The Incantation

Chapters

Chapter 2: Everfree
Chapter 3: First Friend
Chapter 4: What Did I Say?
Chapter 5: To Town
Chapter 6: Princess Twilight
Chapter 7: Marked
Chapter 8: Complete Discord
Chapter 9: Celestial Reward
Chapter 10: The Hunt Begins
Chapter 11: Target Acquired
Chapter 12: Strictly Platonic
Chapter 13: More Precious Than A Billion Bits
Chapter 14: Paper Lies
Chapter 15: Brewing Up A Storm
Chapter 16: Making A Move
Chapter 17: Patience Not A Virtue
Chapter 18: Cat And Mouse
Chapter 19: First Encounter
Chapter 20: Stormy Night
Chapter 21: The Truth, The Lies
Chapter 22: The Summoning
Chapter 23: In Captivity
Chapter 24: Fall Of Equestria
Chapter 25: Crown Of Thorns
Chapter 26: The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend
Chapter 27: Lost, But Not Forgotten
Chapter 28: Separation
Chapter 29: Final Confrontation
Chapter 30: The Sacrifice
Chapter 31: A Second Chance
Epilogue: A New Life
Chapter 1: Intro

Chapter 2: Everfree

“Open up, Emerald Rain! You’re under arrest for robbery!”

The deep authoritive voice rattled me out of a peaceful slumber. I bolted upright, my heart pounding. Oh, Celestia, they found me, they know…

Another heavy knock at my front door. “Come out quietly and you will not be harmed! This is the Royal Guard, and you have been identified as the suspect in a crime! Surrender!”

I leapt out of bed and silently began gathering what I could: the crown, hygienics, some food, and a few other things of importance. Still groggy from sleep, I stuffed them all in my saddlebag along with the only bits I had – enough to survive a week or two off of. I threw the saddlebag on and began looking for a way of escape.

“Open the door immediately, or we will have no choice but to use force!” the voice demanded, sounding impatient. How did he even know I was home?

After a few minutes of panicked searching, I determined the living room window was my best chance for escape. I frantically pushed it open. The front door was now being attacked. They were attempting to break it down now.

I took one last glance at the apartment I called home, sighed, and flew out the window, staying low. Flying was the only method for escape, as it was late afternoon, and the streets were much too crowded to be on hoof.

The destination on my mind, my only option – the train station. Staying in Canterlot was now too risky. With the Royal Guard on my case, I could never show my face here again. There would likely be a bounty on me soon. Princess Celestia didn’t play games when it came to crime. Fleeing arrest made me a more important target. It was important that I immediately distance myself as far as possible from Canterlot, although that wouldn't solidify my safety.

A few minutes later, I arrived at the train station and went to the booth.

The ticket master greeted me warmly. “Hello, good sir! What is your – “

“One ticket for the next train,” I said hastily, interrupting him. Time was of the essence.

I received a strange look, then he simply nodded. “One ticket for Baltimare.” After I handed him the appropriate amount of bits, he gave me my ticket, which I hurriedly grabbed and ran off for the train, which was thankfully just arriving to the station.

Cutting several ponies off, who protested, I threw my ticket at the conductor just as he opened the door and pushed my way past him onto the train. I immediately went to the caboose.

It wasn’t long before the other passengers were on board, and the train lurched forward.

I found a seat and utilized it. Wherever Baltimare was, I hoped it was safe, and the cityfolk had no knowledge of me or my wrongdoings. It wasn’t long before I grew restless and hungry, and so headed into the next train up in hopes of finding something to snack on. Usually they train had a large amount of small packages of peanuts, but since I was in the back, I wouldn’t be getting any unless I went up with the other passengers.

I opened the door to the next car and stepped inside. It was moderately filled. Benches were lined up along the sides of the car, and every one of them had three of four seats taken. Nopony seemed to notice me when I walked past them to a nearby table loaded with the packaged peanuts, as many were trying to rest or reading. It must be a long ride, I thought. I also found some water and hurriedly snatched up what I could. As I turned to make way back to the last car, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A pony on the bench to my left was reading a paper from Canterlot – and the main headline was a picture of me with the title, “Thief in Canterlot Steals Artifact”.

How did they get my picture?!

The pony dropped the paper when he noticed me staring. “Can I help you?” he asked.

I snapped out of my reverie. “Oh, sorry.” I quickly made my way toward the door for the caboose.

“Hey, wait just a minute!” the earth pony with the paper called out to me.

I stopped dead in my tracks, but didn’t turn to face him. “...Yes?”

I heard the paper shuffle. “You know – you look just like the pony on the front of this paper," he said. Even though I wasn’t looking, I knew what he was talking about.

I swallowed hard and responded, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Now, I really must be on my way. Good day sir.” I opened the door.

“Wait – stop! You’re the pony on this paper! You’re the thief! Somepony, stop him! Don’t let him get away!”

At that, I bolted into the caboose and slammed the door behind me. I saw that it had a lock, which I decided to use. Once again, for the second time this morning, I’d found myself searching for an escape route. And there was only one way, unfortunately.

The ponies began pounding on the door, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. “Open up in there!” they yelled.

Fat chance, I thought. I went to the window, seeing the forest far below, at the foot of the mountain we were on. That was the Everfree Forest. Not a safe place for a fugitive, but better than a dungeon, in my opinion.

The windows were all open, and so I climbed up, putting my torso out the window. I seen that we were about to go through a tunnel. I had to act fast.

The pounding on the caboose door grew increasingly louder. They would be getting in soon. Giving the forest below one last glance, I hopped out and opened my wings, catching wind. I watched the train speed away, disappearing into the tunnel.

Looking down, I realized what I’d just gotten myself into. “Here we go…”

I would have flown, but my saddlebag was heavy, and I would’ve soon gotten tired. Plus, I had no idea how far away Baltimare was, so I might as well walk to whatever town was nearest. I decided to trace the mountain, following the train tracks. Surely they would lead to some kind of establishment.

When I lowered myself into the depths of the forest at the foot of the mountains, I immediately grew nervous. The Everfree was a vast, unexplored maze of trees, shrubs, and vines, not to mention creatures of untold horror. I already felt like I was being watched. The hot sticky summer air did nothing to help, either. And the noises sent chills up my spine.

I started in the direction the train was headed, always aware of my surroundings. I did not want to come across anything. Timber wolves were one of my main concerns, but there was clearly much more inhabiting the dark parts of the woods.

I kept my eye on the tracks above as well. They were my guide. If I were to lose sight of them and get lost…

I shook my head to get rid of that thought. I had to be hopeful. Maybe I could start a new life in this new town. I certainly couldn’t go back to Canterlot. The only way that would happen is if I were in chains – or a casket.

I pushed my way through vines that looked like little snakes. Through bushes that looked to conceal something dangerous. I kept expecting something to hop out at me, but it never happened, though it didn’t take away my concern that it eventually would.

Hour after hour passed, and soon the sun sank below the tree line. Not long after, it was night.

And I was scared.

The ambience had abruptly changed. There were sounds that frightened me, had me constantly looking over my shoulder. It was so dark, I couldn’t see my own hooves. I had to practically walk up against the mountainside just to ensure its presence remained. After a while, I determined that it was unsafe to continue in the dark, and found a small cave to spend the night in. First I had to run for my life when I was confronted by a swarm of bats upon entering the cave.

It was dark, moist, and smelled mildewy, but tonight it was home.

I took off my saddlebag and got out some crackers to snack on. When I finished, I pulled up my saddlebag as a pillow and laid my head down for sleep.

It didn’t take long.

Early the following morning, I set out. I was surprisingly well rested. The cave seemed to have provided supple protection from the unknown entities of the night.

A quick snack of cucumber slices and crackers gave me strength to power through the dense forest. I covered much more ground by dusk, it seemed. But by that time, I’d lost sight of the train tracks, and soon after, the mountains as well.

I was essentially blind.

However, the scent of food cooking – apples, to be precise – captured my attention and aroused hope. Civilization was most certainly nearby.

The dark curtain called night had fallen, and once again I was plunged into darkness. The sounds of the unknown picked up where they’d left off the night before, and I was again pitifully afraid.

But I kept pace.

If I wanted to make it to what I assumed was a nearby town, I couldn’t stop now. Not after all I’ve been through. I was too close.

Another strong scent filled my nostrils. Food again, but this time I couldn’t place the smell. Another fruit, most likely.

The forest began thinning. My heart pounded as I came across the edge of the forest moments later – and come across a tree-cottage at the edge of a stream. The lights were on.

“Finally,” I whispered, relieved.

I could not believe I’d just scaled part of the Everfree Forest and came out alive and in one piece. In all the years I’d been alive – all 21 of them – I’d never seen or heard of anypony making the journey and succeeding. It was the last time you’d ever hear from them or see them. But somehow I’d been lucky. I felt like a conqueror. Adventure was in my blood, after all. All of my family adored it. But as was plainly obvious, they’d always ended up dead.

Everypony but me.

Now I was in what I hoped was the outskirts of wherever, and maybe a place to stay.

The cottage before me was decorated with way too many birdhouses – an animal nut, I’m assuming. It also appeared to be two stories, and now, only the bottom seemed active.

Not far from the cottage was a fenced-in chicken coop.

Bingo.

It wasn’t very big, but it would suffice for one night. I’d slept in worse.

I made my way over to it, flapping up over the fence. I had to be super quiet as to not wake the chickens – which would surely wake the owner. I don’t know who lives here, but I didn’t want to ruin my first night in my new life.

I reached the coop and stuck my head in.

It was definitely small. Barely enough cottage in time to see the upstairs bedroom light go out, and the downstairs out as well.

Good.

I slowly and silently crept inside the coop. When I got in, one of the chickens stirred, prompting me to freeze. It was just moving in its sleep.

I carefully laid down my saddlebag and extracted the rest of my cucumber slices from earlier that morning, but left out the crackers. They were too noisy. After that, I pulled out a lightly worn map to see where I was. None-other-than Ponyville, the town I'd heard so little and so much at the same time about.

After munching on that quick meal, I went down on my saddlebag and was soon fast asleep.

Chapter 3: First Friend

“Um, excuse me?”

A sweet-sounding voice interrupted my sleep, and I awoke with a start.

A pale yellow pegasus mare stood just outside the coop, peeking her head in. Her face displayed concern and fear. Big turquoise eyes stared back at me. Her pink mane had a curl on the ends, with one part pushed behind her ear. The end was touching the ground due to it's length.

I stood up suddenly, which apparently startled her. She backed out, her fear growing. I really hoped she didn’t know me the way I thought she did.

“I’m sorry,” I said, slowly making my way out of the coop as she backed away once more. All the chickens had apparently fled the coop at some point while I was sleeping, and were now running around. “I…I didn’t have a place to stay, so I found your chicken coop and thought I’d stay here one night…”

As I finally got out and clambered down onto the dirt, she spoke again, and I was taken aback by the gentleness in her voice.

“You’re…homeless?” she asked incredulously. “I’m sorry. I-I had no idea…”

“No, I’m sorry for trespassing on your property and using your chicken coop without permission.” I went back to the coop and retrieved my saddlebag, putting it on. “It’s just – the Everfree Forest was bigger than I thought, and I just got out of it after two days of hiking through it alone. I was relieved to see homes, and also tired. I guess I should’ve asked before just sleeping here.” I gave her a quick nod. "I’ll just be on my way.” As I turned away, she stopped me.

“Wait!”

I paused and looked back at her. “Yes?”

She now looked more concerned than fearful. Even interested. “You went through the Everfree Forest for two days…alone?”

“Uh…well, yes.”

She trotted up to me, her eyes twinkling. “In that case, you must be so hungry and tired. W-would you come inside? I can make you something to eat, if you want.”

How could I say no? “Um, thanks. I’d appreciate it very much.”

She lightened up even more, all fear gone, in its place a bright, beautiful smile. “Great!” She turned and pranced off towards her house with me not far behind.

She opened the door and waved me in, closing the door behind me.

Obviously, she was an animal nut. Birdhouses, nests, bags of feed – the whole nine yards – were scattered all about her home, as far as I could see. This actually didn’t bother me. Neither did the animals scurrying around her home, either. Canterlot didn’t have a lot of animals, except those at the Royal Garden, so seeing these ones fascinated me. And other than that, her home was well kept. She was a mare, so this didn’t surprise me at all. They were usually very neat.

I followed her into the kitchen, which was not very big – about half the size of the living room. A white bunny was on the counter, mixing up something in a large salad bowl. He turned and watched me and the mare entered the kitchen.

“Hey, Angel bunny, we have a guest,” the mare told him.

The rabbit regarded me with a blank stare.

“Uh…hi,” I said.

The mare walked up closer to me – so close I could smell what I figured was whatever soap or shampoo she used to clean with. It smelled like lilac. Oh Celestia.

“Don’t mind him,” she said, lowering her voice so that I had to lean closer to hear her. “”He can be a grouch sometimes.” Then she smiled at me. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Emerald…Mist. And you?” I asked.

“Fluttershy,” she said shyly.

A pretty name, I thought. “Well…uh, nice to meet you Fluttershy. And thank you for being so kind as to let me into your home for a meal. You’re awfully nice. Nopony in Canterlot was nearly as nice. If you were homeless there, you were on your own.” I lowered my gaze to the floor in sudden sadness. “Or, at least, I was...”

“Oh, my. That’s terrible! I’m glad to help you. It’s no problem at all. You just make yourself right at home.” She turned to Angel. “Would you please get some soup going for Emerald, Angel?”

The rabbit nodded and did so.

Fluttershy turned and led me back into the living room, over to the couch. She sat on it, then motioned for me to come sit beside her.

"So, you used to live in Canterlot?" she asked curiously as I hopped up. "That must've been nice."

I rubbed my arm nervously. Why was this mare being so nice to me? "It was, until my parents...um, well...passed."

She gasped. "Oh, my that's terrible! I'm so sorry to hear that." It was genuine sympathy, something I rarely received.

I scratched the back of my head. "It's okay, I'm over it. I got over it months ago...I think," I replied. I didn't really want to get into a conversation about that subject, for obvious reasons. Besides, I'd end up giving her too much information about me, which could be used later if things fell apart.

"So, what made you want to move to Ponyville? If you don't mind me asking."

I struggled to come up with a story. "Well, after my parents died, things got tough. I lived in poverty for a while, and it got worse. Somepony robbed me, and I decided that that was the final straw. I hopped on a random train, which happened to be for here, and went on my way, with high hopes for starting a new life."

Fluttershy seemed very interested in my story. Maybe she never met anypony from Canterlot? "But why did you have to go through the Everfree Forest?" she asked.

Good question. "Oh, well, some rebellious teens threw me overboard. It was quite painful," I said, rubbing my wings tenderly. A petty lie, but it should suffice, given I have no imagination to come up with anything better.

"Goodness...I'm so sorry you had to go through all that."

I thanked her for caring. "By the way, would it be possible for me to clean up a little...?"

She got off the couch. "Of course. I'll get you a towel after your soup. I'll go check on it now." She went off into the kitchen.

Well, I hated to lie to her, I told myself bitterly. She's so kind and generous. Nothing like any mare I've ever met in Canterlot. They were just looking for a stallion with tons of money. Fluttershy seems so...innocent. I feel like we're friends already. The guilt of lying set in.

Fluttershy came back into the living room with a bowl of delicious-smelling soup. "Here you go. Fresh, hot soup." She handed it to me carefully.

I took a deep whiff of it. "Smells delightful. I can't believe a bunny made it."

"Oh, he learned the recipe from me," she said modestly. She started feeding some little woodland creatures with some food pellets she poured into a bowl on the floor.

I took a spoonful of heaven. "Well, I've never tasted anything better." And that wasn't a lie.

"Thanks," she said quietly.

I found myself watching her as she tended to the animals. She moved so methodically, so gracefully...I forced myself to go back to eating. Don't get yourself into more trouble, Casanova.

I finished the soup a few minutes later. With a dazzling smile, she gladly took the bowl into the kitchen. She returned and brought me a towel.

"The bathroom's up there," she said, pointing a hoof up stairs. "Take all the time you need." She gave me another friendly smile.

I will, I thought happily, returning the smile. I flew up and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. It was a modest little latrine. It made me wonder if she lived here alone.

The thought of her having somepony almost hurt. I had no idea. Maybe it was because she was so sweet. Maybe I'd be jealous. Nopony but her has ever shown me such kindness in one bout.

Yeah, I was jealous - if she had somepony.

I looked around the bathroom. It was butterfly-themed, which meant no stallion lived here. No stallion would tolerate such feminine décor.

I got in the shower and turned it on, enjoying the feeling of steaming hot water on my coat. My shower never got this hot. It felt amazing.

My thoughts somehow drifted back to Fluttershy as I stood there in the shower, soaping up. How could anypony be so nice, so openly kind and generous to a complete stranger? She has no idea who I am. I could be a criminal, a fugitive, for all she knew. But I'd lied to her, and for some reason, it bothered me. I've lied plenty in my day, but guilt never followed. It did now. I had no idea what was going on with my emotions and thoughts, but I decided to keep them to myself for now.

I finished and turned off the water. I almost didn't want to. The hot water felt so amazing...

I stepped out and nearly slipped as I reached for the towel. It was light yellow and smelled like flowers. It was probably her towel, now that I think about it. If she had anypony else living here - particularly a mate - why would she give me her towel instead of his?

Why does that even matter to me? I asked myself. Because I need a place to stay, that's why.

I decided to immediately rule out any possibility of involving myself romantically with anypony during the course of this situation. Instead, I'll humble myself under her care and anypony else's, then be on my way when I'm able to and ready. No reason to put more responsibility upon myself.

Still, the feeling of having swallowed stones plagued me. I still worried if she had a mate, but couldn't see why I should care.

But as I finished drying off and left the bathroom, I knew very well the real reason why.

Chapter 4: What Did I Say?

Later that day, Fluttershy informed me that I was more than welcome to stay until I got back on my hooves. She only had one bed - hers - so I was to sleep on the couch in the living room. No problem. It wasn't much different than what i was used to, anyway.

Nighttime rolled around, which to me seemed fast. But all day I'd been helping her around the house and talking. Innocent conversations. But by dark, when we'd settled down to sitting on the couch sipping tea, the questions got more personal.

"So, what did you do in Canterlot for a living, when you had a job?" she asked me, taking a drink of tea. She'd prepared some for us shortly after finishing the last of the chores.

I took a sip of mine before replying. "Um, well, I was a photographer for somepony. That job didn't last very long, though. It paid for my apartment, which was not nearly as nice as your place. What do you do to get such a home?"

Angel hopped onto the arm of the couch and Fluttershy gave him a pat on the head. "I'm a pet-sitter and animal caretaker. I love animals so much, I even care for the wild animals of the forest."

I chuckled. "I see that. You're amazing at it. The best I've ever seen," I admitted, grinning at her.

She blushed lightly. "You're too kind..."

"And that reminds me - do you live here alone? Do you do all this by yourself?" I went on, setting my teacup in my lap. Asking if she lived alone wasn't my intention, and I had no damn reason to ask except being nosy.

She took a long sip of hers. "Um...yes. Sometimes my friends help me, but usually I'm alone." Then she added, "Except you live here now, at least for a little while, so I'm not alone. Plus, Angel is a big help, when he wants to be."

Angel blew a raspberry at her and hopped off the couch, leaving the room.

I nodded. "Oh, I see. I was expecting you to have somepony, like...somepony."

Her eyes grew wide and her pupils shrank to pinpoints. "Oh, no...I'm...single. I-I don't d-date..." That, apparently, was a touchy subject.

"Wow, I'm surprised," I said. I legitimately was.

She cocked her head sideways at me, a questioning look on her face. "Why would you be surprised?"

Yeah, why? "Well, because...you know, I figured a nice mare like you would've had somepony."

She took that better than I expected. "You're very sweet - but no, I've actually never had a date. I've never been asked out, either," she said, sounding embarrassed.

Never been asked out?! I guess that wasn't too crazy - neither had I. "Oh - well, that's crazy..." I looked down into my lap and seen my tea, which I'd completely forgotten. "You'll find somepony. Everypony does."

She sat silent for a few moments. "I-I'm kinda tired. I think I'll b-be going t-to bed." She stood up and went into the kitchen. I heard her dump her tea out. She returned and have me a weak smile before going upstairs. I heard her door shut loudly.

I sat there in confused silence.

What did I say?

Princess Celestia was writing a return letter when Sergeant Armour Wing rushed in her quarters after a brief knock and being called in.

"Your Majesty! A moment of your time?"

Princess Celestia stopped writing and looked up at him. He was just another of her Army, although higher up than most. Only Lieutenant Thundercloud and Captain Shining Armor outranked him. They all performed spectacularly due to meticulous and highly-advanced training.

"Yes, Sergeant?"

He bowed quickly before answering. "Your Highness, the warrant served on the Canterlot thief Emerald Rain was unsuccessful. We have no idea where he is, no doubt in hiding. Orders, Your Highness?"

She sighed. She grew tired often of dealing with crimes such as theft. Even though she always did something about it, the smaller crimes usually went with little to no punishment. "Place a bounty on him. 500 bits. He'll come up, Sergeant."

The soldier bowed. "Of course, Your Highness. I will do so at once." Then he left to carry out the order.

Princess Celestia calmly watched him leave her room, then returned to her letter.

I definitely could not get sleep that night. I had a million thoughts running through my mind at once. Most involved concern for my safety and well being. Here in Ponyville, so far at least, I felt safe. But it was an unfortunate possibility that it wouldn't last long. As soon as news of my screw-up in Canterlot spread to surrounding towns, like here, my cover would be blown.

I also realized how stupid my alias was. Really? Mist? That's the best I could come up with? I could've at

least changed my first name.

At least I was getting help. Fluttershy was being far more helpful than I could've imagined. She told me she was always helping others when she could. Somehow, though, this felt like more than just some "help".

For some reason, I had a hunch that because of her unconditional kindness, maybe ponies used her. I certainly wasn't and wouldn't. She offered to let me stay without me asking.

But I still felt guilty about lying to her. As much as she was helping and willing to help, I owed her the truth at the least. But I simply couldn't jeopardize my freedom and safety, not for anypony or anything.

And I still had to sell the crown. I needed to get rid of it in case of capture. Maybe if I didn't have the crown in my possession when they found me, they'd just let me go.

Not likely, now that I think of it.

Chances are, everypony in Canterlot knew my face, name and crime. Anypony that travelled there from someplace else would catch wind and bring it back with them when they left, and share the news.

Perfect.

Not only was my whole life compromised, it was likely that any help I'd receive would soon learn the truth about me. It wasn't like I killed somepony, or kidnapped somepony, I simply stole a piece of jewelry to survive.

Understandable, right?

I immediately thought of Fluttershy. I didn't want to hurt her. She seemed so fragile. But I wanted her to find out the truth from me. I wanted to be the one to inform her. She seemed the forgiving type. But if she found out from others, the truth may not even be the truth anymore. Of course, the truth wasn't the truth anymore, anyway. Better for her to hear it from me.

I rolled over on the couch, pulling up the fleece blanket Fluttershy had given me without a word shortly after she'd gone upstairs. She did, however, provide me with a smile.

I yawned, putting a good over my mouth to suppress the noise. I'd been laying there awake for hours, and was just now growing heavy-lidded. My silent reverie was doing me no good, except maybe wearing me out for sleep.

With another quiet yawn, I finally gave in to sleep.

Chapter 5: To Town

The next morning, I woke up to a wonderful smell – pancakes.

Fluttershy had taken the time to make breakfast for the two of us, a thoughtful gesture I wouldn’t soon forget.

I hopped off the couch, tossing the blanket on it, and headed into the kitchen to confront the source of the mouthwatering aroma.

Fluttershy stood at the stove, making a batch of strawberry pancakes. A stack also sat on a platter on the counter beside her – a multitude of fruits infused within.

“That smells really good,” I said as I approached her. She looked over at me and smiled warmly.

“Oh, you’re awake. I thought you’d sleep until noon. You were even snoring,” she said, flipping the pancake in the pan with a spatula.

I snore? “Haha…no, I usually wake up by dawn, but I guess I was just extra tired last night.”

“You did help me so much yesterday. Maybe you did get all worn out.”

“I sure did. Glad to help you anytime.” I watched her finish that pancake, place it on the top of the stack, and pour the batter for another in the pan. It sizzled and gave off a heavenly scent. “So…pancakes,” I said, trying to initiate a conversation. Never was good at that, especially with mares.

She remained silent for a moment as she watched the pan, making sure our breakfast didn’t burn. “Um…yes – pancakes. Do you like them? Oh, I hope you do. I wouldn’t want you to go hungry because I made you a bad breakfast…”

“Oh, of course I do. I love pancakes. But yours just might be the best I will ever have. Almost done? I can help you if you want,” I asked helpfully. What kind of guest would I be if I didn’t? What kind of stallion would I be?

“You’re fine, this is the last one,” she replied, flipping the current pancake. “You’re more than welcome to help yourself to the ones on the platter, if you’d like.”

I looked over on the counter and spotted plates. Beside it, a bottle of syrup.

“Uh, sure. Thanks.” I counted how many there were, including the one she was cooking, and took an even half. There were quite a few flavors here – blueberry, strawberry, cherry, chocolate chip…I lathered mine in way too much syrup. It almost overflowed off my plate.

Fluttershy frowned at my syrup abuse. “Isn’t that a little much?” she asked, pointing at my heaping, sopping mess.

I had to agree with her – I did go a little overboard with the syrup. This is one of those times that my hunger embarrassed me. “Probably. I’ll still eat it though, just because you made it.” I gave her a wink.

I got her to blush again. “Oh, my…thank you.”

I went back into the living room, holding the plate as if it were made of gold. It held food that practically was. At least, it tasted like it. I sat on the couch and dug in.

Fluttershy joined me moments later and appeared amused at the site of me having cleaned my plate already.

“My goodness – tired and hungry,” she said amiably as she sat beside me. Her plate was built perfectly – a little syrup, and a little square of butter on top. She smiled over at me. “So I take it you liked them?”

I nodded. “Like nothing I’ve ever had before.”

She grinned modestly and took a bite of her top pancake. When she finished chewing and swallowed, she said, “We should go into town today. I can show you around. I can introduce you to my friends.”

Knew this was coming. “Yeah, I suppose that’d be a good idea. I need to familiarize myself with this town if I want to live here.”

Although I had to at one point get to know Ponyville, I was still afraid that somepony would recognize me and things would get ugly. Fluttershy didn’t know this, of course, but sooner or later truth would prevail.

“You’ll love my friends,” she went on, finishing up another bite. “Twilight would especially like to meet you. After all, she is the Princess of Friendship.”

I nearly choked on my own saliva. “Princess?” I managed to utter through coughs.

Fluttershy looked over at me, her eyebrows knitting. “Is there something wrong?”

“It’s just – I’ve never met a princess before.” Terrible liar. Always was, always will be.

She relaxed. “Oh.” But then she thought up a good point. “You lived in Canterlot and never met Princess Celestia?”

