Of Laurels & Lace

by WritingSpirit

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Main 6, Drama, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Spike, Rarity, Other, Romance, Thriller, Sex, Tragedy
Length: 355007

Rarity receives an invitation to a masquerade, but was immediately thrown into conspiracy, treachery and, above all, love.

Rarity receives a formal invite to a grand masquerade down at Palgiot Palace, famed for its brilliant architecture and the occupants's eccentric family history. Taking the train to Pendant Lakes, a friendly yet unsettling town, she quickly stumbles upon the numerous guests around her, all invited by the head of the family, Winter Palgiot.

But beneath the splendor and the smiles, a tangled web of conspiracy begins to unfold, as one of the guests was found dead, strangled by the sheets of his bed. As Rarity slowly digs into the case, she quickly uncovers the dark secrets of the Palgiot family and their rise to power in Pendant Lakes that might not only endanger the lives of everyone at Palgiot Palace, but to her friends in Ponyville as well...

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This is my first fanfic. Please give tips on improving!! Critiques are welcome as well!!! :D
Rated Teen for Gore. Especially the first chapter (which has a little too much... I apologize for that)

Image by the talented =Nightwalk3r on dA. All rights of it to the artist himself.

Author's note: I'm starting to rewrite most of the chapters, especially the beginning ones, to make sure not everything is jumbled up. Thx for 5000 views of all the chapters combined!

Published 2012-06-04 18:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-18 11:48:57 UTC

Departure For Pendant Lakes

The morning sun shined over Ponyville, its residents all rising up from their beds, greeting it with their half-opened eyes. It welcomed the yawns, the smiles and the stretching hooves with its bright rays filtering through the closed windows, foretelling of yet another bright and joyous day for everypony!

Well... everypony except for Rarity. Tossing and turning all night, she had been grudgingly cursing at her imagination, the gut-wrenching nightmares having made her head and stomach churn all at once. She never knew how or what caused it to happened, but she knew for sure that of all the dreams she ever had...

"...this was the. Worst. Possible. Dream. EVER!"

"....arity," a high pitched squeak slithered into her mind.

"See, Rarity," she scolded quietly to herself, curling deeper into her sheets.

"This is what happens when a mare like you gets too little of her fine beauty sleep."

"....arity, Rarity!"

The unicorn grumbled, clenching her head tightly. Her imagination was driving her insane! Why can't that small, little, annoying voice get out of her head?! Who did it belonged to? She gulped, her stomach lurching again as the gruesome image flashed once more across her mind, the stallion's soulless eyes staring back into her.

"...Rarity! Sis! Wake up!"

Wait... that was no imagination.

She looked up from beneath a pillow. Instead of a dead pony's open mouth, a wide grin smiled back at her, its owner's pair of emerald eyes glittering with anticipation at a new day; the one that she herself loathed. She groaned quietly underneath her breath, glancing up at the foal above her, sighing when she realized who it was.

It was her sister, Sweetie Belle. She completely forgot about babysitting today (no thanks to her always-vacationing parents) and was about to look forward to a great day before her departure to the famed city of Pendant Lakes. Oh, how life works in the most wondrous of ways!

"Rarity, wake up! Come on! There's something you gotta see!"

"Sweetie Belle, dear."

She felt like she was about to explode any second, but held back for a minute.

"Can't you see I'm trying to get some sleep. A little bit shut-eye for while?"

"But Sis, this is really important! You must come down. NOW!!"

"Darling," Rarity bit her lip. She wanted to scream so badly, but now's not the time.

"I had a really rough night yesterday-" she began, but was cut off by her sister's screeching voice.

"But Rarity, come on down! Octavia's waiting!!"

Octavia? The white unicorn blinked in surprise. These days, she never gets much visitors, with the only exception of her customers and some of her friends. It had been four days since her last mutual visit; things had been rough then, due to a date gone wrong with a stallion too flawed. If not for the comfort of a certain dragon, she wouldn't have finished yesterday's order right on time. No doubt, the gray mare had been one of those visitors from time to time, usually to ask for a few dresses, for whatever reason she wasn't exactly sure.

"There must be a reason Octavia visited," she thought to herself

"She never visits me often."

"Come ON!!!"

Sweetie Belle's voice snapped her back into reality, the filly already galloping down the stairs. Rarity began combing her mane, as quick and as perfect as possible, her thoughts pondering on the musician's presence in the abode. Trotting down to the living room, she saw Octavia silently sipping a porcelain cup of tea. Sweetie Belle sat patiently, looking as if in awe at every movement the gray mare across her makes.

Rarity felt uneasy, glancing between her sister and the refined musician sitting across her. Being the blooming music-obsessed filly she is, it was certainly surprising that Sweetie Belle haven't asked for an autograph yet, though the fashion designer preferred her little sister not to.

"Octavia," Rarity called out to the grey pony.

"What brings you here on this fine, Thursday morning?"

Her stomach flipped at the blatant lie. She hated this morning, loathed it even, but she mustn't forget her manners to customers. Octavia glanced up, her lavender eyes glistening from the windows, her expressionless face suddenly growing into a slight smile.

"How nice it is to see you." Octavia said, brushing her mane to the side.

"Sweetie Belle here was being a dear, helping out around your boutique."

"I cleaned the kitchen and washed all the porcelain plates, just like you asked me to Octavia," Sweetie Belle said with a wide grin. Rarity wasn't particularly surprised: this wasn't the first time Octavia was... manipulative of her little sister, thanks to her grandiose position in the music industry.

"Well, she certainly is," she simply agreed.

"I best better send Sweetie Belle to school first. After all, it is a school day."

"Of course, Rarity." came the reply.

"By the way, did you receive any invitations to any... balls recently?"

Rarity froze in her tracks. How did she...

"Are you alright?"

She turned around, a nervous smile crept on her face. What should she tell her, she asked herself, sweating profusely from head to hoof. It was, after all, a private invitation, and for somepony else to know an occasion such as this (considering how remote Pendant Lakes was from Ponyville) would seem like a breach of privacy. She's blaming Pinkie Pie.

"I'm alright, Octavia. Perfectly fine! I'm just... erm... very excited to...uh...... send Sweetie Belle off to school. Yes! That's it! Whoop-dee-doo!"

Octavia raised an eyebrow, making Rarity chuckle nervously.

"Well, the main reason I'm here, Rarity," she began, staring down on the floor, "is because I have one too."

Rarity's jaw hit the floor. Octavia has an invitation to a ball? She tried to suppress her excitement; the mare was, after all, going to the established occasion alone, without any company to join her. Without the walkie-talkie she obtained from Rainbow Dash, she would've been totally cut off from the rest of her friends, yet this time was different. Somepony was joining her or, at least, she think Octavia was.

"You're going to the ball?" she asked.

The grey mare gave her a nod

"At Palgiot Palace?"

Another nod.

"TODAY?!"

Another nod, before Octavia rolled her lavender eyes.

She wasn't the only pony in Ponyville after all! Rarity felt her heart leap, her hooves prancing about in excitement. Even though both mares weren't exactly what they could call close friends (they were more like acquaintances, really) it was better than heading off into the foreign north alone. Then again, they do say the more the merrier.

"Do you know of anypony else from Ponyville attending as well?" she was too eager to find out.

"Well, I've asked Vinyl about it," she stated after a minute of pondering.

"She doesn't have any sort of invitation like that, though I'm not surprised, no offense. So I've decided to ask around town, of course."

"And~?"

"Nothing much," Octavia said with a shrug.

"In fact, no one else I talked to had any invitation. That is, until I heard from Pinkie Pie that you had the same invite as well."

Of course, Rarity told herself with a sigh. If Pinkie Pie knows something, the rest of Ponyville would know eventually. Then again, that saves all the tiring trotting around town and asking around that would've made her throat hoarse.

"Reminds me," she muttered. "I'll need the invitation for later..."

"Ichf's ofverr f'here!!" screeched Sweetie Belle, clenching the crinkling letter between her teeth.

Rarity magically placed it above her luggage at the corner, giving her sister a small 'thank you'. Sweetie Belle's grin widened, before skipping out of the doorway and down the road while humming a tune, her pink bag swinging around her striped mane. She was going to miss her so very much, the fashion designer told herself, wishing she could somehow get her sister to come along.

"Well, I supposed that will do." Rarity began, heading after her sister.

"I guess I will see you later then. Four o'clock, perhaps?"

"Four o' clock, got it." Octavia replied with a warm smile.

Rarity then walked down the gravel path, still trying to absorb the recent turn of events. Octavia wasn't really her first preferred choice to have on the journey, considering their not-so-close friendship with each other. Perhaps she could learn more and get acquainted with the musician in their journey, she thought to herself, even though it might take a while.

"Still," she told herself.

At least I'm not alone...

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"So when will you be coming back?"

The platform was crowded with an ocean of ponies, busy roaming around through the station. Everywhere ponies are chattering, dragging their luggage across the stone floor.

"Five days later, I suppose." Rarity told Twilight. All of her friends were there, seeing their best friend as Rarity looked at a pocket watch Olive gave her as a tip.

She groaned, looking at the musty, fading surface. Sometimes celebrities can be so ignorant.

"So I heard Octavia's following 'ya," Applejack said, standing up from the bench.

"Well, I guess so." the white unicorn shrugged as she looked around the station.

The hands of the pocket watch stated the time: 3:54.

"Remember, be careful over there." Fluttershy said with concern.

"Yeah! After all, we don't know how many 'swindlers' are there, if you know what I mean!"

"Rainbow!" Her four friends stared at her rainbow-maned friend with disgust.

"She's right," Rarity admitted. "Royalty can be a pain sometimes..."

After the incident with Prince Blueblood, she's been more careful with seeing stallions like him. The royalty were never an optimistic lot, as she had experienced. Well, at least, from what she heard, the Patriarch isn't as arrogant as the prince, or most of Canterlot for the matter.

She crossed her hooves.

"Well, I simply can't dally around any longer." Rarity finally said, before using some of her magic to move her luggage. Twilight helped out with a particularly large bag.

"What's inside this thing?" Twilight asked her friend as Applejack came over to help out.

"Well, it's just some cloth I brought along." she answered with glee.

"The invitation was so sudden, I've never even made my costume for the masquerade yet."

"Well, that explains much-" Twilight said before she and Applejack heaved one last time.

"There you go!"

Rarity took one more look around. Octavia was still nowhere to be seen.

"There she is!!!" Pinkie Pie, pointing her hoof in the direction of the station's clock.

There was Octavia, slowly walking from the crowd, her face ruffled in annoyance as she jerked her luggage free from the crowd.

"If there is one thing I hate about stations," she panted as she reached the steaming train, "it's the pushing and shoving."

Applejack smiled, quickly placing Octavia's luggage onto the train as Rarity looked at her friends.

Clearly someone was missing.

"Twilight," she asked the purple unicorn with concern, her friend turning to her from talking to Fluttershy.

"Where's Spike?"

"Well, Spike wouldn't come out of his room."

Rarity felt guilt twist her in her limbs. She knew about Spike's crush on her, as well as her deep-seated love for him.

Was she taking this masquerade ball a bit too far?

"I tried to reason with him, but he said he needed some time alone."

"Well," Rarity shuffled nervously, "t-tell him I said goodbye."

Really, Rarity? Is that the best you can think of?! her inner voice scolded.

Then she turned to Fluttershy.

"Remember, Opalescence usually eats diet cat-food. It is rather important that she keeps the stature fit for a feline like her. And Sweetie Belle-"

"School except for Saturday and Sunday. Got it!" her friend finished with a smile.

"Well, then it's settled then." Rarity gave them a smile, as Octavia quickly stepped up the train.

"I will surely miss you girls," she said.

"Remember, your walkie-talkie might take a while for a message to go through, because Pendant Lakes is quite a distance away from Ponyville, so it might take a while for us to reply." Twilight told her.

"I'll keep that in mind, Twilight."

"ALL ABOARD!!"

"Oh! That's my cue! I better get going then!" Rarity exclaimed with a chuckle.

"Bye! Rarity!" came the scream of Pinkie Pie. "Be sure to have FUNNN!!"

"I will, Pinkie, I will!"

"um... be sure to tell us everything you there..."

"Of course, Fluttershy" Rarity assured the yellow pegasus.

"Say hi to the Palgiot fellow for me." Applejack tipped her hat with a grin.

Which reminds me, I need to talk to Palgiot about my friends.

As she entered her cabin, she quickly waved her hoof out the window, a wide smile growing on Rarity's eyes.

"Goodbye!! See you soon!!"

Her friends replied with a chorus of waves and goodbyes, already eager for her return.

Rarity sighed as Ponyville became out of view. It was truly a bittersweet moment.

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He stood, looking down at the valley before him. The sun began setting, turning the sky a golden spectacle.

Sighing, he looked down at the town. Many of the houses already had the lights on. At the corner of Fountain Square, a bunch of colts & fillies played a game of tag, their parents watched from a distance.

Chimneys of smoke began billowing with the breeze, along with the branches of maple and pine. Beyond the valley, a group of mountains huddled close together, a wide river slithering through the middle.

The stallion arched his back, stretching as the dusk air began to swirl his cyan mane. Looking at his watch, he began to breathe in a huge sigh of relief, as he took another sip from the martini.

"Brother?" A voice called him from the distance.

He turned around, looking at a pale, orange mare in a gown, prepared for the upcoming occasion.

"It isn't everyday you stand on the Jade Balcony, Brother."

"Yes, it isn't," the white unicorn agreed. He ruffled his mane, taking another sip.

"I'm afraid, Brother, that I arrive with dire news."

He took another sip, before settling the empty glass down on the balcony.

Looking up at the pony, her turquoise eyes sparkled with intuition, but beneath it, he felt a sense of dread.

"I will discuss this matter later, Autumn." the unicorn said, before turning back to view the scenery.

"No, Winter," the stallion said his name. "This isn't your everyday rental and tax problem."

Autumn mouthed out.

Sicarius Nox

Winter stumbled, hitting the martini glass off the balcony. He looked down nervously as the glass shattered onto the rocky cliff face.

"Please, Autumn," his tone changed to a slight whisper of fear. "It's been seventy years already. Sidus Storm himself said the organisation disbanded a long time ago..."

"I know, Winter." Autumn began, before whispering again, "but I believe you've heard of the recent troubles with Mirror Mare."

Winter froze. That slight mention of the name was forbidden in this part of Equestria.

"Don't say it's name. It could be here any second."

Winter looked around cautiously, before continuing to ask.

"So, Autumn." he began his question. "Who was the Hostia Prima?

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The train took a slight turn as Rarity looked at the meadow beyond her window. She felt the breeze fluttering through her mane.

Octavia was slowly drinking tea, completely silent through the journey so far.

"So, Octavia," Rarity began, trying to spark up a conversation.

The gray mare looked up, giving out an affectionate sigh as she placed the tea cup down.

"I've been wondering," she continued. She never knew much about Octavia, except for the fact that she is one of the most respected musicians in the world.

"Do you fancy meeting someone at the ball?"

Octavia choked on her tea, a blush begin emanating from her grey cheeks.

"Um... I best believe... you should know about it then."

"Oh, I don't want to pry! If it's too... big of a secret, you do not require to tell me." Rarity said with a nervous chuckle.

"No!" the gray mare exclaimed, before lowering her voice into a slight whisper. "It's better if somebody else should know about it..."

Her friend's ears perked a little.

"I'm listening."

"You see," Octavia began, her blush slowly turning her grey skin a little scarlet, "I've been secretly dating this... stallion for a couple of months now..."

Rarity couldn't believe her ears. Octavia already has a coltfriend?!

"Why then, you MUST tell me who this lucky stallion is! Or do you want me to guess?"

Octavia felt flattered at the white mare's comment. This was the first pony she told about, and she felt relieved that at least one pony took it seriously.

"I don't think you'll believe who it is. Even Vinyl doesn't believe it, saying it was a good prank and sorts..." the gray pony said, before slinking back onto the red couch.

Rarity began pondering. Who in the whole of Equestria could it be?

"Octavia, is it somebody I know?"

Octavia thought for a while, before letting out a 'maybe'.

The anticipation inside the unicorn grew. Her curiosity overflowed from head to toe, and in no time she rushed to her friend's side.

"Come on, Octavia! TellmeTellmeTellmeTellMeTellMETELLME!!"

"Calm down, Rarity!" Octavia said with a soothing laugh, as the unicorn quickly settled onto the cabin chairs, eagerness flourishing in her ocean eyes.

"All right, Rarity. It's.." the gray mare bit her lip, sweat flowing from the tip of her mane, before saying it out:

"Crimson Lux"

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Winter Palgiot closely examined the scene. The bloodied body of a auburn colt lay hanging from the lamppost, a noose around his bleeding neck. A cutie mark of a windmill was covered by slash and stab wounds, still leaking the last few drops of blood.

His stomach gurgled at the horrific scene before him. Mirror Mare has outdone itself this time.

The chief of police, Griffonhooves, gestured some of the police, before heading up to Winter and his sister, Autumn.

"Victim suffered a lot of pain. Judging by the drag marks on the victim's suit, I suggest this isn't the primary crime scene.

Autumn looked away, nearly gagging from the smell of rot and death. The body was found in one of the confusing alleyways around Harbor Avenue, close to the beach.

Usually these alleyways are abandoned, forgotten, but a number of ponies have notified the police about the strong stench coming from here.

Sure enough, what they found disgusted them.

"Found this iron fragment on the floor, Mr. Palgiot. What do you make of it?"

Although the Palgiot family do not own the city, their high-ranks in royalty and ties with the Canterlot Ministry granted them supreme authority over Pendant Lakes and surrounding regions.

Winter studied the wrought iron. It looked more like steel. He gave it a whiff. Herbicide.

Autumn inspected it next. Having the same smartness as her siblings, she and Winter quickly came up with the answer:

"Pendant Lakes Train Station."

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Rarity gave out a tired yawn, weary after the long talk with Octavia, who was already sleep.

Apparently, Octavia has been dating Crimson Lux, a distinguished stallion famed for his bright creativity and aspiring achievements in music. Both ponies are sophisticated in taste and luxuries.

It's no wonder they're together.

So far, from what Octavia said, the relationship was stable enough, but they've recently had an argument, something about difference in tastes.

Rarity chuckled quietly. Ahhh....... love.

Octavia and Crimson never spoke for four whole weeks. That is, until she finally got a handwritten letter from him.

Crimson apologized for his rash behavior, hoping she would forgive him.

To make it up to her, he was the one who invited Octavia to the masquerade.

Of course she would agree. the mare said to herself. That will be so...

She let out another long, yawn. The sun outside descended below the meadow.

....romantic..

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The mist blurred Winter's vision. He, Autumn and Summer, his brother, trudged through Fountain Square.

"What do you think of the recent events, sir?" Griffonhooves quipped from the back, escorting the three siblings forward.

Winter just walked silently, unable to mouth any words. He began to worry.

Summer just shook his slightly crimson mane, gesturing a demand of silence.

Eventually, their destination lay ahead them. The swinging oil lamp and the iron sign ushered the ponies into the station.

Autumn scanned across the platform, clearly examining for any little giveaway.

Griffonhooves escorted Winter toward the edge of the platform. Squinting his sky blue eyes in the darkness, he quickly mumbled some words as his horn suddenly glowed.

From his horn sprouted a gleaming ball of light. Saying a few more words, he beckoned the light towards the darkness.

On the rail tracks, he caught a glimpse of red stains.

Blood

"Chief Griffonhooves, I believe this is the primary crime scene. I require your forces to scour the area. The weapon of choice for the unfortunate pony is still uncertain, as I don't believe even the..."

Winter shuddered for a moment as he continued.

"...Mirror Mare, have the capability to throw such a strong pony across the train tracks.

"Winter!" Autumn called out. "Summer! You've gotta see this!"

As Chief Griffonhooves gave his orders, Winter quickly trotted towards his sister.

Autumn raised a photo, a look of gleaming concern on her face. In the photo stood the dead, auburn stallion, surrounded by three foals while being tendered after a mare.

Summer spoke up, his crimson eyes thundering inside.

"I believe I know who that is."

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Rarity awoke again, with a gasp.

She felt sick. Clutching against the wooden table in front of her, she frantically looked around.

Octavia slept silently across her. The moonlight outside the carriage window shone across her mane.

Images of slashing and cutting and....trains kept replaying in her mind. Her nightmare was gruesome, terribly morbid.

What in Celestia did I do to deserve this?

She quickly cleared her eyes, her fear began to dissolve as fatigue quickly overcame her. Giving out one last yawn after cautiously looking around, she closed her eyes once again for a deep slumber.

A Rather Somber Arrival

Sunlight dappled across the window as Rarity woke up, her head still dizzy from the train ride.

Octavia was still gently asleep across her, clearly unaware of the arrival of morning.

Rarity gave out a polite yawn, raising her hoof to her mouth, before walking out the carriage door. Taking one last glance back, she smiled at the peacefully resting grey mare.

The train took a sharp turn, nearly throwing the mare off her hooves. She caught herself by the glazing handlebars of the doors, cursing under her breath.

As she walked down the passage, ignoring every bump of the journey, she quickly took out her comb and makeup, as she headed down the bathroom.

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Spike's eyes fluttered open. His head was pounding, sore from the restless sleep he had.

He tried to get it out of his mind, but the vividness of his argument with Twilight kept assaulting his brain.

"Rarity was worried, and I mean worried, sick about you!!"

"Why would she even bother? She's probably happier finding some rich baron, or prince for that matter!"

"See, this is why it is hard to help you!" Twilight screamed, straight into the dragon's face.

"Just because you grew up a little doesn't mean you have to be a -"

"What?!" Spike replied harshly. "Come on, spit it out Twilight!"

"A MONSTER!!" Twilight broke down into tears, his attitude stinging needles into her heart.

A tear flowed from Spike's eyes as he looked at himself in the mirror. He was in his adolescence, and he was slightly taller than his fellow pony friends now.

What happened later made it even worse.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," Spike retracted slightly, trying to make it up to her as Twilight's mane covered her face, tears trickling down her face.

"I didn't mean to-"

"Don't be sorry to ME, Spike!" the unicorn, the one he had always known as his older sister, glared at him, tears still flooding in her eyes. "Be sorry to Rarity!"

Spike tried to wiped the tears away, but more returned instead.

Twilight's screams came back, shattering into his mind.

"She realized that you truly love her, didn't you know?"

"She wanted to tell you about her feelings, her feelings for YOU before she left! But you just had to...just HAD TO be the stubborn dragon you are!!"

"She didn't want to see you hurt! Or even sad, for that matter!

"Twilight," Spike began, but was cut off by a stern, painful...

SLAP!

"Leave me ALONE!"

The last thing Spike saw was Twilight running out of the library, galloping towards Sweet Apple Acres, tears flying in the wind.

Spike looked out his window, his fresh scars still hurting in his heart. He had let his 'big sister' down.

Damn it, Spike! he scolded himself. He gave out a frustrated roar, kicking a stack of books in the corner.

Trying to get a hold of himself, he heard the creak of the door behind him.

Was it her? Did she really forgive him?

"Twilight, I-" Spike began, turning around, but saw nopony there.

All of the sudden, he felt a strong blow on his head. Startled by the sudden attack, he tumbled onto the floor.

A second blow left him unconscious.

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"- Miss! Are you al-"

Rarity groaned. Her head was pounding, as if somepony hit her with an iron bar.

"-rity? Speak to m-"

Her vision was blurry. Something lurched her body forward.

Her hooves reached around the floor. Velvet...

"-'s waking. Give her some ai-"

Rarity's perception grew clearer as she slowly squinted her eyes. A pair of lavender eyes stared back into her.

"Octavia?" she recognized her friend's eyes. A few other ponies surrounded her, all with looks of worry and concern.

"Rarity, what happened to you?" Octavia asked, clearly disturbed by her condition.

"Whatever do you mean, Octavia?" she replied, her mind still fuzzy and her mane slightly messed.

"I'm completely fine."

"Miss," a pony in uniform stepped from the crowd. He appears to be the coachmaster, with a look of uncertainty crossed his face.

"Your friend here reported you exiting the bathroom, then suddenly tense up before fainting to the floor."

Rarity's eyes widened in shock. "There must've been some sort of mistake... Octavia, please tell me. I couldn't have possibly done that. I feel fine, perfect! Over the top! It must be somepony else, anypony!"

"Miss? Are you alright?"

Rarity felt her legs gave way. This is not happening! This is not happening!!

Octavia quickly rushed to her friend's side, her worry increasing every minute.

"I'm sorry," the gray pony apologized to the coachmaster.

"She needs a place to sit. I don't think she will be able to bear with the news for now."

The coachmaster frowned, before giving a nod.

Octavia quickly helped the white mare up, who was still trembling with shock. She sighed with deep concern.

As they entered their cabin, she settled Rarity onto the red couch.

"Here, Rarity." Octavia said as she raised the cup of hot tea towards the stunned unicorn.

"This should help clear things a bit."

Like an obedient child, Rarity drank, her mouth shivering.

"Rarity?" Octavia asked cautiously, not wanting to provoke her.

"I-I'm fine," Rarity stammered, still shuddering from her ordeal.

"Please Rarity, can you tell me what happened?"

Rarity's mind hurt at the thought of her fainting. She felt a lump on the back of her head.

"I-" Rarity froze a minute, before finishing with a whimper.

"I don't know..."

Tears started springing from her eyes. Octavia slowly stroked her mane, trying to calm the unicorn down.

"It's just.... I feel like... somepony took a part of me.." Rarity said between sobs.

"and they just.... smashed it to the ground... and just stepped on it and..."

She couldn't hold back her tears. She sobbed openly on her friend's lap.

Octavia hugged Rarity tenderly like a mother would to a filly, as the white unicorn kept on crying before her eyes closed once more.

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Twilight drank the last of the apple stew, before wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Applejack looked at Twilight, giving her a worrying glance.

"Ya sure you wanna go back to the library, Twi?" Applejack asked, making her friend uneasy.

"I'm fine, Applejack." the unicorn replied, forcing out a grin, although the orange mare raised an eyebrow.

"It's just a small argument, that's all."

"Uh-huh," Applejack said, having a sip of apple punch before continuing:

"An argument that made you run all the way here, crying and begging Big Mac to let you in."

"Things didn't go well, I'll admit to that." Twilight assured her.

"But Spike's growing up now. I'll have to treat him like an adult."

Applejack just shrugged as her friend continued: "I know the last few months that Spike's been through is harsh, but that doesn't mean I had to argue with him over that one day."

"Yep, especially since he's growing faster than Applebloom." Applejack said with a chuckle.

"I have to agree, it's pretty sudden, but Rarity will be back soon," Twilight took one more sip of the apple punch, "and Spike will be the same lovey-dovey dragon he always is."

The orange mare tilted her hat sideways. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you then, Twi."

Twilight smiled, the first ever since last night.

"Thanks Applejack, for everything."

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Rarity opened her eyes, covering them from the blinding rays of the sun.

"You're awake."

She turned around. Octavia sat across her, looking up from a book, something about music theories, with a smile, before looking back into it again.

She bit her lip, remembering the drama she caused outside. She shifted close to Octavia, a smile gleamed across her face.

"Thanks Octavia," she muttered.

Octavia looked up again. Closing the book, she placed it onto the wooden table, listening attentively to the white unicorn.

"I don't know what to do if you were not around."

"It's not a big deal, Rarity."

Rarity looked into the grey pony's eyes, her lavender pupils glistened as she spoke:

"After all, that's what friends are for."

The white unicorn let out a small laugh, before sitting back, looking out the window once more.

The scenery was different: instead of a meadow, she saw a rocky, mountainous slope. A goat stood at the far end, curious at the passing train.

"I don't want to bother you Octavia, but," she turned to the grey pony, "Where on Equestria are we now?"

"Somewhere north of Everfree Forest. Aston Peaks, is it? Pendant Lakes is just beyond this tunnel."

Rarity shuffled nervously. The slight mention of the name made her shudder.

"The coachmaster wanted to make sure you're fit enough for the journey."

She tried not to scoff. "Tell the coachmaster I'll be fine."

Her head however, was filled with doubt.

At least, I think I'll be...

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Winter walked down the corridor, light shining in from the tall windows, arching the wall of the palace. A giant tapestry hung above his head, indicating the family coat-of-arms: a golden 'P' over a halo of laurel leaves.

He continued his stroll, passing through suits of armor. A red carpet guided him further downwards. The line of windows come to a halt, quickly replaced by a row of shell-shaped torches, flames dancing around the air.

He quickly stopped in his tracks, standing in front of an elegant, dark brown, wooden door, carved by some of the best wood carvers in Equestria.

All this, just for his sister.

He gave a small knock on the surface, before hearing a small voice.

"Come in..."

Turning the knob, he stuck his head inside.

The room smelled of morning dew. Every four sides of the room were painted with murals of trees, birds, tall grass, flowers of different colors and even butterflies, all glimmering under a morning sky.

The cupboards, chests and bed were painted a bright green. Up above, a domed stained glass window tells of ancient ponytales of the sun and moon. Light filtered through the glass, turning it a bright yellow.

At the end of the bed lay the lucky occupant, a small filly with a blonde mane.

"Morning, Winter," the filly said, before letting out a polite cough.

"Morning, Spring." Winter beamed with pride at her sister. She was one of the cutest, most adorable sisters he ever had. Ever since she gained her Cutie Mark, Spring had been one of the most cheerful and outgoing pony Winter ever met.

Despite her disease.

"Winter?" the small filly called out as she looked up to her brother, her beige pearls stared longingly into her brother's sky blue ones.

"Yes, Spring?" Winter answered patiently.

"Do you think I'll make it?"

That question punched Winter in the face. He stumbled with his words a bit.

"Well?" Spring repeated with a squeal, her older brother chuckling slightly.

"I think you'll do just fine, little sis."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, the both of them turning to the door.

A pony in a white uniform walked in, pushing a small cart of bottles and tools.

"Sir Palgiot," he said, "it's time for her medication."

He gestured two nurses as they walked in. Winter looked at her sister with concern before the doctor walked him out of her room.

"So Doctor Brineheart," he asked as soon as they stepped out the door. "How long does my sister have left to live?"

Doctor Brineheart cleaned his glasses before taking out a chart. He quickly did some mental calculations before arriving to the answer.

"About one year and a half, two years tops."

Winter felt his heart sting as he listened. His face darkened, prompting the doctor a question:

"Isn't there anything you can do? Anything at all?

Doctor Brineheart responded with a shake of his head.

"It'll take more than a miracle to cure her disease. We haven't seen anything like it before. It's something completely foreign, something new."

Winter sighed with defeat and worry. His sister, the favorite among all three, had at most two years of her life left.

Then he smiled. At least she'll be happy.

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Twilight walked into Ponyville, with Spike entrancing her thoughts. She felt guilty for scolding him harshly before, the pain only bringing her to the edge of tears.

She took in a huge breath. This is it, Twilight! No backing down now!

She marched herself down to the library: her one and only residence along with Spike.

As she slowly trotted, passing through a few ponies, she heard a barely audible shout:

"Twilight?"

Her ears perked at the mention of her name, she looked around, her mane slowly ruffled in the breeze.

Then she saw it. The source of the voice. Twilight started to smile.

Fluttershy.

"Twilight!" the yellow pegasus called out as she raced through the crowd. She skidded to a halt before crashing into the purple unicorn.

"Twilight, I heard about your argument with Spike," Fluttershy panted, before gasping for air.

Twilight looked at her in bewilderment.

This wasn't normally Fluttershy's behavior, but her overwhelming concern for her friend proved otherwise.

"Are you alright, Twilight?"

The unicorn bemused a grin.

"I'm alright now, Fluttershy. Thanks for your concern."

Her friend let out a relieved sigh, before continuing:

"Is Spike awake yet? I was about to visit him when you came along..."

"I dunno," Twilight replied, her voice faltering.

"You're both still arguing about... um... about yesterday?" Fluttershy whispered carefully, not wanting to make her friend mad.

Twilight just shook her head. "I'm over it," she said. "and I wish Spike is over it as well..."

Both looked at the door. It loomed over them, making the pegasus cringe in fear.

"It's alright, Fluttershy," Twilight reassured her with a grin.

"I'll knock, just in case..."

As her hoof touched the door, it immediately swung open, revealing the darkness inside.

"Ok..." Twilight began, slightly puzzled as she trotted into the library. Fluttershy followed closely after her.

A landslide of books blocked the path, the sight slightly annoying the unicorn.

The purple dragon wasn't seen anywhere in the shadows, prompting them to step forward.

"Spike!" she called out. "Spike?"

The darkness loomed in the library. Fluttershy let out a small 'eep as she felt her shoulder brushed against...

"Peewee!" Twilight exclaimed in surprise, the small, little phoenix responding with a little chirp.

"Have you seen Spike, Peewee?"

The bird shook its beak, its smile faltering into a small frown.

Fluttershy slowly tried to cheer Peewee up, as Twilight continued into the darkness.

"Spike?" the unicorn called out again, this time a little bit louder.

No response. She was beginning to worry.

Then she saw it. A silhouette of the purple dragon on the floor.

"Spike! Oh thank goodness I found you-" Twilight began as she ran to the dragon's side, but as her eyes focused in the dark, she gasped out in horror.

Spike's head was bleeding, a small stream flowing, forming a miniature red lake on the library floor.

"Oh Celestia!" she shouted out, a fresh tear beginning to form in her eye.

"What's wrong, Twilight?" Fluttershy's voice echoed from behind a stack of books.

Twilight quickly placed both hooves onto the dragon's scaly, purple neck, jerking it harshly. Come on, Spike! Come on, don't do this to me now!

"Fluttershy!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Go get some help! NOW!"

As she heard the yellow pegasus galloping out the door, the unicorn quickly shook the dragon's body again.

"Come on, Spike. Don't you do this to me! Don't you even dare!!"

She screamed as she began sobbing, her head buried in the dragon's chest.

Tha-thump!

"Wait... could it be?

Twilight listened again, her ear on the dragon's chest.

Tha-thump!

He's still alive!!

As soon as she heard the third thump, sirens wailed outside the library, red lights illuminating in the darkness

Twilight whispered into the dragon's ear, clearing the mixed tears of sadness and happiness in her eyes.

"You're going to be okay..."

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Next Stop: Pendant Lakes!!!

"Well," Rarity looked from her window. The town of Pendant Lakes was in clear view now.

"It seems... inviting enough." she said to Octavia as the grey pony started to pack up. "I'm sure I wouldn't mind living here."

The gray mare only looked out the window, inspecting the town as the train came closer towards the station.

Rarity's horn began glowing a pale cyan as her bag enveloped in the magic itself, her friend hastily settling her books on music in a separate bag.

The wheels finally screeched to a halt, making the white mare jump a little as the steam engine died down.

"This is it, Rarity." she quietly whispered to herself. "No turning back now.

Rarity and Octavia clambered down the rusty steps of the train. The blazing sun prompted the white unicorn to wear her yellow hat, topped evenly with a crown of daisies.

Octavia, though, looked around as the other passengers began boarding or depart from the train, turning the station into a ripple of ponies.

"Great!" she complained. "More pushing."

Rarity held her hat down, the breeze threatening to blow it from her. As she looked around, she quickly noticed an iron post.

At the top of it, a rotting board of wood stood firmly clasped between two plates of steel. Rarity shielded her eyes from the blinding sun as she read:

Pendant Lakes

She gulped, the gruesome scene began replaying in her mind. She felt faint, about to collapse.

"Come on," her friend's voice shattered her thoughts, saving her from the morbidity. "This way."

Rarity breathed a huge sigh of relief.

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"So where you ladies off to?"

The carriage they hired wasn't satisfactory, but it will have to do.

Octavia was the first to talk. "As you can see, sir, both of us received invitations to a masquerade ball..."

Rarity looked out from the carriage, observing the town.

From the train station, they reached what the locals had called Fountain Square. The white marble fountain stood in the center, water spouting from the top, creating a majestic scene.

Around it, colts and fillies of different ages ran around, usually chasing the pigeons feeding on bread thrown by the parents. Vendors of different stalls sparked the attention of everypony, showing off their collection of knick-knacks.

Stone benches stood around the fountain, forming a giant circle. The marble pavement was filled with bread crumbs for the pigeons, and one or two coins lying around, hidden beyond plain sight.

A couple caught Rarity's interest. Both seemed like around her age, as they walked toward the fountain. With a coin in their joined hands, they both whisper in prayer.

Then, as the prayer finished, they threw the coin, making a splash in the fountain.

Slightly puzzled, she couldn't hesitate but ask:

"Sir?"

The carriage driver turned around, seemingly willing to answer Rarity's question.

"If you do not mind me asking, what purpose is it of the fountain over there?"

The driver chuckled. "Why, that fountain is a special fountain. It inhibits the power of an everlasting relationship, a pony with his or her mate, destine to fate together.

"You mean that fountain is some sort of Love Fountain?"

He tipped his hat at the slight mention of the name. "Yep! Many couples sought to come here from all four corners of Equestria, just to throw one small coin in that there fountain."

He smiled widely, almost as if he was proud of it.

"Why, sometimes we ponies living here at Pendant Lakes called it Lover's Embrace!"

Lover's Embrace, huh...

"Well, bring Crimson here tomorrow night, Octavia. I'm sure he'll be too happy to oblige," Rarity teased her friend as she began to giggle.

"Shut up, Rarity," the gray mare replied with a blush, before slowly laughing along with her.

Rarity finished laughing, a wide smile pasted onto her face. You're a lucky mare, Octavia.

As she looked around at the quaint little town, she felt her heart ache, her mane blowing in the breeze as she settled in deep thought.

Spike...

Lunch With The Patriarch

"Any recent light on the Mirror Mare case?"

Winter Palgiot paced around the Equinox Ballroom, never feeling more agitated in his life in the whole time he was the Patriarch of Pendant Lakes. The first guests could arrive any minute and the last thing he needed is a killer on the loose, especially when the said killer was Mirror Mare itself. He expected a satisfactory answer, which wasn't what was given to him when he turned towards the other two ponies in the room.

Chief Griffonhooves and Mayor Stencil shook their heads. Ridiculous, he shouted to himself. Plain ridiculous.

In a fit of rage, the Patriarch slammed his hooves on one of the tables, jolting them in their seats.

"This isn't the time to be lobbying!" he shouted. "I want every single pony we have out on the prowl! What happened to authority these days, letting old organisations that cease to exist to be brought back from the dead, and now-"

"Do you require your jacket, sir?" Stellar Lionheart interrupted his master, holding a tussled, brown coat up to him. The chilly, wintry atmosphere in the ballroom made Winter slightly shiver, contrary to his name. If there was somepony that knew how to get a job done, it was his ever faithful butler.

"Thank you, Lionheart, but that won't be necessary."

With a deep breath, he exhaled, the anger flowing out from him, before slumping back onto one of the dining chairs.

"Have you ponies at least found out who's the Hostia Prima?" he asked, rubbing his eyes firmly in frustration.

Griffonhooves raised his hoof.

"A farmer living somewhere down Standard & Dale. Caesar Mills."

Mayor Stencil looked through his records, as the police chief continued: "Cause of death, an iron fragment lodged into his neck, rupturing both vein and artery, causing a tremendous amount of blood loss. Killer supposedly tied him up to a moving train, he was dragged for a few feet along the tracks, before being untied."

"I think I just found our killer's motive."

Winter & Griffonhooves quickly rushed to Mayor Stencil's side. There, on the list of Overdue Accounts, was Caesar Mill's name.

"He was behind rent by six million and twenty-five thousand bits." The Mayor placed his clipboard before standing up.

"That is an extremely large amount of money."

"But the Sicarius Nox method has been outlawed by Harrow Palgiot - my uncle - seven decades ago." Winter quickly clarified.

"Everypony in the town has the knowledge of this method from the old town history, so it could be anypony ."

Griffonhooves shrugged, "But we know for sure, this 'Mirror Mare' must be somepony in the city. The pony has a knowledge of the old Sicarius Nox arts. Anypony with a name in this list," he held up the clipboard, "is in danger of becoming Hostia Prima."

Winter sipped one of his wines, savoring its taste for a moment, before he stood up.

"Make sure everypony on that list is protected," he ordered, "and start a curfew session. Anypony found outside the house after ten shall be arrested on sight."

Griffonhooves wrote down everything Winter said, before he left to set the new orders.

Mayor Stencil walked up to his Patriarch, who was now looking out the window to Pendant Lakes below him. The afternoon sun shone on his face, making it seem fairer.

"Sir Palgiot," he asked, wiping the sweat off his grayish mane. "Do you believe Mirror Mare will be able to overcome these defenses?"

Winter sighed, before replying: "For one, Mirror Mare's skill is extremely dangerous. Its power is deemed unnatural as it can bend many pagan and modern laws of science."

"Pagan laws?"

"Example, the laws of life & death. The circle of life. Like how Caesar was killed before his time was destined to come."

"But how did you know," Mayor Stencil asked the Patriarch, slightly puzzled. "that Caesar's time has not come? Surely his murder might indicate it's his time to go."

"Indeed, but his life was cut short, the thread snapped from the spool. He had many years ahead of him, but the acts of Mirror Mare completely ended it."

"It doesn't make sense. How would you know how long Caesar's life will last?

Suddenly, he grabbed the Mayor by the throat, his eyes piercing daggers into the Mayor's heart.

"You have no authority to pry into things that you have no clear knowledge of to begin with." Winter ordered, a grimace written onto his face.

The Mayor nodded nervously, sweat cascading in waterfalls down his chin.

"You are to go home, forget that this conversation ever, ever happened. Understood?"

He nodded again, before he quickly trotted out the ballroom, hoping to escape from the Patriarch's fury.

Winter slumped back into his chair, trying to regain control of himself.

"Somepony will know about this, one day." he said to himself.

Somepony worthy...

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"And here we are, ladies! The entrance to the grand, Palgiot Palace."

Rarity and Octavia wowed at the golden gates. It was seamlessly detailed, with golden doves, cranes and, perched at the very top, an eagle.

As they stepped out the carriage, Octavia paid the carriage driver a few bits, as her friend got closer to the gate, trying to get a better look at a disk held between the eagle's beak.

She saw a engraved, golden 'P', hovering just above a laurel wreath.

"Halt!"

Octavia and Rarity turned as the carriage pony slowly trotted down the path. A pony in a red suit marched toward them, holding a rifle in one hoof. Two other similar-uniformed ponies marched out, each with the same weapon.

"State your affairs."

The white mare could only laugh nervously, before feeling a tap on her shoulder.

"They mean our invitations."

The two mares quickly fumbled through their bags, before each of them returned, handing out their letters.

The commander of the three ponies stepped forward, examining both letters closely.

"Alright," he finally said, the mares letting out a relieved sigh.

"Let them in!" he barked at the other two ponies.

The gates opened with a creak, an auburn path stretching from the gate to the entrance.

"Well, here we are!" Rarity said, laughing a little.

Octavia nodded in return.

As they walked in, the white mare couldn't help but marvel at the architecture. The slate roofs were green and covered in ivy & moss. A row of columns lined the entrance, all complete with burning torches.

The polished stone walls gleamed, reflecting the strong rays of the sun. A few towers stood firmly from their foundations, an array of plants creeping against its walls. The windows are all decorated, their iron frames etched into different shapes.

As she looked on, she saw something at the corner of her eye.

There, in one of the largest windows of the palace, which she presumed is the ballroom, a white, blue-maned stallion looked down at her and Octavia, a slight smile on his face.

But behind the smile, "It might just be me, but-" she thought she saw a hint of worry.

"Rarity!"

She turned, startled by the gray mare's voice.

"Come on, we've gotta go!"

Rarity gave an understanding nod, before turning her head back to the windows.

Nopony was there.

Strange... her mind fumbled. Very strange...

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"Mr. Palgiot will be seeing you in the dining room shortly."

Stellar Lionheart, the butler, sweeped some dust off his suit as Rarity and Octavia entered the main hall. The marble tiles gleamed from the light, more columns towered, supporting a few balconies above.

"Here's the key to your room." Stellar said as he passed Rarity a key. "Due to the amount of guests, I'm afraid both of you have to share a room."

"That's alright, sir," Octavia spoke up, still admiring the architectural wonder they're in.

"Please, ladies, this way."

Rarity felt her hoof touch velvet. A giant, red carpet draped over the horseshoe-like stairs. The three ponies slowly trotted up the left side of the stairs, as the butler began explaining the rules.

"Patriarch Winter don't take kindly to guests, as he is more busy in his work, as does his family. Therefore, all of their rooms are off-limits, unless requested by the members themselves."

"The other rooms we do not kindly want guests to enter are the Tower Room," he said, pointing to a grand tower higher than the rest. "the Cellars, the Staff Rooms and of course, the Graveyard."

The gray mare shuddered. "Who would want to enter the Graveyard?" she asked.

"Many have dared to enter, as much as those who tried with the Tower Room." the butler replied, straightening the black bow on his suit. "Those who did never returned. Those who returned never left."

She pondered at the thought. The Palgiots certainly know how to treat their guests.

"Here's your room." the butler said when they stopped in front of a double oak door. "Remember to notify the staff for any inconveniences. In addition, due to recent events, nopony should leave their room after ten nightfall."

"Recent events?" Octavia asked, her head tilted sideways.

"Believe me, miss, you do not want to know..." Stellar said before walking off.

"Okayyy... that was creepy." the gray mare turned to her friend, who was still looking at the butler with a slight hint of fear.

"Yeah..." Rarity muttered, an image haunting in her head again. "Creepy."

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A knock came on Winter's door, the Patriarch gave out a tired groan.

"Just a minute!" he called out.

He quickly trotted down a few steps, to a small table beside a fireplace.

A few switches lay hidden beneath as he reached his hoof around, flipping them off one by one.

Opening the door, Stellar walked in, crinkling at a little bit of dust from the nearby bookcase, before bowing with courtesy to the young Patriarch.

"Sir Winter, the first guests have arrived."

"So I've seen," Winter said before sitting on a vintage sofa. The Patriarch used his horn to lift a teacup to his mouth, which slowly sipped its contents.

The butler shifted toward his master, handing him a handkerchief.

"Thank you."

"May I invite the guests down to the dining room for lunch, sir?"

Winter helped himself up, before he trotted toward the bookcase.

His hoof examined the titles, before stopping at a book. Stellar kept his head down, awaiting for orders.

"We do not want to keep the guests waiting, shall we?" he said, pushing the red book in.

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"It's just I don't understand,"

Rarity combed her mane as Octavia spoke, ruffling through a few dresses behind a bamboo screen.

"What could've made somepony so powerful like the Palgiots to fear about?"

The white mare shrugged. "For once," she said, settling the comb on the drawer, "I have no clue."

The small, antique clocked dinged twice, its brass gears rotating in place.

"Hurry now, Octavia!" she called out as she sweeped a little dust of her light-blue gown. "We must be punctual on this occasion."

Octavia stepped out from behind the screen, her dress making Rarity look in awe.

She wore a fine, lavender gown that matches her eyes. A few streaks of glitter sparkled as much as Rarity's eyes as the gray mare gave a bashful smile.

"Why, dear you look simply fabulous!" she squealed in delight. "Crimson will be so stunned by your beauty, darling!"

"Don't say that, Rarity." The grey pony began blushing again, before gesturing to the clock

"Come on. We're running a little late."

They quickly trotted out of the room, locking the doors behind them.

Neither heard the crackling of the walkie-talkie on the table near the window.

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Winter held a torch aloft with his magic, navigating though the dark passageways.

The Patriarch slowly trotted, kicking some dust around. A few squeaks of mice echoed in the distance.

Many do not know of the passageways around here. Only the family and the staff who worked around long enough have the knowledge of activating the doors.

He brushed some of the stray cobwebs away as he slinked across the corridor.

Then he heard it.

Trot, trot, trot...

Winter blew out his torch, as he readied his only weapon: a dagger.

Hiding behind the corner, the sound crept closer and closer.

He lunged forward, crashing into the other pony. He lifted his dagger as his horn flared, relighting his torch, wanting to see the mysterious pony's face.

"Summer?"

The yellow colt pushed his brother off, as he let out an irritated grumble.

"What are you doing in here?" Winter questioned his brother, who was now shaking his mane free of dust.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Summer replied, his red eyes thundered in anger and annoyance.

"And you just had to tackle me!" he shouted gruffly.

Both brothers weren't in good terms since the day Summer was born. Every day, fights will flare up between them. Even though Summer's build was slightly larger than Winter, he still respected his brother despite their differences.

"Well, I wasn't the one who was dumb enough not to bring a torch in." Winter shouted back, his blue eyes seething with rage.

Both ponies harrumphed as they kicked their hooves back, about to start another duel.

Then his younger brother stopped, but his anger was still evident on his face.

"I was about to go to the dining room. We're completely missing lunch."

Winter scoffed, ignorant of his brother's comment. He slowly sheathed his dagger, his teeth grinding with hate.

"Go and do your sciency stuff." Summer said with sarcasm, letting out a laugh.

Winter just ignored him. He slowly trotted from where his brother came.

He will strike any day now. the Patriarch cursed under his breath, before reaching the end of the passageway.

Lifting a hoof, he scanned through the wall, before pushing a brick in.

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"Lunch is Served!!"

Rarity scanned the faces. Almost all of the seats were filled. She recognized a few faces.

Sitting a few feet across her, was Sapphire Shores. The pony gave out a gesture of 'hello' to Rarity, who smiled back.

She was one of the few celebrities who've came to Rarity for a few designs, albeit her order didn't go well as planned, as she had a slight complication with a Diamond Dog colony.

"But still," she swallowed a bit of soup. "at least I've learnt something."

She was referring to Spike's feelings for her. She tried to brush it off, but the way Spike acted when he called her friends to help Rarity was very...

"Heroic...."

"What?" Octavia asked.

"Nothing Octavia, nothing." Rarity smiled sheepishly.

At the far side, she recognized Carlotta Marine, actress famed for her main role as a judge and mother in one of Rarity's favorite dramas, Hunger & Greed.

A little to the left, there sat Basil Luck, famed for being the founder & leading designer of Basil Footwear Inc., along with his wife, Harlequin Velvet, another leading designer, this time in hats.

In fact, the hat the unicorn wore this morning was one of Harlequin's latest designs.

She chuckled softly, thinking how coincidental it was.

Octavia glanced around, crossing her gray hooves. Her impatient frown grew into a slight smile as the pony she's waiting for entered the room.

Rarity turned to her friend, then she grinned. A red-orange stallion walked up to the gray mare, his black eyes matching his mane. Octavia giggled as she asked:

"Where have you been, Crimson?"

Crimson shook his mane slightly, letting out a grin

"Sorry 'Tavi. I'm just trying too hard to look my best." he finished with a wink.

Octavia blushed slightly as Rarity chuckled at her friend.

"You must be Rarity," Crimson said, smiling at her.

"And you must be the stallion Octavia told me so much about!" she teased.

Crimson and Octavia let out an embarrassed laugh, before the red pony sat along with his marefriend.

Rarity continued looking around, trying to name a few other celebrities. The white stallion she saw this morning, however wasn't around, only making her begin to wonder who it was.

As everybody began feasting, she gently finished her apple and carrot salad, before hearing an audible clink.

Stellar Lionheart stood, a goblet in one hand and a spoon in another. Then he gestured the waiters as they left hurriedly.

The grand doors opened slowly, as four ponies stepped in.

"Welcome, Spring Palgiot. Bearer of Love & Happiness. Youngest sister and sibling to the great Patriarch."

The room was filled with quiet claps as the light-turquoise pony slowly stepped to her seat, shaking her yellow mane.

Rarity looked at her. Her body seemed so... frail and beneath her beige eyes, she looked sad.

"Welcome, Summer Palgiot. Bearer of Authority & Justice. Brother to the great Patriarch."

The yellow pony silently trotted, his red eyes gleaming with annoyance as another wave of applause echoed through the room.

"Welcome, Autumn Palgiot. Bearer of Equality & Grace. Older sister and Heir to the great Patriarch."

The pale beige mare strode towards her seat, her turquoise eyes nearly matching the skin of the younger mare glancing around a little nervously as another chorus of claps began.

"And finally," Stellar take in one small breath. "Welcome. Winter Palgiot. Bearer of Knowledge & Order. Great Patriarch of the Palgiot family and Arch-Minister of the Equestrian Ministry of Academic Sciences."

The white pony smiled as another quiet applause began. His blue eyes seemed to glisten as he slowly trotted to his chair.

Rarity gasped silently. That was the pony she saw at the window!

"Come now, everypony." Winter said with a smile. "Feast!"

As everypony began eating, Rarity silently slurped her mushroom soup, a million thoughts rushing through her head.

"Winter Palgiot was the pony I saw this morning..."

The thought of it lingered in her mind, everypony starting to place the forks down.

Then, at the end of the table, Winter stood up, attracting the attention of everypony in the room. He cleared his throat as he began:

"It has been an honor to be able to invite everypony here for the masquerade ball," he said with a smile. "It is to my greatest desire that everypony will be satisfied at their stay here."

"As such, I believe everypony here should get to know each other, personally of course." He stopped, taking a few sips of wine from his goblet.

"Feel free to venture around the palace, with the exceptions of the restricted areas of course, as I believe Mr. Lionheart and his fellow staff here has explained clearly."

A wave of nods followed. Rarity just took one more sip of her soup.

"Enjoy the last of the feast, and prepare for the dance on Tuesday. In the meantime, we, the Palgiot family, truly hope you enjoy the stay with us."

At the last part, he sat down, continuing his lunch.

One by one the guests slowly take their turns to leave, including Rarity, Octavia & Crimson.

"He seems like a nice stallion." Octavia said, nudging the white mare with her other hoof wrapped around Crimson's, who smiled at her.

"Who knows? He might just be your type, Rarity."

Rarity laughed softly at her friend's comment, but her heart ached slightly at the thought of her friends back in Ponyville.

"If you'll excuse me, Octavia." she called to the gray pony, who was heading out to the garden with Crimson.

"I shall return to our room first."

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"Twilight?" Rarity tried to contact her friend through the walkie-talkie.

There was a crackle of silence, before her friend's voice shouted with enthusiasm.

"Rarity! How were things so far?"

She thought she heard a whimper in her friend's voice, but ignored it. For now.

"So far everything at the Palace is running smooth." Rarity said calmly. "I've met the family, even Winter himself!"

"Well, not personally, face-to-face, of course." she finished, letting Twilight speak.

"Well, I'm glad you're having a good time over there, Rarity." Twilight said with a chuckle.

"Ponyville hasn't been doing well lately."

Rarity stopped sipping her tea. Placing her cup down, she asked with worry: "Why? What's the matter?"

"Weather's been dull lately. Rainbow Dash and her fellow pegasi are trying to solve that now."

She felt hesitation in Twilight's voice.

"Anything else, Twilight?"

There was a slight sob, before she heard another faint voice.

Applejack. "Go on, just tell her."

The voices from the walkie-talkie turned into more of a tender quarrel.

"I just can't, Applejack. You know how she is if she knows."

"Well, she deserves the darn right to know, Twi."

There was a small, muffled whimper, as the walkie-talkie crackled again.

"You see, there was an accident, or was it..." Rarity heard a sob as Twilight continued. "I don't know."

"Just tell me, Twilight," she insisted.

"Spike and I, we've... sort of had an argument. I left crying to Applejack's house, leaving Spike alone."

"And?" the white mare's worry flourished.

"Fluttershy and I decided to go back. When we entered, I found Spike."

Through the walkie-talkie, Rarity heard her friend sob. She felt like crying as well, never hearing her friend like this before.

"He was unconscious, lying on the floor." Twilight said between sobs.

"His head was bleeding and... I don't know what happened. It's just..."

Rarity froze in shock, her eyes began flooding in tears. She felt the world drop on her back, her mind slowly twisting into a spiral of dark anxiety.

"Twilight, tell me. Tell me he's alive!"

There was a slight crackle.

"Twilight?!" she screamed into the receiver.

Another crackle.

"Answer me!" Rarity shouted, nearly kicking the walkie-talkie.

"Sorry," Twilight finally sniffled.

"I'm so, so, sorry Rarity."

Rarity cried her eyes out, burying her head in her hooves. "Why..."

"He's in the hospital now. The -*sniffle*- doctors say he's in a coma."

"Twilight, j-j-just stop..." Rarity managed to stammer.

The walkie-talkie crackled in response, before she heard Applejack's voice.

"Are ya okay, sugarcube?"

"Okay?!" Rarity felt enraged. "Spike's in the hospital and you expect me to be OKAY??!"

She felt like screaming. She felt like throwing herself out the window. Her heart twisted a few knots in her chests, wracked with pain and disbelief, her breaths quivering.

Calm down, Rarity....

She breathed in, before saying.

"Applejack, I'm sorry..."

"It's OK, Rarity. Ah would do the same if Ah were you."

"I...I-I just need some t-time alone..."

"Of course. Anything you want, sugarcube."

The walkie-talkie crackled, then died down.

Rarity threw herself onto the bed, tears springing into her eyes again. She thought back to what she told Octavia in the train.

It's just.... I feel like...

She hugged a silk pillow, the fresh tears flowing. Her head pictured Spike in the hospital bed, only drilling into her head like a flaring poker, bursting at every crack.

Somepony took a part of me..

She cried, screaming with her head buried into the pillow. Her heart throbbed with agony. Regret.

Love...

and they just....

With a scream, she threw the pillow towards the mirror, the makeup and perfume toppling to the floor.

Her eyes warped with fury, her hooves wobbling with despair, succumbing to the war zone in her head. Soon, she fell back into her bed, letting the flood of devastation overwhelm her, strangling her in depression.

smashed it to the ground... and

She continued sobbing, her heart sinking to the floor, her dress soaked in her tears.

The intense rage started to diminish, replaced with the quivering incense of despair. Fear iced in her veins as well, all praying for the dragon to be safe.

To be safe... she chuckled coldly at herself; it was your bucking fault, Rarity...

just stepped on it and...

Her sobs died down, her mane losing all of her curls hung low like a purple curtain draping over her face, covering her eyes as fresh tears slowly flowed from her, drenching her in misery.

Gripping tightly on the sheets, her hoof trailing down her body, she felt pleasure overwhelm her, yet only making her feel like filth. The guilt only lunged into her heart, albeit it was pumping intensely with ravaging lust.

Spike....

Rarity squealed, feeling lowlier than ever in her fashionista life. What was she thinking?

Is this why she fainted on the train, she asked herself, letting out a moan, her hooves turning more furious as she worked her way down, finally reaching its eventual destination. She tugged a little, biting her lip to muffle her squeaks of arousal; her head trying to imagine his sheer size over her.

Is this the reason why?

Is love that powerful?

Hanging From The Bed

Three days have passed since she had learnt the news of Spike. She hadn't spoke to Octavia since, who was slightly confused at the way she was isolating herself from the gray mare and Crimson.

"Why can't you just tell me what happened, Rarity? I'm your friend, for Celestia's sake!"

"It isn't any of your business! I just... need some time alone!"

Rarity finished crying her eyes out, trying to get over the dragon's situation. She sniffled a little as she stepped out, into the garden for the first time.

The flowers were blooming bright in the summer, and the birds were chirping, giving the white mare a moment of peace. She breathed in the morning air, sighing happily for the first time since...

She wiped her tears off. Now's not the time to think of that, Rarity. He will be fine.

"Madame?"

She turned around, startled by the sudden voice behind her.

A pony as white as Rarity stood before her, his mane light blue, his eyes a darker shade. In his hoof lay a single handkerchief. She recognized the stallion immediately, as there was no doubt who this was.

Winter Palgiot...

"Thank you," she muttered, using the handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Winter just stood there and smiled.

"It's not a problem, miss..." the stallion replied, though his voice halted as he looked up, longing for her name.

"Rarity." She introduced herself.

"Miss Rarity," Winter said, somewhat dreamily before staring off to space, his mouth curved into a smile.

"What a beautiful name."

Rarity blushed a little, flattered at the comment, before uttering a 'thank you'.

"You're welcome, Miss Rarity." Winter merely responded.

Rarity gazed into his blue eyes, seeing a shimmering of hope; the one that she had been searching for this whole time, now presented to her by the most elegant one she had seen since her arrival.

What a gentlecolt.

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Autumn walked down the corridor, being careful of her grace in every step she took. The air swirled in from the windows, open to let some of the mingling dust out.

She breathed in the moment, feeling the freedom, the lightness of it, her worries whisked away like a lightweight feather in a gentle breeze. The thought of it made her lips curve, the simplicity and serenity reminding her that it was just like herself.

Just like herself... for now.

A frown of dark realization quickly replaced the smile on her face, eating away at her mood.

The mare was Heir to the Patriarch, which means if Winter ever stepped down or had some sort of accident, Autumn would have to take his place as Patriarch... or Matriarch for that matter.

Which would mean staying in this Palace. Forever.

She would not have the heart for it. In fact, she would rather die than be Matriarch, especially with her family's insane customs and all...

"Miss Palgiot!" a guard called out to her. For what she could tell, it seemed frantic, though she could only confirm it when the guard continued:

"Come quick! There's been an incident."

She sighed as she looked out the window again, before galloping off after the guard.

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"I've seen you," Rarity finally quipped. "At the window."

Winter looked up, trying his best to smile. He was halfway reading through a book when he heard the mare sniffling outside, his instincts beckoning him to welcome her in for a seat to calm herself down.

"So you're the famed Winter Palgiot everypony's talking about."

He chuckled at the comment. Settling the book down, he took a small sip of tea.

"May I ask you a question, Sir?"

Rarity stood up from the chair, a slight spark of curiosity forming in her eyes. She slowly trotted herself closer, though somewhat sultrily, to the Patriarch, who was feeling uneasy.

"I'm sure you've heard of my friends. You know: Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack."

Winter gulped, feeling a bead of sweat leaking from his mane.

"They, along with me, are the Elements of Harmony. The power that saved the whole of Equestria. Thrice!"

Rarity glared at him, making the Patriarch nervous.

"So how is it that I get invited to this ball of yours," she gritted her teeth, "yet neither of my friends aren't invited?"

The stallion nearly stumbled, forced towards the back of his chair. He tried to grin, though any effort of it would not be able to soothe her stirring rage.

Rarity just looked scornfully at him, her eyes mercilessly piercing into his very core.

"Well, I-" he began, but stopped when the mare raised a hoof.

Then she gave him a powerful slap.

Winter fell off his chair, his face immediately turning red and sore. He gently touched his cheek, as he watched the mare harrumphed with a cross of her hooves, and left in a huff, her head held high.

Stellar Lionheart walked towards him, passing by Rarity as she cursed under her breath. He quickly helped Winter up, before asking:

"Did that mare just hit you, sir?"

Winter assured his butler with a sheepish laugh.

"Don't worry. She'll eventually get over it."

As his butler brushed the dust off his suit, he hastily whispered into Winter's ear.

The Patriarch's face darkened as he straightened his bow. Without hesitation, he asked:

"Who was it?"

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Rarity stomped down the corridor, grumbling under her breath.

Gentlecolt, she scoffed. Pah!

At the same time, she couldn't help but giggle with glee. She just slapped the leading pony of the palace, and got away with it! A lighthearted smile replaced her haughty look, making her sigh.

"Ahhhhh, it's good to be me sometimes..."

Without warning, a pony abruptly crashed into her and her daydreams, nearly knocking her senseless.

"Watch where you're going!" Rarity shouted to the other pony. From his distinguishable red uniform, his black, ruffled hat and the few badges adorning his chest, he seemed to be one of the palace guards.

"I'm so sorry, miss." The guard apologized, tilting his hat back up.

The guard quickly galloped behind Rarity, then skidded before turning left.

"Whatever the rush for?" she asked herself

Rarity's curiosity got the better of her, and soon she followed the tracks of the careless guard.

Turning left, she saw the guard heading into a room, leaving the black doors open.

Making sure no pony was around her, she silently trotted towards the doors. She held her breath as she peered inside, her suspicion growing at the sight before her.

In the center of the room. there stood a group of guards, including the one that collided with her. Rarity recognized the pale beige mare in the dress, clearly distressed with her hooves to her forehead.

"Autumn," she identified silently. Winter's sister.

"How long was he found like this?" the mare spoke up

One of the guards stepped forward.

"Two hours, Madam Palgiot."

Wait. What does she mean 'found like this'?

"There shall be no word of this to any of the guests, understood?"

All of the guards nodded immediately, though Rarity could only frown at that.

What could be so important that she doesn't want us to see?

Autumn quickly shifted from her seat, revealing the scene behind her.

At that very instant, the white unicorn gave out a loud gasp.

A pony dangled from the chandelier above the room, bedsheets suspending him like rope. His mane was black and messy, his face tinted a pale blue. His body limp and lifeless, his hooves wrapped by the sheets that tightened around his neck like a collar, swaying only when a gentle breeze blew in from the open windows.

Rarity began to back away, unable to free her view from the revolting scene, but bumped into somepony else.

Winter Palgiot stood there, his eyes cynically gazing down at her.

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"So, do you have any knowledge of this stallion's death?"

Autumn was sitting across her, a glare fixated into her eyes; an uncommon sight to see from the usually graceful mare. The white unicorn gulped as she tried to speak.

"Do you!?"

"Calm down, Autumn. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this."

A white hoof was placed onto Autumn's shoulder. She sighed in defeat.

"Miss Rarity here was with me this afternoon." Winter explained to his sister, holding back a chuckle.

"She was the one who gave me the slap on my face."

Autumn turned back, shooting her another glare. Rarity chuckled sheepishly in response, though a part of her was slightly ticked off at that point the Patriarch mentioned about the events in the library.

Beside her stood Octavia and Crimson, the ponies having rushed over once they've heard of Rarity's situation.

Crimson paled as he saw the body, but he tried to ignore it with a whistle, glancing about nervously.

His marefriend, after a moment of resistance, couldn't help but look at the dangling body above their heads. Her eyes immediately widen at his visage.

"Tassel Twist."

Autumn looked up with a puzzled look on her face.

"Pardon?"

"Seriously?"

Octavia laughed a little with sarcasm, much to the other mare's disapproval, before continuing: "He's the founder and owner of the multi-billion bits company, Comforts Deluxe.

"The company that makes beds," Winter explained.

Autumn looked again at the dangling body, an expression of solemnity filling her face.

"Killed by his own talent," she muttered.

"It seems," Winter spoke up from the group, drawing their attention.

"Our killer has changed his targets."

Rarity perked up immediately at that.

"Wait, so you mean he's killed other ponies before?"

Winter nodded reluctantly, his face a mix of worry and anger, his hooves tensing.

The mare only looked at the floor. Could it be?

"I'll call Chief Griffonhooves down here. In the meantime,"

Winter clapped his hooves, Stellar immediately rushing to his master's side, bowing with respect.

"Stellar, please see to it that the body be moved to the food vault immediately."

"Right away, sir."

As Stellar and the guards tried to lift the body, Winter escorted Rarity, Octavia & Crimson out the room, with Autumn already excusing herself from the group.

Shutting the doors behind him, he quickly whispered:

"I'm sure the other guests should've known of this by now." he said, glancing around.

"I surely wish this wouldn't be known to the residents of Pendant Lake. In fact, this news shouldn't leave the palace at all costs."

"But isn't it better that the Princesses are notified of this?" Crimson asked, slightly puzzled.

"They can aid you in catching the killer."

"I know, but you see," Winter said with a sigh, before continuing: "Princess Celestia and I... we haven't really come in good terms with each other recently. After all, it's just a matter of time...."

The Patriarch's voice droned out in Rarity's head as she rubbed her eyes, gazing down the corridor.

Somepony was there, at the end of the corridor. She squinted her eyes.

A cloak covered his (or was it a her?) mane and tail, enveloping it in its antiquity. The pony's face was covered by a mask, which gleamed in the dappled sunlight.

She stepped back, horror sweeping across her mind. The mask had a rigid and morbid smile. At the left side of the mask, a crack pierced through the eyes, with three black teardrops decorated at the corners.

Images of blades, blood and trains flashed through her mind once more, assaulting it with its morbidity. Rarity felt faint, her stomach gurgling.

"Rarity? You okay?"

She felt her hooves gave way, her vision blurring.

"Rarity!"

Her head hit the floor, her mane slumped to one side, as the pony laughed maniacally before she blacked out.

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"Are you sure you're alright there, Rarity?"

Rainbow Dash's voice was a mix of worry and concern; something almost unheard from the pegasus.

"I'm fine now, thanks to Octavia." Rarity sighed, looking at the sleeping pony.

It was nighttime, which meant only two more days to the dance. She couldn't help but worry.

"So, this Mirror Mare pony..." Twilight asked on the other end of the line.

"Have you seen it before?"

Rarity knew no one outside the palace was supposed to know about this, but - she bit her lip - she trusts her friend to keep it a secret.

"I think I've seen it," she said, recalling the pony-like figure she saw this afternoon.

"I don't know if it is even a pony," Fluttershy inquired. "The way it.... hurts ponies, it isn't...well... very nice."

"Duh! Nopony hurts other ponies like that!" a voice screeched.

Rarity covered her ears, scrunching her eyes.

"Pinkie Pie! Quiet down!" she whispered into the walkie-talkie. "Octavia's trying to sleep here."

"Oopsie! Tell her I said I'm sorry."

Rarity chuckled at her pink friend. "Where's Applejack?"

The walkie-talkie crackled as Twilight answered: "She's sleeping perhaps. It is a little late now."

"I'll think I'll- *yawn* - call it a night as well." Rainbow Dash said with a crackle.

"Goodnight Rainbow," the four, remaining voices said in unison.

At the sound of a click, Rarity hesitantly asked:

"So.... how's Spike?"

"We visited him at the hospital. Doctor said he's still in a coma."

"A comma? What is Spike doing in a comma?!"

"No, Pinkie, a coma. It is a state of unconsciousness where a pony doesn't wake up and respond normally to situations. They might appear to be awake, but due to the situation they're in-"

"Um, Twilight." Fluttershy's voice interrupted.

"Yeeeeah. Sorry about that."

The image of Spike crossed Rarity's mind once more. She hoped for the best.

"So how's Sweetie Belle doing, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked, trying to get her mind off the dragon for a while.

"She's okay," the pegasus meekly replied.

"Sweetie says she missed you a lot."

"Well, why don't you let Sweetie use your walkie-talkie?" Pinkie Pie suggested.

"Pinkie, of course!" Twilight's voice chimed. "You're a genius!"

Rarity heard a giggle from Pinkie Pie, trying her best not to laugh as well.

"No, silly filly! I'm a pony!"

"No, what I meant was.... never mind."

"Well," the white mare said. "I'll talk to Sweetie Belle first chance I get."

"Oh... alright then," Fluttershy said before letting out a small yawn.

"Goodnight everypony..."

"Goodnight, Fluttershy." the three ponies said before hearing a click.

"I'll think I'll hit the hay too! Hit the hay? I wonder what that means? It's so strange that everypony says that without finding out what it means. Shouldn't we all just eat the hay-"

Twilight and Rarity gave out a chuckle as the third click sounded off.

"Sure you're okay over there, Rarity?" the lavender unicorn asked.

The white mare assured her. "I'll be fine."

"Alright then, Rarity. I think I'm gonna call it a night as well."

There was a moment of silence, though something else was still in her head

"Twilight?" Rarity called to her friend.

"Yeah?"

"I'm... sorry. About two days ago. If you know what I mean."

She heard a quiet chuckle.

"It's okay, Rarity. Like what Applejack said, even I would do the same."

The white unicorn laughed a little.

"Goodnight Twilight."

"Goodnight," before she heard a click.

Rarity pushed the red button, switching the device off before letting out a slight yawn.

"Look at the time, Rarity..." she told herself, almost like a reprimand.

She quickly slid under the bed covers, her thoughts mostly about Spike, before sleep overcame her.

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Sidus Storm looked out the window, ruffling his navy blue mane.

The heavy rain started pattering onto the cottage, the drops stirring him up. He closed his eyes.

Muttering a few words, he crinkled his mustache as he felt himself dissolve. Dissolve into the world.

Dissolve in time.

His cottage warped, the pattering of water stopped, faded. Silence filled the air as the old colt continued his prayer.

With a flick of his hoof, he readied his blade, turning around still with his eyes closed.

Remember, every sound you make...

He swung his blade to the side harshly, hearing the whoosh of metal against air.

...is a sound they'll hear.

Sicarius Nox, his prayers continued in his head, the name a faint echo of nostalgia.

Sicarius Nox.

Then he opened his eyes, the cottage came booming back into his vision.

The pattering of rain entered his mind again, the blackness of night swarming into his vision, ridding him of his reminiscence.

He crinkled his nose once more.

Something's different...

"Well, well, well..." a voice boomed from the dark corner of the cottage. "if it isn't Sidus Storm himself."

The aging colt let out a grunt of hatred, readying his blade.

"So I heard you've returned." he replied.

"Returned? No-ho-ho!" the voice laughed. "I'm just...."

The voice said coyly, toying with the colt's patience.

"..visiting."

"Well, I hope you enjoyed my hospitality." Sidus shot back with sarcasm.

"Although you were never invited in the first place."

"Of course, of course!" the voice agreed.

"But you can call me the certain... uninvited guest of honor, as how Tantrum may place it."

Tantrum...

"Tantrum," he spoke sharply, "was another target."

"Oh, was he now?!" the voice retorted, laughing in the darkness, clearly ignorant of Sidus's talk.

"Remember? One of the main rules? Of Sicarius Nox?"

He just snorted as a reply.

Talking about rules?

"Rule Eighteen, dear Sidus." the voice laughed before it continued.

"Never let emotions or personal judgement cloud your thinking, but in Tantrum's case you just had to do it, don't you."

"And I begged for forgiveness ever since." Sidus replied, taking one more step back.

"Forgiveness..." the voice responded, its mischievousness suddenly twisted into grim.

".. was given to you when you were born."

Out of nowhere, he felt a strong punch in his gut, the colt immediately tumbling backwards with a pained cry, crashing out the window.

Rain poured on him as he quickly regained his composure. His mane became drenched in water as he spit on the floor.

Blood.

A pony in a cloak stepped out from the shadows. Lightning flashed, revealing the mask underneath.

Sidus stepped back carefully, before hearing a clatter of rocks, glancing back in annoyance.

He was standing on the edge of a cliff. Trying to look down, the colt could only see pitch black darkness.

"Rule Twenty, Mr Storm." the masked pony stepped out, cackling at the former assasin.

"Anypony found breaking the rules of Sicarius, will pay the ultimate price."

A fork of lightning streaked through the sky as the masked pony finished it defiantly.

"Their life!"

Sidus readied his dagger, his hoof placed on another. His blue mane and tail tossed about in the whirlwind, leaves and branches tossed all around him.

"And to think," the voice said with a laugh. "you were one of the best ponies Sicarius Nox has ever recruited!"

Sidus merely scoffed. "I'm not keen on the rules."

For a moment, he felt time slow once more, the wind receding, the rain in a graceful fall. He unsheathed his dagger, his hoof readied in a fighting stance.

With a kick, the colt launched himself toward the masked pony, his heart beating rapidly.

BANG!

Sidus's eyes widened. The slowing time halted before him, the masked pony looking at him without pity.

Then he heard another one. BANG!

Blood flowed from his mouth, as well as his numb chest. He looked up at the masked pony as he fell onto the rock.

The rain quickly washed the blood away, his , as the masked pony trotted up to him.

"Rule Five, Mr Storm." the voice said with a disappointed sigh.

"Always find a way to outwit your target."

Sidus felt a hoof pushed him. Then another push. He tried to speak, but his mouth failed him.

The masked pony gave one last push, watching Sidus as the colt fell down into the dark crevasse below, a smile lingering on its face.

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Winter slowly clambered up the steps, slowly shuddering as he scaled the tower.

"Nopony's safe." he muttered to himself like a chant. "Nopony's safe."

The gale outside blew strongly, ripping branches and leaves forcefully off the trees. Flashes of lightning and claps of thunder echoed through the tower.

A few drops of rain pattered onto the stairs, as Winter found out when he lost his footing.

He suddenly fell forward, his face hitting the granite steps with a yelp. Pain shot through his veins like adrenaline, stinging into his hoof with his other hoof lifting himself up.

"Not now, Winter." he growled at himself "Not now!"

The pain blasted like a wave across his body, making him stumble onto the stairs once more. Without hesitation he screamed, the tower rebounding it in an agonizing echo.

The spiral staircase felt endless, as Winter's vision blurred. He quickly stood up, ignoring the intensity of the pain from his hind hoof.

Lightning flashed across his face as his determination grew stronger. Without hesitation, he took a step forward.

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Rarity awoke with a shock.

The rain outside fell heavily, rattling on the windows. Beside her, Octavia stirred only for a moment, before going back to a peaceful sleep again.

"Another nightmare..." she told herself.

This time, though, it was different.

She heard shatters, talking... she saw a cliff, somepony falling...

The twinge in her gut only made the white unicorn hide beneath her covers, the lightning illuminating her face once more. Her head was pounding with fatigue and confusion, her voice trying to reassure herself:

Calm down, Rarity...

She looked out the window, beyond the rain, beyond Pendant Lakes. The darkness between the raindrops only stared back into her, despite her sights set back on her home.

Spike needs you, Rarity. she assured herself.

Stay strong, girl!

She slumped back onto the bed, her fierce determination eventually tiring out as she closed her eyes.

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One more step, Winter

A loud boom of thunder nearly startled him, as he quickly dragged himself up to the top.

"I've made it!" he exclaimed to himself with pride. "I've reached the top!"

He quickly looked upon the door. Unlike many of the doors in the Palace, this was made of marble. The giant door stood menacingly above Winter. Rubbing the sweat off his forehead, he started to limp towards it.

"Ow!" he cried out, before grunting with pain. His hind leg burned from the intensity of the fall, which only made him to curse at his carelessness.

The looming marble door stood, waiting with eternal patience as Winter dragged himself closer to the door. Fierce winds whipped in the sky, as he heard the hollow sound of air flowing through the windows, as if it was playing with a stone flute.

The family coat-of-arms lay etched in the marble. The Patriarch tugged his hind leg as he reached for the crystalline handles, gleaming with every flash of lightning.

With a tired sigh, he gave a weak push.

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Stellar woke with a start. Something wasn't right.

Lifting himself from the bed, the butler trotted out of the doors into the hallway, rubbing his tired eyes.

The faint sound of whirring caught his attention; the same sound that woke him up. There wasn't any other possible thing that could've made that noise.

Looking out the window, a bunch of gleaming lights danced in a pattern, emanating from the top of the tower.

The butler sighed. His master was in the Tower Room again, playing with who-knows-what.

As he returned to his quarters, he dragged himself to the bed, before closing his bloodshot eyes. awaiting for the arrival of the morning sun.

The Ballad Of Mirror Mare

"Sure you're fit to go, Rarity?"

It has been four days since their arrival to Palgiot Palace. Tonight is the last night.

With the recent events happening around them, Octavia was extremely worried for her friend's condition.

"No need to worry about me, darling." Rarity said reassuringly to the gray pony, a cheerful smile on her face. "After all, it's just one more night in the palace."

A small knock sounded from the wooden door, making the two mares turn their heads.

"I apologize for my sudden intrusion." Winter began as he slowly limped inside, his right hoof slightly aching.

Octavia noticed a small bandage on his hoof, curiosity beckoning her to ask:

"What happened to you?"

Winter followed her gaze, before turning to the gray mare, a nervous smile on his face. "Oh... that."

Rarity just turned her head away, uninterested in the stallion's explanation.

"It was just a fall. Minor cut really," he replied, chuckling at his carelessness.

"Well, I hoped it was a lesson well learnt."

Both Winter and Octavia looked over to Rarity, slightly taken aback by her reply.

"Rarity!" the gray mare hissed quietly. "What are you doin-"

"I believe it's time," the unicorn glared a little at her friend, "for the Patriarch to leave."

Winter just stood there, completely baffled by her behavior, before speaking up:

"I know, Miss Rarity, that our first encounter didn't end up well."

Rarity ignored him, her friend just looking at her, dumbfounded.

"Of course," Winter rose his volume a little. "in the meantime you would refuse to ever speak to me."

The white mare gave a slight glance at him as the stallion continued:

"But I do hope, Miss Rarity, that in the future, we can forget that yesterday morning ever happened, and have our chances to talk to each other."

As he finished, Winter Palgiot hurriedly left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Rarity-" Octavia began, but the white mare interrupted.

"I don't have to listen to his lovey-dovey talk, alright Octavia?"

"But..." the gray pony tried to speak, trying to make sense of her friend.

"But I thought you fancy him, Rarity."

Rarity flinched. She felt insulted, cheated, betrayed. How could somepony like Octavia judge her like this?

Tears begin welling up in her eyes, as she held herself back "I-I know ponies like you think that I fancy royalty and such...."

Octavia stepped back, waiting for her friend to explode. She had heard her outbursts before in Ponyville, but she wasn't prepared for any of them.

"But I'm not that simple-minded, Octavia..." the unicorn continued as she started sniffling.

"I-" the gray mare was at a loss for words. "I don't know what to say-"

"You don't have to say anything!" Rarity screamed at her friend, before cringing back once more.

Octavia just looked down at the floor, guilt quickly overshadowing her.

Rarity began to sniffle, wet tears dripping onto the floor.

"The thing is, Octavia-" she stopped, her voice softened, clearing her eyes for a moment. "It's not your fault or anything..."

The grey mare looked up. "Whatever do you mean, Rarity?"

"It's all my fault... I should've never left him in the first place."

Her cries grew louder as Octavia shuffled closer to her friend.

"Who?" she asked. "Who are you talking about?"

Rarity looked into her lavender eyes, as her friend placed a hoof around her.

"Just tell me..."

"No!" she pushed Octavia's hoof away, her sadness consuming her.

The gray mare stumbled, catching herself just in time. She looked at her friend in shock, completely astounded by her sudden, harsh attitude.

Silence filled the air, with only a few sniffles as Rarity glared at her friend.

"You wouldn't understand, Octavia! Nopony ever will!"

"Understand what?!"

Now it was Octavia's turn to get angry. "You never told me about anything, Rarity. Anything at ALL!"

"Cause you wouldn't know how I feel!" Rarity shouted back to her friend.

"It's all you. It's all you, you, YOU now, huh Rarity?"

The white mare trembled, her mouth agape from the insult.

"You are the most disgusting, wretched, most backward pony I've ever met!"

The other mare just scoffed. "You think you're the only one with problems now?!"

She threw a pillow, hitting the bediside table instead of the white mare. The grey pony's eyes started watering as well, a variety of emotions crossing her face.

"Well, how about this?" Rarity shouted, glaring daggers at the gray mare.

"How about the fact that you left the love of your life, who loves you in return, and never saying anything to him about loving him, ever? How about the fact that the love of your life had an accident, possibly attacked, and is now somewhere in a hospital with a coma?!"

Octavia stopped short, shock and guilt twisting into her face.

"How about the fact," she screamed, flailing her hooves around, her tears scattering throughout the floor.

"That you put the blame on your friends, screaming and shouting at them, that you feel like just THROWING YOURSELF DOWN THE STAIRS? IS THIS HOW YOU FEEL NOW, OCTAVIA? IS IT?"

Rarity couldn't take it anymore. She buried her face into her dress, sobbing her life out as Octavia stood there, completely at a loss for words.

"I-" the grey mare stammered, unable to think of what to say.

"Cause I know you don't!" she screamed one last time, before collapsing onto the bed.

"Just ... get out."

Octavia started trotting out of the room, her mane hung low as Rarity began sobbing. As she walked out, the gray mare turned back once more to the despairing unicorn, opening her mouth as if she was about to say something, but left, a tear forming in her eye as she shut the door behind her.

Rarity just sobbed, letting all of her despair out with her face buried in the sheets of the bed.

"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry..."

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"It isn't everyday you go to the Tower Room, sir."

Stellar Lionheart ripped off the fabric from the roll, quickly wrapping it around Winter's sprained hoof. The young Patriarch has just returned from visiting the guests, his previous bandage a little damp from the effort.

The Patriarch sighed deeply, biting his lip from the sting his with each rub of medicinal oil onto his wound.

"Something terrible has happened, Stellar," Winter began.

"One of our comrades. Mirror Mare has..." he stopped when Stellar gave him a shush.

"I will look upon it for you." he said to the unicorn, reassuring him.

Winter smiled at his butler.

"Sometimes, you're like a father to me."

Stellar looked up at his master, a little startled from the comment.

"I'm flattered, sir." he said with a grin. "After all, it isn't everyday your father visited you."

The Patriarch felt his stomach twist. He settled his teacup down before his face darkened.

"My father never visited me."

"Don't say that, sir." his butler replied, finishing up the wrapping.

"He loves you in his own way, protecting you from harm."

"By exiling me to an island?" Winter questioned his butler skeptically.

"He wasn't fit to rule, all of you knew that."

Stellar sighed. He serviced Winter and four other Patriarchs before him, including Winter's father, who nearly drained the expenses of Pendant Lakes and their benefactors. It wasn't long before he was assassinated. He completely understood about the lengths the family can go through.

"At least your uncle helped you out."

The butler was right. Harrow Palgiot had quickly supervised the conditions of Pendant Lake after his father's sudden death. With him as Patriarch, he removed the order of Winter's exile shortly after. At that time, Spring wasn't even born yet.

His mother, Sovereign, wasn't keen on his father as well, so many ponies were especially happy when his father died.

All except for Summer.

Now that was one pony he couldn't understand. "If I found out which pony did this," his brother once swore. "I'll kill him!"

"The pony that did was already dead..."

"Pardon, Sir Winter?" Stellar said as he helped polish the unicorn's shoes.

"Nothing."

Winter limped out of his room, with the help of his butler. The two ponies slowly walked down the corridor.

Then, the Patriarch abruptly stopped, his attention fixed towards an oil painting. There was his father, sitting royally in a general's uniform, his snout held up high. His eyes seemed to stare through him, with no pity in his maroon pupils.

"Sometimes, I don't know why his painting was hung here." Winter said to his butler, who looked at him with no expression.

"He wasn't the best," Stellar clarified. "But he was still a Palgiot."

Winter grumbled. A maid walked past them, doing her daily duties.

"Let's go." the unicorn said, his butler following him closely behind.

The maid ignored them, taking out a wet rag. She started to slowly clean the table and the frame of the painting, not leaving any trace of dust around.

She polished the nameplate, which gleamed a brilliant gold as she wiped off the dust from the carved words.

27th Patriarch of Palgiot Palace.

Ambassador of Pendant Lakes & Aston Reach

~ Tantrum Palgiot ~

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Rarity sighed. Her hoof held tightly onto a clutter of bags, her necessities for tonight's masquerade ball all wrapped neatly inside..

She thought back about the previous days here. The arguments, the drama, the death.

Her hooves kicked on stone as she absentmindedly wandered through town. The shopping avenue was, surprisingly, uncrowded today.

The goods she bought were as good as any shop in Manehatten. She bought a pair of heels, crystalline with a decorated diamond at the side, clasped with a golden frame. She had earrings, rather small for her ears, but valuable all the same.

Of course, she bought a mask for the occasion. It was a mask that represents a swan, something Autumn would wear. A small, golden pattern decorated the edges, finishing with a few pale feathers.

She smiled proudly at her set. No wonder the locals call this part of town Starlet Avenue.

"Rarity?"

She turned around, a bit startled from the voice.

There stood Crimson Lux, an array of bags on his hoof as well. She spied a tuxedo with small, maroon lines decorating the side, making it look more modern.

Rarity looked at him, uninterested.

"What are you doing here?"

"You know," the cardinal-colored pony said, raising his bags up. "Shopping for me and 'Tavi."

She immediately humphed at the mention of the grey pony's name.

"Look, Rarity." Crimson began with a discerning smile.

"I know 'Tavi got you upset and all. In fact, she's really guilty about it. She wouldn't leave her room-"

"OUR room," Rarity corrected with annoyance.

Crimson fumbled, before saying, "Sorry, what I meant was she hasn't left the room since, well, the argument."

The white mare just turned away, with broken ignorance.

"I don't wanna know what's it about," the stallion continued. "but I just wanted the... old Octavia back."

The white pony glanced back, guilt starting to pierce her heart.

"Just go.. talk to her, I dunno what mares like you do." Crimson said with a chuckle, before toning down his voice into a small, quiet whisper.

"For my sake, okay?"

The stallion continued down the avenue, leaving Rarity as the white unicorn stood there, a mix of surprise and guilt on her face.

"Alright then," she said to herself. "For Crimson's sake..."

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Winter and Autumn marched up the weathered cliff, with Stellar pushing Spring on a wheelchair closely behind them.

The pale green pony giggled as the bumpy road rattled the wheelchair. Autumn smiled warmly at her as their brother walked up the path.

"Stellar," he whispered to his butler. "Please bring Spring to the falls."

Stellar nodded, a somber expression on his face.

"Come on, Spring." he quickly smiled as the filly beamed at the aging pony.

"Uncle Lionheart's taking you to see something rather jolly."

"Can I guess what it is? Can I, Can I?"

"Of course, dear."

Autumn looked on with a grin at the two ponies, her brother already trudging forward into the pine forest, before continuing with her brother. A hut and some ponies in uniforms quickly came into view, despite the mist shrouding all around. One of them waved his cap in the air, signaling them to go over.

"Chief Griffonhooves." Winter called out his name, crunching through the leaves.

"Autopsy please."

"There was a struggle," the chief said, his hoof pointing to the window.

"A fight started between Hostia and the Mirror Mare itself."

He then lifted a bag. Inside was a bullet, stained with blood and wet from rain.

"Extracted two of these from the body," he said as two ponies lifted a body bag onto a stretcher. Autumn immediately turned away, unable to look.

"Matched the bullets found in Caesar's leg, sir."

Winter quickly nodded, gazing at the body being carried down the mountain.

"Where was it found?"

Chief Griffonhooves looked up from the clipboard. "I'm sorry?"

"Where was his body found?" the Patriarch asked again.

"Down below the crevasse." the chief pointed at the cliff.

"Painful death, this one. Two bullets and one dastardly long fall."

Autumn flipped open her pocketwatch, before turning to her brother with concern.

"We're running quite late, Winter."

Winter walked towards the body, the two ponies lifting the body halted, saluting the blue-maned unicorn.

Opening the zip, he took a glimpse of the pony's face, the sunset shining radiantly in the golden sky.

Rest... Sidus

"It's time."

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Rarity climbed up the stairs, losing count of the steps she took. Rumor has it that the horseshoe stairs are uncountable, with every pony that tried losing count.

The closest was the account of one pony, who was about to shout out the answer to everypony in the room, before he suddenly dropped dead.

She shuddered at the thought of it, as she continued towards her room. Guards aligned the corridor. Since the death of Tassel Twist, the number of guards quadrupled throughout the palace, with every window and door guarded.

The mare sighed as she reached her and Octavia's room. She placed her ear to the door.

Silence.

She held a breath, running through a mental script on what to say.

There were no guards in this section of the palace. Rarity never understood why. She wouldn't bother finding out anyway. With one more gulp, she turned the knob.

"Octavia, I-" she began, but was cut short at the scene before her.

The gray mare was standing on the ledge, the glass windows opened wide. She stared into the distance, her hoof placed against the granite wall.

"Octavia, what are you doing?" Rarity frantically asked. She was waiting for the grey mare to step down, but a part of her made her think this wasn't the case.

"Rarity," a tear formed in her friend's eye. "Remember what you've said this morning?"

"About screaming and shouting at your friends? About throwing yourself down the stairs?"

The white mare froze with guilt and shock.

"I wasn't in my right mind this morning, Octavia. We can talk about this."

Octavia just stood there, a breeze blowing across her mane. "Well, I thought about what you've said."

The white unicorn strode closer to her friend, preparing to catch her just in case.

"You know, Rarity? You're right."

Rarity looked up with surprise, her mouth slightly open with a quivering gasp as the gray mare continued:

"No pony would've known what you've gone through."

"Octavia," the unicorn tried to console her friend.

"Come to your senses now. You don't want Crimson to worry about you, don't you Octavia?"

"Worry?" the gray mare asked quizzically, before letting out a cold laugh. Rarity felt sadness, depression breaking in her voice, which only flourished her guilt even more.

"Would he even worry, in fact would he even care?"

"Of course he would!" Rarity shouted at her friend, trying to knock some sense into her.

"He was the one who convinced me to come talk to you! He cared about you, about how you were!"

Octavia turned back to the unicorn, a glimpse of sadness and regret in her eyes.

"He made me realize what I've done, Octavia! He made me realize how hurt you were!"

The gray pony just trembled, a small tear in her eyes.

"He made me realize," Rarity hesitated for a moment, "how I was hurting my friend."

That made Octavia blink in surprise, turning to her friend.

"And I'm sorry, Octavia!" the unicorn continued with tears of her own. "I'm sorry!"

The gray pony felt herself tremble, before launching herself onto Rarity, sobbing with her face buried in the unicorn's curled mane.

"I'm s-sorry too, Rarity!" Octavia cried out, albeit muffled.

"It's alright, Octavia," Rarity replied, hugging her friend tightly.

"It's alright..."

The gray mare looked up to her friend, wiping a tear off her eyes.

"So we've switched positions now, huh?" she said with a chuckle.

Rarity laughed slightly at her joke, remembering about the event on the train.

"I guess so." she said with a grin.

Then suddenly, both ponies started laughing uncontrollably, lying on the bed with tears in their eyes.

Tears of happiness.

As the laughter died down, Octavia looked towards her friend, who closed her eyes with relief.

"You've no need to tell me about him, if you don't want to." she whispered to her friend.

Rarity just gave her a smile. "Don't worry, Octavia."

You'll find out when we get home tomorrow!" the unicorn said with a wink.

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The night was sweet, as how his uncle would've put it.

Winter wore a black suit, preparing for the night, the dance, the mare he wanted to talk to.

"So you're the famed Winter Palgiot everypony's talking about."

He chuckled at the thought of the mare, fair and dazzling in her own way.

"Mr Palgiot?" Stellar asked, waiting for his master.

The Patriach sighed. Time to go.

He walked down the steps as his butler stood there patiently, his hooves tucked into his suit.

"Miss Spring is waiting for you outside, sir."

He smiled. He couldn't wait to see her face.

Winter straightened his bow, before asking his butler what a mare would to her partner.

"How do I look?"

Stellar smiled, remembering how feminine the stallion was with things.

"Fascinating sir, if I do say so myself."

From the table, he quickly grabbed a mask. It was the mask of a white tiger: a creature Winter admired the moment he saw it at the Las Pegasus zoo.

Such aggresion, yet so graceful.

The white and black striped mask gleamed back at him, waiting to be worn. He strode across the room, opening the door with Stellar following close behind.

"Wow, Winter!" a small voice squeaked when he stepped outside. "You look smart!"

Spring pranced around at the sight of her brother, despite her sickness. Winter couldn't help but chuckle at his little sister, ruffling her mane.

"You look pretty, Spring."

"When I grow up," she squealed to her brother. "I won't be pretty. I will be beautiful ! Just like Autumn is."

"Ha. Ha," Autumn walked up in an auburn dress fitting her name, shaking her head.

"You already look beautiful, just the way you are, Spring."

Winter smiled, before turning to his butler.

"Where's Summer? He's missing the family reunion!" he joked.

"Apparently," Stellar cleared his throat. "Your brother said he had some... errands to run."

Winter's face immediately darkened with suspicion.

"Errands, huh?"

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"Welcome, Miss..."

"Rarity. This is Octavia and Crimson."

"We hope you'll enjoy the ball."

Rarity gave a nod and a thank you, as the three ponies entered the Equinox Ballroom.

The ballroom was filled with ponies, all chattering among each other. Everypony was excited about the dance, awaiting the arrival of the esteemed family that invited them here.

Rarity headed towards the buffet table, as the waiters handed out porcelain plates. Her hoofs strode smoothly along the polished marble floor, her eyes glistening at the glamour around her.

The chandelier of diamonds hung above everypony, illuminating the giant ballroom in a dazzling display of lights. The unicorn quickly scooped a bit of raspberry of punch with a ladle, filling up a glass.

"Miss Rarity, is it?"

Sapphire Shores walked up to her, lining up to savor the food on the platter as the white mare took a sip of punch from her glass.

The singer looked at her dress, a spark of interest in her eyes.

"Where did you get that dress?"

Rarity chuckled, frolicking her yellow, glittering gown. "I made it, all by myself."

"Oh, I almost forgot! You're the one that helped me in my fashions previously!"

The unicorn blushed. Sapphire finally remembered about her.

"Listen," the singer whispered. "I've heard about the incident with the... Diamond Dogs, is it?"

"I'm over it." Rarity responded dismissively.

"I'm glad you are," the singer replied with a grin. "I'm sorry I've put you in so much trouble, and not going straight to you for it, but you know how the ponyrazzi are these days." She chuckled softly.

"They would die to get a scoop of these stories."

Rarity laughed along with her. "No problem, Miss Sapphire."

As Sapphire walked along, gathering more of the exquisite food, Rarity looked around, searching for Octavia, before spotting the gray mare at the side of the room.

She and Crimson already found a table, the gray mare beckoning her to sit.

The unicorn quickly trotted over, careful of not spilling any food, or act unladylike, for that matter. She sat down across the couple, who were already nuzzling their snouts together.

"See this?" Crimson stirred a glass of wine. "It's a new formula created by the Patriarch!"

"How was it?" Rarity asked.

"Very special! You can taste a bit of raspberry in it, then it dissolves into some muscat grape taste."

"Interesting."

Octavia took a whiff from the glass of wine. She crinkled her nose as she looked at the bottle beside it.

"Palgiot's Finest." she read the label. "Parsan 1389"

The clock in the ballroom chimed eleven, echoing through the Equinox ballroom.

"Hail!" a voice boomed from the doors. "Palgiot!"

The grand doors opened, as the four ponies stepped in. Each looked well dressed, their snouts held high with pride.

Everypony in the ballroom clapped, some whistled, as they slowly strode towards the ballroom stage. Ponies in suits follow closely behind them.

Winter stepped out from his siblings, walking up to the stage. His horn glowed dark blue as the microphone flew from the stand, an aura matching that emanating from his horn.

The microphone hovered below his mouth, as he spoke:

"I thank everypony here for coming!" Winter said with a smile. "My family and I really wished you enjoyed your stay with us, despite the unfortunate events surrounding Tassel Twist's death."

Some ponies cringed a little as he continued, aware of the slight change in atmosphere.

"Mr. Twist will be sorely missed, and I send my condolences to his family, his friends, his company and all those affiliated with him."

The Patriarch cleared his throat. "So, as respect to him, we shall begin a prayer in silence."

Everypony closed his eyes as they prayed for the deceased pony. Rarity cupped her hands together as she prayed not only for Tassel, but for Spike as well.

"Now," Winter finally said, breaking the somber atmosphere.

He gestured the suited ponies to their seats on stage, clutching a few instruments between their hooves.

"Let the masquerade..." the stallion raised his hoof.

"Commence!!"

Everypony started to wear their mask as the classical 'band' started playing an upbeat waltz. Sounds of trumpets and trombones flared through the air. The melodic hum of violins and cellos quickly harmonized along, filling the room with a symphonic melody.

Ponies started gathering to the center of the room with their partners, all shaking their flanks with the music.

"Come on!"

Octavia tugged at her coltfriend's hoof. "Let's go!" she insisted.

Crimson laughed before joining the gray pony, her one and only mate, to the floor.

Rarity looked on, a smile on her face as she saw everypony around her dancing happily to the music. The jazz reached its climax as the sound of trumpets burst from the stage.

The jazz melody transitioned in a Latin samba, the white mare found her head nodding to the beat, her swan mask nearly falling off.

"Hey, Rarity."

She heard Winter's voice through the music, before giving out a groan.

"I'm sorry I didn't invite your friends, alright?" Winter sat beside her, his tiger mask gleaming in the light, trying to get a glimpse of her face.

Rarity just humphed.

"You haven't tell me the reason why!" she added.

Winter sat back, feeling a little guilty as the mare took a sip of his wine.

"Alright," he finally said. "I'll explain."

Rarity just gave him a cold stare, crossing her hooves. "I'm listening."

"You see..." Winter began, before looking behind her shoulder. His expression suddenly twisted in horror, prompting the white mare to follow his gaze.

"What is it?" she asked as she turned around, before the stallion stopped her, his hoof blocking the view.

"Stay here, Rarity." the stallion told her, his face as somber as ever.

"I've got things to take care of."

Rarity slumped back as the pony took off, slinking through the crowd. The music transitioned again, this time into a slow, melodic waltz.

She sipped onto her wine, looking at the couples dancing on the floor. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Octavia and Crimson, the two of them laughing as they danced in circles.

"My, my..." she muttered to herself.

Then suddenly, Crimson raised a hoof towards the musicians on the stage, immediately catching their attention.

The cardinal pony trotted up the stage, grabbing the mic as everypony set their eyes on him.

"I'm sorry for interrupting everypony and their romantic moods." Crimson spoke from the mask of a wolf.

The crowd just laughed at his unintended joke.

"but, my mare and I, we've been wanting to share the stage together."

Rarity's jaw dropped. Is he doing what I think he is?

"Therefore, I would like to ask my marefriend, the one and only soulmate in my heart-"

He beckoned his hoof to Octavia, the gray mare blushing a deep shade of red, nearly matching Crimson's coat. A giant ray of light pointed towards her, revealing the pony Crimson mentioned.

"-to perform our so-called 'duet' here. Tonight."

His marefriend looked up in bewilderment as Rarity giggled softly.

"Now?! Crimson, we can do this some other time-"

"If we do, I would never speak to you again." Crimson interrupted, a sly smile on his face.

The crowd chorused with 'oohs' as Octavia glared at her coltfriend.

"Fine," she sighed in defeat.

Everypony cheered, including Rarity, who was proud for her friend.

Octavia slowly took a seat, a bow in her hoof. She gave the crimson stallion a cold stare, ignoring his soft chuckle.

Rarity saw her friend mouthing the words from below her crane mask.

"You better do this right."

Crimson gave her a wink, before he cleared his throat as he began singing.

The world keeps spinning as I fall over,

plucking the leaves off a four-leaf clover.

Feel the blood pumping around,

as I imagined her smile,

Fading away as I grow older.

Crimson positioned himself to the center of the stage as he continued singing.

Saw her leaving a note at my front, door.

I felt a little side of me rotted, to the co~o~ore...

As I saw the dagger eyes you had

Glaring at me like the worst best friend.

I never thought this relationship will end.

Octavia's cello soon harmonized with his voice, as the band continued unanimously with the song.

But I saw new hope, as time goes byyyyyy.

A clearer future, worth for a tryyy~y

Rang the doorbell, put down my hat

The door opened as I kneel on the mat

Ooooooh~ What a lovely sight....

Drums clashed as the chorus began.

Tell me everything was just a lie,

And it was just a prank of you and I;

Spinning in the rain, as I took you higher,

Soaring in the sky, under stormy showers,

Tell me everything was just a joke

'Cause remember the last time, that we spoke

You told me you will

never leave my side.

Forever~

A guitar strummed a tune along with Octavia's cello as the audience clapped and cheered for Crimson and the 'band'.

Rarity smiled with tears in her eyes, as she took one more sip of the wine.

If only Spike were here...

Something lingered in the back of her mind, making her head ache, as she felt time slow. Then everything just seemed to stop; the cheering, the singing, the waltzing.

A sense of dread lingered as the harmonious music abruptly shunned into silence. Rarity started walking towards the crowd, her fears starting to grow.

"Hello?!" she called to one of the ponies, who seemed to be frozen in a cheer.

"Hello~?"

A wave of horror swept over her. Somehow, time has stopped before her eyes.

"Octavia?" she called to her friend, who seemed to be in eternal slumber with her eyes closed.

Crimson stood, his mouth open slightly with his hooves still holding the microphone. Even wine froze in the air, as a mare started to fill her glass.

"Well, well, well..."

She turned around, frightened by the sudden voice. Nopony seemed to move.

"The damsel in distress, I suppose." the voice continued, She shuddered at its morbidity.

"So, tell me, miss. How is it that you can move in an anomaly of time,"

She heard a slurp of wine as the voice continued.

"while your friends couldn't?"

The mare slowly stepped back, trying to slither into the crowd. Safety comes in numbers, she told herself.

"Why now, surely you couldn't be like your other friends here?.

A dagger whizzed through the air, striking against a marble column beside Rarity. She yelped in surprise as the voice laughed in her terror.

"Leave her alone!!"

Another voice boomed through the room. Rarity looked up into the blinding light, trying to get a view of the stallion.

There, standing on a balcony, was Winter Palgiot!

He took a grand leap, falling onto a table, which surprisingly held his weight.

"Show yourself, Mirror Mare!"

A cloaked figure separated from the crowd, a golden mask with a stitched grin looking back at him.

Rarity immediately gasped. That was the mysterious pony she saw yesterday!!

"Well, well. Looks like we've got company."

The Patriarch harrumphed, his hind leg buckling, ready to launch himself to the cloaked figure.

"Look at the time!" the pony said with a laugh. "I've gotta run..."

Mirror Mare, as he or she was known, slinked back into crowd. A gleam of light flashed through the air as time started speeding up.

Winter looked up in horror. The white mare crept backwards as well, her eyes fixated on the ceiling.

As music filled their ears once more, he suddenly shouted:

"GET AWAY FROM THE STAGE!"

A creak filled the air, followed by a snap, as Crimson, Octavia and the other ponies stood there in bewilderment.

Suddenly, the diamond chandelier swung to its side with a snap, falling towards the stage as ponies started scrambling for safety.

Screams and cries echoed through the room as the chandelier crashed onto the platform, glass shattering through the windows.

Rarity frantically galloped towards the stage, as Winter and Stellar swerved their way through the crowd.

Octavia lay under the wooden cello, coughing from the dust and debris as Rarity helped her up.

"You okay, Octavia?" Rarity asked immediately.

"Where's Crimson?"

The gray pony looked around in horror at the mess before her. "Where is he?!"

Rarity tried to calm her friend as the gray mare pushed her hoof away.

She crunched through the scattered glass as she dug into the crystal ruin, tears flowing from her eyes. "CRIMSON!"

A set of hooves pulled her back. "Calm down! Miss Octavia!" Stellar exclaimed, as Octavia tried to force herself out from his tight grip. Winter and Summer quickly dug through the debris, trying to get a glimpse of the musician.

"Over there!" the butler pointed to a hoof dangling out from the debris. Summer quickly rushed over, tugging at his hoof as Winter lifted some of the iron bars with his horn.

Rarity rushed by her friend's side, praying for Crimson with Octavia already wailing uncontrollably. "Celestia damn it, Crimson-"

The stallion laid there unconscious, blood seeping from a few, big cuts near his flank. Glass pieces sprinkle across his flesh, some jutting out from deep within his skin.

"Crimson, no-!" Octavia couldn't bear herself to look as she sobbed even louder in agony, her eyes widened in shock from the scene before her. Rarity turned her head away, gripping her friend tightly with tears in her eyes.

Celestia!

"Somepony call the ambulance!!"

Dreamscape

"Oh, I almost forgot! Can you please place these inside my trunk?"

"No problem with that."

Don't board the train

"Rarity!"

"He's going to get some help, just HOLD ON!!!"

Rarity awoke with a shock, her eyes frantically looking around.

She was in a white, hospital room, the warm sheets of the blanket draping half of her body. The explosion was still ringing in her head, making it ache.

Nopony was around the room. She tried lifting herself up, to no avail.

A knock sounded from the door, as Octavia quickly trotted in, a worried expression on her face.

"Rarity, thank Celestia you're alright!" the gray mare exclaimed as she embraced her friend. She felt her coat dampen from a small tear dripped from her friend's eye.

"You had me worried for a second there!"

"I feel alright now, Octavia." the white mare smiled, calming her friend down.

"Rarity!"

Crimson came in limping, crutches on both his hooves as Octavia helped him over.

"Crimson!" the white unicorn looked in surprise. "You're awake!"

"Well, I guess my hooves ain't." the stallion laughed a little, gesturing at his crutches.

Rarity smiled at his joke, though something was hanging in her mind, bugging her incessantly. She couldn't point a hoof at it; her thoughts wandering aimlessly in her foggy memory.

"Miss Rarity," Stellar stepped in with a serene smile of relief, followed by Autumn Palgiot.

"Good to see you're alright," the beige mare said with a grin.

Winter stepped in right behind them, a dark expression on his face without any word.

"To think," his sister scowled. "where Mirror Mare dared to strike."

"He wants Pendant Lakes to know his presence," the stallion quipped, his mind focusing on something else.

"The tracks leading back to Ponyville and the southern region were destroyed, so it might be a while before you ponies can actually return to Ponyville again."

Octavia let out a disgruntled sigh as Rarity couldn't help but ask: "Was anypony else hurt in the explosion?"

Autumn was the first to speak up:

"There were a handful of ponies in a critical state. Only a few ponies were killed in the explosion."

The white mare felt guilt tugging at her hooves, hesitantly asking:

"Who were they?"

"We've recognized two as residents of Pendant Lakes itself. The other one was Tiki Torch, one of the guests of the ball."

Her heart dropped at the sudden mention of that name. Tears immediately sprung from her eyes, drowning her in a state of shock.

"Oh, Celestia..." she muttered, slumping back onto her bed.

Octavia, noticing the white unicorn's sudden change of expression, began to worry.

"What's wrong?" she asked her friend.

"No..."

"The police are onto it as we speak. So far, they've found remains of a small, pressure pipe bomb hidden in a charred, brown suitcase."

Rarity remained speechless as the mare continued the explaination. She felt faint in her heart, her mind starting to crack from the strain she had with every progressing word.

"Witnesses have seen Tiki opening the suitcase before the explosion. It could be he was the intended target."

"He wasn't..."

All eyes turned to the white mare, her mane hung low as she muttered between sobs:

"Tiki offered to help me move some luggage."

"What do you mean, Rarity?" Octavia piped in.

"I f-forgot to..." she tried to continue with a tremble, but broke down again.

The gray mare instantly placed a hoof around her, her words sweet and tender.

"Hush now.... there, there."

Rarity whimpered, giving a small, smile of gratitude, before continuing:

"I forgot to place my... bag of makeup into my luggage. I asked *sniffle*.... Tiki to help."

"You mean-"

"I killed him, Autumn!" she screamed, her eyes swelled red from tears as she harshly brushed her mane away, her hooves clenching tightly onto her bedsheets with her horrifying realization.

"I was the target!"

The pale yellow pony was slightly taken aback as she quietly sat back down, still absorbing what Rarity just said. The room plunged into a deep silence, nearly forsaking any of them to speak

"It seems," her brother finally spoke. "This is tougher than I thought."

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Summer savored the bittersweet taste of coffee in his mouth, his brows furrowed at the set of blueprints in his hoof. The castle was a really harsh place to navigate, with all its secret passages and what, despite already living his whole life since the days when he was just a foal.

A knock came to his door, snapping him out of his research.

"Just a minute," he called out, almost halfheartedly.

Shifting a few chess pieces on the chessboard, a clink of gears quickly responded, before the yellow stallion sat back into his seat, reaching for his mug of coffee.

"Come in!"

The door opened suddenly as Winter trotted in, a cold grimace aligning his face.

"What is it that you want?" the yellow stallion asked in a gruff tone, never desiring his brother's presence. He crossed his hooves defiantly, almost as if sneering at the other pony.

"You haven't heard of the explosion down at the train station?"

Summer just scoffed. "Let's say I haven't. Run through it for me, please."

The Patriarch glared at his brother's response, watching him stride across the room.

"You're still joking around, Summer?" he growled with spite

"What do you expect from it?"

"You weren't there!" Winter shouted at him. "You weren't there at all!"

Summer just stood leaning against a piano, his hooves crossed once more in ignorance.

"And?"

The white unicorn felt like punching him. He just felt like stabbing him in the gut.

"See? This is why you can't be Patriarch!"

His brother slammed his hooves on the table in response.

"I can be Patriarch whenever I like!!"

Winter snorted at that, his rage growing and rattling the cage of his mind.

"You don't even care about a single pony down there!" he said, pointing at Pendant Lakes outside the window.

"You don't even bothered about their safety!"

"And why would I?! What did those little ponies did for us that required me to care for them?"

"To hell with you!"

The Patriarch flipped over Summer's study table, his letters and ink scattering on the floor.

His brother just clenched his hoof tightly, rage piling up in his gut. Who does he think he is? Stomping into the room and throwing everything around like that?

"Do that one more time," he gave his brother a stern warning.

"You'll see who's Patriarch in a few minutes."

Winter just gave out a 'hmph', before walking out the door.

He turned his head back, his brows furrowing at his brother with disgust and ignorance.

"Not while I'm around."

Summer gritted his teeth, his brother slamming the door loudly. His face was flushed, seething with rage.

Glancing at the crumpled papers on the floor, his determination steeled.

"You won't be for long..."

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Rarity dragged herself up the stairs, groaning with annoyance at herself. Her body was a little sore, but the doctor said it was only a minor bruise, and immediately dismissed her from the hospital.

Octavia had more of a problem to deal with though. The gray mare was helping Crimson, the stallion himself struggled with his crutches as the couple neared the stairs.

"Damn this blasted things." he said with a laugh as he fumbled around.

The gray mare just held her coltfriend tightly, her hooves wrapped around his own.

"Language, Crimson."

Rarity giggled as Crimson retorted:

"You sound just like my mother!"

"Well, I'm sure your mother is a very nice pony." she replied with a wink.

The colt laughed at her comment, making Octavia shake her head.

"You go first, Rarity," she told her friend cheekily, grinning at her coltfriend mischievously.

"I need to help Mr. Naughty Colt here up."

Rarity gave out a soft giggled as the stallion just smiled, rolling his eyes.

"Very funny, 'Tavi."

As she continued towards the landing, leaving the couple behind, she saw Winter stomping down the corridor, clearly in a fit of rage. His hooves were clenched with spite, which only surprised the white unicorn even more.

"What's up with him?" Crimson inquired as he and Octavia finally reached the top.

"I don't know." Rarity could only answer.

"But I'm going to find out."

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Winter Palgiot settled himself down, his chest heaving with his rage leaving through each pant he makes. The recent argument with his brother gone a little awry to his tastes. He didn't want to flip his table, much less arguing with him.

"He deserved it," a part of his mind said, though his conscious self tried to forget about it.

The door creaked open slightly, the Patriarch watching Rarity stepping in.

"Mr. Palgiot?" she began, "Pardon my intrusion, but-"

"Dont!" Winter suddenly shouted. "move."

Rarity immediately froze on the spot, surprised yet confused at his sudden outburst as the Patriarch quickly strode towards a small table, his lips mumbling inaudibly.

His hoof browsed through the underside of the furniture, flipping a bunch of switches. In response, a flurry of clicks sounded in the distance, making him sigh with relief.

"I suppose I haven't told you everything," the stallionsaid with a laugh. "You're lucky I'm not asleep."

Rarity let out a sigh as she settled herself onto a chair.

"What was that for?"

"The switches, when flipped, will activate certain traps. For example," he explained, gesturing to a tile. It was noticeably a little faded in color from the others, the stallion continuing his explanation:

"That tile that you nearly stepped on, if you did, it will activate a crossbow and a gun from..."

Winter scanned the room as the mare shuddered in her seat.

"Let's see..."

"There!" His hoof pointed at a wooden crossbow on the top of the bookcase, an arrow glinting in position.

"And there," he trotted towards the bookshelf, revealing the barrel of a gun sticking out from one the books, which only made the mare stare at them in disbelief.

"Why in Equestria would you ever-"

"Necessensio, Miss Rarity." Winter reminded her.

"I don't want to take any chances, especially with all the Mirror Mare and stuff going on."

There was a moment of brief silence, before the mare remembered of her reason here.

"I saw you walk out just now," Rarity said, recalling the incident earlier.

"You seemed very upset."

"I have every reason to be. It was just an argument with Summer, not a big deal." Winter replied, laughing it off.

Although this time it went a little too far...

"Do you argue every day?"

"Well, that's a first for that question," the stallion chuckled as he grabbed a seat.

"We weren't really... brotherly ever since he was born."

"We were arguing about everything, always causing disruption and chaos every time we're together."

"Like my sister and I," Rarity piped in suddenly, remembering the events before Sisterhooves Social. There wasn't a time when she and her bonded properly together, though everything changed soon after.

Winter laughed softly in amusement at that comment, kicking his hooves back.

"Siblings can be tough sometimes," the stallion said, stretching his back as he sat against his chair.

"Well," Rarity suddenly spoke.

"It would be easier if you can just talk to him."

Winter's ears perked with interest, the stallion now moving to the edge of his seat.

"Pardon?"

"Talk to him, to Summer." the white mare advised the Patriarch, who was now in deep thought.

"Understand his likes, his dislikes, the problems he's having. Spend some time together."

"Well, you must remember what kind of family this is."

He sighed, the mare hearing a tone of disappointment from him.

"It isn't typically what you call......"

"Normal."

Rarity chuckled nervously, remembering the Palgiot family's devoussantics.

"Position is in high regard in every royal family, Miss Rarity." he said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"You'll never know when one turns hungry for power."

"And, by the way," Winter stopped for a moment, taking a sip from his cup.

"I wanted to show you something."

"Oh?" Rarity's interest flickered.

The Patriarch straightened his suit, standing up from his seat.

"And bring your friend, Octavia along," he advised, though his serious tone made it sound more like a demand.

"We don't want things to go.... ugly."

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"But your butler said-"

"Well, Stellar was just passing out my orders."

Winter, Rarity and Octavia were walking up a granite spiral of stairs, their hooves starting to tire. The stairs seem to go forever, but Winter knows that they will eventually reach the top:

The Tower Room.

"Besides," Winter said as they continued up the stairs.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind a visit."

A small bluejay chirped from the window, with small rays of sunlight seaming through the window, shining across Rarity's face with the graceful feeling of wind blowing across her mane.

"Silly me!" she suddenly exclaimed with a sheepish grin.

"I forgot to comb my mane!"

"You won't need to, for this one." Winter responded, making the other two ponies stare at each other in surprise.

"What do you mean?" the white unicorn asked.

"You'll find out when we get there."

Octavia's mind was now busily wandering off, her concern directed onto Crimson.

"I shouldn't leave him alone there. That insane pony can attack any second."

"Don't worry," Rarity assured her, calming her friend down.

"I'm sure the guards are doing their job."

"And... here we are!" Winter exclaimed with a sigh.

A menacing, white stone door stood, with crystalline handles tempting anypony to open. The surface was decorated with the pristine designs of two doves, their beaks clutching onto the leaves of a laurel wreath.

Rarity looked in amazement at the intricate design, unable to imagine the amount of time spent on this handiwork.

Winter gave the handle a slight push, the door slowly swinging open.

A giant, circular room stood before them, the dull, brick walls pasted with sketches and blueprints. Hanging from one end of the room, the map of the castle was nailed into place, framed behind a thick wall of glass.

Tables stacked with books leaned against the wall, Rarity looking in disgust at the scattered, disorderly pages lying around. A few oil lamps hang from the ceiling, but what caught the two mares' eyes was different.

Right before them, a colossal, brass machine stood in the center of the room, gleaming from the rays of the afternoon sun shining through the two large windows. Its mechanical arms gripped tightly onto two copper marbles, with some parts of it tainted by a thin coat of rust.

Octavia looked in amazement as she and Rarity grew closer, marveled completely at the sight. The giant needle that stuck from the top like an antennae gleamed smoothly, the tip vanishing into the ceiling. The intricate clockwork was slightly rusted, with Winter blowing a cloud of dust off its structure.

Rarity's eyes glittered as she couldn't believe what she saw inside the structure.

There was a glass dome, within it was a large, gigantic sapphire, cut and polished to pure perfection. A few rusted iron claws held in into place, though the marveled unicorn never bothered of it, too busy at the gem standing within its gentle grasp.

"I see Miss Rarity here has good taste," Winter said with a laugh.

He oiled a few gears as the other two ponies continued examining the structure, before finishing with a cheerful whistle and a delighted grin.

The bottom was fixed firmly onto the floor with giant, steel bolts. In the middle stood a tall, velvet chair, a few dangling wires twirled around with a circular, plastic film attached to the end.

"This, ladies," he spoke, his face beaming with pride. "is the Dreamscape Five."

Rarity was unsure of what to do, her friend beside her only able to let out a small, amazed 'wow'.

"I built this machine in my spare time." Winter said, standing proudly beside his creation.

"It uses a mix of electricity and steam, as you can see here." he continued, tapping on a few valves jutting out from a maze of pipes.

"This machine lets you enter a dimension. A dimension in which you can see but cannot touch."

"This machine lets you recall not only your dreams, but also your thoughts, your desires, your emotions..."

He hesitated for a moment, before continuing: "Your future."

"Our future?" Rarity asked in amazement.

"Your life, and any other life, to be exact. It's a machine that connects you with a life force; an essence of time and nature itself."

Octavia squealed in anticipation at that. Rarity stood, looking up at the towering contraption, the stallion sitting on a stool with his hoof tweaking a few controls on the circuit board in front of him.

"But I don't understand," she asked, curious.

"Why would you bring us up here?"

Winter looked up from his wiring as her friend thought of the same thing.

"Come to think about it, she does have a point. Why me and Rarity? You could've chose anypony else."

The Patriarch sighed, his hooves raised in defeat.

"Well, you see..."

"I brought Rarity and you up here, cause of Mirror Mare."

Rarity tilted her head in bewilderment.

"What do you mean, Winter?"

"Miss Rarity, do you have any connection with Mirror Mare, any at all?"

Her eyes widened almost immediately.

"No!" she exclaimed in self-defense

"I wouldn't have anything to do with that insane pony!"

"Do you know of Caesar Mills?"

Rarity shook her head.

"Never heard of him, why?"

"He was one of the first victims to be killed by Mirror Mare. Since his death, a few other bodies had been appearing around the town since."

"When he took Tassel's life, I knew something was going on." Winter finished, placing a pair of headphones onto the circuit board as he trotted towards Rarity.

He took out a faded photo from his suit, the white mare examining it closely.

In it was a stallion, playing with a few fillies, presumably his children, with a sky-blue mare gave him a mug little coffee. All of them were smiling cheerfully, the sight only warming heart.

"This is him," Winter said, pointing at the stallion.

Images of trains, blood and a swinging, wooden sign flashed into her mind as Rarity widened her eyes in horror and realization at the sight of Caesar.

"That-" she felt something stabbing into her gut, her voice forcefully squeaking out:

"That was the pony! The pony I saw being..."

She felt sick, her face turned a slight green as Octavia trotted over to console her friend.

"No..." she muttered. "It's impossible. It was only a nightmare. A horrible nightmare..."

"Unfortunately," Winter's expression darkened.

"What you've, how should I put it, seen, was all true."

"But the pony!" Rarity nearly stumbled.

"He was dragged by a train! Mirror Mare couldn't have been sick as that!"

"Caesar has done something, something possibly big that Mirror Mare had made him pay for," Winter inquired, placing the photo on a nearby table.

"Somehow, Tassel Twist and Crimson are connected in this."

"What do you mean Crimson is connected in this?" Octavia questioned the stallion, slightly confused yet enraged by his assumption.

"What would he have to do with this?"

"I have no idea, but I'm intending to find out. And I need both of your help."

Rarity trembled a little, trying to push Caesar's death out of her mind.

"Alright," her voice quivered with reluctance.

"What do you want us to do?"

Winter sat back onto the stool, brushing the dust off the circuit board.

"Rarity," he called to the white mare.

"I need you to sit onto the chair over there."

She nodded slightly as she slowly trotted towards the machine, albeit hesitantly.

"Whatever for?" curiosity beckoned her to ask.

"You were selected as the next Hostia Prima, Prime Victim." Winter said, placing his headphones on.

"I'm going to find the source of this, to see how this connects to everypony else involved."

"Octavia," he called to the gray mare this time.

"Please connect the yellow and blue pairs of wires to each of Rarity's hooves."

She quickly nodded, as she started connecting the wires.

"Good luck," she whispered encouragingly to Rarity.

The unicorn just gave her friend an unsure smile as Winter continued:

"Now, attach the iron cuffs to Rarity's hooves."

The gray mare whirled back, glancing skeptically at the Patriarch.

"Are you kidding me?"

"You don't want her flying out the window."

Unwillingly, she clasped the cuffs shut. Her friend tried to move her hoof. It was firmly gripping her like a vice, so tight that she couldn't twist and turn any of her front hooves

"Alright, Octavia. Stand back." Winter said, clasping onto a red switch.

Rarity held her breath as he flipped the switch downwards.

The machine started whirring to life, the sapphire inside glowing brightly. The copper marbles started spinning like the blades of a helicopter, their top halves slowly sliding open, revealing a glass prism inside it.

Th gears whirred faster and faster, making Octavia shield her eyes from the radiant light that suddenly flared from the exposed prism, her fascination growing along with the light's intensity.

The prism reflected the bright lights, turning the glaring beam into a dazzling display of dancing wisps, all in different hue of colors.

Rarity felt a tingle in her hooves, staring in awe and disbelief at the lights show around her. Her mane fluttered in the whirlwind, the mechanical hands overhead spinning faster and faster.

Then, she felt herself fly free from her seat, the world around her fading into a blinding, white light.

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Rarity felt her head pounding intensely, the small pain making her let out a small moan, her eyes opening slowly.

Her vision was a foggy blur, her hoof reaching around blindly. Raising one of them, she hastily rubbed her eyes. What she saw made her gasp.

"Could it be...?

She was standing in the center of Carousel Boutique: her store, her home! Squealing with delight, she looked around, still not believing the sight around her.

Galloping out the door, breathing in a little bit of fresh air, the white unicorn landed on her knees, her hooves raised in a loud cheer.

"I'm home!!!!"

Rarity was so excited that she pranced around, jumping for joy.

"I should go talk to my friends!" she told herself with anticipation.

"Pinkie Pie should be celebrating my return, along with my other friends!"

She gleamed at the thought of it, giggling with excitement.

"Applejack will be there! Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie would of course be there!! As well as-"

Her voice suddenly seemed to drop, realization overwhelming her in a split second. Rarity felt her shadow behind her grew larger, the despair settling back into her heart.

"Spike..."

Rarity tried not to cry, although a small tear already formed in her eye.

"Alright!" she proclaimed suddenly with fierce determination, pushing her sniffles away.

"The party can wait!"

"I'm coming, Spikey-Wikey!"

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Ponyville Hospital looked strangely vacant, with not a single pony around. The usual rush of doctors and nurses, the patients walking around the corridors in their wheelchairs... it wasn't there anymore.

Rarity felt a foreboding presence as she walked down the corridor. The hospital was clean, completely free of dust, yet

She slowly trotted down the corridor, her eyes looking through the windows of every door, toiling tirelessly through the corridor to find the purple dragon.

Then, she saw him!

On the bed, peacefully resting, was Spike!

She quickly opened the door, with great anticipation. The dragon, slightly larger than Rarity, slept silently as the monitor beside him beeped slowly.

"Spike!" Rarity called him with a cheerful grin, though there was no response.

"It's me. It's Rarity," she tried again, yet the dragon slept, his chest rising with every inhaling breath.

Rarity cupped his claws into her hooves as she sat on a stool beside the bed.

"Please, wake up..." she said with a sniffle.

"Please..."

"I knew you would be here, Rarity."

Rarity looked up at the mention of her name, watching as a purple unicorn stepped in.

"Twilight! Oh how great it to see you!"

Twilight Sparkle just gave her an unsettling smile, slinking to the side whilst beckoning an orange pony to step in from behind as well.

"Applejack? What are you girls doing here?"

"Ya see, Rarity." Applejack held back, biting her lip.

"Twilight has something to tell you."

Rarity looked at the purple unicorn, who was shuffling about nervously.

"What is it?"

"It's...." Twilight's streaked mane shifted slightly.

"It's about Spike."

The door opened once more, as two pegasi stepped in.

"Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!" Rarity exclaimed as they both smiled warmly at her.

"But where's-" she felt something twinge in her gut.

"Where's Pinkie Pie?"

"Pinkie Pie wouldn't come out of her room." Rainbow Dash explained, her rainbow mane slightly discolored than usual.

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked her, as she began to worry.

"Why wouldn't she?"

"Rarity." Twilight called as she tried to wipe a few tears away, which only fueled her worry.

"She wouldn't come.... because of Spike."

"What do you mean?"

"Spike," Twilight tried to continue, but was interrupted by Fluttershy's slight whimper, as well as her own.

"Spike hasn't been doing... well these few days."

Rarity tried to shake that thought off.

"I asked the doctor about it. The d-doctor said... he said..." the purple unicorn started tearing up as Applejack hugged her friend. Twilight started to sob quietly, though the white mare could only stare in confusion.

"What did he say?" she asked frantically, almost forcefully as well.

"What did he say, Twilight?"

"The doctor said," Applejack finished her friend's sentence.

"Spike's not going to make it."

Rarity felt the world drop on her, her gut stinging from the news broken down to her.

Tears started flowing from her eyes, her heart sinking rapidly to the floor. Her chest thrashed violently,

"Impossible!" she screamed, making her friends look in surprise.

"He is going to make it, I know he is!"

"Rarity! We all believed in it as well-" Applejack began, but was cut off by a scowl.

"No! You said," the white unicorn glared with tears in her eyes as her hoof pointed towardsTwilight, who was still sobbing on Applejack's shoulder.

"You said it was just a coma! You said he will wake up!!"

"He isn't going to, Rarity!" Rainbow Dash shouted, Fluttershy now cringing at a corner.

"Everypony wished he can get through, alright!?"

"Shut up, Rainbow!" Rarity's eyes fixated into the blue pegasus's.

"He is going to live! He is going to make it!"

"No Rarity! He is not!!"

Rarity, completely enraged, gave Rainbow Dash a loud 'slap!!'.

The blue pegasus stumbled backwards onto the floor, rubbing her brazened face. Everypony else looked at the white unicorn in shock, unable to respond to what she just did.

"Don't! You! Dare! Say That!"

"Rarity!" Twilight shouted with a shiver. "Please-"

"You lied to me, Twilight!!' Rarity scowled begrudgingly, her hoof pointing at her friend accusingly, her eyes bloodshot with rage.

"You lied about Spike! You said he will live through it! You said we will celebrate!"

"Quit it, Rarity!" Applejack marched up to her.

"Listen to ya darn self!"

Rarity still glared at Twilight behind Applejack's shoulder, whose eyes were widening in fear.

"We really wanted Spike to pull through this, sugarcube." the orange pony's voice softened. "All of us do!"

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew over to comfort the lavender mare, who was already breaking down.

The white mare's rage still flared, looking away from Applejack in discomfort, before she began sniffling.

"I know. All of us do. About you and Spike, alright?" the orange mare said, as Rarity's tears continued to fall.

The white unicorn gazed at the dragon, who was still sleeping peacefully in his bed, oblivious to everything happening around him.

"Even Pinkie Pie was depressed," the orange pony continued, though hesitantly.

"She nearly hung herself yesterday."

Rarity turned back to Applejack, shocked by the news of her pink friend.

Pinkie Pie? Hanging herself?!

"It was lucky RD managed to stop her." Applejack sighed.

"This whole news is going too far for Pinkie to bear as well."

Rarity let herself fall on the floor with her mane hung low, sobbing quietly.

"I'm sorry...."

Applejack's ears perked as Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked over.

"I didn't know... what I've done..."

"What do you mean, Rarity?" the orange mare asked, beginning to worry.

"I didn't know... how my friends felt."

Rarity stood up, still looking down at the floor, walking across the room.

"I wasn't aware... of anything. Anything that happened." she whimpered. the warm rays of sunlight shone across her face

"Sugarcube, it's alright. We didn't expect it to happen either."

Rarity trotted closer to the window, looking down at the town outside.

"But I didn't care. I didn't want to care..."

"Rarity, just.... just come to your senses now." Fluttershy finally spoke.

"You didn't.... know about it... um-"

Rarity shushed her as she smiled at the yellow pegasus.

"Fluttershy?"

She looked up at the white unicorn, nervously replying: "Y-Yes?"

The white mare held her breath as she buckled her hind hooves, closing her eyes shut.

Her decision was made, a small smile creeping up to her face.

"Take care of Sweetie Belle for me."

Applejack leaped from the chair suddenly, her eyes widened with horror.

"Rarity! No!"

In one swift move, Rarity launched herself out the window, glass shattering through her face as tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

"RARITY!!!!"

Her four friends screamed in unison, with Rainbow Dash quickly flying out after her.

Rarity felt her body fall as she closed her eyes, letting the weight of gravity pull her in a tight, painful embrace. Rainbow Dash was flying down from a distance, quickly catching up to her.

"Rarity, don't do this now!!" the blue pegasus shouted. "Don't do this to me now!!"

She felt like she was falling forever, the grieving torrent of water starting to patter onto her face. Her tears flew from her eyes, blowing in the wind. Lightning flashed in the distance as her fluttering mane became wet from the rain.

Her heart became ensnared with remorse, though she smiled; she would finally be with him.

The love of her life...

"Rarity!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted at her friend.

Then, Rarity felt her body slam onto the sharp surface ground, her mind snapping instantaneously from the pain, as she saw the world fading back into white.

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"Spike!!!"

Rarity awoke with a shock, her body convulsing tightly in her seat with her hooves still restrained

Octavia rushed towards her friend, instinctively reaching her hoof out to calm her down from her shock.

"It's okay, Rarity! It's just me," the gray pony said to her friend, trying to shake her from her frozen state.

"It's okay..."

Winter rushed to Octavia's side as well, with the white mare finally coughing, tears filling her eyes to the brim.

"Celestia....." the shaken mare could only mutter as the stallion unclasped the steel cuffs, freeing her from the vice grip of the machine.

"Octavia, she needs some rest." the Patriarch advised, looking at them with concern.

"I suggest you bring her to her room."

Rarity tried to lift herself up, yet she struggled with her trembling hooves, still shaking and convulsing violently from the harsh ordeal. Octavia helped her friend up, hooves around each other's shoulders, with Winter shutting his machine down, before helping the mares by opening the marble doors.

The mare felt faint, tired with pain still clutching in her chest. She closed her eyes, her thoughts slowly fading into the sweet, tempting sensation of sleep as she muttered out one last word quietly under her breath, accompanied by a small tear of despair warmly received by the marble floor below their hooves.

"Spike..........."

Drowning In Love

"Aw!!!! But I already got everything ready for you~~!"

It was in the middle of the night, although both Rarity and Octavia can't fall asleep, especially with all the drama in the Tower Room recently. The both of them huddled together on the bed, their smiles facing towards Rarity's walkie-talkie at the familiar voice that had kept them occupied for the last half an hour.

"Pinkie, why not just get more stuff ready when Octavia and I come back?" the white unicorn said with a smile.

"After all," Octavia interrupted with a sly grin.

"I think Rarity deserves something bigger than a party."

"Octavia! Great idea!!"

"Now, Pinkie." Rarity began, "don't get the wrong ide-"

"Of course not, Rarity!! All you need is a megariffic SUPER-PARTY!!! There'll be a giant cake! Ooooh! Ooooh! And streamers. And balloons. And an after-party!!!"

Rarity sighed as Octavia laughed beside her, though the pink mare still continued:

"I'll write invites tonight!!! Oooh, then EVERYPONY will be invited!!! It will be the BIGGEST, MOST TERRIFIC PARTY EVER!!"

"Just don't overdo it, Pinkie dear." the white mare added.

"I won't!! Cross my heart and hope to fly!! Stick a cupcake in my eye!! I'll never break a Pinkie Promise!!!"

Octavia stood up, chuckling at the pink pony.

"Help me say hi to Vinyl for me, Pinkie," the gray pony said with a grin.

"Oh, I will!"

Rarity sighed, her hoof reaching for the button. She was about to flip it off, though Pinkie's voice suddenly chirped in before she could, her ears perking at what she said:

"Rarity?..... You'll be okay over there.... right?"

She froze on the spot, glancing at the radio at her friend's suddenly somber tone, her mind racing for a reply. Octavia stopped to look as well, slightly surprised by the pink mare's concern.

"Well um, I..." the white unicorn finally stammered. "I'll be safe. I promise."

"Pinkie Promise?"

Rarity sighed again. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. There! Happy?"

"SUPER!!"

The two mares laughed in unison, before the white mare spoke up:

"I best be going now, Pinkie Pie. It is getting a little late."

"Alright, Rarity!!" came the reply, making her smile.

The unicorn can almost imagine Pinkie Pie grinning widely at her, the pink mare herself cheerfully finishing:

"See you, oops, I mean, hear you tomorrow!"

Rarity chuckled as she turned her walkie-talkie off, letting out a relieved sigh. The soft trot of hooves soon followed, watching as Octavia headed towards her side, giving her a skeptical grin.

"And to think," her voice piped in. "You said she won't talk to you."

"Well..." the white mare shrugged.

"I guess maybe the Dreamscape thing is really getting into my mind," she stopped, letting out a nervous laugh.

"Really, Pinkie Pie hanging herself? I hope that never happens."

"I hope so as well," her friend closed her eyes as she pulled the blanket towards her from the bed.

"I can't imagine Pinkie Pie doing that, nor what Ponyville would become after that."

Rarity bit her lip, settling herself under the sheets. Her thoughts immediately focused to her bouncy, pink friend, trying to imagine her bright smile on her face, before giving a subtle reply:

"Me neither."

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Water spewed from the fountain, basking the marble structure in a dome of hailing raindrops. It was glorified only by the nocturnal rays of light shimmering through and the silence of the sleeping town; the noises that once flurried the afternoon now pacified by slumber, the tranquil scene only made Winter Palgiot sigh, the stallion himself settled on the stone bench.

His ocean-blue mane fluttered gently in the breeze. Closing his eyes, his mind slowly calmed as the moon shone a pale blue light onto his face, immersing himself into the embrace of the night, letting out a small whistle of delight.

"My name is Winter. Winter Palgiot. And yours?"

"Harmony. Harmony Peridot."

A few droplets of water trickled onto Winter's face as he finally opened his eyes. He took out a black notebook, making a few calculations as he slowly wrote in its pages with his trusty fountain pen.

It became more of a daily thing for him to do this, though he himself had scowled every once or twice at the digits before him, only making him want to toss it into the bowels of the fountain.

"Well, it isn't everyday a new face appears in Pendant Lakes."

"Oh, I'm just..... visiting."

He let out a quiet sigh. Being Patriarch was tough.

His mind soon wandered, his gaze quickly averted towards the structure of stone. There were many memories that he had of this place, though not like the one he had experienced several years ago.

"You sure you never danced before?"

"It's my first time, Sir Palgiot. Besides, I've just-"

It was the first time, he chuckled to himself. It was the first time he saw somepony beautiful.

Somepony... special.

"Please."

"Call me Winter."

Winter stood up hesitantly, placing his notebook and pen back in his suit's side pocket. He trotted over to the fountain, a smile creeping onto his lips, that of pure nostalgia and retrospection.

"How do I look?"

"Beautiful as always, Harmony."

From his hoof he held onto a coin; a casino token, one that he had obtained during his visits to the nearby towns. He cupped his hands as he closed his eyes in prayer.

"You always say that, Winter."

"You mean I always say the truth."

Then, in one swift movement, he flicked the coin watching as it flew up, dazzling in the moonlight, before falling inside the fountain with a small splash.

He smiled with satisfaction at that, the coin slowly sinking down to join the hundreds of denizens that had already settled in the stone bottom, only reminding him of how special the fountain was to everypony here.

"The truth, huh? Well then, there's something I wanted to say. Something truthful."

"What is it?"

Winter slowly walked away, admiring Luna's full moon as he trotted away from the fountain, back to his abode.

"I love you, Winter."

He chuckled at the faint echo of her voice, feeling the breeze sweeping his mane around as he began his trek up the rocky mountain path, back to his home.

With a sigh, he muttered under his breath; a reply to the echo of the past:

"I love you too, Harmony."

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Breakfast wasn't something usual for Rarity in Palgiot Palace: she would rather go to Pendant Lakes for some pancakes instead of boring, old, Ficelle bread sticks with garlic stew.

Today, however, was different. She woke up early; too early in fact. Her sleep was restless as a result of nightmares of Spike and Pinkie Pie plaguing her at night.

The sky outside was a mediocre shade of blue, the sun slightly rising in the distance as she finished up her stew with the last sip of her spoon. Her attention quickly diverted to the soft shuffling of hooves beside her, making her look.

"More tea, miss?" A maid asked as she quickly placed the now empty bowl onto a cart.

"No thanks." Rarity gave her a grin, the maid excusing herself as she pushed the cart into the kitchen.

The white mare shook her head: the family sure knows how to pamper themselves.

She walked out into the corridor, her breath a small shiver from the chilling atmosphere of the morning. The sky outside was turning into a golden-orange scene, a flock of geese flying in the distance welcoming her to embrace the sight.

The morning air smelled heavenly, as Rarity found out from the pleasured tingle in her nostrils. She slowly strode down the stone corridors, her steps threading onto the scarlet carpet, admiring the view outside the terrace as well as the architecture.

In the distance, a light turquoise filly came into view. She pranced around, her puffy mane whisking with each dainty step, her mouth humming a delightful tune.

Rarity immediately smiled: she reminded her so much of Sweetie Belle.

She recognized her as Spring, Winter's smallest sister.

"Excuse me?" she called to the filly, who looked up with her yellow eyes. It somehow matched the sun rising outside, though the calming sight only hid her personality:

"Hi Rarity!" The small filly exclaimed, nearly scaring Rarity. She looked at her with glee, her smile widening and her cheeks puffing up as the white unicorn stumbled with her words.

"Erm, uhhh....." she murmured, before Rarity finally grasped her question.

"Spring, is it?"

The filly nodded her head gleefully.

"Yup!!"

"How did you... know my name?"

"Oh, of course I do!" Spring giggled. "It's my talent!! See?"

She turned to her side. A Cutie mark in the shape of a crystal ball stood, almost gleaming from her flank.

Rarity couldn't believe her eyes. "Your talent? Is reading other pony's minds?"

"Well, not really..." the filly replied.

"I can't control them or anything. I can just see about your life! Your past, present, future!"

A living Dreamscape machine, huh.

She gave a smile, proud at herself. "Lemme guess! Lemme guess!" she said, jumping in a circle around Rarity.

"Guess what?"

"Your friends, of course! There's Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, Big Mac, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, although she isn't really your friend, and there are your new friends! My brothers, my sister, Crimson Lux, our butler, it keeps going on and on and on!!!"

The white mare just gave a nervous chuckle.

"Wow, Spring. I'm... impressed!"

"Add me to that list! Please? Please? Preeetttyy Preeettttyyyy Pleeeeaaaasssseeee???"

Rarity laughed. That really sounded like herself. Herself plus Pinkie Pie.

"Sure, Spring. Sure."

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"So he was found, like this?"

Winter flipped through a few photos, grimacing with disgust at the contents that were held within. Mirror Mare had recently claimed another victim, who was found in the forests by a few hikers.

He sighed: the list of dead ponies seemed to grow by leaps and bounds everyday.

Mayor Stencil wasn't keen on it either.

"I suppose, sir," he suddenly piped up, "that you should know about this."

He showed Winter a clipboard, which contained the dead pony's biography after a few routes around the archives, which stored most, if not all, of the information of Equestria, particularly Pendant Lakes.

Winter nearly spat out his coffee, his eyes widening at the facts before him.

"What do you mean he wasn't from around here?"

"Exactly, Sir Palgiot." Mayor Stencil straightened his glasses.

"This... tourist, if I might put it, was from the esteemed Canterlot Ministry."

"I knew that!" Winter's mind grew increasingly frantic.

"Why would the Princess send him down here?"

"Perhaps the recent news had somehow leaked out from Pendant Lakes?" the mayor theorized.

"The train station blew up, literally. No train can enter Pendant Lakes, nor leave."

Winter slumped back with a sigh. "What am I suppose to tell the Princesses? That one of their trusty advisers was found dead in the alleyways?"

"I have no clue, Sir."

"She's going to have my head for this." Winter said, biting his lip.

He stood up, walking out of the room as Mayor Stencil continued piecing the photos together.

"I need some time to think this through."

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Rarity and Spring continued their jovial trot down the corridor, which was still empty except for a few guards. The white unicorn was listening attentively to the filly's random account of one of her trips out of town, a smile

"... and then my brother was like 'wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!' and we just splash inside the pool! Las Pegasus was so much fun!!!"

Rarity laughed at the filly, watching her giggle with glee.

"I sound just like Pinkie Pie!" she exclaimed.

"You sure do, silly filly! You sure do."

"Spring!"

"You're awake, Winter!"

Winter Palgiot stood a few feet in front of them, his hooves raised with a hearty chuckle, prompting Spring to scurry towards his brother.

She hugged her brother tightly, as Rarity walked up to them with a smile.

"Thank you, Rarity. For taking care of my sister."

"No problem, Winter," the white mare said, smiling at the small filly.

"Winter! Winter!" Spring jumped up and down in ecstatic excitement, trying to get his brother's attention.

"She looks like Harmony, doesn't she?!"

Winter froze as Rarity raised her eyebrow in slight skepticism, his frown quickly fading into a slight smile.

"Spring, we talked about this-"

"I know, I know! But she really, really, REALLY looks like Harmony!"

The stallion chuckled nervously at that, gently pushing the little filly forward.

"Ha-ha, Spring. Now go get breakfast," he said, before giving her a sly grin.

"Or I'll make you tidy your room."

Spring jumped immediately at that.

"I don't wanna tidy my rooooommm!!!" she hollered as she ran down the corridor.

Rarity and Winter gave a slight chuckle as the filly skidded a little, before entering the dining room.

"So tell me," Rarity quipped in interest. "who is this 'Harmony'?"

"Well," the Patriarch shuffled nervously.

"You don't really need to know..."

"But you said you'll tell me everything-"

"Well, that doesn't necessarily mean everything." Winter scowled, crossing his hooves

"I'm sorry, Miss Rarity, but this is a matter I do not want to discuss of."

Rarity just stood there, taken aback by Winter's comment as he watched the stallion march away, his head held high, which only made her let out a humph of indignation.

Well that was rude...

Her thoughts soon wandered as she continued down the majestic corridor, now pondering on the name.

Harmony, huh. Wonder who that is?

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"Isn't there anyway that you can come home?"

"I'm afraid not, Sweetie Belle. After all, the train pretty much... isn't a train anymore."

"Pinkie Pie told me you were in an accident. Are you alright?"

Rarity tried to forget about the explosion; the explosion that nearly costed her life.

"I'm fine now, Sweetie Belle." she said with a grin, before hearing Fluttershy's tender voice through the speakers:

"You alright there, Rarity?"

A click sounded, signaling one of her friends has joined them.

"Did Ah miss anything?"

"Applejack! It's great to hear your voice again."

"Why, howdy Rarity." the orange mare greeted.

"You alright over there? The explosion was in the news today."

She hated them saying that. The news of the explosion was already widespread across Equestria, reaching the headlines all over the nation.

"I'm fine, although I'm a little bit worried about it right now."

"I was suppose to board that train." Rarity continued with a shudder.

"Got thrown in the explosion."

Fluttershy and Applejack immediately gasped, a tirade of questions soon followed.

"Are you alright? Were you really hurt?"

"Luckily, no." the white mare assured them. She didn't dare mention that she was the intended target.

"A few bruises here and there, but I'm alright now."

"Well, that's a relief," Applejack's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

"Sorry Ah ain't keeping up with stuff around here. Been busy applebucking a few trees here and there."

"Oh yes." Fluttershy's voice squeaked. "You should've seen how many apples she has."

"Tell me when I come home." Rarity said with a chuckle, before her thoughts immediately wandered, the thought of it starting to make her worry.

With hesitation, she mustered up her courage and asked:

"How's Spike?"

"Well, Spike's doing fine. In fact, the doctor said he's stirring a little already," the yellow pegasus replied.

She gave a huge sigh of relief, before Applejack questioned:

"Why'd ya ask, Rarity?"

"Well," Rarity bit her lip. "some part of me made me think that Spike isn't going to make it, much less wake at all."

It was the Dreamscape thing actually, she said to herself, but she didn't want her friends to worry.

"Why, Rarity." Applejack suddenly laughed, though the white mare could hear her friend's concern.

"You think too much!"

"I know, right?" the white mare continued with a soft chuckle.

"I mean, Pinkie Pie trying to hang herself? What kind of nightmare is that?"

There was an immediate long pause, before Applejack's voice piped with cynicism.

"Pinkie Pie? Hanging herself?"

"It was only a nightmare, Applejack." Rarity assured her, hoping not to upset her friends.

"Well, Ah'm glad it is." the orange mare finally replied as Rarity gave out a sigh of relief.

"After all, why in tarnation would she do that for?"

"I don't know," Rarity replied with a bite of her lip. "but I'm sure she has no reason to."

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The town was busier than normal, which was already saying something seeing how the streets were filled with ponies every day. Among them, Rarity, Octavia and Crimson, still with his crutches, were walking down Starlet Avenue.

They've just finished a little window shopping, settling down at a nearby cafe for a drink.

"What do you want, miss?"

"Two cups of strawberry punch and to my little friend here," Octavia said, patting Crimson's mane.

"One small cup of chamomile tea."

The waitress nodded with a smile as she quickly wrote their orders.

When she left them, Crimson quickly hissed: "Seriously , 'Tavi?"

Octavia chuckled as her coltfriend continued: "You're going to tease me every time we're with Rarity?"

"It's a figure of speech, Crimson de la creme." she said with a wink.

Crimson groaned as Rarity laughed. "Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse..."

"But Crimson," Octavia whined. "You've done worse to me."

"Remember the time?" she reminded Crimson. "you called me Octi?"

Rarity choked on her tea, bursting out laughing as Octavia rolled her eyes.

"Sheesh, 'Tavi," Crimson said. "It was our first date. How would I know what to call you."

"Well, at least Tavia is better," she gave Crimson a nudge. "Octi sounded more like octopus."

"I'm sorry, my lady, but at that time, my mind doesn't sing to that 'octave'." the singer said with a grin.

"Oh really? And here I was note-ifying you about our time together." Octavia replied with a sly smile.

"Seriously guys, stop!" Rarity said, trying to cover her laugh. "You two are as cute as... how should I put it..."

Octavia and Crimson looked at each other, blushing as they finished the sentence.

"Two notes in a line?"

All three ponies burst out in laughter as the waitress arrived with their drinks.

"Here's your tea, sir. And your punch, ladies."

Rarity gave her a 'thank you' as her friend paid the waitress.

"I must admit," Crimson shifted slightly in his seat. "I don't mind living here."

"What do you mean, Crimson?" Octavia asked.

"The mix of old and new, the flair around the town." Crimson said as he drank his tea. "The beauty of the landscape, the charming landmarks around. The streets all look Austrian, and I've been to Austria before."

"Yeah, with exploding trains, murder and the like?" Octavia replied disagreeably. "I can't wait to go home to Ponyville."

"Cheer up, Octavia. I didn't say I was going to stay here." the singer said with a sigh. "We can just stay at those nearby hotels, like on a honeymoon or something."

Octavia blushed as Rarity stood up. "Well then, I'll leave you two to your future, romance plans of yours. While I'll go for a little stroll." she said teasingly.

Rarity trotted towards the fountain, chuckling at the couple as they continue chatting. She felt a slight breeze in the air, the cloudy skies making the air cool with moisture.

She felt something snap, as the wind suddenly died down without warning.

"Wha-"

The water stopped falling, frozen in air as Rarity looked around in horror.

This is not happening...

"Well, well, well..."

A cloaked pony walked up to her, brandishing a dagger.

"You really need to stop ruining the fun more often."

Rarity gasped, staring at a white and black-halved mask, its lips stitched.

Mirror Mare!

"Really, Little Miss Rarity." the pony said with a chuckle.

"I've always wondered how you'd done it."

Rarity mustered up her courage. "You won't get away with this!"

"Oh! The beauty just became the beast!"

She felt it's voice stabbing through her as the pony laughed at her. The voice...

It sounded so... feminine.

"Tell me, Mirror Mare," Rarity challenged the masked pony. "What are you really?"

"Asking me about myself and I? How absolutely marvelous!" it cackled.

"I am," the masked pony readied its dagger.

"Nothing."

Rarity felt the pony whizzing through her, a small cut on her face. Blood seeped from it as she felt the blade scratching against her skin.

She gasped in horror. "Why you wretched, selfish-"

She charged headfirst, giving Mirror Mare a sudden kick.

The masked pony stumbled backwards, stunned by her sudden movement.

"I'm surprised, Miss Rarity." Mirror Mare chuckled. "You are the first pony that ever laid a single hoof on me."

"And for that, I'm gonna let you go."

Rarity stood stunned, but something clicked in her mind.

"Oh yeah? You're going to let me go? Like you did with Caesar?"

Mirror Mare shifted to the right. "Caesar was different. He was a runner. You, my lady, are a fighter."

"And you've earned my respect."

The masked pony sheathed its blade, as the stitched mask intimidated Rarity with every turn.

"I must admit, I regret about the bomb in your luggage."

Rarity's gritted her teeth. She buckled her hooves.

"It seems fate had decided Tiki to join the ride instead, though. So I'm okay with it."

Her eyes seethed with rage as she felt adrenaline rush through her body.

"And, Spike, is it?"

Her ears perked up. "What about Spike?"

"Well, it seems you have an interest in him, this dragon."

Rarity tried not to think of Spike, but images of him kept cascading through her mind.

"Let's just say I paid him a.... visit."

Rarity's eyes widened in shock. "You! You're the one that made... that ... he-"

Her voice began to falter as she became clouded by the thoughts of Mirror Mare attacking the dragon.

"Not. My. Spikey-Wikey!!"

She galloped towards Mirror Mare, who readied its dagger.

Rarity's hooves landed onto the cloaked pony's mask, cracking it slightly.

A small side of the mask began shattering, revealing a shade of light-pink skin underneath.

"Bravo, Rarity. Bravo!!"

Mirror Mare applauded as Rarity looked at her, confused.

Didn't Winter say Mirror Mare was an 'it'?

"I would stay here and continue our 'playdate'," the masked pony said. "but I'll be running off now."

Mirror Mare's body started cracking, as Rarity saw it fade into pieces.

"In the meantime," its cold voice continued. "Go check the fountain."

"I've placed something more than a coin there."

Rarity stopped. "What do you mean 'more than a coin'?"

Time seemed to resume as ponies around started moving. The pigeons started flying as the wind picked up. Water continued its steady flow from the fountain.

"The fountain!" Rarity said. She quickly rushed to the marble structure, looking into its deep, sparkling pool.

What she saw horrified her.

Two ponies lay gagged at the bottom of the fountain, struggling in the water, their manes flowing as bubbles of air floated from their mouths. Their eyes widened in fear as all four hooves are chained tightly, a heart-shaped lock sealing it tight.

Both chains connect to a giant, iron weight resting at the bottom of the fountain. Beside them lay a glinting key.

"Octavia!! Crimson!!"

The couple quickly rushed towards her side, with Crimson trying his best to run with his crutches.

"Rarity, what is it that you-" Octavia began but stopped short at the scene before her.

"Oh Celestia!"

Without thinking, Rarity dove in. She swam towards the bottom of the fountain, reaching for the key.

Octavia joined soon after, as Crimson shouted for help.

Rarity swam towards one of the ponies, checking to see if he were alive. She recognized the pony!

It was Basil Luck, the famed shoe designer! He let out muffled cries as bubbles of oxygen floated to the surface.

Rarity removed the cloth from his mouth, as she began fumbling at the lock. Water speared into her eyes as she tried to focus in the blue.

Beside Basil, Octavia tried to comfort the other pony, Harlequin Velvet, as she urged her friend to speed it up.

More ponies soon helped, jumping in with a loud splash as the fountain became filled with swimming ponies, all trying to lift the weight, without any luck.

Rarity swam to the surface, taking a gulp of air as she dived back down.

After a few seconds, she heard a click, as Basil freed himself from the tangle of chains, swimming up into the air.

Crimson helped him up, ignoring his weak hind hooves as Basil fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"Please...." he pleaded between pants. "Save... my wife."

Harlequin's eyes widened in shock as Rarity swam forward, the key in her hand.

She began fumbling with the lock, nervously trying to solve the intricate lock.

"Hurry, Rarity!" Octavia mouthed.

Harlequin began blacking out, as Octavia swam up, gasping for air.

The clicking of tumblers sounded, as Rarity and the other ponies lifted Harlequin up into fresh air.

Basil quickly rushed to his wife, his mane wet and damp as he shook his wife's hoof.

"Harlequin! Harlequin!! Answer me, dear!" he shouted, trying to stir her up.

His wife lay still, motionless.

"Harlequin!! Answer me!! Answer me Celestia!" Basil stumbled backwards, starting to cry as Crimson knelt down to comfort him.

Rarity reached around Harlequin's hoof, trying to detect for a pulse.

"So?" Octavia asked frantically, "is she alive?"

Rarity felt her stomach twinge. She brush her damp mane away as everypony else awaited the answer.

"I'm sorry, Basil," she said with a tear in her eye. Basil started weeping and moaning, burying his face in Crimson's mane.

"She didn't make it...."

Necessensio

"Doctor Brineheart?"

Winter Palgiot stood in the hospital morgue. He never liked places like this. It always seemed like something was going to get him any second.

"It was lucky Mr. Luck survived. Harlequin here, was actually the target."

He covered the body, draping it over the white cloth.

"What do you mean? She was the only target?" Winter asked.

"Exactly." The doctor said, placing his reading glasses on a nearby cart.

"While Basil could've, and he didn't, died from drowning, Harlequin wouldn't"

"She died from cardiovascular poisoning."

"She was poisoned?" Winter looked at the doctor in surprise.

"By some crazy concoction, I suppose." Doctor Brineheart said with a sigh. "I took a sample of her blood and examined its contents."

He handed a clipboard to Winter, who examined it closely.

"Traces of different types of elements, mainly carbon and hydrogen. A mix of chemicals were used in the poison."

Winter just studied the clipboard, his face darkening.

"Heptachlor, dimethoate..."

"Insecticide, Sir Palgiot." Doctor Brineheart told him.

"... DHMO, propoxur, selenium sulfide, lidocaine, hydrazine, phenytoin sodium? What in Equestria is this?"

"Like I said, Sir Palgiot." the doctor said grimly. "I have no idea. Some crazed, madpony's poison, with all the chemicals there in lethal doses."

"There is also this," Doctor Brinheart lifted a petri dish. Inside was a small, leafy substance.

"Nightshade," Winter identified.

"Found a pill full of it lodged in her throat." the doctor said. "The killer sure wanted Harlequin to die badly."

"I agree." Winter said, leafing through the clipboard one more time.

"What I don't understand is, why?"

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Rarity tended to the scratch on her face. The strong scent of medicinal oil reeked throughout the room.

She looked out the window. The afternoon sun was glaring brightly.

A small crowd of the press were already gathering at the Palgiot gates. The guards outside were already trying everything to stop them from pummeling the gates down.

A knock came to the door, as Rarity placed a bandage on the cut.

"Come in!"

The door creaked as Octavia walked in. Behind her was Crimson.

"-and she said you needed a little time to get used to it. I thought seven months was enough!"

"It wasn't, okay Crimson?!" Octavia shouted at her coltfriend.

Rarity just sat there, astounded.

"You just can't listen to everything that damn pony says, Crimson! She's not Vinyl! It's not like she's living with me for years!"

"Tavi, just listen! I just thought it'll be better for us to settle somewhere, somewhere where we're together, you know."

"Then what? You leave me at home with a few foals, while you go on a tirade around the world in one of your concerts?"

"That's not what I meant! 'Tavi, please-"

"Just get out!"

Crimson sighed in defeat as he strode out the room, his crutches clinking against the stone floor, quietly closing the door.

Octavia sat down on her bed, her mane drooped to a side.

"What happened, Octavia?" Rarity asked. This was the first time she saw them argue, and it was already replaying in her mind.

"Crimson, he-" the gray pony started, but shook her head.

"He was an idiot."

Rarity sat there, dumbfounded at the mention of that.

"What do you mean, Octavia?"

"H-he," Octavia bit her lip, trying to get the word out.

"He.. p-proposed.... to me, at the terrace."

"Why, Octavia!" Rarity said with a grin. "That is absolutely romantic!!"

"Well," Octavia sat down beside Rarity. "I... denied."

Rarity let out a gasp as Octavia continued: "I don't think I'm really ready, ready for settling down. Ready for... marehood. You know what I mean?"

"Well," Rarity thought for a minute. "It was quite sudden, really."

"I don't know...." the gray pony let herself fall on the bed.

"Sometimes, I'll never understand Crimson."

Rarity just shrugged. "Just try to... talk him out of it, you know? I'm not familiar with this myself, but if I were you, I'll discuss with him about it, maybe let him think this through."

"Well, that somewhat makes sense." Octavia said with a sigh.

"Colts these days..."

Rarity chuckled at her friend. "Oh, Octavia...."

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Autumn wasn't keen on babysitting her sister, but she would nonetheless.

After all, who could resist such a cute filly like her?

"- then she goes around and around and around in the airplane! You should've seen it, sis!"

"Well, I'm sure I would be glad to," she replied.

She sighed. How does Winter put up with this?

Spring was rolling around her bed, playing with a wooden toy plane. Autumn sat down beside her, slowly flipping through her books.

"Whatcha reading~?" Spring asked in a singsong voice.

Autumn laughed politely as she closed the book, revealing the title.

The Venetian Affair.

"You wouldn't understand anything about this book, Spring." the pale yellow mare said to her sister, who was trying her best to understand the title.

"What's an affair?" Spring asked.

"Well, I.. um," Autumn stumbled, trying to catch her words.

"Is it something bad? 'Cause I don't wanna know it if its bad."

"Well, you could say it is." Autumn said with a smile. "Something pretty bad."

Spring stood on her bed, slowly moving closer to Autumn.

"Are we going to be safe here?" the small filly asked her sister, leaning against her body.

Autumn frowned at the question. She wasn't entirely sure about it, especially with all the attacks around.

"I have no idea, Spring." she said to Spring. "No clue."

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Stellar Lionheart looked at his watch.

"Mr Palgiot, you're running quite late."

Winter was fumbling with his suit. He had allowed the press in for a small conference, and had asked Autumn to keep Spring busy with her toys.

He groaned. Its always the last button. He tried to slide it through, but it always came off.

"Let me help you with that, Winter"

"Harmony, you don't need to help me, dear."

Winter looked at himself in the mirror. He straightened his tie and started combing his mane.

"Well, at least I can do something for my gentlecolt here."

"Very funny, Harmony. I can do this by myself actually."

He placed the comb down on the table. "Quickly, Sir Palgiot." his butler's voice rang from outside.

"Almost done, Stellar!"

"You sure take a long time, Winter, you juvenile."

"Oh? And I thought you wanted to help me, my little minx."

Winter imagined muzzling his snout with hers, chuckling a little.

"Sir!" Stellar's voice rang in his head.

"I'm done, alright?" Winter shouted back, slightly irritated.

He walked out from his bedroom, into his living room. His butler stood near the door, giving out a small cough.

"You really need to be more punctual, sir."

Winter was about to tell him off about his position, but shook it from his mind.

"The press is waiting for you in the ballroom, sir."

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"What are your thoughts on the recent attacks surrounding Pendant Lakes sir?"

"Do you think everypony else would still be safe?"

"Are the safety measures taken enough to stop the killer?"

"One at a time, please!" Stellar shouted as the whole room silenced.

Cameras flashed all around him as Winter cleared his throat.

"We are trying everything, everything we can to stop this pony." Winter said. Chief Griffonhooves and Mayor Stencil sat beside him.

"This pony has so far evaded capture, as well as taking innocent lives. So far, we couldn't find the killer's motives for his crime, much less his identity. No suspects so far turned up in the case."

Another parade of questions flooded the ballroom as Mayor Stencil leafed through a few documents.

"Was one of the victims a minister of the Canterlot Ministry?"

"Is the recent passing of Harlequin in any way are related to those of Tassel Twist and Tiki Torch?"

"Is it true that the old legend of Mirror Mare has returned?"

That last question left Winter hanging to the edge of his seat.

He blew into his microphone. "I can assure you, none of the victims have any affiliations, or associated in any way to the Princess's Ministry of Canterlot."

He gulped. He just told a big faced lie.

"As for Harlequin, her death was untimely, as was the death of Tassel Twist and Tiki Torch. We are trying our best to raise the safety measures around Pendant Lakes."

The cameras flashed into his face, the blinding light nearly making him stumble.

"Order!" Stellar shouted.

"As for... the rumors of Mirror Mare returning..."

He clenched his teeth.

"Yes. Mirror Mare has returned."

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The press stormed down the Palgiot corridors as Winter walked out, his head hung low in a depressing sigh.

"Mr. Palgiot will answer no more questions!!" Stellar shouted to the press. "No more!!"

BANG!!!

A gunshot rang through the corridor, everypony quickly bracing their heads as Winter fell to the floor.

"Sir Palgiot!!!" Stellar rushed to his side. Blood poured from his waist as Winter screamed in agony.

"Celestia-" Winter gritted his teeth as pain seared through his body. He gripped tightly on his wound, as Stellar looked around, seeing where the gunshot came from.

A yellow pony swerved through the press, holding a revolver in his hand. His eyes glinted with anticipation as he slowly trotted towards Winter.

"Mr. Summer?!" Stellar looked at the pony in shock. "But... I don't understand!"

"Don't you see, Mr Lionheart?" Summer said with a chuckle, placing his gun back into his holster. "These days, Winter is deemed unfit to rule, to attain to the matters around here anymore."

"With the recent events of Mirror Mare, he couldn't handle it. Everything is in a mess around here."

"You need somepony else!" Summer declared. "Somepony who can solve this matter once and for all!"

Winter just cringed in pain as Stellar tried to lift him up. Summer just laughed at his attempts.

"Forget him, Stellar!" he said, frowning at the butler. "Remember the rules. The Necessensio."

Stellar hesitated, before shifting aside, bowing his head.

Summer took his gun from his holster, as he flipped out the cartridge.

"Summer..." Winter said weakly, his hoof clutching on his waist. "before you do it...."

His brother loaded a bullet in, before reloading the revolver.

"I just-" Winter coughed a little. "I just want t-to tell you."

"About everything.. I'm sorry."

Summer looked at his brother, taken aback by those words.

"I'm sorry I wasn't the best, best brother that you *cough* can ever have."

Winter lifted his brother's hoof, pointing the gun directly onto his head.

"Do it Summer. Finish what you've started."

Summer hesitated, his hoof trembling on the trigger as Winter closed his eyes slowly.

Stellar turned away. He couldn't bear to look.

Something whizzed pass Stellar, which sliced through his suit.

Winter looked behind his brother, his eyes widened his horror.

"Summer, look out-"

The yellow pony arched his back suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. From his back, a curved dagger jutted out, blood already pouring from his back.

His mouth opened wide in a silent scream, as Summer felt himself fall headfirst to the floor.

"Summer!!" Winter called his brother before he sputtered, spitting blood from his mouth.

A voice laughed in the distance.

At the end of the corridor, stood Mirror Mare! Its trademark cloak fluttered as the pony slowly strode forward, a completely white mask gazing towards Winter, the stitched lips almost like laughing in his face.

"Well, well. Brotherly love." the voice said with a laugh.

Winter flushed with rage. He reached for his brother's gun.

"Arrrrrgghh!!!" he shouted, shooting at the masked pony. Bullets whizzed and fly through Mirror Mare, shattering a few vases and windows as it faded into nothing.

Summer just laid there, a pool of blood already forming on the floor.

Winter struggled to lift himself up as he limped toward Summer.

"Call the ambulance!!" Stellar shouted to some guards.

"Call the police!"

Winter wept silently, burying his face into Summer's red mane.

"Celestia..."

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Pinkie Pie was bouncing her way towards Sugarcube Corner. She just bought a few balloons for Rarity's 'Welcome Back' party. Her pet alligator, Gummy, was hitching a ride on her back.

"Just think how happy she would be when she comes back, Gummy!!" she exclaimed.

Gummy just blinked.

Sugarcube Corner was, like everyday, occupied with orders.

"Come back soon!" Mr Cake's voice rang as another customer was satisfied. Pinkie Pie soon pranced in, a few balloons clenched in her mouth.

"Morning, Pinkie." Mr Cake said with a chuckle. She sure knows how to light up the room.

"Morning, Mr Cake!!" Pinkie Pie smiled widely. Gummy started to reach for the balloons.

"Is Rarity's cake ready yet??!!" she screeched eagerly.

"Soon, Pinkie, soon." Mr Cake assured. "By the way, why don't you take the rest of the day off? You've been a great help today."

"Awww, it's okay, Mr Cake."the pink pony said as she trotted up the stairs. "I just need a little nap."

"Well... if you say so, Pinkie." he replied, chuckling softly.

Pinkie Pie yawned loudly, as she walked towards her room.

As soon as she opened the door, she quickly jumped to her bed.

"Wooo~ Wee, Gummy!" she giggled as she mimicked Applejack.

"It isn't everyday~ I get balloons like this!"

The balloons were pink. Pure, Pinkie Pie pink in fact. It matched Pinkie Pie in every way possible: cute, giggles and tons of fun.

Pinkie Pie giggled as Gummy chewed at her mane.

"Stop it, Gummy!" she snorted with laughter. "It's not cotton candy, you know."

Gummy just chomped as Pinkie laid her head down, giving a contented sigh.

"Sometimes, I dunno what to do with'cha."

The alligator stopped, curling into a ball as it closed it's eyes.

Pinkie Pie stood up, careful not to make any noise as Gummy started snoring. She walked over to the window, looking out at Ponyville before her.

"Ponyville is surely... mmmphhh..." she stretched her hooves.

"....busy today.

"Clearly, it is."

Pinkie Pie stood up with a shock. The voice startled her as she turned around.

A silver mask stared back at her, its lips stitched tightly.

"Waaa~!" Pinkie Pie stumbled backwards. "You startled me!"

The pony laughed a little, shaking the cloak.

"I've heard a lot about you."

"Who are you?" Pinkie Pie asked the masked pony with glee. "Never seen you before!"

"I know every pony, and I mean EVERY pony in Ponyville! What's with the mask? It's not Nightmare Night yet!"

Pinkie Pie giggled as the masked pony stood silently.

"I came to deliver a message," it finally said.

"A message?? Ooooh!! Ooooh!! Lemme guess! Um.... Is it from Rainbow Dash? Or Twilight? Or Applejack?! Scootaloo?! Fluttershy?!"

"Neither," the masked pony seemed to smile. "It is from Rarity."

Pinkie Pie gasped loudly. "Is she coming home?!! Is she back already??!!!!"

The pink pony started jumping around her room as the masked pony just patiently stood there.

"I must tell my friends that Rarity's back!!! Oooh, we'll get the party ready in NO TIME!!!"

"No, Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie Pie tumbled, falling onto the floor. "No? Why not!!! It'll be fun."

The masked pony moved towards her. "No because Rarity isn't back yet."

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...." Pinkie Pie slumped.

"..but cheer up."

Pinkie Pie looked at the silvery mask, as the masked pony looked into her eyes.

"I'm sure she would be glad for you to receive the message."

Pinkie Pie stepped back as the masked pony stepped along with her, like a couple in a dance.

"Hehe..." Pinkie Pie laughed nervously. "You're scaring me, um..."

"Just call me... a friend of Rarity's"

The pink pony felt her back touch the window, fear rapidly growing in her eyes.

Giggle at the ghostie.... Come on Pinkie!!!

Glass shattered as Pinkie Pie felt her body fall through. Her eyes widened in terror as the masked pony pushed her out the window.

She flailed her hooves, trying to reach the edge of the window.

Pinkie Pie fell for what seemed like an hour. Tears sprung in her eyes as she let out an ear-piercing scream.

"Pinkie Pie, what is all that ruc-" Mr Cake said, as he looked outside.

He stood, frozen in horror as he stared at the pink pony falling from above.

"Oh Celestia, Pinkie Pie!!" Mr Cake said, galloping through the front door as the ground grew closer and closer.

Pinkie Pie closed her watering eyes.

She felt her body slam into the rocky ground, before rolling over to her side.

"Pinkie Pie!!!" Mr Cake rushed over to her. "Pinkie Pie, you alright!?"

Some ponies looked in shock at the scene. Onlookers started to rush toward the baker, trying to help the pink pony up.

"Pinkie Pie, hold on!" Mr Cake frantically said.

"Somepony get help!"

Her vision blurred as the usual, bright pink color faded from her body. Her mane dropped flat as tears started flowing from her eyes.

She coughed a little blood, feeling pain inside her body and on her hind hooves. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a moan.

"Pinkie Pie! Hold on now, dearie." Mr Cake repeated, his voice fading as he tried to keep the pink pony awake.

"Hold on..................."

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Rarity and Octavia was in the hospital. Winter Palgiot lay still on the bed, his bandage stained with a blot of red.

Both ponies had recently heard of the shooting, and the Mirror Mare incident. Winter was rushed to the hospital immediately along with Summer.

Winter stirred, tossing a little, before opening his eyes.

"Rarity? Octavia?" he called out to the two mares that stood before him.

"Winter, you're awake!!"

His head was pounding, but he tried to ignore it. Rarity gave him a smile.

"Celestia, what happened?" Winter's mind was fuzzy as he fumbled with his mind.

"Your brother, Winter." Rarity began. "Stellar said he-"

"My brother!! Rarity! Tell me he's alive! Please tell me!"

Rarity and Octavia exchanged glances, as Octavia held onto Winter's hoof.

"I'm sorry, Winter."

Winter felt himself gave away. He crumbled against the bed, tears already creeping down his eyes.

"The doctors said they've done everything they can. Summer's injury was too severe."

The Patriarch looked up suddenly, with pure hatred.

"Darn you, Mirror Mare!!"

Rarity stumbled back, nearly hitting a tray of medicine.

Octavia tried to comfort Winter as Rarity picked herself up.

"What are you going to do now?" Octavia asked the Patriarch.

"Me? I'm going to hold a funeral."

Octavia was about to speak, but Rarity shushed her.

"And stop this animal!" he shouted as he dried his tears.

His heart wavered slightly, as he pictured his brother's face, locked in an eternal scream.

For my brother's sake...

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Rarity's steamy shower didn't last long. The recent events had turned Palgiot Palace upside down.

News of Summer's death spread like wildfire through Pendant Lakes, with Winter holding the funeral for his brother down at the Palgiot graveyard.

Well, she said. At least I'll visit the graveyard."

Her towel became damp as Rarity slowly dried her mane. She combed it slightly, even though it was almost time to sleep.

Octavia was already asleep, snoring gently beneath the blankets as Rarity looked at her friend with a small grin.

A crackle broke the night's silence. Rarity walked over to the table.

"-arity?"

She recognized that voice. It was Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow! How is it in Ponyville?"

"Look, Rarity. Something has happened. Something bad."

Rarity heard her friend whimper. Something is very wrong.

"What is it?" she asked hesitantly.

"It's...." Rainbow Dash's voice trailed off.

Sirens can be heard in the distance, along with a few cries. Rarity felt her heart sink to the floor as Rainbow Dash said:

"It's about Pinkie Pie."

Charred Tombstones

The funeral was somber, quiet. A sea of black ponies cascade down the stairs, following the cobblestone path into the graveyard.

Rarity was still in her room, fumbling with her walkie-talkie.

"Why. Can't. This. Thing. Work?" she slammed the machine as it crackled to life.

"Anypony there? Twilight? Fluttershy?"

A grumble erupted from the device.

"Hello?" she tried again.

"Hi, Rarity." A voice called her name in a somewhat, somber tone.

"Pinkie!" Rarity sighed with relief. "How are you? Rainbow told me about the accident!"

"Are you alright?"

She heard Pinkie scoff. "I'm fine, just fine. Without your help of course."

Rarity was slightly taken aback. She never heard Pinkie like this before.

"Now, Pinkie," the unicorn said in her walkie-talkie. "is there something bothering you? You can tell me about it."

There was a slight crackle, before Pinkie's voice came back again.

"No! Nothing's bothering me at all! Nothing!"

"Pinkie!" Rarity tried to keep her cool. "Just tell me what's wrong."

Silence filled the room, as Rarity waited patiently for her response.

"Pinkie?"

"What?" Her pink friend responded gruffly.

"Please. Just tell me."

A long sigh came from the pink pony.

"You have nothing to know about, Rarity."

"What are you talking about?" Rarity exclaimed in surprise. "I'm your friend, Pinkie Pie! There must be something wrong."

"Friend? Friend?!"

The pink pony's voice grew in volume. "What kind of friend sends a message that involves throwing me out the window??!!"

"What??!!" Rarity shouted, shocked at the accusation. "Why in Equestria, Pinkie Pie, would you ever think that I would want to throw you out the window?!"

"Don't lie, Rarity!!"

"Pinkie Pie, you're not making any sense!!" Rarity protested.

"You sent the pony!! The pony said he.. or she.. or whatever!! The pony was your friend!!"

"What message? What pony?"

"That pony!! That wretched, filthy friend of yours!! You like to make new friends now, huh Rarity?"

"I didn't send any messages, Pinkie Pie!!" Rarity screamed, tears dropping from her eyes.

Another long pause. "Y... You... didn't?"

"No! I wouldn't want to see you get hurt!!" she said, sniffling. The pink pony's accusations has stung her deep, as she tried to wipe her tears off.

"B-But... But he said-"

"Who said, Pinkie?" Rarity questioned, feeling like tearing this pony apart. "Who?!"

"This pony, he... he had a mask. He was wearing a cloak. He said he was your friend."

Rarity's face paled, any color visible on her skin fading as she realized Pinkie's attacker.

Mirror Mare...

"Pinkie, you were tricked..." Rarity said, calming down a little. "That pony is the pony I talked about, the pony that always liked to hurt other ponies."

"What....?" Pinkie Pie's voice faltered.

Another long pause began. "Pinkie?" Rarity called her in concern.

Silence.

"Pinkie?" The white unicorn tried again.

Still silence.

"Pinkie? Don't scare me now."

"I-I'm..." the pink pony's voice came though again.

"I'm sorry, Rarity."

Rarity breathed a huge sigh of relief. "It's okay, Pinkie. It's okay."

She heard the pink pony crying at the other end, as Rarity smiled

"Listen Pinkie," Rarity called to her friend. "Get a good rest, hear me?"

"Okay." she replied. Rarity heard a little bit of Pinkie's usual self returning again.

She switched the walkie-talkie off, smiling a little before fitting a black veil on her head.

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"It's really tight in this, you know that?"

Crimson was struggling to breath as Octavia helped him with his tie.

"Well, if you stop moving around," the gray pony said with a grunt, "it will help. A lot."

Octavia gave the tie one last pull, as Crimson choked a little, turning slightly blue.

"Go easy, 'Tavi." he said, flailing his crutches around. "I can't breathe in this."

"Alright, I'm done. Now can you comb my mane?"

Crimson smiled. "A deal is a deal."

He took the comb from her hoof as Octavia settled herself in front of a mirror, pushing her black, lace dress to the front.

Crimson whistled. "You really look beautiful in that dress."

"Shut up, Crimson!" Octavia giggled slightly, blushing as red as her coltfriend.

"No, really! I don't mind you totally wearing this on our wedding day." he said with a wink.

Octavia bit her lip, glancing away uneasily. She felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"Listen," Crimson began. "About yesterday."

"I'm sorry, okay? It's just that I... don't want you to leave me behind, you know? Having you as my marefriend, it's the most wonderful thing I ever had in my life."

Octavia just sat there, looking at the floor.

"If there's anything. Anything, 'Tavi, that I can do for you, just tell me." he said before continuing combing her mane.

"Actually," the gray pony said, turning around towards Crimson coyly.

"There is one thing."

"And what's tha-" Crimson's eyes widened in surprise as he felt Octavia seized him forward, her lips smashing hard onto his.

He closed his eyes as the pair kissed deeply, their lips tingling with delight as both ponies held their hooves together.

As abruptly as it started, the kiss broke. Crimson just stood there, dumbfounded as Octavia giggled slightly with a blush.

"That was...." Crimson began, still not believing what just happened.

"Lemme guess," Octavia fumbled playfully. "Weird? Sudden?"

Crimson smiled as the gray pony buried her head in his chest, giving out a contented sigh with his hooves surround his marefriend in a deep embrace.

"Sensual..."

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The sky was a cloudy gray as Rarity sat on her satin-draped seat. The graveyard was seemingly unsettling, as she looked around.

A slight fog has already formed at her heels, tingling with moisture. Tombstones of different shapes were arranged neatly. Small groups of mushrooms were usually found in the undergrowth, along with a few toads.

The swampy ground was, at some parts, muddy. Rarity avoided about eighteen mud puddles while in the procession. About thirty plus ponies attended Summer's funeral, some of whom were guests to the masquerade ball.

"Rarity!" Octavia called out, helping Crimson as both of them walked over to the white unicorn.

"Sorry we're late." she said, fanning herself with her hat. Crimson sat down silently, his thoughts wandering away from the events at hand.

"No problem. They haven't started yet." Rarity told her, gesturing to the Palgiot family at the side. Autumn was trying to comfort Spring, who looked depressed as ever.

Winter stepped up onto a podium, specially prepared for the occasion. He cleared his throat as he straightened his tie.

"Seriously though," Crimson finally spoke. "I gotta ask him how he does his tie."

Both mares tried not to laugh. It was a funeral, after all.

"Greetings, my fellow ponies." Winter's hollow voice boomed through the microphone.

"Today was a day, another day of death. But the death of a pony dear to us, to our family."

"Summer wasn't the best Palgiot ever lived, but he was one of the finest."

Octavia's whisper distracted Rarity. "I thought Winter hated his brother."

Rarity shrugged a little, a part of her doubting the words of the family Patriarch.

"Summer and I," Winter hesitated a little. "We've been arch enemies since the day he was born, as many of you ponies know. But behind the arguments, behind everything, he was a great pony at heart."

"He was passionate in art, literature and was indispensable in our family matters. To be honest, he was the one pony that wanted me to be Patriarch."

Rarity tried to hide her surprise. Summer wanted him to be Patriarch?

"My father, Tantrum Palgiot, wasn't very fond of me. To him, I was never his number-one son. When my uncle passed, Summer was selected as Patriarch. But on his Inauguration Day, Summer said he wasn't capable of the responsibilities and, as such, gave the title of Patriarch to me."

"Ever since, he regretted his decision, but he never showed it until recently. He never complained, he never said a word about it. I respect him for that."

"And I respect him for his contributions for the family, for helping out in the setting up of the ball, for getting all of you here, for helping me in these dire times, for everything."

Winter slowly take a breath, then exhaled as he finish off his speech.

"With all nostalgic matters aside, we shall begin in prayer."

Everypony closed their eyes and bowed their heads as they begin to pray.

Rarity cupped her hooves. She was still slightly astonished at how Winter became Patriarch.

She closed her eyes.

The wind blew around the black crowd, all silently whispering in prayer. Dried leaves fluttered in the wind, spreading around the graveyard.

Rarity felt something at the back of her head. She tried to get it out of her mind.

The noise around seem to grow silent as her prayers continued. Her ears twitched, wanting to hear the slightest bit of sound.

And then she heard it. Something unnatural. Something that didn't belong.

Tick..... Tick.... Tick....

Rarity opened her eyes. "Winter!"

Before he could respond, Summer's coffin suddenly exploded, a cloud of smoke throwing the Patriarch off the podium in a shockwave.

Rocks flew and whizzed through the crowd, as the stone coffin shattered into a bunch of pieces. Summer's body fell to the swampy floor.

All at once, the black sea parted, as ponies started running around, trying to duck for safety.

Another tombstone exploded, the rock fragments scattering through air. Rarity looked around in shock at the chaos around her.

"Rarity, come on!" Octavia shouted as she grabbed her friend's hoof.

The explosions seemed to cascade through the graveyard, a hail of rock and marble raining onto the ponies.

Rarity and Octavia ran through the graveyard, with Crimson following behind them. Rarity felt a small rock whizzed pass her ear.

Suddenly, all at once, the explosions stopped. The three ponies turned around, making sure it was safe.

The graveyard was in a mess. Many tombstones were broken apart or cracked. Rocks lay scattered around the graveyard floor. Smoke still rose from the ground, smelling slightly of sulphur.

"What happened?" "Were we attacked?" A murmur of voices asked.

Winter lifted himself up from the floor. He gripped tightly on his healing gunshot wound as Stellar helped him up. Spring was cowering in Autumn's arms, crying with fear.

"Everypony alright?!" he called out to the parted crowd. His guards quickly helped every pony up as he scanned the view before him.

"Sir?" one of the guards called to him. Winter quickly worked his way through the graveyard, rushing towards a group of ponies.

Winter's face darkened suddenly.

"Stellar!" he barked. "Get everypony inside. Now!"

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Winter Palgiot and Chief Griffonhooves sat in the morgue as Doctor Brineheart started extracting rock fragments.

"This is the eighth pony this week, Chief." Winter said gruffly to the other pony.

"And our fourth guest of the party."

"The officers are doing everything they can. Mirror Mare isn't an everyday criminal, sir."

"I know that."

"What I don't know," he clarified. "is the targets he's aiming at."

"It doesn't make sense. The last time Mirror Mare appeared, it's targets had a connection, some sort of similarity between each one, which at that time was financial worries."

"Mirror Mare was named for reflecting the secrets a pony hides, and kills each pony for hiding the same particular secret."

"Like the Lorenzo scandal a few decades ago?" Chief Griffonhooves asked.

Winter nodded. "The secrets can be anything, even the slightest small emotion. For example, one of the previous Mirror Mares murdered ponies just because of fear. Fear that Mirror Mare itself would come after them."

"Wait a minute," the police chief stopped the Patriarch. "You said Mirror Mares. There's more than one?"

Again, another nod. "Mirror Mare had different identities. It was usually said that Mirror Mare was a demon's soul that possesses other pony's bodies."

"Since then, many ponies had been identified as Mirror Mare. The soul was always the same, but with different intentions in each body. The Lorenzo scandal was one such case. Not only the swindlers, but the victims were hunted down as well."

"But for this one case, this Mirror Mare had no obvious connection. I have no idea if it was just picking random targets. What I know is that we must stop this pony."

Doctor Brineheart cleared his throat, gesturing Winter and Chief Griffonhooves over.

"Mirror Mare, as I can say, was a smart one."

He turned the dead pony's head around, revealing a small, red hole in the head.

"This pony was shot, not hit by a rock as I suspected at first."

Winter tried to put the pieces together. "Why bother covering up one murder with extreme precision when you're causing chaos anyway?"

"The chandelier, the train explosion, the bounding of Basil and his deceased wife, Summer's shooting, and now this."

"I have no idea." Chief Griffonhooves said as he examined the wound closely. "This pony was shot from afar, about six to six and a half feet, I suppose."

"A triggered explosion, for only one bullet. It doesn't make sense."

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Rarity hummed to herself in the shower. Water sprinkled across her neck as she swished her mane around in the water.

Steam quickly fogged the glass mirror as she cleansed her mane with soap. She sighed in content as she felt the warmth of the shower across her face.

Her mind was quickly focused on the recent attacks. It's always targeting on one pony.

Crimson, then her, she shuddered, then Harlequin, then Summer.

And now, Basil himself.

He was the only pony not present when Stellar ushered them back into Palgiot Palace. Seeing Winter's face before she left confirmed her suspicions.

Basil was the target. But why?

Rarity pondered a little as she listed out everypony she knew that was targeted.

First there was Caesar. Then Tassel Twist was next. Then this old pony she'd seen in her dreams.

Spike and Pinkie as well, but why?

Her mind worked furiously, thinking about the time stop that she can travel into.

"It tried taking my life after the ballroom thing." she said to herself

"Then, it happened again in Fountain Square..."

Somehow, Spike and Pinkie Pie is tangled up in all of the mess. Rarity felt like screaming to know the answer.

Was Mirror Mare sending her a warning? A warning that she would hurt more of her friends?

Rarity gulped. She didn't like that idea. Not one bit.

She thought back again. Tassel Twist, Crimson Lux, herself, Harlequin Velvet and now her husband, Basil Luck.

They were all guests at the masquerade, but that doesn't explain why Spike and Pinkie was involved, or Caesar.

How is it all connected?!

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They broke their kiss.

Crimson felt himself flutter. He worked his crutches as Octavia giggled slightly.

"It's been quite a long time since we did something like this, 'Tavi."

"Too long, perhaps," she whispered playfully.

Crimson smiled as Octavia purred. For the third time that night, they grew closer, their snouts muzzling affectionately.

In one sudden move, their lips met. Octavia breathed in as she tasted Crimson, the love of her life.

Crimson's hoof reached down her mane, slowly pushing her closer to him as their kiss grew deeper.

Octavia moaned a little in their kiss as their lips slowly tingled with delight.

The sweet smelling air at night made them comfortable. The gray pony leaned back against the window as her coltfriend continued their long, passionate kiss as they stumbled outside to the balcony.

"Celestia..." Octavia said as they broke their kiss. "That was wonderful..."

Crimson chuckled a little. "Wanna go another round?"

"No thanks, Crimson." Octavia's face flushed a little as she continued. "That's enough for one night."

Crimson looked around, realizing where they are.

"Hey 'Tavi?"

The gray pony looked up from fiddling her hooves around.

"Will you accept my hand for a dance?"

Octavia stood there, surprised for a moment.

"But there's no music."

"Then I'll sing into your ear," Crimson said with a wink.

Octavia laughed a little at that comment. "I'll try my best to listen."

They both held hooves, their bodies slowly grew closer, as Crimson hummed a tune into Octavia's ear.

Her marefriend tried her best not to laugh, as they both serenaded around the balcony.

"Octavia?"

The gray pony stopped moving, tilting her head slightly as Crimson gazed deeply into her lavender eyes.

"Do you know you're the most beautiful mare I have ever known?"

Octavia blushed a little, their snouts edging closer again.

"Come here, my Crimson de la creme." she said slyly as their lips met once more.

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The pony watched the couple from a distance, the belts glistening slightly with daggers reflecting the blue moonlight.

Folding her cloak, the pony stood silently in the woods, spying at every move the couple made.

When they kissed, the pony felt emptiness in her heart.

She removed her mask, revealing a pale shade of rose pink skin shining in the moonlight.

She ruffled her mane, which was a darker, mulberry color. Her eyes glittered with slightly as she let out a depressing sigh.

Those two sure are lucky, she said, watching them dance around the balcony.

She looked as the colt struggled with his crutches, giggling a little. Her heart, though, pained at the sight of it.

Regret stung into her heart as the colt continued fumbling with the crutches.

Hoovingaar Mountain was cooling this time of the year. The summer was making way for autumn as trees around her already started shedding their leaves.

She trotted down a little, letting wind blow into her mane as she settled herself down once more.

This time, she was looking at the balcony, patiently waiting. Light shimmered from the inside as a pony stepped out into the darkness.

The stallion before her ruffled his blue mane, his white skin flourishing in the moonlight. He straightened his tie a little as he sipped from his martini.

She smiled. He was always like this.

He looked out in the sky, his eyes seemingly filled with sadness and sorrow. He gave out a small sigh.

She held herself back from running out. Out into the open where the stallion can see her.

As the pony stepped back into his chambers, she slowly trotted off into the darkness.

"Why is it so hard.... to just... tell him?"

She bit her lip, letting a single tear fall silently from her eye as she placed a bronze mask back on.

A bronze mask stitched at the lips.

It's time to go back to work.

Sanguine Societies

Winter was never eager to visit this section of Pendant Lakes.

Growlett Corner was one of the town's darker regions, or 'business centers' as his brother would've called it.

Winter thought back to yesterday's explosion. Even in death, Summer could not find peace.

A few shady ponies gazed at him from their hats, blades ever ready as the Patriarch passed by.

The path down Growlett was at an end, as Winter stepped into Sorrel Lane.

Sorrel was fairly dark. A handful of ponies still lurked around, but not as much as Growlett. The sun looked brighter as he breathed a sigh of relief.

Winter quickly trotted forward, trying to blend in the crowd.

Vendors offered him their collections, which he politely refused. There wasn't anything worth from them.

At his right, a few wooden poles jutted from the walls. Winter smiled.

This was one of Fedora's additions. The test of balance: to have one hoof to the ground with the other three in the air.

His thoughts flashed by him, reminding him of his time as a colt.

"Summer! Come on!"

"Winter, can't you see I'm trying to read here?"

"But you hate reading! Just try this out! Mama said we needed to do this when we grow up."

"Winter, be careful!"

He stopped smiling. There it was. The place he wanted to visit. The building was fairly jagged, the slate already falling off the top. The windows are all broken. In fact, the place was in complete shambles.

The iron sign squeaked loudly from the chilling autumn wind.

Winter took a few steps towards the building, trying to ignore the building's name.

Parsan Asylum

A small 'ding' signaled his entry as Winter stepped into the asylum. He placed his trench coat on a nearby rack.

Behind the counter, a tall, formally dressed pony sat, busy in his paperwork.

"I'm sorry, sir, but visiting hours are from one in the afternoon till eight at night. It is too early so it's best you run along now."

Winter cleared his throat as the pony looked up.

"Mr Palgiot!" the pony exclaimed. "I've never thought you would like to visit!"

"Certainly, Doctor Arrowfaith."

Doctor Arrowfaith has, and still is, the owner of the asylum, as well as the oldest doctor and eligible bachelor in Pendant Lakes. There were many rumors that Doctor Arrowfaith was a cold blooded killer, starting an asylum to use it as a place for kidnapping innocent ponies, although most were proved to be untrue. In fact, Doctor Arrowfaith was helpful in many cases and was best friends with Chief Griffonhooves.

"So what brings my lord down to the office, I must ask?"

"I'm here to visit someone." Winter told the deep-voiced pony.

"Visit! 'Course you can visit. It has been too many times your family had the heart to raise the asylum, even at its broken state."

"Of course," he mused. He can't really bother about that right now.

"So, who do you want to visit? Somepony recent, perhaps? Like the Pony of Old Calico? Or the Cell Master? Or the more, recent Whitetail Stallion?"

Winter raised an eyebrow. "I'm interested in visiting a mare. A specific mare, to be honest Doctor Arrowfaith."

"But the women aren't interesting! They-" Doctor Arrowfaith stopped as Winter glared at him.

"Just tell me the name!" he said, chuckling nervously. "Just tell me!"

"Mr Arrowfaith. I believe you know who is the mare in question that I want to visit". Winter said impatiently. "In fact, I believe she wants to see you too."

"W..." Doctor Arrowfaith stammered, trying to think of what to say.

"B-But of course, Sir Palgiot. I'm sure she would!"

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A Triangulation of Constellations, Apex Journeys, The Escapade...

Rarity scanned through the glamorously filled bookshelf, trying hard to search for a perfect title.

She had asked Autumn about The Venetian Affair, a book written by the esteemed Maria Hoovington. Autumn was the one that told her that the library was filled with books like this.

And here she was. Finding who knows what.

"Harvesting Corn: A Basic To Do Guide, what is that for?

Torn Between Chains. Nope...

A Complete Guide to Equestria. Have one of those already.

Dragonheart...

That title stopped her search. Dragonheart.

Rarity felt her heart ache once more.

The Dreamscape scenario kept replaying in her head.

"Spike's not going to make it..."

"You said it was just a coma. You said he will wake up!!"

Dont! You! Dare! Say That!"

You lied to me, Twilight!!"

Dragonheart. The book pictured a dragon at the bottom, covered in a black silhouette, reaching out to a pony on top of the cover. It seemed more like the dragon was reaching out to her. Like it was screaming for help.

"Rarity!" Spike's voice echoed in her head.

Rarity couldn't help but let a single tear fall from her eye. She quickly wiped it off with her hoof.

She flipped the book, trying not to think of her beloved dragon as she read the first page.

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The hallways seemed abandoned as Doctor Arrowfaith lead Winter down the corridor. Metal doors stood in a row, all locked tightly as screams and hellish cries echoed from behind.

Grease seemed to leak from the walls, drenching it in a dark brown to black. Winter looked in disgust as a small centipede crawled from the cracking tiles.

"I apologize for the conditions." Doctor Arrowfaith said, noticing the other pony's discomfort as they continued down the corridor. "Finance is a problem for the asylum. Nopony seems to be wanting to at least give a generous donation."

Another banshee-like scream erupted, startling Winter a little.

"Imagine, Sir Palgiot. Thirty-three years of this." the doctor said with a chuckle.

"And here we are!"

Winter looked upon the door. This door, however, was squeaky clean, from the knob all the way to the hinges.

Doctor Arrowfaith knocked.

"You have a visitor, miss."

The door swung open. An aging, bed-ridden mare lay coughing a little, inviting both ponies in as she helped herself up.

"Winter! Oh, Celestia, thank goodness you're here."

"Hello, mom." Winter said with a smile. Since the day she was taken here, she had been sickly. Her health had been declining rapidly.

"How's the family dear?" the old mare asked. "I've heard many wondrous news."

"You've heard right, mom." Winter said nervously. He sat down beside her bed.

Doctor Arrowfaith stood beside the colt as he tended to his mother.

"I just had the most terrible dream..."

Winter looked up suddenly. "What is it, mother?"

"It seems," she said, paling a little. "Summer was killed by somepony. Somepony vicious."

Winter caught himself from stumbling. Her mother's face became grief-stricken.

"Mom..." Winter began worriedly, but the old mare just looked, her eyes fixed in a frozen stare.

"She's having one of her 'quiet' breakdowns." Doctor Arrowfaith explained. "She isn't ranting and raving like our other patients. She's one of the more.... finer ponies of the house."

The old mare suddenly hiccuped a little, before turning back to her son.

"Now then, where were we?"

Winter bit his lip. "About our family. You said you-"

"Oh yes!!! The family! Silly me, Winter. My head can be so forgetful sometimes."

The old mare took a silent gulp of tea. "How's the family, Winter?"

Winter sat there, slightly confused.

"But... But you said-"

"Come on, son! Spit it out! There's no need to hide our family matters for this!"

"Well," Winter fidgeted nervously. "um.. e-everypony's doing great. Everypony's doing fine."

"I'm glad to hear that, son."

Winter sighed in relief as Doctor Arrowfaith brought him to a corner.

"You know your mother wouldn't remember a tad, teensy-weensy bit about this conversation, do you?"

The Patriarch felt like smacking him. "I know, I know." he quietly whispered with annoyance, out of earshot from the old mare.

"Mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"I gotta go now, alright? Somepony called for me. Get some rest."

"Alright, son." the old mare said, smiling. "Now run along! You don't want to miss that meeting of yours."

Winter walked out swiftly, trying to ignore what just happened.

"Get some rest, Lady Sovereign." Doctor Arrowfaith said with a bow.

The Patriarch walked down the corridor, ignoring the agonizing screams entering both of his ears.

He had just told his mother a lie.

"Okay, Winter. Calm down." he said to himself.

After all, Pendant Lakes and his family were built on a treasury, a hoard of lies.

One more lie wouldn't hurt...

There's nothing to worry about.

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The dragon had always amazed her, but she had never dared to go close to him.

For the fear that the dragon had a luxurious craving for pegasi like her.

She wept quietly in fear, closing her eyes as the dragon crept closer and closer...

Rarity was halfway through her book. She had been intrigued by the story so far: about how the pegasi, named Cottonbud, fell in love with a dragon, Jovern.

Her skin tingled with excitement as she read the next line.

Cottonbud felt a claw tapping on her shoulder. She turned around.

There, staring into her face with green glossy eyes, was Jovern!

She leaped from her hiding spot, shrieking and crying for help.

"No, no, no, no!" the dragon tried to calm her down. "Relax."

Cottonbud just closed her eyes, whimpering slightly.

"Please don't eat me..."

Jovern looked at her for a second, then laughed heartily.

"Oh, pony. Why would I?"

Cotton looked up at the creature. Her eyes sparkled as she saw him standing magnificently under the afternoon sun.

"You..." she stammered. "Y-You don't eat ponies?"

A knock came on the library door. Rarity groaned as she quickly placed a bookmark on that page.

Stellar came in, surprised to see Rarity flipping through the book.

"I'm impressed, miss." he said as he quickly dusted a few shelves.

"Not many of our guests come here to read."

Rarity wasn't surprised. Even the royalty wouldn't bother to read.

Well, except for the Palgiots of course.

"Well," she stood up, clutching the book in her hoof.

"I think I'll borrow this for a while."

"Dragonheart, eh?" Stellar quipped as he arranged the books. "Nice book. A really good choice, Miss Rarity."

"Why, thank you!" Rarity replied, almost proud of herself.

"I read the story to Winter when he was still a small, little foal." The butler chuckled slightly.

"Both of us were not disappointed by the story. Not one bit!"

"Well, I like it so far." Rarity gazed to the cover. The image of the dragon reaching out to the pony on top still made her tremble.

Stellar smiled at Rarity.

"Believe me, you wouldn't like it. You'll love it."

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Colt Creaky's

Home of Pendant Lakes's finest mugs of ale. Or so they said.

Autumn entered the bar. It was quite empty for today, which was a pretty rare sight.

She sat on the stools, leaning back on the bar slightly.

"Yes, madam?" the bartender asked for her order.

"A pineapple shake." Autumn said. "And one firefly special."

The bartender nodded slightly. "Do you need sugar with the firefly special, miss?"

"Half a teaspoon, otherwise not at all."

She stood up as the bartender ushered her to the back of the room.

"The rest are waiting, Miss Autumn."

The bartender opened the wooden door, as a flight of stairs lead down into darkness below.

"Please be careful."

Autumn sighed. "Never was a clumsy one back in the day."

How many passwords must they interpret for her? It was only a meeting.

Autumn held her breath as she descended down the steps.

The strong smell of ale, and some of Winter's selected wines, filled her nose, making her wrinkle it in disgust.

She reached out into the dark, trying to squint her eyes.

A voice suddenly filled the room.

"What does a pony like you would have the nerve to visit here?"

Autumn rolled her eyes. Another of these passwords.

"An ordinary one, considering alicorns are normal as well."

The lights flickered on as Autumn shield her eyes slightly. A colt sat across her, a gun pointing towards her.

"At least you remembered."

Autumn scoffed. "That was four passwords. Isn't it a bit overdone?"

"Nothing is overdone here." the pony said, frolicking his red robe. "considering you're a Palgiot and such."

"Remember, Miss Autumn. We do not tolerate any kind of uncultured manners. You, as vice of the Society, should know of respect and order."

Autumn nodded unnervingly, trying to avoid the stares of everypony at the table.

"Yes, Mr. Bane."

Thistle Bane was the red-robed pony, the one this organization had come to fear and respect.

With the disband of Sicarius Nox, many underground organizations, dubbed 'Sanguine Societies' by her uncle Harrow had come around.

But this one was the most feared. The origination of the term 'Sanguine Societies' itself.

The Sanguine Surrogates.

Autumn sometimes regretted joining this group. The Surrogates planned on keeping balance and harmony by keeping everyone, even her family, under a watchful eye.

Any slight evidence of chaos, one of their members will be sent to kill.

There had even been some speculation that Thistle was the one that behind the Mirror Mare assassinations, using the legendary pony as an excuse to cover up his actions.

Thistle Bane was always amused as such, letting the rumors portray him as the one pulling the strings.

"Mr. Bane, the Clover family threat was falsified." a pony stood up from his seat.

"Well, then I suppose you understand who the target is." Thistle replied.

Autumn felt chills down her spine. Thistle's deep voice influenced fear in every pony.

No wonder his Cutie Mark was a chattering skull. She had never seen a Cutie Mark like it.

"Now then, Miss Autumn," Thistle called out to her.

Autumn hesitated, before reaching her hoof into her purse. It wasn't every day Thistle needed this.

She never understood why he needs it though.

She handed a bottle of Winter's recent wine, the Parsan 1389. It was hard to smuggle it out of Palgiot Palace, much less even find a bottle of it.

Thistle popped the cap open with ease. He coughed slightly as the whiff of muscat grape seeped from the bottle.

"The Patriarch has outdone himself once again," the dark grey pony said with a smile. He took a small sip from the bottle.

"Very fresh, for now."

Autumn felt like ripping the pony apart, as Thistle chugged down the contents of the bottle. She clenched her hooves with guilt.

"Dismiss!" Thistle roared into the room.

The ponies began leaving, paying their respects to Thistle as they bowed.

Autumn slipped into a corner. She was promised adventure. A real adventure.

Not in one of her books, but escape! Escape into the free world.

She hate liars. Nearly everpony in Pendant Lakes knew about that.

He was lucky he wasn't from Pendant Lakes.

The pony in question gave her an unsettling gaze as she called out his name:

"Caper."

"You said!" Autumn pointed her hoof accusingly. "You said we will run away together! You promised me we will see the world!"

"I know, I know." the black stallion said. "But you know Thistle. He has eyes all over the place."

Autumn sighed dejectedly. His coltfriend smiled, putting his hoof over her shoulder as she asked him:

"Look, after this is all over, we'll... get away from here... right?"

Caper nodded. "No more secret societies, I promise."

Suddenly, Autumn felt her lips stamped as Caper smashed his lips. She quickly pushed him away.

"Not here, Caper!" she said, trying to rid the taste on her lips. "Thistle may still be around."

Autumn groaned with annoyance as Caper laughed a little.

"Does your brother know about this? About us?"

She crossed her hooves. "He knows nothing."

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"And 'ya sure it's the same pony?"

"I'm sure of it, Applejack."

The walkie-talkie crackled a little as Rarity toyed around with the antenna.

"So let me get this straight," Twilight's voice came through the speaker. "the pony that is hurting every other pony over there, is the pony that harmed Spike and Pinkie Pie?"

"Precisely, Twilight."

Applejack's voice boomed through her bedroom.

"Why that no good guzzlebucket! If I ever see him, I'm gonna make him pay for what he's done to-"

"Anyways," Twilight's voice drowned out Applejack's rants.

"AJ, Vinyl and I are heading to Manehatten tomorrow morning."

"Really?" Rarity asked in awe. "That is absolutely wonderful!"

"Apparently, something came up with Applejack's cousin, and she invited her to come. Vinyl asked me to tag along."

Applejack chuckled. "Surely Cousin Orange had asked me for help a dozen times, but it's the first Twilight and Vinyl will visit Manehatten."

"Why, that is simply delightful, Twilight!" the white unicorn exclaimed. "You must being something back, a souvenir or something, I insist!"

"And how many pairs of heels did you want us to bring home again?" Twilight asked. "Three? Four?"

"Just two, dear." Rarity assured her. "You should have fun in Manehatten, not spending your money over me!"

"Well, we sure ain't coming back without at least a bucketful of hay." Applejack chimed.

Rarity laughed a little. "By the way, how's Pinkie Pie?"

"She's doing good so far." Twilight replied. "Her arm and hooves just need some therapy, that's all."

"When she fell out the window," Applejack cut in. "you should've seen what she went through. Pinkie was hurt bad, and don't mention her Pinkie Pie mind of hers."

Rarity tried not to think about it. "And, about Spike?" she asked with worry.

There was a slight pause. "Rarity?"

"Yes, Twilight?" she asked in anticipation.

"I know about you being over him and all, but don't you think you're a bit too... how should I put it... negative, about Spike's condition?"

Rarity felt a little hurt, but Twilight was telling the truth.

"Alright, here's the deal." Twilight's voice trembled a little. "I'll talk about Spike only when he wakes up, okay?"

She thought about it for a moment.

"Deal."

"Count me in as well, Twi!" Applejack's voice said with sheer determination.

"Of course, Applejack!"

Rarity laughed a little as she closed her walkie-talkie. She was finishing the book, Dragonheart.

She still couldn't believe that she read it in one day. Rarity felt pride in that.

"Jovern, you sure you'll stay here forever?"

Cottonbud lay on his head as the blue dragon gave her an answer.

"Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends, Cotton. Something sudden might just step in and change your day, or maybe even your life forever..."

Cottonbud hugged the dragon's head. "You really are a pony in a dragon's body."

"A kind pony," Jovern corrected her. "That last pony wasn't very nice."

Cotton giggled slightly, blushing a little as Jovern smiled with content.

"Is... Is it possible for ponies and dragons to marry, Jovern?" Cotton said as she looked ahead in the sunset. The earth was basked in a yellow-golden cradle of the sky, as Jovern turned to the love of his life.

"Well now... why don't we find out?" the dragon said with a smile. Cottonbud smiled back, in eagerness and anticipation.

"After all," Jovern continued. "Time had brought us together. Time had changed each of our lives. Time had given us opportunities to learn, from our mistakes, and from each other..."

"...but now. Time has given us a chance. A chance to shine..."

THE END

Rarity closed the book, her heart applauding at the story. She shed a small tear of joy.

"That was absolutely... beautiful!" she exclaimed. She let herself fall on the bed, the book held tightly in her hooves.

She turned the book over to the other side, now completely understanding the cover. It depicts of Jovern and Cottonbud, both being outcasts from their own society, found love in each other. They're both reaching out, trying to grab the other by the arms.

The author's name shined slightly, catching Rarity's eye.

Persimmon Mills

"Mills....." Rarity pondered. The name was vaguely familiar...

A light bulb sparkled in her head. Of course!

One of the victims was Caesar Mills! The one Rarity had seen being... dragged by a train. Rarity's stomach gurgled again.

"I wonder... is it his relative? Or...."

She turned to the author's biography. A small sentence caught her eye.

Rarity jumped to her feet. She rushed to the walkie-talkie, trying to call her friends.

Come on! Pick up, pick up, pick up!

A small yawn flowed from the speakers. It was Twilight.

"What is it, Rarity? It's quite late for a call, don't you think?"

"Twilight," Rarity began. "I've got a big favor to ask...."

Frosted Limelight

Caper Masque! The Manehatten Caper! The Magic Extraordinaire!

The black pony grimaced as he looked at the old poster. He crumpled it tightly in his hoof, giving it a sneer as he toss it into the wastebasket.

He never loved being part of the act, by act meaning the Circo Coriandri, the Coriander Circus.

It was his dream, and his talent, to perform magic. He would be lying if he said the Cutie Mark of cards flying out of the top hat didn't prove it.

Now he wasn't so sure.

"Why am I here?" Caper asked himself. "What am I doing..."

The small buzz of a fly distracted him, as he shooed it away with annoyance. The autumn winds blew slightly into his face, reminding him the reason he's here.

It was one of those nights. Tickets for the Circo Coriandri was selling out. Ponies all over Equestria had come to with high hopes.

A long snake of a queue stretched to the ticket booth, which is a pretty normal sight for Caper. He was younger, more influential and outgoing then.

"Caper, you forgot to give me an autograph!"

"Hey, Dresden!" he called to his best friend. "How's Sweden? Heard about your skiing trip!"

"You should've been there, bro!" Dresden said, his hoof patting Caper's back. "Everpony was having a heck of a time in the snow. Celestia, the mountains are awesome!"

Caper smiled a little. Freedom really meant a lot right now.

"You're still stuck in the magic business?" Dresden asked as he chomped into a hayburger.

"I don't know if I will ever get out from this circus."

Caper sighed as he continued practicing. The audience are here for perfection, so perfection it is!

"Dude, you've done this like a hundred million times." Dresden rolled his eyes. "It's gonna get so boring, man. Ponies all over will already know how you do it."

Caper flicked a small card in his hand. "This is different, Dresden." He dipped it slightly in olive oil.

"A magician must always try something new."

"Olive oil, huh?"

The black pony flipped open a lighter, the small ember already flaring as he flicked the card through.

Flames started to consume the card, as Dresden watched in anticipation.

Caper smirked. He tossed the card in the air as it burned up into ashes.

"Now, Dresden. Think of a card."

He watched as his best friend pondered a little.

"Got it!"

"Okay." Caper reached for a bottle of gin. "Here goes..."

He popped the cork open as the gin slowly flowed into his mouth. Dresden tried not to laugh as he watched his friend trying to hold it all in.

Caper directed the lighter to his mouth, flicking it open as a small flame danced around the flint.

In one quick move, he spewed the gin from his mouth. A dazzling ray of fire bursted, the air around heating up slowly as Dresden watched in amazement and awe at the fire show before him.

Something seemed to fly out from the flames, slowly whizzing towards Dresden as he caught it with perfect accuracy.

"No... No way!" he shouted in disbelief. A black card showing three, inricate white diamonds lay tightly in his hoof.

"How! How is it-"

"As I said, every magician pony must learn a few tricks or two." Caper said with a brimming smile. "This is your card, I presume?"

Dresden could only silently nod in surprise, as Caper chuckled at his friend.

"Come now, Dresden! We've got a show to attend!"

Caper smiled a little, returning from his fond memories.

"Good times..."

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Manehatten was large, crowded, towering above everypony under the colossal shadows. The glass skyscrapers stood in a gleaming magnificence, reflecting the morning sun down onto the roads. Twilight looked out the window in amazement as the yellow cab started moving.

Vinyl was beside her, humming a slightly distorted tune on her iPod. Applejack, however, was asleep, clearly tired out from the long carriage ride from Ponyville.

"So Twilight," Vinyl suddenly said. "You think Octavia and Rarity will be safe over there?"

"I hope so, Vinyl." she replied, as she grow more concerned for the white unicorn.

"Be careful over there."

It was a wonder why Rarity had never asked for the Princesses's help. After all, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were indispensable to every problem around Equestria.

Well, maybe some day.

"Persimmon Mills." Twilight reminded herself. That was the name of mare she needed to find. To search for answers.

To help Rarity.

From what her friend told her, Persimmon was living somewhere in Manehatten. There was no address, meaning that the search had just became a hundred times harder.

She paled as the taxi swiftly passed by a grand row of apartments. "The pony could be anywhere!"

Vinyl stifled a laugh. "Well, she must live somewhere." she said as she scrolled down her music list.

"I'll ask around, probably. I've got a gig somewhere down the corner."

"A gig?" Twilight asked. "You mean you've come all the way down here for a gig?"

"There isn't much of those in Ponyville," Vinyl shrugged comically. "The only times I've played was at Pinkie's parties. But now she's injured, hurt and all..."

Vinyl shuddered a little. "I don't get it. Why would somepony attack Pinkie Pie?"

"I honestly don't know." Twilight said. "But I'm gonna find out why."

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The breeze slowly drifted through Rarity's mane as she held her breath.

"Spike?"

"Yes, Rarity?" the dragon replied with worry. He shifted uncomfortably on the wooden bench, his claws slowly digging into the handles.

"Do you...... k-know that," she stammered.

The dragon gave her a hush, as his claws started twirling around Rarity's mane. The unicorn giggled as the dragon stared dreamily at her, with hearts in his eyes.

"I might not be the dragon I used to be," Spike said. "But my heart is still beating for you. Always."

Rarity blushed a little. "That's so sweet of you, Spike."

The leaves showered onto the two in a golden-orange waterfall, as Rarity huddled closer to the dragon.

"Spikey-Wikey..." she whispered into his ear.

"I love you."

The dragon gave her a smile. He gave a kiss on her cheek, making her blush.

"I love you too."

Something snapped between them. The sky started cracking into white as Rarity felt herself fly. "Wh-What's happening?!"

"I... I don't know!!" Spike shouted as he tried to pull Rarity back down.

"Spike!!" she called out in desperation.

"Hold on... Rarity. I got you!"

Their grip started to loosen as Rarity started tearing up. "Don't let go of me!!"

"I won't! Never!!"

Tears start to form in Rarity's eyes as Spike tried to pull the unicorn down. He grunted and growled with each pull.

Suddenly, the grip between them broke. Rarity gasped in shock as she started floating away.

"Spike!!!" she screamed, watching helplessly through tears as the dragon started chasing after her.

"Hold on, Rarity!!! I'm coming!!"

The world around her began to blur, as Rarity felt herself consumed into a white void.

"Spike!!!"

The white mare pounced from the chair, but was pulled backwards from a leather strap. She struggled frantically in vain. "Let me go!!! Let me go!!!"

"Rarity!" Winter quickly rushed to her. "It's okay! It's okay."

"Calm down, Rarity."

The white mare started sobbing loudly as Winter began unstrapping her from the machine.

"It's alright," Winter tried to calm her down.

Rarity collapsed to the stone floor, still sobbing her heart out.

She covered her face with her mane as Winter trotted up to her.

"Come on. That's enough for today."

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The club was bouncing with life as Twilight and Applejack made their way through the crowd. Lasers flashed in the distance, with head-pounding music blaring from giant speakers at a corner.

"Twilight!!!"

"What!!" Twilight shouted back to Applejack.

"Ya sure we're in the right place?!! It's like a crazy pony festival in 'ere."

The bass began thumping louder and louder as they finally found a seat near the bar. The bartender was shaking cocktails in the center as ponies started cheering and jumping on the dancefloor.

"What do you mares need?"

"Just a pineapple shake," Twilight responded. "And an apple martini."

"Martini?! Don't 'cha think it's a little too expen-"

Twilight hushed her as she scanned through the club. Ponies everywhere are banging their head to the music. A sudden shower of water sprayed onto the dancefloor as everypony started cheering their voices out. Screams and cries of enthusiasm and anticipation filled Twilight's ears, as she tried to cover them up with her hooves.

"Twilight!!! When can we get out of here?!!" Applejack shouted over the music with annoyance.

"When we find Persimmon!!!"

Suddenly, Vinyl's hoof came into view. The pony gestured Twilight and Applejack over.

Swerving through the crowd, they found Vinyl struggling to lift another pony up from the floor.

"Let me go~!" the pony shouted drunkenly, waving her hooves around.

"Here, Twilight! This is the one you're looking for!!"

"What?!!" Twilight exclaimed, looking at the pony with shock.

"This is Persimmon?! What the hay? I thought she would look more formal!"

"And who are you?" Persimmon sneered in her drunken daze. "Not from around here, eh?"

"Word of advice: get out of my way!"

She harshly shoved Applejack aside, stumbling towards the bar.

"Why you-!"

"Applejack!" Twilight stopped her. "We're her to talk to her, not to beat her up!"

"She ain't right, Twi!"

"Of course she's not! She's drunk! With one too many beers or ciders, I dunno!"

Applejack stopped short, tipping her hat to the side as she grumbled a little.

"Persimmon!! Persimmon Mills!!" Twilight called out to the drunken pony.

"It's not Mills, you glutton!" the pony replied rudely, staggering as she squinted her eyes.

"I want to have nothing to do with that stupid, bucking-"

Persimmon fell suddenly, right into Twilight's arms.

"Please, Persimmon! We need to talk to you!!"

The music blared even louder. Applejack shot a glare at Vinyl, who was busy scratching the turntables.

"We need to get out of here, Twilight!"

Both ponies helped Persimmon up, slowly bringing her out of the club.

"Leave me alone!! I'm fine, you crazy-"

"You're the one that's crazy now, you skank!" Applejack shouted with rage.

Persimmon seemed to quiet down a little, as the music continued to blare furiously.

"Come on, Applejack!" Twilight said. "Let's take her outside."

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"And now for the event of the night!! Be amazed at the outstanding feats of the Manehatten Caper! The Magic Extraordinaire!"

"Give it up for Caper Masque~~~!!!!"

Caper walked into the center of the tent, waving his hoof with enthusiasm as the crowd clopped their hooves, cheering loudly for him.

