It Only Takes a Spark

Chapters

A Chance Meeting
A Random Act
Complications
Hidden Loyalties

A Chance Meeting

It was getting close to sunset, and Applejack thought Pinkie Pie was never going to shut up. Thankfully, after all the months she’d spent on the road with her, the orange earth pony was able to tune her out. When she first met the energetic fellow earth pony at the Pie Family Rock Farm, she was more than a mite reluctant to let her tag along, but the thought of another thousand miles alone ate away at Applejack’s stoicism. She would do anything for her family, even this job, but not a day went by that she didn’t miss them. So, deciding that she needed company (though only saying that there was safety in numbers), Applejack welcomed Pinkie on her sales route.

She loved having someone to talk to, but there were times when she had to take a mental break from her effervescent friend’s monologue. Instead, she focused on their surroundings: the light rumbling of the old cart behind her, the rocky path beneath her hooves, the soft pastels painting the sky. For a moment, she could almost believe that some deities in a bedtime story had really once crafted the immaculate sight.

“Applejack!” her pink companion shrilly called.

The traveler’s reverie was shattered. “What is it, Pinkie?” Her harness clacked as she readied herself for a fight. They weren’t in the Everfree Forest yet, but dangers skulked in every corner of Equestria these days. “Timberwolves? Diamond Dogs?” Her twanged voice dropped to a whisper as her green eyes shot up to the sky, its warm hues now menacing. “It’s not the Shadowbolts is it?”

The mare’s poufy mane twitched in time with her eyes. Her face furrowed into a deep quizzical look before springing back to its default goofy grin. “Nope.” She said brightly. “It’s a double shake, triple mane twitch, eyebrow waggle.”

“Uh, ok.” Pinkie’s smile remained unchanged. “Could you remind me what that there combo means again?” Back when they first set out, Applejack took “The Pinkie Sense” with a heap of salt. Since then, the sheer number of close calls it saved them from had forced the practical pony to swallow her skepticism.

“Oh nothing much,” she responded. “Just a doozy, that’s all.”

“Just a doozy?”

“Uh-huh.”

“A doozy is what you called that crazy manticore up near Manehatten.”

“Yep!”

“A doozy is what you called a six pegasi platoon assault on the last town we were in.”

“Right!”

“A doozy is what you called that three-headed, fire-breathing, Tartarus-blasted chimera that ate my last apple cart!”

“Silly Applejack!” She retorted. “It only gobbled up half of your nifty cart.”

“Regardless,” AJ growled through clenched teeth. “Is this doozy as bad as them doozies were?”

“Nope,” she replied without losing an ounce of cheer. The orange pony sighed with relief.

“This doozy is waaaay bigger than those were.”

“What?!”

“Yeah, it’s at least two times doozier than those doozies.” Her companion’s shocked expression did nothing to alter her own. “Oh look, here it comes.”

Suddenly, the faint hoof beats echoed from the woods. The sound of cracked twigs and haggard breaths rushed closer and closer to them. Applejack quickly slipped off her harness, lowered her head, and primed her hind legs. The ferns and saplings began to rustle. A few strands of hair from her blonde mane drooped from beneath the brim of her broad Stetson. She was ready for whatever monster, pony or otherwise, burst through the tree line.

A terrified unicorn leapt onto the road. A mess of leaves stuck out of her tangled mane. Her forelegs were crisscrossed by cuts, some congealed, others freshly bleeding. The regularly vibrant purples that dominated her coloring were muddied and dulled. One half-secured, tattered saddlebag was strapped to her back. Seeing the surprised mares, she tried to turn and escape, but before she could take another step, she collapsed.

The embers from the campfire drifted up to join the stars they resembled. The eerie glow infused the old canvas of the covered wagon. The old slogan painted on the sides was inscrutable in the dim light. Applejack rummaged through the back, making certain all the paperwork was in order and properly forged. Most of it was real: Permission to Travel, License to Sell, Proof of Tribute, and the like, but as much as she hated lying, Applejack knew she had to fudge a few personal details. Her employers, as two-faced as they usually were, didn’t even have to suggest it. However, she only gave the papers a cursory glance. Every few seconds her eyes would dart nervously to the unconscious pony lying by the fire.

With Equestria the way it was, Applejack had possessed half a mind to leave the starved and battered pony on the roadside and keep on her way. She could guess exactly why a unicorn was on the run and wanted no part in that business, mixed up and tragic as it could get. She had seen what happened to ponies who did firsthand. Of course, before her rational brain could finish the first syllable of its argument, Applejack and Pinkie were already lifting the limp mare into the cart. Given enough time with Pinkie Pie and/or the Apple Family, your rationality tends to be somewhat muted. Sadly, that doesn’t stop it from reminding you how crazy you are after the fact, as was the case for Applejack then.

A small groan interrupted her worrying. The lavender mare’s bruised head rolled from side to side. Her eyes slowly batted open. With a few nervous glances at her surroundings, she pushed up and sat on her haunches. Applejack took a deep breath and approached her as one would a scared animal. “Feeling alright?”

Catching sight of the earth pony, the unicorn leapt to her hooves. A faint indigo aura whirled around her horn, then vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her knees buckled, threatening to send her back to the ground, but the exhausted mare managed to stay standing.

“Settle down there, sugar cube,” Applejack said reassuringly. “You took a mighty bad spill down by the road. Don’t want to do no more damage to yerself, now do ya?”

The unicorn frantically looked around the campsite. Whatever she was searching for wasn’t there. Still on edge, she visibly relaxed.

Happy at this apparent progress, Applejack took a few steps forward and extended her hoof. “My name’s Applejack.”