Yup. “Uh, no. But that’s okay. I’ll meet…”

“Princess Twilight.”

“…Princess Twilight, whom I’ve barely heard of,” I said, also a lie. “Plus your other friends.” Who I hoped didn’t know me.

Fluttershy finished up her top pancake in the time it took me to eat all eight of mine. “They’re wonderful friends. Pinkie is our party planner. She throws the best parties in Equestria. Rarity makes designer gowns that win contests all the time.” She perked up suddenly. “That reminds me – the gala is next week. You can come with me…with us, if you’d like. I’m sure Rarity would have no problem making you a suit.”

I gulped. No way out of this one, either. On a positive note, I was bring asked by this mare to accompany her to the gala, which, in itself was quite the accomplishment in my life, sadly. “Uh, yeah, that sounds nice. Sure.”

She flashed me another dazzling smile. “Great! We’ll see her today, I’m sure. We’ll just ask her then.”

I watched her eat another bite and thought to myself, what have I gotten myself into? It was too late to turn back now, I was in too deep. Certain aspects of the situation were okay with me; others had me on edge. And now that I knew my cover might be blown, I had to physically alter my appearance at the gala. Maybe this “Rarity” character could be of some help. Only time will tell.

We talked while Fluttershy finished her pancakes. She was giving me an extensive background on her friendship with somepony named “Rainbow Dash”. She had more friends than I ever had in my whole life.

When she was done with her meal, she got her saddlebag and led me out to the town.

Ponyville was pleasant.

I can't tell you how much nicer - albeit smaller and much simpler - it was than Canterlot. The differences were major: Ponyville possessed an aura of quiescence, whereas Canterlot was frustratingly overcrowded, noisy, and ever-dangerous. It felt great to finally be away from all the nonsense in the Royal City.

And everypony was friendly. Normally, the rich folk would walk through Canterlot as if they owned it. But here, humbleness was an epidemic. Not once did I have to move out of the way for somepony without them apologizing or excusing themselves.

In what seemed to be the grocery district, Fluttershy spotted one her friends and brought me over for introduction.

"Well, howdy Fluttershy," the orange earth pony greeted her with a tip of her cowgirl hat. "Who's yer friend here?" She looked at me with distant curiosity, in which I returned. I'd never been around a country pony before. It was interesting.

"Oh, just somepony I'm helping back on his hooves. He just moved here from Canterlot," Fluttershy said. "He came here through the Everfree Forest."

"He went through the Everfree Forest ta git here? Why? Ya coulda taken the train," the friend said, as if I didn't know.

We were taking up space in the middle of the path, and somepony asked us to move, which we did, off to the side, between stands.

"Well," I began, watching some ponies walk by laughing and conversing loudly. "It kinda wasn't my fault. Some rowdy kids got the better of me, they ended up tossing me overboard, into the forest."

"Oh - this is Applejack, by the way," Fluttershy interrupted politely.

"And I'm Emerald Mist," I told Applejack as she tipped her hat at me. How long could I keep up this spiderweb of lies?

An awkward silence followed, finally broken a few long moments later when Applejack said, "Well, nice meetin' ya, Emerald." She patted her saddlebag and looked at Fluttershy. "Granny Smith has me busy all day doin' shoppin' fer her. I'll see y'all later."

"Okay, then. See you later!" Fluttershy waved a hoof goodbye as Applejack left to go finish her errands.

Fluttershy turned back to me, smiling. "So? What'd you think of Applejack?"

I wasn't sure what to say. "Well...um...she certainly is an interesting character."

"Then you'll just love my other friends. They're all unique and interesting." She grabbed my hoof without warning and led me away to her next friend.

Chapter 6: Princess Twilight

The Golden Oak library was not what I expected to be the residence of a princess.

Not that I too much cared; I was more afraid of meeting her in the first place.

Fluttershy chose "Twilight Sparkle" as the next candidate for meet-and-greet because she was likely to be there studying. Fluttershy insisted that her other friends, like Applejack, were probably not home and off doing something, and so meeting them was more up to chance, as with the meeting in the grocery district.

Upon arriving at the library, which was in fact a very large, hollowed-out Oak tree, Fluttershy promptly opened the door and led me in, against my better judgement. She caught me shaking and sweating nervously. I was told I had nothing to worry about, and that Twilight was a gentle Princess and preferred not to be called one at all. It's funny, because she had absolutely no clue as to the real reason for my shaking and fear. She thought I had no reasons, but I did in fact have at least one reason to worry.

Princesses talk amongst each other. There could very well be a trap waiting for me here in this place with a humble princess waiting to deliver me to Princess Celestia on a silver platter. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Upon walking in, the library seemed empty. The shelves were loaded with many kinds of books, and there were several towering stacks of them around the room on the floor.

"Twilight, Spike? Anypony here?" Fluttershy called out conservatively. Her daintiness was adorable.

A head poked up from behind a stack of books. "Oh - Fluttershy. I didn't even hear you come in." Then the unicorn came out from behind the books. She was definitely a princess. Her wings were longer than normal, besides that fact that she had them to begin with. She immediately shifted her attention to me. "And hello to you, too."

I smiled nervously. "Hey." Here we go...

"This is Emerald Mist." Fluttershy said. "He's new here from Canterlot."

Twilight seemed surprised. "Canterlot? What made you come here to Ponyville? Learning friendship lessons?"

Heh. I guess you could say that. I gulped. "Uh, well, you see...I wanted to get out of all the cramped, tidy spaces. Plus, things just weren't working out for me there."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked. She turned and went back to the stack of books with me and Fluttershy right behind her.

It seemed the princess was working on some kind of spell. A few books were sitting open on a table past the tall stacks of books, and a small purple dragon with unusually large feet was struggling to move from his place next to a chart he was just working on.

I finally decided to answer the princesses question. "I lost my job, couldn't find another, then I got robbed, and I determined that Canterlot was just just not for me. Long story short - here I am."

Twilight buried her face in a book on the table. "Oh - well, we're glad you came. How'd you and Fluttershy meet?"

"I found him in my chicken coop. He went through the Everfree Forest alone for two days," Fluttershy said, her voice wavering with fear.

Twilight turned the page of her book, going back. "Chicken coop? Everfree Forest? That sounds like it was quite the adventure." She looked over at the dragon. "Obviously I'm missing something, Spike. I'll get it right this time," she said, casting some sort of spell and making his feet normal size again.

"I've heard that before," he mumbled, clearly not amused with his position.

"What are you trying to do?" Fluttershy asked Twilight, who was still in the spellbook.

She looked up at Fluttershy and me. "Spike asked if it was possible to make him bigger. I told him maybe, but so far it's been 'no'."

"Bigger?" I asked quizzically.

"Insecurity," Twilight explained without looking up."He believes his size prevents him from being a 'bigger' help, so to speak."

"That's ridiculous," Fluttershy said. "Spike, you saved the Crystal Empire. Nopony else has done anything like that... except maybe Twilight saving us from Discord."

"You know that all six of us defeated Discord," Twilight replied, giving her a look.

"Discord... that crazy draconequus that nearly destroyed Equestria?" I asked, remembering that incident not so long ago. My parents were still alive at that time, and we'd been spared by the chaos somehow.

Twilight turned back to me and Fluttershy, apparently distracted by the conversation. "Yes, that one. Good thing Fluttershy was able to reform him. He's much more tolerable when he's behaving himself."

I cocked my head to the side. "Reform? He's reformed? Does that mean he's... free?"

Fluttershy nudged me with her elbow. I hardly felt it. "He's not a threat. I promise."

I looked from Fluttershy to Spike and then to Twilight. "Who's idea was it to free that monster?"

Twilight looked ashamed. "Well, um... it was Princess Celestia's idea. She brought Discord to us and asked us to do it."

I shook my head but said nothing.

"So... Canterlot, huh?" Twilight asked, changing the subject.

I scratched the back of my head. I didn't want to get into a conversation about something I am trying to forget. "Yeah, Canterlot. Not too fond of it," I replied, my voice hinting that I didn't want to talk about it. Unfortunately, the hint went unnoticed.

"You don't like Canterlot?" Twilight asked incredulously, her eyes wide. "What's not to like about it?"

Fluttershy leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Twilight's face now displayed embarrassment and concern. "Oh..."

I didn't hear what Fluttershy told her, but whatever it was, it worked, as Twilight changed the subject once again.

"Well, you seem like a nice guy. What do you plan on doing here in Ponyville? For a profession, I mean."

I never really considered more than escaping justice. "Not sure just yet. I'll find something, hopefully."

Twilight turned back to her book and closed it, then set it to the side. "Well, Applejack could always use an extra hoof at Sweet Apple Acres. Have you met her yet?" she asked.

I nodded. "What's there to do at Sweet Apple Acres?"

"It's an apple farm, among other things," Twilight said, smiling. "Lots of hard, physical labor."

"No thanks," I said hastily, thinking about my little run through the woods. "I've had enough of that recently. I'd rather do something less tiresome."

"Okay... how about Rarity? She owns the Carousel Boutique. She always needs help with her fashion designs and such. Although, come to think of it, you might not be so good at making dresses." Twilight looked at Spike to quiet his snickering. He stopped and shrugged at her.

"Mmmmmm... still doesn't appeal to me. I'm going to look, probably starting tomorrow. I don't want to be bothering Fluttershy here by living with her too long." I winked at her to let her know I was joking.

"You're living with her?" Twilight asked, astonished. "Since you got here?"

"I told him it was okay," Fluttershy assured her.

"I promise it won't be long," I added.

Twilight seemed skeptical, and I didn't blame her for it, either. "Okay... but no funny business. I'd hate to have to deal with you," she warned me.

I gulped. "Message received."

"Hey, Fluttershy could use somepony to help with her pet-sitting," Spike said, finally speaking up.

"Oh, of course," Twilight agreed. "Since you're living there anyway."

I looked over at Fluttershy, who simply smiled back at me. That smile always invoked feelings of self-worth. I never grew tired of that smile.

"I guess," I said finally, shrugging lightly.

"Good. Hey Fluttershy, has Rarity decided on what kind of gown to make you for the gala?" Twilight asked her.

Fluttershy shook her head. "No, but I'm going to take Emerald to see her tomorrow. I'll ask her then."

"Are you going to the gala, Emerald?"

I wish I didn't have to. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"That's good." Twilight looked down at Spike, who was waiting patiently for her to resume working on the spell. "Alright guys, I promised Spike I'd get this spell right before the end of the night, so I'd better get back to it."

"Oh - okay. No problem. See you later," Fluttershy said, making her way to the door.

I turned to follow her after giving a weak wave to the princess, who waved back.

"Nice meeting you, Emerald!" she called out to me as I followed Fluttershy out the front door and closed it.

I sighed with relief. "Finally..."

Fluttershy came up to me. "Are you okay? You look a little sick."

I wiped some sweat off my forehead with the back of one of my forelegs. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for asking."

She smiled brilliantly. "What else are friends for?"

My heart leapt in my chest. So, she does consider us friends..."Oh, thanks." I looked up at the sun, squinting at it for a moment. "I am a bit hungry, actually."

"Okay. I guess I am a little, too. We could always go back home and get something if you'd like," she said, following my gaze.

I stood there, staring at the sun. "I was actually thinking about maybe a nice little diner or cafe, if you're okay with that." I looked back down at her, and found her big, pretty turquoise eyes searching mine, her face expressionless.

"Um, I-I'm not sure I brought enough bits..." she said, looking back at her saddlebag.

"Not a problem," I assured her, jingling my own saddlebag full of bits. "I brought plenty."

"Oh, Emerald, you don't have to..."

I placed my hoof on her shoulder. "I insist."

"Okay. I'll pay you back sometime."

I walked with her as she gave me directions to the nearest place to eat. "Don't worry about it. As far as I'm concerned, I owe you. You're doing so much for me..." My voice cracked as emotion found its way in.

"That's very nice of you," she half-whispered, startling me with a quick hug. "Nopony's ever bought me lunch like this."

"Like I said, you deserve it. You're the kindest mare I've ever met. I intend to treat you well for showing me kindness. It's the least I can do."

We came around a corner and Fluttershy stopped. "There's the restaurant. It's nothing like the ones in Canterlot, though."

I put my arm around her shoulders, despite the fact that my heart was beating so fast it almost hurt. "It's okay. I'm not concerned with the quality of the place as long as you're happy."

She smiled up at me and hugged me again. "I am happy. I really am." And we went in.

Chapter 7: Marked

I am happy...

Fluttershy's words rung around in my head long after we got in the restaurant and started eating. It was the way she said it, and the way she hugged me...I felt lucky to have somehow ended up in the company of such sweet and beautiful mare. I feel like -

"Emerald?"

Fluttershy's voice cut like a knife through my thoughts. Apparently I'd been staring at her as I'd daydreamt. She was staring back at me from across the plate-littered wooden table.

I rubbed the side of my head. "Sorry. I was lost in thought."

She took a drink of her punch in the mug the place had provided it in. "Oh, okay. About what, if I may ask?"

Absent-mindedly, I began shaking my leg up and down. It was something I did when I was nervous.

"Just...how good this hayburger was. And this apple pie was off the chart, too." I put my arm under the table and stopped my leg.

She gave a little laugh. "If you think this pie was good, wait till you try one from Sweet Apple Acres."

"I can't wait."

My leg started shaking again.

"Sooo...um, are you good with animals?" she asked hopefully. It almost sounded as if she was pleading that I was.

I stopped my leg before I replied. "I might be," I said. "But if you haven't noticed, my cutie mark is three teardrop-shaped emeralds...I'm actually good with jewelry." Hence, my stealing of it. More on that some other time, though.

"Oh, I know. I just thought I should ask. Sometimes the pet-sitting can be a hoofful if you aren't very good with animals," she said, pushing the plate nearest her further away. "I've been doing it for a while, so I can deal with them pretty well. But for somepony new to it..."

"I get the gist."

She smiled. "I was hoping so."

Time to venture into her life. "So, have you lived in Ponyville long? We're you born here?"

"Uh...no. I came here as a filly. I was born in Cloudsdale."

Cloudsdale was where most pegasi were from, though not all. It was a floating city of puffy white clouds, in which only pegasi (obviously) could trot upon. Pegasi control the weather anyway, so they also maintain the city in case it starts drifting apart. Many pegasi, including myself, had cutie marks relating to rain, clouds, or weather in general.

"I've heard things about Cloudsdale," I said complacently. "Most of them good."

"Oh, well, I wouldn't know too much. I never really liked it anyway. The ponies were so mean to me when I was younger." She sounded like she was reliving a nightmare. She probably was.

I sipped my drink - root beer, hehe - for the first time since the waitress had refilled it earlier. "Is that why you moved here?"

She shook her head. "Well, not exactly. It was more by chance. It's a long story...you probably don't want to hear it."

I shoved all the plates in front of me out of the way and put both elbows on the table, resting my chin on my hooves. "Actually, I'd love to hear it."

She beamed at me. "Oh, okay...that's so sweet of you." She swallowed. "I guess I can start with that day Rainbow Dash stood up for me..."

As she went on with her story, I couldn't help but find myself admiring her. She was such a kind, soft-spoken sweetheart. I liked that her eyes were always looking down when she was explaining something, like right now, as she explained that she was bullied until Rainbow had stood up for her, challenging her bullies to a race, how they used to call her "Klutzershy" due to her inability to fly in flight camp, how she'd been the holding the flag when she was knocked off the cloud by the participants of the race as they accelerated from the starting point, how she'd fallen onto a swarm of butterflies that saved her, and how she'd gotten her cutie mark calming the animals down after Rainbow Dash did a sonic rainboom for the first time, and how she'd decided Ponyville would be her permanent residence...

I was just about hypnotized. What was it about this mare that made me so goofy? Was it her shy eyes, or her soft voice, or her innocuous personality...

"You're beautiful," I blurted.

She stopped mid-sentence. "Oh...my...th-thanks..." She was smiling, but her cheeks were now a bright red. She was also looking down and not at me.

I felt my cheeks burning and realized I must be blushing too. "I'm sorry...that kinda just slipped out. I just wanted to say that I think, uh...that you're really pretty. To make you feel better." Good save.

She still didn't look up. "It's okay...thank you, though..."

"Well, uh, I'm stuffed. No room for anything else. Are you good now?" I asked, still embarrassed about my earlier outburst.

She finally looked up at me. She seemed happier than she was just a few minutes ago. "Oh, yes. This was wonderful. I couldn't eat a other bite."

I grinned, satisfied that she was okay. "Glad to hear that. We should head out now." I left a tip and stood up. "Shall we?"

She giggled. "We shall."

She stood up and followed me out, where we stood awkwardly silent for a few minutes.

"Well, I just remembered I was going to see Rainbow Dash about something today. I'll, uh, catch up with you later, if you don't mind..."

"No, not at - "

She was already running off.

I stood there, confused. "All?"

Dark Storm stood alone in his makeshift office, not far from the Castle. The office was a converted bedroom in his expensive two-story mansion in Canterlot. Before he started his current profession, he'd of never been able to afford such luxury. But now, he had money pouring in like a river.

Especially today.

A new client had contacted him, promising him millions of bits in exchange for his superior services.

Somepony needed to be taken care of.

Dark Storm was not a force to be reckoned with. He was a well trained fighter, good with many kinds of weapons. Being a bounty hunter, he had to.

Canterlot was also not his place of origin. His career catching - or killing - targets for hefty sums of money began in his hometown, Baltimare. It started not long after he'd become an adult. He'd been caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs in a fight, and been mistaken as an enemy of one. The other side ignored him until he'd slaughtered nearly half of the rival gang singlehandedly. Intrigued by his skill, the gang that ignored him hired him out for reconnaissance - and murder. It wasn't long before Storm was rolling in bits and taking orders as a hitpony and bounty hunter. After being contracted once by a rich unicorn in Canterlot, Storm decided that was where all the money was. And today, he'd been offered millions.

Storm even appeared as a bounty hunter might - he had an ebony coat and a blood-red mane. His eyes were brilliant orange-yellow, like shimmering opals. And he hardly ever smiled or laughed - his job was not humorous, and barely ever permitted even so much as a grin, but every now and then a dry sense of humour would rear its ugly head, showing just how sinister he really was.

Even better for him was being a pegasus - his cutie mark was a pair of nunchucks on fire, a sure sign of his skills and violent tendencies.

However, this was not a job one did alone - even though that's the way he preferred it and did his missions alone most of the time. He still hired two accomplices, in which he paid generously if they did well, and if not...

He'd be burying them.

Storm paced back and forth in the office, taking occasional peeks out the window as he waited for his client. Millions, he thought ravenously, untold riches...

Whatever the mission was, whatever the client wanted done, Storm planned on doing it to a tee.

He glanced up at his office doorway and stopped pacing when he heard his front door open and close.

His client had arrived.

Storm stepped out into the hall to meet his soon-to-be employer.

The client was merely an archaeologist. But a wealthy one nonetheless. The unicorn strode up to him with an all-business, no-jokes look glued to his face, and even the way he came up to him showed he wasn't playing games.

"You must be Dark Storm," the guy said as he approached him and they shook hooves.

"Indeed, I am." Storm motioned his client into his office. "Please - come in."

The unicorn had a very large sack that Storm assumed was full of bits. He got his answer when the client tossed the bag on the desk.

Storm sat in his rotating chair on the other side, while the unicorn sat opposite from him.

"So," the client cleared his throat. "On the table in the bag is 30,000 bits in incentive pay - enough to get you started, I presume?"

Storm nodded. "Go on."

"The subject in question stole something of extreme value. Not just money-wise, but sentimentally." He pulled out a paper from his saddlebag and slapped in on the desk, facing Storm. "This is he, the thief."

Storm curiously pulled the paper close to examine the article that proclaimed, "Thief In Canterlot Steals Artifact!". Below it, there was a picture of a pegasus with a white coat and black mane.

" The artifact is of great importance, " the guy went on, sounding like the professor he was. He had glasses to complete the look. "It is a crown of incredible abilities that would astound you if only you knew of them." He narrowed his eyes at Storm. "I trust I can tell you?"

"Of course," Storm smiled darkly. "Trust is of utmost importance to me when it comes to my clients."

The unicorns's glare softened. "I see...well, the crown holds power beyond your wildest dreams. It was crafted and enchanted millenia ago by a mage in the Crystal Empire, and since it grants the wearer unlimited power and invulnerability, it was buried deep down within the Crystal Mountains, hidden from all who might use it's power for evil. I came across it months ago on a trip to those mountains with some colleagues. Without their knowledge, I brought it home, with no intention of using it, but simply adding it to my collection if artifacts. But while my back was turned one night, that fiend - " he pointed at the picture on the paper, " - stole it."

"And you want me to retrieve it from this gentlecolt?" Storm asked, raising an eyebrow.

The unicorn nodded. "Yes. His name is Emerald Rain. He must be around here somewhere. Canterlot isn't big enough to hide forever. And he most certainly won't be able to evade the Royal Guard."

"Royal Guard? The princess knows of this?" Normally this wouldn't bother Storm, but her knowing and being involved could complicate things.

"She most certainly does, and for a good reason - there was a 5,000 bit reward placed on our friend not long ago by her. You will receive five million bits from me upon completion of this mission. Do with Emerald as you please - I simply want my crown," the unicorn said nonchalantly.

Perfect, Storm thought greedily. Two for the price of one. "A generous offer that I couldn't possibly refuse, good sir. When shall I begin my search?"

The unicorn smiled so eerily, it sent chills up Storm's spine.

"Immediately."

Chapter 8: Complete Discord

After Fluttershy had taken off unexpectedly, I hung around outside the restaurant for a while, trying to collect my thoughts. When I was successful, I hurried home.

Somehow, in the heat of the moment, I'd forgotten all about the the crown. I could sell it and definitely get enough bits or gems to return the favor of help back to Fluttershy. She deserved it.

When I finally made it back to the cottage, once inside, I realized that I was not alone. Somepony was moving about the kitchen, and it smelled as if they might be cooking.

Thinking it was Fluttershy or Angel, I rushed into the kitchen to say hello.

Too bad I was wrong.

The kitchen was an absolute mess. Food was splattered everywhere, cooking utensils were scattered about, and Angel stood on the counter, his arms folded and a dirty look on his face.

On the receiving end of that look was none other then the Master of Chaos himself - Discord.

"What the he - "

Discord turned and frowned. He was holding a bowl and was mixing something up in it. I couldn't tell what it was, and I frankly didn't give a damn.

I was scared out of my wits.

"Who might you be?" Discord asked without stopping his rushed mixing. It was flying all over the place.

I swallowed hard. "Uh..."

"Pfff...'uh' isn't a name, if I recall correctly." He tossed the bowl on the counter, and it somehow landed upright. "Would you mind giving me your real name?" He snapped his clawed fingers and I was immediately locked in a cage.

"Hey!" I protested. "Let me out, Discord!"

"'Hey, let me out, Discord' isn't your name either." He poofed into a police uniform. "You're gonna take a trip to the slammer if you don't give it up, Sonny."

I wrapped my hooves around the bars and glared at him. "Emerald, for Celestia's sake, now let me go!"

He hesitated, considering whether I'd told him the truth or not. "Okay, laddie, you're free." The cage vanished, and I breathed a sigh of relief. "So," Discord went on, spinning a baton around. "Why are you in my dear friend Fluttershy's house?"

"I live here."

He laughed out loud, then stopped when he realized that I was serious. "Oh? You can't be serious. I've never seen you with her before. What are you, her boyfriend?" he spat the last two words. Did I sense jealousy?

"No," I answered heatedly. I felt my cheeks grow hot. "She just wants to help me back on my hooves."

He poofed his police uniform away and studied me, stroking his goatee. "That's funny...you look familiar..." He seemed to have an idea and vanished suddenly.

I stood there, staring at the mess in the kitchen. "When Fluttershy sees this, she's going to flip - "

Discord reappeared holding something in his claw. A paper.

"Tada!" He shoved the paper in my face. "Look familiar, Mr. Thief?"

I gasped as I read the article on the front, the one I'd seen on the train ride here.

He pulled it away and looked expectantly at me, raising an eyebrow and waiting for my response.

I gulped. "Please don't...I-I don't want to lose my new friends, especially Fluttershy. Please..."

The paper disappeared. "Who am I to share your business? I'm the God of Chaos, of course. I've done far worse than snitch on some pony." He lowered his voice and gave me an ice-cold stare. "But steal something from Fluttershy, and you'll be begging for Celestia to take you to a dungeon, far away from me."

I nodded quickly, feeling a bead of sweat forming on my brow. "I understand completely..."

Suddenly, he smiled. "On a positive note - my cookies are done!" He flew into the kitchen, a giddy look on his face.

I cautiously trailed him in.

"You're the God of Chaos, and you're baking...cookies?" I asked, nonplussed.

He pulled a tray of cookies out of the oven and took a deep whiff of them. "Ah, snickerdoodle..." He looked gleefully over at me. "Want one?"

I shook my head. "No thanks. I just ate lunch with Fluttershy."

He gave me a dirty look. "Fine. Be that way." He set the tray on the counter. "Fluttershy will surely have a few."

"I'm sure she will. Now, if you'll excuse me..." I turned to go get the crown from my box I'd stashed it in under the couch.

Discord followed me. "Now, wait just a minute...what is it your sticky little pony-hooves couldn't resist from taking that seems to have ruffled Canterlot's feathers? What is this 'artifact' the paper speaks of?"

I pulled the box out from under the couch. "Is it important that you know?"

"Goodness, I was just asking. No need to bite my head off." He made his head disappear and reappear.

"Fine, whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "Just don't tell anypony about this please."

I sat up on the couch and slowly opened the box, watching Discord in my peripheral vision. When I got the box open finally and pulled the crown out for him to see, he drew back.

"That's what you stole?" he asked in disbelief.

I looked up at him. "What do you mean? What's wrong with it?"

He shook his head and tsked a few times. "If only you knew about this...this...thing." He pointed at it as if it were a deadly snake coiled up in front of him, ready to strike.

"Oookay," I said, scratching my ear. "If you want to tell me, I'm all ears."

He grinned deviously. "No, you aren't." He snapped his claws and suddenly I was covered in ears. "Now you are."

"AHHHH! Get them off me! Get them OFF!"

He laughed maniacally and and snapped his claws again then the ears vanished, leaving me there gasping for breath.

"Oh...okay...you were...saying?" I asked between breaths.

"Oh yes - where was I...the crown!" he said loudly. "So, thousands of years ago, there were some nasty ponies that were worse than good ol' Uncle Discord. They would do just awful things to each other. But one in particular was just as cruel and vile as one could be."

I was listening intently now, my breathing back to normal again.

"He was a mage. That crown was made and cursed by himself. There's a scroll that goes along with it, used to awaken...a deity." His voice trailed off, a smile still on his face.

"What next?"

"You don't have the scroll, do you?"

I was growing impatient already. "No, now tell me the rest of the story."

