes. This siren liked keeping her emotions mostly hidden, it seemed:
"Look who we have here. Sunset and... two Trixies. Not something you see every day, I admit."
"Tell me about it," there didn't seem to be any underlying hostility in Sunny's voice, "listen, Adagio, about our performance tomorrow..."
"Yes?"
"Would it be possible to squeeze in a second band? Maybe if we drop a song or two?"
"Well, now," she walked past her and looked at the twins. Finally, she met gazes with the human Trixie, "I do wonder who you might have in mind. The night is long, I think we'll be able to manage. And I do remember," her facade was broken by a warm smile, "that you were quite good. If you have any dazzling special effects in mind," Trixie could swear one of the patrons chuckled, "do let us know, so we can set it up."

The bandmate Trixie almost managed to contain an excited squeal:
"Thank you so much!"
"It's nothing, truly," she then turned to the traveller, "and an introduction is in order, I think. Adagio Dazzle. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise."
"And I look forward to seeing your performance."

With that and an additional, unexpected Sonata glomp, they parted ways.

After a brief scheming session with Sunset and the girls, it was decided that Twilight would be contacted on the following day. Afterwards, their trap would be sprung and their lavender-coloured prey would have no chance of escaping. Until then, however, it was time to get some rest.

As the flat's owner fumbled through her keychain, her twin asked:
"So, how exactly did the mind-controlling demigoddesses mend their ways and end up opening a bar, of all things?"
"It was a fairly long process, really," she finally found the correct key, "the three were all kind of miserable after they got their butts kicked by the Rainbooms. I don't know the exact details, but Sunset somehow hooked up with Sonata. And well, how do they say it? The magic of friendship happened."

They both snortled as they finally entered. Immediately, the travelling twin noticed a poster on one of the doors, overlooked beforehand, but immediately visible from her current angle. The person within was strangely familiar, and not just because her clothes were a copy of the showpony's own. With a keytar in hand, the grey-skinned beauty screamed to her audience, raven hair almost reach her rump. The name underneath, she knew well:
"Lucretia Stargazer?"

They both came closer to the poster and her host replied:
"Yup. Once upon a time, a really popular singer. She died very young to an illness, before her career really got rolling. I've always kind of admired her, though. She always strived to achieve her goals, no matter what.
"I think I know exactly what you mean. Now, then, you said you had an idea for the Illusions' performance tomorrow?"
"Oh, yes," her eyes practically sparkled, "I've had this idea for a song stuck in my head for a while. I just didn't know how to pull it off just right. But with you here, it's now or never. Let me just."

She dived into a nearby drawer and started pulling out sheet after sheet of musical notes and attached lyrics. She was dedicated, that much was apparent. Finally, she pulled out the fateful one and squealed, before showing it to her twin. The traveller immediately knew which song it was and smiled. This was indeed the perfect opportunity for a performance:
"You're a genius, me."
"I know, myself!"

The trap was set. A short message through an enchanted book was all they needed for their lure. The ambushers were set up in strategic positions around the statue to negate all possibilities of escape. Finally, the statue's pedestal began to shimmer and their prey stepped forth from another world.

To Trixie, it was amazing how Twilight could maintain her cute, loveable nature across dimensions and even species. Her clothes were modest, yet only seemed to bring out her beauty. She didn't have time to ponder the situation further as the order was given:
"Attack!"

Eight figures immediately surrounded the princess and threatened to suffocate her with forceful hugs. She yelped, though not in a displeased fashion. After a shared, heartfelt laugh, she finally managed to break free and commented:
"Wow, that's what I call a surprise!"
"The best is yet to come, Sparkle," the travelling Trixie commented, "a night of festivities has been planned."
"And I suppose I am now at your mercy and must attend whatever event you have in mind?"
"That is correct."
"In that case," she shot her that smile which sent butterflies into Trixie’s stomach, then assumed a mockery of a royal stance, clearly practiced in the use of hands, "escort us to these festivities, dearest Trixie."
"It will be my pleasure, Your Highness."

The rather sizeable entourage, which included two separate bands and even a few enthusiasts they managed to pick up on the way, arrived just in time to see an unruly patron get thrown out into the street. The young man scrambled to his feet and made a run for it, while a female voice filled the area:
"And stay out," the aggressive tone didn't quite fit the girl that stepped out, her skin a dark shade of pink, with two purple ponytails on her head. She noticed them and while her tone didn't change too much, she at least tried, "oh, you lot came in full force, didn't you? Come on, your stuff is ready."
As warmly as the Sun itself, Pinkie shouted:
"Thanks, Aria!"

The inside was dramatically different from before. Now practically bursting with patrons, both young and old, the place was clearly a popular destination. Sonata stood out among it all, bringing refreshments in record speed without too many problems. She noticed them soon enough and skated closer, turning first to the princess:
"Oh, looky, it's Twilight Sparkle! Special seats for you, right up front," and then she glanced at the identical bandmates, united this time in clothing, as well, "Illusions, you go first, Rainbooms, get your stuff ready!"
She then dragged the purple one off towards the stage, much to Twilight's dismay.

Both Trixies, in the meantime, retreated backstage. The visiting twin felt a bit strange, nervous even. It certainly wasn't because of the crowd itself, she was well-versed in the arts of avoiding stage fright. It soon dawned upon her. She had never sung in front of people who actually knew her. Most certainly not a potential romantic interest. Och, Celestia, why did that thought torment her so?

She suddenly felt someone touch her shoulder and spun around. It was one of the other bandmates, the one with blond hair. Oh, what had been her name again? So embarassing. She had a supportive smile plastered on her face:
"Hey, you alright? You zoned out there for a second."
"Oh, yes, yes. Just the regular pre-performance stage fright, you know how it goes."
"Heheh, me, not so much. Fuchsia, on the other hand..."

As if on cue, the final member of the Illusions ran into the room, flailing her arms in panic:
"Guys, I think I lost my hat," the Illusions' trademark headwear was indeed missing on top of her pink hair, "what am I gonna' dooooooo?!"
The real leader of the band turned towards her with a sigh:
"Calm down, dear. Now, think with that pretty little head of yours. When and where did you see it last?
"Ummm, changing room. Like, five minutes ago."
"Try checking there."
"Ooooooooooh! Be right back!"
As she ran out of the room, human Trix turned to the blonde:
"Lavender, please make sure she doesn't forget her whole head this time."
"Aye, aye, cap'n!"

The twins met gazes soon afterwards. Herself was just as nervous as her, it seemed. She made a thumbs up, and the other twin reciprocated. Then, finally, came Adagio's voice:
"Welcome, one and all, to the Sirens! Tonight, we have two separate bands for you! Each is hoping to give you the time of your life! Both of them are, as it so happens, local sweethearts. First, give it up for the Illusions!"

The stage was almost immediately covered in a thick cloud of smoke. A repeating set of notes filled the Void, before finally, one Trixie appeared, in an utmost dramatic fashion. She raised a microphone to her lips and sang in a slow, deliberate way:
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall."
Her doppelganger manifested on the other end of the stage and continued the verse in the same fashion:
"Who is fairest of them all?"
The twins met gazes and pointed at each other, then continued in unison:
"Is it me, or is it you?"
"Divided, if only we knew!"

At that moment, a strange, ethereal glow surrounded the stage. A familiar smell reached her nostrils, along with a well-known tingling along her spine. Magic was in the air. Before she knew it, her hair grew spontaneously, forming a short, fashionable ‘tail’. She could feel two decidedly inhuman hears poke the insides of her hat and with a brief look at her bandmates, she could see they were experiencing similar phenomena.

And while the band was thrown out of sync for just a few moments due to sheer surprise, nobody seemed to notice. Rather, everyone seemed to love it. The audience was theirs, cheers and whistling filling the building. For the travelling Trixie, however, the greatest reward was seeing Twilight smile and nod to the beat in the front row.

The night had been phenomenal. As the Illusions and Rainbooms sat in the bar, enjoying a few drinks and other refreshments, Trixie couldn't help but smile. Both bands had earned themselves a roaring applause, mostly on the back of a few select songs. For them, it had been the simply breath-taking initial performance of 'Mirror, Mirror'. For Sunset and the gang, it was the ex-mastermind's own song, 'My Past is Not Today'.

A truly heartfelt performance, that one. One could almost feel the trials she had gone through. And as Trixie well knew, tugging on a few heartstrings was the most effective, if not the easiest, way of grabbing an audience.

The night was still only beginning and she was busy enjoying a rather lovely cocktail. Sonata suddenly sped closer with a tray of more delicious drinks. Immediately, she met gazes with Pinkie Pie, who was otherwise busy enjoying a queen-sized milkshake:
"Hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Banana-tiramisu-sundae surprise?!"
"You were thinking what I was thinking!"
"Well, duh!"

In the blink of an eye, they were gone, performing various crimes against culinary delicacy. In a twist of fate, Trixie found herself in the company of Sunset Shimmer, who was still gazing after her partner in life. Lingering questions surfaced and Trixie asked, loud enough to be heard above the amateur karaoke brigade:
"How did you two get together, anyway? That must be quite the tale."
She gave her a long, contemplative look:
"That is a bit of a long story."
"Do you feel we don't have enough time?" she said, gesturing towards the stage, where Rarity and Rainbow were busy pushing Fluttershy towards the microphone, much to her dismay.

"Fair point," perhaps the small amounts of circulating alcohol helped her reach that decision, "well, where do I start, really? It wasn't long after we beat the Sirens. I was just on an everyday walk through the park, when I heard someone crying. I come closer, and who do I see? Sonata, our one-time nemesis turned into this... this sad, miserable wreck of a person. It broke my heart on the spot. After getting her a cup of coco, she told me that the three of them had started arguing and basically just fell apart. She just..."
"Didn't know what to do?"
"Pretty much. I couldn't just leave her there, you know? Enemy or not, she didn't deserve that. So I took her in. Properly introduced her to everyone, helped her find her cheerful self again. Whenever I saw her smile, my heart skipped a beat. Eventually, we managed to find the other Dazzlings and got them back together, in a sense. Friendship is magic, am I right?"
"That you are," she stole a glance at the princess, busy dancing with her friends. Trixie didn't know human legs could move in such angles, "Twilight has a profound influence on one, doesn't she?"
Sunset looked in the wingless alicorn's direction, then nodded:
"Yup. She's a really amazing friend."
"Yeah... friend."

She stared into her glass for a few moments. Sunset turned back to the showpony. Without saying a word, she simply nodded, suddenly understanding the situation perfectly. They sat for a few moments in silence, before Trixie asked another question:
"How did you, well... how did you tell Sonata how you felt?"
"Simple. After I finally realised what it was, I just did."
"Bah, you make it sound so simple."
"Isn't it, though? If you wait for the right moment to come by, you could be stuck waiting forever. I just took a few deep breaths and said it. I swear, her eyes literally turned into stars for a moment."
"Haaah, it'll take me a while to muster that kind of courage."
"Well, take your time, Trix. As long as you do say it at one point. That's what counts."
"I suppose it is," she looked into those sky-blue orbs, "you're a good pony, err, person, uhh... you know what I mean."
"Heheh, I think I get the gist of it. And thanks. After all the trouble I've caused, I'm just trying to be the best I can be, you know?"
"I know how that feels," the blazing sun and trickster moon met gazes once again. Trixie raised her glass, "I propose a toast. To kindred spirits!"
"Hear, hear!"

Their glasses clashed with a satisfying clink and they downed their only-mildly-intoxicating beverages. At that moment, the energetic duo of Sonata and Pinkie returned, gorging on some strangely-alluring culinary abomination.

It was a great night.

The goodbyes were always the hardest part. Made all the harder by having to say farewell to someone just as attractive and enchanting as yourself. With the same hairstyle and eyeliner choices. She soon realised that was a very niche concern by most standards. Well, that just meant she was uniquely qualified in this area.

That didn't of course mean parting with the others was any less saddening. Most of all, she thought, with Sunset Shimmer. The firehead shot her a smile:
"Come on, Trix, put a smile on! You can always visit later."
"That much is true," Twilight chimed in, "the portal technology I devised is almost completely stable!"
"Somehow, your exact choice of words does not make me feel less at ease, Twi."
"Perhaps you simply know me well, dear Trixie. And if that is indeed the case," she suddenly reached down into a small bag, "you can very easily tell me what this is."

She pulled out a small, folded paper. Richly decorated and dyed into a golden hue. Trixie positively gasped:
"A ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!"
"Woah, big stuff," Sunset commented, eyeing the coveted ticket, "who's it," Twilight placed it in her hand with a smile and it dawned upon her, "oh, gosh. Oh, gosh."
"I figured, being a princess and all, I'd be allowed to hand out a few invitations of my own. Princess Celestia agreed wholeheartedly."
"I... I don't know what to say. Except," her eyes went wide, "horseapples, I have nothing to wear."

Princess and showpony shared a knowing look, then replied in unison:
"That can be remedied, dear Sunset."

Author's Note

I had several urges to include sun and light-related puns.

Luckily for you, this did not happen.

Wondrous changes: Now with Lavender and Fuchsia action.

Worst Night Ever

She would not be held back. Not after all those years at the academy. Not after so many sleepless nights spent in the archives. Not after dozens of fruitless endeavours all over the world. Academic immortality was within her grasp, some paltry royal decree could not stop her.

She waited for the changing of the guards to slip in. Entry was forbidden by order of Princess Celestia. What was that pompous mule thinking?! A literal hoard of pristine-quality crystals, most of them undoubtedly possessing arcane qualities, and she just closed it off without waiting for any input from the academic community?! Blind arrogance.

Carefully, the foolish pony crept through the darkness, making sure not to accidentally crush any of the beautiful little stones. They were all so beautiful, so finely cut! A fortune just waiting to be exploited! She just had to prove it. All she needed was a sample to study. The deeper she went to obtain a pure sample, the better.

She left small signs behind with a bit of chalk, so she could find her way back, and kept descending. After what felt like ages, she finally reached what had to be the bottom. An especially large formation rested there, its surface so smooth, as if it was polished!

A small arcane tool blinked to life in her hooves. An expensive purchase, but a worthwhile one. Just one small cut and…

As arcane energy struck the crystal, it did not slice it, as was the intention, instead, it seemed to crackle along the surface. At first, the pony rejoiced. Surely, this meant its magical properties were all but confirmed.

It danced upwards and her smile began to fade. It was no simple mound or hill. This formation had a distinct shape to it, very pronounced, very… organic. The energy gathered in front of her in a glowing mark on the surface of the crystal, emerald green. It moved for a few seconds and then…

She froze as she identified the iris of a colossal, serpentine eye.

Trixie was nervous. They were going to be late. Even if they made a run for it, which they couldn’t, lateness was on the table. All because of some delayed deliveries and miscellaneous wardrobe malfunctions.
Except this wasn’t just ‘late’ late. This was ‘late to that one place which every damned Equestrian princess is currently attending’ late. Talk about a faux pas. For the umpteenth time, she checked her wonderful dress for any blemish. Nope, still as perfect as the day it had been sewn together. With a sigh, she called out:
“Sunset, come on!”
“I know, I know, just one more moment!”
“You claimed that fifteen moments ago!”
“Don’t get your tail in a bunch,” a moment of annoyed grunting ensued, “there, done.”
“Good because I-” the showpony finally laid eyes on the dimensional visitor and just stared slack-jawed.

Sunset strode forth, wrapped in an elegant, emerald green ensemble. The fabrics themselves shone with a faint light, illuminating their quarters, reserved for them by Twilight months beforehand. Her flaming mane was tied into a stylish bun, a large pin which mimicked her cutie mark keeping it restrained. All in all, Trixie thought she looked stunning. Literally so, perhaps.

The yellow mare regarded her with a smirk:
“I guess I don’t have to ask whether I look good, then.”
“Y-you do,” Trixie blurted out, blushing, but regained her composure in record time, “now, come on! We need to get there pronto!”

Their lovingly crafted dresses were rigorously tested as the two made their way through Canterlot at a light jog. Anything more and they risked damaging their beautiful clothes. Anything less and they’d probably miss the whole thing. At least, Trixie insisted that would have been the case.

Finally, the massive structure was in sight. A mighty fortress by most standards, yet also a luxurious residence. A monarch deserved no less, she reckoned, and Canterlot’s castle was home to two of them. The entrance was flanked by armed guards, but most importantly, there were two friendly faces waiting for them.

Of all ponies, or well, creatures, Discord looked absolutely smashing in a suit. Was it the rather adventurous orange-white colour scheme? Was it the alluring moustache? Was it the horn-friendly top hat and cane combo? Probably all of the above.

And then there was Twilight Sparkle, standing in a magnificent ensemble, undoubtedly designed by Equestria’s premiere fashionista. With a smile as wide as a mile, she waved at the late-comers and they sped up just a little bit, reaching the checkpoint in record time. The alicorn opened her mouth to speak.

Her words turned into a scream as all hell broke loose.

The entirety of Canterlot shook violently in several waves, its citizens scrambling away from collapsing lamp posts and other objects in panic. Trixie and Twilight met gazes, moments before a jagged shape burst from the ground . A crystalline wall grew between the two ponies and spread at an impossible speed. In mere moments, the entire castle was encased in a dome of solid crystal. Its edges were sharp, harmful, and it was impossible to see through.

Trixie, in panic, bashed on it with her hooves, earning herself a few scratches she didn’t care about in the moment, and screamed:
“Twilight!”
Without a second thought, she charged an offensive spell and tried to blast the wretched crystal apart with an arcane bolt. To her surprise, the material not only resisted the attack, but seemed to absorb it completely, leaving behind little more than crackles of energy. Trixie’s frustrated scream was drowned out by another voice entirely, this one only in her mind:
“Trixie?”
She calmed down for a moment and replied to her friend and tutor:
“Twilight! Are you alright?”
“Yes, just stuck here for now. Not even Discord can scratch this stuff. He tried to ram through and he now looks like a pancake. I tried to teleport, but no dice, either. Good thing this spell seems to work. You two stay safe, I need to consult with Celestia.”

With an unheard, physical whimper, Trixie’s mind replied:
“Be careful.”
“I will.”

The showpony stared at her own reflection within the crystal. Somehow, it seemed much more wicked than the original. A friendly hoof patted her on the back and she turned to Sunset, who was somehow managing a reassuring smile. She smiled back meekly.

What in the hay was happening?

Princess and draconequus rushed to the banquet hall, where all the Gala attendees were concentrated. Her first concern was finding the others, then Princess Celestia. Her friends were, fortunately, keeping together like one big unit, unlike last time. Her number one assistant was the first to spot her and call out, looking quite dashing in his custom-made suit:
“Twilight, what’s goin on?!”
“I don’t know yet, Spike.”
“More importantly,” the colourful daredevil chimed in, “who do I have to kick to fix it?”
“Hopefully, no one,” came a new voice, though one that was quite familiar.

Many claimed she was the most regal of all ponies and a mere look in the monarch’s direction lent credence to such claims. Her walk was an absolutely impeccable gait, practiced over millennia. Her mane and tail flowed on their own accord, filled with vibrant colours of several hues. Physically, she was quite large, but toned. A regular training regimen kept Princess Celestia as fit as a fiddle.

She walked side-by-side with the pony she undoubtedly loved the most in the world. Her sister, the Princess of Dreams. Those guests that were not busy panicking bowed as the two approached. The six chosen ponies, the baby dragon and one mischievous draconequus, closed the gap. Twilight said0:
“I know that tone, princess. You know something that we do not.”
“We both do,” Luna replied, “we still hope this is just some mishap.”
“Mishap?! Horseapples, yer entire castle is encased in a dome of weird crystal. Ah think ‘mishap’ don’t cover this situation anymore.”

As Celestia tried to reply, a new voice beat her to it. It was male, energetic and seemed to emanate from everywhere, yet nowhere:
“I agree wholeheartedly!”

Maniacal laughter was accompanied by more violent quakes. Soon enough, the floor started cracking and ponies ran for cover. More foul crystals burst from the ground like massive spears, reaching several metres before stopping. Twilight swiftly calculated a rough estimate of the force necessary to pierce the ground in such a manner, then compared it to the energy required to crack every bone in her body.

As soon as she realised the odds were not in her favour, she tripped and fell. She could hear several ponies scream her name, but was too preoccupied by the cracks spreading under her hooves. She wanted to scream, but only managed to yelp as she was suddenly lifted and carried to safety in the nick of time.
She looked up into the utterly worried expression of an extremely handsome young stallion with snow-white fur. Her BBBFF spoke, the concern in his voice practically tangible:
“Twily, are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, just… shaken.”

He put her down just in time for the bookworm to receive a crushing embrace. The perpetrator of this assault was none other than, in her opinion, the best babysitter in the world, managing a smile despite the turmoil around them:
“Twilight, it would seem our curse continues.”
“At this rate, separating us will become necessary to ensure national safety.”

The Crystal Princess giggled. The pink pony knew how to be regal, and was more than capable of making others forget to breathe if she truly wanted to. But there was always that spark of excitement in her eyes. That drive to entertain, make sure everyone was feeling peachy-keen. In short, Cadance was just like her hair. Well-groomed and expertly styled, yet bristling with a playful display of colour. A wonderful trait for a ruler to have.

The maniacal laughter died down for a few seconds, replaced by something akin to monstrous wheezing. Two emerald lights suddenly appeared on one of the crystals and grew, both in size and in detail. Soon, two terrifying eyes stared at the Gala attendees, who were both frightened and defiant. The entity spoke again, overly-enthusiastic:
“Ahaaa! A celebration in honour of my rebirth? Why, only the most loyal of subjects would have organised such an event! Which is why I find it strange you are here,” his gaze narrowed on the reigning monarchs, “chieftains Luna and Celestia!”

And while most were preoccupied by the word ‘chieftains’, Twilight’s mind zeroed in on a much more important word, which Celestia uttered under her breath:
“Traxex.”
In but a few heartbeats, her catalogue of a brain found this word popping up in a few different contexts, though no further research had been conducted on the subject. All leads pointed to the same tome. With that information at hoof, she formed a single, straightforward message and sent it to a certain showpony:
“Go to the Archives. Find Lucretia Stargazer’s Almanac. Traxex.”

The creature continued its rant:
“Oh, how kind the years are to thieving scum! Not only did you take my riches, you built your filthy streets on their polished perfection! After I raze your pathetic little pony town to the ground, the world will tremble before me once more!”
“Not if we have a say about it, fiend!”

Twilight earned herself both a gasp from the audience and the tyrant’s gaze. The serpentine eyes blinked and she endured their stare. Traxex began:
“Who do you think you are to address me, little,” suddenly those eyes grew wide. He breathed in heavily, then continued, “uncanny. Magic,” Twilight’s expression grew unsure, while the ancient one’s gaze looked over the remainder of the entourage, “honesty. Loyalty. Kindness. Generosity. Laughter. The six foul Elements, made flesh. Fascinating. Dangerous. This changes our dynamic, somewhat. You get to die first,” his speech turned to a rousing shout, “rise, my warriors! Assemble, my legion!”

The crystals shifted and cracked into segments. Those rearranged themselves into roughly humanoid forms, their limbs more akin to spears than proper appendages. Several dozen of these monsters formed up and stood at the ready, waiting for further instructions like the soulless husks they were.

Meanwhile, Twilight commenced an emergency combat briefing:
“We need to stall these things for as long as possible! Trixie and Sunset can find a way, I’m sure of it!”
“A bold plan,” Celestia commented, “but I do not doubt their abilities, either. It shall be so."

The rest of the group, princesses included, nodded. Shining Armour turned to a nearby palace guard, who seemed ready to jump into action:
“Round up the guards, move civilians to a different area and protect them.”
There was no doubt, no objections or second thoughts. Shining’s authority, even though he technically wasn’t captain anymore, was absolute:
“Yes, sir!”

Siblings shared nods and everyone else assembled into an orderly line, putting on their most determined expressions and, in Pinkie’s case, a cute little helmet with tiny horns on it. Where she had procured such an item, no one could say. Their captor spoke once more:
“Any last words, ponies?”
United, the assembled heroines and heroes shouted:
“Do your worst!”
“As you wish. Attack!”

The menacing constructs moved forward, unfeeling, unwavering, unavoidable. The ponies met them halfway.

The instructions had been precise and to the point. After ditching their splendid dresses, may Rarity have mercy on their souls, they galloped straight to the Archives. Namely, the forbidden section. There, they now sat, frantically looking through the bookshelves that housed the works of Starswirl’s students.

It amazed her how many she had never heard about in the slightest. Even then, Lucretia Stargazer’s collection was by far the smallest, caused by her sudden disappearance and her habit of keeping information in her head, rather than on paper. It did, however, let them locate the required tome in record time.

Lucretia Stargazer’s Comprehensive Almanac of Myths and Unconfirmed Tales. The book's cover portrayed a small legion of various creatures and beasts, some mere fiction, others the horrid truth. Quickly, but carefully, she turned to the index. Luckily for her, T did not seem to be a popular letter. There it was, right under Tiamath!

“I’ve got it!” the showpony exclaimed excitedly.
“Great. Now, what does it say?”
“Let’s see.”

Traxex: Draconite, Folk myth / Possible historical fact. See also: Tiamath, Equinox, Ebon.

Equinox immediately caught her attention and she made a mental note to read that section later. For now, she delved deep into the book and finally found the relevant pages.

The Cautionary Tale of Traxex

I find our lack of knowledge on the various draconite species a criminal offence. Such majestic beings, powerful and wise beyond even their long years, yet superstition and fear keep us blinded to their workings. Such emotions are not wholly unwarranted, I will admit, especially when it comes to dealing with certain temperamental, extremely protective individuals.

We do know, however, that they are in some way fuelled by their greed, or more precisely, their bodies undergo vast, potentially rapid changes based on the size of their hoard. If left to their own devices, one would think draconites would wage wars over the world as we know it, consuming everything in a never-ending hunt for treasure, growing ever larger in the process.

Yet, this is not the case. During the course of my travels, I have seen my fair share of large draconites. I could not describe any of them as being ‘uncannily large’ for their kind, however. They all seemed to grow to roughly the same maximum size, give or take a few metres, then simply become satisfied with the size of their coffers. How was this possible? I needed to know.

Over several months, I managed to gradually form a relationship with a young draconite. In exchange for baubles and tales of the world, I was granted many interesting facts about draconite physique and culture, which I hope to compile in a future work. None of these factoids was as interesting, however, as the tale of Traxex.

This dragon was supposedly one of those born directly from the mythical mother of all draconites, Tiamath. The mightiest even from his kin, Traxex easily asserted his dominance, be it through brute force or ruthless displays of cunning. Considering himself a king, he demanded tribute from all creatures, small and large. A tribute in the form of crystals.

These pretty baubles obsessed the dragon. Time passed and his hoard grew and grew. It was like an infinite loop. The more it grew, the less likely it was anyone could challenge his rule. But, as he would find out, greed was a double-edged sword.

Paranoia plagued him. He feared for his hoard above all else and refused to let it out of sight. He moved these riches deep into the earth, allowing fewer and fewer to even enter his presence, lest they try to burgle his coveted crystals. Eventually, he could no longer assert his dominion and his reign was challenged.