The mare was taken aback. At first, she cringed as if expecting a blow. When nothing came, she simply stared at the strange gesture. Applejack’s hoof did not waver. Finally, she awkwardly raised her foreleg and tapped the expecting hoof. “My name is . . .” her face was a mix of confusion and indecision.
Applejack was ready for this. “Ya don’t have to tell me nothing. In fact, the less I know –“
“Hi, Twilight Sparkle!” The interrupter bounced in from the woods, an oblivious smile beaming from her face. “Got that firewood you wanted, Applejack.”
The practical pony gave an annoyed sigh. “-the better.”
“How do you know my name?” the unicorn demanded in a terrified voice.
“Duh,” she chirped. “The poster.” The pink pony zipped over to the wagon and returned in the blink of an eye with a thick sheet of matted paper. “We got it at the last town, remember?” The wanted poster was covered in official Canterlot seals. The lettering was slightly as if somepony had them rushed out, but every chilling word was disturbingly clear:

WANTED

For High Treason
The Unicorn Twilight Sparkle
Reward for Capture:
50,000 Gold

Though the reward was slightly higher than average, it was nothing Applejack hadn’t expected. A sketch of the unicorn and her cutie mark, all standard for deserters. That is, it would have been if there wasn’t an extra warning.

All those who aid this fugitive
Will share in her fate.
By Direct Order
Of
His Majesty,
King Sombra

The last line brought a heavy dread crashing down on the three. Even Pinkie looked troubled. After minutes of silence, Applejack finally spoke. “Everfree.”

Twilight looked up in shock, twinged with a hint of suspicion. “W-what?”

Applejack tipped up her hat. “The Everfree Forest. They’ll never look for you there.”

“But-“

“Do you have somewhere else to go?” the earth pony shot back. “There ain’t many safe places for deserters under normal circumstances, and these ain’t normal circumstances,” she glanced back at the wanted poster. “Not by a long shot.”

“I-I’m alone.” She responded. “Even if I could go back home, my family . . . my family was taken a long time ago.”

Applejack nodded. “Our route takes us right near there. We’ll loop around Ponyville, drop ya off in the forest, and circle back to town. Shouldn’t add more than a day, right Pinkie?”

“Yep!”

Twilight looked to Applejack, to Pinkie, and finally back to Applejack. “Why?” Her voice barely rose above a whisper. “Why are you helping me?”

Applejack sighed. “Well, it’s not like we have much to lose at this point.”

“Nope! We are in extra special massive triple doozy territory!” Pinkie’s goofy attitude returned, much to her friend’s annoyance and relief.

“I had a brother who was . . . recruited by that varmint.” Her jaw clenched at the memory. “He’s always lookin’ for the strongest of us earth ponies for his army, and Big Mac fit the bill. Course, he didn’t think a life of pushin’ other ponies around suited him better than apple farming. He tried to stay with us, but you probably know how insistent they can be, Twilight.

“They got him in the end, but they weren’t finished. They charged my family with sedition for helping Big Mac. Burned the farm. Would have done the same to us if I didn’t get wind of it.” Her face barely hid the pain. “A few years later, the land was bought up by two good for nothing scammers, Flim and Flam. Their tonic ain’t worth the cork on the bottle, but it’s tough to avoid growing some quality apples on Sweet Apple Acres.” The day Applejack called her home “Flim Flam Fields” was the day she turned herself over to Sombra. “I got a job selling their crop all over Equestria.”

“That’s how we met,” Pinkie piped in.

“I don’t have no delusions,” she continued. “And, I ain’t no rebel. All I want is a steady job to provide for my sister and granny.” Applejack paused. “But that don’t mean that I won’t take the chance to help another pony out, especially one who’s doing the same thing as my big brother.”

The desire to believe her was written plainly on Twilight’s face, but alongside it fear and mistrust seemed to be winning out. She saw that reward.

Applejack put a steady hoof on her shoulder. “Twilight Sparkle, I am telling you the honest truth. No matter how much gold is on your head, I would never turn anypony over to Sombra.”

For the first since she lost her family, Twilight felt a surge of complete trust- a warm, overpowering sense of well-being. Somehow, her faith in this mare’s promise was as solid as her faith that the sun would rise in the morning.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “Thank you both so much.”

Applejack smiled. “Don’t be thanking us ‘til you’re safe in the Everfree Forest.”

“Yeah,” Pinkie added. “Don’t thank us until you’re safe and sound in the monster-infested, dark and scary, totally unnatural Everfree Forest.”

“Pinkie Pie how are you so naturally reassuring?” Applejack asked sarcastically.

“It’s a gift.”

Twilight giggled. “Don’t worry. No matter how bad Everfree is, it’ll be paradise compared to where I came from.”
Applejack swallowed uneasily. “If you were where I think you were, you’re probably right. I’ll take the first watch, you ladies get some shut-eye. We’re gonna have to really hoof it to make up for our little planned detour.”

With that, Twilight cautiously settled down, feeling both exposed and protected by the ponies around her. After the last few days, it was a welcome change. Weariness weighed heavy on her eyelids. Every muscle ached. All she could do was close her eyes and surrender to the nightmares. At least now, she knew someone would be there to wake her up.

Author's Note

Well, here it is. The first real, full-length, planned out story I've ever put up. I'm this for the long haul folks( however long that turns out to be). Please give me any comments, feedback, and advice that you can think of. Thank you for taking the time to read this. More will be coming soon!

A Random Act

"Well, Miss Shimmer," the grating voice asked. "What do you choose?"

"I-I," she heard herself stammer.

"Sunset," a new voice said, uncertain, hurt, and practically begging. "Sunset, please don't do this."

Cruel laughter echoed through her mind. "I apologize, my dear. It seems as if your friend has made a decision much wiser than yours."

"S-Sunset?"