He patted me on my head, which only made me mad. "Sure, sure...so eager to learn. Anyway, the scroll has the incantation needed to bring to life the deity it's made for. And you must be wearing the crown while you're chanting."

"No way," I said flatly. "You're crazy. This is just some weird-looking crown I stole from somepony. You're just trying to scare me into getting rid of it. In fact, I bet you want it." I pointed an accusatory hoof at him.

He threw his arms up in mock-surrender. "What? No officer, that wasn't my intentions at all! I really am telling you the truth."

I stared at him for a moment, but he appeared to be sincere. "Okay, fine. So, what do I do with it?"

He started flying around the room. "Well, considering that that thing makes my evil in the past look like a golf ball compared to a beach ball, I'd get rid of it. Bury it or whatever. You don't have the scroll, so that's a plus. As long as the two aren't together, we'll all be fine."

I dropped the crown back in the box and closed it. "I'll do that some other time. For now, I want to do some more research on it myself. See what I can find out."

Discord stopped flying around and faced me, raising an eyebrow. "You're not going to try to use it, are you?"

"Of course not," I scolded him. "I want to sell it..."

"Pfft...you ponies are so greedy." He watched me place the box back under the couch. "I'd bury it. It's in your best interest. Tata!" He waved and disappeared.

I gave a sigh of relief and went back into the kitchen. Angel was in there on the counter. When he seen me, he started waving his paws around wildly, ranting and raving about the mess Discord had left.

"Yes, yes, it's a mess. Fluttershy's going to be upset when she sees this..."

Just then, Discord reappeared in the middle of the kitchen, startling both me and Angel into hiding.

"Oh, my! I almost forgot!" he said, snapping his claws to render the kitchen spotless in seconds. Then he was gone again.

"Ugh."

Chapter 9: Celestial Reward

Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne when both Armor Wing and Thundercloud rushed up to her.

"Your Majesty!" Thundercloud said breathlessly, both he and the sergeant bowed before continuing. "We have important news regarding the infamous thief!"

"What is it, lieutenant?" Her curiosity was only partially employed. Her soldiers tended to overreact to crime, but not always.

"He has committed murder!" Thundercloud said, exasperated. "Twice! He was confronted by some brave citizens aboard a train, of which two he savagely threw overboard into the forest. He jumped out with them. He is no longer in Canterlot! We've lost him!"

Princess Celestia stood up, outraged. Thievery was petty, but murder would not be tolerated, and was worth her attention. "I want your efforts to find him doubled, lieutenant! Send armed guards to Ponyville, Appleoosa, Las Pegasus, Baltimare, and Manehattan to search for him. Start with the outermost cities and work your way inward. And I want a bounty placed on him for 100,000 bits - dead or alive!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two soldiers bowed before making a hasty retreat to carry out their new orders.

Celestia pulled out a scroll and quill to write a letter to Princess Twilight in Ponyville and Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire.

"Rainbow Dash! Are you up there? I need to talk to you about something," Fluttershy called up to the cloud she supposed her friend was resting on.

Fluttershy had went looking for the blue pegasus who had stood up for her in flight camp. When Fluttershy was being bullied, Rainbow Dash had jumped in to defend her, even having a race with the bullies. Ever since, they'd been close friends.

Rainbow peeked her head over the edge of the cloud. "What's up?"

Fluttershy put up a hoof to shield her eyes from the sun. "Oh, um, I was hoping you could come down here to talk, but it's okay if you don't want to..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Hold on, I'm coming." She leapt off the cloud and soared down to the shy mare that awaited her. "Okay sooo...what's up girl?"

Fluttershy gave her a slight smile. "Oh, I just wanted to talk to you about somepony I met."

Rainbow was confused as to why Fluttershy would want to talk to her about somepony like that, but she relented anyway. "Alright, do I know them? Are they a guy or a girl? What's up?" She put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder like a concerned parent.

Fluttershy looked a bit sheepish and replied, "Um...well, he's somepony I met recently..."

"And do I know him?"

Fluttershy shrugged. "I'm not sure. His name is Emerald Mist. He just moved here from Canterlot a few days ago."

Rainbow shook her head. "Nah. Don't know him. Anyway, what's wrong with him? Is he being mean to you to you? 'Cause if he is, I'll teach him a lesson if you want me to, no questions asked - "

"No, it's nothing like that," Fluttershy interrupted her, talking softly. "He's my newest friend, and he was homeless, so I let him stay at my place - "

"What?! You let a total stranger stay at your house one night?" Rainbow demanded. Fluttershy's kindness knew no bounds, and it often got her into unpleasant situations.

She swallowed. "Um, well, I kinda told him he could, you know, stay until he got back on his hooves..."

Rainbow face-hooved. "Ugh. Fluttershy, you hardly know the guy. What if he's a serial killer? Or a thief? Or an imposter?"

"I'm sorry...he just seems so...nice." She lowered her voice to an almost inaudible whisper. "And I kinda might like him a little..."

Rainbow's ear twitched. "You what now?"

Fluttershy let her mane fall in front of her face, nearly concealing it, something she did intentionally when she was feeling shy. "Um...I-I might have a slight crush...on him..."

Rainbow tried to be mad, but couldn't. It was actually a relief to see Fluttershy come out of her shell. If she liked the guy, and he was a good guy, then Rainbow was willing to do whatever it took to help out. Fluttershy had never dated anypony, so Rainbow was determined to assist her friend into getting a coltfriend for the first time.

"Alright, that's good," Rainbow said quietly. "I'm glad you came to me for help." She paused. "That is why you came to me...right?"

Fluttershy smiled faintly. "Of course."

"Good." She started walking, prompting Fluttershy to follow. "So tell me - what's this guy like? What's he look like?"

Fluttershy considered this as they walked down the path back towards Ponyville, since they were on the outskirts. "Well, he's a white pegasus with a black mane and really pretty green eyes. He's really sweet and flattering, really chivalrous and helpful. He's funny, too. And smart. And he loves animals like me."

"Sounds like a perfect match," Rainbow observed, allowing a hint of jealousy into her voice.

Fluttershy looked off into the sky and whispered, "Yeah..."

"But you know what they say," Rainbow went on. "Opposites attract, hehe."

Fluttershy looked over at her, not getting it. "What do you mean? Do you think that he...doesn't like me?"

Rainbow smiled and shook her head. "I didn't say that, and I don't know, either. I'd have to check him out, then I'd know for sure. Does he act like he likes you?"

"Well, he's awfully nice to me all the time..."

"Alright," Rainbow said. "The gala is coming up soon. I'd ask him to go to the gala with you."

"But he's already going," Fluttershy told her.

Rainbow sighed. "No - I mean with you. As your date."

Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "Oh, I-I don't know if I can ask him out like that..."

Rainbow laughed and put her arm around her friend's shoulders. "Come on, I'll help you."

"So...you want to meet him?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yep. I'll be able to help you find out if he likes you at all, plus help you figure out a what to ask him out."

Fluttershy hugged her friend gratefully. "Oh...thank you so much for helping me, Dashie."

"Don't mention it," Rainbow said. "Now - where is this guy?"

Chapter 10: The Hunt Begins

Not long after Discord had left, Fluttershy came home - with another of her friends.

"So, you're the one Shy's been making a big deal of, huh?" the sky-blue pegasus with a rainbow-themed mane addressed me as she and Fluttershy came into the living room.

I sat quietly on the couch and nodded. Fluttershy's been making a big deal of me?

"Not much of a talker, eh? Just like Fluttershy." The blue pegasus gave me a wink.

I squirmed a little in my seat. "Uh...yeah, I guess. I didn't catch your name, by the way. I'm Emerald Mist."

She flaunted herself like a snobby princess. "Call me Rainbow Dash."

"Would anypony like some tea?" Fluttershy tried.

I rubbed my stomach. "I wish I had room."

"No thanks," Rainbow said. "Just had some cider from Applejack earlier. Special order, hehe."

"Oh," Fluttershy murmured, sounding disappointed.

Rainbow turned her attention back to me. "So, Emerald, why'd you move from Canterlot to Ponyville? There's way better stuff there."

Fluttershy must've told her a little about me, I thought. "Trouble living there, put plainly. No need to elaborate," I told her.

"Uh-huh, and you just happened to end up on Fluttershy's doorstep needing a place to crash?"

Suspicious much? "Uh, actually I slept in her chicken coop. She found me."

Rainbow came over and sat beside me on the couch, smiling. "Really? That's cool. You'll like Ponyville." She stretched out lazily. "So, you like anypony here?"

Fluttershy coughed.

I cleared my throat. "Well...that's a bit personal, don't you think?" I accidentally let my gaze wander over to Fluttershy, where our eyes met. I looked away.

Rainbow chortled. "Nah, not really." She looked at Fluttershy and then at me. "Fluttershy has somepony she likes."

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy shouted, horrified.

"He's really cool, handsome, and sweet, she told me." Rainbow eyed me strangely, trying to see my reaction.

I was torn. Fluttershy had a crush...and it wasn't me? It didn't stop me from liking her, though. "Oh, well, good for her."

Rainbow studied me like a specimen for a moment before turning to Fluttershy. "Hey, that guy you like, are you gonna ask him out?"

Fluttershy was speechless, her mouth agape.

"Um, I think I have to use the restroom," I said, excusing myself.

They both looked surprised as I hurried up the stairs and shut the bathroom door behind me, leaning up against it to listen to their impending conversation about me.

"Rainbow Dash, that wasn't necessary."

"It was too! You said you wanted to know if he liked you."

"I know, but that was just a little...rude."

"Rude, shmude...you have to be bold with these things. Besides, I can safely say that he does like you."

"Oh...really?"

"Heck yeah, he does. Did you see the look on his face when I told him you had a crush? He was totally hurt."

"Oh...I wish you hadn't done it that way."

"And when I asked him if he liked anypony, he looked dead at you, girl."

"Omigosh...what do I do? I'm nervous..."

"Ask him out at the gala. I bet you 10 bits he says 'yes'."

"Well, um...okay, if you think it'll work..."

"Shake on it."

I heard hooves clap together and decided that I was done "using" the toilet and flushed it. As I "washed" my hooves, I tried to absorb what I'd just heard. So it was official: Fluttershy liked me. But what should I do? I've never been asked out, and from my understanding, they guy's supposed to ask the girl, not the other way around. But she had planned to ask me. I grew dizzy thinking too hard about all this. I certainly had my hooves full now.

I shut the faucet off and dried my hooves off on the towel hanging on a rack by the sink. When I finished, I headed back out of the bathroom and took the stairs instead of flying, trying to slow-play.

They were both watching me; Rainbow with a big grin, and Fluttershy - well, just looked shy.

"Hey, we were just talking about you," Rainbow said humorously.

I bet. "Oh? I hope you were being nice."

"Oh, we were, don't you worry," Rainbow assured me, her grin never wavering.

"Um, Emerald?" Fluttershy asked daintily. "What's in that box, if you don't mind me asking?" She pointed at my box under the couch.

I laughed nervously. I have no idea why. "Oh, that...is my...crown." Dumb.

"Your crown?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes," I replied as casually as possible. "I won it...in a contest." Dumber.

Rainbow seemed more interested now that I mentioned "contest". "A contest? What kind of contest? Was it a flying contest?"

"No." I sat back on the couch. "It was a card game." Dumbest.

"Huh. I bet you I could beat you in a card game. Wanna play for that crown?" Rainbow asked a little too excitedly.

I shook my head. "Absolutely not. I already won it. Why would I need to win it again?" That came out a little snappy, I realized.

"Can we see it?" Fluttershy inquired. For some reason, she wouldn't make eye contact with me.

"I guess," I said, after a moments' hesitation. I slid the crown out of the box into my lap as they oohed and ahhed.

"It's cool." Rainbow folded her arms across her chest. "But not cool enough."

"It's just a crown," I said, putting it back it back in the box and closing it. "It doesn't have to be cool. Besides, I'm selling it."

Rainbow started for the door. "Alright then. Well, I'll see you two - " She snickered a bit, " - later." Then she flew off.

I shook my head unhappily as I placed the box back under the couch.

Flutteshy sat beside me. "Rainbow Dash is always so bold." She put a hoof on the back of mine. "Sorry about her odd questions..."

I stiffened. "It's quite alright. I'm used to it."

She smiled at me through her mane. "Oh."

I sighed purposefully. "Well, I think I'm going to the library for a little research. Want to go with me?"

She perked up. "Sure. That sounds nice."

"Alright, let's go."

Dark Storm met up with his confidants far from his home, near the train tracks.

They'd both arrived not long after Storm had met with Solar Flare, the unicorn who'd employed him.

Orion, his first recruit, was a griffon - dark brown with a scar running vertically across his left eye. He was an excellent assassin, and his choice was a bow and arrow, which he carved himself and wielded expertly. Storm relied on him for his stealth-kill missions.

The other was a huge pegasus from Manehattan. His name was Steelwing, and rightly so. He could fly with the best of them - the Wonderbolts - and not break a sweat. His only weapon was a small dagger he kept concealed under his hooded cloak. His coat was a smokey gray, and he had a long, black mane. His eyes were a disconcerting, icy blue.

Both he and Orion encountered Storm on the platform about the mission.

"Orion, Steel, so good to see my brethren after so long," Storm said cheerily, though his eyes remained cold.

"Oh, please," Orion grunted. "You seen us last week in Las Pegasus."

Storm gave him a hard stare. "Indeed." Although normally Storm wouldn't have tolerated such sassiness from one of his subordinates, the current mission was much too important for him to worry about the submission. He needed both of them. "Come, let us walk and talk"

They all began walking away from the station, one of each of Storm's minions on either side of him.

"What are the details of this so-called 'make-it-or-break-it' mission?" Orion asked.

Storm answered without looking at either of them, facing forward as they all walked around the courtyard just outside the train station. "Emerald Rain has stolen a very powerful artifact from our client. In fact, it is so important, he is willing to pay five million bits for the return of the crown."

"Wait - we're retrieving a silly crown?" Steel laughed dryly.

"Not silly," Storm snapped, annoyed. "Powerful. Deadly. Unique."

"How so?" Orion inquired, dodging a pedestrian.

Storm was silent for a moment. "I cannot tell you. Client's orders. However, there is an update available on things."

"Eh?" Orion raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Emerald is quite possibly in Ponyville. The train he hopped on to flee Canterlot went straight through it on the way to Appleloosa. I doubt he got off there in Appleloosa, but it is a possibility that cannot be ignored. I will head to Appleloosa, Steel, you go to Ponyville. Orion, you will stay here." Storm stopped so the other two would do the same.

"What do we do if we find him?" Orion asked, looking around and back at Storm.

Emerald has a bounty, dead or alive, from the Princess of 100,000 bits. Capture him to get the crown. Kill any that stand in your way. The first sighting of him, however, shall be reported to me. We will do this as a team."

"That's a first," Steelwing muttered, earning a dirty look from the others.

"The terms of the mission are understood," Orion said.

Storm grinned. "Good. Let us begin."

Chapter 11: Target Acquired

A few days later, after meeting an overly friendly (and ridiculously hyper) earth pony named Pinkie Pie - she lived on the top floor of a local family-owned bakery - I left stuffed to the gills with sweets of many different and admittedly delicious variety. After that, Fluttershy insisted that we go see Rarity about a suit for me.

"I don't know," I said with slight uncertainty, "will she be able to make one on such short notice?"

Me and Fluttershy were hobbling our way to Rarity's workshop, the Carousel Boutique. The summer sun shone brightly overhead, but it was comfortably warm today, thankfully.

"Oh, of course. Rarity is amazing at doing what she does."

My stomach gurgled and I winced. "If I don't blow up first." That earned me a giggle from Fluttershy.

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

I looked up at the sky briefly. "It sure is a beautiful day today," I noted aloud.

"It is," Fluttershy agreed. "It's always like this before a thunderstorm."

"A thunderstorm? You're a meteorologist, too? You are perfect."

She blushed. "No, I can't predict weather. It's a scheduled thunderstorm, controlled by the pegasi. It will be on the night after the gala."

I detected a faint amount of fear in her voice. "You don't like thunderstorms, do you?"

She looked away, embarrassed. "No..."

I put my arm around her shoulders. "It's okay...nopony's fearless. Can I tell you a little secret about me?"

She nodded, still looking embarrassed.

I whispered in her ear, "I'm afraid of heights."

She smiled warmly at me. "Thanks...I do feel a little better now."

I smiled back. "That's what I like to hear." Too bad I'm not afraid of heights. But she felt better, and that's all that mattered to me.

We reached the Carousel Boutique a few minutes later. It was a very Canterlot-esque rotunda, with white, purple and a few other colors decorating the column-shaped boutique. It actually had style, something I was surprised to have even noticed at all.

Suddenly, I felt better about getting my appearance changed for the gala by this "Rarity" pony.

We went through the front door and a bell rung above our heads to signal our entrance.

A white unicorn mare with a spiffy purple mane came bounding down the stairs.

"Hello, welcome to the - oh, hello Fluttershy, and..." The unicorn eyed me in a way that quite certainly was admiration. "Fluttershy has a new friend, I'm assuming?"

"Oh, yes Rarity." Fluttershy stepped forward. "His name is Emerald Mist. He's from Canterlot."

Rarity's eyes grew wide. "Canterlot?" She looked at Fluttershy with a knowing smile and batted her eyes accordingly. "My, my, my...Fluttershy, I had no idea you had such exquisite - taste." She looked at me.

Fluttershy looked uncomfortable. "Oh, um...he's not..."

Rarity waved her hoof. "It's okay darling. I know exactly what's going on."

"You do?" I asked. Like Fluttershy, I was flustered with Rarity's bold assumption, but not offended.

"Sure," she replied in sing-song. "She's here to check on her dress and ask if I can make a suit for you."

I was astounded. "Wow."

Rarity started up the stairs. "Just a lucky guess. Please, come upstairs so I can get your measurements."

Me and Fluttershy followed her up while we talked.

"So," I began. "Are you sure you're okay with making a complete stranger a suit - for free?"

"Of course." She led us into her work area. It was cluttered for the most part, right now at least. But the dresses set up around the room were amazing. "Any friend of Fluttershy is a friend of mine." She looked back and winked.

I smiled nervously. "That's good...I guess..."

Rarity pranced over to a rack of fabric. "What would you like for a suit?"

"A tuxedo," I replied instantly. I already thought of everything. "Black, please. I don't need anything too fancy."

Rarity bit ahold of some fabric and started pulling. Through her teeth, she said, "Nonshensh. Itsh da gawa we're going to. You need to wook handshome."

"Oh, Rarity? Have you finished my dress? I'm just wondering, 'cause I wanted to see it real quick, if you don't mind..." Fluttershy asked quietly.

Rarity spit the fabric out and turned back to me and Fluttershy. "Yes, of course, darling. And Emerald, when we come back, I'll need to take your measurements."

I nodded. "Sure."

They left the room for a moment, chatting incessantly about the upcoming gala.

I watched them leave and wandered around the room, examining the gowns on the mannequins. One dress was lightning-themed, with golds and reds all over in swirls and lines. It was actually really intricate and elegant. The next dress was...most likely Applejack's. I'm thinking the apple-theme gave it away. I resumed my examining of the dresses when Fluttershy and Rarity returned.

"Checking out my other projects?" Rarity asked. "I can assure you your suit will be fabulous."

Fabulous? Hopefully not feminine. "Great. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, dear." She was at her little work station, a dresser with a mirror. "Anything else you need before I begin?"

Yes. "Um, I do have one private request for when we get ready to leave for the gala."

Rarity looked at me from reflection in the mirror. "What is it?"

I hesitated. "I'll whisper it in your ear. It's a secret."

"Oh - okay..."

I went over to her, giving Fluttershy a forced smile and turning my attention back to Rarity. I leaned close to her and whispered into her ear, "Can you style and dye my mane dark green?"

"Dark green?!" Rarity hollered, sounding disgusted and appalled.

"Yes, please Rarity," I half begged. Fluttershy was watching us curiously, I saw in the mirror.

Rarity sighed. "Okay, if you insist, though I strongly suggest against it. Come by tomorrow, since the gala is tomorrow night. I will certainly get that done for you."

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a huge weight lifted off my back. Things were finally going in my favor. "Thank you."

"No problem, dear," she replied. "Just come by tomorrow evening before we leave."

I nodded and glanced at Fluttershy. "Your dress looking good?"

"I can't tell you. You'll see it at the gala."

Ah, a surprise. "I can't wait to, if that's the case."

Rarity started her work. "Oh, I'm sure," she said.

"Well, let's go back to Sugarcube Corner," I told Fluttershy, her smile widening knowingly. "I have enough room for some more cake."

"Sure," she obliged.

Me and Fluttershy started to leave. "Later, Rarity. And thanks again for the suit and stuff."

"You're absolutely welcome. Se you two tomorrow," she called out as we went down the stairs and out the front door.

Steelwing had already made it to Ponyville earlier that day, around morning. He checked into a small, cheap motel not far from the town hall and wandered about the dirt paths in the town until noon.

The sun shone brilliantly overhead, but it was pleasantly cool.

Steel was not far from his motel when he spotted something interesting. He made sure his hood concealed his face and tracked what appeared to be his target and some unknown mare walking side-by-side down the path straight towards him.

Steel quickly but calmly out of sight behind a nearby building, unnoticed. He watched and listened.

As the pair got closer and passed Steel, it was confirmed - the male was indeed Emerald Rain. The accompanying mare could possibly be a mate - or bait.

"Perfect..." Steel whispered giddily. Had he really just been this lucky? He went from building to building, following them and eavesdropping.

"...If I don't blow up first."

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

Steel trailed them all the way to a tall cylindrical building in which they entered.

"So, Emerald is stupid enough to go back to Canterlot for the Grand Galloping Gala, huh? We shall see how that fares him." Steel could not contain his glee as he left for the train station to go to Appleloosa.

Dark Storm would be pleased.

Chapter 12: Strictly Platonic

Applejack really overworked me.

Fluttershy had convinced me to help out at Sweet Apple Acres the following day for a delicious meal and a few bits.

But dear Celestia that was hard work.

I sat at the table with Fluttershy, Applejack, Big McIntosh, her big brother, and Applebloom, her younger sister, and Granny Smith, their grandma. We ate a meal the Apple family prepared in the evening hours after a long (literally) hard day's work planting new young apple trees and harvesting from existing ones. I had no idea how hard it was to do farm until now.

"I can't stress it enough that I appreciate y'alls help taday." Applejack finished up a slice of apple pie from heaven and regarded me and Fluttershy with a delighted smile. "Ya did a great job."

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed, tenderly rubbing his plump stomach. He eyed the remaining bite of pie on his plate, but left it alone.

I sat back in my chair. "Of course, it was just me and Fluttershy helping out. I'd help out again anytime if you needed it." I regretted those words as soon as they spewed from my maw.

"Well, sure," Granny Smith said jovially. "Y'all are welcome to come help anytime. In fact, come by nex' week, we'll surely have somethin' fer y'all."

The filly, Applebloom, was staring noticeably at me and occasionally Fluttershy, but hadn't said so much as a word to either of us. It was unsettling, so I initiated a conversation to break the ice.

"Hello, Applebloom is it? I'm concerned about your gawking. Do I have something stuck in my teeth?"

She shook her head violently, as if snapping out of a trance. "Oh - sorry. I was jus' noticin' somethin'. It's no big deal."

"So...no food in my teeth?"

"No, sir," she replied adamantly.

"Oh!" Fluttershy burst excitedly. She sat in a chair to my right. "Applebloom, how is your club going?"

Applebloom shrugged. "I dunno. Sweetie Belle an' Scootaloo are busy a lot lately."

"They were jus' over yesterday," Applejack pointed out, frowning at her.

Applebloom smiled innocently. "Uh...yeah. Besides yesterday."

I took a drink of apple cider, savoring the taste as it flowed down my throat like a sweet golden waterfall. "So," I began, wiping my mouth with the back of my hoof. "You have a club? What's it about?"

"Well, it's called, uh, the...Cutie Mark Crusaders."

"Really? What do you fillies do in the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders'?" I asked, amused.

She looked around the room nervously. "Well...we try an' git our...cutie marks."

"Adorable," Fluttershy whispered in my ear.

I leaned over to hers and replied, "Agreed." She giggled with a hoof over her mouth.

Again, I noticed Applebloom's gaze on me and Fluttershy.

I was about to say something, but Applebloom called Applejack over to her. She whispered something in Applejack's ear, to which Applejack whispered back audibly, "No, I don't think so, an' it's none of are business if they are."

I shifted uncomfortably. Gossip?

The two sisters noticed me watching their conversation and smiled over at me.

"Uh, Emerald?" Applejack asked hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to ya in the kitchen real quick? I just gotta quick question fer ya."

"...Okay..." I stood up, seeing Fluttershy's questioning look. I returned it.

Applejack led me into the kitchen and turned to face me. "So, uh, whaddaya think of ma sister Applebloom? A real cutie, huh?"

"This isn't the question you brought me in here to ask me, is it?" I asked, getting to the point and hoping she would as well.

"Well...no." She glanced over my shoulder at somepony, probably Applebloom, then back at me and sighed, lowering her voice. "I know Applebloom can be a bit nosy sometimes, but she also makes good points, so I have to humor her."

I waited for more, and when it didn't come, "And?"

She cleared her throat and continued. "Are, uh...you an' Fluttershy...ya know..."

"No," I cut her off. Why does everypony keep assuming we're a couple? "Me and Fluttershy are just friends. Strictly platonic."

"Oh!" She looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry 'bout that. I jus' thought..."

"Yes, I know what it looks like, but no, we aren't together. I mean, it I'm not her coltfriend, even though I...flirt...but, you know, like I said, strictly platonic." I sounded defensive, and I didn't know why.

She looked back up at me, apparently surprised by the way I sounded. "I'm not tellin' ya that ya can't date her, I'm jus' sayin' that I thought ya already were." She smiled. "Do you like her?"

That question caught me totally off guard. "Oh - well, uh...I, um...might think she's...pretty...but we're just friends, rest assured."

Her grin grew wider. "Ya jus' think she's pretty, huh? Sure partner. You look pretty nice for the gala. You wearin' a suit with that do?" She was referring to my mane - I'd been to Rarity's earlier that evening, getting my green dye and trim. Fluttershy loved it, but Rarity did not.

"Well, I had to look nice, you know. The gala is kind of a big deal," I said calmly. "And yes, I'm going to wear a tuxedo."

Applejack nodded. "An' Fluttershy likes the tuxedo, too?"

"Actually, she hasn't seen it."

"Why not?"

I swallowed, wishing I could get a swig of my apple cider at the table. "I haven't seen her gown, either. We aren't going to the gala on the same ride. We'll be seeing each others' outfits at the gala."

She raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Ah, I git it."

"Get what?"

She walked past me back into the living room. "Nothin'. Let's clean up this mess so y'all can git ready to leave fer the gala an' I can too."