He swished his cape around, giving the crowd a wink. Flicking his wand, a flock of doves sprung from thin air, making the audience gasp and clop with awe.

"Thank you! Thank you!" he bowed as he reached the center of the tent.

"Thank you everypony, for coming here."

"Tonight is a wonderful night!" Caper shouted as the cheering died down. "I am grateful to everyone for coming here!"

The crowd whistled and cheered a little.

"Of course, magic is just an illusion. A show of trickery, deceit, to fool the innocent eyes."

He gave a sly grin as he scanned through the audience.

"A lie."

"So you could say I was lying to you then," Caper said with a chuckle.

The audience laughed at his joke as Caper continued.

"But for now, let magic captivate. Feast your eyes, be prepared to be amazed."

He readied his wand.

Here goes nothing.

With one flick, a table fell suddenly from the sky. The audience gasped in horror and excitement as Caper stepped to one side.

"My bad!" he told them coyly. The audience started clapping and cheering for joy.

"There's a table. All I need is..." he flicked his wand again.

Something fell from the top of the tent, landing just right behind him.

He smirked as he finished his sentence. "A chair."

Clops and cheers echoed through the night, as Caper slowly performed his tricks one by one.

"Snap out of it!"

"Huh? What?" the black pony teetered around his seat, nearly stumbling off.

Autumn sat across him, trying to look casual as she slowly finished her last muffin.

"You were telling me," she swallowed the piece. "about leaving. When did you say we can leave?"

Caper bit his lip. He himself wasn't even sure how they could leave.

"Next month? Two months after? I don't know."

Autumn held herself back. "Surely, you must at least... have a way out of here?"

Caper slumped into his chair. She immediately knew the answer.

"Well, you should've at least just tell me." her voice grew in frustration.

Both ponies sighed deeply. Caper finished his tea as Autumn just watched him.

"What are we going to do?" she asked with worry.

He placed the teacup down. Holding Autumn's hooves in his, he stared deeply into her orange pupils.

"I'll take care of it."

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Applejack leaned against the dumpster, refraining herself from even smelling the air around her.

Twilight stood beside Persimmon, who was sitting on a cardboard box.

"Persimmon? You okay?" Twilight asked.

"I'm fine, miss." she replied, as she brushed off a tear. "But w-why.. who.. Caesar-"

She whimpered slightly as Applejack walked over to them.

"C-Caesar isn't t-the type that everypony would mess with. Why did he-"

"We don't know," Applejack cut in. "But what we do know that somepony's been hurting our friends. And I sure hope you and Caesar had something you know about it."

Persimmon glanced away uneasily, her hooves fidgeting around.

"There, there." Twilight said with a grin. "It's okay, you can tell us."

"Ho-How did you know? About me?" Persimmon asked.

"A friend read your book. Dragonheart, is it? She was the one that told us your... ex-husband has passed."

"Ah, Dragonheart," Persimmon suddenly smiled a little. "That was one of my favorite works. Caesar and I used to enjoy writing it together."

Twilight placed a hoof on the pony's shoulder as she started sobbing a little again.

"I'm sorry about... about Caesar."

"Never mind him," Persimmon shuddered a little. "He isn't worth a mare's time."

Applejack sat beside her. "But why marry him?" she asked curiously.

"If he isn't even worth your time, why did you become his wife?"

"It's complicated, miss." Persimmon said with a shrug.

"Caesar and I, we both met at a theater many years ago. I was a young mare like both of you back then."

Persimmon blew into her handkerchief as she continued her story.

"Caesar, he was one of those performers on stage you see today. He was always dramatic, always the kind to get into trouble."

"He was a playful one," Persimmon laughed a little. "Especially with mares."

Twilight shuffled closer to her. "What do you mean 'playful with mares'?"

"He's one of those who naturally, and I mean naturally, flirt with mares. Luckily the mares are sensible enough to stay away from my colt."

Persimmon giggled with a blush. "I was a more... serious pony back then. I hated drinking, smoking, doing what I did today. Caesar respected me for it, and I like that."

"When he proposed to me in his hometown, near some fountain, I was, of course, surprised! And of course, I agreed."

"Awwww...." Twilight said. "That's cute!"

Applejack munched on an apple. "Shucks, that's mighty sweet of him."

"I know!" Persimmon said with a sigh. "We both grew up, have some kids. But something. Something changed in Caesar. The Caesar I once knew suddenly disappeared."

"Every night, he'll end up drunk, half-brained, drugged. I don't know." the mare continued with a sob.

"I had to force the kids to sleep just to have an argument with him."

"Then what happened?" Twilight asked.

"We were behind on rent. We had warning letters nearly every month. One day, I decided that was it, so I filed a divorce and took my kids along. We've been living in Manehatten ever since."

"I never knew what happened to Caesar after that." Persimmon started crying again. "Celestia, please have mercy on his soul."

"We've gotta get you home, Persimmon." Applejack said as she stood up from the box, tipping her hat while she looked into the bustling nighttime skyline.

"So," she asked Persimmon. "where did you stay?"

"Over there!" Persimmon pointed to a small apartment just across the street. "I live alone now; most of my kids are in college and sorts. Life here was quite harsh sometimes."

"Don't worry, Persimmon." Twilight assured her with a smile. "You'll be fine."

Persimmon smiled widely at the purple unicorn. "Thanks."

The three ponies set off, walking out the alley into the busy road.

A crowd of ponies stood in front of the zebra crossing, as Twilight, Applejack and Persimmon squeezed inside. Cars slowly passed by, as they stood there patiently.

Applejack tapped her hooves, trying to time the light. Something caught her attention from the corner of her eye.

It was a pony, but she had never seen anypony like it before.

"Applejack!" Twilight called out to her as the crowd started shoving.

Applejack looked back at the spot, but nothing was there.

That's weird...

Persimmon staggered through the crowd, with Twilight and Applejack following closely behind.

"Honesty, eh?"

Applejack looked around, startled by the sudden voice.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

"No one." The voice cackled slightly.

Applejack turned to her back, to the wave of a crowd passing through her.

"Beg your pardon miss, but might I ask?" the voice continued

"How's your... pink friend?"

Applejack gritted her teeth fiercely. She squinted her eyes through the crowd.

"What do you know about Pinkie Pie?"

Some ponies stared at her like she was insane, but she brushed it off.

"Nothing much. I just visited her that day, though."

The voice laughed a little with sarcasm.

"Shame about the fall. It wasn't... suppose to happen."

Steam fumed through Applejack's ears.

"What did 'cha say?!"

"Oh and Spike, is it? For a dragon, really he is just something with a... low intellect. In other words, perfectly useless!"

"Come out right now!" she shouted in the middle of the road with rage. "Come out so I can teach your sorry little flank a lesson!!"

"APPLEJACK!!"

The orange pony turned to Twilight, whose eyes widened in horror.

"Get Off The Road!!"

Applejack glared at her. "What, Twilight?! He's here! The pony!"

The traffic light turned green.

She spun around, just in time to see a pair of headlights rushing towards her. Behind the wheel was a pony wearing a mask stitched at the lips.

She let out a small gasp.

The car smashed into her, glass shattering as Applejack was thrown into the air.

Pain shot up in her body as she whirled around, falling back down onto the road.

"Celestia!! Applejack!!"

The car raced off without care, without even braking. Its wheels lurched forward as Applejack felt the rubber tyre crunching into her hoof.

She let out a broken, glass-shattering scream.

"Applejack!!" Twilight rushed towards her friend. "Applejack!!!"

The orange pony tried to speak, but no words came out from her mouth, only a small trickle of blood.

She felt her body crumple from pain, searing inside her guts.

Her crushed hoof was completely numb, a small pool of blood already forming at the end.

"Somepony get some help!!" Persimmon shouted to the onlookers.

"Applejack!! Stay with me, you hear me?" Twilight exclaimed in desperation.

Applejack tried to move her mouth. "H...H...He.."

Twilight bit her lip, as tears started flowing from the eyes of both ponies.

"What is it, Applejack? What is it?!"

"H-He... He was... here."

Applejack sputtered and coughed, a slight spray of blood landed on Twilight's body.

"Pl..Please. If... If I don't make it....."

Twilight nodded, her eyes swelling in tears.

"T-Tell... Tell Applebloom... and Big... Big Mac...."

She coughed a little more, as the faint sounds of sirens wailed through the city.

"...I...I'm.... sorry...."

Equanima

The machine whirred slowly as Rarity felt her hooves strapped again. She held back her tears as Winter quickly trotted up to her.

"What did you see, Rarity?" he asked as he unstrapped her.

"I don't know..." she said as she slumped closed to the machine. "He was just... running away.."

"And I was chasing him. Asking him to come back!" Rarity shouted.

"But he never listened."

Winter frowned. "Anything else? Anything that happened after that?"

Rarity tried to stand up, but her hooves gave way. Winter jumped to her help.

"Easy, miss. Relax..."

She sniffled a little. "Then... Then something, I don't know what, just hit me!"

Winter passed her a tissue as she continued: "It was big! It just smashed me away!"

Rarity sobbed a little, burying her head in Winter's suit as he calmed her down.

"I'll think about this, okay Rarity?"

Rarity nodded slightly. She stretched her hooves as she struggled to stand up.

Her weak hooves nearly crumbled as she grunted with pain. She bit her lip, with tears falling out from her eyes.

"Slowly, Rarity. Slowly." Winter said, trying to encourage her.

"Nearly there, Rarity."

Her last hoof finally lifted itself up as it wobbled. Rarity took in a huge breath.

With one push, she finally stood firmly. A sheer look of determination burned in her eyes.

"That's great!" Winter applauded as he strode towards her.

"You okay now, Rarity?"

Rarity bit her lip with uncertainty.

"I don't know..."

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"Applejack! Just hold on!!"

Twilight tried to forget her screams as she paced around the corridor. Vinyl sat there, still trying to absorb what just happened.

Persimmon buried her face in her hooves, quietly sobbing on the chair.

"I-It's all my fault..."

"No it's not." Twilight told her as Vinyl shifted closer.

"It was that pony's fault. The pony that-"

"Don't mention him!!" Persimmon shouted, her teary eyes fueled with rage.

Vinyl stopped her from jumping off the seat as Twilight stumbled back a little.

At that point, the red light turned green.

The three ponies rushed to the doctor as he stepped out, a somber expression aligned on his face.

"So?" Twilight asked in desperation. "Is she alright?!"

The doctor straightened his glasses.

"She's in a critical condition. We are trying everything we can-"

"And?!" Vinyl cut in.

"We're sorry. She isn't going to make it."

Twilight froze in shock. "What do you mean?"

"She has lost a lot of blood. She had just fallen into a coma and-"

"No!" Twilight's voice twisted in anxiety and anger. "You need to save her life. Right now!"

The doctor bit his lip as he nervously glanced around.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing we could d-"

A slap made him tumble backwards, his eyes widened in shock. His hoof clutched on his face as it ached with pain.

Twilight fixated a glare as she lowered her hoof. Tears started to brim around her eyes.

"She has a family, doctor!! She has friends!! And you're telling me she just going to die?!!"

"Twilight!!"

Persimmon shouted, breaking into Twilight's rage.

"Please! I have a way!"

"What do you mean?" Vinyl asked her. "What way?"

Persimmon held her breath, before continuing:

"A way to save your friend."

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Rainbow Dash never liked television.

"Nope!"

"Boring!"

"Nada!"

She switched through a hundred of channels, groaning in boredom as the television flickered with every click of the remote.

Her pet turtle, Tank, was slowly munching on a leaf of cabbage, clearly ignoring his owner's frustration.

"There's really nothing to on this thing these days!" Rainbow shouted to herself.

She smashed her face in the pillow, letting out a deep groan.

Tank just looked at her, slightly tilting his head.

"Aw, Tank." Rainbow Dash said as she launched the turtle in the air. Her pet landed safely on a small cluster of pillows, grinning happily.

"I don't know how you seem to enjoy everything!!" she said as she hugged her pet tortoise tightly.

Letting out a sigh, Rainbow Dash continued switching channels.

"When do the Wonderbolts come out..." she yawned sleepily as she stopped at the news channel.

Tank just sat beside her, curling up in his shell.

"-And we are reporting straight from Manehatten. Last night, an accident just around the Equestrian State Building has left the whole of the city in shock as ponies started questioning the recklessness of drivers-"

Rainbow's ears perked up. Manehatten.

That's where Twilight and Applejack are!

On the television, a car seem to swerve violently as the camera focused towards it. The camera pony rushed forward to a crowd forming a circle as shouts and cries echoed from the speakers.

"-just hold on!!" "Somepony get some help!!"

As the camera zoomed through the crowd, Rainbow let out a loud gasp.

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"We don't have much time! Come on!!"

Persimmon galloped down the hospital corridor, with a light blue pony following closely behind her.

Twilight heard the door open as Persimmon and the pony entered the room, sweating and panting a little.

Applejack rested silently in the bed, her hoof encased in bandages, with the exception of her head.

Applejack's uncle was there as well as Vinyl, who stood up first. "Who's this?"

"He can help." Persimmon said.

The stallion bowed to Vinyl and Twilight with courtesy. "So this is the one, huh?"

"Yeah," Persimmon nodded. "she's the one."

"You know you can't make it, right?" he asked Persimmon.

"What do you mean she can't make it?" Twilight questioned.

"What are you doing?"

Persimmon glanced away uneasily as the stallion explained:

"I specialize in a very... ancient form of medicine. It involves reviving or healing a pony's physical and mental structure with the use of essence from another."

"What?" Twilight said, slightly puzzled.

"In other words, I take the life force of one pony to help heal another."

"But that's-" Uncle Orange swallowed. "That's black magic!"

"You want your niece to live or not?!" Persimmon shouted at him.

"Isn't there any other way?" Vinyl asked. "Something that does not involve black magic?"

Persimmon shook her head. Twilight sighed.

The light blue pony looked at Applejack with a sigh.

"Her injuries are too severe."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"It means the pony giving the life force... must give it all."

Twilight gasped a little. "You mean..."

She looked in shock at Persimmon, who gave her an unsure smile.

"Don't worry, Twilight." she assured the unicorn, who was starting to cry.

"Caesar will be waiting for me."

Vinyl held back her tears as Twilight sniffled a little.

"There must be some other way..."

"But there isn't, Twilight dear." Persimmon wiped her tear away.

"Sometimes, Twilight, we must make a noble sacrifice. A sacrifice of time, a sacrifice of space. Anything."

Persimmon trotted to the next bed.

"But to save your friend, and a good friend I know she is to you, I must do it."

"But... your kids!"

"They're old enough. They had moved on." Persimmon chuckled slightly.

"They don't need an old mare to look after them any more-"

"Don't say that!" Twilight shouted. "Your kids will want to have you!"

She grabbed Persimmon by the hoof, tears still falling from her eyes.

"Please!! There must be some other way!"

"Twilight," Vinyl pulled her back. "Twilight! It's her choice!!"

"But-!"

"No 'but's, Twilight." Persimmon said.

"You have much to learn. About life. About letting go."

"I'll be waiting outside." Uncle Orange said. "I don't think I can handle this."

Persimmon laid herself on the bed, gesturing to the light blue stallion.

"I'm ready."

The light blue pony nodded, before beginning a series of chants.

Twilight slumped beside Applejack as Vinyl consoled her.

The chanting grew louder, the voice more hollow as the room shook a little.

Vinyl clutched tightly against the bed as a small rumble echoed throughout the room.

Twilight looked over to the witch doctor, who was now busy motioning his hooves around, appearing to be in some sort of trance.

The lights flickered as the rumbling grew louder. The whole room shook violently, with plaster falling off from every inch of the ceiling.

Twilight held onto a rattling medicine cart, looking around nervously as Persimmon closed her eyes tightly.

"Twilight!!"

Twilight looked over to Persimmon, who was gripping tightly on the sheets.

"Tell them!! Tell my kids!!"

Persimmon smiled at her with tears watering her eyes.

"Tell them I'm sorry!"

Twilight nodded immediately. "I will!"

With one booming shout, the witch doctor stomped his hoof on the floor.

Persimmon lurched forward violently with one silent scream, before falling back onto the bed.

The lights dimmed, then blacked out as a small orb of light floated out from Persimmon's body. It shone a bright blue in color, illuminating the darkness around.

Twilight and Vinyl looked in awe as the witch doctor guided the floating light towards him.

His chants became softer and softer, the light floating dreamily above his hoof.

Twilight strained her ears, at last understanding a word he said.

"Sleep my child, in the body of another;

Let your spirit flow ever farther, and your essence live on,

May you find peace, in the arms of the Mother.

Let your body be remembered by the next dawn."

The small light slowly descended towards Applejack. A small burst of rays gleamed in the dark, forcing Vinyl and Twilight to shield their eyes.

It seemed to hover there for awhile, before dissolving completely into Applejack's body.

The lights started flickering back on as the witch doctor sighed with relief.

"It's done."

"Applejack?" Twilight shook her orange hoof. "Applejack, please answer me!"

Vinyl rushed by Twilight's side, as the witch doctor sat down, tired.

"Applejack?" she called one last time.

The orange pony stirred a little, giving out a loud groan.

"W...Where.. What..."

Twilight and Vinyl sighed in relief as they helped the orange pony sit up. The witch doctor smiled at her.

"Twilight?" Applejack said as she looked around. "What in tarnation just happened?"

"Thank goodness you're alive!!" Twilight hugged her friend with tears of joy flowing from her eyes.

Applejack just tumbled back, surprised by her behavior.

"Well, 'course I'm alive, Twi." she chuckled slightly. "I ain't be sitting here talking to you if I wasn't, eh?"

Twilight laughed along as well. "I'm glad you are, Applejack."

Applejack turned slightly, before spotting Persimmon on the bed.

"What happened?" she asked frantically. "Did that pony get her too?"

"No, Applejack." Vinyl stifled a small sob. "It's not like that."

Applejack struggled to lift her broken hoof up, as Twilight helped her to walk.

The orange pony limped towards Persimmon, who seemed to sleep peacefully.

"Persimmon gave her life up... for you."

Applejack stood there stunned, staring at Vinyl.

"Wha-What did you say?"

"Persimmon passed her life source to you," Twilight explained, her violet pupils watering as she took a glance at the pony on the bed.

"We tried to stop her, but she said there was no other way!"

Applejack looked back at Persimmon. Her smile made her look so calm, so serene.

"Celestia..."

"If... If I hadn't stand on the road in the first place, none of this would've happen!"

"No, AJ!" Vinyl said, holding back a sob. "It wasn't your fault."

"I was too sensitive! Too ignorant of myself! She shouldn't do that for me! She shoudn't have!!"

"Applejack, stop saying that!" Twilight cried out.

The orange pony gazed at her dejectedly, tears flowing down her freckled face.

"Persimmon wouldn't want to see you saying this." the purple unicorn said, calming down a little.

"Please, Applejack. Don't do this to yourself!"

Applejack glanced away uneasily, settling her gaze on Persimmon.

She sniffled a little, brushing away a tear.

"Please..." Twilight's voice faltered as she let out a small whimper.

Applejack slumped back onto her bed, her eyes still widened in shock.

"Alright,Twi..."

Twilight looked up to her friend. "What?"

"I won't do it. Never again!"

Applejack suddenly jumped up with fierce determination, ignoring the pain searing in her left hoof.

Vinyl smiled brightly along with Twilight.

Applejack placed her signature hat on, shaking her blonde mane with a burning desire in her eyes.

"I promise!"

Vinyl whistled for her friend as Twilight clopped a little.

Applejack limped towards the light blue pony.

"I gotta say this. Thank you. For everything." she said with a smile.

"What you've done is a miracle, Mr..."

"Please," the light blue pony grinned politely back at her. "Call me Dresden."

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"And you're sure she's alive?"

"I don't know!" Rainbow's voice rang through the speaker. "I can't just fly all the way there!"

Rarity sighed defiantly. "When are they coming back?"

"Two days? Three? I have no idea, Rarity."

"I hope she's alright," Rarity bit her lip nervously. "I don't like the sound of this."

"Sound of what?" Rainbow Dash said in her usual, raspy voice.

"About that Mirror pony?"

"I guess." she said. "After all, you can't just pop from here to Manehatten, can't you?"

"Even Twilight can't do that, Rarity." Rainbow's voice crackled.

"Magic has its limits. The whole of Equestria knows about that."

"Unless..." Rarity pondered.

"Unless what, Rarity?"

"Winter said this was no pony. He, or more likely she, is something else. Something unnatural."

"So what, we're fighting against a pony that's not a pony?" Rainbow asked with doubt.

"Something. A changeling, perhaps? An alicorn?"

"Rarity," Rainbow Dash cut in. "Alicorns are ponies."

"Of course, silly me!" Rarity laughed a little, before continuing.

"Then what is it? Something that powerful couldn't be a normal pony."

"I don't know, Rarity." Rainbow said uneasily.

"Why can't we get the Princesses to help?"

"That's not the problem, Rainbow." Rarity said.

"The problem is," she corrected. "why don't the Princesses help? The explosion, the deaths are in papers all over Equestria. They could've just stepped in."

"You're right, Rarity." the pegasus said. "It doesn't make any sense."

"First Spike," the white pony trembled as she mentioned the dragon's name.

"Then Pinkie Pie. And now possibly Applejack."

"Rainbow, I think it's time to be careful." she continued.

"Either Fluttershy or you could get hurt next."

Rainbow snorted. "If anypony lays a single hoof on Fluttershy, I'll kick his gnarly butt!"

Rarity and Rainbow laughed loudly.

"Just be careful." the unicorn reminded her friend.

"I will, Rarity." she replied. Rarity could hear her raspy voice burn in determination.

"I will."

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Autumn sat uneasily beside Caper, her hoof clutching tightly on her purse.

"... and they said we are fools?!" Thistle shouted through the room.

"Pah!!"

The robed pony overturned the small table, checker pieces flying everywhere as the sound of cracking wood erupted into a loud snap.

"This is why," Thistle said, his voice gloating with fury. "we don't trust your family, Miss Autumn!!"

"Look at what they've done to this wretched town!!"

Autumn hung her head low, sobbing silently behind her mane as Caper tried to calm her down.

Thistle held up the poster, for the rest of the ponies to see.

"More taxes and fees!" he raged, crumpling and tearing the poster.

"And what did you ponies waste it on? A bucking masquerade ball!!!"

Thistle spat onto the floor.

"How romantic~!" he said coldly with sarcasm. "How pathetic!!"

He slammed the torn pieces onto the table, glaring at the pale yellow mare.

"Rotten as your brother!"

"What did you say?!" Caper slammed his black hooves on the table.

"Well, well!" Thistle sneered. "Looks like we've got ourselves a couple!!"

Whispers and murmurs crept throughout the room, as Caper slowly sat back down, glancing away uneasily.

"Tell you what, Caper Masque. You need to learn your position," Thistle began as he slowly walked towards the black pony.

"You must learn some manners, you big-headed fool!"

And with that, Thistle smacked Caper hard, making him stumble off his seat.

Autumn stifled a gasp.

"Caper!"

"And Miss Autumn!" Thistle's voice boomed. "I'll give your coltfriend one last chance."

Autumn turned around, nervously looking at his razor sharp glare as she helped Caper up.

"And of course, your brother!" the robed stallion continued.

"Or I'll make sure he will regret the day he became Patriarch."

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Rainbow Dash slowly trotted down the corridor, passing by nurses and doctors as she sifted her way through the crowd.

"Just be careful." Rarity's voice echoed in her head. She tried to shake it off; the thought of somepony following her, the thought of somepony trying to get her.

She stopped trotting. The bright turquoise door stood in front of her.

Rainbow swallowed nervously, giving it a knock.

The door swung open with a small creak, as she stepped into the room.

Pinkie Pie laid on the bed, silently sleeping. Light shone on her face, the pink color slightly drained from her skin.

Her mane wasn't its usual, poofy self. Rainbow tried not to think about it.

A nurse came in, pushing a medicinal cart. Behind her was a yellow pegasi.

"R..Rainbow? You're here too?"

"Hey, Flutters." Rainbow called out her name. "Just checking on Pinkie Pie."

The yellow pegasus strode towards her friend. "I..Is she alright?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "I don't know."

She looked at Pinkie's hoof. It was bruised and battered.

"Yesterday... when she... attacked... t-the other patient," Fluttershy said with a gulp.

"Do you think she.. she really did it?"

Rainbow Dash shuddered at the thought of it.

"She wasn't herself." she replied. "I don't think she wanted to do it."

It happened in this very room, when Rainbow Dash came to visit Pinkie Pie.

"Hi, Dashie."

"Hi Pinkie!" Rainbow said with enthusiasm. "How are you feeling?"

"Alright, I guess." Pinkie replied. Every small sound of happiness seemed to have seeped from Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash glanced at her pink friend uneasily as Pinkie looked out the window.

"I miss going out there," she said. "I miss the freedom."

Rainbow Dash was slightly taken aback. "That's quite... deep, Pinkie."

Pinkie turned to her friend, her eyes filled with sadness. A small sigh escaped her lips.

"How long am I suppose to be here?"

"A few days more, perhaps." the pegasus answered.

"By the way, the doctor said you're gonna have a roommate!"

Pinkie widened her eyes. "Who is it?"

The door swung open as two nurses pushed a pony on a wheelchair into the room.

"There he is!" Rainbow Dash pointed at the pony. "He's gonna be your roommate!"

Pinkie Pie watched the nurses helped lift the patient from the wheelchair, thinking of what to say.

"Hi." she grinned at the pony, being tended by the nurses as they helped tuck him into his bed.

"I'm Pinkie Pie."

The pony just grunted a little in pain, caressing his broken leg with care. Rainbow eased herself up from her chair.

"I hope you two ponies get along." she said, chuckling nervously.

The pony just lay on his bed, not saying a word.

Pinkie Pie tried again.

"Are you from.. around here? I've never seen you before."

The pony murmured quietly under his breath.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's face twisted into a dark grimace.

"What did you say?"

"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash tried to calm her friend down. "He didn't say anything!"

The pony just cowered a little. "She's right... I didn't."

Pinkie gritted her teeth, her brows furrowed towards the pony.

"Alright, Pinkie. That's quite enough growls for today!" Rainbow Dash said, laughing nervously.

Pinkie Pie breathed a little, slowly calming down as she closed her eyes.

"Crazy pony..."

Suddenly, Pinkie launched herself from the bed, kicking Rainbow aside as the pegasus fell to the floor.

"Pinkie!! Don't!!"

The nurses frantically tried to pull her down as the pony below shouted and cringed. Pinkie glared into his face, her eyes turning into slits.

"You stupid, wretched, fiend!!"

She slammed her hoof hard onto the pony's broken leg, triggering a loud scream of pain.

"Rot in Tartarus!! Rot for all I care!!"

A few more ponies rushed in, trying desperately to pull Pinkie down from the bed as she continuously crushed the other pony's hoof.

"You think I'm crazy?!! You think I'm a crazy pony??!!"

She reached for the medicine cart, her hoof gripping tightly onto a scalpel.

Rainbow let out a horrified gasp.

Pinkie raised the scalpel high up, her eyes fueled with rage.

"Well, you don't know how CRAZY I can GET!!"

"PINKIE PIE!!!"

The pink pony stopped, the scalpel just a few centimeters from the pony's face.

She let the scalpel go, dropping it onto the mattress.

"I.... I.."

"Get me out of here!!" the pony screamed in fear. "Another room!! Please!!"

The nurse quickly lifted him up as Rainbow slowly helped Pinkie down, who was still frozen in shock.

"Pinkie? Pinkie, are you alright?" she asked in desperation.

Pinkie Pie turned to her friend, still absorbing what happened.

"What.... Why?!"

She started whimpering and sniffling, burying her face onto Rainbow's shoulder.

"Why am I doing this..."

Rainbow slowly shushed her as Pinkie Pie sobbed loudly.

"Why....."

"S..She looks so peaceful."

Fluttershy's voice chirped, breaking into Rainbow's thoughts.

The nurse slowly opened the bandages around her hoof.

"She does, doesn't she?" Rainbow replied.

On the pink hoof, a slash wound opened, making Fluttershy look away as Rainbow Dash widened her eyes in horror.

The nurse rubbed some oil on the wound, the sleeping pony whimpering softly in pain.

"She did this to herself yesterday," the nurse explained, wrapping a new bandage over it.

"Celestia..." Fluttershy cried out. Rainbow stood there, stunned at her sleeping pink friend.

"What happened to her," the nurse continued, "It was too traumatic. We don't know if she should stay here longer. She's psychologically scarred, horribly in fact."

Rainbow Dash tried not to gasp as her pink friend let out an irritated growl, turning restlessly to her side.

"Is... Is she going to be okay, nurse?" Fluttershy asked with concern.

"I don't know," was the reply.

Jagged Decisions

"Let us commend Persimmon Mills, celebrated in life with a gift of literature, to the mercy of Celestia."

Twilight stood solemnly, watching the glass coffin lowering down as she shed a single tear. Applejack placed her hat against her chest, silently weeping.

Many ponies had come to mourn for the once-famous author. The crowd was filled with sadness as the coffin reached the bottom.

"We therefore commit her body to the ground." the priest spoke in a somber tone.

Twilight watched as dirt started scattering over the glass.

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."

The clink of shovels and the scatter of dirt soon died down. Everypony wept in a bitter silence as the coffin became concealed under a layer of dirt.

"I really owe her a lot, don't I?" Applejack asked Twilight, waving her cast around. "She saved my life and all."

"I guess so," the unicorn replied.

The granite gravestone was clean, gleaming. An intricate array of words were carved into the surface.

Forever Etched In Our Hearts

Persimmon Mills

Rest In Peace

A marble bowl stood on a bronze edifice. A small ember flickered around, the coals slightly sparking up.

"She sure is famous." Applejack said, looking at the departing crowd.

Twilight spotted a group of ponies huddling close together next to a tree.

"Excuse me?" she said, closely walking up towards them.

One of the ponies looked at Twilight. "Yes, miss?"

"I couldn't help but notice," she said, looking at the three ponies.

"Are you Persimmon's children?"

The mare nodded silently. She looked slightly younger than Twilight.

"And you are?"

"I'm a friend," Twilight explained hastily. "Listen, before she passed, there's something she wanted you all to know."

The other two ponies glanced at her with curiosity as Twilight began:

"She wanted to tell you that she's sorry. Very sorry."

The mare looked at the younger ponies, a look of seriousness in their eyes.

"She never meant it, miss."

Twilight was slightly taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

Applejack and Vinyl trotted towards Twilight as the mare's voice changed into a whisper.

"Follow us."

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The atmosphere in the room was serene, yet an uneasy silence seemed to drape over everything inside.

It was the third time Rainbow visited Pinkie Pie, yet she could not help but feel disturbed by her friend's condition.

The pink pony stirred for a moment, before silently slept again.

The blue pegasus chuckled. Even in her sleep, Pinkie is one funny pony.

The bandage was still there, reminding her of Pinkie's ordeal.

"Hang in there, Pinkie."

A small knock on the door caught her ears, as Rainbow Dash turned to look.

"Hi.. R...Rainbow."

"Fluttershy." the blue pegasus grinned widely at her.

"She's still asleep. Come in!"

The yellow pegasus tiptoed through the room, on her back a small rattan basket filled with fruits.

"I brought this for Pinkie."

She settled the basket on the table beside her, carefully trying not to wake the pink pony up.

"How is she?" Fluttershy asked with concern.

"I don't know what's going on in her head right now."

Rainbow's voice was filled with doubt. Pinkie's mane was flat as before, but looked more frazzled.

"Chocolates..." Pinkie Pie whined a little as she moved a little. A small smile seemed to creep on her face, before disappearing again.

Fluttershy giggled softly along with Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie seemed to have heard them, as she sat up slowly, stretching her hooves and letting out a small yawn.

"Rainbow? Fluttershy?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey, Pinkie." the blue pegasus said with a grin.

"Good to see you're awake."

"Here Pinkie." Fluttershy handed her an apple from the basket. "I... I brought this... for you."

Pinkie Pie took the apple from her hoof, her face nearly expressionless. "Thank you."

"So," the pink pony began. "when can I leave?" she said before biting into the apple.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash glanced at each other with uncertainty.

"Well..." Rainbow fidgeted her hooves.

"You might need to stay a teeny-tiny weensy bit longer in here, Pinkie."

Pinkie sighed in disappointment, while Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief.

"They should just let me go already." the pink pony complained while munching on her apple.

"I feel fine."

"It's okay," Fluttershy assured her. "I took care of Gummy for you."

"That's not the point," she said dejectedly.

"I miss going out. I miss Sugarcube Corner. I miss you guys..."

She sniffled a little as Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Cheer up, Pinkie." the blue pegasus said.

"We'll bring you for a walk, okay?"

Pinkie Pie nodded slightly, a smile plastered onto her face.

"Thank you."

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Octavia looked out the window, trying to stay put as Rarity helped her comb her mane.

"Almost finished, Octavia..." the unicorn said through a mouthful of pins.

The grey pony felt her mane twist and turn a little as her friend continued twining her mane around.

She felt her mane clip for one last time.

"Done!" Rarity said proudly.

Octavia looked at the mirror in amazement, as she saw her black mane braided at one side.

"Wow, Rarity." she exclaimed.

"And I thought you were only good with dresses!"

"Hair styling is more of a past time, really." Rarity chuckled, brushing it off.

"So, how's Crimson?"

"Doctor says his therapy is alright." Octavia replied with a grin.

"Otherwise, it's just normal old him."

"Can he still perform his dance routines and such?" Rarity asked, chuckling a little.

Octavia looked at her friend.

"Well, he can still sing, but performance wise, I'm not sure."

"That chandelier really fractured his leg."

Octavia shuddered at the thought of that night. The night they finally performed together.

"Well," Rarity spoke suddenly. "I hope he'll be okay."

Both mares sighed gently, lying on the bed.

"So?" Octavia quipped, her eyes widened in interest.

Rarity looked at her. "What?"

"Aren't you gonna tell me who your future coltfriend is?" the gray pony said with a wink.

"Well, I... uh," Rarity stammered, trying to think of something to say.

"Come on!" Octavia giggled slightly. "Don't tell me it's him."

"Him?"

"You know?" the grey pony nudged her friend teasingly. "Him"

Rarity pondered a little.

"You mean Big Mac? Of course not, silly! I mean, we're close, but not that close."

Octavia raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Not him. The other one!"

"You know there are many stallions in Ponyville, right?" Rarity said.

"Many stallions, yes~!" the gray pony said with sarcasm.

"But only one dragon."

Rarity was slightly startled. "You... You knew?"

"Course I knew," Octavia said, rolling her eyes.

"The way he looks at you. Sheesh, it's enough for everypony in town to know!"

Rarity blushed a little, her words fumbled as her friend giggled.

"But is it true?" Octavia asked suddenly with a slight hint of worry.

"Was Spike injured?"

The unicorn trembled a little.

"Y-Yes." she managed to stammer, holding back her tears.

"What?" the grey pony flinched a little, surprised by the answer

"But... But why?"

"I don't know." Rarity whimpered. "I really don't."

"But I do know Mirror Mare had something to do with it."

Rarity said to her with a new-found strength.

"And I'm gonna find out why!"

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The lock clicked open as Twilight, Applejack and Vinyl watched the mare turning the key.

A small scent of licorice filled their snouts as the six ponies stepped inside. It looked grand for an apartment despite the size. The furry Persian carpet swept their hooves as Twilight and her friends strode inside.

"This is our home." the oldest mare said, smiling invitingly as she ushered them in.

"Wow," Applejack whistled in amazement. "You ponies sure have a nice place!"

The sisters smiled at her as they settle their bags down.

"It's small, but cozy."

Twilight noticed a golden-framed painting hanging on the wall. A pair of ponies stood,their expressions gazing down somberly as Twilight recognized one of them.

"That's Persimmon." she said, pointing at the painting.

Applejack walked up to her, both ponies staring at the deceased pony.

"She looks so young." the orange pony quipped.

"She was a much serious pony back then." one of the mares said, arranging a few daffodils in the corner.

"Well," the oldest pony stepped forward. "I guess we haven't introduce ourselves properly yet."

"My name is Dahlia." she said with a grin. "I'm the oldest."

"My sisters, Tulip and Ivy."

Both of them gave a slight bow as they continue tidying up the room.

"Well, my name is Twilight." the purple unicorn said.

"These are my friends, Applejack and Vinyl."

"Howdy," Applejack tipped her hat towards them.

Dahlia flashed a smile. "I'm glad my mother has made some more... proper friends."

She arranged a stack of papers neatly, dusting a few as she finishes.

"Proper friends?" Vinyl asked quizzically

"She has, or had, friends," Dahlia said with discomfort.

"Friends that I don't want to talk about."

"It's okay" Twilight assured her. "We won't pry."

"It's just when making friends, you have to be careful. That's all."

Dahlia threw a few glass bottles away, shoving them into a black plastic bag.

"Some friends just pretend they're 'friends'," she warned them. "My mother had many of those."

Twilight nodded understandingly. Vinyl felt her shoulder nudged as Applejack let out a small giggle.

"Heard that, DJ?" she said.

Vinyl sighed. "I'm old enough to know that, cowgirl, but as far as I know-"

"Anyways," Twilight interrupted. "You said your mother didn't mean her apology?"

"That's right." the auburn mare said, stirring a mug of coffee.

"My mother usually plays riddles with us, giving us secret codes and messages every time."

"When we left Manehatten for college," she ruffled her mane, as if regretting her decision. "my mother always said: if she was sorry, she must show something she had always treasured to the pony that gave the message."

"But I never thought she meant that..."

Dahlia started weeping softly behind her mane, trying hard not to think of her mother.

She felt a hoof around her shoulder.

"Dahlia?" Applejack quipped. "Your mother... she's one of the nicest and bravest ponies I know."

The orange pony laughed a little. "I gotta say, our first meeting didn't go well-"

Twilight and Vinyl let out a nervous laugh.

"-but I found out just how a wonderful pony your mother is." Applejack finished.

Dahlia looked at her, a variety of expressions crossing her face.

"What I'm trying to say was, you gotta stay strong. For your mother, 'ya know?"

Applejack waved her cast around. "I could end up far worse if Persimmon didn't save my flank."

"And... I owe her a lot."

Dahlia looked up in surprise. "She...... saved your life?"

Applejack smiled. "One of the first."

The auburn pony smiled back, the biggest since they arrived.

"Come on," she said. "My mother said you needed to see this."

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"And now! The moment you've all been waiting for!!"

Caper swooshed his cape around, dazzling the audience with a glittery spectacle.

"Bring out: The Separation Cage!!

A giant guillotine-like frame was rolled onto the center of the stage by two ponies, followed by a circular buzzsaw. Behind them, an engine was carted in by a wheelbarrow.

"Now, to demonstrate," he began as the ponies began setting up the contraption.

"This buzzsaw, attached here," Caper gestured to the top of the wooden frame. "will be triggered by the pull of the cord from this motor."

Caper then directed everypony's attention towards the engine.

"This engine will activate a system of pulleys. So when you pull this..."

He gave the cord a yank, making the buzzsaw spin with a loud screech.

"...you have exactly half a minute before the buzzsaw falls downwards. Now I would like a pony to volunteer as a temporary assistant to be on stage."

"Who would like to try?"

The crowd murmured and whispered as Caper tapped his hooves patiently on the floor. The buzzsaw suddenly stopped screeching, pummeling downwards with a great force as it shredded the surface of wood.

"Even the buzzsaws are impatient!" Caper said with a laugh. "Come on, don't need to be shy!"

A small hoof raised from the crowd, prompting everypony else to look.

"Well, well!" Caper beamed. "I see we have a brave soul in here. Come on down!!"

The audience clapped as the pony walked down the steps, taking each step with extreme care.

"Now, miss. Please step this way..." Caesar said as he took a glance at the mare.

His eyes widened in amazement as a pale yellow face stared back at him, her pupils glittering a bright gold. Her mane was flipped to the side, shining a bright brownish-orange. She gave him a purely gentle smile, as she stepped towards the center.

Caper fumbled for a while, letting out a giggle from the mare as he began.

"W-What's your name?"

The mare flipped her mane to the side. "Autumn. Last name Palgiot."

"Hello??"

Autumn waved her hoof as Caesar snapped out from his daydream.

"You okay, Caper? You've been staring at me like that for about... fifteen minutes maybe?"

"I'm alright, Autumn." he laughed it off. The black pony looked around.

They were in the cafe, simply known as Pendant Delights. The strong smell of muffins wavered around like a magic aura, tempting those outside to come in.

Autumn looked out the window as Caper followed her gaze. A crumbling stone platform stood, the marble columns tilting or already fallen over. She let out a depressed sigh.

"I used to jump on those," the mare gestured her head to the columns. "when I was young."

"Really? Is this part of tradition or-"

Autumn just shushed him. Caper smiled.

It feels good to be submissive sometimes.

The station was quite crowded today, with workers already rebuilding from scratch.

"How is it?" Caper asked. "The station, I mean."

"It's not half done," she answered back, trying to push it to the back of her mind.

Something caught her attention. From afar, a gray pony trotted towards the notice board, carrying a stack of papers on his back.

"What's the mayor doing here?" Caper asked with curiosity.

Another pony followed, carrying a can of glue. The mayor coughed a little as he started pasting one of the papers on the board.

Autumn's heart sank. Her eyes widened in horror as realization struck her painfully in her face.

"Caper." she said, frantically taking her purse. "I gotta go."

"Why?" the black pony asked. "Where are you going?"

She turned back, clenching her hooves as she uttered:

"To speak to my brother."

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A small gust of wind blew into her pink mane as Pinkie Pie walked down the gravel path. Rainbow Dash followed closely behind, along with Fluttershy, who was admiring the hospital garden.

A small bunch of orchids dangled from an arch, as Pinkie found her hooves straining to sit down.

"Need any help?" Rainbow asked worryingly.

"I'm fine," Pinkie said with a laugh. She settled herself on the wooden bench in the archway, taking care not to trip.

"So, have you guys done anything while I'm gone?" she asked Rainbow as both pegasi sat down beside her.

"Well," the blue pegasus ruffled her rainbow mane.

"Not much, really. Ponyville isn't really... Ponyville, if you know what I mean."

"Rarity's doing fine over at the palace." she continued with a chuckle.

Pinkie shivered a little, with images of a smiling silver mask taunting her mind.

"I hope she can catch that... pony." she managed to speak.

Fluttershy looked over with concern as Rainbow watch her mane starting to flatten more than it already used to.

"Cheer up, Pinks!" the blue pegasus stifled a nervous laugh.

"I'm sure she would."

Pinkie gave her a smile. It was more of a twisted grimace filled with dejection.

"Can we go now?" the pink pony grumbled.

The three ponies rose from the bench, continuing their small walk down the path.

A few ponies glanced nervously at Pinkie, with slight whispers flowing slightly from their mouth.

"Why are they all staring at me?" she complained.

"Can't they just look at somepony else?"

"Um... I think they like you.. I-I guess."

"Fluttershy," she said scornfully to the yellow pegasus.

"I know how ponies look at others, and I don't think they like me."

She gritted her teeth. "Not one bit."

"Don't be like that, silly!" Rainbow nudged the pink pony, who was becoming more agitated with each stare.

The doors to the hospital stood at the end. Rainbow let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"See, Pinkie?" she said. "It wasn't that bad!!"

Pinkie never questioned her friend, just giving her an unnerving smile.

Her mind suddenly became fogged with voices. She tried to calm herself down, but her ears perked as her mind taunted her morbidly.

"She's a scary one, that pink pony..."

"I feel sorry for her friends..."

"Why is she here? She should be in the Everfree Forest!!"

"That pony is crazy!"

"I'm not crazy!!!"

The eyes of everypony fixated onto her, as Pinkie panted rapidly, her eyes seething with rage.

"Pinkie?" Rainbow approached her friend with caution.

"Are you alright?"

"Alright..?" the pink pony grumbled under her breath. "Alright?!"

"You think I'll be alright?!" Pinkie scowled, trying to keep her cool.

"P..Please, Pinkie..." Fluttershy whispered silently.

"Don't 'please, Pinkie' or anything."

She kicked a little dust, ignoring the bandage on her hoof.

"You don't know how it's like to have everypony talk behind your back, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy cringed, hiding behind Rainbow Dash.

"Pinkie," the blue pegasus looked at her with concern. "What's the matter with you all of the sudden?"

"Nothing's the matter!" Pinkie shook it off with a cold sarcasm. "Nothing at all."

"Please Pinkie. You're not making this any easier."

"And you think you are??!!"

Rainbow stumbled back, bumping into Fluttershy who was now hiding her face into her blue wings.

"You think it's fun?!! Lying around all day?!! Doing absolutely nothing but looking at the ceiling for one whole day?!!"

"Pinkie, it's for your own good!!" Rainbow shouted back, pain twisting her voice.

Pinkie just scoffed, her face darkening as she glared at her friend.

"You don't know anything about this, Rainbow!"

"I was here before, Pinkie!" she shouted.

"I know how it's like!!"

"No you don't!!"

"Pinkie-"

"Shut up!!!"

Rainbow was taken aback, her eyes widening with shock.

"You don't know a single, bucking thing about what I've been through!!" Pinkie shouted at the top of her voice.

The other patients started cringe in fear as Rainbow took a small step back.

"He pushed me, Rainbow!!!" she continued as tears started falling from her eyes.

"He pushed me out the window!! Did anypony pushed you out of windows, Rainbow??!!"

Rainbow glanced around nervously, trying to think of something to say.

"Anypony??!!"

"No, Pinkie!" she replied sharply. "Nopony!!"

Pinkie stepped forward, her eyes still furrowing at her friend.

"I knew it."

She started giggling coldly with satisfaction, yet Rainbow can still feel the rage emanating from the pink pony.

"And they say I'm crazy!!" she snorted. "Who would've thought I'm crazy??!!"

She started laughing, rolling around the pavement. Her mane was still flat, brushing against dirt and dust.

"Pinkie..." Fluttershy bit her lip, watching her friend laughing hysterically.

Rainbow Dash glanced away, greatly disturbed by her pink friend.

Pinkie stood up, finishing her laughter. Her eyes pierced deep into Rainbow's, who was avoiding her glance.

"I told you so, Rainbow." she scoffed.

"You wouldn't know anything about this..."

Her voice faltered as Pinkie felt the world darkening, stumbling around dizzily. Rainbow and Fluttershy suddenly looked at her with fear.

"Pinkie?!"

The pink pony collapsed onto the path. Rainbow rushed to her side.

"Pinkie?! Pinkie, don't do this!!"

The pink pony lay motionless on the ground. Fluttershy let out a gasp as a few ponies rushed into the hospital.

"Pinkie!!" Rainbow screamed at the pony. "Don't do this to me!!"

"Pinkie..."

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The blanket fluttered gently, a small chirp tensing in his ears.

He let out a small yawn, his eyes slowly opening as he looked around in a blur.

"W...Where..."

He reached around, trying to focus. He felt his legs tremble as he finally touched the floor.

"What..."

His head pounded as he groaned with frustration. He felt cloth running through his fingers.

He blinked slightly, his vision becoming clear.

"Wha-?" He looked around in bewilderment.

"What am I doing here?"

Everything seem to flash through him in a split second, as a sudden dawn of realization hit him.

"Rarity!!"

Winter's Folly

"Is she going to be alright?" Rainbow asked in desperation.

The doctor placed his stethoscope down, frowning slightly as he took a glance at Pinkie Pie.

"She's undergoing through a lot of stress." he explained.

"The trauma she has gone through has driven her paranoid. It is necessary for her to see a psychiatrist."

Pinkie stifled a moan, making Fluttershy look away.

"C-Can I leave?" she muttered. "I-I don't want to s-see her like... this."

The yellow pegasus ran out the room, galloping away before Rainbow could answer.

"I'm sorry," she apologized to the doctor. "She's like that."

The doctor just sighed.

"I don't blame her."

"Seeing your friend like this, I'm sure many ponies would."

Rainbow nodded slightly, glancing uneasily at the unconscious pony.

"Please be alright, Pinkie."

"I should go," the blue pegasus excused herself.

"Tell me when she wakes up."

The doctor nodded, watching her as she trotted out the room.

Rainbow let out a relieved sigh, closing the door behind her. "Well, that went well."

"Fluttershy?" she called out in the hallway, trying to look for the yellow pegasus.

"Fluttershy?" Rainbow looked around in confusion.

She trotted down the hallway, ruffling her wings slightly as she glanced down the corridor.

"Rainbow!!"

The blue pegasus tripped over as she felt something crash onto her back. A few, yellow feathers tickled her face, making her groan in annoyance.

"Fluttershy, please! Don't ever do that-"

"Come on, Rainbow!" Fluttershy chirped. "There's somepony you gotta see."

Rainbow let out a sigh, buckling her hooves as she lifted herself up.

"Well, what is it you want me to s-"

She instantly froze in surprise, as her eyes landed on somepony beside Fluttershy.

Looking up from his shadow, she couldn't help but smile widely as a pair of emerald eyes stared back at her.

"Spike...?"

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Twilight tried to hold in her anticipation. They've been here for a week or so, just for this time to come. The time to finally get some answers.

Another stack of books piled up as Dahlia lifted them frustratingly off a row of shelves. She cursed irritatingly under her breath, shuffling through the next row.

"It must be here somewhere..." she mumbled as her hoof scanned through the shelf.

A spark of interest escaped her eyes as she finally found it.

"Here it is!" Dahlia called to the unicorn.

"This is what she wanted to give you."

From her hoof, Dahlia passed a small, circular lacquer box. It was brightly adorned with ink pictures of flowers and butterflies. The lid was glazing in the light, shining like a polished mirror despite the small traces of dust covering it.

Placing the box on the table, Twilight blew the dust off, scattering in the air as she let out a slight cough.

"How old is this?" the purple unicorn asked Dahlia, who shrugged with uncertainty.

"I have no idea, Twilight." she replied. "It was one of mother's most private things. Even I have no clue what was inside."

Twilight examined the box carefully. "I've never seen these kind of boxes before."

"So? Found it yet?"

Applejack walked over, swerving around a few, misplaced chairs as she raised her broken hoof with care.

Dahlia smiled invitingly, standing up to help her as the orange pony tipped her hat in appreciation.

"Thanks."

"No problem." she replied.

Applejack sat down on a chair, sliding it close to Twilight as she watched her unicorn friend fumbling with a golden latch.

"It's... very..." her hoof slipped as she panted slightly. "...tight."

"Let me try," Applejack insisted.

"No, AJ." Twilight looked at her with concern. "Your hoof is injured. The last thing I want to see you is get hurt again."

Applejack slumped back in her chair, watching with disappointment in her hoof as Twilight tried to use her horn.

"For some reason, spells aren't working either."

Her horn flared a brilliant purple, a similar aura enveloping on the latch.

The latch glowed in purple for the third time, before the aura faded into nothing. Twilight felt like smacking herself.

"Cheer up, Twi." Applejack said. "I'm sure there must be a way to open this."

"Well..." Dahlia looked around the room. "My mother wouldn't keep anything here, if you must know."

"I suggest her hometown," she continued with a shrug. "Otherwise there is nowhere else I can think of."

Twilight nodded. "Thank you, Dahlia. For everything."

"No biggie." Dahlia grinned. "She would want you to have it."

The three ponies smiled, the room brightening up a little as Twilight and Applejack slowly strode out.

Twilight looked at the box once again. The bright decor of flowers shone brilliantly back at her.

She sighed deeply in frustration.

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"Crimson Lux de Cavalle.... Harlequin Velvet...."

Winter fumbled the names in his mind as the tip of his quill became smothered in a bottle of ink.

"Basil Luck.... Sidus Storm...."

The door slammed open, making Winter jump from his seat.

"Winter, we need to talk."

"Autumn." he tried to keep his cool. "Please. I'm in the middle of discovering something here."

"Winter Palgiot, we're talking this instant and that means right now!!"

Autumn brushed her mane aside roughly, glaring at Winter as she slammed her hooves on his table.

"What is it?" he asked sharply, ignoring her sister's rage.

"You've ordered Stencil to raise the taxes again, haven't you?"

Winter looked up contemptibly, sipping a few drops of wine.

"And why'd you ask?"

"Winter!!" Autumn looked at him in shock.

"Do you have any idea what are you doing?!"

"As a matter of fact, I do." he said calmly, his brows furrowing towards her.

"I know the last thing these ponies needed was a tax. But I require the finances for-"

"For what?!" Autumn shouted. "For building that dream machine thing of yours?!"

"Look Autumn, the machine does not matter into this. It's something else."

Autumn just scowled. "I have seen how.. angry the ponies are in town, alright?"

"And they're just going to rampage up here and tear everything down before you even know it, Winter."

Winter gazed at her in suspicion. He ruffled his collars, letting out a small sigh.

"Tell me, Autumn." he asked his sister. "What happened?'

"What do you mean what happened?" she replied.

"What happened to you, I mean."

Autumn just looked at him, unsure of what he just said.

"I'm feeling fine, Winter. That's all."

"There's something else," her brother's voice trailed off as he stared out the window. The golden sky flourished as the sun started setting between the twin peaks.

"You're a little... different, perhaps."

He shrugged a little. "Playing music, visiting the town often, this is seriously not the Autumn I used to know."

Autumn shuffled nervously, her mind aching to find something to say.

"T-There's something. On my mind these couple of days."

"And you're sure you're okay with it?" Winter raised his voice.

"After what happened to Summer, I don't want to see you or Spring get hurt."

"If you could just tell me what's going on-"

"No!"

Autumn broke in sharply.

"This is, and never was, any of your business Winter." she scowled, glaring at her brother.

"And I'll make it clear. If you dare stick your arrogant, little snout inside it again-"

She stomped towards the door, neglecting the carpet below her hooves.

"- I swear to Celestia, I'll finish what Summer had failed to do!"

The door slammed loudly as Winter looked on in bewilderment. He settled his gaze upon the papers strewn all over his desk. Every piece seemed to wrinkle as he bent down, slotting a few into his hooves at a time.

"What could she be up to?"

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Rarity couldn't believe her ears. "What happened? Was she hurt?"

"Luckily, no." Rainbow's voice crackled slightly.

"She's having a lot of problems recently. She's always accusing other ponies for saying things behind her back, even when no one said anything."

"In other words, as what Twilight would say, she's intensely paranoid."

Rarity slumped back in her chair, her face mixed with worry as she tried to picture Pinkie in her mind.

"What happened to you..." she mumbled silently.

"Um... R-Rarity?"

She instantly snapped from her thoughts.

"Yes, Fluttershy? What is it?"

"T-There's somepony that wants to talk to you..." the yellow pegasus chirped.

Rarity's mind piqued with interest. "Whoever is it, dear?" she asked curiously.

"Is it Sweetie Belle? I've got a lot to share with her. We haven't really talked much."

"No it isn't." Fluttershy's voice tingled with excitement.

A soft clatter came from the speaker as Rarity strained her ears, trying to hear the muffled voices in Fluttershy's cottage.

"Come on! She's waiting!"

"I... I can't, Fluttershy." another voice croaked slightly.

"But she would be happy to hear you!"

"Fluttershy?" Rarity tried her best to call her friend. "Whatever is going on in there, darling?"

A loud crash of books made her jump from the chair. "Fluttershy?" she called again.

The walkie-talkie crackled, buzzing a little as Rarity listened closely.

"Um... Rarity?"

The unicorn gasped, covering her hoof with her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stumbled backwards.

"Rarity....?" the voice dragged with concern.

Could it be....

"Is that you, Spike?" she asked cautiously with growing excitement.

There was a pause. Rarity tapped her hooves impatiently, waiting for the answer.

A small huff crackled through the speakers. "Uh... Yeah, I guess."

Rarity couldn't hold back anymore.

"Celestia, Spike!!" she shouted into the walkie-talkie. "You're alive! You're really alive!!"

A nervous chuckle fluttered from the speakers as tears flowed down her white face. She shivered slightly at the dragon's voice, trying not to sob loudly as she wiped her tears away.

"Y-You scared me, Spike! You stupid dragon!" she raised her voice.

"How can you be so insensitive about this?! You know how worried I was about you?! Every d-day I prayed, every day I h-hoped that you'll be safe! Do you have any idea how much I've gone through?!"

"Alright! Alright!" Spike's voice broke through. "I get it, Rarity."

"I'm sorry. About everything, okay? About how I didn't say goodbye, about how I made you guys worried and -"

Rarity hushed him up, immediately silencing the dragon.

She smiled with relief. Spike hasn't changed at all.

"It's okay, Spike. I-It wasn't your fault." she said with a sniffle.

"It wasn't your fault, not at all."

Rarity pictured Spike smiling at her, small tears of joy glittering her eyes as she laughed softly.

"I'm just glad you're safe." she said.

Spike's voice crackled through the speakers. "I'm glad you are too."

His tone turned somber. "Listen, Rarity. There's something I gotta say."

Rarity perked her ears in anticipation.

"What is it, Spike?" she asked.

"Remember the day? When we first met at the Town Hall?"

Rarity chuckled a little. Images of the Summer Sun Celebration echoed in her mind.

"What about it?"

"Well..." his voice shifted nervously. "when I first laid my eyes on you, I've, how should I put this... I've never seen a finer mare in my entire life than you, Rarity."

"You were the one that kept me going, Rarity, when I was hurt." he said, slightly tearing up.

"Because since that day, I swore to myself that I won't give up on you. I swore I wouldn't let you leave with some other pony other than me."

Rarity trembled, her mouth aghast as Spike continued.

"What I wanted to say was," he held his breath, before continuing.

"I love you, Rarity."

Her mind tried to absorb what the dragon said as Rarity froze, her heart pulsing furiously.

"Come on... Say something!!"

"S-Spike?"

The dragon's voice returned. "Yes, Rarity?"

"I..." she was at a loss for words. Her mind raced through her, prompting her to continue.

"I..... I love you too, Spike."

"Really? I mean.. uh... you really mean it, Rarity?"

The unicorn chuckled slightly. "Of course I do, Spike. I always wanted to say that since you gave me that fire ruby, but I couldn't. I don't know why, but I just... couldn't."

"And I'm sorry for not realizing it before." Rarity held back a sob. "I-I'm really sorry."

She couldn't help it. She broke down, burying her face in her hooves as Spike tried to calm her down through the walkie-talkie.

"Don't cry, Rarity." the dragon said. "Hearing you cry really makes me wanna cry too."

Rarity chuckled at his comment, her sniffles slowly receding.

"You're such a sweetheart, Spike-Wikey. You know that?"

Spike laughed sheepishly. "Well, it just... flew out of my mouth, really."

The white unicorn brushed her hanging mane aside, laughing along with the dragon.

"Really, Spike. You're a natural charmer..." she giggled softly.

"That's what I like about you..."

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The wheels screeched to a halt as the steam died down. A small grin was plastered on Twilight's face as she stepped outside into the familiar town around her.

"Ah...... it's good to be home.."

She stretched her tired hooves, a small bag dangling from the side. Applejack stepped down behind her, with Vinyl helping her lift her bags down.

"Finally!!" she hollered. "Ponyville!"

She waved her hat around, smiling widely as her hoof touched the ground.

"Watch your cast, AJ," Vinyl called out to her friend. "You don't want to get hurt again."

"Twilight!!"

A streak of color burst through the crowd, scattering a few papers and hats as a flutter of yellow wings tried to keep up.

"You're back, Twilight..." Fluttershy beamed at her friend.

"Howdy, Rainbow." Applejack chuckled nervously.

"Applejack!" the blue pegasus cried out, before giving her a glare.

"What were you thinking?!! Scaring us like that!"

"Yeah, about that, RD-" she began.

"You've made us worried sick!! Me, Fluttershy, your family, for Celestia's sake!" Rainbow continued. "Granny Smith nearly got a heart attack!"

"What?" Applejack paled slightly. "How is she? Is she alright?!"

"You're lucky I was there!" Rainbow shouted. "You should've seen your family. They nearly went berserk over there."

The orange pony drooped slightly, biting her lip. "What am I gonna tell 'em?" she said, looking at her cast.

"I'm sure they'll...um... understand, Applejack..." Fluttershy said with a smile.

"Anyways," she continued. "There's somepony else wanting to see you guys."

She gestured her head, as a purple dragon stepped from the crowd.

"Uh.. Hi?"

"Spike!!" Applejack galloped to the dragon's side, completely forgetting about her cast.

"By golly, I'm so glad to see you!!" she cried with glee.

"You're awake!!" Vinyl rushed up to him, giving him a hug.

Spike grinned at the two mares. "It's great to see you guys again."

Twilight trotted up to him, her face darkened with a frown.

"Uhm...." The dragon shifted nervously.

"Uh.... Hey Twilight."

The unicorn just scoff, her eyes piercing into the dragon's green pupils.

"So... how's Manehatten?" Spike tried again.

"Just fine." she replied coldly.

Spike didn't know what to say, glancing around nervously as he fidgeted his claws.

"Look, T-Twilight," he stammered. "I k-know I was a little t-too-"

He stumbled backwards as Twilight gave him a hard slap. The other ponies gasped in unison at the unicorn as she gritted her teeth.

"That's for scaring the heck out of me, Spike!" she shouted

"Twilight," Fluttershy cut in. "I think that's enou-"

Spike felt his other cheek blazed sorely as her hoof struck on his scales once again.

"And that's for making me believe you're not going to make it!!"

Twilight scowled scornfully with tears in her eyes.

"Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?! Don't!"

The dragon lifted himself up, sweeping dust off his chest.

"I'm sorry, Twilight." his voice was filled with regret. "I was stupid."

"I didn't know what I was thinking." the dragon continued. "and I was too ignorant of my friends. All of them."

Suddenly, he felt hooves launching around his chest as Twilight suddenly embraced him tightly, sobbing inside his chest.

"I-I'm just *sniffle* glad t-that...."

"I know, Twilight. I know." Spike grinned at her, returning the embrace. "And I'm happy you're safe too."

Twilight stopped sniffling, smiling at the dragon. She looked around at her friends, scanning each of their faces.

"W-Where's Pinkie Pie?"

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Winter strode around his room, glancing around as the gears in his mind tried to click in place.

"Something doesn't fit..." he mumbled to himself.

He slumped against his velvet couch, sighing deeply as he finished his seventh glass of champagne.

His face twinged a little as the strong smell of grapes slithered down his throat.

"Looks like somepony's enjoying himself."

Winter twirled around. "Who's there?" he called out.

He flipped on his lamp, the small bulb illuminating the room in a deep shade of yellow.

A shadow stood on the far corner of his room, a small sparkle of gold revealing a mask. The pony walked forward, the mask grimaced from its smiling, stitched lips.

"What a wonderful night it is, Patriarch."

"And just what are you doing here?" Winter growled. "To terminate me?"

The masked pony stopped in its tracks. "Cute. I'm here to warn you, Mr Palgiot."

Winter scoffed at that. "Warn me?" he chuckled.

"Warn me about what? Not to pry any further?"

The masked pony laughed coldly along. "Very funny, Winter Palgiot."

"You had done something. Something very idiotic for a pony like you." the voice boomed with elegance.

The Patriarch stood from his chair, readying his hidden blade.

"And just what do you plan to do about it?"

"Oh, nothing much." the pony said, shifting the cloak down.

"As I've said, I'm here to warn you."

The pony shifted closer towards Winter, who was focusing on a chance to strike.

"Why warn me?" he questioned.

"Why tell me at all?"

"Because..." the pony stopped short, slinking back into the darkness.

"B-Because..."

Winter crept closer to the pony, slightly confused by the pony's sudden loss for words.

"Because what?" he asked.

Suddenly, he felt himself gripped into the darkness with his lips smashed against the other pony's. He tried to push away in vain, his face anguished with disgust. "Get off me, you crazy..."

The taste in the other's lips started twirling in his tongue. Winter felt himself succumbing into the fizzling taste of cherries and raspberries as he slowly closed his eyes.

The pair kissed deeply, with the cloaked pony leaning against the window, letting out a sensual moan.

Winter suddenly stumbled back, pushed away by the unknown pony.

"Haah..." the voice panted, wiping its lips. "That's a tad little too much."

The white stallion couldn't believe what just happened. He had just kissed one of the most dangerous ponies in the world.

"Wait!" he called out as he spotted the pony sneaking out the window.

"Who are you?"

The pony seemed to smile, the moonlight giving Winter a glimpse of faint, pink skin. She uttered one last thing before jumping into the forest.

"I am nopony."

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"So your brother just said it was necessary. He never exactly said why?"

Autumn nodded silently, tears streaming slowly down her face as the robed pony sneered.

"Well, well. Winter Palgiot's abusing his reins." Thistle chuckled morbidly.

The room filled with soft laughter as Autumn looked at the ground, shamefully under Thistle's shadow.

"Don't bother squirming around, Miss Autumn." he said. "The ropes will hold you there forever if I want to."

Autumn stopped struggling, her hooves tightened to the chair by a set of ropes.

"Please, Thistle!" she pleaded. "Don't hurt my brother!"

Thistle grunted, then edged his hoof.

"I already told you, I gave him one last chance..."

In one swift move, he slapped Autumn to the side, making her cry out in pain. The chair fell to the side, pulling her along.

Her face landed on the concrete floor. She wept bitterly, coughing a little.

"... and he wasted his chance. The one chance to redeem himself." Thistle finished.

Autumn gazed at the other ponies around the room. Her eyes quickly settled on a black pony watching in horror from the crowd.

Please, Caper...

Caper glanced away, trying not to stifle a sob.

"Tonight! We prepare!" Thistle shouted, his voice storming through the room. "We prepare for a correction of an error so major, the whole of Pendant Lakes will turn upside down!!!!"

A chorus of cheers erupted through the room, as Thistle stood, beaming with pride.

"By tomorrow, we shall gather, we shall unite!! We shall strike Pendant Lakes at the very core of its heart!! We will burn it down, raze it!!!"

A volley of pitchforks were suddenly raised into the air. Another wave of cheers erupted, this time even louder.

"Then we! We, the Sanguine Surrogates!! We shall claim Pendant Lakes!! As our own!!!"

One last eruption of cheers echoed, blasting into Autumn's ears.

Caper looked at Autumn, clenching his hooves tightly with anger and guilt.

He felt a hoof placed around him.

"Cheer up, Caper!" a light blue pony said.

"Tonight is the night of redemption!! To obtain what is rightfully ours!"

"I don't need redemption, Dresden." Caper said, pushing the hoof away.

"I just need Autumn, and that's all I need."

"If you can't open your eyes, Caper." Dresden warned him. "you will never see the morning light."

Caper scoffed. "And what of you, Dres? How did you become so... blind suddenly?"

He left the room in a huff, ignoring his friend's spiteful glare.

"Oh and Dres?" he said before closing the door.

"May Tartarus have mercy on you."

Uprising

Rarity couldn't help but laugh.

"And you're sure Scootaloo didn't do it?"

"I don't know!" Sweetie wailed through the speakers.

"But I hope she gives my ribbon back! My mane's getting messy!!"

"I'm sure... um.. Scootaloo can understand." Fluttershy piped in.

Rarity chuckled at her sister. "I'm sure she'll return it. Since when did you care so much about your mane, Sweetie?"

"Cheerilee made her the main star for the upcoming talent show." the yellow pegasus explained.

"Really? That is absolutely wonderful, Sweetie Belle!"

Sweetie giggled in the background. "You wouldn't believe what I'm acting as, sis!!"

"I'm this singing princess that loves, and I mean loves, clothes!! Just like you, sis!"

Rarity blushed a little.

"O-Of course! Certainly, Sweetie Belle. I'm sure."

Octavia chuckled behind Rarity as Sweetie continued rambling.

"Should I brush it this side? Or is it the other way? I don't know, Rarity!!"

"That's f..fine, Sweetie." Fluttershy's voice squeaked in the background.

"I can help you... if you want, of course."

"Really? Oh, thank you, thank you so much, Fluttershy!!"

"Well," Rarity said. "That settles it, then."

"Good luck on your talent show, Sweetie!"

"Thanks, sis!"

The walkie-talkie clicked off as Octavia watched her friend yawn drowsily.

"It's only three in the afternoon, Rarity," she pestered teasingly. "and you're acting like Crimson at breakfast."

Rarity laughed slightly, rolling her eyes.

"Really, Octavia. I spent too much time on this last night."

"I've heard." Octavia mused, giving her a wink. "You're lucky Crimson invited me to some fancy-prancy place in town."

The unicorn blushed a little.

"So how is he? Spike, I mean?"

"Well, he's alright now." Rarity answered. She shook her mane to the side, letting her curls flow straight.

"We had a lot of things to catch up on, he and I."

"Did he know?"

Rarity looked at her friend for a second. "Know what?"

"About the explosion? About how you're supposed to-"

"I think," Rarity broke in. "it's better if he doesn't. At least not now."

She sighed dejectedly, looking out the window. "Maybe when all of this is behind us, when everything is over."

"I think it will be better to reminisce about it then."

Octavia nodded understandingly. "I guess you're right."

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"And be sure to exercise daily. You need to keep those hooves working!"

"Of course, Dr Brineheart!" Crimson said as he waved goodbye.

"Finally.... free from crutches!"

Crimson breathed a sigh of relief as he stretched his hooves. "Forgot how it feels like walking," he mumbled to himself.

The day, like most days in Pendant Lakes, was mellow. Occasionally, a wave or two of golden leaves will flutter around, scattering on the white pavements in each corner.

Crimson let the wind brush through his mane. The cooling air rushed into his nose, tingling his snout a little.

His mind quickly lingered on his marefriend. He chuckled slightly at the thought of the grey pony.

"Well, I must get something for 'Tavi," he reminded himself.

"Starlet Avenue it is, then."

He staggered a little, trying to get used to walking.

"I wonder what she would like? Heels? Or maybe a new dress? Or just something small..."

His voice trailed off as he turned around the bend.

"What in the-!"

The whole stretch of the avenue was blazing with ember. Some of the structures already collapsed to the floor. The sky looked black with soot and smoke. Everywhere ponies are scattered, in dire search of water.

"Get some help down here!" "Somepony's trapped!"

"What the hay happened here?!" Crimson asked one of the ponies frantically.

"T-There-There was...." the pony shunned, his body drenched in fear.

A loud explosion rocked the ground, making Crimson stumble.

"Please sir, I need to know what's going on!" he shouted.

"The S-S-Su-Surrogates!" the pony managed to stammer.

"The what?!"

"Crimson! Crimson Cavalle!"

The singer craned his neck, through the stampeding crowd.

An auburn hoof waved at him, gesturing him over.

"Pardon me!" the red pony swerved through the crowd.

He squinted his eyes, finally able to see the pony.

"Miss Autumn?! What are you doing here?"

"We have no time!!" Autumn shouted frantically. "You need to tell my brother about this. Right now!"

Another explosion echoed, smoke billowing among the flames.

"Quickly, Crimson!" she pleaded. "For everypony's sake!!"

Crimson looked around in shock. Her eyes pierced into his like a steel razor.

"Please..."

He held one of her hooves up, cupping it into his. A fierce spirit of determination brewed in him as he looked at the mare in the eye.

"I'll try."

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"What do you mean, she attacked somepony?"

Rainbow tried to brush it off, but Twilight's serious gaze said otherwise.

"She... she took a blade from the cart. I dunno what happened..."

The rainbow-maned pegasus shuddered. "You should've seen it. How hard she gripped the blade. How angry her stare was."

"But the scariest part was what she said."

Twilight reached the door, stopping for a moment.

"What she said? As in, what she said when she held the blade?"

"You know..." Rainbow's tone tingled uneasily. "She started cursing stuff, something about stupid wretched fiend and rot in Tartarus, things like that!"

"It was like something... I dunno... possessed her! She was totally out of control! Nopony could stop her..."

Rainbow's voice turned quiet as Twilight turned the knob. Both ponies peered in cautiously as they stepped inside.

"Pinkie?" Twilight called to her pink friend on the bed at the other end of the room.

"Pinkie, it's me. I'm back."

There was a long silence, as Twilight and Rainbow crept closer.

"What do you want?"

Rainbow froze in her tracks, nudging Twilight nervously.

"I told you!"

"Pinkie, I heard. About what you did to... well.. to-"

"That idiot? Don't mention anything about him. At all." Pinkie's voice rose sharply in volume as she sat up from her bed.

"I won't, Pinkie." Twilight assured her, edging closer to Pinkie, who was now facing the window.

"I just wanna know what's bothering you lately."

The pink pony seemed to flinch, prompting Twilight to stop.

"Pinkie?"

"What?"

"Please." she tried again. "Just tell me what's going o-"

"There's nothing going on!!" Pinkie threw a pillow suddenly as she turned around, glaring with her bloodshot eyes.

Twilight ducked downwards, the pillow flying above her before crashing into a small vase.

The vase toppled to floor, shattering with a small crack.

"Pinkie, please! I know what the pony did to you was frightening!! But how you're acting now, that's exactly what that pony wants!"

Pinkie's glare seemed to soften, yet Twilight can still see the cold morbidity in her eyes.

Rainbow walked beside Twilight, trembling slightly.

The pink pony's blue eyes sparkled, noticing the pegasus's fear.

"What's wrong, Dashie~?" she taunted coyly. "Afraid of Auntie Pinkie Pie now?"

"I- I...." Rainbow cringed, glancing away nervously.

"Pinkie!" Twilight urged. "Come to your senses now!!"

"And why is that?!!" the pink pony screeched, her eyes flaring with rage.

"Why do you think that I'm the only crazy pony here?!! Why do you all think that way?!!"

She started crying bitterly, her voice faltering a little before continuing:

"I told that bucking pony once! And I'll say it again!!"

She sniffled once, as Twilight took a step backwards.

"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW CRAZY I CAN GET!!!"

Pinkie started laughing loudly, falling onto the bed as her body convulsed violently.

"Crazy, you know!!" she snickered with spite. "Cuckoo in the cockatoo~!!"

"Celestia, Pinkie..." Twilight whispered as she watched her friend rolling on the bed with laughter.

Rainbow tried to get it off her mind, the screaming, the shouting, the way her friend was acting.

The pink pony's voice calmed, as Pinkie draped herself under the sheets of the bed.

"Just go. Get out." she croaked.

Twilight shook her head. "No, Pinkie."

"I don't want to see you like this. We need the old Pinkie back."

Pinkie looked up in surprise as Twilight finished her sentence.

"The real Pinkie..."

The pink pony froze for a moment, before her shocked expression darkened.

"You don't know much.... don't you Twilight?"

Twilight widened her eyes, slightly stunned by her comment.

"W-What do you mean?"

The pink pony gave her a disturbing smile, making Rainbow shiver nervously.

Her face slowly twisted into a frown, as Pinkie gave both ponies a cold stare. She turned her head away from them, her mouth letting out one last word in a booming, merciless scowl.

"Out."

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"BOOOM!"

"What in the hay was that?"

Octavia peered out the window, letting out a small gasp.

"Celestia..."

Rarity followed her gaze. A giant cloud of smoke billowed in the air, complete with large flames. Screams echoed from the fire below spread through the town.

"Wha-What's happening down there?"

The door busted open as Crimson heaved inside, collapsing onto the floor as the stallion panting and heaving rapidly.

"Must..... find...."

"Crimson!" Octavia rushed to his side.

She wrinkled her nose at the soot covering his hooves. "What happened?"

"The town.... an attack..."

"What do you mean 'an attack'?" Rarity asked.

"Armies.... marching up.... Palace."

Both mares looked at each other, their eyes widened in horror.

"What army, Crimson? What army?"

"She didn't say...." Crimson heaved slightly, coughing a wisp of ash out.

Octavia patted his back as Rarity tried to piece things together.

"She? Who's she?"

"Autumn. Winter's sister."

Octavia glared at him suddenly. "What are the both of you doing together?!"

Crimson just looked at her in surprise.

"Nothing, 'Tavi! Honest!" he assured her.

"I was just walking down, then I saw Starlet Avenue being destroyed." he explained frantically.

"Autumn was there before me. She begged me to get Winter."

The grey pony just raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Octavia," Rarity barked, "this is not a good time!"

The door swung open once again as Winter stepped in. Stellar followed closely behind.

"Rarity, Octavia." Winter gestured to the two mares. "We need everypony to a safe place. Stellar will show you where."

Both mares nodded as they helped Crimson up. The stallion brushed a little dust off as he mustered up his confidence.

"Winter."

The white pony looked at him.

"What is it?"

"It's your sister." he told him. "She needs to see you immediately."

Winter's face darkened slightly, his mind trying to register through the explosions as he turned to Stellar.

"I don't like where this is going."

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Applejack tensed as Sweet Apple Acres came into view. She gazed at her cast with uncertainty as Fluttershy followed her with her bags.

"Ah don't know about this...."

"But you family must've missed you and, um..."

"Fluttershy," Applejack grinned at the yellow pegasus. "Ah know you're trying to help me and all, but I'm not really sure about this."

"What would Big Mac think if he saw me like this?" she asked worryingly. "What would Applebloom say?"

"Don't worry, Applejack." Fluttershy comforted her friend.

"I'm sure they'll understand."

The grass meadow made way for a forest of trees as they entered the orchard. The trees stood tall behind old, wooden fences, with one too many ripe apples hanging from the branches.

"These apples sure ripen quickly," Applejack muttered as they continue down the path.

Both ponies stopped short, looking at the view before them. The barn stood proudly, just right beside the house of the Apple family. The sun blazed brightly as Applejack shielded her eyes with her hat, letting her ponytail fall to one side.

"By golly!" she chuckled at Fluttershy, who was still pushing her bags along.

"What a hot day it is!"

"Applejack!"

Twilight and Rainbow approached them, wandering from another path.

"Hey," Applejack waved her hoof. "How was Pinkie Pie?"

Twilight fiddled with her hooves. "Didn't go well. At all."

"She's way over her head with this one."

"What did 'ya mean?"

Rainbow cleared her throat. "She doesn't want to tell what's bothering her."

"Without Rarity, Twilight and you, everything just became a lot worse. Now, she doesn't even want to talk to us."

Fluttershy trembled a little, cringing behind one of Applejack's bags.

"So 'ya think she's half insane, in a way?"

Both ponies nodded.

"And she doesn't give a horseshoe to talk about it?"

"You could say that!" Twilight chuckled.

"Well," Applejack concluded. "I, for one, don't blame 'er. She just need a little of 'er time to open up, that's all."

"If I were the both of you, I'll blame the rotten pony that pushed her! The darn pony that..."

Her voice faltered as the orange pony raised her cast.

"....that did this."

"Applejack!"

A large, red stallion galloped towards them, his hooves clattering in a frenzy as an expression of relief and anxiety crossed through his face.

"Macintosh!!" Applejack called out his name as both ponies swiftly embraced, tears chugging out from her eyes.

"Ah told 'ya Manehatten ain't some place for a filly like you!" he scolded with extreme worry.

"Look at what happened to ya hoof, Applejack! You know how dangerous it is with all the driving and stuff?! You're lucky you have 'ya friends there with 'ya!"

Applejack grinned slightly at Twilight, who returned it with her own.

"I sure am lucky, Mac."

"SIS!!"

Apple Bloom rushed towards her big sister, tightly squeezing her as the orange pony turned slightly blue.

"Whoa there, silly filly!" she managed to yelp. "Easy with the hugs!"

"You know how worried I was about you?!!" Apple Bloom screeched fiercely.

"I nearly thought you weren't going to make it!! You scared me, sis!!"

Applejack shushed her.

"I'm here now, sugarcube." she mumbled into her sister's ear softly. "I'm alright."

"Please don't do that," the yellow filly pleaded, sniffling a little. "Ever again!"

"I won't, Apple Bloom," Applejack hushed her, tightly embracing her little sister with tears in her eyes as her friends watched along with Big Mac.

"I promise."

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"This way!"

Stellar led the three ponies through the main corridor as plaster rained from the ceiling. The ground rumbled a little, the chandeliers swaying to and fro. Platoons of guards emerged from all corners, rushing outside the main doors as they ushered everypony else to safety.

The butler stopped in his tracks, gesturing to a set of stairs leading down into the darkness.

"These stairs lead to the wine cellar." he explained hastily as another explosion rocked the palace. "You'll be safe down there."

He passed them an ornate set of keys. "Hurry! Go!!"

Octavia glanced uneasily in the darkness as she stepped down first. Crimson followed closely behind her, with Rarity tailing at the end.

"Miss Rarity," Stellar called out to her.

"If something comes up somewhere down there, let me know."

Rarity gave a nod. "Alright."

"Now go!" the butler shooed her. "There's not enough time!"

A symphony of shatters rang through the hallway as the chandelier broke loose from its chains. The guards stacked a mountain of antique furniture against the main door as Rarity began her step down.

"Octavia?" she called out in the dark as she clambered to the bottom. The unicorn squinted her eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness.

"Crimson?" she tried again. A loud 'boom!' echoed from above, clouds of dust trinkling from the seams in the stone ceiling.

"Over here!" a voice hissed.

Rarity looked around, irritated by the lack of light in the room.

"Where?" she grumbled.

A small flicker caught her eyes, as Rarity crept slightly closer towards a stone pillar.

The air became mustier as she strode deeper. She let out a gagging cough, trying not to stumble as she worked her way through the darkness.

The spark became a ball of flame, illuminating Octavia's face as the grey pony held up an oil lamp.

"Vintage, eh?" she said jokingly.

The small ember illuminated through the room, forming distorted shadows around them.

Crimson sat down, his legs worn out as he looked around in wonder.

"What is this place?"

The pillars were solid granite, smooth in appearance yet rough in texture. Iron pedestals jutted out from them, with a claw designed to grip onto the bottom of a torch.

But what really amazed them more was the wall beyond them. Between a few wine racks, bricks jut out from their respective places, with scrawls and scribbles carved neatly into them. A small keyhole stood in the center, along with a faded bronze plaque nailed below.

Rarity tried to read the words.

"Holding firm .... stand.... Ochre...."

She wiped the plaque with her hoof, with little success.

"Ochre... Ochre Palgiot." her mind clicked.

"He saved Pendant Lakes from disaster many decades ago."

Octavia walked towards Rarity, examining the plaque as well.

"But why is his name in a wine cellar? And what's with all the weird bricks?"

She tapped slightly onto one lingering above her head.

The room shook a little as another loud explosion rang out. Crimson looked up with worry.

Dust fell from the ceiling, making Octavia cough lightly as Rarity tried to make sense of the faded words.

"Son.... Son of Ochre Palgiot?" she inquired

"Perhaps," Crimson answered with a shrug. "Or maybe Ochre is the son of... well... somepony."

"Fedora," Rarity answered with pride. "Winter assisted me with my history."

"Well, there are no Fedoras here," Octavia sighed in defeat.

"Maybe it is Ochre's son after all."

Rarity examined the weird bricks jutting from the wall.

"They're all just a pointless number of scratches." she said, throwing her hooves up with annoyance.

"I don't understand which ridiculous pony would put a wall such as that here!"

The room rocked again. Rarity jumped with fright as one of the wine racks toppled over, the bottles shattering all over the floor.

Octavia and Crimson laughed loudly. "It's only wine bottles, Rarity!"

The unicorn blushed with embarrassment.

"I guess I'm being a little jumpy today." she admitted.

"Well," Octavia gazed at the wall again. "I wish I know what's it about."

Rarity followed her gaze. The wall seemingly intimidated her, the keyhole taunting her with every move.

She looked at the key ring Stellar gave her.

"These keys are a bit too small for that hole." she concluded. "There must be another set of keys around here."

Sounds of trotting echoed from the stairwell, a menacing shadow rumbling down towards them. Both mares held their breath as Crimson buckled his hooves.

"Hang on. I got this."

Stellar stumbled from the staircase, sweat furiously dripping down and dampening his suit. The three ponies let out a relieved sigh.

"Come quick! Master Winter needs you!!"

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Rarity slinked through the crowd, watching in horror at the pitchforks and blazing torches rallied in the air. A red banner stood tall from the crowd, depicting a giant blade stabbed through a pony's skull.

Overwhelming chants filled the room, demanding for Winter's presence as the guards aimed their rifles towards the mob, surrounding the crowd with ease.

"I demand for the Patriarch to come out from his blithering, watering hole of his," a robed pony barked fiercely, "and face the dire consequences for his selfish acts!!"

"Now, now, Thistle." Chief Griffonhooves stood valiantly as he lowered his pistol down.

"You know the rules. You were not suppose to be barging in here in the first place."

"Your 'Patriarch', agreed without fail that there shall be no more taxes in the future!" Thistle shouted back, glaring at the police chief coldly.

"And we all know, Chief. That we have tolerated already eight rounds of tax inflation!"

Thistle sneered at that, gripping his twin daggers firmly.

"Who's the unfair pony now, Chief. Who?!"

Rarity and Octavia clambered up behind them as a soft echo of murmurs spread throughout the crowd.

Crimson quietly opened the door to the ballroom, gesturing them in.

"And of course. We have someone to back our claim, Griffon."

He turned around, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Bring her out!!!"

Rarity widened her eyes, letting out a gasp.

Chains clinked around her ankles as a small whimper escaped her lips. She staggered and stumbled, the cuffs gripping tightly like a vice as the crowd parted for her.

"Autumn?!"

Winter's voice boomed as the Patriarch stumbled from the ballroom, not believing what he saw.

"Autumn!! What are you doing?!!"

The mare hung her head low in regret, her mane covering it in shame.

A black pony followed closely beside her, trying to comfort her as she wept silently.

"Autumn!!" Winter glared at her sister, as Spring peered in terror from behind his brother's back.

"Autumn Palgiot, you bucking answer me right now!!!"

Her head perked up suddenly, her eyes overflowing with tears as an aura of anger swept over her.

"You want me? Of all of the bucking ponies in the world, ME? To tell you why??!!"

Autumn glared at her brother, who was slightly taken aback by her outburst.

"I tried to tell you, Winter!!" she screamed. "I tried to make you stop, but you're too stubborn!!"

"You brought this upon yourself, Winter!!! This was YOUR FAULT!!"

Winter fumbled with his words, his mind racing in shock and guilt.

Spring buried her head in Winter's suit, quietly sniffling at Autumn as Stellar knelt down.

"Hush now, little Spring. Hush now."

Thistle's voice boomed as he started laughing coldly.

"You see, Patriarch." he sighed in a sarcastic manner. "even your own sister is against you."

"Can't you see? The chaos you're causing? All because of little, old you."

Winter drooped his head down, still absorbing what Autumn said as Thistle marched up to him.

Octavia buried her face in Crimson's chest, unable to look.

"This is the start! The start of a glorious revolution!!" Thistle roared.

The crowd cheered gallantly, raising their weapons in the air.

Thistle readied his dagger. "This is it, Winter."

The white stallion looked up as Stellar dragged Spring away from him.

"No!" the filly wailed loudly.

"The moment I've been thirsting for."

Rarity closed her eyes, glancing away in fear.

BANG!!!

Fractured Merriment

Thistle readied his dagger. "This is it, Winter."

"The moment I've been thirsting for."

Rarity closed her eyes, glancing away in fear.

BANG!!!

Winter opened his eyes. He lifted his head up slowly, as his eyes fixated on the tip of a serrated blade.

Thistle's body trembled in disbelief as his blade stopped in mid-air.

"Wha..."

He looked down to the floor as a small pool of blood gathered below. A small stream of it leaked from his mouth as he dropped his blade on the floor.

Stellar watched in bewilderment as he covered Spring's eyes.

Autumn looked up in shock as Caper helped her up.

The mob stopped ranting, the noise died down. A haunting silence settled as everypony watched in confusion.

Rarity opened her eyes, her hoof clutching tightly on a small revolver. Tears streamed down her eyes as her mind started whirring from shock.

"What... What have I..."

The crowd erupted into a frenzy as Thistle fell onto the floor, his hoof twitching slightly. The guards struggled as they tried to counter the pushing and shoving. Ponies tried to break free, scuffling with the guards as Stellar helped his master up.

Octavia rushed to her friend, with her coltfriend following close behind her.

"Rarity!"

The white unicorn lowered the gun, more tears streamed from her face as she fell onto the carpet.

She looked at the glinting gun in her hoof. The strong smell of gunpowder seeped from the barrel.

"What have I done? What have I-"

"Rarity!!" Octavia cried as she stumbled beside her. "What are you doing?!!"

The mob rampaged, some breaking free of the guards as they charged forward.

His hoof smacked one of the ponies on target as Stellar tried to get Spring out of there.

"Rarity! Come on!!"

The white unicorn snapped out from her daze, timing it perfectly as the circle of guards completely broke. Havoc stormed through the room as Winter loaded his gun, firing at some of the ponies.

"Autumn!!" he called out to his sister.

Rarity and Octavia galloped frantically up the stairs, with Crimson buckling his hind hooves as some ponies pursued them, shouting as they get closer and closer.

"There she is!! She murdered Master Thistle!!"

"Hurry!" Crimson exclaimed as gunshots rang through the hall.

Rarity faltered, stumbling over as she landed face first onto the floor.

She cursed under her breath as she lifted herself up, her hoof twinging slightly in pain.

"Come on, Rarity." Crimson said as he kicked a few more ponies away.

Stellar rushed in front of them, guiding Spring along sliding a lever under the table as the wall before them slid open.

"This way!!"

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Fluttershy yipped in delight as Sweetie Belle's voice filled the room. The whole audience was entranced in awe at the singing filly as she was halfway through her climactic song.

"...And I screamed, oh~ How I screamed!!

Be it twisted, painful and broken!!

Yet my cries grew ever softer;

My fading scars re-opened..."

The operatic violins fizzled along with her voice as she started dragging it melodically. Everypony watched in awe at the filly, her voice booming through the auditorium with elegance.

"And I say!!! What do I say?!

Would it matter for just one day~;"

The waltz melody suddenly shunned, the stage lights dimmed. Twilight sat at the edge of her seat, anxious to know what's happening next.

"I didn't know she could sing this well." she whispered in amazement.

Rainbow, Fluttershy and Applejack nodded, their eyes glued to Sweetie Belle while the filly's voice arched sharply.

"But no matter!! I don't need them no more~~~"

The lights flared up as a small spotlight shone brightly on Sweetie Bell, who threw her hooves dramatically in the air. She held her breath, readying her final verse.

"Cause I know ~ They won't last. At ALL!!!!!"

The violins hummed in violently, a parade of French horns joining in. The symphony blared with a roar of pride as the lights flared upon the stage. Sweetie raised her voice loudly, finishing her song while the music continued.

Suddenly, a loud crack sounded through the room as the music stopped. The sound of splintering wood followed.

Twilight's ears perked up as Applejack looked around anxiously.

"What in tarnation was tha-"

A giant beam collapsed onto the stage, missing Sweetie Belle by a few feet as she jumped back in horror. Flames blazed from the top, spreading quickly onto the curtains around them.

"Fire!!!"

Everypony started scattering in shock as the embers blazed up the walls.

"Sweetie Belle!!" Twilight called to the cringing filly desperately.

"Hang in there!!!"

Applejack rushed downwards, hopping over the descending row of seats as she hung on to her hat.

Rainbow Dash flew towards the stage, avoiding the raining chunks of stone and clouds of ash which fell into the flames that wicked below her.

"Sweetie Belle! I'm coming!"

Twilight started choking through the smoke, ash searing in her eyes as she looked around in confusion.

"Fluttershy?" she called out, twirling around as her heart started to sink.

"Fluttershy?!" she called again with more desperation.

The fire grew stronger with each passing minute. Applejack rushed down in determination. Sweat enveloped her skin as she furiously worked her way down towards the stage.

"Rainbow!" she shouted to the blue pegasus overhead her. "Find Fluttershy!! Now!!"

"Got it!!"

More wooden beams collapsed to the floor as Applejack clambered up the stage.

"I'm comin', sugarcube!" she shouted to the cringing filly.

Rainbow scoured the burning auditorium, coughing slightly while she peered through the dust.

"Where are you, Fluttershy?!"

Twilight stumbled out, fresh in the open air as wailing sirens came into view.

"Come here, miss!" a pony guided her towards a firetruck.

"Is there anypony else in there?"

"My..." Twilight coughed and wheezed, trying to breathe.

"My friend, Fluttershy.... we can't find her.... It's just..."

"Don't worry, miss. We're doing everything we can to stop the fire."

Applejack rushed out from the doors with Sweetie Belle clinging tightly on her back. The small filly sobbed loudly in terror as the orange pony helped her down.

"There, there...." she hushed her. "It's over now... you're safe."

Rainbow Dash flew out, coughing exasperatedly while she plunged towards the ground.

"Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed, galloping to the blue pegasus.

Rainbow wheezed and cough, her rainbow mane covered in patches of soot as she tried to catch her breath.

"Fl-Fluttershy..."

"Where is she?" Twilight asked frantically. "Where?!"

The pegasus coughed a little more, before croaking out:

"She's not here!"

Twilight and Applejack paled while Rainbow continued coughing. Smoke enveloped the building, pouring through the windows and the double doors as the fire-ponies sprayed it with their hoses.

"B-But I don't understand! She was here a second ago!" Twilight asked frantically. "How could she not be here?!"

Fires whipped from the building, creaking slight while ponies started scrambling for safety.

"Watch out!!"

Part of the structure collapsed, a mountain of cement and debris rumbling to the floor.

"Oh Celestia!" Applejack gasped in horror.

Twilight felt a tap on her shoulder.

A police-pony stood, his face grim as she turned around. "Excuse me, miss?"

Applejack and Rainbow walked over, the orange pony still comforting Sweetie Belle.

"What is it, officer?" Twilight asked worryingly.

The officer straightened his hat, shuffling through his clipboard as he scanned through its contents.

"It's about a friend of yours. Pinkie Pie."

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The passage was incredibly dusty, as Rarity found out.

Her hooves looked more like Octavia's with every step. The group of ponies trotted cautiously through the dark corridor. Stellar held the lamp up, guiding Spring by the hoof as Rarity, Octavia and Crimson followed.

"Normally servants aren't allowed through these passages. But Winter made this an exception."

A boom echoed from behind, making Rarity and Octavia turn around suddenly. Small waterfalls of dust fell from the ceiling, nearly coating all of them in the grey matter.

"Miss Octavia," Stellar asked discerningly. "Did anything... interesting happened in the cellar while I was away?"

The pony just shook her head. "Not much, but we found this-"

Rarity covered her mouth suddenly. "Ha-ha, Octavia!" she chuckled nervously.

"Very funny story you got there!"

"Okay...."

Stellar turned to the front, trying to see through the dark passage.

"Are you insane?!" Rarity hissed at her friend. "We were not supposed to be in the cellar in the first place!!"

"How would he know?!" the grey pony whispered back. "It's not like he's Winter or anything."

Crimson just sighed.

"I think it's best to assume they both know."

Spring whimpered slightly, her voice echoing in the dark.

"Rarity?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you think my brother will be safe?"

Stellar turned his head around as Rarity hastily looked for an answer.

"Isn't your talent looking into the future?"

The filly pouted a little, obviously unimpressed. "I know the future, all right."

"But I want to hear what you think."

The five ponies stopped as Spring stared at the unicorn. Octavia just nudged her hoof. "Spit it out."

"Yes." Rarity answered. "I believe he would be safe, dear."

Spring smiled, one of the brightest Rarity had ever seen since Summer's death.

"Thank you."

Stellar gave Rarity his own smile, as they continued trotting slowly down the tunnel. Another rumble rocked the dark hallway, to which Octavia tripped suddenly with a gasp.

Crimson grabbed her hoof, just in time before she hit the floor.

"Well," he said heartily, "I guess those dance lessons worked really well!"

Everypony laughed as Stellar scanned the hallway. His hoof reached around the walls as he tried to recall something.

It must be here somewhere...

Rarity shook the dust off her mane with a small *poof*. Spring coughed a little as she giggled slightly.

"I knew that would happen!"

Stellar's hoof felt a gap, cleverly concealed between two bricks.

"This is it." he told the other ponies.

His hoof reached into the niche, straining inside as he tugged on a cord.

The wall slid open, making the five ponies shield their eyes from the sudden glare of light.

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"What do you mean, she ran away?!!"

Twilight stood in front of Ponyville hospital, a shattered window visible at the corner. Police cars wailed loudly, surrounding the iron grates of the hospital as the lavender unicorn couldn't believe her ears.

"No, she wouldn't. She wouldn't run away."

"Why in tarnation," Applejack spoke suddenly, "would she do that for, officer? She understands that-"

"Apparently, she didn't." the officer cut her off. "Was your friend mentally stable recently?"

The ponies felt their gut twinge.

"Was she?"

"I'm not sure." Twilight said first. "I really am."

"Ever since the... accident she had, she's been acting very strange."

Rainbow shuddered. "She keeps saying that somepony pushed her out! Mr Cake said nopony could've reached Pinkie Pie's room without passing through the main counter!"

"There must be somepony that did." Applejack argued. "The same pony did this to my hoof!"

The orange pony raised her cast defiantly, trying to prove her point.

"So what you're saying," the officer inquired, "that somepony is targeting random ponies for no reason?"

Twilight nodded with uncertainty. "We have reason to believe that this pony was the one that caused the train explosion up north, in Pendant Lakes."

The officer's face darkened slightly, his mind clicking into place.

"Sir!"

Another police-pony trotted up to him, carrying a few sheets of paper.

"Guess what security picked up."

The officer gazed at the sheet, his eyes slowly peering closer towards the paper.

"This is the footage from the auditorium." he explained, passing the paper to Twilight.

"What?!" she gasped in shock, staring at the photos in disbelief.

"But... but-!!" she stuttered as she leafed through the dual sheets of paper.

"What in tarnation is wrong, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

She and Rainbow Dash paled with horror as they saw Pinkie somewhere upstairs, carrying a few canisters of lighter fluid.

Applejack could only look in shock, as Rainbow yelled in frustration and disbelief.

"What the hell was she thinking?!! She could've killed somepony in there!!"

The next sheet proved even more disturbing, showing Pinkie Pie gagging and dragging out a pony while the auditorium burned around her.

"Based on this photos, we have enough evidence to show that she started the fire to kidnap this particular pony." he pointed out.

The final photo showed a zoomed version of the previous one, focusing on the kidnapped pony.

A small pair of wings froze up in horror, an expression of terror pasted on the pony's face while Pinkie forced a piece of cloth against her mouth.

The three ponies gasped in shock, realizing who the pony is as they exclaimed her name in unison:

"Fluttershy!!"

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"What's happening outside?"

Stellar strained as he placed his ear against the door. Muffled screams and cries echoed through the door.

Rarity looked out the window in horror as flames danced at the garden below her. All around, ponies were engaged in combat, sword with sword and, on rare occasion, the faint sound of gunshots.

"I don't know." she mumbled nervously. "I don't really know."

She buried her face in her hooves. "What would they think of me? My friends?!"

"What do you mean, Rarity?" Octavia asked. "You did nothing wrong."

"I've killed somepony, Octavia!!" she screeched, her eyes turning into slits, glittering with tears.

"A pony, for Celestia's sake!! A pony!!!"

Octavia just stood there, a little taken aback at her friend's reaction. Crimson stood beside her, his hoof clutching onto his marefriend's.

Stellar just watched grimly, wanting to say something.

"But Rarity..."

Spring's voice chirped with a tiny whimper as she approached the crying mare. "You saved my brother, Rarity. I'm sure Princess Celestia would understand."

Rarity looked up at the filly, her face crinkled with tears, which she quickly rubbed it away with her hoof.

"Spring," she said, holding her breath, "you're still young, dear. You wouldn't understand."

Spring just looked at her with doubt. "But Rarity, I do understand."

She gestured to her Cutie Mark, which seemed to glow at every glance.

"I know how, and when, ponies were supposed to... pass on. I just couldn't say it."

"And when I do," Spring looked away uneasily. "I get sick."

"Now I'm too sick, so sick until I can't live on any longer. I can't get well. It suddenly feels so weird knowing when you're going to die."

Spring tried not to sob as she hugged Rarity's hoof tightly. The unicorn blinked in surprise.

"You did nothing wrong, Rarity. Just like what your friend said."

Rarity bit her lip. "You remind me a lot about somepony. Somepony special."

"Really?" Spring cried in enthusiasm. "Who?"

"My sister, Sweetie Belle." the unicorn said with a chuckle. "She's just like you, sweetheart."

Stellar watched with a smile along with Octavia, who chuckled a little with Crimson placing his hooves around her.

Spring just beamed. "Sweetie Belle... I wonder how would she think of me."

Rarity just grinned.

"I think she would be delighted to meet you."

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Fluttershy looked around nervously, sweat dripping down her neck as she felt the room spin.

She felt her hooves being bounded by thick rope as she tried to force the cloth out of her mouth.

"It's about time."

A shadow emerged from the darkness. Fluttershy forcibly closed her eyes.

"I was really tired of waiting." the voice continued sharply. "Were you ever tired of waiting for anypony, Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus swung in a circle, held in the air as she let out a whimper.

"Were you?!"

Fluttershy felt the gag tear out from her mouth. She screamed a little, retracting her hooves.

"L-Let me go!! Just let me go!!"

The voice just laughed. "And what will I get? What?!"

"Leave me alone!!"

Fluttershy shouted at the top of her voice, coughing slightly as her blurry vision started becoming clearer.

"But Fluttershy," the voice continued coldly. "We're friends...."

The yellow pegasus felt her heart sink as she heard the unmistakable sound of a sharpening blade.

"Schlinkk........"

"...why would you want me to... leave?"

Fluttershy's eyes widened in disbelief as the pony stepped from the darkness.

"P-Pinkie?"

The pink pony just snickered as Fluttershy struggled from her binds.

A glitter caught her eye. There, gripped tightly in Pinkie's hoof, was a small blade.

"Pinkie... Pinkie please. W-We can t-talk about this..."

"Oh, yay!" the pony clopped her hooves in false anticipation. "What do you want to talk about?!"

Fluttershy gulped slowly as Pinkie continued: "Is it about how crazy I was?! Or how everypony doesn't seem to even give a damn about how I'm feeling right now?! Or is it..."

Her voice trailed off as Pinkie stared into space.

"Is it about what I'm going to do to you, Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus whimpered. "Pinkie, don't do th-this..." she managed to stutter.

"Do what?!" she yelled with contempt. "You think I would burn the theater down, get you all tied up in here, just for NOTHING??!!"

Pinkie flipped a table over, the oil lamp tumbling into a bale of hay as fire started razing over the floor.

"Pinkie!!" Fluttershy pleaded again. "We all really wanted to know what done this, what made you like this!!"

"Please!! Just give us a chance!!"

Pinkie stopped for a moment, slightly taken aback by her words.

"Please make it stop, Pinkie!!" the yellow pegasus begged with tears in her eyes. "Just STOP!!"

The fire spread around them, surrounding both of them as it whisked around, illuminating the entire room.

Pinkie looked at the blade within her hooves, her mind stopped whirring.

"Wh-What have I..."

Fluttershy yelped as a wooden beam collapsed in flames behind her. She struggled, trying to force her hooves out of the tight ropes.

"Pinkie!!" she cried. "Help me!!"

The other pony looked up, her eyes refueled with rage.

"You're not the one suffering here, Fluttershy!! I am!!!"

The yellow pegasus looked in horror as the pink pony raised the blade.

"You're here not because I want to hurt you, Fluttershy." Pinkie said morbidly.

Fluttershy felt the ropes starting to loosen while she effortlessly twisted and turned.

"You're here..." her voice faltered a little, "... to watch."

Fluttershy widened her eyes in horror. "Pinkie, no!!!'

The pink pony launched the blade downwards, striking into herself as the blade jutted inside her body.

She coughed and sputtered, her eyes widened. Her mouth open, trying to scream.

"Pinkie!! Stop!! Stop this!!"

The blade was slowly dragged out as Pinkie hid behind her mane in shame.

"No, Fluttershy." she sputtered.

The yellow pegasus looked away in disgust as the blade entered her friend the second time. A broken scream emanated from the top of her lungs, before Pinkie started crying painfully.

"You see, Fluttershy?!" she shouted to the pegasus. "This is what I've done!! This is how I FELT!!!"

The blade launched for the third time as Pinkie screamed again. Blood dripped beneath her, the blade dragging out completely coated in red.

"And I-I'm sorry, Fluttershy." she managed to stutter. "I-I'm s-sorry you ha-have to see me lik-like this."

The door burst open. Twilight quickly rushed into the room, watching in shock at the dangling pegasus. "Fluttershy!!"

A streak of rainbow flew through the air as Rainbow Dash hastily untied her friend. Fluttershy hit the hay-covered floor with a small yelp as Applejack galloped in.

"Hang on, sugarcube!!" the orange pony shouted. "We got you now!!"

"Stop Pinkie!!" the yellow pegasus screamed. "Stop her!!"

Twilight galloped into the flames without care. "Pinkie!!" she cried out her name.

Another loud scream rang through the room, as Twilight stepped on a small path of blood.

"Oh Celestia, Pinkie!!"

Twilight skidded to a halt as she saw Pinkie readying the blade. Her pink body was bloodied, stained red along with her mane. Her face twisted, wincing in pain. She staggered to stand up, raising the blade in the air.

"Pinkie, STOP!!"

The purple unicorn tackled her down, the blade tossed into the air.

"Get off me, Twilight!!" she screamed amidst the roaring of flames. "GET OFF ME!!"

Twilight felt her face crumple as Pinkie gave her face a punch. She stumbled back, nearly falling back inside the fire.

"Pinkie!! Don't do this to yourself!!"

"I can, I will..." Pinkie dragged herself along, giggling maniacally, her hoof reaching for the blade.

"and I must!!"

A rope suddenly looped around her hoof, gripping tightly as the pink pony tried to kick it off.

"Don't do it, Pinkie!!" Applejack's voice boomed above the loud groans of wood, galloping towards her in desperation.

"NO!!" Pinkie screamed, trying in vain to reach the blade. "Let me go!!"

Twilight pulled the rope forcefully with her teeth, the flames eating away the structure as the pink pony's voice faltered.

"Just let-let me... go...."

"Let's get out of here!!"

Twilight and Applejack scrambled through the falling beams, with Applejack carrying the unconscious Pinkie on her back. The ceiling creaked, the flames starting to spread upwards.

"Come on!!" Applejack shouted as the two ponies galloped faster. The door to broad daylight grew closer and closer.

Closing their eyes, both of them jumped, launching themselves out of the barn as they both landed on the floor. The ceiling collapsed, the sound of crashing wood and raging fire echoing behind them.

"Twilight! Applejack!!" Fluttershy yelped as she helped them up. Pinkie rolled over to the side, her blood mixing with the sweat and mud below.

"Get her to the hospital now!"

A Hollow Promise

"Anypony outside?"

Night fell upon Pendant Lakes as Stellar peered outside the door. The corridor looked empty, bathed in moonlight. The red carpet was strewn all over the floor, slightly burnt.

Spring shivered as Rarity placed a blanket around her, reassuring her with a smile.

"You don't no need to do this, Rarity. I'm going to... well... to pass on anyway."

"Don't say that." Rarity hushed her, a little hurt at the filly's talk. "You still have a long way to go."

The white pony hugged Spring tightly with concern.

"I won't let you."

Stellar whistled suddenly, waking Octavia up from her slumber with yawn as Crimson helped her up from his chest.

"You really make a good bed, Crimson."

Spring giggled as Crimson looked at her. "Really, Octavia? At a time like this?"

The butler's smile faded quickly. "We don't have much time. We need to get all of you out of here right now."

Rarity nodded with determination.

"But isn't there any other way we can help, Mr. Lionheart? Any at all?"

"I don't know, miss." Stellar said with a shrug. He holstered a small pistol up, jiggling the barrel to his ear.

"Nearly out of bullets. Does anypony have any more?"

Octavia scoffed rudely.

"You think?"

The door creaked open as the five ponies crept outside the corridor. Bullet holes riddled the walls, some of the windows already shattered by brute force. Fires whipped from outside and around, burning through the courtyard mercilessly.

The ground shook again, with Spring nearly tripping over. A small crack echoed around the hallway, stopping all of them in their tracks.

"The palace can't handle this much attacks." Stellar quipped, gripping tightly on his gun. "It can collapse any moment."

Another rumble echoed, small tables rattling along as the walls around them crumbled slightly.

"We have to move. Fast."

All of them trudged forward, ignoring the few shouts booming from outside and within.

"What about the Princesses?"

Stellar turned around, his gaze settling onto Rarity. "The Princesses can help."

"I would love to have the Princesses here with us as well, Miss Rarity." he replied. "But I'm afraid Master Winter won't take too kindly on their arrival to the palace."

"We need all the help we can get, Stellar!" Octavia cried. "You can't just let the Palace burn down!"

Stellar stopped, his mind rambling about as he tried to keep calm.

"Even if Master Winter allows, we can't gallop all the way to Canterlot just to call them over!"

The four ponies fumbled around, with Spring looking at all of them in confusion.

Rarity's head popped up, her eyes widened with realization.

"Idea~~!!"

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Twilight stepped in, shaking her wet mane as a small shower of rain pattered outside.

"Here Fluttershy," she called to the yellow pegasus, who was shuddering under Rainbow's hoof.

The pleasant aroma of mushroom soup wavered through the hallway of the hospital, as Fluttershy reached out for the warm thermos. She took a small gulp, easing a little.

"Th-Thank you..."

Applejack paced around, mumbling under her breath. "Pinkie Pie, you crazy..."

Twilight sat beside Fluttershy as Rainbow gestured the orange pony to sit.

"Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus took another sip. "Y...Yes?"

"When Pinki-" she stopped for a moment. "When she did that... was it..."

Fluttershy closed her eyes, cringing a little.

"I-I don't want t-to talk about it..."

"It's okay, sugarcube." Applejack said, walking over to them.

Rainbow stretched her hooves, uneasily gazing at the double doors in front of them.

"Why did she do that to herself... I don't get it."

"We all don't, Rainbow." Twilight assured her. cupping her hooves tightly.

"But she'll make it. I know she would."

Fluttershy and Applejack joined their hands as well. The rain fell in melancholy, tapping on the hospital walls as they closed their eyes in prayer.

"Remember?" Rainbow quipped abruptly, interrupting their solemnity. "Your first Pinkie Pie party, Twilight?"

The unicorn chuckled. "I remember that one. Hot sauce, eh?"

All four of them laughed slightly, as she continued.

"Or that time she made us 'giggle at the ghosties'?"

"Yeah! That one was super!"

"W..What about," Fluttershy's voice piped in. "What about that one time? She sings that song about Zecora?"

"Who wouldn't remember that one, Fluttershy." Applejack laughed heartily, imitating Pinkie Pie with her hooves above her head.

"~She's an evil enchantress-"

All of them burst out laughing, Rainbow already rolling around the floor along with Twilight. Tears filled both of their eyes as Fluttershy tried to cover hers with her hoof. Applejack's hat fell to the side as she chortled in amusement.

Inside the operating room, the doctors and nurses scurried around, their snouts sweating as Pinkie Pie laid on the table, her eyes shut tightly.

She gritted her teeth as pain shot up her body. Numbness replaced it quickly, making her moan in a daze.

Her ears perked. Behind the scampering and scurrying. A faint sound of...

"What...?"

"And remember the time? She invited us for Gummy's birthday party?"

"Of course, Twi! It was one of the best parties that Pinkie Pie ever had for us."

Laughter echoed in Pinkie's brain. The laughter of her four friends.

"Could it be...?"

"What about that time! That time she pranks everypony in Ponyville!"

"Rainbow!!"

Her four friends. Laughing. Reminiscing about her.

Pinkie smiled.

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"Come on... Pick up!!"

Rarity felt like slamming the walkie-talkie, which only crackled in reply.

Stellar peeped outside the door, his revolver ever ready. Spring snuggled on Octavia's lap, quietly sleeping as Crimson looked out the window.

"Somepony answer please..." Rarity tried again in desperation.

A small crackle came to life, as the sound of rain bloomed through its speakers.

"H-Hello?"

"Spike!" Rarity exclaimed happily. "Thank Celestia you're here."

The dragon just grumbled. "Where else would I be?"

"Spike, we really, really need your help." the unicorn started to explain.

A gunshot rang through the room, waking Spring up with a shock as Stellar whirled back inside.

"We've been spotted!"

"What was that, Rarity?!" Spike's voice asked in desperation. "What's happening over there?!"

Rarity ducked down with a yelp as a bullet grazed above her mane, shattering the window in front of her.

"Rarity!!"

"I'm fine, Spike!" she shouted as bullets whizzed through the room. Octavia quickly helped Spring up as they ran into the bathroom.

"Aaah!" a scream pierced through as the grey pony fell onto the floor.

"Octavia!!" Crimson shouted, running to her side as he tried to lift her up.

Stellar returned the shots, firing into the hallway as Rarity scrambled from under the table.

Octavia winced in pain, clutching the side of her body as blood started to leak from her side.

"Hang on, 'Tavi!" Crimson cried. "Just hang on!!"

"Spike!! You really need to get Princess Celestia down here!!"

The walkie-talkie started to crackle fiercely as Stellar tossed a gun towards Crimson.

"Here!"

Octavia jerked slightly as Rarity helped her over.

"Octavia? Don't close your eyes now, okay?"

Spring covered her eyes in fear, cringing below the bathroom sink as another hail of bullets riddled into the room.

"Take cover!!"

Spike's voice rang through the speakers again. "I'm sending the letter now!!"

"Quickly!!" Rarity shouted as Crimson returned fire, striking a few ponies.

"Damn you idiots!!" he shouted into the corridor.

Octavia cringed in pain, blood soaking her grey coat as Rarity helped her up.

"Come on, Octavia!" she said, tearing the bed sheets with her mouth as she began rubbing oil on her wound.

The grey pony screamed a little in pain as Rarity's horn glowed, directed onto the bleeding wound.

A polished, bloodstained metal gleamed in Rarity's blue aura as it surfaced from her wound. Octavia gripped tightly on the carpet, biting her lip in pain with tears in her eyes.

Stellar's gun started clicking. "I'm out, Crimson!!"

Crimson nodded, firing at the ponies outside as wood splintered from the raining bullets.

He peered out a little, a small glint caught his eyes as his mind started brewing a plan.

"Stellar! Get ready to close the door!"

Crimson held his breath while Stellar readied his hoof. Octavia tried not to scream as her friend continued the extraction.

Her coltfriend's hoof twitched nervously as he fired.

"Close it!!!"

An explosion blasted through the hallway as Stellar quickly slammed the door. He fell backwards, slightly stunned by the blow.

"Done!" Rarity said, letting the small metal fall with a clinked on the carpet. Octavia panted with exhaustion, loosening her tight grip on a small pillow.

"Octavia!" Crimson said, rushing over to his marefriend as Rarity began bandaging the wound with the satin sheets.

"You okay, 'Tavi?"

Spring crawled out from under the sink, with Stellar helping her up as they both looked in concern.

Octavia coughed a little, brushing her black mane aside.

"I'm fine, I guess." she said, glancing uneasily at her injury.

A small voice crackled from the table. Rarity hastily picked up the receiver, her friend slightly sobbing in Crimson's mane.

"Spike? Spike, are you still there?"

"Rarity, thank Celestia!" the dragon's voice exclaimed, booming through the speaker. "I sent the letter like you said!"

"And?" the white unicorn tapped her hooves desperately.

"She..." the dragon hesitated a little. Rarity could hear him curse with contempt.

"Language, Spikey!" she scolded.

Spike fumbled a little, slightly taken aback. "S-Sorry, Rarity."

Rarity giggled as Octavia looked over discerningly at her friend, shaking her head.

"Really? At a time like this?"

"So what did she say?" Rarity asked again.

Spike held his breath. "How shall I put this..."

"She denied."

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Applejack looked out the hospital. "Stopped raining already."

Pinkie Pie rested on the bed, her mane still flat. The orange pony couldn't bear to look at her mummified body, which was slightly stained with medicine.

"Is she awake yet?" Twilight said as she stepped in the room. Spike followed inside, a basket of fruit swinging along his claws as he started munching on an apple.

"Spike!" the unicorn shouted at him as the dragon spat a few seeds out.

"Sorry." he said with a shrug. "Sheesh."

Pinkie tossed and turn restlessly, groaning with annoyance.

"She's waking. Call Rainbow and Fluttershy in..." Twilight whispered to Spike.

Shortly after the dragon left, Pinkie's eyes slowly opened, her blurry vision becoming clearer with each passing minute.

"Hey, Pinkie." Twilight said, slightly uncertain of what to do.

"Howdy." Applejack tipped her hat.

The only reply was a small, nervous 'hi.'

"So...." Twilight's voice trailed off, tapping her hooves impatiently. "How are you feeling?"

"All right, I guess." the pink pony said, examining her body with disgust.

"Pinkie, about yesterday..."

"I don't want to remember." Pinkie said, glancing away uneasily. A small tear formed in her eye, slowly falling onto the bed as she cowered under the blanket.

"I don't w-want to remember..."

Pinkie felt the blanket fly free from her hooves as Applejack gave it a small tug.

"Pinkie, it's okay. It's okay now, sugarcube." she said, comforting her friend a little.

"All of us forgave you."

Pinkie stopped sniffling. "Y-You... You really mean it?"

The door swung open as Rainbow Dash stepped in along with Spike.

"Hey there, Pinkie!" the pegasus raised her hoof up with a wave.

Spike stepped in with a slight bow, a grin plastered on his face.

"You're awake, Spike." Pinkie said with a smile.

"Long enough." the dragon said, stretching his arms.

The door opened again as a yellow pegasus nervously stepped in.

Pinkie gasped a little, glancing away uneasily as her pink face paled.

"H..Hi Pinkie." Fluttershy managed to mutter.

The pink pony only responded with a whimper.

Silence draped over the room, a small sob fluttering from Pinkie's mouth as she hid her face under the blanket.

Applejack placed a hoof around Pinkie, gently patting the pony's back.

"It's alright, sugarcube."

"No...." the pony said between her sobs. "It's not... It's not......"

"Pinkie..." Fluttershy's voice chirped. "I don't blame you."

The pink pony just sniffled, her eyes tightly shut with guilt.

"I just..." Fluttershy crept closer to her cowering friend.

"You wouldn't understand, Fluttershy..." Pinkie sniveled, kicking the blanket away.

"Look at this! Look at what I've done..."

Spike trembled a little, slightly taken aback at her wounds.

The strong smell of medicine reeked through the room as Pinkie started bawling loudly in humiliation.

"You never felt this... All of this..."

Pinkie cringed, hiding under her mane with contempt.

"And.... when I made you watch...."

Pinkie broke down again, burying her face in a pillow as she wailed uncontrollably.

"Pinkie... Pinkie please..." Fluttershy protested, struggling in vain to seize her friend's hoof with Rainbow's help.

"I don't blame you for what you did... to me."

Pinkie stopped sobbing. "Wh-What do you mean? I-I made you watch..."

"I don't want to watch, of course." Fluttershy smiled sadly. "I don't want to watch my friends get hurt."

"But you're still hurt, Pinkie. And I'm still watching you cry."

Pinkie stopped, looking up at her friend with hope starting to glitter in her sky blue eyes.

"A-And I don't want to see you cry..." Fluttershy stopped short, wiping a tear off her eye as Twilight nodded with approval.

"She's right, Pinkie. We all do."

A gazillion thoughts crossed through her mind as Pinkie's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Y-You weren't scared?"

Everypony else shook their heads no.

"You weren't angry? At all?"

"Why would we be?" Rainbow Dash chuckled at her friend. "We're your friends!"

Pinkie smiled, her mane starting to return to its natural puffy self.

Applejack smiled widely. "C'me here, Pinkie."

The pink pony started laughing loudly as she fell into Applejack's hooves, hugging her friend tightly with tears in her eyes.

Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow joined in, all giggling and laughing with relief.

A small crack sounded through the room as Pinkie's mane suddenly popped with delight. The pony's face beamed with pride, her smile already touching the ends of her ears.

"I'm so GLAD you guys aren't mad at me!!! I mean, I thought you guys would hate me for doing ALL the horrible stuff that I've done!! I really do!! And you know what?!! This calls for... a ... PARTY!!!!"

Everypony else chuckled as Rainbow nudged Twilight's hoof.

"She's Pinkie Pie again."

Twilight nodded, her worries diminishing as she giggled at her pink friend bouncing energetically around the room. Applejack laughed with content as well as Fluttershy, who was being tossed around by the pink pony with glee.

A tap on the shoulder made Twilight turn around, gazing directly into Spike's face as the dragon cleared his throat.

"Twilight, something's come up with Rarity."

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Caper crept around the hallways, clutching onto a small revolver as he peered around the hallway.

"Autumn?" he called out, worry twisting in his gut.

The library was turned upside down. Books were scattered everywhere, some of the wooden bookshelves already toppled over like dominoes.

"Autumn, answer me." he cried out.

A small ruffle caught his ears, as he prepared his weapon.

"Is that you, Autumn?"

Caper moved cautiously towards the fallen mound of books, loading a small bullet into his revolver with a click.

"I wouldn't move if I were you."

Caper stopped suddenly at the click of a gun not his own. His eyes looked in shock as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Autumn?"

The mare walked out, her face anguished in desperation as he saw the fear in her eyes.

Her hooves were raised in the air, as another pony trotted closely behind her.

"Caper, Caper...." the voice said. "Look at what you've done."

The former magician gritted his teeth.

"Let her go, Dresden."

A light blue stallion stepped out, laughing coldly as he pushed Autumn with the barrel of the gun.

"Really, Caper? Giving up one famous magician act for the hand of a maiden?"

The gun in Dresden's hoof clicked, making Autumn flinch.

"Ask yourself, dude. Is it worth it?"

"Worth more than you can imagine." Caper answered without fail.

"And how was your first date like?" Dresden cackled a little. "Sawing her into two?"

He laughed with complete sarcasm as Caper's face grimaced.

"What about Sweden before the show," he shouted back, "have a few late-night one-stoppers?"

Dresden stopped laughing. "I'm sure those mares have better... assets than Miss Palgiot here."

He pushed her forward, making her yelp.

"Don't touch her!!" Caper howled, raising his gun at his friend.

"You know I've done this once, Dres. I can always do it again."

"What do you mean?" Autumn asked hastily, ignoring the barrel of the revolver twisting into her back. "What do you mean you've done this before?"

Caper sighed as Dresden flashed a dark smile.

"Autumn... I haven't been completely truthful to you..."

"Before magic, before all those cards and wands. I did something.... something horrible."

Caper glanced nervously at his gun, watching it gleam menacingly in the moonlight.

"I... I killed somepony."

Autumn gasped a little.

"Wh-Who was it?"

Caper's face twisted as he looked away, making Dresden laugh heartlessly.

"Spit it out, Caper." he scowled at the black stallion.

Caper held his breath.

"I-It was y-your cousin... Gypsum Palgiot."

Autumn's eyes widened in shock.

"You?!!" she screeched in rage, trying in vain to charge at the pony as Dresden held her back.

"You were that pony?! That bucking pony that killed GP in front of everypony??!!"

Caper nodded, unable to take a look at her face.

"HOW COULD YOU?!!" Autumn screamed with tears running down her eyes. "I TRUSTED YOU, YOU BUCKING-"

She elbowed Dresden strongly, making him stumble as she launched herself towards Caper.

A powerful punch made Caper fall backwards as Autumn stomped hastily towards him, her eyes seething with pure rage. She lifted Crimson up by the neck, making him choke with blue.

"GO TO HELL, CAPER!!" she screamed like a banshee in his face, making him cringe.

Dresden dragged the raging mare away. "That's enough now, Miss Autumn!!"

In one swift move, Autumn snatched Dresden's gun, pushing him away violently as the stallion crashed into a bookcase.

She screamed, firing at Dresden as the bullets riddled his body into a bloody mess.

Dresden felt his body go limp. "Wh...What..."

As soon as Caper saw his friend fell to the floor, panic shot through his veins like adrenaline.

"Autumn!!" he said, pushing himself away from the mare as she started marching towards him.

"Come to your senses, Autumn!!" he shouted.

Autumn raised the gun, pointing directly at Caper's head as he backed up against the wall.

Caper closed his eyes tightly.

Click.

Autumn tried again. Click.

She scowled, throwing the gun across the room as she sat down, burying her face in her hooves.

Caper's pants slowly returned normal.

"Autumn?" he called out nervously to the crying mare.

"Just get out..."

"Autumn, please-!" Caper began to protest.

"GET OUT!!"

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The throne room was always vacant at this time of the night.

Princess Celestia scrolled through a few clipboards, sipping a small cup of coffee.

"Sister," a voice called out. "it's late."

Princess Luna stepped forward from the balconies, ignoring the blackening eyes of her older sister as she looked around at the tattered mess on the floor.

"You need some sleep, sister." she tried again. "I'll be watching the night. Don't worry."

The alicorn swallowed the coffee, her face twinging at the strong brew as she looked at her younger sister.

"Luna... Something's come up."

The other alicorn walked to her side, examining the messy scrolls closely.

"What is it?"

Celestia's brow furrowed, gesturing towards the scroll in her hoof.

"Spike sent this letter." she explained. "My protege's assistant?"

"I remember him." Luna recalled, thinking back.

"Well, one of Twilight's friends apparently ran into some trouble up north." Princess Celestia continued.

"From what we know," her sister replied. "helping other ponies is our duty."

"I know, I know." the older alicorn brushed it off. "But I can't administer to this issue."

"Why not?"

"Cause," Princess Celestia stopped short, opening a rolled up scroll slowly as it revealed a map of Equestria.

"She's here," the princess said, her hoof landing on a mountainous region.

Pendant Lakes, Aston Peaks

Princess Luna was slightly stunned.

"Of all places in Equestria..." she cursed under her breath.

"Even the name disgusts me." the younger alicorn said, spitting onto the floor.

"Manners, Luna." Celestia said with a chuckle as the other princess blushed in embarrassment.

"Both of us know what the ponies at Pendant Lakes have implicated upon Equestria." she said, her tone darkening as she stared outside the window.

"There's no possible solution to aid the mare." Luna said, sighing in defeat.

Princess Celestia pondered for a moment, walking out in the balcony as her mane whipped in a small gale.

"There is one way..."

L'amour De Ma Vie

"Never again..."

Rarity awoke with a shock, nervously looking around. Her head pounded sorely, making her groan in annoyance.

Spring slept soundly, the small filly mumbled quietly with a turn.

Octavia laid on the couch, with Crimson hugging her tightly, in a deep sleep of his own.

"Early bird, Miss?"

Stellar glanced at her from the window, a little fatigued from the long hours of standing. He stifled a small yawn, covering his mouth politely as he placed his gun on the table.

"Devilish ponies, they are." he cursed. "Never let an old pony like me have a rest."

Rarity chuckled a little, looking out longingly.

"When will this end?"

"Corridor's still swarming with them." the butler continued, sighing in exasperation.

"Even Princess Celestia couldn't help."

"There must be a clear reason why she doesn't." Rarity replied at the grumbling pony. "She has the heart to help everypony in Equestria."

Stellar just shook his head. "Except for here, that is. It's a policy that they shall never enter the city. Even Princess Luna agreed strongly to this."

"But why?" Rarity asked in frustration. "The past was the past! Everything can just be forgotten, swept under the rug!"

"Ah, but you see, Miss Rarity. There are some things that can leave a great scar even on the most benevolent of ponies."

"Think," Stellar asked soberly. "When your dragon friend of yours was attacked..."

Rarity froze, the dark memory of Spike started fogging in around her.

"Don't bring that up." her tone voiced sharply as she sat down on a nearby cushion, forcing the image out of her mind.

Stellar stopped instantly, watching with pure solemnity as the mare trembled.

"Don't... just don't."

"I don't mean to pry, Miss Rarity," the butler quipped cautiously, "but you seem to really care about the dragon."

Rarity looked up, her face a mix of emotions.

"O-Of course I do... H-He's my friend."

"And he seems to be... overly concerned about you last night."

She stopped, stunned a little as the butler chuckled.

"You both really like each other, don't you."

"Well...." Rarity's voice trailed off as she glanced around uneasily.

"He has that something, you know.... something that other ponies don't have."

"I never bothered about it when I first met him, but after I found out how ignorant Prince Blueblood is, it happened."

Stellar couldn't bear to ask: "What happened?"

"Spike seemed to... how shall I put it... glow! Around my friends, around other handsome stallions. Especially after that day he gave me something... something special."

"A fire ruby! One of the most rarest, beautiful stones I've ever seen! And he was just willing to give it to me!"

Stellar chuckled as he watched the unicorn twirl in a daze.

"After that, I made up my mind. He was the one."

Rarity turned to Stellar, flipping her indigo mane with a flame of passion and determination raging in her azure eyes.

"Nopony can ever compare to him. Nopony!."

"He's the perfect one!"

Stellar clapped his hooves enthusiastically as Rarity stopped short, starting to blush as realization flushed into her.

"Well said, Miss Rarity." he chuckled heartily.

"It's no wonder you adore the Dragonheart book so much."

Rarity giggled with embarrassment, settling herself down near Spring as she stroked the sleeping filly's mane.

"She's gorgeous, isn't she."

Stellar nodded. "One of the most innocent of the family."

"She was always the one. The one pony that can brighten up any dark day."

Rarity chuckled as the filly tossed around, mumbling a little.

"Her name suits her perfectly."

"Agreed." the other pony replied. "I helped raise her long enough to know how she is."

"When the dark days are astray, the sainthood of spring shall cleanse it away."

Rarity clapped softly as Stellar bowed.

"One of the many recitals I wrote." he said with a grin.

Rarity laughed a little. "Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"That was wonderful, Stellar."

The butler chuckled. "I planned to become a poet after retirement." he said, pacing towards the window.

"A few years, that is all."

"Well," the unicorn grinned warmly at the butler, who was looking out at the rising sun before them.

"I wish you best of luck, Sir Lionheart." she said with a wink.

Stellar nodded with a sad smile, glancing at Spring as the little filly tossed again with a gleaming smile on her sleeping face.

"If only Spring could live long enough to hear it..."

Rarity looked over at the filly, a little hurt at the truth.

"If only..."

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"...and of course, there will be streamers and cakes and balloons and muffins and party hats and donuts and cakes for EVERYPONY!!"

Pinkie bounced along the path, the others following her closely behind.

"Pinkie," Rainbow giggled slightly. "you said cake twice!"

"Really?" the pink pony turned around suddenly, her smile beaming across her cheeks.

"Two cakes.... great idea!!!"

The rest chuckled at Pinkie as they reached Sugarcube Corner. The bakery dazzled brightly, looking like a colossal gingerbread house. The wooden sign with a pink cupcake swung slightly in the breeze.

The bell rang as the six of them entered. A strong whiff emanated from inside, tempting them inside as Mrs. Cake greeted them with open hooves.

"Pinkie!!" she hugged the pink pony tightly. "I'm so glad you're back!!"

Her rose eyes glittered with tears. "We all really missed you, dear."

"I really, REALLY miss you guys too!!" Pinkie screeched deafeningly.

The door opened once more, with Mr. Cake stepping in carrying a lot of empty cardboard boxes.

"Pinkie!!" he exclaimed once his eyes settled onto the pink pony.

He galloped past Twilight and Applejack, hugging her tightly with a small tear in his eye.

"I knew you'll make it. I knew you'll make it!" he kept repeating.

"I'm so HAPPY to be back!!" Pinkie exclaimed, looking at the yellow, shelved-filled walls of the bakery with glee. Her smile beamed at all the confectioneries on display as she felt her heart leap with joy.

"I can't wait to start the baking!! There will be so much things to do-"

"Whoa there, sugarcube," Applejack interrupted, stopping her in her tracks. "you're still hurt. You can't start working yet."

"Awwww, shucks..." Pinkie's face drooped slightly, frowning at her bandaged body with annoyance.

"Don't worry, Pinkie." Mrs. Cake reassured her. "Just think of it as a very long day-off!"

Mr. Cake added on. "And you can play with your friends as well!"

Pinkie's smile quickly returned, as the other ponies let out a quiet, relieved sigh.

"Oh, almost forgot!!" she suddenly exclaimed.

As if on cue, a pair of violet eyes popped from a corner. A small scampering of green feet followed as Pinkie Pie gasped in surprise.

"Gummy!! There you are!" she hugged the alligator tightly, which only responded with a raspy croak.

"Oh, wait!! I gotta get something from my room!!"

Pinkie quickly rushed up the stairs, Gummy hanging onto her tail as the rest of them watched her go.

"So, how was she today?" Mr. Cake asked Twilight.

"She's all right." the unicorn replied. "Whatever happened yesterday didn't seem to make her go over her head today."

"That's a relief."

"She burned down the barn." Applejack said with a shrug. "Ah don't blame her though. Something nasty made her do this."

Mrs. Cake nodded understandingly. "Are you alright now, Fluttershy dear?"

"I.. I'm fine." the yellow pegasus chirped.

"I wish Pinkie really is though," she continued, "I'm not sure if she is completely all right, if you know what I mean."

Twilight fumbled around. "She told me in the hospital, that I-, that we, never understood everything. About her past. Things like that."

She raised an eyebrow at the Cakes. "Do you know what she meant?"

Both ponies shook their heads.

"Not that Carrot and I know of." Mrs. Cake replied.

A loud, piercing scream burst through the room. Everypony looked at the stairwell in horror, shouting a name in unison.

"Pinkie!!"

Twilight and Rainbow rushed up, with Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike following closely behind.

"Pinkie! We're coming!!" Rainbow shouted down the hallway as all of them galloped towards a brightly lit room.

The door slammed open, as the ponies saw Pinkie cringing in fear, her eyes filled with tears. She pushed herself closer to the wall, her coat paling in horror as she started shouting:

"Go away!! GO AWAY!!"

"Pinkie!" Twilight shook her friend, ignoring the constant pushing and shoving. "Pinkie, it's just us!!"

"GET OUT OF MY LIFE!!"

"Pinkie!! It's only me!! It's Twilight!!"

The pink pony looked up, staring at Twilight's concerned face in shock, before crying loudly, burying her face in Twilight's hooves as the unicorn hugged her friend tightly.

"There, there, Pinkie. You're safe now."

"H-He was there...." Pinkie said between sobs, her mane turning as flat as before. Applejack looked around in confusion as Rainbow asked desperately.

"Who was there, Pinkie?"

"The pony!" she shrieked. "That pony that... that-"

"He's not here anymore, Pinkie." Fluttershy said, shushing at her.

"You're safe now, Pinkie.... you're safe with us."

Spike could only watch helplessly at Pinkie, who was sobbing loudly as the rest tried to comfort her.

"Spike...."

The dragon turned around, stunned by the sudden echo of his name.

"H-Hello?"

"Spike..... it's me..."

Something clicked in his mind. That voice.... it sounded like...

"Princess Celestia?"

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Winter held his gun closely as a small stream of smoke poured out from the barrel. He looked over at a light-green pony, lying motionlessly in a blood pool on the ground.

"Fifty-one..."

He glanced at his watch, the cracked glass glinted in the light of the morning sun as he trotted cautiously down the hallway.

The hallway was filled with the bodies of ponies, the blood leaking from them nearly unrecognizable as it soaked a deep red into the carpet. All around, glass was shattered, cracked. Black smoke poured from the gardens as Winter called out his sister's name.

"Autumn?!"

A small clatter made him stop. He peered around the corner, readying his revolver.

From the corner, a black pony skidded to a halt, galloping frantically towards him.

He crashed straight into Winter, both ponies falling onto the floor.

Winter hastily helped himself up, pointing the gun straight at the other pony.

"Move one hoof and I'll swear my gun will be the last thing you'll ever see!"

The pony could only respond with a countless number of pants.

"Well?!" Winter jutted the gun into the pony's head. "Up!!"

"P-Please, sir..." the other pony managed to gasp.

Winter just scoffed. "I don't have time for this!"

"No!!" the other pony shouted as Winter clicked his gun.

"There's something really important you need to know!!"

"Oh really?" the unicorn challenged as his face darkened.

"And what is it so important that I shall require to spare your life?"

"The life of another....."

Winter could only laugh. "The life of another. Does it matter, Mr..."

"Caper," the black pony replied hastily. "We don't have much time, Sir Palgiot!"

"YOU don't have much time." the white unicorn shouted back.

"Please!! You need to save her!"

"Save who?" Winter laughed coldly. "A marefriend of yours?"

"As a matter of fact, yes."

Winter flipped his gun back into the holster.

"I'll see to it. After all, I'm finding somepony myself-"

"Let me guess," Caper broke in. "Autumn Palgiot?"

The unicorn could only stare at him in surprise.

"Wha... But... how..."

Caper smiled feebly at the stuttering unicorn, giving him a calm reply.

"She's my marefriend."

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"I swore I heard her!"

Twilight looked up at the dragon's face cynically, her eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"Really...?"

"I'm not lying this time, Twilight!" Spike replied hectically, his face in an absolute state of denial.

"I'm telling you, the Princess asked me to help Rarity!"

"Sure, sure!"

The unicorn rolled her eyes and turned back with a scornful grin as they stepped into the library. "And I'm sure she asked you to have a night out with Rarity as well."

Spike blushed a little, fidgeting his claws around as he groaned deeply in frustration.

"That's not what I meant-"

"Oh, but I thought that was what you meant the whole time!"

Twilight giggled a little, watching the dragon grappling his mind out as he replied heedlessly:

"Twilight!! I'm serious over here!"

"Look." Twilight suddenly said, stopping both of them in the middle of the library.

"Even if Princess Celestia really asked you to go all the way to Pendant Lakes, I doubt she would even be willing to take you there."

"Why not?"

"Cause it's a policy," Twilight explained, "that no Canterlot pony is allowed there."

"Which includes me."

"But I'm not a pony!" Spike whined.

"I know that!!" Twilight groaned. "I'm just telling you that Princess Celestia can't take you there. If she even places a single hoof in town, the whole city would go batty in a second!"

"I took that into account, Twilight Sparkle."

A sudden flare of light erupted from the middle of the room, slowly shifting a little as a quad of elegant hooves stepped out from the radiance.

She shook her colored array of a mane, sparkling in a shimmer of twinkles as Princess Celestia nodded in a gesture.

Twilight bowed sheepishly with a grin. "P-Princess Celestia, what a pleasant surprise!!"

The alicorn just grimaced at her.

"What Spike was involved in here was a very serious matter, Twilight. I was hoping you shall be more responsible in times like this."

"I'm sorry, Princess." the unicorn dropped her head in shame.

"No need to apologize, Twilight." Princess Celestia said, instantly cheering up her protege.

"Right now, we need Spike over there quickly."

"But why me?" the dragon asked, slightly puzzled. "Why can't somepony else do it?"

Princess Celestia grinned. "I knew you were going to ask that."

"Number one," the Princess explained. "you are a dragon. There are things in Equestria that only a dragon can see. Not even an alicorn like me or my sister will be able to detect such faint distinctions."

"Number two, your mode of transport. The transport was always the... how should I say... picky one. Being yourself would suit him just fine."

"And last but not least, your certain... affection with Rarity."

Twilight giggled as Spike blushed a deep magenta.

"Y-You knew about that, huh?"

The alicorn just smiled. "I'm sure many ponies have known about that."

"Rarity has gone through a lot these days. You never knew, but she loves you as much as you love her in return."

Twilight nodded agreeably. "When it comes to you, she becomes Pinkie Pie. She can talk about how nice you are all day without stopping!"

Spike blushed even redder.

"Gosh... I didn't know about that..."

"Rarity would love to have you by her side, especially with everything going on over there. You can help her."

The Princess smiled, guiding him towards the door.

"Come on now, Spike. Transport is waiting outside."

"Here already?!" Twilight exclaimed in surprise.

"He is a fast one, this fellow." Princess Celestia replied with a grin.

The wooden door swung open as the three of them stepped outside. Everypony, especially Spike, looked to the sky in amazement, as a brilliant shadow draped over them.

A pair of black wings flapped evenly, glowing a faint midnight blue, reminiscent of Luna's mane. His equally dark scales flared up gently, as he viewed Spike with a piercing stare.

"This young one, Princess?" the dragon looked at Princess Celestia.

The alicorn nodded slightly.

"He's the one..."

A wave of reluctance washed over her as the Princess uttered out his name.

"... Jovern."

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"Gypsum! How many times must I tell you! Not in the library!"

"Oh come on, Autumn Grumpypants~! It'll be fun!"

"No, Gypsum!" Autumn groaned in annoyance as she watched her cousin dance around, a tambourine ringing in her hooves.

"Really, you need to learn proper manners. I know you really embrace our small family side with the Romani tradition and all, but you must simply behave!"

"If either Summer or Winter comes in, who knows what they'll make you do!"

Gypsum just looked at her cousin, frowning deeply as she gloated:

"Who cares? I'm just carrying our gypsy side of the Palgiot family!"

With a ring of the tambourine, she clambered onto the tables, twirling her lace skirt around as Autumn watched in horror at her cousin.

"Come on, Autumn!" she called out, kicking a few books from beneath her bright olive hooves.

"Dance!!"

The mare just fiddled with her hooves.

"I don't do dancing. Or music, to be honest."

Gypsum gasped loudly in shock.

"Autumn dear, you really need to embrace the Romani spirit!!"

She ruffled through a giant trunk tapered completely in stickers and stamps, throwing out a few silk dresses and thick books.

Autumn gazed at her cousin, a little frantic at every material that flew from her cousin's hooves.

"There you are!" Gypsum smiled from ear to ear, gripping a black, musty record in her teeth. Her cousin looked in suspicion as she asked sourly:

"What is that, GP?"

"I'm glad you asked!!" she replied cheerfully, placing the record onto a nearby gramophone. "It's filled with the wondrous, harmonious, most melodic folk songs of my hometown!!"

Autumn just looked in horror as. "No! No no no no no no no-!"

"I promise, it'll be fun!" Gypsum interrupted with a wink.

"Come on!!" she exclaimed, dragging Autumn's hoof sharply.

Autumn sniffled, lying in the mess of books around her. She looked over to a small table, ignoring the loud gun shots from the corridor outside.

She walked towards it, eyeing closely on a dusty gramophone. Gently she blew, scattering the dust in a cloudy puff.

"Gypsum..." the dark memories of her dead cousin haunted her, as Autumn settled the needle on a black record.

A twang of guitars echoed first before being joined by a bizarre collection of fiddles and tubas. Faintly behind, the recognizable clatter of tambourines, maracas and cheers followed with the bongo beat, as a familiar voice began to sing.

"Weep not, little gypsy! You are not alone~,

Fear not, my child. You're going strong!

A life of solitude you have lived;

A forgotten heart you never retrieved."

"For we are the same.

In bond and in blood.

From Germany to Spain

With our dresses, cloaks and hoods."

A trample of fiddles joined in, as Autumn clasped her hooves in the air.

"Remember!!" Gypsum's voice echoed in her head. "Raise your hooves and do a little shake!!"

She shook her flank, laughing between her sorrow as the humming solo of a fiddle stop abruptly, making way for her cousin's voice.

"A little lie they told, as it was never more

Yet we enjoyed like colts and fillies, dancing on the forest floor.

Weep not, little gypsy. You are not alone~;

For we are the same! In blood and in bond!"

Autumn let her mane fall back down, cascading in an auburn waterfall as she giggled with joy.

She slammed a tambourine in the air, her heart leaping with the beat in delight.

"We sing, we dance, a nostalgic rain!!

We all but seek fellowship under the wings of the crane!

To find your other half, just say the word again;"

The mare sighed, uttering out the next two lines as the gypsy beat continued.

"L'amour de ma vie, L'amour de ma vie;

The other that shares the pain!"

Autumn shuddered, thinking back at her cheerful cousin, listening to Gypsum's squeaky voice as it rang out of the gramophone with a small crackle.

"L'amour de ma vie, L'amour de ma vie...!"

"The love of my life he remains..." Autumn muttered, finishing the sentence among the gleeful, rhythmic banging of bongos and tambourines.

She stopped, her dreamy twirl frozen midway as she let herself fall onto the library carpet.

"It's easy, right?!"

"I guess so..." she replied to her cousin with uncertainty.

"Come on, Autumn!" Gypsum cried with delight. "I knew you'll enjoy it!!"

Autumn laughed out loud. "Enjoy it? That was wonderful!"

Her memory faded suddenly, snapping her back into reality.

She looked out the window longingly, basking in the glow of the afternoon sun as she stepped on the books around her.

"GP..."

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Spike looked around in amazement, clinging tightly onto Jovern as the older dragon surfed seamlessly through the clouds.

"Whoa.... this must be the life!'

Jovern just chuckled. "You have much to learn, young one."

He glided along, his ebony scales slinking slightly with a flap of the wings.

"When you're old, you desire more the quiescence of your wings rather the exhilaration of the seemingly empyrean blue."

The black dragon sighed deeply, brushing off the wistfulness of his earlier age as he asked soberly:

"So... Pendant Lakes, is it?"

Spike nodded at the dragon.

"That's where I need to go. You can take me there, can you?"

"Not a big deal. Not a big deal at all."

"That's good." Spike said, heaving a little sigh as he watched the enthralling sunset in the horizon.

His mind started to wander, settling his focus on a particular white unicorn.

"Rarity..."

Jovern turned back, giving him a slight smile.

"I know that look."

"Wh-Wha-" Spike snapped out from his daydream. "What do you mean 'that look'?"

Jovern chuckled slightly, baring his gleaming white fangs.

"You're in love."

The purple dragon blushed a little, scratching his head.

"Seems like even a dragon would know about that."

Jovern laughed heartily. "I've seen that look before once. A long, long time ago, when I stared at my reflection in a lake."

"Really?" Spike asked eagerly, a small flame of anticipation starting to stir inside him.

"Of course, young one!" the black dragon replied as clouds flutter by him, sliced in two by his wings.

"I was in love once. Never seen a finer girl in my life."

"We got married that time." he smiled widely.

"Shocking thing those days were. Marrying a mare wasn't always a recommendation."

Spike widened his eyes in surprise.

"You married a pony?!"

"Not just anypony, Spike." Jovern replied, staring off into the clouds beyond.

"A mare interviewed me once. I spilled our story out for her. It became a best-selling book that I'm sure it will surface in your friend's library of hers."

The purple dragon pondered wonderingly. "A book, eh?"

"Dragonheart was its name." Jovern said. "In the book, her name was Cottonbud, a puffy, white pegasus with a bright, blue mane."

"But in real life," the dragon continued, "her name is actually Cottontail Whitemane."

"You mean the pegasus that lead five thousand ponies to stop the manticore invasion those years ago?" Spike asked.

"That battle was really rough!! Twilight told me about it a few times before."

"Cotton was a great fighter, but a shy pegasus in heart." Jovern said, his heart sinking slightly along with the sun.

"That day she left me, to seek a better place in the afterlife," the black dragon sniffled slightly, "she told me she'll be waiting. Waiting for the day I arrive, the day she'll welcome me with open hooves."

"I longed for that day. Longed for it to happen. But my duty on this world, on Equestria, is not finished."

Jovern let his wings flap, stopping himself in the sky as he finished his sentence:

"Remember this, young one. Remember that fate is never an accommodation, but a cycle in life."

Spike nodded determinedly, his claw up in a salute. "I will, Sir Jovern."

"Good." Jovern nodded.

"Now tell me about your dragonesse."

"Oh, but..." the other dragon grew a little uneasy as he fiddled with the tip of his claws.

"She... She is a pony as well."

Jovern blinked in surprise as he continued his skim along the clouds.

"A pony, eh? Interesting..."

"I've met different dragons in all my life, but none such queer and similar to me as you, youngling."

Spike scratched his head sheepishly.

"Yeah, I guess."

Jovern just smiled reassuringly. "It's your choice to love her, of course. I will not pry into this matter."

"But I wish you the best of luck!"

The dragon's smile grew ever wider as Spike chuckled slightly.

"Uh.. thanks Sir Jovern..."

"Just call me Jovern. We are friends, not mentor and student!" he said with a grin.

"And remember, for every ounce of love you give her."

He sighed a little, craning his neck as the sunset dazzled in a full bloom.

"With all her heart and soul, she'll give her love back."

"Wow," Spike said, clapping gently in amazement. "That was really good..."

"Take it as advice, young one." Jovern replied. "An essential step forward."

"I will, Jovern. I will."

The old dragon beamed with pride. "I'm very happy for you."

He steadied his black wings. "No time to waste for the love of your life!"

The dragon started singing a tune with a small, aging croak in his throat

"L'amour de ma vie, L'amour de ma vie;

The other that gives you strife.

L'amour de ma vie, L'amour de ma vie;

The one and only love of your life"

Spike started humming along, his face lighting up brightly as he raised his claws up. Wind pecked along his scales, making it resonate a little as he let out a whistle of delight.

"L'amour de ma vie, your passion, your beauty;

In mind, blood and bond!

L'amour de ma vie, your wonder and glory;

Always beside you in the next dawn!"

Jovern lifted his wings as he did a grand twirl, with Spike clutching tightly on the dragon's back.

"Whooooooo!!" he yelled in anticipation.

The older dragon chuckled heartily, readying his wings as he continued singing:

"L'amour de ma vie, L'amour de ma vie;

We'll dance for a thousand and one nights!

'Cause my sweetheart, my lovely, L'amour de ma vie;"

Spike nearly stumbled, completely taken off guard as Jovern suddenly charged speedily. He felt wind blow into his face as he hung on, his claws hanging tightly on the black scales. Jovern laughed at the sight, yelling out the last sentence:

"Get ready for the ride of your life~!!"

Crusading Blues

"Remember to pack all the notebooks, Rainbow! We don't want to miss everything we see when we get there!"

Rainbow Dash groaned a little, lifting a bundle of books reluctantly, taking care not to trip with every flit of her wings.

"You don't need this much, Twilight," she complained to her friend, who was still running through her checklist.

"...and of course, we need a camera! I know Lyra has a lot of those. Rainbow, remind me to ask her about that!"

"Twilight!"

The unicorn stopped in her tracks, looking at her friend perplexedly.

"What, Rainbow? Can't you see I'm in the middle of-"

A soft knock broke into their stirring argument, with Twilight turning towards the door and Rainbow shaking her signature mane discontentedly.

"Coming!" she shouted, cantering over the exceptional mess of books on the floor.

"Pinkie!" she exclaimed, looking at Ponyville's party pony in surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

"Twilight, can we talk? For a minute maybe?"

Rainbow looked as Twilight invited Pinkie in. Her mane was still poofy, although her face said otherwise. Peewee and Owlowiscious ruffled their feathers, almost as if they were uneasy with Pinkie's presence.

"Hi, Dashie," Pinkie waved to her pegasus friend, which gave her a smile.

"Hey, Pinkie."

An awkward silence filled the room, making all three of them glance around uneasily.

"So," Twilight suddenly spoke, "what do you want to talk about?"

Pinkie settled herself on a small stool, her face turning somber as she spoke:

"I heard both of you are going somewhere."

The unicorn responded with a nod, trying not to look at her friend's bandaged body.

"It's about helping Rarity," she told her, slowly packing a few pens.

"You see, Twilight wants to open this box..." Rainbow looked at her friend callously.

Pinkie giggled a little. "Really? That's it?"

Twilight just nodded, giving a cold stare at the chuckling pegasus.

"So..." her pink friend continued, "I was wondering if I could come. To help, you know."

"No-" Twilight held herself back, exchanging glances with her pegasus friend.

"Um... you see Pinkie, you're still injured."

"Duh!" Pinkie shouted, shaking her head obliviously.

The unicorn chuckled sheepishly.

"You're sure about this, Pinkie?"

The pony in question nodded instantly.

"There's something... you should know about me, Twilight."

Twilight looked at her uneasily.

"What do you mean?" she asked reluctantly.

"The..." Pinkie trembled, her voice slightly faltering as she cringed slightly.

"The pony... the one that..."

Her mane started to flatten, the pink smile fading. Peewee fluttered his wings, letting out a nervous squawk.

Twilight strode towards her friend cautiously, beckoning Rainbow Dash to come over.

"It's alright, Pinkie. We're your friends." she comforted her.

"Just tell us."

Pinkie Pie seemed to smile, although her friends could still see her despair.

"Mirror Mare," she held her breath, stifling a light sob.

"This wasn't the first time it did this to me."

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The sickening smell of ash and scorched wood made her nose tingle.

Rarity's eyes slowly opened, letting out a quavering moan. The small spring of blood dried on her forehead, running down to her neck. She struggled to stand, trying to regain her composure.

Dried tears formed a branching path down her soot-covered face. She staggered outside, shaking her tangled mane disheveledly.

"Spike..."

She closed her eyes unwillingly, trying to repress Spike out of her mind.

The bright light shone on her face, signaling the start of the third day of the siege. Rarity walked outside, her head hanging low with grief.

The granite pavement burned with the bombarded structures, succumbing into the roaring flames around them. Guns were fired overhead, ringing in all of their ears painfully along with every scream and shout emitted in the avenue. Ponies everywhere were rushing around frantically, all of their eyes filled with sheer terror.

All except for Rarity.

"Why would I even care," she mumbled to herself, devoid of any emotion. She stepped forward, barely avoiding a bullet that grazed her tail.

"He's gone anyway."

Rarity stepped forward, turning her back against the world as bullets whizzed and ricocheted around her. Her heart sank dejectedly in depression as she tried to force her tears out.

"Celestia, kill me now."

"Rarity!"

Crimson galloped from the crowd, with Winter gunning down a few pursuers.

"Rarity!"

Silence filled the unicorn's head, a small tear finally managed to leak out from her eye.

"Forget about it," she muttered, stifling a sob. "It's done."

"He's gone."

"Rarity!" Crimson shouted again, jerking and shaking the unicorn. Rarity's head still hung low, glancing away from Crimson loathsomely in resentment.

"Rarity, come on!" Winter shouted, rapidly pulling the triggers on the pair of revolvers in each hoof.

"We don't have much time!"

"What?!"

The unicorn hurled her head back, her pupils turning into slits as a flame of rage began to burn inside her.

"Can't a mare have some time ALONE?!"

"Rarity, what are you talking about?"

"Get away from me!" Rarity shouted, harshly pushing Crimson away.

"Both of you!"

Crimson tumbled backwards, slightly shocked at the mare's brashness.

"I had enough! You heard me! ENOUGH!" she screamed tearfully at the both of them.

"of everything that happened here! Everything!"

"You don't know WHAT I've gone through!"

Winter looked at Rarity, slightly taken aback.

"You think I want this to happen. Rarity?" he shouted.

"YOU THINK I WOULD CARE?"

"I hope you would!"

"Well, it isn't everyday someone you cared for would just DIE!"

Winter flinched, the words stinging in his heart. His eyes seemed to water, looking at Rarity in pure shock.

"You think," he shouted with a tremble, "that only your friends are getting hurt right now?"

Rarity sniffled, glancing away scornfully with tears.

"What about me?" Winter continued, "What about Summer? Autumn?"

He threw his gun to the side, helping Crimson stand up as he glared unwillingly at the mare.

"We've all been hurt, Rarity!"

She just scoffed unrelentingly.

"And why?! Why were we even here in the first place?!"

Winter stopped in his tracks, a little stunned as Rarity pointed her hoof at the stallion.

"Autumn's right, Winter!" she screamed accusingly, "This was ALL YOUR FAULT!"

"So it's my fault now?!" he shouted back, waving the gun threateningly at the unicorn.

"You think I wanted this to happen, Rarity?!"

"I made that mistake once, Rarity." Winter quivered slightly, pausing for a breath.

"And I don't want to make the same mistake twice."

Rarity's eyes widened in surprise, her tears stopping abruptly.

"It's my fault she's gone!" he yelled frustratingly. "It's my fault Harmony's gone..."

Winter stomped away, leaving Rarity and Crimson behind, both slightly bewildered by his behavior.

"Rarity," Crimson tried again, "we gotta go."

Rarity turned away, her mind screaming at her with guilt.

"Come on," Crimson reach out his hoof pleadingly.

"Spike will be alright, Rarity. He'll be alright."

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"Rainbow, stop munching on those apples!"

The pegasus stopped rummaging through Twilight's knapsack, giving her an annoyed groan.

"But I'm hungry..." she whined like a filly.

Pinkie giggled, prancing down the pathway along the meadow.

"Don't worry, Dashie! I brought a lot of cake!"

"Really, Pinkie?" Twilight gazed at her uneasily.

"Mm-hmm! Look!"

Pinkie opened her knapsack, letting an avalanche of cakes out. She giggled as Rainbow rushed into the mound of cakes, gobbling one at a time.

"Reminds me of Windigo Mountain!" she squeaked cheerfully. "All the cream puff there really, really, and I mean really looked like..."

The pink pony licked her lips, staring into the sky dreamily.

"...vanilla ice cream!"

Twilight chuckled at her friend.

"You know? You really seem to know a lot about Equestria."

"Know what?" Pinkie turned around, a bunch of crumbs scattered around her mouth.

Her friend couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Pinkie gathered all the muffins, humming a small tune as she swept the desserts back into her bag.

"You sure they're safe to eat?" Twilight asked.

"Extremely, wonderfully sure!"

Rainbow's tummy rumbled and gurgled as she let out a small burp.

"Hey, Pinkie!" she cried out to the pink pony. "Save some for me!"

"Okie-dokie-lokie, Rainbow Dash!"

The three friends continued down the path, admiring the scenery and the gentle breeze swiftly blowing through their manes. Gummy gripped tightly on Pinkie's mane, being oblivious to the environment around him.

"You sure Gummy should tag along, Pinkie?" Twilight asked hesitantly.

"Of course he should!" Pinkie responded with a joyful grin. "He always, as in 'never leave my side' always follows me on every journey I go!"

"Journey, huh?" Rainbow glided beside her. "What kind of journey?"

Pinkie grinned enthusiastically. "You know! When I left the boring rock farm, I went exploring! It was dangerous, and of course fun!"

Rainbow looked in amazement at her friend. "So, you're like Daring Do?"

"Daring who?" she asked, munching on an apple.

Twilight chuckled while Rainbow rolled her eyes in frustration. Pinkie just responded with a giggle.

"But I never went outside of Equestria, of course. Everypony knows how dangerous those places are!"

"I heard stories though," the pink pony pondered, her mind starting to whir as the three of them stopped in their tracks.

"They said ponies eat other ponies out there!"

Twilight turned green, her stomach flipped in disgust.

"What?!"

"I'm sure they're not true!!" Pinkie giggled. "You should've seen the look on your face, Twilight!"

The unicorn chuckled with embarrassment. "I hope they're not true."

"Then I found Gummy!" she squealed, raising the toothless alligator in her hooves. The reptile responded with a harmless croak.

"Let me guess..." Twilight said suddenly. "You found him at a swamp?"

"Nice try!"

It was Rainbow's turn. "Maybe... he fell from the sky?"

Pinkie laughed loudly, brushing a tear off her eye.

"That will be cool! But still... no!"

The pink pony smiled with glee as she watched her two friends' puzzled expressions.

"I give up," Rainbow finally said. Twilight nodded as well.

"Ya see, Gummy was given to me!"

Both ponies widened their eyes in surprise.

"Given?" Twilight asked in anticipation, "By whom?"

"Funny thing is, I don't know!"

Pinkie sighed a little. "I was sleeping in this small hotel, with a small room, and suddenly I found this small parcel in front of my small door! And I was like: 'That's strange. Who would send this small box for me? It could be Princess Celestia, or maybe this pony I met while walking into town, or the other pony that gave me a cherry-sprinkled cupcake, or-"

"Can we," Rainbow broke in, "get to the point?"

"Of course! Anyway, Gummy was inside! There was also a small piece of paper! It asked me to take care of Gummy. At that time, he was just a purple egg, so you know how much fun I had guessing what was inside."

Pinkie giggled as Gummy chomped her mane again. "When he hatched, I got guess number 428 right!"

"Okay..." Twilight grinned at her friend.

"That was pretty nice."

"But the strange thing is," Pinkie continued, "he was given on my birthday!"

The pink pony pranced in a circle around her friends, who looked with delight at her liveliness.

"Then he hatched on the day before my birthday!"

Twilight pondered while Rainbow tried to calm the bouncing pony.

"It's really cool how birthdays are!"

"Are you sure it was just a stranger? Could it just be a visiting relative?" Twilight asked.

"No way!" Pinkie responded gruffly, shaking her mane with a harrumph.

"My family always, and I mean always forget about my birthday!"

"Who could it possibly be?"

"I dunno!"

Twilight sighed in defeat, continuing down the dirt road.

The three of them stopped short, facing a threatening array of branches. Small screeches erupted from the inside as a swarm of bats flew out to the sky above.

"This is it." the unicorn swallowed nervously. "Everfree Forest."

"Oh come on!" Pinkie gave her a smile. "We've been there like, what, seven, eight times already!"

She pranced in happily, leaving her two friends behind as they looked at her.

"You know," Rainbow quietly whispered into Twilight's ear, the both of them quickly following their bouncing friend into the forest.

"She didn't really explain how that Mirror Mare pony and her are in this."

Twilight nodded in suspicion.

"She doesn't want us to know about it. But I'm sure Persimmon's box and everything happening at Pendant Lakes had something to do with it."

"If she isn't going to spill the beans, then I'm gonna make sure she will."

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"It's not deep, luckily for you."

Octavia sighed with relief as Doctor Brineheart placed his stethoscope down. He dabbed a round ball of cotton gently on her wound, making the mare wince slightly in pain.

"Just be sure not to do anything dangerous, Miss."

"I won't," Octavia smiled at the doctor. "Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye."

Doctor Brineheart looked at her in surprise.

"Cross your what?"

"Oh, it's just a promise." the musician explained with a chuckle. "A Pinkie Promise, to be exact."

"Oh?" the doctor seemed to smile as he applied a small bandage around Octavia's body.

The grey pony bit her lip, trying to endure the pain.

"Well," Octavia continued, tightly gripping on a small rag while the doctor finished his work.

"it's an unbreakable promise. One of my friends back in Ponyville sort of invented it."

"A case where words speak louder than actions, I presume." Doctor Brineheart laughed heartily. Octavia laughed along, her face slowly growing with concern as she looked at a small, framed door perched behind the rocks.

Crimson, please be safe...

A small voice wailed from somewhere behind her, making her turn to see a mare comforting her child.

"Would we be safe here?" Octavia asked the doctor, looking at the crystalline cavern around them.

"Winter made sure no crazed pony will enter here."

The doctor jerked the bandage with his teeth, tearing the end off. "Done!"

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Just doing my job, Miss Octavia." Doctor Brineheart bowed modestly.

"Mind if I ask, about that promise..."

Octavia turned back, fluttering her mane a little.

"What about it?"

"It is quite interesting, if I must say so myself." the doctor grinned slightly.

"Reminds me of something similar."

He cleared his throat as Octavia settled on a nearby rock, patiently waiting as the doctor began to speak:

"Never shall loose the words on thy tongue, the song of secrets must be kept unsung;

For thy pony that disrupted be forever in hate, the guilt he lies within the shadow of fate."

Octavia clapped uneasily.

"That was... dark."

"Old Palgiot truce thing," Doctor Brineheart chuckled slightly.

"Wasn't in use since Sicarius disbanded."

"Sicarius?"

"Ancient organisation." the doctor explained. "A group of assasins that once worked for the Palgiot Patriarch, bounded by his laws and ways."

"The organisation that the Patriarchs used to wipe out their enemies."

Octavia shuddered slightly at the thought of that.

"Assasins?"

"Times were harsh those days." Doctor Brineheart settled onto the rocky floor, his face turning sober.

"I was a little younger than you back then. It was a troubling time indeed."

"I can't imagine." Octavia replied. She shook her hooves free of dust, peering again at the door beyond them.

"You really seem to worry a lot about him."

"About who?" the mare looked up in surprise

"Crimson Lux. Of the esteemed de Cavalle family."

The doctor gave her a smirk as the grey pony turned slightly red.

"He's... different, you know?" Octavia managed to speak.

"From his family. The way he acted and the way they acted. He's like the black sheep of the family."

"Well, that's a good thing." Doctor Brineheart replied, stretching his hooves as he stood up with a sigh.

"Change is a natural and constant part of our life. It's either you follow, or you'll get left behind."

Octavia nodded in agreement.

"That's quite true."

"Yeah, I mean look at this town!" Doctor Brineheart exclaimed, gesturing at the refugees around them.

Octavia scanned through the crowd. The expression of horror was plastered on all of their faces. Families huddled closely together around their oil lamps in their blankets, their eyes burning with fatigue.

"Someday, Pendant Lakes would fade. It would become nothing but a mere memory for these people. The people that called this place home."

"I guess..." the mare just said, her head filled slightly with doubt.

"That day would come soon, Miss." Doctor Brineheart told her, almost as if he was warning her.

"The day when Pendant Lakes would never exist on the map."

"The day when Pendant Lakes will fall."

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The sound of chirps honeyed her ears. She let out a small sigh.

The evening was peaceful, sweet.

Too sweet.

Rarity buckled her hind legs, following Crimson with her head hung low. She rubbed her eye-shadow away, already bleached slightly with tears.

"We're almost there, Rarity." the singer assured her while searching through the broken array of tombstones.

The golden sky made the graveyard looked more like a haven. A reverie of stones. Marble fragments were still scattered on the grass, unmoved since the cascade of explosions during Summer's funeral.

Summer. The Patriarch's brother somehow got stuck in her head as she passed by his tombstone. Rarity never forgot his brashness, his attitude, his certain kindness to strangers.

"Crimson," she suddenly said, prompting the stallion to turn around.

"If Spring had a Cutie Mark, did Summer had one too?"

Crimson stood for awhile, trying to recall, before shaking his head admittedly.

"I really have no idea,"

Rarity tried to look back, the dead pony's face and his glaring stare, the way he shadily lurked around the castle.

"What about the rest of them? Autumn and Winter himself?"

"Well, Winter's was something called visual asymmetric-reality syndrome, or VARS for short."

Rarity looked at Crimson in bewilderment.

"What?"

"Doctor Brineheart told me about that." Crimson said with a shrug.

"About how he can distort reality by changing the perception of an idea or image in his mind."

"Which is...?" the mare still looked puzzled.

"He can turn something in his mind become real."

Rarity looked skeptically at Crimson, letting her mind process through his words.

"So he can, like, make an elephant magically appear out of thin air?"

Crimson laughed slightly. "Well, you could say that."

She shook her head in disbelief. "But that's impossible!"

"Anything is possible, Rarity."

Winter trotted to her side, giving her a calm smile.

"It's just on how much you believe in. The gift of faith and manifestation. To work wonders before the eyes of many."

"What about Autumn?" she asked him with anticipation. "What's her talent?"

"Her gift is the gift of tranquility. The ability to create a halcyon atmosphere, to appease and pacify even the most outraged of beasts. To mitigate their undying wrath."

Winter beamed at the last few sentences with pride at her sister, but his smile quickly faltered.

"Something has been bothering her lately. Something discomforting."

Rarity looked at the Patriarch, who was seemingly deep in thought as they continued through the graveyard.

"What about Summer?"

"Summer's was similar to Autumn, but in a more demanding manner. The gift of integrity."

Winter sighed, turning to his brother's headstone, his face darkening slightly.

"To secure the stability, to erase the corruption of a whole nation. To bring justice and authority. But now that he's dead..."

The Patriarch turned his head towards Palgiot Palace, smoke still pouring from the shattered windows, the glinting glass tauntingly reminding him of the author of the chaos around him.

"There isn't any more justice. There isn't any more stability."

Rarity followed his gaze upwards, watching as the smoke blotted out the evening sun, turning the sky a hazy red.

"And with that," Winter's voice boomed in his scowl, "no harmony."

"No harmony..."

The two words seemed to echo in Rarity's mind. What would Equestria be without harmony? Would the Princesses rule in peace? Would there be war?

Winter stopped in his tracks, turning away from the path as he started treading onto the grass

"Both of you go first. I need some time... alone." he told the other two ponies.

"Okay, I guess," Crimson replied, exchanging confused glances with Rarity.

As Winter watched the both of them walk down the path, he worked his way around the tombstone, careful not to trip on any stray fragments of marble. The grass crunched below his feet, sometimes joined by a few snap of twigs.

Reaching a particular tombstone, he knelt down, placing his battered hooves together, his heart aching in pain.

A small tear escaped from its gathering friends in his eyes as he whispered silently in prayer.

The tombstone was carved neatly, decorated naturally at the sides with moss and small, twining stems of purple orchids. A silver-plated laurel crown perched on a miniature stone obelisk, standing tall despite its embarrassing height.

Winter shivered, letting his tears run down, staining the granite tile below his knee as the words on the tombstone flashed across his mind.

Here Lies, In Eternal Peace

The Bearer of The Silver Crown

Always True to Her Name

Harmony Peridot

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"Close your eyes and let the music flow into you!"

"I'm trying to, Gypsum. You know I'm not a musical pony like you, right? Always dancing around in that frilly skirt of yours."

"You're too gentle, Autumn. Sometimes you gotta live big! Ring the tambourine for liberty! The freedom of your life!

"I have duties, Gypsum. You know I can't live life like that!"

"Sometimes, duty calls, Autumn. But duty isn't your overseer! It's just a job to do!"

Autumn strode down what was suppose to be Starlet Avenue, completely absorbed in her past as she hummed the tune for her cousin's song.

"Weep not, little gypsy. You are not alone.

For we are the same in blood and in bond..."

"You gotta see the world, Autumn! There's so much in the world you can explore! Think about it! The stories you'll hear, the ponies you'll meet. It's a once in a lifetime experience!"

Gypsum's voice echoed painfully in Autumn's head. She held back a tear as the song echoed in her head again.

Her inspiration, her motivation.

Her cousin.

"And the world will then see, you little gypsy~,

Sing of your crusading blues;

Of comedy and tragedy, your L'amour de ma vie,

These words never more true."

A small moan made Autumn froze. She whirled around, her ears perking as she tried to find the source of the voice.

She crept towards a mountain of debris with caution, trying to peer inside.

A small hand seemed to stuck out from the mound, tempting her to come over.

"Don't worry," she shouted. "I'll get you out of there!"

She tugged and jerked at the hand, the sharp claws sinking in her hooves. A small growl escaped from her mouth as she pulled a figure free, tumbling away as the debris collapsed before her.

"It's okay now," Autumn calmed the figure sprawled on the ground, his scales seemed to be bruised badly with a small drop of blood leaking out of his lips.

"What's your name?"

The dragon coughed with a moan, before managing to stammer:

"S-Spike."

Rapprochement

Applejack never felt any better.

"Yee~hawww!" she hollered, galloping down the grass hill with a bright smile on her freckled face. Her blonde tail flew in the wind, flowing freely. Winona barked joyfully, chasing the orange pony across the meadow.

Apple Bloom giggled closely behind, following her sister cheerfully.

Both ponies settled, panting and sweating heavily. Applejack smiled at her sister.

"That was one blast of a race!"

"Ah'm just glad mah hoof's still got its flair."

She waved her once-bandaged hoof in front of her sister. The filly chuckled with glee.

"Just be careful, sis."

Applejack sighed. "I promise. For the fifth time in this hour."

She settled under the shade of a tree. "Don't worry, Apple Bloom. I won't get hurt."

Apple Bloom laid her head on her sister's knee, closing her eyes.

"I hope so..."

It wasn't long before Apple Bloom started snoring gently. Applejack laughed softly, stroking and cradling her sister's scarlet mane.

"Silly filly."

The clock in the town hall struck three in the distance, the yellow bell ringing loudly.

The orange pony grimaced a little. She slowly helped herself up, leaving the sleeping filly behind in her nap.

Three o' clock. July 21st.

Applejack placed her hat down, silently sniffling remorsefully. Winona whimpered beside her, looking at the pony with worry.

"I'm sorry..."

She trotted down the path, ignoring the eyes of a few curious ponies before her. A small tear leaked from her eye, only beckoning more ponies to ask:

"What's wrong?"

"It's- it's nothing." Applejack brushed them off, biting her lip nervously.

Lies. It was always lies.

Who cares, her inner voice resolved. It was the anniversary after all.

A small cottage came into view from the meadow, making Applejack smile.

"If anypony knows how to cheer me up," she told herself, "it's Fluttershy."

Reaching the door, she gave a small knock.

"Fluttershy?"

No answer.

"Fluttershy?" she knocked again. "It's me. Applejack."

Still no answer.

"That's strange."

Applejack peered into the window, only to see a pair of red blinds fluttering gently behind a thick, glass pane.

"Fluttershy?" she tapped on the window. "You okay in there?"

Her confounded expression slowly turned into worry.

"Flutters? Don't scare me now."

She steadied her hind hooves, knocking on the door once again. Silence.

Applejack bit her lip, her flank facing the door. "Don't make me do this, Fluttershy!"

She cursed under her breath.

"Here goes nothing..."

With one swift kick, the door burst open from the staggering force of her hooves. Applejack yelped in pain, feeling her front hoof crumple.

"Stupid little..." she muttered, limping inside as she gazed into the darkness.

"Fluttershy?"

The orange pony looked around cautiously, ignoring the aching pain in her hooves. Wisps of dust fluttered as she stepped onto the ruffled carpet, barely avoiding a small porcelain vase on the floor.

"Fl-Fluttershy?" she called out nervously, her ears twitching in pursuit of getting a sound.

A small creak caught her attention. Applejack held her breath, going closer towards the stairs.

The wooden stairs squeaked as she climbed upwards.

Her hoof crunched into glass, making her yap in pain.

"What in the-"

Shards of glass filled the floor, joined by an oval, wooden board. Applejack lifted it up, immediately staring into her cracked reflection.

"What the hay happened here?"

Something ruffled through her tail, making her freeze with a nervous turn.

A small rabbit looked back at her. The orange pony sighed in relief.

"Celestia it's only you, Angel." she laughed.

"Where's Fluttershy?"

The usual, deadpanned frown on the rabbit's face wasn't there, replaced by an expression of terror and panic.

Applejack felt dread stinging in her gut. Something was wrong.

"Is she here. Is Fluttershy here?"

The rabbit responded with a frantic nod.

A loud shatter made her turn, looking up the stairwell.

"Fluttershy?" she yelled out, trying as fast as she could to gallop up the steps despite her throbbing leg.

She stopped as a loud scream erupted into the hallway. The sounds of crashing and breaking of wood soon joined after. A menacing shadow flashed through the light on the walls, seemingly tearing drapes of cloth.

The snarling and growling died down, prompting Applejack to go closer.

"Fluttershy?"

The orange pony gasped in horror. Fluttershy's room was in shambles, the floorboards broken and potted with holes. Her bed was ripped, the pillow lying in a mountain of feathers. The curtains dangled from the side, the cloth that once hung there now lying on the fallen cupboard, completely torn apart.

The silhouette of a pegasus panted and heaved, sunlight trenching onto her yellow, wrathful face.

"Fluttershy," she stepped back nervously, raising her hooves in self-defense.

"It's only me. Your friend, Applejack."

Fluttershy gnarled at her, the pegasus's spiteful glare piercing into her friend's eyes.

"Get out, Applejack!"

She turned to Angel, her pet cringing in fear behind Applejack's hoof.

"I told you, Angel! I don't want to be disturbed!"

The pegasus kicked her hooves, glaring defiantly at the rabbit.

"You wretch!"

"Fluttershy!" Applejack shouted, trying to knock some sense into her friend.

"What's wrong with you! Snap out of it!"

The pegasus spat on the floor, slowly marching towards Applejack.

"Put Angel on the floor now, Applejack!" she demanded, her eyes warping into small slits.

"I want to teach this sorry little rabbit a harsh lesson!"

Applejack turned to Angel, the rabbit's eyes pleading desperately at the orange pony.

"No."

Fluttershy's ear twitched dementedly.

"What did you say?"

Applejack pushed the rabbit behind her, backing up nervously as the pegasus stomped towards her.

"What did you say?!"

The orange pony held her breath.

"I said no!"

The pegasus started laughing maniacally, letting out a whimper from Applejack as fear grew inside her with each passing minute.

"No, she said!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves. "No!"

She slammed her hooves through the wall, the wood blasting apart as a dark frown formed on the pegasus's face.

Applejack anxiously clambered down the stairs, with Angel hanging on tightly to her back. She could hear her friend marching up from behind, her voice booming powerfully with hate.

"Nopony says no to me!"

The orange pony stumbled outside, collapsing onto the floor and gasping for air. Angel quickly hopped beside her, trying to lift her up.

Winona barked, dashing to the orange pony in desperation as Applejack

"Go get Macintosh!" she managed to speak, sweat flowing from head to hoof. "Quickly!"

The dog ran away hurriedly. Applejack quickly staggered outside with Angel hopping on her back, her front hoof now searing with pain.

"Darn this hoof!" she shouted with annoyance.

"Applejack!"

A small dash of yellow rushed t.owards her, pure terror scrawled across her face as Apple Bloom skidded to a halt in front of her sister

"I heard shouting!" she exclaimed. "What happened?! Did somebody get hurt?!"

"Come back here!"

"Let's get outta here!" Applejack exclaimed, lifting herself from the floor.

The sisters galloped hurriedly down the path, away from Fluttershy's cottage.

Applejack turned back to the cottage for one last time, looking in horror as grey and black clouds swirled above her friend's home. Thunder streaked ahead, a ferocious wind nearly blowing Angel off her back.

Fluttershy glared at her from the door, making the orange pony's spine tingle as she shouted from behind her pink, ruffled mane:

"I. Will. END YOU!"

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The cavern rumbled and shook slightly, the stalactites on the ceiling chiming as they struck each other. Ponies all around gasped, looking around nervously.

Octavia gazed worryingly at the door, her heart slightly sinking.

Spring slept soundly in her hooves, completely oblivious to the chaos around her.

"Master Winter should be here any moment now."

The butler helped himself up, brushing the dust off his suit with the dignity of a gentlecolt.

Octavia flinched as the cavern rumbled again, now even louder. She gazed at the ceiling nervously, the swaying stalactites threatening to fall anytime.

Spring opened her eyes, rising from her slumber.

"They're here."

The door swung open, making all the ponies in the cave look.

Rarity stumbled in hurriedly, followed by Crimson. Explosions rang outside as Chief Griffonhooves helped them in.

"Crimson!" Octavia called the stallion's name. He responded with a relieved smile.

"Celestia, 'Tavi!"

Crimson rushed to the grey pony, hugging her tightly. "I thought I'll never see you again."

Rarity stepped towards them, giving the nestling couple a warm smile.

"Rarity!" Spring exclaimed, beaming widely. Stellar gave her an affectionate smile.

"Good to see you safe, Miss."

"Rarity, thank goodness." Octavia uttered with relief as Crimson helped her sit on a rock.

The unicorn's smile faltered.

"S-Something's happened."

Crimson sighed in distress as his marefriend looked between him and Rarity in confusion.

"Why?" she asked them, "What happened?"

The stallion spoke as Rarity started sobbing quietly.

"It's... It's about Spike."

The door slammed open. Autumn Palgiot quickly galloped inside, a violet body fastened to her back.

"Doctor Brineheart!" she shouted the doctor's name. "This is an emergency!"

"Excuse me," the doctor said, swerving through the crowd as a bunch of nurses followed him.

Rarity's eyes widened, her anguished face paling as Autumn passed by her.

"Spike?!"

The mare stopped short, turning to the unicorn.

"You know this dragon?"

"Make way!"

Doctor Brineheart untied the rope around Autumn's back, settling the unconscious Spike on a blanket.

Rarity sobbed with grief, looking away as Stellar placed his hoof around her.

She buried her head in Stellar's suit, silently praying for the dragon.

"Please be alright..."

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Twilight jerked her mane free, snapping a few, overhead branches as they reached down menacingly at her.

She harrumphed with annoyance. "Stupid trees."

Rainbow munched on a strawberry cupcake, smiling with glee. Her wings fluttered, carefully avoiding the trees around her.

"How far is the exit?" she asked the frustrated unicorn.

"I don't know."

Twilight groaned again, a small part of her mane tangled in the trees. Pinkie giggled, slowly bouncing over to her friend.

"Let me help you!"

The pink pony slowly untangled her friend's mane, humming a small tune as Twilight tapped her hooves patiently.

"So... Pinkie," the unicorn began nervously, "have you ever been to Pendant Lakes before?"

Pinkie flinched a little, before answering:

"Once or twice. It's pretty nice over there!"

Twilight sighed with relief as Pinkie finished untangling her mane.

"There! All done!"

"Did you... make any friends there, perhaps?" the unicorn asked as the three of them continued into the forest.

"Friends?" Pinkie looked at Twilight perplexedly

"Hmm... let's see..." she pondered.

"I have no idea, really."

Rainbow finished her cupcake, a satisfied grin on her face.

"So no friends at all?" she asked the pink pony, waiting for the answer.

"Nope, Null, Nada!"

Twilight sighed in disappointment.

"Did you actually meet anypony there?"

"There were a lot of ponies," Pinkie replied cheerfully, "but not many talked to me or anything."

Light glimmered from the path beyond them, making Pinkie gasp in delight.

"Ooh! Ooh! I think I see the exit!"

The three ponies galloped with anticipation towards the light, a widening smile pasted on all of their faces.

"We're almost there!" Twilight exclaimed. "Just a few more..."

Pinkie skidded to a halt, with Twilight crashing into her.

Both ponies crashed onto the road, the pink pony giggling a little.

Twilight blew her rumpled mane away in annoyance.

"What is it, Pinkie?"

"Look!"

Pinkie's hoof pointed ahead. The path plunged into a dark hole. Rainbow looked down, seeing only an array of broken wood and ropes.

"The bridge collapsed, Twilight."

The unicorn peered down, looking at the splinters of wood scattered around the chasm.

"Great!" she threw her hooves in the air. "Now we'll never get out of here!"

"Of course we can, silly!"

Pinkie steadied herself, buckling her hind hooves. She swung her bag to the back, a look of sheer determination growing on her face. Gummy chomped tightly on her mane, almost as if he was aware of what's happening.

With one swift kick, she galloped with a jump, letting out a loud cry of "wheeeeeee!". Her cotton mane puffed slightly in the wind, making it more ruffled than it naturally is.

Twilight and Rainbow looked in awe at their friend's acrobatics, the party pony landing safely on all four hooves.

"Why the big eyes?" she giggled.

Twilight was the first to clap.

"That was incredible, Pinkie! How-how did you-"

"No sweat!" Pinkie's voice broke in. "An exercise a day keeps a chasm like this away!"

"That doesn't even make any... Never mind that."

Rainbow gazed to the purple unicorn, beckoning her to go. "Come on!"

Twilight shook her head frantically.

"Nuh-uh! No way I'm going to do some fancy, crazy yet fancy, jump like that!"

The pegasus groaned, her wings fluttering impatiently.

Pinkie giggled. "You're a unicorn, silly! Use that thingamabob of yours!"

"My what?"

"Duh, Twilight! Your horn!"

"My-" Twilight stopped short.

"Of course!" she smacked herself, "What was I thinking?!"

In a shimmer of purple light, the unicorn popped at the other side of the chasm.

“Smart thinking, Pinkie!”

Pinkie guffawed at that comment.

“Anypony could’ve guessed that!”

“You know what? She’s right.”

Rainbow looked at the unicorn, slightly worried. “How come you never thought of it, Twi?”

Twilight stopped for a moment. “I don’t know…” she said, slightly puzzled.

“For some reason, my mind’s kinda fuzzy, like something’s blocking it or stuff.”

“It’s the forest.”

Both ponies looked at Pinkie Pie, slightly surprised as the pink pony gazed worryingly at the trees around them.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow asked reluctantly.

The pink pony didn’t answer, turning back with a small frown on her face.

“Come on.”

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Caper paced around the small cavern, isolated from the immense crowd of ponies taking refuge in the larger caves. Anxiety began to flush through him as he spotted Autumn in the crowd.

"What am I going to do?" he asked himself.

"Do what you always do, Caper."

From the dark corners of the cavern, a light-blue pony stepped out. A warm yet demented smile was plastered on his face, his hooves open in a welcoming gesture.

"Disappear."

Caper stepped back, his eyes widened in shock.

"Dresden?!"

The other pony rolled his eyes.

"Who else would I be?"

"B-But," Caper stammered, his back now brushing against the jagged walls of the stone cavern.

"But Autumn- but she.... Autumn killed you!"

"You think very lowly of me, Caper."

He flashed a grin, settling on the damp, rocky floor with a snort.

"There are things you never knew about me."

Caper's hoof hesitantly reached for his gun, but Dresden's scoff made him stop.

"Come on, Caper! We're friends!" he said, his brows furrowing at the revolver in Caper's buckle.

"Can't you have a chat with your best friend a little? Talk about the past, the times of the old."

The tension in Caper's mind started to ease a little.

"And how can I trust you, Dresden?" he challenged, "How am I sure you won't touch me and everypony else?"

"Simple."

Dresden threw a coin towards Caper, the glint of silver flashing across his eyes. The magician caught it with ease, inspecting it carefully. A dove was carved elegantly, frozen in flight on one side, an ace of spades on the other.

"This... this is our friendship coin."

"Aye," Dresden said with a chuckle.

"Remember our secret oath? Our words of truce?"

Caper raised his hoof, stopping his friend as he looked tentatively at the gleaming coin.

"Fine," he suddenly said.

"We'll talk."

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Drops of rain hailed onto his red coat as Big Mac stood on the mud-filled path.

The usual serenity of the scene before him wasn't there, only looking more harrowing with each streak of lightning.

"Macintosh, ya think she's alright?"

Applejack stood beside her brother, hanging on tightly to her hat, the ferocious gale threatening to blow it away along with the countless dried leaves fluttering through their manes.

"Eeyup."

The red stallion looked at the splintered door of the cottage.

"If anypony can get her mind straight," Applejack said, looking up nervously at some of the shattered windows on the top floor.

"It's you, Macintosh."

Big Mac gulped a little with discomfort, another flash illuminating their faces.

"Ah hope so."

The stallion walked towards the door, now hanging at the hinges. He held his breath, before stepping inside into the foreboding cottage.

Darkness draped over the room, only brightened by the fierce streaks of lightning outside. Applejack stood at the door, wishing the best for his brother.

"Fluttershy?" the stallion's voice boomed in his deep voice. He looked around the living room, trying to ignore a few knives jutting out from the wooden panels of the wall

Something seemed to drift in his ear, making him stop. Applejack's ears perked as well, the faint sound picking up slightly.

Both ponies turned to the stairs, the small sound slightly twisted with a pulsing echo. Big Mac took the first step.

"Don'tcha make any noise, ya hear?" he told his sister quietly.

Applejack nodded, watching with concern as her brother climbed up the stairs.

"Be careful, Mac."

The faint sound seemed to pick up slowly as Big Mac advanced up the steps. He strode gently, trying not to make a sound.

His mind tried to register as the sound became louder and louder, recognizing it as Fluttershy's voice.

"Is she.... singing?"

Reaching the top floor, the warped, echoing sound of Fluttershy's voice drifted down the hallway from behind a wooden door. He tried not to shiver as the pegasus slowly hummed. There wasn't any sweetness, only a distortion of derangement and animosity.

The words grew clearer and clearer as Big Mac got closer towards the door. His spine tingled, the song starting to freeze in his heart.

"Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepyhead..."

Fluttershy's voice seemed to drift around his ears, rushing it in a demented passion as quick as the adrenaline flowing through his veins.

"Hush now~, quiet now~..

It's time to go to bed~~"

"Fl-Fluttershy?" he called out, giving the door a gentle push.

The wooden door swung open slowly with a creak.

The pegasus stood over a gathered mound of debris, her eyes flushing in a bitter rage. She glared at the stallion, making him freeze on the spot.

"You?!" she shouted at the top of her voice. "What are you doing here?!"

"Fluttershy-" he began, but stopped short as he looked in horror at the scene before him.

Blood stained the walls in giant splatters, joined only by the blades stabbed deep within the wooden panels. The floor was scattered with yellow feathers, clearly fallen from the wings of the frenzied pegasus.

"What the hay..."

A pony hung from the beams, tangled in a bunch of wires with blood dripping from the bottom of the pony's hooves. Fluttershy smiled, giving the dangling pony a push.

Big Mac paled as a small whimper filled his ears.

"That pony's still alive!"

He puffed his chest a little.

"Let this pony go! Now!"

The pegasus growled fiercely with a blade readied in her hoof.

"Don't you dare get any closer!"

"You don't know what I'm capable of, Fluttershy." he shouted back.

Fluttershy snorted coldly.

"And what would you do? Hurt me?!"

A streak of light flashed into the room, clicking the gears in the stallion's head into place.

"Don't make me do this, Fluttershy."

The pegasus laughed before her face quickly turned into a frown. She gritted her teeth with a harrumph, ruffling her wings harshly.

"Try me."

Big Mac closed his eyes.

With one swift gallop, he tackled the pegasus, which let out a piercing shriek as her back pummeled through glass. Both ponies fell out into the rain, the pegasus's pupils now widened in fear.

Applejack rushed out, watching in horror as both ponies crashed onto the dirt road.

"MACINTOSH!!"

Big Mac groaned, his body crumpling numbly in pain. He turned to his side, trying to get a glimpse of Fluttershy.

Fluttershy's wings were folded, slightly severed to the bone. Blood dripped from her mouth, mixing with sweat, mud and rain. She let out a small whimper, the burning rage in her eyes slowly fading.

"I-I'm not.... like you...."

The stallion lifted himself up, ignoring the burning pain fizzling in his body. Applejack helped him up, her face mixed with distress and concern.

"Celestia, Fluttershy..." she looked at the cringing pegasus, forcing out a small sob.

"There's somepony else. Somepony trapped upstairs in her room."

Big Mac winced in pain, nearly tumbling over as Applejack caught him just in time.

"Ah'll take care of it."

Applejack turned to her brother.

"And what about her? Can we get her to the hospital in time?"

Big Mac looked at the pegasus, trying to repress her deranged face. Her demented scowl.

Her disturbing lullaby.

"I hope so."

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He let out a small sigh.

The countryside was always a great escape from civilization. The forest air was always refreshing. The birds chirping a sweet melody in his ears. The gallant view of waterfalls flowing in a breathtaking leap. The large columns of smoke flowing through the air....

Wait, that last one didn't seem right.

He looked in horror at the sight before him.

Flames whipped from beyond the undergrowth. The smell of burnt wood reeked as sparks jumped from the embers. The granite road that laid before him was blackened with soot, covered with broken rock and wood.

A small crunch made him look down. His hoof landed on a small sign, blackened and shattered. The paint was still legible, stating the name of the town:

Pendant Lakes

A small figure seemed to rush up to him. He squinted his eyes, trying to see through the smoke.

"What happened?!" he shouted through the roaring of flames.

As the pony grew closer, he realized who it was.

"Winter?! Winter Palgiot?!"

Sweat dripped from the Patriarch's blue mane with each pant.

"This isn't a good time to be here, sir!" Winter shouted.

He swung his backpack, the sound of clinking glass only made the Patriarch stare at it in suspicion.

"What's in that thing?"

"Potions," he answered, still horrified at the havoc around him.

"You're a doctor?"

"Somewhat like that." he replied. "Traditional doctor."

Winter started to smile, but faltered as a loud 'boom!' echoed from behind him.

"Come with me, Mr..."

"Dredges Deniers." he told the Patriarch with a slight grin.

"But you can call me Dresden."

Calming The Midnight Beast

Night came fast in the Everfree, as Rainbow found out.

She stood on one of the mangled branches, folding her wings while staring out into the starry sky.

The moon gleamed brightly, reminding her of the first time she entered Everfree Forest.

The pegasus smiled sadly, looking down at Twilight, who was curled up in her mane, snoring gently.

Pinkie was nowhere to be seen. Rainbow started to worry.

"Pinkie?" she called out quietly, trying not to wake her sleeping friend up.

The pegasus launched into the air, looking down at the forest below her.

"Where the heck are you, crazy pony..."

In one swift dive, she plunged into the overgrowth, snapping countless numbers of branches along the way down.

"Celestia, Pinkie, you better don't wander off."

Rainbow brushed the stray twigs off her mane, glancing around in the dense overgrowth of bushes as the trees grew menacingly around her. Shadows danced around, flickering from the campfire the three of them set up.

"Pinkie...?" she called again, looking into the darkness.

A small pink blur sitting on the hill caught her attention, making the pegasus smile.

"Pinkie!"

The party pony turned around, giving Rainbow Dash a smile. Gummy stood on her head, croaking at the sight of her.

"Hey, Dashie."

Rainbow Dash settled beside her friend, following the gaze of her friend as Pinkie stared at the moon.

The sound of crickets and hoots of owls filled the atmosphere. Fireflies danced around them, glittering as bright as the stars in the night sky.

"So..." Rainbow's raspy voice broke the silence, giving her friend a smirk, "what brings you here?"

Pinkie looked up in surprise.

"Oh... nothing actually."

"It just.... reminds me of the adventures I had."

"Really?" Rainbow said, stretching her hooves.

Her friend nodded with delight. "It isn't everyday you see a sky as beautiful as that, Rainbow."

Pinkie let out a small yawn, with Gummy pouncing around her puffy tail before curling up inside as if it was a bed.

"Isn't it great? Living life in the outdoors..." she said happily, "looking at nature and all."

Rainbow smiled at her friend. "I'm sure there are many ponies like that, Pinkie."

The pink pony giggled at that.

"You'll never know, Dashie!"

Silence filled the air once more as they continued mesmerizing at the night sky. Croaks of frogs and toads echoed from the forest around them, sometimes joined by a screech of a bat.

"I just wanna know..." Rainbow broke the silence again.

"what made you go adventuring in the first place?"

Pinkie flinched, her smile faltered a little. Gummy looked up from his sleep, croaking slightly.

The sound of animals around the forest stopped abruptly, making Rainbow look around in confusion.

"I... uh..." the pink pony stuttered, fidgeting her hooves nervously.

"I don't feel like talking about it."

Rainbow looked at her friend, slightly puzzled.

"Why?"

"You don't need to know why!"

Pinkie stopped, covering her mouth with her hoof as she let out a quiet gasp.

"I..." she looked away from her friend, who was slightly taken aback by her reply.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Pinkie."

Rainbow placed a hoof around the pink pony's shoulder, making her look into her eyes with a sniffle.

"If it's too private, you can keep it to yourself."

Pinkie smiled a little, wiping away a small tear that leaked from her eyes.

"Thanks, Dashie."

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"He looks so peaceful."

Rarity turned around, looking at Octavia as the grey pony gave her a smile.

"Yeah," the unicorn said, returning with a smile of her own.

She looked at Spike, the dragon laid gently on a small mat. A small bandage covered his left claw, smelling strongly of bilberries.

Rarity gripped his other claw up tightly, placing her head gently on it.

"Please wake up..."

A small rumble caught their attention, making everypony in the room look at the ceiling nervously.

Suddenly, the crowd started pushing from the side as a giant stalactite broke from its base, crashing onto the floor with a loud boom.

Rarity shielded Spike with her body as dust filled the cave. She coughed slightly, ignoring the clattering rocks that fell upon her.

"Everypony alright?"

Stellar looked at the crowd frantically. Cries of foals screeched throughout the cavern as the ponies gathered themselves up again.

Rarity opened her eyes, quickly brushing off the dirt on her coat.

Spike still slept, seemingly unaware of the collapsed stalactite. Rarity smiled at the dragon, stroking his scales a little.

"Silly dragon."

"So..."

Spring trotted towards the unicorn, giving her a smirk.

"This is Spike?"

Rarity nodded dreamily, still gazing at the sleeping dragon.

The filly sighed, laying her head on the mat.

"I wish I had somepony beside me..."

Rarity chuckled, nudging Spring a little with a smile.

"Silly filly. You're still so young."

"I know, I know." Spring blew her mane up nonchalantly, rolling her eyes. "Everypony says that."

Octavia sat beside the filly, making her squeal with delight.

"Since the both of you are here, I wanna ask you guys a question!"

Both mares looked at Spring in bewilderment.

"Well then, it wouldn't hurt to answer one question." Octavia said with a chuckle. "What is it?"

"How does love feel like?"

The two of them flinched, staring at each other uneasily as Spring looked at the both of them, giving the mares a beaming smile.

"Well....?"

"Uhm... how I should I put thus..." Rarity began, slightly flustered.

"Love... is an emotion. It's when you put a lot of faith and trust into another pony where you believe would return the same."

Spring listened in amazement at her explanation as Rarity continued:

"When the both of you are really satisfied, you feel as if your heart's melting, your hooves tingling and all sorts of weird feelings get inside you mind."

"Then," Rarity stopped, letting out a sigh.

"that's when you know you're in love."

Octavia clapped with Spring, giving Rarity a hooves up when the filly's not looking.

"Cool!" Spring said with delight.

"Does that mean my brother's heart melts when he says he loves me as well?"

Rarity and Octavia chuckled slightly.

"Spring," the grey mare began, "there are different kinds of love."

"The love from your family. The love of the things you do. And of course, the love of your life."

Octavia gave Rarity a wink, which made her friend laugh quietly.

"Ohhhhh...."

Spring's face suddenly turn somber, her head down in deep thought.

The filly suddenly stood up, fierce determination plastered on her face

"Alright! From this day forth, I, Spring Palgiot, shall spread love to all the four corners of Equestria!"

Rarity and Octavia clapped for the filly whilst letting out a laugh.

"That was wonderful, Spring!"

The filly beamed, before prancing into the air with a calm sigh.

"I wish I had somepony who would love me back."

"Silly filly, of course you do!"

Autumn walked up from behind, giving a gentle smile as she joined the three of them.

"No matter what happens, Spring," she said, hugging her sister tenderly and letting out a giggle from the filly.

"We will always love you."

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"Applejack, ya sure the rake's not here?"

Applejack shook her head no, looking at her father as he wandered towards the carriage. She bit her lip, glancing uneasily at the barn.

"If it ain't here, then where the heck is that thing?"

The old stallion walked towards the barn, laying his hoof on the red doors.

"Check the house, daddy!" she cried out anxiously. Her stomach twinged as her father looked at her in suspicion. She let out a nervous laugh, fidgeting her orange hooves around.

Then the old pony smiled, making Applejack sigh with relief.

"Well, ah'll believe ya. But just this once."

He placed his hat on his daughter, making her giggle. He chuckled heartily, before walking towards their humble abode.

Applejack lifted the hat and looked as her father walked away. Guilt hung on her shoulders.

She galloped towards the barn, peering inside. Her gaze fixated on a mound of hay.

A broken rake laid there, the middle snapped like a twig. Applejack gulped, the tip glinting intimidatingly at her in the sunlight.

"Ah was only applebucking..." she muttered to herself. The guilt in her mind only grew, laughing at her distress.

"Applejack!"

Applejack spun around, watching her mother as she approached the orange filly.

"Come getcha things! There's no more time to waste!"

She quickly shut the door, forcing out a grin.

"I'm coming!"

"In the meantime, get Apple Bloom some milk! Silly filly's crying all day!"

"Alright!"

Applejack's mother left in a huff, leaving her behind. She sighed again with relief, sitting on a small wagon.

Her back brushed against firewood her father prepared for the coming winter. An oil lamp hung from its side, swinging gently in the breeze.

She looked at the barn yet again.

"If daddy finds out about this, you're dead, 'ya hear?"

Applejack stood up, the wagon lurching forward in response. The wooden wheels scraped along the gravel path, making the filly turn around.

"The wagon!"

She galloped after it in vain, watching it as it rolled down the hill. The firewood clattered with every bounce, the oil lamp swaying violently from side to side.

Suddenly, the wagon launched into the air. Applejack watched in horror as it crashed into their kitchen, shattering through the windows with a loud crash.

The lamp fell onto the kitchen floor, the glass shield breaking apart.

Applejack gasped as flames started burning from the side of the house, eating away the wood and cloth mercilessly. She rushed frantically towards her house, her eyes widened with panic.

"Applejack!"

Her father's voice boomed from behind, stopping her in her tracks. His mouth was agape as a beam collapsed from the top floor, the wood creaking and groaning alongside the crackling of flames.

"Stay here!" he shouted, before rushing into the flames.

Applejack could only watch helplessly as her father rushed back out, holding a crying Apple Bloom in his hooves.

"Hold her!" he cried, before running back in again.

"What the hay?"

The orange filly turned around. Her brother watched in horror at the flames before him.

"What happened?!"

"I.... I don't know... Macintosh... I don't..."

Applejack's voice faltered as she bit her lip.

Lies.... it was all lies...

Granny Smith stumbled out from the burning house, a look of pure terror on her face. The aging mare coughed, soot covering her slightly wrinkly face.

"Your father... your mother..." she managed to gasp.

A loud scream pierced through their ears. Apple Bloom wailed louder, her hooves flailing about as the wood creaked around the foundations of their burning home.

Suddenly, the bottom gave away, the roof collapsing. The three of them watched in horror, tears seeping from their eyes as the house crumbled inwards, turning into a burning wreck.

A brown, soot-covered hat flew from the burning debris, landing in front of Applejack.

The orange pony couldn't help but cry, sobbing loudly in pain as the flames burned rapidly in front of them.

"Why?!"

In the distance, the echo of brass rang amidst the tormenting roar of embers, striking three times.

*Gasp*

Applejack awoke with a shock, her hoof tightly gripping on her blanket.

She looked around in panic, sweat flowing down her freckled face.

Luna's moon shone on her face, tinting it a slight blue. She sighed, her heart drenching in grief with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry..."

A knock on the door made her jump, the door opening slowly with a small creak.

Big Mac walked in, making his sister sigh with relief. He settled onto a green stool, a warm smile lingering on his face.

"It's a little late for you to be awake."

Applejack only gave a short reply:

"Nightmare."

Big Mac chuckled, his sister giving him a look of annoyance.

"And whatcha doing up late at night, Macintosh?"

The stallion leaned back, giving Applejack a shrug.

"Ah dunno. It's just... your friend, Fluttershy."

Applejack sat up, pushing the blanket away.

"What about her?"

"It's just..." Big Mac let out a sigh. "it's just that I hit her, Applejack."

The stallion's voice faltered as he continued: "I hit a mare."

Applejack wandered towards her brother's side.

"She wasn't in her right mind," the orange pony reassured him, "you were doing what's right."

"Truth is, she's in hospital now."

Big Mac couldn't help but whimper, his face slightly darkening.

"Her wing's fractured and all. Doctor said she lost a lot of blood."

He looked down at his hooves uneasily.

"I dunno if I actually done the right thing."

"Look, Macintosh."

Applejack gave her brother a slight grin. "Fluttershy would want you to stop her."

The stallion widened his eyes in surprise.

"Really?"

The orange pony gazed at her brown hat at the side of the bed. Her father's smile echoed in her mind, making her eyes water.

"Ah'm sure of it, Macintosh," she said proudly. "Ah'm sure of it."

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Rarity opened her eyes.

A small yawn fluttered from her mouth. She looked around, rubbing her eyes tiredly. Her other hoof still grasped onto Spike's claw, the dragon still unconscious despite the rumbling in the caverns.

The hollow sound of wind rushed into her ears, bringing in the cold atmosphere of the night. She breathed in slightly, closing her eyes and letting the cooling air rush down her lungs.

A small groan made her look up in anticipation, as Rarity watch the teenage dragon stir from his sleep.

"Ugh..." his claw sank deep in Rarity's hoof, making the unicorn whimper slightly.

"Rarity?"

"Spike!" she exclaimed, hugging the dragon tightly.

Tears of joy fell from her eyes, with Spike only letting out a small chuckle.

"That's me!"

"Oh, Spike!" Rarity cooed, making the dragon blush. She looked up from his scaly body, rubbing her face against it tenderly.

"How's everypony else? Back in Ponyville?"

"Well, if I can recall," Spike pondered for a moment, scratching his scaly head.

"Twilight got this box. From the author you asked her to see."

"And?"

"Well, Persimmon, she.... she gave up her life."

Rarity let out a gasp.

"What do you mean?"

Slowly, Spike gave a complete explanation. About Applejack and Manehatten, about Pinkie's recovery, about Princess Celestia and Jovern. Rarity could only look in wonder as Spike continued the story, her eyes never leaving his for a second.

"...and then I decided to come here. Then, as we flew over the city-"

Rarity placed a hoof over his lips, immediately silencing the dragon.

"Don't. Talk. About it."

"What do you-"

"Shush," she demanded, before giving him a sly smile.

The dragon smiled back, his claws tightly wrapped around Rarity's hoof.

"So... enough about me. What about you?"

Rarity's coy smile made him uneasy. He shuffled a little backward, glancing away nervously with a blush as the unicorn crept closer.

"Nothing much..." she finally replied. "Just..."

In a split second, Rarity smashed her lips against his. Spike's eyes widened in surprise, but slowly closed them as he ran through his claws through her mane. Their fiery kiss burned with lust on their lips, both of their chests heaving slightly.

Rarity felt Spike's snakelike tongue slither around hers, making her moan in a mix of pleasure and disgust. She let herself fall onto the floor, the dragon following along with her.

The pair muzzled their snouts together, the world around them turning into a misty blur. Their lips worked around, their tongues dancing in their mouths, working furiously inside.

The dragon ran his claw down Rarity's body, making the unicorn shiver gently. She let out a small 'mmph', her body aching for pleasure. Her pair of hooves responded, pulling him closer and closer until their bodies met. Spike could only let out a deep growl of hunger, of greed.

"Celestia, Spike..." she managed to speak, their lips still clashing fiercely. A small blush now reddened her face, her hormones raging and begging for more.

As abruptly as it started, their kiss broke, a thread of saliva dangling from Rarity's mouth. Spike offered his claw, wiping it away from the smile on her face. She giggled slightly, placing her head onto his body.

"I love you, Spike."

The dragon pecked her snout, letting out a small purr of satisfaction. The mare let out a small moan, feeling Spike's claws flowing against her coat.

"I love you too, Rarity."

"You know Spike, you really know how to please a mare."

Spike gave her a deep chuckle.

"There's an exception. Twilight."

Both of them laughed loudly, their voices rebounding in the cavern.

Rarity looked into Spike's eyes, his pistachio eyes glistening dreamily back at her. She placed a hoof around his neck, bringing his lips closer.

"Come here...."

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"She never meant to do that. She's only a young filly!"

Fluttershy strained her ears against the wooden door, fluffing up her wings slightly in curiosity. She peeped through the keyhole, seeing a small beam of light shining on her mother's face.

"Well, I'm sure there must be an explanation for this." the officer said in his thick, grisly voice.

"I mean, it isn't everyday a filly pegasus shoplifts in Cloudsdale. Especially at such a young age."

"I assure you, I would see to it that she rids of that habit."

The yellow pegasus cringed in her seat. Her mother's voice stung into her, like many times before. That cold, calculating sneer...

"Are you really sure about that, Miss?"

The officer's voice was raised in suspicion.

"Your records and recent trips to the psychologists proved otherwise."

"Don't worry, I'll be alright."

Fluttershy tried not to whimper as the door opened. Her mother stepped out, ruffling her purple-black wings slightly. The red glare of pupils in her eyes fixated on her daughter, making the yellow pegasus look away in fear.

"Come on, Flutters."

The officer stepped out as well, looking at Fluttershy being dragged away by her mother with concern.

Fluttershy's pupils watered, meeting the officer's gaze, pleading for help.

The hospital was dreary at night, as the yellow pegasus found out.

Lying on the hospital bed, Fluttershy looked up at the ceiling, trying to repress the storm brewing in her head.

"Calm down, Fluttershy..."

The chiming sounds of the clock made her close her eyes, her head pounding as her past memories flashed back into her.

"It was very clear to you, Flutters."

Fluttershy watched with tears in her eyes at her mother. The red, piercing glare of her mother made her yelp in fear as she raised the whip once more.

"That you were supposed to KEEP WATCH!!"

With one fling, Fluttershy cried out in pain, another scar slashed across her wing. She gritted her teeth, gripping tightly onto the ragged carpet

"It was ONLY a simple job! Mother has told you,"

The purple-black pegasus forced her daughter to look right into her eye, making the yellow pegasus's bruised face ache slightly.

"I'm doing this for the sake of OUR FAMILY!" she shouted. "Isn't this what you've wanted?"

"Mom-Momma..."

"Oh, don't 'Momma' me, you FREAK!"

She flipped the table, breaking it apart.

"Pathetic, really. As stupid as your father!"

Fluttershy watched as her mother chugged down a bottle of liquor, wiping her mouth in dissatisfaction as it burned in her throat.

"You better appreciate what we have in this house. I've seen fillies out there with not even wings on their wretched backs!"

Fluttershy whimpered in distress, her mother's voice tormenting in her head as she draped herself under the blanket.

"I'm no-not... like you. I'm not like you!"

"One day, you'll understand, Fluttershy."

Her mother threw the bottle on the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"One day, you'll be like me."

"I'M NOT LIKE YOU!!"

Thunder flashed as Fluttershy panted and heaved, her face seething with rage.

"Never! NEVER!!"

She smacked a vase away furiously, the small daisy that once stood in there sprawling along with water onto the hospital floor as the porcelain shattered across the room. Her wings flared up, before crumpling down in pain.

Her yells was soon reduced to a broken sob, the pegasus burying her face in her hooves.

Regret stung deep in her heart, images of the afternoon bursting back into her mind.

She looked at her hooves, tears dropping onto them as she spat at it with disgust.

"Never, mother. I will never be like you..."

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"Wake up!"

Rarity pushed his claw away.

"Just a little longer..."

"Rarity." Spike's voice persisted.

"They're here."

The mare stood up, trying her best to brush her mane.

"What is it?" she grumbled, looking around the cavern.

A small flurry of shouts seemed to echo from the entrance, prompting the couple to edge closer.

"Is Winter here?!" a voice demanded.

"I assure you, Master Winter isn't around here."

Rarity recognized that voice as it continued protesting.

Stellar Lionheart.

"If he were here, he would've already shown up to face you sniveling bastards!"

Spike looked in worry, placing his claw around Rarity with concern.

"Rarity!"

Octavia walked up to them, Crimson and Spring following closely behind.

"For a moment, I thought we'd lost you!"

"What's happening?" the unicorn asked, glancing worryingly at the intense argument.

"We don't need the Palgiots to ask us what to do!"

"Really?!" Stellar scowled coldly.

"Without the Palgiots, you wouldn't even be living your wretched, filly-foller life!"

"You dare challenge us, you mere servant?!"

The pony grasped his dagger, waving it threateningly at the butler. Stellar just scoffed.

"Even a servant like me has a longer blade than yours!"

"You have blades, yes,"

The pony let out a high-pitched whistle, the sound ringing into Rarity's ears.

"But not this."

A loud rumble made everypony else look nervously around. The cavern shook violently, the rocks crumbling and tumbling from the ceiling.

Rarity looked at the door, the loud boom of steps growing closer and closer.

With a loud roar, the entrance blasted apart, rocks flying and darting in every direction. Stellar looked up in horror at the magnificent beast as it swept its black wings, its bloodshot eyes raging in a frenzy.

The crowd of refugees scattered instantly, running away as the beast teetered aimlessly inside, breaking apart the stalactites that hung from the roof of the cavern.

"Come on!"

Rarity jerked Spike's claw, who could only watch in horror at the black monster. The dragon wouldn't budge, making the unicorn scream:

"What the hell, Spike! We don't have much time!"

"That dragon..."

Spike watched as it terrorized through the cave, the paws crashing down onto the rocks.

"It's Jovern!"

The teenage dragon pulled Rarity aside, away from the chaos around them.

"He's the one! The dragon that helped me get here!"

Rarity looked over his shoulder in disbelief, before her eyes widened in shock.

"Look out!"

A lash of the black dragon's tail made them duck, scraping against the wall relentlessly. Spike quickly helped Rarity up, the both of them running towards the other end of the cave.

Rarity suddenly skidded to a halt, letting out a gasp as the tail slammed on the ground in front of her. The black dragon turned his head, his eyes locking onto the unicorn.

The unicorn stumbled back frantically as the dragon stomped up to her. Fear and panic crossed her mind, adrenaline burning in her veins.

She let out a small whimper.

With an intense growl, the dragon raised his claw. The tip slashed against the unicorn, making her cry out in agony.

"Rarity!"

Spike scrambled towards her in vain with Crimson and Stellar pulling him back, his eyes flowing with tears as he watched Rarity fall to the floor.

"It's no use!" Stellar shouted.

"The dragon's in an outrage. It's impossible to stop something as fierce and large as that!"

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a small, tingling voice filled their ears. It sung in a sweet melody, silently drifting through the cavern.

Spike felt his pulse slow down as the music invaded his ears. His breathing became tender, his aggression sedated suddenly.

Stellar felt it too. His face grew with realization.

"Miss Autumn..."

The ponies watched as the mare sung, her voice raising gently with harmonic balance. She perched on a small cliff overlooking the cavern, standing gallantly with her head held high.

Jovern's scales tingled as the music finally found its way into him. His breathing turned slightly shallow, his raging flame slowly extinguished. Slowly, his roars became smaller, before he let out a satisfied growl.

His slitted pupils gradually became bigger, as the dragon looked around in confusion.

"What... Where am I?"

"Rarity!"

Spike quickly rushed towards Rarity, her white body now scarred red with three giant scratches. The mare could only whimper and moan as the pain stung in her body.

"Doctor Brineheart!" Stellar's voice boomed through the cavern.

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Autumn let out a sigh of relief. Her gut lurched and groaned, her heart sinking to the floor.

"A little bit too much..."

She collapse onto the floor, her hooves tingling weakly as life began to seep out of her.

It's always like that...

The mare let out a depriving chuckle as she looked up at the roof of the cavern. First Summer, now her...

She cursed under her breath, letting out a sputter of blood.

"Never overuse your talent, Winter said. Genetics, he said..." her fading, inner voice scolded.

Then she smiled, the world around her quickly became a blur as her vision faded into white.

"I'm coming, Gypsum..."

Cyan Delusions

The whitewashed door never seemed more harrowing.

Applejack reluctantly gave it a knock, silently remembering about the last time she visited here. A small voice echoed in her head, reminding her of Pinkie Pie.

I don't want to remember...

She turned to her brother, who was nervously ruffling his mane.

"Calm down, Macintosh."

The stallion just gave her an unnerving smile, gazing at the door.

"Ah'm not too sure about this."

"C-Come in..."

Applejack turned the knob, her gaze settling on Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus gave her a smile, although Applejack sensed that something was bothering her.

Big Mac entered as well, giving her a slight grin.

The cheerful atmosphere suddenly broke, the yellow pegasus's face turned dark.

"What is he doing here?"

"Fluttershy," Applejack raised her hooves, biting her lip nervously, "I can explain-"

Fluttershy turned to Big Mac, giving him a foul glare.

"Get out."

"Fluttershy, just listen to me-"

"GET. OUT!"

Big Mac just looked down with guilt, his yellow mane drooping slightly.

"I'll... I'll be waiting outside, AJ."

Applejack tried to hide her shock as Big Mac slowly strode out, closing the door behind him.

Fluttershy, however, seemed to lighten up.

"Now that that's settled, Applejack, what is it?"

"What the hay's wrong with you?"

The yellow pegasus's smile faltered, her grim face returning again.

"Applejack, there's nothing wrong with me."

"That was what Pinkie Pie said," she told her, frowning at the yellow pegasus.

"before what she done to you."

Fluttershy's eyes suddenly flared up at the mention of Pinkie's name. Her wings ruffled despite its bandaged state. A few feathers shed from it, fluttering across the room.

"She's crazy, Applejack. There's a difference."

"Well, I don't see much of a difference!"

"Really?!"

Fluttershy tossed her blanket aside, marching up to the orange pony. Applejack backed against the wall, snout to snout with the raging pegasus.

"They don't call me Honesty for nothin'!"

"Well, BE honest, then!"

Fluttershy raised her hoof, aiming directly at Applejack's face.

"Am. I. CRAZY?!"

Applejack just glared back at her friend.

"YES!"

With a roar, Fluttershy struck her friend, making Applejack grunt in pain. Her freckled face ached sorely, turning black with a small bruise.

Applejack spat on the floor. "Shows how crazy you are, Shy!"

Fluttershy raised her hoof again, preparing for another strike.

Then she stopped, her eyes widening in realization.

"Ap-applejack..."

She tumbled backwards, tripping onto the floor. Her hoof reached around, finally gripping onto the bed sheet.

Applejack tipped her hat, glancing away from the pegasus as she whimpered:

"I'm sorry..."

The orange pony sighed, turning towards the door.

"Ah swore to myself I would never lie, Flutters."

Flames, screaming and a wagon flooded through her mind, her eyes starting to water. A loud clang of bells struck three times in her head, making her feel faint. She turned the knob callously, never giving her friend another look.

"Ever since that day..."

Applejack left the room, leaving Fluttershy alone. The pegasus clung to the side of the bed, sobbing quietly as her mother's voice scowled in her head.

"Pathetic."

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Winter couldn't help but stifle a sob as Doctor Brineheart draped a white cloth over Autumn. The mare smiled serenely, graceful even in the arms of death.

Spring wailed silently in Stellar's suit, the butler saddened as well by her sudden passing.

Rarity tried not to shed a tear, looking along with Spike.

"Celestia..."

Jovern watched the procession, his heart dangling with regret.

"Of all the mistakes I've done..."

"It's not your fault, Jovern," Spike reassured the older dragon.

"Something made you do this."

Jovern just sighed, looking at the deceased mare.

"Truth is, we don't know what it is."

He turned to Rarity, shedding his black wings in guilt.

"I'm... I'm really, really sorry, miss."

The unicorn gave him a slight smile, wiping a small tear away.

"It's alright, Sir Jovern. You didn't do it on purpose."

Spike tenderly hugged the mare, making her whimper in pain. She squirmed uncomfortably as the teenage dragon gave out a chuckle.

"Relax, Rarity."

The unicorn gave him a look. "You expect me to relax with your claw on my wound?"

"You have to be strong, Rarity." Spike replied, giving her a wink.

Jovern laughed as the unicorn groaned with annoyance.

"You really remind me of Cottontail."

"Your mare, Jovern?"

Rarity remembered the book, the sentences of Dragonheart lingering in her mind.

"What's she like?"

"Well..." his voice faltered, the dragon's face slightly blushing.

"Beautiful. Brave. Very, very shy..."

"Brave and shy?" Rarity asked, slightly puzzled.

"She's confusing, that I can tell you." Jovern said with a laugh. "I've spent all night on our first date trying to guess her favorite color."

Spike and Rarity chuckled along.

Jovern sighed deeply, reminiscing about the mare.

"It depends on the time of the month. By this hour, it would be pale green."

Spike applauded at that, while Rarity let out a small 'hmph'

"If only you have that sort of memory, Spike."

"What? Hey, I can have a better memory than Jovern here."

Spike nudged the older dragon, making him stutter:

"Um.. yeah! S-Spike! He has a way, and I mean way better memory than I'll ever have!"

The unicorn just rolled her eyes.

"Dragons! Always acting like small foals!"

Spike sighed in disappointment at himself. Jovern just chuckled.

"You have her spirit. I like that."

"Well," Rarity shrugged.

"It doesn't hurt to bring this dragon here into place..."

"Whoa, Rarity! What do you-"

"Shush. But he's still a fine gentledragon."

She gave Spike a smile, making his heart flutter.

Jovern just laughed as the teenage dragon scratch his head confusingly, his cheeks reddened slightly.

"It seems you have much to learn, young one."