"Twilight, I'm sorry, but . . . " She had to get out of there. She had to move, run, be struck by lightning; she had to do anything except answer. The laughter just kept getting louder and louder, threatening to tear her sanity to ribbons. Hot tears threatened to stream down her face. The harsh, icy magic swirled in her blood. A terrible scream rang out.

"Sunset!"

Sunset Shimmer didn't jolt awake; nightmares were nothing new to her. Everything else was, though. Her headache felt like somepony had driven in a railway spike into her forehead, and the rest of her body got hit by the train. However, lifting her hoof to inspect her horn for damage, the former unicorn discovered that both had vanished. Well, technically only her horn had vanished while her hoof had transformed into a split tentacle thing. It was still surprising to say the least.

With shocked eyes, Sunset scanned her surroundings. She was lying on a pile of blankets on a tile floor. Light from a blood red sky poured in from two shattered windows. A rotten wooden door desperately clung to its hinges. Old, rusted blood was splattered everywhereThe room was empty except for her makeshift bed, a few bunches of smashed wood and strings that could have once passed for instruments, and the hateful graffiti covering every inch of the once white walls.

SFR = Some Friendless Rejects!
Shut Up. Stay Silent.
Musicians are SCUM!

Sunset stood up and all the blood rushed from her head. The whole world started spinning, not helped by the fact that she had double the height and half the stability. After a couple of shaky steps, Sunset stumbled headlong into the wall, barely managing to catch herself with her elongated forelegs. She looked down at her new body. From the few locks that fell over her shoulder, she could tell that her mane was unchanged, as was her skin, still bearing the combination of warm hues that she was named for. However, the clothes were new: a two-toned shirt with a golden-red sun, a tough leather jacket, a pair of ripped dark-wash jeans, and some beat-up purple sneakers with a black flame design. No complaints there at least.

Before she could wonder how she ended up in this room, the door creaked open. In stepped a pale girl with soft pink hair tied back by a butterfly-patterned green bandanna. Her loose fitting tank top was a darker shade of kale. Add that to the tattered cargo shorts and flip flops, and you end up one tambourine short of a hippie. Both jumped back upon seeing the other, the new girl giving a surprised squeak. Sunset Shimmer, keeping one hand on the wall, tried to blast her back. She braced herself for the usual pain that using dark magic brought, but nothing came. Like a fish out of water, she was suddenly deprived of the element that had been the basis of her entire life. Sunset hadn't just lost a limb; she lost a heart.

"Ummm . . . hi?" The timid girl said with uncertainty.

"Who are you?" Sunset demanded. "And where are we?"

"Um. My name is Fluttershy, and . . . " Her voice trailed off as she backed away from the defensive girl.

"Speak up!"

Fluttershy cringed as she tried to continue. "I said that my is Fluttershy and we're in the old high school building . . . "

Sunset rolled her eyes and groaned. Jeez! She thought. I haven't seen somepony this socially inept since Twi. . . Oh Lord. The screaming rang in her ears again. Taking a few difficult, remorseful steps back, she struggled to find the right words. "Hey, I'm sorry," she said cautiously. "T-thank you?" The phrase was so unfamiliar, it came out as a question. "For bringing me here, I mean." She paused. "You did bring me here, right? I don't remember how I ended up in this room."

Fluttershy gave a small smile. "It's fine. Everybody is a little jumpy nowadays." She sat down on the makeshift bed and started rummaging through her backpack. A muffled jingling came out of it. "If anything, I should be thanking you."

Sunset managed to sit beside her without looking too clumsy. "Why's that?"

The girl looked worried. "Oh dear. You must have been hurt worse than I thought." She pulled out a plastic bag filled with white pills. Sunset gave her a confused look. "It's just over-the-counter painkillers. You can still find them in pharmacies if you know where to look." She dropped two in her hand. "These won't do much if you have a concussion, but they should help with the pain."

Hoping that healing magic existed in this world, she swallowed the tablets. Nope, she thought. Still in pain. To the other girl's credit, her headache did die down a tad. As some of the pain ebbed away, a few memories were unveiled. A flash of multicolored light, stumbling out of the portal, crashing into those guys. "I ran into some thugs," she said. Fluttershy nodded encouragingly. "They barked out a bunch of questions," she continued with hesitation. "But I think I was too dazed to answer. Next thing I know, they just started swinging." The throbbing bruises on her skin were the same dark tones as her shoes.

"Those Siren Squads can be pretty brutal." She sighed and brushed the hair out of her face. Taking a closer look, Sunset noticed a light purple ring just below her eye. "When they caught me, I thought I was finally done for. Then, you showed up out of nowhere! After what you did, helping you recover for a few days was the least I could do."

"Days! How long have I been unconscious?" Sunset asked.

"Three days," Fluttershy responded. "Your memories are coming back, though," she added when she saw the panic on Sunset's face.
"Your injuries can't be too serious."

"Three days," Sunset repeated. Her mouth hung open with shock. Glancing over her body again, she noted freshly cleaned bandages. Even her forehead sported a small compress. A weird sensation filled her chest. Gratitude, perhaps? Gee, haven't felt like this in a while. Don't tell me we're going soft, Sunny. Inner snarking aside, Sunset Shimmer couldn't deny one thing: this was the second nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. Let's be honest, it's also the second nice thing anyone has ever done for us . . . still pretty unbelievable though.

While Sunset came to grips with how to respond to her altruism, Fluttershy was trying to think of a way to break the silence that had stretched on for six minutes at that point. "If you don't mind me asking," she ventured. "Who's Twilight Sparkle? You kept saying her name while you were out."