I shrugged and helped her bring all the plates and mugs into the kitchen to be washed. Big Mac did that, while me and Fluttershy said our goodbyes and parted ways so we could get dressed and ready for the gala. Fluttershy went home, while I went to Rarity's and left for Canterlot straight from there.

As I put the suit on and received appraisal from Rarity, the nervous nagging feeling I got when I was stealing in Canterlot started up.

I hope this goes well.

Orion decided to stake his post out in view of that night's Grand Galloping Gala, where there would be hundreds in a attendance, hopefully one being Emerald Rain.

The high-up ledge on part of Celestia's castle that he'd flown up and landed on had a great view of the entrance, where Emerald would likely be seen first.

It was already an hour after sundown, and guests to the gala were arriving in bigger and bigger groups, none of which contained Emerald. So Orion sat patiently with his bow at the ready, in case one of the princesses nosy guards caught him up there.

He was busily combing through faces when a noise behind him prompted him to spin around, his bow-and-arrow aimed precisely.

The figure held up his hooves and pulled back his hood. "Careful," Steelwing warned him. "Dark Storm won't take insubordination very well."

Orion lowered his bow. "What in Equestria are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Ponyville."

Steel grinned wryly. "I have news for you. On Emerald."

Orion doubted it. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"Emerald is coming to the gala," Steel confirmed Orion's hopes. "He also has a marefriend. With her, I'm sure we can manage to lure our friend in right to us."

"How can you be so sure about this?" Orion asked. "How do you know Emerald will be here tonight?"

Steel's smile faded. "I came across him and a yellow and pink mare pegasus walking together and talking in Ponyville." He cocked an eyebrow. "You don't think I'm lying to you, do you?"

"I wouldn't put it past you, because it wouldn't be the first time. You've diverted my attention elsewhere so you could bring in the bounty and take all the credit."

"Listen...I'm fully sincere about this," Steel said. "I'm going to Appleloosa to inform Dark Storm on the situation. I just thought I'd drop by and let you know about it before him...you know, to give you a head start?" He turned and prepared to fly off. "Get the girl, you get Emerald, and you get the crown. I'll leave the choice up to you." Then he flew away for the train station.

Orion silently turned back to the entryway. He'd made his decision.

I got to the gala after dark that night, having ridden the train.

Fluttershy and the others took a horsedrawn carriage, and would be here later. I was actually early.

And nervous.

Although I'd made to the castle, the site of the gala, without notice, I was still afraid of somepony somewhere somehow recognizing me.

It was relatively quiet for now, as everypony arrived from all over, some coming from as far as places like Baltimare, but a majority were from Canterlot.

I followed everypony else up the stairs and into the big double-door entrance to the castle.

I had a lump in my throat as I entered the castle past two armed Royal Guards. They didn't give me so much as a glance.

Inside, it was pretty much a line waiting to see Princess Celestia, something I had no desire to do. But the more I tried to find a way around her, the more I realized - it wasn't going to happen.

As I waited in line, thoughts of capture flooded my mind. Will she recognize me? Will she have me tossed into the dungeon on the spot? Will she have me...executed? I shivered violently. Stop scaring yourself.

The line went fast, and soon I was only a few ponies away from the ruler of Equestria.

I gulped as the pony in front of me greeted the princess and moved on.

My turn.

I plastered on the cheesiest smile in history and faced her with a near heart attack. "Hello, Your Highness!" I bowed.

"Glad you could make it," she replied, actually sounding friendly.

I started past her, and was almost clear, when I heard her say sternly, "Stop."

I did so and spun around, beginning to sweat. "Y-yes, Princess?"

She regarded me with a blank look. "That's a nice suit."

I breathed for the first time in ages. "Oh...thank you."

She smiled and turned back to the next guest. "How are you?"

I sighed and made my way into the castle.

Everypony was well dressed. Not that that was uncommon in Canterlot, but these gowns and suits were dazzling. I was glad Rarity made me a suit, otherwise I would have looked out of place in one of my other suits from my limited wardrobe.

I found what appeared to be a ballroom and seen a table with food and drinks on it.

The drink was champagne, to my surprise, and some high-class grab-n-go foods I couldn't identify.

As I taste tested the foods and filled a glass with some pinkish champagne, I nearly fainted when I seen Fluttershy come in.

She was beautiful, stunning, out-of-this-world...

She noticed me, smiled, and came trotting over. "Hey Emerald..."

I was at a loss for words. "H-hey..." I trembled slightly. Her dress was a perfect match to herself, and I couldn't tell you how good it made her look. Her mane was also done up, likely by Rarity, with little bows and some pearl earrings on. She wore some high-heels as well. Her overall appearance was jaw-dropping, for lack of better terms.

"Um...I like your suit," she complimented me, sounding like her usual easily shy self.

I cleared my throat and smiled nervously. "I, uh, you look nice...pretty..."

She blushed lightly. "Thanks..."

As my heart pitter-pattered away, I thought of something to avoid awkward silence. "Would you like a glass of champagne?"

"Well, I usually don't drink...but I'll have one with you."

I filled her up a glass and handed it to her. She sipped it and made a face.

I tried not to laugh. "So...you want to go, uh, out to the garden?" I asked.

She suddenly seemed a little less tense. "I'd love to."

I smiled. "Great. You'll just have to show me where it is..."

She giggled quietly. "Sure."

Orion had seen her.

She'd come in with a group of friends, all dressed up - but Emerald was not with her or among them.

He cursed under his breath, believing that Steelwing had lied to him.

The mare was just as Steel had described, though, which didn't make sense to him if he was lying about Emerald coming here with her. Perhaps he really was telling the truth, and Emerald was just smart enough to not be seen coming in with her.

Orion flew from his elevated stone rooftop to one higher up. At these heights, all of the castle's exits and entrances were visible. A much better advantage.

The moon was also conveniently full, allowing Orion to see even in the darkest of places. If Emerald tried to leave, Orion would know.

But Orion had a different plan: capture the mare.

If Steel was right about her being in contact with Emerald, than his goal was to get the mare to talk.

Orion pulled a small vial out of his saddlebag. It was a poison to put somepony to sleep within seconds of being administered. Put it on the tip of an arrow, and you had a very effective weapon.

Orion grinned.

Just a bit.

Chapter 13: More Precious Than A Billion Bits

On the way to the garden, me and Fluttershy had run into Rainbow Dash, outside the castle talking to one of the Wonderbolts.

And I wish we hadn't.

When Rainbow saw us, her attention swayed in our direction. "Hey, guys! Glad to see you two together." She snickered a little.

I gave her a dirty look. "What's that supposed to mean? And why is it good?"

"Whoa," she said, growing serious. "Just hanging out, is all I meant."

Sure. "I see." The Wonderbolt gave me a wave, and I returned a nod.

"How are you enjoying the gala, Dashie?" Fluttershy asked in a tone far friendlier than mine.

"It's awesome. I was just chatting it up with Soarin' here." Rainbow smiled gleefully.

"I had a feeling you would," Fluttershy replied.

I took a quick look around, seeing hardly anypony else outside beside us four. "Where is everypony?"

Rainbow shrugged. "Beats me. Better for you two." She turned back to Fluttershy as I snorted angrily. "So, do you remember?"

Fluttershy looked momentarily confused. "Remember...?" She suddenly looked surprised as she remembered whatever it was. "Oh! Um...I don't know..."

"Come on," Rainbow urged. "You have to. We bet on it."

Now I finally got what they were talking about.

Fluttershy sighed. "I know..." She looked off into the night sky for a moment. "Okay."

"Sweet!" Rainbow turned to Soarin'. "Can you show me those moves now? I betcha I can keep up!"

"Alright. Let's go," he said and flew off with a whoosh.

"Later you guys. Don't have too much fun," Rainbow said with a quick wave and a giggle, then left for Soarin'.

Me and Fluttershy stood alone now, just outside the castle.

I cleared my throat. "Well, um, where were we?"

"Oh, yeah, the garden." She motioned ahead down the cobblestone path heading into a cluster of trees in the distance. "It's not far now."

We started walking again. "That's good. I've been here before, but I don't know all the animals that live in the garden." I smiled at her. "But I know you do."

She blushed at that compliment. "Thanks..."

The garden was packed with a large selection of animals hoof-picked by the princess herself. They roamed freely in the decently-sized chunk of forested land in the courtyard of the castle. Honestly, though, I could care less about the animals tonight. It was Fluttershy that had my heart.

"So...what was Rainbow talking about earlier? A bet, or something like that?" I asked, legitimately interested to know what Fluttershy would say. I hoped she would tell the truth.

She sighed. "I knew you'd ask."

I looked over at her. She was still red from earlier, when I complimented her, which told me she was probably going to tell me - or ask me, that is.

"Well," she continued, her voice shaky. I noticed how the light of the moon seemed to amplify her natural beauty to the point I was shaky. "I was...g-going to ask...um, to ask you - "

"What a pleasant surprise!"

Of all the characters to run into..."Discord, what are you doing here?" I demanded.

He was wearing a tuxedo with a top hat and glasses. "Well, Celestia invited me, of course. You don't think I'm here to crash the party, do you?"

"No, of course not," Fluttershy answered before I did, and that was probably for the best. "How are you?"

"Marvelous!" he exclaimed, spinning around in the air. "I was just going to see the princess, until I ran into my two best friends!" He eyed me with a sneaky smile.

"You already met Discord?" Fluttershy inquired, turning to face me.

I nodded slowly. "More or less."

She grinned excitedly, looking back to Discord. "That's great! I'm glad the two of you are getting along. I was hoping you two would, to be honest."

Discord flew up beside me and threw an arm around my shoulders. "Yep! We're best pals, right Emerald Rain?"

My heart skipped a beat. "Ixnay on the name, ay," I muttered through clenched teeth.

"Oh, right, sorry. Mist."

Fluttershy beamed at us. "I'm happy you two are friends. So happy."

"So am I," Discord agreed, squeezing the life out of me. "So am I."

"Well," I gasped, trying to work myself free. "You should...er...probably go see the princess before she...gets too busy."

He squeezed harder. "Nonsense! I'm going to hang out with my friends," he said.

"Actually, Discord, me and Emerald were going to the garden for a while," Fluttershy informed him, in my defense, it seemed.

"Splendid! Can I tag along?"

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "Well...just me...and Emerald...were going to the garden..."

"We'll...catch up...with you...later..." I struggled to tell him.

Discord finally let me go, and I coughed and gagged on the ground, with Fluttershy giving me an odd look.

"Okay then," Discord said resignedly. "I'll see you two around." He slumped and trudged off, heading towards the castle.

"Oh...sorry!" Fluttershy tried, but Discord went on.

I finally sat up, still in slight pain. "He'll be fine," I wheezed.

Fluttershy helped me up. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

I wiped some dust off my suit. "I'm good. Let's just head to the garden."

And we walked off.

Orion was watching, waiting, hoping.

Emerald had still not shown up, but he'd still been looking for him, though not as hard as he was for the mare that was supposedly his mate.

Even with his view of the whole castle, and its surroundings, he'd still had no sight of either targets. After he'd seen the mare enter with friends, she'd disappeared.

But Orion was patient. He had to be, and this also wasn't the first time he'd had to watch and wait. His last three missions had been like that. And each time he got what he needed.

And this time would be no different.

With a sigh, he continued scanning the whole area in his view.

The garden was devoid of anypony but me and Fluttershy.

We'd walked all throughout the garden while she pointed out and identified all sorts of rare animals to me. But once again, it wasn't the animals I cared about.

"You know, you never finished telling me what you were going to say earlier before Discord interrupted us," I said, as we stood near a small pond with the moon overlooking it. The mood was set.

She was silent for a moment as she stood beside me, looking up at the moon. "Oh, yeah...that..."

I put my arm around her shoulders. "You know you're the most amazing mare I've ever met?" The moment I said that, my heart rate increased. No going back now.

I saw an embarrassed smile creep across her face as she looked down at the ground. "You're sweet...thank you."

"I really mean it," I went on. "You're sweet, beautiful, generous, beautiful, with the voice of an angel..." I grinned and added, "Did I mention beautiful?"

She gave a quiet little laugh. "Um, yes...you did..." She looked up at me, our eyes meeting. Her eyes glittered in the pale moonlight like two precious teal gems. The most precious gems in my life.

I leaned a little closer to her, our muzzles only a few inches apart, close enough I could feel her breath on my snout. It sent a shiver up my spine. "So, about that stuff you were going to tell me earlier?"

She gave one of those smiles - the ones that showed how happy she was. It was one of those dazzling, toothy smiles that always seemed to take my breath away and capture my heart like a net. "Um...well, I-I'm...not sure how to...tell you..."

With my other hoof, I took hers. "Whatever it is, it won't effect the way I feel about you." Definitely no going back.

"Th-the way you...feel about me?"

I nodded slightly. "Yes, the way I feel about the most incredible mare in Equestria."

She turned rosy-cheeked again. "Oh, my..."

I pressed on. "So, you were saying, sweetheart?"

She swallowed. "I...I...um...well, I...kinda...um...really...like..."

I put a hoof over her mouth gently. "I know what you're going to say," I said softly.

"Y-you do?"

I smiled. "I do. I really like you too, Fluttershy. More than I've ever liked anypony before. Nopony has ever been more important to me than you are now. You're the star of my life now, the very reason I keep pushing everyday, the reason I haven't given up on myself. I moved here thinking I'd be alone, isolated from everypony else...but...you've shown me a kindness I didn't even know existed. I...I've fallen in love with you, Fluttershy. You're the mare of my dreams." I finished that speech with my heart pounding in my chest like a jackhammer.

Tears welled up in her eyes as her smile grew bigger. "Do you really mean that?"

I nodded. "From the bottom of my heart." I paused, thinking of a way to prove it. "Here, let me show you."

I placed my hoof on her cheek as gently as possible, and I leaned closer to her.

She was red as a tomato now, and pulled her head back slightly, then changed her mind, and instead leaned in, her eyes squeezed shut.

In a triumphant few seconds, our lips had met - our first kiss.

Her lips were softer than I imagined, and I could smell the perfume she had on much better now. Her eyes were closed, but I kept mine open. I was just too excited.

She finally pulled away, looking slightly embarrassed, but still smiling lightly. "I...um...never did that with anypony before..."

I pushed her mane behind her ear and smiled back. "Neither had I - until now."

She gave me that smile again, and I knew right then and there that I had something more precious than a billion bits.

I had her heart.

He'd finally spotted her.

Orion had seen the mare strolling with an unknown male pegasus. It looked like she was sharing an intimate moment with him.

What a slut, Orion thought disgustedly. Can't be happy with one mate, can she?

He flew off his perch to one lower and closer to the garden - what appeared to be a rotunda for tools and feed for the inhabitants of the garden, he assumed. The moon was directly behind him, which he thought as perfect for his next plan of action.

The mare was sitting side-by-side with the male facing directly at him, but he doubted they could see him, much less recognize him for what he was about to do.

He watched the mare and the stallion kiss.

Oh, how romantic, you little whore, he thought. Enjoy this moment while you still can. He readied his bow.

I studied her facial expression, trying to read her emotions, but she suddenly threw her arms around me in a tight embrace.

I hugged her back. "So, you'll, uh, be my marefriend now, right?"

"Of course, silly," she said with a sniffle. A few seconds later, she pushed away, taking a hoof in each of hers and smiling at me. "I was ...kinda supposed to ask...you out...that was part of the bet me and Rainbow made a few days ago..."

I shook my head. "It's okay...I'll say that you asked me."

"But I'll still lose 10 bits."

"I'll pay her," I said with a wink.

She beamed at me.

Orion held up his bow and aimed. "Quit hugging, dammit!" he hollered, trying to readjust his aim every time the mare moved.

Our glasses of champagne were empty now, and I could tell that Fluttershy was a lightweight. Any more and she'd probably start acting tipsy.

"So, you and Rainbow made a bet that I liked you?" I asked curiously. We were sitting face-to-face, with the pond and the moon to our left.

"Um, well...yes," she admitted. "She does that all the time, though."

"Bets?"

She smiled. "Sort of..."

Orion watched them split up again, although still holding hooves. When he shot her, he expected the male to go get help, and that's when Orion would fly down and scoop up the girl.

He held the bow steady, aiming for her neck.

He let out his breath and released.

I was listening to Fluttershy tell me about some "bets" she'd made with Rainbow Dash, when something caught my eye in the distance.

Against the moon, on a building not too far away, the outline of a figure holding up something captured my attention. Since I had pretty good vision, I squinted trying to see it better and saw -

"Watch out!" I yelled and pushed Fluttershy out of the way just in time as something whizzed up and embedded itself into the soft flesh of my side, just in front of my right wing.

I immediately felt a liquid warmth spreading through my body, and my vision started fading to blackness. The last thing I heard was Fluttershy screaming before everything went to black.

The idiot got in the way! Orion raged. The arrow struck the male. He'd seen Orion last second and managed to pull a heroic move and save the girl.

Damn fool!

Orion took one last glance down at the two and flew off to his apartment to formulate a new plan of attack.

Chapter 14: Paper Lies

My eyelids crept open, and the first thing I saw was Fluttershy's relieved face gazing down at mine.

"Emerald!" she cried. It looked as if she'd been crying, She tried to hug me, but stopped midway.

"Ugh...what happened...? Where am I?" I groaned, feeling a throbbing pain in my side and in my head. I also felt really groggy.

Fluttershy put a hoof on my chest. "It's okay, Emerald." She called out into the hall for the doctor.

I looked around the room as best as I could, struggling to sit up despite the shooting pain in my chest and side. "Where am I?" I repeated.

"The hospital in Canterlot. Lay back down before you hurt yourself," she answered in a motherly tone. I complied.

A doctor came in a few minutes later - followed by Rainbow Dash, AJ, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, Spike, and...

Princess Celestia.

I immediately bolted upright, breathing hard. The small, white room was crowded, and I was the center of attention.

The doctor came over to my bed and pushed me back down. "Easy, fella. You don't want to reopen that nasty wound you got last night." With that, he started checking all my vitals, while everypony else stood around and looked concerned.

"Will he be okay, doc?" Fluttershy asked him when he finished.

The doctor nodded. "He'll be fine, so long as he stays in bed until we release him. The wound was merely superficial. He's very lucky."

"We're glad you're okay, Emerald," Twilight said with sincerity. Her and the others were still in their gala gowns.

"Absolutely," Celestia agreed, stepping up to my bed.

I cowered, half under the covers. "Uh, thanks."

She nodded. "No, thank you, Emerald Mist. For saving Fluttershy's life."

I looked over at her, and she smiled back at me. "I just reacted the way anypony else would've,' I said modestly.

Celestia called a guard in, who was carrying a medallion of some sort. She took it from him and turned back to me. "The Brave Citizens Award, for risking your life for somepony else's." She draped it around my neck. Everypony gave an applause and started talking excitedly all at once.

"Listen everypony!" I shouted above all the noise. They all fell silent a few seconds later.

"What is it, Emerald?" Fluttershy asked.

I looked around at them. "Who shot at me? Er, Fluttershy? Did they get away?"

"The suspect is still at large and has not been identified," Celestia informed me. "We are also still looking for another criminal, who's guilty of far worse than attempted assassination."

I thought to myself, Could she be referring to me? "Okay, well, is there an investigation?"

"There will certainly be one, Emerald," Celestia confirmed. "For now, worry about getting home and healing." She turned to the others. "I must get going, as I have some things to attend to."

"Sure, Princess. Of course," Twilight said as she and the others bowed respectfully.

Celestia left with the doctor trailing behind.

Fluttershy came up beside me and took one of my hooves. "I was so worried about you."

I smiled at her. "I'll be okay. Don't you worry."

"What did it feel like to get stuck with an arrow?" Rainbow asked. "Did it hurt? Was it kinda painful or horribly unbearable? Did it feel like a bee sting?"

The others gave her dirty looks.

"What? It's just a question. Or two."

I sighed. "It's okay, guys. It was definitely painful. Much worse than a bee sting." I tenderly rubbed the spot on my side that was struck by the arrow.

"We, well, I, brought you some cookies!" Pinkie pointed excitedly at the platter on the small wooden nightstand to my left.

"Oh, well thanks."

"You're welcome," she chirped.

"So - why were you and Fluttershy alone in the garden anyway?" Twilight asked curiously.

Good question. "Well...Fluttershy was just showing me all the animals. I'd been in the garden before, but I didn't know all the species. Fluttershy is smart. She knows her animals."

That seemed a reasonable answer, as Twilight let it go. "Okay, well, thanks for doing what you did. If I had any doubts about you before, they're gone now."

I waved a hoof dismissively. "No need to thank me, guys. I did what needed to be done."

I felt Fluttershy tug lightly on my arm. I looked and seen a pleading look in her eyes. "Can I, um...talk to you about something?"

Not knowing what it was, I turned to the others and said, "I appreciate you guys coming in to see me, but Fluttershy has something to ask me. Can we get some privacy?"

Only AJ and Rainbow seemed amused - Rarity looked nonchalant, Pinkie Pie confused, and Twilight annoyed. However, they all left without a word. Rainbow was the last out the door. She winked and shut the door behind her.

I sighed and looked back into Fluttershy's eyes, which portrayed appreciation and worry beyond words.

"Please - don't ever hurt yourself for me again," she said softly. "I couldn't live with myself if you..." She plunged into my arms, and I felt a stab of pain, which I ignored.

I embraced her, feeling her sobs moistening the bandages on my shoulder. "Fluttershy...please don't cry. I had to do that. I...I reacted on impulse. It's what I do for the ones I care about."

She kept crying, quietly but ceaselessly, for the next few minutes. Finally, she let up, and looked up into my eyes. "Just...promise me you'll be okay."

I tugged her up onto the bed beside me. She laid her head on my chest, wrapping her arms around me.

I winced, but let her hold me, and I held her. It was okay.

"Emerald?"

"Yeah?"

"Do...do you think they know? My friends? Our friends?"

"About what?"

"Us..."

I smiled. "Maybe one or two of them," I whispered in her ear.

She snuggled up to me, showing affection I never felt from anypony. I felt her slow, deliberate breaths on my neck, where she'd buried her muzzle.

"Would it bother you if they did?" I asked.

"Not really..."

I gave a quiet chuckle. "You're cute."

"Thanks..."

We lay there in silence, until she fell asleep on my chest. Soon after, I succumbed to sleep as well.

"Hey, sleepy head?"

I opened my eyes and stared right into Fluttershy's. She was smiling tiredly down at me.

"What time is it?" I asked as I sat up. The room was dimmer, with every other light on the ceiling turned out.

"Time to go home, silly. You're being released," she explained, still laying beside me.

I yawned and felt slight pinching pain on my side. Less than before, when I woke up the first time, but it still hurt. "So...how long was I out this time?"

"Well...it's tomorrow morning. Early, actually. I've been awake for an hour or two. The doc came in a few minutes ago and told me you're being discharged," she said. She saw me attempting to climb out of bed and helped me down.

"Okay." I glanced out the doorway into the hall and seen a doctor scurry by, off doing his job. "Where is everypony else?"

Fluttershy was making the bed. "Oh, they went back to Ponyville last night, I guess." She started packing up the cookies Pinkie had made us into a paper sack.

I trudged over and stood behind her as she rolled the top of the bag up and held it in her teeth. "Is it safe?"

She turned around to face me. "Da cookiesh?"

I smiled and shook my head. "No - I'm talking about outside."

"What do you mean?"

"The assassin. Am I - are we safe from them?" I defined my question a little better.

Her eyes widened with realization. "Oh, my! You're right!"

I started toward the doorway. "Well, let's go find out."

The hallway was not very long, which made it easier to determine where not to go, but not where to go.

"I'll show you," Fluttershy offered and moved ahead of me, leading me away from my room.

At the end of the hallway was a staircase and an elevator. We took the elevator, for the sake of my comfort.

When we got off, we were in a lobby or waiting room of some kind, filled with all sorts of ponies sitting and waiting to be seen. There was a big, wooden reception desk on one side, which me Fluttershy wandered over to. I obtained my release papers and turned to leave, walking through the lobby with Fluttershy.

"Are we going to take da train?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess. We can - " I stopped dead in my tracks. A newspaper laying on a small desk between chairs announced something that made me weak at the knees.

The title read, "Canterlot Thief A murderer!"

"What?!" I yelled, a little too loudly. I felt eyes on me and looked around. everypony, including Fluttershy, was looking at me.

"Um...what's wrong, Emerald?" Fluttershy asked, alarmed.

I hesitated, staring back down at the article. "Uh...nothing. Let's just...go. Now." I started walking away, with Fluttershy catching up.

"Are you okay?" she asked again.

I shook my head. "Let's just get out of here."

Chapter 15: Brewing Up A Storm

"You imbecile!" Dark Storm raged at Steelwing when he'd informed him that Orion was left to get the girl.

This was at the rundown motel room Storm had rented in Appleloosa, the small southwestern town that marked the beginning of his search. It was bleak, dimly lit, and dusty, as if it hadn't been used in years. The bed was comfortable, at least.

Steel stood near the door, watching Storm throw a fit in front of the window overlooking the center of town. "I had no choice. The girl was a method of retrieving Emerald. I figured it would be too late to get her once I arrived her to tell you of the updates. Orion can handle himself, too. He's not a child."

"I do not care what you figured," Storm fumed. "You figured wrong. Orion is arrogant, as are you. But Orion is foolishly arrogant, tending to jump ahead of himself. Him attacking the girl will only arouse the interest of both her friends and Emerald." He turned around, glowering. "This is the very reason I specifically commanded you to come to ME!"

Steel lowered his eyes. "My apologies."

"Damn your apologies! You have nearly incapacitated my plans with your dim-witted 'figuring'! Now I must go deeper into the shadows to maintain secrecy and close in on my target!" he yelled in frustration, causing Steel to flinch. Storm was dangerous when mad. "This is why I so choose to work alone. In case fools like you counteract my own plans."

Steel cleared his throat. "All is not lost. And I can assure you there will be no more mistakes."

"You're right," Storm said, sounding oddly benign. "No more mistakes. If there are, consider yourself my number one target."

"Fair."

Storm to look out the window again, acting a little more composed. "Now - what exactly did you say Emerald was doing when you saw him and the mare?"

Steel dwelt on it for a moment. "He was walking about Ponyville, flirting with her."

"What were they talking about?"

"I do not know," Steel admitted. "I believe it was simple flirting, no more, no less."

"You heard nothing specific?"

"I believe I do remember their destination, however," Steel offered.

Storm turned. "Well? Speak up!"

Steel continued, noting Storm's impatience. "The Carousel Boutique."

Storm's eyes flashed. "The Carousel Boutique? The place where one of Equestria's best fashion designers resides and conducts her business?"

Steel shrugged. "Well...I suppose that's the one, yes."

Storm regarded him with a cold stare for a moment before once again turning to look out the window. "At this point, for your insolence, I should kill you. But, as gracious as I am, I'm willing to offer you a chance to prove yourself useful."

Steel was quiet for a moment. "Yes?"