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"Here we are!"

Twilight pointed to the fading overgrowth. Sunlight dappled from all sides, shining brightly towards the three of them in a welcoming light.

Pinkie galloped to the front, letting out a giggle. She stretched her hooves, letting the light shine on her face.

"So glad to be out of the Everfree!"

Rainbow Dash immediately flapped her wings, diving out of the mesh of branches.

"Aw yeah!! Freedom~!"

Twilight chuckled slightly. She staggered out of the woods, letting out a small groan.

"Twilight, you okay?" her pegasus friend asked worryingly. "You don't look too good."

The unicorn gave a weak reply: "I'm... I'm fine, I guess."

Pinkie walked over to them, looking at Twilight. She placed a hoof over the unicorn's forehead, her smile turning into a small frown.

"Hmm... Just as I thought..."

"What is it, Pinkie?" Twilight asked nervously.

Pinkie turned back into the Everfree, cursing under her breath.

"Stupid forest..."

She examined Twilight's body closely, with Gummy trailing between her legs.

The alligator suddenly let out a croak, making the pink pony duck down.

"Found it!"

"Found what, Pinkie?" the unicorn asked again. Her vision became a slight blur as she tried to look at her hooves.

Pinkie pointed at Twilight's back hoof. A small, swollen bite lingered there, slightly leaking with fluid.

Rainbow gasped with disgust at the swelling, while Twilight tried to hide her shock.

"What is that?!"

"Spider bite," Pinkie explained, washing it a little with water. Twilight winced in pain, looking away from her hoof in disgust.

"To be exact, a bite from the Everfree false widow."

"False widow?"

Rainbow scratched her head, slightly confused.

"We gotta get her to the next town. Now."

Twilight let out a small cough, her throat turning increasingly dry. She ruffled through her knapsack weakly, trying to focus as sweat dripped from her coat.

"Come on, Rainbow." Pinkie said, helping the unicorn up.

Twilight passed the pegasus a map frivolously, trying to maintain her balance. Her head ached painfully, making her groan.

Pinkie helped her, the unicorn struggling to stand on her hooves. The both of them staggered along the path, with Rainbow Dash hovering above them, tracing her hoof across the map.

"Next town is about two miles away," she concluded.

"Too far," Pinkie replied. Gummy stood on her head, as if overseeing the pink pony carrying Twilight.

"I know of a mare that lived somewhere closer. Across Red North's Bend."

Rainbow looked at the map again.

"That's several meters ahead of us."

Twilight collapsed, dragging Pinkie along. Both of them hit the floor with a grunt, the unicorn letting out a small whimper.

"J..Just help Rarity.... I can t-take care of-"

"You can't, Twilight," Pinkie said somberly, helping her friend back up.

"You won't make it without us."

Rainbow helped along as well. The three ponies staggered forwards together, their hooves brushing against gravel.

"Th-thanks guys..." Twilight said weakly with a smile. "If the both of you weren't here..."

"No sweat!" Rainbow said, giving her a wink.

The pegasus looked over to Pinkie Pie whilst helping her friend.

Pinkie just looked towards the sky, a worried expression plastered on her sweating face.

"Wonder what's wrong with her?"

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"And be sure to take a few medications everyday."

Fluttershy gave a cheerful nod to the doctor. She breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Finally...

"Thank you, Doctor."

Without looking back, she left the room. Her pair of yellow wings strained slightly, aching between the bandages wrapped around them.

"I hope the animal's are alright," she muttered to herself. "I don't know how long I've been away..."

She stopped suddenly, looking at a familiar face at the end of the corridor.

A red stallion waited for her, a worried expression plastered on his face. Fluttershy felt hatred building up inside her, but she slowly tried to repress it.

"Hey, Fluttershy." Big Mac raised his hoof slightly.

"H-Hey, Mac..."

"AJ asked me to bring 'ya home."

Fluttershy felt her gut twinge.

"She... she did?"

"Eeyup."

Her mind rambled and ranted, but she tried to ignore it. For now.

"Al-alright then..."

The two of them walked out of the hospital, the doors swinging widely for them. Big Mac gave her a smile, making the pegasus look away ignorantly.

She could hear him scold himself slightly, making her giggle a little.

"Fluttershy?"

"Y-Yes..."

"You're looking a little grim these days," the stallion said cautiously.

Fluttershy bit her lip as he continued: "S'there something bothering you?"

Her mother's stare pierced back into head. She clasped her hoof firmly, taking in a huge breath.

"Nothing, really. It's just..."

The stallion frowned as her voice trailed off.

"The pony you hung in 'ya room. It was a mannequin. Filled with red paint."

The yellow pegasus forced down a gulp, glancing away uneasily.

Big Mac raised his eyebrow with suspicion, slightly disturbed by the pegasus's condition as he spoke:

"I don't think you were, well, alright... in that sense."

"Can we not talk about that, Mac?"

The pegasus held herself back from striking him, instead giving him a pouting look.

The stallion just shrugged his shoulders. "Eeyup, I guess."

"But if anything comes up. Anything at all, just tell me."

Fluttershy's ears perked slightly as Big Mac continued:

"If there's a pony 'ya wanna trust, it's me."

Fluttershy gave him a smile, the stallion returning it with his own.

The two walked across Ponyville, towards Fluttershy's cottage. Along the way, a few ponies watched with anticipation at them, letting out a few, delighted whispers.

The yellow pegasus blushed a little, letting out a small whimper.

"Um... uh.."

Big Mac turned to a group of ponies, obviously gossiping about the both of them.

"Just give this mare some privacy, eh?" he scowled at them, raising his hoof threateningly.

Fluttershy beamed as the group huddled away. Big Mac just chuckled.

"Not a big deal."

Both ponies continued their afternoon walk. It wasn't very long before they reached her cottage. The fresh, autumn air blew slightly, the browned leaves hailing around as Fluttershy gasped in surprise.

The roof and walls was repaired in her absence, shining glamorously in its simplicity. Fluttershy looked over to Big Mac, who gave her a small wink.

"Thank you, Mac." she said to the pony. "for what you did to the cottage, and for accompanying me..."

"No need for a thank you, miss."

The red stallion gave her a warm smile. "Just be careful, okay?"

The yellow pegasus nodded eagerly, before waving as Big Mac slowly trotted off.

She opened the door, her yellow hooves touching the wooden floor. Everything inside was clean and orderly, with no sign of her previous rampages.

Fluttershy closed the door behind her, the image of her mother starting to form in her mind.

"You will learn to love me, Fluttershy,"

The whip cracked onto the floor, making her jump in fear. Her mother's voice scowled painfully, the last few words stinging in her heart.

"and I'll make sure you're going to LOVE ME!"

Fluttershy sobbed slightly, the cold voice penetrating into her mind. She gripped onto the velvet carpet tightly, trying to force her mother's glare out of her mind.

A deep voice echoed slightly, reminding her of Big Mac:

"If there's a pony 'ya wanna trust, it's me."

The yellow pegasus sniffled slightly, trying to control herself.

"Calm down, Fluttershy..."

Her wings ruffled a little in the bandages, making her whimper in pain.

"Trust..." she muttered, looking at her hooves.

"I don't know who to trust anymore..."

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"It wasn't a choice."

Caper looked at Dresden, his friend still scowling impatiently over the past.

"Gypsum had to be killed. You, of all ponies, should know that!"

"Well, now Autumn's dead!"

The magician glared at his friend, pointing his hoof accusingly at Dresden with tears in his eyes.

"I wouldn't have killed Gypsum if I knew she was Autumn's cousin!"

"You had more targets to come, Caper!"

Dresden clicked his gun, tossing it to the black stallion. Caper caught it with ease, glancing at it with disgust.

"I swore to myself I won't kill anypony else, Dresden."

Caper threw the gun aside, the metal clattering onto the rocky floor. He shuddered with grief, a small tear falling from his eyes.

"I can't go back to the pony I used to be, Dres. That's... that's not what she would've wanted."

"Caper?"

The black stallion looked up from his mourning, raising his head towards the voice.

"Who's there?"

"Caper, damn. It's me."

A figure stepped out from amidst the darkness, a warm smile on his face. A small leather rucksack hung around his light-blue body, the sound of clinking glass emitted from within.

Caper turned around. A faint, light-blue wisp stood there, vanishing into the cavern floor. He quickly turned back around.

"What the hell do you want, Dresden?"

The witch-doctor stopped in surprise.

"Caper? You alright?"

"Very fine, thank you very much."

The magician reached for the revolver, quickly pointing it at Dresden. The light-blue pony could only look in bewilderment at his friend, backing away slowly.

"Caper? We haven't met for two years! What's wrong with you?!"

"Shut up!" Caper shouted, the gun trembling from his hooves.

"You were behind me just a moment ago!"

Dresden stopped, completely perplexed by his friend's behavior.

"What are you talking about, Caper?!"

"Put. That. Gun. Down!"

Winter stepped in, a group of soldiers marching along. All of them raised a rifle, pointing directly at Caper.

"Caper, put the gun down. Now!"

Caper looked around in confusion.

"What are you doing?! You're getting the wrong pony!"

"Caper!" Dresden shouted, catching his attention, "Can you please make sense! For once!"

"You! You asked me to join the Surrogates!"

The black stallion raised his gun, glaring at Dresden with indignation.

"You MADE me do this!"

Dresden stopped to think while Winter advanced slowly.

"We can talk about this, Caper."

Suddenly, the witch-doctor's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh, god..."

"What is it, Dresden?"

"He's delusional. Obsessed."

Dresden walked towards Winter, glancing at Caper uneasily.

"Conjuration," he explained to the Patriarch.

"To cast a symmetric illusion of something, or somepony, from their perspective and force it out into reality."

"I told him not to use that magic. I told him never to overuse it."

Winter looked back at Caper, who was still frantically turning around.

"Caper!" Dresden called out to his friend. "Wake up, Caper!"

"What?!"

The magician pointed his gun directly at his friend, making Dresden stop in his tracks.

"When I left for Russia, how long had you used your conjuration spell?"

"Why would you care?" Caper said with a sneer.

"I already told you, you were supposed to be in control of the magic!"

Dresden approached his friend cautiously, raising his hooves in self-defense.

"Not the other way around!"

"It doesn't matter now, does it?!"

Caper shuffled backwards slightly, his gun still raised.

"Consider this, Dresden."

Winter's horn flared up with magic, his veins pumping with adrenaline. His eyes started glowing, as well as his Cutie Mark, turning white with a brilliant light.

A ray of beam shot out from his horn, landing beside Caper. The magician tumbled away alarmingly, pointing his gun as a white figure began to form before his eyes.

The white magnificence slowly faded into a pale-yellow. Caper let out a gasp, his eyes widened with shock at the pony that formed from his eyes.

"Autumn...?"

Winter stumbled down, his hooves slightly weakening. Dresden quickly helped him up, still gaping in awe as Autumn strode towards Caper.

Her voice charmed in a melancholic grace, her eyes still glistening palely in the cavern.

"Miss me, Caper?"

"But... But-"

Caper pushed himself further away, confusion tangling inside his mind.

"But you're dead!"

"There's still some unfinished business to do, Caper."

Dresden looked on as Autumn marched towards Caper, giving the terrified pony a smile.

"Is... Is she real?"

"No." Winter replied, easing himself up.

"Just my projection of her."

"Tell them, Caper!" Autumn shouted, her eyes warping into a frenzy. "Tell them how you killed GP!"

She raised a gun from her buckle, pointing directly at the magician.

"All right! All right!"

Caper bit his lip. "Manehatten. Two days after Circo Coriandri. It was raining that night. Precipitation was heavy."

The magician shuddered as Autumn scowled with impatience.

"Continue."

"I was at the balcony. Waiting. Waiting for the gypsy to prance down the street."

Winter's ears perked as Caper continued his explanation:

"The night was somber, dark. I was polishing the barrel of my sniper, still looking down from the balcony."

"Then, there she was. Gypsum Palgiot. The happy-go-lucky explorer with a smile on her face, trotting gleefully down the street..."

Caper trembled as he continued: "... not aware of the assassin that watched her from above."

"I spotted you, Autumn. Along with your siblings. You were walking down, enjoying the Manehatten atmosphere with Gypsum prancing in front of you guys."

Autumn's body seemed to falter, making Winter grunt in pain as his horn forced out a little more magic.

"Not now, Winter! Not now!"

"To watch the gypsy in her dress, to prance the street without a care for the world. That smile on her face."

The black pony started sniffling. "I perched the gun and waited, waited for my prey."

"I had many regrets of that night, Autumn." he said with a tremble, looking up at Autumn with despair.

"Regretting of killing your cousin. Of breaking you apart."

"But the harshest lesson: of pulling the trigger."

Caper wept bitterly in front of them, throwing his gun to the ground.

"I never meant to do it! I never wanted to do it!"

"Then who asked you to do it, Caper?"

Autumn's voice sharply boomed, though now with more grace than fury.

"Who made you do it?"

Caper stood up, wiping his tears away.

"I-It... It was-"

A loud bang erupted from the air, making the soldiers frantically look around.

Caper fell to the floor, his eyes widened in shock.

"Caper!!"

Dresden rushed to his friend's side, shaking his friend with distress.

"Hang on, Caper. Just hang on!!"

Winter instantly turned around, spotting a masked pony perching from a distance.

"Solemn night, is it?" the pony's voice boomed from above, letting out a cackle.

"Shame about your sister, Winter. I never expected Jovern to be a tad bit... aggresive."

"What are you waiting for?!" Winter shouted to the soldiers.

"Fire!"

The soldiers aimed their guns at the masked pony. Bullets whizzed and fly through the air, breaking into a few rocks.

Mirror Mare darted back, away from the ricocheting bullets.

"Damn this-" Winter kicked his hooves with rage.

"Surround the cavern. Don't let the pony escape!"

"Yes, Sir Palgiot!"

Winter quickly trotted beside Dresden, watching the soldiers march off hurriedly.

Caper shuddered violently in Dresden's hooves, his friend frantically trying to stop the bleeding in vain. His pupils were bloodshot with fatigue, his insanity fading away.

"E-Enough, Dres..." Caper managed to stutter. Blood poured from his mouth, a small puddle of it already pouring from under his body.

Winter gripped his hoof tightly. "Hold on, Caper. We're going to get help."

"Winter Palgiot," the magician coughed.

"You and I both know I can't make it."

He looked over Winter's shoulder, at the fading projection of Autumn Palgiot. The mare's face seem to have a smile, comforting him as the projection whisked away in the hollow wind.

"Don't w-worry, Winter." Caper said with a smile. He held his last breath, before managing to mutter:

"Autumn will be waiting for me..."

Vertigo Theory

"Come on!"

Rarity dragged Spike's claw, the teenage dragon just following along, clearly uncertain about the unicorn's choice.

The corridors of Palgiot Palace, although ruined, still looked royal as before. Scaffolding and maintenance ponies were all around the hallways, busy refurnishing the walls and columns of the palace itself.

"Where exactly are we going, Rarity?"

The unicorn gave Spike a wink.

"You'll see!"

As they rushed through the corridors, Winter's voice boomed loudly outside, busily addressing the residents of Pendant Lakes.

"...and I can assure you, a truce has been made between each sides. Attacks will no longer be ordered, we can now enjoy a moment of peace."

A wave of clops followed, as Spike peered outside the window whilst running, watching the Patriarch standing modestly on a wooden podium in front of a crowd of ponies.

"Whoa~!"

His claw was suddenly jerked forward, making him trip. His face slammed onto the carpet floor, his head turning slightly giddy in a daze.

A small giggle emanated from Rarity, who looked down at him with her azure eyes.

"You're very, very lethargic, you know that?"

Spike rolled his eyes slightly.

"Can't you just tell me where we're going?"

"If I did," Rarity said with a smirk, "it wouldn't be much of a secret~!"

Spike lifted himself up, letting out a sigh as he watched the unicorn trot off in front of him, disappearing at a corner.

"Wait up, Rarity!"

He quickly ran, shuffling the carpet below his paws. Winter's speech still continued outside, his voice ringing around the corridor.

"...Autumn and Caper's funeral would be held, along with the dozens of ponies that perished in the attacks beforehand. Let us have a moment of silence, to lament the unfortunate that have passed on...

Spike turned around the corner. "Rarity, I really, really want to-"

He stopped for a moment in surprise. The unicorn wasn't there.

"Rarity?" he called out, looking around the corridor.

"Where are you~?"

A small 'psst' made him turn towards a wooden door, watching as it creaked open. Spike gave a relieved smile.

Rarity stood there, giving her own smile before letting out a giggle. She stepped down into the darkness, beckoning the dragon playfully to follow her.

"Come on, Spikey-Wikey~."

Spike just sighed, walking into the darkness while shutting the door behind him. His feet felt granite, taking every step down as he tried to gaze in the duck.

Rarity's voice echoed from below: "Quickly! Before somepony sees us!"

As he reached the bottom, he couldn't help but look in awe at the room.

It was wide, illuminated dimly by only a few torches. A strong aroma of grapes filled his noses, tingling it in a currant sensation. The walls were all covered with wine racks, black bottles jutting out of every available slot.

"Isn't it amazing?"

Rarity's eyes glittered at the wine, her tongue reaching out from her mouth, yearning for a taste.

Spike could only grin at the mare. From one of the racks, he took out a bottle, twisting his claw into the cork like a makeshift corkscrew.

With one small pull, the cork popped out from its beholder, the smell of its contents already seeping out rapidly.

Rarity's horn flared up a light blue. She smiled as two wine glasses levitated from a corner, landing in front of the couple.

Both of them watched the wine flow as Spike tipped it over, quickly filling both of their glasses with the exquisite drink.

"Cheers." the dragon said. Rarity laughed at that, the both of them clinking their glasses together.

"So," Spike shrugged his shoulders, looking around the room, "is this why you brought me here?"

Rarity shook her head 'no', giving him a smirk.

"There's just something I want to show you."

She dragged him by his claw, the dragon nearly losing grip of his glass.

He stopped, his eyes opened wide with wonder as he sat before a wall. Several bricks jutted from its surface, carefully carved with intricate scratches. A bronze plaque was screwed tightly, the carved words faded with age

"What do you make of this?" Rarity asked with anticipation.

"Well..."

Spike examined the wall carefully, looking at every single scratch made on each brick. He tried to clean the plaque, with no success.

The symbols seemed to dance in his head, his mind slightly fazed by the puzzling wall before him.

"If I'm not mistaken, from Twilight's books, this is the dragon writing."

Spike traced his claw over one of the bricks, his face turning serious.

"Ancient dragon writing."

"So..." Rarity's voice trailed off, looking at the wall in revelation.

"How do you understand it?"

Spike just chuckled a little, looking at the unicorn.

"It's quite simple, really."

He pointed at one of the bricks. A swirl was scratched towards the middle, the outside arrayed by strokes, all pointing outwards.

"That one is sunlight. The swirl indicates the energy in the sun; the strokes striking outwards the rays."

Rarity nodded, finally understanding. She suddenly giggled, making Spike look at her in surprise.

"We're looking for the son of Ochre Palgiot, not 'Sun'!"

Spike just scratched his head, watching the mare giggle beside her.

"You didn't really tell me exactly what are we looking for."

"So, well then,"

Spike looked at the arrangement of bricks, the signs all flashing in his head.

"Who's Ochre's son?"

"That's the problem," Rarity shrugged in frustration. "I don't know."

Spike looked at the room around him.

"Surely there must be something here that can tell us. The bottles or something."

Rarity snapped her hooves.

"That's it!"

She quickly grabbed a bottle. The label, though slightly faded, stated its name:

Parsan 1109

"Parsan Palgiot!" Rarity explained with glee.

"The Patriarch that built the Palace on the mountain!"

"So let me get this straight,"

Spike stopped to think, his face turning a little green, "you mean Winter named his wines... after his dead relatives?"

"You can say that..."

"That's just sick!"

He looked at his wine glass, now empty. His stomach gurgled slightly in repulsion, making him feel faint.

"Calm down, Spikey!"

Rarity let out a giggle, stroking his purple scales. "It's not like he grounded their bodies up and mixed it in the brew!"

"What?! That's not what I was even thinking of!"

The unicorn laughed with tears in her eyes at the dragon's horrified expression, rolling on the stone floor.

"R-Really, Spike!" she managed to snort in her laughing fit, "You're getting way over your head here!"

The dragon just rolled his eyes, turning back to the stone wall.

"Back to business here?"

"Alright, alright!"

Rarity breathed in, calming herself down. She trotted along the wine racks, examining each of the bottles.

Her hoof traced on the labels, inspecting each bottle closely.

"Fedora... Flair... Ochre....

"Here it is!" she shouted to the dragon.

"His name is Axle. Axle Palgiot."

"An axle..." Spike pondered a while. "A gear, perhaps?"

He turned to the wall, looking at each brick closely.

"This one!" he said, pointing to a carving of two circles with two dots inside, a small slash connecting the both of them together.

"The two dots. One slanted left and the other slanted right, indicating the direction the circles, or gears, turn in. The slash in the middle-"

"The axle." Rarity finished his sentence.

"Well, give it a push!"

Spike held his breath, ramming the brick inwards.

The cellar walls around them rumbled suddenly, making the both of them look around. Bottles rattled on the racks, the wine in them sloshing around aimlessly. In the distance, a multitude of clonks echoed into the room, the sound of metal against metal ringing from behind the walls.

Rarity held Spike's claw tightly, shuffling nervously closer to him.

The strange wall before them suddenly shifted forwards, making them jump back in surprise.

Suddenly, the sounds stopped, the wall swaying open like a wooden door, revealing a passage behind.

Rarity and Spike looked into the darkness in amazement, the cold, musty air making their noses tingle.

"Are we really gonna go in there?" the dragon asked.

Rarity's horn sparkled a little, emitting out a ball of light. She turned to the dragon, smiling with anticipation.

"Every pony needs an adventure now and then, Spike."

She gave him a peck, making his cheeks redden slightly.

"That includes a dragon, as well."

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"We're almost there, Twilight. Just hang on now."

Twilight could only nod weakly, slightly shivering from her fever as Pinkie and Rainbow helped her along. The sun was setting in the horizon, making Pinkie look grimly at the sky.

"Time is running out..."

"Hurry!"

Twilight could only groan, her face discolored from her malady. She struggled to keep her eyes open, her gut and stomach gushing agonizingly with pain.

Rainbow looked ahead, straddling the unicorn's hooves around her back. Her rainbow mane glistened slightly, her eyes sparkling as something came into view.

"Is that it?"

Pinkie followed Rainbow's hoof, spotting a thatched cottage in the distance. It looked quaint and welcoming, from the wooden patio to the hay roof. Behind it, a river streamed through the plains, bending slightly away. A crimson monument of rocks stood, seemingly shining elegantly under the setting sun.

"Red North's Bend," the pink pony muttered. "That's the one!"

The three ponies advanced hurriedly down the sloping hillside path. Twilight's head hung low, the mare shutting her eyes tightly with a moan.

"Almost there, Twi." Rainbow assured her friend. "Don't give up now!"

The unicorn gave her a weak smile.

"A-alr..." her voice faltered, her throat dry with pain.

After what it seems like forever, the three of them reached the cottage. Pinkie rushed up to the door as Rainbow watched her promisingly, helping Twilight up to her hooves.

The pink pony gave a small knock on the door, tapping her hooves impatiently on the wooden patio.

The door swung open, revealing a caramel colored mare. She smiled in surprise, her bright yellow eyes sparkling with delight.

"Pinkie! It's been such a long time!"

"Well, we don't really have much time."

Rainbow stepped forward, helping Twilight along. The mare gasped, looking in shock at the frail unicorn.

She glanced around the meadow with concern, before speaking:

"Quickly come in."

Rainbow and Pinkie helped Twilight in as the mare tidied the living room. A small fireplace crackled in the corner, with stacks of wood prepared for the coming winter. On the wooden walls hung old, fading photos, the glass pane that preserved it wiped daily with care.

The three ponies helped Twilight onto a soft, satin couch. The caramel mare rested the unicorn's head on a pillow, before going into the back room.

"I suppose your visit is quite sudden, Pinkie." her voice boomed from the back.

She returned shortly, carrying a mortar and pestle.

"It isn't everyday an old friend visits like this."

Pinkie gave the mare a slight grin, watching her as she fumbled through a few glass vials and phials standing on an oak rack.

"I'll explain later, Prim."

"Reminds me, forgot to introduce myself!"

She shook Rainbow's hoof. "My name is Primrose! Primrose Custard."

The mare opened one of the vials, quickly pouring its purple contents into the stone mortar.

"Pinkie, get the soap."

The pink pony wandered to the back, leaving them behind.

Rainbow watched in amazement as Primrose started pounding, the petals turning into fine powder.

"West Valley coneflower," she said with a smile. "Works for many diseases."

Pinkie returned from the back, carrying a small bar of soap.

"Sure hope it will work."

"Of course it will!" the mare said with a smile.

"There isn't a disease I can't treat!"

She poured the powdered flowers into a vial, slightly mixing it with water. She gave it a stir, the water inside swirling rapidly into a lavender whirlpool.

In her other hoof, she used a syringe to draw out a part of the mixture. The remaining solution in the vial was poured onto a wrap of paper.

Pinkie started grinding the soap effortlessly, pounding and grinding it mercilessly. Twilight watched from the couch, her vision becoming a faint blur.

"Hold on, Twi." Rainbow said, looking at her friend with worry.

"Done!"

Pinkie scattered the grounded soap into the paper, wrapping it into the poultice as Primrose headed towards the sick unicorn, the syringe in her hoof.

"Open your mouth slightly, miss."

Twilight stretched her mouth weakly, trying not to whimper as the bittersweet medicine flowed from the syringe into her mouth, stinging at her taste buds.

Pinkie carefully wrapped the bandage around the large, swelling bite, with Rainbow Dash helping to tie the knot.

"She'll be fine in two days." Primrose said, inspecting the bandaged swelling closely. She turned to the pink pony, giving her a grin.

"I recommend you guys to stay here for awhile then."

"All right, I guess."

"In the meantime, I need to know your friend's names!"

Primrose sat on a small cushion, inviting them on another couch. Pinkie smiled, watching as Twilight closed her eyes serenely, falling into a deep slumber.

"Well, this is Rainbow Dash."

She gestured to the blue pegasus, who raised her hoof in greeting.

"And that's Twilight Sparkle."

"Wait," Primrose stopped to think for a moment.

"That's Twilight Sparkle? The Princess's personal student?"

Pinkie nodded cheerfully.

"That's the one!"

"Well, I've heard many stories about her."

The caramel mare looked at the sleeping unicorn, slightly giggling as she tossed around on the sofa.

The fire warmed the place up, the cottage now filled with the sound of chirping crickets. Primrose stretched her hooves a little, letting out a small yawn.

"I'll get a blanket for Twilight here, and maybe get a mat for the both of you,"

She stopped at her bedroom, turning back to them.

"if you both don't mind, that is."

"Oh, we won't mind!" Rainbow replied, giving her an assuring smile. Pinkie nodded along, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

Primrose smiled back, the mare brushing her curly, chestnut-colored mane away from her face.

"All right, then. I'll get everything for the both of you."

She turned to Pinkie, the pink pony's gentle yawns making her giggle.

"Maybe Pinkie and I can talk about some of our previous adventures together!" she said with a wink.

As she walked into the back room, Rainbow turned to her pink friend, nudging her pink hoof.

"Adventures, huh?"

"We were best buddies back in the day, Dashie."

Pinkie stroked Gummy tenderly with a chuckle, the scales grazing against her pink hoof as she stared into space, her voice trailing off:

"Back in the day..."

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Rainy nights... Applejack sighed, looking out the window, always ruining the mood...

The orange mare continued slicing the apple pie, joining along the clinks of forks and knives of her siblings as the rain outside pattered onto the windows, rattling the rafters in the howling gale.

Winona and Angel were still sleeping beside the fireplace, their food bowls completely clean of any leftovers.

"There's gonna be a lot of work tomorrow," Big Mac said, staring at the orchard in the rain.

The trees ruffled their branches in the wind, with one or two of the red fruits tossed around the hillside.

Applejack tried not to scoff.

"With everything happenin' to our friends, 'Ah don't think it's a good time."

Apple Bloom just sighed, placing her head onto the table.

"I'm so bored~!"

"It's raining outside," her sister said with a chuckle, "if not 'Ah'll be roundin' up a few fireflies."

A steady knock make their ears perk. Big Mac excused himself, heading towards the door.

He opened it, only to look in surprise.

"Fluttershy?"

The yellow pegasus gave a slight grin. She was shivering violently, completely wet from mane to hoof. Her bandaged wings were damp, already starting to fall out.

"H-Hey.. M-Mac."

Applejack stood from her chair, walking towards the red stallion.

"Who in tarnation is tha-"

She stopped in surprise, looking at Fluttershy outside the door.

Her face frowned slightly, the orange pony leaving the both of them in a huff.

Big Mac shot a glare, watching his sister walk back into the dining room.

"Ah'm sorry 'bout my sister. She ain't in a good mood."

Fluttershy just nodded gently. "I understand."

"Well, come on in."

The yellow pegasus stepped inside, water dripping from her mane. Big Mac went to the kitchen, coming out with a small towel.

"Ah'll get a bigger one for 'ya later."

"N-No... it's.. okay."

The stallion smiled, ushering her into the dining room.

Apple Bloom gave the pegasus a smile. Applejack sat across them, tilting her hat downwards. Her frown was still evident on her face, her hooves crossed with ignorance.

"Have a seat."

Big Mac pulled out a chair for her, gesturing the yellow pegasus towards it. Fluttershy nodded a 'thank you', before mildly settling herself down on the wooden seat.

The yellow pegasus glanced at his sisters as the stallion himself wandered into the back, carrying a few empty plates in his hooves.

She gazed uneasily at Applejack, who only looked back at her grudgingly, making the pegasus let out a small whimper.

"So," the orange pony began, arching herself forwards.

"What brings a pony like you here?"

"I'm just..." Fluttershy cringed in her seat. Apple Bloom just watched between the older mares, slightly puzzled by both of their behaviors.

"j-just... making sure y-you're alright."

"Ah'm perfectly fine, Shy."

Applejack drank from a cup of water, letting it rush down her throat.

"But what exactly are 'ya doing here?"

Fluttershy pushed her chair backwards slowly, fidgeting the hooves nervously.

"Apple.. Applejack... I-I'm just h-here to say-"

"There's nothin' to say, Fluttershy."

Applejack slammed her cup down, making the other two ponies jump.

"What 'Ah can say is that 'ya ain't supposed to be here!"

Fluttershy felt her wings tremble and twitch slightly. Rage started building in the pegasus, though she repressed it slowly with ease.

"Applejack, I j-just want to... um.. talk. About..."

The orange pony lifted herself from the seat, slowly striding towards Fluttershy.

Apple Bloom watched with bewilderment, trying to understand the situation as her sister advanced towards the yellow pegasus, who was backing away with her hooves up defensively.

"..about... what I've done to-"

"That doesn't really matter, does it?"

Fluttershy stumbled into the hallway, fear growing in her eyes. Applejack followed outwards, her glare piercing into the yellow pegasus.

"What's going on here?!"

Both mares turned to see Big Mac, his face darkening slightly.

"AJ," he turned to her sister, "Fluttershy's a guest. We're suppose to welcome her!"

"An uninvited guest, Macintosh!"

Applejack turned to Fluttershy, giving her another glare. "She's not supposed to be here!"

"She's sick, AJ!"

Big Mac help lift the yellow pegasus, who was now trembling with tears in her eyes.

"That doesn't explain why she had to walk all the way here by herself! In the rain! With no pony helping her!"

"Applejack!"

Big Mac's booming shout made her stop, looking at her brother in shock. Lightning flashed outside, followed by the roar of thunder.

"Ah trust you'd understand!" he continued, "This is one of your friends here! Not some crazy mare!"

"She is a crazy mare!"

Applejack screamed at her brother with tears in her eyes, making Fluttershy gasp with horror.

"A-Applejack...?"

"Shut the buck up, Fluttershy!"

The orange pony marched towards her, gritting her teeth, stopping when Big Mac crossed in, glaring at her sister.

"Don't 'ya dare cause a fight in here, AJ!"

"Ah'm not that stupid, Macintosh! You'll never understand-"

"I understand," Big Mac broke in sharply, raising his voice.

"that you're acting like a wretched, no-good fillyfooler!"

Applejack gasped, her eyes widening with shock. Apple Bloom could only gape in disbelief from the dining room.

*SMACK*

The orange pony suddenly struck the side of his face harshly, making him tumble backwards in surprise.

Big Mac could only watch, while rubbing his sore cheeks, as Applejack ran outside into the rain, sniffling loudly, tears flying in the wind.

"Applejack!"

Fluttershy ran out after the orange pony before Big Mac could stop her. Apple Bloom lifted him up, the two of them only able to watch helplessly as the mares galloped into the rain.

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The cavern was damp, musty and dark. Rarity could only grimace with disgust as her hoof landed into a puddle.

"Great!" she exclaimed, slightly enraged.

"Now my hoof's gonna get all pruney!"

Spike could only chuckle, trying to see into the darkness.

"If I can recall, it was your idea of coming down here."

Rarity just rolled her eyes with sarcasm. "Thanks for reminding me, o wise sage! Can we go now?"

The pair slowly trudged down the cavern, kicking a few pebbles away. Rarity groaned in annoyance, making Spike look as she complained:

"This is taking a lot of a mare's time!"

Spike just shrugged.

"This is adventuring!"

The passage opened up, expanding outwards into a stone rotunda. Rarity and Spike both gasp in amazement as they entered into the cavern.

The grotto shined a bright sapphire, with giant crystals of it jutting from the ceiling. Rarity's eyes sparkled at the magnificence of the gems, the unicorn giggling with glee at the majestic radiance.

Spike just slithered his tongue hungrily, making the mare smack him.

"All right, Rarity! I won't eat any of these!"

The unicorn laughed slightly, the both of them continuing down a rock bridge, suspended high above the sharp, harrowing stalagmites on the grotto floor.

The path ended in a large, monument-like pillar rising from the floor. On it, a marble column stood, carrying an antique-looking book.

"What is that?" Spike asked, the both of them slowly approaching the marble column.

Rarity shook her head, glancing nervously at the dark purple book, the runes on it beckoning her to open.

She held his breath, her hoof flipping the black latch open.

A small wind suddenly blew into the cavern, violently ruffling through the pages.

Rarity held her mane, her indigo-colored tail blowing in the howling breeze. Spike tried to get a glimpse of the book, the pages tauntingly flipping faster and faster.

Suddenly, the wind died down, the book landing on a specific page.

Both of them crept closer, with Rarity tracing her hoof on the pages and reading out:

"The Vertigo Theory."

Vertigo. Disequilibrium. Insecurity.

What's much more confusing than confusion itself? More fearful than fear itself? The answer lies deep. Deep within the root of all emotions, of all forbidden, unforgiving secrets to the most promising of hopes. A pony can conclude to the fact that emotions are a vertigo within itself.

Yet vertigo is a condition within a mix of emotions: nausea, fear, contempt, spite -it all fits inside the theory. The theory that emotion, unlike thoughts, is a mental embodiment of chaos. Of disharmony itself. Stop and ponder at the emotions. such as...

Applejack ran across the orchard, tears flourishing in her eyes. Fluttershy's voice only made her buckle her hooves, taking off away into the night.

Hatred...

Pinkie looked from the cottage, breathing in the nighttime atmosphere. She stood, gazing her eyes into the stars above.

Concern...

Spring laid in her bed, tears dampening the bed. Her sister's face flashed through once more, making her weep under her sheets.

Despair...

Jovern sighed deeply, flipping through the Dragonheart book for the fifth time. A small tear leaked from his eye, as he began reading once again.

Nostalgia...

Rainbow looked at Twilight, the unicorn tossing on the couch. The pegasus stretched her hooves, smiling at the sleeping mare. The unicorn let out a small giggle from her dream, making Rainbow do the same.

Hope...

Winter stood on the balcony, entrancing himself in a small glass of vodka. He let the burning sensation tingle in his mouth, watching at the town below him. A small laughter echoed in his mind, making his eyes water.

Regret...

Octavia danced on the terrace, with Crimson following behind her with a grin. The two of them strode along the corridors in the night, before slowly joined together by a wistful kiss on their lips.

Love...

Spike nudged Rarity's hoof slightly at the previous word, the mare giving out a giggle as she continued reading:

These were just one of the many emotions in the world. In conclusion to the theory, we have no harmony within themselves. From the lowliest thralls to the most honorable of alicorns, emotions linger in our minds, waiting to be unleashed, to be invited into the ever changing flurry of the world.

Would that mean that, in conjunction that all ponies have emotions, and that emotion is disharmony, that Equestria, known to its inhabitants as a harmonious and wondrous paradise, is in fact a cold, merciless and desolate wasteland? A barren land, cruel and unforgiving?

A land of emotion? Of chaos reigning?

Of course, it is unwise to prove that chaos is the ultimate benefactor of Equestria. I have learned from the extensive, eccentric family of my own that it is but a folly to dare challenge the Canterlot Ministry, and the celestial being of the Princess herself, into this matter.

The Vertigo Theory: an unpublished, incomplete thesis. A study on emotion, on happiness to anger. Let it shall forever be kept in here, never again to meet the atmosphere of the outside world.

Never again,

Axle Saphir Palgiot

"Vertigo Theory, huh?"

Spike closed the book, his face turning serious. "Think of what the Princesses would do if they found this."

Rarity nodded, looking at the book with a shudder.

"I can't imagine..."

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Night. Her moment.

Luna stood tall like a regent, overlooking the grand town of Canterlot. Her sparkling mane flowed gently in the wind, her dark blue coat glistening gently from the moonlight.

She let out a sigh, looking at a map sprawled across the floor. A large, red cross was marked on the map, signifying the location of Pendant Lakes.

"Pendant Lakes..." she pondered, "the source of all this chaos..."

Despite her nocturnal nature, she let out a small yawn, ruffling through a few scrolls.

"Nightmare Night is coming soon," she reminded herself, slightly brushing her mane.

A small creak from behind made her turn.

"Sister, is that y-"

Mirror Mare stood there, the lips on the bright azure mask completely stitched.

"It's a long night, don't you think so Princess?"

Luna grimaced at the sight of the pony.

"What do you want?"

The masked pony just laughed slightly, striding forward closer to the alicorn.

"Not much, my Princess. Just... to give a prophecy..."

Princess Luna raised her eyebrow in suspicion.

"What prophecy?"

"The prophecy," Mirror Mare began, "of chaos. Of destruction."

"That Canterlot. That Equestria. Will Fall."

The alicorn gasped slightly, making the assassin chuckle at her horror.

"Thou demands that thy subject shall tell me more!"

Mirror Mare just cackled, its body vanishing into strips of a black, void-like substance, blown along with the wind. Luna galloped frantically towards the masked pony in vain, the cold voice echoing loudly into the air:

"It begins with the death. The death of the source of all this chaos!"

Luna looked at the vanishing fragments grudgingly, gritting her teeth bitterly with resentment as Mirror Mare's voice rang once more:

"The death of the Voyager Six!"

If you do not understand exactly what the Vertigo Theory is about, check out the extremely long explanation at the comments section below!

Serus Illaesus

Serus Illaesus

"You have been accused of openly defying the laws of the Canterlot Ministry, to advocate the blasphemous beliefs of atheism on the residents of Pendant Lakes and the surrounding regions, and to mock and ridicule, to scornfully provoke and resist the Great Princess Celestia."

Noir Palgiot just stood, sneering at the charges read before him. The judge gazed down from his podium, raising his eyebrow with suspicion.

"Does the accused plead guilty or not guilty to these charges aforementioned?"

The black stallion tried not to laugh. What do they think he is? Some small-town, low-class illiterate? Heck, he's Noir Palgiot! The Patriarch! The Grand Minister!

He gave the judge a devilish smile, his cunning mind already working on a few plans. He gave out a disappointed snort, answering the question calmly and coldly as he gazed at the officials around him:

"Not Guilty."

Rarity's eyes fluttered open, the unicorn sitting up from the bed with a gasp.

She looked around frantically, before letting out a relieved sigh.

"It was only a dream, Rarity. Get a grip of yourself..."

Octavia slept beside her gently, the morning sun shining on her grey face. Rarity turned to the window, the dazzling rays blinding her eyes.

A small knock came onto the door, catching her attention.

"Come in."

The door swung open slightly. Claws silently pattered on the carpet, making Rarity smile as she realized who walked in.

"Good morning, Spikey."

"Morning," the dragon said with a smile, carrying a small, silver tray. On it, an assortment of bread was neatly arranged, with two bowls of soup, smelling strongly of mushroom and garlic.

"I see Miss Rarity hasn't had her combing yet."

Rarity giggled slightly. "So you're going to help me?"

Spike shrugged his shoulders in response.

"I'll try."

The both of them laughed quietly, not wanting to wake Octavia. Rarity started spreading butter on a croissant, watching as Spike slurped his mushroom soup loudly.

"Manners, Spikey." she said with a giggle.

Spike settled the bowl down, quickly reaching for the comb. He started combing her mane carefully as Rarity munched on the croissant, watching the dragon doing his work from the mirror.

In moments, he started curling her mane. He groaned slightly, struggling with the curler while making the unicorn giggle.

"Oh, Spike..."

She looked over at the table. The dark purple book sat there, slightly beckoning her to open.

Spike followed her gaze, his face darkening with concern.

"You brought it here?"

The unicorn nodded.

"I'm trying to understand its contents. There might be something in there that can help find out who this Mirror Mare pony actually is."

"All right, I guess."

Spike placed his claw on her shoulder, his green eyes sparkling with worry.

"Just promise me you won't do anything I wouldn't do."

Rarity gave him a reassuring smile, pecking him intimately on his snout.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

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Fluttershy panted, her pink mane dripping wet from last night's rain. Her eyes were tired, bloodshot with fatigue.

She had been trying to find Applejack for one whole night, with no success. The early morning sunrise only made her groan in annoyance, wandering around the meadow in frustration.

"Applejack!" she called out wearily in her gentle voice, slumping onto the grass. Drops of dew scattered into the air as her face landed onto the hillside, sprinkling onto her already wet body.

She closed her eyes, praying silently to herself.

"This is just a dream. This is just a dream..."

Silence filled her head, the serene atmosphere of dawn flowing smoothly into her ears. The sweet, mellow melodies of bluejays and canaries, the patter of rabbit paws on the grass and, on a rare occasion, the faint galloping of stags and does in the forest.

Then she heard it. The foreign sound. The sound of sniffling.

Fluttershy lifted herself up, looking into the dense overgrowth. She crept closer towards it, carefully avoiding the twigs and sticks laying on the meadow floor.

The despairing sounds grew louder as she ruffled through the bushes. A short, accented curse bellowed amidst the sobbing, revealing the crying pony's identity.

"Applejack..."

A loud *snap* made the pegasus freeze, looking in horror at the broken stick under her yellow hoof.

"W-Who's there?!" the orange pony shouted, making Fluttershy darting below with a nervous squeal.

She watched from the bushes as a pair of orange hooves trudged around, searching through the other overgrown shrubs.

It wasn't belong before the branches above Fluttershy parted, with Applejack gazing down at her, giving the orange pony a nervous chuckle.

Applejack's face darkened, leaving the pegasus in a huff.

"Applejack! Wait!" she managed to shout, scooting out from the bush after her friend.

"Just leave me alone, Shy."

"No! There's something I wanna tell you-"

"Can't you listen?!"

Applejack's scream made a group of birds flutter away, the pegasus cringing in fear as the orange pony advanced towards her. Something made her snap as Applejack shouted directly into her face:

"Ah told 'ya, I need some time ALONE!"

"Well, guess what?!"

Fluttershy shouted back, springing up from the ground, her face seething with rage.

"YOU DONT!"

Applejack tumbled back in surprise as the pegasus continued:

"You never, never, NEVER. Bothered to even give a BUCKING DAMN on what I'm trying to TELL you! I have spent ALL NIGHT, Applejack. ALL NIGHT trying to LOOK FOR YOU! I'm not just gonna WALK AWAY and leave you CRYING ALL ALONE BY YOURSELF!"

The orange pony gasped at the last sentence.

"You... Y-You mean..."

"ALL I WANTED was to APOLOGIZE!!"

Tears leaked from the pegasus's raging eyes, her body trembling violently with misery.

"THAT'S ALL I WANTED FROM YOU!"

She slammed her hoof harshly into a tree, wooden splinters grazing her face as they flew from the impact.

"Why can't somepony just, for once, just BUCKING LISTEN to ME?!"

Applejack watched in shock as her friend started sobbing, falling on the grass floor, the curses from the pegasus's mouth stinging deeply into her heart.

"Is it that hard..? To just stop and listen...?"

"Flut-Fluttershy..."

The pegasus raised her hoof, quickly silencing the orange pony.

"Don't..."

Applejack just stood there, watching her friend cry. Guilt and regret flushed through her mind, making her head pound.

She sat beside Fluttershy, who'd already buried her face in her hooves. A light bulb flickered in her head, as she opened her mouth and started singing:

"Hush now, quiet now,
It's time to lay your sleepyhead..."

Fluttershy looked up from her anguish, turning to her friend with a small whimper. Applejack gave her a smile as she continued singing:

"Hush now, quiet now,
It's time to go to bed~"

The pegasus started smiling, letting out a tired yawn. She started singing along as well, the two of them harmonizing each other:

"Hush now, quiet now,
It's time to lay your sleepyhead;
Hush now, quiet now..."

"It's time... to go... to..."

Fluttershy's voice drifted off, her eyelids closing slowly. It wasn't long before she slumped against Applejack's shoulder, snoring gently in the autumn wind.

Applejack chuckled at her sleeping friend. She placed her trademark hat on Fluttershy, giving her a warm smile.

"It's time to go to bed."

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"Just have another spoon, Twilight!"

"No! No way I'm having another taste of that, Pinkie!"

The pink pony just edged closer, forcing Twilight to back away, pushing her chair towards the wall.

Rainbow chuckled from the side, watching as Pinkie force-fed the unicorn with the powdered flowers.

Twilight's tongue hang out with disgust, quickly chugging down a mug of water while Pinkie snorted with laughter.

"It's suppose to make you feel better!"

"I feel perfectly fine, thank you."

Twilight stood up from the seat, before stumbling into a mountain of pots in a daze, the heap clattering loudly onto wood as it tumbled towards the floor.

Pinkie and Rainbow burst out with laughter, with Twilight blowing her mane off in annoyance.

"All right, all right. Maybe I'm not hundred percent fine."

"At least you're far better off than yesterday."

Primrose stepped in from her personal garden, carrying a rattan basket of fruits. Pinkie clopped her hooves with glee at the bountiful harvest, already ruffling through its contents hungrily.

The caramel mare chuckled at her friend as she found an apple, gobbling it up like she haven't eaten in years.

"I'm glad somepony likes my gardening," she said with a wink.

Rainbow picked out an orange from the basket, passing it to Twilight as she ruffled through the collection.

"It seems you and Pinkie had really known each other for a long time," the unicorn said, scraping the orange skin off with a peeler.

"We were adventurers back in the day, Miss Sparkle."

Primrose sipped on a warm cup of tea, indulging in the light, soothing yet refreshing mix of chamomile and spearmint.

"She always appreciate my talents of herbology and horticulture of medicinal and edible plants!"

"That's superdy-duper true!"

Pinkie pointed at her Cutie Mark: a sprig of herb, on her flank. "She's one of the best herbitty-herb-herb ponies I've ever met!"

Twilight chuckled at her pink friend's enthusiasm, watching the both of them giggle as they nudged each other playfully. She looked back at her bandage, stained purple from the coneflower mix in the poultice.

"It's not that painful compared to yesterday," she said with a smile. "You should really start a job with this or something."

Primrose just shook her head.

"I see it as more of a past time, really. Takes my mind off things."

"I understand," Twilight nodded with a grin, biting into the orange flesh, the zesty juices pouring into her mouth.

"In the meantime, I'm gonna pick some berries for lunch."

Primrose gestured Pinkie to join her, the pink pony bouncing out the cottage.

"Maybe make some blueberry pie."

"Blueberry pie?! I've really, really, really, really love your blueberry pie! I gotta learn how you make it! I've only learned how to make burnt blueberry pie and, trust me, Prim, when I say they're not the most-"

The door swung shut, leaving Twilight and Rainbow to giggle at their pink friend.

"Well," Twilight settled on the couch, watching the pegasus munching on a small pear, "what shall we do today?"

Rainbow just shrugged, wiping her mouth with a small napkin.

"Is there actually anything we can do here?"

Twilight just sighed, looking out the window at the meadow beyond her. The light was warm and inviting, the shallow stream trickling smoothly around the rocky bend.

"Maybe Primrose might know of Pinkie's relationship with Mirror Mare."

The pegasus just ruffled through the basket, completely oblivious to what the unicorn said.

Twilight looked over at her knapsack hanging from the coat rack. The flowered lid of Persimmon's box lay amidst the ruffled mess of papers, taunting the unicorn irritatingly.

"Bummer."

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"Try not to struggle too much, Rarity."

Rarity nodded as her hooves were fastened on the iron cuffs. Spike helped Octavia with the wires, his face flushed with doubt.

"You're sure it's safe, Sir Palgiot?"

"Call me Winter," the Patriarch said with a grin.

"And yes. It's completely safe."

Rarity gave a grin to the dragon, his claw holding her fastened hoof with concern.

"I'll be fine, Spikey."

Winter pulled the lever down, the Dreamscape machine whirring into life. Rarity closed her eyes, feeling her body propelling once more from reality.

...

The unicorn groaned again, lifting herself up. Her stomach retched and gurgled slightly, her head pounding with excruciating pain.

"Why must this traveling feel so nauseating..."

"Miss? You alright?"

Rarity looked in surprise to see an armored pony standing before her. She quickly brush her mane, giving the pony a nervous grin.

"Perfectly fine, thank you."

The guard's brow raised in suspicion, his hoof gripping tighter onto his spear.

Then he suddenly smiled. "No doubt you're here to see the procession!"

"The what?"

Rarity glanced around at the town around her. Ivory towers spiraled up from the ground, swirling with golden spires from base to tip. Streams and waterfalls ran through the roads like canals, with one or two bridges spanning across them elegantly.

Canterlot...

Banners were hoisted up into the air, the picture of the Sun sewn into place with fine, golden thread. All around, ponies were ascending towards a majestic palace, no doubt to attend the procession.

"If I may inquire," Rarity asked the pony, "what is this procession actually for?"

The guard laughed at her question, making Rarity raise her eyebrow in annoyance.

"You didn't know? To celebrate the departure of the Voyager Six, of course!"

"The Voyager Six..."

Rarity's mind lingered on the phrase. That was something that Sweetie Belle would've made up.

She giggled slightly at the fact, thanking the guard.

"I suppose I'll attend it, then."

The unicorn quickly trotted up the stairs in anticipation, joining the group of ponies swarming into the palace.

She tried to sieve through the crowd, trying to get a glimpse of the front of the room.

"Pardon me," Rarity apologized, bumping into a group of ponies. They just turned their noses with indignation, clearly annoyed by her antics.

While halfway through the room, the crowd started clapping and cheering. Rarity tried to look over the crowd, watching a familiar, white alicorn walk onto the stage. She gave the crowd a serene smile. brushing her mane in reverence.

"Princess Celestia..."

"To the ponies of Canterlot, and those that came from the further towns of Equestria, we have all gathered here to bear witness an important event!"

Rarity moved to the front of the crowd, panting with sweat flowing down her hooves. She watched in amazement as the Princess continued her speech:

"An event that will be the fore-frontier of spreading harmony across the whole of Equestria, the pioneer for the many generations to come!"

She held her breath, the silhouettes of six ponies stood before her in the dark. Princess Celestia's smile beamed with pride, gesturing the ponies forward.

"Please welcome: The Voyager Six!"

The world suddenly snapped around her, the sounds of celebration fading from her ears. Rarity felt faint, trying to reach around in vain for support, before falling onto the floor.

"Not now, damn it. Not now!"

Her vision started to blur, her head pounding like before. She gave one last look onto the six ponies, before blacking out.

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The forest was exceptionally peaceful today.

Pinkie's mane swayed in a light breeze as she bounce along the forest path, scattering mounds of dried leaves with every bounce she makes. Her eyes scanned carefully throughout the forest floor, searching for any mushroom or herb that crept out from the undergrowth.

Primrose was looking into the trees, plucking a few blueberries from the low-hanging branches. She breathed in the forest air, letting it cool her lungs.

She turned to the party pony, who was busy pulling out a sprig of saffron from the ground. Pinkie nearly stumbled backwards as its roots freed itself from the rocks, making Primrose giggle at the sight.

"So, Pinkie..." the caramel mare asked her friend, "what have you been doing these past few years?"

"You know!"

Pinkie pranced towards her friend, tossing the saffron sprig into the basket.

"Baking, partying and having fun!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Pinkie."

The afternoon sun gleamed brightly from above, filtering through the branches in seamless rays of light.

Primrose plucked a raspberry from the trees, closely inspecting it for any taint, before throwing it into the basket.

"I've heard rumors. That Mirror Mare returned."

Pinkie flinched at the mention of the name.

"...you've heard right."

Primrose sighed dismally. She looked over to Pinkie's slightly bandaged body, the party pony now turning morose with every passing minute.

"Did it... did it hurt you?"

Pinkie nodded slightly, wiping a small tear off her eye. Primrose couldn't help but gasp in shock.

"Celestia..."

"I know, right?" Pinkie said with a dejected chuckle. Her eyes suddenly flared with rage.

"How much times must it ruin my life?!"

The pink pony smashed her hoof against a tree, nearly splitting it apart. Primrose placed a hoof around her, letting the pink pony bury her face onto her caramel shoulder as Pinkie sobbed in torment.

"How much times more...?"

"Control yourself, Pinkie." Primrose whispered in her ear.

"You know what you're capable of."

She gestured her head to the splintered tree. Pinkie just gazed at it coldly, before looking down at her hoof.

"Capable?" she scoffed, "I can't even protect her and you call me capable?"

"That was a long time ago, Pinkie."

Primrose sighed, tightly embracing the pink pony. "If she were here, she would've want you to smile. Like you always do."

Pinkie trembled, before looking at the caramel pony.

"I guess."

The two resumed their scavenging, tossing a few branches, leaves and a few corrupted herbs and berries. Primrose could still hear the pink pony sniffling, despite her mane still being naturally puffy.

"Got any leads this time?" she asked Pinkie, settling her basket down.

Pinkie shook her head no, tossing a sprout of basil into the basket.

"I need a full list." the pink pony continued, trying to pluck another sprig. "I've had my suspicions."

Primrose raised an eyebrow.

"You have no idea what its motives were, and yet you're already suspecting somepony?"

"It pushed me out the window, Prim."

The caramel pony stood there, slightly stunned, before continuing her berry picking.

"So it was that close to you? I thought it would use some complicated contraption or something."

"This one is still a tough nut."

Pinkie threw a bundle of herbs and mushrooms in the basket.

"He doesn't leave any loose ends."

"Loose ends, huh?"

Primrose giggled slightly as Pinkie found an apple, chomping into it greedily to its core.

The pink pony wiped her mouth with her hoof, making her caramel friend's face twinge in both disgust and amusement.

She suddenly snapped her pink hooves, a cunning smile of wit aligned on her face.

"That might just be it!"

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"Noir, you're sure about this?"

The black stallion ruffled his golden mane with pride, looking at his sister. He placed a hoof around her, giving the mare a reassuring smile.

"Trust me, Crescent."

The judge fluttered through his papers, examining it before shouting it:

"Come forth the next witness!"

Everypony in the courtroom turned to look. Noir just took a glance at the pony, flurried with a cold ignorance. He tried not to scoff at the sight before him.

An aging unicorn slowly walked down the carpet. guided only by another pony. He wore a black suit, covering his wrinkled, brown body. Noir raised his eyebrow as the colt let out a cough, nearly stumbling backwards onto the carpet.

He couldn't believe it. This is the pony that'll stop him?

The colt sat opposite of Noir, glancing at the black stallion's cold smile. The prosecuting lawyer cleared his throat, as he began:

"Toothless Jaw, from your statement, you said you saw the accused spread disastrous lies across Pendant Lakes and endorse into propaganda and campaigns to promote atheistic believes of the Celestial Law. Is it true?"

"Darn truth, I'll tell ya."

Toothless stood up, pointing his hoof weakly at the Patriarch.

"He was there! Along with the other doggone scientists."

"He tried to chop my horn off!"

A few gasps of shock echoed throughout the room. Noir just stare at him, unconvinced.

"And you're sure you saw everything?"

Noir's lawyer nudged him, asking him to be quiet. He just brushed it off.

"Everything! Heck, to the tiniest little detail!"

"So you're saying," Noir shouted to the pony, "that with those two weak, pathetic eyes of yours, you saw even the tiniest detail?"

Everypony gasped at the black stallion's rebuttal. Even Crescent stared at her brother in disbelief, trying to grasp what he just said.

The colt just gave him a cold stare.

"You need to learn respect, boy. A lot of it."

Noir rolled his eyes. He slammed his hooves on the table, slightly scattering his lawyers papers.

"I don't give my damn respect!" he shouted defiantly, "for a sick, grizzled scumbag like you!"

Toothless just seemed unfazed by his comment, only laughing coldly.

"You really don't learn, do you Noir?"

Suddenly, the room rumbled. The lights around flickered, before blacking out, leaving the whole courtroom in the dark. Everypony in the room looked around frantically, with some already scrambling for the tall.

Noir watched in horror as Toothless Jaw's body started turning into a white, radiant void. The old pony grew taller and slender, a pair of wings suddenly sprouting from his back.

He wiped his eyes in disbelief as a familiar figure stood before him, replacing the old colt. She gazed down at him coldly, making him mutter:

"Pr-Princess?"

The alicorn shook her mane, walking towards the black stallion with malice. Everypony else in the courtroom bowed before her presence in fear, still stunned by her sudden appearance.

"Rise, fellow ponies," she spoke in her Canterlot voice, booming in a grand echo.

The alicorn turned to Noir Palgiot, who still hung his head down.

"You have deeply shamed yourself, dishonored your family and destroyed the reputation of Pendant Lakes and the regions surrounding. To humiliate the Equestrian society with your ignorance. To degrade the majesty of the past Patriarchs of Pendant Lakes!"

The room was hushed with anxiety. Crescent Palgiot turned away, awaiting his brother's sentence.

"And for that, Sir Noir Palgiot..."

The Princess's horn suddenly lit up. Noir couldn't help but gasp as a purple ray burst from her white horn, aiming directly at his body.

He emitted a loud scream, the ray piercing deep into his body.

Crescent felt the agonizing pain in her chest as well. She started yelling, falling to the floor with her hoof clutching tightly on her chest as a few other ponies tried to help her up.

"You will be cursed, as will the generations of Palgiots to come. Forever doomed to never use your talent, with every minute of so sapping against your life force."

Noir suddenly stopped screaming, panting heavily with exhaustion from his nightmarish ordeal. He looked up with contempt at the Princess, who was now walking out of the courtroom.

"Let this be a lesson, Noir Palgiot."

Rarity woke up with a gasp, gripping onto her sheets furiously. She looked around, beads of sweat trickling down her skin. Pain lingered in her chest, making her bite her lip.

Spike was sleeping beside her, his tail wrapping around her coat. He mumbled and muttered, before snoring gently.

The unicorn looked out of the window, slightly surprised at the bright sun still shining outside.

"It almost felt like a day..."

Rarity stretched her hooves, trying her best not to wake up the sleeping dragon. She gazed over at Spike, smiling as he tossed and turned on the bed, ruffling the bed sheets around.

She gave him a peck on the cheek, the dragon responding with a warm grin.

"Oh, Spike..."

The First Voyager

Princess Luna ruffled through the papers once more, working through a few calculations in her head. A small crystal of light hung high above her, illuminating the dark blue walls of her solitude.

She scanned through the charts, trying to swallow down the staggering figures before her.

"Where's all of this coming from?"

A knock came on the door. The alicorn quickly placed it aside, sliding it between a stack of books.

"Come in!"

The door swung open, with Princess Celestia stepping inside. She gave her sister a feeble smile, settling herself down on a velvet, Hitchcock armchair. She sighed in frustration, looking at Luna with a darkening frown.

"I've been thinking... about the so-called prophecy you've mentioned."

"And?"

"I'm not so sure about it, though."

The white alicorn gazed at a clipboard she held in her hoof. She flipped through a few pages, before showing it to her sister.

"As far as we know, the Voyagers disbanded like five, six years ago. I can't imagine why would they regroup together after the... incident."

"Especially the ones that generally can't," Luna continued her sentence, studying the charts carefully.

"That's strange..."

"What is it?"

Luna took her version of charts from between the stack of books, handing it to the white alicorn.

"I've been studying the same thing as well," she explained, tracing her hoof along the red line.

The line quickly reached the top of the chart. Princess Celestia could only frown upon it, trying to understand the statistics.

"For some reason, there was some sort of energy surge here."

Princess Luna nodded her head. "Exactly."

"And not only that, but for the past few days as well."

The white alicorn flipped through the other clipboard, comparing the charts with hers. Her face instantly turned sour, settling both clipboards on the study table.

"It doesn't occur in the day. Somepony doesn't want to be caught using up all this energy."

"Who?"

"I don't know for sure."

Princess Celestia stood up, looking out the window. A darkening frown started to grow on her face, the alicorn letting out a frustrated sigh.

"But I'm sure it's not a good sign."

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"Would we be seeing you again, Prim?"

Primrose just chuckled at Pinkie, handing her a rattan basket filled with herbs. The afternoon sun glared brightly above them, dimmed down only by an approaching group of clouds.

"I'm sure you would!" the caramel pony said with a wink.

Twilight walked up to the mare, giving her a grin.

"Thank you. For letting us stay and curing me."

"Don't mention it!" Primrose said, shaking the lavender unicorn's hoof.

It was Rainbow Dash's turn. She flapped her wings gently, landing carefully in front of the mare.

"It's pretty cool here. I don't mind coming back!"

The caramel pony let out a chuckle, hugging the blue pegasus. A small breeze blew between them, ruffling Primrose's brown sweater slightly as she gave Rainbow a smile.

"Anytime, Rainbow Dash. Anytime."

Lastly, Pinkie stepped forward, with Gummy now huddling sleepily in the basket of herbs. She gave Primrose a grin, before hugging her tightly.

"I'll miss you, Prim."

The caramel pony tried not to shed a tear. She bring the pink pony's ear closer, whispering with concern:

"Be careful."

Too soon, the two friends separated, letting out a slight chuckle. Primrose chuckled at the sleeping Gummy, the alligator curled up in bundles of thistle and rosemary.

"Remember. Walk south, then turn straight into Fenderville."

"I'll keep that in mind!"

The three ponies started trotting down the path, waving back at Primrose. Pinkie bounced happily, shouting out to her friend:

"Bye! See you soon!"

"I will, Pinkie!" the mare shouted back, brushing her mane aside as it tossed around in the chilling wind.

"Be sure to visit me again!"

Pinkie nodded eagerly, before prancing down the path with her friends.

Primrose watched the three ponies from the patio, a warm smile creeping onto her face as Pinkie laughed.

She wandered back into the house, slowly shutting the wooden door with a sigh as she placed her sweater on the chair, sighing deeply with a faint nostalgia tingling in her voice.

Primrose turned towards the kitchen, immersing herself into a warm aroma of garlic soup. She sprinkled a few sprigs of parsley and thyme, stirring the tempting brew with a wooden spoon.

The door opened from behind. Primrose's ear twitched, detecting the sounds of hoofsteps approaching her. She continued stirring the soup, ignoring the pony.

"What's for today, Primrose?" a voice said with a chuckle. The caramel mare heard him settle down on the couch, the unmistakable squeak of the couch ringing through her ears.

"Just garlic soup. Nothing really much, though..."

She turned around, her face darkening quickly as she finished her sentence:

"Mirror Mare."

The masked pony looked out the window, watching closely at Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash as they disappeared from view into the horizon.

"I thought they would never leave."

Primrose just eyed the pony suspiciously, pouring the soup into a bowl before handing it over to the masked pony.

"What do you want?"

"Just some time-off, that's all."

Mirror Mare drank from the bowl, licking its lips with a satisfied sigh.

"And a little bit of appreciation."

"For the chaos you've caused?" Primrose said with a scoff. The caramel pony poured another bowl for herself, sitting down across the masked pony with a grimace.

"Appreciation is the last thing ponies like us have in mind."

"That was the mindset of Sidus, Primrose Custard."

The masked pony faced her, the white mask intimidating the mare with its stitched grin.

"That was how Sicarius disbanded. Because nopony appreciates assassinations anymore."

A small dagger streaked beside Primrose, whizzing through her mane before stabbing deeply onto a wooden post.

The mare didn't stop to gasp, instead furrowing her brows at Mirror Mare.

"You're here to kill me, I suppose."

Mirror Mare laughed from beneath the mask, ruffling the cape slightly.

"That dagger was intended for somepony else."

"Somepony you really know."

Primrose slammed her hooves on the table, before pointing at the pony with a glare.

"Don't you dare touch her!"

The masked pony only cackled coldly at her response, stabbing another dagger onto the table, just beside Primrose's hoof.

"She still hasn't gotten over it yet? I can't imagine that to happen for such a pony like her."

"You killed her!" Primrose shouted defiantly.

"You killed her right before Pinkie's eyes! Did you know how deeply hurt she was?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does matter, you selfish wretch!"

Primrose pulled the dagger from the table, throwing it towards Mirror Mare. The masked pony deflected it easily with its hoof, letting out a small laugh.

"Dear, dear Primrose. You really never understand, do you?"

The masked pony stepped towards the door, ignoring the caramel mare's ferocious glance as it continued:

"Sacrifices had to be made, Primrose."

Mirror Mare swung its cape around, the wind blowing across its mane. Primrose could only watch it disappear into the forest, as its booming voice continued:

"It was, and has always been, her choice."

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Winter tried not to belch at the scene before him.

Chief Griffonhooves was beside him, signaling to a few other police ponies as they dragged a body from the ceiling.

"Be careful with the ropes."

Slowly, the body was pulled down, revealing an alabaster stallion. Blood poured in gallons from his neck, flowing into a large pool of it below. A small piece of rope was wrapped around the hoof, the remainder still hanging on the ceiling

Chief Griffonhooves turned the dead pony's head to look at its neck. A giant slash was carved deep inside, making Winter turn away in disgust.

"Pony's name is Snapper Newsflash. Journalist from Fillydelphia."

"One slice, with a razor." the chief estimated, taking it down into his notebook.

"Maid reported a waterfall of blood falling from the ceiling. Called us straight away."

Winter could only nod. His white face turned a slight green as he examined the stallion's body.

Four more giant slashes were aligned on his back, with one more striking through them.

"Five..."

Chief Griffonhooves looked up to Winter.

"Pardon me?"

"The slash marks." he explained, pointing at the grotesque marks on the dead pony's back.

"It's the tally mark for number five."

"Of course!"

The chief quickly took it down, slightly muttering under his breath.

"But what does it mean?"

A small glint caught Winter's eye. He tapped the police chief's shoulder, who was talking to another police pony.

"Griffonhooves, help me turn the body around."

The two ponies turned Snapper's body around, revealing his frozen face of terror. Winter avoided the pony's widened eyes, instead gazing over at his mouth in suspicion.

"His mouth is closed," the Patriarch inquired. "Isn't it strange for a murdered pony to have a closed mouth?"

The chief got closer to the body, trying to force the jaw open.

"His mouth is sewn shut... there must be something inside."

The police pony took a scalpel from his kit, slowly slicing through the threads holding the dead pony's blue lips together. Winter watched in anticipation as Chief Griffonhooves pulled a small, round object out of the dead pony's mouth.

"Strange thing, isn't it?" the chief said, passing it to the Patriarch.

Winter examined the round object, stained in dry blood and saliva. The smell reeked of rotten skin, among many other chemicals covering its surface.

The white pony tapped it against one of the marble column in the grand hallway, the object clinking lightly in response.

"It's a coin," Winter concluded, handing it over to Chief Griffonhooves.

"There might just be something underneath that rot. Maybe to reveal the next Hostia Prima."

"I'll see to it that it'll be sanitized."

The chief placed it in an airtight bag, tightly sealing it before handing it to another pony.

"So you're saying Mirror Mare's wanting us to find the next victim?"

"It's playing a game with us, Chief."

Winter glanced at Snapper's body, the scars on its back shining a bright scarlet in the sunlight.

"And we're stuck right in the middle."

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...and never before a pony dared to defy that law, until in the year 430, when a pony named Ganja Twister led a full-fledged rebellion against the Canterlot Ministry. This became known as the infamous Deterriere Revolution...

Rarity groaned in annoyance, slamming her face onto the tattered pages of the book.

"Why can't it contain something better? Like dressmaking lessons or finding the best jewels..."

She felt a tap on her shoulder. Rarity turned around, looking to see a scaly, purple face staring back at her.

"Hey, Spike."

"Got anything?" the dragon asked, sitting down beside her as he took a glance at the book.

Rarity tried not to scream. Instead she looked at the book with a small frown.

"I really hope so. There's nothing in this dumb thing except for facts, facts and facts."

Spike chuckled at the unicorn's frustration. He closed the book, before telling her:

"Speaking about facts, the fact is you haven't had lunch yet."

Rarity let out a slight chuckle, looking over at the clock.

"I know, Spike," she said as she stood up.

"But I can't let Mirror Mare run loose like that. It can hurt one of us at any moment!"

Spike just rolled his eyes, pecking his beloved mare on the cheek. Rarity giggled as she pushed him away playfully, the dragon landing on the soft bed behind them.

"Want me to bring lunch again, Rarity?" he said with a beaming smile.

"No need for that, Spike."

Octavia stepped into the room, giving both of them a smile. Crimson followed behind closely, carrying a heap of boxes on his back.

Rarity could only look in amazement at the boxes. Spike just grinned as the couple approached them, slowly setting down the boxes on the table.

"What's all this for, Octavia?"

"You don't remember?" the grey mare said with surprise. Crimson laughed a little, making Octavia nudge him.

"What, 'Tavi? It is quite unheard of, after all."

Rarity just looked at them in bewilderment.

"What is unheard of?"

Spike took one of the boxes, flashing his claw out as he grinned at the unicorn. He used it effortlessly like a blade, sliding across the corners as the cardboard flipped open.

Rarity gasped in disbelief, gazing into the contents of the cardboard box on the dragon's lap.

A round, vanilla-scented cake stood before her in the box, topped with three red candles. The surface was coated in light-blue icing, with a drawing of three blue, sparkling diamonds in the center of the cake, slightly above a set of cream-colored words that spell out: 'Happy Birthday, Rarity!'.

The others chuckled as Rarity looked at the cake, still trying to run through what just happened.

"Why... it's.. it's just..."

"Beautiful!" she finished her sentence, her eyes sparkling with glee.

Octavia stepped forward, rolling her eyes at the unicorn's enthusiasm.

"It was all Spike's idea. He was the one that got everything for you."

Rarity turned to Spike, who was scratching his head with a shrug, his cheeks turning bright red.

"You did this? For... for me?"

"Why not?" the dragon chuckled, hugging the mare. "I'll do anything for you, Rarity."

Crimson let out a small 'awwwww...', making his marefriend nudge him once again.

Rarity's eyes watered, overwhelmed by surprise and joy.

"Th-thank you.. Spikey..." she said with a giggle.

"No problem at all, Rarity," the dragon said, stroking her curly mane. He quickly turned to Octavia and Crimson.

"What are we waiting for, guys?" he asked. "Miss Rarity here needs her birthday song right away!"

With a playful laugh, Octavia took out a violin from one of the boxes. Crimson just stood, clearing his throat.

As the grey mare started playing the violin, the sound humming across the room, Crimson's voice came in, harmonizing along with the melody, singing out the song:

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter,
Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there.

Rarity chuckled with Spike's arm wrapped around her, watching the two ponies singing together as they danced around the room:

I'll be there to protect you,
With unselfish love that respects you.
Just call my name, I'll be there.

Spike suddenly stood up, with Crimson and Octavia striding backwards. He cleared his throat, making the unicorn gasp as he continued the song:

I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.

The dragon winked at Rarity, making her giggle with a blush. Octavia and Crimson stepped back to the front, continuing the song together with Spike.

I'll be there, I'll be there
Just call my name, I'll be there...

Spike grabbed her hoof, kneeling in front of her, making Rarity raise up her other hoof with a gasp. The dragon gave the white hoof a small kiss, with the unicorn blushing redder than before.

Just call my name, I'll be there...

Rarity clapped her hooves in fascination at the small performance. Crimson and Octavia bowed, a keen smile on both of their faces as they watched the couple in an embrace.

"Spke, that was the kindest, most marvelous, most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"

The unicorn kissed Spike on his cheek, hugging him tightly. The dragon blushed a deep red as he muttered:

"Uh... thanks, I guess."

Crimson's booming voice suddenly broke in, completely destroying the moment:

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's chow down!"

Octavia groaned at her coltfriend, with Rarity and Spike chuckling slightly.

The unicorn sliced the plastic knife deep into the cake, closing her eyes as she blew the candles out.

"Well?" Spike asked cheekily, grinning from ear to ear.

"What does the birthday mare wish for?"

Rarity rolled her eyes, giving him another kiss on the cheek.

"I don't know, really..." she replied slyly with a grin.

"...maybe to spend more time to be with a certain, cute gentledragon."

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"Finally."

Dresden opened the latch on his knapsack with a sigh, placing a few more vials back inside. He swept a little bit of dust off the study table he rented from Winter, getting ready to depart from the Palace.

A soft knock came onto the door, before it swung open.

The Patriarch stepped in, giving Dresden a warm smile.

"Leaving so soon, Dresden?"

The light-blue stallion just chuckled, swinging his knapsack around his neck.

"You know very well I can't stay here for long."

He sighed, glancing out the window with a small frown.

"I appreciate you let me stay though, for Caper's funeral."

"He was a good pony." Winter strode towards the witch doctor, giving him a smile.

"He made Autumn a happier mare."

"Remember, he was the one that killed her source of happiness."

Dresden furrowed his brows as he continued: "It wasn't his choice to do it. Somepony asked him to."

"Like who?"

Dresden shrugged his shoulders at the Patriarch's reply.

"No clue at all. But until then, I'm going to watch my step."

....

Chief Griffonhooves handled the tongs carefully, slowly pulling out the metal they found inside Snapper's sewn mouth. The surface of it is now gleaming brightly, with intricate carvings on both sides.

The police chief held his breath as he settled the steaming piece of metal onto a glass side, sliding it under a white microscope.

A small knock came onto the door as he turned the lens on the device.

"Come in."

Winter Palgiot stepped into the room, straightening his black suit. He just returned from Autumn and Caper's funeral, greeting the police chief with a small 'hi'.

"So," he asked, "what did you get?"

"I can tell you it's some sort of coin."

Chief Griffonhooves looked up from the microscope, slightly puzzled at his presence.

"Weren't you talking to the witch doctor just now?"

Winter blinked his eyes in surprise.

"I was planning to do that. I thought he might like to finish cleaning up first."

The police chief pondered a moment, before shrugging his shoulders.

"I could've sworn I saw you enter his room."

"It might be somepony else," the Patriarch suggested, turning the microscope towards him.

"Or you could've just forgotten, Sir."

Winter rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure I'm not that forgetful, Chief," he muttered, looking through the pair of lens.

Chief Griffonhooves bit his lip, watching the Patriarch turning the lens slowly.

"I'm not sure about that, Sir Palgiot. I would recognize you when I see you."

Winter suddenly gasped, prompting the chief to ask:

"What is it?"

The Patriarch turned to him, his face turning into a dark frown.

"This coin... I know who Hostia Prima is."

Suddenly, his eyes widened in horror, gazing at the door leading into the palace gardens. He quickly galloped towards it, with Chief Griffonhooves following him hurriedly, still bewildered at the pony's behavior.

"Who is it, Sir?"

Winter flicked the coin towards him. The chief examined the coin once more. On the heads side, he saw a metallic dove carved onto the surface, frozen in flight.

He turned to the other side, greeted by a silvery, ace inside the shape of a poker cards, the corners of the chrome-plated card topped with the suit of spades.

The chief took his gun from the table, his eyes glued to the coin in confusion.

"I don't get it."

"Mirror Mare is on the move," the Patriarch finally said.

"This time, it's impersonating me."

...

"You won't take any chances, do you Dresden?"

Dresden turned to the Patriarch with a sigh, slowly stretching his hooves.

"The two of us got killed in this town, by the same pony."

He looked out the window once more, letting out a small mutter:

"It's only a matter of time before he gets us as well."

The atmosphere around him suddenly turned cold. Dresden rubbed his eyes in disbelief, seeing a white stallion marching up to the palace, a few police ponies following behind, their guns at the ready.

"Winter Palgiot...?"

Dresden quickly turned around, just in time to see the 'Patriarch' turn into a dark void. The shell melted away into the cracks on the ground, revealing a caped pony, its mask stitched at the lips.

He reached for a double-blade he hid in his knapsack, raising it as the pony before him laughed coldly.

"Always the fool, I suppose."

The masked pony raised his hoof, snapping it loudly. Immediately, a small click rang from the door, the lock on the door sliding quickly into place.

"What do you want from me?"

Dresden swung his knapsack to his back, gritting his teeth with a growl as Mirror Mare slowly advanced towards him.

"Just reminiscing...."

The two ponies turned in a circle, with Mirror Mare now unsheathing his own pair of twin daggers. The masked pony smiled from underneath its mask, letting out a snort.

"Look at you now, Dredges Deniers. All grown up."

Dresden just scowled:

"You still look ever the same."

Mirror Mare laughed at his comment, before continuing: "It's been, what? Five, six years?"

The masked pony suddenly jumped forward as Dresden raised his double blade in defense, the two weapons clashing together.

Dresden buckled his hooves as Mirror Mare's dagger pushed down onto him, his own weapon already scratching down the sides of his cheek.

"Don't you miss me?" the masked pony taunted.

"Not... one... bit!"

He suddenly launched forward, swinging his long blade. Mirror Mare tumbled backwards, letting out a chuckle.

"Dredges Deniers. Always wanting to be first in the team."

Mirror Mare threw a dagger, in which the light-blue pony deftly avoided, the weapon slicing a little bit of his mane.

"Too bad the rest of the Voyager Six never approved it."

Dresden scoffed at that, preparing his weapon.

"I was a different pony when I was in the Voyager Six. They've changed me."

"Into a worthless mutt." Mirror Mare finished his sentence, laughing tauntingly at the witch doctor.

"Being the First... or should I say, Third, Voyager to die is tough, isn't it?"

Dresden jumped into the air, stabbing his blade towards Mirror Mare. The masked pony just slid to the side, letting out a small grin.

With a roar, Mirror Mare launched his dagger towards Dresden's hoof, stabbing it deeply inside. The light-blue pony let out a yelp of pain, blood spurting out from his veins.

He clutched tightly on his injured hoof, biting his lip in pain as he limped, steadying himself back up.

"That the best you got, Mirror Mare? Have you softened?"

The masked pony twitched.

"Soften? But I was only getting started!"

Mirror Mare suddenly swirled in midair, turning into a mini-tornado. The serrated daggers swung along, slashing against the walls of the room rapidly, fragments of it flying across the room.

Dresden jumped away too late, the blade slashed into his other three hooves. He yelled in pain, collapsing onto the floor.

The masked pony landed from its spin, advancing towards Dresden quickly.

"We both know you can't survive, Dresden."

The light-blue pony spat on the floor, a small drop of blood leaking from his mouth.

"C-Come on..." he whispered to himself, struggling to stand up.

"Then prove it, Mirror Mare!" he shouted defiantly at the masked pony, throwing his blade aside.

"Prove that you can kill me!!"

With a roar, Mirror Mare rushed forward, his blade stabbing through Dresden's body.

The light-blue pony grunted, his eyes widened at the sudden pain.

The door behind them rattled. Both ponies could hear Winter shouting as the ponies outside buckled their hooves against the door, trying their best to knock it down.

"The world would never know the secret that you and the rest of your friends have kept..." Mirror Mare whispered into Dresden's ear, the light-blue pony managing to moan:

"T-They wil...will.... soon."

The masked pony smiled. A challenge.

"Then I'll make sure they don't."

The door slammed open, with Winter, Chief Griffonhooves and a group of police ponies rushing in.

Dresden laid on the floor, sputtering and coughing as he gripped his bloodied chest. Winter strode hurriedly to his side, trying to speak as blood flowed from his mouth. The window was now open, the curtains fluttering in a breeze.

Chief Griffonhooves started barking out orders:

"Search the Palace! Get this pony alive!"

"W-Winter.. Winter Palgiot," Dresden managed to moan.

"What is it, Dresden?" the Patriarch asked, clutching the dying pony's hoof tightly. Holding in one more breath, Dresden managed to mutter:

"W..War....Warn the... the others..."

With a sigh, Dresden's hoof slumped to the floor, the witch doctor turning his head to the side, blood still dripping from his mouth. Winter tried not to curse as he looked at the pony's frozen stare.

Something fluttered across the floor, catching his eye. Winter quickly reached for it, grabbing a small piece of paper.

His face darkened, as he read out the taunting message:

"Let the game begin."

Ataraxia

"This is it!" Rainbow declared with glee.

"Fenderville!"

Twilight looked around the quiet, countryside town, breathing in the fresh air around. Pinkie just bounced towards the gate, shouting back to her friends:

"What are you guys waiting for? Come on!"

The three ponies marched pass the gates, looking at the village around them. Houses stood in rows along the street, the wood painted a bright, almost dazzling white, with a few patterned walls standing out from the rest. Yellow daffodils lined the street, despite the chilly wind blowing across the town.

"There must be some sort of motel here," Twilight inquired, "is there, Pinkie?"

"There should be!" the pink pony answered with a cheerful grin, skipping along the path while glancing at the medieval-like houses around them.

"Or my name's not Pinkie Pie!"

Rainbow watched her friend bounce along, tapping the unicorn on the shoulder.

"Why do all these buildings look so... old?"

"To keep the rich culture here, of course."

Twilight danced with wonder in the middle of the pavement, making a few ponies look over.

"The Princess always said the cities up north have a long history, and so the heritage is preserved."

Twilight pointed to a large, baroque chapel. "See that? That's the famous Basilica di Luce Mattina, the Church of the Morning Light."

The pegasus looked in awe at the towering structure, the white, ornate facade perched with a few statues standing out from the church walls.

A nest of pigeons suddenly swarmed over her face, startling the pegasus as she fell onto her flank. Pinkie giggled, still swirling around a cloister of buildings, with paths spreading out from each corner.

"Piazza di Incendio: the Plaza of Fire!" the pink pony screeched happily.

Twilight chuckled at Pinkie. She turned to Rainbow, who was still in a daze from her stumble.

"I told you to bring the camera. We could've gotten every bit of this!"

"Lyra didn't have a camera, all right?"

"Enough with the chit-chat!"

Pinkie bounced between them, stopping the stirring argument.

"What's with you two? We gotta find someplace for the night, or we'll sleep on the road like three homeless ponies!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Have you ever seen a homeless pony before, Pinkie?"

"Come to think of it, I never seen a pony that's homeless before!"

The blue pegasus groaned in annoyance as Twilight chuckled beside her. The unicorn gazed around the town, the flourishing heritage of the town still making her look in disbelief.

"They've preserved it so well!"

"You should see Pendant Lakes then!"

Pinkie hopped to the front of Twilight, making the unicorn stop in surprise.

"So you've been to where Rarity's been?"

"Once or twice, but it was surely memorable!"

She scampered around in a circle, feeling the chilling breeze in her face.

"Everything there really looked... well..."

"Well....?" Twilight's voice echoed in her head.

Something snapped in the pink pony's mind. Pinkie's face turned to that of dread, staring into space with her eyes widening as she tried not to whimper.

"Pinkie?" the purple unicorn's worried voice wavered amidst the other shouts assaulting her mind.

"You okay, Pinkie?"

"We need to get her to a hospital!"

"She's not going to make it, Pinkie! She's not!"

"She is! She's still alive-"

"Pinkie, she lost too much blood! She won't make it!"

"Just because you're always right doesn't mean you have to spit it out!"

"Pinkie! Listen to yourself!"

"Go to Hell! She's ALIVE, because I know she WILL BE!!"

Pinkie blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality. Twilight was now standing in front of her, waving her hooves around her cyan eyes in confusion.

"Hello~? Earth to Pinkie? You there?"

"What is it, Twilight?" she responded with a cheerful grin, repressing the tormenting shouts in her head.

"You were telling me how Pendant Lakes was like?"

Pinkie stopped at the mention of the name. She tried not to think about the town as she gave out a small mutter:

"It was.... nice.."

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"Two blades, serrated edge on one side."

Doctor Brineheart studied the puncture wounds on the body closely. Winter watched as the doctor took out a pair of calipers, aligning it closely with the wounds.

"Approximately less than a millimeter long. Wound is deep, meaning the blades are extremely sharp."

He placed the calipers aside, showing Winter a few diagrams.

"Sliced through the dorsal aorta. The other into the femoral arteries. Cause of death is pretty obvious."

"A lot of blood loss," Winter answered, remembering the stained room that Dresden and Mirror Mare fought in.

"Just like old times," Doctor Brineheart said with a chuckle, gazing at the body.

"Sicarius Nox is returning, isn't it, Sir Palgiot?"

The Patriarch just sighed, trying to forget about his two dead siblings.

"I don't know."

"With everything happening, I highly doubt this was Sicarius's doing."

The doctor turned to Winter, a look of surprise on his face.

"You mean..."

"No. I don't believe the even the Canterlot Ministry had the nerve to do this."

Winter looked over to Dresden, the light-blue pony lying on the morgue bed. His last words echoed back into the Patriarch's mind, making him pause to think.

"Warn the others..."

"Yes, Sir Winter?" Doctor Brineheart look up suddenly.

"Dresden's last words.... 'Warn the others'..."

Winter settled himself onto a work chair, now deep in thought.

"Question is, who were the others?"

The doctor just shrugged in response, draping a white sheet over Dresden's face.

"Must be somepony from his past. Like a family member, or a lover of some sort."

"Whoever it was must've visited Pendant Lakes before."

Winter stood up, heading towards the doors.

Doctor Brineheart watched as the white stallion turned the knob.

"Where would you search first, Sir?"

The Patriarch turned back to the doctor, a deep frown on his face.

"Wherever necessary."

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"Applejack! Fluttershy!"

Big Mac was galloping around the meadow, his face filled with worry for the two mares. Both Applejack and Fluttershy haven't been seen since last night's... mishandled argument.

He smacked himself on his head, remembering his shouting against his sister. "What the heck, Macintosh..."

Winona was right beside him, the hound just whimpering at the disappearance of her owner.

The red stallion patted her on the head, giving out a sigh. "Don't worry, girl."

"We'll find them soon."

Big Mac suddenly stopped, right in front of a mud puddle. He scowled with disgust at the sky, which was now shining beautifully despite a few clusters of grey drifting across the blue.

Something blasted in the background, which only made him more irritated. Winona barked at the source of the sound, growling at the loud 'noise', as the red stallion would call it.

"What the hay is she doing here?" Big Mac cursed, stomping into the orchard.

He trudged through the grass, brushing away the falling leaves of the apple trees, which cascaded downwards in an auburn spectacle.

If it weren't for the noise ahead, Big Mac would enjoy it right now.

From beneath the bushes, he watched with a grimace as a white unicorn stood from a tall, black podium, surrounded by pillars of woofers blasting out a mix of sounds into the air.

The music rang painfully in his ears. The red stallion trampled through the bushes, heading towards the unicorn.

"Vinyl!" he shouted above the music. "Get out of the farm! Now!"

Vinyl never heard him, as usual. A pair of headphones dangled from her head, playing the same music blaring out from the columns of speakers.

Instead, she raised a lever higher, the music now pounding throughout the whole orchard.

"Vinyl Scratch!" Big Mac roared, but it was only a mere squeak compared to the heavy bass blasting through the air. Winona just barked angrily without success, before slumping to the ground.

"That's it." he declared to himself. "Show's over!"

He marched towards the speakers, his eyes scanning at a long, tangled trail of black wire on the floor. The stallion followed it, all the way to the back of the largest woofer.

With a small grunt, he tugged at it. The wire immediately popped out of the socket, the music instantly turned to silence.

Vinyl fumbled with the knobs on her set, placing her headphones with a baffled frown. She started walking towards the back of the speakers, not noticing a frowning red stallion standing there.

"Must be one of those rabbits-"

Big Mac coughed, making Vinyl look up. He spun the wire like a lasso in his hoof, his eyebrow raised, demanding for an explanation.

"Well?"

Vinyl just frowned, walking back to her set.

"Don't give me that look, Macintosh."

"'Ah've told you, 'ya can't just simply walk in and make all that noise-"

"Music, Mac. And this time I had permission."

Big Mac just scoffed at her comment.

"Permission, eh? From who?"

"Your sister, of course!"

Vinyl just rolled her eyes as Big Mac's eyes widened in surprise.

"Applejack?! She was the one that asked 'ya to play this?!"

"No!" the unicorn shook her head coldly with sarcasm.

"A giant, fluffy sheep from Canterlot did. Of course it was your sister!"

Big Mac couldn't believe his ears. In which part of Equestria would Applejack invite this pony for? The orange pony never liked the loud, pumping music played by these... ponies.

Then, his mind clicked. "If Applejack were here..."

"Was she with Fluttershy?" the red stallion asked with anticipation as Vinyl tried to plug the wire back in. She gave him a grudging nod, trying not to scowl when he asked again:

"Where are they?"

"Down the hill, collecting apples blown away by last night's wind."

Vinyl then stood up, giving him a glare. "With my bass cannon here blowing every stray red fruit of yours to your sister!"

"All right," Big Mac said with a sigh, "Ah'm sorry I interrupted your noise-"

"Music!"

"-music, Ah'm sorry again. Just don't... do it all the time."

Vinyl rolled her magenta eyes.

"Suddenly you're telling me what to do."

Big Mac trotted downhill, letting out a chuckle as he gave the unicorn one more glance.

"You're still on my farm."

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Pinkie bounced through the golden doors, humming a song to herself with her two friends following behind her.

Both of them looked in wonder at the grandeur of the lobby. The floors were tiled in a gleaming marble, rivaling those of Canterlot. The walls were draped in flourishing, red banners, hanging from the balcony above, inviting them into the room.

A row of large chandeliers illuminated the room, a marvel of crystals hanging from above.

"You're sure you don't need to pay for the rooms, Pinkie?" Twilight asked, looking in awe at the royalty as they trotted down the carpeted floor.

"Don't worry, Twilight!" the pink pony replied with glee. "I knew the owner of this place!"

"As in, you met him along your journey," Rainbow asked, "or is he a family friend kind of thing?"

"Met him on my adventure, of course!"

Pinkie bounced by a few ponies, all glancing at her uneasily. Twilight just nodded a greeting, giving out a nervous chuckle as the group huddled away.

"Do you need assistance with that, Miss?"

The three of them turned to their side. A stallion stood there patiently, wearing a black, elegant suit. He bowed his head with respect, making Twilight feeling a little uneasy.

"Assistance with what, sir?"

"Your bags?" he replied, craning his neck to each of their backpacks.

"Do you need me to bring them to your room?"

"Um... sure!"

With a cough, the stallion placed their bags on a cart, before walking off, leaving the three mares behind.

Twilight just looked with concern at the stallion and their bags.

"Would he take anything from there?"

Pinkie just rolled her eyes with a slight giggle.

"Don't worry, Twilight. If he does, I'll make sure his flank goes straight out of the window!"

Rainbow and Twilight laughed at their friend's enthusiasm, the pink pony now popping to the front desk.

"One suite please!" she squealed. "Three ponies!"

The concierge just raised an eyebrow, writing down a few scribbles into a logbook.

"Your name, Miss?"

"Pinkie Pie!"

Rainbow and Twilight watched uneasily from afar, the pink pony just smiling happily. The stallion flipped to the back of the logbook, before giving the pink pony a wide grin.

"It's great to see you again, Miss Pie."

"Anytime!" she said with a salute.

"Oh, and tell him that we'll meet at lunch!"

Twilight sighed with relief as Pinkie returned, swinging a small key in her hoof.

"We got a sweet suite!" she said with a giggle.

Rainbow's mouth was agape in disbelief, trying not to scream for joy as she flew towards her pink friend.

"You got us a suite?!"

"With compliments from the owner, of course!"

Pinkie giggled as the pegasus's eyes sparkled. "I told you he knew me for a long time."

Rainbow pranced about happily, shouting out a 'yay' with each jump. Twilight prepared to close her ears as the pegasus slid to the floor, both hooves raised in the air.

"Yeahhhh!!!"

"Well, what are waiting for?" Twilight said with a smile, avoiding the glances of everypony else around.

"Let's go!"

The three ponies cheerfully trotted up the stairs, admiring the sovereignty of the atmosphere and the certain suave of the staff, silently giggling at some of their uniforms.

"... and I was wondering how he ate fifty pies in one second. I mean, who does that? Nopony in their mind would waste one second eating fifty pies! That's like really, really, really diabetic! So he goes up to me..."

Rainbow shook her head as Pinkie continued her endless chatter with Twilight.

"Pinkie and her 'adventures'..."

Something made her wings flutter uneasily. She turned around, looking at the balcony across the room.

From amidst the suited ponies and the travelling tourists, the pegasus saw a caped pony, watching them from across the room.

Rainbow let out a quiet gasp as it stepped into the light, a gold mask gleaming with its lips stitched on its face.

She froze as the pony held a hoof to its mouth, signaling her to be quiet.

It then pointed towards the pegasus, the mask seemingly laughing coldly at her horror.

"Rainbow?"

Rainbow yelped back in surprise, her blue face now covered with sweat.

Twilight tilted her head, slightly bewildered by her friend's behavior. Pinkie bounced towards the both of them, immediately curious by the pegasus's anxiousness.

The lavender unicorn looked at the trembling pegasus with worry.

"Are you alright, Rainbow?"

"I...I'm... I'm fine. Perfectly fine."

Rainbow dismissed it with a nervous chuckle, making Twilight squint her eyes with suspicion.

"Whatcha guys standing around for? Let's go to our room!"

Pinkie's screech saved her from Twilight's glare. Rainbow let out a relieved sigh as the unicorn turned back to her pink friend, resuming their small chat.

She looked over to the balcony across them. The pony wasn't there.

"Strange..."

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...in such a complex catalogue that it was one of the most organized books in the whole of Equestria and was widely regarded as a treasure trove of history, ranging from the unification of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies and the founding of Equestria to the recent events of...

Rarity flipped the page with an irritated groan. She buried her face into the book, whining and screaming under her breath.

"Why the heck am I doing this?!"

She gazed outside the window, the night sky now shimmering with stars. The moon was full

"One whole day, wasted in my room..."

The slight taste of vanilla lingered in her mouth, reminding her of the birthday cake she had this afternoon. Rarity licked her lips in satisfaction, giggling slightly at the seductiveness.

She stretched her hooves, letting out a sigh.

"If only Spike were here..."

She couldn't help but blush as the dragon fluttered into her mind, beckoning with his claw for her to come closer.

"He's only a teenage dragon, Rarity," the unicorn muttered to herself, "Don't think such dirty thoughts."

Rarity started trotting towards the bathroom, hoof-picking a mulberry-colored towel. With a sigh, the unicorn stepped into the shower, turning the silver knob slowly.

Water pattered gently onto her coat, rinsing it as steam formed onto the glass wall. She gave out a small whimper of content and a little bit of pain as the drops streamed down to her hooves.

Rarity's cheek reddened again as another image of Spike started forming in her mind. This time the dragon was cuddling her, running his claws down her body, the unicorn letting out a small moan.

She quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind free of the dragon. "Really, Rarity?" she scolded herself, "Are you that desperate?"

The heat from the shower isn't helping. Rarity cursed to herself, turning the knob as the water stopped its flow.

She grabbed her towel, furrowing her brows to the mirror with annoyance.

"Get a grip of yourself, girl. You can't just go out, in front of everypony, and say that you're desperately in need of him."

With one last wipe of her mane, she tossed the towel aside, still scolding herself.

"That is just absurd, Rarity. I mean, you can't just got to him and say you want to spend the night with him. the both of you alone... in the dark..."

Her voice faltered as Rarity felt another blush reddened her cheeks, making her coat tingle. She smacked herself, knocking the thoughts out of her mind.

"Snap out of it, Rarity!"

She groaned at herself, feeling like smacking Spike for even being here.

"Must be the season..."

The unicorn let herself fall onto the bed, closing her eyes with a purr. She twirled her mane with annoyance, forcing herself to sleep as she tossed and turned, messing up the satin sheets.

"Celestia, Rarity," she mumbled to herself grumpily, "you really are one, desperate mare."

Something trickled onto her face, making her wipe it away.

"Should be just a small leak..."

Rarity felt more of the droplets landing onto her face. She quickly sat up, her eye twitching with annoyance as she screamed aloud:

"Can't a mare have some PEACE and QUIET?!"

With a scowl, she rubbed it off with her hoof, only to gasp in horror.

Her hoof was stained a bright crimson, which dripped onto the bed. Rarity felt her gut sink as she felt more of it trickling right beside her.

Rarity hesitated, before looking up. She instantly paled, her voice screaming silently in her head at the sight before her.

The mangled, bloodied body of a pony was nailed onto the frame of the bed, the nails stabbed through the body into the wood. From the neck, a small card hung with a bell, beckoning the unicorn to open.

Reluctantly, Rarity flipped it open. She gave out a gasp as she read out the words, written in the pony's blood.

Happy Birthday, Rarity

She tumbled back with horror, scurrying away from the bed. The scarred body pierced into her mind, the words on the birthday card tormenting her.

Rarity backed up against the wall, closing her eyes in shock with her hooves rubbing her temple. She quickly screamed out, with tears in her eyes:

"SPIKE!!"

Vicissitude

"So you found her? Nailed onto the bed? Just like that?"

Rarity nodded at the police-pony, wiping her tears away with a handkerchief. Spike was beside her, trying his best to comfort the shaken mare.

"I think she needs some time to think, officer, if you don't mind."

The police-pony nodded understandingly, leaving Rarity and Spike behind as he walked towards Chief Griffonhooves.

Spike tried not to sniffle as he watched Rarity buried her face into his chest, sobbing bitterly and loudly. He placed a claw around her, whispering silently in her ear.

"It's alright, Rarity."

"N-No... it's.. it's not. It's not..."

Octavia walked over to the unicorn, biting her lip nervously as she turned to Spike.

"You have to see this."

Spike hugged the crying unicorn tighter, watching a few ponies lifting the body down from the bed, with blood dripping from a few slash wounds on the body. Winter was overseeing the whole thing, standing still with a grim frown on his darkening face.

The body was placed onto a black stretcher. Four ponies hoisted it up, lifting the dead pony to the morgue.

The dragon gasped in disbelief as they passed by him. The dead mare had a light-gray coat. It's mane was curled and puffed, looking like a mulberry cloud.

"That mane... it looked like-"

Octavia hushed him up, her head beckoning at Rarity, who was still whimpering in Spike's chest.

He whispered the name out in his mind, not wanting to hurt the already broken mare.

"Sweetie Belle..."

Spike looked back at the body on the stretcher. Her similarities were strikingly similar, from the coat down to her tail. The dragon cringed at the sight, trying not to think about the filly.

What disturbed him more was the dead mare's face. Her eyes were wide open, the pupils frozen in a pair of slits. Her mouth was exposed into a demented smile, showing out its white teeth, with blood painted around the lips.

"That's just sick..."

Octavia settled beside the dragon, as Winter walked up to them, the 'birthday card' in his hoof.

"Mirror Mare put a lot of time into this."

Rarity looked up from her depression as the Patriarch continued:

"The mare's mane was dyed. Carefully. With no intermix betw-"

"Stop. Talking about her."

Winter stopped short as Rarity gave him a piercing glare. Tears were flowing in the unicorn's eyes, begging and pleading for the Patriarch to stop.

He cleared his throat, giving Spike the birthday card in which the dragon read aloud.

"'Hope you enjoy the gift'...... Celestia..."

"Anyways, Mirror Mare placed these inside the card as well."

Winter passed a group of photos to Spike. The dragon paled with horror as he leafed through them, growing anxious with every picture.

"What is it, Spike?" Rarity asked with worry, sniffling a little.

Spike handed the photos hesitatingly, the mare instantly gasping with horror at the photos before her.

Within each frame, Sweetie Belle was always seen. There was one where she was paying attention to Cheerilee in school, another when she was hanging out with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, already on one of their 'crusades'.

"Wh... why is it doing this? Why is it stalking her?"

"Mirror Mare wants to hurt you as much as possible," Winter concluded with a sigh.

"Especially after the incident with the ball, when you can travel into a time stop."

"That doesn't make sense!"

Rarity threw the photos onto the ground, making Spike and Octavia jump back in surprise.

"Sweetie Belle isn't in this! I am!"

"Rarity," the dragon tried to interrupt, "calm down!"

"I don't want her to be hurt!! If it wants me dead, then why not come get me already?!"

"Rarity, listen to me-"

"ENOUGH, Spike!"

The dragon stumbled backwards onto the floor in surprise, watching as the white unicorn panted and heaved, trying to vent out her anger.

"Rarity..." he mumbled with worry.

Octavia and Winter helped Spike up, the dragon now striding towards the white mare as he spoke:

"I might not have any siblings, Rarity, but I have you."

Rarity just stared at the floor, her anguishing tears dripping onto the wood.

"And I don't want you to just give up your life. Just like that."

She turned back to the dragon, whimpering softly at him.

In a sudden move, Spike hugged the mare tightly, whose eyes were now widened with surprise.

"Don't ever say that. About giving up your life to that pony."

Rarity shivered inside Spike's claws, her heart overwhelmed with sadness and regret. Octavia and Winter watched with a warm smile at the embracing couple.

The unicorn buried her face into the dragon's chest once again, sobbing silently as she muttered:

"I'm sorry..."

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"Just stand right there, Fluttershy."

"I don't know about this..."

Fluttershy just edged nervously to the right, holding a bucket out with her hooves as she closed her eyes, preparing for another hail of apples to rain down the hillside.

"Is it,um.. okay? If I move a little, tiny bit to the right..."

Applejack rolled her eyes at the yellow pegasus.

"Sugarcube, if 'ya did, every single apple that 'ya could've caught will fly down 'ta who knows where."

"But what if the.. apples hit me? What if I get hit and never wake up?"

"They're apples, not cars."

Applejack stood beside Fluttershy with a small grin. "Here! Ah'll show ya!"

"Just raise your bucket like this, and try to catch as many apples as you can!"

The yellow pegasus just whimpered as her friend continued:

"It's simple! Ah'm sure 'ya wanna do this!"

"Applejack! Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy tensed up suddenly, her yellow coat paling a snow white, before fainting to the floor.

Applejack turned to the sound of the deep voice, spotting a red stallion galloping from the orchard.

She frowned as her brother approached her, the orange pony trying to help the now unconscious Fluttershy up.

"Applejack! Wait!"

"What is it, Macintosh?"

Applejack tried not to scowl, not giving her brother a glance

The red stallion just let out a sigh. He bit his lip as he asked:

"Where were you last night?"

"Why would you care, Mac?"

"Ah'm sure you already knew the answer."

He looked over to Fluttershy, who was still lying on the floor.

"Apple Bloom was worried sick about 'ya, AJ." he continued.

"Ya promised her you won't get ya'self in trouble again."

Applejack just stared ahead, her face grimacing slightly. Big Mac just held his breath, trying not to shout into her face.

"The thing is," he added, "Ah regret whatever ah did yesterday. It was a mistake."

The orange pony finally turned to him, rolling her eyes.

"Ya just realized, huh?"

"Ya wouldn't understand, knowing that ya sister is somewhere out in the rain."

Big Mac cupped his sister's hooves into his, before continuing:

"If Apple Bloom ran away from home, wouldn't ya feel the same?"

Applejack's eyes widened at his statement. She felt her hind hooves aching to buck her brother, her spine slightly trembling with insecurity.

"Ah'm your big brother, Applejack."

Big Mac sighed a little, looking at his sister with a mix of concern and guilt.

The orange pony just looked down at the floor, kicking the dust around the gravel path.

"Ah don't know, Mac..."

"Ya did me a big favor, AJ."

She looked up instantly, trying to hide her surprise.

"Whadaya mean?"

"She's safe."

Big Mac craned her neck at Fluttershy, who was still unconscious on the ground.

"Ah'll owe ya one."

Applejack chuckled as the stallion blushed, making his coat much redder than he already was.

"Ya really like her, don'tcha Macintosh?" she teased, nudging her brother.

"Ah'm not so sure, actually."

He let out a deep sigh, remembering the events a few days before.

"Whatever Shy's hiding, Ah'm not too keen about it."

"We'll find out." Applejack said, giving him a reassuring smile.

"We'll find out what's going on with her."

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"You cleaned the mane yet?"

"Still scrubbing it, Winter." Stellar replied with a groan. Spike was on the other end, helping the butler scrub it as well.

He rubbed a few beads of sweat off his scales. "Dye's hard to come off."

Jovern peered his neck through the window, slightly chuckling at the two of them.

"Scrub any harder and you can clean my back."

"Eww!!" Spike exclaimed with disgust.

"Who does that?!"

Winter chuckled a little at the black dragon, with Jovern returning him a smile.

"Why don't you help me with her tail?" the Patriarch asked.

"The only thing I'm good for is roasting it off." he said with a hearty laugh.

"Winter!" Stellar quickly called the stallion.

"The color's starting to come off!"

Winter immediately rushed to the butler's side, the four of them examining the strand of the dead mare's mane closely.

"Light green... light green mane..."

The Patriarch turned to the dragons. "Does any of you know a mare of this mane color?"

"Not that I know of." Spike said with a shrug. Jovern shook his head as well, making Winter sigh with dejection.

"We'll have to do this the hard way..."

"The photos, Spike."

Winter laid them onto the table, carefully scanning through each of the pictures.

"These are photos of Rarity's sister, correct?"

Spike nodded, crossing his claws with doubt.

"Is she the next target?"

"If she is, and I highly doubt she will be," he concluded, "we need somepony to be with her at all times."

"Isn't there something else behind this pictures?"

Jovern browsed through the photos one more time, stopping to think for a moment.

"Something hidden behind all of this?"

"If there were, this Mirror Mare would've been one of the smartest manifestations throughout Pendant Lakes history."

Winter sighed, sitting onto a small stool. "It's really toying with us."

Stellar scratched his head a little, flipping through the last few photos.

"I don't understand, though. If she wants Miss Rarity's sister, then why not get her already?"

Jovern's eyes widened in realization.

"Maybe it is to throw her off track. A diversion..."

"Stand back." the dragon ordered, making the rest of them stepping aside as he held his breath.

Suddenly, he blew out a ray of flame, making Winter and Stellar duck. Spike jumped back in surprise, turning to the photos with horror.

"Jovern! You're burning them apar-"

He stopped as his eyes widened in amazement. A stream of letters suddenly appeared onto the photos, covering over the images as the flame burned stronger, sweat now crawling down the teenage dragon's back.

With a sigh, Jovern stopped, the flame dying down instantly. Winter's mouth was agape at the array of words on the slightly scorched photos, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

"Steganography. Of course!"

He smacked himself on the head. "Deceiver Arts. One of the key lessons at Year Seven. How could I've forgotten?"

"You'd be surprised what dragons learn at the military."

Jovern sighed, reminiscing about his past.

"Hellish times, those days were."

Quickly, Spike tried to piece the photos in order, trying to make out the message.

"There's a capital 'R' here, as well as a full stop..."

"That should be next to this end. 'Rode' maybe."

Jovern eyed at a cluster of the photos. "One full word here. 'Battalion'.

"Got a... list of words, I guess?" Stellar said with a shrug. "'XIII'..."

"That's thirteen," Winter answered, shuffling through the photos hurriedly.

It wasn't long before everything was in place. The once-invisible words, now illuminated a bright crimson from Jovern's flame, spelled out:

XIII. Union Station. Eindhooven. Jeana Yawger, battalion commander.

Alaeska, Rode Island, Weedsconsin. Quiche.

"Jeana Yawger..." Spike looked at the name.

"The next victim, perhaps?"

"Then an address."

Jovern scanned through the words carefully, trying to make sense of the sentence.

"At three different towns? I don't think so."

"There must be something important about this 'Jeana' that Mirror Mare wants."

Winter gazed through the photos, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"The question is, what?"

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"And I'm sure he will come down! In about a minute!"

"You said that forty-five minutes ago!"

Twilight tried not to laugh as Rainbow Dash slammed her face onto the table, letting out an annoyed groan.

"And here I thought tourists were treated like royalties!"

"You wouldn't know, Rainbow." the unicorn replied. "After all, I'm sure he has a lot of things to do..."

The three of them took a gander at the cafe around them. It was delightfully mellow, with ponies all around, sitting on wrought iron recliners while patiently waiting for their food. Pigeons shared the leftovers, sometimes chased away as pests by the waiters.

The usual chatter of a crowd and clinking of utensils were the norm around here, with ponies of different cultures all enjoying their meal. Aromas of parsley, rosemary and the strongest of them all, grilled cheese, wavered throughout the cafe, making the blue pegasus licking her lips hungrily.

"I wonder what's for lunch?"

"Rainbow, be patient," scolded Twilight, although hers was already running out as well. Pinkie, however, just hummed a cheerful tune, swaying her hooves in anticipation.

"This... friend of yours, Pinkie," the unicorn asked, trying to break the boredom, "is he well known?"

The pink pony stopped to think.

"Well known... as in 'around town' well known? Or the WHOLE OF EQUESTRIA well known?"

Rainbow just snorted, edging her iron seat forwards with a loud screech.

"Let's try both."

"Both, huh?"

Pinkie crossed her hooves, her face deep in thought like a sage. "His hotel here is one of the best!"

"But he's not a snob like those other princy-prancy, moneylicious Canterlot ponies!" she chuckled with a snort. "He's a good guy!"

"Do you... fancy him?"

Pinkie rolled her eyes, puffing up her mane as Twilight and Rainbow chuckled slightly.

"He's married when I met him, okay Dashie?"

The blue pegasus just shuffled closer, ruffling her wings with interest.

"And~? You fancy somepony else?"

Pinkie started blushing a deep red, making her two friends gasp in delight and wonder.

Twilight's eyes were now sparkling with curiosity.

"Who's the lucky stallion~?" she cooed teasingly.

"Well, he's..."

The pink pony's voice faded, looking away with embarrassment.

Her eyes suddenly widened with surprise. She clopped her hooves gleefully as a bright amber pegasus walked up to the them, brushing his vermilion mane aside as he settled next to Pinkie Pie.

"He's here!!"

"Sorry to keep you girls waiting." he quickly apologized, turning to the pink pony.

"Good to see you again, Pinkie!"

"Anytime, Tourist Trap!" she replied cheerfully, shaking the stallion's hoof.

"Tourist Trap, huh?"

Rainbow reached out her hoof in greeting. "My name is Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in all of Equestria!"

The stallion shook hers, giving the blue pegasus a small grin.

"It's nice to meet you."

"And I'm sure this lady here must be Miss Twilight Sparkle, yes?"

The unicorn nodded in surprise.

"How did you know?"

"You and your friends here saved the world! Of course you're well known!"

The stallion gave out a chuckle as he turned to Pinkie.

"And when I saw you on that newspaper, you wouldn't know how eager I wanted to see you again!"

"And you! Wouldn't know how great it is to be back here!"

Pinkie and Tourist laughed as the waiters arrived, serving the four of the, simmering cups of hot tea.

Twilight watched with a smile as the two of them chattered happily, the old friends finally meeting after so long.

The unicorn let out a content sigh, sipping on the hot tea, her tongue squirming slightly from the heat and the lemon zest inside the warm brew.

She gazed over to Rainbow, who was slumping in her seat, now looking around with a mix of concern of worry.

"Rainbow?" Twilight called out, making the pegasus sit up suddenly.

"Wha-" Rainbow stuttered in response.

She brushed her signature mane aside, breathing as she tried to regain her composure.

"What is it, Twilight?"

Pinkie and Tourist turned to her, obviously curious as Twilight asked:

"You okay, Rainbow? You're a little bit jumpy today."

"I..."

Rainbow tried not to whimper as the three pairs of eyes looked with concern. She waved her hoof dismissively, sweat crawling down the edge of her face.

"I'm fine! Perfectly fine! Just need some uh.... fresh air!"

Twilight gave her a suspecting stare, making the pegasus gulp.

"If you say so..."

Rainbow started trotting towards the doors, trying not to turn back at her friend. She pushed open the double doors into the corridor, letting out a relieved sigh.

"I see somepony's enjoying their time alone."

She tensed up, her spine tingling with surprise as she felt a sudden draught passing through her. With a grit of her teeth, Rainbow clenched her hooves, her eyes fixated onto a masked pony standing in front of her.

"So you're the one hurting my friends." she scowled.

"Yes, I am."

Mirror Mare let out a cackle as it strode towards her, making Rainbow step back carefully.

"And I presume you're going to stop me?"

"Yes. What will you do about it, then?"

The mask glinted with anticipation, with its owner readying its twin daggers as it answered with a taunt:

"I'll watch you try."

With a slam of her hooves, Rainbow leaped into the air, rushing towards the masked pony as it launched itself to the pegasus, readying its daggers menacingly.

Her wings fluttered mercilessly as Rainbow closed her eyes, preparing for the worst.

*BOOM!!!*

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"What do you mean Fluttershy's hiding something?"

"Ya see, Rarity..." Applejack's voice began, crackling through the speakers as Rarity edged closer to the table.

"Three days ago... is it three days, Macintosh? 'Ah seem to lost the time."

"About there."

"Right. 'Kay, so three days ago, Fluttershy went from Fluttershy to complete bonkeroos!"

Rarity scratched her head, slightly fuddled by the orange pony's dialect.

"What do you mean by 'complete bonkeroos'?"

"She became crazy! Whipped up one darn hullabaloo of a storm in her cottage."

"But what's worse," Applejack's voice turned into a small whisper.

"Shy doesn't want any of us to know about it!"

"That's very silly, if you think about it. She would understand that we're trying to help her."

Rarity stopped to think, trying to sort everything in her head.

First Pinkie, then Applejack. And now...

"Where's Twilight? Was she notified about this?"

"She left Ponyville," the orange pony answered, "along with Pinkie and RD to open some darn box."

"Persimmon's box?"

The unicorn stopped for a moment, the moss-green cover of Dragonheart flashing through her mind.

"Spike told me about it."

"Speakin' about that dragon, he's safe over there, right?"

"As safe as ever." Rarity said with a giggle, remembering their fiery first meeting.

She heard her orange friend sigh with relief, before asking her again:

"What 'bout you, Rarity? Are 'ya safe over there?"

"Perfectly fine, Applejack." the unicorn said with a chuckle.

"Everything's all right so far."

Applejack laughed playfully at her, the voice slightly crackling from the speakers.

"Is Dragon Lover Boy that protective?"

"What is that suppose to mean?" Rarity blurted, her face pouting as the orange pony laughed over the walkie-talkie.

"Spike's just... he cares a lot about me..."

"Uh-huh, and Ah'm pretty sure ya care a lot about him as well!"

Rarity let out a groan, her face turning beet red as she managed to stutter:

"O-Of course I do! Who wouldn't care for such a fine, charming dragon like him?"

"All right, all right!" her friend chuckled with defeat and amusement.

"Calm down, Rarity. Ah know both of your feelings for each other."

The white mare let out a relieved sigh, easing off the steam building up in her head.

Something else replaced it instead, of fear and insecurity. She couldn't help but let the turn of events last night to whirl in her head. That puffed mane, that light grey coat.

That... smile.

"Applejack, can I ask you for a favor?"

She heard a small sigh on the other end.

"Is it to getcha some fabric for your boutique again? 'Cause ah just got some in yesterday."

"No, it's not that," she replied with a chuckle.

Holding her breath, Rarity asked again, trying to push away the dead mare out of her mind.

"Is... is it okay if Sweetie Belle stay with you guys until I get home?"

Rarity could picture Applejack's surprised face as a moment of silence wavered in.

"Stay till you come back? I dunno, Rarity..."

"Please?" the unicorn begged, her gut twinging, fearing denial.

"Pretty, pretty please~?"

Her heart leaped as the orange pony sighed, managing to mutter:

"All right. But till you come back, ya hear?"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Rarity felt like hugging her friend, smiling with glee as she felt a large weight lifted off her shoulders.

"What would I do without you, Applejack?"

"Ask Lover Boy," she replied with a snort. "Ah'm sure you both kissed when you guys first met, didn't ya?"

Rarity blushed, with Applejack laughing teasingly at the other end of the walkie-talkie.

"Silence says it all."

"Just don't let Sweetie Belle go to school alone, okay?"

"Ah won't, Rarity."

The orange pony stopped chuckling. Rarity could hear determination in her voice, feeling confident in her friend.

"Trust me."

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"Really, really sure she would love it?"

"Well, Pinkie. I really can't wait to find out."

Tourist Trap looked at the small parcel that Pinkie gave him, his usual gentle demeanor already changing into the pink pony's hype out of sheer anticipation.

"And I'm sure she would be delighted to have it."

Twilight gave them a smile as Pinkie clopped her hooves with glee.

She looked over at the doors with concern over Rainbow Dash. The pegasus never leaves her friends behind. She is the Element of Loyalty after all.

"Pinkie, shouldn't we go check on Rainbow?"

The pink pony munched into a cupcake, crumbs spattering out of her mouth as she muttered:

"I'm sure Dashie just needs time!"

The lavender unicorn just tapped her hooves impatiently, looking over at the hot tea across her.

"I don't think Rainbow would take that much time outside, you know."

*BOOM*

A loud explosion blasted the doors wide open, tossing the tables and chairs apart and throwing the three of them across the room.

Twilight gripped tightly onto one of the pillars, watching in horror at Pinkie smashing into a glass aquarium at the other side of the room.

She gasped as a familiar, rainbow aura burst through the air, flowing just right above her mane.

"Rainbow..."

As the explosion died down, ponies gathered themselves up, helping others tangled in the debris caused by the Sonic Rainboom. Twilight rushed over to Pinkie, who was now picking glass out of her hind hooves.

"Pinkie! Are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine."

The pink pony frowned at the few cuts on her skin as Twilight lifted her up from the shards, brushing the glass pieces off her coat. She suddenly coughed, nearly collapsing onto the floor as Twilight helped her up.

"You're coughing blood, Pinkie." Twilight said with worry, looking at the stains on the floor.

"You sure you don't need to see a doctor?"

"I said I'm fine, Twilight."

Pinkie brushed the unicorn's hoof away, trudging through the mess. Twilight just gave her a befuddled look, trying to understand her friend's sudden brashness.

"Rainbow did the Sonic Rainboom." the unicorn continued.

"She wasn't suppose to do the Rainboom in an enclosed space!"

Pinkie lifted Tourist Trap from amidst the flipped tables, the owner of the hotel completely aghast as the destruction that lay before him.

"Wha... what happened?"

Before Twilight could answer, Pinkie galloped out of the door, already searching for the blue pegasus.

"Rainbow Dash!" she called out, looking around at the rubble in the hallways.

Twilight widened her eyes in disbelief as she stepped out into the corridor.

The hotel lobby was reduced to a ruin. Tables and chairs were flung even to the far sides of the room, with papers and broken porcelain scatted around the carpeted floor. Some of the pillars broke off from their stands, breaking apart at the floor below.

The remains of a crystalline chandelier lie shattered on the floor. Everywhere, ponies were helping themselves out, faces of shock and terror all around.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Pinkie's loud, screeching voice immediately caught the unicorn's attention. She galloped quickly to the end of the corridor, gasping at the sight before her.

Rainbow Dash was crumpled onto the floor, her wings folded in, with one side cleanly sliced a little at the top. She was panting heavily and painfully with Pinkie examining her bruised body, the pegasus whimpering with each gentle touch.

"She needs to get to the hospital, Twilight!"

With a nod, Twilight galloped towards the stairs, narrowly avoiding a few fragments of marble.

She hurriedly clambered down the steps, rushing towards the door as she shouted:

"This is an emergency!"

Pinkie turned back to Rainbow, who was now cringing and moaning in her friend's hooves in agony.

The pink pony silently prayed, yet she felt dread growing within her with every passing second.

"I'll protect you, Dashie." she whispered, wiping her leaking mouth of blood while trying to forget the shouts in her head.

The shouts of her past.

"No matter what."

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Spike never doubted his instincts.

To say the least his instincts weren't the brightest, yet he trusted them all the same.

"So, Rarity," he asked the mare beside him. The two were having one of their casual strolls down in Pendant Lakes, still being refined to its former glory.

"I was wondering. About going home I mean."

Rarity just indulged in her lemon tea, suckling on the straw before answering with a sigh.

"Home. You really want to talk about home, when we're still stuck in this awful place?"

The dragon just rolled his eyes, making Rarity giggle.

"All right. I miss home. A lot."

The unicorn twirled around Spike, holding on to her yellow hat, topped with a daffodil.

"Why ask, Spikey?"

"Sweetie Belle."

His face turned to that of concern. Rarity's face darkened slightly, making the dragon starting to regret his decision.

"Instincts... Really, Spike?"

"Look, I didn't mean to... I mean, I just... want to make sure-"

"I'm not comfortable with it, okay Spike?"

Rarity tried not to sniffle as she turned to the dragon with a pleading, sullen look.

"It's just... what it dares to do... and if it touches Sweetie Belle..."

Spike hugged the mare tightly as she let out a quiet sob in his chest. He felt his heart sink with guilt.

He just made the mare of his life cry.

"I won't bring that up again, okay?"

The dragon lifted her face up, brushing her curled mane aside as he gave Rarity a reassuring smile.

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

Rarity gave him an unsure smile, gazing over at a promising bench at the far side of the plaza.

"Can we sit? For a moment or two?"

Spike nodded, the couple now strolling pass the fountain. He quickly helped the slightly shaken mare down, placing her drink right beside her.

With a deep sigh, the two of them looked around, entrancing themselves into the atmosphere of their surroundings, claw and hoof entwined in between them.

The day was one of those gentle days, with the fluttering of feathers and coos of pigeons resonating beneath the constant trickle of water from the elegant, marble fountain.

It wasn't long before Rarity noticed a few, astonished looks from other ponies, obviously shocked at the dragon enjoying the warm breeze beside her, even more at their intimacy.

She tapped his shoulder, interrupting the dragon from his relaxation.

"There's a lot of ponies watching us."

Spike just chuckled a little, waving at a group of ponies who were obviously fearing his presence. The group frantically huddled away, making him laugh quietly.

Rarity giggled at the dragon's mischief, shaking her head with a sigh.

"Still playful as ever, Spikey-Wikey."

She nudged his shoulder, making him blink in surprise.

"Grow up already!" the unicorn exclaimed with sarcasm.

The dragon's pupil glinted, making his comeback.

"And I thought you like me just the way I am!"

"Whoever said that, Spike?" Rarity whined, clutching and shaking his claws.

"Spike~~!"

"What?"

Spike tried not to groan as Rarity giggled. He felt himself being dragged by the unicorn, the two now heading towards the fountain.

"Got a coin, Spike?" she asked, turning to the dragon as she clutched onto his claw. He examined the marble structure in front of him, trying not to get soaked from the sprinkle of droplets emitted by a stone fish.

He rolled his eyes with amusement.

"Does it look like I have pockets on my scales?"

Rarity chuckled a little, before grabbing a penny from beneath her hat.

"It's a Love Fountain." she explained to the confused dragon. "If the both of us toss a coin inside, it would mean our hearts would forever be together, never to be broken apart."

Spike was surprised by the unicorn's statement. With a gleaming smile, he asked:

"So does that mean you want me to never leave you? No matter what?"

"You could say that..."

Rarity's cheeks turned a slight pink, making the dragon chuckle.

"All right, I'll do it."

The unicorn quickly clopped her hooves with glee, before Spike cupped them both into his claws.

Rarity turned to the dragon, the both of them exchanging smiles. The both of them closed their eyes, their minds thinking of each other.

"I wish that Spike, my one true love and the dragon of my life," her thoughts echoed in her head.

"that he would always be standing right beside me, adhering to my beliefs.

"To be with me eternally, my one true soulmate. Let him and I spend the rest of our lives together, without never a second thought. Let the love between Spikey and I blossom, the lights within us as bright as the summer sunshine."

She turned to Spike, grinning as the dragon uttered a few more words before opening his eyes.

"Well," he said humbly, "what are we waiting for?"

"One... two.... three!"

The both of them threw their hooves or, in Spike's case, claws into the air, the penny whizzing upwards, before diving straight into the fountain.

Rarity and Spike sighed, the mare in the dragon's arms, watching as the coin sank to the bottom of the marble floor.

"That went well." Spike mused with a smile.

Rarity chuckled slightly, pecking him on his cheek.

"It was worthwhile, isn't it Spikey?"

The dragon just shrugged, his face pouting a little.

"It wasn't worth my time, Rarity."

Before Rarity could react, he smashed his lips onto hers, the pair now deep in a ravishing kiss. Rarity heaved a little as the dragon worked his lips, the zesty, lemon drink now mixing between both of their mouths.

With a small moan, Rarity held onto Spike's back tightly, her hoof gripping into the scales. She felt a wave of euphoria rushing through her, a small bead of sweat tingling down her skin.

They quickly broke it, not wanting to make a public display. Rarity's cheek were tinged scarlet, making Spike chuckle again as she asked:

"So... that was worth your time?"

Spike just shook his head. He brushed the perplexed unicorn's curled mane aside, staring deeply into her azure pupils as he answered, making the love of his life grin:

"You're worth my time."

Chastises Of A Broken Mother

Hospitals...

Pinkie never liked hospitals. How the whitewashed walls make everything seem so clean and innocent, pure of any taint, when in fact they hide the very gruesome and, at times, horrific, operations and surgeries. More importantly though, the patients' pastimes were very dull, with little to no activities available.

She just stood beside Twilight, staring at Rainbow in her bed for what seemed like weeks.

"Is she going to be alright?" the pink pony finally asked.

"Doctor says she'll be fine."

Twilight just sat down, slightly flustered by her friend's conditions. "It might take us a week to be here."

"At least Tourist Trap is kind enough to let us stay." she continued.

"I'm glad you're here, Pinkie."

"It's nothing, Twilight. Superdy-duper fine!"

She squealed with enthusiasm, making the unicorn smile. Both of them watched as Rainbow breathed silently, lying on the hospital bed under the white sheets.

Suddenly, Pinkie coughed, quickly rubbing her mouth as Twilight looked over with concern.

The unicorn's face immediately turned into that of horror at the sight of blood on her friend's pink hoof.

"Pinkie, you should see a doctor."

"It's nothing, Twilight."

Pinkie wiped the red stain off, only to cough out more of it in advance. Twilight couldn't believe her ears, an expression of shock aligned onto her face.

"Nothing? You're coughing blood, for goodness sake!"

The unicorn stood up, grabbing Pinkie's hoof.

"You might be injured, Pinkie! You really need to see-"

"No!"

Pinkie harshly pushed Twilight hoof's away, glaring at the unicorn.

"I'm completely, perfectly fine, Twilight! I don't need somepony like you to tell me that!"

Twilight stood there, astounded by her pink friend's behavior.

"Pinkie!" she shouted, "For the last time, I'm trying to help you!"

"Help me? You can help me by shutting the buck UP!"

"So you think I'll let you cough to death?! Is that what you want, Pinkie?!"

The unicorn's eyes watered. She raised her hoof, pointing accusingly at Pinkie as she shouted:

"You're not the Pinkie I know! You've changed ever since that pony pushed you out of the window!"

With a growl, Pinkie slammed her hind hooves onto the floor. The wood splintered immediately, breaking a hole into the floor with a loud boom.

Twilight just jumped from the loud sound, backing away as the pink pony approached her, giving her an enraged glare.

"YOU! Don't know me at all! That pony has took everything. EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE!"

Twilight felt her back touch the wall. She cringed with tears falling from her eyes as Pinkie raised her hoof.

"EVERYTHING, Twilight. You never FELT it. You NEVER WENT THROUGH what I've went through!"

The unicorn closed her eyes with a whimper, waiting for Pinkie to strike.

*SMASH*

She yelped. At the sound of splintering wood right beside her.

Pinkie just scowled, her hoof slightly bleeding from the fragments of wood. Twilight trembled as she picked herself up, glancing at the pink pony with tears in her eyes.

"And if it touches Dashie once..." Pinkie's voice faltered slightly.

She left the room in a huff, slamming the door. Twilight just buried her face in her hooves, finally crying out every ounce of fear and despair in her as she sat in the corner.

Rainbow just slept silently, completely oblivious to the ruckus. The unicorn just cursed under her breath, before settling next to her friend.

"Please, Rainbow... wake up..." she whispered with a sniffle.

"She... she just..."

Twilight broke down, bitterly crying in the white sheets.

"I need you to help me, RD..." she stuttered beneath her tears.

"Wake up...."

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"Really, AJ? Ya want to search her cottage for her past?"

Applejack nodded at her brother, the two siblings trotting down into the meadows.

"I mean, why not? She must have some secret diary or somethin'..."

Big Mac just sighed with doubt in his mind as the cottage came into view. He tried to repress the deranged lullaby in Fluttershy's cold voice, looping in his head tormentingly.

"Ah'm not so sure we'll like what we find..."

"Buckle up, Macintosh!"

His sister turned to him, giving him a smile.

"We'll find out what's wrong with her, only then we can help her."

"And if she wakes up before we find anything," she added, "Winona will start howling from the farm. Easy!"

"Easy for you to say..." he muttered under his breath.

The both of them now stood in front of Fluttershy's cottage. Applejack opened the door and stepped into the living room, with Big Mac following closely behind.

Even in the darkness, the cottage was warm and cozy. They did not linger for long, immediately heading towards the stairs, ruffling the carpet beneath their hooves.

With every creak of a step, Applejack tensed a little with anticipation, ignoring the uncertainty of her brother.

Quickly reaching the top, they've turned to the first door on their right. Holding her breath, Applejack turned the knob.

Fluttershy's bedroom was neat, despite a few books laying around about different animals and their habits. There wasn't a trace of dust on the floor, although the two weren't surprised about it.

"Start searching over there, I guess." she said to her brother, unsure of where to begin.

Big Mac just sighed.

"She wouldn't hide it here. Ah've helped build her home back, and Ah found nothing."

"Well, maybe she just...hid it somewhere we never bothered looking."

Applejack just sat on the bed, now in deep thought.

"Somewhere that she doesn't want to go to."

Her eyes widened in realization. "Macintosh." she called his brother, the red stallion turning to her instantly.

"Did the house had a basement somewhere?"

"Come to think of it..."

Big Mac pondered a little, before saying: "Ah remembered there were some stairs that led down somewhere..."

"Let's find it then!"

The two quickly galloped down the stairs, back into the living room. Applejack trotted into the kitchen, trying to see in the musty darkness.

"Ah don't see it here," she said with a sigh. "Ya sure it's around here?"

"Must be. It isn't hard to spot."

Big Mac squinted his eyes, scanning around the living room.

"It was somewhere around here. Ah remember clearly it was."

"Hold your horses, Macintosh."

Applejack stopped to think, before talking to her brother:

"You helped move some things, right? Maybe you covered the entrance or something?"

"Ah don't think so, AJ. The stairs started from a wall, but Ah don't see it anywhere."

He groaned with defeat, sitting on the couch.

"Maybe it's just my imagination..."

Applejack paced around, before sitting down next to the fireplace with a sigh.

She looked over at the stone structure, feeling like losing some steam.

"Why can't Shy just tell us?"

With a kick of her hooves, she bucked the stone wall of the fireplace. Immediately the iron grill in its hearth slid down, making the two ponies look in surprise.

A rumbling sound echoed from somewhere, as the fireplace started revolving to the side. Applejack and Big Mac look in awe as the fireplace halted abruptly, revealing a set of wooden stairs down into the dark.

"Well, well...."

Applejack looked down into the passage, before turning to her brother.

"It wasn't your imagination after all."

Big Mac felt a draught from the passage, tossing his orange mane around.

"Ya sure about this, sis?"

"Ah'll go in,"

Applejack gave him a small wink, before turning back to the foreboding wooden stairs before her.

"For Fluttershy's sake."

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Winter flipped the switch, the lights above him immediately flickering open in response.

He was inside Sidus's cottage, revisiting and cleaning out the abode of his deceased, old friend.

With a nostalgic sigh, the Patriarch settled himself onto a stool, the one his friend would use for concocting elaborate plans or designing intricate and complex weapons and bombs.

A tattered, blue banner hung on the wall before him, the image already faded with gold-streamed words speeling out Sicarius Nox aligning at the very top.

Sicarius Nox.... The name kept echoing in Winter's mind.

Sidus's photos hung beside it, showing him at the inauguration of him into the assasins' league. Another showed him with a bright purple mare, enjoying an ice cream treat.

Sidus's wife, if Winter was not mistaken. Her name couldn't register in his mind.

Without a second thought, Winter slowly took the pictures down, stacking them one by one onto the work desk.

"Sidus, Sidus," he shake his head with a chuckle, looking at a wedding ring left on the table.

He remembered the last time Sidus wore it. It was during the assasin's wife's funeral.

Winter just sighed. He'd never seen Sidus much more depressed and dejected in his life.

"Love..." the Patriarch muttered, looking at the wedding ring longingly.

An image of a marble tombstone flashed through his mind, the black words of 'Harmony Peridot' engraved on its surface. Winter couldn't help but sniffle, trying to kick the haunting image away.

He tossed the ring into the bag with a sigh, continuing his renovation.

The Patriarch then searched through the drawers, clearing out anything stuffed inside.

He quickly tossed out a few sheets and fabrics, as well as some mottled paper for who knows what. Sidus was always the queer one with his belongings after all.

His hoof reached around in the bottom drawer. Winter felt it wrapped around the cold surface of metal, the Patriarch sliding it out from the wooden drawer with ease

A sharp blade now laid in his hand, carved in pure gold. Winter could only stare in disbelief as it shone from the dappled rays of the afternoon sun through the window.

But what amazed him more was the three diamonds on its edge, brilliantly cut into perfection.

The hilt, though, was oddly shaped. It was flat, rectangular yet very sharp. The Patriarch examined it carefully, turning it a few times around in his hoof.

"Why would you keep this, Sidus..." he muttered perplexedly.

"Strange..."

Something else caught his attention. The faint smell of paraffin.

Winter turned around, buckling his hooves frantically as he galloped to the exit.

As he leaped out into the forest, the cottage exploded, wood and rock blasting apart. Winter's horn glowed a bright blue, forming a cyan, translucent dome over him.

He looked back at the burning house as stones pelted onto his shield, only to bounce off later.

The stallion cursed under his breath, the golden blade held in his hoof as he glanced across the ravine.

A pony stood there, watching the shaken Patriarch on the forest floor. The stitched mask made Winter scowl, pointing the golden blade accusingly as he shouted:

"First you kissed me and now you're trying to kill me!"

The pony seemed to smile, replying coldly before darting off into the woods:

"Ponies change, don't they?"

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"Crimson!"

The musician tried not to groan as Octavia called him for the fifth time. He was busy flipping and turning his tie around in frustration, ignoring the sad fact that they were late.

"It's always the ties..." he muttered with annoyance.

"Crimson Lux de Cavalle, can you please hurry up?"

"Coming, 'Tavi! Just need to fix... this wretched-"

He stumbled backwards, landing onto his flank with a grunt. Crimson sighed, looking at the tie on his hoof.

"You know how horribly complicated ties are?"

Octavia just rolled her eyes, powdering her face in front of a mirror.

"Rarity and Spike are going to be here any minute, Crimson."

She quickly slipped through the back of her dress, the color matching those of her eyes. The powder puffed a bright pink around her face, turning it smooth with a gleam.

Soon as she was done, she trotted into the bathroom, giggling at her coltfriend as he tripped again, now falling into the bathtub. "You need some help?" she asked.

Crimson groaned. Loudly.

With a sigh, Octavia carefully weaved the tie, forming a few loops as the musician watched her dreamily, his heart dancing a beat.

"You know, I don't mind this at all, seeing you helping me..."

The grey mare just scoff as Crimson laughed playfully. "Done."

She hoisted him up from the bathtub, nuzzling his snout gently.

"Grow up, Crimson."

A small knock on the door made them turn. Without hesitation, Octavia trotted to the black door, turning the golden knob.

Spike and Rarity stood there, each of them giving a wave. The dragon was in a fine, black suit, endowed with white, buttoned collars and a red tie. Rarity wore a light-blue dress, glittering and sparkling with finesse and grace of a swan.

The mare clutched Spike's arm firmly, the dragon standing tall like a stalwart knight as he asked:

"Are you guys done yet?"

"More or less." Octavia replied.

She turned back her head, shouting with a little bit of sarcasm:

"Are we, Crimson?"

"Just a minute!"

The three of them giggled as the red stallion scampered towards his marefriend. He gave a flustered wave, his chest heaving with every pant.

"So... we're done here, right?"

Spike chuckled slightly, making Rarity nudge him.

"It is just a dinner date, after all." she said.

"Well, where to, guys?"

Rarity was the first to answer.

"There was this restaurant. Ristorante Rugiada. Down the corner of Starlet and Fountain Square."

She gave Spike a wink as she continued:

"I'm sure the food there would be heavenly..."

The dragon just blushed slightly, scratching his head with uncertainty as he replied:

"I... think it's a... good idea?"

"All right then!" Crimson declared, making the rest of them chuckle.

"Rugiada it is!"

The four started walking along the corridor, quickly chatting amongst themselves. Outside, the night sky was clear, with rays of moonlight shining in, mixing with the flaring orange of torches aligning the walls.

"So, Rarity..." Spike began, hoof and claw swaying side to side.

"I've been wondering lately. About Twilight and I."

"Mm-hmmm.... and?"

"When we first came to Ponyville," he continued.

"What did you see me as?"

Rarity was slightly surprised, her eyes widened as the dragon held his breath.

"Well, Spike.... I..."

"It's okay if you're uncomfortable with it, it's just..."

Spike sighed as the mare was still looking at him with amazement.

"You really matured, Spikey."

"I.. I did?"

Rarity gave her a genuine smile, the couple stopping as Octavia and Crimson carried along.

"When I first met you, I thought you were ravenous. Insatiable. Covetous to the core."

Spike just tilted his head in confusion.

"What?"

"In simpler words, greedy."

The dragon was a little hurt. Rarity seemed to have noticed it, as she gave him a small kiss on his cheek.

"But then I found out what you truly are." she whispered into his ear. "I thought you only had a childhood crush on me, so I ignored it, thinking it was something you can get over with. But after that incident with that swine of a prince..."

Spike chuckled slightly, perking his ears as she continued:

"I thought a lot more about you, especially after you gave me the fire ruby for my necklace. I was trying to tell you. About how I want you so badly."

The mare's head hung low with regret, making the dragon look in surprise as she said:

"I was a much, more greedier mare then than you'll ever be, Spike."

"Don't say that, Rarity."

Rarity looked up to the dragon, her eyes longing for forgiveness. Spike just nipped her ears, making her giggle slightly.

"When you went to the Gala, I felt the same way. Then you left Ponyville and came here for the ball..."

Spike's heart hung low with guilt, remembering his argument with Twilight.

"I was... stupid. I thought you only liked rich, handsome stallions, not dragons like me."

Rarity gave him a short yet deep kiss on the lips, the both closing their eyes while nuzzling their snouts together.

"Well, we're even then, Spikey-Wikey." she said mischievously with a grin.

Spike just smiled as the both of them continued strolling down the corridor, admiring the scenic stars of the night sky behind the large windows.

"The sky sure is beautiful," Rarity said, breaking the silence.

Spike just turned to her, a warm smirk on his face as he whispered into her ear.

"Beautiful as you are."

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Fluttershy wasn't usually used to waking up in other pony's houses, but this time she doesn't mind.

At least Apple Bloom was there, she thought to herself. Even though Applejack and Big Macintosh are nowhere to be found.

Winona's howling was really sudden though. The yellow pegasus could still hear it even though she was quite a distance from the farm. Maybe she was just annoyed that Applejack wasn't back to feed her.

Fluttershy sighed as she reached her cottage. Just another day in Ponyville.

With a flick of a switch, she tensed with a small gasp of surprise.

"A-Applejack! Big Mac!"

The two siblings were seated on Fluttershy's couch, their faces slightly darkened with worry.

Applejack was the first to speak: "Good to see you back, Fluttershy."

Big Mac nodded, his face looking more somber than usual.

"Eeyup."

"It's... um... good to see you too, I guess... in my house..."

Fluttershy just walked hurriedly to the kitchen, trying to avoid their glances.

"Do you... um... need anything to... drink?"

"We just wanna talk to ya. About somepony ya know very well."

Fluttershy stopped in her tracks, her ear twitching slightly.

"Somepony...? As in.... 'A pony' somepony?

"Please, Shy."

Applejack looked at her in suspicion, rising from the chair. In her hoof, she held up a yellow, tattered file, making the pegasus gasp in horror.

"What is this?"

"That's-that's nothing!"

Fluttershy tried to snatch the file back in vain. Applejack just tossed it to Big Mac, the stallion opening it reluctantly as he read out the words:

Full Name: Fluttershy Fallows

Father: Ripple Fallows (deceased)

Mother: Ravenshy Saturn Fallows

Case file: Ravenshy Fallows of Cloudsdale was accused of abuse and mistreatment of her daughter, Fluttershy Fallows, age ten. The accused has been witnessed in flogging and whipping of the victim by a pegasus who refused to be named. The accused has been found guilty in court and was charged with two maximum life sentences in prison on twenty-two accounts.

The victim has been transferred to Cloudsdale Orphanage until a proper guardian can be assigned. She is to have frequent checkups (minimal two per week) to a psychologist for a proper recovery until she is deemed stable from her ordeal.

Half of the page was ripped off. Fluttershy just shivered violently as Big Mac flipped to the next article. Applejack helped her to the couch, comforting the pegasus as the stallion continued:

PEGASUS DISAPPEARS FROM ORPHANAGE, SEARCH PARTIES DEPLOYED

CLOUDSDALE,10:00a.m.

A filly pegasus disappeared from the orphanage just yesterday night, leaving her belongings behind.

Fluttershy Fallows, the iconic victim of abuse by the infamous Ravenshy Fallows, has disappeared from her temporary homestead, leaving the orphanage director, Cottingley Pines, completely astounded.

"She's too shy to even talk to the other kids at the orphanage," Pines said between tears, "I couldn't bear to imagine what would happen to her."

Search parties have been organized at the demand of police chief Charter Freewings, the overseeing detective responsible for the imprisonment of Ravenshy Fallows, his former classmate.

"It's a tragedy on the Fallows family. Ravenshy was as shy as her daughter once."

"Since the death of Ripple Fallows and the incident with Ravenshy," he continued, "the filly was deeply scarred, both physically and mentally. I don't blame her for taking this decision."

Authorities placed their hoof on bullying.

"It's outrageous to think that foals would dare to bully the small filly." the chief continued.

"The wrongdoing we've dealt here is punishable already by imprisonment, With all means necessary-

The article was ripped as well. Fluttershy was now sobbing bitterly, burying her face into Applejack's lap.

"I-I-It's just.... I-I c-c-can't... My mother, she..."

Big Mac placed the file onto the chair, ignoring the remaining unread articles jutting out from the file. Applejack shushed her friend, a sinking feeling of guilt hanging in her heart.

"Look, we're sorry.... we had to understand what was wrong... with you..."

The pegasus just cried.

Applejack shot a glare towards her brother, mouthing out:

"Help me out here, Macintosh."

"Fluttershy, um..." he fumbled with his words.

"Remember when... Ah said that if there's anypony you can trust, that pony would be me?"

Fluttershy looked up, her eyes watering still as she nodded gently.

"Well, you can trust me when Ah say ya safe with us now."

Big Mac gave her a warm smile. He wiped a dripping tear off Fluttershy's face as he continued:

"Ya don't need to hide anymore."

Fluttershy sniffled, sitting back up on her couch.

Applejack let out a whistle, a small blur of white hopping into the cottage in reponse

"A-Angel...!" the pegasus cried out in surprise.

The bunny sat on her lap, both rabbit and pony hugging each other tightly.

"For-forgive me... for all the horrible things I said...."

Angel just nodded, his eyes slightly watered as well.

Applejack and her brother watched, their hearts tingling with warmth.

"Well, Ah guess that's settled." she said to her brother.

Big Mac just gave her a short reply:

"Eeyup."

"Shy, Ah was just wonderin' though," the orange pony asked.

"Who was the pony that saw you in trouble?"

Fluttershy wiped away her tears, sniffling slightly with a smile as she replied:

"It was.... Rainbow Dash."

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"And then I left the family! To pursue my dream for music, my destiny! And here I am!"

Rarity and Spike clapped cheerfully, as Crimson bowed, uttering a lot of 'thank yous' to the couple.

Octavia just rolled her eyes, sipping on some wine as she said:

"You exaggerated it, Crimson. You didn't do a somersault into your mother's room to tell her you're leaving."

The grey mare let the liquid flow down her throat as she continued:

"And we all know you were not dyslexic and asthmatic at five years old."

"It's just a story, 'Tavi!"

Crimson gave her a wink, snatching the glass from her hoof, making her frown as he drank its contents.

"You gotta learn to tell a story."

"If you do that one more time we'll see who has a story to tell about how he got a bruised eye."

Rarity and Spike laughed at the couple, Octavia snatching back the wine glass with a huff.

"Come on, 'Tavi." Crimson protested with a whine of a young colt.

"It was only for fun!"

"Enough about Crimson and I," the grey mare said, turning to the unicorn.

"How about you and Spike?"

"Well...." Rarity shuffled around her seat uneasily. Spike was glancing around with doubt, his claws now tapping impatiently on the table.

"We've just... became a couple, so there's not much-"

"I'm sure there is!" Crimson exclaimed with delight, stopping only when his marefriend gave him a glare.

"Before this, we've spent little time together, really." the unicorn replied.

Spike nodded in agreement.

"It's usually me with Twilight and her with Sweetie Belle or Fluttershy. Both of us were never this close together."

"But you were eyeing each other once in a while, I'm sure," Octavia teased playfully, making the both of them blush.

"It's quite... true, to say the least." the flustered unicorn replied.

Spike raised his claws in defeat.

"You got me there."

Now it was Octavia and Crimson's turn to laugh, before the four of them rose from their seats, thanking the waiters.

They walked straight out the double doors, into the refreshing night air. Both couples strode across the plaza, heading back to the palace for some well-earned rest.

"Really though, Rarity picked a nice spot to eat."

Octavia turned back, smiling at the gleaming, restaurant sign.

"Ristorante Rugadia... I'll remember that name."

Rarity chuckled a little as they continued their stroll, feeling the wind blowing through their manes and, for Spike, scales. The trickle of the fountain echoed from afar, reminding the mare of this afternoon.

Something was troubling her. Rarity couldn't put a hoof on it.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of hooves seize her from behind. Her eyes widened in horror, as she shouted:

"Spike!"

The dragon immediately turned around, looking in horror as a masked pony snatched Rarity, dragging her behind.

"Rarity!" he shouted, running towards them with Octavia and Crimson following behind.

"Ah-ah-ah~!" Mirror Mare shouted to the three, unsheathing a blade.

The blade was brought closer to Rarity's neck, the edge making her spine tingle. She whimpered with fear, sweat crawling down her face.

The three immediately stopped in their tracks. Spike gritted his teeth as he shouted:

"Let her go, you freak!"

Mirror Mare just shook its head menacingly, only angering the dragon even further.

"There is a certain something I need to tell you guys. Miss Rarity here including."

The mask glinted tauntingly at Spike, who could only watch helplessly as Rarity bit her lip, feeling the blade starting to sink into her neck.

"You're uncovering a dark secret." it warned, "A secret that has killed, if not scarred many before you. Don't bother digging into the unknown, or you'll pay the ultimate price."

"And what if w-we found out?" Rarity challenged, despite her situation.

"What if we knew who you actually are?! What if we knew the secret you've been keeping?!"

Mirror Mare smiled from beneath its mask, brushing the blade across her neck, making the unicorn whimper with tears starting to form in her eyes. She started choking as the pony tighten its grip on her neck, shouting to all of them:

"Then you'll end up where the others go."

In a flash, the pony disappeared, vanishing in a black puff of smoke. Spike quickly ran towards Rarity, who was now panting on the floor.

"Rarity!"

She coughed, gasping for air as the dragon lifted her up.

"Rarity!" Spike asked with worry. "You okay?"

The mare suddenly hugged him, crying softly in Spike's chest, her courage breaking down from the ordeal.

Spike recovered from his surprise as he hushed her, comforting the shaken mare.

"It's okay, Rarity. It's okay..."

She screamed in Spike's chest, trembling with tears in her eyes:

"I th-thought.... I thought it would kill me! I really thought..!"

"You're safe, Rarity." The dragon said, hugging her tighter. Octavia and Crimson could only watch helplessly as the mare cried bitterly.

"Whatever happens, I won't let it touch you."

Dividing Silence

"Twilight..."

The tired unicorn groaned a little. Her vision was blurry as she muttered to the figure in front of her, slightly annoyed by the sudden wake up call:

"Just... give me.... a minute...."

"Twilight? Hello...?"

"A minute, I said..." she shouted weakly. Her eyes slowly closed, the mare brushing her frazzled mane aside to rest her head on the table, only to be interrupted by a loud, raspy shout.

"Twilight Sparkle! Get you lazy flank off my hoof!"

Wait... that voice....

Twilight tried to register it in her mind, although she couldn't possibly do it due to her overwhelming fatigue from the little sleep she had last night.

"Twilight!"

She hurriedly rubbed her eyes, squinting through the obscurity as the pale cyan blur in front of her turned clearer.

Twilight gasped as she found herself staring into a pair of magenta eyes, which glared back at her as the shouts continued:

"Get. Off. My. Hoof!"

"Rainbow Dash!" she exclaimed, immediately hugging the pegasus tightly. Rainbow just sighed with a smile as Twilight continued:

"I was so worried about you! You scared the both of us! What were you thinking, doing the Sonic Rainboom in the lobby?! You could've killed sompony!"

The pegasus bit her lip from her friend's rants, even more so from the weight on her hoof.

"Twilight? Can you, like, get off my hoof now?"

"...and how are we going to renovate the hotel? That would take off way too much time that we can use to help Rarity! Don't even begin to mention how Tourist is going to kill us! I'm sure he wouldn't-"

"Twilight!"

Twilight stopped mid-sentence, before her eyes widened in realization.

"Oh! Sorry, RD!"

Rainbow sighed with relief as the unicorn stood up from the bed, her aching hoof now diminished of pain.

"Thank you, Twilight."

"Tell me, Rainbow." the unicorn said, now glaring into her friend's eyes.

"Why did you use the Sonic Rainboom?"

Rainbow scratched her signature mane with uncertainty, trying to recall her encounter.

"Mirror Mare. The pony. It was here..."

She shuddered, looking at her sheets with a bead of sweat crawling down her head.

"I was next..."

Twilight held back a gasp. She sat beside Rainbow, careful not to land onto her hoof again.

"But why the Sonic Rainboom? You weren't supposed to use it in somewhere small as that! You know that yourself!"

"I know, I know..." she said with a flustered sigh.

"It's just... when I was charging headfirst with it, the first thing in my mind... that it should not escape."

Twilight shook her head with remorse, looking at the pegasus into the eye.

"You shouldn't have... done it...."

"Look..."

She motioned Rainbow Dash to turn around, in which the pegasus did, only to gasp in horror at the sight before her.

Pinkie laid onto the next bed, her body tangled with different colored wires. A monitor beeped slowly beside the pink pony, forming digital mountains on the screen with every thump of Pinkie's heart.

Rainbow paled as Twilight continued: "When you did the Sonic Rainboom, you threw Pinkie... against a glass tank..."

The words slowly sink into her, almost as if laughing at her tauntingly. Rainbow felt her gut sink slightly, staring at the pink pony in shock.

Twilight's voice now echoed in her head.

"She st-started coughing blood... she wouldn't see a doctor! She wanted to make sure you're safe!"

"What have I done...?"

"Twilight...?" she called the unicorn, her voice quavering from guilt.

"Can you please, if you... don't mind...? I need some time..... to myself..."

"Of course, Dash."

Twilight slowly strode out the door, giving one last worried glance over the pink pony.

"Tell me if she wakes up."

"I will."

As soon as the door was shut, Rainbow turned to the unconscious Pinkie, who was seemingly smiling, almost as if knowing the pegasus has awakened.

Rainbow's mind whirred frantically, raising questions in her head.

"What should I tell her when she wakes up? Would she even want to talk to me?"

Her head hung low as her magenta eyes watered, a small tear already falling, slightly staining the white sheets draped over her body.

"Would she call me her friend again...?"

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Rarity's eyes opened with a gentle yawn, sitting up from the comfort of her bed.

She stretched her hooves, letting out a content sigh. Beside her, Spike was still snoozing, the white blankets sprawled from his restless sleep. The unicorn smiled: his presence always tingles her heart.

"Spike...." she whispered into the dragon's ear, hoping to wake him up. Spike only responded with a mutter in his sleep, making her giggle.

Rarity strode to the window, sliding back the red curtains with ease. The rays of the morning sun immediately pierced into the room, making her shield her eyes from the sudden glare of light.

Without a second thought, the unicorn trotted to the mirror, picking up a hairbrush from the table.

She shook her head with dissatisfaction at her unkempt mane, lost of its signature curls.

"Rarity, Rarity..." she muttered to herself, combing the strays back into place.

It wasn't long before she placed the comb down, her hoof reaching for the curler.

Her azure mane was now straight, flowing like a waterfall. Rarity tossed it around, slightly stunned by its state.

"Not bad, Rarity...."

Despite that, she started curling her hair, softly humming to herself.

Spike suddenly snored from behind, making her laugh whilst trying not to wake him up.

Turning to the other side, Rarity started to curl it as well, before something in her reflection caught her eye.

A red bruise now aligned her neck up to her ear. Rarity held back a gasp, trying to remember how she got it.

"Must be Mirror Mare's blade..."

She shivered as her hoof ran down along it, feeling it sting a little.

Mirror Mare's cold voice rang at the back of her mind. Rarity rubbed her hooves on her temple, trying to calm herself down.

"What if we knew who you actually are?! What if we knew the secret you've been keeping?!"

"Then you'll end up where the others go."

Where the others go...

Those words lingered in her mind. Who were 'the others'? Was it somepony she knew?

She felt a pair of claws suddenly wrapped around her, nearly making her yelp.

"Spike," she stared into the mirror with a smile, "you scared me a little."

"Well, it pays to be a late sleeper sometimes."

The dragon let out a small yawn as he continued: "like watching you comb your mane..."

"You... you were awake?"

Spike chuckled, taking the curler from her hoof.

"You could've at least wait for me to help."

Rarity turned a slight red as Spike started curling her hair. The dragon seemed to have spotted her bruise, as he suddenly asked:

"Your neck.... does it hurt?"

"I'm pretty fine with it."

Rarity leaned back against his chest, trying not to whimper.

"It's just... it was so sudden..."

The dragon cupped her hooves into his claws, giving a kiss on her blushing cheek.

"I promised you I won't let it touch you, and I intend to keep it."

Rarity turned to him, worry growing within her eyes.

"Promise me you won't get hurt?"

"I don't know about that part, though..."

Spike sighed as the mare looked at him, her voice turning into a slight whisper.

"Please...?"

With an uncertain grin, he placed the curler down. Rarity turned towards him, smiling only when Spike gave a short reply:

"Pinkie Promise."

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"And I suggest that we should go here! What do you say, guys?"

Pinkie blinked her eyes in surprise. She looked around in bewilderment, her hoof clicking to the sound of a pavement.

Buildings surrounded her, as if trapping her in an outdoor cavern. The afternoon sun shone brightly down on her, although the pink pony couldn't help but feel uneasy about it.

"I'm not entirely sure about this. I mean, I know your family lives here, but you do realize what he would do if he found out who we really are?"

That conversation.... it was vaguely familiar...

Pinkie racked her brains, looking at the houses around her.

"Come on, Pinkie. Think!"

"They won't mind, of course! If I know them well, they wouldn't even bother finding out why we come here!"

Behind her, a familiar yet faint sound somewhat echoed into Pinkie's ears, only disturbing her thoughts.

Sweat tingled down her skin, though she had a feeling it wasn't from the rays of the sun overhead.

"Well, at least we hope so..."

Her brain snapped at that voice.

"Prim?" she called out, still squinting into the foggy horizon despite the brightness of the afternoon.

"Prim? Is that you?"

"I mean, come on! It isn't that bad!"

The other voices... she couldn't put her hoof down on it. "Think, Pinkie!" her inner voice scowled.

"You've heard about this before!"

"There they are! I gotta go!"

That voice... it sounded like...

Pinkie gasped.

BANG!

* * * * * * *

Pinkie awoke with a shock, gripping onto the white sheets fearfully.

Her eyes met the white walls before her, making her sigh with relief as she realized where she was.

"Pinks?"

She turned to the direction of the voice, before her face widened into a smile.

Rainbow was sitting on the bed beside hers, the pegasus beaming at her friend.

"Finally! I was waiting all day for you to wake up."

"Dashie!" she cried out, starting to stand up but tumbled back into her bed out of pain. Rainbow chuckled, lifting herself up instead.

"You're still hurt from the fall from Ponyville... and, I guess, from my Sonic Rainboom."

The loud explosion rang from her memory. Pinkie shrugged it off, giggling a little at her pegasus friend.

"It's okay, Dashie. As long as you're perfectly safe and sound!"

Rainbow laughed, a little uneasy yet relieved at her pink friend's enthusiasm.

"I'm glad you are too as well."

"Well, how's Tourist Trap?"

The pink pony smiled cheekily, giggling as she asked:

"You said sorry about his hotel yet?"

The pegasus scratched her rainbow mane, ruffling and tossing it around with a little anxiousness building within her.

"Maybe he would understand. I mean, the only reason I would use it is to stop Mirror Mare."

The last two words echoed in Pinkie's mind. Her nightmare flashed by her again, making her whimper.

"Pinkie? You alright?"

"Yeah, I guess..." she replied, a little perturbed by the mention of the pony.

"It's just Mirror Mare. I don't want it to hurt you..."

"Hurt me? Come on, Pinkie! I'm the Rainbow Dash! The most awesomest, stupendous pegasus in all of Equestria!"

The pegasus raised her hoof, imitating a few punches and uppercuts while making Pinkie laugh.

"That pony wouldn't leave a single mark on me!"

The pink pony snorted with laughter, making Rainbow chuckle along. It wasn't long before their laughter died down, the pink pony slumping back onto her bed.

"Well, at least somepony's having fun!" the pegasus exclaimed gleefully, before stretching her hooves as well.

An awkward silence filled the room. Pinkie could only stare at the ceiling, before she asked:

"How's Twillight?"

"She's fine. In fact, she's sleeping in that luxury room you booked for us."

Rainbow groaned in annoyance, flailing her hooves into the air.

"That lucky unicorn."

Pinkie let out a faltering laugh, making the pegasus turn. Her magenta eyes squinted with suspicion at the pink pony.

"Is it the argument you guys had?"

The pink pony blinked her eyes in surprise.

"H-How did you know?"

"It was pretty loud, you know. And the punches you made..."

Rainbow craned her neck to the large, splintered hole in the wall. Her friend's head hung low, fidgeting her hooves with regret.

"Twilight told me about it: about how you wanted to protect me and stuff."

The pegasus rose from her bed, her wings fluttering despite the aching pain in its roots. She looked over with concern at Pinkie, her friend's cyan eyes already starting to water.

"You don't have to do it, Pinkie."

Pinkie nodded as a reply, draping herself under the sheets as she muttered:

"I just... want to sleep for a while..."

Rainbow Dash sighed, gazing at her friend.

"If you say so..."

Pinkie heard the pegasus shuffling back into the covers. She bit her lip, forcing out a small whimper as the voices assaulted her, making her grip on her sheets from the stinging pain in her heart.

The pink pony shivered, wanting to talk, to spill out everything, only to hold herself back. She can't tell anypony. Nopony was supposed to know...

Nopony except them.

"I'm sorry, Dashie..."

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"Applejack? You really um... don't need to do this..."

The orange pony couldn't help but sigh, drinking the murky contents of a vial while looking ahead at the pegasus city of Cloudsdale. The city really lived up to its name; the whole town was filled with clouds, considering the most of them were being used as homes for the inhabitants there.

Already a few pegasi were looking over Applejack's way, curious about the orange Earth pony's 'foreign' presence in town.

"Ah need to do this, Fluttershy."

She stepped onto one of the clouds, cautiously testing it with her hoof, before letting a whistle of relief.

"Zecora was right. It really worked."

Fluttershy wasn't keen about this, following her friend closely behind whilst avoiding the glances of the other pegasi.

"Um... don't you think it's best to... you know.... leave?"

Applejack turned to her friend, giving her a cold stare.

"We just got here, Shy. Ah'm sure we could at least look for some answers."

Her pegasus friend just looked around at the houses with uncertainty.

"But there isn't much we can learn.... from here..."

"Relax, sugarcube."

The orange pony held onto her hat, the wind threatening to blow it off as they continued down the street.

"She won't hurt you anymore."

The two ponies soon stopped, right in front of a small, abandoned building. Despite its cloudy exterior, the walls were made from rotting wood. Stone columns held the cloud roof high despite its crumbling edifice. A dark, menacing aura seemed to seep from it, making Applejack shiver.

She looked over to Fluttershy, who was now whimpering in fear. She had every reason to be.

This was Fluttershy's home.

"Remember, she ain't here anymore, Shy."

Fluttershy just backed away, shaking her head with tears dripping from her eyes.

"I... I-I don't..."

"Fluttershy." Applejack called out, trying in vain not to draw any unwanted attention.

A few of the pegasi started whispering to one another, no doubt talking about the yellow pegasus. The orange pony watched as Fluttershy started sniffling and trembling, her hooves firmly rubbing her temple.

"Fluttershy!"

The orange pony paled, her strides turning into a frantic gallop as realization struck her.

Her friend's voice was only a mere cheep in Fluttershy's head, which was now stormed with tormenting, nightmarish shouts.

She wanted to scream. So badly. In front of everypony in Cloudsdale who were now watching her in bewilderment.

"Leave... leave me..." she could only mutter.

"Don't do it, Fluttershy!"

The faint sound of her friend's galloping wasn't enough. The voices turned clearer and clearer; by then she could hear her mother's bitter, morbid shouting, piercing into her heart and mind virulently and malevolently.

The echoing crack of a whip blended in abruptly, with hazy images already filling her mind.

"Leave... just leave me-!"

"Miss Fallows!"

Suddenly, the voices snapped, vanishing altogether from her head. Fluttershy felt a newfound strength growing into her, turning around with tears still trickling from her eyes.

"Charter...? Is that you?"

The pony in question nodded his head, giving her a reassuring smile. He helped her up, while shouting to the gathered crowd around them:

"There is nothing to see here, fellow ponies. I'm sure you all have your daily things to do?"

Sure enough, the crowd parted. Applejack eased her way out of the sea of ponies, panting and heaving as she reached the pegasus.

"Shy, don't scare me like that..." she said with worry, before catching her breath.

She turned to the stallion. He had a light-brown coat, his wings shedding with age. A grizzly beard covered his chin, recently shaved to sterility.

He wore a dark blue uniform with pride, a golden badge clipped onto his shirt pocket. A matching-colored hat laid on his head, covering his straight, black mane.

"And, you are..?" Applejack questioned.

"Officer Freewings. Recently appointed District Attorney of Cloudsdale."

He flashed them a smile, making Applejack wrinkle her nose as Fluttershy giggled.

"You can call me Charter."

He turned to the yellow pegasus, his face turning into that of concern.

"What brings you here, Miss Fallows? I'm sure the doctors in Ponyville had advised you from coming here."

"If Ah may interrupt,"

Applejack crossed in between them, giving the stallion a cold stare.

"Ah believe the best way to find out what was happening to her is to dig deeper. Face her fears and all."

The officer looked at her grimly, shaking his head with disapproval.

"She has faced enough in her lifetime. Digging back the past isn't going to help."

Applejack just ignored him, mumbling under her breath.

Fluttershy stepped forward instead, giving him a smile.

"Well, she's going to help me. I... um... have a lot of faith in her, I guess..."

Charter just chuckled heartily, ushering them forward.

"Still shy as ever, Fluttershy."

Without hesitation, the two ponies trotted down the cloud road, with Charter now leading the way as he continued:

"You both would have the answers soon enough, but first..."

He turned back to them, giving them a warm smile.

"You both have to settle in for a while." he said, before asking:

"My house for tea?"

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"Sir, I don't want to question, but are you completely sure about this?"

Winter just sighed, gripping onto his suitcase. He would love to argue with the butler, but he does has a point.

"Mirror Mare might strike any moment. I wouldn't want to take any chances."

"But to visit the homestead of the Deniers family... isn't leaving Pendant Lakes enough an opportunity for it to strike?"

"Mr. Dresden had a past with Mirror Mare," the Patriarch told Stellar, turning the golden glazed knob.

"That is our biggest lead in breaking its motive wide open."

Their hooves lifted from the comfort of the velvet carpet, feeling the cold, damp floors of a cavern as they stepped into the Palgiot Station. Winter and Stellar quickly strode across the chamber, trampling over a few, underground weeds overgrowing on some of the wooden tracks trailing away into a few tunnels.

The white stallion sighed. It was the first time in many years that he had to leave Pendant Lakes, and he is doing so at its most dire situation.

"Stellar?" he called the butler reluctantly.

"Yes, Sir?" he asked with a bow.

"Make sure everypony's safe."

Stellar nodded with a small grin. Even before his departure, his overwhelming concern for safety is already evident.

"I'll see to it, Sir."

The pair continued their steady walk, ignoring the slight rumbles around the cavern.

Winter held his breath as a bright, golden caboose came into view. The bars were decorated, a golden vine swirled around the handles. Black, oil lamps lit up the outside, revealing a golden door in the darkness, the surface covered in intricate and ornate designs; a dusty depiction of how Palgiot Palace and Pendant Lakes came into existence.

He lifted his suitcase onto the gold platform, looking with wonder at the dusty locomotive. It wasn't in service for a long time, since the family only used it in times of both urgency and secrecy.

"So, are you ready?" Stellar asked him.

Winter chuckled a little, pushing the suitcase through the caboose doors. With a flick of the switch, the lights inside flickered, illuminating the luxurious room before them.

The room was a bright yellow, much like the outside of the caboose. Red, pompous seats were built into the walls, just below the glass windows of the car, draped over by scarlet curtains, ruffled slightly with tassels dangling from the tip.

A small cart laid in the middle; on it a bucket of champagne, recently added to suit the needs of the long journey-to-be. Behind the corner, a furnace burned bright; being the only source of fuel it has to, with sparks dancing in the coal behind a gold screen.

"You know there's a chance I might not make it back in time."

Winter turned to his butler, who handed him a map and a compass.

"If I don't, then you'll have to notify the others."

"Two weeks, got it Sir."

Stellar stepped off the caboose, gripping a bronze lever right beside him as he continued:

"What of Spring? Must she be notified about this?"

Winter bit his lip, his sister's beaming smile flashing once more into his mind.

"If possible, do it."

With a pull of the lever, Stellar watched as the caboose jolted, its wheels screeching loudly across the cavern. Winter held onto the bar, his butler saluting with a warm smile.

Winter smiled back, watching as the train started swerving around the corner, the bright lights of the cavern disappearing instantly.

He trudged back into the train, being careful not to trip with every bump. Flipping open an iron panel on the wall, he scanned the colored buttons within it, before his hoof landed onto the grey one.

With a sharp clink of gears, the floor started sliding apart, a golden pillar swirling upwards from the center of the caboose. The tip seemed to rise, with two claw-like arms gripping onto metal sheets, their color matching those of the pillar.

Winter settled onto the red couch, patiently tapping his hooves as the arms swung in a circle, swishing like blades, until the sheets split into a circle, forming a golden table.

The Patriarch placed the map and compass, his hoof scanning across the tattered paper. The train jolted suddenly, making him jump.

He finally found it. The place he had to go; the town where the deceased witch-doctor had once lived.

Fenderville

Shards Of Parenthood

"It's quite a surprise that you're here."

Fluttershy just smiled, doubt clearly crossing through her mind as she slumped back in the satin couch.

She and Applejack were in Freewings's home. It was humble, with the normal couch, tables and all, yet looked too simple, from Applejack's point of view, for the district attorney of Cloudsdale.

"We had to come here." the orange pony said, still glancing at the stallion with suspicion.

"To search for answers, I'm aware of that."

Charter Freewings settled his empty cup down, trotting towards a mahogany study table.

"You came at a bad time."

"Bad time, eh?" Applejack questioned.

"What is it? District attorney failing at his job?"

The pony in question laughed, seemingly unfazed by her rude comment. Fluttershy nudged her friend, making the orange pony roll her eyes.

"You got that half right," he replied, letting out a disgruntled sigh as he refilled his cup of tea.

"Cloudsdale had been experiencing... 'accidents' lately."

"Accidents? Is it... bad?"

"No deaths so far, fortunately."

Charter sipped on his cup of tea, his face darkening as he continued:

"Somepony's been intentionally causing these accidents. The city council demands that the police force and I find the culprit immediately."

Applejack leaned back onto her seat, tilting her hat down.

"Ah'm not surprised though."

"What do you mean?"

"Ponyville... um..."

Fluttershy placed her cup down, clearing her throat.

"Well, you see... some of my friends in Ponyville. They've been hurt too. Like Applejack here..."

Applejack tensed, about to hush her friend before Charter turned to the orange pony.

"Injured eh? When?"

"It was... back when Ah was in Manehatten."

The orange pony shuddered, remembering the screeching of brakes, the shattering of glass.

"There was... a car-"

"That's all I need to know."

Charter sighed, stretching his hind hooves on the seat.

"No point bringing up a painful past."

"Ah didn't say it was pain-.... Ah mean, thank you."

"Trust me, Miss Applejack."

The pegasus stretched his hooves, filling the orange pony's cup.

"I've seen many ponies like you, always bold in front of others, but deep inside it's a completely different story. Miss Dash, for example."

"Rainbow Dash?"

The orange pony blinked in surprise, noticing her yellow friend starting to cringe in her seat.

"She was the one that reported it, didn't she?"

"The nine year old filly with the rainbow mane." he said with a chuckle.

"Now the Element of Loyalty. They were best of friends ever since Rainbow helped her in Summer Flight Camp."

Charter's voice turned to a slight whisper, the stallion edging his seat closer towards them.

"Just like me and Ravenshy..."

Fluttershy looked out of the window with worry, trying to ignore the mention of her mother's name. The sky outside was grey with clouds, a slight gale already picking up outside.

"We'll be here... for a while I guess..."

"Rain..."

The stallion looked out of the window, his face turning a little grim.

"Either the weather pegasi are not doing their jobs again, or..."

He sipped from his cup of tea, before continuing.

"... somepony wanted to keep us in."

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Mirror Mare.

Octavia never liked the pony's intentions, whatever they are, much less the pony's name itself. It seemed mystifying to her in the beginning, but now she understood why the residents fear it so much.

Nailed to the bed... she would die of fright seeing something like that in her room.

It was early in the morning. Unbeknownst to most ponies, she would use this time to have a stroll, think through her life. Today, though, her coltfriend was the one troubling her.

"Crimson Lux de Cavalle... what the heck were you thinking, Octavia...?"

The red stallion had been on her mind for the past few days. Today was no different.

Perhaps it was his smooth talk, or the energy that he emanated. Whatever it was, she liked his personality.

The grey mare sighed, remembering their first encounter. Eight months ago.

* * * * * * *

She was the leading performer, as usual, in the Fase di Armonia, a renowned theater for actors, musicians, any performers of the like. On stage, with her usual pink bow and her cherished cello.

Octavia thought it was just one normal night. The bright spotlight, the entrancing melody she polished with perfection; not to forget about the pretentious yet dismal claps of the audience.

One bow to the crowd, wearing the same moderate, docile smile.

She eyed through every face in the crowd, always expecting the same audience. Not to say the same ponies, but the same, sullen looks they're giving. It always bores her and sometimes irritates her to the core.

Worst audience ever.

Then, he was there.

* * * * * * *

Octavia smiled, feeling the breeze flowing between her mane as she stood on the terrace of Palgiot Palace.

"Crimson, Crimson..."

* * * * * * *

The red stallion looked like an alien in the usual black, grey and white coated crowd. Octavia's interest piqued immediately, gazing over at him.

He was finely dressed; nothing different about him. Usual suit, usual tie, usual everything a high-class social pony should have. His family was around him, primarily his mother, being the most benevolent mare on their row of seats.

Then she glanced at his face. Combed mane, which was expected. Face was gleaming, the usual...

His smile...

Octavia stopped, blinking in surprise. He was smiling.

Crimson seemed to have noticed this, raising his hoof in greeting before being stopped by his mother.

The grey mare blushed. For the first time....

Without hesitation, she grabbed her cello as she hurriedly strode backstage, her reddened cheeks distinctive on her face. Sitting on the stool, she breathed in deeply, trying to repress the influx of the red stallion in her mind.

"Just relax, Octavia." she said to herself, although the sudden, dreamy haziness of her mind proved otherwise.

With her snout held high, she walked out, into the alley. The grey mare wrinkled her nose immediately. Even in Canterlot, the alleys are like every other town: disgusting, germ-infested hives for swarms of a thousand rodents.

The clearer air of the street instantly drew her in. She sighed, feeling the night atmosphere rushing into her lungs. Finally. Some time alone.

"Miss?"

Octavia turned around, just to see a red stallion stumbling out from the doors.

She gasped quietly in surprise. Crimson Lux de Cavalle...

"I'm sorry to have startled you, ma'am, but I believe you're the one they called Miss Philharmonica?

She nodded without hesitation.

"Why did you ask?"

"That was some brilliant cello-playing, or whatever you call it."

He clopped his hooves in a small applause of admiration, making the grey mare smile.

"I'm sure you'll have great recognition for that."

"Recognition?"

Octavia couldn't believe her ears. Recognition? From the pompous, air-headed ponies of Canterlot?

Never.

"Since when recognition matters?" she scoffed, swinging her instrument case into the air.

"Playing the cello is just what I like to do. Nopony would actually appreciate the music I make, not like your sort of crowd, I suppose."

Crimson chuckled slightly at the mare's comment

"That's because you're playing to the wrong crowd!" he exclaimed.

"I mean, I like your music. It has that feel to it. Something that a pop singer like me could never get a grasp on."

He brushed his suit a little, letting out a sigh.

"To be honest, I really admire you. You're the only mare that can make me feel this... envious."

Envious?

Octavia's eyed widened with surprise. Crimson Lux, famed pop superstar, rotten rich to the core... Envious?

"Heck, if I had your talent," he said, glancing at the mare's cello case.

"I would play that thing all day."

Crimson's voice echoed in her head. Octavia couldn't help but giggle.

"If I had your talent..."

"My talent, huh?"

She grinned slyly, a small blush rising from her cheeks as she gave him a sultry look.

"Well... want to take a walk? Maybe... talk about it?"

* * * * * * *

Best. Decision. Ever.

Now here they were. Stuck in some old, dangerous palace with a killer on the loose. Octavia chuckled at herself; how they can get themselves in these situations was beyond her.

"Oh well," she sighed, looking in the horizon beyond from the terrace.

"At least he's here with me."

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"Pinkie..."

Pinkie's eyes fluttered open. She immediately sat up from her bed, looking around the room in bewilderment.

Instead of the hospital's white walls, there stood a dreary, wooden wall, filled with potholes. The atmosphere was cold and bleak, yet still clean without a trace of dust. Or a trace of anypony for that matter.

"Pinkie..? Come on..."

"Hello?" she called out into the room, rising from the bed. "Anypony there?"

She wandered towards the open door, peering out into the hallway.

The whole building looked abandoned, crumbled, yet there was something familiar about it that Pinkie could not put a hoof on. The harrowing corridor was dark at one end; something the pink pony assumed was the wrong way, and at the other, a pair of doors with a flickering, sparking exit sign.

"She must not know about this."

Pinkie turned around, the distorted voices echoing down the corridor.

They lingered in her head. It sounded so...

"She deserves the right to know! Everypony must know that-!"

"You know what she would do to us! We all do!"

"That doesn't mean we have to sweep everything under the rug!"

"Prim?"

She took another glance back down the dark corridor. The unnatural presence just made her back away, her mind frantically telling her to get out.

"Prim?" she tried again, "is that you?"

"Pinkamena~"

She whirled around instantly, stopping in her tracks at the sound of the singsong voice.

"Who's there?"

"Pinkamena Diane Pie. Forgotten shadow of the past."

The voice... it was sinister, morbid.

"Who are you?" she shouted, squinting her eyes into the darkness.

"Nopony of your grandest concerns. However..."

Pinkie gasped alarmingly as a pony stepped out from the darkness.

Mirror Mare...

"I'm sure, Miss Pie, that you clearly know of dire situations; ponies that I feel so eager to have a small chat with. Such as that of Rainbow Dash..."

"Don't. You, DARE. Touch her!"

"Touch her? I wasn't even planning to touch her..."

The masked pony gave her an atrocious smile, laughing as it continued:

"...just slitting her throat would do the trick..."

Pinkie's rage flared at Mirror Mare. The mask glinted sharply as its owner chuckled at the pink pony, who was now buckling her hooves.

"I want to see you try!"

"Oh? But I already did..."

"Wha... what do you mean..."

The floor around her suddenly shattered, with Mirror Mare cackling at her shock. Pinkie felt her gut sink, her body floating freely in the void. Something seemed to grab her in her shock from the darkness, sucking her into an invisible vortex as she closed her watering eyes.

* * * * *

"Dashie!"

Pinkie gripped onto her sheets fearfully, wrapping it around her hoof firmly from panic. Sweat dripped from her head, the pink pony frantically looking around.

Rainbow Dash was sleeping right next to her. The pink pony immediately rushed to her side despite her aching hooves, checking to see if she was alright.

The pegasus was still breathing. Pinkie sighed with relief.

"Just a dream, it was only just a dream..."

She tried to calm herself down, yet the horrendous mask of the pony only deprived her of it, not to mention the pain from her injuries.

"Glass... it's always glass."

First, a window. Now, an aquarium. She chuckled; it's like somepony jinxed her fate with it.

Without a second thought, Pinkie draped the sheets over her as she settled onto the bed. The voices still rang clearly in her head, taunting her curiosity at every moment.

Her mane had deflated, losing it's natural, puffy touch. She grimaced at the sight of it, brushing it away with a sigh.

"You'll get over it, Pinkie. Soon enough."

"Soon enou..." she started yawning as she laid her head against the white pillow.

Her eyes soon closed, as she finally fell into a deep, painless sleep.

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"Well?"

The rain had since stopped in Cloudsdale, the sky now a clear orange with stars. The sun was now setting fast; the town was up in the sky after all.

Fluttershy gulped as she looked fearfully at the abandoned house before her. She never wanted to go inside, much less take a look at it.

"I... I don't really... um..."

"It's okay, Shy."

Applejack walked to her side, giving her a small grin.

"Ah'll join you, just in case anything happens."

"I won't stop the both of you."

Charter trotted towards them, turning to Applejack as he continued:

"Just be careful in there. The building's very old."

Holding their breath, Applejack and Fluttershy stepped towards the door. The orange pony could see her friend already trembling with fear, although deep down she knew she was doing the same.

"You ready, Shy?" she asked with a smile, trying to brighten the mood.

"I don't know..."

"Ah've seen worse things in life."

Applejack glanced up at the house, feeling a grim, hollow aura from its shattered windows.

"This ain't any different."

Fluttershy smiled through her doubts, admiring her friend's attempt to cheer her up.

"Good luck!" Charter shouted from behind, giving them a hooves up.

With a gentle push, the door creaked open slowly as light simmered into the room for the first time in years. Both ponies stepped in warily, looking around in the musty room before them.

Fluttershy remembered it like it was yesterday. The chairs and couch were all flipped over, the dining table broken on the floor and the kitchen door hanging off its hinges.

She shuddered with a whimper, making Applejack huddle closer to her.

"She isn't here anymore, Shy," the orange pony muttered to her, "remember that."

They strode across the living room, avoiding all the broken pits made into the wooden floor.

Applejack turned to the yellow pegasus, who was looking on the verge of collapsing.

"Where did she... do it?" she asked reluctantly.

Fluttershy closed her eyes, wishing everything wasn't happening. She could hear every swish of dust and every groan of wood, reminding her of the hollow, devoid place she used to call home.

She hesitantly pointed her hoof towards a cracked, wooden door. It looked foreboding despite its age, yet it was tempting Applejack to open.

"The basement, of course," Applejack thought to herself, "It was always the basement."

Both ponies stepped into the darkness of the stairs, feeling the cold draught of musty air, finally free from containment.

Applejack pushed away a few cobwebs in disgust, trying to see down the stairs. She could hear Fluttershy's shallow breathing intensify with each careful step down, more out of fear than anticipation.

Her orange hoof finally touched stone. The orange pony wondered how basements even exist in Cloudsdale, but she shrugged it off. Now's not a good time.

Her hoof reached around the stone walls, before finally touching a switch, flicking it up.

In an instant, a small, hanging bulb in the center brightened the whole room. Applejack let out a small gasp as Fluttershy cringed, frozen in place.

A large, metal table stood in the center of the room, integrated with metallic shackles on the side, just perfect for the proportions of a small filly. From the ceiling, whips, chains, flogs and ropes hung from the ceiling in a gruesome display, with some still stained with blood; the haven of a torture fanatic.

A pulley system was at the top, the ropes severed from age. From the corner, there were buckets, some still filled with ice cold water. The walls were filled with a lot of muck that reeked throughout the den, no doubt the regurgitation of any unfortunate victim here.

But Applejack knew, with a shudder: there was only one.

Fluttershy had already collapsed to the floor, sobbing quietly out of the tormenting sight. Applejack knelt down to her, trying to help her up.

"It's okay, Fluttershy. We can go now."

The voice did nothing in Fluttershy's head, which was now whipping up a torrential hail of the past. The yellow pegasus looked at the table through her tears, her vision slightly hazy with fear.

"What did Mommy said about making friends...?"

She whimpered, unable to speak. The slash of the whip made her scream in pain, only managing to force out a small mutter:

"D-Don't... don't...make any... friends... None at all...."

"That's right, Flutters."

The purple pegasus twirled around with glee, swinging her whip in a profound yet unsettling dance like it was a form of art. She giggled at her daughter's frightened stare as she gave her a kiss on the scarred forehead.

"Good girl."

"We can go now, Fluttershy."

She snapped, blinking as she looked around the basement. Applejack's concerned gaze reassured her, the orange pony lifting her up from the stone floor.

"You 'kay?"

Fluttershy bit her lip, wiping her tears away as she replied:

"I... hope so...."

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Twilight wasn't used to dining alone. Sure, at home she'd usually have dinner with Spike, but when the dragon was away with Rarity in Pendant Lakes, she might have dinner with her friends, or maybe with the other ponies like Cheerilee, Lyra, Vinyl and Carrot Top.

She had never felt more awkward in her life. There she was, sitting in the grand dining room, waiting patiently (more like dying out of boredom) for her food.

The waiters scurried around the majestic rooms, repaired instantly through the afternoon. Twilight helped out, after all, with her magic and sorts.

Sometimes, though, magic can't solve the most prominent of problems. She found out about that yesterday.

"YOU! Don't know me AT ALL!"

Pinkie's voice screeched in her head. Twilight quivered at her rough, violent tone. That wasn't the usual Pinkie Pie at all.

Was Pinkie right? she questioned in her head.

Is there something more to her...?

"Miss Sparkle?"

She turned back, letting out a relieved smile as an amber pegasus approached her, returning a warm smile of his own.

"Tourist Trap..."

Beside her was a mare she never seen before. She had a pale, lime green coat, with her mane chartreuse-like in color. She was a unicorn, like Twilight herself, although something at the back of her head told her that she had not used magic in a long time.

"Penny and I thought we should join you for dinner, since you helped out with the renovating."

The mare reached out her hoof, shaking Twilight's with a warm welcome.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you."

"Same to you, Miss." the unicorn replied with a smile.

"Please. Just call me Penny. Penny Royal."

Twilight smiled beatifically. Finally, somepony to talk to.

"So, Tourist," she asked the stallion, "did anypony else get hurt instead of Rainbow and Pinkie?"

"Not that I know of."

Tourist Trap raised his hoof, whispering for his wife to order.

"Pinkie's injury was the most serious of them all."

"Pinkie..."

Twilight tried not to think about the pink pony's shouts. Without hesitation, she asked:

"You both seem to know Pinkie for a long time now, right?"

"Last visit was five years ago, to be exact."

The waiter arrived, serving them a few cups of tea as he continued:

"She was a brave pony, much like your friend Rainbow Dash, but cheerful as always."

Twilight chuckled, remembering the pink pony's enthusiasm.

"Pinkie was always like that, I guess."

"Speaking of her, shouldn't you visit Pinkie?"

The stallion sipped on his tea, letting the mixture warm his mouth. Penny draped a shawl over her neck, the air becoming noticeably colder by the second.

"I haven't seen you step into the hospital since this morning."

"It's just... Pinkie and I," Twilight began, slowly sipping into her cup of hot tea.

"We had an argument. She was... just so fierce! Like there was nothing we could do to stop her!"

"I see. Well, I'm not surprised though."

Tourist stirred his tea finely with a sprinkle of sugar on his teaspoon. His wife just waited silently beside him, passing him a napkin.

"It isn't the first time she acts this way."

"So, you're saying you've seen her this angry before?"

Penny was the one who replied.

"It was a horrid time for her. She's facing her dark and tragic past."

She wrapped her shawl one more round, slightly shivering as she continued:

"She faced something that many of the bravest would crumble upon. A secret that can destroy Equestria as we know it."

"What secret?" Twilight asked, teetering off the edge of her seat.

"Truth is, it was only a conspiracy theory, applied to anypony that had been scarred wide open."

Tourist finished the sentence, rolling his eyes at his wife.

"I told you, we can't just simply make things up like that. You know the Princesses."

"Well, it isn't my fault these theories were started."

The mare started shivering, despite wearing another shawl over her first one.

"And what's wrong with the conditioning? It's freezing right here!"

Twilight just chuckled, sipping on her already cold tea.

Something seemed to drip onto the surface, making her drink ripple. She gasped at the sight of it, looking at it with awe.

"Im... Impossible..."

A red snowflake floated on the tea, skimming across the surface of it. The unicorn gazed up, before her eyes widened in amazement.

Across the room, snow fell from the ceiling, coating over the tables, carpet and the food. Everypony in the room stood up slowly, their mouths agape at the anomalous, graceful scarlet rain of ice.

Twilight turned to Tourist Trap, who was now entranced yet bewildered by the foreign weather.

"I... I never built a snow machine into it... much less ask for red snowflakes..."

"Then what is it?" his wife asked, her face turning slightly dark with worry.

"What made the snow?"

Twilight pondered for a moment, before snapping her hooves.

In an instant, she galloped across the room, straight into the kitchen, with the two ponies following her.

The doors flapped as some of the staff stumbled outside, gasping in wonder as snow fell across the dining room.

The unicorn pushed through the crowd, finally stumbling into a large, metal panel.

"Heat ventilation system." she explained, placing her ears to the door.

The usual hum was now replaced by steady thuds and whirring of the conveyor belt. Twilight detected a reeking smell seeping from the cracks, her gut sinking with dread.

Opening the double doors, she gasped at the sight before her, tumbling backwards with horror.

The body of a pony was bloodied, crushed between the belt, now bloodstained. One of the hooves dangled outside, jerking and twitching as the belt tried to rotate around it.

The fan behind was still spinning, slicing off what was supposed to be the head. Tourist paled while Penny looked away, scampering from them to get some fresh air.

A loud, piercing scream erupted from the dining hall. Tourist galloped outside, watching a mare cringing in her lover's arms while the red snow continued its graceful yet disturbing fall.

As he grew closer, his stomach gurgled at the sight of an eyeball floating in a cup of champagne. The red snow... the body in the shaft... everything started to piece together amidst his shock.

"Get the police!" he shouted to some of the staff, the mangled state of the dead pony still lingering in his head.

"NOW!"

Corvini Renascentia

Fenderville wasn't the type of town used to murder. Twilight found this out the hard way.

She was in the lobby of the hotel, her hooves massaging her temple from stress as teams of police-ponies swarmed into the dining room, ushering many of the guests out whilst cleaning and vacuuming them free of red snow.

The press was already crowding outside, all murmuring between each other whilst waiting for the emergence of Tourist Trap or his wife. Some of the police officers lined up around the hotel, forming a sort of barricade around the building, sealing off every possible entrance and exit.

Penny Royal sat across her, completely flustered with everything happening around her. Her face turned a dark green, still revolted by the severed body jammed into the conveyor belt.

She shuddered violently, the cup of tea in her hoof shaking along, spilling a few drops onto the carpeted floor. With every small slurp, the mare seemed to calm down, warmth spreading through her body before making way for her nervous tremble again.

"Can't believe this," she muttered to herself, "just can't believe this."

"Miss Sparkle!"

Twilight turned towards the kitchen, spotting Tourist Trap amidst the crowd. He was beckoning her to follow, before disappearing into the dining hall.

She excused herself, quickly trotting past the double doors.

Tourist was standing there, along with a group officers. They seemed to be waiting for her arrival, watching her way as the unicorn approached them.

One of the officers spoke up:

"Mr. Trap here said you were the one who discovered the body?"

Twilight nodded, still slightly fuddled as the police recorded a few notes down.

"Wait," she turned to the bothered hotel owner, "what's going on?"

Tourist sighed, turning to the mare as he spoke:

"Did Pinkie tell you anything? About this specific pony, Mirror Mare?"

"Mirror Mare?"

Her ears perked with anticipation.

"The serial killer, right? Some of my friends were attacked by it."

"Before coming to Fenderville?"

Tourist's face darkened in an instant. "This is not good. Not good at all."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked with worry.

"This pony is famed in the north, literally because of its diverse... how should I put it... methods."

The stallion looked at the staff around, all sweeping and vacuuming up the snow with a look of disgust on their faces.

"If I remembered clearly, Mirror Mare was supposedly only able to work in the boundaries of Pendant Lakes. Nothing more, nothing less. The larger its boundary, the more victims it can claim."

Twilight widened her eyes in disbelief.

"So, you're saying that it wasn't supposed to even be able to attack my friends in the first place?"

Tourist Trap nodded, his expression turning a little sour.

"Something's powering it. Something's expanding the limits of what it can do."

He pondered for a moment, before continuing:

"We have to start from this pony, I guess."

The two ponies strode towards the center of the room, with a few police-ponies escorting them. Twilight could already detect the sickening smell wavering throughout the room, obviously drifting from the kitchen.

Inside, the smell was strong, already making Twilight gag. A few officers were taking photos of the body, still jammed inside the ventilation system.

Tourist turned to the kitchen tables, cleared free of the usual pots and pans that stacked onto it. Instead, a few, bloodstained objects were laid onto it, with some officers examining everything closely.

"Pony's name is Starsign Fleet. Of Canterlot origin," one of the officers said, leafing through the wallet.

"Canterlot origin... Starsign Fleet."

Twilight froze. It couldn't be...

"The minister of the Education of Magic."

Tourist turned to the unicorn.

"Pardon?"

"He was one of the most vital ministers of the Canterlot Ministry. Princess Celestia always said he was the one that helped refine the arts of magic itself."

Twilight turned to the body, her heart sinking with dread.

"I can't... believe this..."

Tourist, however, was still unfazed by that.

"This wasn't the first minister found dead, though."

"What do you mean?" the unicorn asked, her anxiety beginning to flourish.

"There's more ministers found dead?"

"Three more of them, to be exact. All found slaughtered across the northern regions of Equestria."

Twilight paled at the figures before her.

"Do the Princesses know about this?"

"If they did," Tourist said with a deep sigh.

"it's obvious they don't want anypony else to know about it."

Her heart sank at the thought of Princess Celestia, her mentor and ruler of Equestria, covering up the murders of her own ministers.

"But I don't understand! Why would the Princesses do this?"

"I'm not sure as well," Tourist replied, "but I have no intention of finding out."

"Sir?"

Tourist turned to the door, seeing one of the kitchen staff step in. He was trembling violently with fear, attracting the everpony else's attention.

"You have to come see this."

Everypony walked out of the kitchen, their eyes widening instantly in shock.

The large wall beyond them was filled with giant letters, all painted with blood. Twilight stifled a gasp as she read the message:

Morte Al Reale Sorella

Death To The Royal Sisters...

"What does this mean?" she asked Tourist anxiously, the stallion's face instantly shadowed with grim.

"I don't know, Miss Sparkle. But I wouldn't want to find out why."

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Spike was on one of his usual strolls, a little tired still from his restless sleep last night.

He had a dream. Not a nightmare, no. Just a lascivious, lust-inducing dream.

Rarity was inside it, her azure pupils sparkling in the dark. A red, velvet quilt was draped over her body, the mare letting out a gentle giggle, her hoof clutching onto a small glass of sparkling juice.

Spike sighed dreamily, remembering their sensual kiss in his dream. How everything spiraled from there was beyond him.

The audible moans and gasps that the mare elicited still echoed strongly in his head, making him blush.

"Wet dreams..." he snorted, continuing his way down the corridor. "Very, very wet dreams..."

He suddenly stopped as a yellow-red door came into view, shining elegantly as bright as the sunrise outside.

Spike tilted his head, slightly puzzled. The dragon had never bothered to explore the corridors of the palace itself, but somehow he was certain this room was special.

With a small push, the door swung inwards silently, revealing the room behind.

The dragon slowly stepped in, looking in amazement as the rays of the sun pierced into the darkness, illuminating the room before him.

Spike crept forward, but his claw suddenly strained, pulling him back.

His muscles ache as he felt his limbs freeze, the dragon turning as stiff as a marble statue.

Something started to grow inside him. What was it? Anger? Hate? Whatever it was, it just boiled in him. An endless flare of energy.

The dragon struggled to clench his claws, feeling the darkness engulfing his body with pain. With every minute passing, it intensified within his heart, making him growl for more.

Across the room, a yellow, radiant glow blazed throughout the room, emanating from a small, harrowing crystal. Spike could see it through his obscured vision, caused from the overwhelming, demonic aura, sapping him of any energy. His eyes widened in horror, his body straining to move.

The last thing he saw was the golden crystal floating towards him, before blacking out.

* * * * * * *

Rarity panted and heaved, sweat dripping down her body.

Her eyes were frantically looking around. She sat there in her bed, stunned for a moment, before giving out a sigh.

"Another nightmare..."

Everything was still so vivid in her head. Rarity shuddered at the thought of it.

It was snowing red. Blood red, in fact. She was sitting in the meadow with all her friends, somewhere close to Applejack's farm. They were having a small picnic, with her lying against Spike's chest.

That was the only part of the nightmare she liked.

Then, the snow fell.

Everything seemed to fall apart, the faces of her friends all contorted into a black blur of... something unnatural.

Spike's face, however, was the most graphic. The four pairs of black, crystalline eyes that replaced his green ones, the mechanical, black carapace sprouting from his head, the horrid, ebony pincers jutting out from his mouth, which was frothing with green saliva.

All on the same purple body.

She shook her head with disgust, trying to brush away the hellish dream.

"What the hell, Rarity..." she scowled quietly to her imagination.

The unicorn strode out of the room. She woke up late, as usual, thanks to all her recent nightmares. Despite its tangled, disheveled state, Rarity never bothered to give it a comb, staggering outside without a care for her appearance.

Her inner voice whined within: "So unladylike of you, Rarity! You do realize what other ponies would think of you?"

She shrugged it off. She should deserve something! A Canterlot-damned award for even waking up from her nightmares and not dying of fright! The gruesomeness of it still lingered in her gut, which gurgled in response.

Rarity walked down the corridor, brushing her mane aside. She wasn't looking forward to breakfast, much less the day before her. No, her thoughts were focused on a specific dragon. The dragon that she would rather spend the whole day with-

A loud, deafening roar shattered her thoughts apart, making the mare tumble backwards onto the red carpet with a whimper. "Why I never..."

Rarity gathered herself up, dusting her hooves free of dust before letting out a gasp.

The shadow of a tall figure stood at the end of the corridor, standing on all four, stygian claws. She watched as it gritted its teeth, a deep purple aura radiating from its body. The creature snarled, its snake-like eyes glaring hungrily at Rarity, who was now backing away on the carpet.

"S-Stay!" she ordered, only to hear a growl. Rarity raised her hooves up, waiting for it to strike.

With a loud bark, the demonic creature pounced onto her, making her yelp. The black claws pinned her down onto the carpet, sinking into her skin.

She bit her lip, closing her eyes nervously as the creature breathed into her face. It's teeth were, contrast to it's body, pure white, with purple, gloppy saliva mixed in between.

Rarity's face grew alarmed as it's tongue hung out, dripping the fluids all over her body. She clenched her hooves with a shudder of disgust, shouting to the creature:

"That's very, very insensitive of you! To treat a lady like this!"

The canine just growled, making her gasp in disbelief.

"You DARE ignore MY feelings?! I have a dragon to talk to, and you just simply had to COME OUT from Celestia knows where and RUIN my day!"

Somehow, it seemed to have heard her, as it slipped back a bit with a whimper. Rarity stood up, now glaring at the creature. She was not done yet.

"Now guess what I have to do! Have a shower to wash this repulsive, heinous SLUDGE of yours off! NO thanks to you, Mister!"

The creature was now sniveling, its head hung low.

"Yes!" the mare shouted, her ears twitching with rage. "That's how you treat a lady!"

A brilliant, yellow crystal that was embedded into it's head caught her attention. Rarity's eyes sparkled at sight of it, her mouth hung open in awe.

The hound nuzzled against her hoof. Its eyes were watering slightly, as if begging her to pry it off. Reluctantly, her hoof gripped onto the gleaming surface, giving it one sharp pull.

"Almost there," she said, gritting her teeth. The creature yelped in pain as the crystal loosened from its vessel with a clink, landing in her hoof.

Suddenly, it's body glowed a bright, radiant light, making Rarity shield her eyes. It seemed to suspend in the air, before the light shattered apart, throwing the mare off her hooves.

Rarity rubbed her eyes, her head still a daze from her stumble. She gasped, her eyes widened in disbelief at the figure that now stood before her.

"S-Spike?!"

The dragon strained to stand up, only falling down with a groan. He crawled towards Rarity, who was still trying to absorb what happened.

"I... I'm... sorry..." he managed to mutter, before falling unconscious.

"Miss Rarity!"

Stellar came galloping towards her, along with a few guards from around the corner. The butler's face was filled with shock and concern, looking between the couple.

"Somepony reported you being attacked, Miss."

"I... I..." she managed to mutter, glancing uneasily at the dragon.

"I don't..."

The crystal clutched in her hoof glinted from the sunlight, catching the butler's attention.

"Where did you get that?" he asked frantically.

Rarity could only mumble to herself, still gazing at Spike with a fresh tear already forming in her eye.

Why..?

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"Where, um.. are we going?"

Charter would've answered the yellow pegasus, but he knew Fluttershy would faint instantly from his answer.

The white-tiled corridor was gloomy, with grease leaking from it's cracks. A few officers lined up in a row, all awaiting for the attorney's orders.

"Open up cell block six," he said to one of the officers, which hastily nodded.

Applejack looked around the corridors, suspicion clouding her head as she asked the stallion:

"What are we doing here?"

He just gave a melancholic answer:

"Visiting."

A loud blare sounded from above as a metal door before them slid open. Charter stepped into the next room, asking the mares to do the same.

"Visiting who?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly, stepping inside.

The room was square, it's walls plated with firm steel. A bright sheet of light filled the room, flourishing with a qualm-like conscience. In the center of the room, a metal table stood, with a few chairs strewn about.

The yellow pegasus gasped, her eyes widened in horror at the mare occupying the chair across them, her hooves bounded together by shackles with her mulberry wings flapping uneasily.

"Raven," Charter called out to the mare.

"Fluttershy's here."

Fluttershy instantly cringed, hiding behind Applejack with a tremble. The orange pony turned to the stallion, giving him an intimidating stare.

"What are ya two planning together?"

"Please, miss." Ravenshy spoke up, her voice faltering with guilt.

"I just... want to talk to her..."

Charter guided them in, with Fluttershy still glancing around uneasily, avoiding her mother's stare. The three of them sat down across her, with Applejack edging her seat closer to her friend.

"She's in a phase of regression," the district attorney told the yellow pegasus, trying to comfort her.

Fluttershy just bit her lip, watching her mother's concerned face as she began with her croaking voice:

"It's... been a while. A long while..."

Silence.

"I've been thinking through. The things I've done, the things of the past. Our past, actually."

No response.

"Fluttershy, what I did to you, after your dad passed away.... I was..."

Again, silence, yet everypony could feel it was starting to crack.

"I... I was cold, cruel.... I didn't realize..."

The mare's face was now streaming with tears, the chains in her hoof clinking against the table. Fluttershy's lips trembled, feeling her mother's voice ravaging with sorrow.

"D-didn't realize.... h-how..... how broken you were..."

Broken.

That was it.

Fluttershy sniffled, the fresh tears in her eyes now dripping onto the floor. Applejack placed her hoof around her friend, the purple pegasus continuing between her tears:

"And.... please.... I don't know how l-long I have left..."

"W-What do you mean?" Fluttershy finally responded.

Her mother kept quiet, glancing over at Charter, who now cleared his throat.

"The crimes she commited... she was sentenced to lifetime in prison."

"And?"

"Recently, we found out her brain had a sort of... illness. Whatever it was, it causes her to be aggressive towards others. The doctors had never seen it before, and are unable to treat it. For safety of the community, the judge changed the sentence..."

Charter let out a deep, morose sigh, before continuing:

"The sentence was changed to execution."

Fluttershy felt the world crack around her. Her heart stiffened, her shallow breathing collapsing almost immediately as the words echoed through her head once more.

...changed to execution....

Shock, anguish and astonishment pounded into her mind. She plummeted into her friend's hooves, shaking her head with her eyes widened with horror.

"No... No..No, this can't be happening. This cannot be happening!"

Charter muttered quietly to himself, his head hanging low with guilt.

Applejack could only help her friend up, trying to hide her shock.

"Why, Charter?" she shouted to the stallion. "Just change the sentence! Fix everything back!"

"You think I want to see her die? You think I want to see my best friend die?!"

The stallion was tearing up now, his voice cracking from devastation.

"I wanted the judge to change to a lighter sentence! I wanted them to know that she can still recover; that she can still live the life of a normal pony!"

"That bucking idiot didn't listen!" the stallion ended with a scowl, slamming his hooves onto the table.

Fluttershy watched as her mother wept, her tears dripping across the table. The yellow pegasus could only cry helplessly, an endless stream of tears flowing from her face.

"There must be another way!" she screamed, her body ravaged with despair. She pounded her hooves painlessly against Charter's chest, the stallion already wiping his streaming tears off his face.

"There. Must Be. Another WAY!!"

The yellow pegasus let herself fall onto the floor, tied down by a weight of depression. She cried and cried, her tears already forming a puddle on the floor.

"Flutters!" her mother cried out. "Flutters, just listen to me!"

"No! I don't want you to die!"

Fluttershy turned to the purple pegasus, her hooves kicking against the floor.

"I don't want you to DIE!"

"It's done, Flutters. It's settled."

Ravenshy sniffled a little, trying to calm down.

"That's enough now, sweetie."

"B-But... But it's too soon-"

"Hush now, Fluttershy."

The purple pegasus gave her a broken smile, her lips trembling, straining not to cry.

"It's... it's for your own good... for everypony's own good..."

"B-But..."

"No 'but's, Flutters. You're all grown up now, okay?"

Her tone changed into a small whisper as Ravenshy wiped a small tear away from her daughter's face.

"Whatever happened before, I want you to know that Mommy still loves you. I still love you..."

Fluttershy trembled, gripping her mother's hoof. She swallowed her despair, muttering to her among her gentle sniffles:

"I... I love you too..."

Applejack managed a smile, watching the two pegasi sobbing together. She held onto her hat, trying to let the remorse out of her heart.

Charter brushed his frazzled mane back down, looking on with his face filled with warmth.

Fluttershy and Ravenshy just sat there, their eyes closed in silent prayer, their hooves cupped together with tears still falling from their faces.

Mother and daughter... reunited once more.

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"Finally discharged, eh Pinkie?"

The pink pony gave Rainbow Dash a cheerful smile, She twirled with glee despite her bandaged hooves on the plaza, letting out a gleeful squeal.

"It feels so good to be outdoors again!"

Rainbow managed to chuckle at her friend's enthusiasm, yet her face turned slightly more somber with every step closer to the hotel. She let out a deep sigh.

The recent news of the 'blood snow', as the local press had dubbed it, was completely well known to the both of them already. No doubt the atrocious work of Mirror Mare, of course.

"So," she exclaimed suddenly, trying to break her chagrin mood.

"You're going to apologize to Twilight, right?"

Pinkie just glanced around, her cheerful bouncing halting immediately, making the cyan pegasus panic a little.

"I guess I have to...."

"Well, I'll help you, all right?"

Rainbow gave her friend a wink, instantly cheering up the pink pony.

"After all, that's what friends are for!"

Pinkie giggled in response, before the both of them stopped, blending into the crowd.

Her gaze settled onto the traffic light, which was still glowing a bright green as carriages hastily drove across the road.

She counted the time inside her heart. Fenderville's traffic lights are very predictable.

3... 2... 1...

Red.

Immediately, the crowd huddled forward. Pinkie ignored the random pushing and shoving, with Rainbow Dash following closely behind.

"Ow!"

Somepony knocked against her shoulder, making her stumble into Rainbow's hooves. The cyan pegasus turned around, shouting to a white unicorn:

"Hey! Come back and apologize!"

The stallion in question did not turn, instead continuing forward. Rainbow snorted at the stallion's fine suit, rolling her eyes while helping Pinkie Pie up.

"Snobs. Pah!"

"Thanks, Dashie!" the pink pony said with a grin.

"No problem, Pinks," she replied with a smile.

"Although I really want him to say sorry..."

"It's okay!" Pinkie said with a squeal. "I don't mind at all!"

Rainbow blinked her eyes, before shaking her head with a chuckle.

"Oh, Pinkie..."

* * * * * * *

Winter never meant to hit that pink mare down.

He really, really wanted to apologize, yet that would impede his progress.

Something seemed familiar about her, though. That aura around her... it flowed with boundless energy that reminded him of Spring.

He chuckled quietly to himself. He was already missing that little filly already.

Without a second thought, Winter flipped his map open like a tourist in town. His hooves scanned across the map, before landing on his destination.

The pink mare seemed to come into his thoughts again. What was it? He couldn't crack the nut if it was one.

"Might be an old friend..." he mused, although his heart doubted it.

The newspaper on the newsstand caught his eye. He read the black title carefully, his face instantly darkening at the last four words.

Blood Snow Rains In Fenderville Hotel. Caused By Body Of Canterlot Minister

Mirror Mare's on the move. The Patriarch ruffled his collars, continuing his journey across the town whilst looking at his map. He had to move fast before the next body turns up.

"So," he asked himself.

"Who would be next?"

The Second Voyager

"And, for some reason, you had to just go spoil it all."

"Spoil what all, Twilight? Dashie said she already knew we're going there!"

Twilight groaned as Pinkie bounced along the path, humming a small tune. The pink pony had finally mustered up enough courage to apologize to her friend yesterday night, much to Rainbow Dash's relief.

"How would she even know that?" the unicorn asked perplexedly.

"Did you tell her? You Pinkie Promised you won't tell any single soul in the world."

"That's what I did, but she asked me to Pinkie Promise that if you're taking us anywhere, I'll let her know. So... I did!"

Twilight slapped herself on her forehead. She couldn't believe it.

"You know it's suppose to be a surprise, Pinkie!"

"A surprise party?!"

Pinkie leaped with a gasp, her eyes bulging in disbelief.

"Why didn't you say so! It could've been the besty-best birthday party for Rainbow Dash EVER!!"

Her friend sighed, chuckling a little at the pink pony's enthusiasm.

The pegasus's birthday was today, if Twilight was not mistaken. Everything that had been happening around them had messed up her schedule and she couldn't catch up with any of the plans she made.

They've already missed Rarity's birthday, although Twilight knew Spike would have prepared something special for her.

Spike... the dragon had matured greatly since their arrival to Ponyville.

Twilight chuckled at the thought of him. Rarity was one lucky mare.

"Hello? Twily-Twinks?"

Pinkie was waving her pink hoof over her face, snapping her out of her daydream.

"What's with the stargazing?" she said with a giggle, "there ain't any stars yet!"

Twilight laughed at her friend's joke, raising her eyebrow in surprise.

"Twily-Twinks? What is that, some kind of candy?"

Pinkie snorted with laughter, giggling endlessly down the path.

The lavender unicorn could never understand her. One minute she's the cheerful, energetic party-planner that her friends know her for, the next she's some depressed, anger-filled and broken mare with a disturbing, overprotective personality.

Pigs would fly if somepony understands Pinkie Pie. Sounds catchy, she thought to herself.

"Anyways Twilight, I got a superiffic idea!"

The unicorn groaned. Here it comes...

"So, since Dashie already knows that we're going to celebrate her birthday at the far side of town, and she's going to be not surprised since I ruined the surprise, which means I'm not going to pop out of that box you made and shout SURPRISE because she wouldn't still be surprised since I told her about that as well..."

"Wait," Twilight raised her hoof, her actions oblivious to the pink pony.

"You told her about that too?"

"...so I was thinking: why not we change everything? Instead of a surprise birthday party, we make her believe we're going to make that party, but instead we make another one! Then she'll be double surprised! It'll be like SURPRISE SURPRISE!! She'll go all bonkers and crazy like 'whoopee! Best birthday ever!', maybe even do the Sonic Rainboom again-!"

"Even if we want to," Twilight managed to cut her off.

"how are we supposed to do it? There isn't enough time to prepare everything, much less the streamers, the party hats, the balloons, everything!"

"Ooh, I know! I know!"

Pinkie was hopping into the air with anticipation, her eyes brightened with an idea.

"How about a date? A dinner date! That would be super!"

"Dinner date with who?" she asked with sarcasm, "Tourist Trap?"

Twilight chuckled at her friend, slightly shaking her head.

"Do you even know her type of stallion, Pinkie?"

Pinkie suddenly grinned coyly, making her friend gasp in disbelief.

"You've already arranged everything, didn't you?" the unicorn asked.

"Eeyup!" she said with a giggle, imitating Big Macintosh's deep voice.

"And you're sure she would like it? Him, I mean?"

"Of course! We're talking about one of the biggest biggity-bungle stallions in Equestria, Twilight!"

Pinkie cleared her throat, inviting a pegasus into their ring. He gave them a nervous wave, making the unicorn's eyes widened in astonishment, her jaw agape at the stallion before her.

"No... bucking... way..."

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The pine woodlands of the north was always sweet in autumn.

Rarity would've never thought that the forest around Pendant Lakes had such magnificence, diverse in both flora and fauna. Compared to the Everfree Forest, it seemed so safe, as if it was her home.

Cruel irony; that the town itself is more dangerous than its outskirts.

Spike, Octavia and Crimson were all behind, taking care not to stumble the fallen logs around the place, all covered in a deep green coat of moss. They had been busy wandering around the forest for the past hour, trying to find the perfect spot for their arranged picnic.

"Can't we just stop for a break?" Crimson complained, the stallion now panting and heaving a little.

Spike would agree with him but, knowing Rarity, he decided not to.

"I'm guessing just a little bit further, Crimson."

"Cheer up Crimson! We'll find a spot eventually."

Octavia gave her coltfriend a hooves up, giving him a wink.

The red stallion sighed, making Rarity chuckle.

"If you say so..."

"So Rarity..." Octavia called out to the white mare, bringing her closer out of earshot from the other two.

"There had been things circulating around... about you and Spike..."

"I see.... and?"

"Was it true? Did you.... 'do' it?"

Rarity's eyes widened in disbelief. Something like this from the grey mare...

"What do you mean by... 'do' it?"

"You know? Kiss, hugs then... I don't know...."

Octavia twirled a little, grinning slyly at her friend, who was beginning to blush.

"Something memorable..."

"Seriously, Octavia. You're getting way over your head here."

Rarity didn't want to cut her friend off, but a part of her felt it was necessary to quell the increasing excitement she felt from the grey mare.

"It's really ridiculous!" she exclaimed, before her tone changed into a slight whisper.

"I mean, we've touched a little at night sometimes, but we didn't go that far..."

"I see, I see."

Octavia deepened her voice, sounding like that of a therapist, making the both mares laugh aloud.

"Rarity, 'Tavi! Come quick!"

Crimson was standing on the edge of a cliff, with Spike looking beyond it, his eyes lit up with amazement.

Rarity and Octavia quickly clambered up the steep, rocky mountain, reaching them in no time. They immediately gasped in disbelief at the sight before them.

Two big, grand lakes shimmered in the sunlight below the rocky cliffside, the surface a crystalline clear azure. It seemed shallow, yet deep enough for them to swim inside.

Spike was the first to slide down the cliff, his two claws like hooks gripping against the sloped surface. The other ponies soon followed down, nearly stumbling over their hooves.

Rarity could only gape in awe as they approached the twin lakes. The pine trees opened into a clearing; a remote haven just outside of civilization, with the freshwater fish swimming across. A river split into the both of them, spewing water into both lakes before joining back up at the other side.

The sounds of nature echo strongly here, as they found out. Chirps and squawks of birds harmonized with the rustling of leaves and the loud, booming roar of the distant waterfall on Hoovingaar Mountain.

"This place is beautiful!" Octavia said, gazing at the sanctuary around her.

"I can't believe it wasn't on the map!"

Rarity could only nod along, the picnic basket on her hoof swaying side by side. She settled it down on a miniscule plateau rising from the ground, away from the sprinkling of water and the foul texture of mud.

"Perfect!" she praised herself, draping a blanket over it as she started placing out the dishes.

Spike and Crimson were already in the water, playfully splashing and spraying water towards each other. The mares could only shake their heads, letting out a sigh simultaneously at their respective mates.

"Come on, Spikey!" she called out with a whistle.

"All right, all right!" he said, shaking the water off his legs. He wasn't used to the chilling feel of water, being a dragon and all, yet it still felt so refreshing.

"So what did you get for me?"

"Really, Spike?" Rarity said, detached from the hungry spark in his green pupils.

Octavia giggled beside the mare.

"So that's what you mean by 'insatiable', Rarity."

"He has that uncouth appetite of his." the white unicorn said aloud teasingly, making Spike scratch his head in humility.

"Celestia knows why he's even bothering to eat everything he sees."

"Woah, woah, woah!"

Spike raised his claws in his own defense, settling down onto the picnic blanket as he began:

"At least I gave you things you wouldn't have thought of having!"

"Like what? Name a few for me, then!"

Rarity giggled, watching as the dragon munched on a brown muffin, before snapping his claws.

"The fire ruby. A helping hand in your boutique. Somepony to protect you in the future..."

"Alright, you satisfied me."

The white unicorn tossed him another muffin.

"Rewarding enough?" she cooed.

Spike just shook his head, his mouth still chewing on the previous one.

His nose suddenly twitched a little, making him wince in disgust.

"What's wrong?" Octavia asked, watching the dragon sniff around in the air like a curious canine.

Rarity started to worry as he looked around without a response, as if aware of an unknown danger coming towards them. He was completely oblivious to the three ponies, which only worried the white unicorn much more.

"Spike?"

"Yes, Rarity?" the dragon replied suddenly, blinking his eyes.

"What is it?"

Rarity held his claw. She was troubled by him since the day Spike was possessed by the crystal, which Stellar explained it was some sort of security system to ward off intruders.

"Spike?"

"It's.... I don't know..."

The dragon shrugged with uncertainty. The others could see his face turning a little green, as he continued:

"I thought I smelled something... like a dead body or..."

"Dead body?"

Crimson's face instantly grimaced, glancing around the forest dubiously.

"Where's it coming from?"

"Over there... I guess..."

Spike pointed over to the far side of the lakes, amidst the dense undergrowth, making them realize how big this crater of a beauty actually is.

"It wouldn't hurt to have a look, I-I... think." Octavia spoke up nervously, already shuddering at the thousand possibilities forming in her head.

"We'll all have a look, alright?"

Rarity wasn't used to taking charge (other than Sweetie Belle and Spike, of course), but since nopony wanted to step out...

"I'll go first."

"Wait!" Spike raised his claw, scampering towards the white mare.

"I'll go with you!"

"I guess we'll join you as well."

Octavia and Crimson stood up, kicking a little dust off their hooves.

The four of them trudged through the forest floor, ignoring the spray of water around them. The mellow sweetness soon became raw and bitter for Spike, the smell intensifying in his nose.

"I don't know if I can take this..." he said, trying not to gag.

Rarity held his claw tighter as they make their way through the tall bushes. She bit her lip; something was telling her she isn't going to like what she would find.

The strong smell was at its peak point, tossing Spike's head into a daze. He would've stumbled back into the lake if it hadn't for Rarity's tight grip on his claw.

A stone structure came into view, covered in moss and overgrown ivy. It stood menacingly in the middle of a barren, leaf-free ground, the only entrance to it being a pair of bronze doors that stood, guarding whatever recesses inside.

Four gargoyles perched on the corners of its granite roof, with one already lost it's head to the growing vines wrapped around it's neck.

The four of them could only stand there, gazing at the old, ruined foreign building in the center of the woodland.

"Well..." Crimson quipped, stepping forward. He gave the brass door a gentle push, before turning back to say:

"It doesn't hurt to explore, right?"

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"Twilight. You gotta be joking."

"Look, Rainbow. It's your birthday and I thought you should look much... better than you should."

The unicorn had tried not to lose her cool for the eighth time. They had been walking across Fenderville, tirelessly toiling through the streets to shop for clothes.

Both knew that Pinkie had prepped the location, a place called Canopy Oaks, up for Rainbow's birthday party, but only Twilight knew of the 'surprise-within-a-surprise', as Pinkie had called it.

Score one for Pinkie.

"Excuse me," she asked one of the passing mares.

"Have you had any idea where Canopy Oaks is?"

"... Canopy... oh! You mean that Canopy Oaks!"

The mare laughed a little at her, although the unicorn couldn't understand what's so funny.

"Do you know where it is? My friend and I had to see somepony urgently."

"Sorry Miss." the mare replied, shaking her head.

"Canopy Oaks was demolished a year ago."

"Demo-what?"

Twilight couldn't believe her ears. The place where Pinkie had set up the party was demolished?!