She looked as if Fluttershy had slapped her across the face. "Twilight! She's a . . . she's," she struggled to find something to say. After everything that had happened, what could she say? Finally, some words started to form. "Twilight is . . . well, she was my friend. I don't think I ever said that out loud before, I definitely never thought of it, but it doesn't matter now." She turned over her hands and saw that her scars carried over. "I'm as far away from her as possible, and if we did manage to met up again; I don't think she would want to see me." Fighting back tears, she drew a shaky breath.

Fluttershy placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but Sunset instinctively jerked away. She was unphased. "I'm sorry to hear that." She looked around at the stained walls. "I lost at lot of my friends when the Squads raided this place a few years ago. Somebody found out that it was a hideout for Siren-Free Radio." She wiped away a tear. "You- you can guess what happened after that." Her voice grew even quieter. "Only a few of us made it out."

Visions of burning villages crowded the edge of her mind. Shadowy legions marched across ashen fields. She didn't know who these Sirens were, familiar as the name seemed, but if they were anything like Sombra, then she could imagine what came next. Can't there be at least one world not ruled by psychotic tyrants?

"If you don't mind me asking," Fluttershy probed. "What's your name?

Her first instinct was to run. Her second was to lie. Don't panic, she told herself. No one knows who you are or what you did. You can trust this girl.

Don't be stupid, a harsher voice countered. You've seen what trust does. Nothing good happens when you trust other ponies, Sunset; and, nothing good has happened to anypony who trusted you.

She took a deep, decisive breath. "Sunset," she said. "My name Sunset Shimmer."

"Do you have anywhere to go?"

She considered it. "No. Let's just say I'm about as new to this town as possible."

"Well, where are you from?" Fluttershy asked. "Canterlot might have connections to your part of the resistance."

"Wait, what? No, you've got this all wrong. I'm not part of any resistance."

Now, it was Fluttershy's turn to look confused. "B-but you're not under their control. How have you avoided the spell on your own for so long?"

Lie! Lie! Lie! Lie! Lie! Lie! "Ummm," Sunset nervously laughed. "I've just been lucky, I guess."

The timid girl raised a skeptical eyebrow. Without taking her dark blue eyes off of the strange teenager, she reached into her bag and pulled out a weird object. It was a wooden circle covered in patchy canvas like a drum, but ringed with dull brass bells. For a while, Sunset just stared at it. Finally, a faded memory tugged at her brain. She was at home. There was a gathering in the middle of the village. No, "gathering" was too formal. She couldn't remember the word that conveyed the joy she had that time, but she did remember the sweet sounds that drifted through the air. "Is that an instrument?" she asked reverently.

Fluttershy nodded. "A tambourine. Most people would have just smashed it," she explained. "Even if they weren't under the spell." She gently placed it back in the bag. "A lot of them aren't willing to take the risk. Just being around a musician can have . . . consequences."

Her home was being attacked. Soldiers were heading from door to door. Her screaming parents were dragged out. Sunset knew the consequences of defiance. And yet, here I am.

"Sunset Shimmer," Fluttershy said sincerely. "There's always room for another person back at the station. If you want to be alone, I can't stop you. If you want to be around more free people, if you want to help them stay safe, if you want to hear real music again," She stood up and walked to the middle of the room. "Then join us." She waited for a response, then started to go out the door.

"Wait!" Sunset jumped up. "I don't know much about this whole situation, but I know that you saved me," she asserted. "In my book, that means I owe you." Besides, she rationalized. I need to find out more about this world, and there's safety in numbers. Once I get my bearings, I'll leave. After that . . . I'll figure something out.

As their steps echoed through the defaced, abandoned halls, Sunset grinned. She was getting the hang of this whole biped thing. Though, Spike had made it look so easy. I wonder how the little guy is doing? Before a single tear could come to her eyes, she tried to distract herself. "So, Fluttershy right? Where is this station of yours?"

"Oh it's just outside-"

"You!" They both turned to face the voice. An unhinged boy about their age stood at the other end of the hallway. A cracked bat hung loosely from his right hand. His blue hair was limp against yellow-orange skin. His jeans and black t-shirt were disheveled. Every part of him reflected the same sick, unhinged light that shone in his eyes.

"Flash?" Fluttershy called out.

If he heard her, the boy didn't show it. All he did was raise his bat, charge, and scream at the top of his lungs.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed the first look at the human world. I'll be posting the next chapter soon, hopefully. Please tell me what you think about the story, style, or anything else you want to comment on. As always, thank you for reading.

Complications

"What did you just say, apprentice?" His frigid voice hissed like rusted iron.

"You heard me," Twilight heard herself defiantly reply. "I won't hurt her. I don't care what you offer me; I don't care what you threaten to do to me." Her hoof slammed on the cold crystal floor, echoing throughout the chamber. "I refuse to obey you, Sombra." Suddenly, her heart lurched. A dead chill ran through her blood. Staying on her hooves was a struggle. All but a drop of her energy was ripped out of her soul.

"You disappoint me, slave." He spoke to her with the same false reassurance as a butcher before the slaughter. "I cannot say this was not expected to some degree, but I find your little outburst disheartening still. Your magic was always the stronger." He bared a set of fangs in a snarling grin. "Though, of course, that weak heart of yours makes it waste of potential. Better it belong to someone who can use it without fear." He paused. "Or remorse."

Twilight looked ahead with dazed, blinded eyes. Less than ten feet away, stood an orange and red blur crowned by a halo of black and purple magic. "T-twilight," she whispered softly. The dark magic faded slightly. "Why didn't you-"

Her question was cut off callously. "Well, Miss Shimmer, what do you choose?"

"I-I," she heard the other mare stammer. Twilight couldn't see her face, but confusion and conflict were ringing in the mare's voice.

"Sunset," Twilight practically begged. "Sunset, please don't do this."