Without facing him, Storm replied, "I need you to go to the Carousel Boutique. Talk to Rarity. Ask her if she's helped a male pegasus change his appearance drastically in the past few days. Then come back to me and report her response. Simple, easy, fun. No room for error. Understand?"

The order made sense to Steel as he understood what Storm was getting at. "It sounds easy enough, since she doesn't know me."

"And nopony shall ever," Storm warned him in an icy stare that cut like a knife. "There must be nopony that learns of you or our current mission. It would mean your life if information on all our plans somehow found it's way into somepony else's hooves."

"That is fair, boss," Steel agreed calmly.

Storm finally left the window, going to the dresser near his bed. "Order effective immediately," he grumbled.

Steel wasted no time getting out of there, and on the next train to Ponyville.

The train ride home was uneventful. Me and Fluttershy were safe, as far as we could tell. For most of the ride home, though, I was quiet, deep in thought.

Murder? When did I commit murder? I felt sick to my stomach as the princess's words came back to haunt me.

"We're still looking for a criminal who is guilty of far worse than attempted assassination..."

Why would anypony ever accuse me of such blatant nonsense? I would never harm a soul! Somehow, somewhere, lies have been spread. But how could anypony even lie about a murder? There'd have to be a body. Was there? Part of me didn't want to find out.

I suddenly became aware of Fluttershy's hoof on my arm. I looked over at her and seen concern blossoming in her eyes.

"What's wrong, Emerald?" she asked in her normally soft, sweet voice.

I sighed heavily. "Nothing...just...worried."

"About what, if I may ask?"

I looked out the window. If only I could actually tell you. "Just...about us. That attack was uncalled for and left me with a lot of questions."

"Me too," she agreed, following my gaze out the window at the land rushing by. She was silent for a few moments before she started talking again. "Are you worried it'll happen again?"

I looked back at her. She was the reason I was worried. I just didn't want to lose her or my new friends. But with each passing day, things grew increasingly difficult, the lies more elaborate, and the danger ever higher. I wondered if I should just tell her everything. Maybe she'd understand. Maybe she'd help me out of this nightmare that for some reason felt like it was just getting started. "There's no telling. I still don't know why they even attacked in the first place. And you, of all ponies. You didn't make anypony mad recently, did you?"

She shook her head. "No, not that I know of. Princess Celestia told us she was working on finding all that stuff out for us. She said she would send a letter to Twilight if she found anything out."

Of course. Princess-to-princess. "Did she? That's good." I glanced around the train car and back at her. I lowered my voice to just above a whisper. "In the meantime, you and I need to keep an eye out for trouble. Anypony could be the enemy."

She nodded without saying a word.

"What else did Celestia say to Twilight?"

"I'm not sure. Nothing about us, I don't think," she replied. "Twilight just told the doctor before she left what the Princess Celestia said to her."

The train rocked a little. "Well, as long as somepony's trying to get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, I'm half-tempted to go find out myself."

"Please don't," Fluttershy pleaded, wrapping one hoof around my upper forearm and placing her other hoof in mine. "What if you get attacked when nopony's around to see? What if they attack me while you're gone?" She shivered visibly.

I pulled my arm out of her grasp and instead wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her close to me. "I won't let anypony hurt you, okay?" I said. "I promise."

She smiled up at me. "Okay."

"Now - how much longer will this train ride be? I'm starving."

She laughed. "Not much longer, I think we'll be home soon and I'll make you some stew."

"Make some for us," I corrected her, grinning. "I'm not the only living in your cottage, my lady."

"My lady?" she repeated quizzically. "That's the first time anypony has given me that title."

"Well - you're getting that title from me...my lady."

She tensed up. "It doesn't sound right hearing you call me that."

"What's the matter," I asked, "nopony ever played role-play games with you?"

She shifted so she could look up at me better. "Well - yes. But I thought you were actually calling me your lady."

I chuckled. "Okay, obviously you didn't get it." I reclined back, pulling Fluttershy with me. "So instead, let's just role-play later."

I totally meant that in a non-sexual way.

"I guess..."

"And enjoy the refreshing cacophony of noises from this gentle train."

She gave a little laugh. "It's not that bad."

As if to contradict her, the train rocked and groaned.

"Not that bad, huh?" I asked humorously.

"Okay - maybe it's a little bit noisy sometimes," she admitted, her voice lowered. It sounded like she was getting sleepy.

"Oh, no you don't," I squirmed a little, trying to get her head off my chest. "You are not getting tired again. We need to stay awake."

She tried to snuggle back up to me, but I started tickling her.

She gasped and tried hard not to laugh as she attempted to get away from me, but it was too much. She eventually broke into laughter, loud enough to startle some nearby passengers, who gave me wary looks before returning their attention elsewhere.

"Stop it, Emerald!" Fluttershy said breathlessly, rolling on her back and pushing my hooves away. "That's embarrassing me."

I stopped tickling her and leaned over her, my face right above hers and only a few inches away. She looked back up at me with bright eyes and a tired smile. "Alright, I'll stop - for one teensy price."

"Okay...what?"

I leaned down and kissed her gently. She blushed back up at me. "That," I said in a whisper.

"I...um, it'll be a while before I get used to those..." she said before snuggling back up to me, and this time I let her lay her head back on my chest.

I kissed her on the forehead and said quietly, "Now you can go to sleep."

"I'm not tired anymore."

I grinned. "It had nothing to do with me - did it?"

"A little, yes."

"No way," I said dismissively. "I'm innocent."

"I don't think so, mister," she said in a motherly fashion. A few seconds later, she asked, "How did you end up homeless in Canterlot? Or without a job?"

Why is everypony so curious? "I was kinda depressed after my parents passed. I was calling in and not showing up too often. Eventually I got fired." I told her another lie. I was not calling in, I was purposely stealing from my boss, who never knew that for sure, but had enough evidence to just get rid of me.

"So, how did you survive without a job for so long?" she probed.

So damn inquisitive. "Well, my savings were pretty hefty, plus I sold some of my stuff." I closed my eyes, wishing this conversation would end.

But she went on. "You sold your stuff?"

I sighed. "Yes, my stuff. Stuff I can never get back."

She began running her hoof delicately across my chest. It felt so good I shivered. "I'm sorry you had to do all that."

Her apology only made me feel worse. "It's okay - I'm over it. Besides, I found something - or should I say, somepony - way better." I gave her a quick squeeze.

"Awww...thanks." She sounded even more tired. "I'm happy you aren't sad anymore."

I started stroking her mane as lightly as she'd done my chest. "So am I."

She fell silent, and was soon asleep.

I couldn't sleep, however. Not with what was on my mind now.

An assassin is out there, and I have no idea where, I told myself bitterly. I dragged Fluttershy into a mess she wasn't supposed to be a part of.

I glanced down, watching her sleep peacefully.

I'm sorry, sweetheart. As long as I'm alive, I'll do anything and everything to protect you.

I looked back out the window, seeing my reflection in the glass.

Anything.

Chapter 16: Making A Move

Dark Storm had left Appleloosa promptly after Steelwing went back to Ponyville. Storm was going to Canterlot to reprimand Orion if he hadn't yet captured the girl, who so far remained nameless. He expected Orion to fill him in on the details.

Once Storm hopped off the train in Canterlot, he went immediately to the hotel that Orion was staying at during the course of the mission. It was one of the nicest, most expensive and luxurious in Canterlot. Each of Storm's recruits were given a certain amount of bits to spend on anything to help them complete the mission. Sometimes there was enough for luxuries, such as the hotel, or harlots, which helped ease the stress away in difficult missions. Storm turned the blind eye on these expenditures unless they began interfering with the mission.

At the hotel, Orion was in his room, carving up some new arrows for his bow. Storm didn't even bother knocking - he simply barged in.

Orion stopped and looked up, startled by the sudden intrusion by his boss.

"The girl," Storm snapped, slamming the door behind him. "Who is she and where is she?"

Orion stood up from his chair in front of the desk. "Emerald's marefriend, I've concluded," he replied nervously, sensing his boss's anger. "Steel should know all about her. He's the one that informed me of her first."

"Don't try to pass this off onto him," Storm advised him, taking a threatening step closer to him. "You were supposed to get the girl, from my understanding. Now - are you going to answer me, or will we have problems?"

Orion stood speechless for a moment before replying, "I attempted to subdue the girl, but her unidentified mate performed the most idiotic act of bravery and chivalry I've ever seen, and intercepted my arrow. I had to leave, as the Royal Guard soon swarmed the scene."

"How did this 'unidentified mate' know to deflect your arrow from striking the girl?" Storm asked hotly, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I suppose he may have seen me - "

The movement was sudden: Storm was on him, pinning him on the floor with both hooves on his shoulders. "Tell me they don't know your identity!" Storm growled. "Tell me you haven't compromised the mission!"

Orion lay slack-jawed for a few seconds, unable to reply due to the shock of being tackled so fast. Finally, he pulled himself together. "I'm good. Nopony knows of me or the mission," he muttered.

Storm curled a lip at him and let him up. "I will not allow any more mistakes from this point forward from you or Steel," he declared authoritively. "You two are trained professionals, so act like it. Another mistake will mean your termination - got it?"

Orion was just getting up. "Yes, boss."

"Good. Now tell me about the 'unidentified mate' you mentioned earlier," Storm demanded.

"Well," Orion began, "it seems the girl is not content with one mate. If she is with Emerald, as we assume, than she is being unfaithful."

Storm snorted. "This is all useless information. I'm not interested in knowing if so-and-so is the real father of little Joey - give me the details on the girl. Her information, whereabouts, name, anything to help with the mission."

Orion sighed and nodded. "It has everything to do with the mission, boss. She is seeing multiple mates at once. We could use this to our advantage if we - "

"Not good enough!" Storm slammed a hoof down on the dresser, sending a few arrows onto the floor. "You will be the one in charge of getting the girl." Something clicked in his mind. "Wait - what did this 'mate' she was with at the gala look like?"

Orion was lost. "He was white with a dark green mane."

Storm's excitement grew. "And his cutie mark?"

Orion thought for a moment and nearly blanched. "It was...three..."

"Green raindrops?" Storm finished for him.

Orion nodded but said nothing.

Storm walked to the window. "It seems the mission I just put Steel on was a waste - we already know that Emerald Rain has disguised himself. Subtly, but not subtle enough."

"So what do we do?" Orion asked.

"What you will do is stake out in Ponyville now. I want eyes on the girl and Emerald," Storm said, still looking out the window. "The time to apprehend Emerald is close. But first, I want more information on those two as a couple. who knows how many friends they have? It would be most unwise to simply pick him and the girl up. So you, along with Steel, will go on spy duty until I'm there. I must go speak with Solar Flare about the coming along of the mission."

Orion cringed. "Spy duty? The lowest of the low? The least entertaining?"

Storm glared at him. "Yes. Problem?"

"Uh, no. Not really, no."

"Good. Now, I must be going, as should you, before it gets too late," Storm supplied, making his way to the door.

Orion began picking up his arrows off the floor. "I will leave shortly, then."

Standing in the open doorway, Storm watched him. "I expect you to be gone soon. If not, I will take care of you when I get back." Then he turned and left.

Orion waited until he was sure Storm was gone before muttering, "Ponies. Can't live with them, can't live without them."

Fluttershy and I were now watching a movie in the living room, both of us cuddled up on the couch eating out of a ginormous bowl of buttered popcorn.

After making the stew and eating, we'd decided to watch a movie from the small collection of reels she had in a closet.

The movie that we chose was called "Zompony", a movie unlike all Fluttershy's other movies because Rainbow Dash had given it to her as a birthday gift. Fluttershy was too scared to watch it alone, and since Rainbow'd already seen it, Fluttershy put it in her closet with the other movies, all of them about wildlife. When I saw it in the collection, there was no doubt in my mind: we were going to watch that movie.

So here we were, halfway through the movie, and Fluttershy was already scared out of her wits.

"Wha...what's that?!" A pony screamed, pointing a hoof at a zompony as it dragged a leg and groaned, creeping toward her.

The guy pony that accompanied her stuttered, "That's a...zompony! Run!"

The pair ran, but the guy pony tripped over a root and fell in the mud.

"Noooo! Blitz!" the girl cried in horror.

The zompony came upon the guy and leapt on him.

"SAVE - ack - YOURSELF...!" he yelled to her as the zompony tore his throat out.

This is where I giggled like a moron and Fluttershy buried her muzzle in my neck, whimpering and shaking like a wet dog.

I sighed, still smiling as the zompony gnawed chunks of flesh off the pony's face. "Fluttershy, you're missing it."

"Good," she said, her voice muffled. "Then my plan is working."

"Why would your plan be to miss out on the best parts of the movie?" I asked, watching the zompony now go after the girl.

Fluttershy sniffled. "My plan is to miss out on the scary parts, not the best ones."

I laughed. "Okay, if that's the case, than why don't we just go to bed?"

"Go to bed? Now?"

I slipped out of her grasp and turned off the projector. "Yeah. You look a little tired, anyway," I said, smiling at her.

She looked nervously out the window, rubbing her hooves together. "I'm really not tired."

I began wrapping the projector cord up. "Well, you look upset. Is something bothering you? Did the movie scare you that bad?"

"Not the movie..." Her voice trailed off.

"Not the movie? So what are you so worried about? Is it me? Did I do something wrong again?" I pushed the projector to the side and out of the way.

"No, it's not you," she reprimanded me. "It's just...tonight there's...it's supposed to thunderstorm."

"Ohhhh...I get it now," I said and was unable to hold back a grin. How can anypony be afraid of thunderstorms? "I remember you telling me about that. Are you going to be up all night now?"

She sighed. "Maybe...usually I sleep with my teddy bear. I can fall asleep better if I cuddle with him." She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug.

I sat down beside her, our bodies up against each other. Feeling her body touching mine sent chills up and down my body. "A teddy bear, huh? Nopony else to cuddle with you, who can actually hold you, tell you everything'll be alright, to tell you there's nothing to fear, or to hold you close and kiss your forehead?" I slipped my arm under her arms and above her wings, drawing her closer to me. She looked up at me with big, curious eyes.

She smiled meekly. "Oh, I...suppose you could be better than Teddy in a thunderstorm..."

"I will be, you mean," I corrected her, nuzzling her nose with my own.

She looked away shyly, but didn't say anything.

"Are you sure it's tonight?" I asked, taking a glance out the window. It was dark, mostly cloudy, and quiet as a calm winter night. It was possible that a thunderstorm would roll in, but I still wasn't certain.

Fluttershy tugged at my arm. "Are you okay?" You look troubled."

I looked down and gave a quick nod. "Of course I'm okay, Flutters. Why wouldn't I be?" I elbowed her very gently, smiling.

"About what happened the other night...I figured you might still be worried," she explained, looking worried herself.

I shook my head. "Not really. I trust the Princess to keep us safe and up to date on any leads. I also doubt anything will happen again, though that doesn't mean it won't." Then I added, "Sorry, I'm not trying to scare you, by the way."

She shook her head bravely. "I'm not scared, of that thing happening again. I'm just a little...worried. And I don't like thunderstorms."

"Well," I said, "tonight I'll keep you company so you don't have to rely on a teddy bear to comfort you.

How's that sound?"

She rested her head on my shoulder. "It sounds nice. Thank you."

Just hearing her sweet voice and feeling her so close to me made me realize just how much she meant to me. I knew I was getting in deep. I felt that nothing else mattered to me at that moment but her. I just wanted to sit there with her all night, listen to her breathe, feel her heart beating against my arm, and watch her chest rise and fall with each breath...

This must be what it felt like to be wanted. To want.

To love.

I never thought there'd be a day where'd I'd be able to use the "L" word in a positive connotation, but here I was, happy, and very much in love.

She interrupted my thoughts by uttering my name softly.

I snapped out of my reverie and looked down at her. She was nervously pointing out the window. I looked and saw distant flashes of lightning and smiled. "Alright. Let's go to bed, Shy."

She immediately looked relieved, hopping off the couch and stretching. "Okay."

I followed her up the stairs, flipping out the lights.

"I can't see," I heard her whisper in the dark.

I grinned and said, "It's okay - the lightning should be bright enough to light the way."

"That's not funny."

I tried not to laugh, remaining silent.

I'd never been in her bedroom until now. And I was not impressed with how neat it was because I expected it. Fluttershy was always clean and organized. Her bed was butterfly-themed and not very big, and the frame had little hearts carved at the tops of the bed posts. A nice rug sat next to a fireplace, and there were more birdhouses than I could count. There were three windows - two round and one tall rectangle. One of the round windows, the one left of the fireplace, was open. I could see big, heavy raindrops come sailing in.

Fluttershy rushed over and shut the window hastily.

I watched with a half-smile on my face. When she turned around and noticed, she said "What?"

"You're adorable, you know that?"

She shied off out the doorway. "I'll be right back." She went off, and a few seconds later I heard a door shut. The bathroom, I presumed.

I looked around for a few minutes before hopping on her bed.

It was surprisingly bouncy. And soft.

By the time Fluttershy returned, I was halfway under the covers. I watched her come in and smiled at her. "Hey..."

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you getting tired?" She was still standing in the doorway.

I shook my head. "Nah."

A bit of thunder rumbled outside, and within seconds the lights were out and Fluttershy was under the covers, clinging to me like a leech.

"This is really not healthy, girl," I said after the thunder stopped rolling. Through the darkness I tried to see her face, but my eyes were still adjusting.

"I-I've al-ways b-been afraid of th-thunder and l-lightning," she stuttered, her voice muffled from being under the covers halfway and buried on my chest. She was shaking as well.

I felt bad for her, wrapping her up in a tight embrace as lightning flickered outside. "It's okay, hon. It's okay..." I tried to use my most soothing, consoling voice.

Thunder roared overhead and I felt Fluttershy shudder. I started feeling wetness on my chest.

Boy, she really doesn't like thunderstorms, I told myself as I placed my hoof under her chin and gently lifted her head, so that we were face-to-face. She was indeed crying, and seeing it broke my heart.

"Shhh...it's okay, sweetie. You're safe. I won't let anything hurt you. I promise," I told her. She continued shivering, but in her eyes I sensed that she believed me. I saw the fear drain away from her eyes as I held her closer. "It'll be okay..."

Thunder crashed outside, but she paid it no mind. She instead stared into my eyes, a smile forming at the corners of her lips.

"Are you okay now?" I asked in a whisper.

She gave a barely perceivable nod. "Yeah...I-I think so..."

I gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Good," I said, looking at her passionately. "Need anything else?"

"No, just you."

The rain outside picked up from a steady shower to a heavy downpour. Lightning flickered like flashbulbs and thunder rumbled menacingly. The windows were coated with running water, distorting the view outside even when lightning lit it up.

But now my attention was solely on Fluttershy. Her breathing had slowed from her earlier panting to something more steady, and I felt almost no shaking. At this point, however, my breathing and heartrate had picked up. I felt feelings of care and attraction I hadn't even known existed, and every thought I had was of this beautiful mare. In fact, she was all I could think about.

But right now, I knew what I was wanting. What I needed.

I needed more of her.

I finally lifted her chin again to see her face. She was the most beautiful mare I'd ever met or seen. Her pink mane was tousled on the pillow, framing her face. Her eyes were dilated, deep and soft, glowing with what I felt was hidden desire, and seemed full, as if they were greenish-blue pools ready to spill over. Her lips were parted slightly as she breathed slowly and deliberately.

I can't explain how I was feeling right that moment. But I knew one thing for sure: I was in love. Fiery, passionate love.

"Fluttershy...I..." I searched for the right words, as to not scare her off or come on too fast. "I..."

Then she did something I didn't expect: she drew my face down to hers and kissed me. I felt like a jolt of static spread through my body, starting with my lips. The kiss was deep and full of want.

I broke off the kiss and decided that it was now or never.

I climbed on top of her, and, as I had expected, she was startled.

"Are...we...you...I mean..." she stammered, her eyes searching mine, eyebrows knitted together, her lips quivering.

I shushed her gently, my own body succumbing to these new feelings of inexpressible yearning. "If you don't want to...you know...you don't have to..."

She watched me with those eyes. Those curious, amazing eyes. But she said nothing.

So I started by running my lips along her chin on to the fleecy coat on her throat. I could smell her - not the soap she used to wash, not the perfume she wore, but her. Celestia, she drove me crazy.

As I slowly moved my lips down the soft contours of her shoulder and arm, I caressed her chest and abdomen, starting from just below her neck to her navel. I felt her trembling lightly.

Outside, I'd noticed, had quieted down to a low patter, and the thunder came in low growls rather than roars. With the noise outside almost gone, I could now hear Fluttershy's slow, heavy breaths.

I looked up at her face, to check on her. Her eyes were closed, her mouth still partially open.

I smiled and continued.

Oh, please let me do this right, I told myself, moving my lips down to her abdomen. I felt the warm, silkiness of her coat on my lips. I ran my lips across her belly, feeling a flush of heat in my loins as I heard a soft whimper from her.

I moved my lips further down, closer to the area of my desire.

Fluttershy was now breathing harder, in mewing gasps. She'd also tensed up, her back slightly arched. I decided to continue.

I moved my body, positioning myself so that I hovered over her lower body.

I'm actually going to do this...

"Emerald? I'm nervous..." I heard her whisper between breaths. She was looking down at me.

I moved up and nuzzled her nose with mine. "So am I, sweetheart."

She laughed faintly, and I joined her before I pressed my lips on hers again. I sought entrance into her mouth with my tongue, which she hesitantly granted. I tagged her tongue with mine, and she tagged back, then I felt another flush of heat again and broke off the kiss.

I seen her eyes closed, mouth agape, breathing steady, so I continued where I'd left off below.

I kissed her belly, felt it rising and falling with each of her breaths, and moved down again, just above her marehood. I forced myself to move slowly, to not rush.

Do this right, I said to myself.

I spread her legs apart and looked to see if there was any reaction.

Her cheeks were red, but other than that, only her breathing picked up.

I looked back down and seen what I'd honestly never seen before. My heart skipped a beat as I felt my loins tighten and my length extending. Oh, Celestia I wanted her bad.

I swallowed and lowered my face down, not sure what to do.

Just try and make her feel good, idiot. That's all there is to it.

I took a deep breath, and I smelled her want. I seen her want. She was wet already, and I grew confident at this.

I tasted her, running my tongue from the bottom to the top of her warm wetness.

She gasped and arched her back, panting rapidly.

I kept going, going over every inch and fold with my tongue as gently as possible. I went over her bud, but did so with added pressure.

She cried out and writhed, clenching and unclenching the sheets. At that point, I felt my need of her overpowering, and for a moment I thought I'd lose control, but I managed to hold back just a little longer.

I slipped my tongue inside her, tasting the saltiness. I pressed my tongue to the top of her tunnel and tasted a new wetness when I went in further. She was already close.

She was trying hard not to yell, but wasn't very successful. Her cries echoed out into the hallway. She called out my name in a ragged, lustrous voice: "Emerald...I...I...I want...need...something..."

Through clenched teeth, I replied, "I'm trying to go slow..."

She stared down at me with a half-lidded gaze, her mane all messed up, her mouth wide open, gasping and whimpering. I finally gave in and climbed back up to her, our faces even, and we locked eyes as I guided myself into her. She was definitely pure and undefiled, as I found it difficult to push my length fully inside her narrowness.

Her breath hitched and I stopped, fearing I'd hurt her.

"Are you...okay?" I asked tentatively.

She nodded up at me silently.

I swallowed and pushed myself in deeper, breaking through her innocence with carefulness.

"Ouch..." she breathed.

"Sorry..."

The rain outside had ceased, and now it was dead silent, save for our heavy breathing.

For a what seemed like hours, neither of us moved or said a word. We just looked at each other, feeling the warmth of our bodies and the tingle of our first time. Then I broke the trance.

All night we indulged in our secret desires and fantasies and explored each others' bodies. It was a night of euphoria I'd never expected to feel. And as the night wore on, the unsure quality of our actions faded away as our curiosity won us over. She even became a little playful, much to my surprise.

By the time dawn rolled around, we'd exhausted both our bodies and imaginations.

She lay on top of me, her arms wrapped around me in a fashion that said she'd never let me go, with her head resting on my chest. She fell asleep like this.

And as I held her and dozed off myself, my last thought was the way I truly felt for the first time in my life.

I'll never let you go.

Chapter 17: Patience Not A Virtue

Solar Flare was busy reading one of his many ancient scrolls when Dark Storm came by, knocking hesitantly on the front door.

Flare calmly rolled up the scroll and set it aside on his study desk in the living room and went to answer the door.

"Sorry to bother you on such short notice, but I came to inform you on the progress of the mission. Is now a good time?" Storm asked when the door swung open.

Flare waved him in. "Of course! Come in, make yourself at home."

Storm walked in and gawked at the collection of artifacts before him. The whole room was layered in an abundance of artifacts from many different eras, some of which Storm couldn't even identify. There were masks, pottery, crowns, swords, shields, clothing, scrolls, and various other objects around the room. It was quite the collection.

"Impressive, yes?" Flare asked him, coming up beside him.

"Words cannot describe," Storm agreed, still looking around the room. "How long have you been collecting?"

Flare retrieved a mug of some kind of steaming beverage from atop his desk and sipped it. "Many years. Since before you were even born." He set the mug down. "Most of my collection is about 3,000 years old. Some are older. some are newer, up to the last hundred years or so. I have a particular interest in artifacts from royalty. I have more than three-hundred crowns, grails, and other items from castles and other kingdoms." He was pacing the room, but he stopped and smiled at Storm. "Ever heard of Excalibur?"

He shrugged. "I have, but I don't know much about it, except that it's a sword."

"A king's powerful sword. A thing of legend," Flare said proudly, pointing to a golden-hilted double-edged sword hanging on the wall above the marble fireplace.

Storm glanced at it with genuine admiration. "It's quite nice."

"Among other things in my collection," he replied before frowning. "Or were in my collection."

"I assume you're hinting at the stolen crown in Emerald's possession?"

Flare sat down at his desk. "Indefinitely," he replied languidly, unraveling a scroll. "Which is the most important item in my entire collection. I need it to pair with another item. Without one or the other, they are useless."

Storm frowned. "Pair it?"

Flare was quiet for a few moments. Then he spoke. "Nothing more than a complete collection. A set, if you will. It's something we collectors do."

"I see."

Flare chuckled. "I'm sure you do." He took another sip of his drink. "And I still need one other thing,

besides the crown."

The comment piqued Storm's interest. "Something I could obtain for you?" he asked with a glimmer of hope.

"Oh, I very much doubt it," he said honestly. "It's in another pony's possession. I have been trying to purchase it from him for quite some time now, without much luck. Perhaps maybe recently he's changed his mind. I should pay him a visit." He grinned furtively.

Storm shrugged. "Well, in any case, I hope you complete your collection."

"I have not a doubt in my mind that I will."

Storm shifted uncomfortably. Something about Flare's surety was unsettling. "Ahem - well, on to the reason for my being here..."

"Mmhm?"