She gave out an embarrassing laugh, a small bead of sweat dripped from her face. Why did Pinkie put her in such situations?

"Hehe, I didn't know about that... but could you perhaps just tell us... where it is?"

"If seeing a destroyed cafe is your thing..."

The mare giggled between her friends, before answering:

"Far side of town, just close to Rattleraw Forest."

"Thank you."

Twilight slapped herself on the forehead again. She could've asked Pinkie where it was earlier...

Rainbow Dash was trying hard to hide her laugh, already trembling uncontrollably with her hoof covering her mouth. Twilight just shot her an annoyed glare, letting out an indignant 'harrumph'.

The both of them trotted along the avenue, enjoying the baroque scene and lifestyle. Foals play on the plaza, usually chasing off the swarms of pigeons nestled near the stone benches. The adults would usually do some outdoor exercises or organize meetings with their friends.

Even the elderly had their own plans; talks about the past over a fine game of chess and cups of warm, rose tea. Majority of the shops here were restaurants and boutiques, no doubt to suit the needs of tourists that usually populate the streets.

Unlike Ponyville, Twilight noticed, there wasn't any farms or schools, only churches and fountains. As if it was a different world, isolated from the rest of Equestria.

Pinkie said the other towns like Pendant Lakes were like this in the north. She should do some research about them more often.

"I think this is it." Rainbow's raspy voice broke into her thoughts.

Both mares were now standing at one of the numerous iron gates out of Fenderville, staring at the small woodlands before them. It seemed inviting enough for Twilight, who took the first step.

"Come on!"

In no time at all, the two ponies galloped into the forest, admiring the quiet sounds of nature and the small rustle of leaves in the breeze.

They soon emerged unscathed, with only a few leaves trapped in their manes, to the bright lights and sounds of cheering and music, making them gasp in amazement.

Indeed, there was a wreck of wood and stone, yet somehow it has fallen so perfectly, forming a stage, a table and even a few chairs. A part of it was still standing, containing only a small window which faced the cliff.

"SURPRISE!!" the dozens of ponies chorused. Despite already knowing about it, Rainbow still gaped in disbelief; the venue, the guests, everything.

"Wow..." was all she could say, making the others chuckle. Everything had rendered her speechless.

Pinkie bounced from the crowd, wearing some sort of soda-hat.

"Do you like it? I know you did! It took a little planning, with some help from all our friends here!"

Everypony cheered and clopped, inviting the two mares inside.

"Here!" the pink pony squealed, guiding them through the crowd.

"I'll show you around!"

The first place they wandered to was, of course, the center stage itself. The drinks served were the usual: grape punch, apple fizzy and Pinkie's special Pink Poppin' Cola. It was soothing yet gassy at the same time and is only kept secret to the elusive party pony herself.

The food was the usual, with one exception: a glass bowl filled with striped, pear-shaped fruits stood out from the diverse platters.

Twilight was immediately fascinated by it. She crept closer, taking one of the fruits to examine.

"What is this?" she asked Pinkie, flushed with anticipation. "I never seen anything like it!"

"Oh that! That's the Rattle Pear. It only grows in, guess where? Rattleraw Forest!"

Pinkie squeaked out a grin as she continued: "That's not for eating, though. That's for shaking! Try it!"

Sure enough, Twilight did, to widen her eyes in surprise. The fruit responded with a jangle, as if something inside was striking against the walls.

Rainbow grabbed her own as well. It wasn't long before the three of them danced around with the rattling beat, the maraca-like fruits jiggling in their hooves.

"Come on! There's still so much more to see!"

Pinkie grabbed Rainbow's hoof, dragging her hastily across the ruins. Twilight just galloped after them, letting out a chuckle.

The loud, deafening roar of water was soon evident. Pinkie halted, with the pegasus teetering off the edge of a cliff, only to gasp in amazement.

A giant pit stood before them, the bottom filled with water. There were ponies paddling about at the bottom, with some beside the mares preparing to dive in.

Twilight nearly fainted from fright when the ponies beside them jumped, screaming in their long fall before splashing into the water below.

"Damn, Pinks!" Rainbow exclaimed, nudging her friend.

"I didn't know you could think of this!"

"Wait! There's still one more spot!"

Again, the three of them whirled across the party. It was much livelier now, with some of the lights flaring out neon-like colors from the trees.

"Here we are! Canopy Cliff!"

They were now standing at the edge of the cliff, just in front of the standing part of Canopy Oaks. Rainbow was slightly confused; from rattling fruits, to waterholes, to this? What are her friends planning?

"Can't we go back to the party?" she asked, faking a yawn.

"I'm so bored here!"

"Here he is!"

The pegasus rolled her eyes as her two friends turned around. She couldn't help but groan, staring at her friends' direction.

"What are you both looki- ohhhh~..."

A light blue pegasus stepped up to her, giving her a warm smile. He reached out his hoof with a wink, as he said:

"Happy Birthday, Rainbow Dash."

"S-Soarin'?!" Rainbow exclaimed in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?!"

Twilight and Pinkie giggled, stepping aside as the Wonderbolt explained:

"Just visiting Fenderville for awhile. Spitfire and I planned to organize a flight show here!"

Rainbow managed to giggle, something unheard from the usually pride-filled pegasus. Twilight could see hearts dancing in her friend's magenta eyes, giving Pinkie a high five.

"So..." the Wonderbolt began, trying to break the awkward silence.

"Wanna go somewhere for awhile? Somewhere quiet?"

The birthday mare's mind instantly stopped. Pinkie cheered quietly, fizzing about like a firecracker waiting to explode.

Rainbow began to stammer: "I... uh... I mean... of course! Sure!"

"How bad could it be?"

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"Why are all these old ruins always so dusty?"

Rarity already knew the answer to her own question, but she just had to shout it out to extinguish the stirring annoyance in her.

She frowned at the sight of her dust-covered hooves. She would've done the same back when the palace was under attack, but Spike wasn't there at that time.

The dragon chuckled beside her, helping her dust it off. Crimson was leading the way, trying to squint through the darkness. His eyes suddenly lit up in anticipation, turning back to the rest.

"I... I think I see light!"

Octavia pushed him forward, giving him an annoyed stare. The four of them slowly squeezed through the narrow passage, with Spike struggling the most.

Stepping out of the passage, all of them gasped simultaneously looking around in amazement.

Beyond them were statues. Tall, stone statues built upon the marble stands of a bridge heading into the darkness. They stood valiantly, stalwart as a knight with a fierce expression frozen onto their faces.

"What is this place?" Octavia could only ask, her glances jumping from statue to statue.

Rarity approached one of the statues, shuddering a little as it frowned down upon her, the statue's eyes affixed in a broken stare.

"What are they doing down here?"

"Something the Palgiots don't want the world to know, I guess."

Spike was ahead of them, already heading to the giant mausoleum beyond them.

"I think it's time to find out what's here."

A giant set of stone stairs led up into the pillar-covered entrance, all coated under a fine layer of dust. The three ponies quickly scampered up after the dragon, feeling the crumble of rock beneath their hooves.

In front of them were a set of coffins, mostly empty or filled with broken rocks, with the exception of one.

The lid was still intact, unlike many of the others. Spike approached it cautiously, making Rarity widen her eyes in astonishment.

"You don't think...."

"I'm doing it, for the sake of everypony."

Spike held his breath, his claws gripping tightly onto the stone lid.

"Here goes..."

He gave it a strong push, the lid budging only a little. The dragon's face turned a pale blue as he mustered up all his energy, trying to push the stone lid away.

Crimson joined in, his hooves straining with Spike's claws. Sweat started to fall off both of their backs, as the lid finally slammed onto the floor, scattering the dust all around.

Rarity peered inside, only to see total darkness staring back at her.

"Spike," she called the teenage dragon, "give us some light."

Without hesitation, he churned up a small ball of fire, tossing it towards a torch above them.

Rarity immediately shrieked in horror, tumbling backwards into the dragon's arms as the face of a skeletal pony grinned back at her, its 'eyes' smiling in their hollow sockets.

In its bony hands, a black, tattered notebook laid there, beckoning them to open.

Octavia reached in, wincing in disgust as her hoof reached around the cracks in the ribs, before managing to pull it out.

Crimson blew the dust off the cover, sweeping away the tangled spiderwebs around it.

"Anypony wanna guess what's inside?" he mused.

"Just open it already!"

Octavia's scowl instantly made him open the latch, flipping it towards the last few pages. Text was scrawled upon the yellowed papers, as Crimson read out:

Today wasn't a good day for Pendant Lakes. Something was wrong, very wrong....

One of the members of the organisation had conjured something. Summoned something evil.... very evil...

A demon that lusted for power, hungered for death. The deaths of thousands.

It was a new threat. A threat that we have to stop fast, or risk the deaths of everypony at the Palace and the town itself.

I had to call another Congregation for Sicarius Nox. The elder members weren't content with the sudden gathering, but they knew it was necessary. It was rare for the Patriarch to call for a Congregation, after all.

The pony that had summoned this demon was, as usual, one of the fledgling rookies of Academia Nox. He was researching on using pony magic into weaponry and soul-stealing, even though I had told him it wasn't part of the training. It's too dangerous to perform such an outrageous task; of putting a soul into a weapon.

We had planned to calm this demon down. As such, I'm reconsidering on the biological weapon, as some of the members had started calling it. Maybe if we can cooperate on separate terms, it would benefit not only Sicarius, but possibly to the economy of Pendant Lakes as well...

Axle Palgiot.

"Wait, if this is Axle's diary, then the dead pony must be-"

Spike instantly froze, unable to finish his sentence. Rarity gave him a small nod.

Crimson flipped the page as he asked:

"If I'm not wrong, this so-called demon was Mirror Mare, right?"

"Should be," his marefriend answered.

"But Axle said it was a threat. Why did they want to cooperate with it in the first place?"

"This page might say something about it. Let's see..."

I don't have enough time to note everything down.

The demon was harder to find than expected. It took us a few hours, before we finally tracked him down at the palace gardens. It seemed as it was expecting us, the demon's.... limbs already bloodied with the carnage of animals and maybe a few unlucky souls.

Going everything to the plan was hard, as we found out. We proposed a deal: that we recruit him into our higher ranks, let him know our rules, our boundaries, how we act, how we work. In return, every pony he killed, we would let it feed on its soul to quell his hunger.

I'll have to do research on how to transport it back to Tartarus or wherever it came from, just to make sure. We would have to work things out from there.

But first: he can't travel out like that in his dark, ethereal form. He would need something to hide his identity.

A guise.... no, a shell...

Axle Palgiot.

"Mirror Mare...."

Spike put one and one in his head, before concluding:

"So Mirror Mare was just a demon-possessed body wanting to kill others to satisfy himself?"

"I guess..." Rarity said, shuddering a little.

"What's on the next page?"

I must say, I'm impressed with how things turned out.

It seems the demon has a lot of potential. To silently dart through the town, being able to kill a pony in plain sight without getting caught. I've been studying a lot about it recently, and this was what I compiled so far:

The demon wasn't any ordinary demon. It was a Time Demon: an incubus that has the ability to manipulate time itself. Scholars blamed it on the sudden disappearances of countless numbers of ponies, especially those that happen amongst everypony else.

That also worries me; if this demon had any idea how powerful it was, it can immediately control Sicarius Nox. Maybe even the whole of Equestria! That immense power would also mean that it would be harder to send it back to Tartarus in cases of emergency.

The demon was starting to get the hang of our assassin rules. I just hope it wouldn't go out of hand.

Axle Palgiot.

"Time Demon...."

Rarity thought to herself as Crimson flipped to the next page. If the power of Mirror Mare came from a demon, how is it possible that she can step into a time warp such as that then?

Her worried face became evident to Spike, who gave her a reassuring smile, placing his arm on the mare's shoulder.

She managed to smile back, although the dragon could still feel something was bothering her.

Two months. Accomplishes were many.

We had successfully contained the dark spirit into a dead body of a pony, although it has weakened his original form by a lot. It was effortlessly tiring, but it was a worthwhile experience.

The demon still had its abilities even in the body, being able to teleport from place to place, although we all knew it traveled into a paradox of halted time.

I was, by far, the most intrigued of the ponies. This demon could possibly end the rivalry between our cousins forever, and even kill off our enemies.

Of course, the weakened state would mean that the demon could never return back into its full form. Further experiments showed that if the shell is, how shall I put it, killed, the demon could only float aimlessly, finding a sense of purpose before possessing another dead pony. The sense of purpose that it retained would mean that it can only choose specific victims to kill.

That would narrow down the victims, which means it will benefit us. Of course, its power is still not to be taken for granted. We have no idea what can power it or weaken it.

Sicarius Nox had asked me to propose a name to our honored member.

...

Mirror Mare, perhaps?

Axle Palgiot.

"That's it." Crimson said with a sigh.

"Remaining pages are empty."

"I can't believe it," Octavia said, tossing her hooves up in frustration.

"They created Mirror Mare and now it's turning loose all over Equestria."

"Axle had it all under control, that's what I'm assuming."

Rarity looked back at the faded words on the diary, still pondering in her head.

"Somepony else made Mirror Mare what it is today. Power-hungry, merciless, gruesome."

"But who?"

Spike looked at the mare perplexedly, scratching his head in confusion.

"Who would dare to make a demon more powerful than he already is?"

"I don't know," the white unicorn replied, her expression turning serious.

"But I believe Winter might know something about this."

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"So Ah'll guess we'll be seein' you again, Charter?"

"I'll be happy to." the stallion said, wearing a grin on his face.

"Be sure to say hi to Rainbow Dash for me, Fluttershy."

"I will." the yellow pegasus muttered silently, her mind still pondering over the recent passing of her mother.

"Don't worry, Miss Fallows. You'll make it just fine."

Charter gave her a reassuring smile, although deep down he himself was grieving over the loss of his best friend.

"...Oh... I'll try..."

"Quickly, 'Shy. Ah don't have much time left!"

Applejack was impatiently trampling on the clouds, making Fluttershy giggle.

"Zecora's potion don't work for'ver, 'ya know."

"Goodbye, Charter." she said, waving happily at the stallion.

"Goodbye... Miss Fallows..."

He solemnly watched as the two mares walked down the avenue, chatting happily between each other. Fluttershy's bright smile was stuck in his head, making him chuckle a little as he stared into the sky.

"Every bit like you, Raven."

Without a second thought, Charter trotted back into his house, letting out a dejected sigh. He quickly leafed through a yellow file, showing a recent murder case that had practically took over the news around town.

The death of Solaris Followfirm, the CEO of sugar giant Followfirm Sugar Trades, established by her father many years ago. It had since become one of the largest trading companies in Cloudsdale, just behind Pegasus Express, the package delivering company.

The way it was planned out, though...

Charter sighed. There was only one possibility.

"You just had to do it, do you?"

"It was a necessary message, Mr. Freewings."

A masked pony sat up from the couch, snickering at the grim face the stallion was giving.

"District Attorney of Cloudsdale.... you came a long way, Charter, unlike Dresden, though..."

"I've heard."

Charter stayed in his seat. His hoof reached around his back pocket, readying himself.

"So... I'm next, huh?"

"Fortunately for the others, yes."

Mirror Mare's mask glinted tauntingly at the pegasus, who was steadily shuffling around his seat.

"The oldest of the Six... how.... interesting..."

"Of course, I'm sorry for the death of Ravenshy." the masked pony continued.

"Unnecessary consequence for her, really."

"Says you, Mirror Mare."

Charter scoffed, grimacing at the killer.

"You were responsible for her downfall in the first place."

"Oh, of course...."

Mirror Mare readied the signature twin blades, licking the serrated tips of one of them.

"Ripple Fallows. A fine fellow he is." the pony giggled at the unintended pun.

"You tore Raven apart! You tore her daughter apart! Do you even realize what you have done?"

"I'm doing my job. That's all I need to know."

Mirror Mare smiled from beneath its mask.

"I'll leave for now. Don't want to keep them waiting."

"You're sparing me?"

Charter raised his eyebrow in suspicion. He drew his gun out of his belt. Now was his chance.

"What happened? Turned over a new leaf?"

"No..." Mirror Mare chuckled, the blades sliding back into their respective sheaths.

"Just saving up some time..."

Suddenly, Charter's body exploded in flames, engulfed in a hellish fireball. The masked pony sat back down onto the couch, silently sipping on a cup of tea as the pegasus scampered around, screaming aloud in agony.

Charter could feel it: the flames singeing his lungs, the intense embers razing his wings away. The pegasus yelled in pain, with the flames now enveloping over his eyes.

He tripped backwards, falling out the window and through the clouds. Charter could feel his burning body fall down, the searing feeling of air seeping though his charring wings as he pummeled towards the distant ground below.

Mirror Mare looked out the window, watching the burning figure become a mere, glowing dot from the sky.

"You brought this upon yourself, Charter. Oblivion."

That was the Second... or so it would effectively put it, Fourth...

Next on the list...

It smiled.

Esoteric Veracity

"Ugh...."

Rainbow's eyes stirred open, her vision a slight haze. Her head was pounding painfully, as if somepony drilled a jackhammer through her skull.

Her left hoof raised up to massage it, trying to quell the monster of an ache that was forming. Her other hoof reached around the blankets, finding a spot to support herself.

She managed to let out a tired groan.

"What happened..."

Suddenly, her right hoof stopped short in surprise at a soft feeling of feathers. Rainbow Dash turned around nervously, before gasping in shock.

The cyan pegasus's hoof was now coiled up in a tuft of light-blue wings, which twitched slightly in response. The pegasus could only close her eyes, praying frantically as she gave a small peek over at the pony in front of her.

She let out a gasp, her eyes widening in realization.

The Wonderbolt stallion still slept soundly, wrapping around the blanket. Rainbow's stomach gurgled, the contents churning from whatever she drank last night. She looked around at the floor, managing to spot a few, tumbled bottles from beyond her obscured vision.

"No.... this ain't happening. No way this is..."

Denial filled her head as she tried to recall what had happened last night. Her hangover only worsened, washing any possibilities that swirled into her brain away.

Soarin' still slept soundly, a small trickle of drool escaping his mouth. Rainbow grunted in frustration, trying to force herself to remember.

"Did we do anything last night?" she asked herself, although she couldn't form an answer for it.

"Come on, Rainbow. Think, you stupid mare!"

"Erp.... pie...." the stallion mumbled in his dream, only irritating the mare beside him.

"What the hay, Rainbow Dash..." she whispered, slapping herself on the forehead.

"Look what you have gotten yourself into."

A small knock on the door made her jump. She frantically zoomed towards the door, her heart pounding from her chest as she looked through the peephole.

Twilight was standing there, a worried look plastered on her face. Rainbow hesitantly turned the knob, letting a crack of light slip inside as she let out a fake yawn.

"Hey there, Twi. Quite early for a wake up call, don't you think?"

"Rainbow! Thank goodness you're okay!"

Twilight let out a smile, although the pegasus could see something was troubling her.

"Is everything all right?"

"Pffttt... yeah!" she said, rolling her eyes.

All part of the act.

"Of course I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you got pretty banged up last night on the alcohol."

Rainbow's wings fluttered around nervously, a small bead of sweat tingling her skin. She gave the unicorn a sheepish grin, tossing her mane aside.

"I guess I've got too much of it. But I managed to come back here, safe and sound!"

"Actually, Soarin' was the one that offered to take you back to the hotel."

She gulped, swallowing a pill of agitation down her throat as she scratched her frazzled mane.

"Yeeeaaahhh...."

Twilight suddenly gave her a skeptical stare.

"Is he in the room, Rainbow?"

"Who's in the room?"

"Soarin'?"

The unicorn tried to see past her friend, but the cyan wings obstructed any possible view she could think off.

"N-Nope! No way! I mean, Soarin' in my bed? Like I would ever..."

Her voice faltered into a nervous laugh as Twilight frowned at her, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"He is in there, isn't he?"

Rainbow immediately sighed in defeat.

"Yeah. I'm screwed."

"Look, I don't know what you guys have been doing in there, but don't mention a word about it, alright?"

The unicorn began to walk away, before saying:

"Oh, and don't mention any of this, and I mean any of this to Pinkie. You know the whole of Equestria's gonna go berserk over it the second she knows about it."

Rainbow shuddered at the thought of it. Headlines of a newspaper flashed through her head, only fueling it to her anxiety.

She silently closed the door, before leaning against it with a sigh. Slowly the pegasus slid down the door, burying her head in her hooves with frustration burning up in her mind.

"What am I gonna do?"

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"I'm not so sure I want to go back in there, Rarity."

"The crystal wasn't there on purpose, Spike. That room had something to hide."

Spike shuddered at the memory of the past two days, fidgeting his claws nervously as the mare continued:

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you won't get hurt."

"Are you sure about that, Rarity? You know that's what I promised you, right?"

Rarity turned back to him, giving the dragon a small grin.

"I know."

The couple were taking a small stroll down one of the elegant corridors of Palgiot Palace, reminiscing a little about their past. It was Rarity that brought up about the crystal: the one thing that the dragon wouldn't want to talk about.

"It's around the corner, is it?" she asked.

"Should be."

Rarity sighed. She could see the dragon was looking out of the windows, obviously not paying attention to her.

"Spike!"

"Wha-!" he exclaimed, jumping back in surprise.

The mare just shook her head, a little annoyed at Spike's anxiousness.

"What's getting into you these days? You're a dragon, for Celestia's sake."

"A dragon that got possessed by a dumb rock." he corrected.

"If a rock can stop me, what's the chance that a cold-blooded, knife-wielding demon assassin can as well?"

"Please," Rarity said, rolling her eyes.

"The crystal was enchanted with some sort of magic. It wasn't only just a dumb rock."

"But still..."

Spike scratched his own arms with uncertainty, his eyes flourishing with doubt.

"I'm going, whether you like it or not, Spike. Not only for the sake of you, but for the sake of everypony else as well."

Rarity turned towards the corridor with her head held high, leaving the dragon to scamper after her.

"Come on, Rarity. You know I don't want to see you get hurt."

"You know I don't want to see you get hurt too, Spike! As well as everypony else in Ponyville, for that matter!"

"So what?" the dragon was furious now, tossing his claws up.

"You play heroine and get yourself into trouble?! Is that what it is?!"

"You! Have no idea whatever that happened here!"

Rarity was now pointing her hoof whilst glaring spitefully at Spike, her rage flurrying in her eyes.

"Besides! Of everypony, you were the first that got hurt!"

"I was the first?! Is that how it is, Rarity?!"

"Well, I myself see it the way I like it to be!"

"Fine!" the dragon finally shouted, stomping away from the mare.

"If you want to go 'save your friends' and all that, be my guest!

"Fine!"

"And if you get hurt, I'll see what Sweetie Belle has to say about it!"

Rarity turned back, her eyes widened in shock. She watched as the dragon hastily stamp away around the corner, trying his best to quell the rampant rage from within.

She stopped, looking down with a mix of realization of regret. A small tear escaped her eye, yet the mare ignored it, letting it drip on the carpet.

"W-Well," she said to herself, "no matter!"

Without a second thought, she marched down the corridor, trying to push their argument to the back of her mind.

"If he doesn't want to follow, then so be it!"

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"What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?"

Rainbow was pacing around the room, frustration binding her head tightly like a vice. Soarin' was awake, sitting silently on the bed as if nothing happened.

"Soarin'! Come on!" the rainbow-maned pegasus shouted.

"You gotta help me here!"

"I'm thinking of something, Dash!"

The stallion sat down, pondering in deep thought with his wings fluttering anxiously.

"Did we get any, you know..."

"What?"

"Birth control?"

"This is Fenderville, for Celestia's sake."

Rainbow groaned a little, rolling her magenta eyes.

"And what's the chance that two, drugged, half-assed pegasi would stop to get any from the shop anyway?"

Soarin' started chuckling a little, making the mare turn to him with an annoyed grunt.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"N-Nothing! It's... it's just..."

He tried to dismiss it, but continued when Rainbow shot him a glare.

"Y-You called yourself 'half-assed'!"

"Th-That's because I was...! Ugh... you're not helping here!"

"Well, I don't see much of a big deal with it."

"Look, Soarin'!" she yelled in his face, crossing her hooves defiantly.

"You're a Wonderbolt. You need a reputation! What would everypony else think if they find out that you did it with me?"

"Nothing much though."

Soarin' chuckled at her, the pegasus's jaw agape at his response.

"I mean, it's not like I'm the only one that got messed up."

"Wh... What do you mean?"

"What I'm saying is I'm not the first Wonderbolt to wake up from a hangover."

The stallion sighed, listing down a few names in his head as he told the first one out:

"Lightning Streak was the first. Got caught doing it in the bar with somepony else."

"Really?" Rainbow asked, her face now filled with wonder and a little disgust.

Is this what the Wonderbolts do in their spare time?

"Man, you should see how he got reprimanded for it! Spitfire wouldn't want to hear from him for two weeks! It was bucking hilarious!"

"Yeaah.... if hitting mares is hilarious I would laugh along too..."

"Damn! His brother was next! Fire Streak got caught on security with one of our mares, Blaze! Two Wonderbolts at the same time! Bummer!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her ears. How the hay was this not in the news already?!

"Surprise got caught as well! That crazy mare had too much in her system. Three in one night, can you believe it?"

"Well..." she smiled a little.

"What about your captain? Did she do anything as well?"

"We've seen her hanging around a certain colt for awhile, so I assumed she did. When we ask that lucky stallion if she actually did it with him, he nodded."

Soarin' burst out laughing, nudging Rainbow's shoulder, who was already starting to giggle.

"Damn! What's more, he had the guts to say they did it together eight times!"

Rainbow let out a nervous laugh. She bit her lip, before asking:

"What about you? Did you do anything before this?"

"Hehe, nah!"

He shrugged it off, giving Rainbow a warm smile.

"I had my eyes on you for awhile, after we met at the Gala, not to mention the legendary Sonic Rainboom you did for the Young Flyer Competition back in Cloudsdale."

"R-Really?"

Rainbow started blushing a deep purple, the red mixing with the cyan tone of her cheeks.

"Sure! I mean you're athletic, you have guts. Even Spitfire would be jealous of you!"

"Isn't she like, you know..."

The pegasus held back a little, before letting out a mutter:

"the same?"

"Same? No way!"

Soarin' now huddled closer to the troubled mare, putting a comforting hoof around her wings.

"You have that flair. That... something that the rest of the Wonderbolts don't have. Everypony's been talking about your Sonic Rainboom back then."

"W...Wow..."

Rainbow fizzled in place. She couldn't believe it! Her idols, all admiring her Sonic Rainboom!

"I didn't know..."

"I had considered that you should join, but Spitfire would have none of it."

The stallion chuckled slightly, letting out a deep sigh.

"Green with envy. As always."

"I guess...." Rainbow replied with a small laugh, before turning back to Soarin'

"So... my friends invited you to the party, right?"

"Yup!"

"Well.... is that why you came?"

The mare was now uneasy around him, her heart pulsating, every thump ringing in her ears.

"Or is it something else?"

Soarin' blinked for a second, before shaking his head. He looked deep into her magenta eyes, which still flowered with innocence despite last night's encounter.

Their heads grew closer, their lips starting to meet as he whispered:

"I was here... because I love you, Rainbow."

Just as they were about to kiss, the television suddenly flared up, making them jump back in surprise.

Both stood there, panting and heaving for a moment, before bursting out in laughter, rolling over the bed with tears of joy in their eyes.

"Sat on the remote! Who would believe it!" the Wonderbolt said amidst his laughter, trying hard to retain his composure as he watched Rainbow giggle, tossing and turning on the bed.

It wasn't long before their laughter died down, the pair now trying to calm down.

Rainbow turned to her side, watching the stallion give her a warm smile as she uttered:

"I love you too, Soarin'."

"-and the town of Cloudsdale was now in a state of mourning for the attorney, who was recently appointed to the position just two months ago. The recent execution of Ravenshy Fallows-"

"Wait!"

Rainbow turned to the screen, her eyes mixed with shock and disbelief

She watched with worry as the words repeated in her head, the camera now focusing on a broken window.

"What is it?" Soarin' asked, his face flushed with concern.

"-that they ever had. The funeral would be held today for Charter. We had indeed lost a benevolent pegasus in this world-"

Soarin' flipped the television off, the mare now on the verge of tears.

Silence filled in for a moment between them, before he asked:

"You know this Charter fellow, don't you?"

Rainbow could only nod with a whimper, the stallion now hugging her close to his chest.

"H-He rescued my fr-friend.... I was there when everything happened! The whipping, the... the slashing..."

"Shh...." he quietly said as the mare sobbed out her despair, tears dampening his chest.

His own confidence started to crack. The love of his life, one of the bravest, toughest pegasi he knew, was now crying in his chest.

It was heart-wrecking to watch her cry: he could feel the mare's burden slamming onto his back. Soarin' held her hoof in a tight grip, giving her a comforting peck on her cheek.

"It's okay now..." the stallion whispered in her ear, trying to wipe her tears away.

"It's okay...."

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"Here it is," she said to herself.

Rarity stood there, mustering up her courage as she faced the yellow door in front of her. Her hooves were numb from all the walking she had done to find it, but there it was.

It seemed so tempting to turn the knob, yet a part of her was in a state of denial, frantically repeating the word 'no' all over in her head. The mare shrugged it off: she must do it. For the sake of her friends.

Hesitantly, her hoof turned the golden knob, the sound of a click making her give the door a push.

The light pierced like white daggers into the room, the mare's giant shadow a wall obstructing a grand part of it. Dust covered the whole room, with two claw prints on the ground, marking how far the dragon had walked.

"Spike..." she managed to mutter as she took her first step into the room, the flashes of their argument replaying in her mind.

Regret was like the light of the afternoon sun: penetrating deep into her heart. Rarity let a small tear drip onto the floor, mixing with the grey dust below.

Apologies can wait.

She took her second step in, gulping as her hoof landed on the next print that the dragon made. Spike was stopped here, making her tremble a little.

What was beyond was now for her to find out.

Third step. Nothing.

The musty silence in the room was foreboding, as if disapproving Rarity's presence in the room.

It was Summer's room, if she could recall. She remembered the Patriarch's dead brother: that hungry arrogance that flared in his eyes, that spiteful voice he seemed to retain.

A pony like that would not be underestimated at the first sight of him, but now he's dead.

She felt uneasy at the thought of it. Maybe Spike was right. Maybe this was too much for her to handle...

"No!" her inner voice resolved, "They're hiding something, and it's up to you to find out what!"

Rarity tried to see through the darkness. All the curtains were blinded shut, refusing any entry from the sunshine outside, despite it being Summer's room.

Confidence overtook her strides, the mare now setting her sights to the study table in front of her.

Her heart throbbed with anticipation as Rarity got closer, now reaching the centre of the room.

The table was almost gleaming to her. Her eyes sparkled like Daring Do would to a gold casket of jewels.

The truth. About everything! Mirror Mare, the Palgiot family, everything.

Just within her reach...

*BANG*

Rarity's eyes widened, her pupils warped into slits.

Shock flew into her mind, rapidly extinguishing all thoughts of learning the truth.

There was pain, but it was as if non-existent; numbness overwhelmed her body which was frozen in place.

Blood spilled from the white coat, the mare now sputtering a little of it from her mouth.

She tried to scream, to shout for help, yet all that came out was a painful silence. Everything started to slow down around her, the world crumpling like a piece of paper.

The faint laughter of death was feasible to her ears; the wound seeped onto the floor, forming a palpable stream along her white body.

Suddenly, a thin, glinting javelin flew from above, seemingly slowed down in her grasp of time. Rarity watched in horror as it fell closer and closer, aiming directly for her body.

She tried to move, yet her hooves could not respond, still frozen by the shock of the bullet that passed before that. The mare could only whimper, closing her eyes.

Hell went through her body, puncturing through her flesh before striking into the ground. Rarity was hoisted up, slowly and painfully sliding down the bloodied end of the spear.

She nearly choked on the fountain of blood forming in her mouth, spilling out in gallons with every cough.

Rarity hung there like a string puppet, impaled in mid-air. She could only look at the ceiling, praying with every spill of blood from the puncture.

"S-..Sp..." she struggled, trying to say the dragon's name.

"The switches, when flipped, will activate certain traps." Winter's calm voice was a harsh echo, a painful reminder.

"I don't want to take any chances, especially with all the Mirror Mare and stuff going on."

"Rarity, I was thinking 'bout what you said and-"

The mare could hear a loud gasp. An unmistakable one, that is.

She could hear Spike's paws running frantically to the mare, his face contorted of shock and horror.

"Rarity! Wh...what-!"

He tried to move the spear, but all he did was drop it at an angle, only making the mare sink lower with a grunt.

"R-Rarity... hold on! Just hold on!"

She tried. She tried to tell him she couldn't.

Her life was slowly faltering, the sound of ticking in her head only worsening the pain, mocking her in her agony.

"Rarity! Don't give up on me now!"

Spike was in a turmoil of emotions, trying to move the large spear out from the deep crack it had made on the marble floor.

"Rarity! Don't do this! Don't YOU BUCKING DARE!"

There was only one way to end her suffering. Even though her beloved dragon was shouting at her not to. Even if that would mean she would leave everything behind.

Her friends.... her family.... everything to the troubles of Pendant Lakes.

She felt so selfish, for leaving too early. It wasn't a choice, though.

Remorse can wait.

She closed her eyes.

* * * * * * *

Rarity awoke with a gasp.

The clock struck nine in the distance as sweat dripped from her mane, already dampening the sheets she had gripped tightly on her hoof. She looked around, primarily at her body, reaching around with every pant.

It wasn't long before she let out a relieved sigh. It was only a dream.

Or was it?

The gunshot, the spear... it felt too painful, too real....

Too... lucid...

The morning light shone into the room, her head pounding with the need for answers.

"No. No, that's impossible..." she said to herself.

"I couldn't have survived that."

She felt her left hoof being gripped tightly by a claw, the sound of gentle snoring making her turn.

Spike was there, still amidst his slumber. There wasn't any indication of worry or fatigue, making her sigh in relief.

"It was a dream after all..."

The day never happened. She never argued with Spike. She wasn't shot nor impaled.

Yet she was still troubled. That could not be it.

The dragon nuzzled her hoof gently, making her giggle, kicking away any worries from her head.

It wasn't enough. They returned as soon as they left.

Rarity pondered for a long moment, her heartbeat slowing down from her fading anxiety.

"If it wasn't a dream..." she muttered to herself.

"What is it?"

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Pinkie loved lunch. Well, she loved every meal of the day, actually.

She was sitting in the lobby, patiently waiting for her friends to come down to join her. Her hooves swayed side to side, giving a countless number of glances towards the elevator.

She wouldn't blame them though. She was an early bird.

It wasn't long before she started whistling a tune to herself. Not that she was enjoying the waiting though.

"I thought I recognized you."

Startled, Pinkie turned to the direction of the voice.

There stood a unicorn, wearing his black suit, He had a clear blue coat, his collars a little ruffled, possibly from some of the work he's been doing.

Pinkie smiled. The stallion that hit him while she and Rainbow crossed the street.

"It's been a while, Winter."

"I'm sure it has been, Pinkamena."

"I prefer Pinkie now, if you don't mind."

Winter blinked in surprise, before giving her a grin.

"But of course. Pinkie it is."

The stallion settled himself onto the couch across hers, busily serving himself a small cup of chrysanthemum tea.

"I've seen you around recently." he spoke, before sipping on his tea.

"Just visiting, Winter. Nothing much."

"Oh, really?"

Winter settled the cup down, a glint sparkled in his eye,

"I'm sure you've heard. The return of Mirror Mare."

"Yeah." the pink pony said with a nod. Her face turned grimmer with every move the Patriarch makes. She tensed a little in her seat, tightening her grip onto the velvet of the couch.

"Why? You're suspecting that I'm it now?"

"Nopony said anything about that. However..."

Winter suddenly gripped onto her puffy mane, yanking her forward. She gritted her teeth, her rage flaring as the stallion whispered into her ear:

"You didn't just 'pay a visit' when you came to Pendant Lakes, didn't you?"

"So what?"

Pinkie's mane started to straighten, her nose wrinkling with cold hatred.

"It wasn't any of your business!"

"Neither it was yours."

Winter pushed the pink mare back, not wanting to draw any attention. Both exchanged spiteful glares, trying to calm the burning rage that flared within them.

"Your kind weren't meant to be there." the Patriarch scowled quietly with a harrumph, before gulping the rest of his tea.

"If I were you, I would buck off from now on."

Pinkie watched with a growl as the unicorn stomped away, passing through the double doors.

She wanted to smack Winter so badly, slamming her hooves harshly onto the couch.

"Pinkie!"

Twilight's voice rang from her corner, making her freeze in surprise.

"Come on..." she said to herself, trying to ruffle the straighten hairs of her mane back as she put on a smile.

"Hey, Pinks!" Rainbow Dash raised her hoof in greeting. Beside her was Soarin' and Twilight, who all did the same as well.

"You're early today."

"I'm just so excited to spend the day with you guys!"

She managed to squeal gleefully despite the anger still building up within her. Her hoof gripped onto the velvet couch again, as if it was draining all the rage from within her.

"So, where shall we go next?"

"Maybe we'll visit the town for awhile."

Twilight's horn lit up, making a brochure fly from its case.

"There might be a lot of exciting things to see!"

Pinkie managed a faltering laugh, prompting the cyan pegasus to ask:

"You okay, Pinks?"

She swallowed a lump of guilt. How shall she put this...

"I'm fine!" she said dismissively, rocking herself back and forth. Her gaze set onto the double doors leading outside, flipping endlessly to let guests in.

"Just.... reconnected with an old friend.

Celestia's Covenant

Another week.

Princess Celestia sighed with dejection as she stood in front of a pair of gray-tinted, sapphire doors, looking worryingly and longingly for them to open. It was becoming sort of a weekly thing for her, but it wasn't part of the schedule for centuries.

At least, until a year ago.

Her sister returned as Nightmare Moon, the embodiment of fear, of darkness. A demonic presence that even she would be frightened upon. It wasn't until her protege, Twilight Sparkle and her friends had beaten that darkness away that she fully realized what was happening.

It's becoming increasingly frantic for her. With everything happening already at Pendant Lakes, she asked herself, what's the chance that it would happen?

"Princess?"

The alabaster mare turned to the direction of the voice, immediately breaking away from her thoughts.

A unicorn now stood in front of her, comparatively small to her majestic size. He adjusted his spectacles, before speaking:

"She's completely fine, Princess."

Princess Celestia breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well," she asked as usual, "any progress?"

"Unfortunately, no."

The unicorn leafed through his clipboard, not wanting to see the princess's look of disappointment.

"It has, and is still is, rooted too deep inside her system. There's a high chance she might not survive the extraction."

"I understand."

She looked up at the doors solemnly, before asking:

"Can I see her?"

"Of course, Princess."

The doors swung open as Princess Celestia stepped into her sister's room. It was dark, not foreboding, but a calming, serene sort of dark. For a Princess, the room seemed more like an astronomer's fantasy, with constellations filling the ceiling, a few, dismantled telescopes in the corner and a desk filled with books about the Sun, the Moon and stars.

Her sister was lying in her bed, smiling warmly at the older mare's entry.

"What brings you here, Tia?"

Princess Celestia couldn't help but chuckle at her given nickname. Luna's so adorable sometimes.

"Just seeing if you're alright."

"I feel fine," she said, rolling her eyes with a hint of sarcasm.

"As usual~!"

"You know it's for the better of you, Luna."

"Well, it might've just went away."

The cerulean alicorn started to stand up, despite the numbness still flowing in her hooves.

"I think I just need a little time to adjust, that's all."

Her sister sighed, shaking her head in disapproval.

"Luna... just listen to me for once. This isn't just a usual checkup for an ordinary disease."

"What do you mean 'ordinary disease'?"

The younger mare was curious yet worried. She knew her sister well enough to know when something serious comes up, and now her somber mood is revolving around her.

"Is.. it terminal or something?"

"No. More like mechanical."

Princess Celestia's heart dropped a little, unsure of what to do.

How shall she put this...

"I think it's time to tell you what happened."

"You see, many years ago, when you were still on the Moon, I made a deal..."

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"Is she okay right now?"

"Macintosh and I were tryin' our best to comfort her."

Applejack's voice trembled with a little bit of fear, crackling from the black speakers.

"Ah don't know if she's gonna be fine..."

"I'm sure she will be."

Rarity sighed. She had not spoke to Applejack for a week now, only recently learning of Fluttershy's sudden outrage and the turmoil they went through in Cloudsdale.

Guilt struck deep in her heart. She could've helped the yellow pegasus.

"It's crazy. We've just said goodbye to Charter yesterday, and now he's dead."

The white unicorn bit her lip, hearing her friend sigh as she continued:

"Charter was the last thing Fluttershy had left, besides the rest of us. Ah believe RD would've heard about it too."

Rainbow Dash. She was away with Twilight and Pinkie on a quest to open Persimmon's box, if Rarity could remember.

"Have you heard from them since they left?"

"Not a second."

Rarity could hear slight sniffling from the speakers as Applejack spoke:

"Ah'm really worried for them, ya know? This isn't like facing Nightmare Moon or Discord at all."

"What do you mean?"

"When we defeated them, we were all together, side by side."

Uncertainty flowered between them as the orange pony questioned:

"Now we're all over the place, not together at the same time."

"True."

Rarity started to ponder. Was it intentional? Part of a plan?

"I'll try to reconnect with them. Everything else alright there, then?"

"Eeyup." Applejack replied with a stirring confidence.

"Sweetie Belle's still living as herself with m'ah sister and Scootaloo. Ya cat's still eating that treat Shy had bought. Boutique's still up and runnin'..."

"Well, tell Sweetie Belle I said hi."

Rarity started to smile, the little filly prancing into her mind.

"And let me know when Fluttershy's okay."

"I will," the orange pony said, before Rarity heard a click.

"Can I come in now?"

The white unicorn turned around, a little startled at the voice, before letting out a smile.

Spike leaned against the door, returning her smile with one of his own, showing off his gleaming fangs.

"Hey."

Rarity could only reply with the same.

"Hey..."

An awkward silence filled the room, before the dragon began:

"I was thinking... about the nightmare you told me..."

She couldn't help but shudder at the thought of it, the gore of it all.

"Okay... A-And?"

"You're sure it's a nightmare?"

Spike's face was flushed with worry, his claws clenched from doubt.

"Because I don't think it was..."

"Wh-what..."

Rarity's voice faltered a little. Her ears perked with disbelief, dread filling her heart to the core.

"What d-do you mean?"

"Stellar and I, we were retracing my steps in the room."

Spike's face was turning as green as his scales, settling himself next to the troubled mare.

"We found something... how should I say this... similar."

"You found a... a body?"

"The very same way you described it, only a different mare."

The dragon placed his arm around her, noticing Rarity's expression of shock. She looked down to the floor with widened eyes, her mouth agape with disbelief as she muttered:

"No... impossible... it never happened..."

Rarity turned to Spike, her hoof gripping tightly on his claws pleadingly.

"Please tell me! Tell me it never happened!"

Spike didn't want to do this. He's facing the love of his life, about to collapse right in front of him with the slight utter of the truth. He held his breath.

"I wished it didn't happen either, but she was found before-"

"No!"

Rarity threw a bottle of perfume from her stand, shattering the vanity mirror across the room.

Spike watched as the mare broke down, burying her face into the bed.

"I've seen this coming... I could've stop this! I could've have!!"

"You couldn't, Rarity."

The dragon tried to help her up, but she pushed his claw away harshly before continuing her sobs.

"Rarity, there wasn't anything you could do!"

"I could've stopped it.... I could've stopped it..." she repeated with her hooves harshly rubbing her temple, trying to force out the hellish pressure she's crumbling from.

"It's still a dream, is it?" the mare suddenly spoke. "Is it?"

She wandered towards the broken glass, the shards looking so tempting from her view. Spike's eyes widened in horror, realizing what she's trying to do.

"All I have to do... is to just wake up..."

"Rarity!"

The unicorn suddenly felt the world snap, her fading vision soaring back into reality.

Spike was now in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. Rarity could only stare into his concerned eyes, before hugging him tighter than ever before, crying loudly into his chest.

"Wh-Why am I doing this?" she shouted between her sniffles.

"Why..."

The dragon tried to hush her, although he could see it wasn't doing anything good.

He could only helplessly let her screams into his ear, his own confidence starting to crack.

"Why...?"

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"So you're actually helping your friend with everything in Pendant Lakes."

Rainbow Dash nodded at the Wonderbolt, suckling her straw eagerly for another refreshing wave of soda in her mouth. They have since declared that they were dating, much to her friends' delight.

She, along with Soarin', Twilight and Pinkie were enjoying the fresh air, admiring the architecture of every building around them.

"This is Persimmon's hometown, right?" the pegasus asked her lavender friend.

"I'm sure it is."

Twilight looked at her knapsack, the box still unopened, the lacquered surface gleaming smoothly in the afternoon sun.

"It's just hard to find where she exactly lived."

Pinkie, however, was unusually silent, albeit her cheerfulness in the morning. Gummy was hanging onto her mane, finally reunited with his owner after a few days in Tourist's possession.

The pegasus could see her uneasy glances at every building, as if she was fearful of something.

"Pinkie Pie?"

"Hmm?" the pink pony replied casually.

Too casually, considering the pony in question.

"Something bothering you?" Rainbow asked her hesitantly.

"Nah. I'm okay!" Pinkie retorted with delight, instantly dismissing the subject.

"But I'm a little tired from all the walking though!"

"Well, walking or not," Twilight spoke up.

"We need to find where Persimmon had lived. I think we had used up too much time in our hooves."

"But we don't even know where to begin with!"

Rainbow threw her cyan hooves up, her wings fluttering with frustration.

"How would we even know where she lived without breaking down every door we see?"

"There must be some lead. This isn't an ordinary box, after all.'

Twilight jiggled it in her hooves, only to hear silence.

"Pinkie?"

"Yeah?"

"You've been here before, right?" Twilight asked the pink pony.

"Of course!" she said with a snort.

"How would I know Tourist Trap if I wasn't here? It would be like mystical, and mind-reading, and mind-controlling. Ooh-! and if I can do that, you know how much muffins I'll ask him to make? He's really, really good at baking-!"

"Okay.We get it!"

Twilight's voice interrupted the pink pony's tirade of words, making her let out a sheepish grin.

Knowing her penchant of making new friends, she asked her:

"So is there anypony that knows Persimmon. Closely, in fact?"

"Closely? Hmm...."

Pinkie started to ponder, with three pairs of eyes fixated onto her, waiting for her answer.

"Well... sorta..."

"Really?"

Rainbow's eyes were beginning to light up. Finally they were getting somewhere!

"How close are they to her?"

"Foalhood friends, that's what!"

Pinkie bounced in a circle around them, her face beaming with pride.

"Well, let's get going then!"

Twilight swung her mane aside, feeling triumphant after so long.

"We don't want to keep Rarity waiting, don't we?"

Rainbow and Soarin' nodded, quickly following after the unicorn.

Pinkie stood there for a moment, before suddenly speaking:

"W-Wait! Twilight!"

The three of them stopped in their tracks, bumping into each other.

Twilight sighed, turning to her friend.

"What is it now, Pinkie?"

"Well.. I was... um... I was..."

Her mind whipped up a storm, trying its best to conjure something to say.

"Well... Nightmare Night's coming! Yes! So I thought maybe we'll get ready for the Skull Festival!"

"Skull what?"

Twilight looked at her, a little perplexed with the sudden mention of it.

"Skull Festival."

Soarin' stepped forward to explain, finally having a chance to speak.

"It's a festival in Fenderville to celebrate Nightmare Night. A sort of parade or carnival, where everypony dresses up in their costumes and have floats and everything."

He gave Rainbow a small wink, making her smile as he continued:

"That's why I came here! To see if there were any flight shows for the Festival."

"Well...."

Twilight sighed. She had a difficult decision to make. If she stuck with finding Persimmon's friend, she'll only disappoint the three of them and maybe Princess Luna herself. Yet if she stuck along with the festival, that would impede their necessary progress to capture Mirror Mare and help Rarity.

A hard choice. Why is she the one who always has to make them...

"Fine."

Pinkie jumped up with glee, letting out a loud 'yay!'. Everypony else chuckled at her sudden delight, watching her prance around the avenue.

"What are we waiting for?" she squealed, "let's get some costumes!"

The three ponies smiled, walking down the road whilst watching the pink pony hum a small tune.

Twilight, however, started to frown. Rainbow Dash noticed it. She couldn't help but ask:

"What is it, Twi?"

"Well..."

The unicorn beckoned her head towards Pinkie as she continued with a whisper:

"The way she acted when I said we're going to find Persimmon's friend... It's quite suspicious, don't you think?"

"Yeah... and?"

"I think she doesn't want us to continue."

Twilight sighed at the sight of the pegasus's surprised expression.

"As in she's delaying us on purpose."

"But why would she do that for?"

Rainbow looked at the pink pony, who was now chatting happily with Soarin'.

"She understands we're trying to help Rarity, right?"

"Maybe she doesn't want us to know something."

The unicorn now kicked her hooves onto the pavement, her thoughts focusing on the pink pony.

"Maybe she doesn't want to bring back the past. Maybe she doesn't want anything to change everything: leave everything the way it is."

"But we're gonna find out eventually anyway."

Rainbow started to frown as well, turning to her friend.

"Why even bother delaying us in the first place?"

"I don't know."

Twilight bit her lip, the pieces trying to click into place in her head.

"But one thing's for sure: if Pinkie's scared of it, I'm afraid we all have a very good reason to as well."

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Applejack would've left her friend alone, to cry out all the despair from her, but the guilt she had to bear afterwards would be too much to handle.

The orange mare was in Fluttershy's cottage, already halfway up the wooden stairs.

She remembered the loud screams, the thrashing of wood, the look of fear on Angel's face.

"Shy?" Applejack called her friend's name as she stood in front of the door, giving it a quick knock.

"Fluttershy, ya 'kay in there?"

"I'm... I'm fine..."

She sighed with relief at the reply, the yellow pegasus continuing from amidst her sniffling:

"C-Come in..."

The door swung open, revealing the serene, orderly bedroom. Fluttershy was sitting on her bed, wiping off her tears with the green sheets. Angel sat beside her, his worried face already evident at a glance.

"Hey, Applejack..."

Applejack gave her a warm smile in response, a part of her glad to see she was still safe.

"Ya feel better now?"

"I'm not sure..."

Fluttershy started to whimper again, prompting her pet rabbit to pass her another tissue.

"Charter.... Why would somepony do something like this...?"

"Figures. We're talking about Mirror Mare here."

The orange mare settled next to her on the bed, placing her hat down to let the blonde mane swing freely.

"If there's one thing we know from it, it's plans ain't clear to us."

Mirror Mare. The name sounded like filth to both of them.

"What did the doctor say?" Applejack asked, referring to the pegasus's recent trip to the psychiatrist.

"There's a chance I got my..."

She couldn't say it out, continuing when Applejack allowed her to skip that word.

"...from my mother. Her ancestors had... well... the same thing...."

"But something must've made it happen, right?"

"Doctor said it was what Pinkie done to me..."

The orange pony blinked in surprise.

"You mean... when she tied you up in the barn...?"

"Thinking back, what my mom and Pinkie did to me was similar."

Fluttershy tried to retain her confidence, which was breaking from the lingering recollection in her head.

"They weren't.... in the right mind when they... th-they..."

"No need to say it out, Fluttershy."

Applejack held her breath, placing a comforting hoof around her shoulder.

Silence filled the air for a minute. Both mares and Angel looked outside the window for a minute, watching as a colorful, bountiful hail of leaves rained towards the ground.

Despite her whimpers, Fluttershy managed a smile. It wasn't long before it evolved into a soft giggle, making Applejack turn in surprise.

"What is it?"

"N-Nothing... it's just... your brother."

"Macintosh?"

Applejack tilted her head a little, wearing a puzzled expression on her face.

"What 'bout him?"

"He... he came yesterday to comfort me. Again."

Fluttershy started to giggle again, before continuing:

"His face... it was so red! And he's... he's always so shy around me..."

The orange mare felt her heart leap with anticipation, already teetering off the edge of the bed.

"And?" she asked, "did you talk to him about it?"

"Well... I wanted to..."

Fluttershy started to blush as well, a little bashful as her voice lowered in volume.

"I think.... I think he likes me..."

Applejack could not believe her ears. She knows!

"Well... do you like him then, Fluttershy?" she asked in return, trying to clear the question bugging her head.

"I... uhh...... I..."

The orange mare grinned slyly as her friend's face grew redder and redder.

Score!

"No need to speak. Ah already know the answer."

Fluttershy gave her a sheepish grin as Angel nudged the yellow pegasus mischievously, indirectly cheering for his owner at the same time.

"Would... would you let me...? If I want to...?"

"Ah can tell you that Macintosh likes you as much as ya like him."

Applejack gave a smile, placing her signature hat back on.

The yellow pegasus leaped for joy, letting out a quiet 'yay'. Her friend chuckled as she fluttered back down, her face redder than ever before.

"So... does that mean... you'll let me..."

"Date m'ah brother? Suredy-do, sugarcube!"

The orange pony grinned, tilting her hat towards her friend.

"In fact, Ah can maybe help you as well!"

"Really? Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, Applejack!"

Applejack sighed, slightly laughing along with Angel as the yellow pegasus hugged her, squeezing her tightly like a soft, plushie teddy bear.

"Don't mention it. Just wanna see you and Macintosh happy together, that's all."

The orange pony chuckled, watching as Fluttershy twirled around in her room, still overjoyed from her reply.

She looked up to the ceiling as if it wasn't there, a small smile creeping onto her face with a quiet mutter:

"You should've seen this, Daddy..."

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"You don't need to follow me, Rarity."

The unicorn in question turned to Spike, a little gloomy from this morning. She was still shaken, her hooves trembling with a sinking feeling as they got closer to Summer's room.

"I'm sure it's necessary."

Spike squinted his eyes a little, before letting out a sigh.

"Alright. But try not to get hurt."

The couple quickly reached their destination, the dread in the mare forcing her to clutch tightly onto his claw.

A few guards patrolled around the corridors, preventing any trespassers from entering without the consent of Stellar. Spike and Rarity could hear him barking orders, sounding more like a commander than a butler.

Chief Griffonhooves came towards them, nodding to the two guards at the door. They raised their rifle-blades up in response, allowing the couple to enter.

"We've been expecting you two."

Inside, police-ponies scoured the room, searching through every nook and cranny left inside. The curtains were drawn apart, finally letting light in since the day of Summer's funeral. It really looked like Winter's room, with the exception of the golden paints on the walls, replacing the Patriarch's sky-blue ones.

Stellar was in the center of the room, his face stern with a frown. He became the leading pony of the palace since Winter's absence, with everypony else knowing of the Patriarch's intentions.

"Be careful with everything around here," the colt warned.

"Who knows if there are any more of these traps around."

"Stellar!" the police chief called out, with Rarity and Spike stepping forward.

"They're here."

Rarity gazed around the floor, stopping at a large crack on the ground.

She tried not to gasp. That was the spot where she was hit by the spear in her nightmare.

"Miss Rarity! It's quite a surprise you're here too!"

The butler managed a smile, the white unicorn returning with her own as he continued:

"Spike told me of your ordeal. You're sure about coming along with him?"

"I'm... I'm fine."

"Glad to hear that."

Stellar pointed to the crack on the marble floor, beginning his explanation:

"The mare was found dead, with a javelin launched from the ceiling and a gunshot wound on her body."

He turned to the couple, gazing especially at the white mare.

"Just like Rarity's dream."

She shuddered, causing Spike to wrap his scaly arm around her.

"Did you find anything else?" Rarity asked, trying to forget about the gruesome turn of events.

"No potential reason why the mare was here in the first place."

Stellar brushed his suit, ruffling the black collars as he continued:

"It's a wonder why she would bother sneaking inside. There was nothing here."

"Well... maybe Winter cleared it out or something." Spike shrugged.

"Maybe he took any important evidence along with him when he was tidying everything up."

"I don't want to agree on this..." the butler said, hesitating for a moment.

"But I have the same thoughts as well."

"What of the crystal?" Rarity asked, remembering the yellow shard she pulled from Spike's head.

"Anything you know about it?"

"Master Summer got a collection of it back from a trip outside of Equestria."

Stellar craned his neck to a sack on the table, sealed tightly to prevent any more damage.

"From what we examined, this crystal was used for warding off dragons."

"Warding off? Really?"

Spike scratched his head, wrinkling his nose with contempt at the sack.

"I don't think soul-possessing and warding off are the same thing."

"Well, the crystal contains a feral energy. An energy that consumes you of rationality."

Stellar paced a little to their left, still deep in thought,

"That energy would make you leave civilization, before deactivating itself."

The butler watched as the dragon nodded, finally understanding what he meant.

"There's a possibility," he continued, "that these kinds of crystals were used on Jovern as well."

"You mean when he attacked the cave?"

Rarity quivered, remembering the old dragon's loud roar, the mark his giant claws left onto her body.

"Somepony did that on purpose?"

"To target Autumn, possibly. Whoever it was knew of the curse that Princess Celestia has placed onto the family."

The white unicorn nodded, her thoughts focusing on the only pony who would do this.

"I think I know who."

Spike turned to the white mare, his seriousness evident on his face.

"My answer should be the same as well."

All three came to that one conclusion, saying the pony's name out at the same time:

"Mirror Mare."

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The Princess sighed with relief.

She had just left Luna's room, finishing up her explanation to her sister. Surprisingly enough, the mare did not scream at her as expected, only telling her she did what had to be done.

She felt there was more to it, though. Something she had hid from her sister for centuries wouldn't just fly by in her head without any sort of resistance.

"Princess Celestia..."

The alabaster mare turned at the sound of the voice, her face instantly grimacing at the sight of a masked pony before her.

"You again."

"It's been an honor to meet you here."

The voice was sharp, filled with cold hatred. And it was directed against her.

"The talk went well, I guess?"

"She accepts it. She accepts what your master have done."

"Master...."

Mirror Mare snickered, watching the princess grumble as it slipped aside, swaying the cloak tauntingly at the mare.

"It's been a long time since someone mentioned about it."

"So now you've been following their hoofsteps?"

"The deal you made is unbreakable. One slight slip and you know what happens."

Mirror Mare imitated a 'kaboom', only intimidating the princess even further.

"I've kept my end of the deal so far."

Princess Celestia wrinkled her nose, her horn starting to flicker with rage.

"What makes me believe that you will keep your end of the bargain?"

"Just remember the deal, Princess. No need to pry on our side."

The maroon cloak swung around as the masked pony trotted closer to her, the mask glinting callously in the light.

"What was the deal~?" it asked in a singsong voice.

She growled, feeling enraged for being treated like some pet.

"Let the information they received die with them. Failure to do so..."

Princess Celestia bit her lip, a fresh tear leaking from her eye.

"...the nano-bomb will explode in Luna's system, killing her instantly."

"Good girl~!"

Mirror Mare clopped it's hooves together, making the princess glare with spite.

"And who are 'they' again?"

Princess Celestia sighed.

"The Voyager Six."

"That's right... the Voyager Six...."

"You're just killing them off one by one," the princess scowled, trying to vent the anger flaming within her.

"I need at least one of them to survive."

"Why? So that the one Voyager can slip everything out from their filth mouth of theirs?"

Mirror Mare shook its head, making Princess Celestia glare daggers towards it.

"Remember who we were talking about here, Princess."

A black, ethereal cloud started to form around Mirror Mare, the cloak around it flowing in the wind as it finally uttered:

"She was the one who caused it, and she will be the one to die with it."

His Bane, Her Lore

"Skully Festival~ly, Skully Festival~ly; Skully-Wully-Festivally wee-wee-WEE!!"

Rainbow tried to force her ears shut as Pinkie repeated the lines again, happily wobbling about in her chair. She had said it for the twenty-first time in the minute, much to the demise of everypony else.

Twilight had just finished slamming her head repetitively onto the table, the made-up limerick frozen in her mind. Soarin' could just stare into space, trying to draw his attention away from the pink mare.

"Is she always like that?" the stallion finally asked Rainbow.

"Since the day we met her."

Rainbow groaned loudly, about to crack under the pressure.

"You done yet, Pinkie?"

The pink pony stopped, chugging down another glass of water, before smiling happily.

"Isn't this fun?" she screeched, swinging the bags in her hoof.

"They're worth a lot of bits though."

Twilight remembered the staggering price of all their costumes together, Rainbow Dash now snickering at her friend.

"You should've seen the look on your face when he gave you that bill!"

"I'm sure it's funny, Rainbow Dash." the unicorn said coldly with sarcasm, rolling her eyes.

"In fact, it's so funny that I forgot to laugh."

"Aw, come on!"

Rainbow nudged the unicorn, who only turned away with a 'hmph' of displeasure.

"Even though they're expensive, they still looked cool!"

"Skully-Wully-Festivally wee-wee-WEE!!"

Pinkie was prancing about the plaza, Gummy gripping tightly on her puff of a mane with its jaws.

"Just think of all the shows we're gonna see tonight!"

"I'm sure there would be many. Which reminds me..."

Soarin' took another sip of his soda, noisily sucking on the plastic straw.

"Spitfire said she and the others would come down here by the evening."

"Wait. They're coming to Fenderville?"

The stallion let out a beaming smile at the awe-struck Rainbow Dash, her mouth hanging agape in disbelief.

"Does... does that mean...?"

Soarin' responded with a nod.

"We've got the flight show."

Rainbow launched herself into the air with joy, her face glowing brightly with glee.

"Woooohh~!!!" she shouted, ignoring the awkward stares the other ponies were giving.

"Who knows," he said with a shrug, "maybe you can ask Capt' to let you join them."

It wasn't long before they stood up, about to continue their shopping spree again.

"So..." Twilight unfurled a list from her hoof.

"Rainbow had a costume already. So did Soarin'..."

The unicorn turned to Pinkie, who was happily trotting down the avenue.

"Pinkie? Wanna go check out on some later?"

"Really~? I'd love to!"

The mares split from Rainbow and Soarin', waving to them with a warm smile.

"Where shall we meet again, Twilight?" Rainbow asked the unicorn.

"Back at the plaza, I guess."

"Alright. See you there!"

Twilight soon scurried after Pinkie, who was already bouncing a few feet from her.

"Wait up, Pinkie!"

"Twily-Twinks a slowpoke~!" she sang out happily with a giggle, glancing around the town before her.

"Come and catch up, silly!"

The unicorn could only roll her eyes, when suddenly Pinkie stopped bouncing, her gaze settling to the left.

Twilight followed her gaze, only to see ponies walking by the shops, as usual.

The pink pony's smile was fading, prompting the concerned unicorn to ask:

"What is it, Pinkie?"

"Wha- uh...."

Pinkie fidgeted her hooves around, before exclaiming:

"Nothing! Nothing at all!"

She suddenly pointed at one of the shops, the windows exhibiting an array of costumes prepared just for the night. Pinkie's smile instantly returned, yet Twilight could see the nervousness slipping out from the corners of her mouth

"Look! There's costumes over there!"

The unicorn scratched her head skeptically, watching with mild confusion at her friend who immediately gallop across the street without a second word.

"What's up with her?"

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Rarity's head pounded agonizingly for what seemed like the eighth time. She had just took an afternoon nap to repress the nightmare from within her, but every time she closed her eyes, her horn will work up a storm, as if overprotective of its owner.

The magic sizzling within her was beginning to tire her out. She sweated profusely, already quivering a little.

Spike was beside her, watching with worry at the mare. She had requested his company as she struggled to sleep, the dragon trying to calm her down.

"You okay, Rarity?" he could only ask.

"I... I don't..."

Rarity started coughing, prompting Spike to pat her back.

"I... I never felt this sick before..."

A million thoughts rushed through the dragon's head. What if she is sick? What if it was terminal?

He shook it off. Such terrifying thoughts...

"Sp-Spike..?" the mare sat up, leaning against his arm.

Her hoof clutched tightly, trembling feverishly with sweat leaking out from it as well.

"I'm... I'm scared..."

"You're not going to... to..."

He couldn't bring himself to say it. It was too early for her.

"Anyway, I've called Doctor Brineheart over. Maybe he can find what's wrong."

"What... what if he couldn't?" she asked.

Spike nearly stumbled from her question.

"I'm... I'm sure he can, Rarity. He's a doctor for a reason after all!"

Rarity managed to giggle, despite the pain lurching out from her throat. She coughed harshly again, smiling affectionately with her eyes closed when Spike stroke his claws down her back soothingly.

The heat emanating from her was immense, as the dragon found out, yet he knew she was feeling cold, judging from all her shivering that she had done.

A small, quiet knock on the door made them turn. Doctor Brineheart stood there, giving them a smile.

He turned to the dragon as he stepped inside, carrying a black bag in his hoof

"I was told Miss Rarity had fallen ill?"

"Got that right."

The brown stallion wore his spectacles, taking out a stethoscope from his bag.

"She looks so frail."

"Frail, yes." Spike said, turning to the white mare.

"But still the beauty I know."

Rarity managed to smile. Even at times like this, the dragon still knows how to brighten up her day.

Doctor Brineheart plugged the stethoscope to his ear, beginning his examination.

His face grew increasingly concerned with every soft tap of the stethoscope on the body. It wasn't long before he stopped, letting out a deep, chagrined sigh.

"She's completely fine."

Spike and Rarity exchanged confused glances.

"Wait," the dragon spoke up, "if she isn't sick, then what's happening to her?"

"We're talking about a different field altogether. She isn't sick physically."

The doctor held his breath, a grim frown aligning his face as he explained:

"She's mentally unstable."

"Wh-what?"

Rarity was completely aghast at his conclusion, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"You're not used to everything that happened here."

Doctor Brineheart flipped through his notebook as he continued his explanation:

"The death, the gruel... it's taking a dark toll on your mind. Not to mention the natural, dark aura that always lingers around town."

Spike was completely astounded by what the doctor said.

"Does that mean that Octavia, Crimson and the other guests would feel the same too?"

"Fortunately, no. This case rarely happens in town."

His hoof finally stopped at a page, his eyes scrolling down the words scrawled within.

"I'll call one of my partners. Doctor Arrowfaith. He's a recognized doctor in psychology and aural physics, among his hundred other degrees."

"All right." the dragon nodded, turning to Rarity, who was now in a frozen state of shock, her mouth hanging open.

"I'm becoming crazy...." she muttered to herself.

As Doctor Brineheart stepped out of the room, Rarity huddled closer to Spike, a small sob escaping from her mouth.

"Wh-Why is this happening to me..?

The volume of her voice started to rise, her face turning frantic with every passing second.

"Am... Am I going to be insane? Locked up for the rest of my life?!"

"No. No you won't."

Spike hugged the quivering mare tightly, not wanting to let her go.

A small part of him started to worry for her, trying not to tear up himself from the broken weeping of the mare in his arms.

"I won't let it happen."

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"...and we'll just splash into the sand! Imagine all the fun we're going to have, Octavia!"

The grey mare could only chuckle at Spring, who was happily jumping about down the gravel path. She and Crimson were taking the lime-green filly to the beach under Stellar's request, wanting to draw her away from all the commotion in the palace.

Initially Rarity and Spike were suppose to tag along, but something came up with the unicorn, as Spike mentioned before they left.

"Pleas be okay..." she whispered silently, walking down the mountain path.

"Palladium Beach, eh?"

Crimson was staring up at a rotting wooden sign: the unfortunate victim for a nest of termites. The white-painted words were already fading as well, no doubt from the constant rain and snow that fell upon here.

"Sounds majestic to me."

"You could say everything here is majestic, Crimson, considering a northern pony's standards here."

"Northern pony? What is that?" the stallion asked teasingly.

"Some sort of monster?"

"Hey!" Spring cried out, kicking his hind hooves. Octavia couldn't help but laugh loudly as Crimson tripped backwards, grabbing his hoof in pain.

"That wasn't very nice!"

"Wow..." he managed to stutter, fanning his aching hoof.

"For a small filly, you seem to have a very strong kick!"

"Of course! We had to defend ourselves when we were young!"

Spring imitated a flurry of strong punches, making the older ponies chuckle.

"Stellar said everypony in the family must learn them."

"The Deceiver Arts, right?" Octavia asked, helping her coltfriend up.

"Rarity mentioned something about that."

"He's gonna teach me how to use a gun!" the filly cried, leaping around with joy, before stopping, her face turning into that of deep thought.

"Although... come to think of it... why am I learning all of this for?"

"To make creepsters like my Crimson here run away, of course!" Octavia said with a wink.

The two of them laughed at Crimson, who just rolled his eyes.

"Ha-ha... Very funny, 'Tavi."

It wasn't long before their hooves touched from dirt to sand, sinking into it effortlessly. Crimson and Octavia gaped in awe at the sight before them, with Spring beaming just right beside them.

The beach was huge, taking over an expanse of land. The sand were like crystals, glimmering in the evening sun. A few palm trees were rooted around the beach, standing tall with their leaves rustling in the wind.

The water was pellucid, transparent down to the sandy floor. The horizon glimmered a bright orange in the sunset, giving a serene, calming atmosphere with the rays striking outwards.

"Wow..." was all Octavia could say, her words snatched away from the magnificence of the Palgiot family's private beach.

"Come on!" Spring said with a giggle, already galloping across the sandy shores with a gleeful smile on her face.

"The day wouldn't wait for us forever, you know!"

Crimson chuckled, brushing his hooves against the sand before galloping towards Spring as well.

"The Crimson Shark's gonna get you!" he shouted with a laugh, the filly playing along with a scream.

Octavia just shook her head at the stallion's mischief, settling herself below the palm trees with a sigh. She couldn't help but chuckle at the two of them, watching the chase with a warm smile on her face.

Since Autumn's passing, the grey mare was like an older sister to Spring. They would usually venture around the palace, sometimes delving into the fantasy worlds shelved in the palace library.

Crimson was more like Winter's replacement, she thought to herself, knowing how much time he would spend with the filly.

Octavia couldn't help but sigh. Still so young and innocent, yet so dangerous...

There was a time where she had to wait for Spring in the gym room. She and Stellar were training fencing and kick-boxing, much to the grey mare's surprise. She could still remember the filly's fierce shouts with every swing of the sword and every kick she launched.

After that, it was suppose to be poetry and music. The transitions from one 'art' to the next was always queer to her.

"You can't catch me Crimson!" Spring's voice broke into her thoughts.

"Never shall the Crimson Shark give up on his prey!"

The stallion gave out a loud roar, making the filly giggle with glee.

"Alright, Mr. Crimson Shark." Octavia said, tossing sand across his face, much to the amusement of Spring.

"Lunchtime's over."

Crimson managed to chuckle, brushing the sand off his face.

Spring was rolling about the sand, kicking a little more of it towards Crimson with a giggle.

"Sandyface!"

"So, enough time with Crimson now. 'Tavi here needs some quality time too!"

The stallion gave a wink towards his marefriend, who only rolled her eyes.

She was busy gazing at the horizon, a look of worry on her face. It wasn't long before Spring and Crimson settled next to her as well, their eyes following the direction of her gaze.

A dark cluster of clouds were forming from afar, lightning wrapping around it in quick jolts. The seas below it were tossed around, the sky darker than coal.

Octavia held her breath as a streak of lightning flashed before her eyes, already feeling the wind blowing from the clouds itself.

"The weather.... it seemed so unnatural..."

Crimson understood what she meant. They were swirling all over the place, hungrily eating away any of the sunlight that managed to seep through its cracks in between them.

"Is it normal here?" he asked Spring.

"From what Stellar and Autumn taught me on meteorology..."

Spring stood to think for a moment, before finally speaking:

"It's not everyday these kinds of things happen around here."

Octavia turned back to look at the storm. It seemed to be heading towards them.

She bit her lip, her front hooves clutching one another.

"I just hope it's not a bad sign."

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The evening made way for night as Fluttershy finally finished up her costume, feeling proud at herself at the end result.

Angel hopped towards her with a bright smile, a white ribbon held in his paws. He was a little more obedient than last time since the incident, but of course there were times where he couldn't just stand there.

This was one of the times.

Fluttershy felt her hoof being tapped repetitively as the rabbit kicked against it, interrupting her powdering.

"Thank you, Angel!" she said, patting the rabbit's head.

She swirled the ribbon around her neck, fitting it at an angle before clipping it up against her black cloak she bought from the market. The white ribbon seemed to swirl gracefully around her body as she tried the cloak on, just as expected.

Glancing at the mirror, the pegasus beamed at her appearance. Just needs some more powdering...

A moment after she finished, a gentle knock came from her door. Scurrying down carefully the stairs, she hastily brushed her mane with her one free hoof, the other turning the knob.

"Why, ya look great, Fluttershy!"

Applejack was standing there, her body covered by a red, checkered coat. Her signature hat was now replaced by a straw one, some strands of it sticking out from her blonde mane. Apple Bloom was right beside her, the little filly wearing a pair of translucent wings, with a somewhat matching antennae on her head.

Big Mac was there as well. One half of him was painted light blue, with marker-drawn stitches separating his red skin from the light blue sides. Even his mane and tail were painted a dark-blue on one side, looking like two ponies stitched together in some gruesome science experiment.

"Wow, Fluttershy..." was all he could say, making his siblings giggle.

"You look.... gorgeous..."

Fluttershy managed to blush, bowing gracefully with a 'thank you'."

"Can Ah guess what Fluttershah' is?" Apple Bloom asked meekly, examining the pegasus closely.

"She powdered her skin white... black cloak...."

The filly suddenly jumped about happily, making the older ponies chuckle.

"Ah know, Ah know!" she screeched, "Vampony!"

"Correct." the pegasus praised, making Apple Bloom beam with pride.

"Well, we all don't wanna miss the festivities now, would we?" Applejack said.

"Come on now! There's so much to do tonight!"

The four of them started their short trek towards Ponyville, with Applejack and Apple Bloom chatting happily along the way. Fluttershy and Big Mac followed them behind, both glancing around the meadow, each of them thinking of something to say.

"So," Big Mac finally began, "whatcha gonna do tonight, Fluttershy?"

"Well, um... I-I don't really know..."

Fluttershy was slightly blushing from the stare he's giving, twirling her hooves around nervously.

"M-Maybe you can suggest something...?"

"Well, there is this one new thing they've made for this year's Nightmare Night."

The stallion was slightly uncertain about it, as Fluttershy had noticed.

"The hedge maze just close to the meadow."

Fluttershy gulped. She had heard of these kinds of mazes before: the ones where ponies scare the living lights out of others.

"Are... Are you sur-sure?"

"From what Ah've heard, its just an ordinary maze. No sudden jumps from anypony, to avoid any of them foals to be scared to death."

Big Mac managed to grin after the pegasus sighed with relief.

"So, it's a yes then?"

"I.. I guess."

"Alright then!" Applejack broke in, overhearing their conservation.

"To the hedge maze it is!"

The maze was situated closer to Sweet Apple Acres and Fluttershy's cottage than Ponyville. It took them no time at all to reach their destination, with a few ponies already starting to step in to get lost inside the puzzling twists and turns.

"Two bits for each, one for a foal," the pony at the makeshift counter said, with Applejack instantly paying up.

"The Mayor really asked for a lot," she said with a frown.

"It's Nightmare Night. Ponies should have fun! Not taking other pony's bits!"

Apple Bloom just scampered inside, humming a small tune before saying:

"Ah'm sure she's just investin'. Most ponies would play to have fun, ya know,"

"Yeah. Ah guess you're right, Apple Bloom."

The hedges were tall, towering like a green row of skyscrapers. The stars twinkled in the clear sky, illuminating the gravel path before them.

"Race 'ya to the finish, AJ!" the filly suddenly shouted, galloping into the maze.

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack called out her name, chasing after her giggling sister.

"Wait up, ya silly filly!"

"W-Wait!"

Fluttershy's voice was too quiet. She could only watch as the two of them galloped inside the confusing pathways, swallowing a lump down her throat.

Big Mac still stood beside her, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Cheer up, Shy. We'll get to the exit together."

The yellow pegasus started blushing furiously. Here she was, stuck in a confusing maze, with only the Apple family's stallion; the one that many mares have swooned over, to guide her out.

"Um... uh...... okay.."

He let out a deep chuckle, smiling at her timidity.

"Oh, Fluttershy."

The two ponies slowly strode deeper into the maze, glancing around at the tall hedges surrounding them.

"So," Fluttershy began, trying to break the silence between them.

"How's the farm?"

"Fine. Harvestin' times are hard though."

Macintosh chuckled, remembering the argument with Vinyl Scratch.

"Ah appreciate your's and Vinyl's help."

"Oh, it's nothing... really..."

The yellow pegasus could hear her heartbeat, nearly breaking out of her chest.

"I just want to help Applejack. That's all."

The stallion smiled at her comment, before the silence stepped in again.

They took a left turn, only to face a giant wall of green obstructing their way.

"Darn." Big Mac uttered quietly, making Fluttershy giggle.

"Well, what about you, Fluttershy?" he asked as they turned around.

"How's life gettin' to ya at the cottage?"

"Well... I... Angel's been pretty obedient these days, much more than last time..."

Her mind racked, trying to figure out what to say.

"I'm quite... happy for all the animals, really. It's been hard for me, yet they still stuck by my side."

The stallion nodded with a smile.

"Stuck by your side, huh?"

"I... I'm much more comfortable with animals, really..."

Fluttershy's wings flapped about. Big Mac could see she was trying to keep her composure.

"... n-not to say that everypony else is scary or anything."

"Well, sometimes Ah have to agree with you."

Fluttershy blinked in surprise, her skeptical look making the stallion laugh.

"It's true!" he retorted.

"When ya alone, or with somepony ya very close with, ya feel at peace, like there was nothing out to get you."

The yellow mare smiled. She could see Big Mac tense a little, his face already starting to turn red.

"Well... I-I was just wondering.... if you don't mind... but..."

She bit her lip. This is it.

"Have you ever had somepony that you're.... close to... before?"

Big Mac turned to the pegasus, his look of surprise immediately fading into a warm smile.

"Well, there's this one mare..."

"R-Really?"

"She's sincere, kind to everypony she meets. Every night I come home, sit on the bed, thinking about her. About how she's so easy with life. About how her burdens seemed like a feather on her wings..."

Fluttershy's heart skipped a beat.

"A-Anything else...?"

"It was always after Ah've done my hard work on the farm. She would be there, tending to anything around her. There's so many nights that Ah've wanted to talk to her..."

Big Mac started to smile, turning to the yellow pegasus, who was now looking down onto the gravel path with a blush-filled smile.

"... so many nights Ah've wanted to know how she lived her life, to say she's beautiful, more beautiful than any other mare Ah've seen in my entire life."

"W-Well," Fluttershy was now stuttering, her hooves trembling.

"I-I'm sure sh-she's one l-l-lucky mare..."

"Then Nightmare Night came." he continued, making the pegasus stop to look in surprise.

Big Mac managed to smile, his face growing closer to the blushing pegasus, who was still frozen on the spot, showing no sign of resistance.

"The chance where Ah can talk to her. The chance when Ah can tell her this..."

Fireworks exploded in the sky, yet the two ponies were still getting closer and closer, completely oblivious to the loud, colorful booms above them.

Fluttershy could feel the stallion's heavy breathing against her snout, her mind turning slightly hazier at every passing minute. Her eyes started to close along with Big Mac's, the stallion finally saying before their lips met:

"Ah love you, Fluttershy."

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"Hey!"

The line of ponies chorused, marching down the slated streets with skeleton floats and carnival costumes.

The Skull Festival was in full bloom in Fenderville: now the sides of the streets were filled with ponies old and young, all cheering eagerly at the passing performers, whilst joining inside the march as well.

Pinkie was already dancing her hooves off, swinging her frilly, black dress side by side. She was dressed as a Gothic doll, her pink skin contrasting the ashen-grey dress that Twilight bought for her.

She had forgotten how big the town was: an hour into the festival and they were still dancing in the North District of Fenderville.

"Hey!"

The ponies launched their hooves into the air again, following to the beat of the song.

Pinkie did the same, jumping with a loud squeal, the black bangle on her left hoof rattling in response.

They were entering the West District, judging from the sudden change of music. It has become more of a tradition to change the songs between each district, but the pink party pony didn't bother.

A Spanish melody started playing throughout town, signaling the Wonderbolt's sudden eruption from behind, forming an array of colors that can only be rivaled by Rainbow Dash's mane.

Everypony, including Pinkie herself, gasped at the bright burst of color, before clopping their hooves together.

The pink pony spotted Soarin' among the others quickly flying down to the crowd, no doubt to spend some time with Rainbow Dash.

"Dashie..." she muttered to herself with a quiet giggle.

"You're a lucky mare..."

Pinkie turned around, her hoof reaching out into the crowd. Somepony suddenly grasped onto it, making her smile with glee.

Time to dance...

She swung the anonymous pony towards her, before stopping with surprise.

"Well, hello there, Pinkie."

The stallion was wearing a vintage, steampunk-like suit, the black, seamless surface painted finely with the glazing picture of brass gears. His hat was the same, with clockwork decorated around its brim, topped with a purple feather.

Pinkie could only frown, her hoof clutching tighter as she uttered out the stallion's name:

"Winter."

"Such a coincidence, is it?"

The unicorn gave her a playful smirk, only making the pink pony look away in disgust.

"First, the hotel. Now here."

"What are you doing here, Winter?" Pinkie replied, her mane already starting to flatten, matching her outfit.

"Aren't you suppose to find out who Mirror Mare is?"

"That can wait. A carnival like this is something not to be missed!"

Pinkie twirled around, her hoof still connecting to his. They quickly continued their tango along with everypony else, who seemed to be enjoying themselves more than her.

"You have something to say to me, don't you Winter?"

The pink pony frowned, clopping her hooves to the side as Winter did the same, tapping to the beat of the music.

"Because it isn't like you to come celebrate, much less come out of the palace."

"There are many things I would sacrifice in life. You know that very well, Pinkamena."

"Don't. Call me that."

"Well, it's the only other option," Winter said with a smirk.

"since Diane wouldn't do anymore..."

Pinkie just scowled. What was he doing here in the first place? Why is she even bothering to dance with this... this idiot anyway?

"If there's nothing you want to talk about, I'm gonna go now."

"There is one thing..."

The pink pony sighed, continuing their dance. Her mane was losing most of its natural puff, making Winter say with a laugh:

"You still look cute with your mane down like that."

She responded with a wrinkle of her nose, making Winter chuckle teasingly.

"Always the sensitive one, are you Pinkie?"

"You done yet?" she asked, already starting to lose her patience.

"Come on. We haven't talked for so long! It's time we reconnect, to say the least."

Winter pulled her closer: being part of the dance he had to.

"Don't you at least miss me?"

Pinkie sneered with a harrumph.

"Not one bit."

"Really?" Winter asked coyly, his smile widening as he launched the mare forwards, the pink pony doing a spin.

"I thought I saw some of it in your eyes..."

Much to the stallion's amusement, Pinkie rolled them, making him chuckle.

"You know there's a lot I miss about you."

He pulled her closer, whispering in her pink ears.

"How... beautiful you always seem to be."

Pinkie instantly blushed, a look of uncertainty crossing her face. She gave Winter a doubtful stare, the Patriarch smiling warmly back at her.

Her mind was asking her a million questions. What should she do now? Should she back away?

"Y-You've said enough." she managed to speak, twirling out of his white hooves.

"Saying enough is an understatement, in your case."

He pulled her closer once more. This time their lips met, burning with a fiery passion. Pinkie's eyes squirmed around, her head trying to repress all the forgotten feelings in her head.

It was so wrong, yet so right at the same time. Pinkie couldn't take it: she slammed her lips deeper, wanting all of him.

She could feel Winter's hooves run along her slightly flat mane, his tongue reaching out to hers. The pair kissed for what seemed like eternity, their chests heaving and panting, with sweat dropping from both of their bodies.

Heaven bounced in her head: the pink mare now furiously working her way inside. She moaned in their deep kiss, before Winter broke it off by twirling her outwards again.

"Win...Winter..." Pinkie managed to moan. Her mind was completely fuzzy with lust, her heart thumping to the beat as he pulled her closer.

Suddenly, she felt pain shot through her gut as a small razor plunged deep into her body. Pinkie's eyes instantly widened with shock, staring at the Patriarch's somber face.

She fell forwards, her head landing on Winter's shoulder with his hooves supporting her up. Pinkie could feel blood dripping out from the wound, trying to scream as Winter whispered into her ear:

"Pinkie. I'm doing this for your sake, okay? I don't want to see Mirror Mare hurt you anymore."

He stroked her pink mane as the mare trembled, her hooves already feeling numb.

"It's for the better. For the both of us, okay?"

She managed to talk back, despite the intense pain in her chest and the sputter of blood in her mouth.

"You... y-you liar. I trusted you... I trusted you-"

"Shhh........." Winter whispered.

"I'm sorry. For everything I've done to you. Just remember: it's for your own good."

Pinkie felt her body fall as the stallion left her, slinking back into the crowd. Her body was sprawled onto the road, the blood flowing out from it making a few ponies gasp in horror.

Screams of other ponies started echoing in her head as she watched the stallion hang his head low, silently slipping into the alleys.

"Somepony get the ambulance!"

"She's hurt!"

"Pinkie!"

Twilight's voice shot from out of the blue. She could hear the frantic shouts of the lavender unicorn, who was trying her best to stop the bleeding.

"Just hold on... Rainbow! Get some help!"

Her vision started to fade, as the pink pony uttered quietly to him: the stallion that left her bleeding on the floor.

"I... hate you...."

Palladium's Brink

*BEEP*

"Stupid.... just plain stupid...."

*BEEP*

"What were you thinking, Pinkie?"

*BEEP*

Pinkie opened her eyes, a little annoyed at the monitor beside her.

It was a grey morning, the rain outside pattering against the windows of Fenderville Hospital.

She was, yet again, in a hospital bed. All alone, without anything to do.

"Hey, Pinkie..."

Okay, maybe not all alone.

The pink pony turned to the direction of the voice, before letting out a smile.

"Hey, Twilight."

The unicorn was sitting on a stool, using her horn to flip through the pages of a storybook. Judging from the overwhelming relief from her face, Pinkie assumed she had been here all morning.

"So, Pinkie," the unicorn asked, settling the book down.

"How are you feeling?"

Pinkie wanted to say 'like an idiot, feeling like an idiot for trusting that wretch of the Palgiot', but, knowing Twilight's penchant for asking questions...

"A little better."

Her pink mane had deflated, the hairs all straight like a grayish-pink waterfall. Pinkie wrinkled her nose in disgust, raising a few strands of it in her hoof.

"How long are we gonna be here, Twilight?"

"Depends on your recovery. Doctor said that the blade had just missed your heart by a few inches."

The unicorn's face turn to that of worry, biting her lip as she asked:

"Is it Mirror Mare again?"

Pinkie flinched. Winter's expressionless face invaded her mind, despite all her attempts to brush it off.

"Uh... I guess so..."

"Then we don't have time to spare."

Twilight suddenly cupped her friend's hooves into her own, making the pink pony turn in surprise.

"Pinkie. I know there's something about everything happening that you don't want us to know; that you don't want us to venture into, but I'm here telling you that it's necessary to help everypony else."

The unicorn's face was filled with hope, her grip on Pinkie's hooves tightening as if pleading her.

"I'm... I'm scared too, okay Pinkie? I mean, you faced this before... and you were already avoiding everything it's throwing at you..."

"Caduceus."

Twilight blinked in surprise at Pinkie's response.

"What?"

"Persimmon's foalhood friend. Caduceus. He's not in Fenderville anymore."

Pinkie's eyes were watering, as if begging for forgiveness. Her mouth was opened slightly, wanting to speak, but she closed it back hesitantly, looking down at her sheets with despondency.

"N-No need to worry, Pinkie."

Twilight placed a hoof around the pink pony, who was beginning to sniffle.

"We can wait for you. All of us can."

"I-It's just.... you wouldn't understand..."

"We don't understand, Pinkie, you're right. But you can help us understand."

She gave the pink pony a warm grin, the unicorn's hooves on her friend's shoulder as she said:

"Just because we're venturing into your dark past doesn't mean you have to stop us from going in! We're fighting it alongside with you, Pinkie. You're not alone. Remember that."

Pinkie managed to smile, despite the few tears that fell from her eyes.

"I'll.... I'll think about it."

Twilight stood up, placing the book on her lap.

"Just thought you might need it, in case you're bored. I'll get you a new one later."

"Thank you, Twilight."

Pinkie watched as her friend strode towards the door, abruptly stopping to turn back and ask:

"I almost forgot: what was the.... what's-his-name's last name?"

The pink pony giggled at her friend, who was now grinning sheepishly.

"That was fast! Anyways, his name is Caduceus."

She held her breath, the first and last names combining like a jigsaw puzzle in her mind.

"Caduceus Brineheart."

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"Hmm..."

Rarity was slightly afraid of this Doctor Arrowfaith. He has that uncouth, perverse look on his face, with a sort of morbid aura emanating from his body.

Instead of the usual warmth-filled smile that Doctor Brineheart usually gave, he wore a revolting grin, putting him alongside Mirror Mare on Rarity's mental ponies-to-watch-out-for checklist.

Well, she thought to herself, if you were surrounded by a hundred crazy ponies, wouldn't you crack as well?

"I see, I see..."

At first glance, the unicorn would've expected a witch-like cackle, not his deep voice of a gentlecolt. She felt lucky that Spike and Doctor Brineheart was overseeing the whole thing, or else she would've died of fright.

"Well, Brineheart. You've certainly brought her here in time."

The pony was now flipping through a logbook, his hoof scanning across the pages.

"If you took any longer, she would've succumbed into complete insanity."

The unicorn shuddered a little at the word, even more so at her acting horn on her head.

Spike let out a sigh of relief, giving Rarity a reassuring smile.

"So, what is it, Clepius?" Doctor Brineheart asked his colleague, who had now put on his reading glasses.

"Some sort of hormonal change?"

"Similar, Caddy. Hostility change."

Doctor Arrowfaith cleared his throat, before beginning:

"Miss Rarity, what you're experiencing is a behavioral state only apparent in unicorns. The magic flowing from the body to the horn is in disorder, prominently messed up due to the unstable aura of the town."

He strode to the white mare's side, much to her displeasure, as he asked:

"Tell me, Miss. How often do you use magic?"

Rarity blinked in surprise at the question.

"Well... the only times I've used it is for gem-locating in the mountains for touching up my dresses."

"And that is all? Any more spells?"

"Uh... well..."

She was slightly nervous, primarily from his skeptical look and his raised eyebrow.

"There were a few other spells, but none more powerful than the gem-locating spell."

"That explains it."

Doctor Arrowfaith closed his logbook, almost as if triumphantly.

"The frequency of your magic is easily displaced into disarray by the aura here. Unicorns who used magic frequently, such as the Princesses themselves, are unaffected by the aura displacement."

Spike couldn't help but raise his arm.

"Then how is it psychological? It's just about the balance of aura, isn't it?"

"The aura displacement is more of a catalyst. The real danger here is a condition known around town as Palladium's Brink."

"Palla-what?" the white mare asked in complete bewilderment.

"Palladium's Brink." Doctor Brineheart repeated.

"Named after the daughter of Axle Palgiot, Palladium Palgiot, who succumbed to insanity centuries ago. Was the next in line when her father got killed in an accident during one of his experiments. She was widely regarded as the Matriarch who ruled with an iron hoof, despite her symbolic pride as the family's most innocent mare during her time."

"What happened?"

"Basically, after building the family's private beach, she went with her three children: Evanescence, Chaperon and Paladin 'Palladium Jr". She was closest to Paladin, the filly looking nearly exactly like her."

The doctor sighed, trying to recall the story.

"Evanescence was about sixteen, Chaperon just two years younger. Paladin, however, was about ten plus, her eleventh birthday arriving in two weeks."

"Palladium was watching her play from afar, when suddenly an earthquake rumbled the beach, causing a part of it to open up. Paladin fell into one of the deep cracks, the Matriarch only being able to scream as the filly fell into the chasm."

Rarity gasped, her eyes widened in disbelief. Spike was completely taken aback as well, still trying to absorb what the stallion had said.

"Then what?"

"She snapped during the filly's funeral, who was buried in a glass coffin."

Doctor Arrowfaith seemed to smile, despite the grim expression he was giving as he continued:

"Paladin was like an mirror image of her mother: both were unicorns, with energetic auras from them. The mare's mind had interpreted that she could've save her, yet her thoughts slowly darkened with insanity, evolved due to both mare's striking similarity into the result: she could've save herself."

"She started avoiding everypony," the other doctor continued.

"Still in shock from the trauma she faced, she became increasingly paranoid and depressed. Being a Palgiot, she had very powerful magic, which only made her more dangerous. The ability to poison one's mind isn't an everyday talent."

"To p-poison one's mind?"

Rarity's horn started searing from inside, making her yelp in pain. Doctor Arrowfaith quickly rushed to her as Spike stood up immediately, before being stopped by Doctor Brineheart.

"Her horn treated everypony like a hostile," he continued his explanation as he searched through his kit.

"It became intensely agonizing and started flaring out magic, just like the state you're in now, Miss."

Rarity clenched her eyes shut, her horn flaring with pain. She tried to find something to grip on, before touching the unmistakable feeling of raw scales.

Spike gave her a smile, his face gleaming with hope. The unicorn smiled back, her grip on the dragon's arm tightening, before the doctor inserted the needle of a syringe into her horn, somewhat filling it with a sort of medicine.

"Magic depressant," Doctor Arrowfaith explained, "to calm the aura down."

He turned to his friend with a relieved sigh as he asked:

"Where were we, Caddy?"

"Evanescence and Chaperon had to fight their mother in battle. Chaperon nearly got killed, receiving a blow that disrupted her nervous system for the rest of her life. In the end, Princess Celestia's curse caught up with Palladium, instantly killing the mare."

Rarity panted and heaved, gripping Spike's arms as the dragon asked:

"So what does the illness do anyway?"

"Perception delusion."

Doctor Arrowfaith sat down, still flipping through his logbook.

"Where one's perception of him or herself is warped by a traumatic event inflicted on somepony they know, or a look-alike. The perception of everything else slowly changes, in unicorns it is hastened up by dark auras chaining into their magic."

"But she didn't see anypony she knew getting hurt!"

The dragon turned to the mare on the bed, who was still shivering despite all the numbness within her.

"Are you completely sure about that?"

Doctor Brineheart started to pace towards them, in a grim way that made Doctor Arrowfaith looked more angelic.

"Remember the nightmare she had? Of herself getting killed?"

Spike was about to speak, before his head suddenly flared up in realization.

He and Rarity could only stare at him, abruptly torn out of words.

"Then there's the body in the palace. The one that you say she resembled her sister."

Rarity turned sullen, looking down at the floor in complete derangement.

"The nightmares.... since I've arrived..."

"Wait!"

Spike turned to the unicorn, unable to hide his disbelief.

"You had nightmares before this? All of this?"

The white mare's guilty, quiet nod only made him scowl.

"Why didn't you tell me about this? We could've worked everything out, Rarity!"

"I didn't expect you to understand or even LISTEN!"

Rarity stood up, an unnatural rage bursting from her which made the dragon tumble back in surprise. Her horn started glowing a deep, ocean blue, before Doctor Arrowfaith cut in:

"It's starting to show: the darkness swirling in her magic."

The mare suddenly froze at the mention of 'darkness', utterly horrified at herself, before cringing back into her bed.

"No! No... no... I'm not crazy... I'm not...."

"Rarity..."

Spike could only watched as the mare sobbed quietly in her hooves, unable to find any method of comfort for the shaken unicorn.

"There is one other thing, though," Doctor Arrowfaith continued.

"She has a very striking resemblance to somepony deceased. This pony is one that I advise you have to keep a very good distance from."

The dragon immediately turned to him, his eyes almost begging for the answer as he asked the doctor hastily:

"Who is it?"

Rarity was the one that gave the answer. It was completely unmistakable to her now.

"Harmony... Harmony Peridot."

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"Now recite it one more time."

"You are not wrong, who deem, That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away, In a night, or in a day..."

Octavia would've clopped for Spring if she hadn't been hearing the same poem four times in a minute. Stellar was teaching her poetry again: one of the few things of the Arts that the grey mare seriously loathed.

She was flipping through her own book, marking a few notes on a musical sheet. It's completely important for her: playing those notes on a cello while standing on her back hooves isn't easy.

"Okay. Next line, with more emotion, then you can go play."

"Really, Stellar?" the filly asked the butler.

"You're not lying to me again, aren't you?"

"No! No, Spring!" Stellar replied with a chuckle.

"I promised Octavia here as well, right?"

"He sure did, Spring." the mare replied, already a little sleepy at all the words.

"Better do it quick, before playtime's over!"

The filly began to clear her throat, continuing the poem:

"In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the less gone?

All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream."

"Bravo, Spring!" Stellar said with a grin. Octavia managed to laugh as well, finally shutting her book.

"Weeee!"

Spring leaped into the air, a little overjoyed at finally finishing the subject.

"Remember, Spring," Stellar reminded her as the filly quickly followed Octavia out of the library.

"After that is culinary arts at five!"

"I will!"

Octavia shook her head. She couldn't imagine what the family hadn't learn in their lives.

Yesterday Spring had just learned about gardening, harp-playing and woodcarving: a little too much to handle for the grey mare herself. Why they were learning all these things was a wonder.

But, she sighed, tradition is tradition.

"So, you're gonna see me cut up some radishes later, Octavia?"

Spring was delightfully prancing about, already enthusiastic about what they're going to do.

The mare gave her a warm smile.

"I don't think so. I don't want to make Crimson wait. You know how he is."

"Well, did you two plan to settle down together?" the filly asked, making her tumble back in surprise.

"Maybe have a honeymoon or two, with a few foals?"

"W-Well..."

Octavia's mind was racing. She had to think fast before it gets completely out of hand.

"Crimson and I, we're trying to.... you know, take it slowly. I'm not really ready to have children yet, plus he had to go to all his world tours, I'm not surprised if our children wouldn't know who their daddy is."

Spring was giggling a little, making her sigh with relief.

"Anyway," she asked the filly, "how did you know about all these things?"

"There's the library, and then there's Autumn!"

The filly was somewhat beaming as she uttered out her sister's name.

"She always teaches me about how relationships work during playtime."

"Well," the grey mare let out a small laugh.

"Your sister sure knows a lot of things."

Spring nodded with a smile, although Octavia could see it was beginning to crack.

The two of them took a left turn, about to return to Spring's room. The filly's prancing was reduced to mere strides, her cheerful personality slowly starting to diminish.

"I... I miss Autumn..." the filly suddenly spoke as they reached the door.

Spring turned to Octavia, who wore a look of uncertainty as she turned the knob.

"Mind telling me why?" the older mare asked, making her stop in surprise.

"You can cry if you want. I won't tell anypony."

"A-Anypony?"

"Not even Stellar."

Spring stood there for a moment, before giving a sad nod.

Both stepped into the brightly-lit room, immediately striding towards the bed with the rays of the sun from the windows shining across their face. Somehow, the room seemed to have more energy than its owner, who was now sulking on her bed.

"Autumn was there when Winter and Summer had errands to do," Spring began.

"She was typically always there, since my brothers are usually away to help out with the wine stuff and all."

"Well, she must've been glad to spend time with you."

"She's sometimes annoyed, but I know she still loves me all the same."

Spring had started to sniffle, prompting Octavia to place a hoof around her.

"There were times, when I'm scared and lonely at night, she would come to me. Not Winter, not Summer, but her. She would sing a lullaby to me, making sure I would sleep."

"Really?" Octavia asked.

"You must've been very happy to have a sister like her."

"Yeah..." the filly's voice trailed off, her face turning increasingly sadder.

"But I also feel a bit... guilty..."

"Guilty? Guilty of what?" The grey mare asked out of disbelief.

"She just wants to comfort you. You're not a burden to her for doing that!"

"That's not what I meant."

Spring was now nervously shuffling about. If it weren't for Octavia's left hoof wrapped around her she would've ran out of the room already.

"I-It's that... her singing..."

It took a while for Octavia to understand what she meant, the mare's eyes widened in realization.

"She's giving up her life for you..."

Spring nodded, gazing out the window across her, staring down at the town.

"Every word she sings, it calms me. Her talent to calm everypony down is amazing, really. But our family curse..."

The filly started to weep, burying her face into Octavia's chest.

"I-It's unfair! Why would she risk her life just to put me to sleep? She could've just read a bedtime story! Or maybe just stay beside me until I fall asleep! She doesn't need to sing!"

"Because she wants you to be completely at peace, Spring."

Octavia was hushing her, the filly's sobs fading slightly.

"She wants you to know that she'll do anything for you, even if it means putting her life in danger."

The mare held her breath, before continuing:

"She loves you a lot, Spring. Much more than you could ever think of."

"R-Really?" the filly said, her eyes watering as she looked up to the grey mare.

"But she's sacrificing herself... I don't want to see her do that..."

Spring suddenly coughed rapidly, making Octavia pat her back. The musician's worry grew more frantic, seeing the filly almost collapsing to the floor.

"Spring? Spring, you alright?!"

"I'm..... I'm fine."

Her coughs started to die down, before Spring gave a smile.

"It's pretty normal these days."

Octavia let out a huge sigh of relief, yet her concern is tugging her heart down, before being replaced with perplexity.

"I don't understand, Spring. Why were you always sick?"

"M-My talent is being able to see the future."

The filly coughed one more time, before continuing her explanation:

"I see the future every second of every day. It's quite scary; seeing other ponies die, disasters happen."

"Have you tried telling anypony else what you saw?"

"Well, that's how I became this sick: telling everypony what I saw."

Spring shuddered a little, huddling closer to Octavia as she asked the older mare:

"I'm going to see Autumn again, aren't I?"

Octavia flinched at the question. Her mind was furiously working, digging deep into its recesses for an answer.

"Well... not so soon, I guess. You still have Winter here though."

"Winter..."

The filly let out a small yawn, curling up in her light-green blankets.

"I don't even know him anymore..."

The grey mare couldn't help but feel disturbed by the filly's statement. She looked out at the town below her, her thoughts revolving around the small filly who was falling asleep beside her.

"I hope I know what you mean..."

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Soarin' wasn't used to be with another mare. He had hundreds of fans or the ponyrazzi flooding into his dressing room before, sure, but being alone with the mare of his life, it's a completely different feeling.

He and Rainbow were busy walking across Rattleraw Forest. They took a liking of it, remembering the time they've spent that night.

"... and Spitfire said she'll think about it! Can you believe it? She's gonna see if I can go with you guys!"

The stallion chuckled at her marefriend. They visited the rest of the team earlier this morning to ask for Rainbow Dash's addition into the Wonderbolts. Spitfire had engaged in a completely private conversation with the mare, while everypony else teased Soarin' about their relationship.

"Man, you gotta be in the team, RD. Captain would be crazy if she didn't let you in."

"Well, it's hard to say..."

Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves as the pair continued deeper into the forest.

"I mean, she looks unsatisfied for some reason..."

"I'm sure it's just the nerves, Dash," he replied with a warm smile. "I had a lot for my audition as well."

He nuzzled the mare's cyan snout, making her giggle with a blush.

"Stop! Just stop!" she said, pushing Soarin' away. The stallion just chuckled, sighing with content at the mare in front of him.

"Oh, Rainbow."

"I mean, you can't have your coltfriend showing the love every time! That'll be so..."

She shuddered, the stallion laughing in response.

"Still the Rainbow I know, eh?"

He pondered his little, before snapping his hooves.

"Alright. From now on, we'll stick to hoof bumps, kay?"

Rainbow's eyes rolled to the stallion.

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not!" he said with a small laugh.

"I mean, I can't even give you a kiss on the cheek! You would say it's so girly and disgusting and-"

"Well, I'm still a mare, right?"

The pegasus fluttered up, her chest puffed up and her head held high as she retorted:

"Sometimes even the toughies need some love and intimacy once in a while!"

Soarin' just gave her a coy smile.

"Oh, really~?"

"Well... I mean..."

"So does that mean I can give you a kiss on the cheek now?"

"Wait! That doesn't mean-!"

Rainbow slapped her forehead as Soarin' laughed loudly, the mare slowly descending towards the ground with a loud groan.

"Ugh....."

"Come on!" Soarin' exclaimed playfully, giving her a teasing grin.

"You know you want it!"

The mare muttered quietly under her breath, before letting out a chuckle.

"All right, all right. Just this once...."

Soarin' held his breath as Rainbow closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to meet her tingling cheeks. She blushed furiously, feeling humiliated by the whole thing.

It was short, yet sweet, as the both of them found out. Soarin' chuckled as the mare opened her eyes, scratching her neck with a nervous flutter of her wings.

"There!" he said, giving her a 'I told you so' face.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Ugh... fine... whatever."

Rainbow blew her signature mane up, rolling her eyes at the stallion laughing on the floor.

"Come on! We're almost there!"

By there, Rainbow meant their destination: the place where they spent the night together.

The ruins of Canopy Oaks stood in the clearing before them, standing quietly and serenely as if waiting for the arrival of the couple. Despite the desolation, it looked beautiful, the remaining structures standing firmly in the bask of the afternoon sun.

"Dashie!"

That voice made both of them jump back in surprise. Rainbow looked around the ruins, trying to find the source of the voice, before spotting a pink blur in the distance.

"Pinkie?!"

She couldn't believe her eyes. The pink pony was standing on her hind hooves, her face slightly bruised.

"Pinkie, what are you doing here?! You're suppose to be in the hospital!"

"No time to explain!" she shouted, disappearing behind the tall structure obstructing their view.

Rainbow and Soarin' quickly flew around it, before stopping in horror.

Pinkie was holding an iron bar in her hooves, wielding it around like a weapon, before it clashed into a blade.

Rainbow turned to the pony she was fighting, only to scowl.

"Mirror Mare."

"Rainbow Dash, is it? And of course, the famed Wonderbolt Soarin'."

The masked pony cackled as both pegasi buckled their hooves, kicking the dirt across the floor.

"Leave Pinkie alone, you freak!"

"Dashie! Don't!" Pinkie shouted, stopping her friend in mid-flight. Her eyes were watering, as if begging for her to listen.

"Go find Twilight! Find Twilight!"

Rainbow stopped, trying to figure out what she meant, before the sudden dread of realization overwhelmed her.

"I.... I got it!"

"Soarin'!" she shouted to the stallion.

"Help Pinkie out!"

"Alright!"

In an instant, Rainbow dived back into the forest, her wings flapping rapidly at high speed. She darted and bolted under and over branches, avoiding any of the trees in the way.

The gates of Fenderville grew closer and closer to her as she blasted through the forest relentlessly, not wanting to waste any time.

She gulped as she flew out from the branches. She hoped she wasn't too late.

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"I'm back, Pinkie!"

Twilight Sparkle brushed her hooves against the mat, with bags filled with books dangling around them. She had just finished visiting the bookstore, finding some of the bestsellers for Pinkie to read during her time in the hospital.

She chuckled at the pony, who was draped under the covers. The unicorn thought she heard a quiet giggle, despite her thoughts that she was asleep.

Placing the books beside the bed, she started to flip through the top one. She was so engrossed into it in the bookstore, she just had to continue reading the next few chapters.

"Well, Pinkie!" she said.

"I've brought a lot of books for you to read, just in case you finished that one."

No response.

Twilight just shook her head, managing to smile. Always the playful one, that Pinkie.

"Just wondering though, is the book interesting? 'Cause I'm not really sure what to buy for you."

Silence filled the room. The unicorn just felt awkward from talking like this. Maybe she's just asleep. Maybe she's just tired from all the drama yesterday and she just needs some time to-

Twilight's ears perked. There it is again.

A giggle.

"Pinkie?" she asked, craning her neck to the lump in the bed.

"You okay in there?"

She flipped the sheets away, before gasping in horror.

Instead of the pink pony, there stood a mechanical, skeletal one, the bronze eye spinning lewdly at her. Twilight's stomach revolted at the disgusting sight, tumbling back to the other, vacant bed in horror.

Something... organic was pumping itself inside the skeletal chest, with oil dripping from the open cuts in it. A speaker was placed at its mouth, letting out a crackling giggle every one or two seconds.

The contraption was wired to the monitor, which was still beeping. Instead of the usual, digital ups and downs on the screen, it was showing a set of numbers.

Twilight paled with realization, her heart counting along with the time.

3

2

Suddenly, she felt her body soar as something pushed her from behind, crashing out of the window. Twilight yelped, closing her eyes out of fear as her mane fluttered into the wind.

Her hooves hung tightly, her face fluttered into a pair of wings. Everything around her seemed to slow down, the timer in her head ticking loudly for one last time.

1

*BOOM*

The bedroom exploded into flames, bricks shooting outwards into the air. Twilight hung onto the pegasus for dear life, feeling glass and ash graze across her skin as she screamed.

It wasn't long before they descended onto the street, the unicorn completely shaken from her flight. She turned to her savior, before gasping in surprise.

"Rainbow!"

"That's me!" she said with a salute and a bright smile on her face, panting and heaving before collapsing to the floor, fatigue overwhelming her hooves.

Twilight placed her hooves on her temple, trying to absorb what happened as she tried to recover from her shock. She turned back to the hospital, looking at what was Pinkie's room burning in a hellish inferno.

Everypony, apart from the both of them, stopped, their stare frozen with horror at the burning hospital. Sirens wailed in the distance, as the first firefighters arrived to the scene.

"What happened?" Twilight asked Rainbow frantically.

"Where's Pinkie?"

"Fighting Mirror Mare!" the pegasus explained, still out of breath.

"You... you were the next target!"

Twilight gasped in disbelief, completely aghast at the pegasus's explanation.

"I... I was..... what...?"

"Come on! There's no time to spare!" the pegasus shouted, shaking the unicorn out from her thoughts. Rainbow stood up, her wings worn out from all the flying. Galloping would have to do.

"We've still got a fight on our hooves!"

The Regal's Return

"Almost there, Twilight! Hurry!"

Twilight's hooves were aching painfully, fatigued from all the galloping she had done. She and Rainbow Dash were halfway cross Rattleraw Forest, darting through the countless number of bushes in their path.

The sky above them was darkening unnaturally, almost as if they were stuck in a different world. The clouds were swirling with a glowing maroon, no doubt from the rays of the reddening sun hiding behind the grey, puffy veils.

"What the hay's happening?" Twilight shouted, looking at the sky in bewilderment.

"I don't know!" Rainbow replied, a strong gale threatening to blow her off her tired hooves.

"I never seen such weather before!"

It wasn't long before the loud sounds of clashing and shouting echo into their ears, motivating both of them to gallop faster . Rain started to patter across both of their faces, with a few streaks of lightning illuminating the sky.

Rainbow Dash zoomed into the clearing, her wings using up all its remaining strength, before she collapsed out of the bushes onto the floor. The unicorn soon panted and heaved beside her, not before gazing to the front of them in awe.

Pinkie was darting across the ruins, the iron bar steaming in her pink hooves. Her glare was fixated onto a figure floating in the sky, a pair of blades whirring by its side.

Twilight's horn flared a bright violet, her gaze concentrated at the masked pony in the sky.

"Mirror Mare."

"Welcome, Miss Sparkle!" it shouted, the cloak on its back flowing in the wind.

"Enjoy my little gift to you? It took me all night to perfect it!"

The unicorn just scowled, her attention turning to Pinkie.

The pink pony was glaring spitefully, her mane completely deflated. Twilight could feel the rage burning from her, the intensity of the battle before her already making her sweat.

"Rainbow!"

A familiar pegasus darted from the ruins, panting heavily as he scurried towards the mare.

"Soarin'!" she exclaimed, the couple embracing.

"Thank Celestia...."

"Tsk, tsk..." Mirror Mare said aloud, shaking its head.

"So much lovey-dovey all around. Makes me feel so sickened by all this bubbly talk!"

Pinkie tightened her grip on the pipe. With a kick of her hooves, she leaped towards Mirror Mare at a staggering height, her friends all looking at disbelief.

Mirror Mare's mask glinted with anticipation, its left hoof swinging around before slamming into the pink pony, making her crash into the stone ruins.

"Pinkie!" Twilight shouted, galloping towards her friend, who was now coughing intensely from the duel.

She spat a little blood, still glaring at the masked pony as she stood up, using the iron bar as support.

"Come on, Pinkie. What happened to you?"

The masked pony laughed maniacally, its hooves beckoning her to stand up and fight.

"Bring your best, you wretch!"

With a shout, Pinkie leaped again, despite Twilight's frantic shouts. Her pipe clashed with the masked pony's twin blades, with yellow sparks flying out from the ferocity of their collision.

Mirror Mare's mask glinted, as it let out a dissatisfied 'hmph'.

Suddenly, Pinkie plummeted back onto the ground, launched back with a backflip from the masked pony.

Twilight immediately rushed to her friend, who was now clutching her chest in pain and wincing, blood starting to leak from her mouth.

"It's too much for you to handle, Pinkie!" Twilight shouted, trying to break into her pink friend's stubborn mind.

"Just stop!"

"Stop? Peace-lover much, Twilight Sparkle?"

Mirror Mare floated towards the floor, sheathing its twin blades. It strode in a circle around the ponies, who were now completely worn out.

"This fight is between me and Pinkie. Why would you dare to bother, it's your business, but if you do, death will ensure to all of your friends, and you yourself."

Twilight just snarled. She watched as Pinkie strained to stand again, her grip on the iron bar weakening slightly.

"Pinkie. You've done enough."

"He's right, Twilight!"

The pink mare started to cough, before raising the pipe firmly once more.

"This is our fight! It's not yours!"

"When I said you no need to fight alone, I mean it!"

Twilight's horn flared brilliantly, her booming words making Pinkie turn in surprise.

Mirror Mare could only laugh at it, angering all of them at once.

"That was so touching! However..."

Pinkie readied her pipe again, waiting for Mirror Mare to strike as it charged towards her. The world around her seemed to warp, the sounds diminishing into emptiness.

The masked pony darted pass her. The pink pony gasped, realizing who it was targeting for.

"Twilight!"

*SWISH*

Twilight stopped, her stare frozen as if lost in space. Her breathing stilled, her mouth hung open in a silent gasp.

Blood started spewing from her neck, trickling down from a deep, red gash slashed across it. A small tear crawled down her shocked face, before falling to the floor.

Pinkie watched in horror as she collapsed, frozen on the spot with shock aligning her face. Rainbow Dash and Soarin's eyes were widened as well, gaping at the unicorn as she fell onto the floor.

From behind them, the masked pony sheathed its blades, giving out one last cackle before darting into the forest.

"Twi-Twilight...?"

The pink pony shook her friend. There wasn't any movement from the unicorn. She was joined by Rainbow, whose shaking was much more frantic.

"Twilight! Twilight!"

The pegasus couldn't help it. She started crying loudly in grief, her heart drilled with despair.

"No... she's not dead. She's not DEAD!!"

Soarin' could only watch helplessly as his marefriend sobbed over the unicorn's body, trying not to tear up as well.

He turned to Pinkie, who was now hiding behind her mane with guilt, no doubt weeping silently as well.

The pink pony brushed it aside, trying to regain her composure.

"Buck this..."

She closed her eyes, much to Rainbow and Soarin's surprise. It wasn't long before her hooves started to tremble, the wind around them starting to pick up.

"P-P-Pinkie?" Rainbow called out, still agonized by Twilight's death.

"Pinkie! What are you-"

The instant Pinkie opened her eyes, a giant shockwave erupted from her, nearly throwing both pegasi off their hooves. The pink pony muttered a strange language, as if in some sort of trance. She started to float from the ground, much to Rainbow's disbelief.

"N-No... no w-way..."

A strange dome seemed to surround them, composing strongly of swirling magic. The rain that fell around them started to float instead, with droplets of water skimming around in the air.

Something was glowing below Pinkie as she began a sort of chant. Glowing runes danced in an orbit, rotating in a majestic circle of light with every word the pink pony uttered.

Rainbow Dash could see it: it was some sort of giant clock, its neon hands moving backwards. The pegasus was completely astounded as the scattered blood started to seep back into the deep wound, the severed skin on her neck somehow sealing itself back up.

Pinkie raised both of her pink hooves up high, before slamming them back onto the ground, the dome around them vanishing immediately. The rain stopped as well, the clouds above them fading as the first rays of sunlight finally blasted towards the ground, brightening up the world around them.

"Don't. Ask." Pinkie shouted as she landed onto the ground, shunning Rainbow before she could speak. She watched as the pink pony started limping away, dropping the iron bar onto the ground.

Her attention frantically turned to Twilight. The unicorn's eyes were squinting, before they finally opened.

"Wh-what...? Wh-where am I...?"

"Twilight!" she exclaimed, completely overjoyed. She immediately hugged the unicorn, her eyes filled with tears.

Soarin' breathed a huge sigh of relief, a warm smile filling his face.

"Woah! Relax, RD!" the unicorn said with a chuckle.

"Y-You scared me, you know!" the pegasus scolded, tears drizzling at her friend.

"Mirror M-Mare killed you!"

"It... it did?"

"Slashed your... your neck apart!" Soarin' stepped up to explain, making Twilight pale.

"You're lucky Pinkie was here! I don't know what she did, but she revived you!"

"She what?"

Twilight turned to the pink mare, who was now trudging into the forest, completely ignorant of the unicorn's condition.

"She... she revived me? As in 'bring-back-from-the-dead' revived me?"

"I dunno, Twi, but she doesn't seem to feel happy to use it."

Rainbow followed her friend's gaze, slightly concerned yet bewildered at their pink friend. The three of them could only watch as Pinkie disappeared into the undergrowth, never turning back to them.

The pink pony, however, was scowling under her breath. "Stupid, stupid, stupid...!"

She didn't want to use it. She never wanted to use it.

The thought of her casting the spell only angered her even further. In a fit of rage, she slammed her hooves against a tree, immediately splintering the firm bark with ease.

She spat at the floor, cursing spitefully at herself and Mirror Mare. Her thoughts quickly lingered to that of the masked pony, which only fueled her hatred.

"Do that one more time, we'll see who has the last laugh."

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"And how about the silk trade from the other nations?"

"Still completely fine."

Princess Celestia sighed. It wasn't everyday she would call the highest ranking ministers, from both the Celestian Ministry and the Ministry of Academic Sciences, to talk about the country's affairs.

The recent murder of Solaris Followfirm had already shook the foundations of sugar trading in Equestria, with a threatening collapse of their stocks as well. Already the fashion and designing industry was starting to decline, with the death of Tassel Twist, Basil Luck and Harlequin Velvet.

All killed by the same pony.

"Lock the doors," she ordered, prompting the guards to do so.

At the sound of the click, the ministers were immediately silenced, their discussions among each other breaking as their attention turned to the Princess, who was silently leafing through a few papers.

She gazed at a vacant seat in the room, knowing of the fate of the stallion that sat there.

"How much ministers have we lost?"

"Six so far, Princess," one of them replied, looking at the statistics.

"All disappeared in the northern regions."

"Energy consumption last night?" she asked, remembering the chart that her sister showed her.

"Dramatic increase. Reaching near maximum peak."

The alabaster mare sipped on her coffee, letting the warmth fill her mouth before flowing down her throat.

"What about overall deaths? In each respective regions?"

"The western had none so far, apart from natural ones. The south, our region, had so far eighteen deaths and twenty-seven attempts of murder. The eastern region had six deaths, with only three attempts of murder..."

"And?" the princess raised an eyebrow. "The north?"

"Withheld, your Highness. They've completely cut the transmission from Canterlot."

"I see."

The princess had no doubts that this would happen. The secrecy that the northern families would keep are always a wonder to her, especially the Palgiots, despite their current Patriarch being one of the Arch-Ministers in their Ministry.

Spike would be with Rarity in Pendant Lakes by now, she thought, along with Jovern, the elder dragon. She had also learned that Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were already at Fenderville, trying to open some box.

A small knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. As it opened, a dark blue pegasus quickly fluttered in, completely worn out from his journey.

"Y-Your Highness..." he managed to speak, before slumping onto the ground. His hoof held onto a scroll, in which Princess Celestia levitated it towards her with her horn, opening it with ease.

Her face darkened as she read its contents, turning to the pegasus.

"You're sure about this, my loyal messenger?"

"A-Absolutely!"

The alabaster mare settled the scroll onto the table, settling in deep thought. The words scrawled upon it was bothering her. There was no way it happened, unless...

"Dismissed!"

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Applejack wasn't used to all the baking she had to do. Sure, she would bake from time to time, but taking over Pinkie's job.... she just doesn't feel right for it.

The oven let out a *ding*, signaling the completion of her fifty-first cake. The smell was making her mouth water as Applejack lifted it out, wiping the sweat off her mane.

"Phew.... Ah'm done, Mrs. Cake!"

"All right!" the mare's voice rang from the second floor.

"Don't bother to do the icing, Applejack dear! I'll ask my husband to do it!"

"Thanks, Mrs. Cake!"

The bell rang a tune as she stepped out the front door of Sugarcube's Corner, welcoming the afternoon sun on her face. The orange pony trotted across Ponyville, passing by the buildings all around her.

Her destination was in clear view. Applejack smiled as the golden bell of the town hall rang five times, waiting for the red doors to open.

Sure enough, they did, along with a tidal wave of foals rushing out from them. They were all happily smiling, cheerfully scampering down the steps to their waiting parents, all awaiting their children's arrival.

She soon spotted Apple Bloom, chatting with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, as usual. Applejack chuckled: they were growing up fast.

"Hey, sis!" the yellow filly waved, quickly skipping to the orange pony.

"How's baking at Sugarcube Corner?"

Applejack chuckled. Her sister was the one that suggested helping the Cakes in the first place.

"Not as good as apple-bucking. My hooves ain't used to it, ya know."

Apple Bloom just giggled in response, making the orange pony shake her head.

"Silly filly..."

The two began their journey across Ponyville, back to Sweet Apple Acres. The ponies were still happy around them, despite rumors of murders circulating around recently.

Applejack knew better. She just hoped for the best.

"How's Macintosh, sis?" Apple Bloom asked. Their brother's sudden relationship with Fluttershy had caught the town by storm, particularly Apple Bloom herself, who was squealing with glee for them to get together.

"Still hangin' out with Fluttershy, Ah reckon."

Applejack just shook his head, slightly happy for his brother.

"Never knew he was such a lover boy."

"Well, school's alright." the filly continued, knowing her sister would eventually ask that question anyway.

"Scootaloo still Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle... well..."

The older mare just sighed. She noticed that the filly hasn't been in a brighter mood since Rarity left, and especially after the theater nearly collapsed around her.

"She misses her sister a lot, right?"

"Ah think so. Ah mean, Ah would miss ya too if you left for two whole months."

Applejack chuckled, brushing her sister's mane.

"Apple Bloom, ya silly filly."

A loud boom made them turn around, looking up at the sky as some sort of transparent wall overwhelmed the town, the surface of it swirling with an invisible force.

Applejack hugged her sister tight, shielding her with her back facing the wall as it ran through them, closing her eyes in advance.

She felt the world snap, before slowing down as the wall passed harmlessly through her. Applejack hesitantly opened her eyes, feeling her body somewhat warping around a little.

As soon as it started, the feeling stopped. The orange pony looked around, releasing her tight grip on Apple Bloom, gazing at the town around them.

Everypony in town was glancing around frantically, an utter look of confusion and bewilderment on their faces.

The bell of the town hall rang five times again, making the orange pony look up, slightly befuddled by whatever that just happened.

"Didn't it just rang a minute ago?" Apple Bloom asked her sister, a look of pure concern on her face.

Applejack could only nod, yet the face of the clock showed her the time. There was no mistake: for some reason, it was still five o' clock.

The sisters continued their path, yet the orange pony kept looking back at the clock, feeling disturbed by the sudden force of magic that rushed through the town.

"Ah have a bad feeling about this."

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Doctor Arrowfaith sighed. He had just finished overlooking his accounts at the front desk. The prices he had to pay was already staggering enough without the tax inflation, but the Patriarch just had to impose it.

He just tossed it aside, instead focusing on the list of patients on his clipboard.

His thoughts were concentrated on Rarity. Palladium's Brink wasn't an everyday mental illness. Sure, he had split-personalities, the usual schizophrenia and one or two cases of wrathful behavior, but none as serious as Palladium's Brink.

Considering Rarity was a unicorn as well, he had advised her to strengthen her magic abilities, in order to slow down the catalysis of the aura disorder in her horn.

"Palladium's Brink..." he uttered the name. He knew only of a few ponies today that had it.

Excluding Rarity, the most recent patient had always mystified her. The aura was strong in that pony, he recalled.

He sighed, looking at the paperwork all over his desk.

"Hum-dee-dum then, Clepius."

Sliding all of the papers in a drawer, he flicked off the lights at the counter. He wouldn't stay at the Asylum: the last pony that did died with fright. Packing all his belongings, he strode towards the door, knowing that dusk had already settled in town.

"Doctor Cleptius Arrowfaith."

The doctor nearly jumped at the abrupt mention of his name, seeing a frail figure step out from the shadows. He blinked his eyes, before sighing with relief.

"Lady Sovereign! Y-You scared me!"

The old mare's grizzled mane was tangled, her pace a slight limp out of frailness. Her face was completely cold, devoid of any emotion, which only made Doctor Arrowfaith more nervous.

"W-Well... what are you doing out of your room, Lady Sovereign? You know you shouldn't be outside during nighttime, remember that!"

Sovereign Palgiot just chuckled coldly, noticing the doctor's slight tone of fear in his voice.

"I've heard many things recently. Things you clearly haven't told me about."

"Wh-What is it, my lady...?"

"Summer was dead, wasn't he?" she said, her voice almost booming.

"What about Autumn? Is she gone too?"

"N-Now, now, Lady Sovereign."

Doctor Arrowfaith was trembling uncontrollably. He wasn't used to talking to the mare up close, especially when she's completely enraged and stomping towards him.

"Let me explain-"

"EXPLAIN!" she shouted into his face, throwing him off his hooves.

"Explain about what?! That my son can't even protect his siblings?!"

"H-He... I-It wasn't his fault!"

Doctor Arrowfaith raise his hooves in self-defense, backing away rapidly from the mare with a whimper.

"M-M-Mirror... M-Mirror Mare-!"

"You think he has the righteousness to even proclaim himself Patriarch when he can't even ensure the safety of his own brother and sister?!"

Sovereign slammed her hoof through the glass counter despite her age, smashing it apart easily as she barked:

"What about the safety of the town?! Heck, the safety of everypony there, even! He's destroying our legacy, Cleptius! A legacy that our family, the Palgiot family had worked so hard to create!!"

The mare just turned, walking towards the double doors. She kicked the doors open, breaking one of them apart.

Doctor Arrowfaith could only watch as the mare marched out of the building, leaving without a second word.

"W-Where are you going?" he asked nervously, making Sovereign turn with a cold glare as she replied:

"To set things right. My way!"

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"And again, this time focus your energies into your horn, before firing it out."

Rarity buckled her hooves back, her horn aiming at a straw doll target standing a few feet from her. Despite the darkness flowing in her magic, she knew she had to let it out. There wasn't any choice.

Spike was watching from afar, a little proud at the white mare. Her steeled face of determination was evident, her horn starting to flare a deep blue instead of the usual pale cyan.

"It's just a small bolt, Miss Rarity!" Stellar exclaimed above the loud fizzing of her magic.

"Do not overexert yourself! Focus!"

With a cry, Rarity shot out a small orb, blasting it towards the target. The straw doll immediately broke apart, the wood supporting it splintering around them, flying with dust scattering around the garden.

Spike let out a whistle, clapping for the white mare. Stellar just grinned, yet under that grin Rarity knows he's proud her.

"You've done well, Miss Rarity."

Rarity could only smile in response, before clutching her aching head, wincing in pain. The dragon hastily rushed to her side, guiding her to the wooden bench.

"You okay, Rarity?" he asked, watching with worry as the mare sipped on a glass of water.

"I'm alright." she said, waving her hoof dismissively.

"It's just a little too much to handle, that's all."

Spike breathed a huge sigh of relief, his worries for the unicorn immediately diminishing.

Stellar just chuckled, the butler settling down beside them, stretching his hooves as well.

"You've got to know how magic works, basically. Drawing out the dark aura is no easy task, even for a powerful alicorn like Princess Celestia herself."

The white unicorn just nodded. If shooting a small bolt like that was tiring, she thought to herself, she couldn't imagine the spells that Twilight could conjure.

"Maybe I have much to learn after all."

A loud rumble shook the trees around, making them turn to the direction of the palace. Stellar's face grew increasingly concerned, immediately standing up as he brushed his suit.

"Wait here. I'll go see what's happening."

The couple watched as the butler quickly galloped back to the palace. Spike was the first to stand up, much to Rarity's surprise.

"I think we oughta have a look as well."

"You sure, Spikey?" she asked, the dragon slightly blushing at his given nickname.

"He did ask us to stay her after all..."

"Just like he asked you not to wander into unknown places." Spike replied, making the unicorn laugh sheepishly.

"Come on!"

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Octavia yelped as another beam fired her way, ducking just in time. She watched the old mare march into the hall, kicking back the guards with ease.

Sovereign just scowled, spitting at a few unconscious guards laying on the floor.

"Weak and foolish, as always..."

The grey mare was completely astounded, finally being able to see the mare's full form behind the cloud of smoke.

She was an Earth pony, yet for some reason she could still use magic like a full-fledged unicorn. Her hooves were glowing brilliantly, a translucent, dark-red flame enveloped around all four of them.

"Lady Sovereign!"

Stellar galloped in with Crimson following behind, taken aback by the mare's sudden presence in the palace. He gritted his teeth as she chuckled heartily, brushing her mane aside.

"Stellar! You haven't aged a day, haven't you?"

The butler wrinkled his nose, helping Octavia up. They have a big problem on their hooves.

"What is it you want, Lady Sovereign?"

"Where's Winter?" she roared, glaring spitefully at the butler with her hooves flaring dangerously.

"Where is he, Stellar?!"

"He's not here!" Stellar replied, biting his lip as the old mare approached her. Crimson gently pushed Octavia a step backwards, not wanting to see his marefriend get hurt.

"He has gone off!"

"Ran off, I see. I won't be surprised though, considering what he's done to his siblings."

The mare began to shake her hooves free of the flames, extinguishing them with a light sizzle.

"I'm here to give a declaration!"

With a stomp of her hooves, the palace shook, the marble floors nearly cracking apart.

Spike and Rarity ran in, skidding to a halt as their eyes caught Sovereign clearing his throat in the middle of the room.

"More listeners, eh?"

She chuckled almost coldly, glancing at the pair. Rarity's grip on Spike's claw grew tighter, feeling the dark, majestic power emanating from the old mare.

"Well, no matter then."

"I hereby declare that Winter Palgiot is unfit for the title of Patriarch of Palgiot Palace and Pendant Lakes. As such, he is to be stripped of the noble title and I would take his place as Matriarch!"

Sovereign laughed proudly at herself, much to the horror of everypony else. Stellar stepped forward, his face darkening as he asked:

"What would happen when he comes back?"

The old mare just laughed, before her smile warped into a devious grin: the most demonic that the butler had ever seen from her.

"Simple." she retorted almost sarcastically, her booming voice shaking the chandeliers hanging above her head.

"If he dares to defy, then I'll have no choice but to kill him."

The Third Voyager

"Wait, Pinkie!"

Pinkie ignored her friend's attempts at calling her. She just stomped away, marching into the hotel, up the stairs, into the suite that she and her friends had booked for the night.

She had forgotten to slam the door behind her. First mistake.

"Pinkie, if you can just hear what I'm trying to say-!"

"No!" the pink pony cried, stomping away from Twilight as if she had just broken up with her.

She glanced around the hotel room, trying her best to find a place of solace with complete peace and quiet.

There was only one place to go: the bathroom.

Pinkie wrinkled her nose in disgust. No way! There's no way she's gonna go in there! She'd rather suffocate in the closet than to actually go in-

"Pinkie!"

It will have to do.

Pinkie rushed in before the unicorn could catch her, slamming the wooden door. Twilight skidded to a halt just in time, her snout just touching the cold surface of wood in front of her.

She placed her ears against the door, hearing a few muffled sniffles from behind it.

"Pinkie! We can talk about this-"

"N-No! I don't want to! I don't..."

The pink pony's loud, anguished crying was evident to the unicorn now. Twilight's horn flared up a little, focusing it towards the knob.

"Pinkie," she called to the pink pony.

"Don't make me do this."

The sniffling stopped, the cries vanished. Twilight quickly placed her ear back to the door, getting more frantic with each passing minute.

Silence.

"Pinkie?" she called out again. No response.

"T-That's enough, Pinkie! Don't scare me now!"

The pony's ears perked at the sound of a whimper. Twilight breathed a huge sigh of relief, yet she knew it wasn't over.

"Pinkie!" she shouted once more, her horn flaring with a brilliant violet aura.

"I'm busting in! No matter what you do!"

With a cry, Twilight blasted a laser-like beam from her horn, the light speeding towards the knob.

Just before it hit the surface, the light was suddenly sucked into naught, with square, crystalline wisps bursting out in response to the entry. The mare blinked in surprise, trying to understand what just happened.

She inspected the knob closely, wavering her hoof around it. She felt something... magical around, tingling her hoof with every gentle swing she makes.

"No way..." the unicorn said in disbelief. She had never seen this sort of aura before. It was completely foreign, alien to her, maybe even to Equestria itself!

Not to mention who wielded it. There was only one possible candidate for that.

"Pinkie." she called out to the pink pony, who was still trying to contain her sobs.

"What... how did you..."

"D-Don't ask, T-T-Twilight..." she begged.

"P-Please, don't!"

"Alright, alright, I won't."

Twilight would've want to find out more, but she isn't going to risk the trust of one of her friends just for that.

"But I need to know what's going on! Why did Mirror Mare tried to kill me?"

"I-It's... It's complicated..."

"Try me, Pinkie." the unicorn said, a little bit too harshly as the pink pony started to sniffle again.

"Well... okay, Pinkie. When you're comfortable enough to come out and talk, I would be here, alright?"

She just heard a whimper, but the unicorn knew from her tone that her friend had agreed to it.

"Remember," she said again, "We're still your friends. Rarity needs you. Spike needs you..."

She held her breath. She couldn't believe she was gonna say this...

"I need you."

A small, muffled gasp echoed from inside. Twilight just walked away, sitting on the bed.

"You need us as well, Pinkie. You can't fight it alone."

Inside, the pink pony was on the marble floor, her face drenched in tears. She felt lucky yet devastated that she had to conjure up the same spell again on the knob.

"S-Stupid mare you are, Pinkie..."

Twilight's words had took her completely by surprise. She was right: her friends all need her. They're all counting on her. Yet she couldn't just spill everything out! That would risk everything! Her friends' lives even!

"Take it slow..." Pinkie said to herself. Twilight was right, but she was wrong at the same time.

"I can't tell you still, Twilight.... but I can show it to you myself."

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"So you're saying we're going to be stuck here until Sovereign is-"

"Be quiet! She may hear us!" Stellar hissed at Crimson.

"She has ears all over the place."

The ponies have all holed up in the music room, awaiting for Spring's return. Sovereign has requested a little time with the small filly, whom Rarity thinks must be scared of the insane mare right now.

She and Spike were busy turning the knobs on the walkie-talkie, trying to get through the loud, meaningless crackles that it kept spewing out. Octavia and Crimson were looking around the room out of boredom, strumming and plucking a few harps and lyres on the shelves.

Stellar was the only one trying to come up with a plan.

"Look, Sovereign can't be killed by just anypony. She has the use of magic on her side, which means it's going to be complicated."

"I was wondering, though," Octavia spoke up.

"She's an Earth pony, right? How is it possible she can use magic?"

"You could say the same for Spring as well. She can use magic because of her talent."

Stellar looked out the window, a little uncertain at the darkening skies from beyond the ocean.

"She's so... how shall I put it... connected, to the talent that it can manifest itself into magic."

"So, you're saying if I play my cello until I'm, like one with it... I can use it as magic?"

"Exactly."

Octavia was completely in awe at the butler's explanation.

"Wow... I didn't know you could do that..."

"There are many things in Equestria that haven't been discovered, such as magic in Earth ponies."

The butler sat on a wooden chair, awaiting anxiously for the filly's return.

"Think about it: cases of two Earth ponies having a unicorn or pegasus filly, some even inhibiting magic from nowhere."

"Pinkie Pie..."

Rarity pondered for a moment. The pink pony had various instances of being able to appear from place to place. How it was related to her talent of making parties was still a wonder.

"Spike?" she asked the teenage dragon.

"Do you think Pinkie's..."

"I'm not sure. I mean, I don't see magic around her, even when she's just happily rolling about in the park."

The dragon did a few turns on the knob, before the crackling finally stopped.

"There!"

"Applejack?" she called out into the microphone.

"Fluttershy?"

A voice rang out suddenly, nearly making the couple jump.

"For once this thing's working..."

"Rainbow!"

A small chuckle escaped from the speakers, before the pegaus's raspy voice rang out again:

"Yep! That's me!"

"Thank Celestia you're alright, Rainbow! How's everypony else? Twilight and Pinkie?"

Rarity was completely overjoyed. She hadn't spoke to them for two weeks since the trio left Ponyville. She had so much she wanted to know.

"Well... is Spike there?" Rainbow's voice asked.

"Right here!" he replied with a grin.

"Good to hear ya for once! Twilight's worried that you didn't make it!"

"There had been a little problems..." Spike stated, remembering the events of the civil war, as some of the residents of Pendant Lakes had come to call it.

"...but I got here just fine."

"Pfft... problems? We just had a ginormous problem over here."

That immediately silenced the couple. Spike and Rarity exchanged worried glances.

"What happened?" the white mare hesitantly asked.

Slowly, the rainbow pegasus explained. How they had to stop at Primrose's cottage due to Twilight's sickness. How she had to use the Sonic Rainboom which put her and Pinkie into the hospital. How Pinkie was found bleeding during the Skull Festival and, of course, their recent fight with Mirror Mare.

"Now Pinkie's stuck in the bathroom and we're trying to get her out. Ginormous problem, isn't it?"

"W-Well..."

Rarity tried to grasp what the pegasus had just said. Pinkie saved Twilight. Twice. It was too impossible to be true.

"Time travel? Really?"

"Something like that! It's as if she's conjuring up a magical spell or something. Even Twilight told me it wasn't normal!"

"Did somebody say Pinkie?"

Stellar walked towards the couple, clearly interested in their conversation, yet behind the grizzled beard Rarity could see his face turning serious.

"Pinkie Pie. She's my friend," the white unicorn said.

"You know. The Element of Laughter?"

"I know, I know."

The butler excused himself with a bow, striding out of the room. For a moment, the white unicorn thought she saw a look of worry on his face.

"Okay..." Rainbow's voice crackled from the speakers, the mare obviously overhearing their conversation.

"Who's that weirdo?"

"One of our friends." Rarity answered, almost like reprimanding her.

"And he's not weird for the record, Rainbow Dash."

"Just kidding, Rarity! I mean, it's not like-"

"Hey, Dash! Who you're talking to?"

Rarity blinked her eyes in surprise, the voices beyond the walkie-talkie flaring up into a sort of muffled quarrel. She was completely intrigued by it: judging by their tone, they seemed very intimate.

"What are you doing in here? You're supposed to knock!"

"Well, suddenly I'm supposed to knock. First, you want me to act more stallion-like around you. Then you said you need some lovey-dovey-bubble talk once in a while..."

"Rainbow?" Rarity couldn't help but giggle coyly.

"Who is that I hear?"

"N-Nothing! Sheesh, nopony you should really care about! Right?"

"Uh... um... Rainbow? I'm just gonna, you know... scoot.."

"I already know who that is, Rainbow," the mare said with a sigh, shaking her head disapprovingly. Just how long did the cyan pegasus think she could hide him from her?

"Spill it." she demanded.

There was a long, audible sigh.

"I met Soarin' when Pinkie threw my birthday party for me, alright? Then, I got a little drunk..."

"So... you did it?" Rarity cooed.

"On your first night together as well. How... unladylike..."

"Hey! What gives, Rarity?" she shouted back, making the white mare and the dragon laugh.

"We were drunk! A little too much in the system!"

"Half-assed!" Soarin's voice added from behind the pegasus, only heightening the pair's laughter.

Rainbow groaned loudly in response, a little bit annoyed as she told Rarity:

"I'm gonna go for now! I have a stallion here that needs a spanking."

"Almost forgot! Happy belated birthday, Rainbow!"

Rarity wiped the tears of laughter of her face as the walkie-talkie clicked, signaling the end of their conversation.

"Just as expected, isn't it?" the dragon over her said, wrapping his scaly arms around her.

"Soarin' and Rainbow Dash... quite unlikely. For Rainbow I mean."

"Like a dragon and a white mare," Spike replied, making Rarity giggle.

"A gorgeous, generous white mare."

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"This is not good. This is not good at all..."

Stellar paced around the hallway, ruffling the carpets below him. He couldn't just do nothing! If one of them reaches Pendant Lakes, it will spell disaster for Equestria.

He can't bring himself to do it. Calling his old partner back is too risky. Already two of them were killed in this situation, when all of them are required for the seal to actually work.

Unless...

"You called for me, Stellar?"

The butler smiled. Just the pony he wanted to see.

"Caduceus. We've got a great problem here."

"Problem, is it?"

The doctor's voice lowered into a soft whisper, making sure nopony else is around.

"Do you mean Sovereign?"

"Something worse I fear. The future is coming."

Doctor Brineheart blinked his eyes for a moment, trying to understand what he just said.

"The future? Nonsense, Stellar. Of course the future is coming! It has always been-"

"No! No! Not that, Caduceus!"

Stellar smacked his forehead, shaking it with disappointment at his friend. How he's a doctor he would never understand it.

"We're talking about the future. You know!"

The doctor stopped, before his face darkened immediately.

"You mean... I get it. When is she arriving?"

"I have no idea, but it seems they're going to be here any second."

Stellar bit his lip, glancing at the starry night outside.

"The princess had foretold this day would come again."

"I did."

In a spark of light, Princess Celestia emerged from the darkness. Her usual, fair skin was now a pale blue from the light of her sister's moon, the concern written on her face evident to both stallions now.

"I've received the report of the anomaly from Fenderville. You're sure she used it against the other?"

"I don't think she was given much of a chance, your Highness, knowing their circumstances."

Stellar had never hoped for this to happen again, but the Princess had warned them before.

"I've checked the energy levels here, Princess."

The alabaster mare just sighed.

"I have the figures here as well. No doubt the same."

"How's Princess Luna, your Highness?"

"Still fine, although I'm not so sure now."

Her face grew more somber as she trotted towards the arched windows, settling her gaze on the bright moon before her. The cerulean mare's smile flashed through her mind, making her eyes water.

"Luna..."

"Your Highness requires privacy? A moment of silence?"

"No need, my faithful subject. The past is just bothering me, that's all."

What was she doing? Crying up in front of them like that! She had to be strong! For her sister's sake!

"I never wished for any of this to happen."

"Their deaths will be avenged, Princess." Stellar said with a bow.

"No need for vengeance. All Equestria needs is to end this. Once and for all."

Princess Celestia turned to the stallions, giving each of them a smile.

"It's time they know."

"Notify the others of its existence?"

"No need to refer with the word 'it' as if she was an animal, now." she said with a chuckle.

"I'm sure the other two would've been free of the spell already, considering how things are turning out."

"Of course, My Princess." Doctor Brineheart and Stellar replied instantaneously, each giving a bow.

"Refrain from speech. They wouldn't understand it by use of words. In addition to that, we don't want to risk everything, knowing that she's still on the move."

The stallions look up in surprise. There's no way she's planning it. Just no way...

"M-My Princess...?"

"My protege will arrive soon. She has the item we all need for them to shed light on."

Princess Celestia turned to Doctor Brineheart, who kept his head down, cowering out of fear.

"I entrust that you know of what to do?"

"Y-Yes, Your Highness...."

"Calm yourself, Caduceus. You'll do what's right."

She then focused to Stellar, who immediately looked down as the alabaster mare strode towards her.

"Prepare everything. Like it was planned before."

Stellar looked up in surprise, as if wanting to protest, but he knew better than to question her thoughts.

"O-Of course.... your Highness..."

"Good."

The princess flared up her wings, shining altogether in their brilliance.

"When the time comes, I'll be there to aid you. For now, make sure the Elements of Harmony know what they're up against."

Her thoughts focused on a specific pony. How did Mirror Mare put it? The one that started all of this...?

She sighed. Equestria's fate is in that pony's hooves now.

"Make sure the two are safe. We'll require them for Mirror Mare to appear."

"Of course, Your Highness." the two stallions said, their heads still hanging low.

A glaring flash of light made them shield their eyes, before the Princess vanished from the corridor.

"We have to do this, do we?" Caduceus asked the butler.

Stellar could only nod, slightly crestfallen at Princess Celestia's decision. It was a big duty he had to serve for the Princess, but he knows it's for the safety of Equestria itself.

"We have no choice."

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"Too late.... just too late."

Winter was in Dresden's room, sweat running down his forehead. He was softly panting, completely worn out from his journey. He had to confront her about this. About everything that happened.

"Too late, Winter!" he shouted at himself almost tauntingly.

"Buck this-!"

He kicked the chair, immediately breaking it apart. With only a flicker of rage left in his mind, he sat on the floor, his hoof harshly slamming against it in anger and frustration.

Winter tried to think straight. Don't worry, he told himself. Just relax...

He leafed through the papers in his hoof. He had salvaged it from around the house, knowing the witch doctor would be smart enough to hide all the information he needed to find.

The first one was already menacing enough to him already. He was over it a long time ago, but every sudden mention of their.. betrayal was like a pest. And every pest needed an exterminator.

He re-read the first few lines again:

To Dresden Deniers,

Your application in participation of the Canterlot Voyager Six has been approved by the Celestian Ministry of Canterlot, and the Royal Highness herself.

It is to be advised that the journey you would be participating in would be long, hard and dangerous. Your five comrades are at your disposal, as much as you are to them-

He crumpled it up, unable to read it anymore. With a scowl, he threw it at the fireplace, the embers immediately razing it off without a trace of ash.

The Patriarch leafed through the rest of the stack, his rage increasing with each faded word on the yellowed surface.

...sent to Pendant Lakes in a classified mission...

...to extort the current Patriarch and wipe out any trace of threats to Equestria...

...situation is dire. Voyagers need assistance immediately. Assassin on the loose...

...loss of a Voyager...

The loss of a Voyager.

Winter remembered that day very clearly. The day when he found out what was happening. The day when the Voyagers had begun their failure; that had doomed Pendant Lakes and Equestria ever since.

The day Autumn had to say goodbye.

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"Isn't there any other choice we have, Winter?"

The mellow sweetness of the summer wasn't one that Winter had to enjoy. Not that he really hated it, but more because he had other things in his mind.

"Autumn. You know how things are going on with the palace. Uncle did everything necessary to repair what Tantrum had done-"

"Father!" Autumn corrected him, rolling her eyes.

"Just because he's not here doesn't mean you should just simply call him by name."

Winter just mumbled under his breath. Who actually cares about Tantrum Palgiot right now? Pendant Lakes was better off when he was killed anyway.

"As if he actually bothered to even know his son..."

"What did you say?"

"Don't matter about it now."

The Patriarch was still getting used to his trips around the town. It's been three years since he was proclaimed Patriarch, yet he was still at a loss around town.

"What about you? How's Gypsum coming along?"

"Just about fine, actually. She and her friends were just visiting the fountain."

Autumn let out a slight giggle, making Winter turn in surprise. He had never seen his sister this delighted before.

"What's with you all the sudden?"

"She's so... different. I mean, look at her!"

The pale beige mare's eyes sparkled dreamily, almost as if she was their cousin's admirer. Winter shook his head with a chuckle, letting out a sigh.

"She has so much freedom. So much happiness..."

"I don't know what you both did when she came to visit five months ago," the stallion began, laughing a little when Autumn gave him a cold stare.

"But you changed a lot since then. Is Gypsum your inspiration or have you just gone off the cahoots?"

"Off the what?"

His sister just groaned, waving her hoof dismissively.

"Winter, you wouldn't understand..."

"Really? If it's that big of a secret I'll just leave it to you then."

Autumn giggled at her brother. The Patriarch just sighed.

He remembered how she look so serious last time. Always particularly eccentric on mannerisms and ladylike personalities and appearances. Now she would usually play and dance and even sing to their six year old sister once in a while.

"Look who's here!" he teased, making her sister turn in anticipation.

"GP!" she waved happily to their cousin, who was walking by the street with her group of friends. If Winter was not mistaken, they hailed from many parts of Equestria, no doubt pulled into Gypsum's antics.

*BANG*

Everything stopped. The wind died down, the chirping of the birds silenced, followed by the flutter of wings. Winter's eyes widened, watching Gypsum in horror as she fell to the ground.

"Gypsum!"

Out of instinct, he galloped across the avenue.

Autumn was frantically shaking her cousin, trying to wake her up despite the blood that stained her hooves.

"Gypsum! Don't do this to me! Don't do this to me!!"

"We need to get her to the hospital!"

Winter tried to pull her sister away, her tears running like waterfalls down her face.

"No!! No!! You can't take her!! She's not dead!!" she screamed aloud deafeningly, trying to push her brother away from him.

"Autumn! Autumn, just listen!"

He hugged her sister tightly, the mare's uncontrollable squirming immediately reduced to a loud, despaired sob. Winter watched as Gypsum's friends quickly lifted her to the nearby hospital, blood dripping from her body with every trot they make.

"She'll be alright, Autumn," he said in a comforting tone. Autumn just cried, slamming her hooves against the slate road.

"She'll be alright..."

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"She'll be alright, huh Winter? What were you thinking..."

The stallion slammed his hooves against the table, a flash of lightning illuminating his face. Night had arrived, it seemed. Much sooner than he had anticipated.

His eyes wandered to the papers yet again. He felt like tearing it all up, wishing it didn't happened, wishing it never happened.

Proclaiming one of the most imaginative, happiest and fun-filled ponies in their family dead had torn him apart. Winter bit his lip, struggling to keep the tears in his eyes as he remembered Autumn's face that day.

"You lied to your sister, Winter," he told himself.

"You deserved it."

As if Gypsum hadn't lied to her, though.

He wanted to brand her a traitor: a rebel of Palgiot Palace and Pendant Lakes, for even joining this so-called 'operation' assigned from the Canterlot Ministry.

He would've known better than to let all six of them into the town at once. From all around Equestria? A little too coincidental, now that he thought about it.

Winter sighed. He found everything he needed to know. Placing the papers into his bag, he clasped the suitcase shut.

Time to take the train.

The witch-doctor's house, although old and musty with a few leaks here and there, was still comfortable enough for the Patriarch, who was more used to the lavishness in the confinements of his palace.

Spring would've missed him by now, knowing how long he had left town. He chuckled: that silly filly always knows how to brighten up his day.

His hoof held tightly onto a crumpled piece of paper: one of the documents Dresden had hid around the house. The Patriarch strode by the burning fireplace, reading the words one more time.

Princess Celestia,

The Voyager Six have news. Terrible news.

I'm sure you've heard of it. If you didn't I'll try my best to explain. One of our comrades, Gypsum Palgiot, was killed in the plaza. We've been all mourning for her. The royal family was deeply saddened by her death as well.

It is to our utmost duty that we catch the pony behind this. We have believed it was the source of the darkness emanating from the town. Personally, I have many regrets: for not protecting her, for not being aware, even though I was sure that something was wrong.

Gypsum Palgiot (preferred to be called GP) was a good friend. She had helped us in many ways that I could not have imagined. I hope this letter finds you well, as much as I pray that everypony else would be safe for the time being.

Your faithful subject

Charter Freewings

Charter Freewings. The name was vaguely familiar.

Of course. The recently deceased District Attorney of Cloudsdale. Killed by Mirror Mare, no doubt.

Winter sighed, tossing the document into the fireplace. He watched as the smaller fires burn into the paper, charring it apart with smoke whisking from its surface.

He lifted his suitcases, knowing that his family will miss him. He just hoped they're alright.

With a twinge of his heart, he turned the knob.

"Fenderville Police Department! Put your hooves into the air!"

The wailing sirens finally rang into his ears. What else could go wrong?

Winter did as he was told, not wanting to cause any trouble. He sighed again, looking about in the crowd.

It wasn't long before he felt the cold, smooth surface of iron shackling around his hooves, firmly gripping them like a vice. Winter hung his head low in the rain, which pattered directly onto his mane, dampening it straight down easily.

He glanced around at the ponies around him. Most of them were the police. He chuckled: why did they need so many of them for when he was just going to surrender to them anyway?

Then, his gaze was fixated at two mares in the corner. Both were looking spitefully at him as he was being led away. Winter immediately identified them, having saw them around before.

The purple one was the one they call Twilight Sparkle: the most loyal, most powerful student to the Princesses. She gritted her teeth, her grumbling drowned out by the loud patter of heavy rain.

She was lucky today.

Winter gazed to the next one, immediately smiling.

The pink mane cutely hanging low like that. The equally smug expression on her face with a wrinkle of her nose. There was only one mare that fitted the description.

Pinkamena Diane Pie.

The Patriarch just grinned back. It was confirmed then: she was the one that told the police of his hiding spot.

He laughed silently to himself, before muttering under his breath:

"This is going to be an interesting night."

Interrogatorio

"I'm sorry, Miss. We're trying everything we can-"

"Then why won't he open up?" Twilight asked the police-pony.

"He's guilty of something and you were suppose to find out what it is!"

"But Miss, we're talking about different crimes in different parts of Equestria. It's too spread out for only the Fenderville Police to explore upon!"

"He tried to kill the Elements of Harmony! You know how big that sort of crime is?!"

Twilight slammed her hoof on the table, making the police-pony jump back out of fear.

"We're talking about my friends here! My friends!"

"Twilight? What's going on?"

Pinkie trotted into the room, hearing all the commotion. She was waiting for a complete confession outside along with Rainbow Dash, who was still grumbling silently to herself. They all have a good reason to, though.

Her mane was still flat, her expression looking more annoyed than concerned.

"They can't get a word from him."

The unicorn pointed her hoof at Winter in the other room, who was silently sitting there without a trace of emotion on his face, as if he had done nothing wrong despite the cuffs around his hooves

"Can you believe it? After everything he had done..."

Pinkie tried not to scowl. This wasn't the first time she had seen the stallion being 'unusually' quiet before.

"He'll open up eventually, Twilight." she said, trying to calm her friend down, yet deep down inside she herself wanted to scream at the stallion for zipping his mouth tight.

"He might just need some time."

"You're saying that as if you didn't know him at all," Twilight shot back, almost accusingly.

The pink pony stopped, a little taken aback at her friend's sudden rashness.

"T-Twilight?"

"We all know you know this stallion very well, Pinkie."

The unicorn was glaring now, stomping angrily towards her friend. Twilight's face was now grim and wrathful, yet her twisted expression only managed to fuel the burning rage in Pinkie herself.

Pinkie just gave a cold stare, her back touching the wall.

"Don't bother."

"Don't bother?! Of all things you could say!"

Twilight slammed her hoof against the wall, her face a stool's length from the pink pony as she shouted:

"Applejack and RD had been hurt by this pony, Pinkie. This pony! The pony that I'm sure you know for the whole time that he has been hurting all out friends and-!"

"I KNOW the whole time it was HIM?!"

Pinkie pushed her friend back, the unicorn responding with a flare of her horn as she gritted her teeth.

"Come on, Pinkie! I won't be surprised if you're in league with him!"

"Take that back, Twilight!"

"What the hay's going on in here?!"

Rainbow stepped in just in time, a little shocked to see the two exchanging spiteful glares, their noses twitching with hatred. With every passing second, the two looked like they're going to battle or, in this case, cause an all-out war.

"Alright. Enough with this."

Pinkie snarled in response. Twilight just left the room, letting out a harrumph of displeasure.

The cyan pegasus just blinked for a moment, before turning to the pink pony.

"Twi and I are just gonna go back to the hotel. Maybe let out some steam a little. I'm sure you'll find some way to deal with the stallion. Right Pinkie?"

She just growled.

"Of course."

As Rainbow Dash quickly left the room, she noticed the dozen pairs of eyes staring at her.

"What are you looking at?" she roared.

The police-ponies immediately resumed their work, not giving the pink pony a second glance. Pinkie trotted towards one of them, ignoring the fearful sweat running down his chin.

"I'll talk to him myself. Disable the magic barrier as well."

"B-But Miss-!" he began to protest, but stopped as the pink pony raised her eyebrow.

"O-Of course, Miss! Right away!"

Pinkie sighed. Stupid colts.

The steel door clasped open, the bars sliding out of their locks. Without a second thought, the pink pony marched in, brushing her flattened mane covering half of her face.

"Don't try me Winter," she muttered, walking towards the next door as she turned the knob.

"Don't you even dare."

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"Again. Focus your energy. Control the aura in your horn."

Rarity just clenched her teeth, her horn flaring up. She ignored the pain pumping through her head, her face steeling with determination.

She had just finished learning about bolts, much to everypony else's surprise. The mare had never known she was a fast learner like Twilight: she just thought it was by luck she could even learn one spell.

"Put a little more effort into it, Rarity. Remember: picture a ray, not a ball."

Stellar was still shouting over the spark and fizzles her horn was making. She was slightly annoyed by his so-called demands recently. But still...

Spike was silently observing everything she was doing, making the task ten times harder. He gave her a thumbs up, successfully making the white mare roll her eyes.

"Don't give in to the darkness, Rarity!" the butler shouted again. Rarity would've groaned if not for the pain searing across her forehead, knowing that the dark aura was gathering along with her magic.

Without hesitation, she let it all out, the grand beam of dark blue blasting across the garden. She was screaming the whole way through, the striking flare of light bursting through the forest.

Spike wanted to interrupt, his head ringing from her agonizing scream she was giving, but Stellar pushed him back down with a shake of his head.

"Celestia.... S-Spike!!"

Her scream seemed to last forever, the dragon becoming more frantic as time passed.

"Stellar, stop it." he demanded, but the butler just gave him a cold stare, indicating his denial.

"Stellar!" Spike barked again, his agony of watching his beloved mare screaming in pain starting to break his conscience.

"Stop this now!"

"We need to let it all out!" the stallion protested with a scowl.

"If you don't want Rarity to become an insane filth of a mare, I recommend her to continue!!"

Spike's face immediately darkened, his eyes burning with a hellish rage.

"What did you say?"

Stellar just kept quiet, before he started choking as he felt the burly, scaly claws of the dragon wrapped around his throat, lifting him up with ease.

"What did you SAY?!"

"SPIKE!!"

The dragon immediately blinked, releasing his tight grip on the butler's throat, who now fell to the floor, his face blue and gasping for air. Spike immediately sprinted towards Rarity, tackling her down.

The white mare's horn stopped flaring the moment she fell, safely into the dragon's arms. She sobbed out the immense fear she contained, wrapping her white hooves around his scaly back in a tight embrace.

"I can't do it! I-I j-j-just c-can't..." she managed to shout, before breaking down again.

Stellar just stood up, spitting at the floor. He and Spike exchanged distrustful glares, the butler brushing the dust off his suit before marching off, his snout held high.

Rarity just sobbed in his chest, the intense pain in her head fading away.

"I'm s-sorry...."

"No need to be. Stellar was the one who needed to apologize!"

Spike let out a growl, glaring at the butler.

"Who does he think he is? Making you go through all the pain!"

"I-It's okay, Spikey...."

Rarity just bit her lip. She had never seen Spike this... protective of her before.

"Can we go now?" she asked, making the dragon turn to her.

"I'm a little... well... exhausted from..."

"I know, Rarity."

The dragon felt her warm hooves let go from his back, releasing him from her tight embrace.

"Want me to piggyback you?" he asked, almost jokingly.

The white mare giggled in response along with a blush, limping down the gravel path with Spike clutching tightly on her hoof.

"I think I'm fine enough to walk."

The dragon just shrugged, sighing happily with every swing of his arm.

"Just a thought, you know!"

"Well, if you're being such a generous dragon for giving me a ride like that..."

For a second, Spike thought he saw a coy glint in Rarity's eyes, his heartbeat throbbing and his scaly cheeks reddening as she said in the most passionate, most lustful tone he had ever heard from her:

"When we're back in the palace, I want to experience a ride that I will never forget."

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It was too easy.

Winter chuckled to himself. Demolishing the patience of everypony else was always easy. Keeping silent, with no leak of even the faintest emotions.

Sometimes, he just loves his family tradition.

The steel door snapped open once more. Winter tried not to groan; how much times are they going to try this on him? It won't work at all.

He looked up, before blinking in surprise. Slowly, the edges of his mouth started to curve as the Patriarch watched the pony walk in, calling out her name:

"Pinkamena Diane Pie."

"Pinkie, Winter." she corrected, sliding the chair outwards. Her face was literally dark pink, her cold hatred visibly dancing about her eyes. Even the stallion himself had never seen her this serious before.

Winter tried to ignore it. Remember the training, he told himself.

"I've heard you're giving the police here a hard time." she said, almost teasingly. Winter felt his heart dwindle a little. This is not going good.

"When you're guilty of nothing, it's always giving them a hard time."

The Patriarch just laid back his hooves, letting out a fake yawn.

"So, you're here to find out what they want to find out?"

Pinkie's smile immediately faded.

"Similar."

"Similar, is it? Let me take a guess at it, then."

Winter pretended to ponder, before he suddenly concluded with pure sarcasm in his voice:

"Of course! The reason why I hurt your friends, is it?"

"Twilight was the last straw, Winter."

Pinkie stood up abruptly. This was going too far for her.

"In fact, you should've known better than to touch Applejack in the first place."

"The Element of Honesty, eh? Funny though."

Winter let out a hearty laugh, only angering the pink mare a little more.

"Then there's the Element of Loyalty. What was her name?"

"None of your concern."

"Rainbow Dash! Of course!" he said, clopping his hooves happily. Pinkie just clenched her hooves: if the stallion spits out one more joke like that...

"And here I thought I was the forgetful one. Come on, Pinkie. Have you enlightened your friends yet?"

"Shut up, Winter."

This was it. The moment the Patriarch had anticipated.

"Still cute when you're angry, Pinkie." he said, his heart racing as the pink mare's rage flared up evidently.

"Really, Pinkamena. You're such a dear."

"For the last. time, Winter," she barked, her ears twitching with annoyance.

"Don't. CALL Me That!"

Winter immediately chuckled, giving her a sly grin. His plan was working.

The appetizers are up. Now for the main course...

"Oh come on, Pinkie!" he whined like a preschool foal.

"Treating your coltfriend like garbage these days!"

Pinkie snapped, hearing a few audible gasps from the other room. She immediately glared at the stallion, who was smiling at her almost intimately.

"Since when you're my coltfriend?" she scowled.

"Since, I don't know...."

The stallion fluttered his eyes, making her stomach lurch with disgust.

"Forever?"

The pink mare just snarled, yet her heart was telling a different story.

Why was it beating so fast? Why is she feeling this way?

"I... I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Come on, Pinkie. Cut the act!"

Winter swayed around his seat, his hooves nudging the pink mare across him. Pinkie quickly kicked it away, crinkling her snout scornfully at the stallion's attempts of wooing her.

Something formulated in Pinkie's head. This will immediately scare the Patriarch for sure, but she bit her lip. She isn't going to like this...

"Fine, fine." she said in an instant, catching Winter by surprise as the pink mare started giggling.

"You caught me there, Winter."

"P-Pinkamena?"

This wasn't what was expected. In fact, it's going way off the charts for him, yet he can't back down now.

"Uh.... I knew it! I knew it all along you were pretending!"

"Always the smart one, are you now?" she replied, giving him a wink as she twirled towards him. The Patriarch's jaw dropped at the mare started to wrap her hooves around his coat.

"I knew it wouldn't take long for you to guess..."

"Well... I'm just.... tense! With whatever's happening and..."

Pinkie sighed. She had already tuned out as the stallion rambled, his voice droned to silence in her head.

"Enough of the chit-chat, Winter."

"Wait. Just what are you planning to-"

In a flash, Pinkie grabbed his face, slamming hers towards it in a deep kiss. Winter squirmed and struggled, yet his shackles kept him chained to the spot, the chains clinking with every unsuccessful attempt of escape he makes.

It wasn't long before the pink mare let her tongue slip inside, feeling the warmth of the stallion's mouth as her cheeks started to turn red. The Patriarch's mind started to turn hazy, the firm walls of resistance crumbling down.

The pink pony settled onto his lap, still continuing their unending kiss. The world around them started spiraling, the sweat from their bodies dripping as their kiss grew hotter, their dancing tongues now twirling around each other.

Pinkie purred and moaned, her lips still trapped in ecstasy. A wave of shivering euphoria tingled through her skin as the stallion ran her hooves from her straight mane down her body, admiring her curvature along the way.

Winter was hungry: in his mind, there was only lust. Passion. Desire. Pinkie was his! Nopony could take that away!

Immediately, she broke it, only leaving his arousal hanging. He growled, demanding for more, but the pink mare closed her eyes. Behind that playful smile, she seemed to have other ideas.

"Stallions like you..." she mewled, before bringing him towards her again, nuzzling his snout affectionately.

"Always so.... blind..."

At the instant she opened her eyes, Winter felt his body twist by an unseen force. He yelped out in excruciating pain, his gut lopsided and his stomach gurgling. He clutched his chest tightly, gritting his teeth in agony.

His eyes turned towards the pink mare, who somewhat giggled at his suffering.

"P-Pinkamen- argh!! Y-You.... You s-sadist!!"

Pinkie just yanked him closer by the throat, whispering into his ear.

"Consider it payback."

She pushed him back gently, letting him suffer from the spell she placed on him. The spell she had dreaded to use for the very same reason. For him, this was different, though.

"As I recall, you owe me a confession."

"G-Go.... Go to h-hell!"

"I'm already on my way there, wretch!"

Pinkie slammed her hoof down against his, making him shout out in pain.

"I'll give you some time to think about it. When you're ready to talk, I'll come back."

Winter wanted to shout, yet the... thing drilling into his body only made him clench his teeth in pain.

Completely enraged, he watched as the mare left the room, never giving him a second glance.

Pinkie snickered under her breath. Sweet revenge.

She turned to look at the stallion through the window, smiling at his suffering.

"Let's see how long you'll keep your mouth shut, Winter."

As she stepped back into the room, she couldn't help but notice everypony shuddering. Pinkie just trotted along, ignoring all the fearful faces they're giving, before bumping into somepony.

"Watch it, you-"

Twilight just stood there, a dark grimace on her face. Judging from the hellish hatred and the cold stare she was giving, there was no doubt she saw everything.

"Pinkie. We need to talk. Now."

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Rarity and Spike panted heavily, sweat drenching down both of their bodies.

She laid down on the bed, her cheeks still reddened. The dragon soon plopped right beside her as well, wearing a blissful smile on his face.

Her vision was hazy, even though it was already a quarter of an hour after their little fun. She turned to the dragon, cuddling herself into his arms.

"That was wonderful..." she purred, making the dragon chuckle.

"Wonderful, eh?"

Spike turned to the mare, giving her a mischievous grin.

"Wanna go another round?"

"No way, Spike!" she immediately replied with a humph, turning away from him. The dragon just laughed along, placing his left arm next to her.

"But it was great though. I never knew..."

Rarity just pecked him on the cheek. He was talking too much.

"Enough, Spike. If you keep yapping every single time after everything, I'd rather not do it all over again."

Spike just sighed.

"Fine."

The two just lied there, completely silent whilst letting the wave of euphoria pass through them. It seemed to last forever in them, before fading away, though the emptiness they felt afterwards only made them lust for more.

"At least I had my share of fun." the white mare finally said, twirling her hoof across Spike's chest.

The dragon couldn't help but agree. His arms were still sore from the bindings Rarity had made with the bed sheets, with bruises now visible across his wrists.

"Damn, the knots are strong."

"That's what happens when you work in a boutique." Rarity replied with a wink, making the dragon blush.

"But you were brilliant, darling."

"Of course! I'll do anything for you, bubble marshmallow."

"Bubble marshmallow?"

Rarity blinked for a second as the dragon laughed, lying back on the bed once more.

"Well... at least this 'marshmallow' here has enough to satisfy the needs of my Spikey-Wikey~" she mused with a purr.

Spike just grinned, stroking the mare's mane absentmindedly.

"Dominatrix."

The unicorn just rolled her eyes, kicking the sheets away before she stood up, walking towards the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" the dragon asked, making the mare glance back to him.

"Well, I'm going to have a steamy shower. I don't want to walk around knowing that some of you is still trickling down my hooves."

She watched as Spike chuckled, shaking her head with a smile.

"And don't! Think of coming into the shower, Spike!"

"Awww...." his voice droned as Rarity giggled.

"But I thought we're gonna have so much fun~!"

"Save your thoughts for later, Spikey." she said, reaching for the towel.

"A lady needs some privacy sometimes."

It wasn't long before she stepped inside, turning the fine, glazing knobs. She held her breath as she felt the warmth of the droplets scattering across her body, feeling it crawl down her tingling hooves.

She washed her mane thoroughly, her hooves running smoothly through it like silk. She could hear the dragon whistling outside out of boredom, giggling quietly under her breath.

"Spike..."

Rarity was little worried, reflecting on what they've done in the last half an hour. She had done a little research on the subject. Apparently, there were no recorded offspring of a dragon and a pony before.

It was lucky Spike was a charmer. She wasn't really ready when they had already started.

Turning the knob once more, Rarity stepped out of the shower, brushing the towel across her mane. She sighed with relief: having a long shower for once was really worth it.

Her hoof reached for the brush as she tried to dried herself off, tossing the damp towel aside.

Rarity gazed at her reflection, combing her hair straight down. It wasn't long before she shake it a little, cooing at her own reflection.

"Lucky mare you are today."

The moment she said that, her reflection started smiling, swirling her own mane despite the white mare still busy curling it around. Rarity's eyes widened in horror as her reflection started laughing coldly, before speaking:

"Yes I am, Rarity."

Immediately after the unicorn gasped, the mirror cracked, her reflection shattering apart.

"Rarity?" Spike called out, hearing her yelp in pain as one of the shards grazed her hoof.

"Rarity? What is it?"

"I-It's... It's nothing!"

Her hoof was bleeding, making her feel faint. She reached for the towel, whimpering with each gentle dab she makes.

"Rarity I..."

Spike stopped, looking at the fresh wound on her hoof.

"What happened?" he immediately asked, hurrying to her side.

"I don't know..." she immediately spoke, whimpering as Spike helped her rinse the wound.

"I thought I saw something."

Rarity shuddered, gazing back at the cracked mirror.

She had seen it: instead of her usual, white skin, it was a pale pink.

The white mare gulped. That wasn't her at all.

But if it wasn't....

"Rarity?" Spike said, following her gaze. His pupils immediately froze in terror at the sight of the pony, seemingly seeping out from between the cracks of the mirror.

"Who's that?"

"I don't know...."

She bit her lip. For some reason, it wasn't a good sign.

"Can we go now? Please...?"

"Sure, sure." the dragon replied, almost absentmindedly. He was too disturbed by her reflection to actually listen to her.

"I'm just...."

Spike stopped himself at that point, waving his claw dismissively as he and Rarity strode out of the bathroom. Rarity saw the look on his face: it was filled with fear.

Scared of her? There was no way he had any reason to be! Unless...

"S-Spike....?" she hesitantly called to the dragon, who turned to her in response.

"Am... Am I becoming...."

"No, Rarity." he snapped, making her look down in guilt.

"You won't become crazy. Please don't say that about yourself."

Rarity just stood there as the dragon walked back to the bedroom, beckoning her forward with a smile. She felt a little relieved by his answer, yet her gut was telling her a contrasting story.

"I just hope you're right..."

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"Save it, Pinkie!"

Pinkie just sat on the king-sized bed, tolerating her so-called reprimand from Twilight. The unicorn had been yelling at her for about fifteen minutes now, despite her attempts at cutting in.

"Can't believe you'll do this! When Applejack finds out-"

"Twilight! I didn't know he was behind this, alright?!"

She brushed her flattened mane away. All those false accusations.... she couldn't take it anymore!

"Look, if you would just listened to me-"

"You KISSED him! You kissed the pony that tried to kill our friends!"

The unicorn tossed her hooves up into the air, her mane becoming frizzier with rage.

"And you dared to call us your friend!"

"Twilight!"

The pink pony panted and heaved, letting out the anger as the unicorn finally stopped, glaring at the pink mare.

"I had to do it, okay? It was the only way I could get something out from him!"

"By kissing him?! Ridiculous, Pinkie!"

Twilight wouldn't want to hear the rest of it. That was enough from her.

"But Twilight! I didn't just kiss him-"

"Yet you still did! You know why?"

The unicorn pointed her hoof accusingly, tapping it onto her chest.

"Because you're in league with him!"

"WHAT?!"

"And he's treating you so well!"

She wrinkled her nose in contempt, watching the pink mare completely aghast at her accusation.

"You two were working together! Imagine that, Pinkie! Partners in crime!"

"I'm NOT working with him!"

Pinkie stood up, in a state of denial. She couldn't believe her friend was accusing her of this!

"Just because he says we were together doesn't mean it's true!"

"So you're trying to say that act. That act that you have performed so well! Was all a fake?!"

"Well.... uh... I-" she managed to stammer, remembering her kiss with the stallion.

"See?! I don't even know if we can trust you anymore, Pinkie!"

"For Celestia's sake, Twilight, he's my EX-COLTFRIEND!"

Twilight stopped immediately, blinking in surprise. The fog around her head started to clear up, the unicorn letting her friend's words sink into her brain.

"What... what did you say?"

"Ex-coltfriend, Twilight!" she repeated, lowering her voice down to a stutter.

"Winter.... he was my.... coltfriend...."

"What... but..."

Twilight didn't get it. It was usual in Pinkie's case, yet this was something she wouldn't even expect from her friend.

"Falling in love with him? There's no way..."

"It's complicated, Twilight," the pink pony said with a chuckle.

"But he was a different stallion last time... before it all happened..."

"Before what happened?"

Pinkie just sighed, turning to her friend with a chagrin frown.

"I don't want to risk your life for this..."

"I understand now, Pinkie."

Twilight placed a hoof around her friend's shoulder, giving her a slight smile.

"I'm... sorry, okay? For shouting and accusing and just saying all the stuff without thinking..."

"Don't be, Twilight."

Her friend stood up, wandering towards the window. She looked out longingly, clenching her hooves for hope.

"You'll find out about everything. When we get there..."

Twilight saw that look before. It was the same look she had seen on Fluttershy's face when Big Mac passed by her. The same look Rarity gave when Spike was around.

"You still love him, don't you?"

Pinkie just sighed. She wanted to shrug, but the facts were all written in front of her.

"He's.... different...."

Her heart ached with a small tear crawling down her face.

"I... I just wish he can still love me back..."

Fragments Of Reticence

To have lost track of time...

Winter sat there, shackled like a common, hated criminal, with the only difference being the magical 'drill' assaulting his gut. It was torture to him for the whole night: he could barely sleep or even rest without yelping in pain.

The world was spinning around him. He tried to see through his fuzzy vision, his hoof reaching out towards the table.

The door finally opened. Finally, Winter said to himself. Somepony to free him from his misery...

"Having fun, Winter?"

His hopes immediately dashed out of the room at the sound of the voice. Winter just growled, watching the pink mare step in with a cunning smile on her face.

"What do you want, Pinkie?"

"To see if you'll open up."

Pinkie rubbed the dust of her hoof, letting her flat mane fall onto the table.

"You know how I hate waiting..."

"I guess you'll have to wait a little longer then, Pinkie." he said, before gritting his teeth in pain.

"Y-You really d-do have a way with stallions."

"Who says you were a stallion?" she said, striding towards the Patriarch, the both of them exchanging raging glares.

"You don't really have any idea what you had done, don't you?"

Winter just scoffed, swinging his shackled hooves towards her.

"I'm doing what's right. For the sake of my town and the ponies living there!"

"Really? What about my friends?" she said, yanking him forward by his horn, which only further intensified all the misery.

"They were there for me, Winter! When you should've!"

The stallion just scowled, the pink mare violently pushing him back against his seat, nearly teetering off its legs. She got close to him, her eyes starting to pierce into his very soul.

Then she did something he would've never dream of.

*Clink*

The shackles around his hooves loosened, scattering across the floor. The pain searing into his stomach stopped, finally allowing the Patriarch to breathe. Winter collapsed with relief against the table, panting and heaving after the ordeal.

"W-Why......" he managed to gasp.

"Why.... why did you do it?"

"Because of my friends."

Pinkie brushed his mane away, completely frazzled and tangled about due from the force convulsing around his body.

"They made me realize that I could trust them. That I could let them understand, make them understand what was happening. That..."

The pink mare hesitated for a moment, her body evidently trembling nervously as she admitted:

"That I still l-l... l-lo...... l-love you, Winter."

Winter just sat there, gawking at the pink mare, who was now furiously blushing.

Was this some sort of a dream? There's no way...

"I love you, Winter. There..... I've said it..."

Pinkie suddenly gripped the stallion's hooves, going down to her knees. The Patriarch gasped loudly, beckoning in vain for her to stand up.

"Just.... Just tell me...." she said, a small teardrop slipping down her cheeks.

"W-Why....?"

"Pinkie...." was all the Patriarch could only manage to say. He could hardly believe it himself, seeing the mare kneel down before him pleadingly, her grip tightening up like a sailor's knot.

"I.... You.... I don't know..."

"You can trust them as well, Winter. I've talked them out of it."

She planted a small kiss onto his cheek, which only made the Patriarch even more surprised.

"I... don't want to do this anymore..."

"Pinkie, you... y-you're an idiot."

Winter helped the mare up, who was now sobbing silently under her mane. He felt the guilt in him washing throughout his body, down to the tip of his hooves.

"I've told you it was for your own good, dammit..."

"You missed my heart."

"I didn't want to kill you. I thought maybe if you were, perhaps, in a coma or something, I could sort everything out myself..."

Winter sighed, nuzzling her snout affectionately.

"Then, I thought you wouldn't end up getting tangled into this mess. But the pain..... pushing you out the window, stabbing you during the festival..."

"That's what I thought."

The pink mare looked into his cyan eyes, nearly matching her own as well.

"Then my friends told me: that they would be by my side, no matter how big the problem is."

Winter just sighed. "See... this is what I mean, Pinkie."

He tried to stand up, but stumbled back onto his seat, managing to make the mare smile a little.

"Y-You haven't told them, haven't you?"

"W-Well..."

"I've seen Rarity, Pinkie. I'm not entirely sure about the conclusion they might gain from this, but I, for one, know they aren't just going to accept the fact on what you had put yourself into."

Winter placed his hooves onto her shoulders, who only whimpered as she pondered about his words.

"Are you completely sure about this?"

Pinkie stopped to look at him, before giving him a small nod.

"They have to. For the sake of Equestria itself."

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"You called, Miss Sovereign?"

"Ideal for the time being, yes Stellar."

The old mare had just finished teaching Spring about the importance of law and order in the government. Stellar knew the filly wasn't old enough to even understand how the Ministry even works yet.

Oh well. If you were stuck in an asylum for almost a decade, what's the chance of you even remembering your daughter's age?

"I'm trying to resolve an issue here. And what a big issue it is."

Sovereign held up a list towards his face, letting it roll across the floor.

"The Mayor has not been doing his job, is he? Letting all the debts come and go like that."

"That's because he's ill, my lady, and probably won't be tending to the accounts for the next month as well."

Stellar sighed. The old mare was unfit herself to attend to the catalog of matters around the palace. If only Spring would have enough courage to perform the Necessensio...

"It still gives the time for the town to recuperate, at least."

"Can't believe at the entropy Winter caused."

Sovereign scoffed, tossing the lists aside. The butler kept his head down, his heart slightly sinking with dread.

"Imagine all that pandemonium that could've erupted from this! Inconceivable, I tell you!"

"But Lady Sovereign," Stellar cut in, the old mare immediately turning to him with contempt written all over her wrinkled face, her eyes squinting with suspicion.

"The accounts are the least of our worries. Let's not forget about the recent return-"

"Nonsense, Stellar Lionheart!"

The mare slammed the table, nearly making him jump off his hooves.

"There are better reasons than to tend to those affairs. These accounts must be settled before the next dawn approaches. Understood?"

"Lady Sovereign-!" he began, before stopping at her persistent glare.

"I... Of course, my Lady. I'll tend to them right away."

"Good, good. You're dismissed, Stellar Lionheart."

Stellar bowed, backing out of the room. He watched as Sovereign slumped to the edge of the seat, flipping through the clipboards and books while her other hoof tapped onto the buttons of a calculator.

He shut the door, cursing under his breath. If there was an embodiment of greed, that avaricious mare would be the perfect candidate.

"How did she respond?"

The butler quickly turned to his side, before letting out a relieved sigh.

"Caduceus. You've scared me."

"And why would I?" he said with a chuckle.

"I'm just a harmless, aging doctor who has lived too long under the guise of a feeble pony."

"Well, enough of that. Is everything ready for the Patriarch's return?"

"Everything's ready." the doctor replied, looking out the windows.

"Pray Celestia he's ready for what that mare has prepared."

"Sovereign...."

The thought of the old mare made Stellar clench his hooves, wrinkling his snout in disgust.

"Why is she even here?"

"A necessity, I suppose, albeit not a very big one. Unlike Tantrum, our Patriarch desires her will to live."

Doctor Brineheart arranged his glasses, flipping open his pocketwatch.

"It won't be soon before he will change his mind. After what happened to him, I'm sure Winter's flexible enough to perform the Necessensio on his own mother."

"Darkness changes the heart, they say. He will do it."

Stellar bit his lip, gazing out the window.

"The only thing I fear, Caduceus..."

His friend could see the changing expressions in his eyes, ranging from concern to hate.

"What is it, Stellar?"

Stellar just chuckled, sliding his hoof across the stone ledge. His gaze settled towards the sunset, his eyes glittering longingly for hope.

Hope. That's what they really need now.

"Remember the mare? Pinkamena Diane Pie?"

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"How about this, Octavia? The Myre?"

"I don't think so, Crim." Octavia replied, looking up to his coltfriend on the ladder.

"Something more relevant to whatever's happening, perhaps?"

She and Crimson had spent the past hour looking through the shelves, indirectly making a fortress of books around them in the process of searching for information.

The gray mare groaned for the fifth time, holding up a book in her hoof.

"Why does Winter needs so much of these books anyway? I mean, 'Polytechnics Of Equestrian Engineering'? Does he even read a word of it?"

"Maybe it's just collections from his ancestors. I mean, I haven't heard about even a tiny little bit of any of these books here."

Crimson reached deeper inside, finally digging out a book from the shelf.

"How about this one? Calvary Of A Thousand: True Accounts From The Battle Of Pristine Plains?"

"I don't think so."

"This one? Apex Predators Of The Wild?"

"We're talking about a demon here. Not just some random beast."

Octavia could only sigh. Working tirelessly in a haven of books isn't her type of job. She couldn't imagine how pitiful Twilight must've been back in Ponyville.

"Got anything else?"

"I think this is it!" Crimson exclaimed, waving a book in his hoof.

"It's titled The Palgiot Family: An Extensive History."

The gray mare just shrugged. There was nothing on the title that shows anything about Mirror Mare. But still...

"Worth a shot, I guess?"

Without a second thought, Crimson slid down the ladder, clenching the book between his teeth. His marefriend quickly snatched it, placing it onto the table.

The stallion quickly rushed to her side, watching her as she hurriedly leafed through the pages.

"There's Ochre..." she muttered to herself.

"Then Axle.... Palladium... here it is!"

Evanescence Palgiot was quickly elected the Matriarch of the Palgiot Family after the battle with her mother, Palladium Palgiot, which resulted in the latter's death. She started to resolve the financial crisis their family was starting to fall in by investing towards the tourism industry, seeing how the towns around the Reach itself had done the same from the elegant architecture and five-star hospitality. She also allowed foreign trade: a first for Pendant Lakes, which has forbade markets aside from their own to invest in the town.

Despite that, she resumed her mother's small-time business in wines, due to her affinity of growing grapes and mixing them into flavorful delights. Palgiot's Finest Wines soon escalated into the major markets, becoming the biggest contender and the main driving force and pioneer of the wine industry of Equestria.

This sudden rise made Pendant Lakes one of the most important and richest municipalities in the north. It was elected as the capital of Aston Reach, giving Evanescence a position in the Canterlot Ministry. Her power soon became evident: the small towns and villages surrounding Pendant Lakes soon came into her rule, in turn prospering into equally divergent cities.

Despite all of that, Evanescence remained close to her sister, Chaperon Palgiot, who was crippled of movement and speech during the battle with Palladium. They were frequently seen around the Palace together, talking and reminiscing of the past. Some sources even said that Chaperon had to be sung to sleep every night from her elder sister, only bolstering the clarity of how close they really were.

Chaperon soon passed away, at the age of 36, at the month of July. Evanescence was said to have been 'ravaged by the incident.... completely despaired and depressed at the untimely death of her sister." as some sources inquired. The economy of the town slightly declined, before she got married to a stallion named Chicane Fallacia, a clockwork tinker and small-time toy maker.

Evanescence then bore three children with Chicane: two colts, Pendulum, the eldest among the three and Epsilon, the youngest and a filly: Carillon. She was very fond of them, along with Chicane as well, who made brass toys for them as gifts for Hearth's Warming Eve.

It wasn't long before Evanescence became ill due to the genetic curse that the Princess had place onto the family, succumbing to it a decade after Chaperon's death, in early November. Chicane filled in as temporary Patriarch, allowing his eldest son, Pendulum to continue his studies. He soon stepped down willingly after he completed, allowing Pendulum to ascend to the throne.

"Well.... that's pretty much it for Evanescence, I guess."

Octavia nodded at Crimson's statement, closing the book shut.

"I'll try to read up on Pendulum later. Maybe his back story might explain something..."

"Like how Winter built the Dreamscape Machine?" Crimson said with a laugh.

"I gotta hand it to him, though. It's extremely impressive, considering how you can see small hints of the future using your dreams like that."

"Deja vu, we call it," the gray mare replied with a wink.

"But Pendulum must've built a model of it. I've seen a few things out of place in the machine."

"Out of place?"

"You know. Too old for its time."

Octavia tucked the book into her arms, pondering in her seat.

"Plus, Winter mentioned this was the Dreamscape Five."

"So you're saying there are other prototypes of the machine?"

Crimson scratched his mane a little, tossing it around. What his marefriend had said seemed to fit.

"And that Pendulum's the original designer?"

"I'm not surprised if he has inherited Chicane's knack of handling with clocks and gears. After all, we're talking about the Palgiots here."

The gray mare just sighed, holding Crimson's hoof as they wandered out of the library.

"The one family that seems to be able to do everything."

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"You sure you'll be okay, Miss Sparkle?"

"I'll be alright. Thanks for your concern."

Twilight gave Tourist and Penny a broad smile, standing at the entrance of the esteemed hotel. She, Rainbow and Soarin' had decided to continue their journey to Pendant Lakes, knowing that the key to Persimmon's box is now in the hooves of somepony in the town.

"It was great being here!" Rainbow said, flapping her wings above them with Soarin' floating alongside her.

"Thanks for helping out at the party as well! It was awesome!"

"No problem, Miss Dash." Tourist said.

"Almost forgot something."

He reached around the back of his suit, before pulling Gummy out. Twilight immediately smiled at the small alligator, which was completely oblivious to everything happening around him.

"Pinkie would want to see this little fellow again!"

"Speaking of Pinkie," Soarin' began, gazing around the plaza.

"Where is she?"

"Probably returning from her visit with that crazy stallion."

Rainbow spat with disgust towards the floor, narrowly missing Twilight's mane, who shot her an annoyed look.

"Can't believe he tried to kill us..."

Twilight placed the alligator on her back, which quickly croaked in response. The lavender unicorn giggled, feeling the patter of scaly paws on her back. It's no wonder Pinkie loved the alligator so much.

"Thanks for everything, Tourist."

"No problem at all, Miss Sparkle."

Tourist tipped his hat at the three of them, his wife waving along.

"Till we meet again."

Twilight smiled as the couple went back into the hotel. Something told her this wasn't going to be the last time she would be seeing them.

She turned to Rainbow Dash and Soarin', who was busy scanning out the map. She had still wondered why the Wonderbolt joined them, despite being told of the danger they were throwing themselves into.

"How are we gonna get there?"

"Well, Pendant Lakes is a one week journey from here..." Soarin' began, settling down to the ground.

"If you can fly..."

The lavender unicorn's jaw just dropped.

"A week for flying? We don't even have a week! Any faster ways of traveling? Transport, perhaps?"

Her frantic cries immediately died down, Gummy croaking in response as the two pegasi just gave each other nervous glances.

"Anything? Come on, there's gotta be a faster way!"

"Twi, as much as I like it..."

Rainbow passed her the map, a red marker outlining the bends and curves of the route they have to take.

"Pendant Lakes is close enough to the borderlands, where all the mountains are," she explained.

"and unless we can skip that tall one-"

"Aston Peaks?"

"Yep. We're talking about jagged cliffs, rocky steep slopes and a very good chance of winning a one way ticket for a free plunge down into some spiky canyon."

She bit her lip, watching as Twilight racked her brains in frustration.

"Unless you and Pinkie, I dunno, sprout wings and save the mountain climbing to one heck of an unlucky explorer, I'm afraid it's near impossible to get to Pendant Lakes under a week."

"But... b-b-but..."

The unicorn tossed her hooves up with an irritated roar, nearly flinging Gummy across the plaza.

"Then how in Celestia's mane are we going to get there in time?"

The three of them just sat in the middle of the plaza, ignoring the looks everypony else was giving. They were deep in thought, their minds whirring and racing to a conclusion, the ragged map rolled out right in front of them.

It wasn't long before Gummy croaked, interrupting their session. The small alligator pattered its feet with a smile: the first they had ever seen from the alligator.

Twilight followed the creature's gaze, before understanding what he meant.

Pinkie was there, bouncing across the plaza despite her mane still being flat. She looked more cheerful and joyful compared to the previous two days.

"Pinkie!" the unicorn called out, immediately catching the mare's attention.

She quickly pranced towards them, zigzagging through the crowd. It wasn't long before they noticed she was holding somepony else's hoof, giggling and laughing with the anonymous pony.

As they stepped out of the crowd, they got a good look of the pony's face.

Right beside Pinkie, being as frivolous as she is, with a beaming smile on his face, was none other than...

"Winter Palgiot." Twilight uttered his name quietly.

She could only stare in disbelief as he and Pinkie approached them, swaying their hooves side by side.

The unicorn turned to Soarin', who was now frowning. Rainbow's glare was more evident though, the grimace on her face directed more onto their friend than to the stallion that tried to hunt them down.

Twilight knew there was only one, exact thing running through each of their heads right now.

"What the buck is he doing here?"

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Rarity had never felt so insecure before.

There she was, lying down on the bed, with her beloved Spikey-Wikey wrapping his scaly tail around her body, letting out a gentle snore. The bright moon was shining on her face, the chirps of crickets only adding to the serenity of the night.

Yet she was still awake. And she don't want to know why.

Fear crept into her veins ever since.... ever since when? When was it?

The fatigue made her tremble, her eyes wanting to close, yet her mind was concocting a different story. The... that's it! The cracks of the mirror in the afternoon! It was as if fumes were seeping out of it, only twisting her raw reflection into a monstrosity bearing a similar identity.

Somepony was coming to get her. She was sure of it.

"N-Now, now. Relax, Rarity..."

The words were like a distant echo in her mind, the tolling of a hundred tormenting voices in her head. The screams were still fresh in her head, ringing inside like a frenzied radio.

"You think? That only your friends are getting hurt right now?!"

"They would die to get a scoop of these stories."

"Do not overexert yourself! Focus!"

"But she really, really, REALLY looks like Harmony!"

"I must admit, I regret about the bomb in your luggage."

"You play heroine and get yourself into trouble? Is that it?!"

"You're uncovering a dark secret."

"You like to make new friends now, huh Rarity?!"

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Rarity quietly sniffled, not wanting to wake Spike up. They both had to switch rooms for safety after Stellar was notified of the mirror, but she started to feel it wasn't enough.

The stone walls of the palace felt more like a prison than a home, the solace of the bed more like an agonizing knot of sheets mummifying the white mare.

"Rarity?"

Spike rubbed his eyes, a little surprised that she was still awake. Rarity just huddled closer to him, feeling a little guilty for waking him up.

"Rarity, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing..." she whispered dismissively. She had never wanted him to be involved in this mess.

"Just... w-well.... I can't sleep yet..."

Spike just chuckled, before letting out a huge yawn, stretching his scaly arms to the sky.

"You need a lot of rest, you know. Tomorrow might be a big day..."

Rarity just chuckled nervously. Her gut immediately sank with dread at the dragon's words.

Tomorrow might be a big day. But to whom?

"I'm.... I'm just..."

"You're scared, aren't you?"

The dragon pecked her on her snout, which started to redden in response. He started hugging her tightly as if she was his favorite plush toy, not wanting to let go.

Despite that, Rarity could still breath. She smiled, knowing he was sensible enough to have thought of her comfort.

"I don't want to bother you, Spikey..."

The mare just shifted a little, quietly gazing towards the vanity mirror.

"I know you want to protect me, but... sometimes... it's hard for me to accept to your terms. You know?"

"I didn't ask for your permission, Rarity."

Spike gave her a small frown, which only made her more nervous, shuffling a little bit further from the dragon.

"It's a choice I'm willing to take."

Rarity bit her lip. Of course Spike wants to protect her. He loves her as much as she loves him.

"But what if my choice is to fight this thing? Alone?"

"I'll respect that choice, of course."

Spike placed his paw over her cheek, turning the mare gently towards him.

"But are you willing to make that choice? Do you want to fight Mirror Mare alone?"

"Uhh.... I..."

He was right. She couldn't do it. She couldn't fight it alone, all by herself. It was no secret to her or to Spike.

"Rarity," the dragon began, brushing her mane aside, the bright light of the moon illuminating her face.

"Remember Pinkie? How she used to be so happy, so joyous to everything she sees? How she never worries about us, about the coming days, knowing that we will always be by her side?"

Rarity could only nod, remembering Pinkie's bright smile in her head. She chuckled at that, the bouncing flair of her walk, the snorts and giggles she would make.

"Who wouldn't?"

"She changed, Rarity."

For a moment, Rarity thought she saw a small tear glittering in the dragon's eyes as he continued:

"Everyday you see her now, behind that large smile, something is just... wrong about it. Twilight noticed it. Rainbow Dash noticed it. Applejack and Fluttershy noticed it as well."

"I don't get it. What are you trying to tell me?"

"You're changing."

Spike clenched his claws nervously, watching as Rarity looked down, settling deep in thought.

"I know Rarity when I see her. I still love you, but I don't want you to change, you know?"

"C-change?" she could only ask.

"Into what?"

"I don't know. I mean, you would usually comb your mane or something, but now..."

The dragon sighed, placing his claw onto her hoof. Rarity could see the look in his eyes, as if he was nervous of the same thing as well.

"I'm worried about you. About everything that happened."

Rarity gazed back at the vanity mirror, looking at her reflection. She could see it as well: there was something missing behind her, as if it has just been whisked away, but she couldn't put her hoof onto it.

"Spike... I..."

"We'll sort this out tomorrow, okay?"

Spike let out a small yawn, snuggling closer to the unicorn.

"I'm sure you're tired as well."

Rarity wanted to agree. She wanted to sleep, to follow the dragon into some dreamland paradise, but the tension and fear growing in her...

"Can you... stay awake a little longer? For me?"

The dragon sighed, which made her a little bit happier.

"Fine. But only for tonight, okay?"

Rarity gave him a short yet sweet kiss on his lips. It was long enough to make her feel happy. Happy that he was right beside her the whole time.

"Thank you, Spikey-Wikey."

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The car lurched a little, overcoming a small bump in the tracks. The strong scent of wine filled the noses of the ponies sitting on the luxurious, velvet seats, who remained silent for the whole journey.

Winter held his breath, gazing at the distrustful glances of three ponies in front of him. Pinkie was right beside him, tossing and hugging Gummy happily, completely oblivious to his situation.

Across them sat Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Soarin', their frowns directed at the Patriarch. Rainbow's one was more focused on Pinkie though, who seemed to have noticed it as the pink mare asked:

"Why the long face, Dashie?"

"Your mane's a little flat," she said, crinkling her snout.

"Well..."

Pinkie's hoof reached around her puffed mane, understanding her friend's meaning as she felt a few strands dangling down to her neck.

"I guess it's a little floppy-pop. Otherwise, it's okay!"

Rainbow then turned to Winter, who was now scanning the map rolled out onto the table. He had personally offered them the use of his train to return back to Pendant Lakes. It only takes two days, which is lucky for them.

"So...." she trailed a little, "how did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You know? Woo her?"

The pegasus watched as Pinkie turned to them, her face contorting into worry.

Winter just coughed breathlessly, tucking a hoof into his suit.

"She says she's releasing me because of the three of you. For that, I thank you."

Rainbow just scoffed, crossing her hooves. Twilight could see the burning hatred in her magenta eyes, her hooves clenching onto the velvet, trying to restrain her anger.

"Well, when we get there," the lavender unicorn began.

"What are we going to do?"

"The only thing I can think of now."

He sipped on a glass of wine, before saying:

"To catch Mirror Mare."

"Pah!"

Rainbow Dash tossed her cyan hooves up, nearly knocking the glass off.

"And I thought Mirror Mare's right in front of us!"

"Rainbow!" Twilight hissed, noticing the change in atmosphere.

Winter, however, seemed to remain unfazed by that. He just gently sipped on the wine, before turning to Pinkie.

The pink mare herself was trying to ignore the tension between the stallion and her friend, whirling Gummy around with a breaking smile on her face.

"I understand the horror I've caused, Miss Sparkle," he began, settling the glass down onto the table.

"But I can assure you, I have nothing to do with the deaths of the ministers. It was only your-"

Twilight hushed him, immediately silencing the Patriarch.

"I don't want to talk about it. You're lucky Pinkie asked me to trust you."

The stallion just sighed. He turned to Soarin', who was gazing out at the steamworks of the train.

"Something that interests you?"

"Not much," he said, trying to give a smile.

"Thank you, though. For helping my marefriend and Twilight to get there earlier."

"Not a big deal, really."

Rainbow just huffed. She turned to Pinkie, who was now busy giggling at the alligator rolling about the floor.

"Pinks?" she called out. "Can we talk?"

"Sure, Dashie!"

The two mares stood up, their respective stallions each giving a smile. They shuffled towards the next room, which had two bunk beds for them excluding Winter, who preferred sleep on the couches.

The pegasus sliding the door shut, clasping the latch tight. Pinkie turned to her in surprise, watching as Rainbow started to flare up with rage.

"What the hell's wrong with you?!"

Pinkie just sat down onto one of the beds, a little taken aback by her friend's reaction.

"What are you talking about, Dashie?"

"He tried to kill us! He tried to kill Applejack, kill Twilight, kill me and even you!"

Rainbow paced around, before pointing her hoof towards the pink mare.

"What were you thinking?! Bringing him along like that!" she hissed.

"Well, excuse~ me, then."

Pinkie jumped up, her mane starting to flatten.

"If there's nothing better you can yappity-yap about, then I'm going to leave."

Rainbow pushed her back down, only making her friend scowl in annoyance.

"Pinkie, just hear me out! He's not right!"

"Then I'm not right as well!" the pink mare cried out, before standing up again.

"Rainbow Dash. Just leave me and Winter alone."

"What the hell, Pinkie!"

The pegasus pushed her back down to the bed, more harshly this time.

"You don't get it, don't you? He's using you-!"

"He's not using me, Dashie!"

Pinkie's mane was completely flat now, which only made everything tenser than it already was.

"He knows what I've been through. We need his help!"

"We don't need his bucking help!"

Rainbow was shouting now, enraged by her friend's decision. What the heck was she thinking?

"He's not normal. He's a crazy, messed up stallion that tried to kill our-"

*SLAP*

Her cheeks were blazing sorely from the harsh slap the pink mare gave her. Rainbow rubbed her cheeks, frozen in shock at her friend, who covered her mouth in a silent gasp.

"Wh-what.... why did you..."

Pinkie just reached for the lock, unlocking and sliding the door open, finally stepping out into the corridor. She was sniffling quietly under her flat mane, the tears dripping onto the brass floor.

She turned to the pegasus, who was rendered speechless in an utter state of confusion and denial. She wanted to cry out, to say she was sorry, to scream and shout at herself for slapping her friend, yet she just... couldn't.

There was only one thing she could say, knowing it would only deepen the scars of the pegasus a little more:

"You're talking about my stallion."

Rosa Rivalita

"And what of the requests of abolition of the monarchy from the Badlands?"

"That would not be possible. Tell them the monarchy stays in order to resume the alliance."

Princess Celestia was in one of their meetings with the Ministry, which was now being held daily. The recent problems circulating about the other nations were worsening, the proposal of a capitalist government in the dragon nations being one of them.

"Your Highness, South Haflinger has just closed our trades of silk and coal."

"We'll discuss about that later."

The alabaster mare sighed. Most of their trading routes were starting to slow down or close off. Canterlot was already preparing for the worst, with every district saving up on all their resources.

Her worries, however, were focused more onto the other towns like Ponyville and Cloudsdale, for instance. The economic downturn was starting to become apparent in most of the towns, with the exception of the northern ones.

"In the meantime, I want a summary of resources that Canterlot has. If we have more than enough, we would have to split it among the remaining towns. Negotiate a supply to be delivered from the north as well"

The ministers nodded, quickly taking down the notes onto their clipboard.

"Now to the main focus here."

She clinked her hooves against the marble floor. In response, the guards shut the doors, locking them tightly. The blinds were drawn as well, plunging the room into total darkness.

The chandelier above them flickered a little, before lighting up brilliantly in an instant. The princess then leafed through her documents, before beginning:

"What do we have so far?"

"The deaths of twelve ministers, all found scattered beyond the northern borders. Energy levels were at maximum capacity at night, only to diminish to near zero in the morning."

"What of the information of the recent paradox clash event?"

"The force field was detected in the surrounding regions of the Everfree Forest, the farthest known account being the town of Qui' Tairais in the Badlands. Our scientists concluded it was more that time itself slowed, but not the matter existing within the plane, meaning that all of us were not affected by the paradox change at all."

"Alright." she replied. That was one burden off her shoulders.

"Any other anomalies? Traces of distortions, perhaps?"

"There were certain distortions, concentrated more on the northern regions but is expanding southbound."

The minister placed his glasses down, passing the map of Equestria to the Princess.

"The rift was of foreign in nature and in dimension. Whoever the caster of these distortions are, he or she is moving through the gateways of time as we speak."

Princess Celestia sighed with frustration. She was already warned of this, but never knew how harsh the results can be.

"We need to safeguard the society to stabilize the economy." she ordered.

"Whoever this pony is, he or she is targeting our economy's largest superpowers. The death of Solaris Followfirm was already crippling the sugar trade at a large scale. I want all of our finest soldiers on the street."

"Right away, your Highness."

"Princess Celestia?"

A pegasus suddenly trotted towards her, his armor shining smoothly like refined sapphire. His helmet was a midnight black, contrasting the golden ones of all her guards around.

"It's Princess Luna, your Highness."

The alabaster mare immediately frowned. She glanced around nervously at the ministers, who were hastily flipping through their clipboards, before asking:

"What does the Princess want?"

The guard shuffled nervously. Princess Celestia could see the sweat crawling fearfully down his forehead and his troubled expression on his face.

"Your sister has requested a private session with you."

"Private, is it?"

She strode towards the door, the guards promptly opening the doors as both alicorn and unicorn stepped out into the corridor.

"Of what notion?"

The mare watched as the guard fumbled with his words, trying to rearrange it like lines on a script.

"The threat of an attack on Canterlot itself."

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"You're talking about my stallion."

Rainbow sniffled, the wind blowing across her signature mane. She was outside of the train, her crossed hooves leaning against the golden handlebars of the vintage train.

Her argument with Pinkie the night before was still fresh in her mind. She stared at the golden color of the dawn sky, which signaled for a new day.

A new day. A new danger.

Another small bump lurched the train a little, making her jump. The rest of them were still asleep, the pegasus waking up a little too early, immediately seeking solace in the bask of morning.

"Pinkie Pie... what's with you..."

"I sometimes wonder at that question as well."

The pegasus turned around, instantly frowning at the stallion before her, which gave her a decent smile.

"Although we both know there is no exact answer for the question, do we?"

"What are you doing here, Winter?"

"The same reason you're here as well, no doubt," he answered, giving her a smile.

"To think things through."

Rainbow just scoffed. To think things through? What's the next excuse he can throw at her? Have a little fresh air?

"I'm sure you don't have problems, Winter Palgiot."

The stallion just chuckled heartily at her reply.

"Funny, isn't it? How we see each other as the luckier pony."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at you, Miss Dash. Young, experienced flyer. A pegasus with five friends and a dream stallion by her side, not to mention many admirers throughout Equestria. The wielder of the Element of Loyalty and proclaimed savior of Equestria, always willing to help a pony in need."

Winter just smiled as the cyan mare scratched her head, settling onto a brass bench bolted to the platform.

"Who wouldn't want to live a life such as yours?"

"W-Well.... w-w-what about you? You're the famed Winter Palgiot, of the esteemed Palgiot family-"

"And that's about it, I suppose."

The stallion shook his head, giving Rainbow a warm smile.

"You know. There's three sides to every story."

Rainbow blinked her eyes, turning to him as he stated:

"There's one side. Then there's the other. And of course, the most important of the three, the truth."

"The truth?"

"The truth, you see, is simple, but hard to put into words."

Winter shuffled a little on the bench, joining his hooves together as if in prayer.

"Such was the case of Pinkamena."

"Pinkie, right?"

The pegasus thought about her. How she changed from the happy, laughing pink wonder into a gloomy, despaired mare. Not that it was the first time she saw that happen.

"What about her?"

"She's been traumatized by the past. Blinded in tragedy. Diane never expected it to come. She never wanted it to plague her mind, like myself."

Winter looked down as Rainbow paced to his side, curiosity beckoning her to ask:

"You and Pinkie both have the same power, right?"

"Yes and no."

Winter strode back into the cabin, the pegasus following him, shutting the brass door behind her.

"She has a different... how shall one put it... embodiment. A circumstance that splits the both of us apart."

The stallion sighed, his hooves massaging his temple, as he continued:

"She wasn't suppose to have that power, you know? To blur the lines of fantasy and reality. A surrealist's reverie. The envious endeavors of a dreamer's creations."

The stallion slammed his hooves onto the velvet chair, gripping tightly onto the fabric with guilt dilating in his veins.

"I was an idiot. I was stupid, foolish enough to bring Pinkie into the situation."

"But I don't get it," Rainbow said, scratching her signature mane. She soon settled onto the seat opposite of Winter, pondering about the problems lying on their shoulders.

"How did all of this happen?"

Winter just sighed. His hoof pointed to Twilight's satchel, which the unicorn left onto the table. The numerous contents were spilling out, though, from amidst the stash, the pegasus understood what the Patriarch was pointing at.

The lacquered surface of the box was evident from beneath the ruffled mess, the varnished oil-drawn flowers on the cover reflecting back at her.

Rainbow Dash turned to the stallion, who had only kept quiet.

"I don't understand," she spoke with a shrug.

"It's Persimmon's box. So?"

Winter just laughed a little, only making her roll her eyes.

"The fateful events. Of how it came to this. Of the source of all this chaos and cacophony. They were all stored into that small box, sealed by a dark string of black magic."

"Really?"

Rainbow glanced at the box again, the pieces fixing together in her head.

"So if we unlock it, we'll find out what's going on, right?"

"To be brought back into the light," he only muttered.

"The memories of those who had been lost."

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"So you're saying that once you're back, you and Spike wanted to announce..."

"About out relationship, yes," Rarity replied Octavia with a nod.

"Although I'm not so sure how we're going to carry it out."

Octavia just chuckled at her friend.

"Don't worry," she said, nudging the unicorn's shoulder. "Your friends will think of something."

The two mares were in Spring's room, the filly asleep on the bed before them. She had been crying in the morning, no doubt scared of the self-proclaimed Matriarch. Octavia was reading through about the tribulations of the Palgiot Family, trying to find something about Mirror Mare in the lettered pages.

Rarity, on the other hand, was sewing one of Spring's dresses, which she had found ripped and tossed on the floor. Despite her innocence, the unicorn could see the filly had a sort of maniacal rage.

"When do you think Winter will return?"

"Well," Rarity answered.

"For the record, I have no idea how swift he would be in coming back."

Octavia just sighed, before flipping the page, her eyes lighting up a little.

"Here it is. Pendulum Palgiot."

"Well, I have to sew this finish."

Rarity then gave a sheepish smile.

"Please?"

There was another sigh from the gray mare, before she read out:

Pendulum Palgiot continued the expansion of Palgiot's Finest, even introducing it outside of Equestria. He remained close with his father, Chicane, and his siblings, Carillon and Epsilon. Chicane remained fond of his child, teaching him of clockworks and brass mechanics even after being elected Patriarch.

Soon, the mechanisms and contraptions were easily found over the palace. Pendulum refrained from doing so, knowing that he might succumb to the curse that the Princess has placed onto them.

His siblings, Carillon and Epsilon, also had talents related to Pendulum's aptitude of steam machines. Carillon's was her celebrated forte in music. She soon designed the Music Room in the Palace, which became her haven for days to come.

Epsilon's was the ability to, like his brother, build machines, albeit his were passive ones. While Pendulum can build fighter jets and steam-powered dragons, Epsilon can build steam energy cores, brass circuit timers and sapphire extractors.

It wasn't long before both brothers built their first, fully-functioning train. They then established the train station, which then connects to most of the main tracks of Equestria.

Pendulum then started on a project named Dreamscape: to build a machine able to connect directly to the Chronostream and predict future events by means of traversing through dreams.

It wasn't long before he got married, he and Epsilon agreeing to abandon the project completely. Pendulum then had two sons, which he named Tantrum and Harrow Palgiot.

"Tantrum... that's Winter's father."

"I guess so."

Rarity bit her lip, finishing her sewing. The machine stopped whirring as she stood up, trotting towards her friend.

"Harrow was the one that abolished that organization, didn't he?"

"He should be the one," Octavia replied, settling the book aside.

"But if anything happened that made Mirror Mare run astray, it must've something to do with Winter's father."

The white unicorn could only nod, a sinking feeling in her gut telling her this was not a good sign.

She gazed at Spring, who seemed to be squirming from beneath the bed sheets, her eyes squinting fearfully, her hooves flailing about in her sleep. Her face turned to that of worry; the filly was somewhat suffering in her dreams.

"I don't think we'll like how this ends."

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"Come on, Macintosh!"

"W-wait... Wait up, Fluttershy! Ah've just finished applebucking. My... my hooves... phew..."

Fluttershy was already far in front of him, as the stallion trudged through the mountain path. He was sweating from head to hoof, wanting to just collapse into the dirt.

"Hurry up! I mean... um... please?"

Big Mac just chuckled. There's the Fluttershy he know.

"Ah'll catch up in a bit. Hooves still a little sore from all that applebucking, you know?"

"Okay then..." she said, before giving him a wink.

The red stallion just smiled, watching as his marefriend ruffled her wings, gently skipping down the mountain path. She was more comfortable around him since her and Applejack's return from Cloudsdale, always tending to the animals while he plowed the farmland and picked the apples.

The two would then spend some together, walking around town or enjoy the breeze in the meadows. This time, though, she's taking him to a place he had never been before.

Big Mac wiped the sweat off his forehead. He couldn't believe he was getting tired from only walking over a few hills.

"Come on, Macintosh," he muttered under his breath, his front hooves aching from all the work.

"For Fluttershy's sake."

With a grunt, he galloped towards the yellow pegasus, who was by now entering a cave.

Big Mac skidded to a halt, staring up at the looming opening of the mountain before him.

"Fluttershy?" he called out nervously, his voice already echoing inside.

A soft, mellow reply reflected from inside, making him sigh with relief.

"Oh... um... it's okay. I'm fine..."

"What is it you want to show me?" he asked, before stepping into the darkness.

"Something just... um... wonderful..."

The stallion gazed into the darkness, trying to feel his way through the dark, rocky subterranean cavity. His left hoof reached around like a blind pony, feeling the walls and the surfaces of stalagmites sticking from the ground.

How Fluttershy navigated past all of this was a wonder to him. He tried to breathe, but the damp, dusty air only made it harder for him to focus.

Then, at long last, a small, trickling ray of light seeped from afar. Big Mac took off immediately, galloping towards the light with anticipation.

The warmth of the sun fell upon his face. His jaw slowly fell at the breathtaking sight before him, the loud roar of water ringing into his ears.

The grandiose torrent of water plummeted from a natural oculus in the ceiling, raining into an underground lake. The rays of the sun shine onto it, revealing the trees and grass growing over the craggy floor of the cavern. A slight flit of wings caught his attention as a hummingbird zoomed past his face, before reuniting with its clan.

Big Mac could only look in amazement: the powerful and pristine sight before him stealing his breath away.

"Wonderful, isn't it?" Fluttershy said, walking to his side.

"Come on. There's nothing to worry about."

The stallion just chuckled as the two trotted towards the underground lake.

"Treatin' me like ah'm one of your animal friends."

"You are a friend..." she replied, holding his hoof.

"A very good, very special friend."

"Aw shucks..."

Fluttershy just giggled, leading him towards the lake. Upon closer inspection, though, Big Mac could see steam rising from the surface.

"It's a hot spring..."

"One of the... um... few, I guess..."

The pegasus immersed her two front hooves, shuddering at the sweltering yet comforting heat. It wasn't long before she dipped her whole body in as well, closing her eyes and relishing the moment.

She waded deeper into the lakes, leaving Big Mac behind, who was still hesitantly tapping the water with the tip of his hoof.

"Just try it. I.. um, was quite scared of it too..."

Big Mac sighed. "If 'ya say so..."

Closing his eyes, he took his first steps inside. He gave Fluttershy a sheepish grin as she smiled meekly at him, holding out her hoof. A part of him wanted to jump out of the spring, but with the pegasus watching he knew that must never happen.

"C'mon Macintosh," he muttered quietly to himself. "Don'tcha back down now..."

Suddenly, he felt a hoof bring him forward, right into the pegasus's pouting face.

"You're taking a really long time. I mean! Not that I mind... um..."

"Ya sure?" he said with a chuckle.

"And Ah thought ya want to be assertive?"

At the mention of that word, Fluttershy started to grin coyly. "Assertive, huh?"

Big Mac suddenly felt the scalding water splashed across his face, stinging it as he let out a short cry of pain.

"Ow! What was that fo-!"

His complaints were immediately silenced when he felt his lips pounded against the pegasus's. He felt his chest being gently pushed down into the hot water, yet the fiery kiss overwhelmed any scalding feeling on his body.

Fluttershy's wings pent up as her hoof caressed the side of the stallion's face, her tongue seeking solace in the stallion's mouth. She rested her flank against his hoof, letting out a small moan of pleasure.

The two broke their kiss, looking at each other longingly. Both could detect the strong arousal rising from each of their bodies, the steaming heat only lifting the lusty sensations higher.

Fluttershy then pushed Big Mac against a rock, her hoof firmly gripping on his shoulders. She nipped his ear, making him grunt a little, before whispering:

"I'm ready... um... are you?"

Big Mac was unsure. He seemed so big for her, and she seemed so... frail. Yet he could see the blossoming lust in her eyes, the flame of his own about to erupt as well.

He blinked for a moment, before gently licking the side of her face. The pegasus just giggled, holding her breath as the stallion below her whispered one more thing before their lips met once more:

"More than ever."

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"How about Quirky Blue? Or Fluffy Wings?"

"I don't think Rainbow would want either of those names, Pinkie."

Soarin' smiled at his marefriend as the pink pony stopped to think, before suggesting:

"Why not something cooler? Our foal could be a colt or a filly, after all."

He and Rainbow Dash were busy thinking of a name just in case they have a foal, and Pinkie decided to help out.

She was completely over their argument, much to everypony's relief, especially the pegasus's.

"Come on, Pinks!" she cheered.

"You gotta have a name! Something extremely awesome!"

"How about... Lollipop?"

"Too sweet."

"Witty Wings?"

"Too lame."

"Tipsy Flipsy!"

"Too girly."

Twilight just chuckled from afar as Pinkie spewed out countless of names, all of them being denied by the cyan pegasus.

She turned to Winter, who was busy shoveling coal into the furnished engine. He let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing the sweat off his forehead, before noticing the unicorn staring at him.

"Seems you're having a good time," he said with a chuckle.

"Just thinking about everything."

Twilight just brushed her mane aside, stretching her hooves.

"I'm just curious about something, though."

Winter settled the shovel down, before sitting right beside the unicorn.

"What is it?"

"Pinkie and you... how did you guys meet?"

The stallion blinked for a second, holding his breath.

"How shall I explain this..."

"Well, it was one of those random encounters in town, you know? I was seeing if the town was alright, and she just happened to be there."

"So it's like love at first sight, that sort of thing?"

"Not really," he replied, shaking his head.

"It's complicated. Much more than actual love is."

Twilight just sighed, following Winter's gaze towards Pinkie, the both of them chuckling as she blew a raspberry, making Rainbow and Soarin' laugh.

"She's a special mare," the stallion said, staring dreamily at her.

"She only wishes for the happiness of others."

"That's Pinkie Pie," Twilight retorted with a shrug.

"Ooh! Ooh!" the pink pony exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"How about Firefly? Firefly Spectra Glorytail!"

"Firefly Spectra Glorytail..."

Soarin' pondered at the name, as if something clicked in his mind. He turned to Rainbow, who seemed enlightened by her friend's selection.

"Whatcha think, RD?"

"It'll work if the foal was a filly."

The pegasus fluttered her wings, giving Pinkie a hoof bump, the pink mare giggling at that.

"Knew you'll come up with something awesome!"

Pinkie just laughed with a snort.

"No sss~weat!"

Everypony else chuckled at her personality. Twilight could see Winter's face beam with pride at the mare, his smile even wider than the unicorn had ever seen before.

"She's so energetic every time."

Winter just sighed, looking down at the floor. Gummy was at his hooves, trying to chew it off with its toothless jaws.

He laughed, picking the alligator up before cuddling it, flicking its snout.

"Gummy!" the pink mare called its name, trotting towards Winter with a giggle.

"Silly Gummy! Always biting other pony's hooves now!"

A chorus of chuckles echoed through the train again. Winter watched as Pinkie rocked it to sleep like a mother, singing a small, sweet lullaby that honeyed his heart.

"Such a mare you are, Diane..."

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"What do you mean 'an attack on Canterlot'?"

Princess Celestia was pacing around her sister's room, leafing through the stack of reports on the table. She could only stare in disbelief at all the notes scattered around, her frantic worry flushing evidently through her face.

"Where did you get this from?" she asked the cerulean mare, waving one of the papers in her hoof.