The monster's cackling turned to roaring. "I apologize, my dear. It seems as if your friend has made a decision much wiser than yours."

"S-Sunset?"

"Twilight, I'm sorry, but . . . "

The twisted magic pierced her gut. It wanted to torture her, burn her, destroy her. "Sunset!" Was that its wielder's true intentions? Twilight didn't know. Her bones sizzled like searing steel plunged into cold water. Her blood vessels shattered and reformed like glass. Hot tears ran down her face. All she could hear was his laughter and the chorus of her own screams. All she could do was wait for the nightmare to end.

"I'm just askin'," Applejack insisted. "Why the Crystal Guard set up this here blockade." Despite, the attempt to plaster a smile on her face, her polite pony act was wearing thin.

That fact was not lost on the massive earth pony, but all he did was sigh and shrug his shoulders. The magic shield behind him reflected the early afternoon sun. "Just my luck to get stuck taking complaints. Too klutzy to be anywhere but next to a barricade on a dirt road, too big to just be left alone."

"Looky here, Mr.-"

"Private Troubleshoes," he groaned.

"Mr. Private Troubleshoes," she continued. "All I'm wonderin' is why an apple cart can't get round the faster path to Hoofington without having to go and bother with Ponyville. It's a waste of time for everypony."

"Look Mrs.-"

"Just Orange, is fine."

"Mrs. Just Orange, I have my orders and now you have yours." Too large for any armor, only the angular, "S"- shaped brand on his chest marked him as a member of Sombra's Crystal Guard. For a depressing moment, she saw her brother instead of the stallion before her. "I suggest you get along to Ponyville," he said, interrupting her thoughts. "If y'all hurry, you can probably make it before sundown." Exasperated, she turned to go. "Wait." He reached into his saddlebag and handed her a sheet of paper. "Got orders to hand those out to every pony that stops by."

The sun was nearly at its zenith when Applejack returned to the empty crossroads. The broken signpost hung limply near the trees. "Twilight?" She whispered. "Where are you?"

There was a flash of light behind her. "No luck on the west path?"

The earth pony yelped in surprise. The lavender unicorn was wearing a hooded burlap cloak borrowed from the back of the apple cart. It covered anything distinctive about her: her tail, her main, her cutie mark. "Dagum' it, Twilight! Didn't anyone ever teach ya not to sneak up and teleport behind another pony?"

Actually, Twilight thought. I was taught the exact opposite. "I didn't teleport," she explained. "That was just a little invisibility." The unicorn gingerly touched her horn, remembering the nightmare. "I think teleporting will be out of my depth for a while. That trick alone was starting to wear on me before you came back."

Applejack pondered this for a second. "If you can disguise yerself with magic," she reasoned. "Then it shouldn't be too hard for you to get through a checkpoint."

Twilight shook her head. "Sorry, Applejack. Those anti-magic barriers are nothing to mess with. I should know. The unicorn who developed them was my . . ." She looked up at the earth pony's concerned face and realized that her voice had started cracking. She pushed any thoughts about him out of her mind. "He was my . . ." She tried to say anything besides the truth, but something kept the lies from coming out.

"Hey, Twilight," Pinkie yelled, suddenly running up behind her.

Applejack chuckled at the unicorn's reaction.

"Just checked the east path," the cheery pony continued obliviously. "A bunch of nice guard ponies were watching a blockade that way, but they gave me another cool wanted poster." She looked over at the dismayed purple unicorn. "Oh. Uh. Sorry, Twilight."

An odd look crossed the spellcaster's face. "Just my wanted poster?" she asked. "I'm the only mare who's so," she waved her hoof nervously while searching for the right word. "So high priority right now? No other deserters that they're searching for?"

"Just yours, Twilight," she answered. "Why do you ask?"

No matter what happened, this was not a good sign. Did Sunset escape? Twilight wondered. Was she captured? Twilight tried for the dozenth, desperate time to remember the end of her nightmare, but there was only darkness, a vacuous gap in her memory. Another, more chilling possibility came to mind. Did she even try to escape?

No use moping over the past, Sparkle. A voice from years ago snorted. What matters is that you're here now. All you can do is charge forward and never look back.

"Well," Applejack said, interrupting her thoughts. "I guess that only leaves us with one route to Everfree Forest: Ponyville."

Twilight shook her head vigorously. "No. There's no way I'll be able to get through there. We'll all get caught."

"You can't just stay out here," Applejack retorted. "The Guard is tightening the noose 'round these parts. Pretty soon they'll be more of them on the road than there are roosters in a warm hen house during wintertime."

Pinkie trotted over to her. "Applejack, if all she needs is a disguise, then we can just ask-"

"No-" the earth pony growled. "No matter how bad things seem right now, there's another way. We don't have to go and see . . . her!" She practically spat the last word. "I will never be that desperate!"

"Great," Pinkie replied. "I thought we were stuck in in the most heavy fortified part of Equestria with our super-wanted deserter-pony friend and a crazy king with a slave army who's Tartarus-bent on finding her; but if things aren't that bad, I must be wrong." She smiled.

Applejack stared at her stone-faced. "Pinkie Pie," she said finally. "I didn't know you, I'd swear you're being a smart-mouth."

"So," Twilight asked. "Who is this mare? Another friend of yours?" Applejack shot her an indignant glare. "Er. Or not a friend, I guess." She was the never the best at reading ponies. Books were more her speed. Most inter-personal relationships were beyond her comprehension.

"Let's just say we had a misunderstandin' a little while back," she said, starting on the main road to Ponyville. "I rather face a six-headed rattler in fire swamp than see her again, but if there's any pony who can get ya through the checkpoint unnoticed, it's her."