When a united force of his former subjects descended into his caverns, hoping to enact revenge and pilfer his riches, they never found the dragon. Only a mountain of crystal, shaped in his image like some nightmarish effigy. His cursed treasure was left alone, along with this twisted mockery of life he had become. The location of this tomb was, perhaps fortunately, lost to even the draconites over the long millennia.

From then on, the tale of Traxex has been told to all young dragons, lest they succumb to their urges and eventually share his horrid fate. For no matter how powerful, none can allow their greed to grow unchecked.

Trixie finally finished reading and looked towards Sunset, who was nodding with her eyes closed. Finally, the fiery mare spoke:
“Okay. So, let’s assume absolutely everything in there is at least partially true and jot down what we know.”
“Ancient dragon that seems to have somehow turned to crystal, maybe even through his own magic. He seems to possess some form of control over the crystal in the mines below. This makes me believe that the entire place is his vast hoard from ages past. That’s where we can hopefully find his weakness, if he has any.”
“Probably in the deepest depths. Now we just need a way to fight him.”
“How exactly do we oppose a creature forged from what seems to be magic-resistant crystal?”
“Hmmmm,” Shimmy walked over to the premier bookshelf within the archive’s depths, the one dedicated to Starswirl himself, “I do recall something, oh what was it called,” her eyes scoured the area and after a few moments, she almost screamed, “got it!”

The tome was so large Sunset had to use her magic to move it. Gently, she levitated it to a nearby table. It was in pristine condition, no doubt thanks to several runes etched into its surface. ‘Combating the Arcane: The Traveller’s Comprehensive Companion Against Danger’. The title was especially strange due to the fact that an actual traveller would not have been able to carry the tome without great difficulties. Old wizards invariably grew out of touch with the common folk, but Starswirl had tried, at least.

“Woaaah, this is the original, isn’t it?”
“Yup. And if we don’t find an answer here, we’ll need to start forming pacts with demons, because I don’t see any other options.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Now, what do we look for?”

A brief search through the index revealed a few potential leads. After skipping through the sections dedicated to creatures that fed on crystals, they finally found something promising.

Golems

Golem is a word that is inherently wide in scope, covering a vast quantity of various constructs, anima and other entities. Often mistaken for statues at a distance, the various types of golem vary in their capabilities and role, though they all share several unifying traits.

Invariably, a golem is created by applying magic to inanimate objects, bringing them together into bodies capable of movement and other tasks, depending on the ‘ingredients’ used. Whether it be random boulders found in the wild or precisely crafted parts designed to stick together is irrelevant in this case, affecting only capabilities of the resulting whole.

Often used as guardians, golems possess only a minimal level of intelligence, which allows them to carry out instructions to the letter. Incapable of detecting nuance, metaphors or other such verbal cues, golems are driven by their orders and will do all in their power to fulfil them.

This limited mental capacity is why they are rather commonly found in the world, roaming alone without a master, trying to complete some obscure final task which has long ago become impossible. They are at their most dangerous when assigned to guard certain areas or ruins and this is when you are most likely to come into conflict with them.

While avoiding combat is preferable, sometimes this is not possible. In such scenarios, it is imperative that you identify the material these golems are made of, as all of their strengths are inevitably connected to weaknesses. Other than some obvious interaction, like being able to set fire to a wooden golem, there do exist some more exotic combinations, which I will briefly address before discussing the nuances of the various golem types and their use.

A table was located below the paragraph, cataloguing practically every conceivable material a golem could be made of. None could claim Starswirl hadn't been a dedicated pony. She looked through the list. Much to her annoyance, the list was not ordered alphabetically, but rather according to relative danger the resulting golem posed. Stardust, glass, caviar... there it was, crystal! She read it out loud:

"Crystal is a rather uncommon element used in golem construction, usually due to its poor defensive qualities when matched against steel or stone. However, certain crystals have been noted to possess hidden properties tied to magic in some way. Whether it be amplifying or even nullifying arcane energies, they are always a potent force to be reckoned with. I have had only brief meetings with such golems, and I have always bested such creatures in the same fashion. Violent vibrations or powerful strikes are very likely to shatter the crystal, rendering the construct itself powerless."

The two ponies sat in silence for a few moments, considering their options. Limited, bordering on practically suicidal. And yet, when the two looked up, when they met gazes, their expressions mimicked each other. A stern, determined look, immovable by anything short of the Apocalypse itself.. No words needed to be said. The unicorns nodded at each other and then rose to their hooves.

They darted into the night, their destination clear as day.

The battle had been a fairly simple affair. After cleverly deducing that direct magical assault was not exactly an effective combat method, the party turned to a more hooves-on approach. Hooves-on might have been inaccurate when it came to most of the heroines, however.

The princesses, along with Shining Armour and no-less-noble Rarity, for example, simply used their magic in more creative ways. Grabbing surrounding objects or even conjuring weaponry out of thin air proved most effective, especially when one looked to the two monarchs in the room. Celestia and Luna dashed against the crystalline horde, clearly used to fighting side-by-side. They covered each other's blind spots and fought like a single warrior, battering the enemy into submission. Rarity, Twilight and Spike fought in a similar manner, though they weren’t quite as practiced. Sadly for the draconite, he was relegated mostly to the spotting role.

Rainbow and Applejack took a more straight-forward approach. Using dizzying speed and colossal strength, respectively, the duo was a veritable menace. The constructs could not hope to catch one, yet found themselves outmatched by the other and both ponies delivered a truly impressive bashing to the enemy.

Fluttershy mostly just yelped and squealed as Discord took the lead. Morphed into what could only be considered a giant wrecking ball, the draconequus swung from the ceiling and shattered the opposition as easily as a house of cards. The graceful pony, meanwhile, held on for dear life, yet did not seem too displeased. The excitement was getting to her.

Finally, there was Pinkie Pie, doing... her thing, really. Changing positions so rapidly that she gave the concept of physics a headache, the bubbly mare giggled, snortled and chortled her way through the golems, causing the warriors to strike each other in confusion. And with a few touches of her one-of-a-kind party cannon, things got decorated and shattered at the same time!

The combatants stood among the ruined remains of the crystalline horde, panting. The enemy was beaten and they allowed themselves just a smidge of relief, before the dragon's voice came again:
"Quite impressive. No wonder the Elements chose you."
Equestria's most radical flyer looped around the room in a second flat, then shouted at nothing in particular:
"Darn right! Come on, I didn't even break a sweat."
"Such bravado and arrogance," a single eye appeared on one of the shattered crystals, startling the pegasus, "they will not last. Unlike me."

Much to Rainbow's surprise, the chunks flew back into the air and flew together, soon reforming and mending themselves. In no time at all, the golems stood before them once again, good as new. The heroes readied themselves and waited for the monsters to make the first move.

Twilight's mind produced a single stray thought as the golems charged:
"Please hurry, you two."

The darkness was everywhere. Without a bit of magic, the two would have had a hard time seeing the tip of their muzzle, let alone the path ahead. The caves were impossibly vast, probably stretching beneath the entirety of Canterlot. Everywhere she looked, large crystals dotted the surface, reflecting her horn's light. It was a maze of corridors, each the same as the last one. Trixie thought out loud:
"There is no end to these paths!"
"I hear you. I don't think it would be easy to navigate even if we had a map."

Worst of all was the silence, broken only by the echoes of their hoofsteps. This was taking too long. By the time they found their way, everyone else could be... her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she spotted a blue mark drawn on the ground with chalk, in front of the entrance to a corridor. The two unicorns shared a look and nodded.

It was a steady trail, with a new mark appearing within a fairy regular distance from the last. It was not easy walking, however, as the ground was uneven and treacherous. This proved to be problematic, as Sunset tripped and lost balance, ramming into one of the nearby omnipresent crystals. She yelped as Trixie rushed over:
"Sunset, are you alright?!"
"Yes, just a scratch. Come on, we need to keep..."

It was then that the entire area shook.

A third wave of constructs lay shattered and beaten, at least for the moment. Had it not been a war of attrition, the heroes would have rejoiced. For the fourth time, the crystalline army reformed at its master's bidding. Traxex sounded triumphant:
"Look at you. Bruised and exhausted. One, maybe two more. That's all it'll take, yeeessss."

Celestia took a few deep breaths and finally replied:
"Just as before, hah, we will stand against your tyranny, Traxex."
Luna stepped up, as well:
"Don't you dare doubt that, even for a moment."
"Aaaah, yes, still the instigators. The symbols of a rebellion, a disease allowed to fester because my poor pretties needed my protection. A weed permitted to take root because of my love," he emitted something akin to a distorted roar, "to think it only took a brief slumber to be able to crush it beneath my claws. My legion, I command you to," he stopped mid-sentence as his eyes flashed, "what?! Trespassers, interlopers?! No, my hoard!"

The dragon's eyes vanished without a trace. His army stood motionless, still diligently awaiting orders. And while most of the heroes allowed themselves a sigh of relief, the assembled princesses' expressions were worried. It was up to them now.

Mid-quake, a monstrous eye appeared on the crystal's surface and the two ponies yelped. The lord of the underworld roared:
"Thieves! Burglars! Robbers! Here to pilfer my riches! These catacombs shall be your grave!"
The walls themselves started moving, as his coveted crystals morphed into vigilant warriors. Sunset had only thing to say:
"Run!"

They dashed as the entire area came to life around them. At every step, they were met by more and more of Traxex's golems. Slow and cumber some as they were, it wasn't too difficult to run between the monsters, but as their numbers grew, it was only a matter of time before the two were caught. Desperately, they looked for the next blue marker, and there it was, on a wall!

They accelerated towards it like madmares. Just a few more steps, just a few more seconds. Then, Trixie heard a rumbling from above and looked up. Part of the ceiling was collapsing, with several golems acting like giant spears. Before the showpony could react, she was shoved out of harm's way and fell onto the ground.

When she looked up, her view was dominated by an especially hulking crystalline soldier, though she could still make out her friend behind it. She shouted:
"Sunset!"
"Go," came a stern, commanding reply, "I'll keep 'em busy!"
"But..."
"Go!" even louder than before.

Without another word, she galloped deeper, one last shout echoing throughout the corridors as a fiery blaze illuminated her surroundings:
"Oh, you think you can take me on?! Fat chance! If you want a beatdown, you came to the right place!"

And then, she was alone, with only the horrid silence as her companion. She cntinued to follow the blue marks, hoping they weren't just some foul trick the creature had duped them with. Suddenly, the two large, serpentine eyes appeared just ahead of her and she froze for a moment, before once again running forward. The dragon easily matched her speed, his gaze fixated on the small pony:
"Look at you. Scampering through my domain, alone and forgotten."
She retorted:
"And I suppose you're fulfilling your gloating quota?"
"Feisty, just like the other. I came to the realisation that you were no simple thieves, but assassins, hoping to end my rule once and for all. How precious."
"You think a bit of pompous dialogue is going to make me reconsider?"
"Oh no," he emitted a maddened cackle, which steadily rose to uncanny tonal heights, "if I wanted to stop you, I would need only a single thought. Truthfully, the two of you intrigue me."
"I'll have you know I'm not looking for a date."

This seemed to strike a chord as the dragon erupted in laughter. She accelerated further, hoping to exploit his lapse in attention. She did not expect it to actually work. The emerald gaze was gone, replaced by her old companions, silence and loneliness. Immediately, she felt uneasy. Deep down, she knew it was just the calm before the storm.

A few more twisting turns and the claustrophobic tunnels gave way to a truly massive chamber. The ceiling alone was dozens of metres above. Several large mounds or hills of crystal rested within the chamber. A quick glance at her immediate surroundings revealed what looked like prison bars. And appropriately, there was also a prisoner.

The young mare's coat was a dark shade of orange, her mane a charcoal black. Eyes of an eerily familiar emerald shade gazed at the showpony pleadingly. Her clothes were made for hiking or, perhaps, cave exploration, with leather and practicality as the main themes. She looked briefly into the chamber, visibly terrified, then whispered:
"Thank Celestia! Please, you have to get me out of here!"
"Calm down! Who are you?"
"Geodesia. I came here to prove these crystals were valuable and then... by the gods, I was so stupid!"
"Okay, hold still, I think I can..."

The mare's gaze shifted over Trixie's shoulder and she froze on the spot. Trixie followed it, reluctantly. One of the crystalline hills was moving. The tyrant slowly rose, stretching out his gargantuan body in every direction. No scales, no skin, no fur. Just pure, polished crystal, reflecting her light at his surroundings. He could have easily dwarfed a small town. Powerful claws pierced the bedrock as if it was mud and the dragon's mighty jaws parted for a horrific roar.

Finally, two emerald eyes formed on its head and gazed down at the hoofed ants below. Another light caught Trixie's attention, however. Matching his eyes, it emanated from within the titan's chest. Where the heart would have been.

Traxex cackled once more, then addressed her:
"Aaaah, the assassin arrives," she could actually feel the sound waves of his voice, "I apologise if I seem disappointed. Despite your qualities, I expected something more impressive."
She had to shout for the sound to spread properly:
"Don't judge books by their cover! Besides, what could you know about my 'qualities'?"
"Oh, just enough," he stepped forward and lowered his monstrous head, creating a quake in the process, "you two are special, just like the ones up there. Yet you carry a different sort of mark. A peculiar one, considering your heritage."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, I could grant you illumination," the dragon's voice was like honey, "as well as what you crave. You have both tasted it before, I am sure. Power enough to make all shudder in your presence."
"And you would grant it to me? I find that hard to believe."
"Oh, it is simple. I have had time to reflect on past mistakes. I had no one to rely on. No one to enforce my dominion," those serpentine eyes flashed, "I offer you a chance to obtain power that your kind could only dream of. In return, become my enforcer! The first of many iron fists that will enforce my dominion once this world is once again rightfully mine!"

She stared at the oversized draconite with a pronounced frown as she replied to the enticing offer:
"Sadly, I must decline."
"Is that so? Unfortunate. Your friend proved to be the reasonable one, at least."
Again, she did not waver:
"You lie."
A cackle escaped his maw:
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because she is Sunset Shimmer," a hint of anger could be heard in her voice, "proud unicorn and trusted friend. And most certainly not fit to be a servant of some obese, oversized lizard!"

The titan roared in fury, obviously offended, and its eyes narrowed on her:
"Fine then, pony! You have signed your death warrant! Face the wrath of Traxex, Firstborn of Tiamath, Overlord of Water, Land and Air!"
"It is you who shall face the wrath of the Great and Powerful Trixie," after her brief bravado, she turned to the imprisoned Geodesia with a nervous smile, "wish me luck."

A flash of light erupted from the unicorn and when it faded, a whole host of Trixies stood there, each more defiant than the last. With a nod at each other, they dispersed in every direction with a quick gallop.

How amusing. A few illusions for him to play with. A futile attempt, only delaying his inevitable victory. With an errant thought, the chamber shifted. Crystals shifted, sprouted and shot rapidly in several places at once. As soon as the images were struck, they dispersed with a puff of smoke. It would not take long.

A few dozen was soon reduced to only a few. With a triumphant roar, he slammed the ground with his claw. The very floor of the chamber rose up violently, with excellent results. A scream. He looked down at the only remaining trickster as she flew through the air and impacted the ground with a satisfying thump, a cloud of dust rising around her. She coughed and squirmed, but could not seem to rise. Perfect.

As the obvious victor, Traxex called out, even as one of his mighty claws rose into the air:
"Great and Powerful, eh? Almost makes me laugh. Make your final prayers, pony. And while you're at it, pray that your friend proves wiser than you."

He brought his claw down like the blade of an angry god which it was. The ground parted as he dug into the earth and listened for a final, pathetic gurgle. No sound came and he looked down. Nothing but smoke could be seen, rising around the impact zone. The titan exclaimed:
"What?!"

At that moment, he could feel something land on his tail. Instinctively, he swished it upward.

A masterful performance, worthy of the Canterlot Royal Theatre! Now as the adventure reached its closing act, with her sliding down towards the giant's back, she only hoped that there would be no need for an encore performance. One mare could only take so much excitement in one life, you know?

Her landing was painful, but she got up without a hitch, fuelled by a mix of raw determination and adrenaline. She galloped as the dragon somehow morphed its entire body around so that he could look at her. Her goal stayed in place, however, even as the dethroned screamed:
"You little bug! I tire of your nonsense!"

She ignored his roars and wails, still concentrating on her goal. Even then, she didn't have everything quite figured out, seeking just a dash of inspiration. A shape moved into her cone of vision, one of the dragon's limbs coming for vengeance. The showpony blinked out of existence, dodging the blow as the titan's claws scraped along the surface, leaving behind cracks. Inspiration.

Traxex reared for another attack, furious. She reached her goal and stood still, warping out of the way at the very last moment. Same as before, there was a crack in his outer 'hide', a mere chip considering the dragon's sheer size, but just enough. She glanced into it, noting just how deep it went. The crystal on the inside seemed to be somewhat different to the rest, not just because of the innate, green glow. She had one shot.

"Enough! This ends now!"
Traxex opened his maw, revealing what appeared to be emerald flame building up within. She could actually see the substance travel through his body as it shone through. He was readying a veritable firestorm. Now or never.

She approached the crack, noticing it was already beginning to mend itself, and readied her spell. An old favourite, often used for some pranks or jests, yet quite dangerous as it was fuelled by more arcane power. And in that moment, Trixie gave it her all and unleashed it right into the weak point.

At its basic, the spell was a simple transfer of energy. Rather than a gradual, even build-up, however, it was a rapid, chaotic burst. Traxex's flame died down in his maw as he felt a terrifying sensation. Violent vibrations rocked his core and did not show any signs of dying down. Instead, like a set of dominoes, each quake served only to create more unease. For the second time in his timeless existence, the dragon felt an emotion. A primal, powerful emotion. Fear.

He roared and thrashed, knocking the exhausted unicorn off and sending her to the ground. He could feel his insides shiver and crumble, piece by piece, brick by brick. Yet the inevitability of his demise was not the worst thought. Even gods could perish. But they were supposed to perish in titanic battle, in a clash of equals! Not to some... some damned pony!

The titan's wails could be heard far and wide, his final, defiant sounds. Traxex realised he could no longer feel his tail. A brief look confirmed it had simply snapped off, no longer held in place by his fading power. It was all over. No. No! He would have the last say! He always had the last say! One last defiant command.

Trixie shakily rose, her gaze glued to the beaten dragon. Then, she received a message of common sense, turned and tried to run. It turned into more of a swift walk than anything else, her body finally at its limit. The ground under her hooves suddenly shook. A crystal burst upwards, before promptly exploding into a shower of shrapnel.

She fell. As she tried to rise again, agony stopped her. Worse yet was when the pain faded and was replaced by... cold. An icy worm that burrowed itself through her veins and into her soul. Gasping unevenly, she looked down and saw a small puddle on the ground, the liquid within a dark shade of crimson.

Her vision faded and her mind followed suite.

She woke, of all things, to the sound of snoring. Ordinarily, this would have annoyed Trixie, but the act of waking up in itself was much too good, considering the circumstances. She tried to move a little and winced as a dagger of pain cut through her entire side. She sighed and decided to only observe.

The room was just right. Just large enough, with a few well-placed decorations and a relaxing dark blue colour on the walls. The last rays of daylight streamed in through a generously-sized window. The bed she was in was quite comfy, the sheets had a strawberry smell to them. The most telling, however, was a small sign on the nearby wall. Squinting, she could make out:
"Patient's Ward C, Room 115."

Below were scribbles and notes that she would have had trouble deciphering with a magnifying glass. Finally, she tried to find the source of the, she realised, very adorable, feminine snoring. Luckily, the mare in question was in sight, nestled on a small sofa in the room.

She had obviously fallen asleep mid-reading, her book laying on the ground in a shocking display of mishandling. At least, shocking for the alicorn princess in question. Her purple wings twitched now and again in her dream. Suddenly, she frowned, one of her front hooves kicking in her dream. She muttered:
"Trixie... no, she can't be... no!"

With a final grunt, she woke from her apparent nightmare. Twilight was a mess, her mane unkempt, messy, her eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. And yet, when she looked over to the bed and their gazes met, she shot from the sofa as if she was overdosed on coffee. Somehow containing her excitement, she gently hugged the showpony and spoke:
"Oh, thank Celestia! They said that you would maybe never... that you wouldn't..."

Sobbing reached Trixie's ears. That would not do. She raised her hooves and returned the bookworm's embrace, finally realising just how tired she still felt. Even speaking was a bit tiring:
"It's okay, it's okay. It'll take more than that to beat the Great and-"

She never finished the sentence due to a sudden coughing fit. While Twilight fetched her a glass of water, Trixie was able to ponder two things. First, coughing hurt right now. Second, life was a frail, fickle thing, with many potentially fatal twists. Many didn't even involve dragons. As soon as she downed the water, she spoke again:
"Twilight, can I...?"
"Yes?"
Even bloodshot, those lavender eyes were so beautiful. Now or never.
"Twilight Sparkle, I... I..."
"She's awake," came an unfamiliar, excited voice from the entrance. A nurse, undoubtedly one of many, "she's awake, everyone!"

As she ran off to spread the news, the two ponies met gazes once again and Twilight asked:
"What is it you wanted, Trix?"
The words stopped in her throat and she instead said:
"I'm glad I can see you again," the alicorn smiled, "down there, I thought that we'd never," her eyes shot open as she realised, "wait, Sunset, is she?!"
"She's alright. A bit bruised, but otherwise fine."
"That is good to hear."

That damned smile. These damned feelings.

All things considered, the Canterlot Royal Hospital was an amazing place. Being in the capital and under the wings of several rich local sponsors, who just so happened to be hypochondriacs, probably helped. Most breathtaking of it all was the small forest on the building’s roof. A garden housing flowers of all colours and shapes, it was a great place for rest, surrounded by a hint of nature while gazing at the majestic city below.

Trixie’s eyes followed a crimson butterfly as it tasted the garden’s nectar, turning her head slowly, lest she feel pain. Her wounds were mostly healed, and she was assured there would be no scars after a few arcane procedures. Free of charge for the ‘Crystal Crusher’. Somehow, she didn’t think the title fit, though it did roll off the tongue nicely. A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her:
“What a beautiful day we have been graced with, would you not agree?”

A brief glance at the night sky in her mane made her consider whether the evening would be even more beautiful. The alicorn princess sat down next to her and took a few deep breaths before speaking once more:
“The contained breeze combined with the flowers is lovely, as well. Many say that patients do not start to truly recover until they spend some time here.”
“I can see why, truly,” she turned to the Princess of Night with a quizzical look, “I assume, however, that you did not come here to admire the garden.”
“Perceptive as always. I am here on a formal errand, though being able to check up on one of our heroines is an added bonus.”
“Blech. We’re going to get swarmed by paparazzi the moment we walk out, aren’t we?”
“Such is life in the spotlight, I am afraid,” she chuckled, then met gazes with the showpony, “truthfully, I wished to speak to you. I understand if you would rather relax for a while longer, however.”

Trixie smiled:
“Oh, no, no, it is quite alright. A few scratches won’t dampen my spirits.”
“It would seem so. Allow me to elaborate. Ever since my... return to my sister’s side, I have steadily taken on more and more responsibilities, slowly retaining my status prior to the whole lunar debacle,” such a nice way of summing it up, “I have recently, however, persuaded my sister that I am ready to take on new challenges. Namely, tutelage.”
“Tutelage?” her eyes grew wide as her mind raced.
“Yes. It is a custom that we, as alicorns skilled in the arcane arts, take promising individuals under our wing in order to help them reach new heights. I also believe you are intelligent enough to decipher where this exchange is headed.”
“Oh, gosh.”

Luna rose, assuming her default regal pose. She was so majestic as she recite a learned formula:
“Trixie Lulamoon. In the name of Royal Housesof Canterlot, We would hereby wish to offer you the opportunity of becoming Our personal student, in arts both magical and mundane. We have chosen you and you alone, for your demonstrations of skill, bravery and wit. It would be Our honour to teach you and We are able to create a schedule that would accommodate your theatrical performances, as well. You need not answer immediately, We can give you...”
“Yes,” she blurted out, before remembering her manners, “my apologies. I would be honoured to...”
“Shhhhhh,” with a playful smile, the princess continued, “no need for even more formalities, dear Trixie.”
“It is still a tremendous honour, princess.”
“Then know that you have earned it.”
“I am at a loss for words. Though, perhaps,” with a mischievous grin, she shouted, “Pinkieeeee!”

Without warning, a nearby flower pot burst asunder, revealing a mare of the pink persuasion. The party pony’s eyes were literally glowing with excitement as she hopped closer to the two:
“I knew hanging around was a good idea! Now I get to be helpful, maybe make someone smile and...”
Her barrage of words was halted by a blue hoof on her muzzle and Trixie said:
“We get the idea, you whirlwind of laughter. I have a mission for you, Pinkie. The fate of the world hinges on its completion.”
Somehow, a helmet and combat camo appeared on her head. The showpony didn’t even try to explain how that worked as the baker saluted:
“I’m two big ears, ma’am!”
“Excellent! I am in possession of saved up bits that may or may not be obsolete now. As soon as my health improves, I will need you to throw me the biggest party you’ve ever thrown.”
“Wowie zowie, biggest ever?!”
“Biggest. Ever.”
“Oh my goooooosh! You got it! It will be the bestest, most amazing, fantabular, spectastic thing in Equestria! You can count on it!”
“I know I can count on you, cadet. Dismissed!”
“Roger, roger,” a strange, brick-like device appeared near her ear, “cadet Gummy, evac, evac!”

A thousand balloons suddenly rose into the air, held in the mouth of an especially tiny alligator. The pink mare jumped on and let the wind carry her to new destinations.

Princess Luna looked at her with a perplexed expression and Trixie just commented:
“When you are around that one for a while, her antics stop phasing you.”
“I shall take your word for it, dear Trixie.”

They remained calm for a few moments. Then, they burst out laughing.

Author's Note

If 'dragons = rule' then 'crystal dragons = rule squared'.

Shadow of the Moon

Even after a few days, the corridors of the royal fortress were a maze. Trixie was sure that would change with time, though she hoped her brain would hurry up and memorise the routes. Constantly nagging the guards for directions was a bit embarrassing, after all. Not that getting lost in the place was too bad

The monarchs' castle was simply beautiful. Each chamber, from the majestic banquet halls to the smallest of closets, was decorated and well-preserved. Most windows were stained glass, depicting scenes from both myth and confirmed reality. The most recent one had surprised even her, though.

There she was, staring up at the giant, emerald eyes of what could only be the crystalline dragon Traxex. The image was surprisingly lifelike, so much so that it sent a shiver down her spine whenever she walked by it. She had a feeling she'd never get used to that gaze.

With one last turn, she stood in front of the ornate doors of Princess Luna's private study. She knocked three times, then entered. The chamber, housed in one of the castle's towers, stretched vertically, rather than horizontally. Bookcases lined the walls, connected by a set of hastily-constructed staircases and pathways. Those had been placed for Trixie, since the room's usual occupant could fly. Moonlight streamed in through a few small, strategically placed windows.

Such was the showpony's schedule, sleeping through most of the day and becoming active in the evening. Her lessons began before the princess had to attend to her own duties as caretaker of dreams. It would still take a while to become fully accustomed to it, but Trixie wasn't going to give up that easily.