"It was found on one of our ministers that were murdered in the north," Princess Luna explained.

"Remember Starsign, Tia?"

Starsign Fleet. One of the most trustiest, wisest advisers that the Ministry has ever had.

She sighed, remembering his 'disappearance' a few weeks ago, only to be found mangled in some ventilation shaft up in the northern city of Fenderville.

By her own protege.

"He managed to infiltrate the Lakes?"

"Barely. Some of the guards patrolling nearly caught him, but he evaded them with ease."

The cerulean mare walked to her sister's side, gazing at the bloodstained papers. She watched as the alabaster mare's eyes widened in disbelief, nearly dropping it to the floor.

"I couldn't believe it either."

"A weapon? That's what the Patriarch's been building? A weapon?!"

Princess Celestia slammed the paper onto the table, crumpling it up in her hooves. The loud bang also made Princess Luna jump, striding back a little out of fear.

"We're trying to recover his notes. He might've had a clear description of the weapon itself."

"I hope he does," the mare replied, grimacing at the papers on the table.

"This has gone too far. What does he think he's doing?"

"I wonder as well."

Both princesses turned to the balcony, gritting their teeth with anger as a familiar, masked pony manifested from nowhere, swirling into shape from strips of a black, paper-like substance.

"My Princesses, Celestia and Luna," it said, giving each of them a bow.

"What a queer... coincidence, don't you think?"

The younger mare just spat at the floor, her sister buckling her hooves behind.

"What does thou want?" Princess Luna asked in her booming, Canterlot voice.

Mirror Mare just snickered, only enticing them a little more.

"One of us has blown the cover. Which one was it again, I can't recall. Princess?"

"The present." Princess Celestia answered.

"I don't know what you're up to, but you're not welcome here."

"Not welcome in my own home?" it said, sweeping it hooves against the midnight-blue carpet, which only made the cerulean mare growl.

"How absurd that is, isn't it?"

"Thou'est trying to test thy patience?" she shouted in her regal voice again.

"Calm down, Luna," her sister said, stepping forward towards the masked pony.

"This was not your home. This was never your home."

The pony just laughed maniacally in response, wiping the eyes of its mask pretentiously.

"Really, your Highness. You do have a way with your words. They seem so..."

The mask glinted a bright gold as Mirror Mare turned back, its voice twisting into a gentle yet darker form as it completed its sentence:

"...threatening."

"Well, isn't your Patriarch's so-called 'weapon' a threat?" she accused defiantly, stomping her hoof onto the carpeted floor.

"I assure you, it is but a ploy. A trick!"

Mirror Mare glided towards the balcony, kicking its hooves in the air like a swimmer doing a backstroke.

"Just something to throw our Princesses off their hooves."

Princess Celestia could hear her sister sigh quietly with relief, although she herself begged to differ.

The masked pony's body started to tear apart, back into the black strips of 'paper' it was originally formed from. It let out a mere, cold chuckle as it uttered:

"For now."

Both alicorns stopped short, before galloping after the disappearing pony in vain. The echo of its morbid laughter rang throughout the room. only flaring each of their hatred for the assassin even further.

"Notify the ministers about this!" Princess Celestia ordered, her sister immediately nodding and rushing towards the door.

"I want Canterlot to quadruple their defenses. Get the most powerful of our ponies on guard now!"

Princess Luna skidded to a halt, turning back to the alabaster alicorn.

"And what of us, Tia? How can we assist?"

Princess Celestia just wrinkled her nose. Out of the zillion ideas in her head, there was only one that was exemplary for the dire situation, but she wasn't going to like it.

"Prepare your things, Luna," she told her sister with a frown.

"We're going to Pendant Lakes."

The Fourth Voyager

"What say you, my Lord Palgiot?"

Tantrum Palgiot just grumbled, placing his imperial hat down onto the stool. He had just finished trying out his favorite commander's uniform for a Celestia-be-damned photo shoot for his portrait, yet that was the least of his problems now.

He was in his grand, palatial of his bedroom, along with his butler (he never bothered to know the lowly folks' names) and his brother, Harrow. They were all preparing for the town's celebration of his ascension, which was actually a week ago.

He always scowled at the thought of it. Why would those peasants bother celebrating when they're in such a destitute state anyway?

"Lord Palgiot?"

"Yes, my humble friend?"

That was the best he could come up with. He'd still rather stick with 'my mud-faced swine' for any servant though, but the... colt was a big help to him, and is one of the few servants he truly respected.

"The Mayor is requesting for your appearance at the opening of the new Avenue today."

The stallion certainly knows his place, judging from his bow of veneration. If he could only remember his name...

"So?" Harrow stepped forward, giving his brother a quizzical look.

"The Mayor's still waiting outside, Trumpster."

"Don't call me that, Harry," he replied with a chuckle, trying to hide his annoyance.

"We're not foals now, remember that."

He turned to the butler, giving the suited colt a smile.

"Tell him I would consider about his offer. Maybe after the photo shoot perhaps?"

"Of course, sir."

The colt excused himself, stepping out of the room. Tantrum nodded to a stallion at the corner, who was still busy fumbling with the camera in his hooves.

"What is that old colt's name again, Harrow?"

"Stellar. Remember?"

His younger brother just shook his head cheekily, before continuing:

"Uncle Epsilon used to call a Mr Lionheart to help out. That's him!"

Tantrum turned back to the door, despite the butler already slipping out. He just sighed, before trotting forwards, holding his head high elegantly with his imperial hat tucked between his hooves.

"Well, it's not like I can remember every single pony in the palace."

Harrow just rolled his eyes, only making the Patriarch smile modestly. He's just so naive.

"Well," he answered, "he's a pony that you have to remember. After all, he outlived Dad and Grandpa, didn't he?"

The older stallion just grimaced at the thought of it. What's the chance that the aging servant of a colt would outlive him as well? He shuddered, not wanting to know the answer.

"Alright!" the camera pony said, giving him a hooves up.

"Smile, my Patriarch!"

*SNAP*

Stellar sighed, looking at the picture hanging on the wall.

It has been years since anypony had entered here, knowing how the room's deceased owner would forbid anypony to just simply walk through the doors. The butler wrinkled his snout at the mustiness of the room, his hooves as if sinking in a knee deep pool of dust scattered around the floor.

He glanced at the small picture again. Tantrum's eyes always seemed to stare soullessly through every pony that passes through, his lips straight like a ruler.

Even the giant paintings hanging about the corridors outside show him with no trace of emotion, the most being irritation.

"Sir Tantrum's gone, Stellar," the butler told himself. There were more dire matters to attend to now.

He's expecting Winter to return any moment now. The stallion had already passed his own deadline, prompting Stellar to warn Doctor Brineheart and Chief Griffonhooves about it.

Then for the case of Sovereign. She's still in dispute of Winter's situation, having somehow known of his coming return. And her stubbornness to even bother about Mirror Mare...

"You can do it, Stellar."

He breathed deeply, trying to calm his tension down. The task he was given to by the Princess was really getting into his head. To perform it in time...

"Have faith in yourself," he muttered again, looking back up at Tantrum's picture, who still looked down complacently at him, his imperial uniform royally brushed in a narcissistic fashion.

"You can do it."

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"Macintosh!"

"Fluttershy~?" Sweetie Belle shouted in a singsong voice, looking around the woods. She, Applejack and Apple Bloom were trying to find the two lovebirds, who had not been seen since yesterday afternoon. Sweetie Belle volunteered to help, despite The Cakes' disapproval at such.

Since Fluttershy's breakdown, she had been living with the Cakes, usually tending to Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake while they both work downstairs furiously at the orders, baking dessert after dessert for the whole of Equestria.

"Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom called out, looking beneath a few rocks and bushes.

"Where did they go?"

"Probably some secret place ya brother doesn't want us t'a know about." Applejack replied, crossing her hooves.

"He really needs to get his mind straight! Makin' us worry like that!"

"Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle shouted again, stomping her hooves in frustration.

"What do you think they're doing?"

"Ah don't know," her friend said with a shrug.

"Whatcha think they have in mind?"

"Rarity talks about it sometimes. When two ponies meet..."

She then imitates a few smooching sounds, making Apple Bloom giggle.

"Hahaha, alright!" Applejack cut in with a nervous laugh.

"Can y'all stick to the plan here?"

"Come on, sis!" the yellow filly said, tugging at her mane.

"Aren't ya curious about what they do at night?"

There was an evident blush on the older mare's face, making the two fillies giggle, before Applejack wave her hoof dismissively, letting out a small groan.

"Enough of this, Apple Bloom. We gotta find your brother now, remember?"

She walked ahead of them, but had to shoot her sister another glare when she heard a few more smooching noises behind her back, the fillies trying their best to hold in their laugh.

"Silly fillies..."

The sky was exceptionally grey today, filled with clouds and few drips of rain. It looked like a full fledged storm in the making, which only made Applejack wonder if the pegasi team was doing their job.

"There ain't anythin' natural about today's weather," she said, looking worriedly at the swirling mass of grey.

"Ver Vanotreyxkaiv Siksta"

The three of them stopped in their tracks, looking up at the sky again.

"What in the hay was that?"

"Ekess J'Hesi Gevalam"

A loud roar shattered the silence, the unknown voice now being joined by a chorus of deep chants.

Applejack turned around, looking at the reddening sky, before gasping in horror.

"Jirai Isthashyeth... K'epla vihk aryte!!"

Heading straight towards them, soaring effortlessly in the sky, were dragons. Not one or two, but a massive platoon of them. Their mouths wisp with hellfire, their tongue flicking with spite as they ravaged down towards them.

Applejack slowly backed away, her eyes frozen to their sudden invasion. Their flames started to burn across the meadow, and they seemed to be getting closer, and closer...

"Everypony RUN!!"

The three of them galloped into the woods, the razing fires chasing up behind them. They just darted forwards, not knowing where to go.

"Apple Bloom!" the orange pony called out to her sister, who was aimlessly and fearfully galloping. She then looked over at Sweetie Belle, the filly's skin already flushed with terror.

"Come on!" she rallied, charging towards a few bushes with the two fillies quickly following behind.

They've soon started galloping in the open field, a barrage of fireballs blasting right behind them. The dragons were all over the skies now, the populace much bigger than that of the Dragon Migration they've seen a year ago.

Apple Bloom yelped as an explosion blasted right behind her, narrowly missing her tail.

"Applejack!" she called to her sister.

"Stay calm!" the orange mare shouted over the loud whizz of flames and deafening cascades of explosions.

"We must all stick toge-"

She skidded to a halt, the two fillies immediately doing the same as one of the dragons swooped down from above, landing right in front of her. Applejack looked up at its scaly, crimson face, gulping nervously at the creature.

"Pony. Have no fear," his voice boomed with magnificence.

"We've come not to bring harm."

"Ya sure about that?" Applejack scoffed questionably, flames erupting all around them.

"I would be careful with those words, pony," the dragon scowled, smoke rising from its nostrils.

"You've probably not know who I am."

"I am the great Kanov'hin. The powerful, the mighty leader of the Conclave of The Free. To vanquish our weak, rotten monarchs from their feeble thrones, and set up a new government. A new system!"

He stooped up with great pride in his words, before continuing:

"Your leaders and I have come to a disagreement: a ludicrous mistake, I must say."

"W-Well... the Princesses can stop ya!" Apple Bloom blurted out before her sister could silence her.

The dragon suddenly sprung towards the filly, making her scurry towards Applejack.

"You're a brave soul, young one," he said with waning patience. He turned to Sweetie Belle, who was now cowering in fear right behind Applejack as well.

"But bravery often comes with a price."

Kanov'hin, as he was known to them, suddenly flapped its wings, blowing each of their manes. He had a glinting smile on his face, his sharp fangs gleaming threateningly at them as he shouted:

"I had intended my kin to spare you, but it seems the child's folly had changed my mind."

Applejack turned to the two fillies, horror scratching at the core of her heart.

"Y-Ya ready?"

"Be swift!" the dragon shouted overhead them as the three ponies started galloping across the burning meadow.

Applejack could hear a few roars as some of them dived down, shooting out a jet of flames from their mouth.

"Come on!" she shouted, the three of them galloping down the endless field.

The dragon watched from afar, chuckling with amusement as his comrades chased them off, spewing out flames from their mouths.

"Or be set ablaze."

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She's surely going to love this.

Winter chuckled, proud at the gift that he got for his dating anniversary: a cloudy diamond and polished onyx encrusted brooch, fitting for the mare of his life.

"Harmony, Harmony," he muttered, quickly wrapping it up. She would come into the room anytime now.

It's been only a year and a half since they met, but they've already loved each other since the day they met. Winter was just trotting around town, awaiting for Gypsum's visit, only to see her among the group of friends that she had invited.

Harmony Peridot... the mare of his dreams.

He thought long and hard for this. About proposing.

Maybe in front of the fountain, where they first laid eyes on each other? Or at the terrace: it always seemed to look romantic at nights such at this.

Then there's the question of when he would do it. Next week? Tomorrow maybe?

He sighed, reserving the thoughts for later. He has a dinner date to impress.

The door suddenly slammed open, making Winter jump in his seat. The stallion turned around, just in time to see a pale cerise mare stomp inside angrily, tears flowing endlessly down her cheeks.

"Harmony?" he called her name, which somewhat only seemed to anger her even more.

"Harmony, what is it?"

"SHUT UP, WINTER!!" she screamed, which made Winter stop to blink.

"DON'T ACT AS IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, MISTER!"

"Harmony?" he could only say. He had no idea what was happening, seeing his marefriend scream at him like that.

"I have no idea what are you talking about-"

"Oh really? Really?!"

The mare raised her hoof, preparing to strike him, before she withheld it, reducing to despair.

"Bucking idiot... shouldn't have trusted you... Shouldn't have!"

"What are you talking about, Harmony?"

He watched as the mare turned her back towards him, sobbing loudly behind her curled mane.

"Look. First of all, I don't know what made you barge in like that. But I have literally no clue at all about whatever's been going on-"

"Winter Palgiot, you bucking liar!"

Harmony shot a glare towards the unicorn, who was now backing away from her.

"Tell me then!!"

"About what?!"

"What you've been doing behind my back, of course!"

Winter just stood there, stunned at her rage.

"What in the world are you talking about?!"

"I've seen it, Winter," she said, pointing her hoof accusingly at the stallion.

"You were with another mare, weren't you?"

A look of realization flowed across the Patriarch's face, his mind finally stumbling upon the answer.

"Harmony, I can explain-"

"Were you?!"

The stallion sighed, remembering the events that happened five months ago. She was depressed, on the verge of suicide! What else can he think of doing?

"Look, Harmony. She was broken, okay? I had to do it-"

"By KISSING her?!"

"It was the only way I can think of!"

Winter groaned, kicking the chair away. The couple stood there silently, before he began:

"Whatever the heck happened to you? You used to understand me! To make me feel better!"

Harmony just scoffed, only infuriating the Patriarch as she replied coldly:

"What about you, huh?! You think that just because you're the all-amazing Winter Palgiot means that you can find everypony to just buck with in bed?!"

"What did you say?!" he shouted, marching towards the mare, who still looked away in contempt.

Harmony just held back her tears, immediately striding towards the door as she shouted:

"That's it, Winter! I can't trust you anymore, you sick, pretentious fox! Trust me when I say the Celestia-be-damned truth to your bucking face!"

She held her breath, her eyes starting to leak with tears, shouting at the top of her lungs before she slammed the door:

"It's OVER!"

* * * * * * *

"Call me a liar.... look who's the real liar..."

Winter paced around the train, which was now plunged into total darkness as it traveled into the caves, illuminated only by a few oil lamps bolted against the walls.

Dredges Deniers... Charter Freewings... Gypsum Palgiot, his cousin...

Harmony Peridot... the mare of his life...

He felt so betrayed, so enraged at himself for trusting them.

"Foolish idiot you are, Winter Palgiot..."

With a cry, he slammed the tables, clenching his hooves tightly. "Wretched, filthy..."

"Winter?"

Pinkie stepped into the room, a worried expression plastered all over her face.

"I heard banging from inside."

"Nothing to worry about, Diane."

The Patriarch chuckled as Pinkie flinched a little with a pout, affectionately knowing how much she hates being called by her middle name.

"Just... some bad dreams."

"A nightmare, huh?"

The pink mare settled down next to him on the velvet-laden seat, looking at the assortments scattered about the table before them.

"Is it that bad?"

"Horrible," was the one thing he could only think of saying, which made Pinkie giggle.

"Well... it could be worse..."

Pinkie absentmindedly leafed through the photos, twirling her mane with her other hoof. Winter just stared dreamily at her, a smile starting to develop across his lips.

"Yeah.... worse..."

The pink pony suddenly stopped, looking at a bunch of photos. Her jaw hung agape with horror, her eyes glistening with it as well at the photos before her.

Winter immediately turned to look, which only made his heart drop.

"Diane, I-"

"No!" she began to shout, before quieting down.

"I.... I j-just...I can't believe..."

Without hesitation, she quickly took off before Winter could stop her. He looked back at the photos, which only made him more frustrated than ever.

"Damn it, Winter..." he scolded himself, tossing the photos across the ground.

He sighed, rubbing his temple as he tried to clear his mind. Everything was falling apart around him. He needed time to think. Just think...

"What am I going to do?"

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"To pour the seams of life~

A mettle of cold passion, a jazz of qualms in proportions;

To silence the demons at the end of the knife~

Of waning patience, for the dying revelation..."

Jovern had longed for a small flight around the mountains. They were cooling, refreshing for his tired lungs in the autumn air. He had never felt so young in years.

The midnight wings skimmed smoothly, feeling the wind brushing across his scales. The power of flight... something he would cherish for a long time.

"Pilots of the approaching days, beware!

The fiddles of treason play strong;

Let the epochs collide, a love affair,

To return what's right from wrong."

Another loop, before the dragon let out a hearty chuckle. He kicked with his claws like a swimmer of the clouds, his belly facing the sun.

He then flipped backwards to gander at the world. The town and palace seemed so miniature below him, its inhabitants not noticing the massive shadow of a beast he was floating over the buildings.

Out on the balcony, he saw it. The adolescent dragon.

He couldn't help but worry at the sight of him. Spike's head was hanging low, an evident frown on his dejection-filled face.

Without hesitation, he swooped down majestically, plunging down a spiral of clouds towards the palace.

"Spike, my young one!"

The dragon in question immediately turned, snapping out of his daydream. He then raised his paws with a wave, prompting the black dragon to land.

His claws gripped onto the surface, scratching and chipping a little bit of the marble as Jovern skidded to a halt.

"Hey, Jovern," Spike said with a smile.

"A great afternoon it is," Jovern retorted with a laugh, before turning to him.

"You seemed bothered by something."

"Oh! That!"

Spike just waved his claw dismissively, although deep within the both of them they knew better.

"It's just that I'm thinking over all the stuff that's happening lately..."

His voice faltered into a sigh, before he began again:

"Rarity... I don't know how to help her, you know?"

Spike then settled himself down, slumping against the doors back into the palace.

"It's so unfair sometimes, you know? Watching the friends you love suffer and knowing you can't do anything about it."

Jovern just sighed. He still has so much to learn...

"Life is throwing you rocks, but you fear to toss them back."

Spike just chuckled with sarcasm.

"Rocks?"

"You can't expect it to always throw candy at you, can't it?" the older dragon replied with a laugh.

"It is these hard times that gives a memorable scar in our lives. Painful, yet a lesson we all have to learn."

Jovern watched as the younger dragon sighed, looking down at the town before them. Despite the bright afternoon sun, a thick, layered fog had encircled the town, which only mesmerised both dragons.

"Sometimes," Spike suddenly spoke up, "I wonder how you know all this things."

"If you had been living for nearly ten centuries, young one," Jovern retorted.

"You would learn many lessons of life as well."

"Yeah, I guess."

The two dragons stretched their claws, clinking it against the marble balcony. They stood there in silence for a moment, before Spike asked:

"Is it painful?"

Jovern blinked his eyes, a little surprised at his question.

"What is?"

"When she... passed on?"

Spike bit his lip as the older dragon looked down.

"I'm sorry..." he began, "I didn't mean to pry..."

"No matter. You might experience it anyway."

The black dragon held his breath, wiping a fresh tear off his eye as Spike shuddered at the thought of his words.

"I had no idea what to do with the rest of my life back then. It was depressing, those moments were."

"How did you cope with it?"

"I didn't really care at first, but the more I think about her..."

There was an aura of despair wavering around the black dragon. Spike could feel it like tendrils freezing into his heart, as Jovern continued his sentence with a sniffle.

"The more I desire to join her."

"Eventually, the Princess had to keep me under control. I was constrained in a room for a month, to drive out my intentions of reuniting with her."

"But you still missed her, don't you?"

"She's still deep in my heart, of course."

The black dragon closed his eyes with a tremble, before looking up at the sky.

"You have a long way on this journey, however."

"Yeah..."

Spike tried not to think about it, eliminating the faint possibilities of it out of his mind.

"I... I don't think I can let her go..."

"The future might not say the same story, young one."

Jovern flapped his wings a little, giving the purple dragon a grin.

"Just be prepared for anything to happen."

"I... I hope I will be..."

Both dragons suddenly looked up, their noses twitching slightly. Spike hastily turned to the black dragon, who only grimaced at the scent.

Jovern know that smell. He would remember it anywhere.

The smell of primal rage.

"Kanov'hin..."

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"Quickly!"

Applejack's hooves were aching painfully, sweat pouring down her body. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already panting, about to collapse onto the floor.

Their muscles immediately tensed at the catalyst of the roaring overhead them, laughing fanatically at their misery.

"Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle cried out as the yellow filly fell again. Both of them quickly raced towards her, as she suddenly broke down in a fit of sobs.

"Ah can't do this anymore!" she cried, flailing her hooves wildly.

"Don't say that, Apple Bloom!"

Applejack quickly helped her up, ignoring the soot on their hooves.

"We gotta find some shelter!"

A loud crackle made all three of them jump, a burning tree immediately crashing down towards the ground.

The ponies panted, gasping for air. Applejack looked around at the burning woodland, trying to heave herself up.

"Come now, Sweetie Belle," she said, watching the unicorn dragging her hooves.

She turned to her sister, who was still whimpering beneath her frazzled, red mane.

"Apple Bloom. Come on. We gotta go."

Another explosion blasted behind them, making all three turn around instantly.

"They're catching up!" Sweetie Belle cried.

"Then let's not waste any time!"

Summoning the last of their energy, they galloped deeper into the forest, the burning hail of fire quickly catching up towards them.

"Where to now?!" Apple Bloom shouted as they reached the face of a tall cliff.

"That way!"

It wasn't long before they met another tall cliff, which looked steeper than the previous one.

"Is there any other place to go?" Sweetie Belle asked the orange pony.

Applejack's mind worked feverishly, digging into the depths to come up with answer.

"Ah'm not really sure..." was her conclusion.

"In here!"

The three of them turned, before gasping with exhilaration and relief.

There, peering out from a gaping cavern, was Big Mac!

"Macintosh!"

Apple Bloom immediately rushed to her brother, who chuckled heartily as he nuzzled his little sister.

"Boy, am Ah glad to see you." Applejack said, trotting towards him with Sweetie Belle at her side, each wearing big smiles on their faces.

"Quickly, now!"

The four of them hastily galloped into the cavern, barely avoiding the grand torrent of fire raining down outside. Applejack gazed around in the darkness, before spotting a flicker of light in the distance.

As they got closer, she could see somepony else was there. The pair of yellow wings, the strikingly straight pink mane...

"Fluttershy!"

The pony in question gave them a welcoming smile, her worries all diminishing immediately as she rushed up to them.

"Applejack! Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! I'm glad that... um.. you're all...you know... safe."

The three mares chuckled, settling down in front of a warm fire.

"Finally," Sweetie Belle joked.

"Something that doesn't burn our manes off."

Everypony laughed a little, before Applejack turned to her brother, a questioning look on her face.

"What the hay's goin' on outside?"

"Some sort of dragon invasion."

Big Mac looked warily at the ceiling as the cave rumbled a little, feeling the ground shake with the fusillade of explosions blasting right outside the mountain.

"Ah ain't sure how we're going to get out, though."

"We probably have to stay... um, here for awhile," Fluttershy continued meekly, wiping the soot off of Sweetie Belle's face which made the filly giggle.

"Then what about Ponyville?" Apple Bloom asked, which only made them all stop short.

"What about everypony else there?"

"Ah... Ah don't know..."

Applejack bit her lip. Sweet Apple Acres... Granny Smith... their home... all being razed to the ground.

She shook it off her mind. It was too horrific for her to imagine.

"Ah just hope everything's alright."

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"We're almost there."

Winter stood at the platform of the train, his mane ruffling about as it traveled through the rocky canals, swerving up and down the tracks. He gripped tightly on his oil lamp, trying to see his way through the dark tunnel.

"Get everything ready."

Twilight was sweeping all her stuff in. She had been taking notes about everything she had seen back in Fenderville, excluding all the gory details. Rainbow and Soarin' had to help her out, stacking the papers neatly as they tended to their own belongings as well.

Pinkie was unusually grim again, as the three ponies have noticed, recalling her sudden outburst to Winter this afternoon, although the both of them assured that nothing happened.

Nothing happened. If only that were the case...

"Pinkie?" Twilight called to the pink mare, who was busy petting Gummy's head.

"You okay? You seem a little down in the dumps again."

"I'm fine," she replied soberly, although the cracks the unicorn could see in her smile proved otherwise.

"Everypony ready?" the Patriarch asked, receiving a couple of nods as a response.

He looked at Pinkie, who was now sulking sullenly in the corner, with Gummy chewing at her mane yet again. He could only sigh, remembering of the photos she had seen.

"Just think, RD!" Soarin' whispered to the pegasus, nudging her wings.

"Sooner or later, we're going to step out into Pendant Lakes! One of the top romantic, honeymoon destinations in the whole of Equestria."

Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes, making the stallion chuckle.

"Is that all you can think about? Love, love and, wait for it! Love~!"

Twilight laughed from in front of them, swinging her back to her side.

"Who knows, Rainbow? You might be thinking of the same thing as well!"

Winter laughed quietly, his gaze affixed to the dark tunnels in front as the ponies all chatted and laughed behind him.

He turned to Pinkie again, who suddenly turned away from him.

"Diane..."

It wasn't long before the Patriarch saw light, marking the end of their journey. Winter placed his lamp aside, a wide smile on his face.

"This is it!" he shouted to the group behind, the ponies immediately clambering up to the front.

As they got closer, Winter stopped, examining the scene before him with suspicion.

Instead of the warm smile on his butler's face, there were a row of guards, a stern expression on all of their faces with machine guns all ready on their hooves.

"Ready!"

Winter racked his brains as the train got closer and closer. He turned to Pinkie, who gave him a horrified expression.

The train started to slow down, the brakes screeching against the track as it quickly approached the station. The guards all loaded their guns, which only confirmed his fears.

"Aim!"

Something must've gone wrong. Winter racked his brains, drawing all the possible lines that might connect all the perplexing dots together.

Then his face lit up with realization, before he quickly shouted:

"GET DOWN!!"

"FIRE!

Winter quickly pushed all three of them down, just in time as a storm of bullets hailed through the windows, shattering them apart. All of them clenched their eyes shut, hearing the shells ricocheting as they riddle the brass walls of the train.

The Patriarch looked up, seeing Pinkie hugging Gummy tight, curling up under the velvet seats. Glass fell all over them, with some of the oil lamps crashing towards the floor.

The volley of bullets were endless: as soon as one wave was over, another one sprung up abruptly, not giving them a chance to breathe.

It wasn't long before they heard a few yelps from outside, as well as gunshots among each other. The hail of gunfire immediately stopped, prompting Winter to peer outside.

"Master Winter!"

Stellar was there, kicking a few ponies in their hooves. He spotted Doctor Brineheart as well, for the first time using his revolver.

"Quickly, Caduceus!"

Another bang rang out, before the butler quickly rushed to the train, opening the doors with a slam.

"It's safe now!"

"What the hay just happened?"

Twilight brushed her mane aside, looking up in horror at the blood-stained station right before her.

Rainbow and Soarin' brushed the glass off their wings, Pinkie doing the same with her puffy mane.

"Apparently," Doctor Brineheart turned to the Patriarch, who was slightly shaken with the gunfire still freshly ringing in his ears.

"Your mother had prepared some sort of a 'welcome home' party."

"Where's Rarity?" Pinkie asked the doctor, who flinched a little at her presence.

Twilight and Rainbow immediately turned to him as well, being reminded of their friend.

"She's safe."

The three mares sighed in relief, helping themselves up from the glass-filled floor. Winter scurried to help Pinkie up, but the mare just brushed his hoof away.

"Don't touch me."

Stellar quickly led them out of the train, ushering them to the station.

"Hurry! We don't want the guards to spot you!"

Pinkie held her breath, watching as the stairs up to the corridors of the palace came into view. Doctor Brineheart ushered her forward, the mare quickly making him smile as she spoke:

"It's good to be back."

Guerres Distinctes

Stellar peered from behind a wall, staring into the empty corridor with a gun in his hoof. He was waiting for it: for the guards to pounce out from the pillars. It was all down to the nervous anticipation trembling on the trigger.

"This way, Miss Twilight."

He quickly ushered the unicorn forwards, with Rainbow Dash and Soarin' following behind. Winter and Pinkie had separated from them, following Doctor Brineheart in the opposite path.

Well, Stellar sighed to relief, at least none of them had the nerve to ask what they were doing though.

"Stellar Lionheart, is it?"

The butler gave Twilight a nod whilst slowly slinking down the corridor.

"What is it you want to ask?" he said, turning back to the lavender unicorn.

"Rarity and Spike..."

The worry on Twilight's face for them was evident, as Stellar could see.

"They're fine, right?"

The butler stopped for a moment, uncertain of what to say considering the recent troubles that the both of them had been facing before their arrival. He couldn't just blurt out about Rarity's 'condition', knowing full well of the tirade of questions that might smash him straight out of the window.

Stellar sighed. Procrastination it is, then...

"You'll see."

Twilight turned back to Rainbow Dash, who was looking around warily around the corridors. Soarin' was just behind her, guarding all of their backs.

"What exactly is going on?" Rainbow asked.

"Winter's mother, Sovereign."

He clicked his gun, his ears twitching a little at the sound of hoofsteps.

"She took over the palace when he was at Fenderville. Trust me when I say she's not in her right mind now."

The pegasus just scoffed.

"Aren't they all."

"Rainbow!" Twilight hissed, before turning to the butler.

"My friend doesn't mean to be disrespectful, really. It's just that..."

The unicorn's voice started to drone inside his head, his attention more focused at a pony emerging from the corner. Stellar stood there, stunned with his haw hanging slightly open as he got closer, recognizing the pony immediately.

"Sidus..."

He seemed ethereal; a glowing ghost in full form. Yet there he was, the deceased pony that had once lavished in the life of blades and bloodshed. From the grizzly mane of his to that smile on his face...

Wait a minute... he's smiling?

Stellar blinked his eyes. That can't be true.

The smile was still on his face, before the ghostly form raised his hoof, placing it onto the butler's chest.

He could feel it. Some sort of deep aura... the very same that used to emanate from his friend when he was still alive.

Stellar looked up to the ghostly form, watching as it uttered:

"Lion... heart..."

"Mr. Lionheart?"

Twilight's voice snapped him out of it. He turned to the unicorn, who only gave him a bewildered expression.

"What is it?"

Stellar then turned to where Sidus was standing, only to see nothing there.

The lingering strength that was left in his heart was still evident. That proves it: that was no imagination.

He turned back to Twilight, who was now more worried than confused.

"Epiphany."

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*BANG* *BANG*

Caduceus Brineheart marched down the corridors, picking up a revolver from the dead guard.

"May Celestia have mercy on your soul."

He tossed it to Winter, who immediately loaded it up. Pinkie just stared at the dead pony, turning green with revulsion at the blood flowing through the uniform.

"We don't have much time," the doctor spoke up.

"Where are we going?" Pinkie asked, almost coldly.

"You should know where."

The doctor held his hoof up, gesturing for them to be silent before peering from the corner.

"Clear. Let's go."

The three of them immediately galloped down the corridor. Doctor Brineheart slowed down after a few rooms, prompting the other two to do the same.

"Tantrum's room?" Winter asked, looking with uncertainty at a white, dusty door.

"You have to see this for yourself. You and the mare."

Doctor Brineheart turned to Pinkie, who was a little surprised at his proposal.

"It might help you remember a few things."

"You want us to search my father's whole room?" the Patriarch asked.

"Everything's ready on the table, Sir Winter."

He turned the knob, ushering them inside. Winter and Pinkie just exchanged nervous glances, the pink mare asking:

"What are we going to find?"

The doctor just shrugged.

"Something that would stop Mirror Mare once and for all."

"Really?" the pink mare replied, a questioning look on her face.

She then turned to Winter, who was almost as suspicious at him as she was.

"You'll need more than the Elements of Harmony to beat a time demon, I'm sure of that."

The Patriarch straightened his suit a little, settling down deep in thought.

"Mirror Mare ran out of control during my father's reign... maybe what he had done was the source of all this chaos."

"Exactly."

Doctor Brineheart held his breath, before speaking:

"Quickly now. Lock the doors from the inside. We don't want you to risk somepony barging in, don't we?"

"What about you, Doctor?" Winter asked.

"Where are you going?"

The doctor just turned back, giving both the Patriarch and Pinkie a smile.

"Me? Don't worry. I'm just going home."

Before Pinkie could comply, Winter shushed her, giving the doctor a nod before closing the door.

Caduceus Brineheart just laughed at the mare. Still the same Pinkamena he knows...

"To get everything ready, of course."

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"Are we there yet?"

Applejack sighed, turning to her sister for the sixteenth time. They've been worn out from all the galloping and walking back to Ponyville through a burning meadow, with overwhelming dread for the goodwill of their home.

"We ain't really there, as you can see. Unless yer tryin' to say we lived in a burnt field."

Sweetie Belle fell to the floor, fatigue cumbering her hooves down.

"I don't think I can go on any longer..."

"As melodramatic as ya sister, Ah see," Big Mac said with a chuckle, before kneeling down a little.

"Hop aboard!"

With a squeal of delight, the filly hopped onto his back, making the stallion grunt. The rest of them chuckled at the sight of Sweetie Belle having a free piggyback ride, before continuing down their trip back home.

If there was still a home.

"Ya think everypony will be alright?" Apple Bloom asked her sister, her face scrunching up a little.

"Ah'm sure everypony will be alright."

Applejack rubbed the filly's soot-covered mane, making her giggle. The orange pony then turned to her big brother, who was nuzzling Fluttershy's cheek affectionately.

"So where ya two lovebirds been?"

"Oh... um..."

Fluttershy spoke up nervously, much more than her usual self.

"We... uhh... took our time... um... a really, really long time, actually..."

"No need for an explanation, Fluttershy," Big Mac broke in with a nervous laugh.

"After all, we have other things to worry about."

Applejack just smiled. Other things to worry about.

Like two fillies too young for the subject they're getting at.

Then, they saw it.

Instead of the black, burnt ashes all around, separated by an invisible border, there was a field of bright green, completely untouched by the tainting, scarring flames of the dragons that no doubt flew through here.

Just beyond it, past the lush expanse of a meadow, was Ponyville. The buildings were still standing and intact, with no trace of flames and smoke...

Or ponies.

As they reached the entrance, Sweetie Belle climbed down Big Mac's back, joining them at their gaze upon the silent town.

The atmosphere was foreboding, almost as much as Zecora's visit two years ago. The disturbing calmness that was draping over the town only induced fear in them, the ponies immediately walking back into their home.

"Hello?" Applejack called out nervously, the only thing responding her being the creaking of window shutters and wooden doors.

A few rustles were heard as well, with pairs of eyes staring outside from the darkness, making them sigh in relief.

They were still here.

"It's safe to come out now!"

Murmurs started to echo around the town as all of its residents stepped out from their homes. Some were still pale, shaken from the giant roars still in their heads, while others where completely frazzled, no doubt from their frantic getaway from the beasts.

"What happened?" some chorused. "Why were they here?" others asked.

"Calm down, everypony," Applejack spoke, immediately silencing the town.

That's an easy crowd.

"Anyways, y'all might be wonderin' why the dragons were here in the first place. In fact, all of us are intendin' ta find out what made the dragons trespass into Equestria and tried to terrorize our homes in the first place."

There was a chorus of whispers and nods among them, as they looked at Applejack in the center of the circle of ponies.

The orange pony looked at Big Mac, and then to Fluttershy, both giving her a nod.

"We have ta start down with the basics, f'course."

She glanced around the crowd, recognizing all the familiar faces.

"Now which one of yer have any clear idea where the dragons went?"

The crowd remained silent. Applejack bit her lip, gazing at all the uncertain faces they were wearing.

"Somepony?"

A crow cawed unhelpfully in response, the residents of the town tensing about uneasily.

The orange pony tried again, mentally crossing her heart.

"Anypony?"

Just then, a small, bright orange hoof waved from the crowd, a pegasus easing her way through the tight spaces between all the ponies.

"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exclaimed instantaneously, before looking at other in bewilderment.

"Scootaloo?"

"You know where the dragons went?" Applejack asked doubtfully.

"I'm positive I got it right, Applejack!" she said with a stern nod.

"I did a little bit of eavesdropping. Their leader said they wanted to go to Canterlot."

"Canterlot..."

Applejack racked her brains, the events of the afternoon coming back into her.

"Your leaders and I have come to a disagreement: a ludicrous mistake, I must say."

"Of course! Canterlot!"

The orange pony turned to Fluttershy and Big Mac, who gave the same, serious expression.

"The dragons mentioned somethin' about some sort of argument with Princess Celestia!"

"The... um... dragons?"

Fluttershy cringed a little at the mention of dragons. Big Mac huddled closer to her, knowing of her exceptional fear of the majestic creatures.

Applejack bit her lip, starting to feel uneasy at the countless pairs of eyes staring right at her.

"So?" she spoke up, taking a turn to gaze at all of Ponyville's citizens.

"Who wants to go to Canterlot with me?"

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"Just a couple more stitches to that side..."

Rarity watched as Spring fumbled with the machine, which whirred in response, the needle plunging thread through the two pieces of fabric beneath her hooves.

She was teaching the young mare about dressmaking: one of the 'arts' that Spring was suppose to learn from Stellar today.

Spike was in the room, as well as Octavia and Crimson, the couple sleeping in each other's hooves on an armchair.

The dragon watched with a smile as their ears twitched, the both of them snuggling closer to each other.

"And then a little more over there... that's right."

Rarity's voice sounded like sweet nectar with butter frosting in his ears, making him swoon. There was always that beauty and glamour surrounding the mare; the one thing that would have a long promenade through his mind.

"Rarity?" Spring suddenly spoke, giggling slightly at Spike.

"Why is he looking at you like that?"

The unicorn turned to the dragon, who immediately stumbled up from his daydreams.

Rarity giggled at the sight, before replying:

"He always looks at me like that."

Spike blinked for a moment, watching the pair laughed as his face reddened.

"Alright, alright," he said with a chuckle, rising from the bed.

"It's not like you didn't stare at me as well."

The mare just rolled her eyes, Spring watching the couple as if it was some sort of cinema movie.

"Do it again! Do it again!"

Suddenly, the dragon pounced at the filly, who fell backwards onto the bed. He then began to tickle her, making Spring break into a laughing fit with fresh tears in her eyes.

"Stop!" she managed to speak, before laughing all the way.

"Enough, Spike," she said with a smile, the dragon stopping immediately.

Rarity nuzzled his snout, stopping just before the filly's laughter died down.

"That was a rude awakening."

Octavia stretched her hooves, her hoof covering a yawn. Crimson was still snoring like a pig, drool escaping from the corners of his mouth.

She gave them a wave, rubbing her tired eyes as Spring giggled, rolling around her giant, green bed.

"So," the gray mare turned to the filly.

"Any progress with Rarity?"

"I learnt a lot actually! A whole, crisp-crasp lot!"

Spring bounced into a mountain of pillows, popping out of them with a gleeful smile that made the rest of them laugh.

"Rarity's really, REALLY good at making dresses!"

"I'm flattered, Spring," the unicorn replied, her hoof resting on Spike's claw.

"But it was no big deal. Anypony can make an adequate dress."

"But none could make any finer dresses such as you, Rarity," Spike added, making the mare blush.

Octavia and Spring just chuckled, each of them edging closer to the couple.

A small knock on the door interrupted their chat, the golden knob turning a little as it opened.

Rarity and Spike stifled a gasp of delight, watching as the ponies outside entered the room.

"Twilight! Rainbow Dash!"

"Rarity!" the lavender unicorn exclaimed, galloping towards her overjoyed friend.

The both them gave each other a tight hug, with tears of happiness dripping across their faces.

"Spike!" Rainbow said, flying towards the dragon.

"Boy, am I glad to see you!"

"Same here, RD," he replied, giving the pegasus a hoof bump.

Soarin' and Stellar entered the room as well, all giving warm smiles of their own.

"What... Why are you girls here?" Rarity asked.

"I thought you were opening Persimmon's box in Fenderville."

"It's a long story, Rarity," Twilight began with a sheepish chuckle.

"You see, as soon as Rainbow called you guys, we went to catch the pony that hurt our friends..."

Stellar just watched from afar, a somber look on his face at the lavender unicorn's explanation.

His gaze was directed more onto Twilight's satchel, feeling a tempting aura emanating from it.

Persimmon's box... just the thing they needed.

Caduceus should be heading home right now, he thought to himself. Probably getting the final essentials they needed for their 'ritual', if he were to put it in words.

The butler sighed: if only the other two were here to see this...

"...and that's why we're here."

Rarity stopped for a moment, trying to let everything sink in.

"You mean... the pony that hurt our friends, that tried to hurt Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie and you... was none other than Winter Palgiot himself?"

"I know right?" Rainbow said, tossing up her hooves with frustration.

"Don't even start on how Pinkie and him were friends!"

"Friends?" Spike said with surprise.

"T-They were friends?"

"Not just that. Winter was Pinkie's ex-coltfriend."

Twilight sighed as Rarity and Spike's jaws dropped to the floor, taken aback by her statement.

"Hard to take in, I know."

"What... but wasn't... isn't he..."

Rarity turned to Stellar, giving him an inquisitive look.

"But wasn't Harmony Winter's marefriend?"

"There's another mare? Oh, great!"

Rainbow clenched her hooves, wanting to scowl at the Patriarch.

"Wait 'till Pinkie hears about this!"

"Miss Diane knows very much of it, the fact of Winter and Harmony being together."

Stellar wrinkled his snout, chuckling a little at all the shocked expressions they were giving.

"Why... why is she still with that insolent, backstabbing cheat then?!"

Rarity's eyes flurried with rage, slamming her hoof onto the floor.

"That's it!" she snarled. "I demand a complete explanation!"

"You would have to wait a little longer, Miss Rarity," the butler replied somberly.

"But-"

"I assure you, everything would be clear and a thorough explanation would be given."

Stellar brushed his suit, watching at the setting sun in the horizon.

"Until then, the most we all can do is wait."

He added something else quietly under his breath. He doesn't believe in luck, but there's no harm in believing in it, is there?

"And pray."

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"I can't believe this..."

Pinkie closed her eyes on the couch as Winter scowled, tossing all the papers aside. He sat down across the pink mare with a creak, his hooves massaging his head.

"Why must everypony tell a lie to me..."

"Hey. Cheer up, Winter."

The pink mare cautiously approached him, placing her hoof on his shoulder.

"D-Don't worry... I'm sure we can think of something out..."

"He's taken it too far for us. We can't do anything."

The Patriarch sighed under his breath, before saying:

"Diane... I don't know what to do..."

Pinkie stopped for a moment in surprise. That was certainly unexpected from Winter.

He always knows what to do! That's his talent, after all...

"Winter, don't say that."

The pink mare settled right next to him, her puffed mane swinging sideways.

"I'm sure both of us would work something out! After all, we must always think things through-"

Winter raised his hoof, wearing a solemn frown.

"There's only one way to do this."

He trotted towards the door, with Pinkie following closely behind. The Patriarch turned back to her, before uttering:

"Tell them."

Winter watched as she stopped in her tracks, her ear twitching a little.

"W... What?"

"Tell them everything. How it all began. How we got together and how we have this... th-this..."

The stallion flicked his hooves, forming a shattered orb made from hovering entities of square crystals.

"...untamed magic."

Pinkie sighed as he flipped his hoof, the orb diminishing into the air.

"I... I can't, Winter."

"You can, Pinkie. Look, I've seen you being more confident than the rest of the world is."

He held her hoof, not wanting to let go.

"Trust me when I say that you're more capable of telling the story than I am."

"But you said-"

"I've said a lot of things, but compared to what I actually do..."

Winter chuckled a little, staring dreamily into her eyes.

"You never think things through. You just... do them."

The pink mare just smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"If you get it wrong, just try again!"

"We're both very, very different ponies," the Patriarch said, nuzzling against her fluffy mane, which made her giggle.

"I don't really know if we could ever work this out..."

Pinkie just shrugged.

"Like I said! We'll work it out together!"

"No, not that..."

Both of their hooves were cupped together, the two ponies just looking into each other's eyes before Winter muttered:

"The both of us..."

Their lips edged closer, but the mare hesitated for a moment.

"I'm not sure I want to do this."

"Trust me."

Winter held her hoof tightly, gripping it like a vice.

"We won't do it. Just a small kiss, as usual."

Pinkie rolled her eyes with a giggle.

"Since when were our kisses 'small'?"

The Patriarch just shrugged, flashing her a grin.

"Oh, I don't know..."

"It's hard to satisfy you with only a small kiss now, won't it?"

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"And when will you return, Princess?"

"It depends," the white alicorn replied to her head minister.

"These matters are extremely important, not to mention complicated as well."

"In the meantime," she continued, "you'll see to it that everything will be alright?"

"My hooves are always at your disposal," the minister said with a bow.

Princess Celestia nodded, dismissing his presence.

Nightfall is arriving, signaling her and Luna's journey to Pendant Lakes. She would be glad enough to teleport there with her horn, but that might catch a lot of attention, considering that Mirror Mare would detect their magic stream as well.

Philomena groomed its feathers, before flapping eagerly to the alicorn, letting out a delighted squawk.

"I'll miss you too, Philomena," she cooed with a chuckle, shaking her flowing mane.

"Won't we all?"

The mare gasped as a giant figure landed at the balcony, the wind from its wings slamming the doors wide open.

"Good evening, my Princess."

Princess Celestia's horn glowed threateningly, looking up at the towering figure on the balcony. The screams and cries from outside rang into her ears as she said its name:

"Kanov'hin."

"It's an honor to be here, your Highness," the dragon said with a bow.

"Surely you wouldn't mind the intrusion, would you?"

The alicorn watched in horror as the dragons chased the ponies below the palace, the guards trying their best to shoo off the reptiles away.

Up in the sky, a swarm of them flew in a spiral, roars echoing from each of their mouths as they shot flames into the sky.

"You're not invited here," she could only scowl.

"I'm well aware of that," the dragon replied, giving her a smile.

"Let us try to negotiate the matters again, shall we?"

"You want to abolish the king and queen of your nation, which would affect the ties of Equestria as well."

Celestia trotted to the side of the balcony, watching as the ponies below in the town scramble from safety at the powerful beasts, shaking her head in displeasure.

"That would immediately sever our alliance, in turn sabotaging our economy. Our financial problems are enough already. What makes you think that Equestria would accept your change?"

"It's destined."

Kanov'hin let out a hearty chuckle, watching as the alicorn crinkle her nose in contempt.

"So different."

The dragon turned to the princess, his tongue slithering a little.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Different. From your brother."

Princess Celestia let out a sigh, almost as if in disappointment.

"He's a lot more of an honorable dragon than you'll ever be."

"Jovern only shamed our family, marrying that mare of his."

Kicking his feet back, Kanov'hin scowled with spite.

"You should've seen how happy our parents were when she passed on."

"Jovern had attained honor comparable to that of the noblest dragons itself."

The alicorn watched as the dragon just grimaced, watching at the regal town below.

"All you care of is to overthrow the monarchy, when your brother would spend time strengthening the bonds between our two nations."

"Pah!"

The dragon just spit a small jet of flame out of his mouth, making the princess step back cautiously.

"Enough of this. What matters is now."

Kanov'hin flapped his red wings, Princess Celestia watching as he soared into the sky, shouting:

"It's your choice now! Whether you like it or not!"

The alicorn returned to her quarters, shutting the door behind her. Philomena squawked nervously on its perch, flapping to the alicorn's side.

"Well... time to think things through."

Like most mares, she fell onto the bed, staring at the ceiling with her mind whirring out all the problems they were facing. She and Luna could sneak out of Canterlot to Pendant Lakes, which would cause the dragons to raze the whole nation down. Or she could stay here and buy some time, which would cause some so-called 'weapon' in Pendant Lakes to fire and destroy Equestria as well.

She sighed. The chaos was ripening into Mirror Mare's favor. Killing all their financial tycoons... hiding the truth by slaughtering the ministers... causing pandemonium among almost every town in Equestria...

"I'm sorry, Twilight. You'll just have to wait."

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Sovereign Palgiot wiped her slightly wrinkled face with a towel, feeling fresher after her short bath.

She stared at the mirror, wiping a little moisturizer onto her face.

"Ahh.... Good to be home..."

With another rinse and wipe of her face, she stretched her hooves, slowly striding towards her bed.

It was large, in fact almost five times her size, yet she never cared. The more space it took, the better.

Without care for the world, she laid down on the sheets, holding up a list in her hoof.

The paper unfurled itself, the end of it reaching the ground. Sovereign looked at the figures at the list, shaking her head with disapproval.

"Tsk, tsk..."

She tossed the list aside, scrunching her lips in disgust.

"Peasants..."

Her hoof reached into the depths of her bed sheet, before lunging out, a revolver gripped inside her hoof.

She pointed it to the front of her bed, a white stallion now standing there with a gun of his own as well.

"Winter."

"Hey, mom," the stallion replied, giving a grin.

"Miss me?"

Both ponies had their guns pointed to the other, their hooves trembling with anticipation on pulling the trigger.

An immediate silence washed over as they exchanged malignant glares. Even nature was shunned by the tension; the usual chirps of crickets gone, the croaks of frogs stopping abruptly.

"So, you've decided to return," Winter spoke, breaking the silence.

"To see how my son is failing spectacularly at his duties."

Sovereign held her snout high with vanity and pride as she beckoned her head towards the list on the floor.

"You can't even settle these overdue accounts."

"We have bigger problems on our hooves."

"What's bigger than a financial crisis?"

The old mare scowled with disbelief, her hoof closer to the trigger.

"When the rest of the families know we're in debt, they'll take away our industry! Our town, even!"

"All you care of is money. How the accounts were not dealt with. How we're going to plummet into a heap of bills and fines that I could care less about!"

Winter strode a little to the left, the barrel of Sovereign's gun following along.

"I care for the safety of everypony in Equestria, alright? I care for their well being."

"And not for Summer and Autumn?!"

The mare gritted her teeth with a grumble, shaking her head with rage flickering through her veins.

"If you cared, they wouldn't have been DEAD!"

"And Spring will be as well if Mirror Mare is not STOPPED!"

Mother and son stopped, both panting with growing fury.

"Mirror Mare..." Sovereign began.

"A name I haven't heard in a long time."

Then she laughed, cackling in her deranged state of insanity. Winter just crinkled his nose with disgust, watching as his mother trembled uncontrollably in her bed, tossing the sheets around.

"Ahhh...." she said, finally calming down.

"No matter, then. This is my problem to solve."

Without hesitation, Sovereign pulled the trigger.

*SLISH*

The Motive

"No matter, then. This is my problem to solve."

Without hesitation, Sovereign pulled the trigger.

*SLISH*

Sovereign let out a loud scream, she and Winter watching in horror as her hoof was chopped off, falling onto the white sheets with a spray of blood.

The gun sounded off with a loud bang, the vase at the corner of the room shattering in response.

Winter watched his mother scream in agony, clutching at her bloodied stump, the fluid gushing violently over the bed.

He then turned to the door, only to stop in shock at the pony before him.

There was Spring, the green filly's watering eyes widened with horror at disgust, a fan of blades dangling from her hoof. Her mouth hung open in a gasp, the revolting scene of spurting blood branding into her head.

Sovereign's eyes widened at the sight of her attacker, pointing her other good hoof at her daughter.

"You!" she shouted, all the pain skewing into cold rage.

"You dare attack your OWN MOTHER?!"

The filly just cringed at the spot, the glare on her mother's face twisting into her head.

"No..."

The Patriarch could only stand there, watching as his sister rubbed her temple, trying to calm down as Sovereign screamed and shouted at the filly, splattering blood around the room with every wave of her butchered hoof.

"You BITCH!! Wait till I get you! I'll rip all your limbs out one by one!!"

The old mare climbed from her bed, standing on her hind hooves, which flared up in a field of magical flames.

"Then I'll mutilate your body! YES!! Nail your face to the door! Hang your blasted guts all over the ceiling to show how much I love you-

"NO!"

*SHDCKK*

The rambles stopped, the only sound being Spring trying to vent out her anger.

Sovereign's eyes stopped in a frozen gaze, blood running down right between them. A knife was stuck onto the middle of her forehead, nailing it to the back of the bed.

Winter watched at the mangled scene, his stomach torn with gurgles, his throat choking for fresh air.

He turned to his sister, who was now crying, sprawled onto the floor with the bangle of blades clinking as she slammed her hoof onto the floor.

"Sp.... S-Sp-Spring..."

He slowly walked to the filly, trying to lift her up.

"Spring?"

"Leave me alone..."

"Spring," Winter tried again, putting his gun away.

"We have to go-"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

Spring slapped Winter's hooves away, her eyes raging with tears.

The Patriarch could see it: the same thing he saw in Autumn, the same thing he saw in Pinkie.

A demonic rage.

"Spring, you did nothing wrong," he said with a hush.

"What you did was necessary..."

The filly just cried on the floor, oblivious to everything in her despair.

"I just... want to get out of here..."

"Then we'll both get out of here," he said, forcing out a smile.

Winter watched as the filly stared at him for a long time, his hooves clenching with tension.

He grabbed the filly's hooves, lifting his sister up.

"Together."

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Their lips broke once more, a strand of saliva connecting them together as Rarity and Spike panted, each wearing dreamy smiles on their faces.

"Was I too gentle?" Rarity said with a giggle, licking her hoof seductively while sitting on top of the dragon's chest.

Spike just shrugged with a scrunch of his lips.

"I think Twilight can do better than you."

"Really? You want to bring her into this?"

The unicorn just rolled her eyes, smiling as her lover laughed underneath her.

"Well, I'm just getting started."

Edging herself forward, she slammed her lips into Spike's, the dragon's claws sinking into her skin.

She thrust her tongue inside, licking the sharp fangs of the dragon before settling down with its snake-like counterpart.

Sweat dripped onto the blanket as Rarity worked her way in, her hooves pinning Spike down with ease.

Their kiss seemed eternal, as was their burning lust; a flame running on infinite fuel.

"Masochistic, eh?" Spike said once their kiss was over.

"I'm not really into pain," she purred, licking the tip of his claws.

"I'm more keen on love and pleasure, actually."

"Yet you're still playing domination on me."

"Because you're quick to hunger, and you're swift enough to swallow it all down," she replied, as the both of them unsheathed their tongues, twirling them around in mid-air.

"But I'm a lady," she said with a wink. "It's fashionable for ladies to eat slowly~."

"That's pretty deep," he replied, twirling her mane as Rarity brought herself closer to him.

"It's just a small session, my muse..."

"Spikey-Wikey..."

A sudden knock on the door smashed into the moment, their eyes widening in bewilderment.

"Sweet Celestia..."

"Coming!" Rarity shouted, untangling herself from the sheets. The desire between her hooves wanted to comply with her words, making her tremble with every giddy step she took.

Spike ruffled the blankets neatly, beads of sweat nervously crawling down his scales as the unicorn turned the knob.

"Hey, Rarity."

"Pinkie, darling!" the white mare said with a nervous chuckle.

"Why the... erm... late visit?"

Pinkie just shrugged, rubbing her tired eyes.

"I'm not sure really. Just thought I could use somepony to talk to."

Rarity wanted to deny her. She was already halfway into it with Spike.

One small talk with a friend would've killed the mood.

"Why, of course! Come on in!"

Pinkie stepped into the room, being greeted by the dragon with a wave of his claw.

"Hey, Spike."

"You're up late tonight," Spike replied with a chuckle.

Rarity just rolled her eyes, settling herself right next to the dragon as Pinkie sat on the armchair.

"What is it you want to talk about, Pinkie?"

"It's... I don't know..."

The pink mare shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, letting out a small sigh.

"Are... are you guys mad at me?"

The white unicorn just blinked her eyes, before stammering:

"N-No! We're not mad! I mean, why would we be mad? Right, Spike?"

Spike just mumbled something under his breath, tensing only when Rarity shot him a glare.

"Uh... um... Yes! There's no reason to be mad at you, is there?"

Pinkie just sighed. "I don't know..."

She shook her puffy mane to the side, letting out a murmur of dejection.

"Because Winter and I are together?"

"Please, Pinkie."

The white mare slowly strode towards her saddened friend, shaking her head with a laugh.

"We're your friends! We'll approve of your relationships, no matter who the stallion is!"

"Well, Dashie doesn't seem to take it well."

"I... uh..."

Great. One of her friends screwed up. Rarity bit her lip.

"Well... you know how Rainbow is! Always the brash, hasty one. Don't listen to her."

"I can see it, you know?"

Pinkie stood up now, her frown turning a little bit darker as she carried on:

"You're not accepting it. At all."

"I.... Pinkie, I just..."

"It's okay. I understand."

The pink mare strode to the door, dejection filling her face. Rarity could only look at her, the words she formulated in her mind whisked away by her friend's statement.

"I don't want to bother you guys anymore."

Without another word, she stepped out of the door, leaving both unicorn and dragon confused.

As soon as the door shut, the both of them sighed with relief, yet Spike could hear pain in hers.

"What is it?"

"She's... I don't know.... telling the truth? I really want to support her."

Rarity settled back onto the bed, snuggling closer in his arms.

"Yet it's just so wrong. Winter tried to kill our friends! Why would Pinkie still be in love with him?"

"I have no idea, but now..."

Spike gave her a glinting smile, his intentions clear to the both of them.

"I think what we need is a stress reliever."

"Wow..." the mare just replied with a giggle.

"And you said I was deep."

"I'm just scratching the surface of it, Rarity," the dragon replied cunningly, twirling her mane.

Rarity's hooves edged closer to his paws, grinding her flank to his chest with a moan. Both started to blush heavily, the mare licking her lips as she asked:

"Now then. Where were we?"

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Time...

Jovern breathed in deeply, the moisture of dawn tingling in his nostrils with every gentle flap of his tired wings.

The sun wasn't rising yet, but he's patiently waiting. Waiting for the body of fire to awaken from its routinely nap.

He had just started flying south from the tall balconies of Palgiot Palace, notifying Stellar of his sudden departure.

How long has it been? Five hundred years? A thousand, even?

"Kanov'hin..." he muttered to himself. A name he hadn't heard in a long time.

Jovern just chuckled, remembering the annoyed, red face of his little brother.

~ * * * * * ~

"Kane!" he shouted, waiting for his brother to emerge from the caverns above.

The clan wouldn't wake up to face the rise of the morning sun, but Jovern, or Jozerv'inh as he was known, had some big news. Very, very big news.

"Kane! Come on down!"

With a flutter of wings and a loud groan, the black dragon watched as his brother drifted slowly down to him. His scales were grizzling with annoyance as he grumbled:

"What is it, Jovern? You know better than to wake the whole den up, right?"

"I have incredible news!"

Jovern pattered his feet happily, his tongue swinging around like an excited dog.

"You wouldn't believe what happened last night!"

"Come to think of it, where were you last night?" Kane asked with suspicion.

"You completely missed the Turris Ignis Inauguration."

"I have a good reason to as well! You see, I went to visit Cotton yesterday evening-"

"Hold it right there!" Kane said with a growl.

"Cotton? That pony? The one that you were asked to stay away from?"

"Who else? Anyways,"

Jovern cleared his throat, ignoring his brother's horrified expression as he explained:

"As I was saying, I went to visit Cotton yesterday evening at the cliffs near the bay. It was a long journey there, of course. That explains why-"

"Jovern! What the hell?!"

Kane's sharp tone lowered into a hiss of disapproval, much to his older brother's surprise.

"You were not supposed to come into contact with her anymore! Dad forbade you, get it? Forbade! Means no talking, no visiting, not even spotting her. Ever!"

The black dragon just chuckled heartily.

"You actually listen to what Dad says?"

"Alright. How about him being The High Chancellor of The Vohakiin Sector? You know he would literally burn your scales off if he finds out!"

"Come on, Kane!" he said with a laugh, nudging his brother's shoulder.

"As long as I don't get caught, it's fine!"

"Look, it isn't like that!"

Kane flapped his wings, stretching his shoulders a little.

"This is a matter of life and death, Jo. It's not all fun and games!"

Jovern sighed. He's a complete adult now, despite reaching full size only two years ago. He can control his own responsibility, not his so-called 'Daddy Chancellor'.

"Relax, Kane. I'm still young, but I'm old enough to know what's right."

Kane, or Kanov'hin, as he preferred to be called, just rolled his eyes, watching as his brother let out a loud yawn.

"Easy for you to say," he muttered quietly under his breath.

~ * * * * * ~

"Kane..."

Jovern let out an audible sigh, flying over the slated roofs of Pendant Lakes. He knew of his brother's recent achievements in the alleged 'Conclave of the Free'.

The riots were clear in his head: the shouting, the screaming, the two, separate swarms of dragons clashing right outside the royal family's den.

He was there. Watching his brother in the bloody fight. Watching the scars slashing across his face by multiple claws.

"Unite The Embers!" he used to scream, giving a military salute.

*THUNK*

Jovern yelped out, rubbing his sore head with displeasure.

He tapped the air in front of him, his claw pelting onto some sort of distorted, magical barrier.

"What in the..."

The dragon tried to slam into it, with no avail. He watched the barrier ripple a little, before returning to its smooth, transparent state.

He looked in disbelief as a bird crashed into the invisible wall on the other side as well, plummeting straight to the ground.

"What is this sorcery?"

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"Well, here's Canterlot."

Applejack looked up at the archway before them; the glorious entrance to the majestic capital of Equestria, the feted city of the rich.

She turned back to the 'posse' behind her, consisting of Fluttershy, Big Mac, Vinyl Scratch, Lyra Heartstrings and, for some reason, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo as well.

"Ya know the three of ya are a little too young ta fight dragons, right?"

"No worries, sis!" Apple Bloom squeaked first.

"We ain't gonna get into any trouble."

The orange pony just rolled her eyes. Trouble was the last thing the three fillies could get out from.

"Ya be sure of that."

The eight of them marched through the arch, into the unusually silent pavements of the majestic city. Applejack bit her lip, glancing at the empty sidewalks.

"Where did everypony go?" Vinyl asked.

"Probably abducted by aliens or something," Lyra answered under her breath, making all of them groan.

"What? It is possible, you know!"

"I... um... don't think aliens are that bad..."

Fluttershy cowered right behind Big Mac, letting out a soft whimper as she continued:

"But dragons are d-different. So big.... s-so scaly... eep!"

Applejack sighed. This was not one of the best impressions she had of a rescue team.

The palace was just ahead, the tall gates visible to them. This was it.

A loud roar snapped them out of their walk, making them look in the skies.

"Everypony to the alleys!"

Their hooves clattered against the pavement as they darted across the avenue, barely escaping from the menacing shadow of one of the beasts hovering above.

Applejack peered from the corner, watching the fiendish yet stunning beast soar down with ease.

"What the hay are they doing here?" Lyra asked again.

"They should've just visit me back in Ponyville."

All of them shot a look at the mint unicorn again, who just shrugged her shoulders.

"What? I think they'll make cool friends. I'm sure Bon Bon won't mind!"

"Dude, I know Bon Bon would be scared to death from that thing."

Vinyl glanced outwards again, shaking her blue-streaked mane with disapproval.

"And I'm not gonna help you chase stuff away again. You know how long it took to clean my bass cannon out?"

"Doesn't your bass cannon only shoot out sound?" Scootaloo asked, befuddled.

"It does," Lyra replied cunningly.

"But it's always the dirty drops that mess it up!"

"Yeeaahhh!" Vinyl cheered, giving the unicorn a hoof bump.

"That's the bomb!"

"Shhhhh!" Applejack hissed sternly, silencing them immediately.

"If any of us gets caught, Ah'm gonna tie you all up and throw ya in the dump!"

The orange pony peered out into the avenue again, before whispering:

"Alright. Coast is clear. Now everypony get a move on before the dragons come back!"

The eight of them quickly scampered out into the open, quickly scuttling through the gates.

Sweetie Belle turned to Scootaloo, before noticing the pegasus wasn't there.

"Hey! Come on over here!"

She and Apple Bloom scampered to their friend, who was pointing at a dragon snoozing at a corner.

It was small, in fact the smallest they have ever seen. It was cuddled up like a puff ball, no larger than Spike was when he was a baby dragon as well.

Scootaloo snickered, watching her friend's faces light up with mischief.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

The three of them placed their hooves together, before cheering out in unison:

"Cutie Mark Dragon Tamers. Go!"

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"You're positive about this, Stellar?"

"It was confirmed by the dragon, my Patriarch." Stellar said with a bow.

Winter settled himself onto his armchair, flustered by the sudden news.

Some sort of invisible barrier had sprung up, surrounding the town. Nopony could get in, nopony could get out.

He bit his lip. The Elements of Harmony were taking effect.

"Would Mirror Mare be able to traverse through the barrier?"

"I'm afraid so. It has been using the magic stream, so there's no doubt it can penetrate through the barrier as well."

Stellar held his breath, straightening his suit as he continued:

"Are you certain you want to oversee this? It is our responsibility, you know."

Winter just sighed. The recent happenings haven been troubling him lately, particularly on the proceedings to open Persimmon's box.

"We can't have it interrupt the session, don't we?"

There was a gentle knock on the door, making both stallions turn.

Rarity stood there, a somber look on her face. From what the Patriarch could tell, he isn't going to like the way this is going.

"Winter? Can we talk for a moment?"

"Stellar," he muttered, the butler nodding and excusing himself immediately, leaving the room.

The doors shut behind Rarity as she walked in, settling herself down onto the Patriarch's velvet couch.

"Explain."

Winter flinched for a moment. "Explain what?" he asked.

"Is it about Pinkie and me again?"

"Part of it is," she replied, crossing her hooves.

"Well? I think it's time I know what you've been doing the whole time we're here."

The stallion sighed, his hoof reaching for a glass of wine.

"So, you want me to start from the beginning. Is that your wish?"

There was a nod, making him sigh again as he cleared his throat.

"Where shall I start..."

"It was before the ball. You were already here. I quickly took note that you looked like Harmony when you stepped through the palace gates. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw you at lunch that time."

He poured another glass of wine, handing it to the mare.

"Something for you to savor on?"

The mare hesitantly agreed, beckoning him to continue.

"As soon as the body count began to rise, I started to question the motive. Mirror Mare always had a... driving force to choose its specific victims. My grandfather and his ancestors before him knew very well of it. When you were able to travel in a time anomaly during the ball, I had to know what was going on."

Winter sipped on the glass, before continuing:

"I asked Summer for a little help, of course. Even though we were not in good terms, we were always helping each other out. He was reluctant at first, but agreed to do a little background research. However, when I had you use the Dreamscape machine, he was opposing to it, calling me crazy to let you use it."

"Then he tried to kill me. Necessensio, remember?"

Rarity nodded, remembering the fateful death of Winter's brother.

"Then what?"

"I had to continue, of course. When I cleared out his room, I found a few of his notes, among his plots for murdering me, some of the background for Mirror Mare and the list of its victims. It seems Mirror Mare knew he was getting close to the answer, therefore killing him before he could find out."

"That's when I had an idea: to stir up chaos in the town by raising the taxes which I know will enrage the Surrogates."

"Wait a minute," Rarity broke in.

"You did it on purpose?"

"To lure Mirror Mare out. And it was successful."

Winter sighed, the kiss he shared with the masked pony still lingering in his mind.

"It gave me enough to know who the mare was."

"Who was it?"

"I'm coming to that. I wasn't actually sure, so I dug deeper. That's when I met him."

The Patriarch took another sip from his glass, quenching his thirst before continuing:

"Dresden the witch-doctor. He was particularly familiar to me, but I could not put a hoof onto it. So I had to settle in with the things I have."

"Like what?" the mare shot back.

"Hurting my friends?"

The stallion gave her a cold stare, before continuing:

"After his death, I went to Fenderville, to the hometown of the witch-doctor himself. It took me awhile to figure out what was happening though. I tried to recall everything I found out: the scent Mirror Mare left behind,"

The pair kissed deeply, with the cloaked pony leaning against the window...

"The orchids found only growing wild in the woodlands tangled around Harmony's grave..."

The tombstone was carved neatly, decorated naturally at the sides with moss and small, twining stems of purple orchids...

"The familiar clink of blades from Dresden's satchel..."

He swung his backpack, the sound of clinking glass only made the Patriarch stare at it in suspicion...

"The dove on Caper and Dresden's friendship coin, indicating an oath of silence between the two stallions..."

Winter flicked the coin towards him. The chief examined the coin once more. On the heads side, he saw a metallic dove carved onto the surface, frozen in flight...

"And of course, the notes scattered around Dresden's home. All these things pointed me in the right direction: the arrival of the Voyager Six."

"The who?"

"The Voyager Six. Six ponies sent in secret by the Ministry of Canterlot to extort any trace of corruption in the north. They were a pretty successful bunch, being able to reveal the secrets of three families up north. Then they came here..."

Winter placed his glass down, before saying:

"Everything went downhill from there. Dresden was one of them. Harmony as well."

"So Harmony's arrival to Pendant Lakes was no coincidence?"

"Correct. But that alone doesn't explain Tassel Twist, Caesar Mills and the latter's death. So I thought for a moment: what all the deaths have in common. Then, I came to an answer."

Rarity blinked for a moment, surprised at Winter's statement.

"You found out Mirror Mare's motive."

"It's complicated, but it can all be summed down into one word."

The Patriarch stood up, pouring himself another glass of wine as he answered:

"Guilt."

"Guilt?"

"The guilt. Of upsetting your family, in the case of Caesar Mills. Of cheating over a mare: Tassel Twist. Of scandals in your husband's finances: Harlequin Velvet, and the guilt of the death of your wife: Basil Luck."

Winter watched as Rarity's face sparkled up in realization, as he continued his explanation.

"For Summer it was the guilt of betraying me. For Autumn the guilt of dating our cousin's killer. For the Voyager Six and the ministers, however, was a completely different story."

"The guilt of uncovering a secret. A secret meant to be kept buried forever."

"What is it?" Rarity asked, shuffling to the edge of her seat.

"What was the secret?"

Winter chuckled at the mare's curiosity, but also annoyed as well.

"You'll find out when we open Persimmon's box."

"Why not now? If you already guessed it why can't you just tell me?"

The mare slumped a little, humphing with irritation.

"What, you can't tell me why you hurt my friends? Is that it?"

"That's another matter entirely. It's for the safety of everypony-"

"Safety of everypony! Wow!"

Rarity clopped her hooves together in a mocking fashion, only making him frown with contempt.

"You nearly killed each of them! You call that safety?"

"I'm preventing them from getting tangled in this mess: the guilt of not reaching out for their friend, you, when in need. Now that they're here, they're definitely vulnerable to Mirror Mare. What about you?" he scowled back.

"You're acting like her."

"Like who?"

"Harmony," he replied nonchalantly, making her flinch.

"You're becoming your own demon; the one you loathe, the one you'e so desperately trying to expel."

"N-No... No I'm not!"

"Are you sure? How would you know?" he asked, his face darkening.

"You're going down the same path as she did. What makes you think I can trust you then?"

"I'm NOT becoming her!"

Rarity panted a little, she and Winter exchanging infuriated glances. Silence and tension hung in the air for a while, before he spoke:

"There's a reason why you can travel in a time stop, you know."

Then, the Patriarch said something that shocked her entirely; that nearly made her faint onto the floor.

"Harmony Peridot, your embodiment.... is Mirror Mare."

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"Winter, Winter..."

Harmony, or 'Mirror Mare' as she was known, removed her mask; a cursed object she was doomed to wear for eternity.

She was watching it: her beloved Patriarch explaining everything to the white mare.

What was her name again? Rarity?

She chuckled under her breath, watching with amusement as her white look-alike stomped out of the room in disbelief, slamming the door behind her.

"So you've decided to expose who I really am, Winter?" she muttered, watching as the Patriarch slump back in his chair, absentmindedly stirring a glass of wine in his hoof.

Harmony laughed, placing her mask back on.

"Two can play at that game."

The Crux Four

Pendulum Palgiot paced front and back, the late afternoon sun shining a bright yellow down to the four teenagers before him. He wrinkled his nose at each of them, crossing his hooves.

He looked at the colt before him, wearing a messy, muddied suit. The colt's head hung down with shame, along with the rest of them as the stallion said sternly:

"Explain."

He watched, with a sick sense of amusement, as the four of them shuffled nervously. They were from the town, judging from their customs.

Well, almost all of them. The one with the suit was one of their own.

A disgrace, to say the least. He was lucky he spoke up first:

"Sir P-Palgiot... I... well, words can't express my regret and shame for my actions right now."

"You're lucky, Stellar," he replied, harrumphing at his unkempt, raggedy state.

"Epsilon and I just started on that machine, but still..."

"Sir Palgiot, if I... uh... may," the mare of the group spoke up.

"What is your name, Miss?"

"Persimmon, s-sir," she stammered. "Persimmon Cryoheart."

She quickly bowed, before saying:

"I-It's not o-only his fault. I was involved as well."

The other two colts stepped forward, the one with glasses speaking up:

"It's true, s-s-sir. All of us were..."

Pendulum Palgiot blinked at the sight of all four of them, waiting for him to accept his apology.

Then...... he laughed.

All four of them looked up in surprise, watching the Patriarch laugh out with tears in his eyes. They could just stare nervously at one another, not knowing what to do.

"You four share a powerful bond I see," Pendulum said once he stopped laughing.

"No doubt the bond of friendship. The bond of the four of you."

"We're the Crux Four!" the mare exclaimed, before quieting down a little, remembering where she was.

"We never turn our backs against each other."

"Yeah!" the last one, not to mention the most scraggiest of them, spoke up, nudging the teenage butler with a chuckle.

"We're not gonna leave our friend here all by himself."

Pendulum watched in amazement as the four of them joined hooves, saying together in unison:

"Side by side, on friendship's shore. What's our name? The Crux Four!!"

Without hesitation, the Patriarch clopped his hooves, letting out a hearty chuckle.

"Well, I'm impressed. The four of you really share something special: a powerful bond unmatched by many."

The four friends chuckled among each other, pride filling their faces.

"And for that," Pendulum began, clenching his hooves with anticipation.

"I have but a request for all of you."

Stellar was the first to look up in surprise as the Patriarch said:

"To make up for your mistake, the four of you are officially under my service. You are to be my assessors, acting undercover to expose any dark plans that might disrupt our family's position. Understand?"

The four of them gasp in delight, already chattering among each other with excitement.

"Of course, to award your efforts on making a firm bond of friendship, I shall grant each of you your own wish."

Another wave of gasps flew from their mouths.

"Really?" the scraggy one spoke up. "You mean it?"

"Of course I do." Pendulum replied with a chuckle.

"What is your name, my friend?"

"Sidus. Sidus Sirenheart."

"Well, Sidus," he continued.

"What is your biggest wish?"

The colt stood there for a moment, before brightening up, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"I had a dream... of joining Sicarius Nox, my Patriarch."

Pendulum chuckled. "Ambitious little one, I see."

"Quickly gather your things then! I'll send you off to the academy myself!"

With a leap, Sidus cheered out loudly, making all of them laugh.

"Omigosh, I can't believe this!" he squealed like a filly, immediately darting out of the room.

Next up was the colt with glasses, clearing his throat as he said:

"Um... I wish to become a doctor... sir! Please?"

"Then a doctor you'll be.... name?"

"Caduceus Brineheart," he said, fizzing with excitement.

"Thank you, my Lord Palgiot!"

The mare, Persimmon was next.

"I just want to have a family of my own. I've been living in an orphanage for a long time now, and I always wanted to know how family feels like."

"Hmmm.... that's a tough one."

Pendulum pondered for a moment, before answering:

"It's still an honorable choice. I will grant your wish."

Persimmon let out a squeak of delight, before catching herself with a bow.

"T-Thank you, my Lord!"

As the mare scurried out of the room, Pendulum turned to the last pony; his most trustworthy butler and helpful pony, always sticking to his side since day one.

"What of you, Stellar? Surely you do have your own aspirations, don't you?"

"I do, my Patriarch, but I plan to reserve them after I served the family."

Stellar gave him a wide smile, making Pendulum smile as he continued:

"I would be most delighted to serve you, whatever the needs."

"A grand sacrifice that was, yet a noble one."

Pendulum gave him a bow, surprising the teenage colt a little. He laughed as his butler beamed a little with pride, ruffling Stellar's short mane.

"Stellar Lionheart... I thank you."

~ * * * * * ~

Stellar sighed, laughing a little as he remembered the day.

All because of one little accident.

The four were exploring the castle. He knew his friends weren't invited into the palace, due to the position of the society they're in. When Pendulum caught them accidentally wrecking one of the earliest machines, however, everything changed.

The butler was in an abandoned part of the castle, nostalgia creeping into him. This was once a spectacle of feral animals, all caged up for the visitors to see.

Harrow was the one that set them free, being the kindest Patriarch he had ever seen.

Stellar sighed, glancing over at one of the cages. He remembered that particular animal that was held there, always fond of it due to its quiet personality amidst the roars and bellows of the rest.

"How I miss those days..."

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"I'm gonna purchase that... Stratty thing."

"Stratford-upon-Avon, Spike," Rarity corrected, grinning as he scratch his head in confusion.

"It's a wonderful place, I hear."

Twilight just smiled along with Pinkie at the couple, tossing a few dice in her hooves.

"My turn," she murmured quietly.

The four of them were playing Monopony in Spring's room, finding it sitting idly on the trunk. Octavia had just left the room, finishing her job of watching over the filly, who was still shaking in her sleep after her ordeal.

Pinkie's eyes lit up as Twilight landed on her property, watching as the unicorn clicked her hooves.

"Shoot."

"Bad luck, huh Twilight?"

"You already have Winter, Pinkie," the unicorn teased, making all of them chuckle. Much to Pinkie's relief, her friends were all accepting the fact that she and the Patriarch were together, even joking about it once in a while.

"What more do you want?"

Rarity's laugh faltered, turning back to the board.

She watched as Pinkie rolled her dice, moving her cannon piece down the makeshift path.

"So," the pink mare began, Gummy snoozing right beside her.

"How did the talk go?"

The white mare just bit her lip.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Twilight and Spike immediately sighed as soon as she finished, both shaking their heads in disapproval. Pinkie just sat there, staring down at the board.

"What went wrong?" she asked again.

"He said I was becoming Harmony again."

Rarity let out a dejected sigh, leaning closer to Spike, who passed her the pair of dice.

"W-Would I really...?"

"You think?" Twilight replied skeptically.

"Becoming another pony... it's really ridiculous, don't you think?"

"I suppose."

Pinkie watched as the dice rolled across the board, Rarity moving the silver thimble down the path.

"And he didn't say anything else?"

"He did mention something. About the Voyager Six."

"I've heard something about that." Twilight replied, recalling the sounds of fanfare and celebration in the palace that day, despite never actually being present at the parade itself.

"The princess mentioned a little about it as well. They were celebrating the departure of six ponies, destined to free Equestria from corruption."

Spike just scratched his neck as he rattled the dice in his palms.

"That sounds a lot like the Elements of Harmony, doesn't it?"

The four of them chuckled at the resemblance, watching as Spike moved his piece: a top hat, down the path. He landed on Rarity's property, the white mare giving him a coy smile.

"Mercy?" he could only say, making her giggle as she whined:

"And I thought you are a fine gentledragon, my darling Spikey-Wikey...."

"Fine..."

Twilight and Pinkie laughed as Spike grumbled, passing the mare a few slips of paper money.

"It would be more fun with gems, though," she mused.

"I don't think so," Pinkie replied with a giggle.

"Spike here will gobble them all up. Munch, munch, yum~!"

The three mares laughed out loud, covering their mouths to not wake the filly up. Spike just rolled his eyes, beckoning Twilight to toss her dice.

"Even a dragon has feelings, you know."

"Fine, fine."

The lavender unicorn slid her train piece along the path, landing at the jail cell.

"Wow. Tough luck."

A soft knock on the door saved her from any teasing jokes, all of them turning to the door as Doctor Brineheart stepped in, giving them a venerable bow.

"I hope you don't mind the intrusion, Miss Pie."

"Not at all, Caduceus," Pinkie replied with a smile, the others nodding in unison.

"It's time," the doctor said, the four of them instantly exchanging nervous glances.

"We'll meet in the library. Inform Soarin' and Rainbow Dash about it as well."

"Alright."

As soon as the door shut, Twilight turned to all of them, each giving their own doubtful looks.

She watched as Pinkie rolled the dice absentmindedly, asking:

"Should we go then?"

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"... and you'll come to terms with the new government, in order for our alliance to go on. Would you accept?"

Princess Celestia stared down at the long contract before her, before glancing up at the room before her.

On one side, sitting at the benches around the conference room, sat the ministers, all anxious at her decision. She could tell they, if not the whole of Equestria, were depending on her.

No pressure, she told herself.

On the other, much to her detestation, were the hordes of dragons, their heads nobly facing that of their leader, who was sitting across her.

"Please don't make me wait, my Princess," the dragon, Kanov'hin mused.

"Dragons have a tendency to lose their patience, you know?"

"That's your loss," she mumbled under her breath.

She scanned through the contract again, wanting to spit at the words.

... instill our alliance, our military forces are to cooperate in battle...

... supplies must be equally traded if found at most ten miles from the borders of both nations...

... to abolish the old system of the monarchy...

"What makes you think that Equestria itself," she queried, "will agree to your proposal at hand?"

She crossed her hooves, watching as Kanov'hin started to grin cunningly.

"Simple," he just said.

"Once you agree, they have no choice to do the same."

"And if rebellions stir up?"

"We're always here to assist, aren't we?"

The latter of dragons laughed among themselves, only making the ponies in the room watch with spite.

Princess Celestia scowled under her breath. Disrespectful, scaly vermin...

"I don't wish for any of my subjects to be injured," she shot back.

"Then we'll just round them up and toss them in a deep dungeon."

The dragon then slithered abruptly, popping right beside the alicorn.

"But oh, how cold and unforgiving dungeons are..."

"They would rather die than to be sent there, my Princess..."

The dragons all cackled again as the mare crinkled her nose, watching as Kanov'hin settled back onto his grand chair.

"I'll give you some time to think this through," his voice boomed.

"Face the facts..."

The dragon suddenly launched himself, head to head with the alicorn as he muttered:

"... or face our wrath."

Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow in response, watching as the dragon returned to his comrades, all celebrating much to the revolt of her ministers.

"A little early for a moment to rejoice, don't you think...?"

She stepped out of the room before any of her ministers could start to call her. She had to think this through.

Allowing Kanov'hin to control Equestria was an absolute 'no', yet there wasn't any alternative to it. Then there's the brewing chaos in Pendant Lakes...

"Princess Celestia!"

The alicorn stopped pacing in surprise, turning to the direction of the voice. She watched as a group of ponies galloped down the corridor, recognizing the orange one immediately.

"Applejack."

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"Now then, are we ready?"

Stellar watched as Rarity, Spike, Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow, Soarin', Octavia and Crimson nod in unison. He turned to Caduceus, then to Winter, both stallions giving a nod as well.

"I shall explain about everything, before moving on."

"Long ago, before Winter was born, there were four ponies, all of them sharing a powerful bond: a bond of friendship."

He swallowed a lump of nostalgia down his throat, before continuing:

"These ponies were the best of friends, always there in need of each other. However, fate had planned for them to serve the Patriarch. To extort corruption from the town."

"I was one of the four, along with Caduceus, my friend here. We called ourselves the Crux Four: The Four Hearts."

Stellar watch his friend smile, both of their faces beaming a little with pride.

"The other two had recently passed on. One of them was Persimmon Cryoheart, no doubt you have met her before."

Twilight nodded, trying to refrain from tearing up.

"I was there.... when she had passed. It was your Patria-"

"Fate has taken her, not the Palgiots," Caduceus broke in.

"The four of us were targets of the esteemed assassin as well. It's easier for her to die in peace than at the end of the demon's blade."

"Now then," Stellar continued, watching the lavender unicorn curse under her breah.

"The other was Winter's dear friend as well. Sidus 'Storm' Sirenheart. A household name of the league of Sicarius Nox. He was found murdered, no doubt by Mirror Mare, of course."

"The four of us were present at the fateful events of the Voyager Six. We, along with her Majesty, Princess Celestia, had to work together to stop Mirror Mare, but everything didn't go as planned. You'll see why, but now..."

The butler clicked his hooves, prompting Rainbow to bring Persimmon's box forward, her hooves trembling with anticipation as she settled the lacquered box onto the floor.

The ponies, and dragon, gathered in a circle around the box, as planned. Stellar nodded to Caduceus, who began to ruffle through his bag.

"Now, the secret shall be shown to you in an inter-drift dimension. All of you would be sleeping here, when in reality your subconscious has entered to a timeless place. We have sealed the secret with complex locks and keys; treasures that all four of us cherish with ourselves, all weaved with a deep, dark form of sacrificial magic."

"First treasure: Persimmon's box."

The three stallions stepped forward, Stellar continuing his explanation:

"Infused with the impenetrable devil's lock magic, she weaved it around the lock, sealing it tightly. It has, of course, a specific key, and that was..."

Caduceus Brineheart stepped forward, a rectangular box in his hooves.

"My treasure; the second overall."

As he flipped the lid open, the ponies all gasped in horror, watching as he pulled out the item.

"A severed horn, cut from the unicorn performing the spell of the dark lock with its caster."

The doctor sighed as he brushed his straight mane aside, revealing a stump on his forehead.

"The owner of the horn was the one that sealed it. He will be the one to open it."

"You mean..." Rarity could only say, unable to express her shock.

"A necessary sacrifice, for the safety of Equestria."

Caduceus aligned the horn to his forehead, the tip of it immediately radiating, pulsing with a yellow aura.

Suddenly, a bright ray shot from it, speeding towards the accursed latch on the box.

All of them watched as light and dark fizzled, the two opposing forces crackling in a duel, before the lid finally snapped open, smoke now rising from the broken latch.

The doctor panted with exhaustion, Stellar helping him to a chair.

"A little too much, I say..." he said with a chuckle.

Stellar then reached his hands inside, lifting out another box. This one, however, was more intricate: its surfaces were polished brass with pictures of nodes streaked across it, all connected to the keyhole in the center.

"A fine work of art," Winter praised, "from the late Sirenheart himself."

"Third treasure: Sidus's golden blade."

The Patriarch raised the artifact for them to marvel at, his butler explaining:

"One of the most treasured works of the late Sidus Storm. He was a renowned blacksmith, distinguished for making diverse arrays of weapons as well as being a refined assassin himself."

"To make a clockwork blade like this was hard, considering the minuscule cogs needed for the blade."

As Winter turned the blade into the keyhole, the box started to shift, smaller cubes and cuboids breaking apart from the main structure. They watched in awe as the key split apart as well, before the mechanism snapped open.

In it was a glass globe, a circular plate rising from the top. On the copper plate, there was a mold of a set of teeth into it, a piston below it supporting it up.

"And lastly, my treasure."

Stellar beamed with pride at the globe before him, before continuing:

"I've arranged it in such a way that the mold on the copper plate must match, down to the pressure exerted by every teeth. If correct, the piston would move down, pushing the globe apart. Inside it will be a glass globe, slightly smaller, that can be opened with a twist of a valve. Then, the room will be plunged into the dimension, isolating it from the rest of the world."

"Of course, we have to open this first."

"But how?" Rainbow asked, Twilight now studying the mold.

"That could be made by any animal."

"I'm sure most of you should've known the answer by now. If not..."

He suddenly turned to Pinkie, who stopped in surprise.

"If I remember clearly, you have to key to unlock this."

"What do you-"

Then she stopped, stiffening with realization as Stellar chuckled.

"... it... it was you?"

"Hold it!" Twilight interrupted.

"What was you?"

"I had an alligator as a pet before," Stellar began, making them all turn in surprise.

"She was a fine animal, mystifying in her eternal silence."

"One day, before I set her off back into the wild under the orders of Winter's uncle, I found out she left behind an egg. I've been taking care of the egg ever since, but I knew it wouldn't last."

"So you gave it to me..." Pinkie muttered, her heart tingling with sudden warmth.

"It was you... you were the one who gave Gummy's egg to me on my birthday..."

"Guilty as charged," he responded, raising both of his hooves with a chuckle.

"And I'm happy to see him content around your company."

The pink mare giggled as Gummy chomped her mane again, giving her a toothless grin.

"Aw, Gummy~!" she said, hugging the alligator tightly.

"His 'teeth' were the exact copy of his mother's, if I'm not mistaken."

Winter placed the globe in front of the pink mare, the alligator blinking his eyes, as if knowing what to do.

"Give it a try."

Pinkie bit her lip, hesitantly lifting the alligator forward.

Gummy blinked for a moment, before his mouth opened wide, immediately chomping down onto the dish.

*Click*

At once, the piston slid down with steam erupting from the globe, the metal shell popping open to reveal a glass globe within. The ponies watched in awe at the swirling mass of white; a miniature celestial whirlpool glimmering finely within the spherical container.

On top of it, a small valve sat there, rust already coating its sides.

"This is it, my friends," Stellar said.

"Revelation awaits with a turn of the wheel."

Rarity turned to Spike, then to Twilight, both being unsure of what to do.

"T-Twilight?"

"I don't know... I mean..."

The lavender unicorn bit her lip, watching at the mesmerizing light before her.

"Are you s-sure about this...?"

"I think it's best for us to have some time to think this through."

Octavia's suggestion practically surprised all of them. Silence filled the air, before Stellar replied:

"Fine."

Her friends all sighed in relief, before the butler continued:

"Remember, this is a necessary process. It would be wise to know what you're fighting against first."

Rarity nodded with a smile, along with Pinkie. The rest of them did as well, glancing at the glass sphere whilst watching the three stallions immediately stepping out of the room, leaving them to ponder.

The white unicorn couldn't wait, her patience beginning to leak out. The Voyager Six... the events of a forgotten past... to be set free with a twist of the valve.

"It's time we know..."

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"Do you reckon it's time?" Caduceus asked once they stepped outside.

"Everything is going as planned..." Stellar replied with a sigh.

"So far."

Winter just nodded with utmost silence. His thoughts were wandering, stumbling onto the face of a certain, pink mare.

"Diane..."

"Pardon me, Sir Winter," his butler began, snapping him out of his daydream.

"Might I ask about the possibilities of Harmony returning? She would be able to detect the magic stream of the dimension change, I believe."

The Patriarch just stopped with realization. He forgot to take that into account!

Harmony was one with the stream of magic, due to that bit of demon inside her. Being able to find them, all unconscious and vulnerable in the library, would spell certain doom to their plans, and to Equestria even!

There was no question: they had to find a way to stop her from reach them.

"We can't use guards..." he muttered.

"They won't stand a chance against her."

"Then what?"

Winter pondered for a moment, before saying:

"I'll use my talent."

Caduceus and Stellar stopped in surprise, looking at the Patriarch.

"What do you mean?" the doctor asked.

"Simple. I'll distort the castle's passageways. By using a diverse, complicated network of transfiguration spells, I'll twist the whole fabric of space in the castle."

Winter beamed, watching the two stallions nod in agreement, yet unsure due to the family curse placed upon them.

"It's a sacrifice I have to make, I guess. To stall the time."

"But she could just kill you, can't she?" his butler asked.

"That would completely break the transfiguration spell apart. The caster must be alive for the spell to work."

"Not to mention how vulnerable you'll be," Caduceus added.

"You'll require to conjure the spell for as long as it needs. I'm sure Harmony would detect about it as well."

"Hmm...."

The Patriarch stopped for a moment, looking out the window.

The sun was setting in the horizon; a mesmerizing sight for them all to behold. A flock of geese flew by, being tiny specks in the grandiose painting of a scenery before him.

"I've got an idea."

"What is it?" Stellar quipped.

"The Palace must be crowded. Filled with ponies!"

Winter's hooves pattered with anticipation, as he continued his plan:

"This can draw her attention away from them, keeping them all safe as well!"

"But we don't have enough guards to cover all of the palace, sir."

Stellar watched as the Patriarch settled back into deep thought, before adding:

"Chief Griffonhooves doesn't have that much men to spare either. It's not possible."

There was a long, awkward silence between them, before Winter snapped his hooves.

"I got it!"

"Got what?"

"Stellar, began writing and printing out invitations," he ordered, much to his butler's surprise.

"Invite every pony from the town. Every stallion, mare, no matter foal or elderly. Invite all the shopkeepers, the gardeners, the farmers, heck even the road sweepers."

Winter smiled. He knew doing that would break almost every rule of the palace, specifically that of social levels, much to the shock of the both of them. It was necessary, though, considering the dire situation they're in.

Not to mention how horribly amusing it would be.

"We're going to have a ball."

Voyager's Arc: Beginnings

"Hurry up, Pinkie!"

"I'm trying!" Pinkie shouted from the powder room. To think of it, waking up late for the start of your first mission...

It was five months since the pink mare had first met them, always engaged in their random acts of mischief around Canterlot, the most recent being, much to the Princess's amusement, thrashing down the Garden Party.

She sighed with a chuckle. Good times...

"Pinkie?" Primrose's voice rang out.

"They've sounded the trumpets! Come on!"

"Done!"

Pinkie burst out the door, wearing a wide grin on her face. She saddled up her backpack, with Primrose helping her to shove everything inside.

"You sure took your time," the caramel mare muttered.

Her friend just giggled, before glancing around.

"When are we supposed to step out again?"

"After Princess Celestia finished her speech. Look!"

Primrose slightly drew back the curtains, revealing the alabaster alicorn standing on the podium, facing the hundreds of ponies present for the occasion.

"I can't believe the whole of Canterlot are going to see our departure!"

Pinkie nodded in excitement. It was the first time in a year that she was able to step through the doors, but with her friends altogether...

"I just can't wait! What are we going to see on our journey?"

The caramel mare just chuckled. She has progressed far in terms of hanging around ponies, remembering how introvert and reserved she was when they first met.

"I honestly have no idea, but I think it'll be wonderful!" she replied with a wink.

"Says a lot of other ponies as well."

The distinctive flap of wings caught their attention, with Charter now landing right next to the two mares.

"You know this isn't all fun and games, right? We're busting out the corruption of the royal families, not heading off to thrash another party again."

"Don't worry, Charty-Warty," Pinkie said with a giggle, making her friends chuckle.

"We'll finish the job! Lickity split!"

The pegasus just sighed with a warm smile.

"If you say so..."

"An event that will be the fore-frontier of spreading harmony across the whole of Equestria, the pioneer for the many generations to come! Please welcome: The Voyager Six!"

"That's our cue," Primrose said, gently nudging the pink mare.

Pinkie stumbled out from the curtains, a delighted grin on her wide face as she trotted towards the center of the stage, with Charter and Primrose following behind.

The remaining three: Gypsum, Dresden and Harmony advanced from the other side of the stage, the both lines meeting in the middle.

A wave of clops and cheers rang throughout the room, the six of them quickly bowing in unison.

"Really intense, huh?" Gypsum whispered to Pinkie as they lifted their heads.

"But really exciting as well!" the pink mare replied, her hooves fizzing hysterically already, wanting to just jump into the crowd.

"I can't wait to go crusading! It'll be like adventuring! Exploring the deep depths of the dangerous lands of the north in another venture with the Voyager Six!"

She let out a dreamy sigh, glancing ahead at the doors leading out of the palace.

Freedom.... just a hoof away...

"Voyagers in position!" the Princess's voice ordered, making them stomp their hooves in unison with a salute.

Pinkie turned to the alicorn, who gave her a reassuring smile followed by a nod.

"Make Equestria proud!"

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"And where are we off to again?"

"First stop... the Hollowcleft family," Primrose replied, gazing at the map.

The six ponies were trotting down the path under the summer sun, all already eager on reaching their first destination.

Pinkie breathed in the fresh air, the sweet, invigorating smell of freedom merging with the piney smell of the woodlands.

"This. Is. The. LIFE!!"

The caramel mare just chuckled, before returning to the map.

"According to the map, the Hollowcleft had been living in Bleak Point Valley for almost three centuries now. Their current head is Baron Pitfall Hollowcleft. We're talking about a mining family here. Coal, jewels, even hard metals. You name them, they have 'em."

"So it's a mining family? I suppose to extort their corruption, if there is any, we have to dig deep."

Charter began to settle in thought, chuckling at his unintended pun before looking through the logbooks.

"There's a chance they might have illegal trafficking. Complaints of illegal demolition..."

Pinkie sighed. Charter's talent of judgement and order usually bores her, but having a Cutie Mark with a golden shield that symbolizes authority, that should be expected.

She had remembered each pony's talents clearly, the first being Primrose's.

The sprig of the herb shows that the caramel mare has a talent in herbal medicine, even more so when she helped cure the pink pony's flu with a mixture of elderberries.

Dresden's one was a purple swirl surrounded by a circle of dots, showing his knack of witchcraft; one that she and Gypsum herself had been mesmerized by.

The light green mare had a flute as her Cutie Mark, symbolizing her talent of music and cultural arts. There wasn't a time where she wouldn't hit a dusty record on the gramophone and just clap her hooves with a tambourine into the air.

Harmony's Cutie Mark was a lace napkin, showing her talent for making dresses. She had made dresses for them before for a few occasions, the most recent being the Garden Party.

Though the mare had never expected them to toss them around like rags.

Pinkie turned to the mare in question, who was still irritated by the events of that night.

The party pony just gulped. After all, she was the one that turned the party upside down.

"Harmony?" she called her friend, who just snuffed her nose to her.

"What is it, Pinkie?" Harmony scowled, raising her eyebrow.

"I haven't got all day speaking to you."

"You're still not... mad... about the Garden Party... are you?"

The mare just let out a disgruntled sigh, shaking her head with a frown.

"I'm trying not to think about it, but you just had to remind me."

"Oh...O-Okay..."

The pink pony turned back to the front. Harmony was never that keen on being nice to her since the first day they met, much less even actually looking at her.

"Just give her some time..." she told herself.

"Bleak Point Valley, eh?" Dresden mused.

"Sounds like a desolate place."

"It was, until the family colonized it and started a few plantations."

Primrose flipped to the next page, scanning through the pages.

"Then more ponies came and build a town below the valley, yet they still kept the name 'Bleak Point' despite how lush and green the whole place is right now."

"Oh well!" Gypsum said with glee as she nudged Pinkie, the both mares letting out similar giggles.

"At least we'll have some fun there!"

Charter just looked ahead, his smile fading into a somber expression.

"Fun..."

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The night was exceptional in the Everfree Forest, despite the dangerous environment they're in.

Pinkie laid her hooves back, appreciating the warmth of the blanket over her body as she gazed up into the sky, still filled with clusters of stars.

The moon was full as well, with the image of a unicorn evident on the surface.

The pink mare pondered for a moment. She had heard stories and legends of the Mare on the Moon, with a few speculations that there was another alicorn on the moon. Some ponies even said that the alicorn was Princess Celestia's sister, banished to the moon by the alabaster mare herself.

She sighed: why can't anypony just get along?

"Pinkie?"

Her ears perked at the voice, turning to her back.

Primrose was rubbing her eyes, before stretching out her hooves with a tired yawn.

"You're not asleep yet?"

"Nah," she just replied, gazing back the the sky.

"I'm just thinking of stuff..."

"Stuff, huh?"

The caramel mare just shuffled closer to her friend, gazing at the night sky with her.

"I know you really miss them."

"I... I guess..." Pinkie replied, starting to sniffle.

"It's unfair..."

"At least your sisters are found alive and safe."

"But the pony... he... he wasn't..."

"Caught. I know," Primrose finished her sentence.

"But I'm sure the Princess is trying everything she can. Even Charter had did a little research on it."

The two mares turned to the sleeping pegasus. He was more like an older brother to them, sometimes in control of them, yet sometimes joining in their fun.

Pinkie sighed with a tremble, wiping her fresh tears away. If only...

"If only everything were that easy."

The caramel mare blinked for a moment, looking at Pinkie yet again.

"I'm sorry?"

"If only everything were that easy... you know?"

The pink mare just whimpered, biting her lip as she gaze up at the sky.

"I would just wish that it never happened... that my parents are still here..."

"There are things that just had to happen, Pinkie," Primrose said with a warm grin.

"Take me, for example. My life isn't all smooth sailing, you know."

"R-Really?"

"Well, at first, yeah," she said with a shrug.

"But then my sister had cancer..."

"I... I'm sorry..."

"I'm over it, Pinkie," Primrose replied, trying not to tear up.

"It was hard to cope with. This is just life running its course."

"A very bumpy course," Pinkie retorted, making the both mares laugh quietly.

"I didn't know you were that thoughtful of life."

"So were my thoughts on you," her friend replied with a stretch of her hooves.

"I guess it's what we have in common. But you making other ponies happy... it's a rare talent."

"Really?"

The pink mare turned to Primrose, tilting her head in befuddlement.

"But I thought all our talents are there to make other ponies happy!"

"To make ponies happy, yes. But truly happy... now that's entirely different."

"You're special, you know that? You're capable of something..."

Primrose let out a sigh, Pinkie still giving her a confused stare.

"Who am I kidding, actually. You're only seventeen."

"But I'm old enough! I'm mature!"

"And you are!" the caramel replied with a laugh.

"Just wait. I think you'll see more things in the future."

"What things?" the pink pony asked, clopping her hooves together in anticipation.

Pinkie sat there in bewilderment, watching her friend give a smirk, before settling back into her respective blanket.

"You know...just... things."

"Huh?"

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"So... five weeks and we've got nothing."

Charter sighed deeply, tossing another scrump of paper across the room, landing right next to Pinkie, who flicked it towards the dustbin.

"Seriously... this is one heck of a job..."

Dresden shouted his lungs out of boredom, muffled by the soft pillow his face was buried in.

"For Celestia's sake," he said, his hoof pounding onto the bed.

"What are we doing right now?"

"Hanging around?" Gypsum replied with a giggle.

"Come on! It's just a little bit of time for each of the family to open up!"

"Open up, huh?" Primrose said with sarcasm.

"I don't think they would ever open up from their zip-locked lips of theirs."

Pinkie sighed at the dullness, her hoof trying to twist into a cookie jar. It suddenly sucked it in, much to her friends' amusement, before she tried to shake the jar off.

"Why's everything so... tippity... tight!"

With a slam against the table, the jar shattered apart into a mountain of porcelain shards, a cookie nesting on top.

"Finally!" the pink mare exclaimed, before popping it into her mouth.

"Mmmm... scrumptious!"

Primrose chuckled along with the rest of the ponies as their friend licked her crumb-filled lips.

"You're so random, Pinkie."

"Where's Harmony?" Charter suddenly spoke amidst their laughter.

"She's missing all the fun!"

"Ooh! Ooh! I'll go look for her!"

Before they could start, Pinkie had already raced out of the room, scattering the crumpled papers all around the ground in the process.

She giggled with glee. It was fun running off before they could start talking.

"Now... Harmony, Harmony..." the pink mare pondered as she trotted down the exclusive corridors. The mansion hallways were always filled with rows of steel knights, their glaives glinting like a spark from a match as they held them high.

The carpet below her hooves was a dark red. Any more complicated on the design it would become a Persian carpet. The warm, cheerful afternoon outside contrasted the dreary, rotting walls inside, the wooden panels no doubt infected with swarms of termites.

"Yes...."

"Harmony?" Pinkie's ears perked at the sound of the voice.

She turned a circle, nearly tripping over with her hooves flailing, before calling out again in a singsong voice:

"Harmony~?"

"Right there! That's the spot!"

There was no doubt that it was her friend, although for some reason she was screaming, as if deep in pain.

A bead of sweat fell from Pinkie's head. Was someone trying to hurt her friend?

"Deeper! Harder!"

The pink pony nervously trotted down, her ears perking at every door she passed by, stopping right in front.

Her heart started to thump louder as she peeked through the thin crack, before gasping in shock.

"Faster! FASTER!"

Pinkie quickly turned back, a deep blush tingling on her cheeks.

She couldn't believe what she just saw. Was her friend...

A loud snarl emanated from Harmony... or, at least, what she think it's Harmony.

The pink mare quickly darted off, the moans and growls chasing her away from the room. She tried to picture her friend: how reserved and elegant she was... to the mare she just saw.

"Harmony..."

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"And I presume you were told of this?"

Charter just nodded grimly, his snout wrinkling at the pony before him.

"We know of many things, you know. We just didn't bother to show them."

"I see..."

Pitfall Hollowcleft just let out a chuckle, his cuffed hooves tied to the back of the chair.

"In only six months? Some ponies took forever to figure it out."

"Forever huh?" the pegasus said with a flap of his brown wings.

"Then we're a lucky bunch."

Pitfall just scoffed, gazing at the six ponies that sat before him. The six ponies he had kindly invited for a stay after hearing they were sent by by the Princess... these backstabbing, filthy...

Especially that one mare. He could still remember that sultry pose on the bed... that intoxicating smell of wine and roses flourished in her mane...

"No doubt it was Miss Harmony that informed you of this?" he suddenly said with a chuckle.

"She was informative... how did you know?"

Pitfall began to speak, before noticing the change of atmosphere as Harmony struck a sharp glare at him, her nose wrinkling and her teeth gritting fiercely.

"I... have my own methods..."

"Looks like your methods failed to notify you of our origins then." Charter bemused a grin.

"I surely hope you're aware of the charges they'll place."

"Slavery wasn't in the book-"

"It is now," the pegasus scowled.

"Even if it isn't, you can't say for the dozens of other charges I can place on you."

Pitfall Hollowcleft just growled in response, huffing his head away from the pegasus.

"Then I'll expect the Princess to arrive any minute now."

Charter just gave a cold nod.

"Let's go," he said to the others.

The Voyager Six slowly shuffled out of the room, leaving the baron glaring at them from the chair.

Pinkie just glanced at Harmony. She had never told anypony else about what she saw all those months ago, but that tingling feeling in her gut every time the mare excuses herself from the group...

Then there's that look of uncertainty. The one that crosses her unicorn friend's face every now and then.

"Harmony?" Pinkie called to her friend.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm... I-I'm fine," she said with a wave of her hoof.

"What is there to worry, right Pinkie? We've got Pitfall down in chains! Our mission is complete! We should celebrate with one of your happy parties, don't we?"

The unicorn felt a bead of sweat crawl down her forehead as Pinkie's eyes squinted slowly with suspicion. Harmony's jaw started to hurt, her forced smile widening with each passing minute.

The pink pony just sighed, but shot her one, last, skeptical stare.

"Okie-dokie-lokie..."

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Present Day

Kanov'hin grumbled under his breath, the shackles around his claws clanging against the marble tiles of the Princess's bedroom. His patience was stirring, on the verge of erupting from beneath his smooth scales.

"To squander my days, chained to the floor of the abode of these... these ponies!"

He spat at the floor with disgust, his paws shivering from the cold, aching for freedom.

The dragon glanced longingly at the windows, the sensual warmth of the sun shining through the glass panes, landing just out of his claw's reach. The traipsing snow outside only incited, out of his absurdity, his jealousy for the freedom the crystalline pieces of ice possessed.

"Havin' fun, pardner?"

Applejack chuckled, entering the room with a scarf wrapped around her neck, her trademark hat tilted to the side.

"Ya know it's easy to just give in than to just shiver in the cold."

"Give in? Pah!"

Kanov'hin's nostrils flared with a growl from under his breath, his tongue flicking with intimidation at the orange pony, who just raised her eyebrow in response.

"No matter what you ponies do to me, I, Kanov'hin, will never bow down to your decrees!"

"Shucks..." she replied with a shrug.

"Like a stubborn filly you are, dragon. Much like Apple Bloom."

"Apple who?"

"Apple Bloom," she repeated, noticing his piqued interest.

"M'ah sister? The yellow filly your fellow mates chased like we're in some sort of Appleloosa corral?"

Kanov'hin just blinked in amusement, prompting the pony to ask:

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just your... accent..."

"Ah know, Ah know. It's a family thing."

Applejack shrugged a little, before shaking her head.

"Anyways, you're still thick in the skull, which means it'll take a while before you'll be set free."

The dragon just growled, wanting to stifle a yawn.

"Suit yourself."

Silence filled the air, the two of them minding their own business, with Applejack flipping through a book with a whistle and Kanov'hin just staring into the sun.

The dragon glanced at the falling snow outside. There were many times in the past that he mesmerized the grace and delicateness of each flake, all peculiar in their own design. If there was a carver of these crystals, he would pay his utmost respect to him.

With another trembling sigh, he closed his eyes, his tail curling up with a shiver.

The temperature of the room was falling slowly, judging from the ice starting to form at the side of the windows.

Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open in surprise as warmth suddenly engulfed his body. Kanov'hin turned to the side, bewildered at a giant sheet of cloth draped over his body.

He quickly turned to Applejack, who was now walking back towards the armchair.

"W-Why...?" he could only manage to stammer.

"Cause you're freezin' right here," the orange mare replied.

"Ya shiverin' like a leaf."

Kanov'hin blinked for a second, before laughing out his deep laugh.

"I know what you're trying to do, pony. You're just simply acting polite to lull me into showing mercy for your kind."

"Ah'm just doing it 'cause yer now in Equestria," she hissed.

"We ponies respect you dragons more than you can ever imagine! It's our custom!"

"By chaining us to the floor?"

"You're a scoundrel," she replied callously.

"Equestria ain't treatin' any scoundrels right!"

"What about you?" the dragon shot back, infuriated.

"Ah'm just a pony doing my job!"

"You mean committing treason!"

"And what of it? Raging through our country isn't?!" she shouted, tossing her hat aside.

"There isn't anything ya know of us! In fact, Ah reckon ya never bothered to know how we live as well, fiend!"

"And you bothered to know ours?! You SKANK!" Kanov'hin snarled, flashing his sharp fangs.

The distinct sound of a rope snapped, striking him across his eye as he let out another yowl. The dragon stumbled backwards, before tumbling completely from the powerful kick slamming into his chest, making him roar in agony.

He collapsed to the floor, the chain strangling tightly at his feet with his paws clutching against his searing chest as he looked up at Applejack, who was wrinkling her snout in cold hate.

"Ah gave you a chance by bein' nice. Ah gave you a chance to see how wrong you were of us!"

The orange mare raised her hoof yet again, before retracting it back with a sniffle.

"Ah... Ah th-thought you would see... you w-would understand!"

She wandered across the room, picking up her hat and dusting its brim, before fitting it up on the top of her head.

"It looks like Ah'm... Ah'm wrong about that..."

Then she said something. Something that instantly stopped the dragon in shock. Something that immediately stormed through with guilt in his head.

Something that, for the hours to come, would throw the dragon into a state of despair and confusion; of undying regret for the words he had carelessly spilled out of the corners of his mouth.

"You disgust me."

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The colt raced down in his scooter, feeling the wind ruffling his short mane as the wheels rattled and jerked over the slate pavement of Fountain Square.

He had never felt any more free in his life; the only thing keeping him in control was the watchful pair of eyes of his mother sitting by the bench.

"Wooo~!" he shouted in a flurry of excitement, swiveling and swerving through the square, scattering the flock of pigeons that nestled around, awaiting for the sprinkle of bread crumbs from the hooves of their feeders.

He nearly stumbled as his scooter bumped over a stray brick, grinding to a halt right in front of...

"Be careful with that vehicle, young man," Stellar Lionheart said with a chuckle.

"Somepony could get hurt."

"Sorry," he replied, a sheepish grin filling his face.

"I'll be more careful."

The butler just smiled back, before reaching into his collar.

"Listen kid, the Patriarch has something special planned, and the whole town's going to be invited."

"Really?" the foal said, nearly dropping his scooter in anticipation.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I worked with the Patriarch myself, and my job is to send out invitations to everypony in town."

Stellar held his breath, realizing the responsibility he's passing on to the child.

"So my question is: with that vehicle of yours, would you be able to hand out the invites? I'm sure you'll do it faster than I can."

"Me? I don't know...."

"I'm such an old and frail pony. I need somepony to help carry out this task."

The colt stopped to ponder, before exclaiming:

"Alright then! But my mom's gonna know about it, though."

"Get your friends to help as well," Stellar said with a grin.

"Your mom could help too!"

"Okay then!" the colt replied, racing off to his mother in a scooter.

Stellar chuckled, glancing at the enthusiastic, young foal, jumping with glee as his mother gave him a nod, before darting off on his scooter across the pavement.

"Children these days..."

The foal kicked back on his scooter, before skidding to a halt.

"Here ya go! Invitation by the Patriarch! Everypony's invited!" he said, handing out an invitation to a pony right beside him.

The pink mare received it, a smile creeping up to her lips.

"Thank you," she replied gently, watching as the young colt race off, no doubt to pass the letters to everypony else around the plaza as well.

She opened the purple, decorated envelope, scanning through the inked words on the parchment.

"Winter, Winter..." the mare muttered to herself, "you've outdone yourself this time."

The mare continued her leisurely journey, admiring the clear afternoon whilst glancing at Palgiot Palace, standing in pristine excellence on Hoovingaar Mountain.

She chuckled quietly, before asking herself: "So, Harmony..."

"What would you wear to your ex-coltfriend's ball?

Voyager's Arc: Through The Streets Of Fenderville

"Who's the next family we're after?"

"The Telrouix," Primrose answered Charter's question.

"Their estate is in the Rattleraw Forest, just outskirts of the town of Fenderville. Current head is Tally Telrouix, the owner of casino franchise, Devil's Luck."

"Rattleraw Forest?" Dresden quipped with interest.

"Heard of it before. The pears there are hard to crack open."

"Anyways," the caramel mare cut in, much to the witch doctor's annoyance.

"The Telrouix are a queer family. They've been spotted lurking in and out of Canterlot, as well as other cities, for a lot of times now, usually out of other ponies's houses."

"Suspicious," Harmony piped in, much to the surprise of everypony else as the rest of the Voyagers turned towards her abruptly, some even raising their eyebrows.

"What? Can't I place my own opinions once in a while?"

"That's a first," Primrose muttered to Pinkie out of earshot from their confused friend, the pink pony giving a subtle nod.

"Well, to Fenderville it is then!" Gypsum declared, the rest of them nodding in unison.

The six ponies marched down the rugged, rocky path, taking a left turn while admiring the seasoned, serene woodlands perching on the hills, bent towards the smooth flow of a stream.

Their hooves trotted from stone to wood as they crossed a moss-covered bridge, the harmonizing sounds of canaries and bluejays serenading them in their journey.

"Weep not, little gypsy~!" the light-green mare muttered in a singsong voice, making Pinkie giggle. There wasn't a time where Gypsum wouldn't just start a tune and everypony would start singing along.

"You are not alone~!"

"Really, Gypsum?" asked Dresden with annoyance.

"You just had to strike up a song some way or another, don't you?"

"Relax, Dres," Charter replied.

"It's just a tune. What could go wrong?"

The light-blue pony sighed, before putting up a smile.

"Fear not my child~" he continued the song with slight sarcasm, "You're going strong!"

"A life of solitude you have lived!"

"A forgotten heart you never retrieved~!"

Soon both Gypsum and Dresden were singing along, completing each other's lines much to the amusement of the rest of the Voyagers, who were soon chuckling and prancing to the beat.

"A little lie they told, as it was never more. Yet we enjoyed like colts and fillies, dancing on the forest floor!"

"Weep not, gypsy~!" Primrose continued, making everypony laugh with delight.

"You are not alone!"

"For we are the same!" all of them cried out in unison, their hooves raised in a volley to the air.

"In blood and in bond!!"

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"Fenderville..."

Standing from the hill, Pinkie looked at the town ahead of them; a secret haven of baroque buildings and slate cobblestone paths snaking through like a network of black canals. Ponies flocked the few squares of plazas blotted around the town, the iron lampposts and signs quaintly dangling from the walls.

"So where is it?"

"The Telrouix estate is on the far side of the East District," Primrose replied, flipping through her logbook.

"It should be... over there."

Her hoof pointed at a statuesque, brick-walled manor, towering above the modest cottages beside the path leading up to the door. A few carriages were parked up front, no doubt pulled by the servants of the Telrouix family.

"Imagine owning a casino," Charter mused with interest.

"A franchise of it even! That's a staggering lot of bits."

The Voyager Six resumed their march down the mountain path, brushing through the shrubs with their hooves.

The tall, iron gates stood tall in front of them, inviting them into the town.

Inside was bustling with life; all the ponies doing about their daily duties. The brightening laughing of children was evident throughout the plaza, the foals scurrying across in their small game of chase. The prominent aroma of coffee wavered through the air, stimulating their nostrils with an invigorating sensation.

The adults resided in wrought-iron recliners, busy in their small, afternoon sessions of chatting and gossiping, stopping only to watch their children in their merriment. There were sounds of snapping cloth as a few ponies whipped droplets of water from their sheets and blankets out of the window, draping the cloth over the ledge.

"Alright, then," Charter spoke up.

"We'll split into three groups. Harmony and Dresden will attain more knowledge of the town. GP and me will visit the Telrouix estate-"

"Oh, goody goody goody!" Gypsum exclaimed, pattering her hooves in excitement.

"-and Primrose and Pinkie, the both of you have to find somewhere to stay for the night. Worse comes to worst, we'll have to rent somepony's room, or even camp in the forest."

Both mares nodded with glee, before giving each other a hoof bump.

"Alright then," Charter said.

"Set off!"

The ponies split into their respective groups, with Pinkie now prancing delightfully towards an open plaza.

"Come on, Prim!" she called back to the caramel mare, who was trying her best to catch up.

"You really need to exercise more!" the pink pony proclaimed with a giggle.

"I guess I'll have to."

"Oh, Prim," Pinkie snorted. "It's simple doing a little jog once in a while."

Out of delight, the pink pony leaped, her frizzy mane bouncing along.

"All you have to do is just hop, skip and jump. Then there's the really, really hard ones like push-ups and chin-ups and stretches and lunges and suicides; but not that suicide, if you know what I mean, because I've done suicides all the time, and I'm still living and healthy and very, very, happy that-"

Pinkie abruptly stopped, her face knocking into a black suit with a honk of confetti.

"Oops!" she quickly said to the pony, "I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright," the stallion replied with a flap of his amber wings. He brushed his tangled, vermilion mane with a hearty chuckle and a wide smile as he queried:

"New in town, eh?"

"Yup!"

"I see, I see. Well, you gotta find some shelter to rest for the night."

"That's what we're about to do," Primrose replied.

"Know of any good places around town?"

"Sure! The hotel, down in Piazza di Incendio!"

The pegasus's smile widened as he continued:

"In fact, I know the owner myself! I'll take you both there!"

"Really?" Pinkie exclaimed with glee.

"Oh, thank you!"

"No problem at all, miss."

The three of them quickly trotted down the streets, passing by the many, glamorous structures that inhabit the town, with statues of a few ponies all around, standing frozen in their elegant postures.

"You two are really lucky mares, you know?" the pegasus suddenly said. "You could've end up with the Telrouix instead of with me."

"The Telrouix, huh?"

Primrose pondered about the family; their shady trades and constant visits compared to the wealthy, affluent state that they were living in. Surely they've only attained their income from the casino itself?

"How are they like?"

"Very kind, but deceiving if you ask everypony in Fenderville."

The two mares blinked in surprise.

"Why is that?"

"Suspicious figures, they are. Roaming around at night when everypony's sleeping."

The stallion's voice suddenly toned down into a quiet whisper, continuing:

"Ponies have been disappearing lately. Gone without a trace. Everypony's suspecting that the Telrouix is behind the kidnappings."

"But why would they kidnap innocent ponies?"

"Their gambling trade?" he said with a sarcastic chuckle.

"Whatever it is, the town's pretty upset by it."

"Wow," Pinkie just said in response.

"Talk about creepy."

"Anyways, we're here!"

The stallion ushered his hoof out, beckoning for the mares to enter. Pinkie and Primrose immediately stopped to marvel at the glossy interior, much to his amusement.

"I'll get the owner down for later. In the meantime, why not book a room or something and come down for lunch afterwards? The both of you looked famished."

"That'll be neat!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Thank you, uh.... Mr..."

"Tourist Trap," the stallion responded.

"I must get going now. Dallying all day isn't going to help now, can't it?"

"Alright then! See ya, Tourist Trap!"

"Same to you!"

As he left, Pinkie thought she saw a mischievous, cheeky grin on his face. Oh well, she said to herself with a shrug. It might be just her.

"That was a nice pony," Primrose said with a smile.

"Mighty nice! Better than those ponies back in Bleak Point Valley!"

The two mares giggled between each other, glancing around the air-conditioned room, with red velvet seats all around the lobby, illuminated by the twin chandeliers overhead.

"Pretty amazing place," the caramel mare mused, earning a nod from Pinkie Pie.

Far from the balcony, a white stallion just stood there, his gaze directing down at the two mares, seemingly prancing around with delight and unaware of his presence.

His horn flared a brilliant cyan, a cup hovering towards his mouth as he sipped on its contents.

His gaze was more focused on the bright pink one, though. He had never seen anypony like her before.

"Interesting..."

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"And you're sure we can trust this pony?"

Charter's questionable look only made both Pinkie and Primrose uneasy, shuffling lightly in their velvet seats. Dresden, Gypsum and Harmony could only stare, watching the two mares stuck in their predicament.

"H-He was really nice-" Pinkie began.

"He might just be luring you into a trap!" Charter exclaimed, near-furious as the pink mare cringed.

"You know you can't just ask anypony here! We don't even know this city very well!"

"Actually," Dresden piped in.

"Harmony and I found out some stuff about Fenderville."

"And?"

"You don't have to be that brash, Charter," Harmony scolded, again, much to the surprise of everypony.

"Fenderville residents were distrustful of the Telrouix as well, alright? What Pinkie and Primrose had done might help us obtain a very powerful ally in our time here."

"And how would you know of that?" the pegasus shot back, his hooves steeling in a fist.

"How would you know that the stallion they've met isn't actually Tally Telrouix in disguise?"

"Cause I'm not, Mr. Freewings."

Tourist Trap settled between Pinkie and Primrose, much to both of their joyous delight.

"Tourist!" the pink mare exclaimed. "Glad you're here!"

"Wait," Gypsum quipped.

"The pony that you bumped into. That was the Tourist Trap?"

"Yep!"

"No way, Pinkie! Do you realize who he is?!"

Pinkie just looked at the amber pegasus, who only flashed a smile.

There was it again, much clearer this time: that mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Um.... no?"

"Tourist Trap! The owner of this marvelous hotel, along with dozens around Equestria!" Dresden answered, making she and Primrose look at the pegasus in confusion and bewilderment.

"You could've told us it was him!"

"He owns the hotel? But didn't he say..."

Pinkie turned to the amber pegasus, who laughed a hearty laugh.

"Ms. Pie. There are really some things you need to pay attention at."

"You sly fox!" Primrose said with a chuckle of her own, nudging the stallion.

"There are some things I've rather not boast about myself," Tourist replied blatantly.

"I don't want you to think I'm a snob if I declare that I am the tycoon of Paddock Palatial's now, would I?"

Everypony except Charter laughed, the brown pegasus himself shaking Tourist's hoof.

"I offer my sincere apologies. To you and to Pinkie and Primrose."

"Don't worry about it, Mr. Freewings."

"Come to think of it... how did you know our names?"

Tourist Trap sighed, stretching his hooves against his hotel's lobby seats.

"I was there at the inauguration of the Voyager Six, along with my wife, Penny Royal. She should be down shortly."

"Looks like it isn't much big of a secret now, isn't it?" Dresden said with a laugh.

"You're lucky no royal family members of the north are there, with the exception of Miss Gypsum Palgiot, of course."

Tourist turned to the light-green mare, who blushed a little at his compliment.

"Of the esteemed, centuries-old Palgiot family. One of the most powerful, not to say the most defiant, of the rich families of the north."

"Not to mention the most bo~ring!" Gypsum replied with a giggle.

"They always talk about work, work, work, work. I'm not really into my family's stuff."

"That I'm glad," the amber pegasus replied, though his face grew into that of concern.

"Albeit I'm not sure if the Patriarch would agree to the circumstances, considering that you'll visit Pendant Lakes on one of your missions, no doubt."

"Yup. Here!" Primrose said, handing Charter the logbook.

"The Palgiot family is circled twice. That means-"

"It's a top priority," Tourist finished her sentence.

"We're talking about a family that held remarkable power across Aston Reach, just close to the outskirts of Fenderville. It would be treason to anger any of them, even Gypsum herself."

"Shady stuff, I reckon," Harmony replied with a shrug.

"But they're the smartest ponies I know!" Gypsum exclaimed.

"Especially Autumn! She's my favorite cousin of them all!"

Everypony chuckled at her enthusiasm, the mare's face beaming with pride.

Pinkie glanced on as the laughter died down, pondering about the Palgiot's legacy. Seeing how they've managed to reach 'top priority' on the list, it wouldn't surprise her if there were a gazillion skeletons in the family's closet.

"Well," she muttered to herself with a sigh.

"At least I'll have an adventure!"

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Fenderville at night was totally different from the day.

Harmony couldn't help but let out a sigh, letting the tranquil, serene atmosphere of the plaza seep into her lungs. She had gone out on one of her many escapades from her Voyager friends, letting the latter talk their hearts out.

There were times she would scoff at their actions, yet there were also times she was tempted to join in their unruly acts around Canterlot. Especially since the new mare joined their ranks.

Pinkie Pie. The one pony she couldn't understand.

Despite having the same coat color, she was completely different. While Harmony desires more the quiet, calmness of the world, Pinkie is more enthusiastic on the excitements of life; the ones that she can't stand.

Opposites attract, she said to herself, knowing that Charter somewhat placed them in the same room.

"Ugh..." she suddenly groaned, clutching against her gut. The migraine stirring in her head worsened, as was the green tinge of recoiling nausea coloring her cheeks.

It was one of those squeamish waves overwhelming her again, having them ever since she was a filly. She gripped against the iron railings, her other hoof supporting onto the pane of glass from the shops.

"You alright, Miss?"

Harmony abruptly turned to her side, the presence of a white hoof startling her.

The stallion's familiar smile only made her do the same in return, the mare uttering out his name:

"Winter."

"Fancy seeing you here again, Harmony," he said with a chuckle.

"The same."

Winter Palgiot: their so-called 'top priority' on the list. She had met the Patriarch on one of her many crusades to revolutionize the fashions of the world, as she effortlessly put it then. It now seemed like a crude idea, looking back at the time she wasted, though visiting Pendant Lakes wasn't one of them.

The stallion was serving his second year as Patriarch of the royal family when they stumbled into each other. The love for him blossomed as well as his love for her, Harmony now becoming his exclusive yet secret marefriend.

Not that the rest of the Voyagers knew that.

"I assume," Winter began, "that you would be returning to Pendant Lakes shortly?"

"There is a slight possibility..." she said, before giving him a coy grin.

"but I'm sure you just want me back in your bed again."

"You haven't been hanging around weird colts lately, haven't you?"

"When the nights are lonesome and dry, I'll try to spice it up a little."

Her sultry statement was only rewarded by a smug grin from his face, making her giggle.

"Don't worry. I've took a few precautions."

"You better," the Patriarch just muttered, Harmony's smile grew wider at that.

"I don't want you to end up having a child that's not our own."

The mare just pecked on Winter's cheek, the stallion chuckling in response.

"I miss you, Winter," she whispered.

"I miss you too, Harmony."

"It's been so long~!" the mare replied, her voice trailing off.

"I've been hoping to see you for quite some time now. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Family vacation," was his reply.

Harmony just puckered her lips at the statement, the Patriarch chuckling lightly.

"Let me guess... Autumn's begging for it and you've decided to show her mercy."

"She misses you as well," Winter just said.

"Don't try to change the subject here!"

The sly grin on the Patriarch's face just made her laugh, before he replied:

"Really, though. Autumn was asking me when you would be back to replace her babysitting session with Spring. That mare's too busy throwing herself into the library too often."

"But enough about me," Winter continued. "What about you?"

"I... uh... I'm..."

Harmony bit her lip, remembering her allegiance with the Voyager Six. If he ever finds out...

"Just... visiting."

"That's what you told me when I first met you back in Pendant Lakes," he replied with a soft chuckle.

"Are you sure it's another 'just visiting' event again?"

"One way or another."

"Alright then, Harmony," Winter replied, earning a smile from his marefriend.

The mare just watched as the Patriarch walked off across the plaza, before letting out a relieved sigh.

She knew Winter long enough to know that the stallion hates to be lied to, their one sordid argument serving as a harsh reminder of what she had to do. But if she breaks the oath of silence, she'll only infuriate the Princess.

Two important figures of her life, both capable of inciting wrath upon her.

"What have you gotten yourself into, Harmony..."

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Present Day

"Tia?"

Princess Celestia opened her eyes, snapping out from another confined daydream.

She turned to her sister, who was looking paler than she should've been, only fueling to her worry.

"What is it, Lu?"

"You should come see this."

The two alicorns trudged through the raunchy, leaf-covered floor of the Everfree, the older one hesitantly following her sister down the dark path.

She soon stopped, her eyes glinting with disbelief at the compelling sight before her.

Just over a bunch of shrubs, playing among each other, were a group of Ursa Minor, all prancing about in their large size. Every jump they made, the ground beneath them rumbled, making the two alicorns flinch.

"Wow..." Princess Celestia could only say. She had never seen this much of those mystical bears altogether before.

"It's such a fascinating sight to behold, Luna," she continued, turning to the cerulean mare.

"What is it that you're worrying about, then?"

The princess of the night just sighed, biting her lip as she continued:

"I've studied the patterns of these majestic creatures, Tia. To have a cluster of Ursa Minor together isn't natural."

"What do you mean?"

"Ursa Minor aren't the type to just simply mingle around with their own. From what I could tell, though, they were bonded by blood alone; that they were siblings. I, too, thought it was fascinating, until I realized what was missing."

Both alicorns looked in awe at the majestic creatures, before the mare continued:

"Notice how there isn't any Ursa Major around to protect them, and that they're only focusing on one of the Ursa Minor in the group."

Princess Celestia turned back. Sure enough, only one of the bears were receiving a load of attention, the other bears all clambering around it in their colossal size. Somehow, something clicked in her head.

"You mean to say..."

"The bear that's receiving the most attention... was an Ursa Major."

Princess Luna held her breath. She wasn't even sure of it herself, but what they'd observed confirmed her suspicions.

"That's the mother."

The alabster mare turned back again, watching as that one bear patted all the others on the head, snuggling tightly in midst of each other.

Only one clear conclusion was in her head, and it wasn't a very good one.

"The time lapse has distorted,"

"Mirror Mare's traverse in the dimensions is literally affecting the dimension as we speak," her younger sister explained.

"Remember the force field that traveled across Equestria?"

"Where everypony experienced a sudden sleight of time, yes."

The older mare pondered for a moment, before asking:

"What about it?"

"That and the energy readings we've been getting. I believe it's taking a toll on time itself."

"That's another matter altogether then, Luna," the alabaster mare quipped, making Princess Luna turn abruptly in surprise.

"What do you mean, Tia?"

"Mirror Mare is a demon, Luna. It's trying to warp us away from the main focus of the problem here. The main focus of why everything around us is happening, and it is throwing us off into the wrong direction."

Princess Celestia bit her lip. She couldn't believe she was going to say this...

"The Voyager Six was fated to happen, as was the events of Pendant Lakes those years ago. I've raised the Voyagers myself, Luna, and I know Harmony Peridot when I see her. She isn't the possessed, blood-thirsty masked pony we've been seeing, nor was Pinkie Pie being the bubbly, all-fun mare she was as well."

"She changed. She turned into something that both me and the Palgiots had come to fear: an incubus of time itself."

"And?" the cerulean mare couldn't help but ask.

"How is this the main focus?"

"Harmony had perished all those years ago," the older mare explained.

"Ever since she lived under the guise of Mirror Mare, she was virtually nonexistent. I intend to save her from it."

"Save Harmony?" Princess Luna asked, bewildered.

"But how do we save our enemy: the one that despised us?"

"Not Harmony, Luna," the alicorn replied.

"It's Pinkie I'm planning to save."

"The Element of Laughter?"

"She had a dark past. Something that left me lost in her vertigo. I have never heard of a stallion who enslaves ponies just to demand for a plentiful harvest of rocks."

Celestia settled down onto her flank, perching like her pet phoenix would on her stand.

"I found her crying, ragged and sprawled on the streets of the city, begging and pleading for help. To be broken into such an extent..."

"I still don't get it," her sister said with a frown.

"She has the key to the future. Literally, if you may take it into account."

The alabaster mare bit her lip, watching the group of bears scurry about, before trampling deeper into the woods, out of sight from the two princesses.

"Whoever that broke her down... might be the most powerful pony in all of Equestria."

"And we're playing right down his puppet strings."

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"How's the scratching, Vinyl?"

"The bomb!" the unicorn exclaimed gleefully to Applejack, her eyes glistening with pride.

She looked up at the tall, colossal figure before her, the sharp nails on his claws rapidly pricking on the two spinning records on the machine.

"This fellow here really knows how to break it down~!"

Applejack chuckled, watching as Vinyl gave the dragon a hoof bump.

"Shucks..."

"Fluttersh'ah! Macintosh!" she called out to the couple, who was busy teaching a few dragons about the importance of animals into the society.

"How's everythin' doin' over there?"

"Just fine!" the stallion shouted back, before turning back to the lesson at hand.

"Now, there are times," the yellow pegasus began, "that animals are found injured or hurt in the rain. It's important that these animals must be kept warm and cozy with a fire. Now..."

She pointed at a mound of sticks in the corner, saying:

"Who wants to make a proper fire?"

One of the dragons raised his claw, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He held in his breath, before spitting out a small ball of flame, landing into the sticks with a large fizzle.

"Oh.... my...." Fluttershy mumbled nervously with a cringe.

Applejack chuckled softly, her brother now scolding the sheepish dragon as his comrades laugh at him.

She turned over to the other side, watching serenely as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ran across the field, with three baby dragons chasing them gleefully.

"Silly fillies..."

"And now! For... wait for it...."

A loud clang of a bell made the orange mare jump, followed by a loud holler:

"Arm wrestling!"

She looked over to the far side, before letting out an annoyed groan.

Lyra was there, watching in anticipation at the two burly, scaly arms contending against each other, tilting from side to side. It was one of the events for the mint-colored mare's entertaining (not to mention completely insane, Applejack muttered) 'Who's the Best Dragon?' competition.

"Just keep up the good work!" the orange mare said half-heartedly.

"I will!"

There was a long sigh, before the orange mare bit her lip.

Time to resume her duties as the dragon's keeper.

She re-entered the corridors of the palace, taking a few twists and turns along the way.

"Kanov'hin..." the dragon's name echoed in her mind. The one dragon that wouldn't submit entirely down into the freedom she was offering.

Then she cackled under her breath. He would be so enraged to see his fellow comrades engaged in all these activities.

Reluctantly, she gave a knock on the door, before turning the knob.

Kaov'hin was on the floor, silently sulking as the orange mare entered. Both exchanged glances, though it seemed more of a blink than a proper greeting.

The silence that the both can keep between them was staggering, at least to Applejack's extent. There were some tempting moments where the orange mare would have the urge to blurt something out to strike up a conversation, only to withhold it back instead.

She let out an audible sigh. There isn't anything she can do to help him.

"Miss Applejack?"

Applejack blinked abruptly in response. trying to keep her cold face.

"Finally wanna open up, eh?"

"I guess you could say that," Kanov'hin replied with a chuckle.

"It is, after all, lethargic already."

"Well, Ah ain't in the mood to talk to a stubborn dragon like you, so you better-"

"Listen, Miss Applejack," he broke in, much to her surprise.

"I was thinking over about what you said, alright? Sure, things went downhill, but it kept me in deep thought for a moment."

"And~?"

"I miss home."

Applejack couldn't help but burst out in laughter, much to the dragon's annoyance.

"T-That's what you want to tell me?" she said with tears in her eyes. "That you miss home?"

"Home before all the riots happened," he just said.

"Back when there wasn't any 'Coalition', or any chaos. When Jovern and I were still freelancers, always traipsing about across the night sky like merry children."

He let out a deep sigh, continuing with a dreamy smile:

"I missed those days of old. Not the burning havoc that it became."

"Well, you've caused the havoc," Applejack stated.

"Seeing how you're the leader of the rebels or somethin'."

"The monarchy was weak. I've had no choice."

Kanov'hin shuffled on the floor, turning to the orange mare.

"I've overthrown the monarchy and now all of the dragons answer to me. But now I look back and I couldn't see what I accomplished, like there wasn't any reasonable excuse for my actions."

"Y'all forced to do it, Ah reckon."

"That word could be used, I guess."

The dragon closed his eyes, before saying:

"It was about a century ago, back when I was just a fresh recruit, serving for the Coalition. I was asked to perform an assassination onto a prominent figure: one that the monarchs could count on."

"Of course, being the blind fool I was, I agreed. It wasn't until after I've got the target's name that I started to regret my decision."

"Who was your target?" Applejack asked with curiosity.

"Salverkh'iin Selterblade. The High Chancellor of the Vohakiin Sector. In other words..."

He bit his lip, a fresh tear dripping onto the floor.

"My father."

"Celestia..."

"It was among the riots that I caught him, saying that I would rescue him. How wrong he was to trust me when I stabbed him in the scales, all the anguish I can feel with each jab to his heart."

Kanov'hin started to sniffle, prompting Applejack to place her hoof around his neck as he continued:

"It was when he fell to the floor, bleeding in my arms, that he said something. You know what he said?"

Applejack just shook her head

"He said to me: Son... I am deeply disappointed in you..."

The dragon cried silently under his scales, his head dropping low with remorse and guilt. All the honor and pride in him, as the orange pony noticed, had somewhat washed away, drained into the chambers of regret.

"I got promoted into Sergeant for that job... Imagine that," he spat with disgust. "A promotion for the murder of your own father."

"It's okay, Kanov'hin-"

"Call me Kane," he broke in.

"I loathe it when other dragons call me by my full name."

"Alright then..." Applejack began.

"Kane... Ah'm really sorry..."

"You made me realize my mistakes. That I was turning back into the blind fool I was; the one that I promised myself I would never turn into again."

Kanov'hin's smile widened a little, wiping his tears away.

"For that, I thank you, Miss Applejack."

"Shucks..." the orange mare said with a small blush.

"Enough with the 'Miss' and all that nonsense."

"Just call me Applejack."

Voyager's Arc: Vivi Sepultura

"The Plutocrat."

"Impressive, Mr. Freewings," Tally Telrouix said with a hearty chuckle, rolling the dice in his hooves.

"You're playing this game fairly well for a first-timer."

"It is but a simple strategy game. Something that requires a little bit of thought."

Charter Freewings glanced as the unicorn before him drew a card, sliding it amidst the deck held in his hooves.

"I'm well aware you have bountiful experience of the game itself."

"No faults there," Tally replied.

The luxurious, voluptuous atmosphere of the casino overwhelmed the pegasus, feeling like a royal king lavishing the high life in his throne. The martini beside him rippled from the loud clatter of gambling chips, along with the shuffling of the cards by the dealers beside the table.

Charter glanced at one of the cards in his hoof, before placing it down, uttering its name:

"The Aristocrat."

"A gamble, I must say," the other stallion said with a chuckle.

"Though I believe it's an unfortunate one, to place upon all your high-risk cards on the table."

He gave a sly grin as he placed his own card forward, making the pegasus sigh.

"The Bureaucrat: a fine choice. To beat the aristocracy with its judgement system."

With a flap of his wings, Charter raised his martini in a praise, earning a wide smile from the pony across him.

"A wonderful turn of the cards. Never would've foreseen it."

"Thank you, my fine friend."

The two ponies laughed heartily, resuming their passing of cards.

"So I've heard your wife was ill," Tally said with a spark of interest.

"Gypsum just had a dilemma to solve, that's all."

"Interesting..." the stallion replied, only making Charter chuckle quietly.

A lie well played.

"What of you?" the pegasus asked back.

"Aren't you afraid that somepony might bring you down?"

"Bring me down? Heck, no!"

Tally laughed loudly, the wine in the glass in his hoof sloshing around with every sway his body makes.

"This industry is too powerful and complicated, and is held in high regard for many of the ponies in each town. You can't just start up a gambling booth such as the Devil's Luck and own it as a franchise immediately."

"But it seems you favor the Epicurean the most."

"This gambling casino is closest to my home, so of course I favor it."

The unicorn tossed the pair of dice again, continuing:

"It's hard to continue a heritage; a legacy that your ancestors have worked so hard to create. But enough of this talk."

With a shift of his hooves, he placed a card down from the fan of it.

"The Magnate."

"Speaking of magnates," Charter hinted.

"I was wondering how you had flourished the casino industry and become the tycoon you are today."

"The same ways as other businesses. Hard work, perseverance and a lot of bumps on the way."

"And no shady trades?" the pegasus questioned, Tally's face starting to frown.

"No tying up any loose ends or that sort of activity?"

"I assure you, Mr. Freewings. My family had done nothing of that sort."

The unicorn grimaced as he placed down another card, the other stallion raising an eyebrow.

"Take the card of the Equivocator, for example. A card that deems to cause chaos in the game, allowing cards such as the Vagrant to have even higher power over The Corporate, for instance."

"I don't really get the idea."

"There are those willing to cause chaos: to blur the borders of society and bring down the heraldry that all the northern families have held with high regard and pride.

Tally Telrouix sighed in dissatisfaction, the grip on his glass of wine tightening with resentment.

"Ponies blame us for disappearances, yet they could not blame themselves for being blind to the turn of events in the first place."

"A little harsh for them, don't you think?" Charter asked skeptically.

"What if they were right? What if your family is to blame for all these disappearances?"

"Be careful of the words you use, Mr. Freewings," the unicorn scowled.

"Our family wouldn't tolerate any false accusations such as that."

"And what would happen to those who made them?" he asked again out of curiosity. Being part of the Voyager Six he had to know what the family might plan for them, just in case...

"What would become to those objecting your cause?"

Tally just shrugged, before placing a card down.

"The Pariah," he said. "An outcast to the society. The word 'outcast' could be used in many situations. A beggar in a group of ambassadors or a farmer joining in a group of artistes. Or... how shall I put this..."

There was a glint in his eyes, making Charter tremble a little in the inside as he finished his sentence with a deceitful grin.

"The dead among the living..."

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"What does he mean?"

"It seems that anypony that dare defies his rule," Charter began, disclosing the information he had obtained to the rest of the Voyagers.

"Would be subjected to death. Some way or another."

There were a few gasps from the mares of the group, with Pinkie standing up abruptly.

"That no-good ruffian!" she proclaimed, slamming her hooves onto the wooden table.

"Calm down!" Harmony hissed, shooting a glare.

"If they know who we are..."

The Voyager Six were in one of their rendezvous, this time in a restaurant in the outskirts of town.

It was cooling, despite the sweltering heat rising from beyond the shade of their rattan umbrellas. The waiters quickly scurried about the open air, serving each and every customer their orders with incredible speed and accuracy.

Though Pinkie's loud declaration stopped everypony in their tracks, the only sound being the squeaking swing of the sign in the distance, painted white with the words Canopy Oaks etched finely onto it.

"Sore throat!" Primrose exclaimed, the ponies around them all shaking their heads in disapproval.

"Nothing much to see here!"

Pinkie quickly settled back down, letting out a nervous laugh.

"So~wweee."

"So how do you think they would kidnap the ponies, if they do?" Dresden asked.

"Late at night, when nopony's sleeping. Then..."

Charter laid against his chair, pondering for a moment before answering in defeat:

"I don't know."

The six ponies sighed in defeat, absently slacking in their wood recliners.

"Now what?" Harmony asked.

"We need to catch him red-handed, maybe?" Primrose suggested.

"Stay up late at night to watch him in action?"

"You'll never know if anypony of his kin is watching," Charter replied, stirring the cup of tea in his hooves, before gulping down its contents.

"Let's go. We have work to do."

The six ponies rose from their seats, setting off into the forest while thanking the waiters with a nod of their heads.

Dresden tossed a coin to one of the waitresses, making her blush as he gave her a smirk.

"Flatterer," Pinkie said in response with a giggle.

Rattleraw Forest looked more like a little glade with its short trees and tall shrubs, different colored flowers and fruits hanging from the crusted branches above.

"Rattle Pears," Primrose said, reaching for one of the red and yellow striped fruits.

"Known as the Maracas of the North."

"Maracas, huh?"

Gypsum plucked another from the trees, before jiggling it a little, hearing the unmistakable sound of jangling seeds pounding from the inside.

"Cool!"

"There's so much to do here!" Pinkie exclaimed with glee.

"Sure is," Dresden replied with a soft laugh, looking around at the peculiar woodlands around them.

He plucked one of the pears, smashing it against a rock, only to have a thunk in response.

"Hard shells. These are nearly unbreakable."

"The Pariah..." Charter only muttered, making all of them glance at him in confusion.

"Oh snap," Harmony suddenly broke in, turning back to where they came from.

"I forgot my logbook!"

"Don't worry!" Pinkie bounced to her friend, giving her a wide grin though the other mare responded with a roll of her eyes.

"I'll get it for you!"

Before any of them could protest, she raced off, leaving them standing there in the middle of the path.

"Hurry!" Charter shouted. "We have stuff to do!"

"Alright!"

Pinkie hastily bounced through the forest, back down the path they came from, ducking underneath a few, low-hanging branches that threaten to tangle her frizzy mane with each hop she makes.

Canopy Oaks quickly came back into her view, though it looked more empty than usual. She remembered clearly where they sat, down to the way the spoon laid against Charter's teacup and the position of every crumb that they left behind when the six of them snatched for the pastries.

The closer she got there, the more familiar it was. Yet something nudged the pink mare in her head.

Something was wrong. The setting was different.

She could picture it: somepony went through their table.

The logbook wasn't there.

Behind her, the sound of wood grinding against the cobblestone floor almost made her jump.

She quickly turned around, watching the remaining ponies all standing up, gazing towards her direction.

One of them walked up to her, reaching into his pocket.

Pinkie felt a bead of sweat crawl down her skin. That pony... she knew who it was.

Tally Telrouix.

"Miss?" he said with a bow, his hoof handing her a black book.

She gasped quietly. They had Harmony's logbook!

"I believe your friend had misplaced this?"

"S-She did!" the pink mare exclaimed, letting out a nervous laugh.

"I can't believe you found this! She wouldn't want to leave home without it! It's becoming more of a close friend to her, in fact an even closer friend than I would ever be, so if you would kindly hand it back-"

There was a loud clang, Pinkie collapsing to the floor with her head pounding, pain erupting from her skull.

She reached out, trying to crawl to the side with one hoof, the other clutching tightly onto her temple, before a second blow slammed onto her head again, destroying any means of escaping.

The last thing she saw was blood stained onto her hoof, a third blow leaving her unconscious.

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Pinkie let out a groan, her eyes slowly opening in a blurry haze of light.

Her head still pounded painfully, the distinctive leaking of blood crawling down her neck evident to her.

She glanced around frantically in the darkness, with only a few seams of light seeping in from the cracks in front of her. Her body tried to nudge around, though the ropes and the tight space she was in prevented any sort of movement.

Without hesitation, she let out a cry, muffled by the tight gag around her mouth. Her hind hooves kicked about, hearing the loud knock of wood in response.

"Awake already, miss?"

The deep voice startled her, coming from the outside of the tight compartment she's in.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes flashed into the cracks, making Pinkie kick back in surprise, gasping in fear.

She recognized those eyes: the red flare of anger and morbidity, the cold, sordid expression it wore.

"Tally Telrouix," she thought to herself.

"I'm glad you could come to celebrate the occasion!" the unicorn exclaimed with pride, knocking against the hard surface of wood.

"You seemed to have awaken at the wrong time though."

Pinkie tried to spit the gag out, wanting to shout vulgarities at him. Her mane flattened, covering one side of her face, hiding the tears of fear creeping down her cheek.

"No matter, though." he replied with a chuckle.

"It seems to be your problem right now."

She felt her body lift as the compartment was hoisted upwards, nearly knocking her against the nailed surface while she lied flat on it like a bed, feeling every bump on the journey.

"What is your name, Miss?" Tally asked from the outside.

Pinkie didn't want to answer. In fact, she couldn't even answer, judging from the tight gag around her mouth.

"I almost forgot about that!" the stallion exclaimed with a hearty, yet demented laugh.

"The gag I placed! Sometimes, I wonder why I pester you with all this talking when you couldn't even give a subtle reply."

She strained her hooves, trying to undo her knots without any success.

Out of frustration, she kicked the wooden bottom, feeling herself tilt downwards at an angle at the distinctive sound of hoof against the granite stone of the stairs.

"Would you happen to have the curiosity to know of what will happen to you, Miss?"

That immediately made her ears perk. She gave out a muffled cry in response, only making the unicorn laugh at her devastation.

"The same thing that happens to everypony else."

The loud patter of rain showered against the wood, with some of it leaking through the cracks. Just faintly behind it all was the distinctive fold of an umbrella as they were led into the rain.

Pinkie could see the full moon shining brightly in the nocturnal shower, the somewhat mesmerizing silhouette of a unicorn seemingly laughing at her destitute state.

"I assure you," Tally's voice rose in volume, nearly drowning out by the heavy rainfall.

"You could say the economy is like a gamble in my casino: profoundly a huge gain if successful, destructively a heavy loss if you fail. Not to mention how horribly exciting it can be."

Tally continued as the pink mare felt herself being lowered down... into what?

"Along the way, there are some ponies that try to ruin your reputation. They venture too far into conspiracies, some true, some false, stirred by the community we tycoons reside in. Envious in their own kind, they will go at any lengths to stop our fruitful harvest that we have endured with unwavering patience to gain."

"So we've decided to think one step ahead."

Pinkie paled with horror at the sound of shoveling dirt and mud, scattering across like garnish on top.

"Like many before you, you and your friends are in the midst of ruining the hardship my family has righteously obtained to make the Devil's Luck the franchise it is today. And I won't let that happen. Starting with you."

With one last, powerful breath, she spat her gag out, hanging it down like a neck scarf.

"Please!" she shouted. "Let me go! Let me go and I won't tell anypony! Just let me go!"

"I'm afraid you would have to rescue yourself, though I must admit I'm impressed that you managed to get the gag off."

The shoveling of dirt stopped, followed by the clunk of rubber onto the surface of wood.

"Many ponies couldn't even open their eyes after I plopped them into their coffin."

Pinkie twisted her hooves around, trying in vain to free herself from the tight strangle of the ropes around her hooves. She grunted fiercely and forcefully, kicking against the bottom of the coffin.

"Send my regards to my ancestors in heaven," Tally said with a morbid chuckle.

"Adieu, mon amie."

The hose erupted with water, quickly seeping through the cracks as Pinkie pounded and thrashed furiously in her tight chamber, the ropes holding her tight. Some of it flowed across her face, making her cough and gag with a little trickling into her throat.

The water mixed with the sawdust and dirt below her, the muddy mixture starting to fill up the wooden coffin. The pink mare held one last breath, before her entire being was submerged into the rising, sloppy mixture.

Her flat mane flowed like waves, though she couldn't bother to admire as she hastily tried to push up the lid, exerting all her force and straining some of her tendons in the process.

A small cluster of bubbles flow out of her mouth, only painfully reminding her how much time she has left.

*BANG*

Despite being muffled, the faint sound of the gunshot could be heard, as well as shouts and cries. The coffin rumbled suddenly, with something pushing it down slowly like quicksand into the depths of the soil, only making her efforts on breaking free more frantic.

Pinkie tried to push again, yet her hooves collapsed, floating freely in the tight space of water. Her vision blurred, her energy used up as she closed her eyes, indulging into the slow, melancholic sensation of death taking her into his wings without any further struggle.

She felt water rush down her throat, the last of the air bubbles floating up with the coffin still sinking into the mud.

Without any strength left, she fell into the darkness, still wrangled by the ropes around her.

The coffin lid suddenly blasted open, the water quickly gushing out as the unconscious Pinkie was brought back into the world once more, raised upwards right in the hooves of...

"Pinkie!" Primrose cried amidst the gunshots and shouts overhead, trying to shake her out.

"Pinkie! Wake up!"

"She's not responding!" Dresden exclaimed, returning the hail of bullets fired from the estate.

"Get her to safety!" Charter barked.

"The police and I can hold them off!"

The two ponies lifted her up onto their backs, placing her down only when they reached the cottages in town.

"Pinkie!" Primrose tried again, trying to brush off the spots of mud and dirt on her face. Her flat, dark pink mane was drenched in the rain as well, tangled in a disheveled mess across her cheeks.

"Pinkie, don't give up on us now!"

The loud sirens wailed as tires skidded to a halt, prompting Dresden to gallop off towards the vehicle.

The caramel mare just hugged Pinkie tighter with a loud sniffle, letting go only when the witch doctor returned with a stretcher. She whispered into her ear, before watching helplessly as the ambulance quickly skidded off.

"Please be safe..."

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"Pinkie..."

Gypsum's voice echoed with devastation at the pink mare before her, who was all tangled up in tubes and wires. She had watched her friend nearly drown in a coffin, not being able to sleep for one whole night.

The five Voyagers were all shaken up by her sudden disappearance and near-death experience, their relief only immersed in their despair.

"Pinkie...? Come on..."

"It's my fault," Harmony said, throwing her hooves up with a small sob.

"If... If I h-haven't left my logbook there in the first place..."

"Calm down, Harmony. It wasn't anypony's fault."

Charter bit his lip as the mare cried in his shoulder. He turned to the others, his words steeling with determination yet quivering with doubt.

"She must not know about this."

"Know about what?" Primrose asked.

"What Tally had done to her. Before all of this."

The pegasus flapped his wings nervously, glancing at Pinkie.

"I've checked through the Telrouix's journals, alright? It seems that he had something to do with Pinkie's past."

"What do you mean?" Dresden quipped with concern.

"When the Princess found her on the street like that?"

"Tally Telrouix was working for a pony. A pony that demanded a staggering price."

Charter held his breath, before continuing:

"I've done a little research on her past. It seems her father was under this same, unknown pony as well."

"So you're saying that the Telrouix might have an allegiance with this mystery pony?"

Primrose turned back to Pinkie, before muttering:

"She has to know."

"I beg your pardon?"

"She has to know!" the caramel mare shot back at Charter, slamming her hooves onto the side table.

"It was this pony that caused all the death. This pony took her family away! Can you imagine that?"

The pegasus just gave a cold stare.

"She has no right to know of anything."

"She deserves the right to know!"

Primrose clenched her hooves, her shoulders tensing up as she glared at her companion.

"Everypony must know that-!"

"She HAS no need to know of it!"

Charter's booming voice cut her off immediately, only making her freeze onto the spot.

"You know what she would do to us! We all do!"

"That doesn't mean we have to sweep everything under the rug!"

Tears fell from the caramel mare's eyes, her voice raised as she shouted:

"She's a pony that suffered through a dark tragedy, Charter! Something all of us would've crumbled upon. We've seen her talking about it, raving about it like some madpony. Never had I seen such a happy pony stung this painfully deep before!"

The whole room was silenced, the only sounds being Primrose panting and the beeps of the monitor.

"I was devastated to see my sister go. But it was natural. All of it was natural, not intentional as what happened to-"

"I had friends that were killed as well, Prim," Charter responded grimly.

"One of them was killed by this same pony. This. Very. Same. Pony."

Again, silence filled the air, as the pegasus continued:

"I had to subdue his wife from whipping and lashing her insanity at their only daughter. She was my oldest friend, and the dearest one I had ever had. Now she's chained up and locked in an asylum, never having a chance of seeing her daughter again."

The remaining of them were all stunned, unable to speak.

"I vow to stop this pony at every cost possible. In fact, I wouldn't mind just spitting out the truth to Pinkie." Charter said grimly, pointing at their unconscious, pink friend.

"But I won't risk destroying her already fragile heart and reminding her again of her painful past."

He turned to Primrose, who was hanging her head low with guilt.

With one last, quick breath, he muttered a question to the caramel mare, before stepping out of the room:

"Would you?"

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Present Day

"Well, ah'll believe ya. But just this once."

"In the meantime, get Apple Bloom some milk! Silly filly's crying all day!"

"Stay here!"

"What happened?!"

"Why?!"

Applejack awoke with a gasp, gripping fearfully onto the sheets draped over her.

She frantically glanced around, letting out a relieved sigh. She was still in the Princess's bedroom, safe and sound, away from the torment of the nightmare in her sleep.

Kanov'hin slept soundly before him, the majestic creature curled up in his deep slumber. An aura of peace seemed to glow around him, flaring him in the brilliance of the night.

She tried to shut her eyes, but the ravaging nightmare of her past quickly flooded back into her.

The wagon... the flames... the screams... they were too vivid.

With a tremble of her hooves, the orange mare reached for the mug of water at her nightstand, giving the cold contents a small sip, before lying back onto the bed.

Applejack tossed and turned, trying to focus on the better things: Apple Bloom, Big Mac's recent relationship with Fluttershy...

She forced her eyes shut, yet the nightmare pounced upon her once more, only making her eyes flutter open.

Cold sweat started to drip from her neck, her teeth grinding against each other with fear.

The orange mare rose from the bed, silently striding towards the dragon.

She bit her lip. A part of her was shouting that this was a bad idea. Every pony knows that it's insane to wake up a sleeping dragon, especially one such as Kanov'hin.

"Kane?" she whispered loudly.

The dragon's eyes tensed in his sleep, before relaxing.

"Kane?" Applejack tried again.

There was a grumble, before the dragon opened his eyes. He seemed to glare at first, only to soften at the sight of the orange mare before her.

"It's only you," he said gently. "What is it?"

"Kane... Ah had this nightmare... and... um..."

Applejack felt like smacking herself. How could she lose the words she wanted to say at the wrong time?

"Ah... was j-just wondering... if you don't mind..."

"You wanted a little companionship of some sort?" the dragon finished her sentence, earning a silent nod from the pony, who stepped forward without any question.

"Well... if you insist."

She huddled above the dragon's claws, muttering out a soft 'thank you' before resting her head onto his back.

Kanov'hin just gave her a serene smile, before returning back to his slumber.

The night dragged on, almost too smoothly, until Applejack's eyes flipped open again, only fifteen minutes from her previous awakening.

"Gah..." she cursed under her breath.

"Snap out of it, Applejack. It was only a darn nightmare."

"You seem to be having trouble."

Kanov'hin's voice startled her, nearly making her kick her hooves in response.

"Heh... yeah..." she replied, giving him a sheepish grin.

"Mind telling me what is going on in your head?"

The dragon held his breath, Applejack now fumbling her lips around, before he tried again:

"I promise a dragon's oath I won't tell any other living soul. Not even if the Princess forces me to."

"Ya sure about that?" she asked skeptically.

"Promise."

Applejack held her breath, before saying:

"Al-Alright..."

She then began her story: how she broke the rake, the one that her father was searching for, how she told a few lies and hid the snapped tool in the barn, how the wagon rolled off the hill and crashed into their household...

"And my father just ran in..." the orange mare said with a sniffle. "Apple Bloom was rescued. My grandmother as well... but he... my mother... th-they..."

She broke down, crying softly in Kanov'hin's claws, the dragon only able to watch helplessly.

"If..." she managed to gasp. "If I hadn't lied..."

"You wouldn't have known it would happen."

Kanov'hin's statement surprised her, even more so by the calm and assuring demeanor of his usually brash and deep voice.

"They would've been proud to see their daughter now," he said with a laugh. "Being able to tame a dragon."

Applejack chuckled along, leaning against his smooth scales.

Her heart tingled with warmth at his joke, though there was still despair dwindling in her gut, aching painfully with need of another happy smile.

If only Pinkie were here...

"Kane?" she called to the dragon, beckoning him to turn.

"Do you... think they'll be happy... with everything that's happening?"

The dragon stopped short, before his tongue slithered and hissed with uncertainty.

"I really haven't have the slightest idea, but they would always be happy for you."

Applejack smiled, a small tear flowing down her eye.

What happened next was unexpected to the both of them.

In a flash, she slammed her lips against the dragon, making him widen his eyes in surprise. She just savored his scaly lips, her tongue entrenched within his sharp fangs as it penetrated into his mouth.

His eyes were half-lidded, then slowly closed with pleasure. Out of instinct, his claw reached to the mare's back, bringing her closer into his embracing wings.

The two kissed, the moon shining brightly behind them. Applejack moaned with pleasure and a little pain from the fangs grazing her lips. She squeaked even louder, feeling the tingle of sharp claws running down her neck.

The dragon growled with a graceful sensuality, his snake-like tongue entwined with the mare's in a lusty twirl. It wasn't before they broke their kiss with saliva dangling down their chins that the mare realized what she had done.

"No... No, no, no..."

Applejack tossed her hooves, shaking her head with a groan.

"This never happened... please Celestia, tell me this never happened."

"Applejack?" Kanov'hin called out in concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Alright? Alright?!"

She felt infuriated by this. What was she thinking? Kissing a stubborn moron like him!

"Ah'm not alright, Kane! Ah just... just... kissed you!"

"But we-"

"But we- nothing!" she snapped, stomping back to the bed.

"Now go to sleep before Ah kick you in your shins again!"

"Fine!" he snarled, shifting his wings away.

"I thought we had something! I thought, from the look in your eyes, that you were interested. Because I wouldn't even mind snapping my own neck to at least spend some time with you!"

Applejack just draped the blanket over her, clenching her eyes shut as Kanov'hin continued scowling:

"I was thankful that you made me realize what I've done! I was upset that Death played his cards in such a brutal and tormenting manner that he chose your parents next!"

"I... I love you, alright Applejack?"

The orange mare let out a quiet gasp, though the dragon's next words stopped her from responding:

"I... I thought you loved me too... guess I was wrong."

With another growl, Kanov'hin turned away, leaving her in a state of confusion and shock.

She bit her lip, trying not to think about the storm of emotions in her head. Was she feeling the same way?

"Am Ah fallin' in love... with a dragon?"

Voyager's Arc: She Promised To Return

"Pass the salt, please."

Autumn Palgiot did as she was told, handing the jar to Summer. She had just returned home from their small visit to Fenderville, along with Winter while the yellow stallion stayed back to manage the city and to take care of their little sister.

Their older brother was late, as usual, no doubt in his room still pondering over machinations and theories.

Though Autumn added one more thing onto the list.

"How's the latter?" Summer asked, referring to Fenderville.

"Just fine," his sister replied casually.

"Though I'd rather expand my horizons. That town is just too similar to Pendant Lakes in every way."

The yellow stallion just chuckled, almost sarcastically with Autumn shooting him an annoyed glance.

"There really is not much to see, is there?"

"There are some worthwhile attractions..." she began pondering.

"I believe the ponies down south would appreciate it more than I would."

The door creaked open, a suited pony stepping inside with a bow.

"Miss Autumn. Lord Summer."

"Stellar," the mare called his name with a warm smile.

"How great it is to see you again!"

"As to you," the butler replied, pulling a silvery cart from behind him.

The utensils and foodstuff were all neatly arranged; the porcelain teapot and teacups placed in a corner, residing over a lace nest, with trays of tarts, pastries and jelly-topped buns taking up most of the space.

A level below were the stacks of napkins, some slightly ruffled, all packed together neatly in order. Beside those were the canisters of salt and sugar, distinguishable by the unbelievably ornate letters marked on the cylindrical surface.

"Where's Winter?"

"Still preparing for breakfast," Stellar answered, making Summer groan.

"Can't he ever get ready?"

The yellow stallion couldn't help but sneer, his sister rolling her eyes in annoyance.

As if in on a mocking cue, the door opened once more, with their esteemed brother stepping into the room.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked almost jokingly.

"Breakfast," Summer shot back in sarcasm, making their sister hiss in displeasure.

Winter was unfazed by that, his face only steeling with his wavering patience.

"Puree, eh?"

"Puree of turnip soup, with a little garnish of Kosher."

Stellar's brief explanation only make the Patriarch lick his lips hungrily, the old colt laughing quietly under his breath.

The trio of siblings silently ate their breakfast, with their butler standing patiently at the side, awaiting for any orders.

Unsurprisingly, Summer was the only one out of the three that called for his help, much to his older brother's annoyance.

"So it seems you've met Harmony when we were back in Fenderville."

Autumn's sudden statement nearly made Winter choke on his puree, Summer snickering at his older brother right across him.

"Y-Yes. A queer coincidence."

The stallion's hoof trembled, reaching for his cup of tea.

"I must admit I was very delighted on seeing her."

"Not to mention looking forward to it as well."

His sister's smile made him uneasy, the Patriarch shuffling in his seat nervously.

"I've seen you gazing out at the balcony," she teased, making him chuckle sheepishly in humiliation.

"You're always muttering her name. Harmony... Harmony~"

Autumn's sarcastic, singsong voice made her older brother laugh, sitting back into his seat.

"It seems emotions are getting the better of me. It's been a year, after all."

"Spring would be happy to see her again, as well as you, of course, judging from how you don't need to babysit the filly anymore and return to the library with all your books."

The pale beige mare grinned bashfully with delight at that, though Summer only humphed in response, crossing his hooves.

"After all," Winter continued, "She promised to return anytime soon."

"And I wouldn't be more happy to have her back."

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"Tally Telrouix. Rise."

Tally did as he was told, his face devoid of any emotion with his hooves tensed.

The eyes of countless ponies were placed down onto him, the pressure straining in his neck nearly unbearable. He had watched the rest of his family members get sent down the hallway in chains, with the exception of the young foals.

No doubt he would not stray from that path as well.

He stared at the majestic figure before him: the one mare he would fear most in his career, before bowing with spite.

"Your Highness."

"Tally Telrouix," Princess Celestia spat his name out like it was filth, glaring menacingly down upon him in disgust.

"You have committed crimes of heresy, of desecrating the lives of others around you with your indignant acts of slaughter and crimes of premature burial. To dare even lay a single hoof onto one of my primary subjects-"

"That mare deserved it," he cut in with cold sarcasm.

The alicorn wrinkled her nose, before continuing:

"... and have the nerve to attempt murder on her. What say you in your defense?"

Tally seemed to smile, surprisingly laid back as he gazed at the courtroom before him.

"You have all brought this upon yourselves. Your envy is the seed of your troubles, and neither of you have tended to it, letting it grow like a virus into the overgrown jungle it is today."

"All of you are tainted! Disillusioned into the belief of one Equestria, when in fact we are more separate, socially and ethically across all aspects of life. We have lavished too long under the harmonious rule of the Princesses. It's time we start to work again: to toil endlessly until we achieve full harmony. Until we achieve perfection!"

Princess Celestia raised a hoof, silencing the raving casino tycoon immediately.

"That's enough."

The judges of the panel scanned through the papers. Whisper by whisper passed through each and every one of them, until the one at the end finally conveyed their decision to the alicorn's ears.

She cleared her throat, glancing down with contempt at Tally. The decision was made.

"Tally Telrouix!" she scowled in her loud, booming Canterlot voice.

"For your crimes of heresy and massacre, of injustice and repulsive acts, you are sentenced to the capital punishment of execution. May your soul never find the mercy of another."

The pony just laughed a deep laugh, as if accepting death like it was his best friend.

The guards quickly led him away, dragging him by the chains as his maniacal laughter rang through the whole courtroom.

"HE WILL STRIKE!!" Tally bellowed, jingling his cuffed hooves into the air.

"HE WILL RETURN FOR REDEMPTION!!"

The crowd watched him laugh in his insanity, striking his hooves in the air.

Among them, seated close to the carpeted lane, were the Voyager Six, all grimacing at the sight of him.

One of them stepped forward from her seat, marching up to the crazed stallion.

Before any of her friends could stop her, she harshly yanked Tally closer, almost out of both guards' hooves. She glared defiantly at him, Tally just laughing at the sight of it.

*SMACK*

A series of gasps erupted as the stallion's face was reddened by the powerful kick, his jaw slightly bloodied with some of it dripping out of his mouth. The Princess remained unfazed by that, her mouth straight as a ruler.

Pinkie shook her own hoof, a few drops of blood traced over it, Her flat mane was shielding a part of her face, her eyes squinted in a fierce, raging glare.

"It's you," Tally snickered in a mocking tone, rubbing the blood flowing from his snout.

"How was the bed?"

The pink mare just spat into his face. Her face was wrathful, filled with cold hatred.

Rage brewed and bubbled in her cauldron of her heart, her teeth gritting in hellish devastation.

"Left speechless? I'm sure the accommodations are fine, aren't they?"

Tally laughed a brutal, hearty laugh, only making the mare's ears twitch in venomous antipathy.

Pinkie mustered up all her strength, her hooves clenched tightly.

She gave the stallion another staggering whack, snapping his horn off entirely and leaving him rolling on the floor, his head bleeding vigorously, screaming in agonizing pain. With a kick of dust from her hooves, she spat again at the stallion spitefully, her voice frozen in ice with two words shooting out of her mouth:

"Buck. You."

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Two months...

It's been two months since Pinkie was stuck in bed yet again, terribly shaken by the ordeal back in Fenderville.

She never liked hospitals. Especially those in Canterlot: she had been stuck in them for one whole year.

Now she's back. In the same bed, back in Canterlot, with the same ponies nursing her back and the same psychologists all asking for her to calm down, to see the positive side of the world.

She scoffed at that, seeing their flicker of fear in their eyes every time they approached her, her mane hanging down from her head without any trace of her natural puffiness.

The roaring of cheers outside the palace only added to her irritation, though there was slight happiness in that as well.

Her friends have returned.

She sighed. Running the third mission without her...

"Pinkie?"

Princess Celestia stepped into the room, trying her best to smile.

"Your friends have returned."

"I know," the pink mare replied coolly.

"Aren't you excited?" the alicorn asked, slightly worried.

"Aren't you delighted to find out what their adventures were?"

"I'm just wondering why they took so long."

The princess bit her lip. This wasn't going the way she expected.

"Pinkie," she began. "There's something else as well, you know."

"What is it?"

"You don't remember?"

"I don't get it." Pinkie whined, her flat tail lashing around furiously.

"What am I suppose to remember?"

The door opened once more, with five familiar ponies trotting in.

"Hey, Pinkie!" one of them cried out, instantly galloping to hug the pink mare tightly.

"Gypsum!" she called out her name, her eyes trembling with tears of joy.

"You're back!"

"Really nice to see you awake, Pinks!"

"Dresden! Prim!"

The pink mare's smile faltered a little, biting her lip nervously.

"I haven't got to thank you guys for saving me."

"No sweat, Pinkie," Primrose replied with a small chuckle, making her friend smile.

"It's all in the past. After all, that's what friends are for!"

Charter and Harmony was next, both giving out smiles of their own, though the mare's looked more strained than the pegasus's.

"Good to see you, Pinkie," the stallion spoke up.

"Nice to finally see you as well," Harmony piped in.

"And what were we planning again, Charter?"

The stallion just let out a deep chuckle, making all the other ponies to do the same.

Except Pinkie. She just sat there dumbfounded, her mane slowly fizzing a little, yet still flat.

"What?"

"Silly filly!" Dresden exclaimed, nudging the pink mare.

"You forgot what day it is, haven't you?"

"What?" Pinkie asked again, earning teasing laughs from all of them.

"Am I suppose to remember what day it is?"

"Come on, Pinkie!" Primrose cooed with a grin.

"It's your birthday!!"

The pink mare could only respond with her dropping jaw as the remaining ponies in the room shouted in unison:

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!"

With a wave of the alicorn's horn, a rain of balloons fell from the sky, along with an endless shower of streamers.

Pinkie could only look in awe at everything, and at all the smiling ponies before her.

*FIZZLE*

Her mane suddenly puffed up, her eyes glistening with pure joy.

"My birthday!!" she exclaimed with glee. "Of course! It's my birthday!!"

"We know you would love to celebrate!" Charter said in his deep, hearty voice.

"And when we found out we're returning on this very special day..."

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you guys so MUCH!!"

Pinkie reached out her hooves, dragging them into a group hug while Princess Celestia watch from aside.

She leaped into the air, thrusting one of her hooves up to the ceiling with excitement.

"What are we waiting for?"

"Let's get this party STARTED!!"

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One last night in Canterlot...

Pinkie finally slumped, sighing out of fatigue with streamers trapped in her mane.

Her hooves ached from all the dancing she had done, not to mention all the cider she had drank (though her mind was still sound and fine) and the migraine growing in her head.

For once, she thought to herself, she had partied too hard.

The pink pony groaned, clutching to the side of the table, her other hoof attending to her pounding head as she lifted herself from the chair, gazing at the mess before her.

Every table was strewn around, every chair tossed throughout the room like dolls. The brilliant, dazzling ball was still spinning overhead, illuminating the room in a colorful spectacle.

Pinkie dragged herself across the streamer covered floor, nearly slipping from the remains of the ice-cream cake they had ordered for her. She traipsed around giddily, trying to clean the frosting off her hoof, before tumbling backwards, landing onto the floor with a grunt.

There was a loud groan from behind, prompting her to turn around.

Charter was on the floor as well, already snoozing lightly with his hoof clutching onto a glass bottle of beer.

The pink mare sighed, glancing at his half-lidded eyes and his quirky smile. There was a musky scent in the air, making her start to pant with lust, though she knew better than that.

Primrose was on the floor as well, her head slammed into the remains of the cake. She gurgled something audibly from under it, before letting out a hiccup, making Pinkie giggle in amusement.

Gypsum and Dresden, questionably, were piled on the floor, the mare being on top, with cider trickling down from the sides of their mouth.

A loud crash from behind signaled Harmony's awakening, Pinkie turning around just in time to see her stumbling into the bowl of strawberry syrup.

"I'm fine~!" she exclaimed drunkenly, waving her hooves into the air.

"Whoo whee~!!"

"Harmony," Pinkie called her sullenly, the ache worsening in her head.

"Snap out of it!"

The mare blinked for a moment, before letting out a giggle.

"And I thought who was talking to me~! What do you want, birthday mare? Some more of the sh'tuff? For me to sh'mile, sh'mile, SH'MILE~?"

"Shut it, Harmony."

"Ohhh~! I see how it is!"

Harmony trotted forwards, stumbling over for a moment before catching herself.

"You finally want some mare-to-mare time, eh? Don't worry, Pinkiekins! I would make it worthwhile!"

"T-That's not what I meant!" Pinkie protested with a blush, her friend stumbling into her shoulder.

"Drats... it could've been fun..."

The drunken mare pushed herself up, nearly shoving Pinkie into a cluster of chairs.

"How about talking? Yeah, talking sounds like fun!"

There was a sigh, before the pink mare reply in defeat.

"If you say so..."

"Great! Come on!"

With an instant tug of her hooves, Harmony led the pink mare out into the balcony, almost tripping over a few times if not for Pinkie's tight grip. She let out a hiccup, followed by a bubbly laugh, which only made the pink mare shake her head in disapproval.

She shoved Pinkie onto the floor rudely, before sitting down herself, oblivious of the scowl beside her.

"Well?" Harmony asked with a shrug, gazing at the blurry, pink haze before her.

"What do you want to talk about? Or are you jush planning to wayshte my time?"

"I don't want to talk about anything."

Pinkie shoved her hoof into her friend's mouth before she could start babbling again, ignoring her friend's muffled ranting and raving.

"I just need you to help me with-"

*SMACK*

The pink mare stumbled backwards, her face brazened by the harsh smack as Harmony snickered mockingly.

"You want me? Of all ponies, ME? To listen to your filthy, degrading requests?"

"You call cleaning up filthy?!"

"I'd rather talk about shit than cleaning your crap up!" she scowled, tossing a small rock towards her.

Pinkie successfully dodged it. She clenched her teeth in irritation, glaring as Harmony continued:

"Let the maid do the maid's job! Pffttt.... you're lucky you're the birthday mare, or I'll make sure you'll lick every single frosting that you spilled during the party!"

"You want me to tell everypony what you did back at Bleak Point?!"

A clear silence hung overhead, the drunken, deranged smile on Harmon'y face quickly contorting into that of shock.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Bleak Point? That... crude... insane... act you did!"

Pinkie bit her lip, the events of that day flooding back into her head.

The mare in front of her, however, was on the verge of tears, as if awakened from her drunken state.

"How... how did you..."

"I saw...... it, Harmony."

"You saw..."

There was a slight hesitation in Harmony's eyes, before she spoke.

"Fine. I'll admit. I... did it. With that stupid, old, disgusting criminal."

"But why?" Pinkie asked.

"Why would you even think of doing it?"

"I couldn't help it, alright?!" Harmony screamed, the pool of tears in her eyes threatening to leak.

"I was in desperate need of it! So, I thought maybe I could get out some info while having fun at the same time! It'll be a double win, Pinkie! One for me, one for the mission!"

"But really? Using your body?"

"I have contraceptives, so I'm okay with that."

The mare sighed, her head hanging down with guilt.

"I'm disgusting, aren't I? Always treating something so serious like a game."

Pinkie couldn't answer the question, only able to look at her friend, dumbfounded.

"We have to set off for Pendant Lakes tomorrow," she continued, forcing out a smile.

"It's been a long time..."

"Wait," the pink pony piped in.

"You've... been to Pendant Lakes before?"

"Once or twice. Before I met you bunch."

Harmony let out a weak giggle, gazing into the night sky. She suddenly turned to Pinkie, who blinked in surprise as she spoke:

"Pinkie? Can you keep a secret?"

"A... secret?"

The mare gave a nod, her face turning more serious and serious.

"It's about Pendant Lakes, and the family we will be meeting."

Pinkie returned with a nod of her own, though her heart was filled with doubt.

"What is it?" she asked reluctantly.

"It was the first time I visited Pendant Lakes. I was on one of my crusades to revolutionize the world of fashion, seeing how backwater and obsolete the industry was becoming."

Harmony held her breath, her lips slowly curling into a smile.

"You should've seen it. The town is so beautiful. The plazas, the streets... everything is like a sort of magical dream, as if taken out of a vintage fairy tale."

"Then... I met him."

"Him?"

"Yes. Him."

The mare stared dreamily into the night sky, only beckoning her friend's curiosity.

"I have a question for you, Pinkie."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Do you believe in love?"

"Well..."

Pinkie began to ponder, before spilling out:

"If you're talking about love, I believe in it. Big time! There's the love that my father and mother gave me when I was young. Even though they don't really appreciate my way of dealing things I know they still love me. Then there's Blinkie and Inkie, my sisters, the two of them are like peas in a pod! Ooh~! Then there's Granny Pie! She was the one that taught me how to smile! You should meet her; she's a really, really nice pony! Then, of course, there's the Princess-"

"Not that love, Pinkie," Harmony snapped, before letting out a chuckle at her innocence.

"The special kind of love."

"Huh?"

"You know. Where you find the stallion of your dreams, the both of you traveling the world, seeing the sights on romantic honeymoons and quiet evenings. A stroll on the beach with a kiss under the moonlight."

She sighed, feeling weak in her knees.

"He was the most generous, most handsome, most humble stallion I've ever known in all my years."

"Wow..."

Pinkie's mane tingled with delight, fuzzing up a little despite the pounding sore in her head.

"How did you guys meet?"

"He calls it a random encounter," Harmony replied, before giggling with a small blush.

"I call it a fated meeting just waiting to happen."

"What's his name?"

"That's the problem."

The mare turned to her friend, glancing skeptically at Pinkie's burning curiosity.

"I'll tell. But only if you make a promise."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

Pinkie let out a squeal, only making Harmony raise an eyebrow.

"Seriously? Well, anyway..."

She bit her lip. It's now or never.

"His name is Winter. Winter Palgiot."

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Present Day

*Pant*

"Y-You... you dirty..."

"I was just getting started, Harmony."

Harmony giggled in response, getting up from the bed. Her tail swirled around, her mouth curled up with a small purr escaping from its sides.

Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she turned back, the sultry, lust-filled vigor flaring in her eyes as she dragged one of the towels from the side. Her mask and cape were neatly laid on the dressing table, draping over the countless logbooks and papers beneath.

"Interested in continuing?"

"No thanks," Harmony cooed to the stallion. The stallion with a white coat and black mane.

She wondered many things about him; how he looked so young after all the years that passed, or the grand plans he had been planning, the ones she had been taking part of.

Reserving the thoughts for later, she asked:

"Would you save some of the wine?"

"Why the fuss?"

There was a laugh. Cold but cheeky.

"You hated the pony who made this anyway."

"It's not like he tainted it with his foul mouth."

"You miss him, eh?"

"I loathe him," she said nonchalantly.

"I'll be happy the second he stops breathing."

"And I'll be sure to see that happen."

Harmony laughed at that, trotting back to the bed. She cupped together the scattered rose petals around, before throwing them up in red, cascading shower, letting herself fall onto a pillow.

"Mmm..." she said in satisfaction, feeling the strong hooves grip around her.

"Dirty tease..."

"You enticed me into it."

"Then you took the cake," she responded cunningly, making the stallion smile his trademark, wicked grin.

"I'll be looking forward the next time we do this again..."

"You mean in a few minutes?"

"If it helps me with forgetting that rascal..." she let her voice hang, her body shuddering at the caress from his hooves, feeling his tongue licking tentatively at the side of her neck.

"I'd be happy to..."

There was another soft chuckle, Harmony gazing up at the stallion's eyes, his pupils glinting with passion.

"And... the mare?"

"Foul, stinking, backstabbing little pink bitch."

Both of them laughed loudly, cuddling tightly with a few pecks on each of their cheeks.

"Seriously though," Harmony continued.

"She broke that promise she said she would keep."

"You take promises seriously, don't you?"

"When it involves me, yes."

The mare stomped her hoof onto the bed, guzzling down a glass of wine.

"She stole the stallion of my life! What kind of friend would do that?!"

"A useless one."

"Exactly!" she retorted, reaching for the bottle, before stopping.

"Imagine that! A friend that takes the love of your life away!"

"So you still love Winter Palgiot, then."

"Never."

Harmony scowled, harshly jerking back the curtains, the sudden burst of sunlight invading into the dark room.

Beneath the windows were the jagged, criss-crossing cobblestone alleys of Pendant Lakes, a few iron lampposts standing tall, gazing towards the magnificent sunset.

Far beyond, over the red slate roofs and creaky weathervanes, was the grandiose structure of Palgiot Palace itself, the gleaming castle towering above, perched on the side of Mount Hoovingaar.

"I gave him a chance!" she shouted, pointing to the palace in the horizon.

"I gave him a choice! To come back with me or to stay with Pinkie!"

"Looks like he took the wrong turn," the stallion said with a deep laugh.

"Incredibly foolish at that."

"They can both buck each other in hell, for all I care," Harmony grumbled.

"Disgusting."

"At least I'm here."

She could only chuckle, gazing dreamily at the stallion as she grabbed the bottle from the side.

"You're here.... how could I forget that?"

"Maybe it slipped from your mind."

"Maybe..."

Harmony uncorked the bottle with a loud pop, feeling the indulging smell of grapes wisp into the air.

"Or are you just invisible to the world? I don't even know your real name."

"Doesn't matter now, does it?"

She let out a tingling, soft moan, a flame tingling from inside her body for the desire to be touched. The desire to be loved, to be set free in her raging sensuality.

The desire to be used and ravaged. Over and over...

"Celestia..." she cried, whimpering at the sheer might of the hooves gripping around her body.

Without hesitation, she drank another cup of wine, admiring the taste inside. Her need for release flared up higher, her vision a flurry of lights dancing in a circle, only fueling to the guilty pleasure.

She soon fell onto his chest, their lips raging fiercely as they met, finally springing to life.

The wine mixed in between soon tossed around, powered by the infatuation and the impatient thirst of lust. Their tongues twirled each other in a blend, their hooves reaching around pleasurably.

Harmony let out a loud moan, muffled by their connected lips as she felt her hind hooves weakening, a white hoof reaching in between. She responded with a plunge of her tongue, stirring around the bowels of wine.

Their kiss broke, the small drips of wine leaking out of their mouths, before meeting again. A grunt echoed from the stallion, her hooves reaching down in her last flurry of assault on him.

She soon pushed him away, falling back onto the soft, plushy bed, still panting with hot lust. Her bottom hooves parted, a deep, pink blush of arousal and hunger filling up her face.

Gripping tightly on the sheets, she formed a tight knot around her wrists, before smiling up to the stallion, who returned her with a devious, passionate grin.

"Take me...... and don't. Ever be gentle..."

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"Ambiguous what now?"

"Ambiguous relationship," Fluttershy repeated Lyra's words.

"A relationship that... well.. isn't really a relationship..."

Applejack only looked in bewilderment, prompting the mint unicorn to explain one more.

"The both of you aren't really friends. The both of you don't have definite roles. He doesn't need to be faithful to you, yet he still can't fall into an affair."

Lyra finished her explanation, smiling proudly with glee before adding:

"Generally the both of you aren't really into the lovey-dovey nonsense, but you both are somewhat a couple, in that sense of romance."

The orange mare just sighed, glancing back at the doors into the palace.

"But he did say he loves me..."

"He never said why?" Vinyl piped in.

"We were havin' some argument. Ah did something really, really stupid and that dragon happened to like it."

Applejack let out a disgruntled sigh, tilting her hat to the side.

"Ah'm... not sure if Ah love him as well..."

"You might be, considering how you guys are turning out."

The rest of the mares turned to Lyra in discontent, the unicorn only giving a shrug.

"I'm just stating what I think! We're all free to say our stuff, aren't we?"

"Anyways," Fluttershy dismissed.

"I can help you... umm.... ask him... if you don't mind, that is..."

"Ah don't wantcha to get involved in this."

Applejack turned to each of them, her face flushed with worry and concern.

"Ya know Ah don't want to see y'all get hurt."

Vinyl just rolled her eyes with a harrumph.

"That brute really needs to get a grip. Take a chill pill or something."

The orange mare just chuckled slightly in response.

"Maybe Ah like him cause of his temper. He's cute when he's angry."

"R-Really?"

Fluttershy whimpered a little, cringing beside her friend with a chatter of teeth.

"I-It's q-quite cold... can we.. g-go inside... if you don't mind..."

Applejack glanced up into the sky, watching the cascading, drifting descent of snow from the cloud-covered sky, resembling the ashen gray of smoke, reminiscent of the dragon.

She could picture his calm, soothing smile. His warm flame flickering from his hearth...

"Kane..."

That settles it, she thought to herself. She can't do this anymore.

"Let's go in," she said to the others.

"Ah have a dragon to talk to."

Voyagers Arc: Furtive Fantasies

"Are we there yet~?"

Charter sighed at Pinkie's question, losing count of how many times she asked it over and over throughout their journey. He turned back to the pink mare, watching her bright, eager smile widening gleefully.

Primrose was the one that saved them, though unintentionally.

"If the map is correct, Pendant Lakes should be over that hill."

With a squeak of delight, the pink mare raced down the path, making all of them chuckle.

Gypsum giggled at that, before shouting, chasing after her friend.

"Wait for me, Pinkie!"

The others soon followed suit, kicking the dust off the path. A rush of air blew through each of them, the ponies laughing in their gallop towards the hill before them. Pinkie turned around, squealing gleefully at her friends.

It wasn't long before they reached the top, perching like a hawk with their eyes widened in amazement.

There was the grand town of Pendant Lakes, sprouting out from the undergrowth with its fine, maroon-colored roofs, its diverging cobblestone streets and the few stacks of smoke spewing out from the chimneys, with a few trees standing amidst all the white baroque structures, providing the small blotches of shade in town.

The Voyagers clambered down the hill, eventually reaching the grilled gate at the end of the path, the ponies slowly pushing them open.

They marched in to the sound of laughter, stopping abruptly to allow a group of fillies run across their paths. All around were the residents of the town, busily trotting around without bothering even a subtle glance to the bunch of strangers stepping through the gates. The doors of the shops around flapped open almost every second, though delicately, allowing more of the residents to enter and exit.

A fountain sprinkled with life, surrounded by fluttering swarms of pigeons and ponies appreciating the soothing trickle of water down the sides, with the rare few tossing silver coins into its bowels.

"You're right, Harmony," Pinkie remarked out of earshot from the rest of their friends.

"This place is wonderful!"

"Told you so!" she replied, the two mares giggling softly.

The rest were listening attentively to Gypsum Palgiot; being a resident of the quaint town she explained about the customs of the society and the trademark locations that the town possessed.

"... and that's Fountain Square! Trust me when I say that's one of the top romantic spots that you would ever see in the whole of Pendant Lakes, Equestria even!"

Harmony turned towards the fountain, a smile forming on her lips.

The tender memories of that afternoon lingered in her mind, refreshed even more so by the clear trickle of water tossed up from the tip, flowing down in a dazzling dome of droplets.

Pinkie looked around in the sky, before her attention was caught a glinting structure standing regally in the distance, perched like a watchful eagle: the sole guardian over the cluster of buildings of the town. A flock of geese flew behind it, only adding to the calm scene of Pendant Lakes itself.

The remaining Voyagers stopped, noticing their friend's sudden interest before following her gaze.

"That's Palgiot Palace!" Gypsum retorted with pride.

"The castle that my family lives in! We're going to stay there the whole time we're here!"

"You're not joking, right?" Primrose asked skeptically, not believing the mare's words.

"We're going to live in a palace?"

"Yup!" she answered, making all of them mutter in excitement.

"Come along! I'll introduce you guys to Winter! He's the leader of this family and the town itself, so it's a must that you guys must meet him!"

Harmony held her breath at the mention of the Patriarch's name, looking back up at the palace.

She could remember the time she left. It was on a day like this, except it was in the evening.

"You don't need to leave, Harmony."

"Then leave with me! See the world! You don't have to stay here all day, don't you?

"I don't know... I mean, I've just became Patriarch a year ago...

"Then let me leave. I'll come back before you even know it!"

She sighed audibly, before holding her head high, trotting after her friends on their slow journey towards the looming mountain beyond the town, the path spiraling up to the grand, flat-topped summit.

The path to see his face once again.

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"There isn't any time to spare."

Winter Palgiot paced around his room hastily, his brows furrowed with his head hanging low in a quivering, anxious expression, his mind rushing about its mental errands.

Stellar was watching every step the Patriarch was making in amusement, before asking:

"Are you nervous, sir?"

"Of course I am!" he retorted, almost as if mocked, before lowering his voice.

"She's finally back after a year. Who wouldn't be?"

"I'm obliged to mention she arrived with your cousin, Sir Palgiot."

The stallion just rolled his eyes, settling himself on the chair.

"You know how GP is. Making friends and all."

"No doubt she has no knowledge of your relationship with Harmony?"

"I don't think she even bothers," Winter replied, glancing out of the window.

Down below, in the glistening, embellished courtyards, the glazing gates slowly swung open, the guards halting with their hooves raised in salute. Six ponies walked inside, all giving a distinguishable nod to the sentries as they marched towards the doors.

Winter spotted Gypsum strutting in beatifically, as well as Harmony. The mare seemed to stand out from the rest, almost as if glowing as she walked, unaware of her coltfriend that observed from above.

His attention, however, turned to that of the other pink mare of the group, who was talking to the caramel one, having seen both of them back in Fenderville.

The Patriarch fuddled with his mind, unable to repress that aura that emanates from the bouncing pony. The one that even overwhelms the sparkles of Harmony herself.

"Are you alright, Sir?"

Stellar's words broke into his speculation, with Winter turning around abruptly with an answer:

"I'm fine, if that's what you're asking."

The butler just sighed, heading out of the room.

"Do you wish me to invite them into their rooms, sir?"

"Certainly."

As soon as Stellar scurried out of the room, Winter sat back into his armchair, his mind settling into a prospering calmness, yet quivering with excitement at the return of his marefriend.

There's so many things to ask her. Where she had went all these years, to how she and Gypsum met...

To - he bit his lip - asking about that pink mare.

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"The other rooms we do not kindly want guests to enter are the Tower Room..."

Stellar sometimes hated guests, simply because of the introductions he had to make. It was already carved into his head like a twisted, mental brand; a script he had to always repeat on duty.

"...the Cellars, the Staff Rooms and of course, the Graveyard," he finished.

"Graveyard, huh?" Dresden quipped, his interest flickering.

"I've heard stories about the Palgiot graveyards. They say at night, if you're lucky, you can see little lights dancing around the tombstones."

"Lucky?" Primrose guffawed at his statement, making the stallion pout.

"That's creepy, Dres! Won't we all be unlucky when see those?"

"Maybe he might be right."

Charter's suggestion made them all turn, the only one not frowning in disbelief being the witch doctor himself.

"I've heard legends about these lights that guide lost travelers back to civilization. They're simply souls who afford help to those who need it badly."

"Souls?"

"Spirits who couldn't fully pass on," the aging pegasus explained.

"There were many rumors of them helping out the living, though there are some vengeful ones."

"Wow..." was all Primrose could reply.

"Talk about creepy."

Pinkie just giggled, nudging her friend.

"Oh, Prim!"

"Your rooms," the butler piped up, handing each of them a key.

"The Patriarch requests your presence at lunch shortly."

The six of them nodded, prompting Stellar to excuse himself, leaving them alone.

"So..." Gypsum began; being the most knowledgeable of Pendant Lakes out of the Voyagers the others didn't oppose to her words.

"After meeting my cousin, I guess we all should look around the town for a minute. What do you guys think?"

"What of their secrets?" Charter asked, reminding them of the reason they were all here.

"What do you think your cousin would hide from anypony else?"

Before the mare could reply, Harmony spoke up.

"I think it's best we save those thoughts for later."

There was a moment of silence, their attention all skeptically focused on their friend's sudden statement with surprise, before nodding agreeably with each other.

"But we'll have to find out soon," Charter quipped once more.

Pinkie turned to Harmony, who was breathing a huge sigh of relief.

"Well that went well," she said to her, the rest of their friends advancing down the corridor.

"So when are you going to tell them?"

Harmony turned to her friend, blinking her eyes in surprise.

"What was that?"

"Tell them? You know!"

Pinkie skipped around her friend, snorting with laughter.

"Tell them about your fluffy wuffy, vanilla frosting, sugar muffin, sickly puppy, sweet~ little secret with the rest of them! They must find out some way or another."

Her friend pondered about that, the pink pony squeaking with glee.

"Well... I don't know..."

"Gypsum will understand, of all ponies, right?"

Out of boredom, Pinkie blew a raspberry, making her friend giggle.

"She's always like 'I'm gonna play some music' or 'I'm gonna dance like a flappity-wappity seal'. You know how things go with her!"

"What will I do without you, Pinkie?"

Harmony sighed audibly, with the mare beside her bouncing happily as the two quickly followed after their friends, who had since steered away from their view.

She paused for a moment, before deciding to reserve the thoughts to herself. That hyperactive, sugar-loaded pink mare would've blurted it out for the world if she told her.

"I'll take it into consideration..."

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"Dahlia! Quickly gather your things now!"

"Coming!"

There was a loud scurry of thumps from upstairs as Persimmon Mills clicked her hooves impatiently, glancing at the wooden flight of stairs before her.

Her eldest daughter soon came into view, a sheepish smile on her face, her heart nearly flying out of her chest with sweat running down her cheeks. Despite being the eldest, the older mare sighed with discontent, she was always the latest among the three.

"Sorry! Dropped my books in the hallway!"

"You mean you overslept."

"But Mom-!"

"No 'but Mom' or any excuses again," Persimmon scolded, making her daughter hang her head low in regret.

"You know better than to run out of home at midnight," she continued, grabbing her daughter's coat as Dahlia started to wrap a scarf around her neck.

"You're lucky Dad found you. If not, I wouldn't want to know how many insane colts would find you alone in the streets and just violate you on the spot."

"Mom~!" she cried, letting out a disgusted groan.

"It happened before, Dahlia!" Persimmon retorted.

"Tulip and Ivy are waiting outside, as usual~!"

Dahlia just rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out at her mother, who turned back and shout: "I saw that!", before watching her quickly darting off, wanting to avoid the coming reprimand.

Persimmon just shook her head, settling back down on her writing desk.

"Fillies these days..."

The sheets of parchment before her were yellowed with age, though its recent use is evident with the intricate scrawls of ink aligned down to the bottom, stopping with a few drips at the corner. The inkwell stood steadily on the top, along with a white quill, the tip submerged into the black whirlpool like an arrow striking in the core of a target.

With a clinch of her quill, she began scribbling away, the tip scratching into paper, as if trying desperately in vain to tear it apart.

Her previous book, Relic Of The Cinders, had sold millions around Equestria,. despite her seeing it as more of a casual piece to write. She had to travel all the way west to interview a few ponies for the story, knowing that those few had discovered the content she needed.

Sure enough, she thought to herself, that was one experience she would never forget, along with one of her previous works; the one she had enjoyed writing with Caesar.

A soft knock on the door caught her attention, as a suited pony stepped into the house, brushing his dusty hooves on the mat politely with a soft grin on his face.

Persimmon smiled back, her heart tingled with warmth as she asked:

"What brings you all the way out here, Stellar?"

"You know," the butler replied with a chuckle.

"Visiting an old friend."

"Sit down," she offered, quickly heading to the kitchen as Stellar settled himself onto the couch.

He had heard of Persimmon's recent success with the publishing of the new book. He always knew that the mare had her talents settled in writing, judging how detailed the catalogue of their adventures as the Crux Four were when they were still young.

He chuckled. Such good times...

"How's the rest?" Persimmon asked, returning with a tray of teacups and a white, ceramic kettle.

"They're alright so far," Stellar answered, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"Caduceus is still doing his job in the hospital. I'm still serving the young Patriarch."

"And... Sidus?"

"Scouting birds and trekking along the mountain, I guess?" the butler said with a shrug.

He settled the teacup down, letting out a deep sigh.

"He isn't really himself since Sicarius disbanded."

"It's been so long already."

Persimmon trotted to her writing desk, neatly stacking the papers together as she asked:

"Why can't he just get over it?"

"Basically he was hired by our current Patriarch to perform Necessensio," Stellar answered, prompting the mare to stop and ponder.

"To kill Tantrum Palgiot wasn't easy, seeing how that stallion performed some sort of nightmare spell. Then again, he always has his wife for companionship..."

"Winter Palgiot wouldn't hurt a fly, huh?" the mare joked, though almost resentfully.

"Hiring somepony else to do his dirty job."

"It was a must, though."

The butler glanced about the house, situated on the far side of town. It was small, yet welcoming and comfortable, considering how close it was to the lush woodlands around.

"Where's your husband, if I may ask?"

"Somewhere down in Fincher Avenue," she answered in a mumble.

"Probably drinking his heart out again."

Stellar sighed. He knew of his friend's recent financial problem, despite already earning a lot from the books she had wrote so far. The Mills family was almost on top of the list of overdue accounts, the figures reducing drastically when she sold her book, only to gradually rise back up again.

It was lucky the previous Patriarch, Harrow Palgiot, abolished the Sicarius law; he couldn't bear to see his old friend and her family get butchered by assassins.

"Seriously," Persimmon's rants continued.

"I don't know what that crazy colt's been doing. I get all the expenses to pay off his debts and what did he do? Make another mountain of those again."

She scowled, her hooves clenched a little tightly.

"Idiot..."

"Just let him see what he's doing," Stellar suggested.

"Maybe he can wake up from this."

The butler's words did not soothe the mare. Persimmon just scoffed at that, sitting back onto the chair.

"Our daughters still needed to go college. I've already made plans."

Then, she pounded one hoof onto the table, the tray of utensils clinking in response. Her face steeled with determination, her brows furrowed, as she made her choice, nearly making Stellar blink in surprise:

"If he continues what he's doing, I'm going to leave him."

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"Rise."

Pinkie quickly did as she was told, as well as the rest of the Voyagers, slowly rousing up from the soft, fabric seats.

The doors opened as three ponies marched in elegantly, their heads held high in superiority and prestige with a warm, welcoming smile on each of their faces.

Well, almost all of them smiled. The yellow one had a justifiable frown.

"Have a seat," the white unicorn commended finely, with all of them settling back at their respective chairs in unison, the servants quickly excusing themselves.

The pink pony peered from her seat, glancing at each of them.

From what she could tell, the yellow grumpy one loathed their presence, seeing how his shoulders were stiffened and tensed, his hooves wracking with impatience and his eyes flaring in a foreboding glare.

The mare across him, however, was smiling serenely, her hooves tucked in with astounding patience, the limbs themselves slender and sleek, only flaunting even more of her graceful self.

The stallion that sat at the end, though, looked the eldest among the three, yet still fresh in maturity. His eyes glimmered, as if content at the sight of them, the golden hoop glinting in a fine, golden luster around his hoof. signifying his grand position as Patriarch of Pendant Lakes.

She turned to Harmony, who was smiling jovially yet dreamily at him, the stallion somewhat returning the same. There wasn't any doubt who that was.

"Gypsum," he called to their friend, the light green mare responding with a giggle.

"I assume you brought more visitors for us this time."

"Yep!"

Glancing around the room at her friends, before feeling a slight nudge from Charter beside her.

"This are my... uh... friends that I've met back in the east! They have many interesting stories to tell you guys!"

"I can't wait then!" the mare at the end of the table exclaimed, the two cousins laughing like school-fillies.

"At least begin with the introductions first!" the Patriarch said with a chuckle.

"My name is Winter Palgiot. This is my sister, Autumn Palgiot-"

"Welcome!"

"And that's Summer Palgiot," he finished, glancing at the yellow stallion, who only humphed in indignation.

The Patriarch sighed at his younger brother, before asking his cousin:

"So what brings all of you here?"

"Our friend, Gypsum," Charter began, "said it would be great if we can visit her hometown, in which we all agreed to, seeing how it might be a great experience."

Winter let out a smile, glancing at his guests.

There was his marefriend, grinning back at him enthusiastically. His heart skipped at that, his bottom hooves flushing with eagerness to just run up from his seat to talk to her.

The pink mare was there as well, already giggling with that caramel one. He had never seen a mare other than Gypsum being that happy before.

He turned back to the pegasus, still holding his smile.

"Well," he began.

"I'll shall see to it that all of you have a worthwhile experience then."

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Present Day

"What does he mean by 'worthwhile experience?'

Rarity's question only made Saphir the Oracle - as the creature had effortlessly called itself - sneer with a laugh, the golden pocketwatch in his black, ethereal arms swinging with every move he makes.

"Why not ask your friend, Pinkie?" he hissed, beckoning all of them to turn.

The pink mare just cringed, blankly gazing down into the black void beyond the thick, transparent platform.

"She's been hurt enough," Twilight scowled back.

"And its all thanks to your creation!" Spike added.

"I doubt that Time Demon was that unstable the last I saw him," the creature only replied, showing off his fangs.

"It was one of my descendants that dared stepped beyond the boundaries."

"Tantrum Palgiot, we know."

Glancing up at the repulsive, colossal creature, Rarity asked:

"Why did he do it?"

"Matter of greed? Passionate revenge?"

Saphir just chuckled deviously, the tentacles wriggling in a fit of laughter.

"What it was doesn't matter, my friends. What matters is what you can do to stop it."

"But how do we even stop it," Rainbow began.

"When we don't even know the cause of it?"

"How Mirror Mare came into existence isn't a necessity."

The Oracle's pocketwatch started to tick, making him raise it up.

"You'll have to see for yourselves: the truth that your friend over there had been hiding."

Twilight turned to Pinkie, the lavender unicorn still perplexed.

"What does he mean? Didn't you tell us about everything already?"

The pink mare just bit her lip, brushing her mane to the side as the world started warping into the past once more.

She held her breath nervously, watching buildings grow from the empty expanse, reforming a holographic Pendant Lakes as she answered:

"Not everything."

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Tomorrow's the big night, he told himself.

Winter Palgiot sighed, glancing out the window. He had always admired the beauty of the sunset that the Princess could conjure, and at times envious as well.

He slowly strode across the room, returning back to his working desk, which was filled with tattered papers and one or two books, already covered in a fine layer of dust.

There was a small knock, prompting him to turn with a smile.

"My Lord Patriarch."

Stellar bowed with courtesy, trotting towards the stallion in his usual suit.

"I have prepared the Equinox Ballroom for the coming occasion."

The unicorn just nodded, slumping against his chair.

"That's great," he mumbled.

"If I may ask, Winter, you are unusually perturbed today."

Winter let out a faltering laugh, rising from the velvet laden seat. His hooves ran through the smooth wooden edges of the table, before touching the round, polished knob of the drawer.

"Being the last Patriarch is hard to take in..."

Stellar's ears perked, his eyes blinking in surprise.

"B-But Sir Winter! Who said you were the last?"

"You don't need to hide it anymore. You knew I was going to be last," the stallion clarified, making the butler look down and sigh in defeat.

Pulling open the drawer, Winter eased his hoof in, reaching inside before feeling the unmistakable texture of crumpled, rotting wrapping paper.

"Yet there's so many things to do..."

"That is the wisdom of youth," the butler said.

"I've had many adventures when I was about your age."

The Patriarch sighed, pulling out a tarnished box, the surface faded with age.

"You're lucky, Stellar," he only said in response, giving him a sad smile.

"What is that, if I may ask?"

"A present," Winter replied, only making the butler raise an eyebrow.

"Alright," he admitted with a laugh. "It was a hoop I got for Harmony."

"I was planning to propose to her the night we had that argument," he continued his explanation, unwrapping the box gently, tossing the wrapping aside.

"Imagine that. Breaking up as you were about to propose to her."

Stellar just sighed, watching as the young stallion flipped the box open, revealing the contents within.

Inside, sparkling from the light of the afternoon sun, was the golden hoop, as well as a diamond brooch, making both of their eyes glimmer at the sight.

"Are you missing her?" the butler couldn't help but ask.

"If you had asked me all those years ago, I would've said yes," he replied with a chuckle.

"But now..."

"You love the other mare, don't you?"

"She's... different," Winter said dreamily with a sigh.

"She makes others ponies happy, which makes her happy..."

"Whatever happened that day made me see the real Harmony," he finally justified with a scowl.

"She wanted me to follow my father's path, just like my mother. They're both insane in their own right!"

Stellar stepped back a little, watching his Patriarch toss his hooves up in a fit of rage.

"Do you want to check the decorations?" he asked, wanting to change the subject.

The stallion just sighed in response, before forcing out a smile.

"I'll be there in a minute, Stellar."

With a bow, Stellar excused himself, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

Winter just fell back into his chair, the afternoon sun shining across his face.

He raised the golden hoop in the air, which glinted at him, the diamond fitted in the side shimmering brightly.

A soft, quirky giggle flew from his memories, only making him smile, tucking the hoop into his pocket.

"Diane..."

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A disappointment.

Kanov'hin remembered his father's words as clear as the afternoon, winter sky that shone outside, despite the thick, gray clouds filling up the sky.

The arrival of snow only made his ears twitch, furling his wings to stay warm.

A soft knock on the door just made him growl, a soft, timid voice calling out to him.

"Um... uh... K-Kane?"

Instead of the orange mare, there was a yellow pegasus; the one he had seen timidly hiding from his comrades a few times from the window.

"What do you want?" he growled.

There was a small 'eep!', the dragon turning just in time to see her darting out of the room, only to carefully trot back in, trembling and shaking violently with fear.

Behind her was a red stallion, his build thicker than most of the ponies he had seen so far. His expression was calm, yet serious, judging from the flare in his eyes.

"Um... Kane? If we can just... you know... talk? If you don't mind..."

The dragon just growled, turning to the pegasus.

"What is it?"

"Well... it's about Applejack."

Fluttershy stumbled back a little as Kanov'hin rose, with Big Mac trotting closer to her.

"I... um... heard that you had feelings for her..."

"Don't bother about it," he only scowled.

"This is a matter of me and the mare only. I don't need a pegasus to tell me what to do."

"J-Just listen, Kanov'hin... um... please?"

He could only sigh. Her small, gentle chirp of her voice somehow honeyed his heart, though not as much as the determined drawl of the orange mare herself.

"Fine," he answered in defeat.

"W-Well... Applejack... she's really wants to have a little talk with you."

The pegasus held his breath, before continuing: "She wants you to um... understand that everything that's happening is quite complicated and she's... well... she isn't really sure about... well... y-you know... the... um..."

"Our relationship?"

"Yes! That's right! Your... relationship..."

The yellow pegasus bit her lip, asking:

"Am I too loud?"

"No, no!" Kanov'hin retorted with a hearty laugh.

"Just continue."

"Um... alright then."

Fluttershy swallowed a nervous lump, prompting Big Mac to place a hoof around her, before she continued:

"Applejack, well.... she somewhat needs you know that you're still... well... hard to trust..."

"Well," the dragon's voice turned a little gentler. "why ever would she say that?"

"The Princesses.... then there's the agreement..."

Kanov'hin blinked his eyes in realization as Fluttershy continued:

"She wasn't sure if... you know... that Princess Celestia would... um... accept it. But she wants you to know that she... well.. s-she.... um... uh..."

The dragon just groaned, his tongue slithering.

"Can you just call her to come in?"

There was a slight gasp from outside, before the orange mare stumbled in, falling face first onto the floor.

She let out a sheepish laugh, arranging her signature hat as she slowly helped herself up.

"Not the best at hidin', huh?"

"I can still smell you," Kanov'hin just replied with a smile.

"Hehe.... right."

Applejack slowly trotted towards the dragon, settling right next to him.

"List'n, Kane. Ah was thinkin' about..."

She stopped, realizing that Fluttershy and Big Mac were still here.

"Um... Ah was thinkin' about how I really need some privacy right now!!"

"Oh! Um... sorry!"

The two ponies quickly huddled out of the room, politely shutting the door as Kanov'hin and Applejack both laughed.

"Well... now that that's done..."

The orange mare smiled, turning to the dragon.

"Ah was thinkin' about when you said you loved me..."

"And?"

She sighed, before asking the question: the one that had been stirring about in her head for some time.

"Do ya really mean it?"

Kanov'hin stopped to ponder, his mind trying to find the right words to say.

"To be honest, I wasn't sure at first. When I first saw you, I thought that you're just there to watch me and such, but then you showed a little concern when all the other ponies wouldn't."

"Ya call placin' a blanket over you concern?"

"In the most foreign land, yes," the dragon replied, both laughing softly.

"I began to see somethin' in you. Some spark that I don't see in many dragonesses around the Badlands. I didn't believe in it at first, but then that night came..."

Applejack bit her lip, remembering the argument the both of them had.

"Well... Ah can't really say much..."

"So did you have feelings for me? At all?"

Kanov'hin ruffled his wings, his voice smoother with a slight croak of age.

"It's okay if you don't. I understand."

The orange mare just sighed, curling up as she leaned closer to the dragon.

"Ah don't know, Kane..."

The dragon just smiled, his large claw holding her hoof.

She seemed so small compared to his marvelous size, which only made him nuzzle her affectionately and tenderly, as if don't want to let go.

"Trust me," he whispered softly in his ear, Applejack slightly smiling as he cupped her hooves into his gargantuan, scaly paws, his eyes glistening with hope.

"We'll figure this out. Together."

Voyager's Arc: That Fateful Day

"What have we got?"

It has been two months since they had first stepped into the Palace. The Voyagers were all holed up in the library, with sheets of papers scattered and spread out all over the table.

Charter sighed at Dresden's question, ruffling through the mess.

"Well," he began.

"We found an extensive history of the family itself," the pegasus raised a book as he said that, "as well as some information about the existence of Sicarius Nox: an organization of assassins trained in academies to show no mercy; in return the assassins were well paid and have a better life than most of the ponies around."

Pinkie just groaned, her head slammed under a mound of paper.

"Can't we do something more fun?" she whined.

"Not now, Pinkie," Charter scolded, his voice somewhat gentle as if he was her father.

"You know we have a lot of work to do."

The pink mare just slumped in her seat, before sliding herself to Primrose's side, the caramel mare absentmindedly leafing through one of the books on the table.

"Whatcha doing?" Pinkie asked.

"Honestly," Primrose said with a sigh.

"I have no idea."

Both mares just glanced around, their boredom slowly crawling up to their heads.

The pink mare turned to Harmony, who was solemnly gazing out of the window. The rest hadn't known of her relationship with the Patriarch, much to the impatience of Pinkie.

Gypsum was busy flipping through the logbook, her head wracking up a storm, before she sighed in defeat.

"There's nothing here to say my cousin's corrupted."

"There must be a reason he was on the top priority! I'm sure of it!"

Charter wanted to spit at all the scattered notes, infuriated and frustrated. Dresden just rolled his eyes, kicking his hooves back onto the table.

"Cheer up, Charter!"

Suddenly, Gypsum hopped onto the table, lifting his chin up, the pegasus only giving her a smug expression. She leaned down, smiling from ear to ear as she spoke with enthusiasm:

"Why not we take a small walk around town? Maybe it can help out with the thinking and stuff!"

"Yeah!" Pinkie added.

"We can have much more fun in town than just sit around all day!"

Everypony held their breath as turned to the pegasus, who was busily pondering over their decision.

He looked at each of them, all with expressions of anticipation, before glancing back at the intimidating text on the books, which only added to his irritation.

"Fine," he finally sighed, much to everypony's delight.

"Well?" Gypsum retorted, the light green mare already galloping to the door.

"What are we standing around here for? The doors can't open by themselves!"

All of them chuckled, one by one trotting out of the door.

Pinkie quickly strode to Harmony's side, whispering in her friend's ear:

"When are you going to tell them?"

"I..." the pink unicorn could only stammer, earning a skeptical look from her friend.

She sighed, fiddling her hooves about with the answer:

"When the time is right."

"Really?" Pinkie scoffed, only making Harmony raise an eyebrow.

"They have to know some way or another, don't they?"

"But once they do, how would I know if they would trust me?"

The mare looked at Pinkie, who was desperately searching an answer.

"How would I know that they wouldn't leave me after knowing that all this time, I was the Patriarch's marefriend?"

"Well..." the pink mare said with a shrug.

"You know what I think? I think you're silly willy!"

"What?"

"I think you're too concerned that we wouldn't be friends anymore, and that's why you don't dare to have the courage to tell the truth!"

Pinkie finished with a smile, her friend deep in thought.

Harmony just sighed.

"I don't know..."

"Trust me, Harmony!" her friend squeaked.

"In fact, I think they'll all be happy to know that you're the Patriarch's marefriend!"

The unicorn just blinked her eyes in surprise and disbelief.

"R-Really?" she muttered.

"Absolutely positively suredy-durdy-do! In fact, I'll bet all of my lifetime supply of cake if it doesn't work out!"

In response, Harmony giggled at her friend with amusement, before replying:

"If you say so..."

"That's the spirit!" Pinkie screeched with delight, nudging the mare.

"Come on! We gotta catch up!"

With a laugh, both mares galloped down the corridor, ruffling the carpet beneath their hooves. Their faces beamed with a wide smile, their hearts throbbing with pure happiness.

Harmony just sighed in her head at her friend. She was right.

"They have to know," her inner voice spoke, somewhat advisably.

"Some way or another."

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The sudden glare of light nearly blinded him as the blindfold tore from his eyes.

The black stallion cried out in searing pain, wriggling in a chair with his hooves bound behind by a thick wire. His vision started to clear, the back of his head still pounding agonizingly.

Looking around the room he was in; the neat bed at the corner of the room, the carpeted floor and the nightstand right beside him. The vanity mirror showed his reflection, who stared back at him with the nervous flicker in his eyes.

"Well, well..."

The unmistakable click of a revolver made him tense up, sweat quickly falling from his forehead.

"If it isn't the Caper Masque himself," the voice chuckled in cold amusement.

From the mirror, he could see the glint of silver from a white hoof, the barrel pointed directly into his head. The knots around his hooves were tight enough to prevent him from wriggling about, only adding into his desperation.

"Who are you?!" he shouted, "What do you want?!"

There was a cruel laugh from behind, the revolver jiggling along.

"I presume you know I can't answer the first question. As for the other one, however..."

Caper felt the barrel twist through his mane, only making him swallow a lump.

"I have a task," his kidnapper stated. "A favor, if you're certain."

"Why me?" he demanded, gritting his teeth.

"I'm just a magician!"

"A famous one," the unknown pony replied.

"I'm aware, however, of the other set of skills you possess."

His chair suddenly jerked around, the magician trying his best to hold his laugh.

"Me?" he scoffed. "Possessing another set of skills? Don't try to be funny. Seriously, if you want money, just say it. I'll get some from my bank account and we'll both act as if nothing happened, alright?"

The comment earned him a brazing smack at the back of his forehead, only worsening the migraine.

"Don't mock me, you sore wretch," the cold voice scowled.

"You and I both clearly know what sort of skills that I'm mentioning right now."

Caper wanted to protest, but feeling the cold ring of the barrel, he sighed in defeat.

"Look, whoever you are, I'm done with that past. I'm done with hit jobs, done with assassinations, done with using any sort of weapon. I'm just here to settle a few things then I'm heading back to the circus and whatsoever."

"You're not the one to give orders, my friend."

The magician's head was forced to the side, glancing at the tidy sheets of the bed. On top of it was a black guitar case, complete with a rubber strap, yet he knew better what's inside.

"See that?" the voice told him.

"I want you to take down one specific mare. Everything you need to know is inside."

The wires around his hooves were suddenly sliced off, releasing him immediately, yet Caper sat still, the barrel of the revolver still aimed behind his head.

"What's in it for me then?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?!"

Caper could only gape in disbelief. What's the point of even killing a pony if he can't even get a Celestia-be-damned reward for his efforts? Why can't this colt do it himself?

"Whoever you are, we need to negotiate a price here. You can't just ask me to perform an assassination without any share, can't you? You get your benefits, what about mine?"

"You're forgetting who's in charge here."

Before the magician could protest, he felt another powerful swing against his face, reinforced with the holster of the revolver itself. He yelped in response, gritting his teeth.

"The only prize I can save for you is your life, Caper Masque, and I know how much you cherish your life, don't you?"

The black stallion held back his scowl, instead giving a blank nod.

He caught a glimpse of his assailant's white coat and black mane, his mind making a mental note of it as the anonymous stallion continued:

"You have five hours to complete the task at hand. Past that deadline and I'll pay you a visit again."

There was a cold chuckle as Caper felt the barrel of his gun nudge him forward, forcing him towards the guitar case. He hesitantly flipped the latches open, hearing the other stallion shout before the door slammed:

"And don't you ever dare back down!"

Caper sighed, wracking his hooves about as he examined the weapon prepared for him.

