Nightmare Dove Arc

The group jumped from the forest and found themselves at Canterlot's incline. The mountain peered over them yet they continued up. Zecora announced delight.

"It is ready! The pendant has steadied!"

The group looked to her.

"Now to find the source, and to solve this discourse!"

They emerged up the mountain into Canterlot. Their lungs felt near bursting. Searching over them, Canterlot ponies flumoxed stares amongst each other and them. The Canterlot ponies continued running and screaming shortly, however, as the city was in disarray. Minor flames and holes popped in simple homes and the castle itself was nearly collapsed in its blasted fragmentation. Starburst stared at this. Twilight shook her.

"Starburst," Twilight said, "This is the safest we can be for now."

Over the incline, the fog folded over itself, the climb slowing it despite its swift rate. Turquoise withdrew his vision from there and regathered with the group. Anthea awoke, dropped gently aside Claire, the blistered world abstracting into her eyes. Illusion turned from her, then to Claire, her offering him silent care, then to his city, blustered and in chaos.

"Valiant," he addressed. Valiant stood. "Your shield spell will be vital now. We need to recenter the city within it, at a focused point. If we gather them there you needn't strain your shield and we can prevent further chaos."

"Find anypony who may have seen Dove," Twilight contributed. "Circle Canterlot and bring them to its center, and ask everyone if they've seen a tall pony with a blue mane."

Illusion sprinted to the entrance of the nearmost building, Claire shortly behind him. Anthea shut her eyes as she broached some movements, her body stiff. Starburst offered a hoof to her. Anthea rose.

"Thank you, Star," Anthea said. Then raised a brow. "It is Star, right?"

"Yeah," Starburst said. "And of course."

Atop the nearby home, Illusion raised his head and his voice.

"Ponies of Canterlot!" he shouted. The ponies continued running, sprinting, everywhere. "Loyal subjects!" he tried. Some ponies looked to him, but murmured under their breaths. Some shouted.

"You're not a pony!" some called. "Not royalty!"

Illusion felt his muscles fail him. Claire breathed deep and wrenched a roar. The sound shook the homes and waved between homes and buildings. Illusion coughed.

"Do we have your attention now?" he smirked. "Everypony! We can protect you! Center yourselves near Canterlot Boutique! Valiant Heart of the Crystal Empire is among us! We can shield you there, but first spread word and inform who you can!"

The ponies looked about, then voiced agreements, the group motioning out as well to find any stragglers. Fluttershy and Rainbow circled above, Valiant leading the citizenship to the center of the city with a pink beacon from his horn, Red June beside him. Twilight lent her ear to running ponies and inquired of Dove. The snowy pass, she found, an older mare telling, informing her of a large silhouette near its entrance as the havoc began. Starburst searched out from above. She looked for stragglers, but hovered her view over Canterlot castle. White wisps delicately flowing from a massive crack in the stone. The streets below her were cleared, Rainbow and Fluttershy still searching. Starburst flew to the castle.

Within, the white flow pressed gently against her hooves and weaved a thin lake above the marble. There she found Dove.

A necklace draped Anthea's shoulders. The pendant had become as such, Zecora told, and Anthea had been decided the most clairvoyant to hold. Twilight told her of the slope, wishing luck to her pupil, and Turquoise decidedly stood aside her. Twilight noted Claire, encouraging her to go along as well.

"If dragon fire can dispell it," Twilight explained, "We need you both with her. We'll be safe with Valiant. Don't worry."

Claire accepted. She went with her brother, headed to the city's outskirts, the fog now past the city's ridge. Anthea centered between them to guide her swiftly as they dodged in alleys and through long stretches of path. The air became frigid and taxing and the ground gave to snow, their steps persisting despite. Claire and Turquoise pushed the fog with their flames as Anthea positioned hoof and hoof to the blurry brown and white belted circle ahead, assured as the entrance. Turquoise's flames began to slow. As Claire motioned up behind Anthea, he fell. He heaved. Claire pressed down to him. Anthea heard him, and knew Claire's look to her. A look she seconded.

"Stay with him!" cried Anthea. "I can go alone! Stay with him here!"

Claire seemed to affirm her. Anthea continued on, the snowy weather blistering her and the path a distorted white.

Starburst walked to Dove, delicately. Dove stared out the castle window. Two long forms were outlined in patches of the white. Starburst knew them, but continued to Dove's side. Dejectedly, Dove lowered and weaved her head to Starburst.

"Star... Mon cherie..."

"Dove... Are you..."

Starburst paused.

"Are you..."

"I am not okay, mon cherie," Dove stated. "I think I never will be."

Starburst was silent.

"Is it enough, for now," Starburst stammered, "That I'm here, with you?"

"You were always enough, Starburst. I'm not... I'd already created this problem. It was already inside me."

"Dove, this was never you."

Dove cried as the city's inhabitants ran.

"This is me!" Dove shouted. "I did this! I felt, and I did this! This is what I've done!"

Starburst attempted to hug her, but the form was loose, a white veil.

"Dove... don't worry, we can stop this. We can end this..."

"...Don't worry, mon cherie..." Dove smiled a brief smile, tears flowing over. "...I plan to."

Starburst's eyes held on her, then widened.

Above Canterlot, above the running and shouting, atop the windy incline, Dove's tall form stood, light fog flowing from her sides. The cliff she posited over overlooked the city and sparkled in the dusky air. She released her tightened eyes, and found the edge, then jumped.