Luna awaited her within, sipping on a cup of some hot drink. A brief sniff identified it as an exotic tea, though she could not quite place the flavour. The princess shot her a warm smile and greeted her:
"Good evening, my dear student."
"Good evening, Princess."
"I trust your slumber was peaceful?"
"Indeed. The rumours surrounding the comfort of royal bedding are not far from the truth."
"Heh, excellent. Shall we begin, then?"
"By all means."

Her magic took hold of a notepad and quill and they slowly ascended the tower, the princess floating beside her. Movement, luckily for the two, seemed to stimulate both of their minds. It was always nice to find someone with the same learning methods. The Princess of the Night began:
"During our previous sessions, we were able to establish that your control over magic is excellent. There is still room for improvement, of course, but I do believe you can reach your peak even without my aid, especially considering your dedication. I can, however, grant you insight into matters that others have little knowledge about."
"Dreams, if I had to make an educated guess?"
"Indeed. All creatures dream, whether they know it or not. From the simplest of daytime visions, to the most complex, long-term sequences, they are all a manifestation of our subconscious. Not even centuries of research have been able to conclusively say why exactly our minds create them, but they are here to stay. And while we cannot fully understand why they happen, we can learn to understand the figments themselves. This is especially important when dealing with the most problematic of their sort. Nightmares."

Trixie contemplated for a moment, then asked:
"To prevent them from appearing?"
"Precisely," teacher and student met gazes, "cancelling a nightmare is relatively simple, but an elementary spell to provoke a dreamless state. Yet it is also fruitless. My quest, my goal, is always to heal. To remove the source of such dark delusions and free someone from their grasp."
"How does one identify it, this source?"
Luna broke the stare and landed on the catwalks next to her:
"It is rarely easy, to be sure. It requires utmost concentration, making sure to not leave out even the smallest detail. And it shall also be the subject of your very first assignment, my dear student."
"I am eager, if somewhat nervous."
The princess chuckled, just a little, then said:
"Good. I want you to search your memories for one of your old nightmares. Those that no longer ail you. I want you to analyse it, down to the smallest detail. Feel free to peruse any of the tomes within the tower. Tia," she stammered, "I-I meant to say, Princess Celestia collected them over many years. I am sure they will prove helpful. For now, however, I must be on my way. The night is young and its dreamers many."
"Of course, Princess."

******

Codename: 'Collapse at the Crossroads'
Designation: Reoccurring Nightmare
Interval: Weekly basis
Status: Cured

Brief description:
More a reoccurring, painful memory than a true nightmare. Follows the events after my second entry into Ponyville, involving the Alicorn amulet. Nervous breakdown, intense feelings of helplessness and loneliness. Surroundings unnatural, often shrouded in utter darkness.

Hypothesis:
Brought upon due to the trauma caused by rapid realisations and change of worldview. Several years of pent up doubts and suppressed criticisms surface at once. Nightmares always intense, did not lessen up even with improvements of personal skill.

Lessened only after third trip to Ponyville and a rather lovely slumber party. Completely gone after the fourth return.

Cure:
Magic of Friendship+

******

For some reason, the opening page of her first assignment caught her eyes in the pile of papers on the princess' desk. Luna had obviously reread them earlier that day. With a few final glances into 'Memoirs of the Dreamweaver - Techniques and Precautions', a book whose rather strange word choices permeated throughout, the alicorn looked towards her:
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Just need to make sure the incantation is perfect. And you need not worry, because it is. One can never be too careful when it comes to these things."
"Most assuredly."
"Now, please step into the second circle and we shall begin shortly."

Princess Luna's private ritual chamber was a place of strange beauty. Peculiar statues and other exotic items lined the walls, making the whole place feel like some sort of antique shop. Two large circles were drawn on the ground, filled in with extremely elaborate markings. Trixie could identify most of the runes and other protective marks, though some eluded even her understanding. Fearlessly, Luna entered her own circle and the showpony followed suite, though she was a bit more nervous. The princess spoke:
"The spell protects both your body and mind. Now, just as I taught you, say the incantation with me."
It was an ancient dialect, used seldom in the northernmost reaches of Equestria. Teacher and student spoke in eerie unison:
"Tieň, poskytni útočisko v týchto snoch. Nech nás nevidno ani pri hviezdach miliónoch."

She had seen the procedure before, yet was still startled when an unseen force lifted her into the air. They both floated there above the ground, held in place by magic. A necessary safety precaution, as overseeing the realm of dreams meant one's body and mind were somewhat disconnected, though both were technically still awake. Preventing accidents was therefore of utmost importance.
Trixie calmed down, cleared her mind, just like during their training sessions, and closed her eyes. Strange sensations came and went over the following moments. Weightlessness gave way to being extremely encumbered, extreme hunger gave way to a feeling of fullness. Finally, she could hear Luna's voice:
"Open your eyes, Trixie."

It took a while for her mind to comprehend her surroundings. They were floating in an absolutely vast space, stretching as far as her eyes could see. It was not a hollow void by any means, instead, thousands of clouds floated through the area. They were shaped like all manners of things and varied in size, as well. There were still some that stood out, however. Where most were white as snow, a handful were darkened storm clouds, waiting to burst with lightning.
She took it all in, her expression one of wonder and amazement. The princess stood, or well, floated at her side and said:
"Welcome to the realm of dreams."
"It is simply breathtaking," she shook off her trance and turned to Luna, "I think I can deduce what the storm clouds hide."
"Indeed. This night is calm, overall. I have not sensed a greater disturbance. Come, let us tend to our dreamers. Starting with," she glided towards a dark cloud, seemingly at random, "this one!"
"Any particular reason?"
"I have a soft spot for this little colt. Let's see what ails him."

She beckoned for Trixie to come closer. As soon as the showpony was in hoof's reach, Luna pulled her inside of the cloud. They were suddenly in what appeared to be a classroom, though it was all a bit skewed. Chairs and desks looked just a bit too big, with the teacher's desk more akin to a towering fortress than a piece of furniture. Among it all, in front of a filled blackboard, stood a lone colt.

He was tiny by any standards, his coat primarily a dirty white, but with brown spots here and there, most prominently one around his left eye. In a nervous gibber, he recited:
"A-after the r-return of Princess L-Luna, many ponies t-thought that..."
"What's the matter, Pipsqueak?" came a voice from nowhere.
"Didn't prepare his talk enough, I bet."
"Yeah, teach should give him an F."

The little foal recoiled and sat down on the ground, already tearing up. Luna would have none of that, her horn already glowing with magic:
"Oh, poor little dear," her voice suddenly shifted. Trixie could swear she had heard it in Ponyville before, "quiet! Last I checked, only Pipsqueak was allowed to talk! So simmer down or I will have to have a word with your parents," the voices died down while Pipsqueak made one last sniffle. Luna addressed him directly, "you were doing great dear, don't mind them. Please continue."
With a smile and renewed vigour, the colt complied:
"After Princess Luna's return, many ponies thought that the tradition would be cancelled. But when the princess visited the town of Ponyville, our town, she actually liked the celebrations very much. Since then, she's been visiting us every year and playing with us, and scaring us. She's really nice and smart, and pretty. And that's why I think Princess Luna is the best princess ever and a pony you should look up to."
"Very good, Pipsqueak!" the sound of clopping hooves accompanied the fake teacher's praise.

******

As soon as they were back in the dreamscape, Trixie commented:
"I think I know why you like that one so much."
Luna responded in a playful tone:
"A princess does love her adoring subjects."
"You took a very distant approach, I noticed. Very indirect."

"Indeed," the two met gazes, "I only rarely let a pony know I was watching over their dreams and it is even rarer that I show myself in person, usually when a matter requires immediate attention. For other dreams, however, I only influence the dream itself. In this way, I do not risk shocking or scaring the creature in question, nor do I run the risk of triggering any latent feelings of helplessness or inadequacy. The mind is a complex maze filled with traps, so it is best to avoid them."
"I see what you mean."
"Shall we continue our crusade from the shadows, then?"
"Absolutely!"

Many more dreams were visited on that night, each as mundane as the last, thankfully. Stage fright, general anxiety, assorted minor fears and phobias. They were all dealt with using a dash of subterfuge and magic, turning horrid spiders into jokes on roller skates and filling dark corners with light and laughter. An eventful evening, by all definitions of the word. Most importantly, teacher and student had helped many ponies with bottled-up problems and issues and ensured that they could sleep peacefully.

Trixie was mostly the observer during the ordeal, though she did provide creative input at several instances. Finally, she woke from her fake dream and almost fell over, as her body tried to get used to its weight again. Luna was obviously used to the sensation, as she calmly touched down onto the ground and looked over to the showpony:
"A busy night, but a successful one. You did well, Trixie."
"Thank you, though I will say I did not do too much."
"You observed and contemplated my every move. At this stage in your studies, that is more than enough. Now," Luna smiled, "my sister shall raise the sun soon enough. I would say it is high time for you to rest."
"What about you, Princess?"
"I shall join you in slumber soon enough. I love watching the light gradually wash over the landscape."

With a nod, Trixie made her way to her quarters. Even in the faint light of early morning, she had no trouble navigating the maze-like castle. Not anymore.

******

It was several months into her studies when someone knocked on the door to Luna's library-tower. Teacher and student both turned towards it, surprised. Who could be knocking so late at night? Trixie rose to answer the door. Her horn glowed as she slowly opened it, then immediately smiled when she saw a familiar face.

No longer wearing spelunking gear, the orange mare was dressed in a stylish dark blue ensemble, which Trixie immediately identified as one of Rarity's newest designs. The fashionista was quite popular in Canterlot. Unlike her clothes, however, the mare was a mess. Her charcoal mane was unkempt. Two emerald eyes stared at Trixie, bloodshot and fearful like the first time they had met. The expert greeted her:
"Good evening, Trixie."
"Geodesia," worry was evident in the showpony's voice, "what's wrong?"
"I-is Princess Luna here?"
"Yes," came the Dreamweaver's voice, "please, come in."

She slowly entered, almost stumbling on the door itself, and walked over to the princess' desk. Those worried eyes looked up at the alicorn and she said:
"It came back. The nightmare."
Luna's eyes narrowed as she asked:
"When?"
"Earlier today. I worked through the night on a few projects, then fell asleep in the morning and it... it was back. Even worse than before. I tried the breathing exercises, the relaxing music, everything. It just kept coming back and I didn't k-know w-what..."

As tears strolled down her face, Luna came closer and wrapped one wing around the earth pony:
"There, there, you're safe here, do not worry," as soon as Geodesia calmed down, the teacher turned to her student, "Trixie, get a quill and some paper. We need to take notes."

******

Trixie sat to the side, carefully jotting down every word with her magic, adding her own commentary on the side. After the process was done, she handed the finished document to princess Luna, who skimmed through it:

"So, you say it is the same nightmare from before?"
"Yes. The cavern, the d-dragon, everything. Except i-it's even worse than before."
"And you say you haven't been experiencing any of your previous emotions? The extreme loneliness, feeling imprisoned?"
"No. Ever since you helped me and I was given this new position, I haven't felt like that."

Current position was assigned by Princess Celestia, head researcher focusing on the nature of the crystal caves below Canterlot and their possible uses. I remember she mentioned it being stressful at times, though she actually loved it. Low possibility of this being the cause.

"No worldly problems? Finances or the like?"
"N-no. The fines were all quite mild, considering, and coupled with the new position, I've been able to keep up with payments. I've made new friends, my social life is... acceptable. Could be better, but no reason to have nightmares over, surely?"

Fines levied due to breach of royal decree and the disaster that ensued. Fines levied in the lowest possible ranges, as Princess Celestia deemed that Geodesia had the wits and will to be useful to Equestria as a whole. The princess also noted that she should perhaps have been more open about the situation surrounding the mines, if only to the academic society.

"No, I do not think so. Geodesia, nothing seems to ail you, yet here you are before Us once again. You are not hiding anything, I hope?"
"No, Princess! I swear!"
"Very well. This matter will require Our personal attention. We shall begin immediately."

******

Teacher and pupil retreated once more into Luna's ritual chambers, while Geodesia was provided a room within the castle and put under a sleeping spell. Her close proximity would ensure that her dream would be easy to access. The situation was so different compared to all the other times, though. If only because Luna seemed worried. Trixie looked up at her, but did not immediately say anything. A single glance towards Luna was all that was needed to communicate the question:
"Yes, I am nervous. I know of only two things that could cause such an intense, spontaneous nightmare. Neither is especially pleasing to think about."

The princess fumbled through the papers on her desk, though she did not contemplate them in the slightest. The student came closer and spoke:
"Something from the subconscious, or an outside influence."
Luna nodded:
"So it is either a horrid memory or emotion her mind had suppressed into its deepest recesses, stirred by recent events. Or it is someone or something with sinister intent. Either way, this will not be pleasant. Trixie... are you sure you...?"
"Yes," without a hint of a doubt, "I have joined you on every dreamwalk in the past months. I am not a pony who breaks her habits often. Especially not when danger is involved. I shall accompany you, Princess."
The alicorn gazed at her for a few moments, then smiled:
"How fortunate I was to have found such a dedicated student."
The showpony smiled right back:
"How fortunate I was to have been chosen by such a wise teacher."
"Let us go, then. A pony requires our help."
"Indeed!"

******

Even among the thousands of cloudy dreams and a handful of lesser nightmares, Geodesia's stood out. The cloud was black as the abyss, bristling with crackles of lightning. With a nod to each other, the dreamwalkers entered.

The area was immediately familiar. Dark, enclosed, its walls and ceiling covered in a legion of crystals. But these were different than the ones Trixie remembered. Jagged, ruptured into various monstrous shapes, they cast intimidating shadows when she cast her light on them. And then, there was their patient, trapped inside of a crystalline cage. The room was eerily silent, though everyone involved knew what was coming. It began with tremors.

The area shook as a titanic form seemed to tear the world asunder, emerging from the ground below. Even Trixie was taken aback at first. The malevolent, emerald green eyes looked so real. The rest of the dragon, however, was hideous, malformed. Many limbs jutted out at various angles, surrounding a crystalline ribcage. Within, a globe of emerald fire burned brightly. The monster roared as Geodesia cowered in her cell. The duo took several steps closer and, for the moment, only observed:
"You thought you could kill me," the voice sent chills down Trixie's spine. It was somehow distorted, at once a roar and a whisper, echoing menacingly through the chamber, "I am eternal! I am invincible! Unlike your little hero, I might add! You do well, to cower, little whelp," crying could be heard within the chamber, "for my dominion shall start with you!"

"Be ready to engage this horror, Trixie, I fear it may..."
It was then that the unexpected happened, for the dragon averted it gaze from the captive pony and looked in their direction. Neigh, not in their direction. The nightmare-dragon gazed right at them and finished its proclamation:
"Princess Luna!"

They were taken by surprise, as tendrils of unnameable magic encircled them out of nowhere. Luna managed to fire off a spell, but it was swept aside like a bug. Trixie found herself alone in utter darkness. Her mind and senses felt numb. Before long, she blacked out.

******

She woke again and, much to her dismay, she did not see the quaint little statuettes of Luna's chamber. Instead, the night sky greeted her, starless and dark. Only the moon shone above, mighty and proud. And a vibrant crimson. Shakily, the student rose to her feet.

Ruins surrounded her. Crumbling walls were dotted with arcane fire of a dozen hues. Once-proud statues lay scattered on the floor in large chunks. Through a shattered, stained-glass window, she gazed at the city below. Canterlot was empty. A decrepit, empty husk of what it once had been, wasting away in the sands of time. She was speechless and for a moment, terror gripped her soul.

No. This wasn't right. She had been... with Luna. She grunted as she forced her mind to work. Trying to fix the problem... the nightmare, when it turned out to be a trap. Set by who, or what? More importantly, where was the princess? With a determined look, she looked at the castle ruins around her. Even in their state, she could make out where in the castle she was and set out deeper inside.

It wasn't too long until she heard a haunting melody:
"On your bed of moonlight. Sleep."
Sobbing followed shortly thereafter. Trixie's walk turned into a gallop as she raced after the sound.

******

The singer just sat there, looking at the pony on the ground. Even now, she was beautiful. So regal and graceful, even after her colourful mane stopped flowing. Even after her coat's colours faded from pristine to darkened white. Even after she stopped moving. Luna let out a frustrated, heartfelt cry. Sincere, like all those times before.

The clop of hooves alerted her to the newcomer. None other than Trixie Lulamoon, her... student and protégé, yes. The showpony stopped and took in the scene for a few moments. It must have been a harrowing experience for her, trudging through the castle ruins. But why was she here, of all places? Was this a new evolution of the dream, or was it actually her? The student spoke:
"Princess Luna!"
"Welcome, Trixie." the tone set the other on edge, the alicorn could tell. Calm and collected, though the sobbing afterwards broke the illusion.
"Please, we have to wake up! This is just a dream!"
"I know," that sentenced disarmed the unicorn completely, "I have been here so many times I have lost count. To this day, I cannot tell if it is but a dream, or a vision of things to come."
"A vision? But you would never...!"
"Would I not?!" her voice lashed out like a whip and she stood up, dwarfing the little pony.
"Princess..."

Trixie's voice and gaze were fearful, timid. Immediately, she slapped herself mentally and sat back down, lowering her volume:
"I am sorry, I don't know what," she met gazes with her student and shook her head, "no, I do know. And that frightens me far more than blessed oblivion ever could."
"What are you talking about, Princess?"
"I," Luna took a deep breath, "I am supposed to be freed. Thanks to Twilight Sparkle and her... my other friends. Yet, this nightmare has haunted me ever since. The voice continues to gnaw at my mind whenever I let my guard down," tears streamed down her face anew, "what if I can't control it? What if I lose myself again, what if..."

Trixie interjected, her voice stern:
"You will not."
"How can you know, I am..."
"You are Princess Luna. Princess of Dreams, co-ruler of Equestria. Beloved sister," the alicorn glanced down and could swear the injured pony took a deep breath, "a pony with a troubled past, but a bright future. Kind, beautiful, wise. And perhaps most of all," a napkin levitated closer and wiped most of the tears away, "someone I can call my friend."

Luna just gazed into Trixie's eyes for a few long, eternal moments. She saw not only sincerity and determination, she saw herself reflected on their surface. The true her. She tried to smile, but was interrupted. The voice was strange, something between a shout and a whisper. It assaulted the pair from everywhere at once. Worst of all, she knew it only too well. It was her own:
"Luuuuuuunaaaaaaaa."

The horrific sound echoed throughout the hallways of her mind, again and again. She turned, fearful. The alicorn's fears were, sadly, realised. The moon was nowhere to be seen, consumed by a blanket of unnatural darkness. A wall of a strange, otherworldly substance clung to what remained of the walls. Most alarming, was the figure which emerged from this dark miasma.

For all intents and purposes, it was her, in both form and mannerisms. But the eyes! Their colour matched, yet the other's eyes seemed to almost shine in the surrounding darkness, a beacon into the depths of madness. The creature spoke, its voice cheerful, laced with honey:
"We have missed you so."
Trixie immediately called out:
"Princess, don't...!"

Immediately, the pony was silenced, as another wall of nameless matter formed between her and the princess. Luna glanced back in shock, but soon returned her attention to the doppelganger. It spoke again:
"We will not allow anyone to come between us. Not again."
"Stay away from me!" Luna assumed a battle stance.

The nightmare emitted a chuckle, taking a few steps closer:
"You shun Us, after all those years? How quickly you have forgotten about Our companionship. One thousand years of it," Luna was visibly shaking, "and here we find ourselves once again. Alone, just the two of us."
"I could live without your ilk for a million lifetimes!"
"Oh, how aggressive! How adorable! So strong and determined on the outside," its coat darkened. It was almost black, further bringing out its radiant eyes, "yet fragile and unsure on the inside. Let Us soothe you, Luna."
"Stay away, I said!"

At that point, they were just a few feet apart. The nightmare could almost taste its victory and pressed on:
"Kept in the shadow of the sun, even now. Still unknown to all but a handful of ponies. Still just the cold, lonely moon."

In its gloating, however, the creature did not notice that the princess had stopped shivering. Luna looked up at her darkness and spoke through gritted teeth:
"How dare you."
"What?" the nightmare spoke, incredulous.
The alicorn's voice erupted like a volcano, her horn glowing as a powerful shockwave rocked the area:
"How dare you?!"

The darkness was pushed back and gazed at the princess:
"Luna, We..."
"Silence, curr! You dare show yourself before me once again?! After a thousand years of pouring venom in my ears?! After feasting on my jealousy and despair like a parasite," she looked back at the injured sun on the ground. When she turned back, she bore a furious expression, mixed with tears, "after turning me against the pony who tried to show me nothing but love and care?! I will hear nothing from you, demon!"

The princess spread her wings and rose to the sky. Her horn shone as brightly as a star and shot a pillar of blinding light into the sky. The shadow could not resist and was scattered back to the abyss where it had spawned. The moon was clear again, its light cleansing the entire area. While the nightmare wailed, Luna closed her eyes and bathed in the glow.

Trixie gazed up, slack-jawed. Moonlight itself seemed to gather around the princess, forming a suit of beautiful, ethereal armour. It was as if the moon itself had descended to bless the world with its presence. When Luna opened her eyes again, they were two azure fireballs. Magic gathered around her as she turned to her darkness one last time:
"I am Luna! Princess of the Night! Dreamweaver! And you," the spell was almost ready, "you are finished!"

An arcane beam of impressive magnitude engulfed the darkness. It writhed, it screamed, it roared. Its very form began to unravel and contort, turning from a pony to a nightmare without definite shape. A dozen limbs flailed about in agony as a single eye, black as the void between worlds, stared at the princess in a mixture of terror and fury. With a final, pitiful screech, it was consumed by the attack. Light erupted from where the abomination had stood, engulfing the entire area.

The nightmare was over.

******

Trixie woke from the trance and landed gracefully, despite the previous, breathtaking display. A loud thump sounded next to her and she turned. Luna was on the ground, panting heavily. Her mane seemed to flow slower, as if exhausted itself. Quickly, the student hopped to her and said:
"Princess Luna, are you alright?!"
The Dreamweaver's voice was shaky, but sounded almost happy:
"Y-yes. Just a bit... tired after that ordeal. Whatever that creature was... its intentions were obvious, though its motives confusing."
"Do we have a course of action?"
"For now, that can wait, ah," Trixie helped her stand back up, "I am exhausted right now and we are safe. For now, I have a request, dear Trixie."
"Of course! Anything!"
"I seem to be in no shape to 'walk' anymore," Luna put on a heartfelt smile, "would you please attend to my flock for tonight?"

Trixie stared at her for a few moments, wide-eyed, then answered:
"I will do my best, Princess."
"I know you will," the alicorn slowly made her way to the chamber's door, then glanced back, grinning "dear Dreamwalker."

Trixie did not think about the minutiae at that point. Was it an official academic title? Was Dreamweaver up for grabs? Would her sleep schedule ever be the same? These questions did not bother her. There was a dreamland to patrol and she would not fail.

The other realm seemed to have calmed down immensely. She could sense Geodesia's vision somewhere in a sea of white, now calm and peaceful. With renewed vigour, she turned her attention to the darkened ones. Oh, no.

Poor little Pipsqueak again?

******

The castle was always so beautiful at night. The stars and moon toyed with the stained glass in such wonderful ways. Several guards had stopped on their patrols to ask if she was alright. She must have been quite the mess. Her answer seemed to perplex them further:
"I am now, worry not."

Finally, she traversed the defended hallways and stood before an ornate door. Its wood was as old as the castle itself, protected by magic even older than that. Elaborate carvings, depicting the passing of seasons, could be seen. They had carved those together so many moons ago.

Luna's horn glowed as she delivered a very different kind of knock. For a moment, she was a young filly, sneaking around the guards in a late-night game of cat and mouse. She listened to a reply and, much to her relief, one came. The briefest tingling sensation at the end of her horn.

The ancient door creaked open. It always astounded the princess how good her sister looked at any occasion. Whether it be an official appearance, the middle of the night, or amidst a horde of enemies, the Princess of the Sun was always a sight to behold. Celestia spoke in a mischievous whisper:
"Well, if it isn't," as she took a better look, she grew concerned, "Luna, are you alright?"
"Do not worry, 'Tia. Just had a rough night."
"And what brings you here, then?"
"I know this may sound strange, but, ummm," she looked around, as if to make sure no one was in ear shot, "could I, maybe... sleep with you tonight, dear sister? Like... before?"

The tone was back immediately:
"Why, Princess Lulu, that would be a rather large breach of court etiquette and might be deemed as improper by some prudes. Of course!"

The two giggled as Luna was allowed inside. After a bit more incessant giggling, the two finally lied down. It was then, snuggled next to her beloved sister, who just so happened to have an uncharacteristically non-regal snore, that Luna let all worries rest for a while.

In that moment, the world was perfect.

Author's Note

I moonlight as a reader of cosmic horror.

Of Ebon and Equinox

Author's Note

A short tale ties into this chapter, though is in no way a required read to follow the plot:

A pleasant Night at the Archive

End of shameless plugging! Enjoy the rest!

Of Ebon and Equinox

The clouds were mostly white, save for this one straggler. Oh, but he was darker than the usual afflicted and would undoubtedly require attention. She looked upwards at the bright moon and sent the message, just as instructed. She received the standard reply and emitted a sigh of relief. She opened her eyes and the dream vanished.

Once more, she was on the very edge of Sugarville, camping after a successful performance. At the same time, she was the Dreamwalker. Scouring the world during her travels, aiding Princess Luna with the search for nightmares. Proximity was important, after all, and unlike her tutor, she did not need a complex ritual for her part. A brief peek into the other realm, that was it.

All in all, it was a wonderful arrangement, permitting Trixie to get back to the thing she loved most. Entertaining. And perhaps resolving other matters, as well. Those could wait until morning, however. The friend she had in mind was asleep, she was sure. His cloud had been easy to find.

One thing still bothered her, however. High up, beyond throngs and throngs of other dreams, she could sense an unease. She had tried to reach it before, but the presence always seemed to distance itself. Luna knew of it, as well, but not even she had been able to approach it. After a few decades of trying, she had simply stopped trying. A mystery of the dream realm, undoubtedly one of many.

Trixie opened her eyes and found herself back in the waking world.

She turned to her companion, who was still reading a book next to the campfire, wings folded and expression perplexed. With a final sigh, Twilight turned to her and said:
"No matter how much I try to read between the lines, it says the same thing."
"Lucretia was always quite straightforward in her writing."
"It would seem so," her frown swiftly changed to a smile, "how are our dreamers?"
"Mostly fine, thankfully. We should follow their example and get some rest, as well."
"True enough," she carefully placed the tome back in its travel case and yawned, "good night, Trix."
"Good night, Twi."

******

It hadn't taken them long to find the cave's entrance. The owner's constant humming probably helped in that regard. A few twisting turns later and they stood within the main chamber. Beams of light peeked in through a few holes in the ceiling, illuminating a modest hoard, which was more like a small art gallery than a true treasure.