It was a sniper rifle; a fifty-caliber Barrett, if he could recall correctly, complete with a pedestal fit for a telescope. He gazed at the window shutter, opened specifically just for this occasion.

Lifting the rifle up and placing it aside, he spotted a small, rumpled paper stuffed into the bottom of the case.

Unfolding it, Caper held his breath, looking at the target's name in disbelief as well as the mare's face.

He knew this mare very well; in fact, the whole of Pendant Lakes does. Her cheerful personality, her bright mood... it's a crime against Celestia herself to even touch the mare with the barrel of a gun.

The stallion just bit his lip. He knew this would never end well. But a job's still a job, not to mention his life is still on the line.

Positioning the rifle onto the pedestal, Caper peeped through the lens with undying guilt, the name of his target echoing in his mind faintly yet painfully:

Gypsum Palgiot

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"...and there's so much to see! There's Palladium Beach, just down the forest path from the courtyard. There's Market Street and Harbor Street: both places are excellent places to go to. And there's the recently opened Starlet Avenue! There's so much exquisite things to choose from over there and I'm just so excited to..."

Pinkie couldn't help but giggle at her friend's enthusiasm, the light-green mare rambling on and on about the spots they would be visiting.

The Voyagers were walking across Fountain Square, the large plaza being the designated center of Pendant Lakes, heading towards one of the many junctions spreading out from it.

"So, I was thinking... since we're finding out whatever my cousin's doing and such, I thought of a place we can go to!"

Gypsum's wide smile caught all of her friends' attention, tossing the map towards Primrose.

"What place?" Dresden asked.

"Foster Archives!" she answered with a grin. "Down in Standard and Dale!"

The rest listened attentively, stopping in their tracks as she explained:

"It is an orphanage, as well as a storage for archives as well. I know the bookkeeper there; she always tells and writes the most interesting stories when I was young!"

"Hold it," Primrose cut in.

"You think the Patriarch would keep track of any crazy things if he even did any?"

"Sure! Foster Archives is like the top spot for records and such! Most of my family would store their things inside, sometimes even their own belongings!"

The light-green mare grinned widely, her hoof pointing down at the map of Pendant Lakes spread out on the pavement, marking the location.

"It's a great place and I suggest we should go here! What do you say, guys?"

Charter raised his hoof, the expression of doubt clearly written on his face.

"I'm not entirely sure about this. I mean, I know your family lives here, but you do realize what he would do if he found out who we really are?"

Gypsum giggled, nudging the pegasus meekly.

"They won't mind, of course! If I know them well, they wouldn't even bother finding out why we come here!"

"Well," Primrose piped in.

"At least we hope so..."

"I mean, come on! It isn't that bad!"

The six of them continued their journey through the plaza. As usual, it was filled with ponies of all ages, clearly enjoying the spacious area and the swirling breeze blowing clusters of dry leaves around.

Pinkie breathed in, letting the cold air rush into her lungs, nourishing them with energy. She bounced with a giggle, glancing about the baroque structures standing all around.

She glanced up, looking at the wrought iron lamppost before her, the flame flickering in its glass casing.

The faint sound of laughter echoed in her head, reminding her of her parents and her sisters. Both Inkie and Blinkie had moved out of Canterlot together, and she had never seen them since.

The pink mare sighed with nostalgia. To reminisce about the past...

"You miss them, don't you?" Primrose's voice broke into her thoughts, the caramel mare looking at her friend with a warm, assuring smile.

"I guess..." Pinkie could only reply, gazing up into the sky.

"Sometimes I forget how it feels like to see them again. It's like they're here with me, but they're... not really here with me... you know?"

Her friend just nodded.

"I understand. The same goes for my sister."

"We were always watching each other's backs since our parents passed on," she continued.

"I always looked up to her, like she's my idol or something. When she fell ill, I swore that I would always stay by her side and help her, no matter what."

"It was one day, I came into her room..."

There was a small sniffle, prompting Pinkie to huddle closer to her friend.

"She... s-she had the most peaceful smile I had ever seen..."

"It's alright," the pink mare hushed, before glancing with uncertainty at the slate floor.

"I still miss them though."

"You'll see them again," Primrose responded, instantly cheering up her friend.

"Maybe one day, when this is all over..."

Pinkie's eyes suddenly gleamed, pointing across the square.

"Look who it is, Gypsum!" she called to her friend with a mischievous giggle.

The rest of the Voyagers turned their heads, immediately realizing who their friend was pointing at.

There was Winter Palgiot walking from the corner, smiling benevolently at Autumn, who was prancing cheekily right beside her.

The two siblings seemed to have spotted them as well, with the pale-yellow mare waving happily at her cousin.

"GP!" she called her name, a wide grin curling up her cheeks.

"There they are!" Gypsum exclaimed to her friends.

"I gotta go!"

Before the rest could respond, the light-green mare had already galloped towards her relatives, leaving them to chuckle at her happy-go-lucky personality.

Pinkie turned to Charter, who had a peculiar smile on his face. She and Primrose had already speculated that there was something going on between him and the mare, despite their age difference.

"What is it, Charty Warty?" she teased the pegasus.

"Missing her already?"

The rest of the group laughed as the stallion just rolled his eyes.

"Very funny, Pinkie."

*BANG*

Time slowed, the loud, clear sound of the gunshot ringing in each of their ears.

Ponies started to scatter about, with terrified shouts echoing all around.

Pinkie watched in horror as Gypsum tensed up, with blood starting to stream from her sides.

The mare somehow seemed to smile sadly, before collapsing onto the pavement.

"Gypsum!"

The five of them galloped instantly, rushing through the crowd towards their friend sprawled onto the floor, lying in her own blood.

Primrose could only gasp, covering her mouth with a small tear as they reached their friend, with Autumn already shaking the mare desperately.

"Gypsum! Don't do this to me! Don't do this to me!!"

"We need to get her to a hospital!" Pinkie shouted above all the chaos.

"She's not going to make it, Pinkie!" Harmony responded, her voice almost as loud.

"She's not!"

"She is! She's still alive-"

"Pinkie!" Dresden's voice boomed.

"She lost too much blood! She won't make it!"

"Just because you're always right doesn't mean you have to spit it out!"

"Pinkie!" Primrose cried to her friend. The pink mare was ventilating, her hooves clenched in pure, cold rage, her teeth grinding with fury. Her mane had flattened, covering a part of her wrinkling snout.

"Listen to yourself!"

"Go to Hell!" the mare just shouted, nearly throwing all of them off.

"She's ALIVE, because I know she WILL BE!!"

"STOP IT!" Charter's voice boomed even louder, immediately silencing them.

"Just... get her to the hospital..."

"No!! No!!" Autumn screamed, flailing her hooves about as both Charter and Dresden lifted her cousin up, quickly galloping off with the bleeding mare coughing on their backs.

"You can't take her!! She's not dead!!"

Before she could chase after them, the Patriarch hugged her sister tightly, gripping him into his embrace.

Pinkie could only watch helplessly, tears flowing down her cheeks as well before the mare herself broke down in the middle of the plaza.

Despair thrashed her head around, her eyes flaring red with anger. She cried and cried, her teeth wrenching up before glancing at her friends angrily, her hooves pointing accusingly at them.

"YOU GUYS ARE USELESS!!"

"Pinkie!" Primrose cried, watching the pink mare galloping away.

"Pinkie! Wait!"

Harmony could only look on helplessly as the caramel mare chased after her friend, her heart bleeding with anxiousness and grief.

She turned to Winter, the Patriarch only giving her a look of worry, his sister sobbing loudly in his hooves, pounding angrily onto the pavement.

"She'll be alright," he could only mutter to Autumn, his marefriend wishing for the same.

"At least..." Harmony though to herself. "I hope she'll be..."

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"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."

Rain pattered onto the black umbrella in his white hoof as Winter Palgiot watched the pristine, white marble coffin being lowered into the muddy ground, his black suit slightly stained with brown splatters across his sleeves.

Through the glass panel on the marble coffin, there laid Gypsum, her eyes closed in eternal peace with colorful flowers aligned around the top of her head. A smile froze onto her lips, nearly outshining the sullen looks of remorse everypony attending the funeral was giving.

The Patriarch sighed. Merry even in the hooves of death.

Autumn stood across him, her face devoid of any emotion. Her black lace veil covered over her eyes, refraining anypony to spot the tears trickling down her face.

Summer didn't attend the funeral, their brother already demanding the police to seek out the murderer.

Harmony was just beside him, the mare staring somberly at her deceased friend. Winter could see it in her eyes: the ferocity of a multiple emotions flaring within her.

The rest of Gypsum's friend held their head in a mournful silence, with the one they call Primrose already breaking down in the cyan one's mane. The pegasus suddenly excused himself, drifting from the group and settling under one of the trees nearby, silently sobbing in the rain.

The pink one, however, was nowhere to be seen.

The Patriarch bit his lip. Winter had seen her powerful, enraged outburst two days ago, which only frightened him a little bit on the inside. He glanced around the black, despairing crowd, unable to spot the tinkle of pink anywhere.

Soon, the crowd parted, the stallion following them back into the palace as well. He turned back, watching solemnly as Harmony huddled along with her friends, gathering around the coffin to say their last prayers.

Climbing up the stairs to the courtyard, the white stallion quickly trotted back into his palace, swerving through the huddling crowd in the process.

There were a few errands he had to solve, particularly to seek out and arrest their cousin's killer.

As he strode down the corridor, his ears perked at the sound of quiet sniffling in the corner, only beckoning him to get closer to it.

Peering from a wall, he let out a silent gasp at the pony before him.

There was the pink mare: the one he was eagerly searching for. Her mane had flattened, losing all of its natural fluff she had retained. The usual bright, energetic aura wasn't there, instead replaced by one of dead sorrow.

Winter felt his cheeks flush. For some reason, she seemed to look more... beautiful this way.

He smacked himself on the forehead. What the heck was he thinking?

"Umm.... miss?" he called out to her, the mare turning towards him instantly.

"W-What do you want?" she asked, almost threateningly.

"I was just seeing... if you're alright."

The Patriarch crept cautiously towards her, holding his breath with his hooves crossed.

"Your friends were looking for you."

"Don't. Talk to me about them!"

Her shout nearly threw him off his hooves, the stallion stopping in his tracks.

"May I ask for your name, at least?"

"P.... Pinkie..."

"Pinkie, huh..."

Winter stood, watching her gazing out of the window, before doing the same. She seemed to have noticed it, as she was now giving him a skeptical look, her eyebrow raised.

"I've seen you around lately."

Pinkie just mumbled something under her breath, her hooves nervously fidgeting about.

The Patriarch sighed. This wasn't going the way he expected it to be.

"Well," he finally said in defeat.

"If there's nothing else, I best be off then."

"Wait!"

He stopped his tracks, turning around as Pinkie fumbled around with her words.

"I mean... um... I.... you..."

She inhaled deeply, calming herself down with a quiver before asking:

"Can you stay here? For a little longer?"

"Well..."

Winter bit his lip. If Harmony ever saw this...

"If you insist then, Miss Pinkie."

The two stood there, gazing out into the courtyard. The mellow drizzle of rain still fell from the sky, the clouds puffed and gray without a single ray of light.

"You're Winter Palgiot, right?" the pink mare suddenly spoke up.

"The one that Harmony said that she was together with."

The Patriarch nearly stumbled, blinking in surprise.

"W-Well... did she t-tell you?"

"Don't worry," she replied nonchalantly.

"I promised I won't tell the rest of them."

"That's good," he said with a relieved sigh.

Silence filled the air once more, the two of them just glancing about awkwardly. There were times where they would meet each other's gaze, only to quickly look away then.

Pinkie suddenly stepped away, turning back to the Patriarch with a grin; the first Winter had ever seen since two days ago.

"Thank you."

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Present Day

"Are you sure about this, Applejack?"

Kanov'hin's uneasiness made the orange mare chuckle, though she understood why.

"Ya'll be fine, Kane. Ya just had to answer a few questions, that's all."

The dragon just glanced around from the center of the ministry boardroom, the chains around his paws attached to an iron post at the side of the pedestal.

His eyes darted around the room, looking at all the ponies frowning down at him. They were the ministers; the same ones he had seen when he had humiliated their Princess.

"All ya have to do is state why ya... well... came to Equestria."

Applejack's voice eased his tenseness, his shoulders relaxing immediately.

The mare turned his chin, her eyes staring into his. He suddenly smiled, prompting her to ask:

"Why the smile, loverboy?"

"I love your accent," he replied.

"It always seemed to amuse me."

"Shut it!" the orange mare nudged, the two laughing quietly.

"Remember. Just answer what they ask and that's it."

Kano'vhin sighed, watching the mare return to the side of the room, accompanied by the yellow pegasus and the stallion, whom he just found out it was her brother. It seemed easy when she said it out like that.

Glancing around the room one more time, he held his breath as a white-maned stallion ruffled his papers. He looked like the oldest out of the group, clearing his throat as he asked his first question:

"Name?"

The dragon couldn't help but snicker under his breath.

"Kanov'hin Selterblade."

"Origin?"

"Badlands. Vohakiin Sector."

The minister wrinkled his nose, before finally asking a question Kano'vhin deemed it as worthy:

"Last week, the Coalition, commanded by you, breached through the borders and invade the imperial city of Canterlot. You forced our great Highness, Princess Celestia, to sign a contract that would bound a firm alliance, yet an unwanted one as well. Is it true?"

"Guilty as charged."

There was a pause, before he asked:

"Is there any main reason behind your invasion?"

The dragon hesitated, before he answered nonchalantly:

"The monarchy in our nation is collapsing. They were weak and crumbling and the Coalition decided to-"

A loud beep interrupted him, signaling him to turn around.

He glanced at his tail, surprised to see something wrapped around it. The rubber appendage was wired to a large machine at the end of the room, making him blink in realization.

"We don't tolerate lies in interrogations, especially major ones."

Kanov'hin wanted to scowl at their face, but he held back.

He turned to Applejack at the side of the room, who gave him an uncertain and apologetic look.

"Now, I shall repeat it one more time."

The minister ruffled his papers, his hooves clenched tighter. He could see the veins bulging out from the stallion's forehead, only telling him how much pressure they were under.

"What is the main intent of your invasion?"

Applejack's nod made him sigh in defeat.

"The Coalition was built by a bunch of dragons, but their elected leader was anonymous."

The stallion moved to the edge of the seat.

"He doesn't have any sort of identity?"

"He never revealed his name and never mentioned anything further than the missions at hand."

Kanov'hin's lips trembled a bit, before continuing:

"This... our leader was still him, whoever or whatever he was. He ordered most of our attacks against the monarchy, as well as providing a systematical way in our movement. It made our movement more powerful than before, yet more defiant as well."

"I was assigned as Commander of the Army a year ago, and was ordered to invade the royal castle a few months ago. We had captured the monarchy successfully, and were planning to propose a government."

"He declined," the dragon continued, "saying it was foolish to even do that. I had to defy though; why not set up a new system when you're powerful enough to overthrow the old one? I requested an audience from the Princess so that, if we win her support, our leader had no choice but to comply."

"Looks like I was wrong at that part then," he finished, almost jokingly.

At the side, Applejack was laughing quietly, earning a hiss from her brother. Kanov'hin smiled at that, feeling content in his heart.

"This leader..."

The ministers, now interested, ruffled the papers in their hooves, discussing among each other.

"Have you had a glimpse of him before?"

"No."

Another loud beep made them raise their eyebrows.

"Fine," Kanov'hin grumbled.

"There was this one time. I had to pass him a report."

"And?"

"He usually doesn't accept things like that, but that time it was different."

The dragon held his breath, fuddling his claws about. He wasn't sure about what he was going to say next.

"I had a small glimpse of him. He was a pony."

That immediately made the whole room gasp, shock filling the already tense atmosphere.

Applejack could only gape in disbelief, the dragon now looking down with doubt.

"Silence!" the leading minister demanded, slamming his gavel on the podium.

The whole room fell quiet, all eyes gazing back at Kanov'hin once more, before the stallion asked:

"Can you describe him?"

"As I said," he clarified, "I only had a glimpse, so I can only give you a brief one."

All the ministers began their notes, their horns glowing brightly with pens lifted into the air.

"Go on," the stallion beckoned, in which the dragon did:

"White coat. Black mane."

Voyager's Arc: One Kiss

"Intriguing..."

Caduceus Brineheart tried not to laugh at Sidus, the retired assassin in the midst of toying around with the doctor's spyglass, looking at the interior of his house through it with a gleeful smile.

The unicorn had returned from his 'dandy little trip', as he himself had called it, around the nearby ruins of Jezuthar, famed for its advanced mechanisms and complex technology. He had found the spyglass in one of the pyramidal altars around, and had grown attached to it due to its sleek, metallic beauty.

"Are you done with that thing, Sidus?" he finally spoke, his friend already removing the dusty, glass lens.

"This is advanced for an ancient civilization," the colt only muttered, making Caduceus laugh.

"Look at it! You would never see something so intricately designed! This was past beyond its time, my friend!"

"Can I have it back now?"

"You're a doctor, for Celestia's sake!" Sidus only retorted.

"What're you going to do with it? Scan the insides of my intestine?"

The unicorn just rolled his eyes with disgust as his friend laughed, dropping the spyglass to the floor.

"Alright, alright. Enough with that thing."

"And I thought I was just having fun watching you two!"

The two stallions turned around, smiling at the feminine figure before them.

"Persimmon!" Caduceus exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise! I thought you and Caesar had to talk!"

"I don't think he would bother me nagging all the time," she replied meekly.

"Plus, our daughters are old enough to handle their drunk father, so it's okay."

Sidus merely scoffed at her.

"Told you he's a drinker."

"He wouldn't dare drink when I'm around," the mare replied, making the doctor snicker at the retired assassin.

"Pfftt.... whatever."

"Where's Stellar, by the way?" Persimmon asked the unicorn.

"He'd said he would be here to have a talk with us."

Sidus was the one that answered.

"He had a few errands to do in the palace, so he said we should expect him to arrive later."

"Hmm... bummer..."

The mare picked up the newspaper, before something sparked in her head.

"Caduceus," she called to the doctor, who turned in response.

"What is it?"

"Have you heard recently?" she asked.

"About the recent shooting?"

At the mention of the word 'shooting', Sidus instantly grimaced, before standing up, leaving the mare and their bewildered friend to their discussion.

"What shooting?" Caduceus asked, his face immediately growing serious.

"Fountain Square. Three days ago."

Persimmon leafed through the stack of newspapers, before pulling out one, placing it onto the table. The doctor picked it up to read, his disbelief growing at every word he scanned through.

"Can't believe it either."

"The nerve..." the doctor could only mumble, leaning back into the couch.

"Was there a funeral?"

"It was held yesterday," Persimmon replied, before sitting down, tending to the hollow emptiness of devastation in her heart.

She had known Gypsum for quite some time, the two being like sisters already. That light-green mare was always fascinated by books, especially the ones that she had wrote.

She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with a tear threatening to leak from them.

"What now?" she asked.

Caduceus just looked at the newspaper grimly, his hooves crossed.

"We'll wait for Stellar, I guess."

"Maybe he'll know what to do."

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Caper held his breath, looking at the flickering flames before him.

The embers danced frivolously in its stone hearth as the magician patiently waited, his hooves tapping against the carpeted floor in a rhythmic beat.

He was in one of the many abandoned apartments in Growlett Avenue; the lane infamous for its shady inhabitants and cutthroat killers. The derelict structure only made him glance around in uncertainty, unsure of why he was requested to come here in the first place.

The sniper resting beside him gleamed deviously, intimidating the black stallion, who just gave it a grimace.

Without hesitation, Caper snapped the barrel off, the turmoil in his heart trying to break free. He looked down his hoof, trying to picture the mare's happy smile in his head.

A loud, diffident knock spurred him out of it, immediately responding:

"Come in."

With a creak of the door, Dresden stepped into the room, his razor-like gaze locked onto the stallion.

In his hoof was a pistol; one of the oldest he had ever seen. Caper could only look blankly into black barrel, the other pony raising it straight into his head.

"Give me a reason why I won't kill you, Caper."

The black stallion let out a breaking laugh.

"How long was it, Dres?"

"Too long," the cyan pony replied.

The foreboding silence stilled any movement, the two old friends gazing into each other's eyes, their pupils ignited with a flare of rivalry.

"What the heck were you thinking?" Dresden finally spoke, albeit coldly.

"I'm just doing my job, Dres."

"You told me you stopped!" he could only exclaim in disbelief.

"You. Told. Me! That you would never pull the trigger again!"

"Look, I was forced to, alright?"

The black stallion clenched his hooves as he stood up, his friend backing down a little, though the gun was still pointed towards him.

"If I hadn't done it, I would have been dead by now!"

"And Gypsum wouldn't!"

Dresden's loud outburst only made the magician flinch, the witch doctor continuing his shouts:

"You don't know what you've just done, did you? You really don't!"

"What?"

Caper could only tilt his head in bewilderment and confusion, his friend's face contorting into disgust.

"I know she's a Palgiot, but isn't that it? There shouldn't be anything more to it, is there?"

Withdrawing the pistol, the cyan stallion sighed.

"Look. You've not only killed one of my friends, but you had just ruined the lives of many ponies."

"You think I wanted to do it? I was forced to!"

"Nopony would ever believe that story," Dresden clarified.

"You're lucky I'm here."

The magician's ears perked at his friend's reply, the straining pressure in his head beginning to diminish.

"So you believe me?"

"I do, but I have request to make."

The witch doctor tossed something into the air, the object glinting as it whizzed across the room, before Caper caught it, examining its round, metallic surface carefully.

It was a silver dime, one side bearing the picture of a dove, the other a set of cards, the top being an ace of spades.

He could only gawk at it, unable to believe what he was looking at.

"This is..."

"Our first job, remember?" Dresden reminded, the noticeable tang of nostalgia flowing through their heads.

"The Canterlot Museum Heist, eight years ago. We stole a lot of stuff, didn't we?"

Caper could only give a blank nod, prompting his friend to continue:

"The set of coins we stole; the ones minted back when the princess first took the throne? I re-modified two of those two years ago, making them into what you're looking at right now."

The witch doctor held up his hoof, an exact copy of the dime resting in it.

"It's only a simple request, Caper."

There was a sigh, before the black stallion asked:

"What is it?"

"Lay low. Be silent. Don't do anything stupid, especially that conjuration spell you had recently learned."

Dresden's serious tone made his friend hold his breath, glancing back at the coin in his hoof.

"I'll try to figure out who would want you to murder Gypsum, alright?" the witch doctor continued.

"That is all."

Earning a discerning nod from his friend, the cyan stallion flipped his coin, Caper doing the same.

Both friends caught the other's coins, signifying their promise; an oath they had to keep.

The magician smiled. It became a sort of custom to exchange coins once in a while, especially in tough, grievous situations such as this.

"I don't know what to do without you, Dres."

His friend just scoffed, wrinkling his snout.

"Just remember," he warned, his gun still glinting in his hoof.

"If you ever do something stupid, I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet through your head."

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"Charter?"

Primrose's voice broke him out of his thoughts, the stallion nearly stumbling over.

"Huh? What is it?"

The caramel mare tried not to giggle.

"Seriously," she answered. "You've been straying away from stuff lately."

The pegasus merely laughed at her comment, though his wings ruffled up in plaintive sorrow.

The two Voyagers were cantering down the modest, garden-like lane of Standard & Dale, admiring the simplicity and delicacy of it. Unlike most of Pendant Lakes, the houses were built upon lush pastures of grass, with trees overhead already shedding their leaves of red, orange and yellow across the path.

Charter's sigh made Primrose turned, the mare couldn't help but asking:

"What's bothering you lately?"

"I..." he began, before saying:

"It's nothing, really."

"Nothing? Come on, Charter."

The caramel mare spotted a flicker in his eyes, which only made her shake her head in disapproval.

"I think all of us want to know what's up with you."

"I... just need some time to recuperate, that's all."

"Is it... Gypsum?"

That question earned her a dejected look from the pegasus, who turned away from the mare.

"We all miss her, Charter," she told him, holding his hooves.

"All of us."

"She's gone..."

Charter's voice trailed off, the pegasus staring blankly at the sky.

It was clear, with nearly no trace of clouds in sight, though he could only see a melancholic blur of gray, his depressive heart throbbing with a flurry of need. A small tear crawled down his cheek, tingling the fine hairs across it, which only made Primrose look in surprise.

Charter Freewings - esteemed authority figure and presumed leader of the Voyager Six - was crying.

"Come on," Primrose nudged her friend, who only sniffled.

"There's something else, isn't there?"

There was a nod from the stallion, who looked ahead into the twisting paths beyond him.

The serenity of falling leaves and little chirps of nightingales made him relax his shoulders, the pegasus finally admitting with a coveted mumble:

"I love her."

The caramel mare could only looked at the floor, trying to think of what to say.

"Well..." she finally blurted out, "did you tell her about that?"

"There was one time, back in Fenderville."

Charter started to smile. A warm, welcoming, nostalgic smile.

"It was down by Rattleraw Forest. She wanted to have a walk with me, you know? To talk about the things that had happened ever since we left Canterlot."

"And?" Primrose prodded forward.

"What did she say?"

"She was scared," he replied.

"She was afraid that we would fall into some deep end we could never get out from, after seeing Pinkie buried alive like that. It wasn't like her to be afraid of something, so I had to know why."

"She said we might never return to Canterlot."

The pegasus's words shivered from his mouth, his friend only able to gaze at him as he spoke:

"She had many plans and places she wanted to go..."

Then, Charter let out a deep chuckle, the mare looking on, perplexed.

"What is it?" she asked.

"She wanted me to come along with her."

There was a warm aura around the two, of convenience and sentimental yearning. Primrose giggled, watching the pegasus start to blush with a hint of passion.

"And?"

"We... kissed..."

The caramel mare laughed softly, her voice soothing the sensations erupting in Charter's head, who could only grin sheepishly at his friend.

"That's it?" the mare teased. "Only one kiss? No more lovey-dovey after that?"

"We tried to keep it a secret, though I have to admit it's hard to not try to spare some time alone together, away from you bunch of ponies."

Both of them laughed, their manes swirling in the autumn breeze with leaves brushing the sides of their hooves, scattering across the pavement. The houses watched the two friends, the windows sparkling as if listening attentively to the conversation.

"She wanted to spend her life with me," the pegasus continued, his voice faltering.

"Spend the rest of her life..."

"Come on, Charter."

Primrose watched as the pegasus folded his wings again, his eyes clenched shut with his head raised at the wall of depression toppling over his body, illuminated in the light sifting from the branches.

"If she were alive, she wouldn't want to see you like this."

"She would've want you to be the Charter Freewings we all know and like," she continued.

"The justice-seeking, hardworking, loyal friend of ours! Always wearing that disgruntled little grumpy frown on his face!"

In response, Charter rolled his eyes with meek sarcasm, making Primrose giggle.

"See? That's the Charter we know!"

"Alright, alright," the pegasus finally sighed, though his dejection was still evident on his face.

"But still..."

"If I were you," the mare cut in before he could ramble on.

"I would finish what she wanted us to do. I would continue her legacy and forever embrace her ways. Won't she be happy if she had seen you done that?"

There was a hesitant nod, before Primrose grabbed his hoof.

"Then let's go! Foster Archives is just around the bend!"

Charter finally smiled a genuine smile, nearly stumbling over as they galloped down the snake-like path.

The crunch of leaves with every step made him feel lighter, his heart lifted out of his depression. Gypsum's bright-green smile lit up in his head once more, the memory of it making his grin even wider.

He wanted to prance, the urge to strike up a song stirring in his head, though he held back; he has his limits after all.

Yet it was so tempting. The enthusiasm the light green mare always showed, the fearless, bountiful look on her shining smile... it was priceless to him.

"Gypsum..." he muttered, continuing down the path.

"I'll always remember you."

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"Porte Aperte."

The stone wall crumbled, the circular block of granite finally giving way as it rose from the cement passageway, the dust on its surface tottered off with the seams of light finally penetrating into the corridor.

Winter Palgiot squinted his eyes, his hoof shielding from the sudden blind of white with every step into the room, basking in the mellow flare of the afternoon sun.

He was in the Armor Room, more affectionately known as the Coltello Wing, named after one of their ancestors. Everything was polished to perfection, gleaming as if they were made the day before. The halberds and lances glinted menacingly in their racks, with some gripped in the metallic fingers of the sentinels of armor standing amidst the grand array of weapons hanging all around.

Slowly but surely, the Patriarch trotted out of the room through the door, hearing the unmistakable sound of the stone circle grinding back behind him, sealing the passage once more.

The network of corridors before him branched out, forming a seemingly endless trail of red velvet. The stallion himself could only stare at the puzzling hallways, despite already being the proclaimed leader of the palace itself.

His intentions started to haze, only making him trot towards the left. A few turns and bends around the corners only added into his frustration and annoyance, before his ears perked up.

Winter strained his neck, the faint sound mingling in his head. It sounded familiar...

There was it again! A sniffle.

The Patriarch crept closer to the sound. He heard it a few times before, and that tingling feeling in his hooves made him certain of the source of that.

Pinkie...

The pink mare, according to Harmony, had been avoiding the Voyagers ever since Gypsum was shot. She was in a state of devastation, always on her escapades of seeking solace around the palace.

Today, as he found out while he trotted around the bend, was worse.

There she was, standing at the ledge of the terrace, her tears surging down from her tightly-closed eyes, her teeth grinding in the darkest despair. One of her tears flew from her face from the wind blowing across her curtain of a mane, falling freely into the plunges of the rocks below.

Winter could only stare in utter shock, the mare beginning to move her hoof before he called out:

"Miss Pinkie! What are you doing?!"

Before she could let herself plummet down into the depths of the mountain, Pinkie felt a strong set of hooves wrap around her, dragging her back down to the carpeted corridor.

"LET ME GO!!" she screamed, flinging her hooves about. "LET ME GO!!"

"I won't let you do this!" the stallion shouted back, as if insulted.

"None of your friends want to see you do it!"

"She's GONE!! IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT! IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT!!"

"PINKIE!!" Winter yelled, silencing the mare immediately, who only look in shock.

"Listen to yourself! You think I would let you jump to your death just because of this?"

"I-"

"I'm not going to let you go like this!" the Patriarch cut in before she could speak.

"I'm not just going to see you drop down to your death, Pinkie! You're not going to die, and I'll make sure you won't!"

"W-Winter..."

Pinkie's voice trembled timidly before the powerful demands of the stallion, who only glared with disapproval.

"I... but... G-Gyps..."

"Gypsum might be my cousin, but that doesn't mean I have to die for her!"

Winter suddenly held his voice, his eyes widening, before he said:

"Just... go to your room..."

"But..."

"Enough, Pinkie," he brushed it off.

"It's either you talk to them about everything. Reconcile with them and-"

A loud smack brazened his left cheek, making him yelp in pain.

The Patriarch rubbed his sore face, unable to contemplate at what happened while Pinkie just stood there, her hoof raised and her face twisted into a dark grimace.

In a moment, she left, leaving the confused stallion behind as she marched off in a huff, the slap she gave him making her message loud and clear to him:

"Buck forgiveness."

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"Well?"

Primrose and Charter stood, facing the black, mahogany door standing before them, a golden knocker screwed into the center with brass letters that spell out the name of the location:

FOSTER

The building was brick-walled, with the occasional ivy strangling across a portion of it. A small flight of stone stairs lead up to the black door, the only small source of light being the flicker of a flame lighted in an iron oil lamp jutting out from the sides of the wall.

The caramel mare turned to her friend, who only stared blankly at the knocker with uncertainty.

"Knock the door!"

"What?" Charter could only respond.

"Knock the door!" Primrose repeated.

"We can't just stay around outside all afternoon, can't we?"

The stallion couldn't help but comply, pounding the handle onto the surface of wood.

There were a few clicks and snaps from the other side, before the mahogany door creaked open, unveiling the pony standing behind the door.

Like Primrose, she was brown in color, although a slightly darker shade of it. Her mane was swirly, reminiscent of the waves on the ocean, with one or two uneven strands sticking out of it. Her reading glasses were tilted down, the mare looking down upon the two Voyagers without any trace of emotion around her face.

"What is it?" she asked, almost as if annoyed.

"Uh... Miss?" Charter tried.

"We're here to make a request."

The mare just raised her eyebrow skeptically.

"And?"

"We want to have a search through your archives, if that is alright," Primrose stated, trying her best to smile.

"One of our friends said she had good connections with the bookkeeper here, and insisted that we should come here to gain some information on the Palgiot family-"

"That information is forbidden. Strictly confidential."

The two Voyagers just blinked in surprise at her response.

"But Miss," Charter began. "Our friend..."

"What about this friend of yours?"

The mare craned her neck, her eyebrow still raised as she glanced around the quaint neighborhood, almost as if out of pure sarcasm.

"I don't really see her here, don't I?"

"That's because she had passed away a few days ago, Miss."

"Hold on," the mare suddenly spoke in surprise.

"A few days ago, huh? What was her name?"

"Gypsum," Primrose answered. "Gypsum Palgiot."

"Gypsum... You're both friends with Gypsum?"

The two of them nodded, making the mare look in disbelief.

"Well, I... oh, where's my manners... Come inside!"

Both Charter and Primrose let out a quiet, relieved sigh, as the two of them stepped into the orphanage, their hooves instantly transitioning from the cold surface of stone into the smooth panels of wood.

"I believe I haven't officially introduced myself," the mare spoke up.

"The name's Persimmon. Persimmon Mills."

"Persimmon, eh? My name's Primrose."

The mare then beckoned to the pegasus, who gave a warm grin.

"This here is Charter."

"Well, Miss Primrose and Mr. Charter, you've arrived at a dire time."

The brown mare lead them down the narrow corridor, past the large set of oak stairs. Her hoof reached for the fifth knob on the right, before clicking it open.

"The children here all love Gypsum. She was an orphan herself, don't you know?"

"Really?" Charter said in disbelief.

"Parents passed away in a train accident when she was two. She was taken in by Harrow Palgiot, whose brother, Tantrum Palgiot, was still Patriarch then. They were very close, though she has her discrepancies with him, especially those when she said she wanted to see the world."

Persimmon held her breath, her body shivering with remorse.

"She used to sneak out of the palace just to come here; to listen to a few bedtime stories. I always had to tuck her into bed, only to bring her back into the palace the next day."

Primrose could only shake her head.

"I... I don't understand. Why didn't she tell us?"

"She's still a Palgiot," the older mare replied bluntly.

"And the family are best at keeping secrets."

A small filly suddenly pounced from behind, nearly making the Voyagers jump back in surprise.

"Mrs. Persimmon! Mrs. Persimmon!" she cried gleefully.

"Yes, Gracia dear?"

"Are you gonna finish Dragonheart tonight, Mrs. Persimmon?"

The little filly scrunch her lips up, her eyes shimmering, pleading for an answer.

"Of course I would," she replied, earning a jubilant gasp from the filly.

"Now run along! I have guests to attend to!"

Primrose watched with enthusiastic tenderness as Gracia quickly galloped off into the garden, screeching happily in some sort of celebration, reuniting with her fellow foals, who were busy tossing heaps of leaves around.

"You really care for them, don't you?"

Persimmon chuckled, glancing at the playing children outside.

"I was an orphan myself," she said, earning a surprised look from the other two ponies.

"I lived in this orphanage until I was old enough to write a book. Dragonheart was one of my earlier works, and the children here just adore it."

"You're an author?" Charter asked.

"It was my lifelong dream, along with having a family of my own of course."

The pegasus could see her hesitance at the mention of family, before continuing on through the open doors.

"The archives are at the back room. Shelf Five, top rack."

"Thank you, Mrs. Persimmon."

"Please," she said with a soft laugh.

"Just call me Persimmon."

The two Voyagers smiled, with Primrose already headed through the door.

Before Charter could follow, the pegasus felt a tug at his hooves, prompting him to turn back to Persimmon, who gave a somewhat sad smile.

"Gypsum told me about you."

The stallion could only blink in surprise.

"Well... uh... what did she say?"

"She said you were special," Persimmon answered, giggling at the blush forming around the pegasus's cheeks.

"She asked me to give you something, just in case she wasn't there to give it herself."

Lifting his hoof up, the mare placed a golden object in his hoof, only making Charter gasp silently in disbelief.

It was a badge, plated in a glistening gold. The usual star was carved onto it, along with two giant, alicorn-like wings sprouting out from its sides.

At the bottom was a plated scroll, unfurled with black, ornate words neatly carved inside it.

Vivre Votre Vie

"Live your life..." Charter mumbled its translation.

"I... I don't know what to say..."

"She really loves you, Mr. Charter," Persimmon said, following his gaze at the glistening badge.

The mare suddenly cupped his hooves, the pegasus's glance diverted onto her hopeful face.

"Don't ever forget about her, okay?"

Charter started to sniffle, the old mare wiping off a single tear from his cheek.

He clutched the badge tightly into his chest, remembering the trademark dance moves and giggles she used to make, which soothed his heart in a bath of warmth.

"I will."

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Present Day

"Welcome to the Winter Festival Ball!"

Stellar's repetitive bow and introductions made him groan under his breath, looking at the endless amount of carriages traversing up and down the mountain path.

Tonight was the big night. Every single pony from Pendant Lakes was invited up to the palace at the request of the Patriarch, basically to honor the town once more.

"Caduceus, you lucky bastard..." he mumbled quietly with spite. His friend should be somewhere in the Coltello Wing, barking out orders for the numerous guards and officers to prepare all the weapons, just in case Mirror Mare dared to strike during the occasion.

Not to mention how vulnerable the Patriarch would be.

The butler turned back, glancing at the tall structure of the palace before him. He could picture the hallways shifting and moving about within, flowing endlessly and seamlessly under a string of magic.

Winter stood at the window, his horn flaring a brilliant blue with his Cutie Mark shining in sheer white. The stallion gazed down, giving a nod to Stellar, who returned one immediately.

Without hesitation, he passed another invitation, repeating the lines once more:

"Welcome to the Winter Festival Ball!"

The guards at the gate stood stalwartly, observing the line of ponies passing through. Their spears were held high, pointing towards the transparent barrier surrounding the town, unbeknownst to the town's citizens.

The shimmering stars of the night sky mesmerized him, the butler letting out a sigh, before glancing back at the ascending ponies from the gates.

"Welcome to the-"

He stopped short, looking at the two mares before him.

There was a certain aura surrounding the pair, making his ears twitch with a slight sense of confusion. A small gear whirred in his head, before clicking into place with realization.

The white one just raised an eyebrow, before flashing out a cunning smile.

"Princess Celes-"

"Be quiet!" she hissed, glancing around.

Everypony else was still chattering or in the midst of entering the palace, making the two mares sigh with relief.

"Nopony must know of us here."

"What are you doing here, my Princesses?" he could only ask.

"We're here to oversee that everything runs smoothly," the dark blue mare answered, the butler recognizing her from her voice as Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night.

"Where are the rest?"

"Library, my Princesses," Stellar said in a hushed whisper.

"They're being led by the Oracle."

"Good," Princess Celestia, or the white mare that she was, replied.

The two mares glanced up at the palace, before the other mare started to wrinkle her snout.

"I sense magic."

"Dimensional magic," the butler quickly explained.

"The Patriarch had placed it in order to delay the arrival of Mirror Mare, to keep them safe in their dimensional sleep while the hallways shift endlessly as long as the magic lasts."

"But won't that-"

"He will try to fend them off from her as long as possible," Stellar interrupted.

"He understands the consequences of such, and will abide by the curse."

"I... I can't really..."

Princess Luna was left speechless, glancing back at the palace again. It seemed to loom over them, the structure rising up into the bright expanse of the night, glimmering in its afterglow.

"He was willing to do it?"

Princess Celestia just nodded at her sister, looking up at the palace with her.

"Ponies change, don't they?"

"This way."

Stellar ushered them towards the door, leading down the wide, stone path towards the magnificent, marble gates of the palace, beckoning the guards to open them.

He trembled nervously, mostly at the two alicorns behind him, transformed into Earth ponies with a whisk of magic. It seemed unreal that both Princesses were here, but it was necessary.

"Winter..." his voice echoed in his head, calling out to the absent stallion.

"Hang in there, my Patriarch..."

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"Kane..."

Applejack just looked toward the sky, the mental picture of the dragon glistening in her head.

His so-called confession had practically shocked the ministry, who was in the midst of rushing about. The reptilian colossus himself was still chained back in the Princess's bedroom, though he doesn't seem to mind.

The orange mare chuckled. That dirty little dragon.

She was in the meadow, just close by the gates of Canterlot with her brother and Fluttershy, watching the Cutie Mark Crusaders chasing each other around the endless carpet of green.

"So," she began, turning to her brother.

"Ah was wonderin', Macintosh... about Kane and Ah..."

The red stallion just smiled.

"Ya know it doesn't matter who ya with. All that matters is that ya happy, alright?"

Applejack started to grin, hugging her brother tightly.

"Thank you."

They watched warmly as Apple Bloom giggled, with Scootaloo tossing a little dirt towards her. Sweetie Belle watched with a smile, but quickly darted away, the dirt narrowly missing her tail with her face contorted into disgust.

"She's startin' to be like her sister, ain't she?" Big Mac commented, earning a nod from his sister.

Fluttershy suddenly tensed up beside them, her face turning pale with her hoof covering her mouth. Her wings suddenly ruffle up, much to everypony else's surprise, before she started to race away.

"Um... I... urgh.... gotta go!"

"Fluttershy?" Applejack called out to her friend, who was already halfway towards the palace.

"Fluttershy! Wait!"

The orange mare kicked her hooves, galloping after her friend and leaving her brother and the fillies look in bewilderment.

She raced through the meadow, hastening past the paths of the royal city, before reaching the alicorns' abode, catching a glimpse of yellow blur fluttering through the flapping doors of the washroom.

With a tilt of her hat, she quickly followed after the pegasus, the blue door flapping open once more.

There was Fluttershy, clutching at the edge of her seat, her other hoof gripping tightly at her abdomen. Her mouth hung open with the tap running, washing the regurgitation down the black abyss of the sink.

The pegasus almost jumped back in surprise as she spotted the orange mare, who only crept closer with a question:

"Ya 'kay, sugarcube?"

"I... I don't know..."

Her stomach started to gurgle, prompting her to crane her neck back into the sink again.

Applejack looked away, hearing the retching sounds of her friend with abhorrence. She held back her gasp, trying her best not to throw up as well.

"Fl-Fluttershy?" she called, her voice trembling once her friend had finished, her breath reduced to constant pants.

"Ya alright now?"

"It's a-alright... or... the doctor said it was..."

Fluttershy forced out a smile, though her friend could see the uncertainty behind it.

"The doctor said... well... he said it's... um... normal at this time..."

"What time?"

The pegasus suddenly cupped her friend's hooves.

"Promise you won't tell Mac about this?" she begged, her eyes glistening.

"Well.... Ah... um.."

"Please...?"

Applejack just blinked at her friend, before letting out a sigh.

"Alright. But it must be reasonable."

Fluttershy let out a squeal of delight, though the orange mare just rolled her eyes.

She beckoned Applejack to lean closer, whispering in her ear:

"I'm... uh..."

"You're what now?"

"I'm...." she held her breath.

"I'm......" the pegasus finished with a small squeak, before clenching her eyes shut.

Applejack just raised an eyebrow, her ears starting to strain.

"Can ya repeat that? Even louder this time?"

"I'm...! Uh.... I'm....... "

Another inaudible mutter.

"What?"

Fluttershy felt like smacking herself.

"Applejack's your friend, for Celestia's sake!" her inner voice shrilled.

"You can trust her!"

She sighed in defeat, before finally saying it out, making the orange mare jump back in surprise, before letting out a nervous, sheepish chuckle.

"Oh, Fluttershy!" she exclaimed nervously.

"You're always good with jokes and... Ah... well... what was that bit again?"

The pegasus let out a groan, her stomach working up a storm in response.

"I'm going to say this one last time...." she replied, holding back a scowl.

"I'm............ pregnant."

Voyager's Arc: Tempus Fractura

The crumpling paper bag in his jaws finally tore open, as Charter Freewings reached his hoof inside, already licking his lips to the strong, tempting smell wafting into his nostrils.

Primrose was already chewing gleefully on the lettuce sandwich of her own, topped with mayonnaise and - as an addition of her own - a sprinkle of shredded basil, parsley and thyme.

The two Voyagers were in the library of the orphanage, having failed to discover anything after rummaging through half of the archives. They were already into the other half, with stacked folders and mottled books already piled across the table, their search only halted by their little lunch break.

The pegasus held up his own snack, his stomach letting out a gurgle as he grimaced at the sight in his hooves.

Instead of the similar, solid sandwich in his friend's hoof, there was a slop of mashed bread and white goop, which was now dripping down to the floor.

Primrose couldn't help but burst out in laughter, which only made the stallion furrow his brows.

"T-Told you that you shouldn't fly with that b-bag in your mouth!" she exclaimed, before continuing to laugh.

"Whatever..." Charter just muttered, rolling his eyes. He frantically shook his hooves, yet the mayonnaise still clung onto him like a white mix of glue, dripping slowly onto the floor.

"At least get me a darn tissue?" the stallion asked wryly, prompting the mare to reach towards the side.

"You're lucky I bought two!" Primrose said, handing another of the paper bags.

"And you're lucky the town actually have takeaways!"

"For an old town, pretty impressive I guess."

The pegasus remembered their futile attempts to find one back in Fenderville, due to their constant engagements in their research and adventures. He had to stop an argument between Dresden and a few waiters as a result, the thought of it only making him groan under his breath.

"Now then," he said, reaching into the paper bag.

"Where did we stop?"

"This one," the caramel mare answered, sliding one of the older, thicker books towards him.

"Fedora's journals."

"Right..."

Charter glanced at the archaic logbook before him with a sigh, already weary just by glancing at the thickness of the volume behind the tearing covers.

He placed his badge: the most treasured item of his, onto the table, glancing at the engraved words once more; the ones that were frozen stiff in his head, residing with the unforgettable memories of its original owner.

Without any more hesitation, he flipped the latch open, his hooves shifting amidst the black, cursive words on the yellowed pages.

The pegasus tried not to grimace at the sight of it: it was all theories, laws and the most interesting being historical drafts and reports with defiant, red circles standing among the grand wall of words.

"Charter?" Primrose suddenly said, snapping him out of his lethargic search.

"Is there any mention of this in Fedora's notes?"

"Mention of what?"

"Tempus Fractura," the mare answered, prompting the stallion to quickly look back down.

Scanning throughout the pages, he finally spotted it; the pair of words scrawled with two ugly lines and circled twice with a few red exclamation marks popping at its end.

"Got it here," Charter instantly replied.

"What's the matter?"

"Apparently, I stumbled upon this yesterday," she explained, "when I was going through Flair's notebook."

"I thought it might just be one of their random scribbles, until I found it again in Palladium's notebook, along with Ochre's log. I don't think it was just a mere coincidence that these four ponies just somehow wrote down the same thing in each of their generations."

Reaching for another pair of dusted books, the pegasus quickly flipped through them, before seeing the words scrawled on each of the pages the books had held within.

"Evanescence wrote it down here as well..." he muttered, before glancing towards the other book.

"As well as Pendulum..."

"What does it mean?" Primrose asked worriedly.

Charter held his breath, the translation of the words already stirring up a storm of confusion in his head.

"Literally," he finally spoke, though with a quiver.

"It means 'broken time'."

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"And shalt the salve of one be tempted to flourish in another, he cried. And shalt undo the faults of the Sun and the Moon, as shalt he rise in the form of an angel, bringing the word unto the beginning of Existence herself."

Harmony Peridot glanced at the crinkled pages, partially confused, partially intrigued.

Venturing only into the first few pages of the book, and she was already enlightened by what it had said. The pink unicorn was already halfway through it, carefully flipping each page as her hooves tensed with anticipation, her eyes quickly glinting at the sight as she read out the first word:

"Power-"

A knock on the door stopped her, making her hastily shove the old book under the blankets.

Winter Palgiot stepped in with a beaming smile, his horn glowing with a silvery tray hovering just right behind him, settling it neatly onto the trunk in front of her bed.

"Morning, sleepyhead," he teased with a grin, already pouring the mare a small cup of warm tea.

"I assume you had a rough night?"

"Rougher than yours," she merely replied, the couple laughing softly.

"And I see you're being a gentlecolt today."

"Maple syrup ran out, though. You'll have to enjoy the pancakes without them."

Despite his words, Winter watched his marefriend lick her lips hungrily, already busy carving into the crusted surface. The sweet flavors of butter and crunchy firmness of bread mixed in her mouth, her lips quivering at the perfection, only fueling to her desire for more.

"Mmm..." she muttered, her jaws busily chewing into the bread.

"It's not bad, even without the syrup."

"Well, I'm glad you like it, Harmony," the stallion replied beatifically.

"I'm sure you came up here other than to serve me breakfast."

"Yeah... about that..."

Winter scratched his mane sheepishly, the pink unicorn silently sipping on her tea as he asked:

"I was wondering that since you're free..."

Harmony nearly choked on her tea, her ears stopping at the words.

Her heart leaped with excitement; maybe he was going to take her to see the ruins! She could only imagine what might be hidden in there, maybe some secret that would astound the laws of time and space itself!

"What is it?" she replied, trying her best to hide her trembling anticipation.

"You see..." he began, but stopped, twiddling his hooves.

"I'm not really sure... but you could call it a sort of invitation..."

"And?"

"I was wondering if you and I..."

She tried to control her hooves, which were already pattering and rattling with enthusiasm.

"Come on... just ask him to spit it out!" her inner voice demanded, though she knew better than to scream at the stallion for something just like that. He's just nervous, that's all!

"... would like to take Spring to the beach today!"

All the stirring excitement in her head stopped, extinguished by a shower of stale realization. Harmony still held her wide grin, though the disappointment in her face was threatening to leak at any moment.

"Oh...!" she finally exclaimed with her sheepish laugh after a moment of silent gazing.

"Take her... to the beach.... that would be... um..."

"Fun, ain't it?" Winter finished her sentence, unaware of his blunder.

"You know how Spring enjoys your company when we take her to the beach. There'll be so many things that she wants to talk about with you, especially since it's been awhile the both of you had gone out together..."

Harmony held his breath, the stallion's voice already droning in his head.

Why wouldn't he tell her about the ruins below the town? She's his marefriend, for Celestia's sake! Can't he trust her with any information such as that?

"Um... Winter?"

"...and then maybe... yes, Harmony?"

"I... I think I have to decline today," she said, trying not to sigh with relief. She watched as Winter's face contorted into first of confusion, then of skepticism, before finishing off with a smile.

"I understand," the Patriarch said, though the tone of disappointment underlying his voice only made her stop, his shoulders drooping and his lips trembling as he continued:

"You... need some time to recover from Gypsum's death, I see."

"But-"

"It's okay. I won't bother you."

His soft, gentle tone somewhat reassured her, yet her heart twinged with guilt at the same time.

"I'll ask Autumn to accompany me instead, then."

Before she could reply, the stallion quickly excused himself without any further words, stepping out of the room.

Harmony scolded herself, yet a part of her blamed Winter for her sudden denial. The Patriarch might have known of the ruins way before they even arrived, seeing how there's an actual passage down into the stone junction under the palace.

A part of her wanted her to venture back down into the ruins again, though the more tempting hands from the book under her blanket wiped out any thoughts of them.

The pink unicorn plopped herself onto the bed, pulling out the book from the sheets. She held her breath, quickly flipping the pages as she continued to read:

"Power is but an illusion. A world of broken societies. Thou shalt said both Sun and Moon flourish in harmony, yet unaware of the clear segregation of both upper and lower classes."

"Such is the situation of Equestria itself.."

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"Here it is!"

Primrose's proclamation immediately made Charter slide towards her, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Axle's diary," the caramel mare explained, the two glancing at the wall of intricate words before them.

"Says here he proposed the theory of Tempus Fractura, which stated that in each second of time..."

"There is an event that will be justified by only a small action," the pegasus continued.

"Thus it might drastically affect the future in ways we might never imagine. For example, one small gander at the world might lead to something more than just it; it may influence on a pony's mind."

"So he's saying that something as small as reading his journal," Primrose questioned skeptically.

"Would change Equestria as we know it?"

"I guess so," her friend replied, almost as if in disbelief.

"You have to say, though, it might be true."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it: if Princess Celestia did not banish her sister to the moon, if Pinkie's parents weren't shot down, if Tourist did not invite us into his hotel... these things might've changed how our journeys went by."

Charter wanted to continue, though his eyes were caught by the words on the other page.

"Hang on..."

"What is it?" Primrose asked, quickly following his glance.

"Listen to this," he beckoned, before reading out:

"One main source of Tempus Fractura is Calormor; the apex distinction of both past and future. It is the grand undergrowth that would suspend the infinity of seasons and one I hope would never be discovered by the Princess herself, lest it would implode for the continuum of time itself."

"So this was what they were suspecting?" the caramel mare asked.

"This is why we're here? This... 'Calormor' thing?"

"I'm not sure, but I suspect there might be more to it."

Charter held up the book, scanning through the endless scrawl of words, before finally landing on a more satisfactory sentence.

"He said: I hereby pass the four Gates of the legion to my successors, and thus built upon these structures of ruin anew; to conceal it from the innocent eyes of the ponies and nevermore be revealed to the outside world."

"Boy, this Axle fellow sure is a shady guy, isn't he?" Primrose commented with a scoff.

The pegasus ignored it, stifling only a small laugh as he continued:

"These places have been proposed as such, and are listed as follows: the North, Palgiot Palace..."

"He didn't say which part of the palace?"

"Never did, I guess..." Charter replied with a shrug, before moving on:

"the East, Medella Hospital..."

"Demolished many decades ago," the mare added.

"Where Fountain Square was situated right now."

"the South, Academia Nox - which was the academy for the obsolete assassination group hired by the Palgiots, Sicarius Nox - and lastly, the West..."

He stopped short, only being able to stare in disbelief at the words before him, as if they were laughing mockingly into his face. His heart thumped with bewilderment, his head thrown into a state of cynicism.

"Foster Grande Orphanage."

"Wait," Primrose halted, letting the wave of confusion hit her as well.

"You mean this Foster Orphanage?"

"Come to think of it, yes."

Charter ruffled his wings, looking at the vintage, luxuriously serene structure around, with bookshelves lining up nearly every inch of available space, the pathways between them thin as a tightrope between the looming structures of musty paper and creaking wood.

"It seems one of these so-called 'Gates' to Calormor is right here, right now."

Then, he spotted it.

Near one of the walls, an outcast to the crowd of bookcases all around, was a cupboard, with one door open to reveal the hanging coats and few books littered in the insides.

His attention, however, was focused onto the panel on its very tip. The slightly slanting position of it only made him raise his eyebrow in suspicion, prompting him to stride towards it.

With a flap of his brown wings, the pegasus flew himself gently towards the panel, giving it a knock.

A loud 'thump' in response scattered the dust from the cracks, as was the slight creak of the panel, which only made him glance at it in suspicion.

"It's hollow," he concluded.

"Well, go on!" Primrose beckoned impatiently.

"Open it, then!"

Without hesitation, Charter did so, before he stared into the face of cold rock.

It was smooth and white, almost as if gleaming if not for the cluster of carved inscriptions aligned all around. At the center of it was a small handle in the shape of a bronze bull, its brown eyes furious with a glare at the giant ring hanging from his nostrils.

The pegasus waited for it to come alive any moment, before giving the ring a small tug.

There was a metallic snap, making the two Voyagers turn, before the sound of sliding wood and a click made them glance back.

Instead of the wooden back of the cupboard, there was now a black space of emptiness, with musty air rushing out from it. The books leaning against what was once the wooden panel had now toppled over into the passage, scattering a grandeur pile of dust freely into the afternoon sunlight sifting through the windows.

"I don't believe it..." Primrose could only respond.

Charter could only nod as well, glancing into the black corridor.

He bit his lip with doubt, having heard enough legends that would even break the kindred, vigorous spirits of the most benevolent and eldest of ponies, yet he couldn't just stand there!

"Should we go?" the stallion asked his friend. who could only give a subtle reply:

"Why not?"

With a muster of their courage, the two Voyagers stepped into the cupboard, their manes brushing against the soft, welcoming cotton of the coats hanging within.

The wood below their hooves quickly made way for the rough texture of stone, luring their curiosity into the darkness of the unknown, with fear already creeping up against the edges of their heart as the wooden panel slid back into place.

Neither spotted the pair of eyes that watched them throughout their discovery, right down to their entry into the darkness beyond.

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Pinkie hummed a tune, flailing her hooves about as she skipped merrily down one of the many corridors of Palgiot Palace, a genuine smile curling up her lips.

Her mane was the usual puffball it was again, dancing about her head like a pompom along with her tail, the strip of cotton candy eagerly flipping about.

She had made her plans, first and foremost wanting to thank Winter for his comforting words. Her heart tingled once more at the slight thought of it, only making her giggle with glee. Her stop at the stallion's room, however, was eventually fruitless; with a slight creak of the door, the only things meeting her eyes was his luxurious furniture.

"Oh well..." she muttered with a sigh, closing the door shut.

"Maybe next time!"

Next stop: Harmony's room.

The pink mare felt her hooves shiver. She had isolated herself from them for the past few days now, which only brought her uncertainty to a whole new level. How are they going to react when she finally seized the chance to talk with them, she wondered, before shaking the thought away dismissively.

She held her breath, her eyes trying not to furrow as she neared Harmony's room. Time to find out.

"Can't you just be happy for me?!"

Pinkie stopped immediately, the loud shriek of rage already clicking the gears in her head.

"Harmony..."

"Happy? Happy?!" the other voice shouted back, the pink mare recognizing it as Dresden's.

"Happy that you what? Lied to all of us?!"

"I was figuring out how to tell you guys, alright?"

"Sure! Tell us when we're all DEAD, aren't we?!!"

Her eyes widened in realization as she heard the stallion continue grudgingly:

"The Patriarch's marefriend... you betrayed our damn trust, Harmony!"

Without any second further, she hastily opened the door, just to see the two ponies glaring daggers at each other, their teeth crushing against each other with spite, their hooves clenched and ready to strike.

It wasn't long before they noticed her presence in the room, before turning around to see her look of confusion.

"Dresden?" she called him first.

"Finally decided to snap out of it, huh?" he scowled aggressively, his rude tone only making her shiver with fright.

"Just in time to listen to what this mare has to say."

"Pinkie already knew of this, Dresden!" the unicorn shot back, the cyan pony stopping in bewilderment.

"She knew it before any of you idiots did!"

Dresden furrowed his brows towards Pinkie's anxious face, evidently furious at her as well, before turning back to Harmony's jet-black stare, immediately resuming his shouting with the latter.

"You think just because you're his marefriend makes you the all-powerful mare of the house, don't you?!"

"He has his own secrets to hide, Dresden! He's hiding something from me!"

The pink unicorn's loud scream nearly made Pinkie cringe as well, who could only helplessly watch the battle of words being tossed among her two friends.

"He doesn't need to hide anything from me, won't he?! Isn't this why the Princess sent us here in the first place?!"

"JUST STOP!!"

The loud, pained shout immediately silenced the two of them, glancing back at Pinkie, who was already starting to tear up, her mane flattening once more.

"J-Just..." was what she could only say, before breaking down on the spot.

"Pinkie..." Harmony called, trying to lift the mare up, only to have her hooves pushed away.

"I'm... I'm just..."

Dresden wanted to turn away, but her friend's broken state froze his eyes - not to mention his whole body - towards her, trying to figure out how to help.

"Fine..." he finally spoke up, before turning to the unicorn.

"If you think being his marefriend helps us out, suit yourself, but what were you saying about him hiding something from you?"

The mare just grumbled, trying to quell her rage within her.

"I discovered a secret passage in the music room. It led under the palace and maybe under the town as well. I was eavesdropping on two ponies who were there, saying they, along with Winter himself, had found some sort of ruin."

"Ruin?"

"A whole city under Pendant Lakes, I believe."

Harmony's suggestion completely surprised her friends, who could only listened with rapt attention as she continued:

"I was thinking of visiting it and maybe figuring out what's so important that even that stallion couldn't tell me about. It's not like him to just hide things from me."

"Well, if you think it would be worth our whole time here..."

Dresden's voice seemed to have calmed, yet there was still the sharp, spiteful tone in it, which only bloomed when the unicorn shot him another glare.

"Then let's go."

Before anypony could reply, the cyan stallion had already stepped out of the room, leaving the two mares.

Harmony, though reluctantly, was about to follow, before turning back at her sobbing friend on the floor, feeling the trenching guilt taking over her heart.

"You coming, Pinkie?" she asked.

There wasn't a subtle reply, the pink pony only glancing at the floor.

The unicorn let out a sigh, before reaching out her hoof.

"Look, I'm sorry things got messed up, alright? I'm sorry, on Dresden's behalf as well, that we argued."

She jiggled her extended hoof once more, beckoning her friend to stand.

"Come on, Pinkie."

Pinkie glanced up at her friend, her eyes glistening with fresh tears.

She let out a sniffle, no doubt scaring Harmony a little, though her widening smile made her friend a little content, not to mention relieved as well with her soft stammer of a reply:

"A-Alright..."

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Present Day

The world of the past faded into nothingness, with Pinkie now staring at the empty expanse of the platform, floating amidst the magical swirls of the foreboding dimension.

A slight rumble shook the whole platform, though she knew it was more than just a tremor.

"Pinkie?" Rarity's voice sliced into her thoughts, sitting right beside her.

"Are you alright?"

"I think so..." she replied, her voice quivering with uncertainty.

The two friends sat there, gazing into the vast world before them while watching their friends trying to calm their emotions down, no doubt noticing the slight tremor as well.

"Rarity?"

"Yes, Pinkie dear?" the white mare replied with concern.

"Do you..." she began, before holding back, only continuing when Rarity gave her a determined nod.

"Do you think he will make it?"

"Winter?"

The white unicorn pondered for a moment, before smiling.

"That stallion's a little bit too stubborn to lose."

Both mares chuckled, their heart fulfilled with the fluffy warmth of tender disposition and serene friendship; one that the two had began to sorely miss.

Pinkie took in a huge breath, feeling the cold, tingling air of wintertime (which somewhat surprised her, considering the location they were in) rush down her lungs. Her heart throbbed with nostalgia, having watched her cinema of memories pass right before her eyes.

"It's weird... seeing all these things happen again..."

Rarity could only smile warmly at her friend's comment.

"I guess..."

Another moment of silence captivated the both mares, who fumbled around and glanced at the others.

Rainbow and Soarin' were talking to each other discreetly, the two pegasi holding each other's hooves with hope. Octavia and Crimson just sat there, their mouths shivering for a need to speak, yet their heads couldn't formulate the right words to strike up a good conversation. Twilight herself was talking to Spike, the dragon trying his best to listen attentively at her grand yet increasingly dull lecture.

Pinkie watched the white mare giggle as he rolled his eyes, scratching his scales with uncertainty. She started to smile, before finally muttering:

"You're lucky you have Spike..."

Rarity turned back in surprise at her words.

"Well..." she replied with a blush, trying not to shout out with joy.

"I'm suppose I'm flattered to have such a fine dragon like him... but what's the matter?"

The pink mare glanced back down solemnly as her friend continued:

"Isn't Winter a fine gentlecolt to you already?"

"He is!" Pinkie retorted, before quieting herself down.

"I just wish... I just wish he could spend more time with me... like Spike did with you..."

"I see."

Rarity stopped to think over her friend's words. Yes, Winter didn't spend time with Pinkie much, but he seems to make the most of it when he can, knowing of all the chaos happening around.

"Well," she could only reply, "maybe when all of this is over, he might spend some time with you."

"In Ponyville?" the pink mare asked cynically, only stopping her short.

"He's a Patriarch of Pendant Lakes. He's busy all the time, running errands around the palace while I just laze around in the town. Even if he steps down, he can't just leave everything and move to Ponyville with me, can't he? And if I move all the way here from Ponyville, how am I going to see you guys again?"

The white mare wanted to speak, though she couldn't find the suitable words in her confusion.

"I guess you might be right," she finally said with defeat, before adding:

"But you know he loves you, right?"

Pinkie just nodded, prompting her to continue:

"Then he'll be more than delighted to have even a minute of his life with you."

"But can he?"

"He would try to find a way out," Rarity said with a wink. "I know Spikey would."

The two mares stared back, the white mare a more dreamy one, at the dragon, who was being reprimanded by his self-proclaimed elder sister.

"That dragon would do anything to have some time with me."

Pinkie could only grin with a giggle, feeling a nudge at her shoulder.

"Just believe in him, Pinkie," Rarity reminded, which only made her sigh, her thoughts focusing back onto the stallion of her life: the only one that dared comfort her in her deepest, darkest rage, yet trying not to laugh at the irony of it.

"Believing in Winter Palgiot..."

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"It's easy, Harmony..."

"But I can't do it!"

"Just raise your hoof like this... almost there..."

"Winter, you're not really the best teacher of dancing, aren't you?"

"And you're not the best student either... don't give me that look!"

"Why? It's funny when you're frustrated!"

"Come on, let's try it one more time... one, two, three....

"One, two, three, one, two, three..."

Winter slid his hooves smoothly across the marble floor, sweeping it like a janitor with his virtuous firsthand knowledge of dancing in his early age, though with more impatience this time around.

He glared at his partner, who was busy muttering under her breath, her hooves raised in an unwanted connection with the stallion's, their heads stiffened up in a tango.

"Seems life has been a little nasty to you, Harmony," he stirred the mare, who grumbled with a gander at his face.

"Judging from the scars of gratitude that each of your unfortunate victims have given."

"Really?"

Harmony's horn lit up a dark red; a satanic change of the demon nesting in her.

"Neither of my victims ever touched me."

"So I assume you loved his company?"

Her frown grew into a devious grin, their hooves stomping to the beat.

"Much more than yours, I reckon."

Winter just scoffed at that, their hooves facing the other direction.

"Masochistic love. Why am I not surprised that murderers just crave their weapons being used on them?"

"Whips are more of his commodity."

She suddenly brought him closer, the Patriarch grimacing as she whispered in his ear:

"But his size... ooh~! Just how wonderfully endowed he was..."

"Way bigger than yours, even."

The stallion merely chuckled at her answer, surprisingly for the mare.

"Big, but there's nothing to it other than striking down under, is there?"

Harmony laughed at it as well, albeit coldly. Her hooves suddenly settle down as the music shifted in a Viennese waltz, prompting her to frill up her dress.

Winter straightened his bow tie, his collars slightly ruffled with impatience. He glanced at the clock, watching as time slowly ticked, being able to hear the melancholic echo of the click of gears in his head.

"Tell me," he struck a question, "would you be my marefriend if I asked you right now?"

The mare shot him a cold stare, as if wanting to snap his neck for asking that.

"You think, Winter Palgiot?"

"But of course, Diane has more fruitful tastes than yours, seeing how... eccentric you always seem to be."

The stallion's horn glowed, yet he could feel his hooves starting to weaken from the curse, his glowing Cutie Mark already fading from its radiant intensity.

"If she and you were to switch places, do you think you would still be with me?"

"I'd rather not switch places with a whore."

That comment made him let out a humph of displeasure, their hooves switching direction as they slowly strode across the center of the room once more.

"And I rather not date a slaughtering slut."

"They're in trend these days, Winter," she merely replied.

"Pinkie is, after all, one of them."

"But she has control. I have control."

With a twirl of his hooves, Harmony spun a circle, before being jerked towards her ex-coltfriend, whose face suddenly twisted into concern and worry.

"Why can't you control yourself? Why did you let this demon overtake you?"

"It freed me, Winter. It banished all my problems away."

Harmony held her breath. For some reason, her mouth was chattering, her body shuddering despite the grand crowd of dancers waltzing around them.

"It's liberation, Winter; something that you can't just gain from any part of Equestria."

"And you think working for him might benefit you as well?"

"His goals are far more powerful than mine, yet he requires my services."

There was a giggle, the mare grinning yet again.

"Even the most... sensual of them all..."

Winter ignored her statement, instead driving back to the topic.

"So he sent you only? No other ponies?"

"Well..."

Harmony scrunched her lips, as if sarcastically, before smiling at the great crowd around them, prompting the Patriarch to turn around.

"I've had invited a few adversaries..."

He glanced through the numerous faces all around, most of them busy in indistinguishable, inaudible conversations or savoring the luxuries on the platter, their lips licking hungrily.

Then, he spotted it: the few, if not, many, of the ones not fitting in the crowd.

Like Harmony before, they all wore a mask, yet with different colors, their 'cheeks' intricately decorated with some of the eye-holes designed to display various emotions. The only thing they had in common were the stitches at the lips.

No, Winter thought to himself. They couldn't be still alive. His uncle abolished the order years ago, so why are they still existing in the palace?

His eyes widened in horror, glancing about at all the innocent ponies, unaware of the gratified few lurking amidst the crowd, their blades glinting in an ever-ready position.

"Everypony here is vulnerable..." Winter thought to himself, gritting his teeth furiously yet helplessly as Harmony laughed quietly under her breath, glad to see the stallion in his breaking patience.

"Everypony here is vulnerable to the blades; the blades of an order rising back from the dead."

"The blades of Sicarius Nox."

Voyager's Arc: Fragments Of Exhibition

Dresden raised his torch, the flames burning a brilliant red as they illuminated the dark, underground crevasse they were in, revealing the stone stairs cutting down into the gloom beyond.

Harmony followed closely behind along with Pinkie, whose sniffles have stopped midway throughout the journey, her depression flipping into curiosity with every step of their descent.

The crumbling stone passage finally gave way, the three eventually reaching the junction of a platform once more. The statue in the center glared at their entrance, his frozen stance a disapproving message for them to turn back; one they would never comply with.

"So," the stallion began, turning back to the mare, who was still glancing away with spite.

"Where did you say they went?"

There was a grumble, before she beckoned her head at the doorway on their right.

The three Voyagers crept towards it, with Dresden raising his torch, surprised to see a set of stairs glancing back at him.

"You sure they took this way?" he asked Harmony, who gave a justifying nod.

"The other two passages have been blocked by stones," she added.

"This is the only possible way that they could enter the ruins, if there are any."

Holding their breaths, the ponies slowly clambered up the stone steps, ignoring the little, menacing eyes staring from the crevices in the walls. They shivered in the cold, damp air, amplified by a hollow breeze blowing right into their faces, tangling each of their manes.

The clatter of their hooves were answered with a few squeaks of mice, which scurried across the floor. Harmony only wrinkled her snout in disgust, trying her best not to accidentally step on any of the rodents.

The stairs finally came to a halt as they stepped onto a landing, the groan of wood panels protesting under their hooves. Dust scattered with each step deeper into the desolate place, the ponies examining the wreck before them.

The tables were flipped over, the chairs sprawled around the floor. Papers and tearing books filled a corner, leaking out from the shattered bookcases lying on the floor.

A loud twang from under Dresden's hooves made him look down to see it tangled amidst white, fine strings connected towards a brass frame, which was intricately designed and shaped into one half of a heart.

His attention was suddenly focused at the floor behind the neat arrangement of strings; instead of the wooden panels, there was a circular, stone edifice, with the faded, discolored carvings of the sun and moon etched neatly onto it.

"No..." he muttered to himself. "It couldn't be..."

Harmony strode towards the side of the room, glancing at the dusty tapestry hanging on the wall. Something seemed familiar about it, though she couldn't figure out what.

Her hooves slid into a mound of paper, sweeping them off to reveal the stone head of a unicorn statue, its neck shattered apart. Its eyes seemed to glisten faintly underneath the cobwebs, which only stirred her need of cognition.

"Guys?" she called to the others.

"Is it me, or does everything somehow looks so darn familiar?"

The swinging creak of the door beckoned them to step out of the room, with Pinkie being the first.

She coughed a little, the lingering dust and mustiness of the cavern tingling in her throat, before gaping in disbelief at the scene before her.

Stretching at both ends, with the floor draped over by a tattering red carpet, was a derelict hallway, garnished with shattered glass and porcelain. Rusted suits of armor laid broken apart, with the banners hanging from the ceiling eaten away with age, the remainder of them already tainted by a thick layer of fungus.

The echoing drips of water were the only sounds they can hear, their steps already muffled by the severing carpet beneath their hooves. With each step across, the aching feeling in their heads only tingled even more, with Dresden the first to tend to it.

"This place... isn't it...?"

"Yes," Pinkie replied, being the first thanks to her ingenious memory. She had always seen it as something she could cherish, with Granny Pie being the first to notice it when she was only five months old.

There was a bluejay in the sky; one of the rare few that passed over the rock farm, and the pink pony decided to paint it out using blueberry jam onto the pantry floor, much to her mother's annoyance. It wasn't until after she got her Cutie Mark that she first used it as a glorious reminder, at that time to remember that she had finally made her family smile.

This time was no different.

She glanced out the window, with Harmony and Dresden following soon after, the two only managing to gasp at the sight before them.

Down below the crumbling plateau was a grand array of structures, some of them already beginning to topple, spanning the entire stretch of the cave. The paths between them crisscrossed throughout the cave, with debris such as fallen iron lampposts and wrecked carriages blocking some of the roads.

Pinkie held her breath, still trying to understand the existence of the place they were in.

"We're in Palgiot Palace."

A loud creak suddenly sounded from below, then a deafening snap as the floor suddenly gave way under them.

"Pinkie!" Dresden shouted, watching as the mare tumbled down with a loud whimper, her hooves reaching around before clutching tightly on a wooden beam, hanging in the air.

She glanced down below, seeing the beams and plates of armor shatter at the very bottom of the abyss, before biting her lips forcefully, her grip tightening.

"Hold on, Pinkie!" Harmony shouted, quickly tying up one of the torn banners on the floor with her horn.

Another loud rumble signaled; this time the ceiling came crashing down. Shards of metal and glass fell upon them, narrowly missing their bodies.

One of the white marble columns rolled towards Pinkie, who clenched her eyes shut as it slid in a circle, falling down into oblivion with its tip just scraping at the end of her tail. Dresden clenched his jaws onto the banner, quickly heaving her up as the other Voyager galloped back into the room.

The evident grinding of stone made Harmony look in shock, her attempts of pushing the sliding door back down in vain as the passage of stairs back from where they came slid shut with a loud bang.

In response, the cobweb-covered chandelier above her suddenly snapped, then fell towards her. At that instant, the unicorn immediately jumped out of the room, the cloud of dust fleeting out with glass shards whizzing past her mane.

"What happened?" Dresden asked, the stallion and Pinkie galloping up to the mare, who lifted herself from the floor.

She shook her mane free of the glass shards trapped within, before looking back at the derelict room, trying not to spit at the floor with annoyance.

"We've just lost our way back."

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The stone door slid downwards with a click, the two ponies quickly stepping out from the dark corridor.

Charter shook his body free of the dust, before preening his wings neatly, glancing about the room they were in.

Primrose soon stumbled into him with a honk, the mare letting out a sheepish laugh as the pegasus gave her a cold stare.

"Calormor..." he began, scanning through the room.

The jumble of books, all tattered and frayed, filled the floor, the majority covered by the bookcases, toppled over and lying against each other like gigantic, wooden dominoes. One of the bookcases was smashed inwards by a stone pillar, with droplets of water dripping from the bleak hole in the roof, the slate tiles all scattered about the floor.

"...is a ruined library?"

Primrose wanted to laugh, yet disappointment overwhelmed her before she could open her mouth.

"I thought we were expecting something much better," she commented with a sigh, her friend giving a nod in agreement.

"There might be something here that we could find."

The pegasus flapped his wings hastily, hovering above the caramel mare around the dilapidated room. His eyes soon glanced at a doorway up ahead, its door already hanging off the hinges.

"There's an exit up ahead," he called back to his friend, who was busy clambering over the collapsed bookshelves.

"Maybe there's more to the cavern than what we've already saw."

"Alright then."

The steady drips of water and hollow noise of the cavern rang in their ears as the two Voyagers marched down the ruined room. They could imagine how this place once was; a thriving, peaceful solace of books with ponies of all ages sitting on the now strewn chairs and toppled tables, delving deep into their vivid fantasies with every progress of the pages.

"Charter?" Primrose called to the pegasus, who turned his head back.

"What is it?"

"Is it me?" she began, hesitating on the words she was going to say, before continuing:

"Or does everything here looks like Foster Orphanage?"

"Come to think of it..."

Charter glanced around; the tearing wallpaper, the tumbled bookshelves...

"It does look like Foster Orphanage..."

As soon as they stepped out of the building, everything became clear to them.

The barren wasteland before them, with a few dead trees still standing firmly, untouched by the swarming nests of termites, smelled of decay and death, the slate tiles all chiseled up and broken.

A rotting sign rested on the floor, snapped at its neck with the board scarred by feral claws and bites. The fading ink was still legible, however, the ponies making out:

Standard & Dale

"I don't think Calormor was only Foster Orphanage," Charter concluded, gazing at the grand expanse of the cavern and at the derelict structures still standing all around.

"I think Calormor is the whole of Pendant Lakes."

"But... b-but that's impossible!" Primrose protested.

"Pendant Lakes is still intact and right above our heads! How can this whole ruin here be Pendant Lakes?"

A loud, deafening boom interrupted their conversation, the two ponies whirling around and gazing at the far distance.

There, from the more regal ruin standing on a tabletop mountain, rock, wood and glass collapsed in a cloud of dust, scattering deep into the darkness below. A few seconds later, it crumbled once more, the crashing of the structure echoing throughout the whole cavern.

The Voyagers watched as a swarm of bats screeched overhead, flapping their wings hastily away from the palace, before glancing at each other with doubt.

"So," Charter began with a question.

"If Pendant Lakes is above us, then what in Equestria is this place?"

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If there's an entrance, Dresden had always told himself, there's always an exit.

That is, unless the entrance is the exit.

With a wary glance around the crumbling structure, the cyan stallion hastily trotted down the fractured hallways of the palace (or what seems to be the palace), before reaching a set of stairs.

Like its modern counterpart, it was horseshoe shaped; the two lanes of steps stretching out in a convex fashion, before meeting the marble floor below. However, a large stone column has slammed into one of them, deeming it broken.

Harmony looked up at the tattered banners over their heads, watching as they hung from their supports, waiting to fall at any moment. Rocks and mud covered the carpeted floor, with small, unknown chirps in the darkness only adding to her curiosity, which beckoned her to ask:

"What is this place?"

"Other than some copycat ruin of Palgiot Palace," the stallion replied, brushing off the small shards of wood and glass off his mane from their previous ordeal.

"Beats me."

Pinkie remained unusually silent throughout the journey. Her face of worry and fear only made the atmosphere uneasy for the remaining ponies, which tried not to tense under the pressure.

A small shuffling noise caught each of their attention, their gaze immediately focusing behind.

"Did you hear that?" the pink mare asked.

Dresden unsheathed his double-edged rapier; the one he had kept for an occasion such as this. He had used it a few times throughout their journey, the most usually fighting off a few timber wolves.

This time, however, he had no idea what he would be up against.

"Hello?" he called out, peering into the darkness with Harmony and Pinkie behind him.

There was no response.

"Strange..."

With a metallic clink, Dresden slid his blade back in, yet his gaze remained focused at the darkness, waiting for something to just pounce out onto them.

"Let's go," he said to the others, the three immediately stepping out of the once-grand double doors.

They stepped onto the barren plateau, the trees and plants that once grew around the glorious courtyard all withering in decay, the sweet smell of nectar now replaced with the gurgling scent of rot. The marble fountain in the center of it all had been shattered apart, with the gates leading outside twisted and wrecked; a pointless obstacle for them to cross.

It was a moment during their venture down the spiral path of the plateau that they saw the grand extent of the ruins. Like its current equivalent, the derelict, baroque structures took the grand expanse of the cavern, with some parts collapsed entirely and others still standing firmly.

The darkness enveloping beyond would've been overwhelming if not for the clusters of luminescent mushrooms, all glowing a pale blue around the broken roads and crumbling walls. The cyan pony blew out his torch in response, continuing their underground journey through the subterranean city.

The shattered windows of the houses glared on menacingly down at them, which only made Pinkie shiver at the sight. The small shuffling of shadows only added to it, but relief swept over as they're revealed to be black rodents, their eyes red as the blood that runs in their veins.

"Which way..." Dresden muttered himself, before the Voyagers stumbled upon a collapsed mound of bricks, completely obstructing their way forward.

He snarled with annoyance at that, before concluding:

"We'll have to use the alleys."

"Just stick close to each other," he ordered.

"I went through the alleys in Pendant Lakes before, and they're by far the most confusing network of them I've ever seen. No doubt the ruins down here would be the same."

The two mares behind him nodded, following him into the back lanes. It was a labyrinth on its own; the towering ruins squeezing the paths so tightly that it would murder a claustrophobic pony, yet the exhausting turns they had to make only added to the frustration.

Harmony's head suddenly pained, her migraine stirring up again. Her vision blurred with echoing voices, watching as Pinkie and Dresden turned around the corner.

"W-Wait up!" she managed to cry, lifting herself from the floor.

The unicorn trotted around the corner, still clutching her head, only to spot the empty lanes, with no pony in sight.

"Dres?" she called out, her voice resonating off the walls.

"Pinkie?"

Her worries grew as she took a random turn, only to meet more of the branching roads.

She bit her lip with uncertainty. Why must her darn headache always act up at the worst possible times?

A few more turns, and the mare slumped onto the floor. There's no way she's going to find her way out like this, not when she's wandering aimlessly without anypony else to help her.

"Harmony Peridot..."

The mare tensed, whirling around immediately.

"Who's there?" she called out nervously.

"Your greatest dreams..."

She stepped back at the creak of the wooden walls, hearing a faint hiss from the cracks.

"Just... just leave me alone!"

"Whatever for? Don't you want to see...?"

Harmony galloped down one of the paths, frantically turning and swerving past the corners, yet the voices seemed to chase her from behind, now accompanied by cackling shadows.

Her chest heaved, her body covered in cold sweat with the sound of her heartbeat thumping loudly in her ears, though her hooves sped onward without care.

"Harmony...."

"Leave me alone!!"

At that instant, she tripped, her face grinding against the cold stone floor, her headache searing powerfully whilst her horn flared radiantly with magic.

She coughed a few drops of blood, clutching her chest as she started to crawl forwards, the shadows getting closer and closer as she clenched her eyes...

"Harmony!"

Dresden's shout made her turn, watching the stallion and Pinkie's faces of worry. The cyan pony lifted her up from the floor, immediately tending to the bruises on her cheek.

"Where have you been? Are you alright?"

"I-" she stammered, wiping the blood off her lips.

"I'm fine..."

"Well, we have to go," he immediately said.

"And we have to get out of here fast."

Dresden took off first, with Pinkie and Harmony following closely behind.

"You okay, Harmony?" the pink mare asked the unicorn.

There was a soft whimper, which was enough to show her hesitation.

"I... I dunno..."

"It's just... I don't think we're the only ones down here..."

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"What do you think we would find down here, Charter?"

Primrose's question was only answered with a shrug from the pegasus, the two ponies trotting down the desolate avenue warily, their eyes gazing in all directions.

The two ponies trudged above a carriage, the vehicle having crashed into one of the shops with bricks smashed into its wooden framework, its wheels lying on the ground in despair.

"Watch your step," Charter warned with a flap of his wings, hovering over a dark pothole of splintered wood. The mare behind him skipped over it, though her landing made the wood creak and groan.

There was a relieved sigh as the two finally stepped onto the barren ground, once again facing the bleak, abandoned town. Passing by the decrepit buildings, the cold chill of the buried town tingling in a state of neglect, the Voyagers marched onward slowly, scanning about the forsaken town.

A cold fog started to develop around their hooves, embracing them in its intangible grip.

"The moisture from the caves are condensing from the cold air outside," the pegasus explained to Primrose, seeing her confused look at the wisps of clouds below her.

"From where the fog is forming, it seems to be coming from below us."

"Okay..." the caramel mare could only respond, making him chuckle.

"Where did you learn all of this?"

"Meteorology class, chapter five," he replied with a wink.

"Though I have to admit I'm not the most attentive when it comes to weather topics."

Both of them laughed quietly under their breath, which started to form like smoke from their mouths.

Primrose could feel the heat rising from their bodies, replaced only by the wintry, subterranean chill. The sweat crawling down on the body only added to it, making her shiver.

"Wait," Charter snapped suddenly, raising his hoof.

His ears started to strain, his eyes squinting into the mist, before widening in surprise.

"There's somepony here."

Sure enough, the mist started to glow an ethereal yellow before them, with two silhouettes heading towards their directions, one of their hooves raised up to hold a swinging iron lamp.

"Quickly," he hissed quietly, the two darting into the alleyways just as they emerged from the mist.

They seem to be oblivious of the Voyagers' presence, as their muffled conversation became clearer and clearer, beckoning the other ponies to listen.

"I can't believe they're still preserved after so long."

"Nopony would've thought of it. This is something out of the ordinary, I believe."

There was a pause, before the same pony continued:

"Have they decided where we will meet yet?"

Charter peered out from the walls, spotting the two ponies in the distance.

One of them was a unicorn, who tapped his hooves with a glance around the crippled buildings. The other looked more of the criminals he caught back in Cloudsdale (minus the wings) with his scarred face and grizzly chin.

"They sure take quite a long while, don't they?"

"Just be patient, Sidus," the unicorn spoke, unintentionally revealing his friend's name.

"They'll be down shortly."

"I assume you mean we'll be down right now."

Three other ponies suddenly surfaced from the thick fog, with the leading one carrying a lamp of his own.

"Caduceus," he spoke with a deep, venerable tone.

"It's finally good to see you."

"The same, Stellar."

The two tried to hide their surprise; that was the butler that lead them to their room!

"We're just about to start excavating the town," the one they called Sidus spoke up.

"I assume things are fine in town?"

"Apparently, there's been a problem, as of late."

Charter tried not to scowl. Sure enough, it was the unmistakable voice of the Patriarch.

"We're not alone down here."

"What do you mean?"

A female voice piped in, only making the two Voyagers look at each other in panic and realization.

"Two of Gypsum's friends have entered the ruins before us. They could be hearing us right at this moment."

"Isn't that Persimmon?" Primrose asked.

"The one that invited us into the orphanage?"

The pegasus could only nod, his ears perking as the conversation continued, this time by Winter:

"We'll find them later, as I doubt they would know of the exits out of these ruins."

"I'm still slightly surprised," Stellar quipped with interest.

"That we're still standing in the original Pendant Lakes."

"The very first, hoof-designed by Ravine Palgiot himself."

That explains its queer similarities, Charter told himself, glancing around at the buildings once more.

Yet he still doesn't understand. Why was this place called Calormor, or Tempus Fractura, for that matter? Why can't the Palgiots just call this place something much more suitable?

A loud creak made each of the ponies turn, the Patriarch suddenly bellowed with his head glancing beyond:

"Harmony?!"

The two Voyagers hastily peered out, watching as their friend was pulled back by Dresden, who took out a gun.

"Everypony get down!"

*BANG*

*BANG*

The five ponies scattered as Dresden and Harmony galloped away from them, with a pink mare following closely behind, the two still-hiding Voyagers recognizing her immediately.

"Pinkie Pie," they identified in unison.

Another loud gunshot snapped through the air, this time by Sidus himself.

"You're lucky I brought guns."

"Don't let them get away!!" the Patriarch demanded, earning nods from the remaining four, the Sidus pony quickly handing each of them a few weapons and cartridges.

As the Voyagers watched them quickly galloping off into the mist, their hooves clattering in a chase around the desolate ruin, Primrose started to rise, before the pegasus pulled her back down.

"Here," he said, handing her a pistol, which she only glanced at it with trepidation.

"Just in case."

"W-What do you want me to do with this?" she asked, slightly horrified.

Charter's expression was emotionless, a loud click signaled from his hooves as he reloaded his own weapon.

"Like how everypony uses it," he stopped with a sigh, before finishing:

"When things get pretty ugly."

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Present Day

The grinding sounds of stone dominated the hallways, the doors ever sliding down the walls as Stellar and the Princesses, which had reverted back to their usual, regal form.

The younger alicorn gazed at the shifting doors, the amazement evident on her face.

"This is some powerful magic, isn't it Tia?"

The alabaster mare nodded, following her sister's gaze. The Patriarch had certainly outdone himself the last time they had met, remembering his brashness all those years ago.

She sighed. The chaos of the town still stirred, and it only seemed to have worsened at their arrival.

"Stellar," she called to the butler, who gave a venerable bow.

"Are you certain that this is enough for the safety of my student and her friends?"

"Students, I believe."

Princess Celestia blinked her eyes.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Students. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie."

His response made her look in surprise, the butler trying to hide his chuckle.

"I know you've only tutored one student in your whole life; the gifted prodigy of Canterlot. No doubt she has learned many things from you, yes?"

"Of course."

"Pinkie has as well," he continued without hesitation.

"To have brought up a stray pink mare and teach her of the lessons of friendship and destiny... this isn't just an ordinary mare you had asked to join a mission; this is a mare that steps beyond the boundaries of knowledge herself. She has something special within her, and all of us know that. You chose her to be the Element of Laughter, not the remaining, living Voyagers, cause you already knew she was perfect."

The white alicorn stood there, trying to absorb what Stellar had just said.

"I guess you might be right, my faithful subject."

"Miss Rarity, as well, would've said the same thing."

The butler sighed, continuing their small walk down the travelling hallways.

"That white mare was also one of a kind. Already three of the Elements of Harmony are special, so what are the odds that the remaining three are as well?"

The alabaster mare just smiled as he continued:

"You knew these six would be the perfect bearers. You knew they were incredible in their talents and exceptional in their habits, not to mention their powerful bonds of friendship. You wanted them to be the Elements of Harmony."

Princess Luna could only gape, turning from the butler to her sister, who only grinned in response.

"Is this true, Tia? That you meant for this to happen?"

"Against the laws of time, yes."

The white alicorn could only sigh, yet her heart still tingled with guilt.

"Though it was for the better of them. Even if it was against nature's will, it was for their good."

"And somepony's using the same methods to earn his own gains."

"Right," she replied Stellar, before the cerulean mare nudged her sister in curiosity.

"What does he mean?"

"Somepony realized of these events to happen," Celestia explained:

"Pinkie's parents, Fluttershy's father and, consecutively, mother, Harmony's sudden change of behavior..."

She bit her lip, forcing out the conclusion gurgling in her throat.

"Somepony's playing with time to make sure everything sees to his or her needs."

Stellar only nodded, before his eyes suddenly widened.

With a quick jolt, he grabbed a gun from his pocket, the barrel seemingly directed towards them, only making the princesses step back in bewilderment, their horns flaring in self-defense.

"Stellar?!" the older alicorn exclaimed, nearly stumbling backwards.

"What is the meaning of-"

*BANG*

The alicorn gasped, her shoulders tensed, before her sister's tap on her shoulder made her turn.

Right behind them, with blades already raised, was a pony, blood spluttering from his chest.

He let out a loud cough, before the stallion collapsed, sprawled onto the floor, which beckoned the three of them to approach him.

Stellar grimaced at the sight of the mask covering his face, even more so at the stitches on the lips.

"Silent and quick," he muttered, picking out the words from memory.

"That was the main rule of..."

The butler looked up, along with the two princesses, who were already gritting their teeth.

Right in front of them, rushing towards them from all sides, even from the ceiling, was a black swarm of cloaked ponies, each wearing different masks, with the only similar feature being the stitches on the lips.

Stellar grumbled, quickly cocking his gun back up, his hooves sliding back in a fighting stance.

With a raise of his hoof, the revolver pointed at one of the assassins, his trigger clicking just in time as the horns of the alicorn sisters shot out a bright ray, nearly engulfing the corridor in its radiant light as the butler grumbled:

"Here we go again..."

Voyager's Arc: Academia Nox

*BANG*

Dresden clicked his gun, letting the empty shells clink onto the stone floor, his back arched against the stone wall with his breathing slightly rapid.

He glanced to his side, watching Harmony trying to calm down the terribly shaken Pinkie Pie, who was already shivering with fright on the floor.

He peered out, yet jerk his head back as a bullet ricocheted from the granite walls, cracking a few rocks in the process. Without hesitation, he returned the gunfire, hearing the bullets only bouncing off the structures as a response.

"Damn these..."

"We can't just stay here, Dresden!" Harmony shouted, which only added to his frustration as he replied back with an infuriated scowl:

"One move and we'll all be dead!!"

Another gunshot whizzed past his ear, striking into the wall right beside the pink unicorn, who let out a gasp.

A ringing sound filled their heads, the high-pitched whining only making them stumble, everything else around them thrown into merely a muffled echo. Time seemed to slow with every move they made, their breathing growing deeper and deeper with their vision becoming a blur.

The voices shouting beyond the cavern seemed to be fractured in their ringing ears, the three ponies only able to make out:

"... shot her!... Watch where you're..."

"... at us first! For Celestia's sake...

"... doesn't matter! You could've killed her right on the spot, Sidus!..."

"... have to understa- BEHIND YOU!!"

*BAM BAM*

The loud, sudden gunshots, evidently from a different revolver, jerked them back into reality, the witch doctor hastily lifting himself up.

Pinkie peered out at the alleyway, watching the butler exchanging shots with...

"Charter?" she muttered out of surprise.

The pegasus seemed to have noticed her, as his eyes widened towards the three and shouted, his hooves frantically waving about:

"QUICKLY!! GO!!"

In an instant, the three of them galloped down the avenue, the loud voices bellowing behind them only making their efforts of escaping even more frantic.

"THEY'RE GETTING AWAY!!"

Dresden, Harmony and Pinkie hastily jumped over the wreck of a lamppost in their way, bullets whizzing through their manes and striking the thin iron pillar. Before their pursuers could spot them, they quickly jumped into one of the derelict buildings at the side, quickly ducking beneath the broken windows.

They held their breath as a cluster of shadows galloped past their hooves, before breathing a sigh of relief.

"That was too close," the stallion of the group stated, earning nods from each mare.

"We'll have to regroup with Charter and Primrose, I guess."

"They could be anywhere, Dresden," Harmony quipped.

"Plus, we can't just step out into the open like that! We might get caught!"

The stallion was about to reply, before another clatter of hooves made him stop.

They laid back under the window, their hooves tensing and their breaths halting with their eyes watching shadows dancing about the musty floor.

"Where the hell did they go?" one of their hunters scowled.

"You'll never know."

Along with a reply, there was the clack of a gun, along with a loud clink of empty shells tinkering onto the floor.

"We know that there are two split groups for us to find. Sidus is already hunting the pegasus down."

"And what of us, Stellar?"

"Winter would not be pleased at his marefriend for that," the butler replied, making the mare in question cover her mouth in a silent gasp of denial.

"Caduceus, you take the alleys. We'll meet up at the main plaza."

At the end of the sentence, the shadows immediately parted, prompting the hiding ponies to sigh with relief once more, the burden quickly fading back to dust.

"They'll find us if we stay here any longer," Pinkie whispered to the rest, with Dresden peering out the windows.

With his gun at the ready, the cyan pony stepped out, glancing at both sides of the pathway, the slate avenue obscured in the thickening fog. He beckoned his head for the mares behind to follow him, before gazing back to the front.

Silently yet hastily, the three of them clambered down the misty path, their eyes gazing warily into the open, before slipping into the engulfing darkness of the alleys, letting the veil of the shadows conceal them.

Harmony suddenly clutched her head, the other mare turning at the instant she groaned in pain, her teeth crunching into a pill of anxiety.

The stallion soon turned as well, his worry growing frantic as she stumbled, her face nearly slamming into the ground if not for Pinkie's instinctive grip on her friend's hooves.

"You sure you're okay, Harmony?" he asked.

"I-It's normal," she managed to stutter, before her voice was reduced to hissing grunts and muffled slurs.

Another loud gunshot blasted through the air; the loudest they had heard so far, which pierced straight into their eardrums and making the three of them turn.

Dresden looked up towards the towering structures all around, biting his lip. His past experience with weapons already made each sound of the gunshot distinguishable. With something this particularly loud, he thought to himself, there was no mistake what weapon that was.

Something that the Voyagers don't have.

"Looks like our 'friends' have a sniper."

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Primrose yelped with a hop, nearly dropping her gun out of sheer terror as a bullet bounced off the pavement, narrowly whizzing past the edge of her skin.

Charter quickly pulled her behind one of the many crumbling walls, firing multiple shots at one of the many taller, crumbling buildings, though missing their hunter entirely.

He quickly turned back, his chest heaving. Drawing back his pistol, the pegasus quickly galloped after the caramel mare, who already went ahead into the confusing twists and turns of the alleys.

From above, a small bullet whisked past his ear, shattering one of the few intact windows in the ruins.

"Prim!" he shouted at the mare, who instantly turned towards him.

"Get down!!"

At the second she did that, another of the lead projectiles barely grazed her mane, before stabbing into the brick wall behind her.

"Why are they shooting at us for?" she snapped.

"Doesn't really matter now, does it?"

The two of them crawled across the narrow lanes, standing back up only when they took a turn.

Charter's head emerged from the walls, glancing back at where the sniper had nestled, expecting the unmistakable glint of his lens at the ready.

"He shifted his position," the pegasus concluded, cocking his weapon, his badge gleaming on his chest.

"I don't think we'll see the likes of him for a while."

There was a relieved sigh, before Primrose popped a question:

"Did they say where we would meet?"

"I'm not entirely sure they would've said something amidst the chaos."

The pegasus opened his gun, letting the empty shells bounce onto the ground.

"We need to rendezvous somewhere close to an exit."

"Which one?"

"Well, judging from the loud rumbling noises earlier, I'd say they came from the North gate; the one that probably leads back to the palace, yet I'm sure it just collapsed a moment ago."

He glanced around the transcending buildings, trying to recollect the faded parchments of Axle's diary.

"We came from the West, which I'm sure is not a good idea to go back. The East Gate may lead us into the middle of Fountain Square and, knowing its reputation for the ponies swarming there, that would be out of the question."

Primrose pondered at his words.

"Which means that leaves us..."

"The South Gate: the one that leads to Academia Nox."

The name itself was already enticing to the two ponies. Neither of the Voyagers had never stepped or even got a glimpse of the esteemed academy for the long-forgotten assassins. Charter himself heard that it was like high school: there's different classes, you'll meet different friends and share rooms.

No doubt making enemies was on the list as well.

"We'll have to signal them towards the south," he concluded, his wings ruffling up.

"Though I'm positively sure we would be spotted by the rest of them as well."

Without another word, Charter started to hover into the air, his wings lifting him up towards the stalactites that hung above, the formations threatening to slice through his body.

He gazed down at the ruin below him, like how the Patriarch - he scowled at that - would do the same to the modern equivalent standing firmly above his head.

With a crick of his teeth, the pegasus soon spotted it.

There, far beyond the borders of the town, was a stately, institute-like building, with its presence a flustering yet welcoming sight, its doors wide open. His eyes shimmered at the sight.

The fabled academy of Sicarius Nox.

Looking back at the alleyways, Charter quickly pointed at that direction for Primrose to see, the caramel mare quickly nodding in response.

His focus diverted on the remaining three of his friends. They could be anywhere in the maze right now and the faster he could spot them, the better.

Another loud wave of gunshots nearly made him wince, though his attention it had obtained made him turn, before he smiled triumphantly.

Charter quickly hovered back down to the alleys, Primrose galloping up to him with a worried look on her face, her hoof still shivering anxiously with the gun clutched within.

"Where are they?"

The pegasus just beckoned her forward, towards the direction of the academy, though she needed a cynical look to force the answer out from behind his seemingly devious grin.

"South."

"They're heading south."

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The lead projectiles flew between their hooves as the three Voyagers raced down the narrow lane, hearing the turmoil of shouts springing from behind.

Dresden whirled around, firing three more rounds, before continuing his retreat with the mares, his hooves fleeting past the ravaged town.

Skidding to a halt, the three quickly took a sharp turn, the dust kicking from underneath their hooves. There was a loud cry from behind, forcing them only to gallop faster.

Pinkie scrunched her lips, her eyes darting from left to right. Her rapid search soon stopped as her eyes fixated on one of the darker alleys straying away from the path they were on.

"This way!!"

The pink mare was the first to swerve right in, Harmony following closely behind.

Dresden, however, galloped quickly, though he was not fast enough to stop what was coming next.

*BAM*

He yowled, tripping over onto his face. Craning his neck towards the back, he gritted his teeth, wincing at the blood leaking out from his right hoof.

Biting his lip, the stallion dragged himself towards where the mares went, before feeling a set of hooves pulling him in.

"You're shot!" Pinkie exclaimed, aghast at the blood flowing out, already starting to form a red puddle on the floor.

Harmony quickly rushed to his side as well, helplessly watching her friend clutching tightly onto his hoof, evidently in deep, agonizing pain.

"Just... get it out of there!!" he scowled, biting his lip.

With a pink glow of her horn, the mare directed it towards the wound.

"Pinkie, help him relax," she ordered, in which her friend complied by gripping Dresden's hoof.

"Now," she turned towards Dresden, her face extremely somber.

"This would sting a little..."

Biting his lip, the stallion tried not to scream as he felt his hoof start to boil.

He covered his mouth; all of the torment scorching throughout his body thrust into his head, shattering it into shards of anguish into misery, before leaving it through his muffled scream.

Writhing in the twisted hell, he felt Pinkie's grip squeezing even tighter, her worry flourishing in his suffering. The skin around his wound was like blight, already turning a grandiose color of red as blood poured in gallons out of the yawning gap like waste.

In one last magical tug, the bullet finally dislodged, skimming up to the reddened surface and gleaming, emerging out from the wound in a minuscule fountain of crimson.

Dresden's chest heaved, sweat falling across his hooves. The twisting ordeal had left him breathless, relief sweeping into him as Harmony let the bullet go, watching it roll in its bloody trail into the cracks of the walls.

"Thanks, Harmony..." he managed to gasp.

"Don't mention it," she replied, though somewhat halfheartedly.

"How can we get out of here?"

There was an instant reply, this time from Pinkie.

"Over there! At that building in the walls!"

The rest turned, spotting the refined building looming in the distance.

It stood tall in grandiose magnificence, almost overshadowing the town with its surprising lack of damage, the most prominent one being the roof completely ripped off, with only a few fragments left standing.

Their interest, however, were caught by the stone door etched into the cavern walls. It was an exact replica of the one they had stepped out from back in the ruined palace, with the exception of the moss growing around its columns.

"There's our exit," Dresden just said, the two mares lifting him up.

The stallion limped forwards, fresh blood still trickling down his hooves. He tried not to yelp out in his excruciating pain, cursing inaudibly under his breath.

Pinkie just glanced forward, her concern not only for her friends beside her, but for Charter and Primrose as well.

"Please let them be alright..."

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"Almost there, Primrose!"

The loud gunshots chasing from behind nearly made her want to scowl at the pegasus, the two ponies galloping towards the dreary openness, the slightly radiant light of the fungi growing from above illuminating the frantic faces of their pursuers, as well as their glinting revolvers.

Charter whirled back with steeled resolve, gritting his teeth as he pulled the trigger, firing three rounds more, before hearing the sound of empty clicks.

With a grimace, he threw the revolver away, his focus now more on fleeing.

"Blasted hypocrites!"

Primrose merely chuckled, the two ponies straining their hooves without delay as the forsaken academy rose up from the horizon.

"There it is!" the caramel mare exclaimed, pointing towards the building.

The clatter of their hooves echoed down in the disturbing silence, before another loud, different gunshot blasted through the air.

"Charter!!" Dresden called to his friend with a wave, the stallion hurriedly limping with Harmony shooting at their pursuers. Pinkie rushed up to them as well, the bright smile on her face filled with exaggerated relief.

There was a loud yelp of pain as they turned, watching Harmony being brashly kicked towards the floor, her hooves pinned down by the strong, firm grip of Sidus Sirenheart, with her gun sliding to the side.

"You..." he spoke, breathless. "You guys r-really make it hard for us..."

"And what of it?" Harmony sneered defiantly.

"Do you need us to run again?"

In response, there was the resounding click of guns, with Caduceus being the first to speak:

"I'm sure you're aware of the authority here, don't you? If I recalled, it was one of your friends..."

He glanced to Dresden, who just scowled under his breath as the doctor continued:

"... you, I guess. That had the nerve to fire at us first."

Charter's face darkened with a frown, scanning the three ponies that stood before them.

There were the two he had seen around town, though he only knew one as the family doctor. Persimmon herself was there as well, clearly in a more somber and irritated mood.

The Patriarch and his butler, however, were nowhere to be seen.

"It seems the five of you really did a bit of studying."

Caduceus lit up a cigar, letting out an amused chuckle.

"No simple pony would just wander around and know where the Gates are."

"Doesn't really matter now, does it?" Charter scowled.

"Enough with this."

Sidus pressured his hoof down, making Harmony wincing and yelling out in pain. The rest of the Voyagers began to shift, stopping only when the doctor raised his gun towards them, letting the retired assassin continue:

"We're all curious on who you're working for. Speak up."

"None of your concern."

"Try me, pig," he scowled, his gun aiming towards the mare under his hoof.

"Sidus!"

The loud shout of the assassin's name made all of them turn, watching as Winter Palgiot stepped forward from the ruins, his gun raised with his expression furious. Stellar was behind him, his own revolver tucked somewhere in his suit.

"Let the mare go," the Patriarch ordered.

"And let them escape? Have you had any idea what the heck they've done?!"

"Sidus Sirenheart!!"

The roar of the usually gentle stallion made all them look in surprise, taken aback by his harsh reaction, especially Harmony, who could feel the pressure on her hooves lightening.

"As Patriarch of Pendant Lakes," Winter barked. "I order you to let Miss Peridot go."

There was a snarl, before the mare in question was released.

Sidus harrumphed with a glare at the mare, who quickly edged next to Pinkie.

"You're a lucky pony..."

Winter turned to the Voyagers, still wearing a cold frown.

"Now then," he grumbled.

"Explain."

"Well..."

Charter stepped forward, his hoof raised, before another voice cut in.

"Step back, Charter," Harmony demanded, much to the surprise of everypony else.

"He's the one who needs to explain, not you."

"What do you mean?"

The Patriarch's face turned into confusion, watching as the mare stepped up towards him, giving him an intimidating stare.

"You told me no more secrets, Winter. You told me you wouldn't hide any single thing from me."

The pink mare gritted her teeth, advancing furiously towards the stallion, the latter's butler raising his gun as a warning.

"I thought you were different from your family! I thought of all the things we'd done together, there would not be a problem in hiding secrets anymore!"

"Wait," Primrose cut in.

"What do you mean 'all the things we'd done together'?"

Sidus couldn't help but burst out in laughter.

"Y-You didn't know?"

Both her and Charter shook their heads, with Dresden growling under his breath.

"Your friend, Harmony here," he began with a snicker, much to the annoyance of the pink unicorn.

"She's the esteemed marefriend of our great Patriarch himself!"

The caramel mare tried not to gasp in surprise, her eyes widening at Harmony, who started to cringe.

Charter, however, remained silent. His eyes gazed down at her, his brows furrowing into a cold grimace.

"We'll talk about that later," the pegasus muttered, which only added to her irritation.

"See, Pinkie?" the pink unicorn mumbled, her friend immediately perking up.

"This is what happens when you tell a secret; a secret that was meant to be hidden from ponies such as this bunch. Once you tell them, that's it. Everything just falls down..."

"Harmony..." Pinkie called her name, though the mare seemed to ignore it.

"Now you'll understand, Pinkie."

The unicorn's cold words made her look up in surprise, the Voyagers gazing at her friend, who whirled towards Winter and their bunch, all standing defensively.

"That there are times when a pony has to say it's enough. When a pony, one that was always left out, always talked about behind her back and always living a solitary life, had to have her stand."

"Harmony~?" Winter tried, his tone quivering with uncertainty.

"TERRA FRACTURA!!"

Her horn suddenly flared an unnatural red, which made everyone look in horror. Harmony's eyes burned with untamed rage, with black steam seething from her hooves.

A scarlet beam blasted from the tip, smashing into the rocks above. A loud rumble rang throughout the cavern, before being quickly followed by the collapse of the ceiling, hailing down in bountiful, copious amounts.

There were shouts from everypony except Harmony, who glared at Winter.

She saw his flushed face of concern once more, before a rock finally crashed into her view.

"Harmony!! What the hell!!" Dresden shouted once the collapse stopped.

"You could've killed us!!"

"I DIDN'T, YOU INSOLENT SNOB!!"

Her outburst practically shocked all of them, with Pinkie being the most afraid.

She could see it: the bloodlust and demented rage building with every heave of the unicorn's chest, the red aura of her horn becoming noticeably darker and darker.

"H-Harmony?"

"L..." she began, before groaning, feeling her head pounding.

"Let's just get out of here..."

After a moment, the five of them started to trot towards the looming, foreboding building of Academia Nox, the building stood with its doors eagerly awaiting their entry.

There were a few doubtful glances, most particularly around Harmony, who seemed to have calmed a little, though her twisted rage was still showing.

"Blackguard..."

Charter immediately turned at the voice.

"Did you hear that?" he asked the rest.

They soon stopped in their tracks, already on the large set of stairs with their ears perked up.

The hollow, shadowy silence only enveloped the atmosphere, before a loud hiss from around suddenly flew through their heads.

"... broken apart..."

That voice... it sounded unnatural...

The five turned towards one of the buildings, immediately bewildered at the faint glow of yellow light from the windows, though what laid behind the tattered curtains seemed more disturbing.

The patch of light flickered, revealing the silhouette of a pony, seemingly watching them from behind. A multitude of inaudible whispers fluttered through everypony's head, though it was Charter that stepped out first.

With a gesture of silence, he crept towards the window, with one hoof reaching through the shattered glass and the other clutching tightly at his revolver. The rest could only watch, their hooves tingling with delirium.

In one swift move, the pegasus tore the curtain aside, before freezing with a sigh.

There was a white, stark naked mannequin, sitting in a regal position, as if waiting eternally for another of his equally lifeless partners to join him.

"It's okay," Charter called back to the group, before edging closer towards it.

Suddenly, its head turned, with cracks starting to form around its mouth.

Launching out, with its hooves pressing onto the ledge of the broken window, it rose from its seat, its gaze directed at Charter, who was already tumbling back in horror.

Right into his face, there was a small growl, before the mannequin's jaws (if there were any) yawned open in a loud, hellish shriek, with splatters of black spilled across the terrified pegasus's chest.

Out of instinct, Primrose took out her revolver, screaming as she fired three times, all of them hitting the monstrosity of the mannequin's head.

Black spurts of ink spilled from the cracks, the lead bullets lodged in its face, before the suddenly flexible mannequin fell onto the floor, still leaking the dark juices with its hooves still writhing.

Charter quickly stepped back to the group, the Voyagers all looking around in horror as a loud cacophony of slamming doors and shattering windows erupted from all around.

From the derelict buildings, more of the mannequins emerged from the darkness, their lips salivating with ink dripping across the pavement. They crawled like zombies, their faces devoid of any features with the exception of their mouths, their tongues a bright blood red and their teeth gleaming with their horrendous saliva leaking down to each tip.

"QUICKLY!!"

In an instant, the five of them galloped up the stairs, with Dresden whirling back despite his injured hoof, shooting at the white, hysterical mob chasing from behind.

Pinkie jumped into the door first, pulling the cyan stallion in. Charter flew in last, slamming the door behind him.

The white hooves of the lifeless dolls blasted through the seams, though the pegasus pounded against the door harshly, cracking some of the hooves in the process, the fractured ones immediately filling the floor with puddles of black, the retching liquid seeping into the cracks on the floor below.

With a powerful, harsh kick, a torrent of wood immediately collapsed in front of the door, the stallion jumping away just in time.

Primrose glanced back at the white mannequins, who were trying their best to barge inside, their pounding a suicidal attempt from their fragile bodies, all shattering with ink spraying out into the open.

"What the hell was that?!"

Harmony was the one who answered, having read the history of Pendant Lakes before.

"What Ravine Palgiot, the first Patriarch, had built," she said with a wrinkle of her snout.

"A mannequin town."

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Present Day

"West Wing! They've infiltrated the West Wing!"

"Then what the buck are you all standing around for?!!" Caduceus shouted.

"Reinforce the ballroom as well! The guests must not be alarmed of the situation!!"

"Yes, sir!"

The doctor shook his head once the soldiers took off, trying not to slam himself on the head.

"Colts these days..."

"Caduceus," a voice crackled, prompting him to reach backwards, clicking the red button at the side.

"Have you gotten them out of there, Stellar?"

"The princesses are safe," was the reply, making the doctor sigh with relief.

"Though their numbers are increasing by the moment."

There was a brief moment of silence. Caduceus just scowled, before continuing:

"Where the hell did that mare find all these ponies?"

"I have no idea, though I'm not surprised."

Stellar's voice suddenly echoed in a deep chuckle, which only made his friend blink in surprise.

"What is it, Stellar?"

"I don't know... it's just..."

A long sigh slipped through the crackling radio, followed by his reply:

"Sidus would've been overjoyed to see this right now."

Caduceus couldn't help but laugh at his friend's statement.

"True," he agreed, "though that colt would be too stubborn to help us out."

A loud, deep laugh emanated from the other pony.

"Still the sly Caduceus I know, eh?"

The doctor only hummed in response, before asking, his serious tone flowing back immediately:

"What of Winter? Is he doing a good job?"

"So far so good, perhaps."

"What do you mean by that?"

The doctor let out a feeble chuckle, feeling his hooves tingle with anticipation.

"The Patriarch's still flirting with her after all this while?"

He suddenly whirled around, his gun raised with two clicks on the trigger, watching with grim satisfaction as a pony slammed towards the floor, sliding towards him with a path of red leaking behind.

"You could say that," Stellar replied, unfazed by the loud gunshots.

Caduceus smiled, before spitting at the lifeless body, his hoof smashing into the mask and making it crack.

"So," he began, reloading his gun with a resounding click.

"Just like old times, eh?"

Another two gunshots erupted, though this time from the crackling radio.

"Yep," Stellar replied meekly with a nostalgic sigh.

"Just like old times."

"So... what's your score, Lionheart?"

The moment of brief silence made the doctor snicker, followed by a tease:

"Too scared to speak now, eh? The years getting into your head?"

In response, there was a chuckle, reminiscent of old rivalries and past challenges.

"First one to reach fifty takes the throne. Up for it, Brineheart?"

Caduceus Brineheart just grinned, his pistol at the ready. Now that's the Stellar Lionheart he know!

"Bring it on~!"

Voyager's Arc: Black Retrospections

"Idiotic..."

Sidus Sirenheart clawed at the mound of rocks, cursing and growling with depriving anxiety in the darkness.

The rest of them could only watch his futile attempts at doing so, sitting down on the slate pavement with looks of frustration on all of their faces.

"Enough, Sidus," Winter snapped.

"It's your darn fault, Winter!" the assassin shot back.

"If we hadn't let her go-"

"Everything would still be the same!!"

The Patriarch panted a little, before the rage on his face was swept away, becoming completely emotionless.

"They'll escape. One way or another."

"And we'll be trapped here forever?" Caduceus piped in.

"Is this your intention, my Patriarch?"

"It was never my intention," he coldly replied.

"She was crude enough to use that spell."

Silence filled the air for a moment, the stallion glancing around in the dome of rocks they were under.

Luckily, neither of the Crux Four seemed to be hurt. They had served the family for decades and were the icons in many of his ancestor's anthologies. In fact, Winter had once used their facilities a long time ago, back when his father was still reigning over the city.

All because of a stupid book.

"We'll need a way out of here," Stellar quipped, breaking into the Patriarch's thoughts.

"I don't think the South Gate would be that easily accessible. Surely there must be some sort of obstacle in store for them."

"Just let them rot," Sidus merely scowled.

"And we'll rot as well!" the butler lashed out at his friend.

"Listen for a moment!"

Persimmon finally raised her hoof, making the rest of them turn. With a sigh, she continued:

"Harmony's bunch did not come down here intentionally, seeing how they're confused at everything. I believe it was by accident that they arrived."

"And?" Winter prodded forward.

"The other two?"

"Charter and Primrose weren't certain of what they would find, but they were notified."

"Notified?"

Caduceus blinked in surprise, before asking:

"By whom?"

"Gypsum Palgiot."

Another moment of brief silence overtook them, before Sidus scowled, kicking against the stone wall.

"Great! Who'd knew there was a conspirator in the family as well?"

"I'm sure there's a good explanation for this, though it seems our friends don't want to speak out."

Persimmon kicked back a little dust off her hooves, settling down onto the barren floor.

"They suspect we had known of the ruins, even though we recently discovered it. I believe it was by a misunderstanding yet instinctive move that they shot at us first."

"Preposterous," was what Stellar could only reply, before turning towards the Patriarch.

"What now, Winter?"

"After we get out, I'll talk to Harmony for a moment. The rest will open up eventually."

Winter held his breath, before looking at the wall of stones before him.

"She saw something she had never meant to see. Something I thought my uncle had disposed of."

"Doesn't matter now, does it?" Sidus scoffed, the assassin kicking back his hooves.

"It matters a lot, actually," the stallion replied.

His horn suddenly flared a bright blue, the rest of them stepping back in surprise and bewilderment.

"She wasn't the only one who knew its contents," he said, breathing in deeply with his eyes closed.

"You mean..."

Winter merely smiled, before his eyes suddenly snapped open, his mouth opening with a shout:

"TERRA FRACTURA!!"

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"Hurry up!"

Charter whirled back from the corner, clutching Primrose's gun and firing at the mob of accursed mannequins, who had shattered through the windows and swarmed into the academy, growling and snarling with each splatter of black ink.

His focus immediately turned to Dresden, hearing the sound of the jiggling knobs and slight ticks as the cyan stallion furiously worked with the door, sweat streaming down his body like rain.

"Almost... there..."

The loud click resounded in response, signaling his success.

"Charter!" he shouted back to the pegasus, "We're done over here!"

With one last bullet to spare, he quickly fired, before darting speedily into the door, following after the rest. The ravenous figures charged after him, pursuing him like wolves out for slaughter.

Primrose immediately slammed the door shut as Charter fell towards the floor, hearing the creatures roar and bellow in frustration on the other side.

"That was too close..." the pegasus proclaimed, panting under his breath.

He clicked his revolver open, letting the now empty lead shells fall onto the floor. Reaching for Dresden's satchel, his hoof reached around the random assortments ruffled in a mess, before pulling out a disappointing find.

"We can't afford to run into any of those mannequins again. I have but only three rounds left."

"Then we gotta find the exit as soon as possible, don't we?"

Charter nodded at Harmony's question.

"To make the search easier, I guess we all have to split up. Once somepony finds a way up to the roof, try to signal the rest of us."

"B-But..." Primrose stammered, her face almost paling.

"But what if there's something else in here?"

"That's the part I'm afraid of."

With a sigh, he looked around at the branching corridors. There were times where he thought he saw flickering shadows darting about, which only tingled a little fear in each of their hearts.

"We're in the heart of one of the darkest secrets of the Palgiot family. They wouldn't just let us pass through the gate and corridors without a fight."

As if in response, the wooden walls started to creak and groan, making each of them turn.

Faint whispers fluttered through each of their ears, reminiscent of the slithers of snakes and low screeches of bats. The absence of anything else other than the Voyagers only disturbed them even more.

"It's decided then?" Charter asked with a slight hint of fear shivering in his voice.

Each of them give their nods, albeit a hesitant one.

"Alright..."

Holding their breath, the five of them immediately split their paths, moving swiftly and warily down the fragmented wooden panels of the corridors.

Not knowing of the consequences of such a decision.

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Primrose Custard silently trotted down the despaired hallways, her journey of silence in vain from each creak of wood underneath every step she makes.

Her heart wrenched with trauma and repulsion as the remains of one of the mannequins laid before her. The black fluids leaked out in cracks, its jaw frozen open with its teeth still gleaming. Its chest was shattered, with one of the many bullet holes pierced deep into its black core.

Nausea nearly swept her off her hooves, the mare clamping her mouth with a desire to just regurgitate.

Her chest stopped heaving, the sickening smell of ink trying to overrun that as the caramel mare skipped over the lifeless, cold body.

Wind fluttered from the tattered, musty curtains, tossing them gently around. She could feel the soft air grooming down the edges of her skin, though she only shuddered at the frigidness of it.

Holding her breath, her only weapon being a small scalpel she found on the floor, she turned around a bend, before gasping in disbelief.

Instead of another dreary scene, she was faced with a white corridor, pristine in unbelievable, saintly purity. Not a single crack or splinter was seen around the cemented walls and floor, which beckoned her down in a sort of surreal embrace.

Primrose glanced around, still agape at what she was seeing. What was once a set of broken wooden doors had become bleached, firm ones with polished knobs. All of them were closed, preventing her to find out what was inside.

All except one.

The warm, welcoming rays of sunset came into view, mottled with the shadows of maple leaves swinging in the breeze. There was a warm atmosphere that flowed from it like a river, putting out her embers of distress razing about her mind.

Peering her head in, the mare was amazed by the simplicity and sterility of it all, from the tall, oak cupboard to the scarlet curtains drifting about, the scenery outside of a tall maple tree shedding its colored leaves of autumn; from the wooden armchairs sitting regally at the side to the wooden, white puffy bed filling the center of the room.

Though it was the figure in the bed that made her gasp.

"P-Prim?"

"It couldn't be... it couldn't be..."

Tears sprung up in her eyes, her gaze fixated at the mare in a state of denial. Her pupils widened in confusion, as was her expression, before making way for delight.

"C-Chamomile?"

"Y-You came back..."

The weak reply was enough to make the caramel mare squeak in delight, her hooves scampering towards the bed in gleeful anticipation.

"Chamomile!!" she screeched with delight, hugging the mare tightly, dropping the scalpel onto the floor.

There was a soft chuckle, Primrose enveloped in the warmth of the other mare's embrace. She was exactly the way she remembered her: her sea green body draped under the white sheets, her mane a bright color of green with light brown streaks running across its curls. The strong, seasoned smell of lavender and mint only flourished her comfort, her tears of happiness falling down onto the sheets of the bed.

Her heart tingled with passion; of one lost in the everchanging waves of time. The same ones that Primrose thought had took away the very mare lying before her.

Chamomile Custard. Her elder sister.

"I missed you!!" the caramel mare wailed softly, her hoof pounding at the dampening sheets.

"I missed you, I missed you, I missed-"

"Hush now, Prim..." Chamomile spoke tenderly.

"I'm here now, okay? Everything's alright..."

There was a light sniffle, before the younger mare looked up, staring deeply into her sister's passionate eyes, who glimmered with life.

The green mare brushed her mane aside, muddled up during her short outburst.

"I couldn't be more happier to see you here..."

Her heart immediately stumbled, tripping inside a pool of longing hope. Primrose clutched her hoof towards her chest tightly, her lips curving up into a smile, finally liberated in a triumphant victory over the remorse after all these years.

"H-How... why..." she stammered, earning a giggle from the other mare.

"Life surely has its surprises," Chamomile replied, before coughing lightly.

"I h-had never anticipated something like this. Reminds me of that time..."

Primrose sighed, closing her eyes. Her hooves were tucked inside the other mare's, feeling the soft, warm hold invigorating inside her own chest. A luxurious passion filled her; it was something she had never felt before, of sensuality and sentimentality.

Of hope.

She smiled once again, letting the last tear drip onto the bed. She isn't going to let her go again, her inner voice told herself with fierce determination. She's not going to lose her again.

"...that you left me here all alone."

Primrose's eyes snapped open, finding herself face to face with the blank, piercing stare of her sister.

Her voice was bleak, devoid of any emotion. Chamomile's grip on her hoof tightened, making her wince.

"Now I remember..." the older mare muttered as Primrose squirmed and struggled, trying to free her hoof.

"You left me here all alone..."

"C-Chamomile?" the caramel mare called nervously.

The green mare continued looking down with ignorance, before starting to smile.

"This isn't funny, Chamomile. Let me go, please? Let me-"

Her smile started to twist, her teeth baring before she burst out in laughter.

She laughed and laughed like a deranged maniac, only making the other mare's attempts of twisting her hoof out from the vice of her grip even more furious.

Primrose looked in horror as black ink started to leak from above the walls, drowning the white purity into a sea of corruption. Her sister's pupils warped into slits, staring into her very soul.

"PRIMROSE!!" she roared, making the mare cringe.

"You left me here! You left me here to DIE!!"

"No..."

The caramel mare finally freed her hoof, tumbling towards the floor. She hastily backed away, her hooves pushing against the wooden floor.

"You said you would find a cure!! YOU SAID YOU WOULD SAVE ME!!"

Chamomile pounced from her bed, the floorboards cracking at her landing. The black slop dripped across her mane, engulfing her in the retching mess. She grinned deviously as the mare grabbed the scalpel from the floor, licking its sharp tip with a sultry hunger.

"Now how would you repay your debt, Prim? How would you apologize?"

"No!" she pleaded frantically.

"Please! I didn't want to leave you! I... I just..."

There was a moment of brief silence, before Chamomile suddenly perked up, clopping her hooves happily.

"I know just the thing!!" she gasped out in excitement, before raising the scalpel up high.

"NO!!!"

Without hesitation, the green mare plunged the blade down into Primrose's hoof, making her scream in agony. Blood immediately rushed out, with splatters of it staining the blackening walls.

Primrose yowled again as her sister moved the blade, twirling it in a circular fashion with the tip still lodged in her skin. Dragging the blade out slowly, she tried not to whimper at the pain twisting like a drill into her heart, her mind screaming like a crazed banshee, as she gazed up fearfully at the mare before her.

"Y..."

"What?" Chamomile cried out in glee, stomping on the bleeding hoof and making the other mare scream, sobbing out her pain.

"I can't hear you, wretch," she scowled, forcefully pushing her jaw up.

"Speak up."

"Y-Y-You're.... you're n-not Chamomile..."

"Oh, really?"

There was a giggle, before a maniacal, insane laugh burst through her vocal cords. The scalpel was raised once more, the mare below forcefully clamping her eyes shut.

"Well, news flash, Prim..." she growled, all the twisted happiness immediately turning into cold wrath.

"I'll always be your big sister."

*BAM*

Primrose yelped, shuddering in the corner, before hearing a thump.

She opened her eyes, before letting out a silent gasp, her voice stolen away by the tight grasp of fear, at the sight of her sister's soulless eyes, a large, leaking bullet hole in the middle of her forehead. She started to whimper, her sobs turning more frantic and deranged with her hooves rubbing her forehead forcefully, with blood still running down her hooves.

"Miss Custard!!"

Turning around at the mention of her name, Persimmon's worried face stared back into her.

"Are you okay?"

Suddenly, Primrose wrapped her hooves around the other mare, who blinked in surprise.

She let out an intense sob, wailing with her face buried in the other mare's chest. Persimmon could only stroke her mane, whispering tenderly to the traumatized mare.

"It's okay, Primrose. It's okay..."

"It's not going to hurt you anymore."

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"I'm perfectly fine, Charter."

The pegasus merely scoffed at Dresden's words, his revolver swinging tauntingly as he replied:

"Says the pony with a bleeding hoof."

"Look, it's not that I want to get shot."

The cyan stallion limped forwards with the support of Charter's hoof around his shoulder, gritting his teeth in pain with every step down the creaking corridor.

"Besides," he continued, "we were in a hurry back then."

"Doesn't matter now. All we need is to find the stairs up the roof. I've checked the floor plan and it seems they've actually disallowed students from ever reaching the top."

With a flap of his wings, the pegasus slowly advanced down the corridor, careful not to make his friend trip over. Blood still trickled down the stallion's hooves, leaving a small, scattered red trail behind.

"Aren't you a silent pony?" Charter laughed out, trying to lighten the situation after noticing the tenseness of his friend's hooves, who grunted with an uneasy chuckle.

"I'm just not in the right mood to talk, that's all."

"Perhaps you just need a little rest."

Without hesitation, the pegasus settled his friend down onto the floor, letting the cyan stallion tend to his hoof whilst he glanced around, before tossing a gun towards Dresden.

"I'll go ahead for now. The pistol's for safety, just in case."

"You're just going to leave me here?"

The cyan stallion slid a few bullets into the cartridge, though his gaze still remained fixed onto Charter's face.

"And I thought you were a great pony."

"I hate to say this, but you're impeding our progress."

Both ponies chuckled, before the pegasus started to trot down the corridor.

"We'll come back for you. Promise."

Dresden nodded, finally smiling as he watched his friend turn a bend.

With a sigh, he reached for his satchel: his favored weapons depot, scuffling around the handles of numerous daggers and casings of lead bullets, before his hoof reached the sleek surface of his desired object.

Pulling it out, his face glistened at the coin glinting in his hoof, his adventures of the past flashing back into his head.

"By Celestia's mane, look at this place..."

The cyan pony gasped, his gaze focused on the other end of the corridor.

A black pony stood there, grinning nonchalantly once Dresden finally set his eyes on him. He raised his hoof, giving the other pony a wave, which only made him snarl.

"Caper."

"It's fascinating, isn't it?" the magician replied with a laugh.

"Who would've thought that this whole, extravagant ruin would be standing under Pendant Lakes?"

Dresden only growled, glaring at his ignorant friend.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to lay low."

"It seems laying low is really a bore."

The magician chuckled, kicking his hooves back.

"We could've found out about this place, don't we? We could've prospered in history, don't we?"

"Stop it, Caper."

"But no! You've decided to leave me alone here so you could have it all for yourself, don't you?!"

Caper suddenly flicked his hoof, revealing a long, silver baton sliding out into the open.

"Injured hoof, eh?" he chuckled deviously at the bloodstained wound as the cyan pony gritted his teeth, pushing himself down the corridor.

"Don't worry, Dresden."

"This wouldn't hurt a bit..."

"STOP!!"

Charter's loud voice made the both of them turn, the pegasus's gun raised with a click.

"Leave my friend alone!!"

"Your friend, Charter? But I thought he was our friend."

The suddenly feminine voice made the pegasus pale with a gasp, as the black stallion's face suddenly contorted, turning into a light green. He dropped his gun in shock, unable to say another word at the pony before him.

"It... It couldn't be..."

The mare just giggled, approaching the pegasus with the baton still in her hoof.

"Miss me... Charter?"

There was another laugh from the green mare; a much colder one. Her silver baton suddenly swung across, striking the side of his face. Charter stumbled backwards, clutching his sore cheek with a few drops of blood leaking out from his lips, gazing up at the mare advancing upon him.

There was no doubt who she was.

"Gypsum..."

"So you remembered me after all."

Another swing struck him onto the face, making him cough with pain as Gypsum Palgiot watch the pegasus crawling away, his wings fluttering with anxiety and confusion.

"Queer, isn't it? Leaving your lover to bleed to her death on the street."

"I-I didn't want to-"

"YOU DESIRED IT THE MOMENT WE MET!!"

Charter cringed on the spot, his eyes widening with terror as the mare panted furiously, her eyes warping into slits with her mouth widening into a deranged smile.

"You said you loved me... you filthy liar..."

"Caper!!"

Dresden's voice couldn't break into his dark remorse, the cyan pony's hoof shivering with a gun clutched inside.

"What are you waiting for, Charter? Just KILL HIM!!"

"It's none of your business, Dres!!"

Caper's deep scowl came back as the black pony twirled around, his baton slightly bloodied with the pegasus still coughing right behind.

"You don't have the nerve, don't you?"

The witch-doctor gasped, his shivering becoming more frantic as his friend continued:

"You don't have the nerve to kill, not like I did. I could beat you to death and smile if I want to, yet you'll only break down at the sight of shooting your friend."

"Th-That's not true-"

"Then DO IT!!" the magician screamed, making Dresden flinch.

"Shoot me!! Right here!! Right now!!"

"Gy-Gypsum..." Charter's weak voice pleaded.

"Don't..."

"He's a wretch as all of you are!!" she screamed at the pegasus, before whirling back to Dresden, her face being Caper's from the cyan stallion's point of view.

"Now...." his deep voice ordered.

"Shoot me..."

The gun shuddered frenziedly in his hoof, Dresden clamping his eyes shut as his hoof neared the trigger...

*BANG*

Gypsum gasped, the mare instinctively clutching at her chest, which bled furiously.

She turned to her shooter, her eyes widening with rage at the small wisp of smoke pouring out from the barrel of Charter's revolver, the pegasus's expression a cold grimace.

With a hellish scowl, she suddenly advanced towards the pegasus, the blood spewing from her chest reminiscent of the ink from the mannequins. She let out a yell as she raised the steel baton once more, the pegasus below raising his hooves with his eyes shut.

*BAM BAM*

Dresden and Charter both opened their eyes in surprise, watching as the figure fell onto the floor, writhing in deep agony with streams of black fluid flowing out his/her chest.

They turned to the direction of the gunshot, spotting two familiar ponies with a smile, although they could see the worry behind it.

"You alright?" Caduceus asked, lifting the pegasus up, who was noticeably shaken by everything that just happened, his wings shuddering in confusion.

Sidus tended to the cyan stallion at the other end of the corridor, hoisting the witch-doctor's bleeding hoof up and making him yelp out in pain.

"I'll tend to it later, Sidus," his friend said as the assassin motioned at the bleeding hoof.

"Right now we got other things to do."

"Yeah," Sidus merely replied, looking at the abomination bleeding on the floor, its demonic tongue hissing and wriggling about in a repulsive manner.

"Like getting the buck out of here."

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The corridors of Academia Nox never seemed to end.

Pinkie held her breath, cautiously turning around the corner with a shiver of nervousness. Her gut twinged with undesired anticipation as she traveled down the darkness, the faint glow of blue light shining through the few shattered windows around the hallways.

The disheartening silence only made her uneasy; she had already found comfort in the creaking floorboards beneath her hooves. Her thoughts wandered towards her friends, her concern only tamed by the overwhelming presence of fear tingling in her heart, thrashing about the cage of her chest in anxiety.

Harmony, however, immediately became the center of her attention. The pink mare could remember her powerful scowl, towards Dresden, which only made her shudder with fear.

Her focus quickly veered to the front, her breath shivering with fright. For some reason, she thought she heard a shuffling noise and a faint cackle, though her mind told her it was only her imagination.

She halted suddenly, staring doubtfully at a few dancing shadows on the walls, which were illuminated in the vibrant, radiant colors of red, orange and yellow.

Edging closer down the hallway, she peered inside the room, before gasping in shock.

The room was ablaze; flames pouring in from all directions with the exception of the floor, which was covered in ashes. They razed hungrily like locusts, eating away at the seemingly invincible room without any chance of extinguishing.

Hanging down on the center, their hooves bound together by a powerful rope, was a colt, his light brown coat already covered in black soot

Pinkie's eyes started to water, her mouth opened in shock at the seemingly unconscious pony, swaying from side to side like a pendulum, his mane pulled down by gravity.

She started to whimper in disbelief, calling out to the pony with a shudder:

"D-Dad...?"

"P-Pinkamena...?"

The weak voice of her father was enough to make the pink mare rush in, ignorant of the menacing flames reaching out, threatening to engulf her in the hellish inferno. She frantically glanced around the room, the intense heat already starting to make her sweat.

Her eyes immediately widened at a sharp, curved glinting object leaning against the wall, reminiscent of the days when she was young.

A pickaxe.

With a grunt, she lifted it from the floor, dragging it away from the hungry embers. She coughed as a cloud of soot assaulted her snout, with wooden debris and dust pouring across the room.

Raising the pickaxe up high, she let out a loud cry as Pinkie swung the tool, slicing through the ropes. Her father immediately fell towards the ground, his grunts a squeak compared to the howling and roaring of the flames.

"Daddy?" she shook her father's soot-covered hoof.

"Daddy, please wake up..."

She started to sniffle, the small tears dripping across the soot-coated floor. Her heart thrashed furiously with remorse, her teeth gritting in despondency. Shaking her father's hoof once more, Pinkie's breath shivered, before she finally broke out a sob, gripping her father's hoof tightly.

"I don't want you to go... not again..."

"P-P... Pinka..."

A loud gasp flew from her mouth, as her father started to stir, his eyes squirming about before opening.

"Pinkamena.... you're alive...."

"Daddy!!"

In an instant, Pinkie hugged the colt tightly, wailing out her despair.

Her father just chuckled, ruffling the pink mare's straight mane and letting her cry in his chest.

"I'm glad you're alright, Pinkamena," he muttered tenderly, soothing the pink mare.

"I'm just... happy..."

"You sure put up a good act."

Both ponies whirled around, the colt's brows furrowing at the sight of the stallion standing at the doorway, the flames still blazing magnificently above their heads.

Winter Palgiot frowned upon the colt his revolver raised, the barrel aiming towards the colt's face.

"Leave her alone."

"Winter! Don't!"

Pinkie scampered between the two colts, her face frantic with worry.

"He's my father, Winter! He can help us escape!"

"And you're very sure about that?"

"It's him! I know it's him!" the pink mare pleaded.

"He's just the way he is! Just like I remembered!"

Winter, however, glowered at the stallion, who started to smile.

"Pinkie," he glanced back at the pink mare, holding his breath.

"You have to accept that once a pony's gone, he or she might never come back again. This is the way life works, Pinkamena, and-"

"Don't call me that."

"Sorry about that," he gave a sheepish grin, before correcting:

"Pinkie. You seem to adore that name when your father calls you that."

"So I'm right, right?" Pinkie asked, ignoring her blush while turning to her father, who gave her a smile.

"He's my father, isn't he?"

"Then ask him this."

Without hesitation, the Patriarch continued, his grip on the revolver tightening:

"Why now, of all times? Where had he been after all this years?"

"Well, he surely has his...reasons... right?"

The mare's voice faltered, the sudden dawn of realization striking her inside her head. Reluctantly, she turned towards the colt, who was now wearing a cold frown.

"Don't you?"

"I wanted to find you, Pinkamena."

His short reply was enough to make the pink mare smile widely with relief, as he continued:

"I wanted to know that you're still alive..."

"...so I could hunt you down."

Pinkie stopped, turning around with her smile immediately whisked away. Her eyes widened in horror as the sharp end of the pickaxe lunged towards her head, her scream twisted in silence.

"D-Daddy...?"

*BAM*

*BAM*

The pink mare gasped in shock, watching as her father fell to the floor, coughing anxiously.

Slowly, she approached the bleeding stallion, with Winter watching grimly, still leaning at the side of the doorway with his revolver raised warily.

"Daddy... why?"

There was a cough of blood, with some splattered across her face. It sizzled for a moment, before Pinkie watch it discolor suddenly, turning into a crude hue of black.

"Y... You...." she stammered, grabbing the pickaxe by the side.

Winter immediately perked at the sight, holding his breath as he stared at the pink mare, her fluffy mane suddenly flattening. A black aura seemed to have surrounded her, the pickaxe in her hoof only making him call her nervously:

"Pinkie?"

Pinkie suddenly raised the pickaxe, her glare steeling with morbid rage. She started panting furiously as the colt below her chuckled with black fluids streaming from his mouth, his smile a devious one.

"Go on," he taunted. "Kill your own father."

With a loud cry, the sharp tool dived towards the colt's face, the foul, tainted blood splattering in response. The pink mare's hooves frenzied, hacking and slashing away, forming bloodied gashes along the face.

Stab, splatter, stab, splatter... the combination seemed to last forever; her frantic, violent swings and her broken screams, the spurts of blood already forming a puddle on the floor. The Patriarch could only watch from afar, too afraid to stop her in her crazed assault.

With one last plunge, the mare let the pickaxe fall with a clink onto the floor, its tip nearly blunt from the endless slashes at the face, which was now a gouged-out mess.

Pinkie cried loudly, her face planted in the black puddle of blood. Her hooves pounded against the floor in anger and despair, the mangled scene ravaging furiously in her head.

"Pinkie..." Winter finally called, scurrying towards the mare. He knelt down, instinctively hugging her despite her blood-covered face, trying to think of what to say.

"It's... it's okay now," he spoke tenderly, stroking her flat mane.

"It's okay..."

The Patriarch waited patiently until her sobs were over, her head buried in his chest. It wasn't long before the mare looked up, as if pleading for an apology.

"You didn't know, okay?" Winter replied. "You didn't know that he -umph!"

In an instant, his lips were slammed down by Pinkie's, his eyes widened in surprise with his back splashed into the black puddle of taint. He could only glance at the mare, unsure of what to do.

The sweet, intoxicating smell of the pink mare started to warp his senses, overwhelming his consciousness in a blooming flower of lust. It wasn't long before his eyes closed along, losing himself in the exceptional flavor of the mare.

The small tears dripped across her face as Pinkie's lips squirmed with need, prospering with hunger. She could feel his strong set of hooves gripping her closer towards him, caressing down her skin passionately. She tried not to moan at the fiery, spicy kiss, their tongues finally meeting together.

Arching his back, Winter pushed himself upwards, before the kiss broke. His fire of lust started to die down, as the two of them just stared at each other, fiddling their hooves awkwardly.

"T-Thanks..."

The stallion's ears perked at her response.

"For what?" he asked.

"I wouldn't have known that it was a... a... whatever it was..."

Pinkie leaned against his shoulder, her eyes staring soullessly at the bloodied body before them.

"If you weren't here..."

"It's alright, Pinkie," Winter mused, nuzzling her snout.

"Call me Diane," she responded, making the stallion jolt up in surprise.

"I... you.... it just feels... I don't know..."

She held her breath, a small part of her relieved for the other pony's patience, before finally finishing her sentence:

"Sexier?"

"Really?" he replied, trying his best not to giggle.

"Well, if you wish.... Diane..."

"Pinkie, I've found the-!"

Harmony Peridot stopped at the sight of the two of them, who quickly got up as soon as they heard her voice. The pink unicorn glanced at the stallion, trying not to scowl, then at Pinkie, before stopping to gasp.

"What happened to you?"

"Winter helped me kill something... I.."

The pink mare turned back, trying not to retch at the sight.

"You found the exit...?" she continued, wanting to change the subject.

Her friend just nodded, trying to ignore Winter's presence in the room.

"Quickly now! Who knows how much more of these abominations are here?"

As the unicorn quickly ran off, both Pinkie and the Patriarch followed her tracks, trying not to blush.

"Winter..." she muttered, trying not to tear up again.

"I can't... she would..."

"I know," he whispered back.

"I'm.... I'm sorry..."

"Don't need to be sorry for that, Pinkie," he replied, giving a reassuring smile and making her grin.

"Or should I say... Diane?"

"Shut up!" she squeaked, nudging the laughing stallion.

"If Harmony hears us..."

"I'll make sure she doesn't do anything to you."

There was a sigh, before Pinkie asked him a question:

"Pinkie Promise?"

Winter smiled widely, giving her a peck on the cheek, which only made her blush furiously, her lips puckering as she pouted at that, the Patriarch chuckling in response.

"Is there any specified answer for that?" he asked, earning a shake of Pinkie's head.

"Well then..." he began, his answer only making her giggle.

"I hereby comply to your... Pinkie Promise."

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Present Day

Applejack hummed a small tune down the corridors of the castle of Canterlot, wiping a few beads of nervous sweat off her brow after her small journey into the prestigious town.

She had accompanied Fluttershy for a visit to the local clinic to get a few bottles of medicine, just in case something comes up during her pregnancy. The pegasus, despite naturally timid, was anticipating the child's birth already: her wings were flapping excitedly and frantically every time she talks about it.

Their small confession to Big Mac earlier in the morning also went out well, in spite of the few disruptions and the bountiful, priceless looks of surprise her brother gave. The plans for a marriage were already underway, seeing how their foal would be illegitimate if it was born.

The worries of motherhood... the orange mare only chuckled at that.

She eventually reached the destination, silently giggling at the door standing tall before her, awaiting her entry into the Princess's bedroom.

As soon as she was about to turn the knob, however, she halted immediately, her ears perking at the pair of voices talking behind.

"What do you mean 'total chaos'?"

"We're dealing with a major force here. Even the Princesses are greatly concerned about the grave possibilities of the problems that might rise."

"Even if I want to," the other voice continued. Applejack recognized from his deep growl and slightly stubborn yet cute tone as Kane.

"How am I suppose to help? I'm stuck here unless the Princesses free me."

With a brief knock, the orange mare stepped in, before blinking in surprise.

Right beside the crimson dragon, there was a midnight-black one, slightly taller than Kane. His pupils glowed a bright sapphire of passion and calming, contrasting to Kane's red flare of energy.

"Um... you are...?"

"His name is Jovern," the red dragon replied, holding his breath before continuing:

"My brother."

"Hold your horses," she quipped, staring at Kane in disbelief.

"Ya never told me you had a brother!"

"It's something that's not desirable for him to mention," the black dragon replied.

"But he's got quite a good choice. The Element of Honesty, eh?"

"Ya even told him about us?" the orange mare exclaimed, gaping with disbelief.

"Why ya little..."

"Relax, Applejack," the dragon said, chuckling warmly at her somewhat cute snarl.

"My brother has a history of loving mares as well."

There was a grumble, her orange hooves crossed skeptically

"If that's the case..." she muttered, before reaching out her hoof.

"Name's Applejack. Pleasure to meet ya."

"The same."

"Well, Jovern," she continued, still frowning at the black dragon.

"What brings ya here?"

"To Equestria? I've been in Equestria the whole time, Miss Applejack."

"R-Really?" she asked, before gasping in realization.

"You... You're the Princess's dragon?"

Jovern and Kane merely chuckled at her response, with the younger dragon nudging his brother.

"Told you she's cute."

Applejack blushed at the comment, before continuing to ask:

"Well... did the Princesses sent you here?"

"Sort of. I requested to return here, actually. I would've done it myself if not for some forsaken barrier that had sprung up around Pendant Lakes recently."

There was a growl from the older dragon, his wings flapping with annoyance as he recalled his unsuccessful attempts of breaking through the magical wall, before continuing:

"I've detected Kanov'hin's arrival from the Badlands and I thought there would be some destruction, but the Princesses told me that you've been handling things well here."

"There were a few problems..." Applejack mused, glancing at Kane, who gave them a sheepish smile.

"But so far everything's solved."

"That's good news, however..."

The black dragon suddenly knelt down, his tone becoming only a little louder than a small whisper.

"The Princesses told me to relay a message to you as well. It's extremely important that you hear this."

Applejack blinked in surprise, before looking at the other dragon, who gave her a nod. Her hoof pattered with excitement; finally, something that can help her friends!

"Well, Ah have no idea what in tarnation would Ah be doing, but Ah'm all ears!"

"Alright then," Jovern said, giving a smile.

"Now this is what she wants you to do..."

Voyager's Arc: Night Of The Silent Glass

It's been a week since the ponies have emerged from the underground city. The Patriarch assured each of them to have a rest despite his suspicions among the Voyagers, though Pinkie knew she had to answer a few questions in the near future.

The pink mare herself was in the room, ruffling through her knapsack. Unbeknownst to the rest of her friends, she had kept her trusty party equipment she had bought from Canterlot a few months ago, after her original had burned down, along with her house... and her... parents...

She shook her head, flinging the thoughts out of them. Not now...

Trying her best to smile, she grabbed a small gift she had prepared last night, her tail wagging with excitement.

Primrose was discharged from the hospital today, having been treated with a bandage around her hoof and a few words of comfort from Caduceus, formally known as Doctor Brineheart. Charter had just notified her that the caramel mare was in her room, along with a warning of her unusually gloomy mood.

"Prim?" the pink mare called out, giving the door a small knock.

With a creaking open, she soon spotted the mare on the bed, relishing a moment of solemnity. Her eyes were closed, her hoof tucked under the sheets of the bed. She slowly turned towards Pinkie, before finally smiling.

"Hey..."

"Look what I brought for you, Prim!" the pink mare exclaimed, handing her the gift, which the caramel mare accepted.

She watched as Primrose slowly unwrapped her present, the contents of it making her chuckle.

It was a small book; a near-perfect fit for a diary, actually, with its mottled cover decorated in small, ivy prints and a grand circle with the vibrant, glossy pink words that shouted 'Property of Primmy Custard Pie!!' out loud, though the mare only realized what it was as she flipped the pages, reading out:

"Burdock. A type of thistle. Commonly found in the temperate regions of the north."

With a short laugh, she grinned at her enthusiastic friend, who was practically swaying side by side and wearing a large grin. She glanced back at the book again, finally speaking:

"Thanks, Pinkie. Without this, I wouldn't be able to find out where my herbs are growing in!"

"See? I knew you'll like it!!"

Pinkie hopped right in front of her friend, the caramel mare nearly jolting in surprise. With a giggle, the pink pony danced frivolously around the bedroom, crying out in a singsong voice:

"A present for Miss Grumpy Primmy always cheers her up~!"

"Very funny, Pinkie," she laughed it off, placing the book aside.

"I know you're here for more than just giving me a present, right?"

"Of course, silly!" she screeched.

"We're friends! Every friend has to talk once in a while!"

"Yeah..." she only muttered, looking ahead at the window, the afternoon light shining down on her abruptly crestfallen expression.

"Friends..."

The brief silence that suddenly overtook the room made Primrose turn. Usually Pinkie would be yapping despite her solemn mood, but it seems this time the pink mare knew better.

The pink mare's face was near expressionless, the only leaking emotion she could see being a mix of disapproval and disappointment. Her seriousness was shown from her hooves as well, which were tensing slowly along with her voice, sounding like an interrogator instead of the jolly, happy pony she was.

"You're leaving us, aren't you?"

Primrose laughed nervously, her hoof waving dismissively.

"Leaving? Really, Pinkie? You think I would do that? Why, that's just a little horrible to leave your friends behinds to all their troubles, ain't it?"

Her friend's lips were straight as a ruler, her frown becoming evident.

"You can't lie to me, Primrose," she said, before stating:

"You've packed your things, because the last time I went in here a few days ago to help get some things for Charter, there were a lot of glass phials filled with your herbs on the table. I'm sure they're somewhere in your bag right now, ready for your departure."

"Pinkie, you can't be saying that-"

"You planned to leave Pendant Lakes at around midnight - no - in a few hours," she continued, ignoring the caramel mare's sudden change of mood.

"We'll be visiting Dresden at the hospital then. Seems like a good time for you to sneak away, isn't it?"

"Stop, just stop."

Primrose sighed in defeat, her eyes already starting to water, revealing the pressure she was trying to withhold. Her hoof was slightly shivering, calming down only when she felt the warmth of her friend's hoof above hers.

"I don't want you to leave, Prim," the pink mare told her, her voice much more soothing, filling up the empty sadness in her heart.

"If I were you, I would stay and find out what's going on in Pendant Lakes. Gypsum would've want us to continue searching for the reason why, Prim. She wouldn't want to see you leave if she were still around."

There was a shudder, before the caramel mare slumped back in her bed.

"You know, it's curious," she began.

"Sometimes you sound more mature than you actually are."

"I'm just eighteen!" Pinkie squeaked, her bubbly voice returning instantly.

"A lot of ponies do amazing things when they're eighteen," Primrose responded, letting out a giggle.

"Though it seems we've all done some pretty amazing stuff in these past two years, huh?"

"Back when Gypsum is around!" the pink mare added.

The two mares laughed, both in remembrance and amusement. Pinkie glanced at her friend's bandaged hoof, before asking with concern, her brows drooping with the weight of worry:

"Does it hurt?"

Primrose's laugh faltered immediately, following her friend's gaze.

The loud, nightmarish screams quickly slammed back into her head; the same ones that had kept her awake during her stay at the hospital, the fatigue from tossing and turning all night still evident from the eye bags and her rustled mane.

Holding her shivering breath and trying to kick away her sister's deranged smile, she just replied:

"Not as much as before."

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"I assume you've gathered the evidence required, Chief Blackhoof?"

There was a nod from the old colt, who tipped his bowler hat to his second his command, Deputy Griffonhooves. The pegasus was about a decade younger from his chief, though already mature in his job in the department.

Winter Palgiot opened the file handed to him, biting his lip as he read the printed words carefully, though the chief himself read it out in his raspy voice, his throat coarse with age:

"Your cousin was, as known, shot by a 50 cal, from an approximate range of around eleven to eighteen meters. A pedestal was found in room five-one-seven in the Pastoral Hotel."

The Patriarch wiped a few drops of cold sweat as the police-pony continued:

"There were no ponies that were seen leaving the room during the interval she was shot until her pronounced death at the hospital. Cameras never picked up anything, meaning our assassin just disappeared from sight."

"Hold on, hold on," Winter raised his hoof.

"You mean our assassin just vanished into thin air?"

"In a certain kind of way, yes."

Chief Blackhoof handed him a few slips of paper, which made the stallion's eyes widen as he continued:

"After a close examination, we've found out that the security camera's time frame has completely skipped about a minimum of ten minutes, giving time for the assassin to escape."

"So you're saying that somepony," the Patriarch began, unable to believe what he just heard:

"Just came in and took out ten minutes worth of footage while leaving the rest behind?"

"Security guards were in the room during the supposed departure of the assassin, so I doubt anypony would've come in and just steal footage without being noticed."

The chief then handed him another paper, though this time it looked more archaic, with its inscriptions scrawled as if it was some sort of lost language. Winter furrowed his brows as he read the faded writing, softly muttering out:

"It couldn't be..."

A small knock on the door interrupted their discussion, as a pony stepped in, giving them a bow.

"Blackhoof!" he cried in surprise, waving his hat with a grin.

"I thought you were retiring already!"

"And leave the case, not to say one of the most intriguing yet, to the rookies?"

There was a loud, hearty laugh from Chief Blackhoof, the old stallion swaying in his chair.

"A major offer like this is a shame to turn down, Caduceus."

"True," the doctor nodded, before turning to their Patriarch.

"Lord Palgiot. I have some... incriminating news."

Winter sighed, rising from the seat. Together, the two left the room, leaving both chief and deputy in the office.

Sliding out of the door, he held his breath as Doctor Brineheart handed him a report, opening it as the doctor himself explained:

"I've performed the autopsy on one of the creatures, like you said."

"Creatures," the Patriarch mused grimly, remembering the incident a week ago.

The Crux Four had speculated of the monsters that attacked the Voyagers during their escape in the long-buried Academia Nox. It was Sidus that went down to recover a body of those creatures to have an autopsy performed on, though the assassin himself scowled at his job.

"What have you found out?"

"It seems these monsters are of Tartaric in nature."

"Wait," the stallion halted.

"You meant to say that they faced a demon?"

"Demons. Plural," the doctor corrected, before continuing:

"From the autopsy, and a little bit of reference from ancient transcripts, it seems these demons were of the lowliest form; in short, they were only imps."

"And exactly what kind of demons are they?"

"From the transcripts, they're of Præstaproditio in nature, meaning they usually come in dozens, though it seems strange that only two were present in the academy. That suits for one half of the word: præstantissimi, meaning swarms. The other half of the word, however, is more explanatory."

The doctor reached inside his file, before taking out another sheet of paper.

"These imps specialize in morphing, though they could only morph in the form of proditio, or betrayal."

"The betrayal of friends, of relatives..."

Winter Palgiot looked through the papers again with realization, before handing them back to Caduceus.

"I see. Thanks for the information."

"There's one more thing, however."

The words practically stopped the Patriarch in his tracks, who was already leaving down the hallways.

"I've also tested the length of time they were absent from Tartarus. It seems they were not down there for a long time at all. In fact, my results came back saying that they've been recently summoned as soon as they stepped into the building."

"Recently summoned?" Winter asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"By whom?"

"I've had my suspicions. There must be a reason why there were only two of them, knowing full well that these imps love to travel in groups."

Caduceus Brineheart folded in his hooves, holding his breath at what he was about to say next:

"In my deductions, I believe the conjurer had little time and experience to summon demons from Tartarus, meaning to say that one of the ponies that were down there was the culprit."

"You're saying one of us," he began nervously.

"Actually had the nerve to summon demons to attack us?"

"That's right," the doctor replied, before continuing:

"Though it seems queer that only one of the Voyagers isn't attacked, isn't it? Which only leads me to one possible pony..."

"Harmony Peridot," they said in unison.

Winter frowned in deep thought. Why in Celestia's name would the mare do that for? In fact, how is it possible that his marefriend had known of such illegal, devilish magic? There cannot be a guide or inscription she could learn it from.

Unless...

His eyes widened in realization and horror at the facts before him. It couldn't be...

"Damn it!" he hissed, making Caduceus jump.

"Why didn't I see this before?" he scowled, before marching away furiously.

"See what?" the doctor shouted out his question towards the Patriarch.

Winter just whirled his head around, mumbling out loud before rushing off down the corridor:

"Mundus Regis."

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"What do you mean it doesn't matter?!"

Harmony just kept quiet at the Patriarch's furious yell, the frown on her face darkening at any moment at her coltfriend before him. Her cold gaze laid at the book in his hoof; the same one she was intrigued by, with the golden, varnished title at it spine shining with every enraged swing he makes.

With a scowl, Winter slammed the thick, frayed book down on the table, before crossing his hooves.

"Explain."

"Why don't you explain, Winter?" she shot back.

"What did you do to the city?"

"What do you mean?"

"I went down there with a few ponies from the press, Winter, and for some stupid bucking reason-"

"You BROUGHT THE PRESS?!!" the Patriarch shouted, infuriated.

The mare just ignored him in her indignation, instead just continuing:

"- the whole city just disappeared! I want to know what the hell did you do, and I want the Celestia-damned answer right here, right now!!"

"What do you expect, Harmony? It's Calormor we're talking about."

Winter tried to quell his anger, settling down on the seat, his hoof clutching tightly on the book resting on the nightstand, explaining with his cold, harsh voice:

"It's fractured time, meaning that for some reason, the Pendant Lakes of the old crossed into our dimension from a parallel world. Calormor is the given name because my ancestors found out that in the version of the town, Ravine Palgiot and the family ran off, leaving Parsan behind to relish the town."

"So what, you're trying to tell me that it vanished to thin air," she began, glaring resentfully.

"Just because time somehow just changed? Which crazy part of you thinks that anypony would believe that story?"

"That's the truth-"

"IT'S A BUCKING LIE!!"

As she shouted that, the mirror on the nightstand cracked, making the Patriarch turn in surprise, gazing with worry at his shattered reflection.

"Why are you hiding things from me?!" Harmony continued her ranting, despite her coltfriend's stubborn ignorance, his head turned away in spite.

"You want to hide secrets from me that badly, is it? IS IT?!"

"I'VE DONE THIS FOR YOUR CELESTIA DAMNED SAFETY!!"

"WELL, GUESS WHAT, WINTER PALGIOT?!!" she yelled back wrathfully.

"I DON'T NEED YOUR DAMNED CONCERN!!"

That sentence practically shocked Winter, who could only stare in shock, his mouth agape at his marefriend's powerful outburst. His mind, as well as his heart, stirred in the tight clenches of turmoil, a whirlpool of emotions thrashing about.

"You don't need my concern...?" he muttered softly yet callously.

"Get out!" Harmony yelled, slamming her hooves at the wall, before shouting again in a louder, tumultuous tone to get the message clearly across.

"You heard me, Winter!! GET. THE. BUCK. OUT!!!"

Storming out the room without another word, his hoof snatching the book, the Patriarch slammed the door.

His head pounded on the wooden surface of it, wanting to slam out his exasperation and frustration. Clenching his eyes shut, his hoof wanting to just drill back inside the room, Winter managed to gasp out a sigh, before it became mumbles and mutters of near-silent curses.

"W-Winter?"

The stallion immediately whirled around in surprise, before sighing with relief.

"It's only you, Pinkie..."

Pinkie looked at his crestfallen face, her own deep with concern.

"I've.... heard you guys shout..." she admitted.

"We were that loud, huh?" the Patriarch joked, his forced laugh faltering.

"Never mind about that. Not really anything to worry about."

"What do you mean?" the pink mare asked questionably.

"I never heard you guys shout that loud before."

"I don't think it's suitable to talk about it."

Winter sighed, before looking back up at the pink mare's curious, wanting face, trying his best not to laugh.

"Well, if you want to know that badly, you have to promise me one thing."

The pink mare was hesitant, though she was eager to know more.

Her gaze flipped from his face to the tempting yet shredded book in his hoof. The Patriarch seemed to notice it, as his grip on it tensed immediately, his frown becoming darker.

"Well... what is it then?" she asked.

"We'll have to go somewhere secret, and I know just the place."

The stallion held his breath, before continuing:

"Alright. Tonight, go down the forest path; the one that leads to the beach. Once you reach the split road with the sign..."

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"...take a slight turn to the right, into the woods. You'll find me in a small pasture, underneath an open sky. To help you along with it..."

"I'll be beside a small bonfire..." Pinkie muttered, the Patriarch's words of the afternoon frozen in her head.

The soft, soothing serenity of night thrived in the indigenous, pristine pine woodlands around him, the green trees flourishing under the cloudless, grand expanse of the night sky. The moon shone brightly, illuminating the gravel path in a mystical blue along with the orange ray of light flickering from the mare's torch, which reminded her, much to her annoyance, the lack of a flashlight that they forgot.

She raised it up high with her teeth, revealing the road splitting into two like a snake's tongue, bending into the dense undergrowth. A wooden stake dived in between, with its cracking arrows pointing in opposite directions.

The pink mare breathed in, the cooling, invigorating air consoling her slight tick of frustration. Her ears shivered at the appeasing sound of chirps, hoots and croaks, admiring the nocturnal symphony that only glorified the forest around her.

"Take a slight turn right," Winter's voice reminded, prompting the mare to do so. Stepping off the gravel floor, her hoof trudged into grass, already feeling the dew sprinkling across the floor.

Her trek seemed luxurious more than tiring; everything around her, from the small, tingling veils of mist around her hooves to the twinkling stars in the sky, seemed to be guiding her smoothly along her strayed path, despite her slightly convincing skepticism that she was lost.

Sure enough, the trifling flickers from behind a few bushes immediately caught her attention, dancing like serenading fireflies from a distance.

"Pinkie!" Winter waved a branch in his his hoof, beckoning her out of the bushes.

The pink mare smiled with delight, scampering towards the stallion gleefully, her rusted torch swinging in the dark.

She settled herself down on a mat of fallen leaves, right beside the Patriarch with a giggle.

"So this is your secret spot, huh?" she asked teasingly, the stallion letting out a sheepish chuckle.

"Not really a secret hideout or anything, but nopony really knows about it."

"Nearly nopony," Pinkie corrected, the two of them laughing warmly.

Looking up the sky, the pink mare closed her eyes, cherishing the soothing moment of the night. The question of the afternoon kept bugging her, however, prompting her to ask:

"So what happened?"

"Well..."

Winter began his long explanation: about how he had found out Harmony was the one that summoned the demons and attacked the Voyagers, about their argument over her. Pinkie's face darkened with worry and disbelief as he progresses his story, leaving her in deep thought.

"...and now I'm here," he finished, raising a frayed book; the same one she saw this afternoon.

"About to burn this corrupted little thing."

Pinkie glanced at the bonfire before them, the flames raging fiercely with power. It was greater than the ones she had made when the Voyagers were camping in the woods, the mound of logs crackling under the intense flames.

"Would Harmony mind?" she asked out of curiosity.

There was a sigh, before he glanced down at the book impassively, wrinkling his snout.

"It doesn't matter now, does it?"

Without hesitation, the Patriarch tossed the book into the fires, expecting to burst out in impressive, streaking purple flames, though it merely responded with a crackle. He and Pinkie watched as the shredded pages started to blacken and crumple, the remains of it drifting in the slight breeze.

Pinkie remained silent, her mind still wrenched in turmoil.

"Harmony..."

"She was once like you," Winter muttered suddenly, making the mare turn in surprise.

"Always having fun. Never a dull moment around her."

"Really?"

The stallion nodded with a small grin, holding Pinkie's hoof in his.

"Harmony wasn't always the serious type," he continued, gazing at the sky and oblivious to the deep pink blush on the mare's cheeks, her glance flitting between their joined hooves and the stars with uncertainty.

"She always wore a smile on her face back in the day. Looking at her now..."

Winter sighed with dejection. Somewhere behind that, the pink mare could hear disappointment in it as well.

"I don't know what happened to her. Something just... flipped."

Before Pinkie could respond, a loud array of booms suddenly exploded in her ears, the mare instantly turning up, gazing at the sky in amazement.

Over their manes, the colorful blooms of fireworks dotted throughout the sky, filling it up in a grand spectacle of dazzling shapes and patterns. They swarmed through the air with a high-pitched whizzz~ into the air, outshining the calm brilliance of the stars and moon that hung behind.

The pink mare turned to Winter, confusion and curiosity beckoning her to ask:

"Is there some sort of party going on? Cause I don't wanna miss a party such as this!!"

A deep, loud laugh emanated from the stallion, wiping a single, joyful tear off his eye.

"It's the Night of the Silent Glass festival!"

"Huh?"

Pinkie scratched her head, glancing back down at the Patriarch.

"What's it for?"

"To celebrate the day when my uncle Harrow abolished the order of Sicarius Nox!"

Winter watched the mare smile widely, gazing at the brightly lit sky.

"I think maybe that's why I brought you here. To have a good look at the fireworks."

"Is that it?" she asked with a sly grin.

The Patriarch let out a sheepish laugh, a faint, pink blush rushing to his cheeks.

"Look, Diane," he held his breath, the pink mare giggling at her middle name before he continued:

"I really like you. Alright, I mean I love you, okay? I really wish that I could just start over in some point of my life with you, because I'm with Harmony now and... things... with her... can't really escalate from there on out."

"You mean-"

"Harmony changed for the worse," he cut in before she could speak.

"And seeing you.... you're the most special pony I've ever met."

Pinkie fumbled around with her words, trying her best not to blush in front of the stallion. She could feel her heart starting to burst out of her chest with a flurry of need, before noticing her tail suddenly starting to twitch rapidly.

"Twitch-a-twitch!" she squeaked out, the two of them gazing at her cotton-like appendage tossing about.

"Twitch-a-twitch!"

"What do you mean by 'twitch-a-twitch'?" Winter asked frantically.

"Is it something you ate this morning? I can't really help you when I have no idea-"

*BOOM*

"AH!!"

The pink mare suddenly hopped in surprise at a loud explosion in the sky, hanging there for only a mere second before snapping out of the weak thread of air.

Winter suddenly let out a loud 'umph' as the full weight of the mare suddenly crushed down upon his hooves, her face looking down onto his. He could feel her warm breath on his face with every pant she makes, before Pinkie let out a small giggle, her cheeks reddening with time.

"It's my P-Pinkie Sense," she explained sheepishly.

"A twitchy tail usually means something is falling. I though it was a firework, but it seems it was just me..."

"You fell for me?" he rephrased, giving her a small grin.

The two of them started to laugh, though the pink mare never lifted herself up.

She grew closer to the stallion, her ears tingling at his small breaths. She tried not to give in to the urge, but the smile on Winter's face only beckoned her closer, his small, permissive nod only wiping out any discouragement.

In a split second, the pair's lips met, instantly warming up in the sensuality of the night.

Her tongue was like an aphrodisiac, Winter thought to himself, feeling his own squirming around hers with the sweet taste of cotton candy (or maybe it was just her?) already starting to leak out of their mouths, dripping onto the cold, smooth carpet grass that they were lying on.

The stallion brought her closer, her arousal shuddering with every moan she makes. Her hooves responded with a wonderful caress on his cheek, the soft and tender grind of chest against chest a shower of water on the seeds of lust, the roots of it entangled in their oral arabesque.

"W-Winter..." Pinkie shuddered as she felt his hoof running down her waist, her tongue still working furiously and drilling into his mouth, letting the lewd mixture of their saliva crawl down their cheeks.

She ground herself against his hoof, letting out a pleasured cry whilst breaking their kiss immediately, followed by a squeak of humility.

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

Winter just smiled, before jerking her back down again, his tongue immediately plunging into her mouth, re-engulfing them in a torrential wave of ecstasy.

Body against body, tongue against tongue... it seemed perfect to the both of them. A small tear fell onto the stallion's face, only making him produce his own as well.

Their sweat and teardrops fell with the saliva from their mouths, their hooves gripping tightly with the yearning of never wanting to let go. The heat flourished between them, nourished even more by the grand bonfire that blazed right beside them, before their kiss broke, snapping them out from euphoria.

Pinkie sniffled, before crying in Winter's chest, the stallion still lying on the ground, trying to wipe his own tears away. He felt her hooves snuggle around his waist, whimpering out softly:

"I don't want you to go...... I d-don't want you to....."

The stallion returned her embrace, watching the last of the fireworks fizz across the sky. His heart was tangled in love, with one side pulling the strings of Harmony and the other doing the same for the mare that was lying on his chest.

"Let's sleep here for the night then," he suggested, making the pink mare look up.

"R-Really?"

"Just the two of us," he stated with a grin, making the mare giggle.

"No other pony than you and me."

"I'd.... love that," she whispered quietly, before closing her eyes.

Letting out a murmur of delight and satisfaction, her hooves still embracing the stallion, Pinkie started to smile, even more so when the Patriarch stroke her mane.

Winter soon closed his eyes as well, feeling content for the warmth of the mare on his chest.

He held her close, letting out a silent yawn, as the pair slept under the bright moon, relishing in the quiet, serene moment of the night.

With nopony else but each other.

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Present Day

Fatigue encumbered their hooves as Winter and Harmony streaked across the polished marble floor, the ponies all around still watching in awe and amazement at their seemingly endless waltz.

The two smiled, trying to hide their discontent and distrust from the bystanders, unaware of the devilish battle sparking from their cold gazes among each other.

Harmony scoffed first, her impatience growing as she scowled:

"Stellar really thinks he's got everything under control, doesn't he?"

"Believe me, I would've killed him myself," the Patriarch replied coldly.

"Who wants to dance with their worst enemy anyway?"

"Just plain lovely..." she hissed as a response, making Winter chuckle.

The stallion glanced around among the innocent faces of the crowd, seeing a few of the palace guards and notable police-ponies sealing the entrance and exits, their attention fixated at the dancing duo.

He bit his lip; Caduceus could've at least send more capable ponies to handle this job. They wouldn't stand a chance against Harmony if she attempts to escape.

"So," he mused, catching the pink unicorn's interest.

"It seems you're here for some reason."

"You could say that," Harmony replied, flashing him a devious grin.

"He has plans to make, and he requires my specialty."

"Even if you'll fail?"

"That's the best part," she cried out gleefully, her hooves quivering with excitement.

"He always finds the answer to everything. If I fail, he always knows how to make it up."

"And would you say that this mysterious pony," Winter began, giving her a questionable stare.

"Would be here right now?"

"Not that I know of."

The pair continued their dance, their steps memorized with a hint of nostalgia. All eyes were fixed onto the pair, the symphony finally escalating to the climax, signaling the ending of the dance.

Harmony suddenly smiled cunningly, her voice a content whisper:

"I think I know what to do."

"And what is that?"

"You need to convince your guests that there's nothing else besides the ball, and I need to just find a certain somepony."

The mare cackled under her breath as Winter's face darkened, her two blades beginning to unsheathe with the red aura from her horn.

"You think I would let you go that easily?" the stallion scowled, twirling her around his hooves.

"Don't worry, Winter," Harmony replied, letting out a mere giggle.

"I'll make sure this ends spectacularly for you."

As soon as the music stopped, the Patriarch felt himself being suddenly pushed away, watching in surprise as the pink unicorn raised her hooves, glancing sultrily towards him.

With the last hum of the string, she clopped them together, before swinging her dress wide to the side, whirling it like a propeller at full speed. His horror only came later when the dress spiraled inwards like a black hole, vanishing into nothingness.

The loud sound of everypony else clopping invaded his ears, as he could only stare in shock.

The doors frantically opened, the stone panels of it grinding loudly with the guards that once stood beside it now rushing out frantically, their words and explanations rushing into their radios.

Winter could only growl at Harmony's disappearance, yet he couldn't storm off just yet; he still had a crowd to appease before him.

Forcing out a wide grin, his jaws already hurting, he gave a slight bow, only making the clops ever more louder as the Patriarch himself cursed under his breath, before muttering at the recently absent mare:

"Still the same cunning, little fox..."

Voyager's Arc: Truth Or Dare

The mellow daylight shimmered with the shadows of trees shading the pair, the singing chirp of the haven's birds melodic under the warm brilliance of the sun.

Winter stirred, before opening his eyes, shielding them under his hoof. With a content sigh, he glanced down at the mare that laid on his chest, stifling a small yawn before a grin formed on his lips.

It's been the fifth time in the month that he and Pinkie had ventured here; the same place they had first shared a kiss underneath the dazzling fireworks, far from the watching eyes of the other ponies back in the palace. They had always sneaked out the palace the same way with success, though this time the visit was completely different for the mare.

"Pinkie," Winter muttered, gently shaking her hoof.

There was an inaudible mutter, before she started shifting, yet her head slumped back down, still enjoying her deep, comfortable slumber.

A soft chuckle flew from the stallion's mouth, before he shook her again.

"Pinkie, we have to go."

Another small mumble emanated from the pink mare, before Pinkie lifted herself up, rubbing her tired eyes.

Her mane draped across her head like a gloomy curtain as she glanced up at the stallion, the fresh tears of lost hope springing from her eyes.

Winter tried not to think about their discussion last night; the one where the pink mare broke down into a tirade of endless sobs. The guilt from it all only stung him deep, the whiplash of emotions only painfully reminding himself of his once-comforting predicament.

"We've talked about this last night," he said in a stern tone at the whimpering mare, though it only shivered with remorse and apologies.

"Both of us have to move on."

Pinkie just sniffled, before hesitantly nodding.

"But I don't want to..." she whined, wiping her tears away.

"Come here," the stallion beckoned in his soft, tender voice. In response, the pink mare shifted to his side, lying again onto his chest.

She smiled a sad smile as the same, strong set of hooves were wrapped around her, clinging her against Winter tightly in a cradle of warmth. A small tear leaked from the corners of her eye, trailing down her cheeks.

Winter nipped at her ear, making her giggle. He chuckled as well, before teasing:

"You really are a big baby, aren't you Diane?"

His 'punishment' for the comment, as the Patriarch would effortlessly put it himself, was a small, enticing kiss on his lips. He tried not to chuckle at her playful grin, returning the kiss with his own on her cheek

"You really know how to please a stallion," he continued, brushing her mane aside.

"You're still... going along with your plan, aren't you?"

Pinkie's smile faded suddenly, looking down dejectedly at the blades of grass around her.

Her tight embrace with the stallion split apart, only making Winter blink in surprise. She clenched her hooves tightly as she trotted away, reeling herself from his attempts to comfort her.

"Pinkie..." he called her in a disheartened tone, quickly following after her.

"You know I don't want to see you like this."

There was no response from the pink mare, prompting him to sigh in defeat.

"I just... wanted you to be happy, Pinkie. Happy for me and-"

"Happy?!!"

Her shriek made a few birds flutter out from the forest, the Patriarch taken aback himself.

Winter watched as she panted, venting out her anger with her brows furrowed in rage. She gritted her teeth forcefully, holding back her tears which were already pouring out like a shower.

"Happy...?" she repeated again with a shiver, this time in a more quieter tone.

"Do I look happy to you?"

"Pinkie, I just-"

"DO I?!"

Her fierce roar only shunned the stallion, before he replied, his confidence collapsing immediately:

"No. No you don't."

"But I need your permission," he continued.

Pinkie stood in her unnerving silence, her head wrenching in the turmoil seas of thought.

"Please?" the Patriarch pleaded, cupping her hooves tightly in his own.

The mare just shuddered slightly, wiping the endless flow of tears off her cheeks. She tried to say 'no', yet it couldn't rush out of her mouth, trapped underneath her web of anxiety.

She felt her throat lurch, her head surrendering to her inner voice amidst her mental debate; if it is what's best for him, and for the both of them, there's only one answer for that question.

"If... I-If it makes you happy, then I'll go along with it."

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The stone door slid shut behind them with a loud click as Stellar and Sidus stepped out from the empty cavern which once held the ruins of Calormor, back into the stone tiles of the mausoleum.

Around them were a field of coffins, with narrow paths for them to walk in. The butler himself could scarcely remember how much ponies were buried here, though it doesn't matter now.

He turned to his friend, who was gazing down at the platform before them, letting out a nostalgic sigh.

The powerful, firm statues that stood around them brought back the memories of the days before Harrow took the throne, reminding them of the volley of cheers with assortments of blades, guns and daggers raised into the air.

Sidus looked down in sentimental yearning, remembering the day he was invited by Pendulum to be a part of the now-obsolete group. His rage erupted a little, his teeth gritting in exasperation.

"It's the past, Sidus," Stellar reminded him.

"We have bigger problems to attend to now."

All at once, his fury of emotions seemed to have calmed, letting the distant echo fade back to the deeper recesses of his mind.

"Seems one of our friends doesn't appreciate Calormor vanishing like that," he mused grimly.

"The Patriarch has plans to seek out her motive," the butler explained.

"It seems there has been a few disturbances in their relationship recently."

Sidus just scoffed indignantly, his friend giving him a look.

"Marefriend starting to see how ignorant they are?"

"It was a Palgiot that brought you to where you are today, Sidus-"

"And a Palgiot that ruined my dreams as well," he shot back callously.

"All this time, my life was living in Pendant Lakes and working with Sicarius. Now, my only darn duty is to flip out a pair of binoculars and watch two little pesky tweeters fighting on the trees. My life of adrenaline and action reduced to mere birdwatching... a blasphemous crime in itself, I tell you-!"

"Enough, Sidus," Stellar cut in, crossing his hooves.

"You can't expect good things to last forever, don't you?"

The assassin just grumbled under his breath, his head turned away with ignorance.

His friend just rolled his eyes, shaking his head with disappointment at his friend and muttering under his breath:

"Stubborn pony you are, Sidus."

Descending down the pyramidal structure, the two of them took a turn, heading into one of the small antechambers in the mausoleum, the dust sweeping across the stone slabs like paddy fields in the wind.

The gushing blare of water quickly filled their ears as they ventured deeper into the subterranean catacombs, ignoring the few watchful skulls that were etched into the walls as torches, with wax dripping from the empty eye sockets.

"And suddenly you're concerned for the well-being of this place," Sidus queried.

"Morteoro is stirring," the butler warned with a grimace, making his friend frown.

"I intend to request for a better fortification for this place from the Patriarch, but it seems he has other distractions as of the situation at hand."

"You mean to say that she..."

Sidus stopped, trying to manage out the confusion and shock in his head.

"I-I see... and when did you expect that will happen?"

Stellar reached for the wall, his hoof touching on the cold surface of the stone switch built inside a niche, he glanced down at the torrential column of water before him, raining down from a ever-spinning waterwheel constructed above, before splattering upon a brown granite ring, forming a curtain of water shielding the center of the cavern from the eyes of the ponies.

With a small grunt, the butler pulled the switch down, a loud grinding of stone against stone responding immediately. The cascading waterfall started to diminish, the remainder all falling into a deep pit of water behind the ornate, iron-grilled platform, the curtain of droplets on the stone ring ceasing as they parted, beckoning the two stallions to step inside.

Sitting quietly and patiently on the bowl of a bird bath was a luminous glass cube, glowing a fiery dark red in its demonic splendor. Its edges were covered in a fine brass frame, a few droplets landing on its cold surface.

Both Stellar and Sidus frowned at the red lexicon, watching it flare up in their presence.

"Harrow had trouble sealing this fellow up," the assassin joked.

"He wouldn't be too happy if this guy springs up again."

"Not to mention Axle himself," his friend mused.

The deceased Palgiot himself was buried amidst the cluster of coffins at the top of the pyramid, overlooking the mausoleum like a sentinel even in his death.

"I do believe that Miss Peridot would've had knowledge of this location already, seeing how we had to pass through here in our exit from the South Gate."

Sidus just sighed with dejection, the small drop of water trickling down his head making him quip with interest:

"Can't believe they built this under a lake."

"Lakes," Stellar corrected, referring to the grand, refreshing sanctuary that stood above them, hiding the stone, crypt-like entrance into the underground tomb. There were many times the Crux Four had ventured down here, though he himself had never been as nervous as this visit.

"For this time, I guess we'll just have to wish for the best."

"And if the worst happens?"

The butler flinched at his friend's question. He bit his lip, glancing at uncertainty at the glowing box, who seemed to laugh maniacally at their distress.

"Well," he replied, stepping out of the circular rotunda, flipping the stone switch back up. The granite circles above their heads start to rotate once more, with the torrential rush of water once again overtaking the roofless, pillared center.

His cold frown was evident, his face showing the uncertainty that he and Sidus, not to mention the rest of Pendant Lakes, had shared.

"If the worst were to happen..."

"We'll have no choice but to act spontaneously."

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"Harmony. Ever since I met you, I've been longing to tell you that..."

Winter groaned for the sixteenth time out of frustration, pacing about the library with his hooves crossed. With a sigh, he tried to run the lines down again, this time settling himself down on the chair.

Pinkie was there as well, trying her best not to laugh out loud, though the stallion could already hear her snickering behind a small book, much to his annoyance.

"You're not helping, Pinkie," he said soberly, stopping in his tracks.

The mare just rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out at the nervous stallion.

"It's not like I intend it to happen anyway."

He have to admit she was right. After all, when Winter broke out the news during their little escapade in the woods last night, she immediately broke down in despair. It was lucky she decided to accept it this morning, though there was still that trace of denial lingering over her.

The Patriarch turned back, restarting his aimless pace as he began his rehearsal:

"Harmony. Ever since I met you, I've been longing to tell you that you're the most beautiful and generous mare that I had ever met. Of course, there are many mistakes that I've done in life-"

"Like kissing another mare~!" Pinkie interrupted, before bursting out in laughter.

Winter just shook his head, trying not to groan as the pink pony slammed her hooves on the table with merriment, her body convulsing with an endless wave of guffaws, which only heightened as he gave her a stare.

Stifling a sigh, he sat across Pinkie as her laughter died down, the mare now wiping a few tears of joy. The stallion rolled his eyes, leaning against the velvet chair.

"What am I going to do with you..." he muttered halfheartedly, his lips breaking out into a smile at the other pony's gleeful grin.

"I don't know!" Pinkie replied meekly with a sarcastic shrug.

"Have a little fun, maybe?"

"Well, I'm not really finished with my script, thanks to your interruptions," he replied, giving her a cynical stare. The pink pony just responded with a sheepish laugh.

"So it seems I have to decline."

"But can't you just relax for a moment?" the pink mare whined.

"It's not like it would hurt just stretching your back and have some time off, hmmm?"

Winter blinked for a second, slightly blushing at her suddenly sultry tone. Pinkie just responded with a playful giggle, with her chin leaning against her hoof, her frizzy mane bouncing frivolously.

"W-Well," he stammered, scratching his mane, "I might need some... uh... time to think of this for a while..."

"Yay!!" she screeched triumphantly.

"What shall we do then?"

Before the Patriarch could respond, Pinkie gasped loudly with delight, hopping in her seat.

"Ooh! Ooh! I know what we can play! I know what we can play!"

The stallion sighed, before asking:

"What is it?"

"Truth or Dare!!"

Winter only stared blankly at the mare, who looked like she was about to erupt from happiness.

"What?"

Another loud gasp of shock came from Pinkie, the pink pony's jaw agape with disbelief.

"You... I-I.... you mean.... what....you..." she stammered, before holding a deep breath and shouting out:

"You don't know how to play Truth or Dare?!!"

The shake of the Patriarch's head only shocked her even more, before she pouted, her face flurried up with determination.

"Everypony knows that game!" she exclaimed, somewhat disappointed, though her smile widened.

"Here! I'll show you!"

Slowly, Pinkie explained the basic rules of the game to the stallion, who listened attentively and nodded throughout her long talk. The two laughed a few times as the mare demonstrated a few dares to him, before finally finishing with a wink.

"So, rookie," she nudged Winter with a playful smirk.

"Are you ready?"

"As always," the stallion replied with a cunning smile.

"Let's see... 'Truth'!"

"Alright then! Hmm..."

Pinkie stopped to think for a moment, her head squeezing out her brain juices from the deep crevasses of her mind, before finally popping out:

"Do you think Harmony's a little Miss Grumpypants the first time you met her?"

"Well... I-I..."

The mare tried to hold back her giggle while Winter sighed, waving his hoof in defeat,

"Alright, alright. A little bit."

He then steeled his determination, a devious smile forming on his face, a nod beckoning the other pony to make her decision.

"Alright, then! Dare!"

"Seems you want to raise the stakes a little, eh?" he joked, watching the mare giggle.

"Let's see.... I dare you to... act like my butler."

With a cough, Pinkie cleared her throat, standing up with a benevolent bow.

Winter chuckled as she sauntered towards, her face completely somber, her voice deepening as she spoke:

"Does Lord Palgiot wish to continue the game?"

The stallion laughed heartily in his seat, the pink mare smiling delightfully at that.

"I would love to." he replied in the same tone, before stating his decision:

"Dare."

"My turn!!" she squeaked happily.

I dare you..."

"To give me a kiss!"

"What?"

Winter's eyes widened his surprise at her proposed dare, unable to believe what she just said.

"You want me to what?"

"Give me a kiss!" she repeated gleefully, oblivious of the deep red blush on the stallion's face.

"It's an easy dare, Winter! As if you never kissed me before! Come on, Winter, there's no fun in backing out now!"

"But we've talked about it-"

"Plus, in a Truth or Dare game," she continued yapping, ignoring Winter's protests.

"You can't really back out of the dare! If you do, then it'll be cheating in a game! Aha! That would mean you're a no good, little creepster cheater!!"

"Pinkie."

"I mean, it's such an easy dare to do! It doesn't hurt to at least try it out once in awhile cause otherwise if somepony puts you in that kind of position, you wouldn't know what to do it when you're forced to do it. Maybe in like Truth or Dare contests or parties..."

"Pinkie?" he tried again, without success.

"...or maybe Harmony would even want you do it! That would mean it's a perfect time to practice on playing Truth or Dare right now before it's too late! After all, it's just a matter of time that you go according to your plan-"

"Pinkie!!"

Winter's shout broke her off immediately, the whole room plunging into silence.

"Pinkie, we've talked about this," he stated clearly, looking at the mare's slightly startled expression.

"Yesterday night will be our last time we would kiss."

"But..." she began, giving out a small whimper.

"But I thought you liked me..."

"I do, but once Harmony and I get married, we can't... meet like this anymore."

The stallion noticed her mane starting to flatten, only showing her rising despondency. Biting his lip. he pressed on, his hooves clenching tightly yet nervously.

"And all these kissing... I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have done it at all."

"Why are you lying to yourself?"

Winter gazed up, surprised at her suddenly cold mood. Her usually puffy mane was now draping over her neck, her teeth grinding in anxiety.

His eye caught a few tears dripping down her cheeks, claimed only by the cold surface of the marble floor. She started to shiver, prompting him to reach her shoulder.

"Pinkie, I-"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!!"

Out of the blue, Winter felt himself tumbling backwards, crashing into the tables.

He yelped out in pain, fondling his brazened cheek, which was now a faint red with a brash imprint of a hoof mark onto it. Gazing up at Pinkie, he held his breath as she stood before him, her expression of fury and wrath,

"So you hated me all this while?" she muttered coldly, grabbing him by the throat.

"P-Pinkie.... just let me explain..."

"So all this time.... everything was just.... a trick?!"

There was a sniffle from the mare, though her grip on Winter's throat was still tightening, only making the stallion turn blue, his hind hooves flailing and writhing about in the air.

"A... A lie...?"

"P-Pinkie...." the stallion managed to gasp out.

"Tr... Truth...."

"ENOUGH!!" she screamed into the Patriarch's face, throwing him back into the tables.

Winter slammed onto the wooden surface, letting out an agonized cry as he gasped for air. He crawled towards the bookshelves, hearing the sound of Pinkie's hoofsteps approaching closely.

"Pinkie... p-please," he tried, turning back to face her rage.

"Don't do anything you would regret doing."

"Like what?!" she shouted, grabbing one of the chairs and raising them up high.

Without warning, she slammed it onto the stallion, earning a yowl of pain from him. He raised his hooves in self-defense, spitting out blood and managing to answer as she lifted the chair once more:

"Like killing the pony who loved you."

Everything suddenly stopped; the aura of hatred dissipating, the hellish wrath in Pinkie's eyes.

She lowered her hooves down, releasing the chair from her tight grasp with a loud 'thunk' against the floor.

Winter just pushed himself up, limping towards the pink mare, who was completely frozen in shock, her gaze glued to the floor with her eyes widening with realization.

"Wh... what have I..." the stallion could hear her mutter, her sobs starting to form.

Pinkie felt a hoof on her shoulder, her gaze turning to the stallion's concerned face.

He brought her closer, his breath tingling in her ear as he asked:

"Truth or Dare?"

The mare blinked in surprise at first, before giving her answer with a quiver:

"Truth."

The Patriarch suddenly embraced her, only surprising her even more. She shuddered with content at the warmth wrapping around her body like a scarf, though nothing prepared her for the question he was about to ask:

"If Harmony and I never met, would you say 'yes' if I proposed to you instead?"

The silence overwhelmed the room, the mare torn in a state of denial.

Winter waited patiently, feeling the tears of the mare dripping against his shoulder. The warmth radiating from her pink coat simmered in his heart, his mind flashing back on their previous encounters.

"Yes."

"Your turn, then," he responded, unfazed by her answer.

"I'll pick 'Dare'."

Pinkie just whimpered, her mane brushed aside gently with a sway of the stallion's hoof. His embrace was strong yet docile, fueling the sensation of need inside her chest.

Her challenge sounded more like a request, the mare putting out hesitantly in words:

"I dare you... to... to give me a kiss... please..."

Despite his reluctance, Winter gave her a smile.

The pink pony turned towards him, leaning against her chest. The stallion stroked her mane neatly, nipping at her ear with a soft whisper, which also conveyed a painful reminder:

"One last time..."

With that, he pressed his lips against hers, making her heart burst with heavenly satisfaction like beer to an alcoholic, fulfilling her craving for his taste. His tongue encircled at the corners of her mouth, relishing the sweet, lust-filled moment in his undoubtedly secret desire for her.

Pinkie felt herself leaning against the bookcase, mercilessly and willingly assaulted by his rapturous flair of his tongue, feeling the warm taste of both their saliva slopping amidst each other's mouth. She squeaked suddenly, her face flushed with embarrassment and arousal as she felt one of his hooves reaching down, caressing her waist.

Suddenly, his lips parted, leaving the mare panting with lust as he asked a question:

"Do you love me?" he asked.

"Always..." was her reply, before their lips locked once more.

The euphoria was stronger this time, leaving them clinging at the edge of ecstasy. Their lust blossomed to their hooves, which started to caress each other's bodies, admiring the figure that the other pony possessed.

Reaching down between her hooves, Winter jerked upwards suddenly, making her cry out in pure bliss. She started a furious moan, though it stopped once his hooves parted, now fondling the side of her blushing cheeks.

Their lips separated again, the mare now squirming as she succumbed to her need.

"Please..." she begged, falling onto the floor with her tears running down her face.

Winter's eyes watered, the stallion himself treasuring this one last moment with her.

"With pleasure," he replied, wiping her tears away.

The third in the row, their lips clashed once more, their tongues thrashing about fiercely like swords in the damp battlefield as they kissed on the floor. Pinkie felt her hoof starting to sting with pain from the intense grip of the stallion over her, pinning her down onto the marble tiles, yet she doesn't care.

She moaned loudly once, before reducing it to soft squeaks as Winter worked his tongue in again. There seemed to be no end to the lasciviousness, blossoming intensely with sweat dripping onto the marble floor.

Neither noticed the small pair of eyes that watched from the small crack of the door, her horror only outmatched by her anger.

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The stroll down the corridor was a quiet one.

Pinkie sighed plaintively, gazing out of the terrace of Palgiot Palace, down at the spiraling pathway towards the majestic town of Pendant Lakes below. It was reminiscent of Canterlot, in a mystical kind of way, seeing how active the town is even at night.

The town was a majestic dandelion of lights, shimmering flamboyantly despite its novelty as a small, antique town. Ponies of all ages were still doing their duties, tirelessly sauntering about the pavements and cherishing the cooling presence of the night.

The mare herself once ventured down the town with Primrose, busy checking out one of the few churches that dominated the plazas. She nearly slept during one of the choir gospels; the result of forceful silence by the priests after her endless wave of talking.

Wearing a small grin, she continued down the terrace, remembering her library session with Winter in the afternoon. The queer taste of vanilla still lingered in her lips, making her pucker them to have a savor of it.

The Patriarch should be in his room now, getting ready for his proposal towards Harmony. She had knew full well it would happen sooner or later, though, she smiled, she was never prepared for it.

Oh well, Pinkie thought to herself. If he's happy, then I'm happy.

"Trust me when I say the Celestia-be-damned truth to your bucking face! It's OVER!"

The door before her suddenly slammed open, making her flinch in the spot.

She blinked in confusion, watching as Harmony emerged from the room, galloping off with small tears flying in the wind. Winter soon followed, though he noticed Pinkie's presence in the corridor.

"Where did she go?" the stallion frantically asked her.

"Pinkie? Where did she go?!"

"D-Down the corridor!" she exclaimed.

"Thanks!"

Before he could rush off, however, Winter felt a firm grip on his shoulder, making him turn.

"Winter, what happened?" Pinkie asked, utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"Did we.... got caught?"

"Seems Harmony spotted our game in the library," he mused, before heading off.

"I think you'll have to come along as well. It might be better for the both of us."

They turned around the bend, quickly galloping after the mare, who was already running off down the terrace, sniffling loudly as she pushed a maid away, the trays of warm porcelain teacups and glass plates clattering onto the floor.

"Harmony!!" Pinkie called out, though it only fueled the other mare's desperate escape.

"GO AWAY!!" she screamed, clutching her head.

The pink unicorn stumbled for a moment, before making a sharp turn to the ride, galloping frantically from her pursuers. Winter soon did the same, trying his best to chase after his marefriend.

In response, she suddenly pummeled into one of the guards, snatching his musket.

The Patriarch skidded to a halt, Pinkie doing the same beside him as Harmony raised the musket, aiming it at the both of them, her eyes warped in frenzy.

"Don't you dare move!!" she screamed in her loud sobs, the gun shivering in her hooves.

"ANY OF YOU!!"

"Harmony, we can talk about this-"

"There's NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!!" she shot back, firing one of the bullets into the air.

Pinkie yelped at the loud sound of the gunshot, cringing stiff on the spot. Harmony's glare only struck terror onto her, her former friend now shouting with spite:

"You used me, Pinkie!! You used me to get him!!"

"No!" she began to protest.

"It's not what you think-"

"Is it?!" she sneered, her gun positioned towards the pink mare.

"You didn't think I see you guys kissing in the library?! How much longer do you think the both of you can hide this from me. JUST HOW MUCH LONGER?!!"

"Harmony!!"

Charter's booming voice snapped into her rants, the pegasus suddenly darting in with a stern expression on his face. Primrose was right there as well, only able to express her shock at her friend's crazed behavior.

"Put the gun down, Harmony," he warned, slowly approaching the pink unicorn.

Despite that, she only raised the gun a little higher, her rifle swapping targets out of pure confusion and hatred.

"Nopony moves unless I say so!!"

"Harmony, just put down the gun!" Winter shouted, trying her best to snap her out of it.

"Don't you see? We're your friends! We're all trying to help you-"

"SAVE YOUR BUCKING LITTLE WORDS FOR THAT SLUT!!"

Pinkie could only gasp in shock, her hooves clenched in denial.

"H-Harmony...?"

"Don't you use that tone now," the Patriarch pressed on, warily approaching the mare.

Harmony started clutching her head, her migraine searing like an accursed brand, yet her grip on the musket on her other hoof still remained firm, whirling tightly as she slowly backed away from the approaching ponies surrounding her.

"Stay away from me!!" she screamed, waving her gun about.

Her back finally touched the smooth surface of the stained glass windows, the pressure around her flaring up with the agonizing jolt of pain in her head.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"

The neglected sound of cracking made Pinkie's ears perk, making her shout immediately:

"Harmony!! The window!!"

Suddenly, the loud shatter of glass filled the air as Harmony gasped, her eyes widened in horror as she fell backward, her tears leaping in the invading rays of the moonlight. The world seemed to slow around them, with Winter being the first to react with a leap towards the mare, trying to reach for her hoof in vain.

The pink unicorn closed her eyes, her mouth opened in a silent scream, letting the weight of gravity ensnare her. Only one thought ran through her mind, twisting into her head like a drill.

"He was right..."

"HARMONY!!!" Winter shouted as the pink unicorn fell into the gaping darkness, his hoof reaching out into the air around them.

Pinkie, Charter and Primrose could only look in horror, with the caramel mare being the only one stifling a gasp. All of them were frozen onto the spot, looking down into the black spiral of the night.

"Get Stellar," the Patriarch muttered, before whirling back in a bout of rage.

"GET STELLAR NOW!!!"

Immediately, the guards galloped off, their weapons rattling against their red uniforms. The four of them stepped back, with Winter being the first to clench his hooves.

"Get me a lamp," he demanded, wiping his tears away while Charter nodded, speeding off as a request from the stallion, not wanting to anger him any further.

"Winter...?" Pinkie tried to call him, though he merely responded with a grimacing stare.

She stepped back, a small tear dripping across the floor with her hooves tucked together in regret, her head hanging low with remorse.

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

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Present Day

"You want us to what now?"

"Like Ah said," Applejack repeated once more, looking at the crowd of ponies before her.

"The Princesses have requested for some assistance from some of these dragons."

"Like, finally!!" Lyra exclaimed gleefully, earning a look from Bon Bon.

"So," the pale beige mare cleared her throat.

"You want us to just fly off to wherever they are on a pack of dragons, and just.... wait?"

"Exactly," was the orange mare's reply, earning a chorus of uncertain murmurs among the residents of Ponyville.

The townsfolk had gathered just outside the town hall after Applejack was relayed of the alicorn's orders from Jovern. The black dragon himself was there as well, along with his younger brother.

"Ah said if the Princesses need our help, then we had to follow her orders, whatever in tarnation they are!"

There was a moment of silence, before the mare spotted a raised hoof.

"Yes, Doctor Whooves?"

"So, pardon me if it gets a little offensive," the stallion replied with a sheepish grin.

"But is it prominent that our arrival to this... Pendant Lakes... must be exemplary?"

"Seems that way ta me," Applejack replied.

"Ah just need a bunch of volunteers ta help. We need all the help we can get?"

"But why dragons?" somepony asked in the crowd.

Immediately, everypony started questioning once more, with Jovern and Kane looking skeptically at the ponies before them, their tongues flicking with annoyance, with the crimson dragon whispering to her:

"Seems, Applejack, that we have a dire situation here."

"Everypony quit your yappin'!"

Immediately, the growing ruckus died down, making way of Applejack's voice as she cleared her throat.

"It's no question that the dragon's decided to take their first move, but that doesn't mean we have ta strike back as well, don't we? In fact, these dragons are the only hope to reachin' the town in no time at all!"

Fluttershy raised her hoof meekly, prompting the orange mare to look at her friend.

"Yes, Shy. What is it ya wanna say?"

"Um.... Don't we as... uh.... ponies.... that we.... um... as ponies, of course..."

"Go on~?" she beckoned the yellow pegasus, who held her breath as she continued speaking:

"Don't we... you know... um... have to work together for... um... the safety of Equestria?"

Applejack pondered for a moment, before clicking her hooves onto the stage.

"That's right!" she shouted.

"What m'ah friend here said was completely true. We have to work together, even if it was our most hostile of enemies, for the safety of our land!"

There were a few agreeable nods, though the orange mare wasn't done yet.

"Sure, they had burned our fields black with their flames! Sure, they had took us hostage in our houses. Sure, they made the Princess sign a treaty we never wanted to make!"

"But we're now fightin' against the same enemy, so why not we work together! Am Ah right, or am Ah right?!"

The responding silence was nearly nerve-wrecking for her, the orange mare planning to hastily step down before a bright crimson hoof was raised into the air.

"Ah'll believe in m'ah sister's words," Big Mac bellowed, steeling with determination.

"Despite what the dragons did to us, she was right; we're both fighting the same pony! And now Celestia demands our help, and we're given the chance to become heroes!"

Fluttershy soon followed suit, suddenly frowning with determination, much to the surprise of everypony else.

"That's right! We must forget our past mistakes! We must build a better future for all of us! For all of Equestria!"

Soon, a couple of voices followed in agreement, their nods accompanied by the sounds of cheering.

"We must work together!" some of them chorused. "For Equestria and for the Princesses!" the others cheered.

The whole crowd, or more affectionately put, the whole of Ponyville then rallied, their hooves raised in the air. The sight only made Applejack smile with warmth, before she roared:

"Then let's see why we're the toughest ponies in all of Equestria! Let's show them what we can do!!"

Everypony cheered gleefully in unison, their hooves clopping beatifically with their heads held high.

The orange mare on the podium smiled, her heart tingling with the warmth of the unity she had finally bridged with the dragons. She let out a relieved sigh, before feeling a scaly paw on her shoulder.

"That was one heck of a rally." Kanov'hin mused with delight, the two chuckling among each other.

"Never knew you had that fighting spirit in you, Applejack. Couldn't have done it better myself."

Applejack could only blush as the dragon gave her a proud peck on her cheek, before she hugged his colossal snout, nuzzling it passionately.

"Aw shucks...."

"Come on, you little lovebirds," Jovern teased with a hearty chuckle, flapping his wings as he hovered into the air.

His face, steeled with determination, gazed forward into the distance. With a sigh, he glanced back at the newly-formed couple, the orange mare now clutching tightly on his younger brother's scales, with many of the other ponies following suit on the platoon of dragons behind him.

With a grin, he readied his claws, kicking the dust behind him, before soaring off into the distant sunset, admiring the glimmering spectacle before him, with only a single thought lingering in his mind, stirring his determination for the mission he was given.

To Pendant Lakes it is.

Voyager's Arc: The Rise Of Mirror Mare

Rain...

"He wouldn't do that..."

The silent patters of it fell upon the woodlands of Pendant Lakes, with the majority of it running down the slanted cliffs of Hoovingaar Mountain, engulfing its small crevices in a torrential flush of water.

"He would never..."

Each drop fell onto the surface like a silent echo to her, waking her up.

Harmony Peridot muttered a little, reaching around before glancing up into the black sky, towards the endless spears of droplets pouring around. The sound of shattered glass still rang in her head, though the shards of it lying around her only disproved her theories of it being a horrible nightmare.

"That means he... Pinkie..."

Lifting herself up, she suddenly yelped out in pain, before collapsing back onto the stone and mud.

Her hoof seared with an abhorrent burn, her face slamming once more with a splash of damp dirt. She gritted her teeth, trying in vain to push herself up.

She only trotted a few steps, before falling down again, this time tumbling down the slope. With a loud cry, she pummeled again, this time into a puddle of mud, drenching herself in the sloppy mess of dirt and rain.

"Didn't I tell you?"

Harmony gasped at the sound of that voice, watching as a white pony emerged from the woods like a phantom of death, his smile only mocking at her predicament.

The mare could only push herself backward as the stallion approached her. He chuckled coldly, brushing his black mane with a kick of dirt at the unicorn's face, only making her scowl in all her spite.

"Don't come any closer!"

"And what are you going to do? Arrest me to your coltfriend?"

His voice was slightly deep, with a cold sense of slickness somewhere in his heavily accented tone, the pink unicorn recognizing it as purebred English. With a flash of his smirk, he reached his hoof out towards the mare, who could only stare at it in bewilderment.

"Rise, Miss Peridot," he beckoned with a sparkle of his red pupils.

"You need not be afraid. I won't harm you."

With hesitation, Harmony hoisted herself up with his help, shaking her drenched mane free of mud.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked in cynicism.

"There will be benediction for the both of us," was his reply, guiding her under one of the pine trees.

"How did your crowd phrase it these days? Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?"

Together, the two ponies settled under the protective, green veil of branches, shielding them from the endless assault of water from the skies above. The white stallion bemused a grin as he handed Harmony a towel, in which the mare eagerly accepted. The rain around them started to fade away, now becoming a mere drizzle.

She quickly wiped the remaining dirt off her face, proceeding to clean her hooves as well. Her hind one particularly stung with pain, making her quiver with a sniffle.

"Y-You were right..." she muttered, "back in Fenderville.... when you told me..."

"That stallion would never amend his faults, or faux pas, as I would effortlessly put it."

The white pony passed her a handkerchief, the mare receiving it to wipe her tears.

"It would seem, however, that what interests me the most is your research on the matters. Have you attained knowledge of the ritual for the remnant yet?"

"I-I think..."

"Then be swift, my little pony," he replied, pecking Harmony on the cheek, making her blush.

"It's best we keep this confrontation ambiguous and, of course, our actions in covert. I don't tolerate any exposure of my plans, otherwise you might expect a small visit from me some time or another, understood?"

Before she could recover from her surprise and give a proper reply, a rustle made the both of them turn, with a voice calling out:

"Miss Harmony? Are you there?"

"Hurry now," the stallion beckoned, the two standing up as the unmistakable rays of flashlights flooded from the dense undergrowth of the forest. He darted off first, though not before stating to the mare:

"We'll rendezvous again in the future."

Harmony hastily limped away from the incoming lights, hearing Stellar's voice echo right behind.

"Miss Harmony?"

She slid down one of the less steep slopes, crunching her jaw with pain as she landed on her injured hoof. Her mind whirred tirelessly as her journey progresses, painfully reminding her of the day she first met Winter.

"How did it come to this..." she asked herself.

"How did it...?"

"The Palgiots never change."

"But W-Winter's different," she scolded at her inner voice, though with doubt.

"Isn't.... isn't he?"

"Then he shouldn't have chose Pinkie over you."

Harmony couldn't help but agree.

"But... Pinkie.... she knew I was with him.... she knew I was..."

"She took you for a fool, and she chose you to play the part."

"But the demons weren't worth it. It's too much for such a frail mare like her..."

"Remember why you did it, Harmony Peridot," the inner voice scowled.

"They had never accepted who you were ever since you joined the group. They had never approved of your relationship with Winter, yet it seems one of them stole the stallion from you."

"They betrayed you."

Those words made her growl, the rage suddenly flushing back into her. She dragged herself forward slowly into the forest, hissing and cursing at the agonizing pain she was suffering under.

"They betrayed me..." she muttered, grinding her teeth with spite.

"They think they're better than me.... they think they can outrun me and just... leave me in the dust... Well, buck Celestia and her ways... buck friendship and buck Equestria!"

As if on cue, a flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder boomed overhead. Her eyes then squinted with rage, her headache a blazing explosion as she finished with a mutter:

"And most of all.... buck Winter Palgiot and that bitch..."

"Pinkamena. Diane..... Die."

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"Have you spotted her yet?"

"Negative, my Patriarch," Caduceus's voice crackled through the radio.

"No sign of her over here."

Winter's worry only grew more frantic at the news, trudging through the forest with his eyes still scanning the woodlands in the obstructing darkness of the night.

"Stellar," he called his butler through the radio.

"Any sight of her over there?"

There was a loud crackle, before the butler gave the reply:

"She's not here."

He tried not to scowl, glancing around in the dark forest.his flashlight in his hoof while trudging through the uneven slopes of the mountain. A few guards followed behind, accompanying him in the search for the mare.

Pinkie was there as well, marching alongside the Patriarch. Her face was strewn with worry and, unbeknownst to the stallion beside her, regret. Her mouth had failed her a few times, wanting to strike up a conversation, though he never seemed to notice.

"W-Winter?" she finally spilled out, making the stallion turn.

Her breath was immediately stolen away at his frustrated expression, the mare eliciting nothing more than a mere squeak.

Winter Palgiot just furrowed his brows at that, before asking her:

"What is it?"

"Do... Do you..."

The desperate need to just flush the words out overwhelmed her, yet there was something else trapping them; something she couldn't put her hoof on.

There was a sigh, before the stallion whistled to the guards, who listened attentively as he ordered:

"Go on ahead. Report any signs of her as soon as possible."

"Roger."

Watching the guards quickly march off, Winter turned back to Pinkie, the pink mare still filled with doubt.

"Look," he said in a gentle tone, "they're gone now, alright? Now what is it you want to tell me?"

She tried to speak, though it only came out in a quiet mutter.

The Patriarch sighed once more, before leaning closer, brushing her straight mane aside.

"Come on, Pinkie," he tried again, watching her as she started to sniffle, her eyes watering with beads of tears forming quickly.

"You can trust me, remember?"

Pinkie gave a small whimper, before saying out:

"D-Do you... hate me...?"

Winter just stare at her in surprise, before laughing out loud heartily.

The pink mare tilted her head, looking at him in bewilderment, before feeling a hoof on her shoulder, the warmth of it making her tense with a slight discomfort.

"Oh, Diane...." he grinned, hugging her tightly.

"You know I'll never say that."

"B-But... I made her.... she saw us...."

"That doesn't mean I hate you, don't I?"

He placed his hooves on her shoulders, albeit tenderly, watching with concern as the mare looked away, feeling her uneasiness tingling from her breath.

"We'll talk with Harmony once we find her. I'm sure she can understand."

"But what if she didn't?" the mare asked frantically.

"What if she just.... don't want to be my friend anymore?"

"Then we'll have to stop her, no matter what," the stallion replied somberly.

Pinkie held her breath, before giving him a reluctant nod.

Winter smiled, before turning to his radio as it flared up with a crackle suddenly, with Stellar's voice coming through. It was filled with excitement and relief, which only raised his hopes.

"Guards spotted her heading towards your direction, my Patriarch!"

The stallion turned to Pinkie, who gave him a relieved smile.

"Where is she coming from?" he asked again.

"Should be west of your position."

The two immediately turned to their side, peering past the pine trunks of the towering stilts of trees all around, complicated even more by the foggy darkness of the night.

Winter shone his torch towards the woods, with only the damp forest floor and the few bushes, not to mention the bountiful pillars of wood all around.

"Let's go this way," he suggested to Pinkie.

"She may had veer off from our direction somehow."

The radio crackled suddenly only after a few steps forward, attracting the stallion's attention as he glanced down at his waist, perplexed at the device.

"Hold on a minute..." he said, giving the mare a sheepish grin.

"Stellar? Stellar, can you hear me?"

The crackle became louder as the pair advanced further into the forest, the land sloping down into a bowl of lush grass. Winter jiggled the radio in frustration, only hearing an endless wave of pointless hissing.

"Reception's bad here. Maybe I'll change the frequency a bit."

As he turned the knob, however, a loud, high-pitched screech blared from the speakers, burning into their ears.

Pinkie covered her ears, screaming in pain, the sound piercing like daggers into her very heart, her mind seared like a brand. She felt her head squirming with agony, the shrill sounding somewhat... organic...

With a loud cry, the Patriarch hoisted his revolver, with one hoof pulling the radio from his waist and tossing it onto the ground. He pulled the trigger twice, the radio sparking up at the bullets blasting into its surface.

The screeching noise died down abruptly, the radio fizzling a little, before whining down. Winter spat at it, kicking the metallic remains aside.

"What was that?!" Pinkie asked, horrified.

"I... I don't know..."

The two glanced at the broken device with uncertainty, the hellish sound still fresh in their minds.

"This never happened before," he said breathlessly, furrowing his brows.

"I don't think it's the radio that made this..."

The gentle breeze that blew suddenly stopped the moment he finished his sentence, the heartwarming noises of the nocturnal animals falling into an unsettling silence. Winter raised his revolver in response, before turning towards the mare, his hoof gesturing a demand of silence.

"Just in case," he whispered.

Without further ado, the pair continued their trek down the forest. Their gaze was fixed ahead, though the slight rustles of bushes from stray raccoons or rabbits made them turn a little.

Pinkie looked back, glancing up at Palgiot Palace, which stood tall on the cliff; a watchful eagle guarding over the town of Pendant Lakes from its stone nest. Each step deeper into the woodlands, the grand structure sinks lower into the horizon, its brilliant lights shimmering a faint glow from the distance.

The town was now under a blanket of quietude, the once-bustling streets all empty. There was nearly no lights from any of the windows, with the exception of a few houses and bars.

Swallowing a lump of courage, she clambered up one of the rockier, steeper cliffs, ascending further away from civilization.

With his gun at the ready, the Patriarch held his breath at the humid sweetness of water tingling his nose, nourishing both his hopes and his memory. He had been here a few times to the sanctuary during his father's reign, considering how hidden and how serene it is from the other places he had been.

His breath was taken once more at the majestic, pristine sight before him, free of any taint of modernization. The twin lakes shimmered from the faint glow of the moon, the amalgam of the pair only pleasing his yearn for solace.

Though there's no time for that now.

"Hoof tracks," Pinkie suddenly pointed out, craning her neck at the circle prints plastered in the mud.

"They're leading that way... to the South Gate."

Winter nodded, a part of him impressed by her memory, though his worry only grew at that.

There's nothing interesting in the South Gate, or more accurately, the family mausoleum, that Harmony would find, and he's sure she's not just going to pay a visit to the dead.

He held his breath at the entrance, the vine-strangled doors now wide open, revealing the musty darkness below. The gargoyles on the roof of the protruding structure stared at them, their disturbing smiles inviting them back in.

"Are you sure it's alright to go in?" Pinkie asked, glancing hesitantly into the spiraling black.

"Those... things... they might be down there..."

"Don't worry, Pinkie," Winter assured her, holding her hoof tightly.

He pondered for a moment, before saying:

"I'll go down alone, alright?"

"But, Winter-"

"It'll be better this way," he interrupted, giving the mare one more hug.

"Stay here and call the others over if you spot them."

"A-Alright..."

With a smile, the stallion took his first step onto the granite stairs, feeling the cold, dusty surface of the smooth stone with the thin threads of spiderwebs clinging around.

Pinkie looked on with increasing worry, before the Patriarch turned back, giving her a cheerful smile.

"Don't worry, Diane!" he exclaimed teasingly, the use of her middle name making her blush.

"It'll be over before you even know it!"

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"Blood spill on blood..."

Harmony held her shivering breath, avoiding the stone gaze of the towering statues around her, slowly trotting down the stone bridge which guided her way into the darkness, her guide being the flaming torch hovering beside her.

She stopped the moment the light unveiled a cascading set of stairs, no doubt leading up to the hoard of coffins resting above the mausoleum, with the gate down to the academy for the assassins still standing tall, though her interest immediately waded to the paths leading to the side, a smile starting to form the moment she spotted the entrance.

"Transgressions shalt be repressed... tribulations lost...

Blowing her torch out, she stepped into the circular corridor, her anticipation growing with time, her abhorrence at the grinning skulls around making her wrinkle her snout. She edged towards the sound of rushing water, her hoof skimming down the cold surface of the stone wall.

Holding her breath, she finally found it: the crack on the wall, as mentioned in the book. It was lucky she memorized its contents, knowing that Winter would dispose of it somehow.

"He'll rise anew, in the chassis of another..."

The stream of water receded as Harmony pulled the switch down, watching the wall of droplets parting before her. Stepping inside and ignoring the few drips onto her mane, she stepped into the underground gazebo, holding her breath at the glowing capsule lying silently on the granite bowl, waiting patiently for her approach.

"Bound in both body and sense, set the world asunder."

She reached her hoof out, her eyes glittering with a spark of excitement. Her salvation... her liberation... just right within her grasp...

"Harmony."

The pink unicorn turned around instantly, first in surprise, before growling with irritation.

"What do you want, Winter?"

"We can talk about this, Harmony," the stallion said, almost pleadingly with his hooves raised.

"You don't want to touch that."

"And why is that?"

She strutted closer towards him, with Winter instinctively shuffling towards her in response. The mare tried not to sneer at that, placing her hoof onto the stone bowl.

"There's something powerful in this thing, is there?" she asked, though the answer was already clear to her.

"Why would you, the Patriarch of Pendant Lakes, hide something like this here?"

"It's only a problem-"

"It solves all our problems, Winter!" she interrupted.

"Or are you saying that you're this selfish? That you want to keep this sorts of things down under, when you know it can change the ways of Equestria as we know it?"

"Harmony, please!" Winter protested, clenching tightly on his gun.

"Releasing a demon wouldn't solve anything! It would only cause our downfall!"

"Because you have no idea how to utilize it!"

Harmon strutted around the fountain, twirling her hoof on the glassy surface of the polygonal object, watching it glow a brighter red at her touch.

"I learnt the extent of its powers, Winter. I can reshape Equestria into one which we can all enjoy in; one which we all can strive under its perfection. To have a grasp of the seams of time and using it to undo your mistakes and build from the bottom up..."

"There would be no such thing."

His reply only infuriated the mare, though he still continued:

"A world without flaws is a dead world. Nopony would have fun if we have perfection all around, especially when you twist the past. Equestria would never have its specialties and qualities that made it different from the other nations around, Harmony, because you can't have one thing without the other."

"And suffer through everything we've been through?"

She wanted to scream and smack him in the face. She wanted to just... to just rip his stubborn, sorry little head off! Yet she held back.

"I can correct the mistakes of your life as well! Your orders to assassinate your father-"

"That was a necessity."

"But a mistake all the same. They've wouldn't have to seal this creature if not for your father's death. Then there's also the mistake of cheating over me..."

Harmony laughed at that, toying the capsule within her hoof. The stallion furrowed his brows, his hooves tapping impatiently as she continued, her voice turning surprisingly tender:

"We can forget that our arguments ever happened, Winter.... Pinkie wouldn't break into our lives.... don't you want that?"

"To rid her is only what you desire."

Winter gave her smirk, watching her tick with annoyance.

"Yes, I loved you, Harmony, yet it seems you've yearned more of your aspirations than ours together. Pinkie... just wants us to be happy. She wants her friends to be happy. Something so simple to satisfy such a special mare like her... it's something you would want in every pony you love."

"Falling in love with Pinkie," he halted with a dreamy sigh. He couldn't believe he was going to say this.

"Falling in love with her... was the best mistake I had ever made in my life. If you intend to correct something such as that, then I'll have no choice but to disagree with your decision."

"R-Really?"

The two whirled around at the foreign voice, watching the pink mare in question approaching them.

There were tears in Pinkie's eyes; her only reply towards the Patriarch's words. Her heart tingled with a luxurious sensation of warmth, her mouth open in a silent gasp.

"Y-You... You really mean it?"

"I told you to stay up there, didn't I?" he spoke sternly, though before breaking out in a smile.

"And... to answer your question... yes. I mean it."

Harmony's loud scowl fractured into the moment, her eyes now warped into an enraged frenzy. Her hatred fueled with her disgust, the boiling blood of her veins nearly bursting out her head.

"You disappointed me, Winter..." she muttered bitterly, gritting her teeth.

"Falling... for a whore?!"

With a loud cry, she smashed the glowing object down, the glass surface shattering apart immediately. A crimson cloud started to brew from its cracks. It whisked into the air, rumbling like a ravishing thunderstorm, with streaks of red flashing down over their heads.

The contents of it started to pour out, the foaming, black liquid flowing into the stone bowl. It slopped and squelched as it contorted, twisting and warping into an onyx skeletal rib, with the darkness of equally horrendous skin now coating its sides.

Winter raised his gun at the monstrosity, watching its jaws form, its dark purple tongue hanging out grotesquely despite its still-mutating body. A pair of gargantuan claws erupted from its flesh, the room rumbling as the creature gave out a loud, menacing roar.