On the outside, the cabin was dilapidated. Since it was the only one for miles around in the woods, that was to be expected. The grey, weather-worn shutters hung crookedly next to shattered windows. The white paint sloppily plastered over the front was chipped. Paint chips the size maple leaves were scattered over the ground. Over the door-frame hung a rusted, indecipherable sign.

"When's the last time you actually saw this Rarity?" Twilight asked. "Ponies in the rebellion tend to disappear pretty often, and this place looks abandoned."

"Saw her sometime last winter," Applejack noncommittally responded. Golden autumn leaves crunched under their hooves.

"And her house always looks like this, Twilight," Pinkie reassured. "I'm sure she's super-duper fine." She paused to think. "Unless she isn't. In which case this is probably a uber-dangerous trap, but that could still be fun in a 'Noooooo! We're doomed kinda way,' right Applejack?"

"Delighted to see you haven't changed much, Miss Pie." The three mares jumped in surprise. A snow white unicorn stepped out of the dense thicket. Her luxurious, dark violet mane was almost completely free of twigs. Surprising given both the state of her home and the large bundle of firewood hovering beside her, levitated by her light blue magic.

"Why do you have to be so theatrical 'bout everything," Applejack snapped. "Don't anypony just walk up and say 'howdy' no more?"

She sighed and set the bundle by the door. "And you remain unchanged as well Applejack, lovely." Twilight was relieved. Animosity, passive, and aggressiveness, this was a dynamic she could understand. No ambiguities. No grey areas. No room for misinterpretations. "Now," the mare continued, gesturing to Twilight. "Are you going to introduce me to your new friend?"

Twilight hesitated, but ultimately lifted her hood. Rarity's face ran a gambit of emotions. Her brows leapt up in shock, then furrowed in confusion. At last, her eyes widened in comprehension, and a slightly smug grin settled. "Applejack, dear," she chuckled. "I knew you would come back to us eventually, but I honestly never expected-"

"I ain't no rebel, Rarity, and I never was!" she growled. "I would never go out of my way to endanger my family by chasin' after some hopeless cause." The words "like you" hung in the air unspoken.

"If that's the case," she responded in a controlled tone. "Then you certainly are in odd company."

"I'm just letting her travel with me to Everfree. I was heading there anyway; I spend winter 'round Ponyville every year. This is just an extra delivery of sorts. The only reason I came here is to ask for a little," she paused to swallow her bile. "A. Little. Help." She clenched her teeth. "We need to get through Ponyville unseen, and you have a certain talent for disguises."

Rarity stopped just short of rolling her eyes.

"Oh come on!" Applejack said defensively. "This ain't rebellion. It's . . . umm. Whatya call it?"

"Basic Equine-decency," Pinkie chimed in.

"Yeah, it's that. Ain't like I'm storming the castle or nothing."

"Yeah," Pinkie Pie agreed. "All we're doing is aiding the most wanted deserter in Equestria escape the entire army hunting her even though the scariest, shadowyiest monster who ever existed has promised to do Celestia-knows-what to whoever does! That's not rebellion, Rarity! It's just plain, old . . . ummm. Whadya call it?"

"Suicide," said Twilight and Applejack simultaneously, both suddenly blanching.

"Yeah," the oblivious optimist giggled. "That's it."

"Well, Ms. Twilight," Rarity reassured. "The situation may seem dire, but that doesn't mean we should just give up." She glared at Applejack. The words "like you" again went unspoken. "I may not look magical enough to draw the attention of those dastardly Crystal Recruiters, but I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve. It just so happens that I'm heading to Ponyville myself tomorrow morning. We can all go together."

"Over my dead-"

"After all," she interjected before Applejack could continue. "The more ponies in a group, the less attention the guards can pay to each, and after I'm finished with her disguise, all the attention in the world won't be able to buy your identity, Twilight."

"And your sure you can do all of this without magic," Twilight asked, skeptically. "I know how these guards are trained. If they suspect anything, even for a moment . . ." She shuddered. "You're taking a gigantic risk."

"Trust me, dear." Rarity's sapphire eyes gazed somberly beyond the trees, but her voice remained uplifted. "I gamble with my fate every day, and I know what happens when a rebel's luck finally runs out. If anypony thinks that will stop me from helping my friends, then they are betting on the wrong horse."

"But," Twilight pressed. "The Crystal Guard knows I escaped Canterlot, and Ponyville is the closest town by a hundred miles. You would march through what must be the most heavily guarded place in Equestria to help a stranger?"

Rarity took a long look at Twilight. Then, she slowly walked over and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight Sparkle," she said. "I can't claim to know what you've been through, but I can understand if you have trouble believing me. Most ponies do actually. I show a little generosity, and it's so foreign to them that they're convinced I'm setting them up for something malicious. I can't blame them, of course. Parents warn their foals not to trust anypony, to watch out for the Unmarked Guard. Any suspicious-acting pony, especially a unicorn, could be an agent. My parents taught my sister and I the exact same lesson, but they also told us to help others whenever we could." She leaned her head closer. "They told me that if we ponies stand for one another, then we could make a better world for ourselves. That was their rebellion." A smile spread across her serious face. "And helping you, darling, is a part of mine."

Twilight was speechless. All she could manage was a muttered, "Thank you."

"Well, enough standing around." Rarity's light blue aura opened the door. "It's time for your makeover."

"Wait a minute. Sleeping over, makeovers, secret plotting." Pinkie gasped. "A slumber party!!" She grabbed Twilight and rushed inside, leaving a cloud Pinkie-shaped dust behind. Rarity trotted over to join them. "Feel free to come inside when you're finished setting up your cart for the night. Oh," she added sheepishly. "I know its almost the end of the season, but it's been forever since I've had a little something from Sweet Apple Acres. Ever since our . . . disagreement, you stopped coming this way." She coughed awkwardly.