The owner was enjoying a breakfast of champions. A pony-sized cake with a large ruby on top, its frosting a dark shade of pink. A single claw deftly cut into the culinary delight, slicing off a small chunk. The azure dragon chewed the piece slowly, deliberately, obviously relishing in the sensations it provided to his taste buds. Finally, he swallowed audibly and commented to himself:
"Och, Pinkie, you cheeky devil. This mix of ingredients is scandalously good," suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throat reached his ears and he looked downwards, "well, who do we have here?"

It was amazing how adorable the performer looked in her magician's outfit, yet still managed to make the whole thing seem believable. The alicorn, meanwhile, tried to hide an almost innate regal nature under a veneer of modesty. They made quite the pair, that much was certain. The showpony spoke first:
"We are most sorry to interrupt your breakfast."
"Och, I would never let some morsels get between me and my friends! Unless, of course, you've come to add another notch on your dragonslayer belt?"
The princess frowned:
"Come off it, Glint."
"Am I not allowed to jest? You wound me, Your Highness. In any case," he sliced himself another piece of the cake, then two considerably smaller pieces for his guests, "have a slice!"
"Thank you!" the two ponies replied in unison and took a few comparably small bites. It really was scandalously good.
"Now then, what can I do for you, friends?"
"Truthfully," Trixie began, "we need your help with an academic matter."
"Oh? Well, I've never been one for studying, but I'll see what I can do. What answers do you seek?"

Twilight took a deep breath:
"During our first meeting, You mentioned Tiamath, the supposed mother of all draconites."
"Indeed," Glint lied down and lowered his head closer to them, "that is what all the tales say."
"Quite. Lucretia Stargazer said as much in her famed Almanac," she tapped the sturdy case on her side, "and recent events lend some credence to these tales, as well. However, the tales of Tiamath also mention two other names."
"I had noticed them as well, during my own studies. More perplexing is that one of them had been mentioned to me beforehand. Ebon and Equinox."

The dragon furrowed his brow and nodded:
"Those names I know, as well."
"Could you tell us what you know, please," Twilight could barely contain her excitement, "even Lucretia's own entries are a jumble of dozens of separate myths with no conclusive answer or theory."
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but if you have read those tales, you probably know as much as me. Two deities, joining together to defeat the Mother of Dragons once and for all. The exact circumstances, I do not know. I would assume only the likes of Traxex would, ancient as he was."
Trixie sighed:
"He wasn't really one for academic discussion, unfortunately."
"So I have heard. I am sorry that I couldn't help you."
"It's quite alright. It's just something that's been nagging us for a while."

For a few moments, the three just sat there, enjoying the cake, though something seemed to be spoiling its taste. Suddenly, Glint's eyes seemed to flash and he looked at the two travellers once again:
"Perhaps I can still be of help."
"What do you mean, Glint?" Twilight asked.
"Well, I may know of someone who could perhaps help you. You know Foal Mountain, I presume?"
"Yes. Under several other official names, too."
"Talest mountain in the world. A treacherous hike upwards, even with magical or winged aid. Even my kin avoid it. It gets so cold that their wings grow icicles, or so I've heard."
"Who in the hay would live up there?"
"I... can't quite recall. I only remember snippets of stories, from my early youth. Before the, well," he glanced towards the two stumps on his back, "the incident. They said that a dragon lives within Foal Mountain, in a cavernous cave near the summit. Old as the world, some claimed, and wise beyond even such long years," carefully, the draconite grabbed hold of the magnificent ruby planted on top of the cake, "if you are willing to make the climb, I would say this dragon is your best bet."

The two ponies shared a look. Trixie spoke first:
"So, hardship, adventure and dragons older than Equestria."
"What else is new, am I right?"
"Quite," the showpony turned back to Glint, "thank you very much for this information, friend."
"Anytime, my dear," he threw the ruby into the air and caught it in his jaws. She could swear she heard a child-like squeal as he chewed and finally swallowed, "now that that's done, how are you doing, friends?"

******

Foal Mountain. An unofficial title used so often that it had become ingrained in the public's collective consciousness. It did not matter how many times the peak's true name was reinforced. That one nickname always prevailed, while others were left in the dust. Strange, especially since it had originated as an academic joke.
The mountain was the foal of the geologic world. Having grown to its massive height in a relatively short span of time, just a few million years, its geologically rapid growth was thought to have once been observable during an everyday pony's lifetime.

It was the seventeenth time Trixie's mind had drifted to the topic, hoping to escape from the unbelievable cold. Even wrapped in stylish, warm coats and protected by just a smidge of magic, the icy air was omnipresent. The deep snow beneath her hooves was the worst, like an icy dagger prodding into her leg with every step.

They had been at it for a good three hours, climbing ever higher with the help of both magic and more rudimentary tools. Magic was the clear winner, though, allowing them to ascend with otherwise impossible speed. The clouds and the moisture within them most certainly were not helping.
Then they stepped above the clouds and could not help but stop and gaze in wonder. It was as if the world itself was covered in a thick coat of snow, stretching in every single direction into infinity. They marvelled at the view for a good few moments, before continuing their journey. The freezing wind helped them reach that particular decision.

Luckily, it did not take them too long to find it. A rather large hole in the mountain's surface, large enough to, say, allow a dragon to pass through. They rushed towards it with renewed vigour and emitted sighs of relief once they were finally inside. It even shielded them from the wind, which was simply wonderful. Panting heavily, Trixie said:
"Well, hah, we've made it, it seems."
"I most certainly, hah, don't know of any other caverns on Foal Mountain."
"Then, uf, let's see what's inside."

They cautiously delved deeper, their hooftseps echoing with every step. The temperature was just on the edge of bearable. Two arcane flashlights pierced the darkness, illuminating... nothing but a simple cave. Stones, rocks, a random igneous in the corner. It wasn't a terribly exciting find, up until that point.

Then the growl sounded somewhere before them. Immediately, they assumed battle stances, standing rump-to-rump and shining the light all around. Twilight's jaw dropped moments afterwards and Trixie followed her gaze, only to yelp.

The creature was gargantuan, easily comparable to even the likes of Traxex. Its scales were a dark shade of gray, with a patch of snow-white here and there. Two eyes, shone from the darkness like two massive, blazing rubies. Strangely enough, it had no wings to speak of. Most impressive were its horns, of which it had many. Most curved backward towards its back, but two were curled forward, much like a ram's. The passage itself seemed barely wide enough to allow it to pass. The draconite roared and slammed his mighty claw into the ground, then spoke in a deep, intimidating voice:
"Who walks within these halls?"

The sound echoed rather well, considering. Twilight spoke up:
"We are travellers! We just wanted to..."
"Steal parts of my collection, I reckon?"
"N-no! We only need your help with an academic matter!"
"Is that so? And why should I believe you, pony?"
"Sorry to interject," Trixie spoke up confidently, earning the monster's gaze, "but could we please discuss this face-to-face?"
His eyes narrowed, while the princess whispered to her companion:
"What are you talking about?!"
"Can't you feel it? His movements didn't make the air stir. The sounds he makes echo just a bit wonkily, and I do believe I saw one of the horns scrape against the ceiling with no effect."
"Perceptive," the illusion spoke, "very well, I shall grant your request. Please, do come in."

Without another word, the image vanished into thin air. With a glance at each other, the two ponies descended deeper into the mountain.

******

"Oh, my gosh!" Twilight exclaimed as soon as they rounded the last corner.

It truly was breathtaking. It was as if an elaborate city had been carved into the heart of the mountain, complete with pathways and structures. Each was richly decorated with carvings, grotesques and gargoyles, though they seemed to lack a unifying style. As if they had been carved in different eras. All of it was lit by pretty crystalline torches, placed in strategic locations. Proud statues watched over the path, depicting various sorts of draconites, invariably in triumphant, boastful poses.

In the middle of the path stood a familiar, yet undersized creature. The dark grey scales, the blazing rubies for eyes. The ram horns complimented by quite a few smaller ones curving down to his back. Their host stood on his hind legs in an almost humanoid fashion. Most curiously, he was wrapped in a set of navy blue robes. They were a work of art, interwoven with countless runes and other imagery like some sort of tapestry. Trixie could recognise only some of those images, and even those dated back before pony civilisation. He looked towards them with what must have been an attempted smile:

"Greetings," he said, bowing down to their level.
"Greetings," the duo mimicked him.
"I apologise for the display. I do not get to 'flex' my magic too often, for lack of a better term."
"I know how that feels," the alicorn smiled, "I get jittery after just a few days without arcane experimentation."
"Considering your prowess, that is not too surprising, Miss Sparkle."
The two ponies blinked, and Trixie commented:
"It seems we are at a disadvantage. You are clearly well informed."
"I chose an optimal place to view the world from, Miss Lulamoon. At least, as far as major events go," he shot them a grin and winked, "plus, I do have a newspaper subscription."
"Wha-huh?" they both blurted out.
"Oh, yes. I've struck a deal with a most dedicated mailmare. Sweet little thing. But I digress. An introduction is in order, I think."
"It would be helpful, yes."

He straightened himself out and started:
"Over the years, I have been known by many names. Every century seems to adorn me with a new title. Keeper, Loremaster, Wise One, Old Geezer in that one Mountain," he grinned and the guests chuckled, "they are redundant words, overall. To you, I am simply Talos."
"The pleasure is ours."
"I'd beg to differ. Now then, before we get to your academic pursuits, may I interest you in some tea?"

******

The kettle hissed and Talos bid the fire under it to vanish. It was an ancient item, the images on it depicting a battle between ponies and some horrid, nameless creatures. The small room was littered with similar antiques and collectables, from tiny statuettes to paintings in every style, undoubtedly kept in good shape thanks to magic.

Every other chamber they had traversed was similar. Filled to the brim with curiosities and artefacts. And tea, apparently. Dozens of flavours were available, acquired from every corner of the world. Trixie marvelled at the selection, not quite sure which exotic blend to go for:
"You have so many, I have trouble choosing!"
Twilight was already stirring her own, mundane choice. The dragon cackled and said:
"Well, if you are feeling adventurous, the one with the crystalline herbs from the north is very unique."
"I do believe I am feeling bold today. Let it be so!"
"Splendid," the pouch actually clanked after he lowered it into her mug, "I do think you will enjoy it."
"How did you get your claws on all of these, if you don't mind me asking?" inquired Twilight.
"Not at all. They are mostly gifts from old friends, whenever they stop by. That's how I've acquired almost all of the items you can see in these halls," he gestured towards the displayed collectables, "I've had a lot of time."
"You collection is unlike anything else, I must say!" the showpony commented.
"I wouldn't say it's mine, per se. All are welcome to come up here and view it. I am merely the items' caretaker."
"Is that why you still maintain a reasonable size?"
"Depends on what you understand under reasonable, princess. But yes."

"You possess a strong will," Trixie gazed down at her beverage, the strange crystalline plant was dissolving into the liquid entirely, "I'd hate to sound impatient, but may we discuss our issue?"
"By all means, I'd be happy to help! Few know of this place, fewer still brave the journey. A visit, then, has troubling implications. Is there some danger I should know about?"
"Oh, no, no," Twilight shook her head, "we were merely... extremely curious."
"Curiosity skinned the whelp, as they say."
"I suppose they do. Nonetheless, we have consulted several of our own sources, but we were still unable to find a definite answer. Do the names Ebon and Equinox mean anything to you?"

Talos froze for a moment, his eyes gazing into space. Trixie could swear that she spotted a crackle of energy dart along his horns. He nodded:
"Those names are known. History, ancient history. The youngest years of my time. What answers do you seek?"
Trixie said:
"We have nothing but conflicting tales and myths from our research. These names carry a meaning which eludes us, still. Can you tell us who or what they were?"
"I could," a timid smile crept back onto his elongated face, "but I'd rather show you."

******

The room was even smaller than the last, and uncharacteristically barren. Its walls, ceiling and floor were all of the same smooth, polished stone. The door creaked as it closed and they found themselves in utter darkness. The draconite's voice came, right in front of them:
"Ready?"
"Ready as we'll ever be," they answered in unison.
"In that case..."

Trixie's horn immediately tingled as small sparks of energy danced between Talos' numerous horns. In the faint light they emitted, she could see his arms rise towards the ceiling. And then...

Then there was light.

They suddenly stood on some sort of cliff, overlooking a massive valley bellow. It was a barren wasteland, with very few plants or any other life in general. Not the best of views, to be sure. The ground suddenly trembled as a truly gargantuan shape burst from the ground. It filled the entire valley with its unimaginable mass. Five monstrous heads sprouted from it on prehensile necks, serpentine to a lesser or greater degree. Each head spouted a set of horns and each had scales of a different. Talos spoke to his audience:

"In the beginning, there was Tiamath. Earthmother, Shaper of Stone and Soil. Through her efforts, the world was forged out of stardust and primordial elements. Being supreme and alone, she was uncontested in her efforts and the entire place was her playground. Until," the ponies noticed tiny plants were starting to grow around them, "the land drew breath. Blessed rain brought with it life," the elder dragon roared at these intruders in fury, futilely trying to root them out, "in her wrath, the Old Mother did not realise that her power seeped deep into the earth and was scattered across the winds. Two creatures would gather this power."

A brilliant flash appeared in the sky and Twilight's mouth flew wide open. It seemed almost like some sort of apparition, a majestic alicorn formed seemingly out of nothing but crystal, which shone with every colour of the rainbow. The wind howled as the radiant one spread its wings and the mother looked upwards with all of her heads.
"First was Equinox, embodiment of the sky, of the surface world in general. Majestic and proud, it drew the Earthmother's attention."
A cloud of darkened mist started rising from cracks in the ground, left behind by the dragon's claws. It congealed into a shapeless mass which moved with precise intent. Battle.
"The second was Ebon. Devious, calculative and secretive, it was the underground realm personified. As Equinox caught her attention, Ebon moved in to strike."

The image before them grew blurry, and was replaced by images of the elder dragoness' many heads, surrounded by various elements or locales:
"From what remained, the Firstborn rose, followed by the first of the now-incredibly-widespread draconite species they represented. Those of the sky, the earth, the sea, the stars and, finally, the arcane" two of the heads, Trixie could actually identify, the others were foreign, He started with the one that sent shivers down her spine, "Traxex, Gaea, Leviathan, Sol and," he paused for just a moment, "Talos. The five great dragons fled from the duo, not strong enough to oppose them at that time. But Ebon and Equinox by no means saw eye-to-eye."

The shadow leapt high into the sky and the image grew blurry, before changing to a sight Trixie actually recognised. The view that most buildings in Canterlot enjoyed, at least nowadays. The small cottages around them weren't quite as impressive. Their guide continued:
"Little is known of the conflict itself, as even we were not present while it transpired. What I do know, however, is that they were no more. After a time of Chaos, brought upon by a mixture of essences within a single being, their children, just like those of Tiamath, walked the earth. Some were especially gifted, and I do believe you might know them. And you know the rest of your history well-enough."

The Sun and Moon walked among their hooved, tribal ponies, looking quite pleased with themselves. Then, abruptly, the image faded. Crystalline torches came to life as Talos headed for the door and opened it:
"After you, my dears."

The two of them were positively ecstatic, though each in her own way.
"Oh, my, this certainly knits things together," the alicorn's wings flapped involuntarily, "I can already see parallels and similarities to all manners of myths and legends. Oh, this will be so much to think on!"
"My gosh, that was amazing," the showpony somewhat agreed, "the images were so vivid, so lifelike! I could actually feel the quakes and sound waves, it was incredible! I hope I can do something at least close to that in my lifetime!"
"I am humbled and glad that you enjoyed it and I do hope your questions were at least somewhat answered."
"Oh, indeed," she peeked through a set of filled pages in a purple notebook, "I have enough notes for weeks!"
"You managed that while watching?"
"Practice, dear Trixie. Practice."

"Your skillset is quite obvious, I must say," the arcane draconite chuckled, "now, then. Night is upon us. I'd advise against trying to make your way back down the mountain at this point. Visibility and soul-chilling winds do not make for a good hike. I have some guest rooms, if you'd be interested. Recently carved out of the stone, too!"
"If I may, Talos, what does 'recently carved' mean when it comes to your calendar?"
"Oh, only a century or so. Don't make me feel like an old geezer, you hear?"

They laughed together.

******

The night was young. The dreams were so distant, though that wasn't too alarming in and of itself. Expected, really. It was what was unfathomably close which unsettled her. The dream was unlike anything she had seen before. Instead of a cloud, a perfect sphere. It was grey, which meant the emotions and thoughts that drove it were neutral, neither pure bad nor overtly good. She could not help but wander close, her curiosity running utterly unchecked. With but a light prod of her hoof, she was permitted entry.

She found herself in the midst of creation, floating in the never-ending void between stars, galaxies and universes. Despite this, the area was clearly lit, illuminating a large stone slab, cut into a perfect square. And on it, was a familiar dragon with many horns, sitting with his legs crossed and eyes closed, as if meditating. Trixie was unsure what to do. Approach him? But that would disturb the dream, would it not? Perhaps leaving would actually be best.

As she turned to do just that, Talos spoke:
"I was wondering when you would enter. Proximity alone ensured that you would find this place, Dreamwalker."
"Well," she floated closer and her front hooves landed on the slab, "you can't blame me. Curiosity skinned the whelp, as they say."
"Heheh, indeed," the dragon's eyes opened, though they no longer shone as in the waking world. They blazed brightly like a pair of crimson stars, "the more curious the object, the less resistance we offer."
"From what I've gathered, you somehow manipulate this place? This dream?"
"Quite. I learned to identify my dreams at a relatively young age. I then seized control of them. Here, alone with my thoughts, I am the master."
"Impressive technique, if I do say so myself."
"Oh, nonsense. One could master it within a more limited lifespan if they tried, I'm sure. Though, I will admit, the longer you live, the more useful it is."
"I bet. Having a few extra hours of self-reflection certainly would have helped me avoid some troublesome decisions," she sighed as she sat next to Talos and stared with him at the universe, "I don't think I could have brewed such an impressive image, however."
"Neither could I. My sister, Sol, sent me this memory. It has amazed me ever since."
"And yet, even here, your thoughts are troubled. Why is that?"

He glanced at her, briefly, before turning back to the void:
"Signs. Too many signs. Too many forgotten prophecies, dismissed ravings of madmen. Too many conflicting views. The tapestry of time has been planned out, yet I cannot see its design clearly. Events have been set in motion. Or have they? I cannot tell. And that scares me, somewhat."
"I'm sorry, but I don't quite follow."
"Equinox manifested," Trixie tilted her head, "though not in this world, the six chosen were able to call upon its power. Does that mean Equinox yet lives? Or was it an echo contained within its elements?"
"Its elements? You mean...?"
"Yes. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty, Generosity, Magic. The elements of the harmony Equinox sought to bring. Before their clash. Some legends say that the Tree of Harmony grew where Equinox fell. Others say that is merely where the elements manifested, at the heart of the world, the origin of life. I can confirm neither theory and, frankly, it is not important. But the questions that arose frighten me."
"I think I can predict. If Equinox does indeed still exist, what of Ebon?"
"Precisely. Ebon carried elements as well. Ones of dominion, of supremacy. Dangerous powers fuelled by volatile emotions. And then, there is you."
"M-me? W-what," she stammered, almost at a loss for words, "do you mean?"
"Within the six, their elements have become obvious. But I sense something within you, lingering, unknown. It concerns me, for I cannot explain it."
"Are you implying I have an element of some sort?"

He looked down and this time, his gaze lingered:
"I do not know. All I can say is something stirs within you. I cannot name it, I cannot describe it, but there is something there. Something familiar."
"So you have felt it before?"
"Yes. In one who managed to mostly evade the vigilant gaze of history. Lucretia Stargazer."
"You knew her?! I," suddenly, she was excited, "she's been my idol ever since I was a filly!"
"Courageous, determined. To a fault, perhaps. I can see the parallels."
"Why was she here?"
"To ask questions about the draconites. Sent by one of the younglings, naturally. She left with much knowledge, and some insecurities. To this day, I won't forget her trudging her way down the mountain. Her final journey, to the far north, beyond the Crystal Empire. The blame partially mine."
"What did she hope to find in the north?"
"Answers to questions I implanted. The same that will probably haunt your mind in the coming months. Your mark, what it is and why you have it. But please, I urge you," his expression changed to one of pleading, "put these matters to rest. I don't want another pony on my conscience."
"Why even tell me any of this, in that case?"
"Because we both know, given the chance, you would have asked eventually. I know my late brother's methods of persuasion. He was maniacal and consumed by greed, but by no means blind."
"Then, what do you propose that I do, dear Talos? Just sit on my rump and wallow in uncertainty?"
"Well, I..."
She rose grandiosely:
"If that's the case, clearly, you do not know the extent of the Great and Powerful Trixie's curiosity and determination," she assumed a regular sitting pose again, "and besides, I've always liked travelling. Which does not mean I will simply rush north unprepared. If anything, I have time to spare."
He gazed at her for a few moments, but then grinned nonetheless:
"Somehow, I am not surprised."
"Good. And I do hope you will supply me with a decent batch of that luscious crystalline tea before my departure!"
"Ohoh, is that a demand?"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie deserves no less, would you not agree?"
"Heheh, I suppose I would."
"It is settled, then!"

With smiles and the occasional chuckle, they looked back towards the stars. In a few moments, a new question came to mind:
"Say, seeing as you've undoubtedly had experience, how would you go about courting someone?"
"I truly wonder who your courting would be aimed towards?"
"I know that tone. How exactly would you know?"
"The mailmare brings me tabloids, as well. Gossip spreads quickly. In any case, I feel there may be an extensive cultural rift between our kinds. Our courting usually begins with a ritualistic mating dance."
"I have trouble imagining you performing anything of the sort."
"Well, I never said I was good at it."

They chatted, gossipped, laughed and conversed through the entire night. It was almost sad, having to wake up from such discourse. This discomfort was intensified when she woke up face-down on the ground. Unrestricted dreamwalking, much like sleepwalking, was dangerous. The bruise on her forehead would be a grim reminder of that fact.

Nonetheless, she rose from the ground with a renewed feeling of determination. She would follow in Stargazer's hoofsteps... eventually, anyway. There was no need to rush such an ambitious journey.

Was there?

Hive Mentality

The road was lonesome that day. Not truly surprising, considering how far she was from any major civilised area. Even far-away towns like Fillyhood needed entertainers now and again, and Trixie Lulamoon was more than happy to provide such a service. Even if it meant trudging through somewhat-creepy forests for a day or two.

Much like the Everfree before she became its friend, her surroundings were deathly silent, save for the sound of the trees swaying in the wind. If there were any locals, they most certainly did not let their presence be known, which only served to unnerve the travelling pony further.

And then, there was a whine, somewhere in front of her. Rather than aggressive, it was pitiable, pain-filled sound. The showpony quickened her pace and soon spotted its source. A young earth pony stallion, or perhaps just an old colt, lay on the ground in the middle of the road. His fur was a dark shade of brown, his mane a complimenting orange. His side was obviously wounded, as if slashed by a claw or talon. He winced in pain just as she called out:
"Are you alright?" a pair of surprised, azure eyes met her own. She walked closer and sat down next to him.

For a few moments, it seemed like he was mustering the will to speak. Then, he spoke out and... it was a strange:
"Och, yez," his pronunciation was a bit off. A foreigner, maybe, "not too bad, will mend."
"Oh, no, no! You could get an infection or something! Let me have a look."
"O-ochkay."

Her horn glowed as she reached into her trusty travel bag. Food, camping supplies, a bit of mane gel for those wonky mornings, a small photo scrapbook... it was amazing how a bit of magic could help carry things. Ah, there it was! With a smile, she levitated a small, white box and opened it up, revealing bandages and various other medical supplies. Immediately, she got to work.
The wound was long, but thankfully shallow, a light scrape by most standards. A bit of disinfectant wouldn't hurt, of course. Well, it would hurt hurt, but... oh, whatever, where was the blasted bottle? She whispered:
"Hold still, this might sting a bit."
"Ack," her patient winced, "burning good?"
"Burning good," she smiled, "now, may I know your name?"
"Name Rufuz," his smile, unlike his grammar, was clear and sincere.
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Trixie. Would you mind telling me how this all happened?"

He rubbed his chin:
"Normal walk. Then got off path. Think other was hungry."
"Well, you better be more careful in the future."
"Yez. You head to town?"
She nodded enthusiastically:
"Yup. Gonna' put on a performance!"
"Per-for-mance?"
"Umm, theatre? Play? Acting?"
"Och, I see! Maybe not good idea," he glanced nervously at their surroundings, "town scary. No ponies."
Immediately, her ears perked up and she stood back up:
"No ponies?"
"Gone. Mussing, err, not there. Not know why."
"In that case, do you think you can stay on the path now?"
"Yez, I be careful. But what you do?"
"I need to get to the bottom of this. Stay safe, Rufuz."
As she broke into a gallop towards the secluded town, she heard him shout:
"Ya' too, Trixie."

Unlike all other words, her name was pronounced perfectly.

Fillyhood was in fact empty. She remembered her last visit. The friendly locals, the cheerful faces of the children. There was none of that now, replaced by vacant structures and unbroken, unending silence. A shiver ran down her spine as she walked through the empty streets.
Her mind raced, imagining a dozen horrific scenarios responsible for the current state, but there was no trace or clue left behind by any would-be kidnappers, monsters or assorted boogiemen. Possessing very little to go on, Trixie decided there was only one way to find out. First-hoof experience.

That night, a lone light shone at the outskirts of Fillyhood, emanating from the fire of a small camp. A small tent had been set up and its inhabitant was currently visiting dreamland without a care in the world. Easy pickings.
Shapes moved in the surrounding trees, cautiously watching the scene before finally springing into action. They were quick and precise, snuffing out the fire in two seconds flat, before surrounding the tent. It was only when they tried to seize their prize that they realised they had been tricked. Instead of a pony, only stones awaited them in the bedroll.

From the safety of the shadows, two violet eyes watched the scene unfold. Her assailants were ponies, or well, at least pony-like. The fact that she had outwitted them seemed to irritate the kidnappers to no end, which filled Trixie with no small amount of glee. The attackers hissed at each other, then moved into the forest once more.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being followed. The showpony, safely wrapped in concealing magic, followed their prints and sounds as best she could, but she was falling behind. And then, suddenly, the sounds abruptly stopped and she froze. Her senses scanned the area, hoping to identify a threat. Instead, she felt something strange. An uncharacteristically warm breeze from somewhere nearby.
She walked toward it until her hoof suddenly touched nothing but air. For but a moment, she dared illuminate her surroundings. A hole in the ground, large enough to fit several ponies. The tunnel beyond it stretched deep into the ground. Many strange, hoof-like steps could be seen in the dirt, it was obviously a frequented route.

With a deep sigh, Trixie put on her best determined look and descended into the belly of the beast.

The tunnels were wide like the roads of a surface city. Oh, yes, there was more than one. Just like streets and intersections, they connected to each other. Unlike a regular street, they had the advantage of several available elevations, and so the paths became complicated really quickly. The dim lighting, provided by crystalline torches, wasn't helping too much, either. For just a moment, she considered the relatively frequent appearance of such light sources, but then continued on her way.

What unnerved her the most was how quiet the place was. No clatter of hooves, no distant chatter, just her and the cool, underground breeze. Step by step, she crept forward, breathing controlled, silent. That was when a sudden shout echoed through the underground:
"It escaped!?"

