Author's Note

I will tend to mention philosophical principles for a parts in the story, which belong to their intended creators.

The Meeting

To say that Twilight Sparkle was confused was a massive understatement. Throughout all of her life, she has experienced many things, making her a very studious mare, certainly well above the average level intelligence for most ponies. But her brain was currently experiencing what Spike often referred as a brainfart. Her mind had to be playing a trick on her, there was no way this was real. No, wait. Twilight did have a way to explain this: with science. All she required was to go on with topic of what she is seeing, devolve a hypothesis of what may happen, gather data, draw charts and run the experiment at least 3 times to confirm a pattern. Or that would have been the course of action if not for her previous breakdown. How could two of her friends, whom she loved dearly be standing in the same room as her, Spike and Sunset when they're were pronounced dead? Perhaps she could apply some philosophy to this: in the golden age of Equestria's birth, there was a philosopher named Willy of Occam who theorized:

"If you have two theories that both explain the observed facts, then you should use the simplest until more evidence comes along."

then it would make sense to assume what Twilight believed what happened to her friends was merely a farce as opposed to a lengthy explanation.

''This really can't be true...could it?'' Twilight pondered to herself. ''B-But I saw what happened...they should not be here! My mind must be playing jokes on me but would not looking into this make me a hypocrite?''

It keeps playing back and forth in her mind like a silent film: over and over again, with no apparent end in sight. But how would-

''Twilight, you okay?'' Spike roused her of her thoughts. ''Didn't you hear what Princess Luna said?''

''Huh?''

A long sigh of annoyance diverted the unicorn's attention to look to her right.

''I had a feeling this may happen which is why I planned for just a occasion,'' Luna muttered, walking over to her student and striking her across the face with the force of a freight train, the shockwave impaling a massive dent in the crystals and shattering them like toothpicks. All the more while, gasps of shock rang from Redgar, Kouri, Fluttershy and Rarity as Spike, Cadence and Sunset facehoofed.

''Yeeeooooooooowwwwwwch!'' Twilight shrieked, her left cheek turning as red as the sun itself, a low throbbing making her pain sensors go off the charts. ''Why in the hell would you do that?!'' Twilight's tone resembled the Royal Canterlot Voice, booming with authority and pain.

''Why wouldn't I?'' Luna chuckled. ''Slapping you like a rag doll brings a smile to my face, so at least one of us is getting a kick out of this.''

''Don't do that again,'' Twilight growled.

''Whatever.'' Luna shrugged.

Withholding a well-deserved scream, Twilight diverted her attention to the new faces in the cavern, two of which she almost teared up at seeing.

''Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Sunset Shimmer: I would like you all to meet my private investigation and enforcement unit, L.E.A.F. While we all here know about dear Fluttershy and Rarity, I would like you two to greet 3 of my most promising students,'' she pointed to the miniature Dragon and Werewolf.

''Yes, Princess.''

''I am Redgar, King of all Were-species, Commander of this little band of misfits,'' he shook Twilight's hoof.

''Nice to meet you, pretty sure I may have heard something about you in a few of my books. Is it really true you were born a hybrid?''

''Aye. I see somepony does their homework.''

''Greetings...puny mortals. I am Kouri! One of the 12 Exceed gods, 4th ranked of all Dragons, 1st class Thaumaturgy master and nicknamed the Sub-Zero Dragon.'' Kouri bellowed, the caverns vibrating at his voice. ''You are worthy enough to be in my presence...you may bow.'' he flashed the mother of all crap-eating smiles.

''Um...hi?'' Sunset greeted.

''Anyhoo, I know you all must be having a million questions running through your mind at this point, so rest assured they will be answered. But first, I must ask: what was the letter you received, Redgar?''

''Ah, yes. Here you are Princess,'' he handed her a brown parchment as she read over it, her eyes slightly narrowing.

''Hmmm...this kind of signature is one I have not encountered in a long time, but the real question would be how did you get this?''

''Ma'am, we were on way past The Satorian Ridge when Messenger QuickSpeed delivered the letter to us.''

''...Quickspeed, huh?'' Luna pondered. ''Did you notice anything off about him?''

''Nothing that not even my heightened sense could not pick up, he was as normal as he's been.''

That brought a hum of worry to the Lunar princess's mind.

''We best not waste our time sitting here: come along, all: we can discuss this back at the castle,''

Deep, in the Everfree Forest

Zecora hummed another one of her tribe's traditional brewing songs as she went to work in her cauldron. It was one of the many Zebranican beliefs that speaking words of power over your brew would instill with magical powers, or even be blessed by Mother Moon herself. This particular brew is more so a favor to a long friend that the shaman held no issue with doing this: it was nothing but a simple truth serum.

''Let me take a look, it would appear I followed the instructions straight from the book.''

Dropping in a pinch of salt, the mixture bubbled and turned a pale yellow color, trails of steam billowing and exiting out through the windows of her little hovel. Going over and prepping a flask for bottling, a feeling of bliss washed over the zebra as she poured the capped the flask, causing her to sigh in content. Normally, Zecora would love to have another companion to converse with to lift this small feeling of loneliness. But, it was only herself for the few days for the safety of others as nopony would disturb her brewing. Little known fact, more so a funny accident is a poor Pegasus mare needed help with her back problems and accidentally ruined the brew, instead causing a major discoloration and voice change that lasted about a month or so. Ever since them, a sign has put a few feet before her home, stating: Brewing, DO NOT GO PAST THIS POINT.

Since then, things around the Everfree have been calmer, aside from murderous Timberwolves, psychotic Cockatrices, and a talking leviathan, things have been quiet, only a few times have certain nuisance arose, making her ability to perceive danger to a whole different level. Halting her movement, a sound, almost imperceptible to most ears thrummed into the ground, worming its way to the zebra's waiting ears. The sound...stopped her heart for a millisecond.

''Wha-"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The smell of sulfur and fall of charred leaves perforated the ground, a massive mushroom cloud filling the otherwise calm and collected skies.
A small rhythmic of hooves against the forest floor formed depressions trailing the sound of burning up against the remains of the uprooted tree. Rummaging through the wreckage, a limp form splayed with blood and multi-colored liquids laid frantically shaking against a still burning metal vat. Getting impaled through a small branch, a low groan sounded.

''Hehehehehe...'' a voice filled with glee chuckled. ''How the weak have managed to stay...well, weak. And here I thought you were worth the trouble, but I guess not,'' it showed no emotion whatsoever so.

''U-Uh...'' Zecora groaned, millions of nerves flaring up in pain, even to the point where blinking her eyes felt like a sword through her head. ''W-Why?~''

''Why, you ask?'' the voice sounded upset. ''I'm bored and just blowing off time, as well so steam...by the way, the look of pain on your face looks so delectable, I can't stand it! Let me welcome you to a whole another feeling to the words: pain and pleasure.~''

''N-No...don't. P~LEASE!~''

''Yes, yes! This is just what I wanted: fear! Come, come l-et me...''

''H-Huh?''

''LET ME INDULGE AND DEVOUR THAT BODY OF YOURS~!!! RAAAAAAAAHHHHH~!!!''