"Well," Applejack drawled. "It might be nice to make one last sale before winter." She grabbed a few wizened apples from the covered wagon. "But don't think this means I forgive you for what happened 'tween me and you rebels."

"Thank you, Applejack. I didn't think it would." She turned to enter the doorway. "Oh," she added. "Do be a dear and wipe your hooves before you enter. It pains me enough to keep the outside of this cabin looking so dreadful. I couldn't bear to see the same thing happen to the interior." With that, she slammed the door shut.

Applejack stood contemplating for a few minutes. "Eyup," she groaned to no pony in particular. "I'd take that six-headed rattler in a fire-swamp any day."

Author's Note

This will be the routine for now. One Equestria chapter followed by one "Earth" chapter. (Did EQG ever say the name of the human world? If they did or if the fans came up with an unofficial pun, just tell me in the comments.) That tangent aside, comments are as welcome as always. I can't tell you how much your feedback means to me. The fact that people care enough to post something is a huge motivator. Even if you choose not to, thank you for reading.

Hidden Loyalties

"Stop." The voice was so forceful that a few moments passed before Sunset realized who was speaking. Flash was an arm's length away from them. The bat was frozen mid-swing; brimming with the same motionless energy his eyes suddenly possessed. "Flash." Fluttershy's strong voice rang through the halls; her pupils expanded until the iris was only a thin ring of color. "You aren't one of them." Sweat broke out on his brow. He bit his lower lip. "Put the bat down, Flash." His grip started to wobble. "You don't want to hurt us."

"I- I . . ." The heavy wood crashed on the tile floor; he followed it. All signs of aggression melted from his face. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy." He stared at a pair of trembling hands. "I couldn't think, couldn't feel. I was numb." He shuddered. "It jacked up my emotions. Anger, fear, and disgust were cranked to the max, and every decent part of me was obsessed with . . . them."

She knelled and placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "You weren't anything, Flash. It was all the spell."

Sunset mentally cataloged this information. She had spent enough nights in the library to recognize a mind-control spell when she saw it. Something was off, though. Most of these types of spells simply removed a pony's - sorry, "person's" - free will. Even if they were aware of the magic, they were powerless to stop it. Any and all emotions were eradicated until the spell was broken. The subject was essentially a puppet. From what the young man said, this spell didn't suppress his emotions; it hijacked them. The closest comparison she could draw came from direct experience. Sombra could plunge a pony into their worst nightmares, but he couldn't directly control them, just torture them. Whatever these Sirens did was just as bad or worse. The faster she understood how magic worked in this world, the better.

As she tried to recall details from her studies, the boy triggered a more recent memory. "You!" She yelled. "You were with those thugs."
She took a few steps back. "I should have known this was a set-up."

"Sunset, wait." She stood up. "Flash is one of us. He keeps an eye on the Siren Squads."

"She's telling the truth, I swear." He scrambled to his feet and pulled a set of cracked, flesh-toned earplugs. "These usually block out most of the spell's effects. I'm not entirely myself, but I'm still in control."

"You didn't seem in control a few seconds ago," Sunset challenged.

"He's usually better. Flash Sentry has been risking his life for years. The information he's gathered has saved us a dozen times over." She took a brisk step forward. "He must have an explanation, and I'm willing to hear it."

You- you . . . you're lucky I already decided to trust you. Sunset crossed her arms defensively. And, more importantly, that you're my only option. "Alright, Sentry," she said. "I'm all ears. Let's hear this explanation of yours."

He sighed. "I was out with the squad as usual. It was a normal run, well, as normal as they can get. We go to where people have reported suspicious activity and knock the heads of anyone within a half mile radius. If I know the place is a safe zone or a rendezvous point, I try to get them to steer clear. It doesn't always work, but it does help. When I know the locations scheduled for a visit, I tell everyone I can to stay away." Flash rubbed his temples. "We were checking out a warehouse downtown. Pretty standard complaint: teenagers going in and out at night, music, smiling, etc. I saw the report a week early, so everyone and everything was long gone. Tore half the building apart before they were certain it was a bust. We were about to leave, but then something went wrong. Just as we stepped outside, this huge . . . thing appeared."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Thank you for your thorough and detailed description, Sentry."

"I think you need to use a few more adjectives," Fluttershy timidly advised.

He gestured with his hand as he searched for a way to describe what he saw. "A pillar," he said. "A giant pillar of black and violet light shot up in the sky. It swirled around and blasted out like a shockwave. It must have shattered my earbuds. Before I could react," he shivered. "I heard them. There were no speakers in sight; they must have been miles away, but I their song washed over me like a tidal wave." He shifted from one foot to the next. "My memory gets a bit hazy after that. We headed to the old high school. I still don't know why, but we did. Nothing you do makes sense when you're under their spell. We ran into Fluttershy, then you ran into us." Noticing her glare, he blushed. "I have a feeling I'm not gonna live that down."

"Good instincts, buddy."

"The last few days have been a blur. I came here to tie up loose ends." He cast a reproachful glance at the crooked bat discarded on the floor. "Thank goodness I did. Thank goodness for you, Fluttershy." Flash placed a contrite hand on her shoulder. "You saved me."

The timid girl bit on her lower lip. "Flash," she said confused. "You couldn't have been under their complete control."

"Why not?" Sunset asked, seizing an opportunity to understand more about this world. "All you have to do to hear their singing to affected by the spell, and that shockwave destroyed the only thing protecting him."

"I know," Fluttershy confirmed, her mind still elsewhere.

Yes! Sunset thought, feeling the same smug satisfaction that always came with solving a magical problem. She had to fight the urge to turn to Sparkle and gloat. These Sirens control people with their singing. Magic still makes no sense in this world, but a start is a start.