Even as it spread, Trixie at first couldn't tell where its origin was. Then, she closed her eyes. She had gotten good at the whole 'seeing without sight' ordeal. Ignoring the breeze rustling through her fur, she concentrated on sound alone. The voice was positively furious, spreading far and wide from... she opened her eyes and looked to her right, at one of the many side tunnels. There.

The voice was female and... somewhat alluring, even when filled with fury. Soon enough, she heard snippets from its primary recipients. A frightened, almost snivelling set of excuses and explanations which obviously were not heard:
"I do not care for your excuses! Do you realise what this means?! That pony could spread word of our doings here! We could be found out and then... you will organise search parties at once and find them!"

Trixie finally reached her destination, a positively massive chamber within the depths. She could see dozens of different tunnels along the walls and even ceiling, many of them obviously inaccessible without the aid of wings. The area was dominated by a makeshift throne of stone and soil, with a few gemstones thrown in for good measure. It sat there, at the heart of this empire of dirt, currently vacant.
A small group of figures huddled close together, trembling slightly. They were akin to ponies, yet obviously not. Lacking any sort of fur, they were covered head-to-toe in a strange substance not unlike insect chitin. All of them had large wings, similar to those of a fly, coupled with short, sharp horns. Their eyes shone in the dim light. Most disturbingly, their legs were strange, possessing holes and irregular angles in their structure.
The being that towered over them menacingly possessed much the same traits, but it was also different. She was distinctly feminine, much taller and slender than her cohorts and actually possessed a strangely beautiful mane of a dark shade of green. Trixie could not see her face from that angle, as she was turned away.

One of the cohorts called out, after mustering some courage:
"I-It shall be done, my Queen."
"Good," even when stern and commanding, Trixie couldn't help but love the sound of her voice, "I want them captured before next sundown. Otherwise..."

A loud screech to the showpony's left attracted many gazes from within the chamber and her own. It was yet another of the Queen's servants, assuming a battle stance as it gazed at her. She glanced back into the chamber. All eyes were on her. The most unnerving stare was the Queen's, as her dark green eyes seemed to pierce into Trixie's soul. Without a second thought, she ran, even as a mighty shout echoed throughout the tunnels:
"After her!"

She galloped as fast as her legs could, but even so, she couldn't escape the sound of hooves and buzzing wings behind her. Her pursuers steadily grew in number as more and more drones joined the chase from other side tunnels. Trixie sighed mentally. She could run, but she had no idea where she was going without a map to the underground maze.

An opportunity presented itself via a large crossroad. With a bright flash, the number of escapees tripled, each Trixie heading for a different path. The guards, after no small amount of confusion, split into three squads and continued their pursuit. Only once the sound of their hoofsteps disappeared in the distance did Trixie allow herself a sigh. With a thought, the concealing magic was cancelled and she reappeared, as if from thin air, before turning back around and running the other way. She had to find a way back to the surface.

Stealthily, Trixie navigated the underground, sinking into the shadows whenever more drones passed by. If she could only find the throne chamber again, she could orient herself from there. She cautiously stepped into another hallway and chose a direction. She only managed a few steps before a flash of emerald light stopped her dead in her tracks. The Queen stood there, proud and tall, her lips curled into a predatory smile. From this distance, Trixie could see a final facial feature. A sizeable scar, stretching all the way from her forehead down to her neck. Full of confidence, she spoke:
"End of the road, my dear."
Trixie assumed a battle stance and replied:
"Well, if you insist."
The other chuckled:
"Oh, I do," she inspected one of her irregular hooves, mockingly, "I can't allow a little misbehaving pony to escape, after all. I must say, you are a slippery one."
"Thank you. May I ask who I have the honour of evading?"
"Ah, one with proper etiquette, as well! What a find! You have the esteemed honour of speaking to Chrysalis, Queen of this hive."
Trixie's eyes went wide:
"The changeling queen who attacked Canterlot a few years back. Unsuccessfully."
Chrysalis growled:
"Hmph, quite. But don't you worry, my second attempt shall be successful. All thanks to brave ponies like you," her inspected hoof stomped the ground, "the time for talk is over."

The changeling's horn shone brightly, before releasing a bolt of arcane energy. Trixie barely managed to blink away in time before it cut a hole into the wall. She retaliated with a small barrage of projectiles. Chrysalis grinned as an emerald barrier formed around her and casually deflected the shots. She glanced again at her blue opponent and cackled.
The barrier suddenly started expanding rapidly and Trixie hastily erected her own, trusty shield for defence. She braced herself for the impact, but was unprepared either way. The wall of energy slammed into her like a tidal wave, shattering her shield like glass and sending her flying through the air.

As Trixie slid down the wall, her vision already blurry, she could hear dozens of hoofsteps all around her and a final command:
"Take her to the holding cells. I shall deal with her later."

Trixie blacked out just as she was lifted off the ground.

She woke up after an indeterminable amount of time on the cold, uncomfortable floor of a cell. The bars were formed from some kind of crystal and seemed to radiate with some innate magic. She sighed to herself and looked around.

She was on the upper level of what could only be described as a prison complex. While her area only seemed to have two small cells, the lower level was positively packed. Finally, she knew where all the ponies from Fillyhood had gone. Unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, young and old, all were kept in the lower levels, under the vigilant watch of an entire cohort of guards.
Casually, she tried to conjure a spell to try and affect the bars, only to be rewarded with a splitting headache. So much for that plan. Trixie sunk to the ground, her mind racing, trying to come up with some clever, fantastical method of escape. No dice. It was then that someone spoke to her:
"Hello. You are new here, I see."

It was feminine, with a slightly higher pitch, but still quite pleasant, and originated from the cell next to hers. She turned and her eyes went wide. Firstly, and quite obviously, the occupant was a changeling. Much taller and slender than average, with a short, beautiful azure mane and a matching pair of piercing, enchanting eyes. Trixie didn't quite know how to react to that, so she just replied:
"Yes. I must say, the reviews lied about the quality of the accommodations."
She chuckled a little, then replied:
"Well, it's not all bad. The magic-negating crystals are quite pretty, wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, yes, of course," she smiled right back, "I suppose introductions are in order. Trixie Lulamoon."
"I am known as Mothra. I wish the circumstances of our meeting were different."
"That makes two of us. If I may be so bold, you are quite different from the other changelings, are you a...?"

Her lips formed a bitter smile:
"One can hardly be a queen without subjects. I would have been a queen, yes. But then," she looked down towards the other cells, "I couldn't leave with all this mess that was happening. We changelings are better than just some bunch of kidnappers. Ever since the catastrophe at Canterlot, things have been going downhill."
"And I assume you voiced your disapproval?"
"Yes. But the Queen, she," her eyes gazed into nothingness for a while, "I know she thinks this is what is best for her changelings in the long run. She gorges herself on love, in preparation for another attack, but," she shook her head, "that'll only bring more pain. More pointless fighting. Haah, not much good I can do from this cell, though."
"Don't lose hope," Trixie's look was one of confidence and determination, "I'm sure we can set things right somehow."
"How can you be so sure?"
"From my experience, things always go well in the end."
"I hope you are right," she looked back down, "for their sakes, if nothing else."

Trixie followed Mothra's gaze. Down by the cells, young changelings were busy playing with the captive children through the bars of their cell. A young mare and one of the guards chatted, as informally as possible, giggling at each other's comments.

Trixie nodded. For their sakes.

Hours passed, yet an answer to their predicament did not seem to present itself. Raw force wouldn't make the bars even budge, while their arcane talents were unusable. Being robbed of her main talent made Trixie feel utterly frustrated. The conundrum at hand seemed unsolvable without it and so, the showpony just sat while gazing into space.

Then, there came a sudden click at the door. Surprised, she looked up to see a changeling unlocking her cell. A couple more stood watch at the entrances to the room, clad in the armour of the prison guards. As soon as her door was opened, a strangely familiar voice called out to her:
"Trixie," said utterly perfectly, "come out. No make noise."
The puzzle pieces fell together in her brain:
"Rufus?"
"Z at end intended, but yez."

She got up and slowly walked outside. Looking down, she could see the other guards were busy freeing all the captive pony folk. Rufuz moved to Mothra's cell and unlocked it as well, before bowing slightly. Finally able to stretch her hooves properly, the captive princess spoke to her rescuers:
"What is all this?"
"We plan for long while," the fake foreigner replied, "I run trades for some supplies. All ponies get out. You too. Make new hive. We dig out side tunnel. Bring everyone back up."
Trixie chimed in:
"But what about you?"
"Me, us, not important. You get out safe, all that matters."
"Like hay it does," Trixie practically stomped over to him, "I'm not leaving until Chrysalis is stopped."
"She's right," they all turned to Mothra, "if we just leave now, there is nothing stopping the Queen from just finding another place and continuing to starve the hive. I won't allow it!"
"But... what we do?"

The changeling princess' determined visage faltered a bit as she looked down at Rufuz:
"I... don't know. The Queen believes that this is best for the hive. How could we make her see she is wrong?"
Trixie suddenly smiled:
"I do believe I have a plan."
"What is it?" the assembled changelings spoke in unison.
"Rufuz?"
"Yez?"
"Let me take a good look at you."

"Have our scouts reported back yet?"
The throne chamber was relatively empty, with Chrysalis addressing only a handful of changelings.
"The path to Canterlot itself is relatively unguarded, however, the final stretch will be problematic. The new guard captain is quite... diligent, my Queen."
"Hmph, a few guard ponies won't be able to stop us once the time is right. Good work, captain. You may leave."

The changelings bowed and left together. As soon as they were out of earshot, Chrysalis allowed herself a deep sigh. She rose from her throne and walked aimlessly within the expansive, empty chamber. To herself, she spoke:
"Haaaah, a few guard ponies... few hundred, more like. And no element of surprise. But if we take Canterlot, everything will be alright again. For all the survivors..."

A daring shout cut through the air:
"Sounds to me that you have some doubts, Chrysalis."
"That voice," the Queen turned, frowning, as a quite dazzling showpony jumped down onto the floor of the throne room, "you."
"Oh, in fact, me. I'd hate being anyone else."
"How did you get out?!"
"A true showpony always has a few tricks up her sleeve."
"We'll see just how big your bags of tricks is."

Trixie immediately darted out of the way of an arcane attack, the sound of the impact echoing throughout the tunnels. Chrysalis was loaded with power and did not hold back. Unlike their previous encounter, however, Trixie had ample space to manoeuvre around her assaults, all the while peppering her with taunts:
"Come on, you're not gonna' take over Canterlot like that!"
"Fool," emerald energy illuminated her face as she fired another blast, "it is only a matter of time! They'll pay for what they did to us!"
"To the hive, or just you?"
"Silence! The hive could have been feasting on love if it weren't for those damned ponies!"
"Sounds to me like petty revenge."
"I said silence!"

It went back and forth in such a manner, taunts and retorts between blinding displays of magic. A crowd slowly gathered to witness this display as changelings flocked towards the chamber from every corner of the hive. Dozens upon dozens crammed themselves into the entrances to the chamber to view the arcane duel.

As elusive as Trixie, it was clear who had the upper hand. The scarred changeling shrugged off any attack as if it were a mere nuisance, while her own blasts carved through the walls like jackhammers. It was only a matter of time until the showpony slipped up and got hit. Just a little longer:
"You wouldn't last long on Canterlot's throne, anyway."
"Once my changelings are fed, no one will stop us!"
"And how many are you willing to let die on the way?"
"As few as possible."
"I spy a vague answer."
"Enough!"

There was the slip-up. Just one step too far to the right and the Queen's blast sent her flying through half the room. Shakily, she still managed to stand and look at her gorged opponent:
"N-not bad."
"I would tend to agree. Now it's time to end this."

Chrysalis' gait was menacing as she approached the exhausted showpony with a firm, stone cold glare. She did not register the movement at the edge of her vision as a lone figure darted between her and her prey, shouting:
"My Queen, please...!"
"Out of my way!" Casually, a swat of magic brushed the small figure aside.
She remained focused on Trixie, ignoring the united gasp of the crowd, until a single voice pierced through:
"Is this how you wish to save the hive, my Queen?"

In an instant, her arcane display faded as her eyes went wide and she looked towards the source of the voice. A would-be queen gazed at her, standing above the squirming body of a small changeling, who was visibly wounded. Chrysalis could muster only a single reply:
"Mothra, I..."
"The ends justify the means? No matter how many get hurt or worse?"
"Canterlot is the capital of Equestria. With so many ponies, the hive could feed for decades!"
"If there is a hive left after your starved, worried 'army' marches."

Trixie glanced over the assembled drones. They all seemed ready to serve, but not more than that. Some seemed to be barely standing, yet still did not waver. If the Queen so much as thought of something, they would have thrown themselves into a meat grinder to achieve the results. An almost terrifying devotion. Chrysalis retorted, yet her voice was uncharacteristically shaken:
"And what would you have me do? Dig us all a grave while we wallow in our self-pity?"
"Perhaps," the blue-haired princess took a step forward, "avoiding conflict is the better choice. Followed by trying to get along with our neighbours."
"You think it's so simple?! We are invaders to them! Monsters!"
"At first glance, if at all. I've seen our kinds get along just fine, under stressful conditions, I might add," Mothra's eyes were practically pleading, "please. I don't think the hive can take any more pain."
"I," Queen Chrysalis stammered as she looked around. Even then, she knew the masses were still hers, body and soul. Their gazes were tired, their movements sluggish or worse, yet they would have obeyed any command. A shiver ran down her spine, "I," she knew how they felt only too well. She met gazes with the changeling she had hurt. Long-buried doubts, the orchestrators behind so many sleepless nights, came back to the surface in an instant. Heavy was the crown of leadership. She gazed into Mothra's eyes, then took a few steps closer, before whispering, her voice on the verge of cracking, "I have never been so unsure."
The other replied:
"The only thing I know is that they deserve a better future."

They were both silent, but their gaze seemed to last a lifetime. Finally, the Queen spoke:
"Then I hope you know the way."

She took several steps towards her throne of dirt, then began another speech, slowly turning to every changeling looking inside:
"Loyal workers, soldiers, changelings! For long, you have served me as your rightful Queen, through good and ill, through war and peace. I have tried to do my best, yet," she paused for just a moment, "perhaps my best is not enough. Perhaps it is time for my reign to come to a close. The hive thirsts for new blood."

It was at that inopportune moment that Trixie suddenly sneezed. Almost immediately, the wounded changeling simply vanished in a puff of smoke. The crowd gasped in surprise, but the Queen merely watched for a few seconds in silent contemplation, before turning to the showpony:
"An illusion, I see. A convincing one."
Trixie managed to put on a weak smile:
"My plan called for dramatic circumstances, but I didn't want anyone else to get hurt."
"Yet you put yourself in the line of fire?"
"I can handle a few bruises," as if on cue, she winced while standing up, "theoretically."
Chrysalis watched her for a few seconds, before a slight smile crept onto her face:
"What is your name, pony?"
"Trixie Lulamoon," she hastily added, "Your Highness."
"I shall remember it well," she raised her voice once more, "as my final act as Queen, I declare that the pony before you, Trixie Lulamoon, is to be known as an honoured ally of the changelings who came to our aid in dire times. May her name be forever remembered among the broods," a chant rose among the throng, united and clear, "and finally, even though I step down, a worthy successor can be found among us. One with both skill and vision."
The crowd turned to the blue-haired maiden, who rose to her hind hooves and spread her insectoid wings wide:
"A vision of prosperity and unity for all! And I promise you, together, we will not fail!"
"All hail Queen Mothra!"

The chant from before intensified and echoed through the endless tunnels of the hive, as Mothra took a few moments to take in the scene, before she noticed something alarming. A former monarch just walking away quietly. She shouted, barely even audible among the chanting drones:
"Where are you going?"
Chrysalis glanced backwards ad replied in much the same manner:
"Wherever the winds take me. There is no reason for me to stay."
The Queen stepped closer to the dethroned one:
"What do you mean?"
"What possible use could you have for an old changeling," she glanced away, "who cannot even change."

Her horn flashed as her body underwent rapid changes. Unlike a simple illusion, the result was indistinguishable even to Trixie's keen senses. White coat, beautiful violet mane... and then the magic backfired as soon as the transformation reached her scarred face. The energy fizzled and she returned to her regular, slightly unnerving form. Mothra, naturally, was not deterred and came even closer:
"For someone like you? Many. I may have a vision, but I am by no means as experienced as you. A helping hoof is always welcome. And besides, a queen should always have a trusted, devoted advisor," with one last steps she entered what could be considered intimate distance, staring right into Chrysalis' emerald eyes, "please, mother. Help me find the way. For all of them."

Chrysalis looked around at the former changeling armada, then back to her daughter. Without another word, she gently nuzzled her muzzle, then embraced her fully.

Trixie couldn't help but smile.

The negotiations were going well, even if the cadres of armoured changelings and royal guards kept giving each other funny looks. Trixie was glad that the princesses' escort wasn't too large. That would have increased the already-astronomical chance of unconfirmed. rumours spreading.

All three of Canterlot's princesses had rushed to the scene and, after a few nervous glances, agreed to discuss the matter further. Trixie, meanwhile, decided to get some much-needed rest, settling down on a small hill overlooking the uneventful town of Fillyhood. Sweet Celestia, she hadn't come up with a statement so obviously untrue since her meeting with the infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Footsteps sounded from next to her as another figure came to rest next to her. The changeling's mane almost seemed to disappear within the tall grass. The two figures sat in silence for a while, merely observing the happenings below. Finally, the former monarch looked toward the pony and commented:
"Twilight Sparkle was... unexpectedly welcoming."
"She is not the type to hold a grudge. Trust me, I have first-hoof experience. How go the talks?"
"I gave Mothra all the wisdom I could in this matter. Now it falls upon her to make a decision. I cannot help but worry."
"Why so?"
"Our peoples are so different. My past decisions certainly haven't helped our case. Do you think we can live together peacefully, after all that?"

Trixie glanced to the fields below. Fillies, colts and young changelings were busy playing, impersonating and mimicking various famous figures. The little bugs, despite their natural talent, were losing, probably because their magic always seemed to turn them into a chaotic jumble of various colours.
Another lone pair sat under a tree in the distance, a young mare and a shape shifting guard without any armour, chatting while gazing up at the night sky.

She gazed back at her scarred partner and replied:
"Well, I'm not saying it's gonna' be easy, but something tells me everything will be just fine in the end, Chrysalis."
"Heh, I'll take your word for it, Trixie."

With that, they chuckled and resumed watching over the new populace of Fillyhood.

Author's Note

I guess you could say she had a change of heart.

Yup, I did that.

UPDATE: Changed up some of the later text to remove Starlight Glimmer syndrome. Thanks for the feedback!

Simplicity

Author's Note

This chapter features elements from a short side-story written within this little universe of ours:
When Things Were Simple

While reading that one is not necessary to understand anything, really, I need to shamelessly plug this stuff somewhere.

You're welcome.

Simplicity

Canterlot Dungeon. Two words that did not seem to go together at all. Nonetheless, even the most glorious city had its seedy underbelly, filled with thieves, smugglers and other never-do-wells. Seeing as the capital's guards were extra vigilant, it was natural that many such elements were exposed and captured.

Then they got tossed into the dungeon, though the name was a misnomer from less civilised times. A high-security facility with more guards per square metre than one could shake their shackles at. Patrols were plentiful and orderly, regularly checking every corner for possible disturbances. The incessant clop of their hooves had been maddening at first, but now it was almost calming.

One developed a routine not too long after arrival. For some, it invariably included causing more trouble, but others stayed far away from that. Get up, get some grub, do your assigned work, grub, free time, grub, sleep. And for what it was worth, the grub wasn't too horrible, either.

One stuck to the same groups of ponies, the ones they knew wouldn't cause trouble. Trouble meant problems and no possibility of a shorter sentence. It was therefore extremely surprising, when her routine was smashed with a sledgehammer one morning during roll call. The guard checking her cell called out to her:
"Nova Strike!"
She immediately tensed up and replied:
"Yes?"
"You are to report to the warden's office immediately. I shall escort you there. Understood?"
"Y-yes," her light brown eyes betrayed a sign of fear, though she did not ask any further questions.

Being led there was an almost traumatic experience, not least because of the stares from some of the cells. Most were curious, but some shone with an almost sadistic vibe. She looked like a mess, too, having not kept her short, azure mane in the best of conditions. Her green coat wasn't too far behind.
Every step of the way, she just hoped there was just some misunderstanding. The arcane shackles around her horn felt extra limiting. She mustered the courage to ask the guard:
"Can I ask what I did?"
The guard shot her a smirk:
"Nothing, luckily for you. From what I've been told, you're due for a change of arrangements."
"I am relieved, but still utterly confused."
"That makes two of us."

The rest of the way, they were silent.

The warden's office was a bizarre space. On one hand undoubtedly an office, with filing cabinets and assorted boring furniture, on the other it almost looked like an armoury. The warden, a tall, tough-looking mare, famous for her fierce looks, was apparently an avid weapon collector. Or maybe she was just paranoid about potential uprisings within the prison. Nonetheless, her brown coat and black mane did not attract Strike's attention.

The other pony in the room most definitely did. The beautiful mane of pearlescent blue could not be forgotten, much like those piercing, violet eyes. And that awkward smile brought back memories, as well. The Shatterer, Hero of Canterlot, and other such stupid titles, waved in her direction:
"Ummmm, hi."
"H-hello," Nova's gaze immediately met with the warden's, "what is going on here?"
"It may be your lucky day, Strike," her voice was deep, with an innate rasp to it, "though it's against my better judgement, Miss Trixie here is armed with a letter signed by not one, but three bloody princesses. My 'unlimited authority' only goes so far. You are to be released into her custody and shall be under a different regime. You're still technically serving your sentence, but with some kinks. I'll let you two work out the details," she then turned to Trixie, "and I hope you know what you are doing."
"I do, too."

The warden just sighed, before placing a mountain of paperwork onto her desk:
"I'll need a few signatures."

Her hooves physically hurt, but her body didn't care. With an audible fizzling of magic, the arcane shackle was removed. Almost immediately, crackles of energy shot from it into the air. To a unicorn, magic meant so much. It was the most useful tool, shaped to suit one's needs with but a few thoughts or incantations. To be reunited with it, then, felt like meeting an old friend. Which was strangely appropriate, considering the circumstances.

She stretched out as crackles of arcane power danced along her spine, all the way to her azure tail. She almost moaned as the sensation momentarily overwhelmed her, before standing back upright:
"Celestia, you can't imagine how good that feels."
"That I cannot. Shall we get going? My place isn't too far from here."
"Your place, huh?"
"Well, it's technically royal property, but my place nonetheless."
"Sure, I guess. Lead the way, big shot," the comment was laced with just a hint of venom and Trixie most assuredly noticed.

Frowning, the two mares navigated Canterlot's twisting streets. A horrid maze that was only practical if one wished to venture to related parts of the city. The prison was close to the guard barracks and other administrative buildings, which were close to the market, but the market was much too far from the areas where ponies actually lived. The problems of a city built in ancient times which tried to evolve as the ages passed.
Many ponies actually greeted Trixie. It was quite obvious she was a known face around Canterlot. Heck, she was probably a famous face across Equestria as a whole. Nova commented:
"You sure have a big fan club."
"It does get annoying, frankly. I can't even imagine how Twilight Sparkle deals with her own admirers."
"What a burden you both bear." a sentence dripping with sarcasm. Trixie almost replied, but managed to contain herself.

Strike was the one who broke the ensuing silence:
"So I'm basically under your care until you proclaim that I'm reformed or something?"
"Or until I say you are not. I don't think that will be an issue, though."
"Hmph."

They finally reached their destination, a set of buildings practically within earshot of the royal palace. Property reserved for the cream of the crop. Plus some royal students. A pair of guards once greeted them at the entrance:
"Good day, Miss Trixie."
"And to you, Artemis."

They ascended a flight of stairs into what had to be the rooftop suite. As soon as they entered the accommodations proper, Nova couldn't help but gasp:
"Woah."

It was spacious, to be sure, occupying two separate floors. The lower one housed a number of bookshelves, all filled to the brim. Then there was a cosy kitchen, a small area with comfy chairs and a fireplace for reading. The upper level, meanwhile, housed what could only be a telescope for observing the night sky. The ceiling was completely made of reinforced glass and the evening sky could be seen beyond them. Cleverly designed so that the sunlight would not bother someone on the lower levels.
"It is pretty nice. I especially love the glass ceiling. I've grown accustomed to sleeping under the stars. Anyhoof, you'll be staying here with me for a while. You can have my bed if you want, I can sleep in the chairs. Can I get you something? Tea, coffee, biscuits?"
"Yeah, umm, Trixie?"
"I have some more exotic flavours, too, if you'd like," she levitated a small mug out of a cupboard, her mind elsewhere.
"Trixie."
"And I bet you haven't eaten anything this tasty in..."
"Trixie!"

The shout spread across the spacious rooms, along with the sound of a shattering mug. Trixie quickly swept up the pieces, her attention otherwise fully on Strike:
"Y-yes?"
"I'm not in the mood for tea right now. I want some answers."
"Right. I guess that's natural. Shoot."
"What the hay is all this, Trixie? Me in your custody to see if I'm 'reformed'?"

The showpony sighed and looked out of a nearby window, taking in the sight of night-time Canterlot, before replying:
"Ever since our last... encounter, I've been thinking. All this time, you never really left my head. I... I knew I couldn't change what had been done. But I can still set things right," she looked again at her childhood friend, "I've been talking to the princessess. I know you're not a bad pony, so I just wanted to let them give you a second chance, rather than let you rot in some cell. And well, this was the only version they would agree with."
"I see," Nova made herself comfortable on a nearby chair, "that's so you."
"What?"
"Sticking your muzzle everywhere, trying to make everything peachy-keen."
"I-I thought..."
"What? That everything would be a-okay and we'd be buddy-buddy again? Listen, I appreciate the whole no-more-jail thing but," she exhaled in frustration, "but I just don't think this is gonna' work. At all. We haven't seen each other in years, apart from occasions where we fought and screamed at each other. We're leagues apart. Royal student protégé and a... a random unicorn vagabond. You'd have to be a donkey for us to be more different."

The tables turned as Trixie remarked:
"That's so you."
"What?"
"Stubborn as a mule, making your mind up long before your brain gets a chance to think about anything."
"Oh, yeah? At least I didn't become a tyrant."
A low blow deserved a counterattack:
"Oh, yeah, you just tried to burn down a city, that's totally fine."
They glared at each other. Nova spoke:
"Hmph. I'm done with this conversation. You don't know me."

It was in that moment that something in Trixie broke. Her battle-stare gradually faded, replaced by something between anger and sadness. Nova noticed and tensed up:
"I-I guess I don't. I thought I could bring my friend back, I see I was wrong. Naive as always, Trixie," she sniffled, "naive. I guess I shouldn't hold you b-back, then? Here," from her bag, she retrieved an envelope with the royal seal, no doubt containing documents related to Strike's release, "I'll sign them first thing in the m-morning, then you can go... wherever it is you want to go. Oh, and I mustn't forget this," from a nearby drawer, she retrieved a small, simple-looking box, "you c-can have it. I'm gonna' just... g-go for now. Make yourself tea or something."