The lower half of it was still a black wisp, though the stallion knew it was due to its weak state, its full form being destroyed a long time ago. He watched with spite at the red, glowing marbles of its eyes glimmering back to life, its protruding fangs widening into a satisfied, devious grin.

"Run, Pinkie," he told the pink mare, who was utterly horrified at the grotesque scene, too terrified to even buckle her hooves up. She cringed at the spot, whimpering softly whilst hiding beneath her hooves.

"Pinkie! Snap out of it!"

"Your words can't save the mare now."

The stallion raised his gun, firing three times at the abhorrent figure, his disgust amplified at the bullets sinking in and absorbed into its skin. The demon screamed mockingly, the slurping sounds of the black goop diminishing, making way for the creature's deep, hissing voice:

"We meet again.... Winter Palgiot."

The Patriarch just gritted his teeth, tossing his gun aside. He glanced towards Harmony, who seemed to marvel at the horrendous figure, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Never a fighter, are you?!" the demon howled in grand arrogance, its claws lunging forward.

"PINKIE, LOOK OUT!!"

The mare instantly jumped backwards, tumbling towards the floor with the sharp claws of the demon barely grazing her skin. She pushed herself away against the wall, closing her eyes as its other claw plunged towards her.

*CLANG*

Winter clashed his sword against the demon's hands, watching the sparks of the collision fizzle brightly in between. The two exchanged their glares, the screech of metal against metal blasting louder.

With a loud cry, the stallion felt himself tumbling backwards, his blade raised just in time to shield from the wide slash of its claws.

"Come on!" he taunted, pushing Pinkie behind him.

With a loud roar, the creature pounced upon them as they ran out of the chamber, galloping back into the empty expanse of stone, the statues watching menacingly from afar.

Dragging the pink mare's hoof, Winter glanced back at their pursuer, watching it dash towards them from the depths of the darkness, its pupils warped into deranged slits.

"Running like the coward you are. Just filthy."

"You go first, Pinkie!" he demanded, though the pink mare clenched her hooves at that, wrinkling her snout.

"Pinkie! Go!"

"I won't."

"It's not a question!!" he yelled, though she seemed to only frown at that, only displaying her annoyance.

"I'm not going to leave you here," she said, brushing his mane to reveal his weary face.

"I want to fight with you..."

The thousand screams of denial immediately crammed into his head, his expression only that of surprise as Winter stared into her face, watching it steel with fierce determination.

Immediately, he felt his hoof being clutched tightly, no doubt by the mare. Pinkie seemed to notice his discomfort and worry at that, though she started to smile instead.

"I won't leave you, alright?"

His mind stopped thrashing at her mellow words, before he grinned as well.

Their smiles immediately faded at the loud roar, watching the demon advance towards them. With his rapier at the ready, Winter marched upon it first, staring up at the hellish creature before him. His face glowered, striking a disgusted glare at it as he uttered out it's name:

"Morteoro."

The demon's mouth was stagnant, yet there was no doubt it has its own method of communication; its glowing eyes flared a brilliant scarlet, with its snake-like voice slithering an echo inside Winter's mind.

"The family never learn, do they?"

"We've learned enough to know you shouldn't be here," he scowled back.

A few clangs of metal later, he started to pant, feeling the energy in his limbs seeping out towards the demon, watching it writhe with its new-found energy. Fatigue soon overwhelmed his hooves, before he collapsed onto the floor, already worn out from the energy draining aura the demon possessed.

"Weak... You were never a challenge..."

Winter felt himself being lifted up, watching as Pinkie carried him by the shoulder, still staring with pure hatred at the beast. Morteoro, as he was known, only laughed at her mockingly, making her wrinkle her snout with spite.

Harmony's laugh soon filled the room, the pink unicorn watching gleefully at the demon, who turned around with slight bewilderment.

"I presume he sent you?"

There was a nod, accompanied only by her devious grin.

"Why now? You expect somepony else?"

"A shell like yours is slightly too vulnerable for my taste," the demon began, ignoring her slight frown.

"Yet you, my dear... you have that... that darkness...."

"I like it."

"That's pretty flattering, to say the least," she cooed with a crazed giggle, before turning towards the other ponies, who grimaced at their slight conversation.

She grinned, reaching back and unsheathing her weapons: a pair of serrated blades, carved with finesse, gold swirls worthy of envy from any mare with its sharp edges tinted a slight pink, its white center gleaming brightly.

"Although we have a few... witnesses to dispatch, hmm? Let start with the mare first..."

"Pinkie," Winter suddenly coughed out, his hooves wobbling from the intense fatigue as he tried to stand. His trembling grasp on his hoof only made the demon laugh at his predicament, though it only fueled his hatred.

"Get out of here. I mean it."

The pink mare did not budge, gritting her teeth as Harmony's lips started to move once more. From what she could make out, she seemed to be chanting some sort of mantra, with her double blades laid out before her.

She soon kicked her hooves back, galloping towards her former friend, though the demon seemed to have noticed her sudden movement.

*SCHLINK*

"PINKIE!"

Winter watched in horror as Pinkie was slammed into the wall, her chest now aligned with three red gashes slashed across her skin. She fell to the floor, clutching at her wound with pain, which only fueled his anger.

With a loud cry, the stallion charged towards the demon, swinging his sword about, the sounds of striking metal echoing throughout the subterranean plateau.

A loud clang to the side and another from above, before he was pummeled into the base of one of the towering statues, feeling the deep pain searing in his hooves. He winced at that, trying to lift himself up as Morteoro neared him.

"You could've just gave in... just like your father did..."

"M-My father was a scumbag," he gasped out weakly, his back tormented from its powerful slam against the hard surface of stone. He raised his blade, his hooves trying his best to stay firm.

"To take him as a shell was unwise, Morteoro. It only weakened you further, didn't it? What would you expect from a mare such as her?"

Both demon and stallion glanced back at Harmony, who was in some sort of trance, her words inaudibly muttering out a few words, though there was no doubt what she was saying.

"Blood spill on blood, sands spill on sand," he recited one of the first few lines with growing spite from his memory, with Morteoro laughing at that, flicking his tongue about gleefully.

"Transgressions shalt be repressed, tribulations lost at the end..." the pink unicorn muttered, her voice nearly a whisper with her hoof clutching tightly at her blade.

Pinkie groaned, lifting herself up with a small whimper of pain, ignoring the small trickles of blood running down her chest. Her gaze quickly veered towards Harmony, who seemed unaware that she woke.

Without a second thought, she galloped towards the unicorn, gritting her teeth in exasperation.

"NO!!" the demon roared, shifting towards her in his half ethereal figure, his claws outstretched, yet it was too late as the mare stopped her chanting, making him diminish back into the broken capsule right beside the pink unicorn.

Harmony felt herself being tackled down, her surprise quickly replaced by her rage. With a loud snarl, she kicked the pink mare off her, watching with vehemence as the mare sprawled to her side, clutching her bleeding chest in pain.

"BUCK IT, PINKIE!!" she shouted, gripping her blade forcefully as she marched towards her.

Without any second to spare, Winter slid between her and Pinkie, kicking the unicorn away with a staggering force. He readied his blade as the mare shifted herself, spitting at the floor in dense hatred.

"Seems somepony volunteered to be the first target," she sneered.

"Doesn't really matter now, does it?"

Their blades swung at full force, deflecting each other's attacks as the pair clashed their weapons together. They seemed to pull the seemingly routine dodges off spectacularly; with every swipe at their hooves, they jumped and with every stab towards their heads, they ducked away just in time.

With one last swirl of blade, Harmony suddenly struck his blade harshly, tossing Winter's rapier aside with a loud clatter of metal onto stone, its refined surface grinding against the stone surface. He held his hooves up as the pink unicorn raised her blade, lifting his chin and, with that, his deep frown.

"Pity, isn't it?" she cooed, glancing at both Pinkie and the Patriarch.

"You both should've listened in the first place, yet it seems I have no other choice but to kill you now, don't I?"

Winter growled, grunting as he felt the tip of his blade twisting harmlessly at the surface of his throat, swallowing down a nervous lump of uncertainty.

His gaze settled towards Pinkie, who was trying her best to stand. Harmony just giggled at that, trying her best not to grin at her futile struggles to lift herself up.

"Flimsy little bitch, isn't she?"

"SCHLIKK!!"

*gasp*

Harmony's mouth hung open, her eyes widened in shock at the sudden numbness that overwhelmed her body. She gazed backwards, only to see the golden handle of the Patriarch's rapier protruding from her back.

Blood spilled from it, entrenching her in horror and trepidation. Her grip on her furnished blade loosened, hearing it clatter towards the floor.

"You're so blind in your ambitions," Winter began, whispering callously into her ear.

"That you can't even bother in your own safety. Is it worth the risk now, Harmony? Is it?"

The plateau beneath their hooves started to crumble with a slight rumbling noise, before it snapped, completely breaking away from the rest of the mausoleum, the antechamber crumbling down with it as well. Winter instinctively leaped towards Pinkie, narrowly missing a gap as the pink unicorn fell onto the collapsing floor, which fell into the deep darkness of the abyss below.

He quickly scurried towards the bleeding mare, who gave him a weak smile, before gritting her teeth in pain.

"Don't worry," he muttered, trying to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"I'll get you out of here."

Pinkie gave him a weak nod as the stallion lifted her by the shoulder, the two limping towards the exit.

She yelped in pain once as they neared the exit, the stairs before them getting closer.

"We're almost there," he whispered with excitement.

"Just a little more-"

*SPLURCH*

Both of them fell instantaneously, their chests now bursting out with sprays of blood, a white, sharp tip piercing out from the middle. Their eyes widened in shock and horror, unable to express their pain.

Winter slowly turned back, gritting his teeth at Harmony, who gripped tightly onto the side of the plateau, her deranged grin widened at her success. Her hoof held onto the hilts of her pair of weapons, connected to the bladed counterparts by a long, silver chain, with slight drops of blood splattered across it as a result of her stabbing.

Slowly, she pulled them like puppets, reeling them in towards her despite the gallons of her own blood gushing out from beneath her back, laughing maniacally as the two of them were dragged towards her, to join her into the abyss below.

Winter gazed at Pinkie, who retched mercilessly with her fluids now gushing out of her mouth, yet she was desperately trying her best to smile at him, which only made the Patriarch thrash weakly with despair.

"I-I'm.... I'm s-s-sorry...."

Harmony's grip on the cliff loosened, the three now falling down into the depths of oblivion.

She wanted to laugh even louder, to smile at her efforts, yet time slowed painfully around her, their free-fall suspended in languid motion, which only made her realize what had she done...

"Take this kiss upon the brow. And, in parting from you now, thus much let me avow..."

What had she done? Why did she do this?

A small tear escaped from the edges of her eye, only burning her in the deep trench of agony and despair.

You are not wrong, who deem; that my days have been a dream...

"B-Blood spilled on blood, sand spilled on sand," her crazed voice muttered, her mind trying to stop it.

Why can't she control herself? Why can't her mouth just listen to her?

Unless...

Yet if hope has flown away, in a night, or in a day...

She glanced back at the ponies; the ones she had brought along in their rapid descent towards death. The blood flowed from each of their wounds, though she could see from their eyes that they were half-alive.

"T-Transgressions shalt be repressed, tribulations lost at the end..." her voice continued, as if some otherworldly being was controlling it. Her eyes closed with her shivering breath, letting out a pained whimper.

"I didn't want this..."

In a vision, or in none, is it therefore the less gone?

"He'll rise anew, in the chassis of another..."

Winter floated towards her, the stallion somewhat peacefully sleeping in the cradles of death, though she could still see chest still beating with every rupture of blood, which only brought tears to her eyes.

She gave him one last kiss on the cheek, before glancing towards Pinkie.

The pink mare herself was smiling; not angry, not sad, but smiling! She could only stare at her in disbelief, before smiling all the same.

She glanced up at the ceiling, which rose far from her in her endless fall to oblivion. Her heart thrashed with remorse, the blood pumping from it gurgling out of her mouth.

All that we see or seem...

Her friends' faces all echo around her: Charter, Primrose, Dresden, Pinkie, Gypsum, even Winter and Princess Celestia herself, all enjoying among each other in a quietude of the summer. She could still hear all their cheers of laughter, the desire of wanting to laugh with them growing within her as well.

"Bound in both body and sense, set the world asunder," her possessed mouth finally finished, her chest starting to glow a flare of red, as well as her horn. Her tears shimmered as they floated away from her, before closing her eyes.

With a sigh, she slipped out a few more sane words out of her mouth; surely not her first, but no doubt will be the last, before she let herself fall into sleep, consumed into the neverending darkness below.

... Is but a dream within a dream.

"I'm sorry...... everypony..."

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"Almost there, Stellar!!"

The crack of dawn had hastened their attempts towards the crypt after Sidus had notified the butler of the possibilities of Harmony's destination. The butler himself sped past the woodlands, before finally stumbling into the sanctuary before them.

The twin lakes shimmered in the early sunrise, with the grandeur furnishings of nature's greatest wonders spawning from its banks, though there was no time to admire its beauty now; they have bigger problems at hand.

Stellar panted profusely, wiping the sweat off his hoof as Sidus stumbled out of the bushes behind, along with Charter, his wings weary with fatigue from his hasty flapping.

"Where's...." the pegasus managed to gasp out breathlessly.

"Where's the doctor?"

From the other side came Caduceus and Persimmon, all gasping for their breath, with Primrose shifting from the forest, sliding down the slope. She seemed to be the least tired of them all, judging from her fierce determination.

"Come on!" she shouted frantically, ignoring the fatigue growing in her hooves.

"We don't have a minute to spare!"

*BOOM*

The loud explosion made all of them turn, the birds all escaping through the rustling trees. Their surprise immediately contorted to that of horror, the butler being the first to gallop off.

"Quickly now!!" he shouted back to the others, readying his revolver.

The six of them clambered up the rocky slope, quickly meeting the door leading down into the darkest confines of the subterranean cemetery. Stellar darted in first, trotting furiously down the stairs with the rest following behind.

He stopped short as they finally reached the grand plateau, his eyes widening at the crumbled statues around, the mausoleum fractured as if a stampede had ran through here. Holding his breath, his gun at the ready, the butler quickly trotted forwards, before finally halting in his tracks again.

"Lord Palgiot!!"

Stellar quickly scurried forwards at the unconscious stallion, who was covered in a thick layer of dust. His chest still rose and fell, which only made him sigh with relief.

Caduceus hastily placed a hoof on Winter's chest, feeling his blood pumping through his veins.

"He's stable," the doctor concluded with a grin.

"Over there!!" Persimmon suddenly shouted.

"Pinkie!! She's over there!!"

Charter instantly flapped his wings, speeding towards the pink mare, her body sprawled across the plateau.

He frantically flipped his friend around, before sighing with relief after checking for her pulse. Her pink chest was covered in a fine layer of debris, otherwise nothing else.

"Harmony's there as well," the pegasus indicated, beckoning his neck towards the side.

"Strange..."

"What is it?"

"There was an explosion, right?" Charter asked, with everypony else giving a nod.

"Then why aren't any of them hurt?"

"Come to think of it, it is quite strange..."

Primrose glanced at the unconscious Pinkie, her head compelling her to ask her friend despite her state:

"What happened to you...?"

"CHARTER FREEWINGS!!"

The booming, feminine voice nearly shook the whole cavern, with a giant flash of light nearly blinding their eyes.

Charter tensed at the figure that stood before them, her wings opened with excellent grace, her horn gleaming towards the tip. Her mane flourished in a luster of colors, making them all of them bow the instant they spotted her dark frown.

"Princess Celestia..."

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Present Day

Winter Palgiot hastily stomped down the shifting corridors, watching the doors slide around the hallways like conveyor belts, controlled only by his gleaming horn.

He quickly swerved to the side, before raising his gun warily, aiming at the two ponies that pounced towards him. Without the least bit of hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

*BANG*

*BANG*

He scowled under his breath at the small scratch on his hooves, watching with spite at the two masked assassins that slumped onto the floor, their heads bleeding with a single bullet hole.

Kicking the bodies away, he trotted around the corner of the corridor, bracing his gun as he slotted a few bullets in. He bent downwards, picking up one of the numerous daggers on the floor, no doubt dropped by one of the dead ponies he had shot.

"Lord Palgiot."

Stellar's voice stopped him in his tracks, the Patriarch turning around instantly.

His butler approached him, his face more somber than usual. There seemed to be a subtle smile of relief, but any trace of it was swept away as Winter asked his question:

"Everything prepared on your half?"

"We're ready," was his reply, making the stallion let out a relieved sigh.

"I presumed that Harmony found an exit?"

"A dramatic one as well," he said with a chuckle, recalling the events in the ballroom during their dance.

"Told you it wouldn't work that well as expected."

"I'm surprised she hasn't murdered you yet," the butler questioned.

"She would've known where the source of the door enchantments should be from. Killing you would only ease her search for Miss Pie, wouldn't it?"

"I don't think she was sent here for that reason, Stellar."

Winter's assumption made him blink in surprise, unable to believe what he was saying.

"To be honest, I believe that she wants to murder Pinkie to hide something else."

"Something else... as in she has another mission?"

"Mission or not, she's still our most dangerous assassin out there."

The two stopped in silence for awhile, before beginning their stroll down the corridor, their guns at the ready. There was a sigh, before the Patriarch asked:

"How are things with Doctor Brineheart?"

"He, Cleptius and Griffonhooves got everything ready," Stellar answered, though hesitantly.

"I myself still believe there is another way of doing this."

"We just need to render Harmony unconscious and everything will be fine."

The stallion held his breath at that. He knew it was easier said than done, yet there wasn't anything else they could think of doing.

Stellar could only grumble, at most mutter at the plan with despondency. The Patriarch tried not to chuckle at the frustration of his butler, instead asking:

"Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"You know," Winter replied, giving the old colt a nudge.

"To fight Morteoro one last time?"

The butler could only roll his eyes, making his Patriarch laugh out loud as he tuck his hooves in, trying not to scowl right into his face. His gun gleamed in the dim bask of moonlight, though he himself admired the quiet serenity of it.

"Nopony will ever be ready for a fight such as that," he answered, gazing at the night sky.

"Especially when it involves everypony you know and everypony you had worked with. I've lost two of my friends to that darn rascal already..."

"What's the chance that I could lose one more?"

Voyager's Arc: Waking Under The Eclipse

Perfection.

Sometimes she had asked herself that question, especially on the darkest of days such as this, despite the absence of any clouds of gray in sight. The rays of the afternoon were bright; a perfect season for each of the ponies here to smile jovially and enjoy its basking warmth, yet what replaced all happiness was the black veil of realization, their frowns contrasting the bleached, pure white walls of the hospital room.

Princess Celestia sighed, gazing at the three ponies, all in their respective beds, still in their peaceful sleep as the one they call Caduceus tended to them, his efforts only made him blink in confusion.

Perfection, she asked herself again. To be able to drive one of her faithful Voyagers insane...

"How are the ponies, my faithful subject?"

"Miss Peridot is the only one with a mentally unstable condition," he explained, making the alicorn frown. "So far, she's the only one showing symptoms of Palladium's Brink, which, in itself, is near-incurable once it reaches the final stage. There's no other way to help her on that then."

"Physically, however... I can't really say that they were all... well... normal..."

"What do you mean that they're not normal?" Stellar questioned.

"Did they sustain internal injuries? Because they seem unhurt on the outside."

"There were no internal injuries."

Caduceus Brineheart placed down his stethoscope, gazing at the ponies before him. He still wore his look of befuddlement, though it came not without an explanation.

"Basically, for reasons unknown, they each grew something.... Tartaric in nature."

"What do you mean, doctor?" Primrose hastily asked with worry.

"You're saying that Pinkie...? That she became..."

"But it's impossible!" Charter shouted, his mane frazzled in a state of denial.

"There's no way that she, if any of them at all, became a demon! They sure don't look like one at all!"

"True, though it's a different story underneath."

The doctor handed them a few notes, though the rest could only stare at in confusion. It was the princess that clicked first, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"You're saying that they've managed to release the demon successfully?"

"Yes, though there's a problem."

With a chagrin cough of his throat, he continued:

"Morteoro never completed his possession cycle; the cycle in which he encapsulates himself into a dead body and turns into Mirror Mare. For now, I believe Harmony was the intended shell."

"If that were true..." Persimmon suddenly piped up.

"That means she had to undergo the chant, and then... offer her body..."

"Stabbing herself with her dagger, yes," the doctor finished, making the Voyagers look in disgust.

"However, it seems at some point or another, the ritual was fractured, no doubt from Pinkie and Winter's attempts to stop her, yet it was a success."

"Hold on," Primrose interrupted.

"It was a success? That means that one of them had the demon inside?"

Princess Celestia raised her hoof, her face a grim frown.

"I seem to understand now," she answered, before giving out the explanation:

"The demon was an overseer-classed demon, meaning it is one of the most powerful of the creatures when it was summoned. Axle Palgiot had discussed with me on the possibility of sealing it, though he himself never knew that one his descendants would submit his body to it."

"Tantrum Palgiot had performed the ritual on his own self, forcing Harrow, his brother, and some of our fellow ponies here," she stopped for a moment, glancing at the four of them, before continuing: "to perform Necessensio, under one stallion's direct orders."

"Winter Palgiot," Stellar answered, with the Princess giving a nod.

"Since then, the demon was sealed in the capsule until today, where it was finally released. It seems that Harmony was the only one that performed the ritual, though with unexpected results."

"What do you mean, Princess?" Charter asked.

"Remember that the demon was weakened," she explained, furrowing her brows as she did.

"It's implied that Harmony was stabbed before she could finish the ritual, maybe by the Patriarch or Pinkie herself. Due to her exposure to Palladium's Brink, she wanted to bring down the other two with her, thereby stabbing them as well with her chain-link daggers."

"As a result of Morteoro's weak state, I believed that, from the fractured ritual, the demon was dismembered and killed as a result, though its energy still remained in its place-"

"Which means that the ritual was successful," Stellar concluded.

"Harmony still have control over her physical and mental state. In other words, she possessed the demon's powers only."

"True, though not entirely."

The princess's reply only made them look in surprise, prompting her to explain:

"There's one more factor in demon-cadaver possession: flexibility, meaning it will possess whatever body it could find. Due to its weakened state, its essence, or life-force, is extremely volatile. As a result, Harmony made a mistake."

"What is it?" Primrose asked.

"She stabbed Winter and Pinkie, and brought her along during the ritual. Due to indecisiveness, the life-force can't 'choose' in which body to possess, therefore it chose the most straightforward solution out of its predicament; one which I still can't believe it actually happened."

"The demon's essence split itself into three parts..." Sidus could only mutter in disbelief.

"Winter, Pinkie and Harmony... they all possessed the demon's power."

The rest of them gasped in disbelief, with the exception of the alicorn, who only frowned down at that.

"In short," she concluded with a grimace, glancing at the three unconscious ponies on the bed.

"Winter, Pinkie and Harmony all deserve the title of Mirror Mare."

"But... B-but..." Primrose could only stammer, completely in shock.

"But that's impossible!"

"Not only that, they've each represented a portion of the demon's power, for example..."

The alicorn trotted towards Harmony, gazing down at the peacefully resting mare.

"Harmony possessed control of the praeteritum power; in other words, she represents the embodiment of the Past. As Mirror Mare, she can warp herself in time or, more accurately, her position. To summarize it, she can teleport at distance infinite, to kill ponies and, thereby, change the past."

"Winter himself controls the praesentare power: the Present."

She beckoned her head at the Patriarch's Cutie Mark, trying not to frown as she continued:

"His talent is that he can blur the lines of fantasy and reality, though with only his talent he can only create objects from nothing. Now, the demon's power only enhanced them, making him able to perform a complete shapeshift of the world around. In other words, he can create new dimensions and change the present as a result."

Charter nodded throughout the explanation, slightly surprised yet enlightened at that.

"That means," he spoke up.

"Pinkie represents..."

"Futurum, or the embodiment of the Future," the alicorn finished his sentence.

"Her ability seems to be the most widespread; she can reverse periods of time to alter a situation of the past she focuses on, with everything else out of her focus feeling the effects of the distortion. This represents her as her control of the future, though due to her being an Earth Pony, she requires some time for her power to take effect."

Princess Celestia finally sighed, finishing her explanation as the rest tried to absorb what she just said, still unable to believe her words. Primrose was the first to raise her hoof, popping the alicorn a question:

"What happens if they wake up?"

The whole room immediately fell into a silence, one of recognition and doubt. The ponies all exchanged unsure stares among each other, before the alicorn answered:

"I have a plan, though I'll need all of us to discuss this in private together. Away from the three."

With a shrug, Charter nodded first, followed by Primrose.

"We'll discuss it with Dresden as well," the princess mused, opening the door.

"I'll have to say this first, though."

"You might not find this plan... satisfactory."

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"You know it's not necessary, Caper."

The magician could only chuckle at his friend's response, watching him smile on the hospital bed.

"Come on, Dresden," he cooed, waving the pair of grapes over the cyan stallion's snout, watching it wrinkle his snout in disgust.

"Eat your food up!"

"I can feed myself, thank you very much!"

Caper just laughed loudly, nudging his friend's shoulder as he pouted, his hooves crossed with his brows furrowed.

"Couldn't you just appreciate a joke like this?" he teased, tossing one of the purple fruits into the air, catching it greedily with its mouth. He chewed with beaming delight in front of Dresden, before glancing at his friend's bandaged hoof.

The stallion had laid in this very bed for a few months now, which only made the magician wonder at how he got through it all without any sense of boredom. He fumbled his words for a bit, before finally managing to ask:

"Are you sure you saw me do that?"

"It was a demon, alright?" Dresden corrected, stifling a smile.

"I know it sounds crazy, but you have to believe me on this one."

"Whatever suits you," the other stallion replied, reaching for the bowl of fruits, only making his glance at him in annoyance. He snickered at his frown, his hoof grasping a pear from the colorful assortments before them.

"Don't look at me like that," he said with a wry smirk.

"It's not like you could finish all these fruits in one go."

"Pfft~!" the cyan pony scoffed, making Caper laugh.

"As if you would bother of my diet."

"C-Caper?"

The two instantly turned at the voice, watching with surprise as a pale beige mare stepped in, her long, slender hooves gracefully striding along the marble tiles of the hospital floor.

The magician smiled, beckoning her to do the same, though Dresden could only look in confusion, asking:

"Did I miss something?"

"Autumn didn't explain it to you?" Caper asked his friend, earning a small shake of the head from the cyan pony.

"Well..." the mare herself began sheepishly.

"I wasn't really... social after my cousin was... you know..."

"I understand, I guess," he said, giving a grin while ignoring Dresden's stare.

"Well, Autumn and I... we somewhat met a few years ago in Manehatten and, well, coincidentally, I've stumbled upon her again in Starlet Ave!"

Dresden beckoned his friend closer, before hastily whispering:

"You do realize that once she finds about that you killed-"

"I know, I know!" he hissed, before turning around and giving Autumn a grin.

"So... uh... Autumn! What brings you here today?"

"Visiting my brother in the hospital."

She shuffled her hooves with uncertainty, watching as Dresden's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Some sort of commotion with Harmony last night. Not much you should really know about."

"Sheesh," the magician laughed.

"Talk about arguments, huh? Gets you straight to the hospital these days."

Autumn suddenly let out a giggle at that, her cheeks noticeably turning a slight red.

"Listen.... uh... Caper?" she called the black stallion, watching as he brushed his silver mane to the side, slightly surprised by the mention of his name.

"Can we... talk for a moment?"

"No prob," he replied, watching as the mare stepped out of the room.

He gave his friend one last nudge, the cyan stallion giving him another look.

"Look, I'll lay low as you asked me to, okay? Maybe some time in the future I'll bring this up to her again. Come clean, ask her for forgiveness or something like that."

"You better," Dresden reminded.

"Well, catch you later, then!" Caper said, darting towards the door, though not before turning to his injured friend and giving him a wink.

"I have a mare to strike!"

"Go on already, you dirty fellow!" the cyan stallion chased him off with a laugh, watching his friend immediately running after the mare, before slumping back down in a hospital bed.

He sighed, chuckling at himself for making a friend such as him. Sometimes he wondered how the heck they've met back in elementary school, though the thought only lasted in him for a mere second before he shrugged it off.

"Can we come in now?"

He immediately smiled at that gruff voice, knowing full well who it was from.

"Coast is clear."

Charter stepped in with a small grin on his face, his wings ruffling in agitation. He gave the injured stallion a nudge on the shoulder, settling down as the other ponies stepped in.

"Primrose!" he exclaimed, though he could only blink in surprise at the mare behind her.

"Princess Celestia!! You're here!"

The alicorn just gave a grin, before saying:

"I presume you know of Winter's predicament?"

"Well, come to think of it..."

Dresden pondered for a moment, shuffling his hooves underneath the blanket. He glanced at the Crux Four, which only stood there with their faces somber, watching as he asked:

"What happened to the Patriarch anyway?"

Slowly, both Voyagers broke it down for him, right from Winter's argument to their weary explanation in the other room. The cyan pony himself just listened attentively, though once they ended, there was no response from him, his expression that of pure astoundment.

"Now Princess Celestia wants to disclose her plans on dealing with them," Primrose finished.

"Right, Your Highness?"

"Indeed," she replied, before trotting towards them.

"Since all of you are present, I'll shall name you as witnesses to the proposal at hand."

There were nods from everypony, which only boosted her confidence, though only by a mere flicker.

"Now," she began, "When the three of them have awakened - and they will - there is no doubt that Harmony might start to cause chaos again, due to her mental instability. No doubt the same could be said for Winter and Pinkie towards her as well. The reason why I requested all of your presences is because of my plan to steer or, at most, delay it, and I require all of your permission to do so."

"What do you suggest, your Highness?" Stellar asked.

The alabaster mare held her breath, closing her eyes with an attempt to ease her shoulders. She tensed her hooves, before finally revealing her plan:

"Shared Memory Fog Spell."

"Memory Fog?" Caduceus quipped; being the only unicorn in the room he was the only one with the knowledge of spells, and of all things the princess would choose...

"But, y-your Highness..." he stammered with sweat dripping off his forehead, his throat straining.

"The spell... by itself, it is already unsafe!"

"What's a Memory Fog Spell?" Dresden asked, confused.

"A spell that obstructs certain memories from the target's lifetime, in this case, the events that happened throughout your stay in Pendant Lakes."

The doctor straightened his suit, stretching his hooves with a yearn for relaxation.

"This spell clouds a memory in the neurons of the brain and prevents the target from remembering certain things, whilst extracting the memory source itself and letting it coexist as a dimensional sphere. I've used these spells on patients during local anesthetic surgery, in order to prevent them from recalling any of the... details they have seen their body undergo through."

"And how is it unsafe, Caduceus?" Stellar questioned.

"The memory fog spell, contrary to its name, may wear away from unknown circumstances," he answered.

"Some of my patients were distressed, even resorting to suicide. They might wear away off from decades to even in a matter of seconds; it is completely unpredictable to know when the spell would diminish. They could be triggered by items that reminded them of their clouded memory, and soon enough they would remember what happened.

"To have a Shared Memory Fog, however, only increases its chances of dispelling," the doctor continued.

"Shared memory spells link all of their memories as one, therefore if one remembers even a tiniest bit of their memory, maybe triggered by what his or her senses detected, the others chained by the spell would remember as well, thus there's a higher chance that they might return back to their original state."

Everypony turned to Princess Celestia, who let out a disgruntled sigh.

"There's no other choice," she said admittedly.

"Which is why I need your permission for this."

"Why not just erase their memory?" Charter asked.

"Just make them forget about anything that happened here. Isn't it easier to handle?"

"That would be Memory Erasing Spell," Caduceus piped.

"However, that spell is unstable. If anything goes wrong, their memories might be wiped out, starting from the day they were born. That would be a harder problem to solve."

"Caduceus is unfortunately right," the alicorn said earnestly.

"Yes, the spell may wear off in time, but I recommend this to try to figure things out while they're still unaware of the spell placed upon them. It's for the benefit of all of us, not to mention the whole of Equestria. So I'll ask again..."

"Which one of you would grant permission for me to perform the spell?"

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Darkness.

That was all that she could see; the black desolation of the infinite void. The radiant presence of the sheer numbness of death, wrapped around her in an ethereal silence. Her slow breaths shivered at the lack of light and sound, her hooves striding down blindly beyond.

Her thoughts were of pure emptiness, though there was no doubt a slight hint of curiosity. She faced forward (or is it backward?), trying to survey throughout the nix of the world.

What was this place? That question was the first that came into her head, though she dare not question it into the open, instead continuing her aimless journey. It was smooth beneath her hooves, reminding her of the polished surfaces of marble floor tiles, though there was something else to it... something she couldn't conjure in her head.

A few more steps, then she stopped. Usually she would be frustrated by now, though her heart still remained its calmness, her emotions of pure serenity.

Is it death? she asked herself. Is this how the great beyond looks like?

She wanted to leave. She wanted to just run away, yet her hooves just froze still, as if anticipating something to just... happen. She could feel a small tear crawling down her cheek, only showing her the only existent emotion that finally flurried into her head, albeit undesired.

Fear.

Wait...

She opened her eyes once more, though staring back at the dark expanse before only made her wonder if she actually did, which only made her frustration grew.

Her ears perked again, her hooves tensing at the faint sound. It sounded like... something twinkling? Like some small bell, calling her out in the void, wanting for her to come closer...

There was it again! That surreal sound, echoing from the distance.

She turned around, trying to find the source of the little melody. It seemed to grow nearer towards her, her hooves wanting to gallop off, though they halted before she could even start, unable to conceive her eyes.

Could it be...?

No! That could not be an illusion! That's no delusion or hallucination of hers! It's right there, and she's Celestia damned sure of it!

Yet it seemed so unreal...

It was a floating sphere of light, serenading in the nonexistent currents of the world around, illuminating the bleak darkness before her. It seemed to notice her presence in the forsaken wasteland, as it glowed brighter suddenly, quelling the thirst of the light-parched world.

Another jingle of metal caught her attention, her disbelief growing at the ball. So it was made by the light after all, but why would it...

"I've heard legends about these lights that guide lost travelers back to civilization... souls who afford help to those who need it badly..." a voice echoed in her head, as if a stray message finally reaching its destination.

"....spirits who couldn't fully pass on... many rumors of them helping out the living..."

The wisp glowed finely in its luminosity, before gliding away serenely yet jovially in its graceful, luminous arabesque. Out of pure instinct, her hooves buckled as she chased after it, watching it flutter with fickle delight.

The radiant ball seemed to laugh at amusement at its pursuer, as it scintillated and flickered suddenly, before darting off again.

Her heart thumped with anticipation, a smile forming around the edge of her lips as she galloped down the vast, endless plain, her mane fluttering in ecstatic excitement. It wasn't long before the ball of light slowed to a halt, leaving her panting on the ground.

She watched as it came closer towards her snout, feeling her skin tingle with goosebumps at the surreal sphere; a wraith of pure brilliance in the unsettling calmness of darkness. A small voice echoed into her mind, though it was only after she heard a giggle that the words came clear.

"It seems you've chosen the affluence of life. Many of your kind wandered back into the darkness unknown, waiting for other specters to swiftly snatch them away from the blind reverie..."

She opened her mouth, finally being able to speak:

"I just... I just want to go back..."

"Do you not desire to see the figments of your past?" it asked, making her ponder.

"Do you not wonder what lies in the great beyond? What it had prepared for you after such an incredible feat in life? Are you willing to give up this chance of earning eternal peace?"

She stopped for a moment, before shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, but I have to refuse. I would do anything to... visit there as well, though I still have a lot to look forward to in life. I still have my friends behind my back; the ones that had supported me since the princess took me in. They had been the best ponies when I was lost. They helped me through all my problems, stayed by my side in all my journeys, and I... I just want to have some more time in the living world with them, where I belong.

"Maybe next time," she said, a smile forming at her lips.

"When my voyage is truly over, then I will return. Not now, but next time..."

The ball seemed to flicker with delight, before the warm voice replied:

"Very well then. We'll meet soon in the future."

Somewhere in the darkness, a brilliant flare of light erupted, forming a rectangular doorway. Beyond it - she shielded her eyes - was another world, seemingly of a contrast, pure white.

Holding her breath, she slowly stepped inside, feeling her confidence returning into her hooves.

"Oh, and Pinkie?"

The pink mare turned back at the dark void, her look of confusion clear on her face. She watched the glowing ball of light shimmer; a mere star compared to the colossal world of grand radiance reeling her in.

"H-How..." she stammered, feeling something pulling her deeper into the pool of light.

"How did you know my name?"

The light only seemed to gave a wry smirk, only finishing its subtle request, before the mare's vision burned into a brilliant white.

"Say goodbye to Charter for me..."

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A few months later...

"And then we soared over the estate... and BOOM!!"

Pinkie jumped with delight, giggling on the floor at Dresden's account of their last journey; the one that she was absent from due to the Telrouix's attempts to place her six feet under. She soon lifted herself back onto the couch, wiping off the tears of joy off the corners of her eye.

Charter was there, laughing heartily more at her reaction than at the story. Primrose was undeniably present; after all, they were all holed up in her recently-built cottage, just right beside Red North Bend. She had invited them for a small reunion gathering, though the pink mare saw it more of as a party.

Sure enough, she honked a small, colorful horn, giggling as she hopped over the furniture gleefully, her friends only chuckling at her excitement.

"I'm sure the last adventure was fun!"

"It sure is, Pinkie," the caramel mare replied with a sincere grin.

"I'm still grumpy-wumpy that you guys never let me go along!" she whined, before pouting as she bounced back onto the red couch, crossing her hooves.

"This is, like, our last adventure before we disband as the Voyagers! Can't I at least have a share of adventure?"

The rest of them just laughed heartily at her, with Charter being the first to speak:

"Still, you were really hurt back then. We can't just whisk you off into more danger-"

"And more fun~!" she cried out in a singsong voice.

"It's not fair that I have to stay behind!"

"Save your breath, Pinkie," Dresden mused with a chuckle.

He then handed her a dish, her eyes sparkling at the creamy contents of chocolate and strawberry frosting dripping at the sides, the colorful sprinkles only making her mouth water.

"Here!" the cyan stallion teased.

"A 'cheer up, Pinkie Pie' gift!"

Immediately, Pinkie snatched the paper plate off his hooves, swallowing the slice of cake down effortlessly in a split second. She licked her lips with satisfaction at that, before pouncing off the couch, standing on her cotton-like tail with a burst of confetti.

"What are you waiting for, guys~?" she shouted in excitement.

"Let's PARTY!!!"

Sure enough, all of them started kicking their hooves to the jazz beat, the gramophone now playing a swanky melody of saxophones, clarinets and accordions. With a gleeful giggle, Pinkie suddenly hopped out of the cottage door, making her friends watch in bewilderment.

"I'll go after her!" Primrose suddenly spoke up, before following the pink mare into the night.

The caramel mare quickly scurried onto the path, just in time to see Pinkie bounce joyfully into the forest, only making her blink in confusion.

"Pinkie!" she called out, raising her hoof, though the pink mare didn't seem to hear her.

"Wait up!"

Without a moment to spare, she galloped after the mare into the thickets beyond, narrowly avoiding the branches that threatened to tangle into her mane. Her heartbeat aflutter, it wasn't long before she saw her friend sitting at a small hill rising from the dark trees, her head basking in the serene glow of moonlight.

Slowly, the caramel mare crept to her side, watching in surprise at her friend's closed eyes, as if relishing the moment of quiet solitude; a nocturnal solace in the splendor of the effulgent, pristine glow. Her mouth was puckered up, humming a familiar melody.

"How's the egg?" Primrose's question broke into the calming silence, remembering of the anonymous gift she had received, though the mare herself knew better who it was from.

"I think it's happy to know that I'm taking care of it!" the pink mare exclaimed with a cheerful grin.

"I'm still guessing what might be inside! I'm already planning to give a name for it!"

"That's great," she replied with a warm smile of her own.

"Did the Princess finally tell you where you're going to be relocated?"

"You betcha! A small little town called Ponyville, just past the Everfree!"

With a squeal of delight, the pink mare babbled on how dandy the town was, and how she was going to live with a couple owning a desserts bakery.

Her friend only looked down in silence. If she only knew...

"Remember, Prim?" she spoke, her voice suddenly somber, with Primrose's ears perking in response.

"The days where we used to camp out here?"

"Who wouldn't?" she replied with a soft chuckle.

"And... Gypsum would sing some campfire songs?"

There was a moment of brief silence, before the caramel mare asked reluctantly:

"Why the sudden mention of her?"

"I... I'm not sure really..."

Pinkie opened her eyes, letting out a nostalgic sigh as she turned to her friend.

"It's just feels like... I've forgotten something. Like my heart's a little empty..."

Primrose tried to hide her surprise and, with more effort, her shock. Did she actually remember that they were in Pendant Lakes? Did the spell wear off that quickly?

Before she could reply, the pink mare suddenly gave her a huge grin, swaying her hooves side by side.

"Well, Gypsum wouldn't want me to be all saddy-waddy, don't she? Even if I don't know what happened to you guys , I'm sure she and Harmony are happy to see us together like this!"

The caramel mare let out a disheartened chuckle, watching as she laid down on the soft field of grass, her head resting on her crossed hooves. Her gaze turned back to the bright surface of the moon, wearing only a sad smile.

What if she remembered what happened, she thought to herself. What if she knew of the spell that the Princess had placed on the trio of them?

Trying not to shudder, she quickly turned back to her friend; if she is going to remember eventually - her hooves clenched with determination - then she'll at least make the remainder of moments with Pinkie a memorable one.

Even if she would die from it.

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"So she fares well in Manehatten now?"

"Never paid her a visit yet," Stellar gave his reply to the doctor's question.

"Though her letters told me she managed to rent an apartment just five block away from Times Square, so I'm pretty sure she and her daughters have settled in already. She'll come back to get the package."

Both the butler and Caduceus were strolling down one of the many garden paths around the palace in the early crack of dawn, reminiscing about the numerous events that happened recently.

Their discussion eventually strayed towards Persimmon's sudden divorce with her husband just two weeks ago. She had since moved to Manehatten with her daughters to help them with their college studies and her search for another publisher. The duty of the orphanage has been pushed to another pony, though the butler himself had heard that the children all missed their previous caretaker.

Sidus did not sleep well for the past week either, after learning that his wife, Aria Glassleaf, a flute player and, like her husband, one of the retired assassins herself, was discovered to have a terminal illness. The stallion himself had been introvert ever since, always busy tending to the sick mare in bed.

He sighed; what had the world come to these days?

"Still can't believe he's there..." Caduceus suddenly murmured, prompting his friend to turn.

Winter Palgiot sat somberly in the dew-covered grass, amidst the monuments of standing tombstones, his hooves tucked together in silent prayer. The gravestone before him was covered in a wreath of purple orchids; the ones that Dresden had left behind in false memorial, in order to fool the stallion before them.

"He still wouldn't believe the story?"

"You know how he is about it, trying to protest that the palace didn't explode or so," the butler replied with a shrug.

"Though you might be right when you said the spell was unpredictable."

"I was certain of the results..." the doctor only muttered, his gaze stiffening at their destination.

It was a crypt; one of the many empty ones dotted around the palace. There were many speculations on why these structures were built if no host were to inhabit them, though he saved his thoughts for later.

Stellar could see the look of worry in his eyes, knowing full well he had a good reason to.

"You know, you could still back out if you're unprepared," he said.

"It's not like the Princess wants you to do it immediately."

"I've spent a week thinking about it, alright?"

Caduceus held his breath, before his hooves rested on the stone surface of the door. He tried to give a smile, though the butler could see the look of fear and doubt through it.

"Just... be careful."

His friend gave him a nod, prompting him to push the stone doors open. The dust scattered in clumps of clouds, only reminding him of how musty these places are.

It seemed bigger in the inside, enough to accommodate at least three marble coffins. In their place, however, was Princess Celestia herself, her face devoid of expression as she looked down upon the doctor.

"Are you certain you are ready, Caduceus Brineheart?"

The stallion only gave her a subtle nod.

"My decision is final."

"Very well then."

The alicorn nodded at Stellar, who quickly unsheathed his blade, making his friend tremble. The butler slowly advanced towards his friend, watching as the doctor himself knelt down, his eyes clenched tight from the impending event.

With a flick of her hoof, the stallions watched as a lacquered box slid in between of them, its boutique of designs staring back at them. Caduceus held his breath, feeling the sweat crawling down his skin, his impatience mixed with his dread.

"And thou witness thy events that past; thou capsule for generations thy come..."

Princess Celestia held her breath, before continuing her chant, her horn glowing a bright yellow.

"Seal thou subject's memory, through times of comfort and pain; with sacrifice thou'est weapon, of prosperity and bloodshed."

At that, Stellar raised the rapier, glancing down at his target before him, feeling his heart about to explode from guilt under the watchful eyes of the alicorn.

His gaze stuck at his friend's horn, which somewhat enticed him in his decisions. Of all the things he could've done...

"Let wrath encumber, let thy's shards of pain not go to waste; down from the beginning of desired time, to the moment thou shalt strike with thy blade."

With a loud cry, he swung the blade downwards...

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Present Day

Pinkie's eyes fluttered open at the loud howl of pain, snapping her back into reality.

Grasping the wooden corner of a table, her breath rapid as she lifted herself up from the marble floor, she glanced around hastily, before letting out a sigh of relief.

She was back in the Palace Library again, the familiar, cold chill of night filling up the air, tingling the inner depths of her chest. Her vision cleared a little, gazing outside the scenic view of the night.

Without any hesitation, she began to step away, though not before turning around, freezing instantly at the sight before her, feeling her shadow growing with realization.

There were her friends: Twilight, Rarity, Spike and Rainbow Dash, as well as Octavia, Crimson and Soarin', all glancing at her with looks of uncertainty, only reminding her of their newly attained knowledge of her existence as a third of Mirror Mare; a third of the dark soul that started it all.

Her head immediately hung low at that revelation, though there was a soft trot of hooves that came after it.

She glanced up at the instant, watching it surprise at Rainbow, who was standing right before her with a sad smile on her face, her wings folded in with utmost sincerity.

"I'm sorry..."

With that, Pinkie felt herself reeled into a tight hug, eliciting a squeal of surprise.

Her eyes could only stare at the rest of her friends for a minute, who were trying their best to smile for her. Her heart tingled with luxurious warmth, feeling it overflow into her hooves, though the sensation was immediately replaced by that of bewilderment.

"I thought.... I thought you guys..."

"Pinkie, darling," Rarity spoke up first as the cyan pegasus let her go.

"Just because you have half a demon in you doesn't make any difference to who you are. We all have our own demons, without doubt, me as well, yet we're still the same pony, aren't we not?"

"Think about it, Pinkie," Twilight continued after seeing the pink mare looking down with doubt.

"If you hadn't have those... time-controlling powers with you, I wouldn't be here right now, wouldn't I?"

"But.... b-but..."

"It is by mistake that I met Crimson, Pinkie," Octavia spoke up, grinning at her coltfriend.

"And it was his mistake that he met me, yet we've enjoyed each other's company ever since."

"Come on, Pinks! Even I make mistakes too!"

Rainbow glanced at Soarin', who burst out in laughter at that, only making her shake her head.

"See what I mean?"

Pinkie giggled at her rainbow-maned friend, before turning to Rarity.

"You and Twilight too?" she asked.

"I know Twilight has her fair share of mistakes," the white unicorn replied, making her friend shot a glare.

"Though, to be honest, sometimes we all harbored secrets like these too. I mean, could you imagine the whole Canterlot society if I professed my love for my darling Spikey-Wikey here?"

"Sheesh, Rarity..." the dragon could only reply with a blush on his cheeks, scratching the scales on his head as the other ponies chuckled at him.

"And I thought you were a flexible mare."

"Hello? Can we get back to the point here?"

Twilight's harsh tone immediately stopped their teasing, the lavender unicorn herself turning to Pinkie.

"Listen," she spoke up.

"I know you have problems that you don't want us to get hurt from. If I were you, I would do the same as well, but it's time we came to help you out. It's time we remind them that we're friends, and there's nothing they could do to stop us, alright?"

Before any of them could respond, there was a loud rumble from around, scattering a few sprinkles of dust from the swaying chandeliers in the ceiling, the lights flickering out of the slight tremor.

Pinkie held her breath, before glancing towards the door. Feeling a hoof on her shoulder, she saw Rarity smiling back at her with a small wink, only making her do the same.

"Do it for him," the white unicorn whispered.

She nodded in response, before trotting towards the door, with everypony else following closely behind.

"Hold on, Winter..." she muttered under her breath, clenching her hooves.

"I'm coming for you..."

Sanity's Vestige

"Rarity?"

The white mare glanced down at the filly in her hooves, trying her best to smile.

"Yes, Spring?"

Spring's light yellow pupils glistened in the moonlight like a miniature sun, her head tilted in an expression of slight confusion with her hoof clinging tight on the other mare's.

They were slowly trotting down the corridor, with Crimson and Soarin' ahead of them as their escorts for the occasion. The atmosphere around them was unusually tense, their ears only hearing the eerie silence.

"Where are we going, actually?"

"Somewhere safe," was Rarity's reply, hiding her worry.

"Your room might not be... secure for now."

"Oh... okay..." the filly said, her head facing down with uncertainty, before perking up again.

"W-What about my brother?"

"He has errands to do."

"Really?"

Spring watched as Rarity gave her an earnest smile, followed by a nod. She pondered for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders, her hooves happily prancing down the carpeted hallway.

"If he's that busy, that means he's going to do something big... I love it when he does something big!"

The unicorn immediately laughed at her response.

"Silly filly," she cooed, making Spring giggle sheepishly. Her gaze soon turned ahead, calling out:

"Crimson?"

"Yeah~?"

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" she asked, feeling the worry enriching her heart.

"He should be around here somewhere..."

"Stellar!!" the filly suddenly screeched, scampering ahead of her bewildered entourages.

Their gaze followed the cheerful pony, before they smiled at the suited colt before them, who gave out a hearty laugh, his hoof ruffling the filly's mane.

"Glad to see all of you awake," he spoke with a grin.

"Awake?" Spring interrupted, perplexed.

"What do you mean? Rarity's been sleeping?"

"It's hard to explain, Spring," the white unicorn replied, before turning back to the butler.

"How's the palace managing?"

"Slight problem with intruders, namely Mirror Mare."

The butler glanced at their concerned faces, trying his best to muster his confidence.

"She seems to be the ringleader of the band, and by band I mean some revived corporation calling themselves Sicarius Nox, though it's pretty obvious they were lying."

"What do you mean," Crimson asked.

"That they aren't actually the real organisation?"

"Basically, Sicarius Nox functions in a way where the main goal is not to murder your enemy, but to make everything around you as a weapon, maybe a shard of glass perhaps? Or even something harmless such as a dry leaf."

Stellar started trotting down the corridor, beckoning the rest to follow as he continued:

"Whoever these ponies are, they're can't compare with Sicarius, seeing the way they were utilizing their skills and weaponry. Merely lackluster in both skill and luck, I'd say, though what they faltered in that, they can make it up for their numbers."

"So where are we suppose to go?"

Rarity craned her neck at Spring, the filly herself just glancing about, utterly confused by the situation.

"She needs to be safe, doesn't she?"

"The Princesses have prepared something for the occasion."

The butler glanced out of the window, beyond the valley of Pendant Lakes finely glowing under the embrace of the full moon, its radiant light garnishing the halcyon of night.

"Jovern has headed to Canterlot in response to a dragon invasion, with rumors of it being led by his younger brother, Kane."

"Dragon invasion?"

"From the recently rebellion-stricken Badlands," Soarin' piped in suddenly, making the rest of them look.

"It was in one of our recent briefings after the Minister heard of their overthrown monarchy. The Wonderbolts were tasked to conduct airborne measures once it happened, though I never believed it would now."

"Invasion..."

Rarity pondered for a while, before her eyes widened in shock.

"Does that mean... Ponyville... Sweetie Belle....!"

"Princess Celestia told me that your friends were handling the situation."

Stellar watched with an amused grin as the white mare sighed with great relief, rescuing her from fainting.

"It seems they've managed to tame them somehow, though the plan was created by a Miss Applejack."

"Applejack..."

The white mare started to smile at the mention of the orange mare's name. Of all the simplest, shallowest ponies in the world, they had to choose the mare who would do nothing better than to pound her hooves against the splinters of barks on the trees instead of relaxing on a warm bed with a free manicure courtesy of her.

Oh well, she giggled: there's not a more suitable pony than her to lead the way.

"Now what?"

"Seems we have to prepare for the inevitable."

The butler raised his revolver, gazing warily about the hallways as he spoke:

"Get Spring to the ballroom. She'll be safer there."

"Yay!!" the filly exclaimed, oblivious to the growing danger around her.

"In the meantime, if you've spotted Jovern arriving back to town, notify me at once."

Stellar turned to Rarity, watching her befuddled expression forming immediately.

"Tell the others to prepare for it as well," he continued, only raising the mare's confusion.

"Why?" she asked before he could march away.

"Why, of all things, his arrival?"

There was only a subtle reply from the butler; one which only made her hooves crossed with a humph of frustration as he hastily galloped away.

"It's necessary."

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"Tia?"

"Not now, Luna."

Princess Celestia rested his head on the table, her mind burrowing through its depths. The two alicorns were holed in the Carillon music room, their gazes set upon the various blueprints of the castle grounds and the map of Pendant Lakes itself. They were all scrawled with black crosses, made by the hovering marker from Celestia's horn.

"Tia, we don't have much time," the younger alicorn persisted.

"We should be out there helping the ponies, yet I don't understand why we're still here."

"I'm figuring out where Harmony would've gone."

With another sigh of dejection, the Princess beckoned the marker to draw another line across the map, before starting to ponder at the results.

"Wherever she would've gone," she continued, her gaze stagnant.

"The Patriarch's weapon would be there as well."

"But we can't find it if we're stuck in here-"

"Patience, Lu," the alabaster mare cut in sternly.

"The last time we've rushed things, everything just fell apart, didn't it?"

Luna wanted to speak, though her desire to do so soon drifted away once her elder sister finished her sentence. She quietly glanced towards the floor, her hooves crossed with stirring impatience.

"I just wished we can do something to help..."

"Princess Celestia!! Princess Luna!!"

The two alicorns turned, the older one being the first to smile at the group of ponies (and a dragon) entering the room, with wide, surprised grins forming at their lips.

"Twilight," Princess Celestia mused at the unicorn before them, before asking:

"I assume all of you had seen the events of the past?"

The lavender unicorn nodded, gazing back at the group behind her.

There, along with her, was Spike, Octavia and Rainbow Dash, all already eager to help out in the palace. The Princesses smiled at all of them, before the younger alicorn suddenly piped up:

"Where's the pink one?"

"Pinkie? She went to look for Winter."

"The Patriarch?"

Princess Luna turned to her sister, who gave a nod. The alabaster mare then passed the map of the town to Twilight, the unicorn, along with her friends, looking at the scrawls of ink in bafflement.

"What you're seeing here," the alicorn explained.

"Are the possible locations that Harmony could've set the weapon to be able to strike Canterlot at a prominent distance. I need you ponies to deduce its position and, if possible, disarm it."

"No problem," the unicorn answered with a salute.

"How does it look like?"

"That, you'll have to figure it out."

Princess Celestia turned to her younger sister, stifling a small laugh as the cerulean alicorn's face lighted up suddenly with anticipation, an excited smile widening at her lips.

"You can follow Twilight, but be careful."

"I will, Tia."

"Spike," the alicorn suddenly called, making the dragon perk up in surprise.

"There's something different I want you to do. Something only a dragon like you, and I do mean you, are able to perform."

"What is it, your Highness?" he asked hastily.

"You might like this one," she said with a cheeky grin.

"Accompany Rarity on her own journey."

There was a moment of surprise, the dragon only staring at the alicorn in disbelief, with the rest of them chuckling as his cheeks started to redden with uncertainty.

"Y-You.... You really mean it, your Highness?"

Princess Celestia merely laughed at his fumbled response.

"Well," she said with a sly grin.

"If you don't want to I can always place you in another assignment then..."

"I'm going right away!!!"

The ponies all laughed as Spike raced out of the room, wearing a gleeful smile on his face. Twilight was the only one out of them who shook her head in amusement and slight disapproval, before turning to her mentor.

"You're sure it's a good idea, your Highness?"

"Rarity's about to undertake a quest, unbeknownst to her or anypony else, even me, that might change her perspective of her life in the near future. It's necessary that Spike assists her, knowing how prone she might be to the dangers ahead."

Her explanation made the lavender unicorn nod understandingly, though the alicorn mischievously added:

"After all, Spike seems to adore her to that extent, didn't he?"

Twilight giggled a little at that.

"Still is since we first met her."

"Now then," the alicorn said, her voice suddenly stern.

"Once any of you had found the weapon, notify the rest at once."

All of the ponies nodded, before they hastily trotted out of the door, with Twilight, Octavia and Rainbow already galloping down into the corridor.

Princess Luna was about to follow, before turning back to her sister, who was striding into the opposite direction.

"What about you, Tia?"

"Me?" she said, before giving the cerulean mare a smile.

"I'm just going to meet an old friend."

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"What of the south, Caduceus?"

"Still stable, my Patriarch," the doctor quickly replied whilst marching down the corridor.

"The guests are still unaware of the hostilities in the palace."

"We'll still have to evacuate them somehow..."

Winter Palgiot cocked his rifle to the side pocket of his slightly torn suit, staring at the bodies underneath his hooves, all of them riddled with bullets and bloodstains.

The stallion suddenly clutched his head, his teeth gritting in pain with the doctor's face immediately warping into that of concern, the sight of his Patriarch's predicament only made him ask:

"Are you alright, Lord Palgiot?"

"Fine," he groaned in response, forcing out a grin.

"Just fine..."

"Winter?"

The Patriarch immediately turned at the mention of his name, before finally beaming.

Right before his gaze stood a pink mare, her mane suddenly popping with a loud squeal of delight, the sight of her scurrying hurriedly towards him only making him chuckle.

"Seems somepony's in a good mood."

"Oh Winter, Winter, Winter, Winter, Winter, Winter, Winter!!" she exclaimed gleefully, hugging the stallion tight like a soft plushie toy, squeezing out the air from within his lungs.

"I'm so glad you're safe!!"

"Same to you, Pinkie," he breathlessly replied with a grin.

"Can you let me go now?"

"I thought Harmony found you out or something!!" she rambled onwards, making the stallion sigh.

"She would've, like, sliced you into bits. Or dice you up and make cutouts. Or grind you against a grater! Ooh! Ooh! Maybe she'll burn you up in a bonfire!! Freeze you into ice shaving? How about baking you into a delicious cupcake-"

"Pinkie!" he scowled, shunning her immediately.

"One, that's extremely disgusting. Two, you can't really hug me forever, can you?"

"Oh..." Pinkie replied with a sheepish laugh, her hooves releasing the stallion from her tight embrace.

"Sorry..."

"It's okay."

With a nuzzle of her mane, earning a frivolous giggle from her and a smile from Caduceus, he quickly turned to the doctor, giving him a nod before looking at Pinkie again.

"I've got something special for you to do."

"Already?" she whined with a pouting look, clutching tightly on his hooves.

"Oh well," the mare blew her mane up, giving him a smirk.

"What's it about?"

"Follow Caduceus here," he quickly said, beckoning his head towards the doctor, though Pinkie only reeled her head back in bewilderment, making Winter grin.

"He'll tell you what to do from then on out."

"You got it, Lord Palgiot!" she giggled, giving a military salute with Caduceus himself already darting down the corridor.

"What about you? Whatcha gonna do?"

"I have to get something. It's really important, alright?"

Winter smiled, though the pink mare can see it was forced out. With a dismissive wave of his hoof, he quickly watched as she tottered away, a cheerful grin lighting up her face.

He bit his lip; if only he had the time...

With a sigh, the Patriarch turned to the other direction, holding his breath as he galloped away, kicking the dust from the carpet beneath his hooves.

"Come on, Winter Palgiot," he muttered to himself.

"Don't give up on yourself now."

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The mausoleum still looked ever the same to her.

Harmony Peridot just affixed her stare at the steppe of granite coffins, trotting down in the field of black silence that only served as the burial ground for the ingenious family that had controlled the districts of Aston Reach, with most of them all resting in their coffins down here.

Nostalgia lingered in her head, her heart wrenching up with spite at all those years ago. Her discoveries... her enlightenment... down to the stark hatred of her downfall... the memories were all playing back in her head, painfully reminding her of the cold soul of Winter Palgiot.

"There's Pendulum..." she muttered to herself with a small grin, guiding her hoof against the marble edges of one of them.

"Evanescence.... Fedora..."

"Flair... Carillon..."

Striding down between the coffins of the dead ponies would've amazed her back then. Now she could only scoff at the prized bodies of the family now; all rotten to the core, all devilish inside, just like their current Patriarch.

"Crescent..." the names continued endlessly, reminding her of how big the family actually is.

"Ochre... Palladium..."

Her hooves stopped immediately at the end of her search. So they did bury him here after all.

"Tantrum Palgiot," she surmised, glancing at the stone casket before her.

Her horn glowed a brilliant red, the light gleaming across the surface of the smooth granite, tinting them in its demonic, crimson splendor. The lid of Tantrum's casket started to shift, surrounded by the hellish aura, before finally sliding slowly to the side, the grinding of stone against stone rebounding throughout the cavern.

With one last grunt, the stone lid slammed onto the ground, the dust below it scattering away immediately. Her eyes shifted to the figure lying inside, her lips stifling into a beaming smile.

The body of the twenty-seventh Patriarch laid there in unnerving silence, his once-feared, narcissistic visage now a mere sprout of decay, with the skeletal ridges already showing through the thinning layers of his cheek.

"Tantrum..." she cooed, giggling at the dead body, before her voice suddenly twisted, deepening quickly with hatred and wrath. Her eyes turned a torturous mix of green and red, flaring up as her voice boomed loudly, her usually tender tone now warped along with the nestling demon's own growl from within:

"How long has it been?"

"A bit too long, perhaps."

Harmony whirled around, surprised at the sudden reply, even more so at the figure standing before her.

"P-Princess?" she whimpered.

Princess Celestia's scornful frown stared down at the mare before her; once her trusty subject, her faithful student in the teachings of friendship, now nothing but a corrupted shell for the hell stirring within her core.

"Harmony Peridot,"her voice boomed, making the unicorn cringe.

"Did you not remember the orders I've given to you those years ago?"

"I'm... I'm just-"

"You have sought for power beyond your reach, have assaulted various ponyfolk, even your friends and even dared to plot the destruction of Canterlot!

The alicorn watched as Harmony shrunk herself to the floor, trembling beneath her mane at the frown on the alabaster mare's lips, before speaking:

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I just want him back..."

"After I had told you to arrive at the palace?" Celestia questioned.

"After you were forbidden to ever visit Pendant Lakes? To never talk to that pony again?"

Harmony's eyes widened with tears, the echoing memory of those excruciating months now slamming back into her, making her quiver in pure anxiety.

"No..."

~ * * * * * ~

"Come on, Harmony..."

It was, by far, one of her most distressful predicaments she could ever stumble herself into. She had endured ravaging mountains, deep jungles, dark trenches and rough canyons, but never had she had the courage to do this. With a last swipe of sweat off her forehead, she smiled with pride at her annual accomplishment; one which had took her hours to do so.

A loud, metallic *pong* sounded off, only making her her heart plunge in an instant, her eyes widening with her hoof letting go of a slightly rusted wrench.

"Oh, snap."

With a loud, ringing crack of metal, the pipe before her suddenly burst apart, the gushing torrent of water now spraying an ocean into her face, her shield being only her two front hooves. Harmony soon tumbled backwards onto the floor with a splash, the water already flooding up the basement.

"Darn it..." she cursed, wading through the water as the final droplets dripped out from the pipe. Her hoof clung onto the steps of the wooden stairs, before she trotted back to her dining room, scowling with disgust.

She was in the Peridot homestead, which was refined into a delicate inn to invite travelers heading into Canterlot, though she was the only occupant now after her parents had passed away and, seeing how vacancy was the norm, it wasn't really a surprise to her that it had fell into disrepair ever since the Princess had invited her to be a Voyager all those years ago.

Was it really seven years since they've disbanded, she thought to herself, though her memories were faint; she could only recall herself waking in a hospital bed, with a demand of silence of the Voyager's existence from the Princess.

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

"Just a minute!!" she called out, humping in annoyance. Harmony had never found the delight to tend to the few guests that pleasantly stumbled upon her house; her attention was more drawn to the designs she had prepared and stored in the attic, with the few storage chests and the scattered dust being the only audience to her conventions.

She turned the knob hastily, before saying:

"Welcome to Peridot Lodge, where the guests only deserve the best! How may I help you?"

The stallion standing before her just raised an eyebrow, his red pupils flaring like a spark.

"She really misconstrued something, didn't she?"

Before she could reply, she felt herself being pushed to the side, with the stallion easing himself in.

"Hey!" she cried, her nose tingled by his black mane.

"At least let me introduce myself!"

He didn't seem to bother, as he trotted into the living room, with Harmony following behind. He soon settled himself on the couch, wearing a small smirk on his face with the mare wrinkling her brows towards him, her hooves clenched with spite.

"If you can't even show proper mannerisms in my household, and I mean my household," she scowled.

"Then it's best you leave before I toss you into my forsaken basement!"

"You really don't recall our visit, do you?"

Harmony just tilted her head in bewilderment as the white stallion laughed in amusement.

"Don't you remember, Harmony Peridot? That night in Fenderville?"

"What do you know of it, and how the hell do you know my name?"

"Well played, Celestia," he muttered, before handing her a photograph. It was a moment before the contents of it finally registered in her head, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"This is..."

"Your fabled coltfriend," the stallion finished.

"The photo was taken only last Tuesday, though I recalled the Princess saying that the stallion had passed on-"

"In an accident, seven years ago, yes."

Harmony felt a tear creeping up to her face, her eyes glued to the photo. There was no way he could've been alive! The Princess herself explained of his predicament after she had awoke from her coma, unless...

"You mean-"

A loud laugh shattered through her voice, the mare dropping the photo in cold realization as the stallion merely grinned, giving her a subtle reply:

"Even the most benevolent of monarchs make a fool out of their subjects, do they not?"

"You mean," she gasped out, feeling her heart wretch in denial.

"You mean the princess-"

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

KNOCK*

The loud thumping of the wooden door made the two of them jump, though the stallion was the first to recover from his surprise, immediately yanking Harmony forwards by the mane, the mare eliciting a short yelp.

"Listen carefully," he hissed.

"If anypony asks of my presence, never mention anything about it. One wrong move? I'll be happily reading your obituary on tomorrow's newspaper. Understand?"

Harmony just gave a short whimper, followed by a nod.

With one last glint of his scarlet pupils, his grip on her mane loosened, with the mare now heading towards the door. Swallowing a gulp of nervousness, her pink hoof reached for the knob as she forced out a smile.

The door creaked open, revealing a pair of white stallions, both wearing stern expressions. Their polished plates of armor gleamed in the sunlight, signifying their position as the Royal Guards of Canterlot.

"Miss Peridot?"

"That's me."

"The Princess has ordered for your arrival to the Palace, Miss Peridot."

Harmony just blinked in surprise at that, before asking:

"What is it about?"

"Confidential," the guard just replied, making her raise her eyebrow in suspicion as he continued:

"She wishes to discuss this matter in the palace."

"Oh..." her voice twinged with doubt.

"Okay... Lemme just... get my things."

"All right, miss."

Silent, she shut the door behind her, letting out a distressed sigh, guiding herself back into the living room.

The stallion still sat there, chuckling at her condition, earning an annoyed glare from the mare. Without hesitation, Harmony settled herself right beside him, muttering softly to him:

"Why would the Princess hide this from me?"

He just kept silent as she continued rambling, her eyes shimmering with tears:

"Why would the Princess say he was killed? Why would she.... How could she?"

"That fact is beyond my grasp," the white stallion quipped, placing a hoof around her shoulder.

"However, I had paved a path to revelation for you, Miss Harmony. You could call it a new voyage for a lone Voyager, and it all begins now with finding an alternative exit."

With that, he quickly stood up, brushing his hooves whilst reaching one out, making the mare perk up.

"I have a proposal for that," he said with a devious grin.

"How about the back door?"

Harmony's heart clung tightly onto denial, her gaze settling beyond the branches of her homegrown spruce trees, at the silhouette of the royal town of Canterlot in the vivid colors of the sunset, with only a flock of geese to accompany it.

Clenching her hooves, she turned back to the stallion, hoisting herself up with the help of the stallion's white hoof. She looked into his demonic-red pupils with intent, asking him:

"Where do I start?"

~ * * * * * ~

"NO!!"

Princess Celestia stepped back in surprise at the pink unicorn's sudden outburst, her horn glowing a pale yellow, as if to rival Harmony's fused aura of black and blood-red, watching the mare's teeth gritting with spite.

"Harmony," she tried, though the mare didn't seemed to listen, instead kicking her hooves back.

"You told me!!" she snarled, her horn crackling with black thunder.

"You said that he was DEAD!!"

"I've said that only to protect you-"

"YOU LIED TO ME!!"

With a loud crackle, the alicorn watched as Harmony's horn burned up, the heat of her rage and despair from it making her sweat already. The pink unicorn herself stepped down a bit, panting softly yet audibly.

"You said... you told me... you would never lie..."

"But Harmony, listen to me!" Celestia protested, bracing herself.

"I didn't want to hurt you! I didn't want to make you see what you had done!"

"LIES!!!"

With a loud cry, a reddish, giant bolt of thunder sprung from Harmony's horn, whizzing straight towards the alicorn. In response, the alabaster mare conjured up her own; a contrasting one of yellow and white, the two colliding in the middle with a loud, fizzing bang.

The Princess braced her hooves back, gritting her teeth at the overwhelming razor of force blasting out of her horn, even more so at the demonic power of the other mare's. She watched as Harmony's eyes warped into a pure red, the force of her streak of lightning only empowered at that.

It wasn't long before the alicorn felt something in her fizzling out, her eyes widening in realization and horror as the pink unicorn roared triumphantly, as if knowing of her predicament as well.

With one, loud, final cry, the black lightning drilled its way towards Celestia, who clenched her eyes shut.

*CRASH*

The alicorn let out a pained yell as the powerful force slammed against her body, pummeling her back against the stone wall with harsh might, before she fell to the floor.

Her vision hazy, her body bruised, she watched as Harmony advanced upon her, carrying her signature, patterned double-blades.

"Pity isn't it, Princess?" she cooed with a cackle.

"Even your magic is impaired compared to his."

"H-Harmony..." the alicorn managed to gasp, trying to move her bruised body,

"Don't..."

"Don't worry, Celestia," her voice said, though in its demonic form as she raised her blade.

"I'll try to make it quick."

A loud pang sounded through the mausoleum, the princess holding her breath as Harmony fell to the floor, her white pristine blades clattering to the side, nearly missing her folded wings.

As the pink unicorn's hooves slumped towards the side, Princess Celestia sighed with relief at the figure before her, who was panting and heaving breathlessly with a shovel clutched tightly in both of her hooves.

"Are you alright, Princess?"

"Just f-fine, Pinkie," she stammered, her slender hooves struggling to stand up.

Pinkie immediately dropped the shovel, helping the alicorn up as the other pony with her tended to Harmony, before the princess asked:

"How long would she be out, Caduceus?"

"Hopefully enough time to finish," the doctor replied, lifting the unconscious unicorn.

"Quickly now. We don't have much time to spare."

Both Pinkie and Princess Celestia nodded, before the two limped towards the stairwell, with Doctor Brineheart following closely behind.

The alicorn held her breath, shuddering at the moments that had just flashed by, though it hadn't gone unnoticed as the mare helping her suddenly asked:

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"Nothing, Pinkie," she replied, giving her a faltering grin.

"It's just... it's been awhile that..."

"I've felt this close to death before."

A Glass Pendant

"But wasn't it that one?"

"That couldn't be it," Crimson replied.

"I remembered the ballroom doors to be a bit... bigger."

Rarity groaned in frustration, looking at the endless row of doors sliding down the walls of the corridors with Spring right beside her, the filly's eyes sparkling with mesmerism, unbeknownst of the shortage of the time they have left.

"Is this what Winter did?" she cried out jovially.

"Is it? Is it?"

"Maybe?" the white unicorn responded with a shrug, trying to smile.

"Soarin'," the red stallion turned to the Wonderbolt.

"Wanna use those wings of yours and fly up ahead?"

"I don't really think Dashie wants to see me fly around like that right now."

Both Rarity and Crimson immediately turned to him, their eyebrows raised with surprise.

"Dashie?" the white mare quipped with interest, the stallion beside her trying his best not to laugh.

"I'm serious!"

Soarin' tucked his wings, pouting as the two ponies just giggled at him, making him furrow his brows.

"Rainbow wanted me to call her that. I had nothing to do with it at all!"

"And you actually listened?"

Before he could reply, the pair burst out in laughter with Spring just looking at the two, befuddled.

The pegasus just scrunched his hooves, his face reddening with annoyance.

"You know what?" he griped. "I'm just gonna go find the ballroom for our filly here. Do some proper missions that it seems only proper ponies can do."

"Hey, Soar!" Crimson shouted amidst his snickering, chasing after the pegasus.

"Wait up! It's only a joke, bro!"

Rarity just sighed, her chest heaving with stress running off the bottom of her hooves as she let out her last, few spurts of laughter. With a grin, she galloped towards the huddled group, continuing their search in the maze-way of doors shifting around her, the two stallions still arguing ahead.

"Well, it doesn't seem like a joke to me."

"Come on, Soarin'. I thought you were a good keeper with jokes!"

"Not in a serious thing such as this! Even I have my own limits, don't I?"

"Hey, it's just a short one."

Crimson wanted to continue, though the pegasus's darkening face made him stop immediately, instead switching his gaze towards the mare behind them.

"So where exactly are we again?"

"To be frank with you, I'm not really sure where we actually are."

The white mare beckoned her head at the doorways sliding down beside them, reminding them of their frustration. All three sighed in unison, with Spring the only one giggling happily.

A loud rumble suddenly rocked the palace, nearly making them stumble onto the floor. Rarity's hoof clung tighter onto the filly's, glancing around at the swinging chandeliers above them, trying not to scowl at the trickle of dust.

"We don't really have much time."

"... lost..."

The unicorn whirled around immediately, stopping in her tracks.

"What was that?" she asked.

"What was what?"

"That sound..." she answered Crimson's question, the four of them now staring at the empty hallway.

The two stallions could only stare at each other in confusion, the white mare still glancing uneasily at their backs, before Crimson was the first to shrug.

"Doesn't seem like there's anything to me."

"M-Maybe you're right."

Without a minute to spare, they continued their path down the hallway, despite Rarity still glancing warily around them, only making the others worry. The white mare herself clenched her hooves tighter with each step forward, but it wasn't long before she started to relax, the tension in her shoulders gradually fading away.

"You see, Rarity?" she muttered to herself. "It's only your imagination."

... never satisfied..."

With a short gasp, she fell back suddenly, whimpering on the spot at the voice pouncing into her head. Crimson quickly galloped towards her, mouthing out something... she couldn't hear what.

"They were liars..." the voices kept going, mercilessly attacking her sanity. Her hooves started to shiver as she covered her ears, her horn flaring a dark blue.

"No..." she gave her reply, the world around her darkening.

"No, no, no, no, no...."

The worried expressions of the three ponies started to blur out, the walls of the hallways bending down towards her. She could hear each of their muffled voices straining to break through her obscured hearing.

The soft, peculiar patter of footsteps were the only thing that she could register, before a purplish blur quickly raced into her view. A small gasp jumped from her as the familiar texture of claws frantically gripped onto her hoof, trying to shake her out from her dazed reverie.

Her vision started to clear, as well as her hearing. She could feel the sharp claws digging into her skin, making her whimper, yet with relief.

"Rarity!" a familiar voice echoed, the mare now realizing who was shaking her as her foggy vision cleared.

"S-Spike...?"

The mare stopped and stare at his concerned face in disbelief, feeling herself being hauled forward with a gasp of surprise the instant his arms wrapped around her body.

Her heart tingled at the sound of slight sniffling, before the dragon finally spoke coldly:

"Don't ever do that again."

"S-Spike," Rarity stammered, unsure of what to say.

"I... I w-was..."

"Promise me," he said sternly, looking into her azure pupils.

"Promise that you'll never give in to this... this darkness."

"But Spike, I was-"

"I don't want to lose you!" he yelled, making her cringe. His grip on her hoof tightened, already beginning to leave a few marks on her skin. Spike finally let loose a tear, the mare of his life only being able to watch as it dripped onto the floor, her heart aching with the pain of guilt.

"Not here, not now... never..."

"Spike..."

Rarity started to quiver, leaning against his chest. The rest of them just smiled at the couple as they huddled away quietly, not wanting to disturb their moment of silence.

Silence fell upon the hallways, with the two relishing the moment of quiet embrace. Their breath shuddered, mostly with pure comfort at each other's warmth, with claw and hoof entwined in the middle. The dragon started muzzling against the side of her cheek, making the mare - his mare - blush with ease.

The white unicorn herself just closed her eyes, feeling safe under his guise. A small tear crawled down her cheek, prompting Spike to quickly wipe it off, before continuing their solace in each other's presence.

"Spike?" she suddenly called out, staring at the bright moon outside.

"What is it, Rarity?"

"Can you... move in with me? If we get back?"

The dragon blinked at her request, watching Rarity's eyes shimmer with hopeful yearning, the white mare continuing with a defeated sigh:

"I don't think I c-can... that w-without.... without you I might... I don't know..."

"We will get back, Rarity," he replied suddenly.

"There's no 'if'. We will go back to Ponyville once this is over, and when we do, I'll ask Twilight for permission. See if she would tag along with it."

"After all," he continued with a wink.

"I think she'll be very happy to see the both of us together."

Rarity giggled at his comment, the dragon giving her a wry smirk.

"You really think so, dear?"

"Calling me 'dear' already? Really?" he said with a stare, making her laugh.

The pair stood up, quickly walking down the corridors. Despite all the time that had passed, the doors were still moving, only making Rarity wonder how long the Patriarch can keep his magic up.

Her worry, however, was focused more on herself; more accurately, the darkness stirring in her head. She pondered about it a little, trying to figure out of the whispering she had heard before Spike had arrived.

"Let's go this way," she suddenly spoke with determination, making the dragon look in surprise.

"You sure about that?"

"Positive."

With a clench of her hooves, she started to trot towards where she had heard the whispers come from. Her heartbeat gradually quickened as Rarity held her breath, betting her faith on her instincts.

"Must be this way," she mused without a second thought, the dragon blindly following her around. There was no other thought in her head except for one:

There must be something causing all this darkness in Pendant Lakes, she told herself, and by Celestia's hoof, she's going to find it.

No matter what.

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"Yes."

Tourist Trap rubbed his eyes with fatigue and frustration, listening with rapt attention at the voice on the other end of the phone. His head ached in irritation at the news being relayed before him, before his eyes widened.

"What do you mean it's closed down?!"

There was a noisy chatter from the phone, the stallion finally slamming his hooves onto the table.

"Listen," he demanded, his face retching up in spite.

"I don't give a bucking bit for whatever the heck's happening over there. If you think you can walk away safely, without making any amendments to the mortgage and expecting no consequences, then you better leave your bucking suit on the rack because I won't be hiring slackers like you, got it?"

In a fit of rage, he slammed the phone down, letting himself fall back into his chair with a dejected sigh.

Without further ado, the stallion reeled himself towards the table, continuing his somewhat pointless flips through his account book, his interest only in the savoring of his home-made espresso, whipped up for another work in the darkness of the midnight.

A small knock on the door received his attention, his rage sedated as his wife, Penny Royal, slowly strode in with a smile, the amber pegasus just asking:

"Aren't you suppose to be asleep?"

"Aren't you?" she queried as she approached her husband, giving him a wink.

"Is it about your press conference tomorrow?"

"To be honest, I've completely forgotten about that."

Leaning back against his chair, Tourist let out a purr of satisfaction, feeling the mare's hooves stroking his aching shoulder with another sip of his coffee.

"Ridiculous really: all these talks of me staging the body of the minister," he remarked sardonically.

"Seems the press would believe every pathetic rumor nowadays."

"Well, we both know the truth, don't we?" the green mare quipped, her husband nodding in response with a satiated flutter of his amber wings.

"Then they could not frame us for telling the truth."

"I suppose you're right..." he said, crossing his hooves as he glanced out of the window.

It was then that he saw it: beyond the field of trees in the outskirts of town, sifting seamlessly through the clouds - his eyes stopped with a jolt of disbelief - were reptilian silhouettes, soaring towards the town with a gentle flap of their wings; a silent wraith in the middle of the night.

"What is that...?" he muttered.

"Is that..." Penny began, paling immediately.

"But they couldn't have..."

"Seems that way," he replied with a frown, remembering the incident on the news a week ago. The dragon invasion of Canterlot was now the main story, spreading across Equestria like an uncontrolled blaze, and now the cause of it was starting to get closer and closer...

Without hesitation, he quickly marched out of his study, his ever-faithful wife following him behind, frantically asking:

"Where are you going?"

His hoof landed onto the elevator button, biting his lip at his decision.

Trying to smile, Tourist turned to Penny with a flutter of his amber wings, giving her a small reply:

"Welcome them."

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"Just a little more, my Princess..."

The alicorn could only nod at Pinkie, who was trying her best to give her princess a reassuring smile as they venture up the spiraling staircase. Caduceus himself was ahead of them, his own weight being the unconscious Harmony resting on his shoulders, the doctor being careful not to wake her up.

The steps seem to go on forever, even more so from the fatigue in their hooves due to their expectantly long journey from the mausoleum into the corridors of the palace. Their circling journey up into the Tower Room only fueled their frustration, despite it being necessary.

The cochlear structure of stone finally came to a relieving halt as the tall, crystalline doors rose into their view; the majestic entrance to the Tower Room. The doctor was the first that advanced upon it, pushing the thin, cylindrical handles inwards, earning a grinding roar of stone with the doors parting.

Hurrying in, Pinkie settled the alicorn onto the floor, ignoring the sweat drenching her entire being. Closing her eyes, her mind uttering at some foreign words, her focus was quickly diverted onto Princess Celestia, before she suddenly struck her hooves onto the stone floor.

The alicorn closed her eyes, feeling the whispers of time plummeting into her head as an incandescent, rose-colored clock design flourished from beneath the pink mare, its intricate hands turning the wrong, but necessary, way.

As Pinkie let out a loud cry, the alabaster mare felt the pain seeping away immediately, before the immense glow of the otherworldly, ethereal timepiece receded back into the pink mare's body, who collapsed as a result.

"I-It really worked," Pinkie muttered as she slumped to the side, whimpering in slight pain.

Princess Celestia and Caduceus both rushed to her side, the alicorn looking more frantic than the other pony, who placed a hoof over her head as the pink mare panted, her eyes clenched shut from fatigue.

"She's over-exhausted," he surmised.

"She'll have to rest."

"It's too risky."

The alicorn glanced at the other unconscious mare in the room, knowing full well she would wake at any moment. Once she does - she bit her lip - their arrival to the Tower Room would be a waste.

"We need Pinkie to observe, just in case anything goes wrong."

"I'll try to get Stellar to replace her," the doctor suggested.

"I'm pretty sure he had prepared his end of the deal already."

With a satisfied sigh at their backup plan, the princess glanced out one of the few windows of the room, down at the rest of the palace nestling below. Her worries soon rested from the urgency of searching for Tantrum's weapon; the one that Twilight and her sister were trying to find.

"Please be swift..." she mumbled, praying silently.

"You need to make it up here as soon as you can, Stellar," Caduceus's voice broke into her thoughts.

There was a slight pause, the butler's voice inaudibly muttering through the radio, before he continued:

"She's too tired to help us at the moment."

"P-Princess...?"

Princess Celestia turned to Pinkie, watching with concern as the pink mare stifled a modest, weak smile. Her mouth soon opened, though it managed to only let out a small whisper, prompting the alicorn to edge closer to her.

The alabaster mare held her breath, her ears perking at the mare's request.

"Bring her back... please, bring her back..."

"I-I'll..." the alicorn stammered.

"I'll try..."

"Princess," the other pony in the room called to her, making her turn.

"Stellar would arrive shortly."

"Alright."

Without any more time to spare, the alicorn glanced down at Harmony, who was still unconscious, her head slightly bruised with a single streak of blood running down the side, no doubt from the painful slam of the shovel that Pinkie was forced to do.

She quickly nodded at Caduceus, who immediately cleared the ruffled papers showing the mechanisms of the Dreamscape machine standing in the center of the room, before urging Stellar to hurry up through the radio. Her hooves clenched with determination, her heart thumping with dread as she said:

"Let the exorcism commence."

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"Ya sure they'll just let us land here?!"

Applejack barely heard her brother's voice over the whizzing air, her hoof holding tight onto her hat as they soared towards the large town. There was a plaza that seemed wide enough to accommodate the majestic beasts for their small rest stop, seeing how they were already weary from their long flight.

"Maybe!" she yelled back, clutching tightly onto Kane's scales. The red dragon himself was diving after his older brother, the rest of his clan following straight behind.

Their descent was slow, nearly silent, though the sheer size of the scaly beasts had already attracted unwanted attention; the town was, unbelievably to them, still lively and filled with ponies, who were now scurrying away in fright once they've spotted them from the distance.

The plaza erupted into pandemonium as Kane finally touched the ground, watching in frantic desperation at Jovern's attempts of consolation. Applejack and Fluttershy quickly slid down from the red dragon's back, rushing towards the center of the chaotic scene.

"Everypony!!" the orange mare hollered, her voice overwhelmed in all the shrieking and screaming.

"Just stop for a darn minute!!"

"Um... please?" her friend added.

"Ya need to stop and listen for awhile!!"

"...but it's alright if you don't want to..."

Applejack turned to the yellow pegasus, trying her best to smile.

"Ah think ya... um... t-tried enough, sugarcube. Yes! That's it!" she stammered with a sheepish grin.

"Ya have a... erh... foal to care for! Granny Smith might wanna see her grand-whatever, ya know what I mean?"

"Oh," Fluttershy squeaked.

"If you insist..."

"Thank you."

With a relieved sigh, the orange mare quickly continued her frantic shouting, now joined by the couple of the ponies from Ponyville. All of them struggled to ease the panicking crowd with their voice, though she herself could feel her throat starting to crack.

Out of frustration, she quickly turned to Kane, saying:

"Ya know, maybe recklessness can answer to some of our problems."

With a grin, the red dragon held his breath in, before letting out an ear-splitting roar.

The town practically rumbled at the powerful demand of cessation, the rushing ponies all skidding to a halt, only able to shrink in fright on the slate floor. Their eyes flickered with terror at the dragons, prompting Applejack to sigh.

"Hey y'all, everypony," she tried, though the lack of response that followed only fueled her disappointment.

"We've traveled a long way from the south under the orders of the Princess herself and we're just stopping by for a rest. Would somepony kindly provide us some refreshments?"

The silence was tantalizing, the loudest response so far being a flutter of wings from Fluttershy.

"Anypony?" she tried again, the awkward situation reminding her of a week ago, when she had asked the citizens of her hometown of the directions that the dragons have went through.

At least there was a reply that time.

"Come on, come on..." she muttered to herself, forcing a wide grin at the frightened crowd.

A small tap on her shoulder made her turn, her gaze immediately facing Kane, who whispered:

"Maybe they're just overexcited?"

Applejack just raised an eyebrow at that, the red dragon snickering quietly.

"Ya serious? Of all times?"

"Excuse me!" a voice suddenly called out, interrupting their short conversation.

Both of them turned at the direction of the voice, watching in surprise as an amber pegasus eased his way through the crowd, hastily scampering up to them.

He turned to Applejack, the mare squinting her eyes in suspicion as he said:

"You must've been one of Pinkie's friends."

"Uh-huh," she replied skeptically.

"And you are?"

"One of hers as well."

He whistled suddenly, though it took him another try and a stumble back into the crowd and dragging out a trembling waiter to meet his goal. A wide smile aligned his face as he nudged the waiter, who immediately held forward a tray of teacups, the water within juggling about, slipping off the edges of its porcelain container.

"I know the dragons might need something bigger than that," he mused with a laugh.

"Maybe I'll get something bigger later."

"Thanks," Applejack said, her parched throat beckoning her hooves toward the teacup.

"Ya know Pinkie Pie, ya say?"

"Tourist Trap," he grinned.

"Owner of Paddock Palatial's, one of the finest hotels of Equestria. We've met during one of her journeys around Equestria."

Kane just glanced around as the two ponies spoke, before asking:

"Where exactly are we?"

"The exquisite town of Fenderville, the town just south of Aston Reach. Your destination - I presume to be Pendant Lakes - is just northeast of here."

Tourist seemed to smile with pride at that, adding on:

"Where you are now on is known in town as Piazza di Incendio, its translation in conjunction to all the dragons resting here for the night..."

"The Plaza of Fire."

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Two more right turns...

Spike had been trying to memorize the route that he and Rarity had been taking, which he would usually do from the certain 'landmarks' around each corridor, though the ever-changing hallways had wiped out any chances of that.

Oh well, he told himself just a moment ago, it was all down to the directions then. Time to start over...

One left turn, three right turns, one more to the left... what was that bit again?

"Darn," he hissed at himself, before asking the white mare:

"How much further do you think it is?"

"Just a little more..." she muttered halfheartedly, feeling the dread growing within her and, with that, her certainty. Her horn glowed a darker shade of blue with each step closer, acting like some sort of detector for whatever the nucleus of all the darkness that had lingered in the town.

The source of the chaos of Pendant Lakes... she could only shiver at the thought of it.

Her twists and turns finally ended her up in a familiar corridor, albeit one too familiar from the shell-shaped torches and the hint of humidity in the air. The doors before her only added to her confusion; the dark brown surface flourishing in its standstill elegance, purely unaffected by any of the Patriarch's tricks.

No, she mumbled to herself. This can't be it.

"Spring's room?"

Spike's skeptical question only earned a small nod from Rarity, the mare herself trying to perceive the fact that the source of all this darkness... emanated from the room of a small, innocent filly.

"There must be something wrong!" she exclaimed in frustration.

"She wouldn't keep something like that!"

"Maybe it's worth a shot?"

The unicorn just gave a cynical look at the dragon, who hastily defended himself as he added:

"You know how the Palace was built! Secrets here and there!"

Rarity wanted to argue, though she had to admit he does have a point.

She had already seen the numerous abnormalities around the town, ventured through the hidden passages around the palace, discovered a book in a secret tunnel down the cellar, found the family's mausoleum hidden behind a few bushes in the sanctuary by accident, and even knew of the giant cavern with the obsolete academy right under the town.

What's the chance that they've made one more?

"Might not hurt to take a peek," she replied, before opening the door.

Sure enough, the dazzlingly colorful room of the filly met her eyes, softened only by the blanket of dim moonlight shimmering from the glass dome above their heads. There was a faint smell of the humidity of morning dew, somewhat soothing the nervous flicker in their hearts.

Rarity felt her head lurch immediately, following the invisible steps that her horn had been guiding her through. It wasn't long before she faced the wooden door of the cupboard, the sight of it adding to her realization.

"It must be here!" she quickly exclaimed, prompting the teenage dragon to rush over.

Hastily, Spike pulled the wooden doors apart, though they've only faced the numerous clothes that hung within, much to their dismay.

The white mare could only stop and stare at the cupboard's miscellaneous contents whilst the dragon scanned the room before him, in the end only throwing his arms up in defeat.

"This is ridiculous!" he snarled with cold hatred, giving into his frustration.

"Why must everything be hidden in some sort of secret passage for us to find?"

"Let me see here..." Rarity only spoke, pondering over the possibilities.

The filly might've not been able to find anything that would activate any mechanisms, if there are any. If Spring did, Winter would've known about it and, in turn, she and her friends themselves. That means that the trigger might be in a place where the filly would not be able to reach, such as...

She immediately gazed upwards, at the designs of the stained glass windows. It had been, so far, the only room with such an articulate architecture in the whole palace, making her wonder.

What if...

With a grunt of pain, her head working up a storm, the white mare's horn started to flare up, directing it towards the glass ceiling. Her hoof clenched tighter as she felt the aura build up suddenly, before releasing the burst of magic.

A large, blue ray from her horn immediately shot towards the glass, though it did not shatter it, instead diverging into a spectrum of voluminous colors. They shined around the room, churning about as the center of the dome started spinning slowly.

In response, the cupboard panel started sliding down with the unexpected grinding sound of stone, the two only gazing ahead into the dimly-lit room to see a long trail, the width rivaling to that of a tightrope.

At the end - their eyes sparkled with fickle delight and amazement - was a pendant, made out of complete, white crystal. There seemed to be a lock on it, as it glinted a brilliant gold; comparable to a great array of gems in the world.

Rarity smiled at the queer coincidence, looking at the dancing colors, before glancing back at the pendant at the other end of the foreboding walkway, the thin surface of it gleaming in the brilliance of colors reflected from Spring's bedroom.

The treasure at the end of the rainbow.

She took a small step, her breath taken away, before realizing how dangerous the task actually is.

Beneath the darkness nestled a forest of colossal brass bells, the surface being shiny enough to reflect what was resting over her head; a giant ceiling of stained glass, filled with intricate designs of a luxury of tales and stories of old, with a few mesmerizing words in the center that said:

Never awaken the dragon that sleeps before his treasure.

She gulped in realization: by dragon, they meant the glass ceiling. One wrong step, and the whole ceiling comes crashing down.

Mouthing out "I'll go alone," to Spike, who nodded silently, having read the words on the ceiling as well, she slowly crept forward, heaving a sigh of relief.

The pendant seemed so tempting, the thought of it wanting to push herself from a dainty step on the narrow avenue to a frantic gallop for the prize, though the majestic panel above only reminded her of the horrific events that might follow as a result.

"Come on," the voice in her head encouraged.

"It's just over there.... out of your reach..."

Her breath a shiver, Rarity slowly edged towards the end, her heart thumping rapidly in trepidation, a bead of sweat already crawling down her face. Spike could only watch helplessly from afar, unsure of how to help the love of his life.

Step by painstaking step, yet the path never seemed to grow shorter. The thought of it was tormenting, her mind already straining under the pressure she was under.

"One... more... step!"

It was as her inner voice had said, making her squeal silently with glee: she had made it! She had reached the end!

Rarity stared in awe at her reward for her goal, the crystalline pendant glimmering like a lone star at midnight. Her hoof reached for it, carefully lifting the priceless object from the pedestal it was laid upon.

*CLICK*

Her eyes widened at the sound, the pedestal now plunging downwards, circling around on the spot as it suddenly slammed onto the ground with a loud boom, the sound making both her and Spike look up in horror.

Their eyes froze at the glass, waiting for it to shatter any second. Rarity placed a hoof onto the tightrope of the path she was on, wanting to journey back, thought not before she heard a small crack.

"Sp-Spike?"

With a loud crash, the glass ceiling suddenly shattered, the shards of it plummeting down onto the room like knives. The dragon watched in disbelief as the mare froze in horror, watching the blades of glass heading straight towards her.

"RUN, RARITY!!"

Snapping out of her daze, Rarity started to gallop towards the exit, whimpering plaintively as the first few shards landed onto the walkway, some already slicing past her fluttering mane. Her jaw clutched onto the surface of the crystalline pendant tightly, her four hooves racing towards the frantic dragon.

Suddenly, she stumbled, wincing in pain as she felt her body sliding against the stone floor, barely reaching the exit. She clenched her eyes as the glass fell closer towards her, bracing herself for the pain...

*SCHDK*

The white mare let out a loud yelp of fright, feeling the glass shards crashing all around her, yet she couldn't feel any land onto her body. It was only when she reluctantly opened her eyes at the shadow looming over her that she gasped in horrific realization.

Spike was over her, panting on all fours with his body shielding her, his face wincing in slight pain. There were about a dozen shards that jutted out from his scaled back, with some already forcing out a few drips of blood.

"Sh-shit..." he cursed.

"SPIKE!! she immediately screamed, pulling him back out into the bedroom.

Her face turned a slight green, her eyes blighted with tears as the dragon turned over to his back, her horn hastily plucking out the fragments from his scales.

"Hold on!" Rarity cried frantically, tossing aside all the stray glass. The dragon tried not to yell as she plucked the larger ones out, knowing that they penetrated deeper into his back.

The mare tried to battle her tears with every shard she pulled out. How could she be so stupid, she yelled at herself. How could she let herself be fooled by this...

It was only a short while after her job was finished that she gave Spike a tight hug, openly sobbing into his chest. The dragon himself whimpered as he tried to stand up, his back painfully stinging from the few scratches and stab wounds, forcing out a grin at the mare.

"At least I have scales," he mused, trying to lighten things up.

"You could've DIED!!" she screamed amidst her sobs.

"Don't you ever dare to do that again!! Don't you ever d-dare...!"

"R-Rarity..." Spike could only stammer, hugging her as she cried loudly in his arms, letting a small tear fall from his eye.

"I-I just don't want to see you get hurt..."

Rarity just kept on crying in his chest, which was already damp from the countless number of tears. With a quivering sigh, the dragon just hugged her tighter, trying his best not to break down as well.

The pair just sat there, in the dark silence of Spring's bedroom, their words gripped by the twisted horror of their close call. Neither wanted to move, nor dared make a sound. Neither wanted to let their other half go, lest they lose them again. For now, the two could only sit there, silently sobbing in each other's embrace, happy for the fact that their lover was still alive.

Happy that they were still together in the cradle of life; that their greatest treasure was having more time to share their love together.

Laurels

Beyond the pillars of trees...

Past the ever-clear waters of the northern lakes...

Just over the craggy mountains of the Aston Peaks... was the benevolent town of Pendant Lakes, known for its grandiose splendor of tradition and steam-magic hybrid technology and, like most northern towns, its baroque architecture. Most knew of the family that played its part in its founding, the proof of it all still standing on the monument of stone known by the townsfolk as Mount Hoovingaar.

Their home was incarnated close to its peak, always facing the town in a watchful glance. The livelihood of those within were more often delved into luxury and deceit, yet in modern times there was only but a blanket of secrets in their twisted past. The world gave them nothing, to the extent that they do the same; they do not sought for the help from others and would only seek service from the ponies within their walls.

Up until today.

"Ready, Applejack?"

The aforementioned trees now loomed past Kane's wings, his gruff yet tender voice prompting a nod from the orange mare. Fluttershy and her brother were behind, silently praying for the townsfolk and, more affectionately, for each other. The rest of the group: Vinyl Scratch, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon, Doctor Whooves and the Wonderbolts, among others, were readying themselves for the impending mission, all glancing into the fog ahead.

Her thoughts wandered with a sigh at Ponyville; Apple Bloom might be waiting for her and, along with her, Sweetie Belle, both hopeful for the return of their sisters, huddled outside with the rest of the town patiently foreseeing their arrival home.

Jovern suddenly swerved right; being the dragon more familiar of the region the rest had to follow, passing through the green fields of forests and hills that decorated the majority of the land below. It was only until they've reached the flatter, stabler tops of the mountains that they've landed for another rest, watching the palace from afar.

"Good golly..." Applejack could only gasp at the sanctum of lights below them, streaking brightly like a golden dandelion in the bowels of night. The dome that surrounded it would've been invisible if not for the magic currents drifting around the surface, the ethereal obstruction only making her wonder out loud.

"How the hay are we gonna go in there?"

"Signal flame," was the black dragon's answer, kicking his claws back onto the stone floor. It was, coincidentally, the same one he had perched on when he was helping Spike to the Palgiot's kingdom during its subtle period of civil unrest, though there was no other suitable position for him to land on.

"I'll try to get them to notice us, assuming they were watching for our arrival. The field can be easily deactivated by the wielder of the Element of Magic, which means only two possible ponies in there that can aid us."

"Princess Celestia and Twilight..." Fluttershy answered in deep thought.

"So does that mean that one of them is watching right now?"

"Not necessarily."

Jovern's brows furrowed at the state of the palace; the tallest tower had already snapped off, with what was the unmistakable location of glowing ballroom now but a foundation of broken debris. His uncertainty of the supposedly 'controlled' system grew at that, his heart tingling with worry.

"We might take awhile," was his conclusion.

"I don't think things went the way it did."

"Can ya at least spill the beans and let us know what's goin' on?" Applejack burst in, making him blink.

"Ah'm not believin' that everythin's fine down there."

With a sigh and, much to her annoyance, a grumble, the black dragon beckoned his head to the ruins.

"The mare they were fighting against, ironically named Harmony," he said.

"She had some sort of demon within her, and the Princess was planning to free her from it, though it didn't look like it worked out."

"So this whole time it was a demon?"

The orange mare just growled at that, crossing her hooves in her display of displeasure. Fluttershy frowned along with her, though it was more of deep thought and determination than disbelief.

"W-What are we going to do now?" she asked.

"There's no time to wait here."

Kane's answer made them turn, the red dragon beckoning his head to the queerly red-tinted clouds enveloping the night sky. There was the echoing sound of rain from it, filling up their pool of worry.

"Once the storm hits, we'll have a nasty path to navigate through the rain. All of you might have the chance to fall over, and that's only for an ordinary storm."

"This storm is magically conjured," he continued, answering their slight puzzlement at his mention of 'ordinary'.

"I could feel the magic coursing past my wings. Some sort of transmutation spell, no doubt a powerful one. I think it might've been a systematical trap, designed just to keep us out."

"And now ya saying somepony planned this to happen?"

The dragon's nod made Applejack growl with contempt, glancing ahead at the town. The rage against Mirror Mare grew with a tingle around her few scars around her hooves; the result of the 'accident' back in Manehatten.

"Whatever reason she had for hurting all of us, and my friends, must be a good one, cause if it ain't..."

She never finished her sentence, instead marching off to the back, only making Kane look on with worry.

Fluttershy herself soon left the duo of dragons, heading towards Big Mac with a smile before huddling next to the red stallion, who had slept out of fatigue.

"We're all tired from the journey," Jovern remarked, letting out a small yawn.

"Even giants need their sleep."

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Pendant Lakes.

Despite the detestation of help from the outside world, the family still kept good ties with the rest of Equestria, mainly by the train station. Instead of tourism, the family (not to mention the whole of the town) relied on the import and export of goods, trading them with their famed, prestigious bottles of wine.

It came not without resistance though; each of the goods are supervised carefully and strictly. There was always the argument of quality and quantity, before the Palgiots can only come to fair terms.

The family also looked at purity, meaning the legality of the goods being sent to them. Having seen the fate of many of the other families through each generation, they wanted to ensure that they weren't trading with ponies from the black market.

Those who did so were supposedly hunted down by the members of Sicarius Nox, which was once the most feared organisation of the town. Illegal trading was, at the present, still one of the most intolerable crimes that one could possibly commit, with claims saying that they've tainted the purity and excellence of the town. Rumors circulated of where these ponies would be murdered, having known that there had been a few recorded ponies as such of this crime. Some even pinpointed it to the numerous crevasses around Mount Hoovingaar and its surroundings peaks, saying that the skeletons of these ponies still rotted in the narrow alleys of rock carved into the mountains by the rain...

The same ones that Twilight was trotting upon.

The lavender unicorn hurried through the wastelands of fallen rock, with the rest of them following behind closely. The strangling paths of rocks flowered into various directions like thin branches on the trees, adding even more confusion to their sense of direction.

Rainbow was scouring from the above, her perseverance steeled at the canyons around, reminding her of the chasms of Ghastly Gorge, albeit much narrower.

"Must be somewhere here!" she shouted to the rest of them below.

Kicking the dust behind, the ponies galloped deeper into the network of caverns, trying their best to squeeze past the crevices towards the weapon, whatever it would look like.

Her head turned towards the skies, her worry churning in her mind like the storm clouds that have taken over the night skies in a deep sea of maroon; the only reminder of the time they have left.

"How far is it?"

"Just a little further," Octavia answered, looking at the map.

"A few more turns and we'll be there."

Twilight held her breath as she finally took another right turn, feeling a surge of wind suddenly blowing beneath her hooves and, with it, the wisps of fine mist. Their movements slowed immediately, their gaze struck onto a vertigo of rocks filling the path, forming a mound towards the top.

At the very top, an archway of stone rose from the makeshift stairs, carved from the very rock it was built upon. The sight was relieving for the journey, yet unnerving for their expectations.

"Remember," Princess Luna motioned, stepping forward.

"None of us knows what's inside besides the weapon. It'll be wise if we stick together."

The rest gave a nod, with Rainbow settling back to the ground.

"Hope this works out," she muttered, tucking her wings back in.

Holding her breath, Twilight stepped in first, her horn sparking up a ball of light to illuminate the great darkness of the unknown beyond her. She let out a soft sigh, before glancing back at the rest of them.

"It'll be over soon," she said, trying to smile.

Princess Luna strode right beside her, giving an affirmative nod, before both mares turn to face the rest of the group.

Octavia was gazing back at the palace, her hooves clutched together with worry. There was a light sniffle from the gray mare, prompting Rainbow to place a hoof around her shoulder.

"I'm worrying for Soarin' too, ya know," the cyan pegasus said with a smile.

"But they're still fighting over there, and I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing."

There was a slight shudder, before she smiled back.

"If Crimson can be safe..." she softly muttered, before shaking her head.

"Let's go."

With a sigh, Twilight marched forward, letting her instincts slowly guide her through the languidly confusing passages. The alicorn beside her soon followed suit, though not before asking:

"What's wrong?"

"Have you ever had a special somepony, my Princess?"

That question literally struck Princess Luna senseless, the only response was a sheepish laugh.

"Why the sudden... intrusion of.. um..."

The lavender unicorn's skeptical stare made her sigh in defeat.

"Well, if I had one I wouldn't be so sure of talking about it," she answered.

"Especially at dire times such as this."

Twilight started to pout at that, the disappointment forcing the alicorn to blurt out:

"If it's alright with you, then I'll share it with you some other time!"

"Really?" she gasped in disbelief, her face lightening up immediately.

Rainbow and Octavia tried to muffle their laughs behind the cerulean mare, watching her trying to babble out words of denial, though she stopped with a sheepish grin, giving the mare a satisfactory nod.

"Really."

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And even until today, Pendant Lakes was one of the top spots for many ponies, who'd come to admire its peculiar architecture and bizarre history melded in its walls. It was acclaimed as a treasure trove of history that had defined the town for the generations and those to come.

The heraldry of the town, the Palgiots, had been the sole reason why the town was in its glory; from the founding to the establishment of its various businesses, especially its wine industry, there was no doubt that the Palgiots were the driving force of Pendant Lakes, respected by both the community and the ministry.

Neither ever expected this day to happen.

"What do you mean we have to leave?!"

"You have no right to move us out of our town!!"

"It is an outrage!! An OUTRAGE!!"

"SILENCE!!" Princess Celestia's voice boomed through the plaza, shunning the delirium of the crowd immediately. With a cough of her throat, she lowered her voice; without the tender care it always seemed to lose control.

"Pendant Lakes may be in danger, my little ponies," she said.

"My duty as the Princess is to protect all of you, and I do mean all of you, and it seems the only way out is to quickly move out of the town as fast as possible."

"But the Patriarch-"

"The Patriarch had agreed to this, if necessary."

It was, no doubt, a shocking thing to the ponies of Pendant Lakes, albeit it is but the shocking truth. None of them would ever foresee the day that the Palgiots agree to the terms of the Princesses: it was usually the other way around.

"I would want all of you to understand that even if we distrust each other, there will always be a time where we have to work together, some way or another."

She turned to Mayor Stencil, who had became the symbol of rallying of the town after the incident at the Equinox Ballroom. Many of them were still visibly shaken at the tower's sudden collapse, with some wanting to thank the disputed 'Bandit's Of Aston Reach'.

"Mayor, if you may?"

As the pony gave his speech, the alicorn herself trotted down the stage, towards the group of ponies that had been supporting her throughout the journey.

There was Crimson Cavalle, Soarin', Chief Griffonhooves and Doctor Arrowfaith; the four who unknowingly established a reputation among the townsfolk, along with Caduceus Brineheart and Spring Palgiot. The filly herself recently collapsed from her disease and had to be pushed on a wheelchair again, only making all of them worry.

Princess Celestia watched as she smiled weakly towards her, the alicorn trying her best to smile back, though her attention soon fixated towards the gates of the palace.

Rarity was standing there, her hoof clutching tightly against her lover's claw, with Spike doing the same. Their eyes shimmered with a faint glow of hope, their gaze detached from the town into the clouds beyond. The glass pendant they have retrieved dangled around her neck, its secrets waiting to be opened.

"Happy Hearth's Warming Eve..." the white mare muttered softly into the dragon's ear.

That's right, the alicorn blinked. That was what they were missing.

Her breath started to produce fog as the storm clouds neared the barrier, the ponies all bracing for the impending blizzard. She kicked back her hooves herself, waiting for the signal.

Spike's scales started to hum, the dragon perking up in response.

"I think they're here!"

As if on cue, a reddish-greenish flame erupted from the outskirts, bursting like a firework in the sky. The bright light marveled many of the ponies of Pendant Lakes, though to the remaining ponies they knew full well what it was.

Princess Celestia's horn flared a bright yellow, before a narrow ray shot from its tip, streaking across the sky to the top of the spherical dome. The beam formed fissures in the colossal shield, before it shattered, raining onto the town in millions of shards.

Rarity felt the air of winter struck her immediately, throwing many of the fragments towards her, the sight making her humph with displeasure.

Glass. It was always glass.

"Here we go..." Spike muttered, both mare and dragon, as well as the rest of the ponies, getting ready.

In an instant, the wind blasted into their faces, blowing a barrage of snow along. It pounded and plummeted against their already cold bodies, forcing the pair to hurry into the palace.

"Get inside, Rarity!" the dragon shouted, running back into the storm.

"I'll try to help the rest!"

The townsfolk immediately scattered to their homes, with the rest trying their best to fight through the snow, their hooves raised with flares burning into the sky, trying to lead their reinforcements here.

"They must be here somewhere!!" Soarin' yelled from beneath the howl of the blizzard.

"If they made it in time!!" Caduceus added.

"I don't think we can hold out the storm much longer!!"

"EVERYPONY BACK TO THE PALACE FIRST!!" Princess Celestia's voice boomed.

"THEY'LL REACH THE TOWN EVENTUALLY!!"

Everypony couldn't hesitate but agree, the ponies all galloping back up the path to the palace, their manes ruffling violently in the harsh snowstorm. The only other sound instead of the howling wind was the frantic rattling of Spring's wheelchair, with Doctor Brineheart trying his best to keep it steady.

From amidst the hail of snow, the alicorn could make out the shapes of a few dragons heading towards them, albeit struggling in the fusillade of ice. Their large wings were recognizable, especially that of the leader of the pack, knowing full well who it was.

"Godspeed, Jovern."

A slight screeching of wheels jerked her attention back, her horror fueled by a loud, piercing scream.

"HOLD ON, SPRING!!" Caduceus's shout broke through the wailing blizzard, his hoof clutching tight at the filly's, trying to pull her from the side of the rocky cliffs.

Spring just clenched her eyes shut, opening them to see her wheelchair slamming onto the face of the rock, instantly breaking apart before falling deeper into the abyss below.

Princess Celestia quickly fluttered towards the dangling filly, her wings keeping her aloft in the freezing gale. She could see the fear warped within Spring's pupil; what was once nourished with the fulffilling sensation of merriment and joy was now sunken under an ocean of fear and dread.

"H-Help..." she could only mutter weakly, the princess shaking her head out of her daze at that.

Without a moment to spare, the alicorn gently tucked her within her wings, shielding her from the powerful storm. The two immediately shot through the dark skies of the night, before speeding to the main gates of the plaza.

The rest arrived the moment her hooves touched the dirt floor, the princess herself settling the quivering Spring onto the floor, before laying down next to the filly herself.

"Princess!!" Soarin' exclaimed, darting immediately towards the alicorn, with Caduceus doing the same to the filly as the storm closed in around them, the garden's trees ruffling about and the water spewing from the palace fountain now churning about.

The alicorn tried to move her wings, though she could feel the frost stiffening it, making her sigh.

"Both of you could've died out there!"

Caduceus's loud snarl wasn't what she expected, though she could understand his concern, yet her subtle flashback was too real... too coincidental.

Images of celebrations, fireworks and banners filled her head, though the most vivid were the eyes... the very same that held the expression she saw in Spring's just a moment ago.

"What's your name, my subject?"

"Pinkamena..." a reply echoed in her head.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie."

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The respect for the Palgiot family soon outgrew most, if not all, of the families of the north. Many ponies sought for the family's best-kept secrets, with nearly-outrageous claims of black magic and murders made on them, with dire consequences. After all, Sicarius was made for a reason.

Disappearances around Pendant Lakes soon occurred, fueling the thought of a conspiracy from beneath the palace walls, though the ideas soon die out from fear; the fear that somepony might be sent to kill you. This proved the powerful authority that the family had over the town, which continued to lavish in their palace as their enemies were slaughtered carefully and quietly beneath the dark skies of the night.

The family was, undoubtedly, one of the major speculations of the combat between science and faith, yet they themselves applied both in their lives and the society that lived under their watchful eyes. Their power became so immense that the Ministry of Canterlot even adopted them as full-fledged members.

The title of Patriarch would then be one most sought after by the family members. From the first, Ravine Palgiot, to its most recent, Winter himself, the authoritative figure of Head of the Family became the symbol of ultimate power, right below the Monarchy. Some had even considered that both Patriarch and Princess must share the throne together, seeing how their powers are equally encumbering.

In the case of Pinkie Pie, however, the power of both sides never mattered to her.

The pink mare hurriedly galloped down the corridor, the sinking feeling of dread in her heart growing within each pulsing step down the red carpet. The silence and emptiness of every corridor was foreboding, the still doors around her reminding her of the painful truth.

The giant of a snowstorm had consumed the hallways in white, as if to show the prowess of the Patriarch; the same one she had been searching for.

Every step... every turn... the desperation to see him lingered like a surge of electricity, resonating in the chambers of her own hooves. Her pink mane fluttered in the power of the snowstorm the moment she stepped out into the terrace, her teeth starting to chatter from the cold, yet she pressed on.

The only winter that she would surrender to was the Patriarch himself.

"Winter?" she called out once she stepped back into the carpeted hallway, her voice mixing with the prevailing howl of the gale outside. Her heart thumped with aching anticipation, her instincts flared up; he's somewhere here, and she could feel it.

The castle was never in a more dilapidated state than now; the carpets were torn and ragged, the banners hanging above their heads tearing apart. Every window was either broken or completely shattered into pieces, and every door had at least a small crack on the wooden surface.

The bloodstained floor and walls were eye-retching, with the bodies around thrown like litter in the cold marble and pieces of glass. The unnatural weather of rain and snow outside was getting noticeably stronger, yet Pinkie could hear only her slow breaths, the time around her seemingly slowing into a languidly wave of motion.

Her chest felt like it was burning, her hooves quivering along as she approached another turn. She held her breath, before stepping out from the corner, her eyes immediately widening with a small gasp.

"WINTER!!"

Pinkie rushed to the stallion, who was sprawled onto the floor, his suit slightly shredded with a few scars of blood marked onto his skin. She carefully turned his bruised face towards her, before he suddenly convulsed, letting out a small cough.

The mare hugged him tightly the moment he opened his eyes, sniffling silently in his bloodstained suit. Winter let out a small cough again the moment her hooves let him go, managing to weakly gasp out:

"D-Didn't I tell you how tight your hugs are?"

"You're going to be alright, Winter," the pink mare assured, ignoring his joke.

"I'll get the Princess. Maybe she can help!"

"P-Pinkie..." he stuttered, clutching her hoof before she could leave.

"I'm not g-going to make it... I'm not going to..."

"No!"

Pinkie slammed her hooves to the floor, her jaws scrunching up in denial at the stallion's words. Winter just quivered silently, more from his emotions than the cold outside.

"You... you have to accept it, Pinkie..." the stallion tried, his eyes watering along with the pink mare's.

"I... I don't r-really have much time left..."

The mare just remained silent, her sullenness overtaking the atmosphere, before she finally muttered:

"Don't have much time...?"

"W-What are you planning, Pinkie?"

Pinkie just furrowed her brows, wiping the few tears off her cheek, before she raised her hooves.

"If there's not enough time for you..." she began, closing her eyes.

"Then I'll just make time!"

Before the stallion could stop her, she slammed her hooves down, the glow of the pink clock immediately flourishing from beneath her, its hands starting to rotate slowly. The mare bit her lip as she felt her energy sapped out onto the floor, watching Winter hover with his blood seeping back into his wounds, his suit sewing itself back up.

It wasn't long before fatigue overcame her, the pink mare falling to the floor immediately, letting out light pants. The stallion slowly hovered down, though his weakness was still evident, the blood from his scars still leaking.

"Again!"

Pinkie's determination flared, and in an instant she struck her hooves back down, the surreal clock forming back again. Her desperation grew the moment she finished, spurring her to try again and again, despite her fatigue.

It was after the seventh time that she finally collapsed, her eyes gazing at the stallion, who was still deeply injured, with blood still running down from his wounds. She tried to lift her hooves, albeit to no avail, her breaths reduced to heavy panting.

"N-Not now..."

"Enough, Pinkie..." Winter finally spoke, coughing lightly.

"You... you've done e-everything you can..."

"No! No I haven't!!"

She struggled to stand up, her hooves wiggling from her weight, before collapsing once more, the mare letting out a small whimper.

"J-Just... just a little.... little bit more...!"

"Diane, just..."

Winter's voice faltered, closing his eyes as he gritted his teeth at her pointless perseverance. A small tear crept down his chin, making the mare look in surprise.

"Just listen to me..."

"But, Winter-"

"How much times must I tell you this?" he asked sternly, though he suddenly coughed, prompting him to clutch his chest with pain.

"It hurts me more to see you suffer... it really does..."

"But wh-what about me?" she shot back, her eyes starting to water in disbelief.

"I'm trying to help you, Winter!! I'm trying to save you, and you just want me to stop? You just want me to see you... see you...."

Pinkie couldn't hold it in anymore; she immediately broke down in front of the stallion, her heart forcefully crunching itself up in distress and despair. Her hooves reached for the stallion's own, trying to cling it tightly.

"You c-can't l-l-leave me..." she gasped out from within her sobs.

"You w-won't... you just can't..."

"Shhh....." the Patriarch hushed her, forcing out a weak smile as he continued:

"There's something I w-wanted to do... something I h-had been planning to do before I... leave this world. And I need your help, Pinkie... I need your help..."

The mare didn't want to answer; it was too painful for her to, yet Winter carried on, no matter what her response was.

"It's something... s-something that I've been thinking through for quite some time now..." he stammered.

"I've p-put all my faith and trust that I would finish it, no m-matter what, and I thought I couldn't... until.... until you came..."

With that, he reached into his suit pocket, the pink mare only being able to watch hesitantly as he did so, before he pulled out a small, square case, beckoning her towards the lid.

"Please......" he pleaded, his mouth leaking a few drops of blood.

"O-open it..."

Reluctantly, Pinkie flipped the latch up, slowly opening the black cover before she let out a loud gasp.

Nestling inside in its red, velvet interior, was a golden, gleaming hoop, topped with a blue sapphire embedded into its surface. It glistened a fine blue in the moonlight, nearly matching her watering eyes.

"W-W-Winter...?" she managed to whimper, looking at him in disbelief as he smiled.

"I know it's.... it's a bad time to br-bring this up... but I had to..."

Without warning, Winter suddenly gripped her hooves firmly, mustering up all his energy to do so.

"I've been l-longing to tell you this... and I planned to tell you b-before all this ch-chaos..." he muttered, letting the tears fall freely down his cheeks.

"And I-I hope you would comply to it, b-but I'll understand i-if you don't w-want to..."

The stallion took in a huge gulp of breath, before muttering out:

"P-Pinkamena Diane Pie..."

"Will you marry me...?"

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The question was the bombshell for the pink mare, who could only stop and stare at him in absolute silence, unsure of how to respond to his question.

"W-Winter..." she muttered, letting out a faltering laugh.

"W-We... we can talk about this later! Right now, you need somepony to help you with your... your wounds!"

"I know t-that..." he answered, still wearing a grin.

"And the pony I want help from... is you."

"H-Huh?"

"Just answer the q-question..."

He clutched her hooves tightly once more, begging for a reply from the mare, watching her as she fumbled around indecisively, uncertain of what to do.

"It's the most important duty for me to carry out, D-Diane. Not as the Patriarch of P-Pendant Lakes, but as the stallion that... that... l-loved you... since the day we met... so please..."

The silence that came from her was a little unnerving, though it was broken immediately by a sniffle. Winter's face light up a little as the pink mare's lips started to curl, forming a genuine smile.

"Yes..." she muttered cheerfully, hugging him tight as she cried loudly into his suit.

"I would love to..."

"Th-thank you..." Winter murmured, stroking her mane as she stole a kiss from her cheek.

"I love you, Pinkie..."

So it's over...

"I...." she began, wiping her tears away with a loud sniffle.

"I love you too, Winter..."

This time, I know, it's gone...

With that, Pinkie gently pressed her lips against the stallion's mouth, her tears running down her face as the pair kissed once more, trying to calm their ravishing emotions of despair, of parting.

Winter inhaled the lustrous, enchanting smell of cotton candy rooted from her mane; an aroma he had remembered ever since he had first savored it all those years ago.

Funny, he thought to himself, how time passed...

Salt water;
Tasted it too long.

Their tongues soon met, like many times before, in the same, sweet mix of vanilla and whipped strawberry cream. The lust-inducing, joyful tastes danced in its fashionably languid motion, with the two ponies appreciating each other's overwhelming presence in the sparkling sensation.

Her hooves leaned against his chest, feeling his heartbeat starting to slow down. In her bout of instinct, she scrunch her lips tighter, trying her best to keep him alive.

I only know I'm wrong,
Now I know it's gone.

Winter couldn't help but comply, letting the overwhelming heat from her lips nourish his sensation. It was, to him, a little long for it being a normal 'kiss from the bride', though it didn't matter.

Pinkie was here, and that's all that he ever wanted.

Up in flames...

The stallion suddenly coughed, the blood splattering onto her chest as he started to heave and wheeze.

"No..." the pink mare muttered, before giving him another deep kiss, jerking his heart back to life.

Up in flames;
Up in flames;
We have slowly gone.

The sensation enveloped like euphoria, though his lifeline started to tangle in between the borders of life and death; he could already feel his breath shortening by the minute.

"P-Pinkie..." he managed to gasp from beneath his lips, trying his best to hold onto the mare's hooves.

So it's over...

His tears started to fall down his cheek, their kiss turning more painful as well as more powerful. His desire blossomed like a flower growing out from beneath the barren soil, still wanting to smell the intoxicating scent of her mane... to hear her bubbly, cheerful voice once again.

To see her diamond-like eyes shimmering with hope again, watching it shine along with the sapphire embedded into her hoop.

This time you're flying on;
This time, I know no song.

It had only been eight years since they both met.... eight years since he had fallen in love with the mare...

He tried not to sniffle, instead forcing out a smile as Pinkie tried to kiss his heart back aflutter, their gripped hooves the symbol of their unity against the clutches of death.

"Diane..." he whimpered; it was saddening to see her struggle.

Struggle for him.

Can stop it slowly burn;
Can stop it slowly burn.

"Not yet, Winter!" she exclaimed, feeling his pulse starting to ebb away.

"Not yet!!"

Up in flames;
Up in flames;
Up in flames;

Her grip tightened, the stallion now heaving painfully, with his horn flickering a few spurts of magic. The blood that leaked from the wounds of his chest had already stained Pinkie's hooves in a fresh batch of red, no doubt from her attempts of hugging him.

Once again, she wrapped her hooves around the dying stallion, hearing his breath quiver from the cold and the fear. Her tears dripped in the small puddle of blood beneath the Patriarch, her hooves shivering at the prospect of letting him go.

We have slowly gone.

"I-I'm sorry, P-Pinkie..." he managed to sputter, succumbing to his injuries.

"If... If only..."

"No..." she assured, cupping his hooves with a breaking smile.

"Just... just rest. You'll need it..."

Winter let out a small, hearty chuckle, his eyes watering up with drops of tears already trickling down, watching hopefully and fearfully into the mare's blue eyes.

Those eyes... he will remember them for all of eternity.

Up in flames;
Up in flames;
Up in flames...

"W-Will... will I see you tomorrow?"

Pinkie perked up at his sudden question, frantically wiping her tears away.

"H-Huh?"

"Will I see you again tomorrow?" he repeated, giving her a wide grin.

"D-Diane..."

The mare could only smile back, giving him a kiss on a cheek as she whispered into his ear:

"Always..."

We have slowly gone;
Oh, We have slowly gone...

"That'll be great..." he replied, his breath dwindling as his eyes closed, a jovial grin filling his pure white face, his tears trickling towards the edge of his snout. His hoof started to grow limp, his muscles tensing up a little as he let out one last, short breath:

"Diane..."

Winter's hoof fell to the side, gripped only by Pinkie's shivering own. The mare's mane flattened immediately, her tears rapidly flowing out in depression and grief, trying her best to wake him up.

"W-Winter...!" she muttered softly, leaning against his chest. The thumps that resonated from within had stilled, only making her heart retch with sullen despair.

Could we pour some water on?

Pinkie hugged him tightly, crying for what seem like ages in the puddle of blood, sweat, tears and melting snow. Her sobs echoed down the corridor, her head filling up with the memories that they had shared in the past.

"Seeing you..." his voice echoed in her head, reminding her of the Night of the Silent Glass.

"You're the most special pony I've ever met..."

She turned to her side, reaching for the gleaming hoop; his last present for her, lying on the floor.

Wiping her tears and sniffles away, Pinkie slotted her hoof in, mesmerized at the brilliant gleam of gold and the sparkling jewel of sapphire, her other hoof still clutching tight onto Winter's.

"Miss Pie?"

The voice made her turn to her back, her despaired face matching that on the pony that was standing before her, trying his best not to tear up as well.

"Come on," Stellar Lionheart beckoned, letting out a shivering gasp.

"We have to go."

There was a nod, before the pink mare reluctantly rose from beside the stallion, following the butler down the corridor as she tried to lift her pain away.

She glanced back at Winter, her heart lightening up a little at his calm smile; he seemed to be happy resting in peace, the sight of it making her grin.

Oh well, she said to herself, quickly wiping her tears away.

"I-If he's happy... then I'm happy..."

No Science, No Faith

Silence...

It was pure. Undeniably overwhelming. The lucidity of it had filled the room like the fog of dawn, the distilled echoes of any sound and noise filtered into the tweaks of naught, leaving only but what there is left.

For once, the bustling town of Pendant Lakes; the corridors of Palgiot Palace and the nature of the woodlands surrounding them... were all dragged into the perturbing pit of silence, leaving only but the senses of sight and touch to refill the void left behind for the mind to register.

Cruel for a celebration of Hearth's Warming Eve.

Rarity was in the corner of the room, solitary with only the howling snow outside and the warmth of the fireplace to entertain her. Curled up in the luxurious armchair, one she would've admired in happier circumstances, her eyes were solemnly frozen at the door, waiting for somepony (or some-dragon, for the matter) to just step into the room.

Her thoughts wandered throughout the expanse of time given to her, from past reflections to personal feelings; from hopeful wishes to deep-seated fears, yet the door remained still, giving her a while to recall the many events that led to this.

First of all - she sighed - the invitation.

Perhaps if she didn't receive the invite, maybe Winter and Harmony wouldn't have played her as the piece in some demented chess game. Maybe she and Spike would survive in Ponyville without having to care for the problems that could've happened here.

Then again, she wouldn't have known that all of this would happen to her. The nightmares... the explosions... the secrets and conspiracies hidden underneath this very roof.

What about Spike, she asked herself. Would she know how angry he is when she left the station? Yet if she did not do so, would he not be attacked first, from the millions living around Equestria?

Would she know of Octavia's relationship with Crimson, and leave the mare to face the danger alone? Would they both get killed if she were not invited to the ball and, in the end, only read of their deaths on the newspaper instead?

Such dark thoughts, she scolded herself. Yet intriguing all the same.

The conspiring events that followed soon after soon became more bizarre the way she looked at it. The chandelier... the train exploding... the murder of numerous ponies, one by one... it was crueler and darker as time goes on and on, even reaching to her friends outside of Pendant Lakes.

She knew Pinkie was dragged into the chaos before all of this started, but Applejack being involved in a car crash, Rainbow and Twilight's predicament in Fenderville... somehow nothing seemed to connect.

The motive of guilt was too... too simple.

The victims all came into her head once more, starting from Caesar Mills.

He was killed by being dragged across the train; the same one that exploded later on. Then came the death of Tassel Twist, strangled by his own sheets. Soon followed a gruel attempt of murdering Crimson... unless...

Was Crimson really the intended target? There were five ponies on stage, including him, Octavia and the original three-piece band. The chances that Harmony had miscalculated the angle due to the prospect of being discovered was high, and the chandelier might've swung towards Crimson instead of her true target. Plus, his injuries only seemed to be on the right side of his body; if he was the target, the chandelier would've made a full-head impact with him, seeing how Mirror Mare could just kill her victims with ease.

She tried to picture the scene, remembering how she held her blade to the way she swung it...

Her results finally clicked into her head, only making her gasp in shock.

Octavia was the target...

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"GATHER ALL YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOUR BELONGINGS!!!

Spike wasn't used to screaming seemingly profound orders while running around the streets; usually Twilight would murder him if he did something as crazy as that in Ponyville, but the Princess did insisted him on doing that, mainly for the evacuation of the town.

He skidded to a halt every once in awhile to knock on the doors of the many houses around the town, perking the curiosity of the terrified ponies that sheltered from the ravaging snowstorm outside. Alongside the knocking, he had pelted their roofs and window panes with small pebbles, incessantly irritating the unlucky few who lived inside.

One by one, many of them stared out of the windows, piqued with interest at the stray dragon frantically throwing stones at their houses. Some even marched out of their doors, wanting to curse and swear at him, before remembering the fact that he is, after all, a dragon.

Nonetheless, the Princess was backing him up, and every single pony living in the town knew that.

"Come on out, darn it!" he shouted, slamming his claws recklessly against one of the doors.

"I'm not gonna be there the moment this place goes down!!"

Caduceus and Cleptius was behind him, the two doctors tending to Spring on the wheelchair as they followed Spike around town, their worries intensified by her sudden fits of coughing.

"Her condition's worsening," Doctor Arrowfaith muttered grimly, with his friend nodding whilst limping from his burned hoof.

Their trip immediately turned towards the lush pastures of Standard & Dale, though the raging snowstorm had painted the fields white. The air grew increasingly colder by the minute, forcing each of them to wrap another layer of scarves around their necks.

Spring herself was unusually quiet and somber, reminding Spike of Sweetie Belle when she was sad. The filly was hiding something to herself, and somehow his gut told him that none of the ponies were going to like it.

He suddenly turned to the right, his claws shifting from dirt to slate, as he marched towards a stately manor, glancing at the glazing lion of a door knocker, swinging about in the large gale.

"Spike," Caduceus called out, a little nervous.

"You do realize what building this is?"

The dragon gave a firm nod. He had never been to this part of Pendant Lakes before, but he had seen this particular structure as they were delving into the past events back in the library.

With a hefty sigh, he pounded the knocker onto the wooden surface, awaiting impatiently for a response. It came soon after in the form of clicking locks, the door opening slightly with a familiar face staring back at him.

The mare's streaking mane of blue and pink fluttered lightly from her small exposure to the storm, prompting her to brush it back with her beige hooves. Her pupils resembled her mane: her left pupil glittered a bright cyan whilst the other queerly flickered a bright, bouncy pink.

Such a strange combination, he thought to himself, though the dragon brushed it off soon after; he had more serious things to attend to, the first being reluctantly calling her name:

"Gracia?"

The rest of the ponies, including the mare herself, blinked in surprise.

"H-How..." she tried to stammer.

"How did you know my name?"

"Just say a certain sense of intuition," he replied with a cheerful grin.

"And a little help from Persimmon."

"M-Ms. Mills?"

Gracia couldn't help but let out a shivering gasp, asking:

"You know her?"

Spike would've blurted out that he saw her during their preview of the past, though the most he would be labeled might be a red slap mark on the face and the teenage mare calling him a pervert, the thought of it making him shudder.

"More like acquaintances, really," he said with a sheepish grin.

"One of my friends told me she was a good writer. She told me a little about you."

The mare started to blush with embarrassment as he continued:

"She said you were always the one jumping into the bird fountain, spraying water at all of your friends with your mouth. She also mentioned you were always a fond of one of her books. Dragonheart, is it?"

"And still is," she replied admittedly.

"A little unbelievable, really. Being sixteen and still loving the book you had read since you were five. And about the fountain... I was a playful filly last time."

Spike just smiled as she giggled with a loud, humiliating snort, her cheeks reddening even more at the memory of her splashing in the marble bowl.

"I was wondering," he suddenly said, getting to the point.

"If all of you can help."

"Sure," she replied cheerfully, her ears perking attentively.

"Anything for a friend of Ms. Mills."

"I need some help evacuating the ponies around town," he quickly explained.

"The Princess is speculating that something is going to happen to the town. I'm not sure if the storm has to do with this, but just to be safe..."

"Got it," Gracia replied immediately.

"I'll round up some of my friends and we'll convince them to get their flanks out A.S.A.P."

"There's still one more thing that I want you, and only you, to do."

Spike's words stopped the mare before she could gallop off into the house, the dragon heaving a sigh as he beckoned his head towards Spring, the filly just widening her eyes a little.

"I'm sure you know who is this, right?"

The mare nodded, smiling jovially with a slight hint of wit.

"Did Ms. Mills tell you about Gypsum somewhere along the lines?"

"A little," he meekly replied.

"She did tell me how you guys enjoy Gypsum's tales of adventures and all, even taking care of you guys the same way that Persimmon did."

"Gypsum was like our second caretaker. When Ms. Mills wasn't around, she would usually be there to make all of us happy with her music, dancing and her fascinating stories."

There was a long, dejected sigh from Gracia, having a brief moment of silence before continuing:

"The moment the two of them were gone, the orphanage wasn't that lively as it was used to be. Our new caretaker was nice, yes, though not as social as them. My friends and I usually entertained the younger foals in the orphanage and... we felt happy doing it. It made me realize why Persimmon and Gypsum did what they did, I guess..."

The mare started to smile, grinning at Spike.

"And now you want me to return the Palgiots a favor, hmm?"

"Seems that way."

"Alright then!"

Gracia smiled, with the dragon beckoning Cleptius to push the wheelchair towards the orphanage. Spring just sat silently and somberly, not even bothering to spare a glance at the mare, who quickly knelt down towards the filly.

"Hey there, Spring."

Her hearty tone was met with a depressing treatment of silence, making her laugh sheepishly.

"She'll have to open up eventually..." she surmised thoughtfully, before giving the dragon a wide grin.

"Don't worry about it. I'll think of something that can cheer her up."

"Thanks, Gracia," Spike said, somewhat appreciating her presence here.

"No prob."

As the teenage mare strutted back in, wheeling in Spring with her, Caduceus slowly limped up to the dragon's side, whispering into his ear:

"How did you know she played in the water fountain?"

The dragon chortled at that, merely giving him a reply:

"Sometimes it pays not to be focused.

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But wait...!

That wouldn't make sense! If Octavia was the target, that means that Winter's motive of guilt wouldn't explain it. The murders wouldn't have any motive to connect them.

Rarity leaned back into the luxurious armchair, her head aching as she faced the facts laid out before her. She couldn't help but think there is something bigger behind all of this. It's not just about love and betrayal anymore.

After Octavia was - she shuddered - herself. There was no doubt that the bomb in her bag was meant for her. Then it was Harlequin Velvet and Basil Luck, with the mare dying from poisoning and her husband from a sniper.

Yet it still did not make any sense. Why poison one but attempt to drown both? Why not kill both at the same time? Wouldn't it be easier for Harmony to do so? Or did she want to cripple the morale of the stallion first?

Summer and, theoretically, Autumn were murdered soon after, followed by Caper and then, ultimately, Dresden, who became the first of the original six Voyagers to die. One by one, Harmony targeted all of them, leaving her and Pinkie still alive. Then there were the deaths of the ministers Twilight had told her about, which might signify her rebellion against the Canterlot Ministry and maybe the Princess herself, taking over the Patriarch's job.

Wait, she stopped. What about Winter? He's a third of Mirror Mare too, isn't he?

His victims included Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow and Twilight. Fluttershy was hurt by Pinkie as a result of it, so she could add her into the list. He did say it was the guilt of her friends unable to reach out to her, but it was already known that guilt wasn't the motive at all.

But why not her? She knew the train bomb was planted by Harmony, but why didn't Winter, as Mirror Mare, even attacked her yet? Unless...

"You're uncovering a secret. A secret that has killed, if not scarred many before you. Don't bother digging into the unknown, or you'll pay the ultimate price."

Her hoof reached for her neck, with a visible mark still imprinted, reminding her of the night after they had left the Ristorante Rugadia. The night that Mirror Mare held the blade up to her neck when she could've just slit her throat.

If the Mirror Mare that night was Winter... that means each of them were attacked before. Each of them were targeted by the Patriarch at least once, but why would he do that? He knew that they were the Elements of-

She stopped. Could it be?

No way. It's too coincidental. Too... right.

The Elements of Harmony.

But why the six of them, she asked herself. The stallion could just target the princesses, can't they? He could've even target the mare herself, yet he chose the six bearers of the Elements of Harmony.

"Elements... elements..." she muttered to herself. The word might be some sort of significant importance; that Winter might be trying to tell every single one of them something.

She started to whine in irritation. Where's Twilight when you need her?

"Come on, Rarity," the white mare encouraged herself.

"You know this..."

Elements... fundamentals, maybe?

"The fundmentals of Harmony..." she pondered. Maybe it's the fundamentals of harmony itself... or more accurately, the fundamentals of how the Princess and the Patriarch achieve harmony between each other?

The Vertigo Theory! She blinked with realization at that; of course! And it all starts with number one.

Insecurity... the two rulers of Pendant Lakes? Winter's doubts of Summer or Harmony's distrust of her friends, leading to her complete abhorrence with them? What about herself? Of the fear of becoming Mirror Mare, her own demon?

She shuddered a little at that, before moving on.

Disequilibrium. Noir Palgiot's defiance was one, along with the sudden rupture of the Sanguine Societies. Summer and Winter's argument... Harmony's summoning of the demons, probably? Or - she gulped - her few disagreements with Spike the other day?

Then finally.... Vertigo. The fissure that ends all problems.

Necessensio seems to play the part with most of the Palgiot's disagreements. The Princess's curse on the family was one. Then there was Harmony's backlash by warping a demon into her, along with her current threat of destroying Canterlot...

But what about her?

Rarity bit her lip: would she and Spike end up the same way that Winter and Harmony did? Would they eventually argue to the point of no return? That she might never see his face-

"No!" she scolded herself.

"Rarity, Rarity, you are not going to let some stupid, dumb theory take control of your life!"

The possibility of it, however, still hung over her, the mare trying desperately to shake it off her mind.

Her thoughts soon wandered back to the topic, much to her relief. So far, she theorized, Mirror Mare was known to have only one, singular motive, which had split into three as a result of Harmony's mishap.

Harmony's motive was not about guilt; instead it's looking more like to crumble the power of the Ministry itself. The economy was crumbling like broken stones the moment all the powerful figures were killed by her. The murder of the Voyager Six proved even more so of her defiance against the Princess.

Octavia's... death... would've crumbled Crimson's reputation, thus leading a decline in the music industry. Her own death would've paused the fashion designing back in Ponyville (she gulped at the thought of that) and Summer and Autumn's death was to crumble the Patriarch's focus in their wine industry.

All of these so craftily planned out... as if a higher power was orchestrating it. The only pony she had seen so far of being able to manipulate Harmony is that unknown pony: the one behind all this madness.

Following the destruction of the Ministry would be the destruction of the fundamentals, or 'elements', of harmony, ending it in vertigo. Winter knew this from the start, and was trying to tell them the only way he could.

Her heart twinged with a slight bout of guilt; if she had only knew sooner...

Destroying the Ministry and then the harmony of Equestria... what's next?

Her thoughts turned to the last incarnate of Mirror Mare: Pinkie herself.

The pink mare had never hurt anypony at all; she was too harmless to do so. The most she did so far was kidnapping Fluttershy and tying her up in the barn, but that in itself the pink mare never did anything to her. Fluttershy was only brought there to watch-

She stopped, her eyes lighting up in a manner of revelation at the sole victim that her friend had tried to kill:

Herself...

Pinkie tried to kill herself! That must be it!

But what's the motive, she asked. Surely the devil that made Mirror Mare would be smarter than to think of killing itself. If it did, Pinkie could've killed either Harmony or Winter first, right?

Yet she chose herself...

Rarity stopped to ponder at the facts. Pinkie is one of the three incarnates of Mirror Mare, isn't she? Harmony represents the past, Winter represents the present and she represents the future.

The future... killing herself... kill the future?

Destroying the Ministry, the harmony and the future... it somewhat fits like a maniacal jigsaw puzzle, though it seems to make sense to the white unicorn now.

Mirror Mare's true motive: to destroy harmony.

Destroy the Ministry; the very organization that encouraged the belief of harmony and order into Equestria all those years ago or, more effortlessly summarized, destroy the past of harmony. The fundamentals is what keeping Equestria in perfect balance in the present, so destroying its fundamentals would destroy the present of harmony.

Then there is the future. The future of harmony.

Maybe that's why the raid on Pendant Lakes was staged: to hide the fact that they were here for something bigger. Something far bigger than the downfall of Canterlot itself.

The thought of it, however, only left her in a state of confusion. How would Harmony, or this mystery pony, know of the future of harmony? They couldn't have known how the future was, or would be like, can't they?

Unless...

"This machine lets you enter a dimension. A dimension in which you can see but cannot touch.This machine lets you recall not only your dreams, but also your thoughts, your desires, your emotions..."

"Your future."

"The Dreamscape Machine!" she exclaimed her thoughts out loud.

That's what they were after! To use the technology of the Dreamscape and twist the possibilities of time, all the while knowing the future events in the process! Manipulating the past whilst seeing its effects onto the future... who wouldn't want a machine such as that?

The invasion wasn't about Canterlot, she surmised. It was about the machine all along!

Wait. That would mean...!

The horror of realization soon dawned upon her. With no time to spare, Rarity suddenly got up from the armchair, kicking the blanket from underneath her hooves as she sprinted straight out of the door, the glass pendant around her neck swinging wildly at the sudden race against time.

Her heart raced with burning trepidation, beating to the sound of her frantic galloping. Sweat beads flew behind her head, her mind focused on finding the machine immediately.

Spike would've murdered her the moment she stepped out of the door, but there's no time! Harmony could be there already!

She held her breath as she turned a bend, praying softly and repetitively to herself.

She just hoped it wasn't too late.

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"Come on now, Octavia!"

The gray mare reached her hoof out, dangling from the side of the cliff as she stared into Twilight's hopeful eyes. With the snowstorm around them growing stronger, it's a wonder that she was still gripping on the jagged rocks without even falling off.

Rainbow was staring ahead at the circular chamber, though Princess Luna had already stepped inside, scanning the interior of the stone chamber.

The powerful barrage of snow even directed its invasion into the circular room itself, thanks to the oculus cut into the very tip of the ceiling. The tiled floor was decorated with carvings of various constellations and stars, much to the admiration of the alicorn.

"This isn't just some cave..." she concluded, heading towards the rickety table at the corner. She scanned through the pile of rotting books and wrinkled notes. A few tapestries hung in front, one of them charred an abhorrent black, no doubt from the broken oil lamp in the corner. All of them were about stars and calculations, reminding her of her own bedroom.

"This is an observatory."

The rest of the mares immediately joined her side, watching her as she examined the illegible scrawl of writing on some of the mottled notes. There seemed to be a few diagrams at the side as well, though the smudges of ink it became made it no different from the rest of the notes.

Octavia leafed through a few books, before spotting a word; one that was free of obscurity as well as being able to recognize.

"Ravine," she read it aloud, drawing the gaze of the others.

"The first official Patriarch of Pendant Lakes."

"So this is Ravine's observatory..." Twilight mused, looking around the rotunda in amazement as her friends wandered around the chamber.

"it's... quite an incredible feat, for ponies living all those centuries ago. The ancients, studying the stars as they note down each shape they see in the sky..."

Princess Luna was a little speechless at that, staring into the turbulent sky from the circular orifice.

"The Palgiots were interested in the stars..." she muttered quietly, her tone sounding almost apologetic.

"H-Hey guys!"

Rainbow's voice grasped the attention of the rest of them, prompting them to gallop towards her.

"I think I've found the weapon!"

Sure enough, perching at the window(?) was the weapon itself. It was gigantic, almost as large as the hydra Twilight had faced back in Froggy Bottom Bog. The circuitry of rusted pipes and discolored wiring tangled about its unfinished, plated shell, with three canisters of pure, swirling energy.

The tip of the cannon was hoisted at an angle, with three metallic cylinders built at its underside. Connected by a pipeline was some kind of rusted control system, with a few levers and a dusty button; no doubt for firing the cannon itself.

Twilight approached it slowly and cautiously, trying to study the colossal weapon. The possibilities of the Palgiots discovering and developing this sort of technology without the help of the Princesses was far beyond her imagination, the thought of it making her eyes sparkle.

"How did they even think of this?" she asked, touching the gleaming surface.

"I'm not so sure myself."

All four of them immediately turned at the foreign, devilish voice, gritting their teeth in exasperation as Harmony Peridot stepped through the stone archway, letting out a small cackle.

"It's an honor, really... standing with the princess of the night..."

Princess Luna just glowered at that, raising her snout up high in sheer indignation.

"And of course," the mare continued with a sardonic bow, turning to the lavender unicorn.

"The student of the Princess herself."

"Harmony..." Twilight growled her name, putting her hoof front, though the alicorn stepped up first, making the rest of them look up in surprise.

"Princess?"

"Hmm...!" Harmony exclaimed, slightly delighted.

"Looks like the big mare's volunteering to join our game!"

"Twilight Sparkle," she said sternly, as if it was an order.

"You and your friends must disarm the weapon first. This fight is between her and me."

With a clink of her hooves, a barrier suddenly sprung from the ground, the semi-liquid, translucent walls colored in the black sky of night. Their enemy just sneered at that, flicking the magical shield blatantly.

"You know this won't last long, would you?"

"Princess!" the lavender unicorn shouted, pounding at the walls, which rippled from each point of impact.

"Go, Twilight Sparkle!"

Her Canterlot-toned demand was joined by her steeled, determined gaze, though Rainbow's nudge at her shoulder was needed to move the mare out of her indecisive state. With a kick of her hooves, she turned back to Harmony, watching her unsheathe her pair of white blades.

"You want to fight, you lowly delinquent?" she scowled tauntingly.

"Then get ready for one!"

Harmony just licked her lips with a smirk, as if the alicorn was a fresh target for slaughter. The chains dangling from the bottom end of the blades soon slid open, with the mare wielding them between her hooves like spinning grappling hooks.

"Better pray to your sister, my Princess," she said, stopping mid-sentence as she leaped towards Princess Luna, who dodged to the side the moment her hook/blade reached out to the alicorn, only to slam onto the stone floor. The sight of it only intrigued the mare's blood-lust, the desire to kill her warping further into the descending drag of darkness.

"Cause she won't be here to save you once this blade meets your neck."

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"What is time?"

Rarity galloped passed the corridors, her head frantically running through every word she had heard since her arrival to Pendant Lakes. What was just a visit to a masquerade ball became something so... catastrophic.

The voice in her head - cold with the huskiness of some unknown intruder - grew louder as she neared the ballroom. Her teeth gritted at the questions it was throwing towards her, her hooves clenched just in case.

"Time... is a tool."

Whispers flitted about suddenly, her pace slowing at the growing fear of what would be at her destination. She stopped to swallow a gulp, before exhaling it all out in a cloud of vapor.

The snowstorm outside was howling even louder than before, though she could now barely hear it once the voices penetrated her head and, to her trepidation, her sanity.

"We use time as it goes, yet we never seen what lies beyond its plains."

The majestic doors of the ballroom finally came into view, the glazing handles overwhelming her with temptation and doubt. She hesitantly reached out for the first one, gulping quietly.

The sound of a few sparks from behind the door only clarified the presence of the broken Dreamscape machine in the ballroom, yet she knew there was somepony else inside; somepony that she would never like.

"Imagine the freedom of boundaries that the manipulation of time could've given us."

She pushed the door open, hearing it grind loudly as she stepped into the crashed ballroom. The snow from outside had already invaded from the shattered windows and giant holes above, the blanket of freeze already making her shiver.

"It must be here somewhere..." she mused, trying to ignore the voice in her head, though it only seemed to grow louder... and louder...

"Wouldn't you want a power as that.... Miss Rarity?"

Rarity stopped in her tracks, her breath stilled at the sight of a canister, filled with some essence of what she believed to be the original source of power for the machine itself. It floated freely in its glass container, which was clasped in a ghostly pale hoof.

Her gaze soon turned to the pony facing her, her uncertainty growing at the red glint in his eyes. He shot her a wicked grin, tossing the canister around his hooves like a baseball.

"Seems you've figured the enigma out," he congratulated mockingly.

"I'm most certainly pleased that you and I finally got a chance to meet, mademoiselle."

The white unicorn just flinched at that, her focus more of the item in his hooves.

"Seems that way, doesn't it?" she replied halfheartedly with a small gulp at the mastermind; the pony that had orchestrated all this cacophony to happen.

"You're the one who gave me the nightmares, right?"

"Just a tip of the iceberg from my sleeves."

With a devilish smirk, he slipped the canister to the side, trotting with fine elegance towards Rarity.

"I must say, you were rather the tough one. Reminds me a little about Harmony..."

The mare's ear twitched at that.

"Shut up."

"Becoming all abhorrent, aren't we now?" he replied, laughing morbidly.

"And yet history repeats itself, does it not? What makes you think that the paths that you and Harmony share will never intertwine?"

Rarity just kicked her hooves back, harrumphing with a scowl.

"I never wanted to become her!" she yelled defiantly.

"Of all the monstrosities of the ponies that dared walk the face of Equestria, I will not become her, and that's final!"

The white stallion suddenly sniffled, though the mare remained unfazed; she could hear the mocking tone behind it.

"Such an emotional speech," he responded, clopping his hooves together.

"A shame that many aren't here to listen, with one such pony being the Patriarch himself."

The sudden mention of Winter stopped her in her tracks, the slight horror of the possibilities forming in her head only outmatched by the stallion's sudden laugh.

"Where's Winter?" she asked, though the other pony's laughter only heightened in volume.

"What did you do to him?"

"He was merely an obstacle to discard," he replied, picking up the canister as the white mare widened her eyes in realization and disbelief.

"He had been playing well in the strings I've prepared for him, but it seems the juvenile spirit within him proved his carelessness and disloyalty to me, hmm? Then again, the present was always the first to go, wasn't it?"

"You've.... y-you..."

Rarity couldn't bring herself to say it. It's impossible for the Patriarch to... to...

What about Pinkie, her heart thumping with frustration at the thought of it. She couldn't have perished along with him too, did she?

"Why are you doing this?"

"Solving a problem that no science or faith can solve," he merely answered, walking towards the doors.

"One day, you will come to see that, when my plans are in fruition, the benefits that will be provided. When Canterlot falls to its knees, you will see those who had kept it away from you. You would see those who had kept the secret to the day they've desecrated in their graves. A world with no science nor religion. A world of nothing but purity."

"One day," he whispered to the sound of howling wind.

"You'll understand..."

"NO!"

Rarity's sudden outburst only made the stallion perk up in surprise, brushing his black mane aside as she spoke:

"You wish to crumble harmony; the very thing that unites all of us in the kingdom of Equestria. You wish to cause chaos and prove that our world is nothing but a worthless trove of secrets. Well, there's more to it than that!"

"In my life, I had seen the world of Equestria change before my eyes," she continued, stomping her hoof down.

"My sister... my friends... my Spikey-Wikey... they were all fighting for me, wishing that I was safe. I won't descend to any more of your lies in your nightmares anymore. I will never, never, EVER travel the path that Harmony did! And as the goddess is my witness, if you want to fight me, and fight against the harmony of Equestria, then so. Help. ME!!"

"I see..."

The stallion merely grinned at her speech, instead taking out a remote. It was small, plated in silver, with only one button to press on. The sight of it only made Rarity's eyes widen in uncertainty, yet with rage all the same.

"You have condemned me to nothing but disappointment," he scowled.

"And with each side of it, there's always a price for that."

The sound of ticking started up the moment his hoof pressed onto the button, with the stallion dissipating into a cloud of dust, laughing morbidly at her predicament. Rarity could only look around in horror, slowly cringing towards the floor as he spoke with an echoing chuckle:

"Goodbye.... Miss Rarity..."

*BOOM*

Time slowed for her...

Flashes of red, orange and yellow flames soared around her, the heat from it tingling her skin...

Rarity closed her eyes, clutching tightly onto the glass pendant around her neck.

The world was a blur of chaos... nothing but a hell of explosion after explosion. Glass whizzed past her ears... rocks thrown towards her mane...

The only sound she could look forward to was the silence. The same one that had overwhelmed her.

Bored her.

And, in the end, entertained her.

For now, all she could do was sleep.

All she could do was to picture the smiles of everyone back in Ponyville, all free from the bindings of the events of Pendant Lakes, which she was dragged into by a forsaken, wine-scented invitation.

"...rity...!"

No plagues... no nightmares...

"Rarit...!"

No problems... no bloodshed...

"Rarity!"

The world suddenly snapped back, as a pair of emerald-like pupils stared back at her, cradling her in his scaly arms like she was a newborn filly.

"Rarity!" a familiar voice shouted sternly, pulling her from the blurred borders of reality and fantasy.

"What the hell were you doing in there?!"

"Sp-Spike...?"

Rarity just held back her gasp, looking at the dragon before her.

Behind him was the flaming remains of the Dreamscape machine and the Equinox Ballroom, pummeled into a swirling tower of gray smoke. It almost seemed to match the rage of her lover, who was literally glaring daggers into her.

Then, he suddenly sighed in defeat, muttering something inaudibly before saying:

"Seriously, what's with you and near-death experiences suddenly? What happened to the 'don't-do-anything-crazy' Rarity that I fell in love with?"

"Oh, please~!" she shot back with a smile, slightly relieved that he wasn't that furious.

"It's not like I'm the only one who would do something crazy like jumping underneath a falling ceiling of glass. Plus, I thought you loved some adventure in your life?"

"I'm going to set this aside, for once."

Spike brushed her disheveled mane to the side, the concern on his face evidently growing.

"If you do something stupid like that - again - at least let this gentledragon of yours join you, okay?"

Rarity giggled in response, her cheeks blushing as he stole a kiss from her.

"Promise, my little marshmallow?" he cooed, reaching out his claw.

The white mare stuck her hoof in, shaking it with an eager nod and a meek reply:

"Promise, my little Spikey-Wikey."

Black Roses & Red Nights

For once, the streets of Pendant Lakes were empty.

If one asks a citizen of the town of Pendant Lakes, they would mention of the streets always busy with ponies, even at the passing of midnight. This was even more so at this time of the year, where all the shops would be open twenty four seven, just to serve the needs of hurrying customers.

Caduceus Brineheart would've said the same thing as well before all of this started. Now he wasn't so sure.

What had become of the life here, he wondered, feeling lonely in the silent town. What was once streaming with life was now an abandoned avenue of deep, cold snow; what was once filled with culture was stripped off bare, leaving only a degenerate wasteland for the generations to come.

Pendant Lakes will fall, he did say a few times. He just wished it would happen much more later.

"Nostalgia?"

Jovern's voice wasn't surprising as it would've been; he was too dejected for that.

"More of regrets, really."

The black dragon crept to his side, staring ahead with a demurring chuckle.

"It's common in a world such as this," he replied, craning his neck down.

"In a land filled with life, there surely must be some darkness and sin behind it all. To me, what you regret is what you see as a mistake; one that you would surely not repeat it in the continuing years of your life. Ever. So tell me..."

"What is it that you regret?"

The doctor wanted to reply, but he couldn't. There wasn't a single word that he could muster, and he knew it wasn't from his dry throat. Out of defeat, he just gave a shrug.

"I don't know."

"Then you had never made a mistake that had brought upon this, hadn't you?"

With a senile tuck of his wings, he knelt down towards the doctor, his pupils glinting as he voiced out his thoughts:

"You seem to have seen something. Something that you know you could've never experienced. Something... special, I dare say?"

Caduceus just sighed, crossing it hooves.

"It's that dragon. The one they call Spike."

"Special one, he is," the black dragon answered.

"It's abnormal for one such of my species to linger among your kind. If by affection, I understand where he's coming from, but lifestyle wise... it seemed rather queer to see a reptilian of our kin roaming around, doing what some of my friends had come to call 'pony-work'. They always did say it was a degrading matter if a dragon ever resorted to that, but it never seemed to bother me."

"When we were heading back to the Princess," the doctor continued, as if he had never listened to what Jovern had just said.

"Spike suddenly became... more dragon than I had ever seen him. He sniffed the air... glancing around him before rushing into the palace without another word. It was the most primal form I saw from him."

"He really adores his mate....." Jovern just responded with a happy grin, explaining only when he saw Caduceus's confused expression.

"When a dragon becomes attached to his or her mate, they would usually pick up their mate's scent. Sometimes it's to search for them to play. Sometimes it's for spending time together, talking and reminiscing about their lives. At the most dire times, such as this, dragons use it to sense when their mate is in trouble."

"Then what of Rarity?" he asked.

"Why did Rarity love Spike that much anyway?"

"We both know those inseparable two are destined lovers," Jovern remarked dreamily.

"She sees something in the dragon that many never took the time to. Sure, he has appetites that she could never sate. Sure, he has troubles that she could never face, but I know, at any point, they would stick together eventually. They would find a way out, no matter what."

"Hmm... queer though, that one represents the beast of greed. The other the Element of Generosity."

Caduceus turned to the black dragon, smiling a little at the irony.

"It is a wonder that they could actually survive with each other."

"Ah, but you'll be surprised what love can bring forth to you, my fellow friend," Jovern answered.

"Even one of your friends had known of such affections. After all, she did ask me for some facts for her book, didn't she?"

"Seems that way..." the doctor mused, letting out a loud yawn.

"It's something that an aged pony like myself would never come to understand."

"And you have regrets over that?" the dragon asked, earning a sheepish nod.

"Well," Jovern smiled, slightly amused.

"There is still time for you. After all..."

"You can never be too old for love."

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"Just a little more..."

Twilight held her breath, her horn trying its best to remove the battery at the side. It had been the fifth time she was trying to do this, the previous four times to no avail.

Rainbow Dash and Octavia were gazing at her efforts, switching between that and the duel that Princess Luna was in with Harmony. Both looked determined to murder each other, their glares as powerful as the magic they have wielded beneath their hooves.

"Ugh, it's no use!" the unicorn finally snapped.

"This thing can't even budge an inch!"

"Then give me a try."

Rainbow's stepped forward, kicking her hooves with an earnest smile on her face.

"Watch out, little tin can, cause I'm gonna bust you right open!"

"Stop!!"

Twilight's magic held her friend's wings back in time, sighing with relief as the cyan pegasus struggled in her magical grasp, shouting with irritation:

"What gives, Twi?!"

"You can't just use brute force!" she yelled back.

"The matter inside is very unstable! If it meets one slight spark, the reaction would be so fast that once the energy that seeps through a crack in the capsules meets a flare, we'll all be blown into the next century!"

"Well, then can you think of a better way to solve this?" Rainbow asked.

"Something other than watching the whole of Canterlot blown to smithereens?"

"I'm trying!"

"Well, then we don't have much time."

Octavia headed towards the control system, biting her lip as the core of the cannon starts to power up, the abrupt, loud sound of whirring only bolstering their desperation.

"The Palgiots really made this thing foolproof."

*CLANG*

The echoing sound of steel against steel made them turn back to the battle at hand, just in time to see Princess Luna slamming her face against her own barrier, her head held up by Harmony's blade at her neck.

"Tsk... tsk..." the pink unicorn spat with a wide, triumphant grin.

"You do follow your sister's hoofsteps after all..."

The cerulean alicorn merely smiled at that.

"Just barely."

Before Harmony could slit her throat, the princess suddenly vanished into black, making the rest all look in bewilderment at her sudden disappearance.

The pink unicorn growled for a moment, before whirling around, the grip on her blade becoming tighter as standing on the other end of the barrier, with a cunning grin on her face, was her target.

"You never told me you were a playful one, Princess Luna."

Princess Luna could only scoff at that, her crescent-shaped scythe emerging with a blue glow from beside her once more. She almost felt sorry for the other mare, seeing how she was already worn out and panting from their constant clashing.

Almost.

"It's an attribute of being the Princess of the Night," she replied, giving her rival a smirk.

"You're lucky my sister isn't at her fullest form at this time of day," she paused as the mare snarled suddenly despite her fatigue, which was profoundly amusing to the alicorn.

"She would've been finished fighting with you without even looking at your face. As for me, however..."

Harmony just chuckled at that, instead throwing her blades to the side. The remaining ponies could only blink in surprise at her actions as the pink unicorn spoke cheerfully:

"Becoming foolish now, are we? Haven't Celestia warned you of such actions yet? Or are you just as blind as I perceive you to be?"

The alicorn just harrumphed, before she suddenly tensed, letting out an ear-piercing scream.

"Princess Luna!!" Twilight shouted, pounding on the barrier as she watched the alicorn collapse onto the floor, convulsing terribly with pain. The unicorn turned to the now smiling Harmony, gritting her teeth whilst yelling:

"What have you done to her?!

"Celestia and my... friend, had a little pact. I was merely there to make sure it was never broken."

The pink mare leaned down towards Luna, the alicorn only able to grimace at her. She stroked her mane with a giggle, lifting her head up.

"And yet somepony had the daredevil personality to break it, hmm?" she cooed.

"Don't you, my little Woona~?"

She could only let out a scream, as... something burst into her veins. It gnawed at the walls of her lungs, it burned ferociously in her gut. The pain was staggering, the sight of which only making her friends' eyes water with panic.

"You can't kill her!" Twilight shouted, banging at the walls.

"I won't, but that thing inside will."

Harmony cackled loudly and defiantly at their shocked expressions, trotting towards her blades.

"Don't worry, my fellow ponies. She wouldn't blow up into pieces... but everything inside her will. Imagine the suffering; your stomach blasting itself open, or your skull cracking into an infinite pieces..."

"Oh well," she added with a sigh.

"At least her death will be clean. Unlike yours..."

"You... you MONSTER!!" Twilight screamed, being pulled back by Octavia and Rainbow before she could charge through the diminishing barrier. Princess Luna's hoof started to crumple, before her shaking hoof eventually stilled, leaving them to watch in horror and disbelief.

Suddenly, a bright light flared into the sky, accompanied with a magical, chiming sound reminiscent of breaking steel, before the clouds swirled unnaturally, forming a funnel of air with the moon at the end. In turn, the sky turned a bright red, the moon now glowing a pure, bloody crimson, enveloping the night of the world into its striking, crude color.

All of them gazed at the sudden change, unable to perceive what had just happened.

"Blood moon," the lavender unicorn explained, her voice quivering.

"It happens only when... when P-Princess Luna's..."

The pink mare laughed heartily at the display, staring with satisfaction at the red night.

"Seems the job's done. However..."

Harmony raised her blades, advancing upon the trio of ponies leaning against the wall, their hopes washed away in a tide of fear.

"I have a few... witnesses to dispatch. To make what they call a perfect crime, right?"

Before she could raise her blades, however, she was stopped by a loud slam of hooves; one which had practically made all of them look in astonishment at the figure standing in front of the doorway.

Twilight, Octavia and especially Rainbow's eyes widened immediately, looking at their unlikely savior, who shouted with deafening rage:

"LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!!"

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"No way! Not in a single lifetime that I'm going on it!"

"It's a him, blunthead," Applejack scowled.

"So ya gonna up your flank, or are ya gonna wait here once this place comes crashin' down?"

"Of course I want to leave," the stallion exclaimed, his voice breaking through the now quieting snowstorm.

"The only problem is that I don't want to leave on... on... on a dragon!!"

"It's a dragon, not a basilisk!"

The orange mare just rolled her eyes as he gave a scornful turn of his head, prompting her to say:

"Since you're a pegasus, why not ya use your witty wings and hover to the next mountain? I'm sure ya can do it without a hay of a problem, huh pardner?"

"Why I never...!"

With that, the stallion kicked his hooves back, holding back only when the dragon, Kane, growled menacingly, leaving him to lift his head up with a cold frown.

"Just this once..." he muttered, joining the rest of his fellow townsfolk all huddled together on the massive expanse of the dragon's scaly back.

Applejack sighed; the stallion stupid complaints were agonizing to bear through, just like Rarity, with the only difference is that the white unicorn actually loves a dragon. If he had ranted any longer, she would've bucked him into the Badlands, see if he enjoys the hospitality they provide.

"Sorry, Kane," she said, trying her best to smile whilst wrapping a fluttering scarf around her neck.

"Ya know how ponies are in these parts."

"Well, I couldn't blame them," the red dragon said with a laugh, feeling the prodding of hooves onto his scales.

"These ponies have seen a lot in one night alone. But still... if I burned him into crisp, wouldn't that be one less burden on my back?"

"Kane!" the mare hissed, earning a laugh from the reptile.

"For Celestia's sake, there's ponies that can still hear whatever the heck ya sayin'!"

"Good then!" he exclaimed.

"That way they'll scurry off my backs into the depths of their town. Dwell back into their forsaken homes and rot, which also means less of a backache the moment I get some rest."

Applejack could only smack her forehead at that, rolling her eyes.

"Just listen to the Princess's orders," the orange mare rasped, turning her signature hat back front.

"If ya lucky enough, she might give you some pardon for ya hullabaloo back in Canterlot."

Kane just said nothing, instead crossing his claws with a puff of smoke.

It wasn't long before his brother, Jovern, swooped down from the side, apparently finished his scouting mission for any of the frightened denizens still holed up in the walls of their own home, with Caduceus jumping down from his back.

The doctor lifted his snow goggles while quickly trotting towards Princess Celestia, with Applejack now following him, leaving the two draconian brothers to talk. He hastily bowed befoe the white alicorn, giving his answer:

"Pendant Lakes is cleared, your Highness."

"Alright."

The alicorn turned to the side, watching the residents of the now vacant town slowly marching up the wings of the numerous dragons resting on the plaza. There was always a hint of reluctance stirring somewhere in the crowd, but in the end it would be all for naught.

"Tell them to prepare for departure the moment the rest finishes their business."

"Um... Princess Celestia? Not to barge in or anythin' but..."

Applejack's sudden mention of her name surprised, the mare continuing:

"Can Ah make some things clear for a minute?"

Princess Celestia gave a quiet, affirmative nod, the two mares now trotting to the side.

"Ah was wonderin' 'bout the evacuation and such," she began.

"If the weapon's made for attackin' Canterlot, then why in tarnation are we askin' everypony here to leave?"

"I was waiting for somepony to ask that," the alicorn mused, giving her a sigh.

"It's concerning the weapon. One of my ministers, Starsign Fleet, had accumulated data on the cannon; the same one that my sister, Twilight, Octavia and Rainbow Dash is finding and the same one that Tantrum had planned for its sole purpose: to destroy Canterlot."

"The energy used to supply the cannon, if detonated, will cause an explosion of dynamic proportions; one that would obliterate not only Palgiot Palace, but the town included, in a matter of minutes."

The alicorn watched as the Applejack's face grew more serious, before continuing:

"Starsign also mentioned that there was nearly no way to deactivate the weapon."

"Nearly?" the orange mare emphasized on that word.

"You mean there is a way to stop it?"

Princess Celestia nodded firmly.

"The energy capsule is somewhat connected to the sewage system of Pendant Lakes, so there's a chance that we can leak the energy out by controlling the valve system of the fountain. In order for that to happen, however, we need to shut the cannon down first."

The two looked at the fountain, which was still endlessly spurting water out from its tip despite the cold weather. They could only sigh; the main attraction of Pendant Lakes had became their gamble of Canterlot's destruction.

"Unfortunately," the alicorn added.

"Once this energy reaches the center of the sewage, it will react with the sparks from the sewage's power source, causing the aforementioned explosion. Pendant Lakes and Palgiot Palace will be engulfed by light, and nopony would survive an explosion of such catastrophic results."

"Then we musn't waste any time," Applejack finished, finally understanding the reason.

"Ah'll try to get them to speed up a little. As for the rest of 'em that're ain't here yet... Ah just wish they would hurry up..."

"Applejack!!"

Big Mac's voice boomed through the plaza, with all eyes watching as the red stallion galloped up to his younger sister, his face frantic and desperate.

"Applejack," he called again, trying to catch his breath.

"Wh-where's... where's Fluttersh'ah?"

"Wasn't she with you?" she asked back, her brother's negating response only making her panic.

"Fluttersh'ah?" the orange mare called out, now rushing through the crowd alongside her brother.

"Fluttersh'ah, where are you?!"

A loud, echoing crash suddenly sounded throughout the air, with everypony looking up just in time to see the moon turned a bloodcurdling red, the sight of which only made them gasp as they were basked under the unnatural light.

Princess Celestia's face turned pale the moment she got a glimpse of the red sky, her worst fears razing up to the corners of her eyes.

"L-Luna...!"

"Your Highness!" Caduceus cried, rushing to her side the moment the alicorn collapsed suddenly onto the plaza floor, her eyes frozen wide with trauma.

"Somepony get her some water!"

"Fluttersh'ah!!" Big Mac shouted in desperation. He would've galloped back into the town's confusing alleyways if not for Soarin' and Crimson holding him back, the stallion letting out a frenzied whinny among the howling winds.

"Let me go!! She's still in there! SHE'S STILL IN THERE!!"

"Macintosh! Don't!"

Applejack held her hat down, the snowstorm beginning to stir up again with the snow now raging across their hooves. She tried to brace her hooves along with the rest of the ponies, now braving against the onslaught of the white.

"She'll come back!" she shouted over the storm once she reached her brother's side. The words never soothed him, though his desperation to gallop into the obscurity calmed, her sister's voice echoing in his head.

"She'll come back..."

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"LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!!"

Twilight could not believe her eyes, mostly in relief and bewilderment. Of all ponies that could get out them out of their predicament; of all ponies that could stand where their savior was standing...

"Fluttershy?"

"Twilight!" the yellow mare exclaimed hurriedly.

"Are you alright? Did she hurt you?"

"Just beginning to, actually."

Harmony merely laughed, her blades readying at the now grimacing pegasus, the rest of them only able to watch helplessly from afar.

"Why are you here actually? To volunteer like our dear friend over there?"

Fluttershy's gaze turned to that of Princess Luna, the sight of the alicorn's crumpling body only horrified her. The pink mare cackled as the yellow pony started to frown with disgust, her own hooves sliding back.

"You think you're powerful by hurting other ponies, huh?" she growled, surprising her watching friends.

"So what if you can hurt an alicorn?"

"So what, huh? Don't you see...?"

Without hesitation, Harmony trotted closer to the glowering mare, raising her blade.

"You haven't had the slightest idea of the extent of my powers," she answered.

"If I can hurt not one, but two alicorns, what the possibility that I can take over Equestria?"

The pink unicorn only laughed manically at that, though Fluttershy still stood undaunted.

"I... I might not know about what happened here, but I know enough that your power is beyond a normal unicorn's. Even Twilight can't beat you, and we all know that."

"But I know for one thing," she finished, giving a smile.

"If you think you can move me off this world the way we pegasi move the clouds each day, then I believe you're horribly mistaken, because I'm their friend!"

"And friends... never leave each other behind..."

Fluttershy smiled at them, especially Rainbow, who could only do the same, the cyan mare trying to wipe her eyes free of tears.

"How cute," Harmony responded sardonically, readying her blades.

"But I believe that your time here is up."

Gripping her pair of blades, the pink mare rushed towards Fluttershy, the pegasus clenching her eyes shut, her teeth chattering at the impending pain.

She suddenly felt herself being dragged down to the side, her ears detecting the loud clang of blade against stone. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, only to see the figure shielding her.

"Leave my friend alone, you jerk!" Rainbow rasped.

"You wanna hurt somepony like a big, bad bully? Or you wanna fight like a real mare?!!"

"Interesting..."

Harmony's surprise was momentarily brief, the mare managing to break out a smile.

"So now it's a two against one battle? How amusing. How... unfair."

"Make that a four against one!"

Twilight and Octavia soon stood by their side, readying their hooves as well.

"I have enough of watching all my friends risking their lives," the lavender unicorn shouted first.

"If you want to get us, then you'll have to get us all at once!"

The pink mare stopped, before giving them a smirk.

"A free bloodbath, huh? It seems if that is your wish..."

Before they could start the fight, however, a loud shriek came from the windows outside, with a large shadow shifting through the rays of red light. Harmony raised her blade, though none of them could predict what was happening next.

Flying through the doorway, with wings black as the night (the same which can't be said for this night, however) and glinting talons sharper than steel, was a raven, it's eyes burning crimson. It's wings flapped hastily, keeping it aloft in between Harmony and her targets, which only irritated the pink mare.

"What is this treachery?" she asked, her blade now pointing to the black bird.

"Is this your backup plan?"

The raven's eyes started to glint and flicker with hate, with all of the ponies cringing back, nervous at the sudden appearance of such a tabooed, be-damned creature.

All except one.

Fluttershy reached her hoof out, clicking her tongue as she got closer to the creature of nighttime, who had ruffled its wings a little, the natural black feathers beneath its folds all carrying a streak of purple. She watched with amazement, along with everypony else, as the bird hopped onto her hoof, perching onto it as if it was her own.

"As I said," the yellow mare spoke threateningly, marching towards the mare.

"If you think you're powerful by hurting other ponies, you're wrong. Even if you took over Equestria; even if you kill the Princesses and set Canterlot up on fire, we will retaliate. Every dragon, every griffin, every pony and every animal, like this raven here..."

"We will never call you our queen."

The raven suddenly cawed loudly, the overwhelming sound of fluttering wings filling the air.

Suddenly, bursting out of a doorway, was a black swarm of the very same birds, all cawing and flapping towards Harmony. She screamed as the birds mobbed her like locusts, before the swarm soon departed, leaving the pink mare to disappear under her cape into the blackness of the night.

Twilight, Octavia and Rainbow rushed over to her friend, with the cyan mare the first to speak:

"You did it, Fluttershy!"

"Oh, it was nothing... really..." she replied, her friends all chuckling still at her humble timidity.

"But it's amazing!" Twilight exclaimed, before asking:

"How did you know the bird was trying to help us?"

Fluttershy said nothing, only giving a smile.

A familiar voice echoed inside her head; one that she had kept as a memorial since that fateful day. To return as a true, fresh embodiment was one thing, and the words she said... was the other that she swore she would never forget:

"Be yourself." she heard her voice again, the thought of it forming a smile on the yellow mare's lips.

"That's all I really want."

"We have to get Princess Luna to safety!"

Octavia's frantic voice immediately broke her out of her daze, the pegasus now galloping to the injured alicorn. She sighed with relief after catching a glimpse of the princess's chest rising and falling, though she knew herself that there wasn't much time.

"I'll try to power down the cannon!" Twilight shouted, hurrying towards the remote.

"Fluttershy, see if you can help Rainbow lift the Princess up."

"Oh... but... there's something... um..."

"What?" Rainbow asked, slightly flushed.

"What is it?"

"It's about... my... condition..."

The pegasus held her breath. How were the three of them going to react the moment she spills the beans?

Then, she sighed in defeat. They have to know some way or another; even if she didn't tell them, Applejack herself would eventually notify them about it.

"Um.. before I came here, you see... I was having...um... having......"

"Having what?"

The cyan pegasus crossed her hooves, eyeing her friend with pure skepticism.

"Come on, Fluttershy! We don't have much time!"

"I... became a..."

"Fluttershy?" Twilight called out to her quivering friend, slightly worried.

"Fluttershy, what is it?"

Fluttershy breathed in loudly, before exhaling it all out in a gust of wind.

This is it, she told herself. It's now or never.

"I'm a mother..."

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"Blood moon..."

Stellar Lionheart held his breath as the brilliant rays of red light dazzled from above.

He was in the library, trying to strain his head through the Patriarch's death, though without success. The glimpse of the rare, majestic sight only added to his dread, forcing him to rise up from his armchair.

"Something has happened to them..." he surmised, readying his gun.

"We have to go."

He turned to the one other pony in the room; the one who had been sulking silently on a stool for the last half hour. Her curtain of the mane had been grayer than any moment that he had seen her; considering what she had been through...

"Miss Pie?" he called out, though her gaze was still sullen, affixed only to a vase standing on the table.

He crept a little closer, letting out a quivering sigh.

"Look," he began.

"He was my Patriarch, Miss Pie. To me, it's like losing the one thing I have faith for in this world. Winter Palgiot was...... different from the rest. He values the world more than what his predecessors could do. He made everyone's lives in Pendant Lakes special."

Pinkie still said nothing, prompting him to continue:

"In all my eight years since the day we kept our oaths, I've seen him change, both physically and mentally. I've seen him grow productively from the very moment he met you. He never remembered you for that long time, but somehow you made sure that he remembers your words."

"H-huh?" the mare finally stammered.

"Winter made us happy."

Stellar settled right next to the pink pony's side, giving her a slight smile.

"He listens to us. He values our lives when the other Palgiots couldn't. He saw what we cannot see, and that is the hope that he strives to bring forth upon us. The hope that had once carried the legacy of the town through those harsh times. The hope that had been brought before four young adventurers... wanting to just... see the world."

"Side by side, on friendship's shore. What's our name? The Crux Four!!"

"And when he rose to replace his uncle, I dare say I was most obliged to serve him in any way possible. It was my job to take care of him ever since he was a filly, my job to oversee that he performs his duties well and my job to protect him when he becomes the Patriarch."

The butler smiled happily at that, placing a hoof on the mare's shoulder.

"And when he mentioned that you, not Harmony, was the love of his life... I was overjoyed..."

Pinkie's cheeks turned a dark pink, with Stellar only able to stifle a laugh.

"When you came through the doors of Palgiot Palace, I can see your spirit... your joy...... it was all over you the moment your hooves stepped into our premises. You had intrigued Winter to such an extent that his feelings for you blossomed like the sunflowers off Standard & Dale, and from that point on, I knew you were his super special somepony. I knew you were his choice."

"It was an admirable choice, albeit one that wasn't widely accepted."

Stellar reached for the vase, picking out a stem from the boutique. It was a rose; the petals a flowing hue of black with its veins streaking unnaturally outwards like lightning, proclaiming its foreign yet exquisite nature.

"The common black rose," he usurped, twirling it around in his hoof.

"A flower of undeniably queer properties. It was never grown in domestication, instead only found in the wilderness of the northern mountains and crevasses. It can survive in even the most extreme climates, being the sole plant that can live through its rivals as it braves through rain, hail and snow."

"Like the rose, in all the conundrums of his life, your love remains the one thing he treasure. Even when Harmony tried to win him back, he still protected you. Even when the Princess fogged your memories, he tried very hard to remember what he had lost."

With that, Stellar passed him a book; one which the pink mare quickly opened.

"This is his journal," he explained, watching her eyes lighting up at the scribbles and question marks scrawled all over the pages. Some of the words stood out to her, her response to them only a silent gasp.

"Lost in the fabrics of time..."

"She was here. She. Was. HERE!"

"The thought of her smile lingers in me most..."

"I don't understand this... she was but a flicker in my head..."

"... and I resided in solace, with the fragments left in my head. The cloud in me forever lingers, for I could not part it. I frequently heard a laugh, and it painfully echoed with my despondency. It grasped at the corners of my heart, the pain of which made me fall to my knees to ask of my loss..."

"But I know that she's alive. That she's out there," Pinkie read out, her eyes watering.

"And I'll strive to seek for her at the ends of the earth, not to put out the storms in my head, but more of... to spend time with her... know her again...... to love her like I probably, maybe did once, for she's the only thing special I can truly hold until the tides of eternity take me. And maybe... just maybe......"

"I could see her smile again."

She closed the book, her eyes watering as she let out a quiet sniffle.

"I just wished.... I just hoped that I can... we can... sp-spend time together. I want him back, Stellar! I want him back....!"

The door suddenly opened, the two ponies turning to face their visitors, with Pinkie calling out one of their names:

"R-Rarity?"

Rarity trotted closer towards her friend, wearing a pained expression. Behind her was Spike, the dragon trying to hold back his despair as the white mare whispered into Pinkie's ear:

"I've heard..."

With that, Pinkie suddenly broke down, crying loudly as she let out every gush of her depression. She fell forwards in devastation as Rarity hugged her tight, the unicorn trying her best to comfort her friend.

Spike and Stellar watched from the side, both holding their tears as they watched the pink mare bawl with grief, the pain underlying beneath striking into their hearts.

"The walls echo along with her" the butler muttered, his breath shivering with pain.

"The tragedy is not Pinkie's alone."

"It's okay..." the white mare consoled, reducing her sobs into quick, mere sniffles.

"I wouldn't understand what you've been through, darling. But if there's one thing I know from what I've seen and read, Winter's death will never be for naught. If he loves you, he'll always be watching you, guiding you through your mistakes and preparing you for your stumbles. All you have to do is remember him."

Remember him....

"But it's... painful..." Pinkie quietly stuttered.

"It's painful to remember..."

"Surely you do not want to forget him now, do you?" Rarity said, before finishing:

"I know how good your memory is, Pinkie, and I know you and him had shared some wonderful times together. Times that can never be broken by any sword or blade."

That's true, the pink mare thought to herself, their moments flashing through her head once more:

* * * * *

The Patriarch suddenly felt himself being jerked towards the mare, who began to cry in his chest. He held back his surprise, trying to absorb what just happened.

"Uh, Pinkie...?" he called, though her endless sobs drowned it out.He sighed, letting Pinkie bawl out her devastation, ignoring the dampness it was causing across his chest and hooves. His hoof instinctively patted her back, gently hushing her with every stroke down her mane...

She suddenly hopped in surprise at a loud explosion in the sky, hanging there for only a mere second before snapping out of the weak thread of air.

Winter suddenly let out a loud 'umph' as the full weight of the mare suddenly crushed down upon his hooves, her face looking down onto his. He could feel her warm breath on his face with every pant she makes, before Pinkie let out a small giggle, her cheeks reddening with time.

"It's my P-Pinkie Sense," she explained sheepishly.

"A twitchy tail usually means something is falling. I though it was a firework, but it seems it was just me..."

"You fell for me?" he rephrased, giving her a small grin.

"Truth or Dare?"

The mare blinked in surprise at first, before giving her answer with a quiver:

"Truth."
The Patriarch suddenly embraced her, only surprising her even more. She shuddered with content at the warmth wrapping around her body like a scarf, though nothing prepared her for the question he was about to ask:

"If Harmony and I never met, would you say 'yes' if I proposed to you instead?"

The silence overwhelmed the room, the mare torn in a state of denial. Winter waited patiently, feeling the tears of the mare dripping against his shoulder. The warmth radiating from her pink coat simmered in his heart, his mind flashing back on their previous encounters.

"Yes."

"Falling in love with Pinkie," he halted with a dreamy sigh.

"Falling in love with her... was the best mistake I had ever made in my life. If you intend to correct something such as that, then I'll have no choice but to disagree with your decision."

"R-Really?"

The two whirled towards her, finally noticing her presence in her room.

There were tears in Pinkie's eyes; her only reply towards the Patriarch's words. Her heart tingled with a luxurious sensation of warmth, her mouth open in a silent gasp.

"Y-You... You really mean it?"

"I told you to stay up there, didn't I?" he spoke sternly, though before breaking out in a smile.

"And... to answer your question..."

"Yes. I mean it."

Without warning, Winter suddenly gripped her hooves firmly, the pink mare only able to look in surprise, her gaze switching from his face and the box she was holding.

"I've been l-longing to tell you this... and I planned to tell you b-before all this ch-chaos..." he muttered, letting the tears fall freely down his cheeks.

"And I-I hope you would comply to it, b-but I'll understand i-if you don't w-want to..."

The stallion took in a huge gulp of breath, before muttering out:

"P-Pinkamena Diane Pie..."

"Will you marry me...?"

* * * * *

"Remember him... for what he's done..."

Pinkie wiped her tears away, her lips slowly curling up into a smile. It made Rarity, Spike and even Stellar do the same, all of them happy to have the pink mare back.

She rose from her seat, spurred by determination from his words. With one last sigh, she expelled any last trace of despair out her mouth, his parting words echoing once more in her head.

"You will see me one day, Winter," her inner voice responded to her memories, the mare following her friends out of the door.

"And, when I come back, you'll see my smile once again."

Lace

"No... no, no, no, no, NO!!"

In a fit of rage, his white hooves flared up, smashing through the stone pedestals with a loud, deafening roar. He slumped to the ground, the shattered fragments of rock sliding across the marble floor.

The crimson moon of the night shone through the cage-like windows onto his snout, the sight of it burning his chest like the flames that he had laid waste upon the palace.

"He moved it," the stallion concluded, brushing his disheveled mane aside.

"He moved it! He knew we were coming for it!"

"The world is shifting beyond the black seas of your fold, one which you find solace in your blindness" his deep voice burst from his true core; his words stinging unto the mind poisoned by avarice and pride.

"None shall seek for your pity, my friend. And I know t'is but a fact, for we are two souls in a frail body."

"LIES!!" he screamed at himself, wringing his hooves against the barbed corners of the Crypturris: the vault tower of the palace. Adamantly, he stormed down the stone stairs, hurriedly marching past the many artifacts that were held in high regard; the ones that he had chosen to ignore.

"He couldn't have known we were coming for it! I've made sure none of them knew about what I've been planning! Every step, every countermeasures, all accounted for."

"The Patriarch had predicted your arrival the very moment you seek for it."

He could feel his other presence trembling within, the filthy soul of light shifting with ethereal grace through the dark hallways.

"He knows that without what you seek, the technology that you possess would be of nothing but of the degenerate of the sediment beneath the graveyard stones."

"What I seek is what he does not expect!"

"Yet, ironically, he did. In his plane of obscurity, he did what your adversary couldn't: to remember."

"Harmony was torn at the time of her amendment," he shouted, facing his reflection in the mirror, or, what would be his reflection if it did not had a mind of his own. While he was growling with spite, the apparition merely sat down with calming silence, the sight of it only irritating him.

"Her memory was only clear the moment my orders were given. It was fated that she remembers all that there was."

"And yet, the moon shines a glowing red..."

"She wouldn't have known," he muttered back, gazing out at the crimson sky.

"She's been tossed so much in the effects of change that one teardrop of it would leave her crumbling into madness. Morteoro's vessel is failing."

"The vessel, you say?"

The stallion growled as his reflection chuckled, wearing a cunning smirk.

"What of the devil? Tartaric beasts are independent in nature; they don't need one such as us to lead them through their struggles."

"You're saying that Morteoro has the urge to defy me?!"

"I'm assuming, my friend."

"Remember your position, lowly beast," he snarled at the mirror.

"The mannerisms of your kin disgusts me. One such as you shall never break free of my bonds. Your will is strong, yes, but what happens when you finally succumb into the wastes of your heart?"

The reflection said nothing, immediately turning away.

"The shores of your head were calm for too long, my lad," he continued at the mirror, gritting his teeth.

"You came to me to seek my aid. You brought me upon yourself. And now, you shall return the favor."

"And what of our... oath, when I break free...... Janus?"

He flinched at the mention of that name... the one that had slaughtered his conscience in both light and shadow; the one many had called him before perishing under his bane.

"What of your crippled spirit?" it continued from within his head.

"Would ponies remember your name in their realm? Would they see that your debts to the world be repaid?"

"This world made my debts," he answered coldly, marching out of the Vault Room.

"And we shall see to it that it will be paid; when steel and stone collide in the echoes of the abyss. When the sound of crying mares and shouting colts fill the air and flames dance in the marrow of the land... when the suns of day burn out and the moons of night shine only the glow of black... only then our debts have been repaid. For now, however..."

"Our search must be swift, for I can no longer tolerate to wait patiently for the future I foresee in my head."

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The winds raged with a banshee's scream, launching its full assault against every pony and dragon huddled together in Fountain Square. Every bullet of snow pummeling throughout the town was relentless, though the March Of The White Departure, as some of the residents of Pendant Lakes has come to call it, was still progressing, with every single pony battling against the storm to clamber onto the reptilian backs of their saviors.

"Doctor Brineheart!!" Caduceus heard his name, immediately rushing across the plaza to a group in the corner. It was the fifth time it happened already, and he don't know how long they can stay here.

"Everypony stand back!" he ordered, quickly tending to the shivering pony lying in the center.

The doctor clasped his hoof, his senses tingling as he felt the slow pulse beneath the pony's wrists; one that would die down if he stayed out here any longer.

"Get him to the dragons!" he quickly said to some of the colts around.

"Their warmth would help him."

With a nod, the colts did as they were told, the doctor now only being able to watch helplessly, thanks to his burnt hoof. He let out a quiet, foggy sigh, before trudging back through the deep snow.

He glanced around the forsaken wasteland, blanketed under the treacherous white; how long does this have to last?

"Hypothermia again?"

"I'm afraid so," he answered the other doctor, taking a sip of hot water.

"These ponies can't last long in such conditions. We need to hurry things up before the storm takes us all."

"Consarn it, Macintosh!!" a loud voice suddenly burst through the air.

"You're saying it as if it was her fault!!"

"She has a foal, AJ!! Fluttersh'ah shouldn't simply run off like that, especially in dark times such as this!!"

The two voices grew louder and louder, with one trying to overwhelm the other, before a few ponies came by to stop them, the sight of the rabble only making Cleptius sigh.

"Even siblings are squabbling among themselves," he mused, stirring his hot chocolate.

"The weather has taken a toll on everypony."

Caduceus nodded in agreement; the fatigue on every single face in the crowd was already shining through. From the faces of mothers tenderly comforting their children or colts hushing their respective mares, everypony was worn out from braving out the storm.

"Where's the Princess?" he asked his friend, who gestured his head towards the fountain.

There, Princess Celestia was huddled underneath Jovern's wings, the loyal dragon already deep in slumber. Her eyes were red with tears, which started to freeze the moment the drops hit the cold, slate floor.

"I've never seen her this depressed..." Cleptius mused, his friend only crossing his hooves with a reply:

"You can't blame her."

"Ponies!!" a voice shrilled through the freezing air, the two doctors recognizing it to be Mayor Stencil's.

"Ponies sighted in the east!!"

The crowd soon erupted into a frenzy of mutters, forming a path as four ponies slowly marched across the crowd, with two of them carrying a fifth one on their backs.

Caduceus's eyes widened immediately at the sight, quickly standing up along with his friend.

"They're back..."

"FLUTTERSH'AH!!" Big Mac's voice hollered through the storm, the stallion galloping to hug the mare, his sister following closely behind. The two ponies shed tears at Fluttershy's return, the yellow mare's eyes nearly watering with emotion as well while her stallion scolded:

"Don't ya dare wander off again, ya hear? Don't ya dare..."

"I... I won't, Mac..."

The couple soon hugged again, though it wasn't long before both Rainbow and Octavia's stallions rushed towards them as well, giving their respective mares a tight hug.

"Did he hurt you, Dashie?" Soarin' asked first, the cyan mare immediately pouting at that.

"Not out here, Soar! For crying out loud...!"

"Celestia, Tavi, I thought I lost you..."

Crimson slowly hushed her the moment she started sniffling into his red coat, the stallion running his hooves tenderly through her black mane.

"I'm here now, alright? I'm here now..."

"LUNA!!" Princess Celestia's voice erupted through the plaza, the alicorn hurriedly rushing to her sister's side, with everypony making way for her. Twilight breath shivered, only able to watch painfully at her teacher settling right next to her. Her tear-strewn eyes started to water once more, her only viable action left being crying into her sister's cheeks.

Hesitantly, Caduceus passed through the crowd, kneeling towards Luna's hoof whilst raising it up as he wrapped his own around her wrist.

His eyes widened with relief and surprise. It couldn't be...

"She still has a pulse, your Highness!" he exclaimed with delight, the white alicorn perking up immediately in disbelief.

"It's faint, but it's there!"

"Im... Impossible..."

Out of desperation, she suddenly cupped the doctor's hooves, her eyes literally sparkling with tears.

"Please, doctor, I beg of you! Can you help her?"

"I'll..." he began to stammer, "I'll do what I can."

"Though for a full recovery," he added, "she needs to be tended to in a hospital. I can't guarantee that she might survive through the storm however; it all depends on her now."

Princess Celestia turned to Twilight, the lavender unicorn giving her a hopeful nod, then back to her sister, her heart tingling with a slight spark of fear.

She crept closer to the younger alicorn, the crowd of Pendant Lakes watching with despondency at her every action. Wiping her tears away, she knelt towards her sister, whispering into her ear:

"Hang in there, Luna..."

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Patience, he told himself...

That's what he had learn throughout the numerous years of his life. Patience; the one thing he didn't resort to when he, at least his host, was still fresh in adulthood. And that by itself was already a long time ago.

Ponies came and went, lives lost and born anew... and yet his thoughts and theories remained as stagnant as the doors that was once the fear of many who had lived in the palace.

The marble halls he was in have been isolated. Forgotten from the minds of the common folk. It was once a Patriarch's haven; the room where his subjects, his townsponies, even his relatives would bow before his presence. Surprisingly enough, despite never being used ever since Ochre Palgiot stepped down from his kingly position, it was still kept in a clean state, as it was the jobs of the many maids wandering around the palace.

The air was musky with age, though he had faced worse. He let his senses guide him; every twirl of dust and every echoing wail of the snow outside the palace walls... he was surprised he hadn't became insane yet.

Striding across the room, dimly lit only by the four candles on the chandelier hanging at the distant ceiling over head, his hooves reached out for the stone handles, his eyes marveling at the sovereign throne of stone, shuddering the moment he touched the fleecy quilt draped over the surface.

He slowly trotted up the stairs, sighing with satisfaction as he settled himself onto the regal throne, his head held high with pride like the many Palgiots that had once tucked their hooves in the very same seat. He closed his eyes, imagining the events he had planned the moment he does the same on its sisterly counterpart in Canterlot.

The future is set. The plans are in motion.

The grinding noise of the massive stone doors resonated throughout the throne room, the stallion immediately opening his eyes as Harmony panted breathlessly, her hooves planted onto the surfaces of both doors.

She snarled for a moment, before galloping to the stallion, her blades sheathed at the side of her hooves. He held his anger back, instead speaking coldly:

"You're late."

"I had some company to deal with," she jeered back, brushing a few black feathers off her mane.

"Stupid birds..."

"And I assume you've done your job?" he asked, crossing his hooves dubiously.

There was no response for a moment, before she shot back defiantly:

"I didn't see you do anything, however. Your plans wouldn't work if I weren't there to help you in the first place."

"It will work even without your contribution."

The stallion rose from his throne, slowly descending down the stairs towards the now grimacing Harmony, the sight of her darkening glare making him chuckle in amusement.

"My seclusion is merely a preparation for the other plans I have brewed. One musn't be hasty when such delicate processes of deep thought are involved."

Harmony scoffed at that, the insolent tone behind it twitching into his hooves.

"Well, I was outnumbered five to one thanks to your...... 'seclusion'. Canterlot can't be destroyed! It's all over! Your plans have all failed!"

"And your witnessing of Princess's Luna's death?" he yelled back, slightly surprising the pink mare.

"You think that it was successful now, don't you?"

"W-well, of course!" she retorted, only infuriating him.

"I mean, how could the-"

"SHE ISN'T DEAD, MISS PERIDOT!!" he voice boomed, his temper exploding through the roof of his head. The powerful shout made Harmony recoil, frightened at his sudden tantrum.

"You've merely failed the duty, and a simple one it is, that I have assigned you to, and have the nerve to question my actions?!"

"B-but.... but I... I don't understand!" she protested, backing away from him.

"The moon! The moon turned red!"

"The moon turned red... hah!" he sneered.

"The moon should burn out if that alicorn's dead!!"

"Well, how would you know?!" she retaliated, marching up towards his face.

"The only way you would've known instead of watching it happen yourself is that she told it personally to you!!"

The stallion began to respond, but immediately halted his words, his enraged expression contorted into one of traumatic shock; one that Harmony thought she would never have seen underneath his cold mask of merciless spite.

"She told it personally to you..." she repeated her sentence, her eyes widening in realization.

"You mean she... that you and her..."

"There was nothing of that sort."

"You and Princess Luna..." she began, unaware of his slight twitching.

"The both of you were-"

"Need I not make this clear?!" he bellowed, raising his hoof.

"There was nothing of that sort! And THERE SHALL NEVER BE!!"

*SLAP*

Harmony tumbled backwards onto the floor, slightly shocked by the stallion's reaction. Her head started to fizz, her world twisting and warping as he marched towards her, the pink mare cringing as he spoke coldly:

"Our journey ends here, Miss Peridot, for I can no longer seek for your cooperation. You are humbly retired from my services, unchained from my pledges."

Her eyes were still, though it had started to spring up small tears. The stallion's words started to drone in her head, and all she could hear were faint memories. Memories that she had decided to put to the past.

Memories of a happier time. Of a perfect world with imperfections.

"You know how I adore your crafts, Harmony..." a faint voice echoed, in her world of broken dreams.

"It still doesn't match the theme of the masquerade, you know."

"It doesn't have to, Winter," she heard herself reply. Her tone was much cheerful back then, much...happier.

"Sometimes ponies need a little innovation. After all, you know how I envy it when you're the one traipsing in a better outfit than the one I've prepared."

"Innovation, huh? Well, let's see how innovative you'll be when you dance, my little vixen~"

"W-Winter..." she muttered weakly with despair, dropping to the floor. Her head became clearer, her shoulders felt lighter, as if something had left her body, freeing her from the binds she was under.

"No..."

The white stallion merely raised an eyebrow, finishing as he stepped out of the throne room:

"I appreciate the help that you've given to me, and for that I'll ensure my blades won't hunt you, but I'll make this clear: if you ever dare rat out any portions of the plans I've saved, then I shall see to it that my gratitude will be forgotten."

With that, the door slammed shut, leaving the broken mare crying in the throne room. He guided himself down the hallways, though he couldn't help but notice his reflection in the window shaking his head.

"Your way with mares is rather harsh, I must say."

"She's starting to remember," he merely replied.

"Her dam is starting to collapse, and once it does, her memories will soon flood out and, like all floods, will be dangerous if they are not controlled."

"But you caused her to remember, Janus," the apparition told him.

"You've attacked the darkness out of her, and she'll recover."

"She'll recover, yes, but I have something to make sure she'll never become a snitch. I know you wouldn't mind, right? After all..."

Janus, as he was called, gave out a long, deep sigh, ending it with a morbid chuckle while marching closer towards the window, finishing his sentence:

"She did hurt your beloved, didn't she...?"

His apparition just turned away, forcing out a laugh of amusement from its owner.

"The town of Pendant Lakes; the history, the conspiracy and the memories, will be brought down by the Princess herself, and all of the town, as we know it, will fade into the light of naught."

"And Harmony...?" he questioned for dramatization, his reflection grimacing at that.

"Well..."

"Let's just say she'll be happy to see her beloved Patriarch again."

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"Everyone's waiting for us..."

Rarity could only agree with Pinkie's words, watching the silhouettes of a crowd seeking refuge among the apparent wings of the dragons in the plaza from beneath the blizzard.

The air around her was like shards of frost; every time she inhaled, the chill of it stung her lungs, nearly making her choke. Octavia did mention something about a storm coming from the beach once, though she never knew it would be this destructive.

"We'll have to move silently but swiftly," Stellar's voice finally echoed, emerging from the hallways with a few revolvers. He and Spike had went off to find some weapons, just in case they stumble upon any of their enemies.

"The storm's getting unbearably freezing. It's already negative temperatures outside."

Spike soon ran in from behind, clutching onto four daggers: one for each of them.

"Got the best I can find," he hurriedly explained.

"These will do."

The butler reached for his back pocket, slotting a few bullets into his revolver before handing the other three guns to the rest.

Rarity hesitantly reached for it, swallowing a tense lump down her throat. Her shoulders relaxed only when she felt her hoof being held by Spike's claws, the mare sighing with relief at his presence.

Soon enough, their escapade quickly resumed, as they traveled through the passages of darkness, their guide the flicker of a flame contained in the iron hearth of Stellar's torch, in which he raised whilst they finally entered a junction.

"Left," Pinkie immediately spoke up, earning a nod from the butler.

"The hallways are an easy path to remember once one stays in the palace for too long," he uttered, ushering them towards their choice of passage.

"It's no proof that you're insane, however. At least, that's what the previous butler told me."

They soon turned left again, walking down their blind routes while their senses were raised, especially Spike's.

His scales resonated a low hum suddenly, with all of them, including himself, turning in surprise. He whiffed the air, detecting the faintest, most delicate smell of lilies... and the inducing scent of blood.

"Harmony Peridot..." he identified, paling in fear.

"Quickly!" Stellar hissed, prompting all four of them to hide behind the marble pillars.

All of them held their breath the moment the sound of hoofsteps echoed around the walls, watching as the mare slowly marched towards them, their blades ever ready.

Pinkie gritted her teeth; she could feel her hear thumping with hate, her heart trenched in rage. The mare that betrayed all of them. The mare that was responsible for all of this...

*sniffle*

Wait.

She paused, lowering her blade while her ears perked up. Did she hear what she had just heard?

The mare suddenly sniffled, muttering inaudibly, though it wasn't the words that stopped the mare from their ambush: it was her tone. What happened to her cold voice? What happened to her merciless shrill of delight, of her pride and dignified invulnerability that she had claimed to possess?

No, there was none of that. That wasn't what she was hearing.

She was hearing Harmony Peridot. The real Harmony Peridot.

"Pinkie," Rarity whispered, confounded as her pink friend rose from her hiding place.

"What are you doing?"

"Harmony!"

The mare whirled around and, before Stellar could stop her, Pinkie trotted from behind the pillars, her gaze fixated at her former friend. The reply from her was a sordidly unnerving silence; one which had made Stellar raise his gun.

Suddenly, Harmony grabbed the other mare by surprise, hugging her tightly while crying loudly into her shoulder. It literally knocked the wind out of Pinkie's throat, though she quickly recovered, now hushing her friend tenderly and carefully.

The rest of them immediately stood out from their spots, approaching the two pink mares in the center of the hallway. Their weapons were lowered only when the shivering one stammered, sobbing like a lost filly:

"I-I'm sorry...! I'm s-s-sorry...! He said he would hurt Winter... he said he would help me..."

Rarity blinked at first. Is it the Harmony Peridot she was looking on? The same one that tried to murder her, that harassed her, that escalated her and Spike's fears?

"He's coming!!" the mare suddenly gasped out.

"He's... he's coming...."

"Who?" Stellar pressed on relentlessly.

"Who's coming?"

"J-Janus..."

The butler and Spike could only exchanged baffled looks, though the other mares immediately knew what she was talking about.

"The pony..." Pinkie grumbled, gritting her teeth.

"The one that killed... that k-killed my..."

"I saw him in the ballroom, Stellar," Rarity spoke up suddenly, before turning to the dragon.

"That's why I was there, Spike! He wasn't planning to destroy Canterlot: he was using all the chaos as a diversion for him to obtain the technology of the Dreamscape Machine. And he escaped... under my watch..."

"There was nothing you could've done, Miss Rarity."

Stellar raised his blade warily, before continuing:

"We are facing an old enemy; one as old as the world itself that he had been forgotten through the stories, myths and legends of the past. The technology that he had attained will be the forefront of what might become his dominion over the Equestrian world, and nopony will be safe under his rule."

"Harmony," Pinkie called her shaking friend.

"Do you have any idea why he might need it for?"

"I... I-I don't know..."

Harmony's breath was shivering with fear and despair, though she continued, trying to recompose herself:

"He m-mentioned... Luna... he knows something about them... he... I just..."

She broke down again, prompting her friend to console her once more. The rest could only watch as they sheathed their daggers, slightly relieved that they have won over a new adversary from the enemy.

"We'll have to evacuate this place before it comes down. She'll have to tell us anything she knows about this... Janus pony, after our departure." Stellar said, before asking:

"Will you extend your cooperation with us, Miss Peridot?"

"She will," Pinkie answered with an affirmative nod.

"Won't you, Harmony?"

The mare gave a nervous but determined 'yes', which was enough for the butler. The group soon resumed their journey through the resounding corridors, the various echoes flitting all around them only further amplified the forbidding, reclusive atmosphere of the now vacant palace.

It was unnerving; the chaotic symphony of the howling snowstorm, the traipsing drips of water and the aging groan of rotten wood. Stellar always whirled around once anything particular reaches his ears, his blade ever ready.

It wasn't necessary, however; a few more turns and they finally reached the main hall, their eyes opened wide as the colossal doorways of the palace, inviting them into the thick blight of snow obscuring their view.

"We made it..." Spike said breathlessly to Rarity, the two smiling with relief at each other.

"Fool...."

The cold, booming voice immediately halted them with fear, the five of them all glancing around in panic. Everything turned darker, blacker with time as the voice continued, the ponies recognizing it to be the tyrant's:

"One must know not to make friends with the enemy. The enemy that you have all resorted to hate. She took the lives of your friends away, did she not? Friends that you have adored before their untimely passing."

"Don't listen to him!!" Harmony protested, trying to defend herself as the rest of them turned towards her, prompting her to shout again:

"He's trying to poison your minds! He's trying to lure you over to him!"

"Such an unfortunate liar..." the booming voice cackled mockingly at the mare's attempts.

"Seeking for mercy in the friends of those you have slaughtered.. how will you pay them? The answer is clear, is it not?"

"Pinkie..." she stammered first, her friend staring at the floor in despondency.

"P-Pinkie, please... pl-please forgive me..."

Stellar did the same, his mind dueling over the two choices that were given to him; the two choices that were given to every single one of them:

Kill or be killed...

"Harmony was never at fault!"

The sudden voice practically took every other pony (and dragon, especially) by surprise, the latter all turning to Rarity whilst the white mare clenched her hooves tightly onto her blade.

"You were the one that ordered for their deaths," she yelled back spitefully.

"You fed her lies... forced her towards the brink of insanity and back, and shattered her mind. She's not a killer, much less a fighter herself, yet you made her murder all these ponies. You made her do all these horrible things."

The voice gave back a sigh, before speaking:

"Always a stubborn one, Miss Rarity. One that never ceases to amuse me. However..."

There was a slight pause, the mare holding her breath once he continued:

"Haven't you forgotten that she was your demon? The one that you were desperately trying to fight back; the one you had never wanted to become? She tried to murder you and your beloved dragon, didn't she...?

Rarity wanted to object, but they were true, her mind told herself.

She turned to Harmony, who was practically on her knees, her eyes filled with tears of sorrow. She has to pay back for all the troubles that she had caused to her and Spike, a part of her said, and now she's given a chance.

The mare looked up again, silently yet desperately shaking her head. The sight only made the white unicorn bite her lip, before stifling a hefty sigh.

"Yes, she did tried to kill me and Spike," she began, holding her breath.

"Yes, I did say I never wanted to become her, but she wasn't responsible for all of this. Nopony except you were responsible for any of this. Even if she did do all these deeds, I will bring myself to forgive her, because I know now..."

"That my darkness is not evil, as with all of our darkness, because the darkness in all of us is what makes us different. To me, darkness is never an evil part of us" she finished, giving Harmony a grin. The rest of them started to do the same, agreeing with her words as well.

"Rather, it is the part of us we misunderstand. The part of us we neglect that makes us whole."

There was a pause of silence, the group waiting for a response, which came abruptly yet softly:

"In the end, you all resolve to help her. To join the side of the enemy, when you know that forgiveness never brings life back... an astonishing mistake, I believe."

"One you all have to pay."

Suddenly, the palace doors started to move slowly, the butler immediately galloping the moment he had a glimpse of its movement. He tried to pull it back open, to no avail, as their only exit became sealed with a powerful blast of air.

The rest frantically went to his side, watching him while he frantically jiggled the knobs.

"We're locked in!" he quickly shouted.

"Palgiot Palace: once a haven for the royalty and the aristocracy. A symbol of power throughout the northern states of Equestria. A stronghold of independence and welfare, as well as a structure of eternity. Now..."

The loud voice of Janus laughed maniacally, the walls rebounding his unnerving tone of morbidity around the room and throughout the palace as he finished:

"It will be... your cage. Your coffin..."

"Your tomb of black, prepared for the consuming white."

Immediately, the floor beneath them started to crack as a large ravine slithered throughout the room, splitting the room, not to mention the group, into two, with steam spewing from its dark crevices.

"Rarity!!" Spike yelled, clutching onto a pillar as he tried to reach for his lover's hoof. The tip of it managed to graze itself against the point of his claw, though the ever-growing chasm between them immediately severed their thin connection with ease.

"Spike!!" Rarity could only scream back, the land beneath her descending downwards into the darkness, the dragon already a few feet above her. She clung tightly onto the sides of the fractured tiles, ignoring the slight sting of pain at the tip of her hooves.

Pinkie and Harmony were with her, all of them hopelessly watching before the shaking ground stopped, the catalyst of fear spurring them to unsheathe their blades.

"And so, the fun begins..."

In a swirl of black and white - the glaring radiance forcing them to shield their eyes - emerged a pony, the one they call Janus, neither filled with color nor emotion, with so far only a smirk at the separated legion. His singular blade was long, yet thinner than the spine of a cactus, the tip almost as if dissipating into the air itself.

"Now then," he spoke coldly and tauntingly, beckoning them towards him.

"Who wants to play~?"

Furor Luminis

The clouds of gray swirled in a circle among the red skies, the snow that burst from its mouths fleeting with the bellowing wind. It was the reddest of nights in view, blackest in calamity, as the twisting screeches of metal and the crunch of concrete and marble fell through the air in a dissonance of noise.

Palgiot Palace fell first, the structure having been severed into two by the shifting plates of the ground. And it was at the higher levels of the broken hallways that Spike and Stellar had landed on, their sight affixed at the rest of their group.

Janus was himself on a platform; an invisible one, if there was any, or one made of air. Nevertheless, the stallion's thin blade was sharp and ready, to damn all those who had dared defied its owner into the sightless, limitless chasm that had opened up between each side of the fractured room.

The dragon spotted Rarity's concerned face at the lowered end of the platform, the immense distance the only thing that reminded his sound mind not to leap to her. He held his dagger tight, though he himself was not used to any weaponry of that sort before.

Harmony shifted into her cloak and mask, her double daggers threateningly raised the moment the wraith-like stallion set his eyes upon her. With a shrill of demonic delight, the two clashed blades, the metals sizzling with an array of sparks upon contact.

"You really have the strength," Janus growled tauntingly.

"But there wouldn't be enough."

With that, the stallion strained her blade down, kicking the mare away before turning around.

He was already anticipating that to happen.

Pinkie's dagger clashed against his sword with a powerful ferocity, the two exchanging intimidating stares.

"Wouldn't you believe it?" the stallion cooed cheerfully.

"Has Miss Pie come to pay her dues?"

Hatred boiled treacherously in her veins the moment his words slithered into her ears, the mare scornfully pushing him away with a grappling swing, tossing him to the other end of the battleground of the ruined palace.

"You will regret the day you killed my parents!!" she screamed past the deafening snowstorm, to which Janus merely laughed with sheer morbidity.

"And you will rue for the defiance you have shown against me."

Before he could launch himself towards her, however, the speeding sound of a gunshot quickly pierced into his head, the stallion instantly raising his blade up in self-defense just in time to deflect a whizzing bullet, the demurring notion of it making him snarl tenaciously.

Rarity's revolver was smoking, the mare holding it up with her two shivering hooves. She stepped back the moment his warped pupils set its sights onto her, before galloping into the ruptured corridors, the stallion chasing after her right behind.

"Rarity!" Spike shouted at the sight, leaping towards a dangling banner before Stellar could stop him. Mercilessly, his claws ripped into the fabric as he fell downwards, narrowly landing on what was supposed to be the roof that once housed the now separated structures, clambering towards the shattered dome of the ballroom.

The white mare herself was frantically rushing through the terrace, the raving winds nearly knocking off her hooves. Her predator lunged towards her, though the two stopped the moment she crept towards a snapped portion of the iron pathway, the road blocked by a stained-glass window.

"Nowhere to run now, my little dearie," he spoke deviously, his blade creeping towards her neck.

"Be nice and accept the fate of death."

Rarity's breathing slowed, her hooves touching the pane of glass behind her. Her head ran through the many memories that she could muster, before stumbling upon the fact that she had required.

The window wasn't one found in the palace, she surmised. She could only guess what was lying behind it; most probably a path of escape. Janus's approach was the only thing standing between it, and the one solution she could come up to deal with that at the most desperate time was the one she had abhorred ever since the day she was born, and she would never imagine breaking her self-promise in the most insane of ways.

She spat at his face.

With a loud cry of disgust, Janus tumbled towards the side, his long blade jabbing the window instead of her heart (fortunately). The stallion fell backwards, with Rarity mirroring his movements the moment she felt the glass pane shatter, hauled into a seemingly new world by gravity.

A loud thud later, and the white mare found herself on a floor of rotting wood. She yelped in pain once she felt the searing burn in her hoof, though she quickly mustered her strength, limping towards the wooden doors.

She was in a dark place. A terrible place, she told herself. All the decay and death around her, not to mention the stinking smell of black, ink-like bloodstains spattered all across the aged corridors. The portraits that hung around here were already engulfed in a field of moss, and those that were not depicted shadowy figures of the older days; the ones that called this place their home.

By this place, it was the desolated building of Academia Nox.

A loud, enraged roar prompted her to limp faster, ignoring the tempting whispers that were invading her. Her presence wasn't unnoticed, however; the cascading shadows that followed her proved that. Something was calling out to her, though the words that it uttered only enticed her to run.

"Rarity!" a voice called her suddenly, the mare skidding to a halt and turning to the side. Her fear soon diminished into disbelief the moment she saw who was in front of her.

Her father was standing there, his straw hat and casual shirt stowed away. His grizzly mane was waxen, his usually unkempt state nonexistent with the black tuxedo that he was wearing. His hoof was raised with pride, only beckoning Rarity to come closer.

She emerged from the darkness of the corridors into the white, marveling immediately the moment a dress of sparkling white formed around her from the wistful winds. Her surprise soon grew the moment she held her father's hoof, before stepping through the tall, oak doors of what she recognized as Ponyville's town hall.

Rarity could only gasp at all the benches laid out, with the ponies settled onto them rising at the cue of a church organ blaring its notes. Petals of miscellaneous flowers suddenly showered over her path as three fillies threw them jovially from their baskets, the white mare recognizing them as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

Her sister turned around, giving her a wink before giggling happily, only soothing her with warmth before she reached steps onto the stage. The guide of petals onto the floor soon stopped like her heart, her eyes looking on with awe at the figure before her.

"Sp-Spike...?"

The dragon gave her a beatific smile, his claws tenderly reaching out to her. Rarity only accepted it eagerly, before the two stood at the very center of the stage, their audience sitting down the moment a voice said:

"We are all gathered here today in the face of this company, to join together this dragon and mare in holy Matrimony..."

Is this a dream, she asked herself whilst the priest's voice droned out, looking at the familiar faces around her.

There were her friends: all five of them, seated happily at the side as if nothing happened. Her family was there as well, her mother's eyes already watering at the sight; one she had never expected to see.

"Spike?" she called out to the dragon.

"Yeah?" he whispered back.

"Am I... is this... real?"

"Of course it's real, Rarity!" Spike chuckled.

"You're the one that set the wedding dates today, didn't you?"

"Rarity!" a voice hissed, making her peer over her shoulder.

Pinkie was waving her hooves frantically, her smile hiding the likelihood that she was trying to tell her something.

"Your tail!" the party pony continued under her breath.

"It's stickity-sticking at the side!"

Rarity wore a thankful and sheepish grin at that, before reaching back to smooth any stray strands. Unexpectedly, however, once she did so, she felt the surface of cold, sleek metal.

The revolver, she gasped, her discovery only making her skin pale. What was it doing here? Wasn't all the chaos that had happened back in Pendant Lakes over already?

She racked her mind, before finally clearing through the haze, the one-word answer that she had attained only making her gulp in horror.

Demons.

Suddenly, it was a silent. Dead silent.

Rarity glanced around, noticing that every single pair of eyes in the room were staring at her. Their confusion and bewilderment was evident in their pupils, the dread beneath her gut making it feel more like a funeral than a wedding, before the priest asked again:

"Do you, Miss Rarity?"

"Huh? What?"

"Do you, Miss Rarity, take Spike as your lawfully wedded husband?"

The words that were laid before her only struck her core, her sights immediately settled upon those of her friends, which were already beckoning and prodding her to continue.

She turned to Spike, the dragon seemingly slightly bewildered at her actions, before she held her breath.

"No."

In an instant, the crowd erupted into a flurry of gasps, especially Spike, who could only look on in pure disbelief.

"Wh-what did you s-say?" he stammered. His haughty tone, however, made her ears twitch, her expression turning into a solemn frown as she raised her revolver towards his head, the mare merely gave an answer:

"You're not my Spikey-Wikey."

Without hesitation, Rarity pulled the trigger, clenching her eyes shut the moment she did so. She could feel something splatter onto her face, though it was only a banshee-like scream that forced her eyes open once more.

She was back in the ruined corridors of the academy, her stomach gurgling the moment she felt the black liquid all over her face. It was only worsened by the sight of the wriggling, black... thing on the floor, the convulsions of the demonic creature stopping as it now laid in a puddle of its own essence.

"Rarity~!" a familiar voice snarled, the mare recognizing it to be Janus's.

Immediately, she hastily limped away from the retching scene, the white mare hastily wiping off the taint that had splashed over her face. Her terror grew the moment she saw a familiar sight of a fractured corridor, the twisted echoes of the stallion chasing her back into the palace hallways:

"Come out and play, darling!"

She soon stumbled into the destitute remains of the Patriarch's quarters, heaving her sprained hoof inside. Slotting the bullets into the wheel, she ducked behind the study table, shirking in the moment she heard a creak.

The lump forming beneath her throat stilled, sawing at the edges whilst she detected his presence. Holding back a squeak, Rarity peered from behind her shoulder, though she quickly whirled back at the harrowing glimpse of pale-white hooves.

"You think you can hide?" a voice squeaked, though she couldn't distinguish if it was from her head or from her pursuer. There was that underlying, encroaching tone of provocation beneath those words, forcing her to slam her ears shut with her hooves.

"Well, good luck," it added, prompting her to suppress her fearful possibilities.