"See," Flash urged. "You saved me. You broke the spell."

She shook her head. "Flash," she cautioned. "I came back here because I saw the same shockwave as you did. When you showed up, I tried to talk you down." She touched the dark oval under her eye. "If Sunset didn't show up . . . things would have badly." She paused. "That shockwave must have done something temporary. Once it wore off, I was able to help you snap out of it. That's it."

"But, Fluttershy-"

"The rebellion has been trying to find a way to reverse the spell for as long as it's existed. The best we've been able to do is figure out how to block and delay it. You think after who knows how many centuries of experiments, research, and whatever else we could think of that the answer will be asking nicely?"

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. Just got a little overexcited. I guess we're all getting pretty desperate to find a cure." Desperate to change the subject, he turned to Sunset. "I didn't catch your name," he said rapidly.

What the hay? She wondered. His comrade will tell him soon enough.. "Sunset Shimmer," she responded crisply.

"And what part of the rebellion are you from?" He asked, not seeing Fluttershy's 'cut it out Flash' gesture. "I've never seen you around the city."

Sunset just sent a mild glare his way. Fluttershy quickly explained. "Sunset wasn't with any group in particular before. She was just being a Good Samaritan a few days ago." Looking back, Sunset wishes she had corrected Fluttershy, but at the time she agreed with her. It had long been Sunset's opinion that good deeds were just unlucky accidents on the part of the do-gooder, and her case was no exception. "She's decided to join us here in Canterlot."

"That's right," Sunset agreed, trying to remember why she did. "Safety in numbers and all that." Neither looked convinced. Flash quickly raised an eyebrow, but Fluttershy shot back a subtle thumbs up, the universal sign for all clear. Truth be told, Sunset wasn't even convinced. She knew there was something strong pulling her to this girl, some inner voice saying she could trust her. The same one that told you to trust Sparkle.. She crossed her arms. "I just don't want to be alone anymore."

Fluttershy knew better than to try and touch her, but offered a comforting smile. "Like I said, Sunset. There's always room down at Canterlot Station."

"Yeah," said Flash, sticking out his right hand. "Welcome to the family, Sunset." She stared at his hand for several awkward seconds. She glanced nervously at Fluttershy. The girl gave her an encouraging nod. Sunset slowly reached out, touched his palm, and withdrew her hand. That was the moment Flash Sentry officially gave up trying to understand anything that day. Things might make sense tomorrow, but today was a lost cause. "We should probably get going." He started walking to the double doors at the end of the hall. The narrow corridor gave way to a domed atrium.

"Shouldn't we wait until it gets darker?" Fluttershy objected.

"Night doesn't make that much of a difference," he countered. "The sky will still be crimson, just a darker shade of crimson."

"We don't want to draw any more unwanted attention," she argued. "It's a long walk to the station. A little darkness could make a huge help, especially to three fugitives."

"Are you sure we're safe here?" Sunset asked. "You said this place was an old hideout, and we've already ran into one armed, brainwashed nutjob. What's stopping another from crashing in?"

"Exactly," said Flash, either not realizing he was insulted or not caring. "There's no shortage of crazies out there."

As if to confirm his theory, a panting teenager burst through the front doors. Her technicolor hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. She wore a pair of knee-length, black basketball shorts and a navy blue t-shirt. The words "Canterlot Wondercolts" were printed in faded gold letters. The old sneakers on her feet looked like they had been through a wood-chipper. She looked around wildly. "Fluttershy!" She cried happily. Not seeing Flash, she sprinted towards her friend. Before Fluttershy could greet her, she caught her in a tight hug. "You're ok!"

"Good to see you too, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, returning the hug.

Rainbow Dash grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her away gently. "What are you doing here? You've been missing for three days! I've been looking all over town. You can't just say you're going to check out some crazy lightshow and vanish."

"Sorry." She blushed. "Things got a little complicated. Something crazy happened to Flash-"

"Wait," Rainbow interrupted. "That traitor hurt you!" Boiling blood lit up her face. "I swear to Celestia, if I ever see Sentry again I'll-"

"The shockwave shattered his earbuds and scrambled his head," Fluttershy told her. "He wasn't himself. Even if he was, there was nothing he could do to help me without blowing his cover."

"Rainbow," Flash said tentatively. Fluttershy grabbed her upper arm to restrain her. ""Fluttershy brought me back. I don't know how, but she did. I'm normal again. I promise." He paused. "Look, I don't really remember the last three days, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything- everything I said, everything I did. Everything." He stared at his shoes, unable to meet her burning eyes.

Rainbow Dash glared at him icily. Several eons passed by in minutes. "You'd better be, Sentry," she said finally. "You'd better be." She turned to Sunset. One glance at her bruises told her everything she needed to know. "Loner?" She asked.

Sunset nodded. "We were just about to head to the station. You're actually the second interruption we've had."

The athlete's smile was a mix of sorrow and nostalgia. "I guess that makes two lone wolves you've brought back, Fluttershy. But, we can't go back to the old station." Fluttershy and Sunset shared a confused glance. Flash looked stunned. A dulled memory came creeping from the void, and a horrified, guilt-ridden look came with it. He started muttering to himself. "Fluttershy." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "They found the station. A little while after you went out, a whole mob came. I don't know how many people got out." She picked up the discarded bat. A silent promise came with it. "As far as I know . . ." Her voice trailed off. She took a deep shaky breath, refusing to yield to the tears welling up in her eyes. "We're the only ones left."

Author's Note

Thank you for reading my work. If you have any suggestions/critiques/questions/vague threats of physical violence about how I wrote any of the characters or how I explained magic, let me know in the comments. Until next time, friends. Thanks for your time.