With that, she flung the box across the room, where it smashed right into a wall. By the time Nova looked back, Trixie was already gone. Deathly silence ensued. She levitated the envelope onto one of the chairs, before moving closer to inspect the box. It was little more than a brown cube with some padding on the inside. The item that fell was also not remarkable. At least, not remarkable to anyone else.
A copper pendant in the shape of a crescent moon, with some noticeable bumps and ridges, evidence of clumsy forgery. It would have been worse had father not lent a helping hoof. The inspiration had come from the source, too.

"Stop hogging the whole sleeping bag, Nova."
"I am not."
"Are too. Just because you forgot to bring yours doesn't mean you can take over mine."

Two fillies were locked in a brutal territorial conflict, evidenced by constant nudging and random backfires of utterly harmless magic. They had been told camping was exciting, but no one had mentioned all the bugs or other icky stuff. Most importantly, Nova had packed everything but the essentials.
After a good ten minutes of fruitless struggle, they both simultaneously gave up and stared upwards. Their tent was spruced up with a bit of magic, its roof completely see-through, letting them stare up at the night sky. Panting from their exhausting total war, little Trixie exclaimed:
"Hah, I've never slept outside. The stars are so pretty."

Strike followed her gaze and mustered only a feeble:
"Yeah."
"And there's so many, too. I wonder if there's anything out there, you know?"
"Didn't we learn it's mostly rocks in astronomy... or was that astrology?"
"Psch, way to spoil the mood."
"Heheh. Oooh, look, the moon's coming up right now!"

And it surely did, in all of its crescent-shaped glory. Trixie sighed, then commented:
"I've always loved the moon. It's like a friend that looks out for you at night!"
"Huh, never thought of it that way. That makes sense, I guess."
"I sometimes wish I could just grab it and carry it with me always," Nova practically burst out laughing, "what's so funny?"
"You are, Trix."
"Am not."
"That's a good thing, you dolt."
"No it's not."

The two fillies chuckled, before finally bringing peace to Sleeping-bag Gulf and drifting into dreamland.

Nova looked the little bauble over one more time. Such a simple little thing, yet the greatest gift for... an old friend.

She sighed and placed the necklace back in its box, then placed it next to the envelope. One signature and she could be on her way... somewhere. There had to be a place for her out there in the world, after all. She'd just travel for an indeterminable while... alone. She let out another frustrated sigh and commented to no one:
"Shut up, brain. It's over. We... I blew it."
So cocksure she was, jumping to conclusions and making assumptions without thinking, as always. Just like when she went back into Kost with a nebulous goal for revenge.
"Seriously, you're not helping."
Always thinking she could do everything on her own. Only after that stupid duel, of course. She still remembered the status quo before that.

Nova Strike looked at the envelope again, then the box. Finally, she exclaimed:
"I'm such a bloody, Celestia-damned idiot," she finally realised, "I need to find Trix. To say sorry, if nothing else," she got that right, too, "no time to lose!"

Swiftly, she grabbed the box and ran down the stairs. She stopped at the two guards and asked:
"I need to find Trixie. Where did she go?"
The male guard spoke this time:
"Looked like the market square. Watch out for sobbing."

Nova frowned and ran off. Artemis leaned a bit closer:
"Friendship problems these days, eh, Tyr?"
"Yup. I'm sure they can work something out, though."
"Optimist."

The market square at night was the polar opposite of its daytime twin. Gone was the hustle and bustle of trade, replaced by an almost eerie silence. Nonetheless, certain establishments kept their doors open late into the night. Usually the sort that got fairly regular visits from the city guards to confiscate more questionable wares.

Most importantly, however, there was no famous showpony in sight. The trail had run cold, mostly because 'market' was the only clue she had. She sighed to herself and looked over the square. Nopony in sight, either. Great. It was then that a certain sign caught Nova's attention.

Miskatonic's Parlour of Forbidden Curiosities. She remembered that place. Everyone at school had thought it was haunted. Or that its sold items were haunted? One of the two. Still, it did have a good view over the entire marketplace, so maybe... With an audible gulp, she approached the door and entered.

The place was positively eerie. The wares on display ranged from suspicious amulets and misshapen dolls to exotic alchemical reagents and mixtures. It was quite clear that the place served a niche, decisively occult clientele. A shiver ran down her spine when an eldritch voice greeted her:
"Aaaaah, a customer."

The creature was no less unnerving. Carrying itself on four insect-like legs, the rest of its thin, tall body was wrapped up in a brown, hooded cloak. Only its eyes were visible, a trio of flaming emeralds in the dark. Strike mustered her courage and spoke:
"U-umm, greetings."
One after another, the emeralds blinked, before the shopkeeper walked sideways to the counter, not taking its eyes off her for even a moment. It lowered itself a little, watched her intently for a few more seconds, then again commented:
"You seem distressed."
Nova still couldn't tell if the creature had a gender, but replied:
"Y-You could say that. I got into an argument with someone and... well, I'm trying to find them."
Again, the three eyes blinked in sequence:
"You mustn't let despair cloud your judgement, Miss Strike."
"H-how do you...?"
"Few things are hidden from our sight. But that is unimportant right now. You know this individual. You alone can find them. The truth is within your grasp."

Nova just gazed at the creature, then seemed to undergo an epiphany:
"You are absolutely right."
"We know."
"I know where to go now. How can I repay you?"
"Fool's advice is free."
"Heh, if you say so," she opened the door to leave, but turned back one more time, "you know, this place isn't that bad. You should rethink your branding."
"We will consider it."

As the door slammed shut, peace once again returned to the parlour. Out of concealed cracks under the counter, a small plethora of long, prehensile appendages sprung forth, heading for the door. With a sigh and a quick slap, they were sent back to the nameless depths which had spawned them:
"How many times must we remind you? No eating the customers!"

Canterlot's western wall was a peculiar thing. A popular tourist attraction and meeting place for friends, lovers and even enemies. A brief look at the wall revealed nothing truly remarkable. A brief look from the wall, though, explained everything.

Sat on the edge of the mountain which the city called its home, the western wall had little defensive use and its primary function seemed to be keeping people from taking a one-way trip to the valleys bellow. The sight was breath-taking, however. Equestria stretched below for untold miles in every direction, with all of its towns, forests and other assorted biomes. Many romantic types loved to come there at the break of dawn and watch the sun slowly bathe the country in light.

And then there was her, rushing up the access stairs, looking for someone she didn't know. A lone figure stood there, their front legs propped on top of the battlements, staring at the land bathed in moonlight. Nova walked forward slowly. The blue pony glanced in her direction, before turning away again without saying a single word.

She assumed position right next to the showpony and also leaned against the battlement. Casually, she commented:
"Nice view."
Trixie sniffled a little, then retorted, her voice laced with anger and frustration:
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
Nova's smile grew bittersweet with that comment, yet she maintained her composure. For once:
"I guess not. You remind me of an old friend I used to have, though. Whenever she was sad, she'd just hop onto this wall and gaze at it all. Sometimes for hours."
"And what happened to this friend?"
"We both did and said things we later regretted and drifted apart."
"A strangely familiar scenario. I had a similar... falling out."
"That's sad to hear. Listen, I, umm," Miss Strike stumbled for a moment, "I know how hard it can be to lose a friend like that. Maybe we could, you know, get to know each other?"
"Miss Strike, was it?"
"I never told you, you're breaking continuity."

The showpony chuckled and Nova joined her. After somehow stabilising from the ensuing giggle fit:
"Tell me, then, mysterious mare, why should I get to know you?"
"One bad friendship shouldn't make you close up to everyone else, you know," she looked down at the land, "besides, I'm sure your friend was just... a bloody idiot that doesn't think things through."
"To be fair, I always had a habit of taking things into my own hooves without even asking how she felt."
"I'm sure she knows you meant well, even if she had seemed like an ungrateful tart."
"Woah, did you just say that? I need to hear that again."

Nova glared at her friend:
"Don't push your luck, Miss Lulamoon. I know whose homework you copied for all our alchemy classes."
"For the first few months until I got the hang of it! I, on the other hand, know someone who couldn't keep her hooves off my biology notes because she spent lessons mesmerised by professor Faun!"
"In my defence, he was quite dashing."

The duo put on their best battle stares, before swiftly devolving into a storm of snortling, giggling and chordling. Nova's horn glowed as she retrieved a small item:
"Oh, yeah, I think you dropped this."
Trixie smiled at the old necklace and proceeded to immediately tie it around her neck. She looked down at the little piece of copper and spoke:
"I always liked this little thing."
"Hah, of course you did. I made it, after all."

"I do wonder, however," the battle stares returned immediately as the showpony finished her sentence, "are you still as quick as I remember?"
"Well, definitely still faster than you, Miss Lulamoon."
"Is that a challenge, Miss Strike?"
"Hay yeah."
"Last one at my place is a... a..."
"Blank flank."
"I suppose that will do. On your mark!"
"Get set!" Nova's surroundings already crackled with energy.
"Go!"

And with that, hey were off, illuminating all of Canterlot with displays of magic. Nova soared through the air, wrapped in an arcane aura, while Trixie blinked from rooftop to rooftop. Needless to say, there would be a few complaints filed to the city guard by morning.

Three emerald eyes watched the light show transpire, their owner's insectoid fingers clicking through the air. The creature nodded to itself, before gently petting a wayward tentacle from the depths. A sound, half ethereal whine, half screech, could be heard in the parlour, but no further:
"Yes, our part is done. The wheel of fate continues its endless journey," another unnameable sound permeated through the fabrics of the ether, "no, you still cannot eat the customers."

After finishing the race and asking a confused Tyr and Artemis who had been first, they continued to argue all the way up the stairs, through the evening cup of tea, up until the question of bedding came to the forefront:
"Hmmm, a conundrum," spoke the Dreamwalker, "as my guest, you should probably get the bed. I do believe tha-aaaaagh," while she was busy muttering, Nova tackled her onto the bed and ruffled her hair, "help, I am being oppressed!"
"Yeah you are," they giggled again, before settling down. Nova's gaze was drawn upwards to a ceiling made of reinforced glass. The night sky shone beyond, illuminating the room, "heh, remember out first camping trip?"
"You mean when you forgot bloody everything?"
"Not everything. I brought shampoo."
"Precisely!"

The two friends laughed for the final time that day, before slowly falling asleep beside each other like little fillies.

In Your Dreams

The Everfree forest was calm that night. Their campfire, on the verge of untimely demise, roared triumphantly as another log was placed into it. She sat for a few moments, gazing at the flame as it blazed defiantly through the dark. Then, she took a look over the rest of the campsite.

Ponies back in Equestria would have called them mad, but in this strange other world, the forest was a far less foreboding area. A popular tourist attraction, even, its name given by a long-gone monarch who had given the woods his protection. For entirely selfish reasons, mind you. He had loved the view from his mansion.

The others were fast asleep in their queen-sized tent without a care in the world. The fire, strong as it was now, would keep any curious animals away. The forest rangers would undoubtedly do their part, too. Her hand moved to her mouth as she yawned mightily and almost crawled into her sleeping bag.

Sweet dreams awaited her.

She was not aware sweet dreams consisted of cold, hard rock and a good number of bruises. She rose to her feet with a gasp and her sky blue eyes scanned the area. Her flaming hair flowed with a wind that did not seem to have an origin.

Sunset Shimmer blinked as she fully took in her surroundings. Floating within nothingness on some sort of island... well, more of a glorified boulder, really, was not her prospect of a good time. A pair of stars swirled around each other above, crimson and blue, bathing the void in both forms of light.

Other islands could be seen in the distance, along with... some sort of shining object, far, far away. Most certainly a predicament. Her curiosity demanded that she find out, yet she was stranded on a... The traveller almost slapped herself. This was a dream, right? And because it was a dream, she could apply some creative touch.

She looked at the simple outfit she had fallen asleep in and grinned. Raising her hands, she imagined something with extra bells and whistles she could get behind. Suddenly, she was encased in a flaming globe. She emerged reborn, like a phoenix. Two mighty, fiery wings jutted out of her back, her clothing turned into what could pass as steel battle armour. Her hair would not be outdone, as it blazed against the void in a very literal way.

With that, she spread her wings and soared.

She moved from one makeshift island to another in mighty leaps, using her wings to glide across the sizeable gaps. It did not take her long to reach the final island. After one final jump, she landed on the cold, hard rock and gazed at the object.
It was eerily familiar. A large, polished mirror, its frame richly decorated with ancient writing. She remembered that day well. The set of fateful, and frankly rather poor, decisions that had led to Twilight Sparkle entering the other world. Everything ended rather well, all things considered. But what was the mirror doing here?

She stepped closer and gazed at her reflection. Much to her surprise, she stared at a rather pretty pony, standing comically on its hind legs. The armour, flaming wings and blazing mane were still there. What did it all mean? Sunset took a step closer tried to touch the glass. Her reflection became distorted as her hand passed through the material as if through air. She could feel a slight breeze on the other side.

Down the rabbit hole we go.

She had little doubt as to where she had ended up. The twisted, gargantuan trees, the ever-present scent of rotting wood on the wind, the distant, echoing howls of guardians. The Everfree forest spread far and wide around her. Worse yet, her passage disappeared as soon as she stepped through.

Sunset looked around, unsure, stranded and somehow still human. This dream seemed to have a mind and plans of its own, but what were its intentions? Could that even be comprehended? Before she could ponder her predicament further, a rustling sounded from somewhere behind her.

Sunset spun around, her mind grasping for a defensive implement. She almost yelped as her hands were suddenly encased in fire, but relaxed when she felt only pleasant heat. Her heat. Pointing her flaming armaments at the trees nearby, she shouted:
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
A familiar voice came from the woods, just as confused as her:
"Sunset?"

Equestria's most famous showpony emerged from the brush. Her attire was far more elaborate and bombastic than in real life, which had to keep things such as practicality in mind. Fancy, star-struck boots, animated images on her cape, even her tail had decorations on it. A pair of majestic, feathered wings was also a new addition. Most importantly, Trixie was indeed in her pony form, while Sunset was human.
"Trixie!"

They rushed towards each other and hugged, though Sunset had to crouch to make it possible. She had never realised ponies were quite so... tiny. Both suddenly parted and said, in perfect unison:
"Are you a figment of my imagination?"

They both blinked and laughed. Sunset asked:
"What are you doing in my dream?"
"I was about to ask you the same. I went for a nap in the Everfree, then had to jump on some rock islands, now I'm here."
"What? That's... exactly what happened to me. Waaait, you sleep in the Equestrian Everfree?"
"It's not so bad once you get used to timberwolf odour and... have diplomatic immunity, shall we say?"
"Riiiight, well. You're the dream expert, what the heck is going on?"
"Hmmm," Trixie walked back and forth, her head barely reaching Sunset's waist, "this sort of event is only possible with outside manipulation. And that is rarely a good thing."
"Well, that sound just peachy. So, how do we stop it?"
"The culprit must be within this dream to maintain their spell. We find them and politely ask them to stop."
Sunset raised an eyebrow:
"Really?"
"Well, that's stage one. Now, come on, we have a fiend to confront!"

The tree canopy was too thick for them to fly up, so the two merely hovered above the many brambles and gnarled roots. Sunset gazed towards her companion and said:
"So, this is how the Great and Powerful Trixie wishes to look one day?"
"Well, a mare can dream," she chuckled, "and what about you, miss battle angel?"
"Oh, this? This is what I imagine my Mares and Monsters character would look like."
"That sounds intriguing."
"Yeah, you basically roleplay heroes and fight evil. It's a pretty far-out game."
"Heh, I would have thought we, of all ponies... people... persons would have enough of that from our regular life. I want a game where I roleplay something mundane, like a baker. Worrying about frosting would be delightful for a change."

They laughed as they sped through the shadows of the Everfree.

It didn't take them long to reach a massive chasm. It cut through the Everfree like a blade, stretching for a good mile or two. Most peculiar, however, was a cave entrance nestled within the rock, a faint light radiating within. The two shared a look and Trixie said:
"That seems a bit convenient, doesn't it?"
"Yup. Bet you fifteen bits that's a trap."
"Well, it doesn't seem that we have a choice in the matter. Let's spring it."

A convenient staircase was cut into the rock and they descended to the chasm's floor. The terrain was rough, but the two persevered, constantly on edge. Shadows seemed to dance at the edge of their vision and the light of the cave grew brighter with every step. A cool breeze greeted them at the entrance.
The light was deep within the cave, shining like a solitary star within the shadows. Sunset raised her left hand and it burst into flame, lighting the way for them. As soon as they took a few cautious steps inside, the light from the outside vanished.
"What the-?!" Trixie blurted out as she spun around.

The new wall was... unnatural. Its surface was black as the never-ending void between universes and it seemed to flow and pulsate as if it were alive. Sunset audibly gulped:
"I think we've sprung it."
"To the light!"

They ran deeper into the darkness, which seemed to crawl closer despite their human torch. More signs of the substance could be seen, clinging to the cave's walls, pulsating in unison. It was then that they reached a larger chamber and gasped in unison.
A mighty tree stood there, towering over the human and pony. Its bark and branches were almost completely covered in the unnerving miasma. A single spot remained uncovered, at the very top of its trunk, and the light they had followed seemed to radiate from within. Without warning, the pulsating nightmare all around them reacted.

Tendrils and other nameless appendages slashed through the air between them as the heroines gasped. Sunset cried out to her friend as another wall of black matter separated them. Three more rose in the blink of an eye and she was surrounded. Instinctively, she lashed out, releasing a jet of flame. Her attack did not even leave a mark, instead, the walls seemed to devour it as eagerly as they had devoured the rest of her world.

She shouted:
"Trixie!"

No response.

Sunset's breathing was rapid, panicked. The walls seemed to be encroaching in on her. More tendrils lashed out, grabbing onto her limbs and holding her in place without any effort. She screamed, but was again met with nothing but horrifying silence. Then, her mind was invaded by a stray thought.

Alone.

It was distinctly not her own. Among the storm of emotion of her consciousness, it stood out like a brick of ice. Unfeeling, calculated, inherently alien on every level.

Powerless.

Shivers ran down her spine as she felt but a smidge of the Entity. The sensation stabbed through her like an eldritch blade, an icy punch through her soul. Her mind tried to reject Its existence, but cold, hard facts would not allow such a thing. The Thing was there, though It should never have been.

Give in.

It was right. How could she measure against the Thing? Against Its impossible vastness, Its insidious power? There she was alone in Its never-ending shadow, without... Sonata. Adorkable, ditzy Sonata. Would she ever wake from this nightmare to see that big, happy smile again? To feel that bone-crunching hug? Sunset couldn't help but giggle, despite her current predicament.

Never again.

The Creature's newest thought was... different. There was a chink in its cold facade, a shred of emotion attached to the word. And while Sunset could not identify the specific feeling, it was most definitely negative. Just as a test, she tried to break free of her bonds. They still held firm, but seemed weaker than before.

An avenue of attack presented itself. She almost wished the Thing had an actual face of some sort that she could stare down. Instead, she just closed her eyes and concentrated. She would not go down without a fight.

Sonata. Trixie. Twilight. The other Rainbooms. Everyone and everypony else she knew and could count on. Loved ones, friends, even frenemies and rivals. All of them had played an important role in her life, in their own way. She would not lose them. Not a chance.

The Presence wailed with a hint of fury, the sound echoed throughout her mind, but Sunset remained steadfast. She imagined all those times. Standing together with her friends, though good and ill. Parties, galas, a bit of godslaying. Always together during every Celestia-damned second of it all. And she would keep trying to be her best. For all of them.

The Ancient One roared. Its invisible tendrils violently retreated from the sorceress' consciousness and she sighed in relief. Her eyes became blazing embers as she gathered arcane power.

Once again, the human revolted against her bindings. The tendrils holding her in place struggled, before being torn apart like mere twigs. With a grunt, her wings broke free and flapped, scorching the otherworldly miasma as she clasped her hands together.

Her fire burned at the substance, cleansing, purifying. It withered and died under the onslaught and she couldn't help but feel just a bit like a pyromaniac. A blast of violet energy cut through the air and she looked right into the showpony's eyes. They shared a smile, before turning back to the task at hand.

With a combined assault, the two sorceresses reduced the black sea into little more than a puddle. The substance still clung to the tree and lashed out against them in fury. They paused their assault for just a moment and Sunset commented:
"I think we're not supposed to fry the tree."
"Well, we need to get this foul goop off it somehow!"
"Don't worry, we got this. We never give up, do we?"
"That we do not!"

As they sunk back into battle stances, the chamber shook. The miasma started pulsating rapidly as the tree's sixth branch suddenly broke free from its influence. A large gemstone of fluctuating colour was held within its bark. The blazing sun and a crescent moon, intertwined into one. It shone in two colours, bright red and dark blue, and bathed the chamber in light as the heroines shielded their eyes. Wherever it landed, the black matter was forced to retreat. Soon, however, it was cornered, clinging to the final patches of shadow. Before long, it was utterly obliterated.

The intense glow faded and they looked again. The other gemstones encased within the mighty tree were immediately recognisable. The Elements of Harmony. And so was the entity that formed at the base of the tree. A ball of azure light, wrapped in a thick mist. The Phantom of the Everfree spoke to them with a thousand voices at once:
"A timely arrival, Trixie Lulamoon."

Sunset was utterly confused at this point, so Trixie took the lead:
"You were the one who brought us here, then, I take it?"
"We, indeed."
"What was that ooze? And where are we?"
"The root of Harmony. Heart of the Everfree. That which you fought was but a fragment of the coming shadow."

"Okay, slow down just a little bit," too many revelations the human simply couldn't comprehend, "what exactly is going on here? What is... that?"
"That is, well... my diplomatic immunity."
"We are the Everfree. What is your name, child of Equinox?"
She hesitated for a moment, but replied:
"I am Sunset Shimmer."
"Sun-set Shi-mmer," syllable by syllable, "we sensed your connection to the Lulamoon. We called to you. A wise choice, we decree."

Trixie sat down onto the ground and remained silent for a few moments. Then, she said:
"This isn't a dream, per se, is it?"
"No. This is the Everfree. This is all Everfrees. The body is anchored to one. But the mind may wander through all. We called to you, and you answered. The shadow had struck without warning, as is its custom. In unity, you forged victory. In unity, you awakened another seed."

They both glanced at the sixth branch and its new, glowing element. After a moment of contemplation, Trixie asked:
"This seed... comes from Equinox, then?"
"No," they paused, "yes. A shard of Equinox. A shard of Ebon. A shard of others. It grows here, yet it stands out. We cannot name it properly."
"That's great. I was hoping I'd have more enigmas in my life."
"Hey, cheer up," Sunset smiled, "you at least apparently have some idea of what's going on."
"Allow us to part with some insight."

Sunset raised an eyebrow just as the orb flashed grey. She immediately gasped and grabbed her head. Thoughts and information flooded her mind again, just without any hints of nihilism this time. As soon as she could process it all, she glanced at the orb, then at Trixie:
"Oh. Oooooh. Okay, so that was extremely uncomfortable and creepy, but I understand this conversation now. Dead gods coming back and all that."
"Perhaps sleeping, rather than dead. Trixie Lulamoon has managed to piece together most of the puzzle. Yet some things remain hidden from her. And us. We are certain, however, that the road ahead shall be perilous."

"And I bet," Trixie's features crumpled into a frown, "you're going to say that road heads north."
"The tapestry of time has weaved itself with such an event in mind. Ultimately, however, the decision is only yours, Trixie Lulamoon. Fate never stands still."
"Then neither shall I," she smirked.
"But how do I fit into all this?" asked the humanoid among them.
"It is clear to us. You and the Lulamoon share many traits and have forged a strong bond. Only together can you coax the new seed of harmony out of slumber."
"But how is that possible? We're both still relatively new to friendship magic. Gosh, why does it have to sound so corny?"

"As we have said, this is not an element of Equinox. Not wholly. The inherent arcane properties of companionship are not its focal point. Something else you both possess resonates with it."
"Might as well be our good looks, for all we know," Trixie said.
"Ah, yes, the famous Element of Narcissism!"

The orb waited for them to stop giggling before continuing:
"Sunset Shimmer, we would wish to bestow a gift. May you be known by all as Friend of the Everfree."
"O-oh, this is an honour," she whispered to Trixie, "is this the diplomatic immunity?"
"This is the diplomatic immunity."
"Neat."
"You have chosen your paths, Friends of the Everfree. We hope your choice was the correct. For now, awaken from slumber. Remain vigilant."

Mist started filling the area. The two magic users shared one last look, followed by a revolutionary hoof-and-fist bump. Truly, a momentous occasion.

As soon as Sunset woke, she jolted up in her sleeping bag. She was wet with sweat, only slightly burdened by ominous prophecies, but otherwise fine. Pinkie Pie snored away blissfully, the air she blew out made Rarity's stylised hairdo move back and forth repeatedly. Everything was a-okay.

The campfire was long-dead and... there was an eerie green glow, somewhere at the edge of their camp. Remembering her nightmarish encounter just moments prior, she nervously approached the flaps of the tent. Her jaw dropped immediately.

A squad of ethereal riders strode through the forest, each clad in heavy armour and carrying a mighty lance. The one at the very front of the group stood out, his phantasmal steed covered in runes and other arcane implements. The figure looked noble, though his features were muddy. The crown on his head could not be mistaken for anything else, though. The monarch looked in her direction, his eyes like two azure fireballs, and raised an armoured fist in greeting. The knights mimicked their lord, though none of them so much as grunted.

In utter silence, they rode deeper into the forest and vanished out of sight, eternal defenders of the Everfree.

Sunset sighed to herself. This would take some getting used to.

Northward

Author's Note

Sure took my sweet time with this one, eh?

Hey, better late than having to compromise education! Trixie would only agree!

Northward

Saying her goodbyes had been quite difficult, even if they had been the modified 'Goodbye for now!'. The journey itself would take a while. A day by train alone, then who knows how long spent walking and trudging through tundra and mountainous areas. Luckily, she did have ample supplies for the trek, gathered over several weeks. Crystalline tea was a noteworthy inclusion.

Canterlot Station, usually bustling with activity, was almost empty. That was to be expected, few travellers needed to catch the very first train headed for the Crystal Empire, no matter how beautiful that place was. Some commotion reached the area, however, when the Moon entered the building.
Trixie blinked, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Princess Luna strode towards her with a smile. Trixie immediately grew unsure. Had she forgotten something? Surely not, having a bloody princess bring you some random item was an embarrassing thought. When Luna closed the distance, teacher and student shared a bow. The princess said:
"Trixie, it is good I made it in time."
"What is the matter, Princess?"
"Please, come with me."
"Is it that urgent? My train is leaving in..."
"Do not worry, you shall travel. I have, however, been able to negotiate more non-conventional means of transport."
"Is that so? Are they faster?"
"Very much so."
"That is most convenient. You did not need to bother, Princess."
"Based on what you've told us, time may be of the Essence. Besides, it is the least I could do."
"Thank you. What is this transport, then?"
"Well, I... I think it’s better that you see it with your own eyes."