Storm continued. "Emerald has befriended quite a few ponies, hooked up with one, and altered his appearance. He was injured by one of my men, but he managed to escape. It shouldn't be long before we apprehend him and obtain your crown."

Flare rolled up the scroll with a sharp snap. "Have you any idea if he actually still has my crown?" he asked.

"Well, no, I don't. But wherever it is, I will find it. you have my word." Storm placed his right hoof on his chest.

"Sure, sure." Flare stood up, turning to face Storm. The benign carefree attitude he before possessed was all but gone - and instead replaced with what seemed to be as boiling rage seething just beneath the surface. He gave Storm a haughty gaze. "Tomorrow I'm leaving to hopefully purchase that other item I need from one of my colleagues. When I return, I expect you to have my crown. If not, the results will be - rather distasteful."

Storm was completely caught off guard by his sudden brashness. "I - well - okay. Your wish is my command."

Flare snorted. "As if your word ever meant anything to me in the first place. Your service is taking too long, and my patience is wearing thin. With each passing day, the possibility of my crown falling into the wrong hooves grows ever greater. Have my crown by my return."

"My apologies. I will double my efforts," Storm said, nonplussed.

Flare used his magic to open his front door and push Storm out. "I hope so, for your sake."

The door slammed behind Storm, who was completely lost by Flare's sudden anger. He shook his head and moved off to the train station.

I woke up with golden rays of sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of some delicious breakfast foods assaulting my nose.

"Good morning, Sunshine!" said a cheery voice.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes before looking around. Fluttershy stood beside the bed with a huge grin on her face. On the bed was a breakfast fit for a king.

"Wow...uh, this is nice. Thanks, Flutters," Before I dug in, I added, "do you want some?"

She shook her head. Her mane was all tangled, but it didn't make her look unattractive at all. "Oh, no This is strictly for you. I already ate."

I was starving for some reason. Fluttershy sat on the bed beside me, watching me as I ravenously consumed the food. I stopped mid-bite and looked at her. "Are you okay?" I asked her.

She nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just happy you like what I made you for breakfast. I've been up all morning making it. I didn't sleep very long, and when I woke up, I immediately thought of breakfast. I'm still...really tired."

"All morning? Since when? We went to sleep at dawn."

"That's about when I got up..."

I took a sip of some orange juice. "You didn't have to do all this, you know," I said. "You're not my slave. In fact - I should have made you breakfast this morning."

"I know," she replied shyly. "I did it because I wanted to..."

I smiled warmly. "I know you did, you sweetheart."

"Thanks..."

It didn't take me long to finish everything. It was like every bite was better than the last. I don't know how she does it, but the food she cooks is always amazing.

When I was done, I hopped out of bed and helped her bring all the dishes down into the kitchen to be washed. I saw a large group of small mammals feasting on a mound of food in the middle of the living room floor.

"They're worse than I am," I said, and Fluttershy laughed.

As I aided her in washing the dishes, Twilight and Applejack showed up.

"What're y'all folks up to this mornin'?" AJ asked cordially as she and Twilight, with Spike on her back, came into the kitchen.

"Dishes," I said shortly, nearly dropping a soapy glass on the floor.

"Well, besides that," Twilight said, slightly reprimanding me. Spike hopped off her back onto the floor and stood by her, looking around.

Fluttershy finished drying off the rest of the clean dishes. "Oh, well, nothing much then. We just woke up and ate. Did you three eat yet? If not, I can make you something, if you'd like."

"Oh, no thanks, Sugarcube. We ate," AJ confirmed.

"Not enough," Spike muttered, earning look from Twilight.

I balanced a plate on a glass on the counter. "Ha. That's not the case for me," I said. "Ate like a king."

Fluttershy dismantled my tower and began putting the dishes away.

"Sure used a lot of dishes," AJ noticed, watching me and Fluttershy stack dishes in the cabinets. I handed the stuff to her, while she put them up. Team effort.

"I was hungry," I explained. "Anyway, why'd you guys decided to join us this morning?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you two about a particular subject that was brought to my attention," Twilight said, looking slightly embarrassed, "but recently something far more important came up, so we'll talk about both."

Fluttershy finished putting up dishes. "Like what?"

Twilight scratched her head nervously. "Well...it's not hard to see what's going on between you two."

I snorted. "Really? We're just friends, as far as you know."

"That's the thing," AJ said, eying me. "We do know."

"So?"

"We just want to help." Twilight and AJ looked at each other and back at me. "In light of recent circumstances, we think that Fluttershy might be in danger from whoever attacked her at the gala."

I trotted past them into the living room and found the couch. "She's not in danger. I'm with her all the time," I told them as they all followed me. They didn't look at all convinced. "If anypony tries anything, I'll deal with them myself."

"They nearly shish kebabed ya, Emerald. Ya nearly died."

Fluttershy sat by me. "Isn't the Princess looking for the suspect?"

"That's no excuse to push away help," Twilight admonished us, particularly Fluttershy. "Everypony is still worried about another attack, so our conclusion is to keep you two under constant supervision."

"No way," I said flatly.

Twilight sighed and shook her head disapprovingly. AJ said, "Now, hold yer protests til we're dun. Hear us out an' ya might change yer mind."

"When pigs fly," I said sharply. "There's this whole privacy thing..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Nopony's going to violate your privacy rights, Emerald. When you're home, you two can be alone. When you're out and about, however, we'll all be keeping you under watch equally."

"That doesn't sound too unreasonable," Fluttershy said quietly.

"Who's side are you on?" I asked, half joking. She shrugged as I gaped at her.

"Look Emerald," Twilight said impatiently, "this isn't a debate. You're arguing with the wrong ponies. Besides, even Princess Celestia agreed with our idea. Isn't that enough?"

I shook my head. "I didn't hear her say that."

Twilight and AJ gave exasperated sighs.

"Emerald," Fluttershy said softly.

I looked at her, seeing a pleading look in her eyes. "Alright, fine. But the first time your supervision makes me feel uncomfortable, you stop."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean say you feel that way just to get rid of us," Twilight told me.

I gave a sly grin. "Wouldn't think of it."

Twilight turned to AJ. "Okay, so now that we got that settled...We deal with the other thing."

AJ nodded. "Emerald - we don't know ya all that well, but we understand ya dun hooked up with our friend Fluttershy. So long as you treat her right, we don't mind."

I held a hoof up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa...that, is a subject best left alone."

"I'm sorry, but it's a concern of ours," Twilight admitted. "But so far you've been trustworthy, plus, you did kind of save her life. Just know we will defend her if it comes down to something."

I rolled my eyes. "You say that like you're expecting something."

"No, but there better not be something," she retorted defensively.

I folded my arms across my chest. "There most certainly is not."

AJ and Twilight turned back toward the front door. "Good. Now what is it you said you wanted earlier, AJ?" Twilight asked the they went out the front door. They closed it quietly behind them.

A few minutes later, with me and Fluttershy just sitting on the couch beside each other, she spoke up.

"I'm tired. You don't mind if I get some rest, do you?" she asked me.

I put a hoof under her chin and lifted it. "No, of course not. You get some rest. I have a few errands to run today."

She laid down, resting her head on her arm. "Okay."

I stayed put until she dozed off a few minutes later.

I went and grabbed the crown, loaded it in my saddlebag, threw it on, and stepped out the front door to a beautiful day.

Chapter 18: Cat And Mouse

It was much nicer today than the previous day. Instead of being hot and dry, it was cooler, with a few clouds spotting the deep blue sky. A gentle breeze blew through, making it feel so much better. I guess the pegasi got out and did their jobs a little better today.

I made a run through town, looking for a place to buy the crown. I wasn't going to keep it a second longer. In the event somepony here found out about me, it would probably be best if I didn't actually have the crown anymore. And something told me that might become a reality soon.

I ended up stumbling across some small, beat-up shop not far from Town Hall. Some old, wrinkly stallion unicorn stood within, behind a makeshift counter made of stacked wooden chests covered mostly by some old, tattered sheets. The rest of the place contained artifacts of a wide variety, but none as nice as what I was planning on selling him.

He was busy going through some box of dusty wooden figurines when I approached the counter.

"Uh, excuse me...sir?" I tapped on the counter.

He didn't flinch. He just kept shuffling through the box, sending up clouds of dust.

Right into my face.

I tried to hold back a sneeze, but it didn't fare well. I blew boogers and saliva all over the floor.

"Oh Celestia," I whined, rubbing my nose.

"H-hello? Who's there?" a gravelly voice asked.

I looked over to see the old guy squinting up at me from behind an ancient pair of spectacles.

I smiled half-heartedly. "Uh, hi. I have a crown I would like to sell you."

He adjusted his glasses and scratched his head. "What was that?"

My smile faded. "I said, I have a crown I'd like to sell to you."

He rubbed his ear. "A what?"

"A CROWN," I raised my voice. Leave it to me to find the deaf guy.

"A pound? Of what?" he asked.

I sighed. "No, A CROWN!" I yelled, louder this time.

He perked up. "Oh, a crown! Why didn't you say so, sonny?"

I deadpanned and muttered under my breath, "I did." I pulled the crown from my bag, placing it gently on the counter.

His eyes grew wider than milk pans.

"What?" I asked, concerned that maybe there was something wrong with it.

He turned and clambered off behind a curtain, into another room.

I stood there patiently. Did he know something about it? Was it worth a lot of bits or gems?

He returned a few moments later with an open book. He set it on the counter facing me.

There was the crown.

And it was exactly as Discord had told me.

Steelwing arrived in Ponyville and stayed the night in a motel, ready and anxious to talk to the Rarity character and prove he was worthy to Dark Storm. To fail meant death, and Steel was not about to fail.

The next day, he headed down to the Carousel Boutique.

When he walked in the front door that afternoon, it was quiet and empty. A bell rang, startling him.

"Damn bell," he grumbled.

A mare came down the stairs a few seconds later.

"Well, hello, sir! Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! How may I assist you today?" she asked politely.

Steelwing smiled inwardly. "Do you have a room that's a bit more - private?" he asked.

She looked a little weirded-out, but led him upstairs to a room full of mannequins and intricately designed dresses. They were all aligned with the walls in rows, as if on display in a window in Manehattan.

The mare named Rarity turned to face him after she led him into the room. "Is this a special request?"

"Of sorts," Steel replied, pacing the room. "I actually would just like to inquire on a recent customer of yours."

She gasped. "Are you a member of the RPI?"

The Royal Pony Investigators? Really? "No, I am not. I'm here on some personal business. So please - do your best to be silent unless I ask you a question. Understand?"

Rarity looked appalled. "Uh...okay, I will try my best."

Steel smiled deceptively. "Good. Now - the male pegasus that came in here and had his mane dyed completely green and trimmed - what was his name?"

Rarity cocked her head to the side. "Why, that was Emerald, sir. What of it? Did he do something wrong?"

"I'm asking the questions," Steel snapped. Rarity's jaw dropped in surprise. "I want his full name."

She swallowed. "It's Emerald Mist."

Steel nearly cracked up. Mist? That's the best he could conjure up as an alias? Pathetic.

"That's very interesting. Would you mind telling me where he came from? How you got to know him?"

Rarity pulled up a chair and sat gingerly, never taking her eyes off the pegasus that was grilling her for information on somepony she barely knew. "Well, I met him when one of my friends - "

"Which friend?" he interrupted her.

Rarity stopped and eyed him. "What do my friends have to do with this?"

Steel shook his head in annoyance. He calmly walked over and pulled the dagger out from his cloak, pointing at her face, just inches away. "I said, I ask the questions. Who is your friend?" he demanded.

Rarity was nearly frozen by the sudden threat with the dagger. She stuttered a response. "Fl-Fluttershy."

Steel retracted the blade. "Exactly as I thought." He turned to the window and walked over, glancing down at the street. "Continue your story."

Rarity was silent for a beat before she went on. "Well, he, um, supposedly came here from Canterlot. He was in a bad situation there, without anypony to help him, so he decided to move here." She sighed. "That's all I know."

Steel glanced over his shoulder. "All you know, huh?" He turned around and trotted right up to her. She looked up at his face. "I just need one more thing from you, my dear."

Rarity nodded. "Um, okay. What is it?"

Steel grinned. "Where does Emerald live?"

"So - this crown really is legendary?" I asked, stunned.

The old guy pointed a wrinkled hoof at the picture depicting the very crown I possessed on somepony's head as he stood, reading a spell book out loud. "That crown you got there, sonny, is worth more money and trouble than I have to spare."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Trouble?"

He slammed the book shut and yanked it off the counter. "As much as that crown may be worth, it ain't worth it to me. Take that crown to somepony that doesn't care about dyin'."

"What?"

"Move along, sonny." he said as he made sad attempts to push me out the front door.

"Wait, hold on..."

He kept shoving me. "Not interested, sonny. Now git."

"Would you stop calling me 'sonny'? And why is this thing so dangerous? Can't you at least tell me that?" I asked, digging my hooves into the soft carpet.

He stopped pushing and sighed. "If there's anything I can say, it's that you should git rid of that thing yourself, before you end up dead."

He caught me off guard with a shove and I stumbled out the front door. "Wait, what?"

I heard the door slam behind me, and when I turned around, the "closed" sign was up.

I sighed in disappointment, turned back to the path, and went looking for another place.

Chapter 19: First Encounter

I honestly don't even know why I wasted my time after the first two times I was rejected.

I was trotting on my way back to the cottage, defeated and utterly tired of all the trotting around town. The sun was nearly at the horizon, hovering just above, like it was hung there. The temperature had fallen slightly, making it actually cool outside, but pleasant. I might even run it by Fluttershy when I got home that we might go stargazing later that night.

What I was still having trouble getting a grip on, what still didn't make sense to me yet, was how eight times I was denied payment for the crown. Eight ponies rejected it, claiming it was evil. Maybe there was some truth behind what Discord had told me about how it was so evil he wouldn't touch it.

Only one pony offered me anything for it, though. I found some mystic who wanted it as a decoration, and was willing to pay me - get this - one bit for it.

Whoa.

So here I am, heading home for the day, with the crown still dragging me down. Maybe everypony was right - maybe I should just pitch it into the woods somewhere and be done with this charade.

I made my way across one of the two bridges I'd cross over to get to Fluttershy's cottage. There were hardly anypony around, I guess this time of day was when the streets began clearing as everypony went home for the day. I didn't blame them, especially if they had a day like mine.

As I trotted down the path, something started bothering me. I felt as if I was being followed.

I looked around from the corners of my eyes. Just for an instant, I caught somepony ducking behind a large barrel beside a nearby house.

My first thought was that it was one of my wonderful helpers watching me.

So I went over to the barrel to pay my protector a visit.

I hopped over to it, a grin on my face. "You're not very good at hiding, you know. I seen you go behind this barrel," I said, peeking behind it.

There was nothing.

"Okay..." I turned and stood still, scanning the area. "Something's not right..."

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

I spun around and found a pegasus stallion grinning strangely at me from the middle of the pathway. He had a silverish coat and dark gray mane, with the most eerie, piercing blue eyes I've ever seen. He wore a brown cloak that concealed most of his body.

"Who are you? Are you one of the people supposed to be watching me?" I asked cautiously.

He laughed. "What a great choice of words. As a matter of fact, I am supposed to be watching you - just, not for your benefit."

I took a step back, in the direction of the cottage. "Okay then...if you'll excuse me, I'll be going home now. I don't converse with, uh...with stalkers."

"Actually, you won't be going anywhere," the guy said darkly. "Not unless you give me that crown."

I snorted. "That's why you stalk me? For a silly crown? Don't you have anything better to do with your time?"

"You and I both know that's not a silly crown, Emerald Rain."

A shiver ran up my spine at the mention of my real name. I don't like this, I don't like it at all... "I don't think you need it. It's not safe."

He chuckled and took a step toward me. "You see - that's the best part. I don't need the crown, I'm just retrieving it for somepony else." He started walking around me in a circle. "You have quite the record, Emerald. And you're quite the thief."

I faced him constantly as he circled me. "So? What's that to you?"

"Why, it's everything. I like a guy who isn't afraid to take what's his. It's the way one should be, you know? Why doesn't everypony else take what's theirs as much as you do?"

"I don't take for selfish desire, I take - used to take - for money to survive," I scoffed.

"But you just never were the best liar." He stopped and smiled at me. "Emerald Mist? That's real funny. Not so subtle, but funny."

I felt my face grow hot. "Okay, so maybe I'm a bad liar, but what does any of this have to do with the crown?"

He resumed circling me as he replied. "You don't want to know, my friend. If I told you, I'd have to kill you," he said, pulling out a dagger that glimmered in the light of the sunset. "But I'm going to tell you - because I want to kill you."

My heart skipped a beat and I glanced around, searching for one of my friends. Where were they?

"Now - I would really appreciate if you would surrender the crown to me. It'd make my job so much easier." He took another step toward me.

"Shove it," I replied, looking for an escape route.

"Now, now...let's not stop cooperating now. You were doing so well," he said, then grinned cruelly.

In that moment, I flapped my wings as hard as I could, sending up a cloud of dirt and dust in his direction, and I flew off toward the cottage.

No more than a few seconds later, I felt a sharp pain strike my left hind leg. I glanced back to find the pony flying behind me, waving the dagger. A cut ran along the length of my leg, shallow, but bleeding nonetheless.

I banked hard toward the Everfree Forest, which was not a good place to be fighting, but I figured it'd be a good place to hide.

I felt a slash at my saddlebag, and I dropped altitude quickly to avoid him cutting me again. Unfortunately, he had the same idea, and almost impaled me from above, but my quick thinking saved me once more.

We finally came upon the forest, and the first thing I did was dive deep into the trees. The branches whipped and whacked me on the way in, but it was better than being hacked to death with a kitchen knife.

Behind me, I heard the guy following me through the trees, somehow keeping up.

This guy doesn't give up, does he? I thought as I reached the ground, panting. I wasted no time attempting to flee on hoof, though after a few moments, I realized I was just biding my time. So I hopped up and clambered to the top of a tree, spying for the cottage. When I spotted it, I went back down the the forest floor and resumed running from the dagger-wielding maniac.

Suddenly, the ground came rushing up and my face smacked into the mud. Hard.

I sat up, dazed, but otherwise okay.

And that's when he emerged from the nearby bushes, holding the dagger in my direction. "Tired yet?" he said with a smile.

I growled at him. "Leave me alone! You're not getting this crown!"

He laughed dryly. "Yeah, I'm fairly certain I will get that crown." He jumped on me with the dagger.

We collapsed on the ground, with him on top, attempting to plunge the blade into my chest. I held him back as best as I could, but he was stronger than me, and the blade slowly inched its way toward my heart.

With a quick jerk, I allowed the blade to come down, but I shoved it off to the side, so the thing sank deep into the soft Everfree soil. I kicked him off into the bushes in the moment of confusion, and broke into a panicked gallop towards the smoke rising in the distance from the cottage. I kept going until I came into a clearing: I was out of the forest.

I stopped and glanced back into the forest as I panted, but I didn't see the pony following me, so I made my way up the path to the cottage and hurried inside.

Fluttershy was standing in the living room, tending to a beaver with a hurt tail wrapped in bandages. When she heard me come in, she turned around and rushed toward me to greet me. "Oh, hey Emerald! I'm glad you're - " She paused mid-sentence and gasped, putting a hoof over her mouth. "Oh, dear..."

The little bastard thinks he can just run off? He thinks he can kick me and run off and be done with it? Steelwing cursed himself as he extracted his blade from the ground and flew off toward town. We shall see.

He flew into town, went to his motel, gathered his things, and headed to the train station. He had to end this game of cat and mouse.

He had to get Storm.

Chapter 20: Stormy Night

"Well, we're just glad you're okay," Twilight concluded after I'd went over with her and the others exactly - well, almost exactly - what happened. They'd all come over after Fluttershy rushed out and got them, explaining that I was, "Covered in blood". Not quite true, but not a lie, either.

Me and Fluttershy sat on the couch as she wrapped my injuries. The others stood around in the living room, talking about the situation and trying to come up with solutions. It was almost entertaining.

Fluttershy tugged a bit too hard on the gauze, causing me to flinch.

"Oh - I'm so sorry! did I hurt you?" she asked, horrified.

I grimaced. "Only a little. It's okay though." I tried to sound as reassuring as possible, but with Fluttershy, I've noticed it's a guessing game as to whether she's actually been reassured.

She pouted and continued her work, only much, much gentler.

She wasn't convinced.

"Emerald," Twilight interrupted our sweet little moment, "I think you should get rid of the crown. If that guy wanted it so badly, you probably shouldn't have it. At least not out in public."

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash agreed, hovering above us, staring out the windows. "He must've been stalking you all day to know you had that crown in your bag. What a freak."

"An' you were supposed ta be watchin' him, Rainbow Dash," Applejack said, making a valid point. "Not sleepin' the day away on them fluffy clouds of yers."

Rainbow flew down and landed beside her. "Well, how was I supposed to know Emerald had stalkers?"

Everypony gave her looks.

"The gala?" Rarity hinted.

Rainbow laughed in embarrassment. "Haha...right. That."

Twilight stepped in. "None of that matters. We can't change what's already happened. We need to be sure it doesn't happen again," she said. "And you really need to get rid of that crown, Emerald. If something like this happens again, you might not get so lucky."

"Well, you know what they say - three's a charm," I joked.

"This isn't funny, Emerald. It's serious."

Fluttershy finished and got up to put the materials she was using away. "Maybe I could keep a better eye on him...?"

I laughed. "I don't need to be babysat. I'm plenty capable of watching myself."

"We have enough eyes on him," Twilight replied, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "Maybe Princess Celestia needs to be more involved with this."

Great. "Sure. You do that, and I'll stay here and...ditch the crown," I mumbled, sagging on the couch.

There was a few moments of silence before anypony spoke.

"Is...there something bothering you, Emerald?" Pinkie pie asked.

I sighed heavily. "There's plenty wrong, but none of it you guys can help me with," I replied sadly, glancing at Fluttershy, who was still putting up the first aid kit. "Let's just leave it at that."

AJ cleared her throat. "Heya, Fluttershy, would ya mind making some tea?"

"Not at all," she said, going into the kitchen.

The others watched her leave, and when she did, they all looked at me.

"You're worried about her, aren't you, dear?" Rarity inquired gently, her voice lowered.

I glanced out the window at the rising moon. "Yeah."

Twilight came over and put a hoof on my shoulder. I looked up at her. "We promise, nopony will let anything happen to either of you," she said confidently.

I looked back out the window. If only I actually believed that...

"You what?" Storm demanded angrily when Steelwing had admitted he'd confronted Emerald alone.

He had gone back to Appleloosa to report what he'd learned, and hopefully get Storm's approval. So far, it didn't look good.

"I made sure he didn't know my identity or about my mission," Steel said in his defense. He stood off to the side in Storm's room. Storm stood at the window, a popular place for him when he was upset.

"Damnit, he still knows somepony's on to him, you fool! Have you no sense at all?" Storm raged, spinning around and giving a seething glare to his assistant.

"Look, boss, I think it's time. We got what we needed to know. Let's go hit him." He inched toward the door in case he'd just angered his boss more.

Storm's expression changed. "I see." He turned back to the window. "Very well. I will be heading to Ponyville tonight. You go and get Orion. We will meet at the Town Hall."

Steel gave a relieved sigh. "As you wish, boss. So we are doing this tonight? We're going to finish this finally?"

Storm turned slowly. "We are."

Shortly after Fluttershy made the tea and everypony had a cup, they left, leaving me and Fluttershy alone for the night. They asked us to get one of them if anything went amiss. I knew Fluttershy would, but I began feeling the guilt I deserved. They were being dragged into something that they shouldn't be in. I felt even more pathetic when Fluttershy started blaming herself for the incident that occurred earlier, saying if she was with me, "It wouldn't have happened".

As if that would've helped. I'm glad she wasn't there. If she got hurt because of me...

I shook off that thought. I didn't want anything to happen to her or my friends. I was almost considering coming clean. Maybe they'd understand.

Then again, maybe they wouldn't.

"Emerald?"

I looked at Fluttershy, who sat beside me, looking all sorts of worried and concerned.

Celestia, I loved that mare. But I was doing her dirty, and the guilt was eating me alive.

"Yeah, Flutters? Are you alright?" I asked, shifting uncomfortably as my mind raced, trying to determine if I should tell her everything.

She looked down at the floor. "Well, yes, but I was about to ask you the same thing."

I sighed and looked down at the floor. "No, Fluttershy. I'm not okay. I, uh," I swallowed hard. "I have something I need to tell you, but I-I'm not sure I can."

She took my hoof in hers. "You can tell me anything Emerald. You know I'll listen."

I looked up into her beautiful eyes. I saw real love.

Love that I was likely about to lose.

"Okay..."

Ponyville was dark and quiet when Storm arrived.

On the way there, he'd pondered about his decision to attack instead of spy, and the more he did, the more he liked the idea.

It was time.

Storm went out of the train station and casually strolled over to the Town Hall. No need to rush.

When he got there, Orion and Steelwing were waiting, geared up and ready to go.

Storm approached them with a cold smile. "Well, Gentlecolts, it's that time. Time for us to become unimaginably, inconceivably rich. Are we ready?"

They both nodded.

Storm's grin widened. "Than let us begin."

Fluttershy didn't look like she was expecting bad news, even though that's what she was about to get. And I still wasn't sure I could bring myself to admit I'd been lying about everything this whole time. I couldn't bear to lose her or my new friends. But the truth would eventually prevail anyway, so it was best to fess up now.

"Emerald, you look really upset. I'm worried about you," Fluttershy said, interrupting my internal conflict.

"I am," I replied, "but I'm still not sure I can tell you. It might...it might ruin things."

She move closer to me, our bodies pressed together. "I promise it won't."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Yes it will."

Storm was looking directly at the cottage that Emerald was supposed to be living in. The lights were on downstairs, so it was assumed that was where Emerald would be.

"Boss, he's here," Steel said, pointing to one of the windows.

Storm glanced inside. Sure enough, Emerald and the mare he supposedly was with were sitting on the couch, apparently having a conversation.

Looking around the area, there didn't appear to be anypony else - Emerald and the girl were alone.

"Excellent. Now, Orion, you will go through to upstairs window, me and Steel will come in downstairs. We don't kill either of them. Get them, subdue them, find the crown, and we leave with Emerald and the girl. No witnesses. Got it?" Storm asked, laying out the plan.

"Yes, but just one thing, boss."

Storm frowned. "What, Orion?"

"Why not just kill them?"

"Because I said so, that's why," Storm snapped. "Anything else? No? Good. Let's go." Storm started off towards the home.

Steel and Orion glanced uneasily at each other and followed their boss.

This was it. I was going to tell her. My conscious finally won, and I felt it was best to admit everything. But I also considered how much I was about to lose.

"You know, if it's something embarrassing, I won't laugh...or tell anypony else," Fluttershy assured me.

I looked out the window once more. "No, it isn't embarrassing...it's..."