Miskatonic's Parlour of Occult Delights. Trixie couldn't help but feel that the name had been different. It still looked the same, at least. Unassuming little building with peculiar items behind its display windows. Surrounded by rumours, horror stories and mystique. The writing on the sign was a bit crooked, and for some unnameable reason, the place sent chills down her spine. Luna strode forward confidently, however, and the showpony followed.

The inside was almost predictable. Ancient, dusty tomes? Check. What appeared to be preserved brains of several different animals? Check. A whole plethora of alchemical reagents, supplies and funny-shaped flasks? Check. Three large emerald eyes violating her personal spa- HOLY HAY!

Trixie yelped and jumped back as the creature merely tilted its head. Tall, thin and carried on a quartet of insect-like legs, not much more was visible of the shopkeeper. Its hooded cloak did a marvellous job at hiding its features. Its almost skeletal fingers clicked and clacked in the air as it spoke in a raspy voice that seemed to echo within her head:
"Our apologies, Dreamwalker."
"T-that's quite alright."
"Excellent," the thing walked sideways, its eyes never leaving Trixie. Finally, it stopped at Luna and turned to her, "the preparations are complete, Your Highness."
"Excellent. She shall depart at once."

It nodded and scurried off to the counter, once again not looking away. Trixie leaned in closer to the princess and whispered:
"I am almost afraid to ask, but how am I going to be travelling?"
To her dismay, Luna chuckled:
"Och, surely you would not wish to spoil the surprise, dear Trixie?"
"We may go," came the unnerving shopkeeper's voice. In its right hand, the creature held a large ornate key.

The door it belonged to looked even older than the shop itself and opened with a mighty creak. A staircase awaited them beyond, twisting down into the cold embrace of the earth. Torches lit the way down, casting ominous shadows as the trio passed. It seemed to be never-ending. At irregular intervals, the design and material of the individual stairs shifted. It was like taking a walk through the history of architecture.

Steadily, the cool air started warming up once again and, perhaps alarmingly, she started hearing the distant echo of a mighty, regularly repeating sound. Windows suddenly appeared in the wall and she dared peek through. In a cavernous cave, tall, irregular structures stretched from the floor all the way to the ceiling, illuminated faintly by what appeared to be luminescent fungi. Luna commented:
"Pretty little place they have here, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Reminds me of the City of Night, though, more alien."
"The nature of its inhabitants has rubbed off on it."
"As is only natural," their guide commented.

The sounds intensified with every step. As Trixie wanted to ask a question, she noticed a small, fleshy, prehensile appendage slithering upwards. It seemed to notice them and rose above the ground. Their guide suddenly moved into action and swatted the tentacle with a grunt:
"No eating the guests!"

The limb recoiled and darted back into the darkness. Trixie and Luna shared a look. The princess sighed. It was obvious that Trixie was becoming more nervous with every step. She said:
"No need to worry, dear Trixie. The Caretakers take good care of their charge."
"Caretakers? I shudder to think what they're looking over."
"The Dreamer," came the guide's cryptic answer.
"What exactly is," she didn't even notice that they finally reached the bottom of the staircase until her eyes looked around and went wide. With baited breath, she blurted out, "that?"

The form was titanic. Its darkened flesh heaved with every powerful inhale, and its monstrous snore caused its immediate vicinity to rumble. Even through her shock, Trixie could tell that it was in fact a draconite of horrific proportions, its head clearly lizard-like in appearance. In place of wings, an entire legion of tentacle-like appendages sprouted from its back and spread across the underground, dipping into cracks and fissures in the earth. Trixie merely gazed with her mouth wide open, while Luna commented:
"Gaia, Old Dragon of the Earth."
"Come, come," their guide said, "your transport awaits."

Trixie kept staring for a few moments, then caught up to Luna. The showpony spoke in a worried whisper:
"There's another ancient sleeping dragon under Canterlot?!"
"Yes, though, this one my sister has no knowledge about. Also, I think she is technically under Equestria rather than just Canterlot."
"How come I've never felt it while dream walking?!"
“Because I thought it wise to hide her.”
"Aren't we worried she could wake up?!"
"She never will."
"How can we be so sure?"
"I know the tale, as told by the Caretakers. If I may?" she said towards the guide.
"You may, Your Highness."

The elder dragon Traxex was not a foe opposed easily. One of the few creatures that he considered a worthy foe was his sister, Gaia. The two dragons wished to settle their differences once and for all. And so they did, and as ancient lore now knows, Traxex was victorious. Beaten and bruised, Gaia did not have wings with which to fly to safety. Instead, she burrowed deep into the earth as Traxex' roar of triumph echoed across the world.

She dug deep, deeper than any creature before her. But then, in the depths, she encountered something inconceivable. The people some know now as Caretakers, and their master and creator.

The Elder Thing.

Weakened, but undeterred, Gaia opposed the Undergod, a being that somehow predated even mighty Tiamath. Their struggle is said to have morphed the world above, dividing the land into continents and giving them shape. At last, she struck what had to be the killing blow. But the Old One was not quite done.

In its death throes, a curse was placed upon Gaia. Eternal slumber, coupled with the corruption of the Elder Thing. The Caretakers, now free of their master, honoured Gaia as a goddess and to this day make sure she can slumber forever in peace.

“I do believe that sums it up nicely.”
“Adequately, Your Highness.”

Trixie ran it all through her head. Oh, sure, the revelations were strange, but they fit neatly into the grander image of the world and universe like puzzle pieces. After a little bit of silence, she turned to the shopkeeper:
“And I assume your shop exists so that you are kept in touch with the surface?”
“Indeed. The deep has many treasures for your kind, while the surface has many for mine.”
“Makes sense. And, well, great job on the whole caretaking thing.”
It turned its entire body to her without missing a step:
“Thank you.”
“I must ask, however. What exactly is my mode of transportation?”
“It awaits ahead, Trixie Lulamoon. As does your destiny.”
“Sheesh, no pressure or anything, huh?”

They made their way to what looked like the entrance to one of the many tunnels which snaked through the underground. Their guide stopped and simply stood there for a few moments in awkward silence. Then, with a sigh, he bashed the wall.

What Trixie had considered part of the wall suddenly moved. The creature rose up with a horrid yelp and stood up on four short, muscular legs. Its body was covered in a layer of hide so thick, it reminded her of the very rock around them. Reptilian in build overall, the draconite did not possess any eyes at all, in favour of more natural plating on its elongated head. With some amount of anxiety, she noticed the makeshift saddle for two strapped to the thing’s back.

She shot Luna a glance and the princess put on an apologetic look:
“In my defence, it is the fastest and safest way to travel I know of. Based on my own experience.”
The magician looked first at the drake, then the caretaker, then her mentor. With a sigh, she commented:
“I suppose it can’t be as bad as it seems.”

And truthfully, it wasn’t. Oh, sure, the draconite moved at frightening speeds and the vertigo from some of the manoeuvres it pulled as it navigated the underground made her sick, but hay, after a while, it was like a nightmarish rollercoaster! The insectoid guide on her side, silent for a good part of the way, suddenly said:
“You walk a dangerous path, Trixie Lulamoon.”
“So I have been told. I’m not about to turn back now, however.”
“We understand. The burden you bear compels you.”
She tilted her head:
“You sound like you know something, friend.”
“Only that your mark is familiar. We have felt it before. In the Elder Thing,” Trixie put on a frown, then yelped as the draconite suddenly leapt over a small chasm, “and we have sensed a smidge of it in others, even ones like Princess Luna. You possess it in spades, Dreamwalker.”
“The more information I gather, the less I seem to understand the whole ordeal.”
“Understanding shall come with time, Dreamwalker.”
“I have been told that, as well.”

The rest of the journey was silent, contemplative, save for the snarls and growls of their transport. And despite the overall roughness of the experience, Trixie somehow managed to doze off.

Then, she awoke. What she saw wasn’t immediately different. Just another cave, with a pathway leading upwards. But she could feel the shift in temperature clearly. Her breath was visible, the air chilly. The drake lay there, resting, while her guide commented:
“Rise and shine, Dreamwalker. Welcome to the north.”
“H-how long did it take?” she asked, groggily.
“If you venture outside, the early hours of morning shall greet you. We have taken you as far as the tunnels permit. Your journey must continue on hoof.”
“And so it shall. Thank you for everything, Caretaker.”
“Save your gratitude for the trip back, Dreamwalker. We shall await you in this cave. Such was our pact with Her Highness.”
“Surely you will not wait indefinitely, though?”
“Until the dawn of the seventh day.”
“And how exactly can I find this place again?”

The insect tilted its head a little:
“We rest beneath an ancient landmark. You will manage. May Gaia watch over your steps, Dreamwalker.”
“And may her slumber remain peaceful, Caretaker.”

With that, she walked up to the surface, taking out necessities from her travel bag on the way. Now equipped with a comfortable and, more importantly, warm set of clothes, she braced herself for the north proper.

A mighty wind howled across a snow-covered landscape. Had she not stashed her magician’s hat, it would have been blown away, never to be found again. She looked upwards, a pair of violet goggles shielding her eyes. The cave entrance sat at the base of a massive statue, crumbling in disrepair. A mighty centaur seemed to be raising something to the heavens, but his arms were gone, snapped off by the merciless elements the north was famous for.

She set her sights upon the horizon and started walking, pushing through snow and gale in equal measure.

Two days, she trudged through the snow and ice, across flatlands and along treacherous ravines. The loneliness was the worst part. Other than a few stray, cautious animals, she was alone with her thoughts. Many of those were doubts. With no clear idea of where to go save for ‘north’.

She wondered if this was just how Stargazer had felt, so many moons ago. Drifting through the icy wind to her untimely demise. Trixie shook her head, banishing such ideas… at least for a while. They would surely crop up again eventually, during another moment of…

The showpony froze as a horrid screech washed over the area. Instinctively, she vanished, then cautiously scanned the area. At first, it seemed that the only ones there were her and the wind. Then, she spotted a form. Large and bulky, the creature walked forward with a slow, steady gait. Towering above her, it simply trudged on through the snow.

A yeti? A sasquatch? A completely different cult-worshipped being? Whichever it was, a plan was formed.

Quietly and swiftly like an arctic fox, Trixie followed the thing. It was a straightforward affair, as it did not do any erratic movements. Just that slow, driven gait through the tundra. Suddenly, it came to a halt, seemed to gaze down and then jumped. It fell downwards and Trixie quickened her pace.

She soon stood at mouth of some sort hole, its rocky walls heading deep below at a steep angle. Scraping could be heard somewhere below. She hesitated for a few moments, but then steeled herself and descended. She slid down cautiously and silently thanks to some magical assistance.

The place reminded her of a changeling hive. A labyrinth of interconnected tunnels, but with the added bonus of horrific cold. She reached the bottom. The footsteps of the creature echoed through the tunnels, but darkness was everywhere. Not wanting to risk magic, she looked into her enchanted travel bag.

Hat, cape, miscellaneous supplies… ahah, the torch! In no time at all, its fire blazed defiantly against the shadow. She immediately gasped. The tunnel walls consisted of both ice and rock, and in that ice, Trixie could see shapes. Some vast, some small, all assuredly dead. Remains of ancient creatures, preserved eternally by the cold. Then, she noticed something far more alarming.

Something was burrowing through the ice. Tendrils of unnameable black substance dug their way towards the remains, coiling around them. She furrowed her brow and looked down the tunnel. At a brisk pace, she traversed the labyrinth, always cautious of any other creatures. Distant clangs and smashes could be heard, repeating at regular intervals.

Every so often, she would gaze into the ice and follow the tendrils. The ooze led her deeper. The sounds kept her on edge constantly. A few times, she even caught a glimpse of irregular shapes hobbling in the distance, though she herself remained undetected.

The path suddenly came to an end at what seemed like an underground lake. Its surroundings were strangely warm. She shined her torch above the water. A chill ran down her spine as the stuff bubbled, black as the depths around it. She could not see how big the lake was, but it stretched out far into the darkness. Some… things jutted out of the waters like massive claws, but she had no way of getting a better look. To the right, the entrance

The smashing suddenly stopped, only to soon be replaced by a horrid scraping. Was something being dragged along? Before she could contemplate it further, something landed in the black lake, the impact sending the substance everywhere. She flinched as droplets landed outside of the lake, only to quickly return to the main mass on their own accord.

A massive skull was sinking into the ichor, elongated and reptilian. Tendrils of ooze enveloped it, before finally pulling it underneath. The lake stirred as a whole, then began to spontaneously drain. Trixie dared gaze down into the resulting chasm. Her torch soon bathed a huge, unsettlingly thin body in light. Monstrous ribs and other weathered bones poked out from the ichor. It had no wings, but its claws were thick, powerful. Ideal for tunnelling.

The defiled remains of the dragon moved, stretching upwards before finally coming to stand. It was nowhere near the immense size of a dragon like Traxex, but, compared to a pony, still absolutely humongous. The Thing’s hollow, eyeless skull turned towards her.

A chill ran down her spine, a feeling of dread mounting. Worse yet, looking at the Creature’s visage, she felt something… almost a familiarity. The magic between pony and god faintly resonated. She took a few steps as a dishevelled claw rose into the air.

You have come to Us.

Trixie galloped back into the labyrinth as fast as her legs could carry her. Yet no matter how fast she was, she could not escape those alien, invasive thoughts.

There is no escape.

A rumbling sounded to her left and she dashed to the side as one of the frozen constructs emerged from a side path. She managed to glance more clearly into the ice. The silhouettes of bones were encased within, surrounded by a layer of black nightmares. It reached out for her, its fingers like icy spears.

Let Us mould you like Our world.

The thought echoed through her mind as she ran. More and more constructs emerged to confront her as she dashed, weaved and teleported out of their reach. She was, however forced to turn off the path she remembered. There was no time to slow down and contemplate a suitable path.

Trixie galloped into the unknown, taking whichever turn seemed like it might get her to the surface. All she seemed to find was more and more shambling horrors in the dark. Suddenly, there was a flash of hope. Sunlight in the distance. She rushed forward with what strength she still had.

She rejoiced at the sound of a powerful wind. Then screamed as the ground in front of her suddenly collapsed. Another of the creatures rose from the hole, talons ready to skewer her. She tried her best, but could not evade the attack entirely. They scraped along her side, sending unnatural cold into her veins and tearing her clothing. She cried out.

With a sudden snap, she suddenly felt lighter. The showpony looked first at her new, bleeding wound, then at the corridor behind her. Her trusty travel bag was unceremoniously flung somewhere into the dark as the golem rose from the hole. She cursed inwardly, then turned and continued towards the light.

The closer she got, the less optimistic she became. The light streamed in through a small opening in the wall. Beyond that was a narrow, ice-covered bridge. All it seemed to connect to was another small hole on the opposite side. Nonetheless, this gave her options. If only ones of retreat.

She pushed through the hole and was immediately assaulted by the north’s relentless winds. They bit into her side mercilessly, but she carried on. Progress was slow, the surface of the bridge slippery and treacherous. The air threatened to knock her over the side and into the chasm below.

A crash echoed through the area. She glanced back again. The abominations had crashed through the wall and were crawling closer. They traversed the bridge on all fours with frightening speed, clinging to it from all sides. That was a lot of added weight. Tired, freezing and wounded, she nonetheless turned towards her pursuers. Her horn glowed as she gathered her magic for a few tricks.

First, she vanished in a flash of light, reappearing in the air above the bridge. The creatures gazed up at her as she unleashed her second trick. A blast of pure force slammed into the bridge and, as the laws of physics demanded, sent the sorceress flying through the air. The beasts groaned as the surface beneath them crumbled.

Trixie wished she had time to scream, but her flight was interrupted prematurely as she crashed down on the other side of the bridge, slamming into a wall shortly afterwards. Grunting, she shakily rose. Most of the bridge was gone and so were her pursuers, at least for the time being. There was no time for rest, however. Not yet.

With what strength she still had, she hobbled inside of the other opening. This side of the icy depths seemed far more serene than the rest. There was no sign of the black tendrils and blessed silence ruled. As soon as she calmed down a little, she finally noticed she was freezing. Quickly, she performed a simple spell to stop the bleeding, though that did little to make her feel warmer.

With her clothes ruined, it was only a matter of time. The ice would rob her of precious energy. She didn’t have her supplies, either. She still had one last chance.

She concentrated and tried to gaze beyond her immediate area. To successfully communicate over long distances, one had to locate the recipient by following their ‘trail’ in the aether, so to speak. It would be difficult over such a distance, but with enough time, surely, she could... as soon as she tried to move her attention outside of the frozen wastes, it felt as if her extra sense was being blocked by some outside force. She was as good as blind.

She stared into space for a good minute afterwards. That was it, then. It was all for naught. Adventures, new friendships, outstanding theatrics… it all culminated in her freezing to death in this lonesome place. She only noticed she was crying when a few tears literally froze on her face.

“I guess the two of us weren’t so different, in the end, Lucretia.” She commented.

The tunnels echoed her words. It was then, on the very verge of giving up, that she noticed something. Her horn was tingling. There was magic nearby. Unicorn magic.

As fast as she could, she followed her horn deeper. There, at the precipice between ice and stone, she found a small chamber. Unassuming at first, until she noticed a small pile of stones, assembled into a mound in a very… deliberate manner. On top of the mound was some kind of folded, violet cloth, held down by a sizeable tome of some sort.

With baited breath, she took a few steps closer. On the ground next to the mound, a message was carved into the stone. It took her a while to decipher the letter, as they were an ancient dialect, but as soon as she did, her heart skipped a beat.

“Here lies Lucretia Stargazer, the lonely explorer.”

Using her magic, so as not to disturb the stones, she levitated the items on the mound.

As soon as her magic touched it, the cloth unfolded on its own accord. A cape, its colours as vibrant as if it was new, and a tall, slender magician’s hat, both covered in stars of various colours. But how were they in such good condition? A closer look at them revealed elaborate patterns of glowing runes sown into their fabrics. Longevity, protection from the elements and even the ravages of time itself… it must have taken weeks to weave the patterns alone, weeks more to imbue them with magic.

She glanced over the cloak, then at the mound. She whispered:
“I am sorry to disturb like this, I merely need a bit of warmth. I’ll make sure to fold them back.”

Slowly, she placed the cloak over her back and almost immediately sighed with relief. A pleasant heat radiated from the cloth, negating the horrid cold of the north. Finally, not freezing to death and able to concentrate, she moved the tome closer and examined it.

A simple, unassuming little book from the outside. On the inside, it was a goldmine. Lucretia’s journal. Her research notes and recordings of events. She flipped through the pages, mouth wide open. Finally, she reached what was the final entry, a little more than three quarters into the book.

Deciphering it took a fair bit of time, especially since many parts of it had been crossed out, no doubt in hasty revisions. Gods bless those late-night readings with Princess Luna.

This shall undoubtedly be my final entry. One might call my point of view pessimistic, but the odds are stacked against me. These frozen depths shall be my tomb.

I refuse to wallow in misery. Instead, I collect my thoughts for you, dear reader. I hope they aid you, at least in some small manner.

I followed the old draconite’s relatively cryptic words here. I simply had to confirm my theorems about the nature of the six elements and whether I might harbour one of my own, which would go against the established wisdom of their functioning and nature.

I instead found a nightmare, crawling through the depths of this seemingly abandoned glacier. Something foul stirs within the earth and burrows through the ice. Its appetite is ravenous. Even now, the wounds the horror inflicted refuse my attempts to mend them

Worse yet, when I gazed at it, something about it felt… strangely familiar. Was that what Talos had spoken of? Is it an element? I cannot say, our collective knowledge on the subject as limited as it is. But if it is one, it must resonate with a powerful emotion or mindset. Why do I have it?

It is surely not my reclusive nature. It must be my drive, if I am not incorrect entirely. My desire to overcome any obstacle to achieve my goals. To push through any hardship if it means getting closer. My… Ambition, I suppose it could be termed.

Perhaps you, reader, might make more sense of it. This tome and my robes should survive even these harsh conditions. For some time, at least. Please, take them. The dead have no use for such things. They will help you, especially if you are attuned to magic. I would ask for only one thing in return.

Please, bring this tome to Canterlot, help spread the knowledge within, so that I may live forever, at least in this sense. Consider that my dying wish.

May your travels be more fortunate than mine.

The signature at the bottom, unlike the rest of it, utterly perfect, unmistakeable. Trixie looked at the makeshift grave, a chill running down her spine, and whispered:
“I will do all I can to fulfil your wish,” with a faint smile, she added, “cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

The air in the room seemed to stir. The tome was encased in a small box with a strap attached. Ideal for carrying it on her side. Not the mauled one, naturally. She flung it over, then glanced at the magician’s hat. Carefully, she placed it on her head. Almost immediately, a jolt of power rushed through her body, followed by a tingling sensation. She closed her eyes.

The flow of energies around her was much clearer to her extra sense. Unlike something like the blasted amulet, there were no whispers from unknown forces, no horrid insinuations or subconscious influence. She could get used to this.

Her eyes snapped open. Time was of the essence. Going back wasn’t an option at this point, but there had to be another way out of these frozen caverns. And she would find it, if it was the last thing she did. Which, considering her lack of supplies… she shook her head and got to work.

A few hours of stumbling through the tunnels, along with some arcane aid, was all it took. The faint light of the surface shone in the distance and she rushed forward. She was blinded for a good few seconds. The wind was back, and almost masked the other sounds. Galloping.

In the blink of an eye, she was surrounded. Each of the centaurs was at least twice her size, clad from head to hoof in heavy armour. No less than eight mighty halberds were pointed right at her. She assumed a battle stance, her horn glowing with energy, though the odds were most definitely not good.

The horse-men blurted amongst each other in a familiar dialect:
“Poník? Čo tu robí poník?“
“Ak to vôbec poník je... podľa mňa je to trik.“
“Vaša Výsosť, čo myslíte?“

At that moment, a new form appeared. The creature walked on two legs, tall, proud and mighty. Like his compatriots, he was clad in heavy armour, but his was obviously of a higher craftsmanship, with elaborate symbols carved into the chest plate. The owner’s face was bestial and elongated, monstrous. What she had at first mistaken for a cape turned out to be a pair of majestic, bat-like wings. Finally, there was a short tail, which ended in some fluff.

The newcomer took a few steps closer to her, then knelt into the snow. And while his form was intimidating, his eyes… were kind, reassuring, friendly. He smiled and ordered:
“Pohov,” the centaurs rested their halberds against the ground. He turned back to Trixie, “greetings, pony. You are a pleasant change of pace compared to the usual horrors that exit the glacier.”
She relaxed and replied:
“I assure you, I am a proper monster when I do not get enough sleep,” he laughed heartily, “if I may ask, who do I have the honour of speaking to?”
"It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure to converse with your kind. Perhaps, however, you might recall the name Scorpan.”

A mighty gate opened before them as their entourage approached the city walls. She galloped next to the king as he continued his speech:
“And that is the current situation. Our cities and towns are besieged by these foul beasts and their even fouler progenitor. We have tried asking for aid, but my messengers never return and what little magic we have cannot pierce whatever veil the thing is projecting. At the same time, we have been able to contain the blasted things to the other side of the glacier, but cannot push any further,” Scorpan sighed, “but I fear that is a small victory, considering.”

Trixie said:
“If what I dread is true, it may even be of no concern to these creatures. Their prize lies to the south. And based on what I’ve seen, I fear they may move out soon.”
“To imagine what havoc they could wreak in Equestria… as if my brother’s senseless rampage was not enough.”

They finally passed the gate. The city was large, its people a varied mix of bestial races, many of them hybrids of once distinct creatures. Locals bowed as they passed, while the showpony continued:
“Do not worry, I shall do everything I can to bring this nightmare to an end. For both of our peoples. First, I must warn Equestria. They will not be caught unawares.”
“Do you think your magic might be able to pierce the veil?”
“No. But I know of other methods that should be able to bypass this barrier entirely.”

The entourage halted for a moment as he looked down at her:
“And if even those fail?”
Her look was one of unshaken determination:
“Then I will gallop through day and night to reach my home ahead of the enemy.”
The king smiled:
“You know, many of my kin think of you ponies as a fairly fragile sort. But I know better. When you put your mind into it, you are something else. Now, come,” with a bark at his guards, they continued towards a large structure in the distance, “the sooner we send this warning of yours, the better.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.”

The circle was just like she remembered from all those sessions with Princess Luna. Double-checked for even the smallest error. Finally, the Dreamwalker stepped into it and closed her eyes. The ancient incantation was recited without error:
“Tieň, poskytni útočisko v týchto snoch. Nech nás nevidno, ani pri hviezdach miliónoch.“

When she opened her eyes again, the sea of cloud awaited her. Immediately, she rushed to find those she needed.

The draconite greedily devoured its final, packed morsel. The first rays of light were streaming in, on the seventh day. Three emerald eyes watched the pathway to the surface with an uncanny amount of unease.

The Caretaker had always known this was one of the possibilities. Failure. Fate may have weaved itself in one pattern, but reality sometimes rejected its visions. It had happened to the Lulamoon already. Fate had already written several ends to her tale and yet… she stubbornly defied them.

And yet there was still no clop of hooves. Had fate caught up to her at last? Had she finally fallen, somewhere in the deep, dark depths of this frozen wasteland? Time was swiftly running out.

A crack suddenly sounded from above. Part of the ceiling collapsed as an irregular form came crashing down through the ice. The draconite roared, and the Caretaker could feel why. Within the golem, something foul flowed instead of blood. Ancient ichor, rotten and corrupt. A second form jumped down, its wings spread just enough to slow down the fall. As soon as the king landed, he hefted the golem into the air as if it were a toy, and flung it against a nearby wall. The ice cracked, yet the bones and ichor still rose.

A blast of energy, blinding and searing, engulfed the abomination. It emitted no sounds as the ichor was burned away into nothing and merely collapsed afterwards. The proper gargoyle roared to the heavens with a battlecry, then turned to the comparably tiny adventurer at his side:
“Finely done, Miss Lulamoon!”

The Caretaker’s unease vanished, replaced once more with hope. The showpony strode forth, her outfit glowing brighter than ever before. She replied to Scorpan:
“You also performed quite well, Your Highness. Thanks to you and your warriors for providing the escort.”
“’Twas nothing,” he laid eyes upon the dragon and its peculiar rider, “I must say, Equestrian modes of transport are far more peculiar than what I remember.”
“Peculiar transports for peculiar ponies.”
“Hahah, well said!”

She approached her transport. The draconite lowered its head and she nuzzled against it, earning herself a monstrous purr. With that, she turned towards her travelling companion:
“Caretaker, I must reach the Everfree forest. Time is of the essence.”
“Truer words are seldom spoken. Your will be done, Dreamwalker.”

She hopped onto the dragon’s back and strapped herself in. Subconsciously, she checked for the tome. Still there, nice and safe in its box. As the beast of burden turned towards the underground, she took a deep breath.

She could only hope she had given them enough time.

Call to Arms

Author's Note

At this rate, I may finish this before the heat-death of the universe!

Before reading on, consider checking out another side-story we have, following the tale of Lotus Windrider, samurai mare!

It goes by the name 'Call of Home' and is not necessary to understand the following plot in any way, but a nice little thing, I would think.

Call to Arms

The San Palomino desert was calm, peaceful. The moon shone down upon its endless sands, its many nocturnal predators readied themselves for the hunt. When the sky suddenly lit up with a brilliant azure light, however, they swiftly scurried back into their dens and hovels. The blazing orb travelled at great speed, heading towards an inconspicuous mountain range.

Flying on memory alone, the unicorn landed to the north of the mountains and continued on foot. Wind parted her azure mane and blew sand into her brown eyes, but she persevered. She had to. Finally, a small hole in the mountain appeared nothing but a small cave to an oblivious traveller. She knew it hid something much more valuable.

As soon as she took a few steps towards it, she found herself surrounded. The soldiers were clad in armour as white as snow. The suits shone with arcane runes and their wearers positively radiated with magic. Though their features were hidden, Nova knew only too well what hid beneath.

The one closest to her said with a deep voice:
“Nova Strike… what is your business here?!”
She sighed and answered:
“I must speak to the Awakened Council. Trixie Lulamoon sends dire news.”

The guards shared looks, before the leader spoke again:
“We shall escort you to the Council.”

“And that is all I know.”

Nova finished pleading her case to the twelve councillors and the grand vizier, illuminated faintly upon their thrones within the inner sanctum. Shariq rose in his unnecessarily large headdress and declared:
“Thank you for bringing this message, Nova Strike. The Awakened Council must deliberate, please, wait outside.”

She bowed slightly, then left the room as it descended into silence.

A skeletal mare finally said, a necklace of gemstones dangling from her spine:
“The Lulamoon asks us to break our secrecy. She knows its importance. The matter must be dire, indeed.”
“Maintained for thousands of years thanks to untold amounts of effort,” spoke one of the stallions, whose robe shone with an innate, blue glow, “are we to just throw away all our precautions for a simple conflict?”
“Simple conflicts, he says,” a third joined, the ends of his ribs encased in rare metals, “Lulamoon speaks of a god come back to life!”
“A deity, or merely a sorcerer masquerading as such,” a fourth, her headdress lined with a dozen diamonds, “even Lulamoon’s senses could have been tricked!”

They bickered and squabbled, as they always did. With a flash from his horn, Shariq ended the banter:
“Enough,” the councillors turned to him, “time is of the essence in this matter. My view of it is simple. Our secrecy has little use if the threat is as dire as Trixie claims. For secrets have no value when there is no one to keep them from. My vote is clear. Now please, cast your own.”

They glanced at each other for a few seconds, then sat upright. In unison, they lit up their horns, sending arcane messages to the vizier. Five and seven.
“Then it is settled. Call Nova Strike, so that she may hear our verdict.”

Just as before, Nova walked into the room with a determined gait. She stood before the thirteen thrones and their thirteen occupants with baited breath. Finally, the Grand Vizier spoke:
“Our choice has been made. Let it be known that the dead shall offer their bone-a-fide support to the living,” the councillors cackled as Shariq turned to the troublemaker, “furthermore, considering the repercussions this decision will have, coupled with your own actions, I do believe your vow of silence may also be lifted, Nova Strike. Step forth.”

Her first instinct was to spit a sarcastic retort, but she contained herself and said:
“Thank you, Your Boneliness.”

The council cackled once more.

Everything was accounted for. With all of his collection kept safe in Sugarville, he merely had to push a big enough stone to block the cave entrance. He huffed, puffed, munched on an oversized cupcake, and got the job done. There, secure as could be, considering. Now it was time for the long, long journey.

“Hey, where ya’ goin’?”

The sheer energy of that voice, its delighted tone, its peachy-keen attitude. It could be no other. The draconite lowered his head almost to ground level, stared into the mare’s sky blue eyes and said:
“Pinkie? What brings you here?”
“Oh gosh, I have to tell you so much! Trixie was in my dreams and said that this big old meanie has been sleeping in the north for a while, but now it’s waking up, so we need help, so I said I’d do my best to find help, then thought of you, because you’re a dragon and stuff, so I’m here now!”

After the verbal avalanche finally subsided, she took a deep, long breath. Glint blinked a few times, then snarled:
“Bah, this couldn’t have come at a worst time.”
“Oh, yeah, you were planning a trip!”
“Not just any old trip,” the wingless dragon sat down, “it’s the Call.”
“The Call? You mean the ancient draconite custom, only seldom used, wherein draconites of all shapes and sizes, or only some select kinds, are summoned to a far-away, secluded island in the sea for a really, really important meeting?”
“Y-yes, how do you even…”

Pinkie was suddenly on his head, staring down. Her mane seemed to dance on its own accord:
“And you wanted to travel on foot? That would take weeks!”
With a hint of annoyance, he retorted:
“Not like I have any other choice, you know.”
“Silly, I’ll go with you! Auntie Pinkie knows all the best shortcuts!”
“I don’t think shortcuts will lessen our travel ti…”
“Shhhhhh,” she placed a hoof over his mouth and, with a smile, said, “just trust me on this one! First, close your eyes.”

He knew better than to try and reason with the pink manifestation of energy. With a sigh, he closed his eyes.
“Now the fun happens!”

Glint could not describe the sensation. It was as if the Void itself had swallowed him for just a second, its cold tendrils digging under his scales. Nothingness occupied his thoughts for a few fleeting moments, and then… a gentle breeze carried the smell of the sea to his nostrils, while water danced around his clawed feet. His eyes shot open.

They were on a rocky beach, Pinkie already on the ground collecting sea shells into a small satchel that she hadn’t had before. Overhead, a titanic form blocked out the sun for a few moments, before heading towards a mountain in the distance. His jaw dropped as he turned to the mare:
“H-how did… what?”
“It’s just a scene transition, silly! Come on, I have enough sea shells now, so we need to get to that dragon meeting.”

She hopped onto his back, humming a tune. Glint’s first steps were almost paranoid, as if reality itself might have suddenly disappeared from under him, but he soon regained some faith in the universe and ascended towards the top of the mountain.

The ascent was relatively simple, especially thanks to Glint’ sheer size and strength. After less than half an hour, they reached the top. It was strangely flat, as if it had been shaped specifically to facilitate a meeting of such scale.
There had to be hundreds of dragons there. Winged or otherwise, they came in all shapes and sizes, but did seem to share a single defining trait. Stubbornness.

The meeting place had devolved into chaos. The various draconites shouted, growled and snarled at each other. The discussions only seemed to happen among dragons of roughly similar sizes. The larger ones probably dismissed anyone smaller outright.

In the middle of it all stood a deceptively small figure, standing on his hind legs and wrapped up in a richly decorated, navy blue robe. Two crimson eyes looked at the bickering lizards, the enlarged horns on his head already crackling with power. Slowly, deliberately, he stomped the ground.
A thunder crack was followed by a horrid, banshee-like shriek. At once, the dragons simmered down as the grey dwarf among them cleared his throat and said, somehow perfectly audible:
“I do not recall that we were here to argue about petty issues.”

One of the largest dragons present, her scales dark green in hue, lowered her head down to Talos’ level and said:
“Our apologies, Ancient. Surely, though, you recognise why your request is met with animosity?”
“Asking to protect the world which gave you life?”
“The world, or just some squishy little ponies?”
“Hey, being squishy is actually real great!”

The assembled draconites gazed at the pink intruder among them with bewilderment. Glint nervously fidgeted in place, while the mare atop his head merely put on her biggest smile. A few of the dragons growled and the wingless one among them returned the sentiment in kind. One of the smaller drakes called out:
“You bring one of them here?!”
Glint snarled as the offender got closer. Though wingless, he was still larger than most of the younger drakes, and the speaker backed down. The grounded dragon spoke back:
“The way I see it, she has every right to be at a meeting which may decide the future of her kind.”
“Och, you guys are so dramatic!”

Much to almost everyone’s surprise, Pinkie did a backwards somersault and moon-walked towards the oldest dragon among them. Only briefly, she turned towards the Old Geezer on That One Mountain and spoke:
“The mail arrangements still working?”
“Indeed, Miss Pie.”
“Super-duper!”

She walked further and came to a stop at the clawed feet of another mighty dragon, its crimson scales strangely familiar. The pink energy anomaly screamed upwards:
“Hello, mister dragon!”
The mighty dragon lowered itself downwards, blinked a few times and then, with a raspy voice, said:
“I know you…”
“You betcha’! You almost suffocated my home under your snoring! I knew I’d see you around here, so I made you something,” after diving into the satchel for just a second, she flung something into the air. The thing spun in the air, before landing neatly on one of the draconite’s horns, “a seashell horn ornament!”
The dragon immediately inspected itself in what appeared to be an extra shiny gem. The gift was simple, yet exquisite in its own way, the sea shells picked by an expert eye.
“Why, thank you!”

“Alright,” Pinkie stepped closer to Talos once again, smiling from ear to ear, “so none of you want to go fighting big bad risen gods?”
The oldest dragon among them said:
“The opinion is split. Some feel the threat is sufficient for draconites to take note of, others feel that it will not endanger us specifically. Those in favour of the intervention have the majority, but only just.”
“I see! So the majority wants to be remembered, then!”

The dark green dragoness snarled and lowered her head downwards:
“What is that supposed to mean, pony?”
Pinkie turned to her, still beaming:
“Well, I mean, when you open a history book, you always see all the important figures and people of the time. A sure-fire way to get mentioned is to get into a war! Win or lose, there’s always at least a page devoted to you! Someone just sitting back somewhere, safe in a cave? No one ever remembers them. Look at that big baddy Traxex! He may have ended how he ended, but he will always be mentioned to little dragons forever!”
“Being remembered as a fool who gave her life in a war that had nothing to do with us does not strike me as a particularly flattering epitaph, pony.”
“If you ask me, that still beats nobody even knowing or caring you existed, at all,” her smile cracked in that moment, her bubbly mane deflated and fell flat, “just passing on and embracing the cold grasp of oblivion, never to be mentioned again.”

The dragoness opened her maw to reply, but only a grunt escaped it. She blinked several times, her mind racing. She grunted again:
“Hmph,” then straightened herself up into a sitting position, “though I hate to admit it, the pony does have a point. Opposing a risen god? The tales write themselves…”
“Greaaaat,” Pinkie returned to her regular chipper state in a heartbeat, “I just wanted to make sure you see every angle before you make such an important decision!”

She turned and headed back to Glint, winking at Talos on the way. The old one merely smiled, as Glint stared on, incredulous. He knew that a dragon generally valued two things above all others. Their hoard and their pride. For a moment, doubts about Pinkie Pie’s exact nature flooded his mind, but receded as soon as she hopped happily onto his back. Instead, he curled his claws into an awkward fist and raised his front leg to her level.

She shouted, excited:
“Awwwww, yeah, brohoof!”

One for the ages.

An elegant pony made her way through the vast, lucrative gem fields. Her mane, usually so expertly styled, was in shambles. She had had to postpone her pony-pedy and cancel her spa appointment with Fluttershy, as well. This was the worst. Possible. Day.

Well, save for the whole maybe-sort-of end of the world debacle brewing. That would be a bit worse, if it ever came to pass.

Finally, she found the inconspicuous hill and descended into its depths. She reached the ramshackle door at the bottom and knocked in a reserved, dainty manner. A little viewport slid to the side and the canine on the other side grunted:
“Miss Rarity! Rover waiting for you!”
This caught her by surprise:
“Waiting for me?”
“Yes! Come!”

The watchdog led her through the underground. Other dogs passed by them, carrying materials, food and even weapons and armour. They were gearing up for war. They reached one of the larger chambers and she immediately spotted that trademark red jacket. Rover was busy barking orders at nearby dogs, assigning them to various tasks. As soon as he spotted her, he beckoned her closer:
“Miss Rarity! Here!”
She came closer and bowed slightly, then said:
“Rover, you seem to have your paws full.”
“Yes! Miss Trixie came in dreams. Warned us. So we get ready.”
“Ready to get to a safer place, I presume?”

That would have certainly put a dent into her own little plan. It had been a fairly cunning one, as well, but perhaps they could still be persuaded to…

“No. Dogs fight. With pony friends.”
“Oh,” well that made things easier, “are you sure about that?”
“Yes. Rover talk with other dogs. Dogs agree that dogs too isolated. Miss Trixie tell us to get to safe place until problem gone. She does not understand dogs. Dogs no run.”
Rarity smiled as she finished the phrase:
“Dogs dig their claws in the ground and bite.”
“Yes! Things come from deep, attack pony friends. Dogs stand with pony friends! But, some dogs still unsure. Worried about pups and mates. Dogs want ask for help.”
“Well, tell me! I’ll do anything I can to help.”

Rover grinned, his canines jutting out like daggers:
“Rover knows. Pups and mates, must keep safe.”
“Oh, well that should not be a problem! I’m sure the princesses would be able to find a place for them in Canterlot, on the short term. They’re darlings. And if, well,” she stammered, “if any problems come up, just tell me! Why, I’ll sell my boutique if I have to.”
“Heh, dogs know!”

Rarity helped with organising the rest of the move along with her dogged friends. And despite trying her best to restrain herself, she couldn’t help but make them move out in a nice, orderly pattern.

“I am sorry, but it seems a fool’s errand.”

The emperor’s inner chambers were relatively sparse. No ostentatious decorations, no gratuitous flair. Simple, functional furniture coupled with only a few small amenities. A stylised painting was hung up on the wall. A mare wrapped in elegant, crimson robes, standing above the raging rapids of the Amagawa River. Her eyes were two emeralds, her coat and mane different shades of gold.

Tenno Windrider took a deep breath. His faded grey coat and ageing brown mane made him seem more regal. His azure eyes, however, still burned with life. In that moment, they met a pair of pink rubies in a staring contest.

His daughter stared for a while. It was that same sort of fiery, passionate stare her mother had given on numerous occasions. She may have gotten more of her father’s genes when it came to her silvery coat and black mane, but it was clear who had passed down their temperament. Lotus finally said:
“Aiding an honoured friend is a fool’s errand these days?”
“No, no, that is not what I,” he sighed and looked at the painting. She always calmed him down, “the situation here in Neighpon is not yet fully stable.”
“It is only a matter of time until the brigands and outlaws are quelled. That is work for the troops, not a samurai.”
“You would rush off to a war on the other side of the world. One that has nothing to do with us.”
“To aid a friend who has saved my life in the past? Absolutely. And if what she told me is the truth, then we are involved. Sooner or later.”

Tenno walked to her and leaned in closer:
“I just… I don’t want to lose you. You’ve risked your life over the past weeks several times too many for my liking. You are the sole heiress of the Windrider line. And much more importantly,” he nuzzled her muzzle lightly, “you’re the only one I still have.”

For those few words, the emperor’s voice cracked. The tone of a confident leader was replaced by that of an ordinary, worried father. As vulnerable as a fly. Lotus returned his affections, but then pulled away slightly:
“I…I realize that what I intend to do may be seen as foolish. Perhaps driven more by emotion than reason. That is why I, as always, turn to your wisdom, father. Not once have you guided me astray. Tell me what you think is the correct course of action and I shall follow your judgement.”

He looked into her eyes once again. He knew she was telling the truth. Just like when she discovered her aptitude for the martial arts. Just like when her wanderlust urged her to wander the world. Her eyes burned, just like all those times before.

Tenno Windrider sighed, just like all those times before.

The Everfree was peaceful. The breeze carried a pleasant, calming melody. She knew only she could hear it, as it was reserved for those like her. The Friends of the Everfree. Wisps and their kin played their instruments during the day, and she had grown accustomed to the atmosphere. It calmed her mind whenever she needed to relax, study, or, perhaps most importantly, help come up with new songs for the band.

Even as the melody continued, the sound of a branch cracking reached her ears, followed by an adorkable squeal. There was little doubt who it belonged to. She sighed and slowly started getting up. So the time had come, at last.

Sure enough, Twilight Sparkle came trundling out of the undergrowth, her clothes covered in all manner of twigs and dirt. Such a ditzy princess. The firecracker couldn’t help but chuckle. Two lavender eyes met her own and the dimensional traveller shouted with relief:
“Sunset!”

She walked to meet her, dressed in outdoor clothing and with a sizeable backpack slung over her shoulder.
“Heya, Twilight.”
“I’m so glad I finally found you! Listen, I need you to…”
Sunset interjected:

“Come back to Equestria with you because stuff is about to go down, on account of Ebon making its move.”
Twilight just kind of stopped right there, gazed for a few seconds, then said:
“Umm, yes, that is, umm, precisely what…”
“Then come on, we don’t have any time to lose!”

Sunset grabbed her friend by the arm and almost literally dragged her across the Everfree to reach the portal back to… home? She wasn’t so sure about that anymore. Equestria would do.

The tunnels were buzzing with activity. And not just literally, but metaphorically for a change. The many drones mingled with those from the surface as the underground underwent renovation and expansion. Slowly, it was losing its status as a mere hovel, a temporary place of respite. It was home now. And thanks to the skilled craftsmanship of their new… friends, it would in time become a mighty city.

And yet, even now, it was threatened.

Two figures watched the constant activity around them with solemn faces. The circumstances sucked all the joy out of the situation. Both of the regal ones had been visited by a Friend of the Changelings, and her plea now weighed heavily upon them.

“Many will not return,” the mother spoke, finally.
“That much I know,” the daughter replied, closing her azure eyes, “but if even a smidge of what the Lulamoon said is true… dire times are ahead.”
“As cynical as it may sound, it is also an opportunity. The former enemies of Canterlot now rushing to its aid? Redemption fit for the tales of old.”
“Mother, our priority should be to aid them, not plan how to gain from it.”
“Dearest Mothra, you yourself said you required an advisor. I am merely giving you all possible points of view.”

The two changelings shared glances. Chrysalis had an uncharacteristically playful smile on her features, her scars somehow perfectly complimenting her, rather than being a bitter reminder. Seeing her like that made the young queen so delighted. She maintained the charade of a stern, proud ruler, though she was sure her mother was not fooled in the slightest:
“But you are in agreement, then?”
“Of course. The hive is strong once more, thanks almost solely to her involvement. Ignoring her and our new allies in an hour of need would be folly, especially when we can strengthen ourselves further. Besides,” despite everything, the mother had still perfected the art of the villainous smile. Old habits died hard, “having a princess or two indebted to us sounds lovely!”
“Mother!”

Mothra’s mask cracked, revealing the still-inexperienced monarch beneath. Chrysalis merely giggled… in a strangely menacing, foreboding manner.

“I must say, I seldom have the chance to converse with such a fine gentleman such as yourself, Discord.”
“Och, the pleasure is all mine, Gerald, old boy.”

The wyvern and the draconequus seemed to somehow make a fine pair. Fluttershy smiled as she looked at the two. No matter what he said or how he behaved, the gentle pegasus knew Discord was positively delighted whenever he made a new friend. Making up for all those years spent as a creepy statue, she supposed. A far less enamoured voice demanded her attention:
“Fluttershy, are we sure this is the right way?”

Equestria’s renowned speed demon had circled the area around the rest of them several times already. Patience was most certainly not a virtue Rainbow Dash practiced. Flutters just shook her head, cheerful despite the dire circumstances:
“Yes, Rainbow. Fantastic Fauna Monthly certainly said so. Don’t worry, it’ll be aaaaany minute now.”
“But this is just, like, the second stop. The list you made was soooo looooong!”
“Well, I just wanted to make sure we get enough help even if some of them can’t come. Hmmmm… maybe we could stop by in Froggybottom Bog? The Orochi quadruplets are much easier to manage after Discord had a short talk with them.”

The Master of Chaos allowed himself a smug grin as praise was shot in his general direction.

“So, general call to arms, eh?”
“Yup. Basically one step away from a full-on draft.”
“Ah’ll be honest, it be good ta’ see the princesses be takin’ it all serious like.”

The farmpony emitted a short sigh as she looked over the City of Night. The streets were practically filled with batponies, many of them glancing over the many posters hung all over the place. Organised on such short notice, too. The bat at her side commented:
“Mother Moon has a favourite saying. Better to prepare than to despair.”
“An’ what about you, Nox?”

Applejack’s and Nox’s eyes met, though they did not exchange gazes. The blind bat gave it a few seconds, then said:
“I’m not certain that I can pass through the choosing process because of, you know,” she motioned towards her eyes, though there was not even a hint of sadness, “but I’m gonna’ try, darnit. I owe Trix that much, after she helped me realise things. Why, if they don’t let me in, I’ll fly to Canterlot myself. During the day, if I have to.”
“Heheh, yer spirit could outlast an army, ya’ know that?”
“If you say so, AJ. Oh, good heavens, I’ve kept you too long. You have so much more to deliver.”
“Eeeeyup,” Applejack blinked, then shook her head, “army marches on its stomach, the sayin’ goes. And if there’s one thing I know everyone loves, it’s Sweet Apple Acres produce.”
“Truer words are seldom spoken! Come on, high hoof of victory!”

Their hooves clopped together in the air, the sound echoing through the twisting streets of the shadowy town.

Canterlot Castle was bustling with activity. It had seen such circumstances many times before, during similar crises. The members of the EUP Guard marched to and fro, many of them having been called from the reserve lists. Many foes had tried to take the city over the many, many years of the sisters’ rule and, if all went well, many more would still get their chance.

Yet as Luna watched the many stallions and mares below ready their arms for war, she felt a familiar chill grip her heart. She wondered how many would live to tell the tale. Being a compassionate, sympathetic monarch was difficult. She knew most of her own guards by name. Soon, she may be forced to learn new ones. She said:
“Unwavering and loyal, to the last pony. Our authority frightens me sometimes.”
“That makes two of us, sister.”

Celestia gazed at the enchanted table within the war room. It was in stark contrast to the otherwise scarcely decorated chamber. Meticulously carved, with gemstones weaved seamlessly into the wood. No mere pretty baubles, either. As the elder sister’s horn shone with golden light, an intricate, incredibly detailed map of Equestria manifested above it. With a few adjustments, the area between the Everfree forest and Canterlot was magnified. Celestia said:

“Which is why these powers are not used lightly. Most of the reserve lists should be mobilised within the week. I only hope they will be enough. Even with your student’s advanced warning, there are only so many we can call upon.”
Luna frowned as she walked over to the table and looked over the magnified area:
“And our defender’s advantage is limited. The battle shall be in the open field,” she fell silent for a moment, contemplating, “have we received replies from our so-called allies?”
“Saddle Arabia has politely declined, while the Western Cities seem to be preoccupied with their own conflicts and squabbles yet again.”

Luna sighed, though it was not unexpected. Other than the magic of mutually beneficial diplomacy, their neighbours were not bound by oath or contract. Equestria had learned that defending itself was always priority number one, rather than count on foreign support. Yet the loss would be felt.
Saddle Arabia was home to many talented warriors, owing to their violent, nomadic heritage. The city-states to the west made up for their lack of magic with astounding scientific progress, riding machines powered by steam and lightning. Both good to have in a fight. Neither had ever answered the call.
What troubled Luna the most was the battlefield itself. Based on what Trixie had said, this ‘Ebon’ would travel underground, surfacing either within the Everfree itself, or shortly beforehand… there was no way for them to prepare for either eventuality properly, too many variables. Despite the early warning, things seemed rather grim overall.

There was a sudden knock on the doors of the war room. Celestia’s horn glowed and the doors opened. It was one of the castle guards, a small satchel filled with rolled-up letters swung over her side. She walked a little forward, bowed, then said:
“Your Highnesses! We have… most peculiar visitors! They wish to pledge themselves to the war effort! We have also received word from the dignitaries of Neighpon and several of your personal acquaintances, for your eyes only.”

The princesses shared a bewildered look, then Celestia said:
“Take us to these visitors. We shall read this correspondence on the way.”
“As you say, Your Highness.”

Celestia levitated the letters with her magic as they walked through the hallways of Canterlot Castle. As soon as she was finished with one, she passed it over to Luna and started on the next. Each made her smile just a bit wider.

Good day, Your Royalties! I’m currently busy somewhere in the Dragonlands, trying to make a few friends here and there. I promise I am not partying, because I am saving that for when we totally win this whole shebang! I’ll try to return as soon as possible, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!

Pinkamena Diane Pie, aka Pinkie Pie

To Their Royal Highnesses, Princesses Celestia and Luna of Equestria,

In the name of the country of Neighpon, I hereby pledge our support to Your upcoming war effort. While my homeland is still facing hardships spawned from our recent internal conflict, and therefore cannot commit our standing army to Your cause, I have nonetheless arranged for a strike force of our finest and most disciplined warriors to join You in Your hour of need.

They are already en route to Your borders, and shall hopefully arrive in time to lend You their aid.
May the Moon grant you strength.

Emperor Tenno Windrider VII of Neighpon”

Good afternoon, Your Highly Esteemed and Royal Majestic Highnesses. In my infinite wisdom and gentlemanly conduct, I saw it fit to inform You of several recent happenings pertaining to your upcoming scuffle with forces dark and terrible.

Along with my highly posh travelling companions, we are currently busy gathering support from the less vocal, tax avoiding populace across Equestria, particularly the bestial kind. While we would love to return in time for the opening skirmish, I must regrettably inform You that we may be but a few short minutes/brunches/centuries late, as applicable.

Pardon our tardiness, in Your infinite wisdom and compassion.

Hugs and kisses,
- Discord, the shape-shifting master of High Society

Celestia chuckled at her favourite draconeqii’s diatribe, just as they finally reached the castle’s entrance hall. Several faces, awaited them there, both familiar and new, and often surprising. Celestia whispered to her sister:
“Your student has certainly not been slacking off.”
“I could not be prouder.”

One by one, the figures approached the princesses.

First was a vizier wearing an elaborate mask and headdress, not a single shred of skin visible, hidden by a black robe:
“In the name of the city of Kost and the Awakened Council, the restless pledge their support to Canterlot.”

Second was a pair of regal changelings, the younger Mothra in front, with Chrysalis in the back, smiling in a conspiratorial manner. They both bowed in practiced unison and the young queen said:
“The Fillyhood Hive pledges its support to Canterlot.”

Finally, there was the canine, who seemed extremely nervous. The elegant mare on his side whispered encouragingly:
“Go on, just like I taught you.”
Rover shivered a little in his red vest and took a few steps forward, then said:
“Dogs pledge alleji… ellagia,” he shook his head and was true to himself, “dogs promise to fight with pony friends and pretty pony princesses!”

This got a genuine chuckle out of the princesses, and Celestia replied with:
“And it is a pleasure to have you, my canine friend,” she raised her head and looked at the other leaders present, “and the rest of you, as well. You come to Us in a dark hour, and We shall not forget this. Follow us, please, we have sadly have little time to discuss the situation.”

In the nearby town of Ponyville, within spitting distance of Canterlot and the Everfree alike, a magic mirror came to life with a radiant glow. Two figures stepped through, a firecracker and a princess-in-training. They did not speak a word, merely shared a determined glance and a nod as Twilight's horn started glowing.

With a flash of light, they were gone, on their way to Canterlot via arcane currents.

And somewhere, within the dark, foreboding shadows of the Everfree, a pony climbed her way out of a discreet little cave. Wizard hat, cape and immensely important tome, all accounted for.
Undeterred and tireless, Trixie Lulamoon made way for the depths of the Everfree Forest. She just had to hope her warnings had not fallen on deaf ears.