I felt her hoof moving up and down my arm. It sent chills up my spine, and only made me sadder for what I was about to do.

"Come on, tell me handsome," she urged me playfully.

At that point, the waterworks were almost inevitable. I was about to break her heart, and she didn't even know it. I'm a slimy, two-faced thief, and it's all I'll ever be. I didn't deserve Fluttershy, or my friends.

So I took a deep breath. "Fluttershy, I'm not - "

The front door busted in, sending splinters of wood all over the floor. The window behind us on the couch shattered as somepony came barreling in.

Fluttershy screamed, and I dragged her off the couch with me onto the floor, pulling her away from the door and window. I went for the stairs, but soon noticed that there was a griffon at the top, glaring down at us.

"Wahhh!" Fluttershy wailed.

"This way!" I yelled as I turned for the kitchen, but a dark colored pegasus with a smug grin blocked the

way. Toward the front door was the pegasus from earlier, the one who'd attacked me.

I stopped and put Fluttershy behind me, backing against the wall, shielding her.

"What do you want from us?" I demanded angrily. "That stupid crown?"

"Stupid isn't the word, fool," the dark colored one snarled. "It's my paycheck, and it doesn't belong in the hooves somepony with the likes of yours. Hand it over!"

"Get out! I'm not giving you a damn thing! Stop harassing me and my friends!"

"Harassing you?" he asked in mock-disbelief, then laughed hysterically. "You are so ignorant. If you hadn't stolen the crown in the first place, if you weren't a thief to begin with, and a terrible liar, you wouldn't even be in this situation, Emerald Rain. But your selfishness got you here, now you face consequences, and you think it's just going to go away? It doesn't. You can't run from your past when it follows you. This is what you've earned, now you must deal with the results of your evil."

There it was. Fluttershy knew everything now. It was all out in the open.

I sighed and glanced back at her, but she was looking down, crying softly.

I looked back at the two pegasi in front of me. "This wasn't what I wanted. I wasn't evil, I just - "

"Stole for food? Money? Not for selfish desire?" the dark one snorted. "Come on, Emerald. Don't be so naive. You did evil. You stole a crown that possesses unlimited power. And you still have it. Does that sound like a pony who stole for good intentions?"

I let my head down, overcome with guilt.

The dark pony came up to me, and I glanced up at him.

"My job is to get the crown and take care of you," he looked back at Fluttershy. "And any witnesses. And I don't plan on failing. So, where is the crown?"

I sighed, then pointed to my saddlebag beside the couch.

He went over and emptied it on the floor, and the crown came bouncing out. He picked it up and smiled. "It's about time." He turned to the other pony. "Tie them up."

The guy grinned and turned to me.

"I don't think so!"

Rainbow Dash came sailing in through the broken window, slamming right into the silver pony. He was knocked against the wall.

The others came in through the front door.

The dark pony growled angrily. "Damn! The Princess!"

Twilight stepped up to him bravely, with the others around behind her. "You're outnumbered. And you made a big mistake attacking one of my friends."

The other pony struggled to his hooves and limped over to the dark pony. "We need to go boss."

I ducked as the griffon sailed overhead and landed by the other two.

The dark pony scowled at me. "We'll be back, Emerald Rain." Then he reached in his saddlebag and tossed a newspaper on the floor. He and the other two flew out the broken window and into the night.

I glanced down at the paper, and I knew exactly what it was. I looked back up at the others, who glared back at me.

Twilight picked up the paper, read some of the front page, and came up to me, dropping it on the floor.

I seen the familiar article about me. When I looked back up at her, she didn't look at all amused.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, Emerald Rain," she said sternly.

Chapter 21: The Truth, The Lies

I just stood there, unsure of what to say. What could I say? Everything that could have been said was already said. Still they glared at me, all but Fluttershy. She was quietly sobbing, still over by the stairs. I looked at the paper, which was still splayed out on the floor. The inside of the paper held the other article of me being a murderer.

What have I done?

"Well?" Twilight repeated, taking another step toward me.

I gulped. "I-I-I'm...sorry..." I managed to utter.

"Sorry? That's it? You get Fluttershy nearly killed, you lied to us all, and you're a power-hungry thief, and all you have to say for yourself is 'I'm sorry'?" Rainbow bellowed, her voice cracking. "I oughta kill you!" She took off in flight after me, but Twilight stopped her, snagging her tail with her magic.

"Stop, Rainbow Dash! We won't stoop to his level. Besides, Emerald is wanted by Princess Celestia, and we can be sure she'll deal with him appropriately."

Fluttershy let out a little squeal, not very loud, but enough to prompt Applejack to go comfort her.

"Why, Emerald?" Twilight demanded, taking up the paper and passing it around to the others. "Why

would you lie? Why would you use us to escape from your wrong doings? Why would you - " she glanced back at Fluttershy, " - why would you betray her? Use her? Lie to her? All she did was trust you. We all did. And this," she gestured toward the damage in the room. "This is our repayment?"

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. "I never meant to hurt anypony...I really didn't..."

"Well, you nearly got Fluttershy killed. You did hurt somepony." She motioned to all the others, who refused to make eye contact with me. "All of us."

I felt such hatred of myself. I ruined everything. I had, lost, found, and lost again. And it was entirely my fault.

"Please, don't..." I moped at the floor between me and Twilight. "Please don't send me to Celestia. I-I know I'm a horrible pony, but I - "

"Are you serious right now?" Rainbow asked in disbelief. "You want us to exempt you from your rightful punishment because you ask nicely? I don't think so," she said, folding her arms across her chest.

Twilight stared at me for a moment without a word. Then she turned toward the broken door. "Emerald

as a Princess, I have jurisdiction, and on that note, I will not turn you in to Princess Celestia."

The others gasped. Even Fluttershy looked up momentarily, acting surprised, before again burying her face in AJ's shoulder.

"Twilight, what are you thinking?" Rainbow demanded hotly. "This guy deserves to rot in Tartarus!"

Twilight held up a hoof. "But instead, I hereby banish you - from Equestria."

My heart sank. "What...? No! Please...no!" I fell to my knees. "Don't...please don't..."

"Serves you right," Rainbow spat.

Her words stung, like the tears in my eyes, ready to fall.

Fluttershy pushed away from AJ, coming up to me, her head hung low. When she stood right in front of me, she sat. And looked straight into my eyes. Hers were wet with tears, and portrayed unimaginable hurt.

"Fluttershy..." I murmured.

"Why would you do this, Emerald?" she asked sadly, her voice soft and low. "Why would you..."

"Please, Fluttershy," I begged.

She let the tears fall to the floor. They were tears I caused. "I - I loved you..."

I reached out to her, but she looked away. "Fluttershy...I'm sorry..."

She turned away and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of one hoof. "I am too."

Twilight stepped between us. "You need to leave, Emerald. Before I change my mind," she warned me.

"Twilight... please, don't do this..." I pleaded, still on my knees. I let the tears flow freely now.

She closed her eyes. "I have to. Now go."

I saw so much hatred and hurt in the room. This was not how it was supposed to be. They were supposed to hear it from me, they were supposed to understand...

"Emerald - leave."

"But..." I protested.

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Ten...nine...eight..."

I spun around and grabbed my saddlebag, throwing it on. I turned and made my way to the door.

Outside the darkness waited for me.

Right where I belonged.

I took one last glance behind me, at the faces I'd never see again. And while the memories with them as a whole were small, the ones with Fluttershy were the ones that would cause me the most heartache.

I looked at Fluttershy, who watched me, a mournful pout on her face. "I..." my voice faltered. "I...I love you...and I always will..."

She rushed over to AJ and began sobbing loudly.

I turned and made my way out into the night.

Twilight watched Emerald go out and disappear into the darkness. She made sure he left, then went back to her friends.

"I didn't want to do that," she admitted after a few moments.

Rarity came up to her. "Whatever do you mean?"

Twilight sighed. "I didn't want to exile him. But I didn't want him to sit in a dungeon forever, either. After all, he did save Fluttershy's life."

"Yeah, but that was his fault to begin with," Rainbow argued, making a point.

Rarity nodded. "Rainbow Dash is right. He was the reason, it seems, for the attack in the first place. You shouldn't have given him the opportunity to run."

Twilight turned back to the door, sighing again. "I know..."

"Whatever. As long as he's gone and out of our lives, I couldn't care less," Rainbow proclaimed, flying

over to Fluttershy to comfort her.

Twilight walked over to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Fluttershy, are you going to be okay?"

Fluttershy sniffled and wiped away some tears, but didn't look up. "No...I-I think I just wanna be alone for a little bit..."

Twilight and the others exchanged concerned glances.

"Okay," Twilight said finally. "Just promise us you'll feel better soon."

Fluttershy saw them all to the door. "I wish I could, Twilight..."

They all stepped outside and watched as Fluttershy shut the door. They immediately heard her sobbing again.

"That poor girl," AJ said quietly, tipping her hat to cover her eyes.

"Yeah..."

They stood around for few more minutes before heading to their homes for the night.

I trudged through town crying and cursing myself. I messed everything up. And even though I felt that they kind of overreacted, I still was wrong for being so deceitful to the ponies who were my only real friends. They didn't know that I really didn't kill anypony, and that I really only stole the crown because it was the only thing I could grab, and that I didn't find out about what it was until after I stole it...

Too late for all this. I'm banished from Equestria. I had to leave. Never show my face again here/

I stopped on a bridge and screamed in frustration, feeling the warm, salty tears streaming down my face.

"Why? Why?"

I slammed my hoof down on the barrier of the bridge, looking out over the stream that snaked through Ponyville. I slumped over and stared at me reflection in the water below. "Why...?"

I hadn't cried this much since my parents died. But that wasn't my fault.

This was.

I watched one of my tears fall into the stream, making gentle waves that soon disappeared in the motion of the water. I don't even know if I recognize the eyes I seen looking back at me in the reflection. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, either.

Where am I to go, banned from Equestria? I don't know anything about the other countries. And I don't know anypony who could help me.

Why did I ruin everything for myself? I had a group of wonderful friends, and a marefriend other stallions could only dream of...and I threw that all away...because I wasn't honest. With them, with her, or...

With myself.

If only I'd never resorted to stealing. It was stupid of me. Why didn't I just go die somewhere, that way nopony had to worry about me?

"Emerald Rain! Do not move!" a voice thundered from nearby.

I froze, looking out the corner of my eye.

Royal Guard.

"Oh, Celestia, no..."

They stormed up to me, roughly snatching me up, putting me in chains, and tossing me into the back of a barred carriage.

They hauled me off before I even knew what to think. But I knew what'd happened.

I was just captured by the Royal Guard.

Chapter 22: The Summoning

When the Royal Guards who'd captured me arrived in Canterlot a few hours later, they went immediately to the castle. I was brought without hesitation directly before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They sat side-by-side on their thrones, watching as I was dragged in chains in front of them by the two guards.

The corridor was vast, empty, and dimly lit, save for the lights around the Princesses thrones, which gave off plenty of light. The atmosphere added to the already morose mood.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Thundercloud and Sergeant Armor Wing." Princess Celestia gave the pair a quick nod.

They saluted stiffly. "No problem, Your Majesty." They stepped off to the sides.

The Princess turned her attention to me, looking strictly business.

I cowered, not making eye contact with either princess.

"Emerald Rain - your crimes have landed you in Royal custody. You have been accused of robbery, fleeing from justice, and two counts of murder. How do you plead?" Princess Celestia demanded authoritatively.

Was this really happening? Was I really on trial right now for crimes I did and didn't commit? This was a bad dream...a horrible, nasty nightmare that I should wake up from any moment.

But it wasn't a dream.

I peered up at the princesses, who looked back at me, with little emotion in their eyes or on their faces.

"I...I didn't do that," I tried, squeezing my eyes shut. "I didn't kill anypony, I swear I didn't..."

Princess Celestia stood up. "Then who did? Because you were the only criminal on the run on that train."

"In all fairness sister, there are no witnesses present or willing to step forward, nor is there any evidence to prove Emerald killed anypony." She sighed. "Perhaps we should drop those counts?"

"No," Princess Celestia objected. "There has to be somepony to pay for the deaths of those two ponies...Emerald Rain was on the run at the time of their deaths, on the very train they perished from. He is to blame."

"Princess Twilight banished me," I blurted, earning curious stares from both of them. I was hoping that they'd just go with that. At least I'd be free.

"Banished you?" Princess Luna repeated. "From where?"

I sighed deeply. "From...Equestria..."

They were silent for a moment.

"That punishment will not suffice," Princess Celestia said evenly. "I will have to override her authority."

"Be fair, sister," Princess Luna warned her.

"Of course," she replied, turning back to me. "Emerald Rain, you have been accused of these things, yet wasn't it you that saved Fluttershy's life and instead risked your own?"

I nodded slowly. "Uh...yeah, yes...I did."

"And how do you plead on your charges?"

I swallowed what felt like broken glass. "I...I plead..." I looked around the room. There was no way out. "...G-guilty..."

She nodded. "Very well. In that case, I hereby do charge you with the earlier stated crimes, and sentence you to 20 years in the dungeon."

My heart about stopped. "20...years?" My life was officially over. I went from hero - to zero. To less than zero.

Princess Celestia motioned for the two guards to take me away.

I sagged, didn't fight back, but I didn't cooperate, either. All I could do is think...20 years?

I was led down halls, stairs, past rooms, and into the pits of the castle. As we descended into what was going to be my hell on Equus, I heard sorrowful cries, whimpers and sobs echoing through the corridor.

"Spare me," I whispered.

I was dragged to an empty cell, barred with iron and encased with dark gray stone. The two guards tossed me in after unshackling me, and slammed the bars behind. They were gone a few seconds later.

I looked around the darkened, cold cell. All there was was a plain bed, toilet, and a small barred window above my bed, overlooking part of lower Canterlot and some of the surrounding areas, including distant Ponyville.

This was going to be my home for the next 20 years.

I sat on the edge of the bed, buried my face in my hooves...

And cried.

Storm and his team arrived in Canterlot later that night, ready to turn in the crown and reign in the massive reward from Solar Flare. But for some reason, something was bothering Storm. Something wasn't right about their client. As harmless as he seemed, it was clear that he had intentions other than simply collecting an all-powerful crown and the scroll that went with it.

They reached Solar Flare's home soon, knocking on the heavy oak door.

It opened seconds later. Solar Flare was at first unamused, but within seconds, he was grinning widely, like a foal in a candy store.

"Come in, come in," he said warmly.

They all piled in, standing around and waiting patiently for their reward.

Flare came up to Storm, sipping a cup of hot tea. "Do you have it?"

Storm sighed and nodded. "I do," he answered, reaching into his saddlebag and pulling it out. "Just as you requested."

Flare set his tea down nearby and gently acquired the crown from Storm, holding it up to light. "Excellent..."

Storm cleared his throat. "If you would be so kind as to pay us our due reward..."

Flare gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Yes, yes...of course." He turned and motioned them to follow him to another room, full of countless gems and crates of bits. "Take what you wish."

Storm drew back in surprise. "You promised five million bits."

Flare threw him an irritated look. "Take what you wish." Then he left the room.

Steel and Orion waited for Storm to take an action.

Storm swept the room with his eyes. "Take it all," he ordered.

They hesitated, but did as they were told.

Storm observed them packing up as much as they could for a moment before he went back into the front room. Flare was already wearing his saddlebag, coat, and sunglasses, which the last one struck Storm as odd due to the fact that it was half-past eleven at night. "Where are you going?" Storm asked as Flare opened the front door to leave.

Flare glanced over his shoulder. "If you knew, you wouldn't like it, to say the least." Then he slipped out into the dark.

Storm snorted and looked back at his two accomplices. "Take all the bits and gems to my hotel room. Wait for my return there."

"Sure thing, boss." Orion replied.

Storm flew out the front door to follow Flare.

It was quite the train ride out to the Crystal Empire, Storm noticed. Flare maintained solitude the whole way, not speaking to a single pony. Instead, he kept the hood up on his coat, and looked at nopony as he got off the train and headed...

Out of town?

Storm carefully trailed the unicorn as he trekked up into the nearby Crystal Mountains. As they reached to snowline, Storm couldn't help but wonder what the arrogant pony planned on doing out in the remote mountains of the north.

It wasn't long before they reached a clear, open mesa, wide enough to almost support a small town. It was covered by what appeared to be a glacier, creeping slowly down the mountainside. A thick layer of powdery snow covered it for the most part, with a few exposed areas of ice protruding like little spires above the area.

Flare shuffled through the snow to the middle of the mesa.

"What is he up to?" Storm questioned aloud, keeping hidden behind a rocky bluff.

Flare stood still in the snow for a moment, doing something with his magic.

Storm stepped out from behind the rock to see better.

It began to snow small, needle-like flakes, and the wind picked up, forcing Storm to retreat behind the rock once again.

Out of the distance, he could hear a voice calling out something, something in a language he didn't understand. He peeked around the corner and gasped as he saw Flare glowing brightly, levitating as he spoke those unidentified words.

"...Charta et corona malum totidem sunt, sic verbi dicunt ut aeternaliter regnent..."

Storm's eyes widened. This wasn't any old talking to oneself...this was a chant! A magical chant!

The snow began to swirl around Flare, encasing him in a glowing ball that rose a few more feet before unleashing a pillar of orange light into the sky. Deep blue, purple, and gray clouds descended from above, creeping down like enchanted vines and tendrils, and deep thunderous laughter came from within.

"What is this...?" Storm muttered, keeping out of sight, but keeping his eyes glued to the scene unfolding before him. The snow was being blown around to the point where visibility was deteriorating quickly, and it wasn't long before the boiling cauldron of dark clouds was the only thing Storm could see.

Out of the darkness of the clouds came a loud, bellowing laugh that sent chills up Storm's spine, and a huge pair of eyes appeared in the midst of all the commotion.

It dawned on Storm finally, what was going on. "No...this foolish unicorn has lost his mind!" He turned and blasted down the mountainside, to escape the horrors that were surely soon to come.

He got to the bottom of the mountain, still within the wilderness, but felt safe enough to land and trot back the rest of the way. He was looking back up the mountain as he went, when an icy yet baritone voice ahead stopped him in his tracks.

"Did you honestly think I didn't know you were following me?"

Storm dug his hooves in the ground and stopped, looking back ahead to see who'd addressed him.

It was Flare, wearing the crown, only he wasn't only Flare - he was...

Sombra.

King Sombra.

He'd possessed himself with King Sombra.

Chapter 23: In Captivity

Storm and Flare stood facing each other, the snow falling in bigger clumps now, and the wind picking up yet again.

"What you've just done is madness, and I only witnessed it out of personal curiosity, not to stand in your way," Storm said, edging away from the possessed pony.

Flare/Sombra laughed, the echos of his voice on the sides of the distant mountains still distinguishable.

"Ha! Assuming you could stand in my way even if you wanted to? Don't make me laugh."

Storm raised an eyebrow. "But...you did just laugh..."

Flare/Sombra frowned. "Enough of this. My plans don't include you - so stay out of my way, if you know what's good for you." Then he walked past Storm, heading back towards the Crystal Empire.

"What are your plans?" Storm questioned him. The reality was that, no matter what they were, they wouldn't be any good.

Flare/Sombra stopped in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder. "Take over Equestria. What else is fit for a king?" He laughed and continued on his way, leaving Storm there wondering how this would effect him.

But Storm wasn't finished. "So, this is why you wanted the crown this whole time? To rule with an iron hoof over Equestria? With King Sombra? This'll never work."

Flare/Sombra moved surprisingly fast, dashing straight up in Storm's face within a split second. Storm studied the face in front of him that portrayed two personalities, two pairs of eyes that seemed to be separate and together simultaneously. And those eyes did not appear amused.

"Tell me, Dark Storm...why won't it work?" the disturbing combination rasped.

"It's simple," Storm replied casually. "The Princesses aren't going to let you, and there are the Elements of Harmony."

"Oh, ho," Flare/Sombra half-laughed. "I have a plan for both of those. Rest assured."

"I'm quite sure you do. However, what do you expect to achieve by 'controlling' Equestria? That sentiment has lost it's luster ages ago."

Flare/Sombra walked over to a nearby tree, putting his hoof on it. "Nothing like ruling over everything in all of Equestria. Nothing can compare to the feeling of absolute control. Without any resistance, without any stronger than I, everything I've desired before is within my reach." He gave Storm a sly grin. "And I'll be sure neither the Princesses nor the Elements get in my way."

Storm raised an eyebrow questioningly. "And you're certain nothing will go amiss?"

"Certain? Of course I am, fool. I'm fused with the mighty King Sombra. I will not fail," he stated with surety. He walked up to Storm and put a hoof on his shoulder. "Let me show you."

Storm wasn't eager to let him, but he relented. "Okay - show me."

The grin he received wasn't even partly Flare's.

It was purely Sombra's.

Never had I felt so alone in my life.

That cell had the worst effect on my growing depression, and the fact that I could see Ponyville out my window only made things hurt even more. If this was how it was going to be for the next 20 years, I don't know if I'll make it.

A guard came by and slipped me something through the bars. It was a small, brown sandwich bag, containing just that - a sandwich. Not a good one, either.

I sighed and ate, staring out the window at Ponyville. The place I could be at right now if I'd done things right. Maybe they would let me go earlier? Maybe there was something I could do to earn time off? When there's a will, there's a way.

And I know there's a way.

I finished the sandwich and stood up, going over to the window and wrapping my hooves around the bars. "Oh, Fluttershy...I wish I could take back everything wrong I did to you and your friends. I would trade it all to be with you right now." I looked back into the cell. "Not that there's a lot to trade away, anyway." I sighed again, feeling tears rolling down my face. "I miss you already."

Flare/Sombra had just taken out the Princess.

The moment after Storm had agreed to allow the duo to show him how his plan to control Equestria, he was teleported to the castle - right in front of Princess Celestia. Before she could react, Flare/Sombra blasted her in the face with some kind of magic that rendered her instantly unconscious. She collapsed on the floor before them.

The very few Royal Guards standing around were scared into running. They didn't even check to see if the Princess was okay.

After that, Flare/Sombra placed a dazed, magic-chained Celestia in Tartarus.

Next he did the same to Luna. And later lured Cadence and Shining Armor to capture as well.

He was actually doing this. His plan was working.

Suddenly, he teleported himself and Storm to Ponyville. They stood in the outskirts of town.

"Why are we here?" Storm asked.

Flare/Sombra began trotting carelessly down the path. "To ensure that the Elements will never be used against me," he called back to him and continued, disappearing behind a group of buildings.

"I want no part in this." Storm sighed and took off into the air, flying back to Canterlot.

Fluttershy sat on the couch with the lights out, sniffling from having cried for the past few hours.

It all ended so quickly. Too quickly for her.

Angel hopped up on the seat beside her, putting his paw on the side of one of her hooves in understanding. She reached over and pet him on the head.

She was finally beginning to understand why she never chose to have a coltfriend before. This was exactly the reason why.

Emerald wasn't her first crush, but he was definitely the first one she'd ever loved and trusted. She'd given him her heart - and more - and he had been lying to her all along. All because he was a criminal trying to avoid punishment.

And she loved him.

The tears fell from her eyes again, like a warm, summer rain. It isn't fair, she thought mournfully, it just isn't fair.

If this was how love went, then she didn't want to ever love again. That morning she'd went out and discovered Emerald in her chicken coop was a memory still fresh in her mind, and a painful one, at that. If only he'd been honest, and not a criminal. He just might have been her one and only.

She burst into tears once again, whimpering and burying her face in her hooves. I'll never love anypony like I loved him ever again...

She wiped the tears from her eyes once again, and decided that Twilight might know a way she could get past the painful sadness that was sure to haunt her for a while. She crawled off the couch and trudged out the door.

Twilight was in her library, going through some books on old laws and methods of punishments, when she heard her front doors open and shut. She glanced over at Spike, who was dozing off on a pile of books stacked on the floor nearby.

"Hmmm," she rubbed her chin and used her horn to light up the room better, not seeing anything. She shrugged and went back to flipping through on of her books.

Something on the other side of the room fell on the floor, startling her. She immediately used her magic to light up the area where the sound originated.

There was nothing, except for a large book lying open on the floor.

Twilight glanced around the room, but there was nopony but her and Spike here.

"Perhaps it's time for me to hit the hay," she whispered, closing the book she was reading and lifting it to place it back on the shelf.

"Perhaps you're right, Princess. Or maybe you just need a little...break from reality."

Twilight slowly turned around, and gasped when she saw a unicorn, with black smoke around him, and purple trailing from his eyes.

And that meant only one thing - he was possessed.

Twilight backed up against the shelf. "Who are you? What's wrong with you?"

He laughed dryly. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with me Princess. But there's about to be something very wrong with you."

She made bolt for Spike, attempting to escape whoever this crazy pony was, but she was halted by magic from the possessed pony. She was completely rendered motionless, and couldn't even open her mouth to cry out. Spike still slept soundly, despite all that had been going on.

The unicorn walked up to the immobile princess. "The Elements can't function without you, can they, my sweet?"

All she could do is watch him out of the corner of her eyes.

He placed a hoof roughly on the side of her face. "No, of course they can't. Especially if nopony can find you, either. Isn't that right, beautiful?" He grinned cruelly.

This guy is insane! she thought, trying everything in her power to get free. Whatever he plans on doing, he knows that the Elements of Harmony can stop him! I have to get the others!

He was looking around the room, rambling on about something, but Twilight wasn't paying him any mind. She was busy trying to use her magic to free herself.

But it was no use. Whatever spell he was using, it was too strong for her.

He stopped talking to himself and wandered over to her. "Oh, yes - I almost forgot. It's your bedtime," he said with a smile. "Goodnight..."

He cast a spell, and Twilight was out instantly.

Fluttershy reached the Golden Oak Library just a few minutes later, knocking hesitantly on the door. "T-Twilight? Can I ...come in? I really need t-to talk to you..."

She stood around and waited. Even though it was late at night, the lights were on in her downstairs room, so she knew Twilight was up.

No answer.

Fluttershy opened the door slightly, peering in. She heard muffled cries somewhere within. "Twilight...?"

There was still no answer, so Fluttershy slipped in, looking around for her friend. She was appalled to find Spike in the middle of the floor, crying and holding on to a torn shred of what appeared to be a saddlebag.

"Spike? What's wrong? Where's Twilight?"

Spike looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. "She was...kidnapped!"

Fluttershy gasped.

Chapter 24: Fall Of Equestria

Insane.

That's the conclusion of the events Storm came to as he fled from the Crystal Empire, having witnessed the atrocities his former client had committed.

Although he himself was guilty of some horrible crimes, none of which even approached the evil Sombra/Flare was committing and planning to commit.

This client is off his rocker, Storm told himself as the train to Canterlot hurtled along the tracks, cutting through the night. Lost his marbles...

Storm left, intending to collect his payment along with his two partners, and make his way back to Manehattan. Perhaps what Flare was doing would effect him there, but he didn't care much so long as he wasn't inhibited from doing whatever he pleased, as usual.

Upon deeper thought, Storm realized this would make all his effort for the mission in vain. He was about to be forced into slavery or death by this crazed, power-thirsty unicorn. Not to mention Sombra had his own ill intentions, surely to be fulfilled without any to rebel successfully.

The train stopped at the station, and Storm wasted no time getting to the hotel, where his employees waited rather impatiently for their master's return.

"There you are," Orion complained as Storm strode in briskly. "Where have you been?"

"The bowels of hell," Storm snapped. "It doesn't matter where I've been. What matters is where we need to be." He began packing his things quickly, throwing them into his saddlebag with little to no care of gentleness.

"What does that mean? Hell?" Steel poked at his boss, watching him stuff his bags full and snap them shut.

"What part of, 'It doesn't matter' didn't you comprehend?" Storm asked coldly, glaring at him. "We will all be dead soon if we do not leave. Now." He made his way for the door.

"Yeah, can we at least get an explanation? We deserve that much, at least," Steel continued, clearly pushing buttons. He and Orion followed Storm out into the darkened hall of the hotel and moved down it

towards the stairs.

"Our client is clinically psychotic. That's all you need to know."

They made it to the bottom floor, leaving through the back door and heading towards the train station. Steel carried a large portion of the loot, while Orion carried the rest. It weighed them down, which in turn slowed them. Storm had to keep stopping to allow them a chance to regroup.

Up ahead, two Royal Guards plodded down the cobblestone paths in the direction of Storm and his men. Storm put on his poker face and tried not to stare at them, but he did eavesdrop on the casual conversation they were having.

"... I'm glad that guy got caught though. The reward would've been nice to receive. Too bad nopony got it."

"It's a hefty lump of bits, I'll tell you that."

"Probably the highest I've ever seen it."

"At least he's sitting in a cell for his crimes. Serves him right..."

The guards went around a corner behind Storm and he didn't hear anything else.

So, they apprehended Emerald Rain? Interesting... He thought to himself.

They approached the train station and immediately purchased tickets, boarding the just-arriving train to Manehattan.

"So, what are we doing?" Orion inquired of his boss as the train picked up speed.

Storm stared out the window into the distance. "We are leaving."

Steel and Orion glanced uneasily at each other.

"To Manehattan?"

Storm looked back at them, a grave look on his face. "No, Equestria."

Fluttershy sat beside a torn and broken Spike as he bawled for his missing friend. Fluttershy was just trying to make sense of things.

Did Emerald do this? Was it one of those crazy ponies or that Griffon? Where is Twilight? Is she safe? Scared? Lonely? There was no telling. With the way things have been going, she wouldn't be surprised if Twilight was...

No. She couldn't think like that. Twilight is fine, wherever she is. And with the help of Spike and the others, she'd be found soon.

"Spike, um... I know you're sad and such, but... Will you help me find her?" she asked tenderly, stroking his back to comfort him.

He sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of a claw. "Yeah... Yeah, of course. Let's go now."

Fluttershy smiled slightly, her own distress still effecting her greatly. She was by no means over the Emerald incident just because Twilight was missing. In fact, it only made her feel worse. "Okay, Spike, let's go get the others. They'll be willing to help as well."

He nodded vigorously. "Great idea. Let's go," he said, promptly hopping up on Flutteshy's back, who was only momentarily startled. She walked out the door and into the night, looking for her friends.

I was nearly asleep when I heard somepony approaching from the darkness of the stairs to my right, which led back up to freedom.

I stood up from my sad excuse of a bed and went to the bars. I couldn't see anypony, but I could definitely hear them coming down, their hooves clopping noisily on each stone step.

Slowly, out of the darkness, came something that both confused and frightened me greatly.

Sombra.

But not just Sombra... Sombra and somepony else who I thought I recognized, but because the two were fused, I couldn't put my hoof on it...

"Hello, Emerald Rain. Enjoying yourself?" the strange anomaly mocked me, coming up within inches of the cell and smiling cruelly.

It was only then that my eyes wandered to the top of his head - and I noticed the crown.

The crown.

I watched him carefully and replied, "Who the hell are you?" I backed up from the bars a few inches.

The guy snickered. "I'm the new ruler of this land. The rightful ruler, that is," he said, then smiled ruefully.

I backed up a little further. "Where did you get that crown? What do you mean 'New ruler'?"

He turned away. "Perhaps you don't understand the implications of your actions regarding the thievery of my crown. At first, you only pissed me off, but when I realized that I could easily obtain all the things I needed to activate the crown, I strived to recover my precious artifact from you. Storm and his team are and were expendable. Now that I have what I need, I don't need them." He paused for a second, then turned back to me, appearing nonchalant. "I don't need anypony, actually. But, as evil as I am, and with the knowledge that many ponies will die in the coming few weeks, even later, I can't stand to let you rot away here for something that really only spiked my desire to fulfill my desires. So," with a flick of his horn, the bars in front of me melted to a puddle of rusty brown liquid. "You're free."

I stood there in disbelief. It hadn't been three hours and the bars that would have held me for 20 years melted. Just... Melted.

I shook my head. "You can't just free me. Celestia placed me here."

"Oh, don't worry about them. They won't be a problem at all anymore, nor will the Elements of Harmony," he said with surety. It was unsettling to see this deformed unicorn/Sombra fusion. And disturbing.

"So what am I supposed to do? Go be a lonely bum, struggling to survive in a world that hates me?"

He shrugged and turned away again, heading for the stairs. "None of my concern. You'll probably be dead soon anyway. The fall of Equestria is at hoof, and I am the rightful inheritor of the throne. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He disappeared into the darkness of the stairwell.

I went after him, not satisfied with his answer. "Wait! I..." As I went up the first few steps, I heard and saw nothing. He was already gone somehow. Without a trace.

I sighed unhappily and went back to my cell.

"Don't do that. You have a chance now. Go kid," a gruff voice echoed through the cells.

I slipped off the bed that I'd just say back on and ventured out into the middle of the cell block.

"Right here, kiddo," the cell two over from mine to the left called out. I trotted over to it to see an old, saggy, sad-looking stallion staring back at me through the bars.

"Um... But how can he let me go like this? Princess Celestia put me here. I can't just trot out willy-nilly." I sighed. "I deserve this..."

The old guy snorted. "I've seen evil of his kind before, that stallion. He's likely telling the truth about the princesses being unable to help anymore. If I were you, I wouldn't be questioning freedom. Just go with it."

True. Very true. "Still, how can I live with myself? I hurt a mare. I hurt many friends. I lost them all. I lost..." I almost teared up thinking about her. "I lost the most beautiful mare in Equestria..."

"No, not lost," the stallion said sternly, sitting on his bed and picking up a book. "Just misplaced. I don't know what you did, I don't know this mare, but you haven't lost them. You sound like you've got a good head on your shoulders. Don't let a mistake ruin the rest of your life. You have a chance to right your wrongs. Now take it." Then he started reading, squinting heavily.

"Part of me just wants to go die somewhere, be forgotten and lost... maybe I can do tust way up north... But... That's not the right decision... " I sighed. "Yeah... Alright. I'll just... Go out and... Win her back?" "After I go mourn far, far away from all this madness..."

He looked at me from the corner of his eye. "Is that a question, or a statement?"

I get it. "It's a statement..." I spun around and half-heartedly marched up the stairs and into the main entrance to the castle. The guards, princesses, or any pony, for that matter, were nowhere in sight. It was dead silent.

"Weird..." I whispered to myself as I went out the front entrance and down the stone steps to the cobblestone paths that wound through Canterlot.

I wandered around town, not really going anywhere. I couldn't even think right. I was still shaken from losing my friends and lover. I couldn't dare face them now. The old guy had a good point, but I'm far too lost to make that effort. It'd be a waste of time. They're gone from my life. I had my chance, and I blew it.

Then there was that pony who showed up at my cell, freeing me and revealing he'd done something to the princesses, who were clearly not around to oppose him or myself, but also the Elements. What did he mean by saying what he said? Did he mean...?

My heart skipped a beat. Did he hurt Fluttershy? Was she in pain?

Oh, Celestia, if he'd touched her in any way...

What about the others? Where were they? Were they okay as well?

My curiosity was strong, but I doubt I could do anything about it. They didn't care for me anymore. I was nothing. My chances of helping them were slim to none.

I sighed deeply and made a turn toward the train station.

I wasn't going to Ponyville. I was going north.

I was going to the Frozen North.

Chapter 25: Crown Of Thorns

"She's what?" Applejack demanded when Fluttershy told her what had happened to their friend. They were already heading out to get Rarity first, since she was closest.

Fluttershy went over again what Spike had told her when she'd found him crying in the library. Spike sat quietly on her back, looking around and hoping to spot Twilight somewhere.

The walk to the Carousel Boutique had been tense for the most part. Applejack was outraged, and as far as Fluttershy could tell, she assumed Twilight's disappearance had something to do with Emerald. The way she kept mentioning his leaving and the attackers that nearly killed him and Fluttershy, she most likely wanted to find him as well.

When they got to Rarity's place, she didn't answer even after several knocks. So Applejack led them inside to get Rarity up herself.

Upon entering her bedroom, where she slept soundly with her covers up to her neck, Applejack shook her awake and shouted her name several times. Rarity freaked and fell out of bed.

"Would it kill you to bring a lady from her slumber less brutally?" Rarity whined and rubbed her head, glaring at Applejack from the floor.

"Sorry, but this is a matter of importance. Twilight was kidnapped, and we need your help findin' her." Applejack stared back at her, her face completely serious.

Rarity stood up and made her bed. "Kidnapped? Why, that's terrible! When did this happen? Who's done this atrocity?"

"I may have seen somepony when they poofed away with Twilight..." Spike spoke up, twiddling his claws.

They all looked at him.

"Well, who? What'd they look like? Tell us!"

He scratched his head. "Weird... He had some kind of magic smoke coming from his face... And he sounded so... Evil... I really couldn't see much in the dark... Sorry guys..."

Applejack patted his back. "Don't worry 'bout it. At least we have that much. It's enough to go by. But was it Emerald, is the main question."

"If it were Emerald, he couldn't have poofed away like Spike said..." Fluttershy said, inadvertently defending the former friend.

"Very true, and good point. I suppose we'll just have to get the others two and head out in search for her," Rarity began packing a bunch of stuff into her saddlebag.

Applejack paced back and forth. "Good idea. We should let the Princess know 'bout this, too. She can help us find her fer sure."

"We'll do that first, then. After we get the others, of course." Rarity turned and used her magic to put her saddlebag on. "Let's head out now, shall we?"

They left and got Pinkie moments later, and after some searching, found Rainbow's cloud condominium. They left for Canterlot soon after, unaware they would not be seeing the princess at all.

The frozen north greeted me like an old friend when I landed near the castle. The flight there had been long and painful, my wings cramped and sore. It took me all night, and for some reason, it was still night. The sun hadn't risen.

I trotted around town, searching for a path to the nearby Crystal Forest. I eventually found one, and followed the winding trail through frozen wasteland to the most beautiful forest in existence. The trees were made entirely of crystal, of multiple colors. They all had an evergreen shape, making the brittle needles of glass glitter in the light of the full moon overhead. The path grew narrow, only a few feet across, and I slowed down, staring at the snow-covered ground and singing in pain for the one I loved and lost.

The auroras flew through the sky over the nearby Crystal mountains, adding to both the serenity and depression of the moment. I ran across a frozen field to a small stream littered with floating ice chunks, flowing gently and quietly through the vastness that was the frozen north.

I sat on a flat, wide rock beside the stream and stared into the water at the broken reflection of myself. I didn't even recognize me.

"Who even am I?" I whispered, closing my eyes for a moment and looking up at the waving curtains of light on the mountain tops. "Who am I? I... I don't know anymore... I've lost my friends, family, and lover... And yet I still suffer this unrelenting pain from within... Why? Why must I suffer? What must I do to make it all go away?"

I knew I wasn't going to get an answer, but it sure felt good to vent. I kept going. "Am I lost? Is it too late? Can I change what I've done and gain the forgiveness of the ones who once loved me? Is it even possible?"

I closed my eyes as I felt the warmth of my tears in welling up and leaking down my face.

The wind picked up from a stillness to a gentle breeze, the bone-chillingly cold air making me shiver and grit my teeth. "What can I do...?" My questions went unanswered. If I wanted an answer, I wouldn't get it here, anyway. But the isolation did me good. I didn't want to be around anypony in this state. And I probably didn't deserve to be answered.

I scanned the sky for a sign that I was heard, but alas, there was nothing.

As expected, as always.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, why don't I go and try to fix this mess I've made myself? I turned and plodded back the way I came, a large group of clouds moving in from the mountains and dropping small flakes here and there.

It would be a long walk back.

Flare/Sombra sat on the throne - Celestia's throne - grinning widely at their success. The princesses and the Elements were incapacitated. Such luck! Even though this had been planned for months, it seemed to work unnaturally well. It was easier than Flare had imagined. Almost too easy.

After entering the now abandoned castle, Sombra/Flare had changed the interior to better fit their liking. The banners and such for Celestia and Luna were destroyed, along with the stained glass windows depicting anything to do with either princess, the Elements, or happiness in general. The only happiness in Equestria from here on out would be their own, Sombra/Flare's. Adding his own banners and decorations proclaiming himself as rightful king, the Sombra half made the castle dark and ominous to any who might enter. He received no argument from Flare, who technically now shared his body with the corrupt king from the past. Once this all was finished, they left the castle into Canterlot, in search of something to do.

The streets were quiet. It was still dark, still cool out, and no pony dared to trot the streets when the moon was out this long. It meant trouble, for which nopony wanted to face.

Sombra demanded control of the body entirely, whilst Flare denied, allowing him only so much. Sombra wanted only to control him for but a brief moment. Flare agreed to allow him five minutes of absolute control.

Out in the middle of the street, Sombra's bass-like voice echoed through the night as he hollored: "Citizens of Canterlot! I am your king now! I am your leader! You will come out from your homes and bow to me!"

Flare chuckled from within, enjoying the scene of ponies creeping from their homes and nervously bowing to the strange anomaly before them. The street soon filled with their bowing bodies, a god awful silence over them all.

"Don't forget me," Flare prodded, wanting the satisfaction of being bowed to as well.

"I'll get to that," Sombra replied, moving between the ponies to a platform in the midst of them. He climbed the wooden stairs to the top and glared down at them. "As your new king, there will be changes! All things dedicated to your former leaders must be piled in the streets and burned in my name! You will be under my supervision, and not to leave your homes unless given permission explicitly by me! The Royal Guard will be mine, and will patrol the streets, ensuring that my commands are obeyed. Failure to comply with these newfound laws will result in death!"

Flare's smile began to fade. "This is beginning to feel a bit one sided, Sombra. Allow me my glory."

"In due time, Solar Flare. In due time." He returned his attention to the frightened crowd. "I will be travelling to all major established towns in Equestria, making my point clear as I have here! To those who wish to worship your one and only king, you may do so now, before I go! Now bow!"

"Sombra, this isn't what I just asked." Flare tried to regain control of his body, but was for some reason unable. It finally dawned on him. "You! You're using me! Let me have control this instant!" Flare raged.

Sombra chuckled darkly. "Foolish pony. Did you honestly believe that I, King Sombra, would coop with a menial pony such as yourself to rule Equestria? How incredibly ignorant of you. Your body is mine, completely at my disposal. And as for your accusation, I'm using you? Weren't you the one you reincarnated me with that dreadful spell to control me and my power, solely for the sake of you conquering Equestria? Who's the controller, the user, now?"

Sombra grinned ruefully down at the ponies, watching them bow over and over. "In my control, in my possession. I have it all!"

Flare had made a grave mistake.

Chapter 26: The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

Storm and his team sat on a bench, all silent as they awaited their arrival in Manehattan. From there, they'd take a boat to a different continent, perhaps Maretonia or another nearby country. Only there, far from the insanity that was surely to come from this stallion taking over Equestria, would he feel safe enough to settle down, perhaps stop the madness his life was becoming.

That was something his team knew nothing of. A decision pending of him giving up the bounty hunter life. They wouldn't take it well, and it was best to not tell them until he took action. It was actually something he'd been thinking over ever since he moved from Manehattan. However, it hadn't occurred to him just how dangerous his life had become until this last mission. Now, he was seriously considering ending his career. Maybe it'd be good for him. No, it would be good for him.

The train rocked a little as it went down a mountainside. Storm shifted a few inches further from his team, seeking some space as he remained deep in thought. The dimly lit cabin showed the still uneasy expressions on the two hitmens' faces. They had no idea of the implications that had just transpired...

He hadn't considered an event such as the one that recently occurred to actually happen. He'd just aided a crazy pony in succeeding to fuse with King Sombra and try to take over Equestria. This wasn't at all part of his plan, and had he known what Flare had planned all along, he wouldn't have done the mission for any price.

It was too late now, however. He had probably already begun his rule, what with the princesses out of the way. And since he had no idea about what the crown was, did, came from, or anything else, for that matter, he didn't even think it was possible to reverse what he inexplicably promoted. Or maybe...

Emerald had been making it clear that the crown was indeed evil. This much was true. Maybe he knew something about the crown that Storm didn't. It was a possibility he was not going to rule out. Despite his lack of care, Storm didn't want the deaths of millions on his hooves for the rest of his life. This had to be stopped. There was only one thing he could do to try.

"We're going back," he said calmly aloud, startling his companions.

"W-what?" Orion stammered. "Going back where?"

Storm glanced out the window. "Back to Canterlot. I have something you need to know. And we need to fix."

The two helpers glanced uneasily at each other. "Boss, you're scaring us," Steel said, watching Storm carefully.

"Than what you're about to hear will terrify you." Storm gave them a look. It was a look that they'd never witnessed from him before, in all their years of working with him.

It was a look of fear.

Once I'd reached the Crystal Empire, I headed back to the train station to wait, for a random train, if it came. Of course, with Equestria spiralling into turmoil, trains might not even be functional anymore. Which would mean more flying for me. Just what I needed...

The streets were dark, quiet, and cold. The love I once felt emanating from this great empire was gone. I guessed the heart was gone, since it kept Sombra at bay. He couldn't exist with the heart still working its magic. But what about the Elements?

Surely there was a way for them to intervene. Sombra wasn't invincible, so far as I knew. By now, the Elements should've taken action against him. The only reason why would be...

... If they were unable to get to the Elements of Harmony. Which would also imply them being in danger. Which would imply Fluttershy being in danger. Now I'm pissed.

I sat on the bench in front of the tracks, staring at the sky. If that monster hurt that mare...

What? I'd go beat him up or something? Have at it. I'd be better off arranging my own funeral.

I sighed deeply and hung my head. Powerless, defeated, and hurt, I waited for a train that may never come.

After hopping trains, done by waiting until another train passed, and leaping from onto the other, Storm explained to his team why they were changing plans yet again. They did not like what they heard.

"This would've been nice to know a long damn time ago, Storm." Orion sat across from the other two, on a nearly empty train headed back to Canterlot. The news of the maniacal stallion taking over town by town hadn't reached Manehattan yet, apparently. It soon would, though.

Storm nodded. "Yes, it would have. However, as I just told you, I didn't know until I followed him up into the mountains. Now kindly shut up. I'm telling you now."

Steel chuckled. "I'm still waiting for the plan. How do you expect us to confront King Sombra? With featherbrains' arrows and my dagger? I, for one, find this to be a complete waste of time and effort. We should have just continued on our way to Manehattan. This is-"

Storm silenced him with a deft blow to the jaw, sending the stallion sprawling onto the floor in shock. Orion watched, amused.

"This isn't your decision. This is my decision. And I'm still paying you, you have no choice in the matter. You will not leave. The constant bitching betwixt the two of you will cease for this mission, or I will kill you myself. Have I made myself clear?" Storm glared down at the pony.

Steel rubbed his jaw tenderly. "Yeah, got it boss..."

"Good. Get back in your seat." Storm resumed outlining his plan. "Emerald knows something, I've decided. He will surely be able to help us find a weakness for this mutation, perhaps revolving around the crown. We will eploy his help strictly for this mission, and for the sole purpose of being our glove. We use him for our needs as far as knowledge and materials goes. Now, he's still at the Castle, and will likely be confrontational once we get there and find him. Do your best to pacify. We must get on his good side if we want his help."

"Understood and all, boss, but why him, exactly? Wouldn't the princesses be a better choice in this circumstance?" Orion questioned him, fiddling with his bow.

"The princesses cannot help us now. We need non-royalty. That is why we are conducting this mission." Storm closed his eyes for a moment. "It very well may be our last..."

Orion sighed. "I'm not afraid of death. Never have been."

Now wasn't any worse a time than later to tell them, he figured. "No, you misunderstand. That is a possibility, but I'm referencing my decision to end this career. I'm done, after this." Surprisingly, neither of his teammates appeared to be shocked by his revelation. This was interesting to him. "Not concerned or surprised?"

"Not, boss. I think we've all been on that page recently," Steel said quietly. "This life does get old."

"As for me, I planned on quitting in the next few missions and running with whatever wealth I accumulated. I'm getting too old for this." Orion snapped the string on the bow, snarling angrily and getting s new one out of his bag.

Storm actually cracked a smile. "Old, eh? Don't think you know what old is, Orion. I was doing this before either of you were born. This isn't a game for kids. But I enlisted you two because you had the skills and desire I needed in my team. Here we are now, many missions later, on our final. It's been a pleasure." He stuck out his hoof, this time, his team was astonished.

"Well, then. Better not pass up this benign Storm now that it's finally revealed itself." Orion wrapped a claw around his his hoof and gave it a quick but firm shake. Steel did the same, but remained silent, instead, he gave his boss a brief smile.

"Now, that aside, let's prepare for what we're about to face. I urge you to get some sleep if you can. This is going to be one hell of a ride."

It didn't seem nearly as long as it took for the trio to make it to Canterlot. However, with it being dark, due to the absence of the princesses, all sense of time was thrown off. At this point, it didn't matter anyway.

Storm led his team to the Castle, having no opposition upon entering. The Royal Guards had abandoned it after the princesses were removed, rendering the already empty castle a dead-silent shell.

"Where is this dungeon?" Steel inquired of his boss as they trotted quickly through the huge hallways up to the throne.

Storm glanced around at the other hallways as they went. "Beneath us. Likely a hallway with direct entrance to the thrones. The princess would want access to it whenever she wanted or needed." He stopped and pointed at a small, dark doorway. "Such as that."

Orion started towards it. "Alright, let's hurry. I want to get this over with as soon as possible."

Storm moved ahead of Orion and opened the already cracked door. "I'm still the boss here. I lead." He slipped through the doorway and made his way down a long pair of stone steps, descending into an abyss of darkness, a dimly lit cavernous room at the bottom. It was a small dungeon, only housing three cells. Another small doorway led to another dungeon, this time, occupied in two of the three cells. One cell, the empty one, was melted open.

"Boss, something isn't right about that one. Aren't these cells guarded by a spell?" Orion asked, pointing at the puddle of molten iron near the vacated cell.

"Hmm... I wonder who escaped..." Storm asked himself aloud, squinting as he scanned the inside of the cell.

"Simple... The possessed one freed the guy. Said something about stealing a crown to get here," the old pony spoke up, still reading.

All three of the former crooks stared at the aged stallion through the darkness.

"Really, now? Interesting..." Storm mumbled, looking back at the empty cell. "Did he say where he was going after he was freed?" Storm observed a mouse as it ran from one side of the room to the other.

The older pony shrugged. "Something about the north."

Storm spun around and went up the nearby stairs, Orion and Steel following closely.

"We need to get back on the train," Storm said, sounding slightly irritated.

Steel sighed. "Again? Where to, this time?" They made it to the top of the stairs and fled the castle moments later, headed for the train station.

As they stood on the platform, Storm looked out over the horizon to the north. "It's about to get cold, boys. Might want to put on a jacket."

It had been a few hours that I sat or later there on the bench, waiting for a train. None came.

So, I'd stayed on the bench anyway. It wasn't like I had anything to do, anywhere to go. I could live on this bench if I wanted to. And since I was too depressed to care about the cold, I just laid back, closing my eyes and enjoying the near silence, save for the occasional wind. The peace was so... Comforting... It made me forget the reality I was in. It was actually nice for a change to hear not a thing...

I'd fallen asleep apparently, because I was awoken later, dead from a dream, by the sound of a distant train approaching.

I sat up and shivered hard, my teeth chattering. It was still dark, which at first concerned me, until I remembered why. But that didn't matter now. A train was coming. I could get on it and put some distance between myself and this dead-silent land.

I stood there and shivered as the train pulled into the station, coming to a stop and whistling. As the doors opened, I made my way towards one to board... And stopped dead in my tracks.

The three attackers from before hopped off, one by one, and stood before me.

At first, I was in shock. I didn't know what to say or do, but that was quickly replaced with anger. They were the ones responsible for my suffering, my loss.

"Why are you here? What do you want from me?" I growled, assuming a defensive stance.

The leader stepped forward. "Relax, Emerald. We're not here to cause harm. We're here to stop it."

My jaw dropped. Did I just hear that right? Didn't matter. They were enemies. I shook my head. "Don't care. What you did... It ruined me. You can't come here and expect me to believe anything you have to say. So you should just go on your way."

"That isn't going to happen, Emerald. Sorry. We're here on a matter that cannot be solved without your help. Just listen to what I have to say. We're all in danger. Clearly this Flare guy is out of his mind to have done this thing, possessing himself. We need to stop him before he kills us all."

"And you actually think I believe you want to help stop him? You must think I'm a total moron. I'm not buying it."

The leader sighed heavily. "Don't make this difficult. It's been a journey just finding you. Why would i have not just killed you by now if I was here for some ill intention?"

I glared at him. "To turn me in to Flare? Duh."

"Flare set you free, correct? Why would he need you apprehended?" He raised an eyebrow.

He makes a fair point... "Why me? What do you think I can do? I'm not exactly a hero..."

The guy looked between the two of his friends, then back at me. "You know some things that we don't. You have access to information that we don't. We need your help to stop this madness before too many lives are lost. The question now, is will you join, or will you decline and let fate take its course?"

I looked up into the sky. This... This was a lot to take in. A dangerous task, as well. Me? Stopping a powerful, crazy, possessed unicorn with an ancient crown that nobody knows a lot about? I didn't know if I could. I'm just... Me...

But then...

Fluttershy. I had to see her again. To hold her... It's killing me to be away... She could end up a casualty of this. What choice did I have? I couldn't let anything happen to that sweet, caring mare... And the others... They didn't deserve to die either. They were my only true friends in life. I couldn't just abandon them...

I glanced at the three ponies, who silently watched me deep in thought. I had to make a choice right now. Stay or go?

There really was only one right answer...

"I'm... I'm in."

The leader gave a faint smile and stuck out his hoof. This surprised me again, but I hesitantly took it, and shook hooves with an enemy... To become friends.

We were in this together.

Chapter 27: Lost, But Not Forgotten