In a split second, a loud blast split the wooden table apart, with Rarity barely avoiding the splinters that burst from its fragile core. The powerful blow pummeled her back, launching her out onto the Patriarch's balcony and into the fury of the blizzard.

She picked herself up from her daze, just in time to see Janus approaching her heedlessly, their manes violently tossed about in the storm. Despite his seemingly invulnerable spirit, the white mare could see him gasping for his breath as Janus let out an amused chuckle.

"Fled into the eye of the storm," he cooed adamantly.

"What will be the next move that you'll make, I wonder?"

A thunderous roar broke through the howling skies, the reverberating sound of it plucking at the very veins in her heart as Rarity faced up in the rooftops, gasping the moment the powerful figure landed onto the balcony, wielding what it seems to be a poleaxe.

"Get away from her!" Spike snarled ferociously, his glinting weapon raised to prove his point.

"Or what?" Janus shot back a glare.

"Do you even know how to use that thing, you blithering fool?"

"No..." the dragon admitted breathlessly, his lover holding back a giggle.

"But it doesn't hurt to try...!"

With that, Spike swung his bulky weapon to the side, narrowly trimming the stallion's mane and slamming into the marble balcony. Another swing managed to graze his ashen-white skin, though not before his enemy slammed his longsword's hilt into his chest, snapping the poleaxe like it was glass.

The dragon fell back towards Rarity, who immediately galloped to his side once he skidded to a halt. Janus's cold laugh only made the pair look up with anxiety as he neared the pair.

"Nothing would've entertained me to see a couple withering like a leaf in their fear," he spoke with a perverse grin.

"And one of dragon and pony... now where have I seen that before...?"

Janus suddenly whirled around, his blade facing just in time with a pair of white blades and the dismal frown of Harmony Peridot, which the stallion had ever enjoyed the moment he cast his eyes onto her face the first time they've met.

"You do not want to fight me now, Harmony," he taunted.

"For I know each and every move that you make, from the swing of your blade to the way you straddle the stallions on their beds."

Harmony just crinkled her snout with disgust at that, before she yelled to her identical counterpart:

"Get yourself out of there! Get Spike and run before this place comes down!"

Rarity had to comply, instinctively grabbing Spike's claws as they darted towards the door. Janus could only scowl under his breath the moment they did so, his desire to chase them only slammed to the back of his head by the pink unicorn that had brandished her two blades dexterously with ease.

With a judgmental, queer swing of his longsword, the stallion gave out a loud snarl: one which Harmony could only raise her eyebrow at. Her gaze fluttered with relief the moment they reached the knob, though not before she deflected another jab of his blade.

"What's wrong?" she mewled defiantly to the stallion.

"Lost in your thoughts?"

A loud cry blared from the stallion, before he swung down his sword. Harmony raised her pair of blades like a defensive X into the sky, though the voluptuous force that smashed onto the white surface immediately shattered apart, its owner's eyes turning into slits as small as the tips of a needle.

With an exultant grin, Janus raised his blade at an angle, his cruel satisfaction sated as he thrust his blade forward...

The belching sounds of pierced flesh and blood made both Rarity and Spike turn it alarm before they could run out the door, their voiceless gasps of fear matched by the expression of Harmony herself, who was clutching the metallic blade that had plunged into the depths of her chest, with splatters of red already reigning the white floor.

The moment she fell to the knees, the blade uprooting from her skin with a dangling strand of red the sticky, taut bridge that connects her to the tip of the sword, her watching friends were soon joined by another, more familiar face, the sight of which made that singular pink mare do more than just emit a horrified squeak as the stallion hurled her off the balcony and into the swallowing crevasses below.

She could only smile. At least that was one death she could compensate for her actions, she thought to herself. It was quick, painless, yet she knew in her heart that there will be that one somepony who wouldn't want to see such a horrific event.

And yet, by the cruel hooves of time, Pinkie did.

"HARMONY!!!!"

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Princess Celestia heard a scream.

It was young. Not a filly, but a mare in her twenties. There was the tugging sense of desperation. A resounding choir of apologies, and the faltering shiver of remorse. The volume of it escalated throughout each tiptoeing second of time, snaking through the very fabrics of her breaking conscience that was already straining at the prospect of her injured sister.

Then, the scream dropped into a lake of harrowing silence; one that hung over the air for a crisp period of time, though it was what came after that only made her eyes snap open.

A loud thud.

The sound was more like the collision of boulders in her head, her gaze jerked towards the silhouette of the palace beyond the slate corners of the plaza. It stirred her from any wandering thoughts of sleep, and at a crucial time as well, for she could feel heat: not one of the warmth of the majestic beasts around her, but one that prophecies of a verbal disagreement.

She roamed towards the source of the argument, her look of pity at the various, shivering ponies huddled together the only viable option that was available in her addled state. With a hefty sigh, her sights were set upon the cobblestone fountain that marked the center of the plaza, as well as the various ponies shouting at each other.

"Th're still up there!!" Applejack's shout was the first one she heard.

"We can't just leave them here!!"

"We don't have much of a choice!!" the other voice shouted back, the alicorn recognizing it to be Doctor Arrowfaith's.

"If we wait out here any longer, none of us are going to survive this onslaught!!"

"No one touches the valves!!" came her protege's voice.

"Not until the rest of them comes back!!"

"And we'll perish in the snow together?" Mayor Stencil raised his voice, stomping his hoof defiantly.

"Neigh, Southernfolk!! Nopony has a say of the deeds if our town! OUR TOWN!!"

"SILENCE!!!"

The regal voice: a symbol of the ever-feared and respected voice of Canterlot, even in the audacious wilderness of the north, immediately silenced both the northern and the southern ponies, their eyes trembling before the might of their princess.

She struck her glare at every single face in the crowd, her rage holding their tongues with her stringently fierce demeanor. Jovern settled right beside her once she beckoned him over, the dragon raising his ears as she whispered:

"Jozerv'inh. Hal' ruuk kavar dinh."

The slithering dialect she had resorted to somewhat surprised the dragon, who let out an amused chuckle as he pointed out:

"Your Draconic is fluent, if I must say."

"Age can teach you many things, Jovern," the alicorn said with a wink.

"Harumda'arh, garvanh na'vingh."

"As you wish, my Princess," he replied, before Celestia gazed back at the ponies.

Her choice to resolve the argument beforehand was made up in the very brief session of silence. To voice it out, however, would be equal to the road of suicide, though she had risked much more than this to hold back now.

"Pack your things. Get onto the dragons," she ordered, much to the disbelief of her student and the ponies that had arrived to assist them.

"We'll depart for the nearest town immediately. Cleptius, get ready to set the timer of the valves to thirty minutes. It'll be just enough time for us to escape the explosion."

"Understood, Princess."

"Princess Celestia!"

Twilight soon came galloping up to her teacher, her voice shivering with confusion.

"I-I don't understand...! Pinkie, Rarity and Spike are still in there! They're still trapped in there!!"

The alicorn stared down at her, giving a cold response in the place of words of comfort:

"I simply do what I know it's right."

The violet mare's pupils started to warp with the stirring of wrath, one that she had been prepared from ever since she had scrutinize every pro and con of the decision. She stepped away, ignoring the frustrating attempts that were urging her to calm her student down, instead asking Cleptius once he had turned the valves at the base of the fountain:

"Are we done yet?"

"We're ready to go," the doctor answered.

Princess Celestia gave a knowing nod, peering over her shoulder as she glimpsed her student being led onto Kane's back by the rest of her friends or, at least, the ones that were present with her. The disappointment that wavered over Twilight Sparkle was one she had feared to see, yet she had to save every single one of them, even if it means risking the lives of a few ponies.

Settling onto Kane's back as well (Twilight kept a noticeably good distance from her, just right behind Caduceus and Crimson), the fleet of dragons quickly ascended from the ground, their wings keeping them aloft in the harsh blizzard as the scaly necks turned to face south, at the woods that littered around the town's outskirts.

Kane suddenly whirled his head back at the alicorn, asking her a question:

"Where's my brother?"

The alabaster alicorn just smiled.

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"Pity..."

Rarity stirred from beneath the black tides of obscurity, her vision as hazy as her memory precedent to the loud, resounding explosion that she was thrown from. Her hoof reached out, feeling the craggy, jagged texture of rocks that surrounded her like a cage, albeit a weak one.

She strained her back hooves, arching her back in pain as she kicked the one she could feel beneath her. It budged with ease, prompting a second try and a third only for it roll off.

"Death reach unto you..."

The mare slid under the crack she had made, feeling her body wrestling in pain. There was a stream of blood running down the side of her face, not to mention a few, noticeable scars slashed across her body. She felt herself crumple under the intense pain, searing in the air like a vampony in the morning sun.

Spike was nowhere to be seen, though she knew he had to be close by, probably behind the wall of rocks that she was buried under. Her instincts nagged at her to move forward, the glass pendant around her neck like a leash in her mental drag around the fractured palace.

"Yet you broke free..."

The horrendous snow immediately hit her face, the white mare having reached a collapsed portion of the palace. The white hazard was like a wall now, obstructing any line of sight that she could squirm her eyes through.

Where must she go, she wondered to herself. There was nothing but the decapitated ruins she was walking upon, her instincts guiding her up a set of spiral stairs. The chance of going back to Ponyville, smiling with the five of her friends and Spike right beside her... it seemed impossible to her now.

The lustrous air of the summer on the plains outside of town, the friendly chatter of the various folk in the marketplace, the ripe clusters of red apples in the orchard of Sweet Apple Acres and the warm, mouth-watering sensations in Sugarcube Corner to the invigorating relaxation at the spa and her usual assistance with Twilight in the library.

What about home, she asked herself. To be hurled back at the designs and fashions she had stowed away among her 'organized mess', as she had phrased it, all the while entertaining her sister Sweetie Belle with a few journeys around town and in the wilderness. Will she ever have the heart to look at mannequins again after the ordeal, she wondered. Would anything be the same?

Blood ran through her ankles as the unicorn climbed onto the last step of the marble stairway, her teeth clenching onto a bloodied dagger. Her mane ruffled with the smell of decay, her eyes bloodshot from fatigue. The stormy skies behind the broken windows watched her menacingly, as she dragged her bruised hooves along the red carpet. The tapestry on the walls hung torn and battered, guiding the unicorn down the corridor.

Then she saw it. A brass door riddled with a few dents, topped off by the golden glazing of the doorknobs. This was it. The time when it will finally end. She sighed as she turned the knob.

Rarity's thoughts on Ponyville stopped the moment she met Janus's narcissistic visage, her teeth clenching tighter onto the dagger once the stallion strode towards her, his longsword raised.

She was in a room she had never seen before, though a part of her knew that the pony standing before her had knew of it even before her arrival. The marble throne at the end of the room only piqued her interest at whatever origins that the room had hailed from, though she knew there will never be time to find out.

"Parry!" Janus demanded, the white unicorn only looking up in surprise at his words.

"Be a fighter! At least die an honorable death!"

Reluctantly, her horn grew a pale blue, having recovered from whatever darkness that had rooted its parasitic self into her, grasping the handle of the blade in a cloud of sparkling cyan. Its tip started to teeter about like a compass needle, before pointing towards her enemy, which gave her a satisfied grin.

"I've always loved a fight such as this," he said, clutching tight onto his own weapon.

"It really burns the fuel of adrenaline. The anticipation lingering within my restless spirit sated with the pleasure of bloodshed... and the smell of fear."

Rarity raised her blade just in time for Janus's longsword to strike against it with an echoing clang of metal. She nearly fell back from the staggering blow, raising her weapon just in time to defend from another swing.

Another firm blow made her stumble towards the throne, recovering as the stallion circled her, cornering her onto the marble seat. She managed to deflect two quick jabs in succession, though a third pricked her at her hoof, making her yelp in pain whilst recoiling from his flurry of attacks.

She ducked in time as Janus gave another powerful swing, the tip of it nearly slicing her mane. With that, she leaped towards the side, narrowly avoiding what would've been a fatal thrust into her body.

Whirling around immediately, Rarity deflected two more blows, before his longsword suddenly spun in a circle, her grinding blade following along. She gasped as her weapon flew from her hoof, falling to the side, far from her reach.

Janus laughed at that, kicking her blade even further behind him as his gaze met the resentful glare of the white mare, his sword raising up to her neck.

"That was a good fight," he said with a mocking laugh.

"Any last words, my lady?"

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, the stallion was tackled down by a flash of pink; one that had caught the eyes of the mare that he had suppressed under his bane. Rarity soon lifted herself up, frantically glancing at the duel between Janus and her savior.

"Pinkie!" she called out, earning her friend's attention.

"Stand back!!" Pinkie demanded, slamming her hooves onto the stone floor as the stallion rushed towards her, his mouth open with a bellowing cry. Her sapphire hoop glinted in the red of the moon, the glimpse of it catching the surprise of her friend.

Instead of the expected clock from beneath her, however, there was instead a translucent flame forming around both of her front hooves, its strength propelled the moment their wielder smashed them together. The raging fury that it contained warped into a ball of flaring energy, her opponent skidding to a halt at the sight of that.

With a resounding howl, Pinkie set it loose upon its prey, muttering bitterly in an unnatural, devilish voice, mixed with her own infuriated tone:

"Let the strings of time send you back to the abyss. Let the shadow engulf you into the void where you come from, and the gates of Tartarus forbid your entry into this world again."

Janus merely yelled with rage, the tight, flaming bonds that wrapped around him searing into his skin, his longsword clattering onto the ground. The wall literally fell apart once she had unleashed her wrath, the demonic strings already prying at their victim's flesh as they lifted the white stallion towards the chasm.

Pinkie let out a concise murmur, guiding herself and her beast towards the abyss, before she dropped the stallion, his yelling erupting through the black silence of the night. She watched with relief as he seemingly disappeared into the darkness, turning to her friend with a smile.

"Let's go," she said breathlessly.

Rarity could only smile along with her. Finally.

It was over. It was all over.

A loud snap of a whip whirled her attention back to Pinkie, watching in horror as her friend was suddenly slammed onto the floor, her hoof wrapped by one of the burning strands that had mummified their enemy.

She immediately started galloping the moment her pink friend was dragged towards the edge of the broken floor, clasping her hoof just in time before she could fall into the darkness below. Pinkie's face was twisted in horror and shock, her eyes starting to water as the white unicorn frantically shouted, their manes violently tossed about in the snowstorm:

"Hold on, Pinkie!! Just HOLD ON!!"

The pink mare could only whimper, her eyes starting to water at her predicament.

Almost as if on cue, a loud rumbling noise echoed from afar, the two mares looking in horror as the town of Pendant Lakes started to fall inwards, collapsing into the jaws of the earth. The voracious monstrosity of it seemed to be coming closer, only limiting her Rarity's mental hourglass, much to her trepidation.

Pinkie could feel something tugging at her hooves, looking down to see a pale, wraith-like figure dangling at the other end of her magical rope, the sight only horrifying her.

"Rarity!"

"There's no time to talk, darling!!" Rarity shouted back, trying to heave her friend up.

"I'm not going to waste any spare moment of the rest of my life wasting with words of remorse when I can save you!!"

"RARITY!!" a masculine voice called out from behind, the unicorn immediately recognizing who it was.

"Quickly, Spike!!" she called back, the dragon rushing across the large expanse of the room.

"I need a little help!!"

"R-Rarity...?" Pinkie cut in again, now receiving her friend's attention.

"If... if I don't make it-"

"NONSENSE, PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!!" Rarity yelled back, fighting back her tears.

"You're going to take back those words, and you're going to LIVE!!"

"If I don't make it..." the pink pony continued, unfazed by the other mare's sudden outburst.

"W-would... would any of you still remember me...? Not like how I forgot about Winter... not like how I forgot about Harmony... would you guys remember...?"

"O-of course!!" her friend retorted whilst urging the dragon to be quick.

"All of us would! We wouldn't have been the Elements of Harmony without you, Pinkie. You are our friend, our family..."

Family...

The word echoed in Pinkie's head. It's been a long time since she had a family of any sort, ever since the horrific flames that Janus had set upon her house. The Voyagers, the Cakes and now, the five of her friends in Ponyville... there were times she had wondered what her friendship had meant for her: something deeper than only to make her friends happy, and now she finally understood.

Her friends were a family, and she couldn't be more proud to be part of that family. Her family.

With a wide smile, her mane fizzing up into a puff of tangled mess with cheerful delight for the first time in the whole night, the mare closed her eyes, letting peace take her into its shed.

The light of a thousand of Celestia's suns erupted in the distance, giving her a chance to do what Rarity, having been briefly blinded from the captivating sight, would never let her do, not to mention being the only way to save them from the monster she was tied to.

She let herself fall.

"PINKIE!!!!"

Rarity's scream tore through the fabric of silence the moment the mare fell out of her grasp, her tears leaking out slowly as she watched her friend fall into the swirling darkness below, her shock only made her crumple underneath her knees.

Spike hugged her tight before she could jump into the chasm herself, his eyes warping with disbelief at the sight of the pink mare plunging into the dark depths of the mountain. His lover screamed and wailed in his chest, the tears that fell from her face almost forcing his own to fall out as well.

"We have to go..." he hushed, trying to lift the mare up despite his eyes still glued into the infinite black.

"We have to go!"

Before they could start running, however, the floor before them suddenly gave away, falling apart as the structure started to give in to its fragility, their path of escape falling into the darkness.

Rarity gave out a silent gasp, her dragon hugging her tighter as they were stuck on the singular pillar; one which would be consumed by the rumbling jaws of the opening earth.

"Sp-Spike..." she whimpered fearfully.

The dragon turned to her, his frantic expression turning to one of a pained smile.

"Rarity...?" he began, brushing her mane to the side.

"If anything happens to us, just... just remember that I loved you. Just remember all the things I've said, all the things I've done... okay...?"

"Spike..." she uttered his name again, clinging tight onto his claw.

"Are you scared...? Going into the darkness...?"

The dragon gave a firm nod, before hugging the mare tight, the two appreciating each other's warmth.

"At least we're together, my gem..." he whispered, adding:

"I love you..."

"I... I love you too..."

Rarity clenched her eyes, Spike doing the same once they felt the solitary pillar they were standing on giving away, their embrace tightening as they were pulled down into the abyss by the strings of gravity.

She clung onto him tightly, the situation reminding her of the last time they had fallen together at such a height. The fire ruby necklace, his growth spurt, then their dramatic descent. The time when she had silenced him before he could utter his terribly hidden secret, and one she had found cute ever since.

There were two subtle differences, however, apart from his height. Their distance between each other was close the last time, but this time it was closer, and the mare...... she could never want it any other way.

The next came fast, as the dragon was muttering something under his breath. She had to silence him again like the previous time, though she never used her hoof.

Their lips met immediately, with each second of their endless fall lasting like a light year in their blissful, sensual pucker of their kiss. Each of them accepted the fate that was coming to them, especially the mare, who could only enjoy the last feeling of life as she fell into the mouth of the beast...

And landed onto the scaly back of a large dragon.

Jovern laughed heartily the moment he caught the couple, the two of them widened their eyes in astonishment. They were not the only ones riding him: Stellar was there as well, his relieved smile widening at the pair, safe in each other's company.

"Had enough of the kiss yet, you two lovebirds?" he teased, making the both of them blush deeply with embarrassment.

"Get ready to shield your eyes, fellow ponies and, of course, dragon!!" their transport ordered.

"You do not want the explosion to burn them off!!"

In a split second, the town of Pendant Lakes and the falling structure of Palgiot Palace suddenly flared up in an intense glare of light, blasting through the valley in the grandest, most deafening explosion that Equestria would've ever seen.

Right from the core, a narrow beam of light pierced through the heavens, the monument of light glaring enough to be seen from all the corners of the world. From the alleys of Manehatten to the regal streets of Canterlot; from the deserts of Saddle Arabia to even the thatched houses in Ponyville, all of Equestria marveled at the blade of piercing light that had awakened them from their sleep, with most of them only able to gape in awe.

The moment the ray diminished, the blinding glare of the explosion quickly died down, leaving the town to be smothered and blasted apart as it disappeared into a giant cloud of rubble, the sight only making Stellar bite his lip.

"And thus falls the town of Pendant Lakes," he mused solemnly as Jovern soared further away from the flying debris and over the remaining mountains of Aston Peak and the wild woodlands of Rattleraw Forest.

The black dragon immediately skidded to a halt once his claws touched the slate floor of Fenderville's Piazza di Incendio, regrouping with the herd that had departed before him. All around, doctors and nurses rushed throughout the plaza to tend to the refugees that came from the destroyed town, with Tourist Trap and Penny Royal already offering rooms to the many needy ponies around them.

As Rarity and Spike helped each other onto the slate floor, their presence was quickly noticed by a bunch of ponies galloping towards them, their overjoyed faces enough to tell them who they are.

"Rarity!! Spike!!" Twilight exclaimed with tears of delight, hugging the both of them tightly.

"Thank Celestia you made it... thank Celestia..."

Rainbow soon joined in, giving the couple a hug as well.

"I knew you guys would make it," she declared with a grin, earning a shake from Soarin', who added, much to his marefriend's annoyance:

"She was worried sick about you guys!"

The rest of them could only laugh as Rainbow Dash struck a glare at the pegasus, blowing her trademark mane to the side as she tackled the Wonderbolt onto the ground, only heightening the group's laughter.

Fluttershy and Big Mac soon stepped up, the yellow pegasus happily wiping her tears away as she spoke:

"I thought you guys would've been gone! But I'm so glad you guys are s-safe...!"

Rarity noticed the small bump that her friend was sporting, the white unicorn musing with delight:

"Did something happened between you two while I was away?"

Both of them blushed furiously among their friend's undying laughter, before Octavia and Crimson stepped up, the gray mare hugging Rarity tightly with a small sniffle.

"Good to see you alive, Rarity. Vinyl was right."

The two turned to see the other unicorn waving towards them in her streaking blue hair and her signature glasses, sporting an 'I told you so' face to her fellow musician, who only stuck her tongue out in response, the sight of which making Rarity giggle.

"But I put all my faith to see you safe."

"An' she came out safe 'n sound, didn't ya Rarity?"

Applejack's voice was music to the white mare's ears, as the two mares gave each other a tight hug.

"Glad to see ya still in one piece," her orange friend said, placing a hoof onto Rarity's shoulder.

"Great to see you too, though I have been hearing things as of late; something that interests me at the moment." she began suddenly, nearly catching her friend off guard.

"Rumors. Not any demoralizing ones, pardon you, no. I have noticed some ponies saying that you've taken up acquaintance with a dragon of sorts, did you not?"

"How in tarnation did ya-"

"Doesn't matter."

Rarity suppressed her giggle, instead giving a wink at the sight of Applejack's pouting face, before she continued:

"Where is he? I want to have a glimpse of him. See if he really is your kind of dragon."

The orange mare just rolled her eyes, instead sticking her hoof out at Kane, who was happily chatting with Jovern at the other side of the plaza.

"We're not tryin' t'a be intimate or anythin'," she added, much to Rarity's oblivious delight.

"Don't try ta be a neighsayer and spread any false words. If Ah found out yer did, Ah'm gonna make sure Spike has one 'nlucky flank to catch across Ponyville, ya hear?"

"Alright, alright," Rarity answered, shaking her head.

"Don't be so uncouth, darling. It was only a small joke."

The giggles and chatter died down the moment Twilight stepped towards her again. Instead of the relieved smile that had aligned her face a brief moment ago, there was now one of uncertainty and slight disbelief, the sight only tingling her heart.

Her worst fears were realized the moment her librarian friend opened her shivering mouth, asking a question that she had dreaded to answer the moment she stepped off Jovern's back and down onto the slate plaza:

"Where's Pinkie Pie?"

A Dream Within A Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

~ Edgar Allen Poe

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"Rarity! Rarity! Come quick!"

"Just a minute, Sweetie!"

The filly's patience wasn't prevailing, much to the dismay of her elder sister. Before Rarity could finish up the frills for another customer, she felt a redundant tug at her hooves, forcing her to look down.

There was her sister's cute, scrunchy, pouting dog-puppy face again. She sighed to herself, before placing her the pins to the side, along with her work glasses. At the sight of that, Sweetie Belle merrily skipped out of the room, leaving the white unicorn to shake her head at the filly.

The chirps of bluejays outside her window were enough to prove that Ponyville was in the season of spring, the ponies having finished their Winter Wrap Up just three days ago. It went on as usual, with Rainbow Dash responsible for the weather, Applejack responsible for the harvest and Twilight with the role of All-Team Organizer. Fluttershy had to stay at her cottage with Big Macintosh, however, the mare having recently entered her second trimester, though the unicorn herself would visit once in a while to accompany her friend.

Octavia and Crimson settled for a moment in Vinyl's house, before the colt left for Manehatten after a few reprimands from his manager. A thousand apologies later, the gray mare allowed him to go, though not before he stole a kiss from her cheek. It pretty much was the same for Soarin': Spitfire had to come down personally to Ponyville to invite him back into the team and, out of the stallion's whining demands and his marefriend's merry delight, Rainbow Dash as well.

Jovern and, much to Applejack's slight disappointment, Kane, lead their pack of dragons home. It became the norm for the orange mare to glance at the sky after every long day of hard work. There were a few letters the dragon had sent back though, telling him of his brother's newly appointed position as Steward to the Royal House, one he had politely declined, whilst Kane himself was pardoned by the king, and given his father's position: Chancellor of the Vohakiin Sector of the Badlands.

The ponies of Pendant Lakes? They were given homes throughout Equestria. Caduceus Brineheart and Cleptius Arrowfaith reclaimed their jobs at Canterlot's Royal Hospital by the princess, Chief Griffonhooves settled in retirement in the wildness of Appleloosa (there were some restless times where he joined the lawmen there in their adventurous roundups, however) and Mayor Stencil was relocated to a new apartment in the far ends of Fillydelphia.

Stellar himself bought the Telrouix's estate in Fenderville and refurbished it anew, though Tourist did mention he was never at the mansion at any single point of his life. He was usually seen trying to rebuild Canopy Oaks in Rattleraw Forest and even at Primrose's now vacant cottage at Red North Bend, but otherwise he was never around the town at all.

Spring Palgiot (whom her last name must be changed, by orders of the Princess), along with Gracia and the other kids at the orphanage settled in Ponyville. There were times where the filly would help out the Cutie Mark Crusaders in all their crazy ventures. Caduceus would come by and check on her, but otherwise she remained happy for the rest of the springtime.

And Spike?

Rarity opened the door of Carousel Boutique, her safe and comfy home, before her pursed lips grew into a wide, beaming smile at the figure standing before her, with a variety of suitcases around his feet.

"What took you so long?" she asked wryly, tapping her hooves in a sarcastic portrayal of impatience.

"Twilight still insisted that I shouldn't move in."

Both dragon and mare chuckled at that, before watching the said mare march in with a huff, shooting a glare at Spike. Her mane was slightly ruffled, probably from her protests with her stubborn 'little' brother's decision or just some unorganized list. Rarity silently hoped it was the latter.

"Did you bring your blanket?" Twilight asked the dragon with a weary sigh.

"Yep."

"Your toothbrush?"

"Right here."

"Your books and comics?"

"In the suitcase."

The list seemed to go on and on, becoming lethargic even for Rarity, before her friend finally finished.

"Alright," she spoke heftily, rubbing off a bead of sweat.

"Now for a double-check. Did you bring your blanket?"

"I've got everything already, Twilight!" Spike retorted, with the white mare giggling behind.

"You don't have to keep on reminding me, you know."

The lavender unicorn could only let out a defeated murmur, before turning towards Rarity.

"Please be careful of what he does, and be especially careful of what he eats," she advised with a cock of her head towards the dragon.

"Once he gets too much to guzzle, it will take a million years to get him off his greed."

In response, her friend gave a hearty salute, followed by a delighted giggle and a nudge at Spike's arms.

"I'm sure this dragon has qualities he has to assert to," she began, giving the befuddled dragon a wink.

"But I'll see to it that he will be a shining star to your eyes."

Sweetie Belle immediately tugged at the dragon's claws, beckoning him inside with a voluminous grin, with Rarity doing the same to her intellectual friend. Both unicorns settled in the living room while Spike lifted his luggage up the boutique's stairs, his weight added by Opalescence lying onto one of his suitcases; in response Peewee cawed at the cat, prompting an ear-pricking hiss from the feline.

"What brings you to the boutique today, darling?" Rarity asked, pouring a cup of tea.

"Surely Spike can bring himself here, can he not?"

"Well, there are other things that were bothering me at the moment, and I thought it might be the only reason why I allowed Spike to move in with you in the first place."

With a thankful nod, her horn lit up, hovering the porcelain teacup in a cloud of purple sparkles towards her mouth. Twilight gave it a sip, nourishing her dry throat from her verbal list of Spike's belongings. She soon handed Rarity a small letter, one which the fashion designer placed her work glasses back on as she read the elegant handwriting.

"The Princess wants me to move to Canterlot for a while," her friend spoke out the contents of the letter.

"She has some urgent errands she wanted me to do and, seeing how nopony is controlling Spike's behavior while I'm gone, I'm leaving him all to you: the only mare that he would listen to in the whole world."

"Well, we had been discussing of a permanent stay, provided that you should abide with our choice..."

Rarity handed the letter back to her friend, the bookish mare stuffing it into a satchel.

"Plus, I'm still a little busy with some orders, and I'm sure Spike would be a dear if I asked him for some help."

"You guys really know how to get together and such," Twilight commented with a beatific grin.

"To be honest, I'm really happy for you and him. The two of you being together... somehow it seems so perfect. He even said you're sharing your room with him! I would've done that when he was a baby, but now? Seeing you guys, it makes me wonder how the both of you could be just adorable together."

"I'm flattered, Twilight darling," the white mare replied, her cheeks blossoming a dainty pink.

"However, we just love each other, to be honest. Always finding ways to spend some time together. I must admit, I was a little reluctant for the first time I saw him, but slowly he became more concerned of other ponies and more... developed, physically and mentally. More... mature..."

The two mares glanced out at the garden, watching silently and jovially as Spike chased Sweetie Belle around the backyard, with Peewee circling happily overhead. All three of them were laughing with joy, the sight of which made Rarity sigh with a petite smile.

"Spike is just a part of me that I refuse to let go," she muttered, her smile growing wider.

"And he feels the same way about me. I remembered wishing on a star for somepony worthy to love me back when I was a filly, though I'd never imagined it will be a dragon, of all things."

The two laughed quietly, simultaneously sipping on their tea. Rarity could see an expression of longing behind her friend's grin, the mare instinctively placing a hoof onto her friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Twilight dear," she began.

"One day, you'll find your super special somepony."

Twilight could only smile back, tucking her hooves in with a hefty sigh.

"One day..."

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"Fifty-six muffins, and we're all set!"

"Thanks, Applejack dearie," Mrs. Cake's voice rang from the counter.

"We couldn't have finished them without you."

"Aw shucks," the orange mare replied, tipping her hat.

"It ain't no problem, Missus Cake. Just helpin' ya guys out."

With a cheery grin, Applejack lifted the tray of delicacies through the flapping double doors, placing it within the dessert shelf at the corner. She wiped off a few beads of sweat at the corner of her forehead, before feeling a tug from above.

Her face beamed the moment she spotted the laughing foal hovering over head, in his hooves her signature hat. His mother could only roll her eyes at the playful colt, calling out his name sternly:

"Pound Cake. Give it back to your Aunt Applejack right now."

"Aw......" the pegasus colt whined, dropping the hat back onto her blonde mane.

"But Auntie AJ never said-"

"It's Aunt Applejack," his mother corrected subtly, at least in her opinion. Pound Cake could only huff in displeasure, his once-lively wings whizzing to a halt as he hovered back down to the floor.

"Now, what do you say?"

"Sorry..."

"Nah, it's okay, sugarcube," the mare said with an edging smile.

"Why don'tcha go upstairs? Ah'm sure ya can practice ya flyin' up in ya bedroom."

The colt merely crossed his hooves, his wings dragging him sluggishly up the stairs with only a tenuous peer over a shoulder at Applejack and his mother, before disappearing from their view.

At that point, Mrs. Cake let out a disgruntled sigh the moment she finished polishing the glass, the counter almost incandescent at the restoration of its former cleanness. The aging mare settled back onto the stool, her sullen, pursed lips prompting Applejack to ask:

"What's wrong, Missus Cake?"

There was the blunt moment of silence, before the older mare spoke:

"Things are different these days. It just doesn't feel right, not without Pinkie around."

Applejack could only glance down to the floor, her hooves acting all tingly again.

She had to admit that Mrs. Cake was right: the cheery, jubilant atmosphere of Sugarcube Corner had diminished once the news of Pinkie's demise reached the Cake family. Pinkie's room was left empty, the door opened a few times only to feed Gummy, who had grown to the size of a baby foal, and they disallowed anypony renting it out. Even Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake had missed what they have called the 'funnest, craziest foalsitter ever', though it wasn't only them who were still recovering from their loss.

Twilight had barred any visits to the library for a few days after their return, even kicking Spike out whilst saying she needed a moment to run things through. She later reappeared unscathed after the Princess had a private talk with her, though the remorse was still lingering around the corners of her face.

Rainbow was usually seen doing laps for two days prior, even in harsh weathers. After that, she told everypony else she was alright, and nopony dared to talk of the loud sobs in the rain after that.

Rarity seemed fine, though Spike did talk about her tossing and turning at night, once even shrieking in her sleep. It never seemed to have subsided yet, however, as Applejack had recently seen her trot around the plains in the latest hours, sometimes even joining her with a small mug of coffee. She herself cried to sleep sometimes and, like Rarity to Sweetie Belle, she sometimes had to sleep with Apple Bloom. Sometimes her younger sister would talk about Pinkie's cheery grin or her exuberant personality, though they would quickly switch topics after that.

Fluttershy was hit the hardest. Like the last time, she snapped one night after hours of complete sobbing, her screaming and shouting attracting the attention - and the fear - of all of Ponyville towards her cottage. She became increasingly hostile to everypony else except for Big Mac, even threatening to rip all the animals that have housed in her room. It wasn't until she and her soon-to-be husband (they have planned to marry in February) talked things through that she calmed down, immediately apologizing to everypony about everything she had said. Ever since the said incident, the butter-colored pegasus now always got her way.

The other problem they had was of enacting her tombstone: Princess Celestia personally requested for none to be carved for her, even when Twilight and the rest of Ponyville had protested against it. Princess Luna, who had miraculously recovered from her injuries due to the systematic procedures of Caduceus Brineheart, had demanded the same, saying that she will forbid any such 'blasphemy', as the alicorn had inaptly put it, on the 'toils of the earth'.

It was then that Twilight received the invitation of the Princess for the job in Canterlot, to trace the origins of Janus and how he was connected with the troubles of Pendant Lakes. That would be true justice, the Princess has told Twilight, and Twilight to them.

But in the end, they all have to agree: there was nothing left that could fill the empty hole of their longing hearts with her cherry cupcakes or her quirky smile.

"Applejack!!" a distraught voice called out, the mare recognizing it to be Apple Bloom's.

The farmpony peered out of the front door of Sugarcube Corner, squinting her eyes as her younger sister hastily galloped towards her, panting out in short breaths.

"What is it, Bloom?" Applejack asked. Judging from the sweat draining down her body and her tousled bow and mane, she was sure it something frantic.

Her theories were proven true when Apple Bloom said it aloud, her sister immediately paling at the thought of it before galloping off into the direction of Carousel Boutique, racing against the accursed wheels of time as the two words that she had said chased her down the path:

"It's Spring!!"

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"Hurry now, y'all!"

The crescendo of galloping hooves pattered up the hills in the flowery pastures of the sunset as Rarity followed her friend across the brisk grass of the plains. Spike, Twilight and Sweetie Belle were alongside her, their concern for the sick filly elevated to new heights once they were notified of what happened.

Spring had collapsed while playing with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, with Gracia watching from afar. The filly's guardian had instructed Scootaloo to stay with her, and the other filly to call the rest over, whilst she herself went to write a letter to Doctor Brineheart in Canterlot.

Sure enough, Scootaloo was seen trying to comfort the crying and trembling filly on the floor, her shallow breathing rapid with her Cutie Mark strangely burning an incandescent white, which only seemed to worsen once they arrived.

"Spring," Rarity knelt down first, clutching her shivering hoof whilst Scootaloo stepped aside. It was cold and frigid, her condition made even more palpable by her quavering expression of fear.

"Doctor Brineheart's coming to help. Just hold on."

"I see..." Spring began to mutter, "I see lights..."

From afar came Apple Bloom, the yellow filly shepherding Octavia, Rainbow Dash, Soarin', Fluttershy and Big Mac over. She immediately fell beside her sister the moment they arrived, gasping heedlessly for air.

"Is... she... al... right?" she panted.

"Lights..." the filly croaked, her bountiful energy ebbing away. "They're calling me home...... they're dancing... like...... pretty fireflies.... they want me to join their parade."

A fleeting shadow made all of them look up as the royal chariot flew over their heads, pulled by two virile, ever-humorless guards, always loyal to the mare that had honorably entrusted them their duty and position.

The said alicorn stepped down from the chariot, her luminescent mane sparkling in the sunset she had halted whilst guiding her sister slowly towards the huddled group, still prone to her injuries. Doctor Brineheart ran ahead of them, his sweaty face and breathless tone only proving his anxiety as he demanded:

"Away! Give her some air, for land sakes!!"

Rarity rose immediately, letting the doctor take over as he placed a hoof tenderly over Spring's forehead, his other available hoof reaching for his medical bag, pulling out a stethoscope. The rest could only step back and watch solemnly as the last kind of the royal family struggled between the borders life and death, her tears flowing out shakily.

"Enough..." she weakly whispered.

"Caduceus Brineheart," Princess Celestia's feathered tone stepped in.

"The filly has made her decision."

The doctor wanted to question the act, though somehow the alicorn read her thoughts, as she spoke once more:

"She has suffered enough. Isn't it but a doctor's job to relieve and soothe his patients of their pain?"

"R-Rarity..."

Spring's feverish request for the unicorn's presence prompted Caduceus to step to the side, allowing Rarity to kneel back down to her. The filly forced out a quivering smile once she had seen her face, her drooped ears straining to rise back up again.

"R-remember?" she spoke with a aching grunt.

"When I told you...... that I will spread l-love to all the four corners of Equestria...?"

The white mare gave a firm nod, struggling to hold her pained smile.

"C-ca.... can-" Spring coughed suddenly, the rest suppressing their gasps once she stopped.

"Can I just wi-wish it to happen?"

Rarity turned to the Princess, who gave a slow, permissive nod.

"Of course you can, Spring," the fashion designer answered. "Wishes do come true sometimes. You'll never know when yours would."

"Then I'm happy..."

Spring's eyes slowly closed, before she suddenly fluttered them open again, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest slowing down. Her grip on the white unicorn's hoof tightened firmly, her troubled tears leaking to a halt.

"That this is a dream within a dream..."

Another barrage of coughs assaulted her throat, before her weak smile started to fade, her eyelids closing to a halt. The last of the lingering warmth in her hooves burned down the candlewick of her lifeline, before she extinguished it with a sickly, languishing expel of air, her chest steadily falling to a standstill.

Her hoof went limp, triggering the strained whimper that Rarity had been holding back. She started to sob in Spike's chest, the dragon only able to wrap his arms around her.

The teardrops fell around him as Caduceus marched towards the filly, quietly saying a prayer with a hoof on her cold forehead.

"Rest, my child," he murmured silently.

"Let the lights that invited you parade you through the streets of the next world, and your spirit reunite with those of your kin. Let the silence of mourning be your world of laughter, and find an eternal peace for your relishing."

"Just a question, Princess," Twilight said, turning to her teacher.

"What does she mean when she spoke of the 'dream within a dream'? Was it the poem she was mentioning?"

"The very same, by Edgar Stallion Poe," the alicorn replied with a nod, her eyes still fixed as Caduceus lifted the filly's body up, whispering to it like a newborn child while they march towards Ponyville.

"Of leaving the ones you love behind as your love for each other reaches mortality. That any hope that had spurred all the memorable moments and lives together will be lost in the transitions of time. When he speaks of shores, he meant the waves of time and how merciless it engulfs our lives, while he tried to hold on a few precious moments of time: the grains of golden sand."

"The time passes, and he regrets his decisions. He regrets letting go the many wondrous memories that made him whole. And in the ephemeral nature that time possesses, it all becomes a matter of twisted perception of reality: that what happens around him feels more like twice a disconnection from reality or, in other words, a dream within a dream."

The alicorn closed her eyes for a brief moment, before opening them with a quiet sigh as she continued:

"That's what Spring had seen. That Harmony had been twisted by the very lies that Janus had given to her. And she became merciless as time, sweeping past all her memories with Winter in the past. As such, every single one of them succumbed into becoming the devil she had solely desired, and the fates of both Winter and her were sealed. By the time Harmony had realized her mistakes, it was too late, as 'time', meaning herself, had already finished her job."

"The story of laurels and lace was one that Spring had prophesied when she was young, of the ending of the Palgiot line of the family," Princess Celestia finished.

"And yet, such a frail being could not stop it from happening. In the end, she became the last pony to live and, through the cruel hooves of time, she herself wanted to believe it was a dream within a dream."

"You mean......" Twilight began, having pondering at her teacher's explanation.

"Spring wanted this to be a dream?"

With that, the alabaster alicorn gave a conclusive nod.

"And, in the end, she was the last Palgiot in the family to pass on, and the legacy that they have held for this whole time diminished just like that."

"Then what about Pinkie?" the lavender unicorn asked.

"How is she related into this?"

"She was dragged into this by accident by the fact that she and Harmony were friends, and that she had, coincidentally, relations with Janus as well."

Princess Celestia furrowed her brows in deep thought, surmising at her answer.

"Whoever Janus is, his plans expand to such an extent that even Pinkie, Fluttershy and the dragons were involved. Something bigger is happening not only in Equestria, but throughout the world. For now, all we can do is hope."

"Hope?" Twilight asked again, dropping her head to the side.

"Hope for what?"

The reply to her question was short and simple, yet perplexing in every way.

"For the future."

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Lowering his smoking rifle to the right, he squinted his eyes as he gazed into the lush woodlands that surrounded him, the plentiful of life already scattered away due to his distant pursuit at a stray deer, which - he cursed at himself for it - he had completely missed.

He trudged past a few fallen, tufted logs, heading towards the only target that his bewitched bullet had caught: the splintered wood of a tree bark. Instead of what could've been a leather hide to brace for the night (which was chilly in the high-altitude forests that he was in, even in the season of spring) he might've murdered a family of termites that were seeking for something for a New Year feast, seeing how old these trees are.

His woolly hat, skinned from a raccoon, was starting to smell in the moisture, and he would've discarded it if not for the frosty air that lingers around. Without further ado, he unfurled the map that poked out from the sides of his travelling bag, glancing down at the faint markings and the scenery before him.

Raising his watch, which had a built-in mini compass at the bottom of the clock face, his eyes crossed as the needle pointed towards the ornate W, prompting him to trace his exact location.

"Seventy six meters south of the caravan..." he mumbled. By caravan, he meant the rest of the team. They were a jubilant bunch, he had to admit, always enjoying the prospect of adventure, legends, myths and food and cider over the cozy warmth of the campfire. All their gathered stocks were loaded in a large caravan (thus the given name) in which they traveled everywhere with. There was usually no problem about moving it around, even onto mountains and such. After all, his teammates were what other ponies would've called adaptive.

"Fifty meters northeast of Violetshine Ridge... hunting range is fifteen meters from it..."

His slender tail flicked impatiently, the sight making him wonder for the hundredth time if it had a life of its own. Unlike his mane, which was, safe to say, normal, his tail had the ability to catch on fire. In the most dire of times, it would come to use, as its length and considerable elasticity made it functional as a fire whip. There was one time that he had saved a family from being eaten by three manticores with it, though that was another story.

Most of the time, when there was no action, he could only see it as a nuisance. He had wanted to murder whichever lunatic of his ancestors that had a fling with some crazy, flaming beast, although surprisingly, he was the first in his family to be named after their inherited specialty of their tails.

Phoenix Mellow was his name, and his tail was his 'treasured' possession and probably, he dare say, feted even by the greatest of adventurers like Daring Do herself.

Despite his everyday hightail from modern civilization, he had read books such as those when he had the chance, though the stories he had heard during the plentiful journeys that he had crossed through were more of his genre. His team had just ventured across the Perennial Straits into the borders of Aston, and had sought to stop by the nearby town of Burnt Hay Creek after learning of what ponies would've called 'cultural differences' in the isolated town.

The hunting range that he was searching for immediately came to his view and, by Celestia's bolstering flank, a white antelope. Phoenix had heard stories of their hides being softer than the tufts of the Malmoreau Eagles, and those were already fluffy enough to stuff a filly's teddy bear!

With that, he pitched his gun to his shoulder, his eyes affixed towards the unwary target. Slowly and steadily, he trudged through the undergrowth as he neared his prize, the animal still obliviously grazing at the various ferns on the forest floor. He licked his lips greedily, edging one more step closer...

*SNAP*

Phoenix immediately gazed down, his eyes widening at the sight of a broken twig beneath his hooves.

"Motherbu-"

In an instant, the antelope suddenly galloped away, forcing him to chase after it. The pony galloped after it, hopping clumsily over the numerous logs and rocks dotted over the landscape. He tried to picture the exact direction that he was heading towards in his mental map, though it wasn't necessary.

His eyes shrank to the size of pinpricks, before his hooves recoiled, rapidly kicking back at the dirt as he skidded across the dense undergrowth. The friction burned like what his tail would've felt if it was just another tail, before grinding to halt, his hooves dangling just off the edge of the immensely long drop off Violetshine Ridge.

Phoenix cursed at himself again. Of all the stupidest, most idiotic things that he could do...

Glancing around, the grand prize had already darted away. Brushing the specks of dirt and mud off his body, he sniffed the air, trying to detect the antelope or any other unlucky beast that had dared cross his temperamental mood.

"Dried black-ridged mushrooms... yellow thrush nest... fox den..." he reported to himself.

The many wonderful (he wasn't sure if 'wonderful' was the perfect word for it) aromas of nature tingled in his nose, the colt singlehoofedly able to distinguish one from the other. He inhaled again, harder this time, as he trudged away from the treacherous cliff.

"Red-striped snakeskin," which reminded him to notify of the possibility of such hazards to his friends while they camp for the night, "morning glory honey... cotton candy... alpine badger fur..."

Wait. Cotton candy?

Shaking his head to push his sweet-toothed thoughts out, Phoenix sniffed again, the foreign scent confirming his puzzlement, yet only adding to his delirium. What kind of animal would adorn such a sugary smell?

His pacing quickened the moment he got closer to the scent, which grew stronger with every step forward. His eyes scanned through the dense undergrowth, before stumbling upon something in the far distance.

It was pink. Whatever it was.

He galloped closer, his shock running to the tip of his tail at the sight of a pony. It was a pink mare, with her mane drooping down her sides like a curtain, her tail doing the same. Her body was badly bruised black and blue, her visible side of the head, from his direction, painted with a running streak of blood. On her hoof laid a mud-covered sapphire-golden hoop, embedded with a diamond in the center, the sight of it making his eyes sparkle.

Placing his rifle aside, Phoenix knelt down to the mare, slightly relieved at the sight of her breathing, albeit a shallow, panicked one. He quickly shook her, his ears drooping as the response that came was none.

"Wake up," he hissed.

The mare's eyes squirmed, her mouth muttering a little. Brushing her mane aside, Phoenix examined her head wound, biting his lip at the possibility of its depth and its possible severity, not to mention how exposed it was to all the wildlife.

"Wake up, miss," he tried again, shaking her. Finally, there was a small mumble, her eyes slowly opening hazily before glancing around the forest.

"Wh-where am I..."

"You're in the Violetshine Woods," he replied hastily, the mare only blinking at him.

"Violetshine?" he continued, "In the region of Aston? The states of Northern Equestria?"

"E-Equestria...?" she muttered, clutching her aching head.

"What... what kind of place is that...?"

Phoenix's jaw dropped the moment she said that, his gaze switching from her broken expression to her bleeding head. It wasn't long before they've heard another pony's voice, the stallion recognizing it as one of his friends.

"Phoenix!" it cried out from the dense undergrowth.

"What's taking you so long? The rest of them's a-waiting!"

"Ollivander!!" he shouted back, brushing his disheveled mane aside, his tail swishing about frantically.

"Get some help! Now! I'll explain later!!"

The soft rustling and the affirmative, screeching squawk that accompanied it was enough to tell him his friend had done as he asked. Phoenix turned back to the mare, watching her with concern as she cringed towards a tree, the stallion speaking in a tender voice:

"I'm a friend, alright? And I'm here to tell you that you're confused and lost. Could I at least know what's your name?"

"I..." she began, the colt able to see her straining her head at that.

"I don't know......"

"You must have a name!" he retorted.

"Just think harder, miss. Think harder. You can do it..."

The mare did as he had encouraged, clenching her eyes tightly with her veins already visible on her forehead whilst she squeezed her brain juice. She scratched at the dirt on the ground, searching through the nethers of her head before grasping upon a very small figment of words; one that made her face lit up immediately.

"What is it?" Phoenix asked again, to which she reluctantly responded:

"It's... it's D-Diane..."

Author's Note

Sequel: Diprosopus

The Invitation

Blood ran through her ankles as the unicorn climbed onto the last step of the marble stairway, her teeth clenching onto a bloodied dagger. Her mane ruffled with the smell of decay, her eyes bloodshot from fatigue.

The stormy skies behind the broken windows watched her menacingly, as she dragged her bruised hooves along the red carpet. The tapestry on the walls hung torn and battered, guiding the unicorn down the corridor.

Then she saw it. A brass door riddled with a few dents, topped off by the golden glazing of the doorknobs. This was it. The time when it will finally end. She sighed as she turned the knob.

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"Just a little bit more," Rarity said to herself, watching the woven fabric smoothly guided itself under the pale cyan cloud of magic. A small bead of sweat crawled down her head, as she slowly regained her composure whilst her last fabric is sewn into place, sighing with relief at the delicate job. Don't get mistaken, most of her jobs required delicate measures, but for this particular one, it requires more than that.

"There! That's settled, Now for the ribbons!" she exclaimed in a singsong voice. Her thoughts raced through her mind along with her memento of finesse and precision, reminding her of how she had the order in the first place.

The dress was for the great and wondrous artist, Olive Sprinkles, famed for her exquisite galleries residing in most parts of Equestria and the deep, puzzling meanings hidden in her paintings. She was due to visit and critique on an exhibition down in Manehatten, therefore she needed the proper attire to suit the needs of her presence in the exhibition itself. Supposedly, one of her associates then mentioned Rarity, and everything ran its course, much to her delight.

The designer herself just started to fumble away with the ribbons, feeling lucky for the fact that not everyday a celebrity like Olive requires the handiwork of one such as Rarity, so everything must be perfect! After all, it was only pure luck that she knew about her.

Pure luck, Rarity's thoughts raced through her mind, just pure luck.

But someday, her thoughts continued, you will be known!

Rarity squealed with glee at her fantasies. "Someday," she muttered gleefully to herself, "everypony will know who I am. I will be a pioneer...no, a leader! A leader in fashion! Then all the handsome stallions in the world....!!" She sighed dreamily, lying on her vintage couch with her head prancing across the clouds.

Momentarily, she stood up, walking towards her oak mirror, with one hoof pointing towards her reflection.

"You, my friend, are going to be a STAR!"

At the mention of the word 'star', the doorbell rang with a loud BUZZ!

Rarity's fantasies snapped instantly, her face drenched quickly in a pale white with her gaze whirled to the door.

"The DRESS!!" A thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

"I'M NOT FINISHED!"

The white mare raced through her boutique, her mane tossed around in a whirlwind of desperation.

"The ribbons here...and one over there," she mumbled anxiously, weaving the fabric around the folds of the dress. It's only a matter of time before she steps in. It's only a matter of time-

*BUZZ!!*

"Just a minute!" she shouted to the door, before continuing in her race against time.

Oh, why did she have to let her thoughts wheel her off into her desires again? It was the last thing that she would've sworn to do if the order was meant to be completed by... today? Tomorrow? The day after? By Celestia's hoof, she's completely forgotten about it! Focus, she yelled at herself. Just! Focus!

*BUZZ!! BUZZ!!*

"One more here....and DONE!"

Rarity hastily shook her mane into place, being careful to groom any stray strand of hair that dared stick out to spoil her visage, before rushing straight towards the door, hoof reaching for the knob.

*BUZZ!! BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!!*

"Carousel Boutique! This is Rarity how may I help you?" she gasped her words out with such rapidity that she tumbled onto the boutique's carpeted floor, panting for the need of air. Strike one off her mannerisms list.

The mailpony at the door merely raised an eyebrow, shaking his head at his fanatical customer. He muttered something under his breath (probably something about the usually 'insane ponies' he visits), before beginning:

"Letter to a Miss Rarity, which I believe is you, Madam."

Rarity switched her glances from the mailpony's face to the letter, her wheels in her head turning at the suddenly courteous gesture that he was establishing. Usually, even on weekends, he would just drop the letter off in a huff, not even wanting to spare a glance. There were friendlier ones; there was a queer gray pegasus who last week crashed into the window just to deliver a few letters from Fluttershy, but that's another story.

"For your eyes only, Miss Rarity, as said by the sender," the mailpony continued.

"I'm here to make sure of that. T'is all."

For my eyes only? the unicorn looked at the letter, her brows furrowed.

What could be so important that every other pony in the whole of Equestria cannot get a glimpse of?

Rarity gave him a slight smile, with a complimentary 'thank you', slowly closing the door before settling herself down on her bed, gazing down at the crinkling envelope in her hooves. As she examined the letter, she detected a strong smell, the mare only able to guess what it was:

"Wine?"

The red wax seal on the front was strangely familiar. It was finely carved, engraved with an ornate letter P with a laurel wreath hovering like an angel's halo above it. The strong scent of grapes was overwhelmed by a putrid smell of ink when she opened the lette, making her cough haughtily, her throat churning at its blandness.

She squinted carefully at the intricate handwriting, intimidating her eyes as she began to read:

To Miss Rarity,

We would like to invite you to a masquerade ball down at Palgiot Palace to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Palgiot Palace itself. The host, Winter Palgiot, Current Patriarch of the Palgiot Family and Great Arch-Minister of Academic Sciences of Equestria, has personally requested your attendance for a five night stay down at Palgiot Palace with courtesy of the Palgiot Family themselves.

Please kindly show this invitation to the sentries of the Palace Gate, as we do not appreciate any hindrance of any sort. If you are unavailable to attend the masquerade ball, please send a reply letter back to Palgiot Palace as such to avoid any confusion between the party guests.

With regards,

Stellar Lionheart

Head Butler of the Palgiot Palace

Rarity could not believe her eyes. She, of all ponies in Equestria, SHE, was personally invited to a masquerade ball. By the great Winter Palgiot himself!

Everypony in Equestria knew about the royal Palgiot Family, and especially everypony knew of Winter Palgiot, just like how they knew about the Princesses. The Palgiot Family's imports and exports in wine became well known, not to mention the best, in the wine industry, but the efforts of their current Patriarch in formulating new wines and his expertise in the business have since quadrupled the already bountiful income of the family, placing them almost on the top of the ladder of society. They had always been considered one of the most influential yet eccentric families in all of time, having been involved in many important events in Equestrian history. It's a one in a million chance to be invited like this!

"Of all the days in my life," Rarity told herself dreamily, "this is The. Best. Day. EVER!!!"

"I must pack my things! Makeup. Check! Shoes. Check!. Dress-- Hahaha~!"

The fashion designer couldn't help but laugh with excitement. This is her dream come true! To be courted by royalty; to savor the finest of wines and indulge into the most exquisite of food; to dance with aristocrats and barons in a ballroom. Who knows? Perhaps she would even dance with the great Winter Palgiot himself! The thought of it was enough to spur her into waltzing around her boutique, too preoccupied in her dreams.

"Think of the wonders in the palace! Think of -- oh! -- how romantic it would be. I must tell the others about-"

At the slight mention of her friends, her face started to droop, shoulders slumping to the floor. She began to ponder at the thought, having made such mistakes due to her over-enthusiasm before. Surely Winter Palgiot has the decency to given her friends invitations as well?

Almost consecutively, the clock tower's brass bells struck thrice, and at that point the mare remembered: Twilight had arranged a picnic at the meadow with all of her friends.

This is her chance.

"I have to ask them. My friends are surely invited to the ball. They are, of course, the Elements of Harmony," she muttered to herself.

"Surely the Palgiots know about them, don't they?"

Don't they?

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"Sorry sugarcube, but Ah ain't got any invites."

A loud gasp managed to escape Rarity's mouth. How can Winter forget at least ONE of the Elements of Harmony?

"But there must have been some sort of mistake! The great Winter Palgiot should've known about the Element of Honesty!"

The fashion designer arrived, unfashionably, a little late at the picnic, content at the heartwarming sight before her. All of her friends were there, of course: Applejack was eating apple tarts under a tree, watching Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie playing with a few squirrels. Twilight, as usual, was reading a book on the mat. What surprised her was that Rainbow Dash joined her as well instead of racing about the clouds like most times before, again absorbed by the new Daring Do book.

"I'm sorry, Rarity," the farmer pony's drawl of her voice came in, "but Ah ain't got nothing."

The white unicorn slumped, her mane blowing in a small breeze. Her friend could only give a mellow sigh, glancing down at her with a hopeful smile.

"Cheer up, sugarcube. Ah believe yer dressmaking is more well known to this Palgiot fellow than me applebucking down here at the farm. Especially after that visit from Olive Sprinkles."

Rarity gave out a sheepish chuckle.

"But Olive was just another order! Another customer to take care of! No big deal!" she replied with a slight tinge of pink on her face that made Applejack roll her eyes. Typical Rarity.

"Well, this Palgiot fellow, do ya fancy him Rarity?" the orange mare asked before getting another bite at her tart.

"Is he one of those... cronies? The last time you met a stallion that you said was worthy, ya came out in the end saying he was the most irresponsible pony ever.

"From what I hear, he is quite alright. Everypony in Equestria has heard about him. I've never met him personally and I heard he's just the most generous stallion." she replied, her eyes sparkling at her own thoughts.

"But I still don't understand how he doesn't know about you."

Applejack swallowed the tart with one gulp before saying: "If I ever meet Palgiot, I want him to try out our Apple Ciders. He must've known what in tarnation to do about it."

"Speaking of ciders, have you ever tried his new wines?" the unicorn asked.

"Very interesting though, gives a slight grape tinge in your mouth."

The orange pony just shrugged, her lips drooping at the mention of wine.

"Ah don't do grapes. By the way, aren't ya supposed to ask Fluttersh'ah about this? I'm sure she and Pinkie must've got invites for this as well."

"Oh, silly me, I almost forgot about that."

The white unicorn had come to a conclusion: that at least one of her friends would have an invitation to accompany her to the ball. If Winter Palgiot was as refined as they said he was, he would've known that it is rather uncomfortable to be around strangers, much less come alone.

"But Applejack, promise me that you'll tell me if you have an invitation to the Palgiot ball."

"Suredy-do, partner."

With a wink, Applejack tipped her hat slightly to the side, just as Rarity strode over to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. She stifled a yawn, stretching her hooves before crossing them, her eyes closing underneath the cooling shade of the apple tree in the sunset

"Suredy-do."

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"Oh-um...sorry Rarity but-um... I didn't get anything in my mail today."

Rarity's jaw dropped immediately. Not one, but two!

"Me too, but, ooh, I wish I could come! There will be cookies, cakes, cream, chips, cherries, chocolates galore!! So many things to do there. Everypony's dancing, laughing, singing, talking. Ooh-ooh- and they will wear masks! So it will be creepy but fun at the same time, just like what Twilight said about Nightmare Night. Then they'll invite the mares to dance, and the stallions will be like: "May I invite you for a dance?" and the mares will be like "Oh, it will be my pleasure!" Then they'll dance in circles and circles and circles and..."

Pinkie Pie's voice droned out as the unicorn pondered questions in her head. Three of her best friends have no invites to the ball, and yet somehow she has one. It doesn't make any sense!

"... and they'll be like whee-whee-wheeeeeeeeee!! Then they'll get all dizzy and they'll fall and the ball will so funny. Like that one time when I went to-"

"Pinkie Pie! I'm trying to read here!"

"Oopsie, sorry Dashie!"

"Anyway," Fluttershy said, ignoring the slight altercation.

"You must be very happy that someone like him invited you to a ball."

"Why of course, Fluttershy dear. It is not every day that you will be whisked off into a high-class society tomorrow and come back and tell all about it."

"You're leaving? Tomorrow?!"

Fluttershy started to whimper out of concern. She was, after all, expecting to head to the spa with her friend tomorrow, and for Rarity to leave her to trot there alone.... the unicorn knew how Fluttershy was when being alone and there had been nothing more discomforting for her to leave her friend behind for some royal ball.

"But I'll remember to bring something back for you, dearie," she said with a grin.

The yellow pegasus;s lips curled broadly in an instant, making Pinkie squeak with glee.

"Then this calls for a PARTY~!"

"NO!"

Pinkie Pie flinched, nearly tumbling over onto Fluttershy, who let out a small 'eep!'

"No?! B-But... But why?" she asked, her eyes tearing up from confusion.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked up nervously from their books, as well as Applejack from her nap, slightly taken aback by Rarity's harsh reaction. Usually, they too would say 'no' to some of Pinkie's offers, but if there's one thing they know, never, ever say 'no' to her when she wants to hold a party.

"No, because...um.." the white unicorn stuttered nervously, a bead of sweat creeping down her neck as Pinkie Pie's face turned sour. "It's because...uh.. I don't want our Pink Party Pony here to waste all that energy when she can celebrate me a 'Welcome Home Rarity' party!"

The forced grin ached her jaw, but it was unnecessary, as the party pony started smiling immediately.

"Well, why don't you say so?" she answered, to which all five of them let out a relieved sigh

"When you come back," she continued happily, "I will make sure you have the most splenderiffic, candylicious, glamouriffic best party EVER!"

"Thank you, Pinkie Pie, and I'll be sure to bring something back for you," Rarity said gladly, feeling a heavy weight lifted from her shoulders.

She then turned towards Twilight and Rainbow Dash, with Fluttershy looking on, her face still shining with a small, lackluster gleam of concern.

"Good luck..."

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"We heard about it. Your invitation to some ball."

"Really?" Rarity said, overexcited.

"Do you receive any invitations as well, then?"

Both of her friends shook their heads in response. Now that was satisfying.

She began to sigh in defeat, her mane drooping to the ground. "Even the fastest flyer of Ponyville and the star-student of the Princess herself didn't receive any..." she droned. None of her friends were invited, and yet... yet she was instead! Who in the whole of Equestria would do that?

"Rarity, your outburst to Pinkie Pie wasn't very nice," Twilight whispered, out of earshot from the bouncing pony. They had been through dealing with their bubbly friend's drop-dead mood once, and neither ever wanted to see it happen again. Ever.

"I apologize for that." the white mare replied softly.

"It's just I'm a bit...frustrated that somepony as famous as Winter Palgiot have no clear knowledge of you guys. The ponies that saved Equestria! Thrice!"

"You know Mr. Palgiot isn't like Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash chuckled with a slight hint of sarcasm.

"He clearly he has a lot of his own royal friends to deal with, not to mention balls and galas and who knows what. No way would he give two bits about us! At all!"

"I know, I know, but I surely hope that you girls can come, it will be so glamorous." Rarity replied, her face grimaced in irritation. Her head quickly slumped onto the mat, ignoring the few specks of dust around her.

"Cheer up, Rarity, I'm sure we can think of something." Twilight said, though it was only a brief moment before her eyes suddenly lit up, the lavender unicorn quickly scrambling through a small satchel behind her.

"It must be here somewhere..." she muttered, and that didn't take long either.

"Aha!" she exclaimed, returning towards Rarity and clutching a black, suspicious device.

"What's this?" the white mare asked nervously as Twilight switched it on. The device crackled into life as she explained:

"It's a walkie-talkie. The pegasi in Cloudsdale used it sometimes in a weather emergency. Rainbow Dash bought six of them for us, but I thought I will give the last one to you later, since we know how you deal with these kinds of things."

"Yeah! Like that time when you threw that romance novel Twilight bought for you out. You kept saying its cover was ugly, about how the pages sticks out unevenly, and about how it doesn't match your style and--"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but start laughing with tears in her eyes, stopping only when Twilight gave her a stern disapproving glare.

"What does this do?" Rarity fumbled with the device, turning it on all sides.

"Here!" the cyan pegasus flew to her side. "I'll show you!"

She placed Rarity's hoof gently onto a red button at the side, right before flying all the way to the other side of the meadow, for whatever reason, she has no idea. It was only after Twilight beckoned her to say something into it, which the white mare did.

"Um...Hello?"

"Hiya Rarity!"

Rarity stumbled backwards, frightened by the sudden, disembodied voice from the device as it continued its sentence enthusiastically:

"It's just me, it's Rainbow Dash. I'm over here!"

As she looked at the other end of the meadow, she saw her friend frantically waving her hooves around, her wings keeping her aloft in the breeze. A sudden dawn of realization hit her: the device, the disembodied voice, the distance it covers... it all makes sense!

"Why, this is unbelievable! Oh Twilight, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou~!"

"Don't thank me, Rarity. Thank Rainbow Dash!" she said with a smile. Just as soon as Rainbow Dash returned to them, the same wave of 'thank yous' flew out from Rarity's mouth, swarming the chuckling pegasus's ears with the hysteria that would've drove her nuts if it continued ever longer.

"Aw, no biggie, Rarity!" she exclaimed, wings fluttering a little with a beaming smile on her face.

"They don't call me the Element of Loyalty for nothing!"

"This is just wonderful! I must tell you about everything I see there. It will just be simply fabulous!"

Twilight chuckled at her friend. There are, of course, other concerns. Rarity was, after all, heading off into some strange town in the northern region of Equestria, which had been considered deceptively remote and sometimes dangerous even. The Princess reminded her once that all is not what it seems, after all.

"Just be sure to stay out of trouble, Rarity," she reminded.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Rarity gave her the Pinkie Promise.

"You can count on me."

Applejack, still hazy from her nap, suddenly stood up with a smile.

"Come on, y'all! Let's all finish the food up!"

The other five ponies agreed. Everypony soon was laughing, having fun, even teasing their friend about meeting the Palgiots, as the sun began to make way for night. All Rarity could think of then was the five mares she had come to call her friends; the ones she would sorely miss when she leaves tomorrow.

"At least they'll be here when I come back," she told herself with a confident grin.

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The dark alleys are a sore to navigate, but this is not the time to question that. His head echoed with whispers and shadows: shadows born when the town was erected almost a millennia ago; shadows that had sent many into their doom. Of course, for some reason, they didn't bother with the alleys, judging by how labyrinthine they are.

"Think, Caesar, Think!"

Caesar Mills was his name, and will be known until his death, which will arrive sooner in the form of his pursuer if he does not hurry. He had already limped away from a bar somewhere downtown: Colt Creaky's, if he could recall, where he had met the pony he was supposed to deal with.

He already expected something to happen. It always happens the way it was, and the previous generations of ponies living here would've agreed in their time, but these kind of things didn't happen in the last seventy years. It was usually a tell-off, at most a small scuffle these days. But never this.

Never.

He grunted in pain, his hoof clutching on the crimson flower of blood blooming from his suit.

Damn that no-good stalli-

BANG!

He dashed forward immediately as if in a race. There came the shadows, dancing around friskily in the dim lights with every twist and turn his joints make, the resounding hoofsteps getting closer and closer towards the target: him. He shouldn't have been that fast! It's impossible! No one navigates these damn alleys that fast!!

"I gotta get out of town. NOW!"

One more turn and then he saw it. The train station! The only way out of this god-forsaken place.

Summoning the last of his waning energy, he galloped toward the platform. The moon watched from the sky. His family should be worried by now, but he can't bring his pursuer back to them. Never in his life.

On the stone platform, he waited with hurrying patience. He looked around frantically, waiting... just waiting for his attacker to jump out at any moment. The slow hum of iron resonated through the air, signaling the timely arrival of his retreat. Unsheathing his only weapon: a shaving razor, he turned one more circle.

The atmosphere became unsettling. Caesar was tired of running, of escaping, and his stomach wound wasn't helping. Ripping a part of his suit with his teeth, he tied the cloth around his hips like a bandage onto his stinging wound. As he did so, he looked for a train, his ears perking at the unmistakable sound of steam. The moment had arrived.

The screeching of the wheels came to a halt, and he breathed a huge sigh of relief. He began to drag himself to the front of the door, heaving his injured body up the stairs just as the rusting door opened, grinding against the floor.

What he saw shocked him.

The shadow of his pursuer loomed over him, a twisted grin aligned across a glinting mask. It was white, like any ordinary mask, although its one grotesque feature were the lips, sewn across mercilessly with the fibers that stitched it up lingering like stray strands of hair.

All the old colt could do was back away, sweat dropping profusely across his body, his open wound hurting, his mind torn in between deep agony and confusion.

"But you were...in the alleyways... it's...it's i-impossible!!"

"Oh," came the reply.

"But it is."

A gunshot rang.

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Caesar's eyes opened in a haze, his vision like a smudged oil painting. His wound didn't hurt anymore, but he could still feel the blood trickling down; every drip echoed on the... dirt ground below him, the sound of it making him feel faint. He felt something metallic lodged in his leg, which he could only guess it was a bullet from the overwhelming pain of the sting.

He wasn't sure if he was awake. A pitch black of darkness stared straight back into him, with only trickles of moonlight seeping through the cotton draping over his eyelids. This isn't happening. This cannot be happening.

"So I see you've awaken." a voice said. It was morbid, dark, but Caesar felt a sense of... unwanted arrogance behind the voice.

"Y-You're not gonna get away with thi-AAhhh!" he screamed in agony as the aging pony felt a blade stabbing into his hoof.

"Pity no one will ever know about Caesar Mill's dire end. To be honest Mr. Mill, you ran the farthest ever. 'Twas a pity about the wound, the only thing that held you back from freedom."

Caesar whimpered slightly, thoughts settling on the more precious memories he had.

"Celestia help me."

"If I were you, Mr. Mill," the voice cackled, shattering his memories open with its bitterness.

"I will spend my time in prayer. For the lives of my own children, of course."

Caesar felt like he was going to break down. Never. Never my children. NEVER!

"Don't you dare lay a single hoof on my children, you swine!" he yelled. He flailed his hoofs around, but the searing pain in his wounds only weakened his attempts at even touching the laughing pony.

"Don't worry. I'm sure your children will miss their dad. Horribly."

The voice then laughed maniacally once more, making Caesar cringe with fear. There had never anything more terrifying, much less scornful, that he heard in the whole of his life.

"But first, to the matters at hoof."

The colt's ears perked. Something below him resonated in a very low hum. He had a hunch of what it was, but it must be impossible, right? In the middle of the darkest night?

"You've sought escape, but you've failed to perform your duties well for the good sake of this town. Heck! For the whole of Equestria!!"

Caesar felt the moisture of sweat stinging in his legs. He suddenly let out one more high-pitched scream as he felt the blade continuously jabbing into his wound, stopping only to be twisted deeper inside, tearing every vein in its way and drilling out rivulets of blood from its jarring opening.

"Stop, stop! For Celestia's sake, please stop!!" he cried in agony. Tears quickly spilled from his eyes. The blood flowed down his hooves, landing on the smooth surface of... wood? Iron?

"And to see you nearly getting away, I congratulate you for that," the voice continued, clearly mocking his attempts of escape.

"But for now, I'll let you get away..."

At the slight hint of that, Caesar's ears perked up. A chance? To be free?

"What do you mean, get away?" he asked cautiously.

"You nearly escaped, even reaching to the borders of town. It is rather...admirable for someone injured like you to reach this far. Therefore, I'll let you go. Just the way you want it."

Then he felt something looped around his bleeding hoof. His blooming hopes were suddenly smashed as horror swept over him. Just when he thought freedom was in his reach... no... no!

"NO!! You said you'll set ME FREE!!"

"But you are going to be free. You tried to run away from me, even attempting on taking the train to escape, so take the train you will. Enjoy your ride, Mr. Mills."

The sound of steam rang, tormenting his ears. Caesar felt his limp body being heaved over an iron bar, the colt frantically yet weakly trying his best to shake the tight noose off his leg, eventually tiring out. The train slowly dragged his body onto the tracks, as Caesar felt his hoof hit violently onto the next bar. Cruel irony, for he resorted to speed to save his life earlier; now speed will be the one to seal his fate.

The wheels turned faster as he felt his body struck five more times on the tracks. Sweat and blood dripped onto the tracks from the steam rushing through his anguished face. His head suddenly struck one of the bars, making him yell in pain. Then another. The bars battered his bruising head rapidly, his head feeling incredibly faint from each blow.

Blood seamlessly streamed down his face, the cloth blinding him flew into the wind for his eyes to meet, right above him, Luna's moon watching him in his agony, almost like laughing at his face. At one point, Caesar felt one of his hooves break apart, the skin completely ripped as he screamed out loud in agony. He tasted in disgust the blood in his mouth, the train only moving faster and faster.

Then suddenly, the steam died down, the wheels stopped turning. Caesar Mills, scarred and bloodied, looked into the sky. He managed to turn his neck around with a crumple of bone, his vision blurred as his life slowly seeped out of him.

"That was fun, wasn't it?" The pony walked to him. Caesar took a withering glimpse into his murderer's eyes, cringing at the pony's pupils: slits bereft of emotion and sympathy.

"I'm sure your family will be pleased to know you have such a great time!" The pony squealed with glee, cackling at his dysfunctional state. As his assailant trotted away, dragging him across the cobblestone path with the rope on his hoof, he looked through his window of obscurity, his chest heaving one last breath. The last thing he saw was a rotting wooden sign, standing firmly clasped with steel. An intricate dash of paint completed the sign, stating the name of the town he had resided in ever since he was born.

Pendant Lakes

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Rarity awoke with a gasp.

She quickly lunged towards the bathroom, her stomach gurgling in protest. Bending over, every part of her flinched as she emptied the unrecognizable contents of the picnic into the bathroom sink, hoof forcibly twisting the taps for rushing water, before she slumped onto the floor with terror.

The horrific scene kept replaying in her mind, forcing another wave of disgust into the white mare. Her hoof clutched tightly on the edge of the marble sink, head running through the nightmare. She could've sworn she knew the place. The last thing she saw was the sign. That same sign...

Pendant Lakes

A wave of horror swept onto her. That was the place she needed to go!

"Now, calm down Rarity," her inner voice said. "It was only a nightmare. No big deal."

The purple clock stood attentively on the table, noting out the time: two twenty-five in the morning.

She glanced out out her bedroom window. The midnight mist concealed the gravel path leading up to her boutique, glimmering slightly under the afterglow of the moon. It was almost as if it was shrouding something in the darkness; something that lurks around, watching her from afar.

"No one's gonna get you, you silly filly!" her inner voice boomed.

"It was only a dream, remember?"

"Of course," she replied to her favorite mirror, staring at her ruffled, messed up mane and her droopy face.

"It was only a dream, of course."

Rarity hesitantly dragged herself back to her bed, slowly calming down with every step. Her hammering heart finally stilled once she snuggled up in her sheets, placing her face mask back on while she stifled a smile.

"Just a bad-" she held back to let out a long, tiring yawn.

"No big deal, Rarity." she continued before dozing off into another restless sleep.

"No big deal........."

With Clandestine Desires

"How's he doing, sir?" Stellar asked the doctor.

Doctor Brineheart took his glasses off, examining Crimson's scarred body as the musician lay on the bed, peacefully resting.

"He's in a stable condition. It's fortunate you ponies manage to get help in time."

Everypony let out a relieved sigh with Octavia sitting beside him.

"Hear that, Crimson?" the gray mare clutched the red pony's hoof, a relieved smile on her face.

"You're going to be fine."

Rarity sat close to her friend, comforting her with a pat on her back.

The night had been too much for Octavia, with her beloved coltfriend injured and all, judging from all the noticeable paths the tears made as they ran down her face.

"Pssst..." she heard from a corner.

Winter gestured the white mare to come over, a look of worry disheveling into curiosity.

"Just now, an hour ago," he whispered as the white mare shifted closer towards him. "in the encounter with Mirror Mare, how did you get yourself in that time warp?"

Rarity stepped back, looking confused.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"When Mirror Mare stopped time, you were completely unaffected by the space-time anomaly." the stallion explained.

"Accordingly, from the rules of Sicarius Nox, nopony except the conjurer can traverse in the anomaly itself."

Still puzzled, she asked again: "Which means...?"

"Which means you were not suppose to be able to move at all when the Mirror Mare froze time."

Rarity stood there, slightly surprised at his conclusion.

"What about you?" she asked the Patriarch.

"How is it possible for you to be able to... move as well?"

"I can," Winter said as he raised up a hoof, revealing a device under his collar. "because of this."

A million thoughts raced across her mind,

Sicarius Nox? Mirror Mare?

Winter, clearly noticing her confusion, suddenly spoke.

"Come to me, tomorrow, at the library."

He then stood up from the chair

"I will explain everything."

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The morning wasn't desirable, but he had enough problems for now.

Summer held his torch up, kicking the dust around the passages. He just had a massive headache from last night when he woke up.

The yellow pony had really hoped his brother had done something about this... Mirror Mare.

"Still," he muttered to himself, "it gives me a little more time."

He crisscrossed through the passages, turning about the darkness, ignoring the small squeak of mice.

Then, he heard it. From the side. A small melody resonating in the distance. It somewhat tingled his hooves, feeling each and every note flowing seamlessly through the passage.

He placed his ear on the makeshift door at the side, recognizing the symphony immediately. Beethooven.

It wasn't a must, but his family had been trained primarily in the creative arts. All of the Palgiots, including him, had the talent to paint, sing, dance, even act on stage.

But each had their own way, as his Uncle Harrow had said.

Spring's was joyful, the notes usually jumpy and flushed, yet melodic all the same.

His was a little aggressive, somewhat fierce and straightforward. Once or twice he broke some of the strings on the instruments.

His brother was more melancholic, harmonious; always conveying something deep and thoughtful. Summer had always laughed at his femininity since young.

This, however, was soothing, calming even his raging flame. Only one pony he knew could do that.

He pushed the marble slab inwards, a bunch of granite slabs jutted into place in response, forming a crescendo of stairs up into brass haven.

The harp player looked towards the floor, slightly annoyed by the sudden intrusion. The sun and moon edifice has disappeared as Summer stepped up from the musty darkness into the Music Room.

"Summer," the pale beige mare called out his name. "I wasn't expecting you."

He just walked towards his sister just as Autumn stood up from the stool, patiently waiting for him to speak.

"Your music," the colt asked cynically. "Why did you play it?"

Autumn shifted uncomfortably in response. His sister wasn't a keen lover of music, and he knew that.

"Something's... on my mind a past few days."

Summer only raised an eyebrow. The mare wasn't herself, yet his mind tried to forget about it.

"Well... I'll be seeing you then, Autumn." the yellow pony said before walking out the room, this time through the doors without another glance back.

Autumn strode towards the bookcase, gently pushing in a book titled Thirteen Steps & Other Memorable Tunes inwards. A click sounded from above, as the granite steps slid back into place, the floor sealing the secret entrance.

She looked on as Summer shut the door. Despite the near-emotionless, straight-lipped expression on his face, there was a flicker of cold hate, of blood-lust.

Something isn't right...

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"Glad you could make it."

Rarity had just entered the Palgiot library glancing about the room.

This is something Twilight would really love. Giant bookcases filled to brim lay aligned across the room. A few oil paints hung between marble pillars as the walls, being bookcases themselves, stood dusty and ordered.

A set of spiral stairs led towards the upper half, with a giant window overlooking a balcony. Light shone down on an oak table with a bottle of ink and a bunch of quills, beside it a few books lay stacked at the corner in complete order.

The giant silhouette of Winter started to wander towards the stairs as the Patriarch quickly trotted down the spiral steps. Rarity settled herself on one of the numerous velvet sofas around the center of the library, placing her hoof on a small, circular table in front of her.

"Now then," Winter began as he stood across the white mare.

"Where were we?"

"My friends. You were explaining why my friends couldn't come."

"Of course!" he retorted as Stellar came in with a cart.

"An espresso, Stellar." the Patriarch requested, before turning to the white mare.

"Miss Rarity, if you don't mind..."

"Just a cup of tea, sir."

Stellar nodded silently as he poured coffee from the porcelain teapot, the strong smelling brew making Rarity wrinkle her nose.

"Well, then." Winter suddenly said as the butler quickly rushed to his master's side with a cup of coffee.

"I shall explain from the beginning."

Rarity got her cup of tea soon after, as Stellar excused himself, pushing the cart out the room as the Patriarch began:

"I'm sure you've known of the extensive history of Pendant Lakes, yes?"

The mare nodded, sipping on her cup of tea.

"Well, you see, it was all a lie. Pendant Lakes wasn't discovered by settlers, explorers or the like."

Winter continued as he sat down.

"They were discovered by Parsan Palgiot."

Rarity remembered the name clearly.

"Palgiot's Finest" Octavia's voice echoed in her mind. "Parsan 1389"

"You see, my ancestor was, as you can say, a baron from Canterlot. Our family at that time wasn't really keen on staying there. Parsan insisted to his brother, Ravine, and sister, Holly, on building Palgiot Palace right here, on Hoovingaar Mountain. In a way, Palgiot Palace existed long before Pendant Lakes."

"Wait," the mare made some calculations in her head. "That would mean-"

"Yes." Winter confirmed her theory with a justifying smile.

"This wasn't the 400th anniversary of the founding of Palgiot Palace. It was, if I'm not mistaken, the 825th."

"826th, sir," his butler corrected him.

"Yes, of course, I'm sorry," the stallion said with a chuckle of embarrassment.

Rarity laughed along heartily as Winter continued explaining.

"Over time, something happened to Parsan. Something... unnatural. He became insane, talking to imaginary friends, asking for odd requests, not even daring to look at other ponies."

The white mare moved closer towards the edge of the seat, letting herself indulge into the story.

"One day, for some reason, Parsan ordered something called a 'mannequin town'. Nopony understood what he meant, so they built a small model of a town for him. Even his siblings grew worried of him. His conditioned worsened as his requests for the 'mannequin town' grew increasingly frantic, prompting Ravine to order a large, full-scale version of the model down at the valley."

"And that," he clarified. "was how Pendant Lakes was born."

Rarity stood back in amazement, looking down at the town.

"But how is it that everypony knew about the town? It was just a random town built from Parsan's imagination, isn't it?"

"That was what Ravine and Holly thought at first. They've thought they satisfied their brother by building a town for them, but he ranted and raved still, ordering for 'mannequin ponies' and such."

"He wants the town to be populated."

Winter took a sip of coffee, as the mare did with her tea, before continuing:

"Ravine and Holly decided that his brother was... unfit to the matters of Palgiot Palace. They concocted something. Something that changed the family history forever.

"One night, Ravine led Parsan out to the Jade Balcony." Winter said, pointing to the balcony outside the library.

"He and Parsan closed his eyes as they began in prayer."

"Then, in one sudden move, Ravine pushed his brother off the balcony."

Rarity held her hoof to her mouth in shock, nearly dropping her cup she held in the other hoof.

"That became the basis of the rule. The Necessensio."

"The what?" the mare grew confused.

"Necessensio." Winter repeated. "It was a rule, stating that if a family member deemed a Patriarch to be abusing his position, or unfit to rule, he is granted a permission of assasinating the Patriarch."

"Celestia!" her eyes grew in shock.

"It was a rule practiced till, I regret to say, today." Winter shuffled nervously in his seat. "I was expecting Summer to strike any day now. The Heir will then take his place as Patriarch or, for mares, Matriarch."

He hesitated a moment, before continuing:

"Anyway, Ravine became elected as Patriarch of the Palace, the first ever Patriarch in our family."

Rarity listened attentively, sipping from her cup.

"He met a mare, named Vanilla Veil. They both married and had five foals. One of them, the oldest, was Noir Palgiot."

Winter swallowed his coffee in a gulp before continuing.

"Well, when Noir grew up, Ravine was battling with a disease. One night, Noir crept into the room, shot his father three times in the chest. Ravine did not survive."

The mare felt her chest twinge with disgust.

Is this family insane?

"Since Holly, his aunt, had passed away a few years before, Noir was the one and only heir. Thus, he became the second Patriarch."

Stellar entered with another cart. "More tea, miss?" he asked.

Rarity shook her head, as Winter continued, his butler filling his cup with more coffee.

"At that time, what we ponies called science was still in its infancy. There had been many ventures, such as alchemy and the then acclaimed Pony Philosophy. Celestia, having banished her sister to the moon, had to settle these matters themselves."

"Then, ponies like Coltpernicus and Haylileo claimed that the Earth was moving around Celestia's sun. That would mean that, if it were true, Celestia wasn't doing any work at all!"

"Clashes between science and faith began," the Patriarch's voice deepened,"as scientists became more daring, challenging the very aspects of Equestria and nature itself. Riots began in some towns, with rumors spreading around that several scientists are trying to disprove of unicorn and alicorn magic with science."

"Of course, this infuriated the Canterlot Ministry, as well as the Princess herself. The Canterlot Ministry then divided into two groups, the Ministry of Faith, now the Celestian Ministry, and the Ministry of Science, now the Ministry of Academic Sciences."

"Being the Arch-Minister myself," Winter said, straightening his suit as he sipped on some coffee. "I've realized how inhumane the methods of the ancients are."

"They captured unicorns, from innocent foals to aging ponies. They performed various experiments, even killing these unicorns by chopping off their horns, just to extract the source of magic within them."

Rarity's face paled, a mix of shock and disgust on her face.

"Of course, Celestia imposed a ban, vowing to hunt down everypony that even attempted at it. An uproar sparked, causing what you ponies would call an Equestrian crisis."

"Noir Palgiot was one of those defiant ponies." he finally connected. "At that time, Pendant Lakes was filled with ponies, though the town was slightly smaller than today, with places such as Fountain Square and Standard & Dale not existing on the town map yet. Celestia placed a curse on this town, that whoever dared to defy magic, defy faith, shall be executed."

"The Princess really did that?" the other pony asked, not believing Celestia's ways.

"She was a different pony then. She was younger, harsher. She just banished her sister to the moon. I would do the same if I were her."

Rarity nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with the stallion's statement as he continued.

"Noir quickly died soon after, under mysterious circumstances. His sister, Crescent Palgiot, who was then the only surviving sibling of the five, soon take over as the third Patriarch and the first Matriarch of the family."

"She proposed a conclusion, as she was doing her better, more respected research on unicorn magic herself. If a unicorn's faith was stronger, then her magic would be as well. That explains why your friend, Twilight Sparkle, had her powerful magic, since she was a very faithful student of Princess Celestia, and believes in her truly."

The mare felt enlightened. Wait till Twilight hears about this!

"But that doesn't explain it," she replied, before asking Winter.

"Why aren't my friends invited to the ball?"

"I was coming to that. You see, Crescent married this stallion, named Silvershard. They both had twins, Fedora, a unicorn colt and Flair, a filly pegasus. These twins then made Pendant Lakes the way it is today, bringing along ponies from across Equestria and beyond to flourish the town."

"Of course, something was a little off," the stallion said, flashing a cunning grin.

"One may ask, why are the alleys so confusing, like a maze? Why do the houses looked so special, each different of the other? Why was the station only an incomplete set of pillars, rising through the sky?

"Unlike the rest of the family, Fedora and Flair were more... disapproving of the family's customs. Therefore, when their parents passed on from old age, they taught their children about the rules, about survival."

"The family had about thirty plus members, most of who were Fedora and Flair's cousins, who were more bloodthirsty unlike them, so they decided to teach their children martial arts, archery, firearms, even unconventional things like knife-throwing, unicorn-alicorn magic and silent killing."

"At the same time, they'd taught them to be poise, elegant, as they were a royal family. They've taught them their firsthand knowledge of the creative arts. Painting, singing, playing various instruments, drama studies, dancing and such."

"These traditions are still carried on today." he concluded.

"To us, they're known as the Deceiver Arts."

Rarity just sat there, puzzled.

"To deceive those outside our family bounds that we are royal people, with no complete knowledge of the ways of assassination."

"That was the reason they constructed Pendant Lakes so oddly: for the alleys it was a test of awareness, of wandering through it blindfolded to reach a certain destination, for the houses, it was the test of memory, remembering every small, little detail on each house, for the station, it was the test of speed, strength and balance, by jumping across the pillars in a certain pattern, sometimes even blindfolded."

Of course! A spark lit in her mind. That explains a lot!

"When their foals grew up, their children were already ready for their cousin's attempts of assassinations. The oldest, Ochre Palgiot, became Patriarch at the age of seventeen. Of course, some of his siblings grew greedy.

He took a sip of his coffee, before continuing:

"Ochre then hired a group of bodyguards, where he and his more, sensible siblings teaching them what they've learned about assassination."

"Since then, these bodyguards pledged allegiance only to the members of the Palgiot family. Ochre granted them the name, Sicarius Nox.

Rarity flinched. That was the name she heard in her nightmare.

"At that time, Celestia had hidden the Elements of Harmony. One of the bloodthirsty few, Everhold Palgiot, stole the Elements of Harmony and turned them against Ochre and Sicarius Nox. Pendant Lakes grew into a complete shutdown. Food stocks went low, Water ran out. Everypony there was trapped in a complete barrier around it. Ochre nearly killed himself when he stopped Everhold from doing more harm."

"That is why, if the Elements of Harmony were ever present together in Pendant Lakes, even if only two of them were here." he finally explained to Rarity. "Pendant Lakes will be completely cut off from the rest of Equestria, with all its residents trapped inside."

Rarity finally understood, sitting back with a sigh.

"I stilldon't understand why the barrier will spring up again though," she asked the Patriarch, who took another drink to nourish his dry throat. "If it happened already, why would it happen again?"

"That was what I asked myself," Winter said with a chuckle. "so I did some research on it. It seems the Elements of Harmony, as Everhold himself found out, will trap any small sign of Disharmony, forming some kind of quarantine around it."

"Looking at the history of Pendant Lakes, about Parsan and his crazed rants on building the town, about Ravine throwing his brother off, starting the Necessensio, about Noir and Celestia's curse on the town, about Fedora and Flair's strange additions to the town, preparing their children for assassins, about Ochre and the rise of Sicarius Nox, I wouldn't be surprised if the Elements of Harmony see this as a threat to Equestria."

Rarity stretched her legs, tired yet enlightened by Winter's explanation of the family history.

"But what about Mirror Mare," she continued to ask. "How did he-"

"It." Winter corrected the mare.

"You do not need know about its existence in Pendant Lakes. That is a completely different story."

Rarity slumped, frustrated. She felt like screaming to know more.

"By the way, Miss Rarity, shouldn't you be returning to Ponyville now? I'm sure the train will be arriving soon."

"Oh! of course!" the mare exclaimed, quickly jumping from her seat.

"Thank you, Mr. Palgiot, for everything."

"No big deal." the Patriarch said with a smile. "Not at all"

Rarity quickly trotted outside, as Winter took one last look at her.

What an interesting mare...

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"Sure you'll come back later?"

Octavia grinned at her friend.

"I'll come back to Ponyville, I promise. The doctor said it's only a matter of time that Crimson will wake."

Rarity hugged her friend, a little proud of her independent decision. The train steamed in the distance, as ponies of different ages clambered up and down the train in a hasty rush.

"When I come back, be sure to tell me all about your special 'somepony," the gray mare said with a teasing smile.

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

Both ponies laughed, before the white unicorn stood up from the bench.

"Give my regards to Crimson when he wakes."

"I will." her friend replied.

Rarity quickly gathered her luggage and started trotting towards the platform, a slight breeze blowing her mane.

"Rarity!" Octavia cried, making the white unicorn glanced back at her friend, puzzled from her sudden outburst.

"Be sure not to faint on the train!"

The white unicorn laughed at her friend's teasing comment, rolling her eyes.

Octavia gave her a wink, then a heartfelt wave as Rarity strode off towards the train.

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Winter stood solemnly on the Jade Balcony, looking at the small, billowing steam erupting from the train. His mind still lingered with the long conversation he had with the white mare

Stellar Lionheart stood by him, awaiting for any orders. The Patriarch sometimes wondered if he was a little overprotective of him, but he shrugged it off.

"Stellar, you don't need to be at my side all the time, you know."

The butler looked up with a smile.

"I suppose I was too used to attending to the services of five Patriarchs before you, sir," he replied.

Winter laughed heartily, before letting out a sigh. The loud noise of crashing glass and chaotic screams and shouts flew back into him, reminding him of the escalation of events

"I wish Rarity can keep this behind her."

"You mean the mare, sir?"

The Patriarch closed his eyes, feeling the calm breeze on his face. The afternoon sun glared in the distance as he let out a sigh.

"She wouldn't understand Mirror Mare and his antics. That incident in the ballroom was a little too close."

The Patriarch turned to his butler, wearing a mask of concern.

"She can travel in a time stop, Stellar. It doesn't make any sense."

The butler just looked up from his frozen bow.

"Maybe she and Mirror Mare had some sort of... relationship, perhaps?"

Winter sighed. "Maybe..."

He suddenly felt a slight ache at the back of his head, his futile attempts at calming it down only coaxing it to grow into something more painful.

"Sir?" Stellar asked worriedly as Winter grunted in pain, his hoof grasping firmly onto his head.

The migraine grew more and more agonizing, his knees weak and wobbling before the Patriarch completely gave in, abruptly collapsing onto the floor.

"Sir!" the butler quickly knelt down to help him up.

Winter's eyes suddenly opened with shock. Celestia-

"STOP THE TRAIN!!"

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Rarity was trying to lift her luggage, her horn tending to another.

It was a quiet afternoon, despite the surging crowd around her. Their endless chatters were only overwhelmed by the hiss of steam erupting from the wheels, each in a competition of volume.

The sun glared down at her from the towering pillars, the peculiar structures reminding her of what Winter said this morning.

"It was the test of speed, strength and balance, by jumping across the pillars in a certain pattern, sometimes even blindfolded."

She tried imagining a few fillies and colts hopping on them, before laughing at her silly idea.

"Need any help with that, miss?"

An ashen-gray colt with a red mane walked towards Rarity, the mare recognizing him instantly.

The colt helping her was Tiki Torch, one of the guests at the masquerade. He was a fire dancer from Hay'waii, as well as an expert in pyrotechnics and - no doubt his recent achievement - one of the ponies who helped lift Crimson to the ambulance yesterday.

"Thank you, Mister." Rarity smiled as the sallionhelped lift the heavy bags up. "There are still a few more there, with my dresses and all, inside."

Including my walkie-talkie, she muttered to herself

"Sure thing, Miss..."

"Rarity." she gave her name with a polite grin.

The red-maned pony smiled back, as she tried to finish her mental checklist.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Rarity said with a sheepish blush, quickly picking up a small bag of makeup.

"Can you please place these inside my trunk?" she asked, pointing towards the brown suitcase resting silently and patiently on the carriage.

"No problem with that."

Rarity walked towards her remaining luggage, feeling bad for giving Tiki Torch extra work.

"Miss Rarity!"

She whirled around, her ears perked as she glancing through the crowd, her eyes starting to squint through the endless sea of ponies in her halted walk towards the train.

A pair of brown hooves flailed through the air.

"Mr. Lionheart?"

Stellar waved his hooves around, his eyes widened as he mouthed out.

Don't board the train!

Rarity just looked at him, confused at his frightened expression just as Tiki opened her suitcase.

BOOOOOMM!

A loud explosion rocked the platform, shards of metal and glass whizzed through the air. Flames burst from the train, wikth the remaining cabins launched into the air, collapsing onto the platform.

Rarity felt her body being thrown across the stone pavement, the snarling of raw pain searing through her body as she felt demonic friction grinding against her skin before colliding with a marble column. Agony and shock flew through her mind, which only made her let out a silent cry.

One of the carriages skidded onto the platform, slowly screeching to a halt as ponies everywhere scrambled into a frenzy. The slate pavements were scraped, some being chiseled up and thrown across, narrowly missing the heads of a few ponies. Black smoke and embers billowed into the air as Octavia and Stellar tried to push through the turbulent crowd, spotting the white mare laying at a distance.

"Rarity!"

The unicorn felt her body grow limp, her hooves crumpling in sheer agony. She tasted blood in her mouth, her vision began blurring at the foggy veil covering her eyes.

"Miss, hold on!"

The world seemed to twist around her, the echoes shouts and cries filling her ringing ears.

She tried to look at where the train was, her neck crumpling in pain. Instead of seeing the pristine locomotive, there was a charred, twisted mess of steel instead, burning on the broken tracks.

"Rarity...... going to get...... just... HOLD ON!"

Her friend's shocked and worried face became a gray blur, as Rarity felt herself succumbing to darkness.

Dismembered In Glass

"Quickly now! We don't have much time!"

Stellar hurried across the hallway, clutching tightly on Spring's hoof.

Crimson followed closely behind, gripping on his revolver as he eyed around the corridor. His other hoof held onto Octavia's, the grey mare ignoring the pain searing at her waist.

Rarity looked out the window in shock. Fires danced around the garden, razing and burning through the marble floor.

"Rarity!" Octavia's voice rang out, "Come on!"

Something tingled in her spine. She nearly fainted from the gagging smell of sulfur, catching herself just in time

"Miss Rarity!"

Winter galloped from around the corner, with Caper watching carefully behind his back.

"Master Winter!" Stellar exclaimed in surprise. "You're alright!"

"Winter!!" Spring screeched in excitement, hugging her brother tightly.

Winter's grinned instantly faded.

"Hurry Stellar. We need to get them to safety."

"The corridor's filled with hostiles, sir," the butler protested. "There isn't any safe place for them."

"There is one!" Caper shouted.

"We gotta go! Now!"

Octavia suddenly screamed out in pain, as blood started gushing from her old wound again.

"Celestia, 'Tavi!" Crimson said, tearing out a piece of fabric.

"Climb on my back!" he said frantically. "I can lift you there!"

Octavia just gritted her teeth, her voice twisted in agony.

"I-I hope so-!"

"Doctor Brineheart is already there." Winter hustled as he reloaded his gun.

"We need to get her out of here. Fast!"

Crimson nodded in exasperation, helping his marefriend climb on his back.

Blood soaked through the bandages, as Octavia bit her lip in pain with a curse:

"Damn this-"

Suddenly, the window shattered from behind them. The noise of metal and diesel chugged in an uproar, only being overwhelmed by a loud, piercing scream that erupted into the room.

"Rarity!!"

The unicorn felt her hoof hoisted upwards, dangling out the window as she tried in vain to reach the window sill. From behind, the sound of whirring propellers taunted her as a long, thick rope pulled her further and further, above the black smoke and burning flames.

"Help!! Help me!!"

"Hang in there!" Winter shouted, watching helplessly along with the others.

Rarity could only whimper with tears in her eyes. She struggled in vain, grunting in annoyance and desperation.

"Not the smartest pony now, eh?"

A mask stared back at her from the cockpit, intimidating her with every glance.

Rarity let out a horrified gasp.

"Mirror Mare?! Let me go this instant!!" she demanded.

The pony just laughed ignorantly. "Let you go! You know how pathetic it sounded?"

Rarity swayed violently from side to side, letting out a small squeak of fear as she covered her eyes.

"Really, you should enjoy this!" the voice snickered. "It's not everyday a pony like you can fly! And cheer up!!"

The world around her grew into a faint blur, her ears perking up a little, managing to capture one small sentence as her vision faded into darkness.

"I've got a surprise for you."

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Night. The time when ponies rest their tired eyes. The time when dragons sheath their wings.

Spike looked in horror, his head craning over the rocky cliffs with Jovern growling with a disgruntled snort.

"Ponies like them... always in combat with each other."

The teenage dragon could only nod, affixing his gaze on what was supposed to be Pendant Lakes.

Bright flames razed through the valley, the smoke pouring out in heaps. Echoing screams and shouts boomed through the valley, tingling with despair as it reached Spike's ears.

"Celestia..." was what Spike could only mutter.

Jovern placed his black wing around Spike, who was still trembling in growing concern and fear.

"I've seen worse, young one." the old dragon assured him. "There had been more slaughter and disaster in the past than you could ever imagine."

An explosion rocked the mountains, prompting the two dragons to look up suddenly.

"You're sure your mare is down there?" Jovern asked with worry.

Spike nodded again, this time with more determination.

"She should be in that castle. Beyond the town."

"Hoovingaar?" Jovern uttered as he tried to glance through the thick smoke. A small, glimmering structure gleamed from afar, basking in the afterglow of the moonlight and the dancing flames in town.

Another loud boom echoed through the valley. Fear swirled and fogged his mind as Spike tried to reconcile himself.

"Celestia, please let Rarity be safe..." he prayed silently.

Jovern's mind was still rambling through a haystack of ideas, letting out an irritated sigh.

"With all the ponies fighting down there," he swung his wings in defeat, "we'll never get into Pendant Lakes."

The soft ruffling of midnight black made Spike ponder a little, before he flashed a grin.

"You know what, Jovern? I got an idea."

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Twilight buried her pounding head in the book for what seemed like the fifteenth time.

"Good grief," she managed to stammer.

Persimmon's box stood tauntingly on the table, beckoning the frustrated unicorn to open it.

Twilight gave a glare to the lacquered box, shining seemingly with delight at her desperation.

"I'm going to find out," she growled with irritation, "what you're hiding."

She held her breath as her horn glowed purple. The latch on the box shook along, surrounded by an aura of magic.

"Come on!!" she yelled defiantly.

The faint color of purple began to shimmer brightly, turning white as the latch jerked around violently in place. Twilight's face instantly stirred with anticipation.

"Yes, that's it!" the unicorn exclaimed.

The light filled the room, forcing Twilight to shield her eyes.

A small spark fizzled around the box, glowing a deep red amidst the unicorn's purple aura.

Twilight's heart sank. "Oh, Celestia."

Suddenly. she felt herself being thrown across the floor as a loud bang erupted through the room. Books fell from their respective shelves as Twilight smashed against it. The windows shattered, the impulse blowing the wooden frame completely off its roots.

Twilight looked around, her stomach gurgling as she staggered slightly.

"Uh...." she groaned deeply, shaking her tangled mane.

The box fell to the ground, slightly smoking. The latch still held the lid into place.

"Oh, who am I kidding?" Twilight threw up her hooves in annoyance.

The door slammed open, as a streak of color rushed inside.

"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash rasped with concern, "are you okay?"

The unicorn struggled to stand. "I'm alright. For now."

She glared back at the box, her nose crinkling with rage. "I think I'll explode any second!"

Twilight harrumphed at Persimmon's box, which only intimidated her with the array of flowers designed around its edges.

Rainbow followed her gaze, before grunting callously:

"Seriously, Twilight? You created an explosion, as loud as my Sonic Rainboom, destroyed all the windows in Ponyville, just to open a box?"

Twilight gave the blue pegasus a cold stare.

"As a matter of fact, yes. Just rephrase it as 'saving a friend from danger' instead of whatever you'd just said."

Rainbow sighed, watching the unicorn picking up the box.

"Ow!" she cried out suddenly in pain, dropping the box from her scorched hoof.

Her friend tried without success not to snicker, making Twilight glare at her again as she fanned her hoof gently.

"It's not funny, Rainbow." she hissed.

"Come on, Twilight," Rainbow tried not to laugh, "I've never seen you this... this stupid before!"

She howled in laughter, rolling around the floor as tears filled her eyes to the brim. Twilight just scoffed at her friend ignorantly.

"Well, the least you can do is help!" she shouted with frustration.

"All right, all right." Rainbow said, drying her tears away as she sighed.

She examined the box closely, muttering to herself: "What would she do?"

"What would who do?" Twilight asked.

"Well, Daring Do, of course!" Rainbow flailed her hooves in anticipation.

Twilight chuckled slightly as the pegasus friend continued her investigation.

"Seriously, RD. You've been reading too much Daring Do books."

The blue pegasus just brushed it off.

"I've read enough to know at least what this box needs."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Daring Do does stunts and treasure hunts in the wild, not unlocking silly, little puzzle boxes that require more than magic to open!"

"Besides," the unicorn concluded, "I think it's impossible for it to open!"

"Well..." Rainbow gazed at her friend, who was now deep in thought.

"Can't we just go to where she lived? When she was still a filly?"

Twilight snapped her hooves. "I've got it!!"

"Got what?"

"I'm going to where she lived!" the unicorn beamed with pride as she continued: "when she was still a filly!"

Rainbow groaned in annoyance, feeling like smacking herself.

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The woolen cloth teared from her eyes as Rarity looked around in fright. She tasted cotton, nearly choking as she tried to spit the gag out of her mouth.

Ropes bound her tightly to a chair, her head facing a pair of menacing curtains. A small telescope stood in place as it seemed to peer cautiously behind, watching the riots, the screams and the flames that echoed through town.

"Fine night we're having."

Rarity froze instantly, the voice cackling at her terror as the unicorn turned pale.

"Well, well, well." it said morbidly. "Miss Rarity has awakened from her beauty sleep."

She tried to scream through her gag, her bloodshot eyes seething with rage.

Her hooves twisted around in desperation, trying in vain to jerk free.

"There's no reason for doing that. I placed like three.. four knots? I don't think you'll ever break free."

Rarity felt the tip of a serrated blade crawling across her neck, her body trembling with fear as it tingled in her skin.

She shouted again, muffled completely by the gag around her mouth.

"What did you say?" the voice laughed at her torment, forcing Rarity's head up as the pony's pupils turned into tiny slits. The pony's demented grin made her tremble, the voice booming louder.

"Speak up!"

In one swift move, Mirror Mare tore the gag, searing through Rarity's mouth as she winced in pain.

Rarity panted, gasping for air. Her hooves still jerk around, eventually tiring out.

"Speak."

Rarity glared defiantly at the pony, gritting her teeth as she shouted vehemently in rage.

"You'll REGRET the day you did this to me!!"

The masked pony clapped at the sentence, completely unfazed as it stepped forward.

"Really, I must applaud at your threats. They do seem to excite me."

"And when I'm excited," the masked pony chuckled, "I tend to do very, very disturbing things!"

Rarity just spat at the floor, humphing ignorantly.

"Now that," the pony cackled at her actions, "was very un-ladylike."

"I don't need to be a lady in front of a madpony!" the unicorn snapped.

Mirror Mare seemed to smile savagely behind the mask, the pupils in the pony's eyes glinting darkly with delight.

"Madpony.... wow."

"Tell that to Diane."

The name made Rarity's ears perked. "Diane? Who's that?"

"Just a special somepony...." the voice said as the pony bemused a grin.

"Somepony in Ponyville."

Rarity paled in horror, realization striking her in the face.

"Don't you lay a single hoof on Pinkie again!"

"Why would I?" Mirror Mare continued, sharpening the knife with the tip of its hoof as the pony caressed it as if it was a pampered cat.

"After all, it's been so long..."

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked hesitantly. "What did you do to her?!"

The pony just smiled.

"Let's just say she and I had terms with each other."

Rarity widened her eyes in disbelief. Her thoughts raced back, trying to picture Pinkie's smiling face in her mind.

"Celestia, Pinkie..."

"But now! For the surprise!"

Mirror Mare drew back the curtains, the night sky still ablaze in red and grey. Rarity shielded her eyes from the sudden glare of light.

The masked pony slowly aligned the telescope, twisting and turning it around the pedestal.

"There we go!" the pony finally exclaimed as the telescope squeaked with rust.

Rarity felt herself being pushed violently forward, nearly smashing her face onto the floor as she staggered to lift herself up. Her hooves, still bounded, crumpled with pain, making her whimper in agony.

"Come on now, Rarity!" Mirror Mare snorted. "There's so much to see!!"

The pony pushed Rarity forward again, the unicorn nearly crashing into the telescope.

Rarity reluctantly staggered closer, the smile on Mirror Mare fading as the pony scowled impatiently:

"Look!"

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"I'm not so sure about this, young one."

"Me neither," Spike replied, holding on tightly to Jovern's neck, the air flowing through his scales as the big dragon glided smoothly towards the burning town.

"Just maintain this level." he said to the older dragon.

"Wind currents ain't helping." Jovern grumbled, flapping his wings noisily.

A group of clouds fogged Spike's vision. The teenage dragon raised his arms amidst the nighttime fog, letting droplets of moisture run through his body.

Both dragons exited the cluster with a poof, drifting closer and closer towards Pendant Lakes.

Spike watched in horror at the flames raging below, with giant columns of smoke billowing to the sky.

"Get ready, Spike." Jovern warned him, spreading his wings apart cautiously as they floated above the town.

All around, buildings were burning, ponies engaging in combat. Gunshots rang out, striking down many ponies below.

None of the ponies seemed to notice as they fired from behind their barricade of ruin. Bombs exploded from below, overwhelming Jovern's slight flaps.

Both dragons breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was very wise of you, Spike," Jovern laughed heartily, "to use my wings and camouflage with the night sky."

Spike turned a little red. "Thanks, I guess."

Jovern drifted carefully, steering away from the towering smoke. Spike looked down from the black wings, his concern for Rarity growing with each second.

"Where are you?"

"Maybe she's in the castle," Spike suggested, pointing at the burning structure jutting out from the steep mountain.

Jovern nodded in agreement.

"It'll take a while for us to reach there at this speed," he said, looking at the burning palace with doubt.

"The castle looks like it's going to collapse any second."

Spike's face flushed with worry.

"Can't we go any faster?"

Jovern just shook his head, tilting slightly as he steered around another column of smoke.

"No can do, young one. You don't want your mare to see you crashing to the floor."

"Well..." Spike looked uneasily over Jovern's shoulder, "can't you fly any higher?"

"Remember kiddo, any higher and we'll fly out of Equestria."

Another house blasted into the air, rocks, ash and wood hailing onto the dragons. Spike quickly ducked, a giant beam slightly grazing his scales.

Jovern cursed under his breath, swerving around the shrapnel.

"These ponies and their savagery."

The castle stood in view, still glimmering despite the bombarding and terrorizing.

Spike held his breath, looking at the burning castle with worry.

"Please be safe..."

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"What did you see?"

Rarity tried to ignore Mirror Mare's cold voice, still peering through the telescope.

"I don't get it!" she yelled hesitantly. "What am I supposed to look for?!"

The masked pony just looked at her.

"You can do better than that, Rarity." its voice cackled slightly.

"Just... focus."

Rarity looked through the telescope again, squinting her eyes slightly.

A dark shadow loomed from afar. It seemed to grow closer, gliding smoothly yet menacingly.

"Wha...What is that?"

Mirror Mare chuckled. "We all know what is that, Rarity."

The unicorn just looked in shock, the giant shadow seemed to flicker through the clouds.

"How-How could nopony see this thing?!"

The silhouette burst out from the sky. A giant beast skimmed towards her quietly, the pair of midnight wings making her wonder in amazement and horror.

But what make her look was the small, purple dragon grasping tightly on it's neck.

"It... It couldn't be..."

"But it is," Mirror Mare seemed to read her thoughts. "The hero has come to save the day."

Rarity's heart leaped for joy, watching with pure sensation as the dragon duo approached them slightly.

"You're almost there, Spike," she cried out, her eyes slowly widened with each flap of their wings. "Just a little more..."

The sound of clattering behind her made the unicorn turn to her left, before paling in horror.

Mirror Mare adjusted the pedestal, slotting a small cartridge with a click.

"I think it's time," the masked pony said morbidly, aligning the machine gun to the window.

"...to welcome them."

"NO!!"

The gun sprayed violently, bullets hailing out in dozens as Rarity looked at the dragons with dread in her eyes.

"Stop it!!" she screamed, edging her chair closer toward Mirror Mare as she struggled with her ropes.

"Please!!"

Mirror Mare just snickered coldly. "And what will you do? Or better yet.... what can you do?"

The pony continued his array of gunfire, ignoring her pleading screams and cries.

"Just stop!!" STOP!!"

Mirror Mare unloaded the empty cartridge, quickly replacing it with a new one.

"Now you know how it feels like."

Rarity felt like collapsing with each glimpse at the dragons, steering and teetering around as the pony pulled the trigger once more.

She pulled herself closer, frantically pulling at her ropes as she jerked her chair violently.

A loud roar prompted her to look. Her skin paled as she watched in shock, her eyes starting to flood with tears.

The larger dragon's head dwindled, his black body twitching slightly as he took a deep plunge towards the floor.

Rarity's eyes followed the younger dragon as Spike lost his grip.

She felt her heart sink at the sound of Spike's piercing voice, shouting her name as he disappeared into the flames.

"Rarity.....!"

"Celestia..." was the only thing she could say, before the unicorn broke down, screaming into her mane.

"Why Spike?! Why can't it just be me?!!"

Rarity turned to glare at Mirror Mare, only to see the pony's body dissipating into the air in a wisp of dust.

She started wailing, ignoring the soot on her mane as she buried her face inside once more.

"S-Spike...."

"I'm sorry!" she screamed, launching herself towards a cracked mirror with a loud shatter.

The chair broke apart, making the ropes around her hooves loosen as Rarity sniffled. She staggered slightly, a small trickle of blood running down her head.

"I... It's all my fault..."

Rarity fell to the floor, coughing a little. Tears still streamed down her face, her mane tainted slightly red from the blood running down her trembling forehead. Her vision blurred, her mind stood screaming inside her, yet her hooves ached in pain.

The world spun around, as her frail body crumpled with pain, her hooves reaching for the window. Rarity managed a despaired moan, depression overwhelming her as she whimpered miserably.

She closed her bloodshot eyes.

"I'm sorry... Spikey-Wikey..."

Her Last Desire

Rarity never slept that night.

She was in the hospital, her eyes bloodshot from fatigue. She couldn't remember how many times she was here. The first rays of morning had already pierced into the room, shining brightly onto the figure before her.

Spike laid on the bed, his face slightly bruised. The monitor beeped beside him, with Rarity watching over him through her half-closed eyes.

"Spike..." she whispered into his ear, her heart now hanging from a thread of despair, about to snap at any moment.

The mare remembered everything. How he was so demonic, so brutal to her. She trembled, a small tear falling onto the sheets.

"Spike..." she tried again. "Wake up... please wake up..."

Rarity placed her ear to his chest, hearing the faint, slow thumps of his heartbeat. He was pale, shivering slightly, as if the crystal had sapped a part of his life out.

She couldn't help but sniffle quietly, recalling her shouts to the dragon. How could she not know it was Spike? How could she not see he was in trouble?

The mare let out a broken sob, her tears dampening the dragon's chest. Guilt stung and rooted inside of her, the black shadow of it engulfing her mind. Her white hooves gripped onto the bed sheets, burying her face into them.

Her throat ached and croaked, mostly from swallowing all the cold pain she had while sitting down, listening to the doctors' explanations and the nurses' attempts of comfort.

She was alone, with only a half-dead dragon sleeping in front of her. Nopony else could hear her now.

With all her remaining energy, Rarity screamed into the sheets. She screamed and screamed, letting out all the despair and anguish from within her. Tears streamed down her face, the dangling resilience in her heart finally tearing apart.

"S-Spike-!" she shouted his name out. "Wake up. Just wake up!"

Rarity shook the dragon's body frantically, grasping at his claws.

"Please..." she managed to mutter. Her body stiffened with exhaustion, her hooves tingled with numbness. She whimpered one last time, before blacking out.

Silence filled the room immediately, with Rarity now sleeping on the dragon's chest, her tears still slowly trickling down in her sleep.

A small groan suddenly erupted from Spike. His claws clenched up, his eyes slowly opening.

The dragon looked around, with one claw massaging his pounding head. He felt something soft tickling his chest, looking down immediately in surprise.

Rarity was there, lying on his chest, her hoof wrapped around his body in an embrace. Spike blushed a little at that, trying to help the sleeping mare up.

"She must be here all night," he concluded to himself. The dragon brushed her frazzled mane aside, gazing down at her tear-strewn, dozing face. Despite her fatigue, she still seemed graceful to him, making him smile.

He lifted her up, wrapping his claws around her waist as he settled the sleeping mare to his side. With a sigh, he snuggled close to her, making her smile.

The sunlight shining across her face, with the calm, quiet atmosphere, made Rarity look more surreal to Spike. He nuzzled her snout gently, pecking her on her cheek.

His heart was ravaged in a mix of guilt and passion. A small mewl escaped the mare's lips, her eyes starting to open once more as she began to smile.

"Y-You're alive..."

"Of course, Rarity." he said, rolling his eyes slightly as his snake-like tongue licked a drying tear off her cheek, making her moan.

"You know I won't leave you like that."

Rarity could only whimper as her skin tingled at the smooth texture of the dragon's tongue.

"Enough of that, Spike...." she said, her cheeks reddening.

She pushed the dragon against the wall. Hard.

"Ow!" he cried out softly.

"At least go eas- mmffph!"

The mare quickly smashed her lips against his, instantly cutting his words off. Spike did not protest, instead letting the white pony take the lead. His vision was turning smoky, but he didn't care.

Rarity moaned lightly, feeling heat blossoming across her chest. She want him... no, need him!

The dragon's green claws ran down her body, reaching dangerously close to her flank. The mare felt disgusted yet aroused by this, her addled mind now drugged with lust.

Their long kiss was vicious, sensational. Spike managed to smirk from beneath it all, feeling the world warp around him.

"C-Celest..." Rarity could not finish, giving in to the hunger growing inside of her. She squeaked, her face pouting slightly as Spike's claws sank a little into her skin, the mare biting her lip slightly.

Rarity squirmed in the dragon's tight embrace, her back arching against the dragon with her head turned, still continuing their pleasurable kiss. Spike was now fondling her mane, twirling it around his claw like a makeshift curler.

"S-Stop it...haah..." the mare cried out as soon as their kiss broke, gently and playfully pushing him away.

The dragon give her a mischievous stare as he said:

"You? Asking me to stop? You're the one who started it."

She pouted, although Spike could see from her still-blushing cheeks she was only pretending. The mare giggled slightly, leaning closer as she whispered quietly into his ear:

"Let's do it again...... Spikey-Wikey."

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"You're sure ya want to see this, Shy?"

Fluttershy nodded at her friend, her face steeled with determination under the glaring light of the afternoon sun.

"She would've want me to be there for her."

The two mares stood, looking up at the fortress-like building before them. It seemed inviting for any unwary pony if not for the large, granite sign that stood beside, the black words on it spelling out:

Cloudsdale Downs Penitentiary

"This is it, Applejack..."

The yellow pegasus turned to her friend, letting out a sigh.

"Would you... follow me in?"

Applejack chuckled slightly at her friend. Even at hard times like these, Fluttershy was still the timid pegasus she knew.

"Why, sure." the orange pony said warmly, giving her a grin.

"Just remember to stay strong in there!"

"I will..." Fluttershy said doubtfully as they stepped through the double doors.

"I guess..."

* * * * * * *

Charter wasn't one to oversee an execution, despite all his life being a police officer. Maybe it's just something new on the lines of a district attorney: to see 'public figures' like Ravenshy accepting death.

Sometimes, he wondered, the criminals here seemed to embrace the feeling of passing on so gracefully, yet the ponies that captured them already shivered at the slight click of a gun.

He chuckled. Cruel irony.

Ravenshy was strapped to the seat, recently sparked out from her insanity. Charter could see she was struggling inside, whipping up an emotional storm.

The judge was merciless. The sentence was put down. It's settled.

"You alright?" he said to the purple pegasus, who managed to give him a smile.

"I'm just... waiting, I-I guess..."

Ravenshy looked longingly at the doors, her eyes filled with hope.

"There's so much I want to talk to her about..."

Charter chuckled slightly. Like mother, like daughter.

"She resembles you a lot, Raven," he said with a grin.

The pegasus chuckled a little, her wings flapping about from laughter.

"Was I really that shy?"

"Depends." he exclaimed, chuckling along with her.

"I mean, I've been your friend for the past forty-five years! I should already know how you act like!"

The pair continued their small chat, the old friends finally getting the chance to talk after so long. It felt longer than it actually was, as Charter found out. Not that he hate it or anything.

"So," he finally said, looking at the watch on his hoof. "It's time, I guess?"

Ravenshy sulked with realization. A small tear dripped from her eye, the mare biting her lip as she replied:

"Time...."

The wooden door finally opened, with Fluttershy and Applejack stepping in slowly. Ravenshy beamed as her daughter came close, embracing her tightly with a small grin on her face.

"It's nice to see you, Flutters." the older mare whispered into her ear.

"Um... it's... nice to see you too..."

The purple pegasus chuckled, smiling at the yellow pegasus.

"Well, this is it, then?"

Her daughter couldn't help but nod. Fluttershy felt her heart curl at the sight of her mother's hooves, still shackled to the chair, yet her mother's seemingly warm smile overwhelmed any small trace of fear.

"I'm so proud of you. You've made it so far on your own, have wonderful friends...."

She turned to Applejack, who gave her a warm grin.

"...and helped out in saving the world. Twice! Who wouldn't be more proud of a filly like you?"

Fluttershy blushed a little at her comment.

"Well... uh..."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Flutters. I really am."

Her mother's smile was faltering slightly, holding her breath as she continued:

"Just remember to be strong, be good to others..."

The older mare beckoned her to come closer, whispering into her daughter's ear.

"...be yourself. That's all I really want."

A small tear leaked out of Fluttershy's eye. She hugged her mother one last time, her heart dampening with warmth.

"Thank you..."

Charter wouldn't want to break the moment. It was too emotional, too... wrong to do it. But he had to.

"Let's go, Fluttershy."

The three of them stepped out of the room into the next one. A few seats were arranged just for the occasion, making Charter grimace at them in disgust.

Ravenshy smiled at her daughter from the glass chamber, a small tear falling out her eye as she mouthed out:

"I love you, Fluttershy."

The yellow pegasus was starting to break down. Applejack gripped her friend's hoof tightly, watching as Fluttershy trembled in her seat.

"I love you too... Mother..."

A pony stepped into the room, his hoof clutching on a silver syringe, with its contents swirling with mist. Ravenshy held her breath as the needle glinted in the light.

Fluttershy could somehow feel the terror, as if something was connecting both mother and daughter. The needle grazed against the purple pegasus's skin, making her tremble as it searched for a point of entry.

The yellow pegasus closed her eyes as the misty fluid finally punctured into her mother's veins, her skin tingled with a chilling feeling. Ravenshy winced slightly, her mind beginning to haze.

Applejack could only watch her friend close her eyes, trying not to see her mother's slow, painful death. Charter had already turned away, busy filling up a few papers to draw his attention away.

Five minutes.

Ravenshy was still awake, yet her purple tone was already paling into a slight violet. She could feel her pulse throbbing louder and louder as the sounds around her turned into a faint echo, mixing into a void of noise.

Fluttershy watched yet again. She had just finished crying for the fourth time in Applejack's lap, who was still stunned at the purple pegasus's tight grasp on life.

Ten minutes.

She had closed her eyes, yet Fluttershy could see her mother's chest steadily rising and falling. Charter had left the room, obviously unable to take in the pressure.

"It won't be long now..." Ravenshy muttered to herself. She held her breath.

Fifteen minutes.

Ravenshy's breathing turned shallower, her vision fading to white. She take one weak glimpse at her daughter, who was now crying in Applejack's hooves.

She breathed in one last time, before exhaling, letting her life flow along with it.

Ravenshy Fallows, as she was known, had left the world.

Fluttershy cried harder as the doctors pronounced her dead aloud. She gritted her teeth in exasperation, hitting Applejack's lap in a tangled state of despair.

"We have to go now." Applejack whispered to her friend.

The yellow pegasus nodded with a sniffle. Both ponies rose from their seats, striding towards the door.

Applejack had never seen her friend this miserable. Fluttershy's pink mane was tossed around, with strands sticking onto her face from her tears. Her wings were disheveled, with feathers loosened up from their roots.

Fluttershy take one last glance back at her mother. The purple pegasus seemed to sleep with a small smile on her face, somehow warming her heart.

It was the most serene face that she had ever seen from her.

"Be yourself. That's all I really want." her voice echoed in the yellow pegasus's head. She clenched her hooves tightly, wiping her crippling tears off her face as her heart burned with a passionate desire.

"Be myself..."

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Crimson would've wanted to help out his marefriend on organizing her music sheets, but, for reasons unbeknownst to him, hunger was always the apex factor.

"So, 'Tavi," he called to the grey mare, who was busy looking about the corridor. Palgiot Palace was peaceful today, with no sign of Mirror Mare laying a hoof on the ponies living inside.

"What's for lunch?"

"What do I look like, a cook?"

Octavia rolled her eyes. Crimson was one hard stallion to tame.

"If you don't mind, I'm planning a picnic with Rarity today. Right over there."

She pointed to a distant pine forest, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. Crimson could only chuckle a little.

"Why a picnic? I thought you like those fancy restaurants around the town!"

"Oh please! I'm not even asking for such tastes that others would endeavor in. I mean, besides,"

Octavia let out a small sigh, gazing back at the woodlands.

"it's pretty nice to have some peace and quiet, after all."

"Peace and quiet, eh? Reminds me of something..."

Crimson suddenly hummed a small tune, making Octavia blink in surprise. To her, it sounded so familiar, as if a long lost memory had been magically conjured by the voice of her coltfriend.

"What are you playing at?" she asked him, giving him a suspicious look.

"Come on!" the stallion said with delight.

"You remember this well, don't you 'Tavi?"

"If you're toying with me I'll kick your flank out the window."

Crimson laughed as he continued humming, the tune beginning to clear up the fog in Octavia's head. He started mumbling out a few words, which only fueled the mare's curiosity.

"Alright. I give up."

Octavia threw her hooves into the air, sighing with defeat. The red stallion just shook his head with a small, hearty laugh as she asked:

"What song is it?"

"For one so small, you seem so strong~" Crimson playfully whispered the lyrics in her ear, giving her a smirk.

"My hooves will hold you, keep you safe and warm~"

"Can't you just tell me?" Octavia whined, trotting her hooves in anticipation.

"Can't you just guess?" Crimson mimicked, letting out a snicker as her marefriend shook her head.

"This bond between us, cannot be broken; I will be here, don't you cry~!"

Octavia's eyes widened in realization, letting out a squeak of delight. Crimson gestured a hoof towards her, beckoning her to sing.

"No. No, no, not in my life, no!"

"But 'Tavi!" he whined like a young colt, scrunching his lips with his eyes watering.

Octavia couldn't resist it. She giggled at the stallion's attempts of breaking into her, before raising her hoof in defeat.

"All right, all right... just this once."

Clearing her throat, she began to sing the next few lines:

'Cause you'll be in my heart;

Yes you'll be in my heart.

From this day on, now and forever more~

You'll be in my heart.

No matter what they say, you'll be in my heart.

Always~

Crimson immediately applauded, letting out a cheering whistle as Octavia bowed, slightly blushing with embarrassment.

"Bravo, 'Tavi, bravo!" he cheered, twirling the mare in his arms.

"Remember it now?"

"Our first dance." she mused.

"The day you sneaked out from your house and broke my window with a few pebbles..."

She sighed with a small blush as she continued, her voice turning into a small whisper:

"Our first kiss..."

"Strike one for Miss Philharmonica!"

The couple chuckled, continuing their stroll down the terrace. Crimson nuzzled his snout affectionately against Octavia's cheek, making her giggle.

"Stop it, Crim~!"

"Why would I? I was hoping some of your beauty will rub off on me!"

The grey mare rolled her eyes, brushing his face away.

"Crimson de la Creme, you tease."

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Solaris Followfirm frantically squirmed around in the air, her four hooves extended outwards by the tight, metallic grip of chains shackled around them. Her wings were tied together, her feathers ruffled by the thick rope over them.

She couldn't believe it! One minute she was in her office, doing all her paperwork, the next thing she knew, somepony blindfolded her and now here she was, chained like a filthy animal with a gag over her eyes.

"Hello?" she called out, her voice pulsating in an echo. Seriously, if her friends were pulling yet another prank, she's going to murder them for this.

Something scuffled from somewhere around her, making her ears perk.

"Lottie? Is that you?" she cried out. That pony was always the clumsy one; she was not surprised if she ruins whatever plans her friends were concocting right now.

"Lottie isn't available at the moment..."

The mare tensed at the sound of that voice. It was unlike anything she heard before.

"Arch? Lottie? Come on guys, it's not funny. I've got work to do."

"I'm sure you do, Miss Followfirm."

That voice... it sounded too cold, too rigid even for a prankster like Arch Fleetfall to make. Fear instantly froze inside her like ice, the mare trying to see through her blindfold.

"W-Who are you?" she asked, trying to retain her composure.

"Classic question. With every classic question like that, I'll give the same, classic yet uttermost boring answer."

Solaris could hear breathing. She cringed at the sound of it; the broken voice, the mangled tone.

"I. Am. Nopony."

"Nopony huh?" she challenged. Her mind was built for this after all.

"Then explain why you're here talking to me, you prick!"

"Wow, Miss Followfirm..."

From her point of view, the pegasus could hear the clops that the unknown pony was making.

"Already starting to underestimate your opponent, I see."

"Oh, it must be one of you competitors again."

She groaned in frustration. Her sugar empire has grown so big, it's not surprising the smaller firms would do such a thing.

"Okay, enough with the games. How much is it that you want?"

"Nothing much. Keep your damn-forsaken empire, for all I care."

Solaris gasped at the comment. What does this pony think he is? She's the CEO of Followfirm Sugar Trades! Not some darned failure from a slum! That snobbish, no-good fiend!

"Well, as if you could do better!" she scoffed, gritting her teeth angrily.

"Oh, but Miss Followfirm,"

The pony seemed to have approached her, as she could now feel the shallow breathing on her face.

"I have ventured into places. Experienced things that you could have not possibly have in your whole lifetime. To make a long story short, doing better, as you have abhorrently put it, is a pure understatement."

"So what, you rose from some backwater place that you call your home?" Solaris sneered, before letting out a 'hmph'.

"What else did you do? Become a janitor for my office?"

"Miss Followfirm, I believe you have a powerful voice. A voice like no other that makes the young ones flee from terror. A voice that matches those uttered by the Princesses of Canterlot!"

Solaris could only gape in disbelief. Was this pony actually complimenting her?

"Wh- why... um... thank you, I guess..."

"To think! How such a vengeful voice have stirred your followers. Especially that one day..."

No. That's not possible.

Solaris shook her head. This pony couldn't have known...

"Remember Miss Everflower?"

Her heart sank at them mention of that name. How could this pony know?!

"Don't you dare...."

"Sad thing, isn't it? Stealing the hard-earned money of the tramp to raise your empire, only to leave her in her woes, to bite the dust of your creation..."

The voice laughed coldly, making Solaris tremble at that and the memory of Kirlen Everflower.

"...driving her to the only way out: suicide."

A fresh tear crawled down her cheek as Kirlen's bright yellow face smiled within her. It was so genuine, so filled with life.

What have I done...

"Amazing, isn't it?" the pony continued with a cackle.

"How your voice manipulated such an innocent pegasus like her to feed your greed. That mouth of yours must be severely punished!"

Suddenly, something slid with a clang on her snout, making her yelp suddenly in pain.

It took her a while to register what was happening. Something was hooked deeply into her upper and lower lips, closing her mouth shut while making her wince in pain. Blood seeped onto her tongue, the mare trying to spit it out in vain.

"What a weird feeling it must have been... to have your own mouth sealed.... no matter now..."

Her ears perked at the sound of whirring gears, the hooks starting to open up her mouth. She clenched her hooves in pain with tears falling from her eyes, flailing her wings about despite their bounded state.

"What's wrong?" the cold voice laughed at her torture. "You're free to speak now, aren't you?"

She wanted to scream. She wanted to kick this pony so badly.

The hooks were now pulling her lips up to her snout. Solaris could feel the metal spike gripping tightly into her jawbone, with sweat now running down her hooves.

"Go ahead, scream!"

She felt two hooves grip her face. Her blindfold was yanked away, her eyes widening in fear as a white, morbid mask stared back at her, the lips of it stitched together.

"Scream for me!"

Without hesitation, she screamed into the pony's face. It seemed to last for eternity, only faltering as the muzzle around her snout started to strain her tendons, the searing pain around her cheekbone starting to spread.

Her eyes closed as her jaw was forced open. The machine wasn't stopping, the gears were whirring faster.

A small crack made her eyes flutter open, with the severe feeling of her jaw tearing apart.

Her mind was ringing at the sound of it. Her hooves were flailing about, the chains clinking against one another.

"Almost there, Solaris." the masked pony in front of her cooed. She could see it was standing on a scissor lift, a small seam of light shining onto the both of them with the mask glinting from it.

Another scream. She could feel her cheekbones starting to dislodge, her muscles all straining. Yet the hooks pulled effortlessly, her eyes bulging out from her sockets.

Blood ran down her lips. Solaris felt the world around her turn into a blur. She could feel her face turn blue with horror, the muzzle around her snout working faster and faster.

*SNAP*

...

Mirror Mare watched with a smile as blood poured in streams from the pegasi's mouth, forming a large puddle of red on the cement floor below. The machine had worked well.

The masked pony got up closer, slowly inspecting the work of art as it let out a laugh. Her eyes were open, staring lifelessly into the sky with blood splattered around her face. Her head dangled upwards, yet her chin hung low, no doubt the work of the marvelous contraption.

Her jaw had snapped into two, just as anticipated.

Without hesitation, it reached around the dead mare's pockets, flipping the phone open.

Pressing a few numbers, the masked pony waited as it hummed, before a voice finally crackled:

"Cloudsdale Police Department. What's your emergency?"

"Hello, miss." it said with its cold voice, looking back with a smile at the pegasus still hanging from the chains.

"I'm here to report a murder..."

Enigma: The Final Voyagers

"Tantrum!"

Harrow Palgiot paced down the corridors of Palgiot Palace hastily. The Patriarch was nowhere to be seen since this morning, much to the concern of the rest of the family. Guards stood high with a salute as he passed by them, clutching fiercely with determination onto their rifles.

"Tantrum Palgiot!" he called out again. If he found him caught with that femme fatale Sovereign again...

"Trumpster!" he tried this time with his foalhood nickname, loathed by the stallion himself.

It has worked many times before. There was no doubt it would work again.

He turned around the bend, spotting the door leading to his brother's quarters wide open, inviting the pony into the room.

"Tantrum," he began, "how many times must I tell you that you should not-"

He stopped short, horrified at the gruesome scene before him.

Right at the other end of the room, impaled onto a giant, crystal pillar from the tip, was his brother. Blood streamed down like red vines, flowing seamlessly down to the carpeted floor below.

"T-Tan....T-Tantr...." he could only stammer, frozen in shock.

"Fascinating, isn't it?"

Harrow blinked his eyes in surprise, watching in amazement as Tantrum's body hover upwards, withdrawing from the crystal pillar. The red fluid started to flow back in droplets into the large gash on the Patriarch's chest, the torn fabrics of the shredded suit sealing back into perfection.

"What... what did you...?" he asked his brother once Tantrum settled with all four hooves on the ground, face to face with the stallion.

"Dimension alteration spell," the Patriarch quickly explained with a pride-filled laugh.

"I was basically performing it to experience the grisly, macabre sensation of near-death. Imagine that, Harrow! Having control of a power so strong, it may change the nature of Equestria as we know it!"

"Are you insane?" Harrow could only reply in disbelief.

"Think about the endless possibilities that we can stem from it!" Tantrum continued, ignoring his brother's shock.

"We're talking about a convergence of reality and fantasy! Of two parallel, yet opposite dimensions! We can form a new dawn with this power. A new Equestria!"

Harrow bit his lip, watching as his brother rambled on about it.

There was that spark in his eyes again. It wasn't one of inspiration, though; it had that psychopath's flair in it.

Not to say this was the first time it had happened before.

"Tantrum," he began, cutting into his brother's excited proposals.

"Can we not wander off into your warped theories of astounding proportions, please? It is extremely absurd!"

"Absurd, you say? Harrow, Harrow..."

The Patriarch chuckled, placing a hoof around the stallion's shoulder.

"To have the ability to shape the future... many ponies would kill for the essence we have in our hooves!"

"What do you mean 'shape the future'?"

"Still so naive, I see. I'll finish what Noir Palgiot had started."

Tantrum smiled a deranged smile, watching at the sunset in the horizon from the windows.

"To overthrow the Princess."

Harrow stopped, horrified as his brother laughed maniacally, yet he couldn't just question his brother directly...

"How... how are you planning to that, Tantrum?" he asked, curious.

"Simple," Tantrum replied, breathing in the pungent scent of autumn.

"We'll take down the system ourselves. Turn her into our favor with blackmail."

"Wasn't the nano-bomb you ordered enough?"

The Patriarch shook his head, his disturbingly glinting smile only making his brother more nervous than ever.

"Don't you see, Harrow?" he said with a chortle.

"I'm going to build a weapon."

~ * * * * * ~

... to build a weapon...

Winter frowned down at his father's words, scribbled down onto one of the numerous logbooks scattered on the table.

The blueprints spread out in front of him was hoof-designed by Tantrum himself. Everything required was accounted for: from the harnessing of energy to the collider right at point blank of the sector ray.

Even the angle of elevation of the weapon was measured, a smooth curve across the map showing where the beam would land.

The stallion sighed, looking at the name of the town, the location crossed out with the fading ink of a fountain pen.

The name, as well, was circled with red, indicating the name of the target:

Canterlot

Then there was the nano-bomb. There wasn't any possible way that Tantrum himself could've planted it. The Princess of the Night had returned from the moon almost seventy years after his death.

There was only one conclusion.

"Somepony else was behind this."

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The regal halls of Equestria's finest architecture...

Kanov'hin grinned at the stained glass windows. The art looked so feeble compared to the grander, larger ones back at home. Not that he would complain, though.

Despite his size, the throne room was tall enough to fit an adult dragon like him, the ceiling still a great distance from his head with the pointed chandeliers slightly grazing the surface of his scales.

The throne looked comfortable, albeit small for his stature. The dragon admired the golden furnishings, the red carpet unfurled from the velvet seat out towards the door.

The trickling of water down its edges only made it more grand. He chuckled mockingly at the fashion these ponies have sauntered with, wrinkling at all the banners hanging down the ceiling.

"My Commander," a voice called from the side, Kanov'hin recognizing as one of his kin.

"The Princess is waiting for you."

"Alright then," he said with a smirk.

Time to settle this once and for all.

Kanovh'in followed the dragon, one of his trusty aides, down the hallways. As usual, he was impressed by the diverse architecture, ranging from gryphons to minotaurs to even dragon origins.

The two dragons soon stopped in front of a majestic door, no doubt leading into the alicorn's bedroom. The leading dragon started to turn the knob, before turning to his comrade:

"Aren't you following me in?"

"The Princess insisted you talk to her alone, sir," he said with a bow.

Kanov'hin just scoffed at that. These ponies and their ridiculous demands...

"Remember who you serve right now, Devrak," the dragon said sternly.

"I'll let you go this time, considering it's the Princess's wishes."

"O-Of course, Commander."

As his comrade quickly huddled away, Kanov'hin's claw pushed down onto the knob.

The door swung open, revealing the humble yet majestic abode of the white alicorn. The dragon ducked his head, glancing at the tidy purple sheets and the flicker of warmth from the fireplace.

At the other end of the room he spotted the back of a tall, velvet chair facing towards the afternoon sun in the horizon. The dragon edged closer to the center of the room, giving out a slight cough.

"You've decided, my Princess?"

There was a shuffling sound from the chair, making him smile.

Even in troubled times, the royalty still loved to play games.

"I've received word from one of my comrades that you'll agree to the terms of the contract."

Kanov'hin glanced at the banner hanging at the side, studying the delicately, woven fabric on the texture. He was especially picky at the accuracy of the event on it, yet there wasn't any time for that now.

"Is there anything bothering you, my Princess?" he asked in response to the silent treatment.

"What in tarnation are you talking about?"

As soon as the chair turned, Kanov'hin stopped with shock and surprise at the figure sitting in the chair.

Instead of the white alicorn he expected, there was, in her place, an orange pony: the same one he saw when they were flying across the field.

The door slammed shut with a lasso, a small click sounding in response. The dragon could watch the rope snap like a whip, before returning to the hooves of the owner.

"Ah suppose Ah haven't properly introduced myself," the mare said with that accent.

Definitely her.

"M'ah name's Applejack. Welcome to Equestria."

Kanov'hin gritted his teeth with the rage he was famous for back in the Badlands.

"Where's the Princess?!" he shouted, marching towards the pony.

A loud clink made him stop and stumble onto the floor, the feeling of a ring of metal clasped onto his hind paws. The dragon grunted as he tried in vain to free himself from the tight, glowing shackles, roaring vehemently at Applejack:

"Let me go at once!!" he demanded.

"Ya ain't goin' nowhere, partner," she replied coolly.

"The Princess did some hocus-pocus on that chain of yours, so ya ain't breaking free."

"This is blasphemous!" Kanov'hin bellowed loudly.

With a gulp of breath, the dragon blew out a strong breeze, before blinking in confusion.

"Princess Luna thought of your fire-breathin' as well," Applejack said with a chuckle, wrapping a scarf over her neck.

"Don'tcha notice? She lowered the temperature a little. Warm enough for you and me to survive; cold enough for your flames to not go hinky-doodle and burn everythin' down."

"Filthy, backstabbing-!" he shouted, before gritting his teeth with a growl.

"Then why are you here?"

"Unfortunately for the both of us, Ah'm your night guard, ta make sure ya ain't doin' anythin' stupid."

Kanov'hin just scowled as the orange mare crossed her hoof, tilting her hat down to the raging dragon.

"So are ya just gonna babble? This ain't the best job Ah can find in Equestria, ya know."

"Have you ponies have no honor?" he sneered.

"To chain a dragon... preposterous, I tell you!"

"And trespassin' into Equestria isn't?" Applejack shot back, only making the dragon humph with ignorance.

"Ya think dragons can just trample over every garden ya see, don'tcha? Well, newsflash for ya, chump!"

With a crack of the rope, she whipped across the dragon's eye, making him yowl.

"This is Equestria! No dragon like you will ever be accepted here!"

Kanov'hin just laughed in response.

"You haven't answer my question yet, mare."

"The name's Applejack. Ah've told you already."

"Of course. Where are my manners?"

The dragon forced out a smile, asking the pony with sarcasm:

"Where is the Princess?"

"Come ta think of it.... din'tcha see her just about now?"

"I clearly never recalled-" Kanov'hin began, before a torrent of realization hailed into his mind.

His eyes widened with a spark, the events of the past flooding back immediately.

"Aren't you following me in?"

"The Princess insisted you talk to her alone, sir,"

"Devrak.... that wasn't Devrak at all..."

"I know, I know. Unicorn spells.... Pfftt..."

Applejack just shook her blonde mane, placing her hat aside.

"Ah can't understand how they work as well. 'Specially with all that changeling transformin'."

"Tricked!" Kanov'hin could only shout in frustration, kicking his chained claws back.

"Oh well," the orange mare just sighed, kicking her hooves back with a smirk.

As Rarity would say...

"C'est la vie."

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"The truth..."

Rarity and Spike could only stare at the swirl of light in the glass sphere, tempting them like sapphires.

They, along with Twilight, Rainbow, Soarin', Octavia and Crimson were all waiting for Pinkie to return. The pink mare was requested for a private talk with the Patriarch, which only fueled their curiosity even more.

"What would Winter want with Pinkie anyway?" Twilight asked, gazing at the doors.

"They're sure taking an awfully long time."

"Twilight, darling," Rarity responded with a smile.

"We're all a little perplexed by the situation at hand. I'm sure Winter's trying to open her up."

"Well..." Rainbow responded, kicking her hooves in the air out of boredom.

"I'm not just gonna sit here and wait for them to finish talking. That could take like... forever!"

"Well... that is quite true, after all."

The three mares sighed in unison, their eyes glued to the glass sphere longingly.

"How long left..." Twilight murmured.

"Not very long, if that could help."

All of them stood up in surprise as Winter Palgiot stepped in, with Pinkie easing into the room uncomfortably, shirking right behind the stallion.

"Sorry for the long wait," he said with a bow, "I really hope I hadn't wasted your time."

"You kinda did!" Rainbow blurted out, being rewarded with annoyed glances from Twilight and Pinkie.

"What?"

"Anyways, before you enter," he continued, unfazed by the pegasus's comment.

"There's something I have to disclose with all of you, and I required Pinkie's permission to do it."

"Really?" Rarity asked skeptically, giving him a quizzical look.

"I'm sure all of you had heard of them now. The Voyager Six, I mean."

There were a bunch of nods, which prompted Winter to continue:

"So far, we've known that these six Voyagers were all murdered, to keep a dark, terrible secret behind. No doubt Mirror Mare will be targeting all of you when you open the glass sphere."

"Four of these Voyagers were Dredges Deniers, commonly known as Dresden, being a famed philosopher and witch doctor that travels around the world. Murdered with two serrated blades cut through his arteries. Next was Charter Freewings-"

"Wait," Rainbow broke in.

"Hold it. Did you say 'Charter Freewings'?"

"The attorney of Cloudsdale, yes." Winter clarified, which only shocked the cyan pegasus even more.

"One of the most respected pegasi in your town, no doubt. Killed by spontaneous combustion ignited with traces of kerosene surrounding his carpet and a spark created from the friction of the twin blades."

"He was... one of them...?" was what Rainbow could only say, Soarin' giving her a reassuring pat as the mare huddled closer to him.

"Gypsum Palgiot was the third. Shot with a sniper by the deceased Caper Masque, a celebrated magician and, needless to say, a foalhood friend of Dresden and coltfriend of my late sister Autumn Palgiot. Dresden somehow knew he was the shooter, commending him to an oath of silence using their friendship coin."

Winter sighed deeply with regret at the next name. The mare that left a searing scar into his memories.

"The fourth was Harmony Peridot. No doubt most of you know her as the mare that I was with. Before Pinkie, that is."

The Patriarch drooped a little as he continued:

"Whatever happened to the Voyagers was what made Harmony become Mirror Mare. Ironic that she became the pony that she had to stop."

"But you said it was the Voyager Six." Twilight said with a raise of her hoof.

"Who were the other two ponies?"

"Simple. One was mentioned, just not so clear as Mirror Mare makes it to be."

Winter turned to Spike, who immediately stopped with a surprise as he asked:

"Remember the enigma on the photos. The one Jovern revealed with his flames?"

Spike nodded, Rarity becoming noticeably sullen as she remembered the contents of the photos.

"Sweetie Belle..."

"I've figured it out."

The couple, along with Octavia and Crimson stopped in surprise.

"Really?" the dragon exclaimed.

"Positive. It was simple, actually."

Winter held in his breath. This was going to be one tough explanation...

"The first one to start was the name 'Jeana Yawger'. A little bit of research in Fenderville came in handy."

The Patriarch held up a ripped page as he explained:

"Jeana Yawger was the name of the co-pilot of a non-stop, no refuel flight around the world. It was an incredible feat accomplished by her to say the least. The name of the plane was the 'Rutan Voyager'."

"The Rutan.... oh..."

Spike nodded with realization. "So that means...

"The Roman number 'XIII' was associated with tarot, in which case means 'Death'. Union Station meant the Union Station of Trotronto, where the Amtrak abbreviation for the station was T-W-O, or in this case, 'to'."

Winter sipped on a small cup of tea, nourishing his dry throat as he continued:

"The name 'Eindhooven' means the Dutch town of Eindhooven, which has the Technische Hogeschool Eindhooven, initials T-H-E, or 'the'. The battalion commander for the last word was confirmed to be 'six', drawing from the radio call sign of the battalion commander, being the number itself."

"So that makes 'Death to the Voyager Six'..."

Spike bit his lip, before speaking up:

"Then what about the remaining of the messages?"

"It took Dresden's files to realize what it meant."

Winter sat down, beckoning Pinkie to do the same.

"Quiche is a dish with a pastry-crust and a lot of fillings. The solution could be any of the ingredients they've used. But Dresden's files pointed me to only one possibility: 'Custard'."

Twilight noticed Pinkie becoming more and more depressed, her mane flattening as the Patriarch continued explaining:

"The states of Alaeska, Rode Island and Weedsconsin then became the first name, due to the commas left there on purpose. They each have a town. A town whose name I'm sure you, Miss Sparkle, and Miss Dash are familiar with."

"Primrose."

"Primrose?!" the lavender unicorn gasped in disbelief.

"As in 'Primrose Custard' Primrose?!"

"The very same. That's why I had to leave Fenderville for a moment, knowing her abode was just several miles from the town. The only problem is when I get there..."

Pinkie started sobbing quietly, prompting Winter to place a hoof around her reassuringly.

"... I found her by the river, her body skewered on the rocks near Red North Bend. Pinkie found out about it when I forgot to keep the photos of her body I took for examination while on our ride here."

The pink pony suddenly stopped, looking at a bunch of photos. Her jaw hung agape with horror, her eyes glistening with it as well at the photos before her.

Winter immediately turned to look, which only made his heart drop.

The room plunged into silence, with only the sounds of the pink mare weeping in the Patriarch's suit.

"Primrose..." Twilight muttered, remembering the fresh smile on the mare's face, the bright attitude she gives.

"Wait," Rainbow broke the silence with a look of epiphany.

"If Primrose was one of the Voyager Six... would that mean that..."

Everypony turned to Pinkie in shock, who was now trying in vain to dry her tears.

"Correct," Winter said blatantly. "Her visit to Pendant Lakes wasn't coincidental either."

"Apart from Harmony, Diane's now the last Voyager standing."

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"What are you doing here, my faithful subjects?"

Princess Celestia trudged through the woodlands, ducking under the spiky fingers of the branches reaching out to her.

Her sister was way ahead of her, her hooves no doubt used to rough terrain. One thousand years at the moon...

"Tia, we have to hurry!" the cerulean mare insisted, trotting back to her older sister.

"If the other dragons knew what happened to their leader-"

"I was implied that you said their plan was going to work?" Celestia interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

"And you're saying you want to coax them out from their leader's beliefs?"

"It's worth a shot!" Applejack exclaimed with a shrug.

"If anything goes wrong, we always have Fluttershy here to give them The Stare, or Vinyl here to power up her bass cannon..."

"Or I can pretty much write out invitations for some 'Who's The Best Dragon?' convention..." Lyra added in, much to the demise of her friends.

"I didn't say I was actually going to do it!"

"Well, Tia?" Luna asked.

"I think it's a good idea to reserve until after all the sneaking out we have to do."

"Alright, then. After Kanov'hin is restrained."

The alabaster mare smiled, curiosity begging her to ask:

"Who was responsible for the plan at hoof?"

Applejack just pointed outside the window, the two alicorns looking out in surprise.

There was Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the three fillies laughing and skipping around the field. Right behind them, with a delighted smile on the face, was a cuddly, baby dragon, no doubt having fun chasing them across the green pasture.

"Wow..." Princess Luna said, marveled at their courage.

"I'm surprised the fillies would even dare to talk to the dragon."

Princess Celestia just smiled, watching at the giggling fillies from the window.

Oh, the sweet innocence of foalhood...

The white alicorn couldn't bear to chuckle at the thought of it. How she missed her foalhood right now.

"Where shall we stop for the night?" she asked her younger sister, trying to get the nostalgia out of her head.

"Just outside the Everfree, as planned."

Princess Luna gestured towards the open meadow beyond, pointing at a small burrow.

"We'll be safe for the night."

The alicorn just sighed, looking back at the majestic city of Canterlot.

A slight breeze tossed her mane around, the brown leaves of autumn blowing across the forest floor.

She felt something tingle above her nose, making her wrinkle her snout abruptly.

It wasn't long before she looked up into the sky, watching in awe at the scene before her.

"Snow..." she could only mutter, referring to the hundreds of the crystals cascading down to the floor.

Her sister looked in amazement. The arrival of snow signaled the beginning of winter. Celestia just chuckled as she muttered:

"Even the heavens know of our mission to Pendant Lakes."

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"You?!"

Pinkie crawled backwards, her friends now advancing before her.

If it weren't for Winter standing right in front of her, she could imagine one of them pouncing onto her right now.

"Of all ponies, you!" Rainbow exclaimed in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell us, Pinkie?" Twilight questioned.

"Darling!" Rarity added in.

"We're your friends, for Celestia's sake! Why did you hide it from us?!"

Spike's stare of silence seemed to be the most disturbing for the pink mare, as if disappointed and disgusted at her.

Pinkie cringed, clenching her eyes shut as her friends shouted, her mane flattened to her waist.

"Calm down, everypony," the dragon interrupted, much to the relief and surprise of the pink pony.

"I'm sure we all want an explanation from her. I can't believe this as well, but I'm sure she has her own story to tell."

Their rambles immediately stopped, the pink mare now emerging from seclusion under the curtain of her mane.

Winter muttered something into her ear, Pinkie's sniffles stopping almost abruptly.

"Y-You... you guys..."

"You can start from the beginning, Pinkie," Twilight said, trying to smile.

"We'll... try to understand..."

"Just go for it," the Patriarch muttered.

"W-Where shall I start..." the pink mare said, holding her breath.

"It was eight years ago, I guess. I was still working on the rock farm..."

~ * * * * * ~

"Pinkamena!"

"It's Pinkie, Daddy!" the pink mare exclaimed with glee, bouncing right beside her father.

"You know how I don't like the name you gave me!"

"You're still Pinkamena, my sweet filly," he responded with a laugh, brushing her mane aside.

"Look at you, my filly. All grown up right now."

"I'm only sixteen! That's like twice my age eight years ago! I'm going to launch so much parties in the world..."

The old stallion just laughed at her daughter's behavior despite her age. Her dream of 'spreading happiness to all four corners of Equestria' at first seemed crazy to the family, but after several disagreements and a small discussion with his mother, Clyde Pie had fully agreed upon it.

"So when would you be leaving?" he asked, his shovel clinking onto the floor.

Pinkie just snorted with laughter.

"You want me to leave that badly, Daddy? I said I'm going to leave when I'm eighteen, you know."

"Well, Inkamena and Blinkamena could always help out after they finished college," said the stallion, before bringing her closer.

"You were meant for something more than just farming rocks, Pinkamena."

He held in his breath, heaving his shovel up, before continuing:

"It takes time to grow rocks, just like it takes time to start a new life, but what you'll experience along your decision isn't the same as just watching rocks grow."

"Huh?" Pinkie could only say, tilting her head.

"You're still young," the stallion said with a chuckle.

"You'll learn and experience it yourself, but for now Mom needs somepony to help out with the groceries."

"Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!"

Before the stallion could answer, the pink mare raced into the house, leaving him chuckling in the dust.

"Pinkamena..."

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"And the asparagus must be placed over there..."

Pinkie rolled it over with glee, prancing back to her mother.

"What else?"

"I think that's about it, Pinkamena."

The mare just pouted, making her mother chuckle.

"Alright then, if you insist. Pinkie, is it?"

"Yep!" she nodded, glancing out of the window. She suddenly clopped her hooves in delight, much to the surprise of her mother.

"Mommy, look! We have a visitor!"

"Really?" Sue Pie could only reply. "Nopony comes to these parts often."

She followed her daughter's excited gaze, before paling in horror.

"Pinkie. Go to your room."

"But why, Mom? Aren't we going to celebrate a 'Welcome To Our House' party?"

Pinkie scrunched her lips, yet her mother's serious expression remained firm.

"To your room, Pinkie."

"Fine," she replied with a sigh, slouching up the stairs before turning back.

"Not even a teensy-weensy party?"

"No."

Pinkie slumped back again, hearing the front door creak open. She peered from the stairwell, gazing at the colt that stepped in after his father.

He was nearly the same age as her father, judging from the slight wrinkles the both of them share in common. His coat was white; pale, ghost white, in fact, with his mane a contrasting black.

"So where is it?"

Pinkie stopped at the voice. It was merciless and cold, unlike anything she had ever heard before.

Her father's voice replied with an unnatural tremble:

"I told you we'll have it by next month."

"Tsk, tsk.... Clyde. You disappoint me yet again. By next month your interest rate would only increase at a grand scale, and you'll say that you'll be unable to pay me then!"

"I promise we'll have the rocks you asked us for."

There was a morbid chuckle. Pinkie strained her ears, hearing the sound of pacing hoofsteps as the other pony's voice sneered:

"I've known you for a decade now, Clyde. I was there at every bump of the road, especially at the birth of your youngest daughter."

"And? You were just there! You weren't supportive!"

"Look, I gave you bits when your family was in trouble. If not all five of you would be living on the streets right now, acting like those wretched beggars. What I ask for in exchange is just the same amount in rocks!"

"Of all things you asked us to farm!" her mother's voice broke in.

"I don't understand! Why do you need the rocks for?"

"You have no business to know."

"We gave you the rocks!" her father scowled, making Pinkie tense uneasily.

"We have Celestia's damn right to know!"

"Then I'll bet Inkamena and Blinkamena would beg to differ."

There was a long silence, Pinkie and her parents thrown into a state of shock.

"What did you do to them...?"

"Trust me. They're completely fine-"

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTERS?!"

"They're fine, Clyde, but not for long." the anonymous pony said with a chuckle.

Pinkie strained her ears, covering her soft gasp.

"Then there was your youngest one. Pinkamena, is it?"

"Don't you dare touch her!!"

"I never mentioned anything about that, Sue. I'm sure the both of you had asked her to run out the backdoor already."

A small click sounded through the room, her parents suddenly protesting loudly.

"Wait! W-We can talk about this-!"

"We've already finished talking about it. I have clients who are more aware of how to pay the gratitude they require for my services. Enough of this nonsense."

*BANG*

"SUE! CELESTIA-!"

"May Celestia have mercy on her soul. On yours as well."

*BANG*

Pinkie closed her watering eyes, gritting her teeth as she covered her ears, her mane flattening in an instant.

She peered down to the living room, watching the pony light a cigar.

"What a shame, Clyde." he said, looking down at her father. He was still breathing!

"We could've have something more, but you resorted to stick to your family."

The pony tossed the cigar onto the floor, the ragged carpet starting to catch fire.

"Sweet dreams."

As soon as the door slammed shut, Pinkie rushed down the stairs, her face twisted with horror at the blood spatters on the wall, the fire now spreading through the room.

"D-Daddy?" she muttered, watching her father panting on the floor.

Clyde forced out a smile, a small tear leaking out of his eye.

His trembling hoof gripped on his daughter's, managing to elicit a whisper:

"R-Run.... Pinkie..."

A beam landed right beside her, snapping her out of her shock.

"R-Run.... leave w-without..."

Pinkie hesitated for a moment, before lunging towards the door, the fire now consuming up to the walls.

She galloped, tears flying in the wind, towards the forest, the loud roar of flames chasing her off.

"Just run, Pinkie..." her father's voice rang in her head.

"Run.... and don't ever come back...."

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Hooves exhausted... vision a blur...

Pinkie trudged through the mountainous woodlands, the bright moon the only source of light. It's been five days of non-stop walking, stopping at every puddle of water or cluster of white mushrooms she could spot.

The loud bangs... the laughing flames... everything was still so fresh in her mind...

*BOOM*

Her ears perked as the sound of loud explosions overhead, the flares of red and yellow whizzing from beyond the dense undergrowth.

Her hoof trampled onto the bushes, the pink mare now spotting a large gate right in front of her, standing tall in its magnificence.

The sounds of cheering burst from within, prompting Pinkie to gallop through the entrance.

She looked in awe at the colorful banners dangling from the windows; the dancing and clicking of hooves against the pavement in a brilliant celebration.

Ponies of all different colors filled the streets, oblivious to her rugged state.

"Somepony help me!" she yelled with her dry throat in vain.

"Somepony please!"

"Isn't it a wonderful dress?"

"Get all the delights you can buy! Come in right now!"

"Somepony?" she tried again; a squeak compared to the hurricane of voices blasting all around.

"Please! My father... my mother! They were-"

She felt herself trip as somepony knocked against her shoulder, falling to the pavement below with a yelp.

A few ponies seemed to have noticed her on the ground, though they only shook their heads in disgust.

"Somepony!" Pinkie tried one last time, before sobbing underneath her deflated mane.

Whispers and murmurs revolved around the crowd, no doubt gossips and criticisms about her unkempt state.

"STEP ASIDE!"

The loud, booming voice knocked her off her hooves, as Pinkie watched the audience tensed suddenly, their heads all tilted down with a humiliated bow.

The crowd parted, with the pink mare watching in amazement as a majestic being trotted up to her, the lips straight as a ruler, before curving into a smile.

"Miss? Are you alright?"

"P-Princess Celestia?"

Pinkie would know that alicorn anywhere. The esteemed ruler of Equestria itself.

"What is your name, my subject?" she asked.

"Name....give her your name...!"

The pink mare bit her lip, looking at all the curious eyes staring down at her. The Princess seemed graceful and serene though, calming the raging storm of emotions in her head.

"Pinkamena.... Pinkamena Diane Pie."

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One year later...

"Trauma is still rooted within her. She's not one that forgets about past events easily."

"I see, doctor." Princess Celestia replied, glancing at the door.

"Would it be alright to have a talk with her? I have a request to make..."

"Of course, your Majesty."

The white alicorn stepped into the room, her concerned gaze settling at the pink mare before her.

Pinkie was looking down at the sheets, letting small droplets of tears drip onto the white blanket. It took a fake cough to jolt the pink mare, who quickly wiped her eyes and asked:

"Y-Your Majesty? W-What is it?"

"Just making sure you're alright, Pinkie." she replied with a smile.

The mare was getting accustomed to her daily diagnose of tests and studies. She was having difficulty to adjust back to the normal life, judging from the one-of-a-kind times that she would insist for a morning walk.

"We're trying our best to help you."

"I hope."

A smile escaped the alicorn's face.

"Listen, Pinkie. I have a small request for you."

Pinkie's ears perked at the sound of that, turning to the Princess with a queer look.

"What is it?"

"I think it's time for you to open up. Meet some new friends. However..."

Princess Celestia opened the door, beckoning the pink mare to step outside.

"There are five particular ponies that I want you to meet."

The pink mare shuffled hesitantly in her bed, swallowing down a nervous lump.

"I guess i-it's okay," she said. What was she thinking?

"Let us go then, my subject."

Both mares exited the royal hospital room into the corridor, turning to the right.

The alicorn turned to Pinkie, who was now glancing around nervously. It's been a year that she talked to somepony else besides the princess herself and the doctors and nurses tending to her.

Both mares stopped at a blue pair of double doors, the alicorn giving a soft knock, before turning the handle.

Pinkie stopped at the sight of five ponies, all quickly standing up at the sight of the alicorn.

"Your Highness!"

"Settle down, my loyal subjects," she said with a chuckle.

"I have some incredible news for you."

Pinkie felt a hoof on her shoulder, gently bringing her forward much to the protests in her brain.

"This is Pinkamena Diane Pie, or Pinkie for short."

"She would be joining you as one of your own."

There was a chorus of soft murmurs between them, stopping only when the Princess continued:

"She hasn't had any friends for a year, so I expect the five of you to open up to her."

The alicorn started to leave, before saying:

"Understood?"

"O-Of course, your Highness!"

As soon as the door shut, Pinkie stood there, completely frozen. A part of her asked her to sit down. Make some real friends that you can depend on. Another part of her wanted her to jump out the window.

"Come on over!" said the caramel mare at the side. So much for jumping out the window...

Pinkie reluctantly sat on the chair, forcing out a smile at the five ponies before her. She turned to the mare that invited her to sit, glancing at the beakers of grounded flowers on the table, then to her Cutie Mark, being a sprig of a herb.

The mare reached out her hoof in greeting, saying:

"My name's Primrose. Primrose Custard, but really just call me Prim. Welcome to the Voyager Five... or Six, since you're here."

The pink pony just let out a nervous chuckle, the stallion across her now standing up. He had a bright blue coat, his mane a darker shade.

"Hey there, Pinkie." he said with a grin.

"I'm Dredges Deniers, nickname Dresden."

The blade twirling around his hoof only made Pinkie more nervous, a bead of sweat escaping her forehead.

"Uh.... um... h-h-hey?"

"Dres," the brown stallion right beside him said sternly with a flap of wings, looking up from the newspaper in his hooves. Judging from his deep voice, he seemed to be the oldest among the five.

"You're scaring her, you twit. Plus you're not suppose to use your weapons out of battle."

"Fine, daddy," he mocked.

"I'm still older than you," he shot back, making Dresden roll his eyes.

"By the way, I'm Charter Freewings," he spoke, turning to Pinkie.

"Hi!"

Pinkie nearly fell off her seat in surprise, Primrose catching her just in time.

A pale green mare was now giggling with laughter, happily shaking her frilled dress around.

"Sorry there. I'm just excited when we have new guests. My name's Gypsum! Gypsum Palgiot of the royal Palgiot family of Pendant Lakes!"

She squealed with glee, making Pinkie chuckle a little as she continued:

"But I'd rather you call me GP!"

"Alright.... hey, GP."

"Harmony?" Primrose suddenly spoke, turning to the last pony in the room.

She had bright pink skin, similar to Pinkie's, though her curled hair was purple. Looking up from the book, she let out a sigh, before saying:

"I'm Harmony. Harmony Peridot. Just call me by my first name."

Harmony then turned to Primrose, giving her an annoyed look.

"There. Happy?"

Her friend just scowled, turning to Pinkie.

"I'm sorry. Harmony's not the type to acknowledge guests."

Pinkie just smiled, looking at the five ponies before her. Dresden and Gypsum was laughing and dancing in the corner, much to the annoyance of Harmony. Charter just chuckled at the sight, with Primrose joining in as well.

"Come on, Pinkie!" she called to the pink mare.

"Show us what you got!"

With a laugh, Pinkie quickly scurried towards them, tossing her hooves in the air as the gramophone played a tune.

"Isn't this fun?" Gypsum said with a laugh, clopping her hooves to the beat.

The pink mare just giggled, her new-found friends laughing along as well.

"There was no doubt about it," she told herself.

"I don't want this to end."

~ * * * * * ~

"... and that's h-how I met them..."

The whole room was silenced, drawn into Pinkie's story.

"I'm s-sorry..."

"Hey, Pinkie," Twilight began, biting her lip.

"We didn't know-"

"It's okay," she cut in, glancing at all the apologetic faces around her, before turning to Winter.

"Shall we start?"

The Patriarch nodded in response, before heading to the door.

"Remember, everypony. We'll try to delay Mirror Mare with the ball. When you get in, you'll have to talk the Oracle."

"The who?"

"The Oracle. The being that oversees any progress in that dimension."

Winter opened the doors wide, stepping outside before he spoke:

"Don't be nervous in there, everypony. Good luck."

With that, he closed the door, Stellar and Caduceus now tying each knob with a firm lock, clasping it shut.

Winter slotted the key in, turning it with a click.

"Let's begin preparations for the ball," he ordered, quickly heading to the balcony.

"Of course, sir."

A brilliant flash of light suddenly burst from the cracks of the door to the library, prompting all three to turn.

"They're in."

"Quickly now," the Patriarch said, the two stallions now galloping down the hallway.

Closing his eyes, his horn flaring a bright blue whilst stepping out into a small balcony, he glanced up at the starry sky.

"Harmony..." he muttered to the mare, hoping she could hear.

"Don't do anything stupid..."

A giant beam suddenly shot from his horn into the sky, forming a giant dome around the palace and enveloping it with light blue magic. The corridors of the Palace started shifting, the hallways all contorting in different directions.

Winter bit his lip at the powerful, searing brilliance, his Cutie Mark now glaring white as well.

The mental timer in his head sounded off, the Patriarch muttering to himself:

"Time starts now."

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Rarity mumbled, her head aching in pain, her eyes slowly opening.

Her blurry vision cleared, her hooves gripping tighter to Spike's claw as she looked at the world around her.

They were standing on a smooth, seemingly non-existent platform, hovering amidst the clusters of blue and black swirls of the sky, all being channeled into a dark pit below.

"Spike," she called to the dragon, stirring him up from unconsciousness.

"W-Where are we?" he asked, clutching at his pounding head.

"Rarity?" the white unicorn heard her name, turning to the direction of the echoing voice.

Twilight was galloping towards her, a relieved look on her face.

"I thought you guys never made it!"

"Twilight! We're over here!"

Rainbow and Soarin' quickly flew from above, before looking at the giant expanse of emptiness around them.

"Where are we?"

"Probably in the other dimension, as Winter said," the lavender unicorn replied, glancing at the cosmic space.

"Where's Pinkie?"

"Over here!" a voice cried out, making all of them turn.

Pinkie was galloping towards them, with Octavia and Crimson following right behind.

"Where's the Oracle?"

"I have no idea." Twilight said, glancing at the empty world.

"I don't even know how it looks like."

"Presumably, yes."

The eight ponies and one dragon turned back in surprise, a giant shadow now looming over them.

A black figure rose from the floor with tentacle-like hands, four black arms conjoined to his back, twitching with every sway of the creature's body. On one of his hands was a giant, swinging golden pocketwatch, the glass surface of it cracked. Its eyes were draped over with a pure white cloth, the only other feature on its face being a mouth with dozens of fangs protruding outwards.

"W-Who are you?" Rarity asked nervously, disgusted by the monster.

"I am the Oracle of this world. The Deity, the Overseer. In life I had a name; one that you ponies have very clear knowledge of."

The silent response only beckoned his tongue out, hissing like a snake.

"Axle was my name in life. In death, you can call me Saphir."

"Axle... Axle Palgiot?" Crimson asked.

"The very sssssame," he retorted, his mouth giving out a revolting grin.

"I suppose you're all here for a same reason, yes?"

Rarity stepped forward, trying to hold her head high at the creature.

"We're here to find out about the secrets of the Voyager Six."

"Ahh, yes... The Voyager Six. A cryptic, morbid secret kept by both sides, already in the final stages of Disequilibrium. No doubt one of the most fascinating cases of Pendant Lakes. However..."

One of his tentacle arms reached down to the white mare, making her step back in repulsion.

"A payment is required."

"Payment? Oh great!"

Rainbow kicked her hooves, Soarin' now stomping down on her signature tail as the pegasus flapped her wings rapidly, trying to free herself from her coltfriend's tight grip.

"Let me at 'em! Let me go! I'm gonna give this brute his payment!"

"No need for brashness, Rainbow," Rarity said, stopping them in surprise.

"I've got just the thing."

From her hoof, she tossed a golden pocketwatch, which slid towards the Oracle. He licked his lips greedily, his tentacle reaching down and grabbing the device.

The white mare smiled. It was lucky she decided to bring Olive's pocketwatch to the palace.

"Fascinating. Then feast your eyes!"

The arms protruding from his back quickly arranged themselves, forming a swastika symbol as his tentacle appendages warped a small, indigo ball before them.

The ponies watched in awe as the purple ball grew, bursting out into the empty expanse they're in.

"Enjoy the show," the creature said, before fading into nothing.

"Well," Rarity said, biting her lip.

"Here we go."

Pinkie nodded, the empty world around them now starting to fill up with warping entities.

The faint sound of fanfare clicked into her mind, remembering clearly of what happened that day as she muttered to herself:

"And so it begins..."

Voyager's Arc: To The Depths Of Hoovingaar

It was quiet nights like this that Harmony could appreciate.

The mare closed her eyes, letting the gentle breeze of the night flutter through her purple mane, her body basking in the ambiance in the dead night of winter, her face glancing up in the afterglow of the crescent moon hanging amidst the scintillation of stars scattered across the sky.

The town of Pendant Lakes still shone fervently below, somehow marveling the mare yet annoyed her at the time. Despite being in the remote regions of the north, it was like every other city in the rest of Equestria: always intent on celebrating the arrival of winter with the usual majesties of sparkling shops and adorned windows exhibiting an array of polished items standing on mere wooden racks that are able to interest even the most fussy of mares.

Speaking of winter, however...

Harmony turned back, her breath a shiver, towards the bedroom, smiling contently at the stallion draped under the crimson sheets.

Winter Palgiot let out a fuzzy snore, nearly making his marefriend laugh off the balcony. He cringed a little, his grip on the blankets tightening despite his given name.

"Silly stallion, you are..."

Her hooves padded onto the carpet, the mare slowly crept out of the door, shutting it behind with a near-silent click.

With one more circle of the scarf, she trotted down the corridors, illuminated only by the filtered rays of the moon. She had always considered herself a nocturnal pony, seeing how much energy she has in the darkest of night compared to early morning.

The direct opposite of Pinkie Pie.

Her attention quickly turned to that of the pink mare. She had seen her lingering around the palace lately, almost like whatever she was doing now, though only in the bright of the afternoon.

There wasn't a trace of happiness left in her since Gypsum's death. Harmony couldn't imagine the burden her friend was going through; the ones that she herself had started to strained under as well.

A few right turns, then a left ended her in the Music Room, once the haven of Carillon Palgiot.

The mare had read about her in one of the many books around the library a year ago, and had always looked up to her since then. Her talent in music seemed to have passed down towards Gypsum, who had a flute as her Cutie Mark.

She bit her lip, the signature chortle of the deceased Voyager echoing in her head.

"Not now, Harmony," the pink mare scolded herself. Now's not the time.

Her hoof scanned the brass instruments perched on the white cupboard, its knobs glistening a fine gold in the dazzling moonlight. She sighed with boredom, flicking one of the bells at the side.

*CLICK*

The turbulent noise of grinding stone made her turn around, a loud, metallic snap nearly making her heart leap out of her chest.

It seemed to be coming from everywhere, only fueling into her anxiety. The loud cacophony of whirring gears and crumbling rocks smashed like a distorted symphony around her, pounding the mare in a state of dilemma.

Harmony scrunched her eyes shut, her lips almost bleeding from the forceful bite of her lips. With hooves to her ears, she laid herself onto the floor, the chaos around becoming louder and louder...

The loud bang from around signaled the end of the pandemonium of noise, an influx of silence immediately replacing it.

The mare tried to stand, her ears ringing.

Her vision was a blur, though she could see instead of the white cupboard that stood, there was now a black, gaping cavern, with darkness eating away at the walls.

With one giddy step forward, Harmony nearly tumbled inside, her migraine stirring up again. She clutched her head, though it only blazed with every inch deeper into the cavern.

She held her breath, her horn emitting a bright glow of a ball, illuminating the uneven, rock walls of the dark passageway down.

The bottom was still an endless infinite of black, though her hooves clenched with determination. There was no doubt about it; she was going to find out whatever the heck's down there.

Even if Winter would forbid her from it.

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"Stellar..."

"No... impossible..."

"Stellar Lionheart..."

"We... We've sealed you.... Harrow, he..."

"All for naught..."

"MORTEORO!!"

His blade thrust into the air of the night as Stellar awoke with a shock, panting and wheezing hastily with cold sweat flung across his white satin sheets, dampening it in his perspiration.

The butler exhaled once more, releasing the rapacious aura out into the open to be replaced by one of serenity and calmness, his blade lowered onto the bed.

A flurry of slurs and rasps hissed from his mouth, all directed onto the colt himself.

Succumbing his conscience into a bunch of nightmares... ridiculous, he scowled.

Stellar glanced at his blade, his heart simmering with hatred at the smooth, glinting surface of it, the weapon bathed in the dim light of the moon.

He tossed it aside, hearing the unmistakable clang of metal onto the floor. With a crack of his hooves, he dragged the sheets back up to his waist, longing to return to his desired sleep.

The pair of eyes just looked into the blackness of the ceiling above, the butler letting out a long dejected sigh as he began to list down the recent turn of events happening around lately.

There was the return of Caduceus Brineheart; one of his oldest friends. He had forgotten to greet him today, knowing of his recent return from the excavation of Jezuthar. Then, of course, there was the assassination of Gypsum Palgiot, one of the brightest and most energetic mares of the household.

He trembled, remembering the solemn yet enraged faces of the Patriarch and his siblings during the funeral.

Especially the youngest one, who was utterly confused by everything happening.

Sure enough, there was the soft knock on the door. The butler lifted himself up, his hooves dragging with a turn of the knob. It was a sort of routine these days to have the filly come to his room at night, just to listen to a bedtime story.

The butler sighed. That was once Gypsum's job.

"Stellar?"

He grinned at the turquoise filly standing outside his door, a plushy pillow tucked in her hoof.

"You're a little late, Spring."

"I slept a little, but I had a bad dream..."

Spring pouted as the butler chuckled at her naivety, before guiding her in. She let out a small yawn, dragging herself onto the bed in exhaustion.

The butler strode to his armchair, reaching for the set of books he had hoarded from the library after hours and hours of scavenging.

"Now," he began, "which one would you like to read first?"

"Actually, I don't really wanna read any..."

"Oh?" Stellar said in surprise, looking at the dismal look on her face.

"What's wrong, Spring?"

The five year old filly shuffled reluctantly, her mouth muttering inaudibly.

The butler could only guess what's behind her expression, though her glistening eyes only told him of one possibility.

"I won't tell anypony else."

Spring looked up, her grip on the pillow tightening.

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

"I promise."

There was a sigh, before the filly began:

"It was a week ago, I think. I was sleeping then I saw something..."

"What did you see?" the butler asked, sitting at the edge of the armchair.

"It was Gypsum. She was running to Winter and Autumn. Then something came out of nowhere and..."

A sniffle, then a loud sob prompted Stellar to hug her tightly, before she continued:

"There was some red... stuff... I don't know.... i-it was e-everywhere and sh-she just fell..."

"Wait," Stellar cut in.

"You said you saw it a week ago?"

"Th-That's the problem! She was still alive then!"

Spring held her tears in, the butler's gentle pat on her back calming her down.

"I saw her die before it happened, Stellar!"

"Well, I-I'm sure there's a logical explanation for that," he replied, albeit with doubt.

"You certainly need some rest. We'll think about this tomorrow, alright?"

His words somehow reassured the filly, who gave a large grin and an equally large yawn. It wasn't long before Spring's head finally slumped, her body all curled up like a feline with a quiet snore.

Stellar smiled warmly, placing her pillow beside her, in which she instinctively grabbed in her sleep. He held his breath, watching the filly stir about in her restless sleep, before finally settling down in a tranquil slumber.

His mind, however, pondered on the filly's words. Seeing Gypsum get shot before it occured... it wasn't any ordinary thing that would happen, even in a family such as this.

A blinding glow erupted suddenly, making the butler shield his eyes.

He peered from beneath his hooves, watching as the sleeping filly glowed, particularly at her flank.

"Her talent..." he muttered to himself, the intensity of the light starting to die down.

Stellar rose from the armchair, cautiously approaching the filly. Surprisingly enough, Spring had slept soundly through it, oblivious to everything that happened.

The butler rubbed his eyes. Her Cutie Mark was revealed.

A crystal ball.

She had the ability to tell the future, Stellar concluded.

That would mean her premonition wasn't just a coincidence, he thought to himself. It was meant to happen.

He bit his lip; her talent was seeing the future, yet the future always arrives, no doubt endlessly.

Won't that mean...?

He held his breath, stumbling upon the realization.

That she was always showcasing her talent, no matter what.

Talent meaning the catalyst for the family curse.

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The darkness of the cavern was foreboding, the only source of light being the globular radiance shimmering from her horn.

Harmony Peridot glanced around, her hooves sliding down the wall of uneven rock, smoothed by the endless drips of water from the stalactites above. A set of unnatural stone stairs were carved into the ground, its slippery surface covered in moss and a few mushrooms.

There were a few cairns she had passed, the top of them resembling the shape of a bowl with water collected at the edges. The musty, hollow draft flowing between her hooves only reminded her of her unwelcoming presence, a part of her wanting her to turn back.

The descending steps finally came to a halt, into a grand expanse of stone. The unicorn couldn't help but gasp, her sphere of light expanding to illuminate the immensely wide stretch of the cavern.

The granite plateau was carved into the shape of a Maltese cross, its arms extending to the sides of the dome-shaped cavern. At each respective end, there was a stone doorway, the top of it all carved in some strange, runic language.

She groaned with annoyance, her migraine reaching its near-peak point, her hooves trying her best not to stumble over as she strode giddily towards the center of the platform, glancing up in awe.

Standing on a cylindrical base was a statue, depicting a pony with his hooves raised up in a fighting stance. Its eyes frowned down upon Harmony, whose ball of light shone across his bitter expression of animosity.

But what mystified him was the object at the bottom of his stone hooves.

It was a book, though thicker than most of those she had seen in the library. The cover was wrinkled with age, the pages it held behind tainted yellow. The red, rough spine was already starting to tear, with an intricate, elaborate signature of some sort painted gold at the bottom of it, covered in a fine layer of dust.

The pink mare could only squint her eyes at the intimidating words, managing to make out:

Mundus Regis

"The World King"

She glanced at the ornate letters in disbelief, unable to perceive what she just saw.

"Wonder what's it doing down here?" she asked herself. Something this unique couldn't be just left here underground without any reason.

A loud bang from somewhere made her whirl around, her breathing growing frantic as the sound of trotting hooves echoed throughout the cavern. Her ball of light suddenly flickered, before the entire cavern plunged into darkness.

Biting onto the book, she quickly duck behind the statue, her face peering out just in time to see two cloaked figures entering from one of the doorways.

"So your plan is to excavate deeper?"

Harmony held her breath, her ears straining.

"The usual," the other voice replied. Like his friend, his voice was deep, yet there was a certain rasp to it.

"I'm assuming you want the others to join in as well."

"They must at least know of our conquest down here, don't they?"

There was a pause, before the other voice began again:

"You might be right about that. But at least let me scan the area for a moment."

The mare let out a silent gasp, noticing the pair's hooves approaching from the corner of her eyes.

She slid herself around the base, her ears perking to receive the message as the two shady figures continued their conversation:

"Who would've thought there would be ruins right below the town?"

Harmony stopped short, creeping back again out of curiosity.

"I can't believe it either," the other voice said with a chuckle.

"I wish the others could spare a little time. They should've seen how magnificent these structures are."

There was no doubt about it, she thought to himself, glancing at the direction the two ponies were heading into, completely oblivious about the pink mare's presence.

She felt her heart leap with anticipation. Ruins at the bottom of Pendant Lakes? Nopony would even think of it, considering already how old the town itself was.

"Hand me your damn spyglass, Caduceus."

Her mind stopped at the name. It couldn't be...

"What? You're going to examine it again?"

"I can't just stand on the balcony and gander at it, right?"

Caduceus... That name was too familiar for her to ignore.

Then it clicked, the mare blinking in realization.

"You're sure Winter would allow us to excavate it?"

The mention of her coltfriend's name made her linger around a little longer.

"He already gave his permission."

Another surprised, silent gasp. The Patriarch knows this as well?

That does it, she scowled under her breath, out of earshot from the shady duo. She needs answers.

As the two ponies entered through one of the doorways, she quickly scampered back to where she came from, relieved yet infuriated as well.

Why didn't Winter tell her about this? That damn stallion...

She spat at the stone stairs, ascending the path back up into the music haven. The crumpling book glowed a bright pink, hovering freely as her horn wishes it to be.

Her thoughts immediately focused onto the Patriarch. Harmony gritted her teeth, her brows furrowed once she stepped back into the palace from the musty caverns, finally re-invited into the dim glow of moonlight.

If Winter doesn't want to speak, she told herself, then Celestia be damned she would find out herself.

Even if it means crossing the line.

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Pinkie let out her thousandth whimper of the night, wiping the endless rain of tears that were running down her face. Her mane was still flattened, though not completely with a few strays already sticking out from the dark pink curtain of hers.

The sorrow still ravaged in her chest, never diminishing since her friend passed. Her one effort of suicide was stopped by Winter, much to her ease, though she soon scowled about it afterwards.

"Forgiveness..."

Her breath shuddered as she inhaled, though the storm never seemed to calm. It wasn't long before the images of Gypsum's cheerful grin came back bouncing into her head, making her let out yet another sniffle.

The knock on the door saved her from breaking down once more, the mare softly calling out:

"Come in."

The door swung open slowly, the pink mare grimacing the instant she saw the stallion entering the room.

Winter Palgiot approached modestly yet cautiously, his face a bright smile. Judging from the ruffled, matted blue mane - Pinkie held back her giggle - he had a very bad case of bedhead.

"What do you want?" she scowled grimly, crossing her hooves with spite.

"Just seeing if you require any companionship."

There was only a humph in response, relieving the Patriarch to be able to gain at least one subtle reply.

"It seems you're faring well."

"Better without you," she snarled.

"Still contemplating suicide?"

Pinkie whirled back, almost as if insulted as Winter snickered under his breath.

"W-What do you mean 'suicide'? I'm over that!"

The Patriarch tried not to laugh, only making the pink mare pout.

"You know," he said, "you seem to be cute when you're angry."

"I. Am. NOT!"

"Okay, okay!" he hastily replied the rising mare, who settled back down, making him breath a huge sigh of relief.

"I just wish you and your friends can... you know... forgive one another..."

"They've argued, Winter," she snapped, her tears quickly flooding back.

"Argued when their friend is lying on the floor and bleeding her heart out!"

"But it's not entirely their fault-"

"Now she's DEAD!!" Pinkie broke in with a scream into his face.

"S-She's gone..."

The Patriarch suddenly felt himself being jerked towards the mare, who began to cry in his chest. He held back his surprise, trying to absorb what just happened.

"Uh, Pinkie...?" he called, though her endless sobs drowned it out.

He sighed, letting Pinkie bawl out her devastation, ignoring the dampness it was causing across his chest and hooves. His hoof instinctively patted her back, gently hushing her with every stroke down her mane.

It was about fifteen minutes that the pink mare finally stopped crying, wiping her tears away. The Patriarch looked down at her, watching her eyes sparkle gently.

The feeling in his gut kicked him, making his hooves tingle. His mouth fumbled and fuddled, before Winter could finally figure out what to say:

"Are you alright, now?"

She only let out an inaudible mutter, prompting him to speak:

"Look, I know Gypsum's... passing. Has you a little overworked and all."

The Patriarch held his breath, before pressing onwards.

"But it's time we let go of the past, Pinkie. It's time we should move on."

"But-"

"We will never forget about her, Pinkie," he cut in, knowing in his gut what she wanted to say.

"There are so many happy memories of her, so why bother reminding ourselves of her death?"

Pinkie just looked down sullenly, before feeling a hoof around her shoulder.

"Gypsum told me a little about you," Winter said gently, making her blink in surprise.

"She told me about how you were found in Canterlot by the Princess herself," he continued, stopping for a moment as the pink mare started to tremble.

"I'm sorry... about your parents..."

"I-It's... alright..."

She tried to smile, albeit a sad one. Shifting towards the white stallion, her heart beating an echo, she let out a tired yawn, before leaning against his shoulder.

"Thank you for being here..."

Before he could reply, Winter's ears perked at the sound of light snoring.

He chuckled quietly, absentmindedly combing her mane as she slept on his lap. Without any hesitation, the Patriarch gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead, the pink mare grinning in her slumber in response.

She looked beautiful.

"If only..." the stallion whispered into her ear. His heart throbbed with painful longing, watching Pinkie sparkle with the dancing lights around her.

Winter closed his eyes, striding towards the door. He glanced back once more, still mesmerized by the adorable yet graceful serenity Pinkie was embracing.

He has Harmony now, the Patriarch reminded himself. He must remain loyal.

The aching feeling in his heart prospered, growing into full bloom. With a twist of the knob, Winter stepped out of the door, finally able to finish his sentence:

"If only I had met you sooner..."

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Present Day

The sounds of humming violins and blaring trumpets erupted in a calming, sensational performance of satisfaction and enjoyment, the Equinox ballroom filled with the ponies of Pendant Lakes, literally. Among the clattering hooves against the polished marble floors, there were the endless chatters revolving around from each corner of the room, only adding to the lively scene the Patriarch had arranged for today.

Winter Palgiot stood humbly yet proudly, his horn glowing indistinguishably among the dazzling spectacle of crystals hanging above, recently repaired to perfection. He gave every single pony a modest nod as they passed by him, not knowing of the plans he had prepared, just in case.

A tap on his shoulder made him turn, immediately facing his loyal butler.

"What is it, Stellar?"

"I'm sure you're aware of the Princesses's presence, my Patriarch?"

"Of course," he justified.

"Doctor Brineheart had notified me of this."

With a quick bow, Stellar left in a hurry, leaving Winter to gaze upon the ever-shifting crowd.

The stallion straightened his bow tie, ruffling his white collars neatly before nodding towards one of the servants in waiting, who quickly raised a spoon towards a wine glass.

*TINK TINK TINK*

Winter cleared his throat, watching as everypony turned towards him.

"As always," he began, observing each and every face within the crowd.

"I'm delighted to have guests to attend the ball, and I'm sure, as residents of Pendant Lakes, no doubt all of you are eager to finally step into the palace, and I'm happy that we, as ponies, understand each other, despite of class or type."

A cascading wave of clops followed, before the Patriarch continued:

"As always, the tragic events of the past must be forgotten, and I hold this ball partly as a memorial to those who had deceased recently, particularly my siblings, Summer and Autumn."

His eyes scanned through the ponies. She should be here somewhere...

"I suppose I couldn't have been more honored to have the town here with me. A round of applause for everypony here; for everypony that has attended this glorious festival."

Another grand applause followed, Winter smiling beatifically before his eyes stopped, glancing into the crowd.

Instead of a face, he spotted a mask. It was gleaming, with one half black, the other a contrasting white. Three teardrops were dipped at the side, with its eye-holes furrowed into a furious glare.

The noticeable feature of it, however, was the criss-cross of stitches at the lips, which seemed to curl into a smile at the excitement of being discovered.

"Now," Winter finally said, his focus fixated on the cloaked figure as she whirled behind one of the marble pillars, in some sort of seemingly entrancing and sultry attempt to lure him.

"Enjoy yourselves, and may this night be a glorious one for each and every one of you!"

One last bow, followed by another applause, before the Patriarch quickly headed into the scattering crowd, swerving past the number of ponies blocking his way.

At the end of the trail, the masked pony noticed his approach, though her raised hoof only beckoned the stallion to come closer.

Before he reached the pony, however, she suddenly stepped behind the pillars, losing herself from his view.

Winter scowled under his breath as he finally stumbled out of the crowd, glancing around the darker, more secluded corners of the room.

A pair of hooves suddenly wrapped around him, though he seemed unfazed by that, only responding with a dark, cold growl of his breath.

"Harmony," he snarled, never bothering to turn back.

There was a giggle from the mare, her mask seemingly removed.

"How's for visiting, Winter?"

"For an uninvited one, seemingly predictable."

The stallion could feel her lace dress rubbing against his black suit, realizing of her sudden change of attire.

"I suppose you're dressed for the occasion."

"As always," she replied meekly, yet there was a foreboding slur in her voice.

"Still with that pink freak?"

"Which pink freak?" Winter shot back, his hooves shifting uncomfortably.

"I assure you she and I had broken up already."

In response, there was a scowl, before the Patriarch felt himself being pushed harshly forward.

He tensed his shoulders, turning around to face the grimacing mare. Her dress was, as he had predicted, a lace one, glittering with a few diamonds carefully woven into the fabric, ruffling out with a white, translucent ribbon at her waist.

Behind it, however, was the unmistakable glint of the double blades strapped at her hooves, the stallion's brows furrowing at the sight of it.

"She's not here anymore, Harmony," Winter said nonchalantly.

"She's gone. I'm back. Happy?"

"You only said that just to protect that little slut of yours."

The unicorns glared at each other, a furious rage burning in each of their eyes. It wasn't long before the music suddenly erupted into a full crescendo, before a radiant beam of light suddenly shone towards the pair.

Winter held his hooves up, as well as Harmony, trying to shielding from the brilliant flare of light. A deep voice boomed from around, the Patriarch recognizing it immediately.

"Stellar, you sly fox," he cursed under his breath.

"And now I present to you, the Patriarch; who seems to have selected his dance partner of the evening!"

Laughs and chuckles echoed from all around, prompting the two unicorns to join along as well. Harmony turned to him, the imminent wrath in her eyes already making him snort with disgust.

"Please welcome them to the stage, everypony!!"

Forcing out a smile, the two unicorns holding each other's hooves, with a path separating the sea of ponies laid out just for them. Both ponies marched down the 'aisle', sweat already running down their foreheads out of uncertainty with the loud applause they were giving.

Winter wrinkled his snout, wanting to just loosen his grip on his ex-marefriend's hooves and flee, though the majority of voices in his head told him this will never be the case.

It wasn't long before both stallion and mare reached the center of the marble floor, forcefully joined together by the hooves. The stallion suddenly pulled Harmony closer, only making her let out a growl.

"Dangerous little minx you are now, aren't you?" he teased, albeit sarcastically.

Harmony just rolled her eyes, the once-couple grimacing among the other, noticeably happier pairs standing about the floor. As soon as the music starts, their hooves shifted effectively, the two ponies mirroring each other's moves.

Winter held his breath, the mare starting to turn in his hooves. He brought her closer, the pink unicorn trying to quell her flurry of rage as he whispered into her ear:

"Just like old days, ain't it?"

Quassataeque Aequinoctium

"Anything, Octavia?"

"Nothing in the west wing."

Rainbow Dash finally surrendered to her irritation, becoming the first to groan loudly among the four mares. Twilight could only roll her eyes at the pegasus's impatience, crossing her hooves.

"Can't believe it..." the cyan mare hissed, more to herself than to her friends.

"The weapon cannot be that hard to find," the lavender unicorn retorted.

"If something is that powerful to destroy Canterlot from such a distance, then it's bound to be huge!"

"And it seems like we can't find it at all, can we?"

Twilight's inability to respond to her question made the rainbow mare scoff indignantly with annoyance. Princess Luna soon followed, expressing her frustration as well, though in a much more silent way than Rainbow Dash.

She turned to the last, more patient gray mare of the group, who cleared her throat, her hoof straightening her trademark collar and pink bow tie, before suggesting:

"Maybe try searching about it in Tantrum Palgiot's room?"

"Tantrum Palgiot?" the cerulean alicorn quipped.

"You mean the creator of the weapon itself?"

"Well, it seems like a good lead... but we don't really have much time left..."

The lavender unicorn stopped to think at the choices running through her head, the sands in her mentally-pictured hourglass starting to run dry. She turned to face Octavia's expectant look, before finally stating her decision:

"I don't think we could be able to find his room. If only we could-"

Twilight's voice stopped, her eyes fixated towards the end of the corridor, watching in surprise at a pair of blue eyes staring back at her, before the stallion that retained them stifled a small grin.

"Miss Sparkle!" he quickly hollered, unintentionally flaunting in his black suit.

"Winter?" she called out his name in meek interest, the four mares galloping towards him.

"Where have you been?"

"Dealing with a few things, though there is one more thing I have to finish."

His disheveled mane and slightly bedraggled suit already told them of his frantic state, though the Patriarch just shrugged it off with a smile, instead asking:

"Found the weapon yet?"

"Still trying to," Rainbow blurted out, much to Twilight's annoyance.

"How come everything in Pendant Lakes must be so-"

The lavender unicorn instantly stuffed her hoof into her friend's mouth, laughing sheepishly as the pegasus struggled to pull it out, her wings flapping frantically about.

"Don't bother Rainbow," she said with a nervous grin.

"We're just a little... lost! That's all!"

"The weapon must be somewhere, isn't it?" Princess Luna piped in.

"Yes," Winter replied with a nod, his horn still glowing a bright blue.

"My father had finished building the weapon, as he mentioned in his notes, but he kept the location of it only in his memory. The most we can work with is by narrowing it down."

"Narrowing it down?" Octavia repeated.

"You mean..."

"The weapon is powerful at a long range, and the only such availability I've known so far to reach such an incredible distance is a supercharged energy core."

Winter's brief explanation made them all look at him in bafflement, before he sighed, giving his full explanation:

"The core is basically three cylinders of electromagnets enwrapped in a sheet of charged solar cells, all of which power an electromagnet inside the nexus of the weapon to amplify and control the photons needed for the cannon. It slowly charges during the day, but at night the magnetism would leak, and thus affect the energy levels of Equestria."

"But there hasn't been any such drastic changes of energy until recently."

Princess Luna's questioning statement made him stop to ponder, the cerulean mare continuing:

"If the weapon was built before your father's death, then why did the energy levels rise only about now?"

"Hmm... my father did mention he never had the time to prepare a proper energy source..."

Winter twiddled his hooves in his bout of deep thinking, stopping after a moment as he concluded:

"It's possible that whoever that found it knew of the technology they were using, albeit more effectively. The location depends on the factors that such a weapon can achieve, which means-"

"We'll have to slowly calculate it ourselves...!"

Twilight quickly beamed at her realization, already bouncing with glee with the rest of them only looking at her squeal of yays in exasperation.

Rainbow just let out a short groan, her hoof smacking her forehead as she shook her head in disapproval.

"Is she that interested?" Winter piped in suddenly, a little surprised as the cyan pegasus merely laughed, giving him a sarcastic reply:

"We're talking about the origin of the word 'egghead' here."

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"We exorcise you, impure spirit..."

Princess Celestia held her breath as Stellar Lionheart scattered a mixture of red, pink and dried-brown rose petals around the paint-drawn sun logo, matching those etched onto the flags during the Summer Sun Celebration back in Canterlot. Lying unconscious in the center was Harmony, shifting a bit as some of the petals tingled her neck.

The alicorn sighed. Most of the time she had been acting as the ruler of Equestria along with her sister, sometimes being a mentor, sometimes an adviser and, at rare and dire times, a fighter. This had only been the third time she was required to attend an exorcism, knowing full well of the demon's potential power.

"Every Tartaric power, every incursion of the infernal adversary, every legion..."

She turned to her side, watching Pinkie resting from her exhaustion, her limp body leaning against the alabaster mare's slender hooves. Her eyes were closed, yet the princess could tell she was not asleep from the small, worn-out mutters she was making.

Stellar sprinkled something - Celestia assumed it to be the water from the twin lakes - over the pink unicorn's face, stopping only when she coughed suddenly. He nodded to Caduceus, who soon handed him a bowl of oil.

"Every congregation and diabolical sect..."

"Don't be lost, Harmony..." the alicorn mumbled, referring to the former Voyager's saner side that had once nestled in her mind. She had seen it once in awhile from her; every queer flurry of her pupils to the twitches of her hooves... the real Harmony was still fighting in there, and both Princess Celestia and Pinkie knew about it.

"Please..."

"Thus cursed demon and every diabolical legion, we adjure you."

Stellar's voice heightened at that, his hoof circling the pointing rays of the sun drawing after being dipped in a bowl of olive oil, the intense smell wafting throughout the room whilst the butler made sure the trail of oil never touched the mane of the unconscious mare.

There was a sigh as he finally finished the next step, reaching towards the table.

"Cease to deceive the remnants of the living."

The rest of them held their breath as the butler raised his hoof, flicking the lid of a lighter. The flame that lurked within immediately pounced up the moment it ignited, prancing about in its metallic nest.

"And to give to them the poison of eternal perdition," he added, bending down at the near-invisible oil, the tip of the small ember flickering dangerously close towards it.

As soon as the flames sparked into the track, the circumference of oil suddenly flared up, burning in a dazzling ring of red and blue fire. Stellar held his blade up high, unexpectedly cuing the large crash of thunder outside, before striking it into the stone floor.

The rapier glowed a golden yellow, the flames burning brighter. A devilish snarl suddenly burst through their thoughts as Harmony suddenly hovered into the air, still unconscious despite the chaos brewing about. The stone floor cracked, the fractures brilliantly flaring in branches of white.

Then, Harmony opened her eyes.

A loud, piercing scream erupted from the hovering mare, her recognizable voice distorted in the mixture of the devil's hellishly deep roar. Her pupils glowed an incandescent white, almost as if her head was filled only with the prowess of light. The flames encircled around her gradually changed into a horrendous purple and black, only proving the demon's sudden knowledge of the ritual he was undergoing.

"Hurry up, Stellar!!" Caduceus shouted, his mane tossing in the powerful wind as they struggled to hold their stand. The princess held Pinkie tight underneath her wings, staring with horror at the screaming unicorn.

"Back to Tartarus, Morteoro!!" he continued shouting.

"Fury of Time, of Death and Life!! Of all deceit, the enemy of her salvation!"

"NOOOOOO!!"

"Be humble under the powerful hoof of Celestia, tremble and-"

Stellar couldn't finish it, even if he wanted to.

His body was suddenly thrown into the air, slammed back by an invisible claw. The fissures on the floor started to grow up against the blade of the rapier, before the metal splintered, shattering into pieces.

The tainted flames started to swirl around Harmony, as if being sucked into a vacuum, encircling the mare in a tornado from a pyromaniac's fairy tale. The miscellaneous papers in the room fluttered about, charred by the twirling inferno in the room.

"Get down!!" the doctor yelled.

The crackle of flames and howling of wind suddenly died down, forming some sort of white shell around Harmony's body.Princess Celestia hurled herself and Pinkie to the side, instinctively flicking her wings open as the two braced themselves for the incoming implosion, clenching their eyes shut.

*BOOM!!*

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"Height?"

"From the given scale here..." Octavia studied, measuring the blueprints before her.

"About three thousand six hundred feet above sea level."

"Alright."

Twilight immediately gazed back at the map, which was dotted with a multitude of red circles that showed the numerous possible locations that the weapon could've been built upon. So far, they've only knew that the weapon was in Pendant Lakes and its forest outskirts, though the recently obtained information had left out the town by itself, leaving only the palace and the various bumps of the mountains all around.

They were in Tantrum's room, scanning through the various notebooks and logbooks that had been scattered around the table. She quickly crossed out the town with a black marker, turning to Rainbow Dash.

"Angle?"

"How the heck do you use this thing?" the pegasus fussed, flipping a protractor about.

"Ugh... seriously?"

The lavender unicorn sighed, her horn snatching the tool from Rainbow's hooves, the cyan pegasus just crossing her hooves with a scornful growl.

"Maximum angle of elevation: sixty. Minimum around thirty."

Winter watched vaguely as she crossed out a few more dots from the large map, narrowing slowly to about a dozen left, all situated in the steep mountains around the palace. Princess Luna was sitting beside him, her observation on Twilight's progress more focused than his own.

The clock in his head ticked slowly and agonizingly, despite all attempts of ignoring it. His patience diminishing, he turned to the cerulean alicorn, asking:

"Where's your sister?"

"Overseeing the exorcism," she replied halfheartedly.

The Patriarch tried not to think about it; his mind had other things to tend to, after all.

His hoof reached into his suit, biting his lip. He still has one last thing to finish, and if he can't make it in time...

"Where's the exorcism being held?"

"The Tower Room," Octavia answered the question.

"I see..."

He quickly rose from the group, much to the surprise of the rest as Winter gave an apologetic bow.

"I have some unfinished matters to attend to," he said, trotting towards the door.

"Before any of you say anything, yes, it's urgent."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"Where are you going?"

There wasn't a reply, as the Patriarch had already stepped out of the room before she could finish her question. The lavender unicorn just blinked, before shaking her head, going back to her necessary calculations.

"What's up with him?" Rainbow asked, a little annoyed at his sudden departure.

"I don't know, but now's not the time to ask about it now."

Twilight beckoned her attention back to the map, continuing their effort of their frantic search for the weapon. She continued studying the blueprints, scratching her head at any other possibilities that might pinpoint its exact location, before feeling a tap on the shoulder.

Octavia handed her a close up of the battery, which was embedded into the mouth of the cannon itself.

"It's says here it requires only about four hours of sunlight. Any lesser, there wouldn't be enough time for it to fully function. Any more, and the battery will explode."

"So it must be exposed to four hours of sunshine... the approximate time for a sunrise or a sunset. That leaves us only a cliff face as the best possible location for a weapon."

She soon crossed out most of the remaining dots, leaving only a pair left on the map. The rest of them nodded understandingly, yet all of them knew it wasn't enough.

"Come on, come on..."

Her gaze switched from the two dots on the map, her head hastily wracking up a few calculations. Both locations were rooted deep in the mountains, with a network secret mountain passages connecting them to the passage, yet if they've got one of them wrong, there wouldn't be enough time to gallop to the other.

"There must be something that can help us."

"Wait," Rainbow suddenly perked.

"You've mentioned sunrise or a sunset, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Just thinking about the facts."

The cyan pegasus unfurled the map of Equestria, showing all of the numerous towns and cities that populated its stretch. Pendant Lakes was circled red, with a red line connecting it to Canterlot, in which the mare trailed her hoof upon.

"Tantrum's planning to strike Canterlot, isn't he? That means the weapon has to face towards the capital."

"Which means it has to face southwest..."

Twilight's face immediately lit up in realization, turning to the cyan mare.

"You're a genius, Rainbow!"

"Aw, no biggie..."

Her sheepish reply soon made way for the seriousness of the situation, the lavender unicorn finally crossing out one last dot, smiling beatifically at the final, possible spot.

"It must be over there," she concluded, pointing at a series of craggy mountains.

"There's not much time to waste!! Let's go!!"

*BOOM!!*

The floor suddenly rumbled, the four mares freezing on the spot as the ground below them shook in a frenzy, throwing them off their hooves.

"What in the hay was that?!" Rainbow yelled her question.

Princess Luna galloped out of the door first, her eyes widening in disbelief at the sight the moment she peered out of the window. The rest soon followed her movements, though Twilight was the only one in the end to be able to mutter something out, her heart sinking in a brew of dread, before she shook her head.

"Look," she called out to the others.

"If we stay here any longer it'll only get worse! We have to go! Now!"

"But Pinkie-"

"She'll get out of there," the lavender unicorn interrupted Rainbow, ignoring her protests.

"We have to make sure the weapon is deactivated first!"

There was a dejected sigh from the pegasus, crossing her hooves with spite.

"If Pinkie.... gets hurt," she muttered before darting off, though it sounded more like a threat.

"What of my sister?" Princess Luna hastily asked, Octavia trotting ahead.

"Will she be safe?"

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

Twilight held her breath; she didn't plan to leave both her friend and her teacher up there, but if the weapon is not neutralized in time... she wouldn't want to see the result of it.

"Let's go, Princess Luna," she said, trying her best to plead.

"We don't have much time."

There was a sigh, before the alicorn turned back one more time.

The tower had severed into two, the top part still clinging onto its base by a few bending bars of iron, the walls of it facing the ground below. Her breath shivering, the princess held her face of determination, of not wanting to disappoint her sister again.

"I'll come back..."

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"HANG ON, STELLAR!!"

The butler eagerly complied, his bottom hooves fluttering about in the strong, turbulent gust of wind blowing his suit about. His other hoof hung limply to the side, the feeling of nothing but the torrential rain splashing against it only raised his fear for his life.

He looked down - a part of him wishing he didn't - at the bright lights of the Equinox Ballroom below him, shimmering brightly from behind the window-paned roof without a care for the storm brewing outside. The ponies in it were still chattering happily, completely oblivious to the growing danger above their heads.

"WE HAVE TO GET THE PONIES OUT OF THERE!!" he shouted back, trying to hold his grip.

"WHEN THE TOWER COMES DOWN, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TIME FOR THEM TO RUN!!"

Caduceus hoped he could come to his terms, but with one hoof clutching his friend from a long fall of death and the other singed, the smallest, slightest drops of rain already stinging it like a snake bite, making him wince, he could only but heave his friend back up from the broken hole of the roof.

His radio was out of reach, already fizzing about in the torrent of rain. Beyond that was Harmony, still deranged and possessed and, at the worst possible circumstances, awake.

The pink unicorn herself burned with a black fury, screaming in the rain like a wolf, her hooves tugging at her mane as if she was trying to rip the hairs off her head. Her white blades were resting at her heels, along with her shredded dress, though she doesn't seem to notice it now.

"Pinkie~!" she mewed in her insanity, attempting to sniff out the pink mare.

"Is it not cruel to leave your friend alone like that?"

The doctor could feel, from beneath the agonizing pain, her devilish aura, which only seemed to grow the more she paced around the cylindrical wall of the hanging structure, swaying in the violent wind blowing from the side.

His breath slowed, his lips nibbling against each other to silence his pain, he tried to haul his friend up from the edge in vain, before hearing the hoofsteps getting closer, the metal supports groaning in response.

"Seems Caddy here got into a little trouble, eh?"

Caduceus just growled at that, his burnt hoof trying to reach for his gun.

"Oh well," the pink unicorn gave a sardonic shrug.

"I'm sure Stellar wouldn't mind a visit to Tartarus, wouldn't he?"

"H-Harmony..."

Pinkie stepped from behind a set of stone stairs, which were like spiraling blocks in the tunnel of the falling tower. Her hooves were raised up high in a bout of surrender, making the unicorn smile.

"Y-You got me..." the pink mare stammered.

"Just leave them alone."

"You think it's all negotiations, don't you Pinkie?"

There was a malignant laugh, before Harmony trotted up towards her, face to face with her former friend.

"I'm just happy that you volunteered to be the first... out of many, of course."

"Don't touch my friends."

"Or what?" she shot back, raising her blade to Pinkie's chin with a devious grin.

"We all know you would do anything to see them safe, wouldn't you? Well, I'll let you choose then."

The pink mare just froze as Harmony cackled, musing with morbid delight:

"Would Twilight be first? Or maybe Rainbow Dash? Come on, I haven't got all day!"

"Just leave them alone!" she demanded coldly, clenching her hooves.

"You want me? I'm here! My friends have nothing to do with this!"

"Miss Pie!!" Stellar's voice called out from amidst the chaotic storm outside, the butler still dangling dangerously at the edge of the tower.

"Don't do it! Your friends-"

"I have to!!" she yelled back, wanting to deny the situation she was in. Harmony merely chuckled gleefully at that, watching the mare slump down to her knees in defeat with her eyes starting to water.

"I have to..."

"Shameful, isn't it?"

Another laugh made Pinkie cringe, before the unicorn bent down towards her ear, whispering:

"Don't worry. I'll make sure it'll be quick."

"You wouldn't dare..."

The cold, foreign voice made Harmony whirl around instantly, only to smile at the figure standing before her, whose lustrous mane whipped about in the compelling storm. The defiant flap of her wings and the flare of yellow from her white horn only proved the height of her anger, though the unicorn could only laugh.

"You know better, Princess," she sneered.

Princess Celestia just frowned at that, her slightly bruised face darkening quickly.

"I know enough to say this isn't what you want."

"Really?"

Harmony swung her blade from Pinkie's chin, pointing it directly to the alicorn with a smirk.

"Then I'm sure you'll be the first to come to my terms, hmm? Or would you cower back into your palace and rot once more?"

"Never," the princess spat out, kicking her hooves back.

"I've endured more than a thousand years in the palace. I've seen many ponies come and go throughout my whole life, but if you think you can take the prospect of Equestria away, you're sorely mistaken."

Her horn soon glowed a bright yellow, burning in the radiance of anger.

"Even if it means having to kill my former subject," she took in a huge breath.

"For the duty as the protector of my kingdom, I'll do it."

Before Harmony could respond, Princess Celestia suddenly galloped towards her, rapidly hopping past the hurdles of the granite staircase. The pink unicorn soon chuckled in response, her hooves brandishing the pair of her ornate white blades with ease.

Pinkie watched hesitantly as the two rushed towards each other with intent; flourished even more as a heavenly glowing saber suddenly rose from her horn, the princess wielding it effectively with it's tip pointing towards her target.

For once, she thought to herself, she wouldn't want to know the results of this fight.

Former teacher and former friend, their blades finally clashing against each other.

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"They want us to what?"

"Evacuate everypony from the ballroom," Chief Griffonhooves repeated.

"The tower could come crashing down at any moment."

Crimson wouldn't want to see that happen, his gaze fixated towards the glass ceiling in horror.

Beyond the endless hail of rain, the structure of the tower dangled freely, swinging in the powerful wind, yet the ponies in the ballroom were still in their cheerful talks around, never bothering to see the looming danger over their heads.

"And we're not suppose to leave anyone behind?"

Soarin' just rolled his eyes, trying not to smack the colt senseless.

"How am I stuck with this dude again?" he asked with sarcasm.

"Look, maybe there are those weird assassins in here! I don't think they'll like it when they find out that the tower's gonna start collapsing-"

"Now's not the time," Doctor Arrowfaith broke in, scanning at the countless groups of endless chatters and sips of fine wine, all too absorbed in their miscellaneous conversations.

"All we need is to come up with a method to get everyone out of the ballroom asap."

Looking at the slightly formal scene (which was surprising for the ponies of the palace, who never expected the citizens of Pendant Lakes to be so royal) the four of them settled down to think, their efforts more and more frantic as the clock suddenly struck ten, signaling the climax of the occasion.

"And now," a loud voice boomed from around.

"Please welcome our Patriarch: Winter Palgiot!!"

A wave of clopping hooves soon followed, the spotlight now turned towards a pair of fluttering curtains, with all eyes awaiting their Patriarch to appear, not realizing his desperation.

"If they find out about anything," the police chief hissed to the rest.

"We'll be dead before the next sunrise."

Suddenly, Crimson snapped his hooves, his head lighting up with glee.

"Hand me a revolver," he asked, stifling a small laugh.

"Y-You're serious?"

"Darn it, just hand one to me!" the red stallion rasped with displeasure, prompting Chief Griffonhooves to give one to him. With a small flick, having a small glimpse of the four remaining bullets slotted within, he soon smiled cunningly before raising his gun into the air, whispering:

"Play along."

*BANG*

Immediately, the crowd started to duck downwards, all letting out a frightened whelp, with some turning towards Crimson, shuddering in their place.

Soarin's horrified expression at Crimson's actions was evident, his hoof desperately nudging the stallion.

"What the heck do you think you're-"

"Listen!! To the ponies of Pendant Lakes!!" he continued, ignoring the pegasus's worries.

The ponies around all cringed under his powerful voice, his face trying to retch out a serious expression. He paced around the room, his head held up high in an arrogant fashion, before pointing the gun towards the crowd.

"We're the Bandits Of... of..... what's the location?"

"Just make one up!"

"I can't just make one up," Crimson hissed, imitating the Wonderbolt's frantic tone, the pegasus just humphing in irritation at that.

"Besides, the ponies in Pendant Lakes might have more knowledge than your airhead of yours."

"Just say Aston Reach," the doctor prompted.

"That's basically where we all are."

"The Bandits Of Aston Reach!!" he shouted immediately after the small interruption.

"We're the prowess of the North. The so-called 'rogues' that had been mentioned in many of your tales of mockery and... erh... heroism! Yes! And now, we're back to claim what's rightfully ours!!"

"What's rightfully yours?" somepony in the crowd quipped, instantly stirring a chorus of skeptical murmurs around.

"The Diamond of Pendant Lakes!!" he finished, quelling the stirring crowd immediately, the ponies now all looking at him in confusion and surprise.

"I see your Patriarch never told you about it, didn't he?"

"What diamond?" some of the ponies asked around, making Crimson laugh in amusement.

"And we, the Bandits Of Aston Reach," he continued, waving his gun about.

"We're here to bring it back to its home! Back into the bowels of the mountains, where it rightfully belongs!!"

The silence that followed was nerve-wrecking, the crowd of ponies just staring straight at the red stallion, who was still oblivious of their growing suspicion. Soarin' nudged his friend, whispering:

"You do realize they're not buying it?"

"Doesn't matter."

His response practically shocked the remaining three stallions, though Crimson was still unfazed by that, laughing lightly with his hooves crossed in absolute certainty.

"What matters most is that I have the gun, and that means I still have a way to force them out of the room."

Haughtily turning towards the crowd, the stallion raised his gun, continuing:

"Now, I myself believe that the Diamond is in here! Though I need each and every one of you to leave the room immediately, lest it would interrupt any of our excavations!!"

There was no movement, the crowd just standing firm like a platoon ready for a battle, even more resembling it from the grudging looks that they were wearing.

"What are you doing?" Soarin' hissed at the now frozen Crimson, the stallion unable to respond to the sudden turn of events.

"Use the damn gun!"

"Oh, for Celestia's sake."

Cleptius immediately snatched the weapon from the stallion's hoof, immediately raising it to the air.

*BANG*

*BANG*

*BANG*

The three loud gunshots were enough to shun the crowd back into their fear, the respective shells clinking onto the marble floor. With a wry smirk, the doctor blew the wisp of smoke rising from the barrel, leaning against the column like a professional, much to the surprise of his comrades.

"Now I'll be kind just this once," he warned, swinging the gun around his hoof.

"If everypony as to do as he says, and leave the ballroom in an orderly fashion, all of you won't face my wrath. And when I say my wrath will be your worst - and last - nightmare, I mean it."

The lack of response that followed was absolutely unnerving, at least for the doctor.

"What are you waiting for?" he shouted.

"A step out of the room, or a BULLET IN ALL OF YOUR FACES?!!"

Immediately, the crowd started huddling towards the door, slowly and unwillingly marching out of the room in sheer terror. Doctor Arrowfaith just smiled, leaning against one the marble pillars as the rest of them hurried up to him, with Soarin' being the first to ask:

"How do you do that?"

"Well, a few years in acting class and a job as a doctor in an asylum would do the trick."

The doctor just smiled furtively at their slightest abhorrence; the same ones they were trying to hide from beneath the wide smiles they were forcing out, making him laugh.

"You do realize that you're talking to a psychologist, aren't you?"

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*CLANG*

Princess Celestia skidded backwards to a halt, panting lightly with her blade raised in self-defense, her gaze locked onto the mare in front of her, who was laughing mockingly at her combat.

"And they say you were a fighter!" Harmony cooed, wielding her dual blades effectively.

"Be grateful that you even made it this far, my Princess."

How much times had they clashed? Fifteen? Sixteen? Yet the results always ended up the same, their blades still fresh without any trace of blood, their throats still intact. The only injury both of them had so far was a few bruises around their sweating face and a small blister on at least one of their hooves.

Their biased audience could only watch the heated battle springing in between, each of their hatred for the other mare only growing the longer they rest.

"Tiring out already?" the pink unicorn cackled, marching ahead once more.

"But I was just getting started."

The alicorn just whipped her blade up, ignoring the physical battle from the mare before her and her mental battle with her fatigue, wiping the sweat from the sides of her cheek.

"So was I."

With another furious charge, the two mares met once more in the center of the battlefield, their blades clashing for the umpteenth time in another frenzy of sparks, the sizzling sound of metal against metal ringing throughout the falling tower. Their glares burned with the power of a rekindled rivalry, their willpower blazing with each restless second that had past.

It ended up, again, in another draw, with the two of them retreating back to their respective ends like two wrestlers in a boxing ring, though there was no nourishment of water for either; the most only a free shower from the heavens above.

"Pinkie," the alicorn called to the pink mare, making her perk up in attention.

"Get Stellar and Caduceus out of here."

"But Princess-"

"No more 'but's."

Her breath shuddered with fatigue, Princess Celestia clutched her hoof tightly, her eyes furrowing down sternly at her, managing to gasp out from her weariness:

"Just get them both out of here... get yourself somewhere safe..."

Pinkie could only give a hesitant nod, before galloping towards the two stallions at the side, helping the butler lift his friend up as they limped towards the still-intact portion of the tower, tending to Caduceus's burnt hoof.

"Isn't that sweet?" Harmony mewled with cold delight.

"Saving that mare's life when she's about to die anyway!"

"Doesn't matter."

Kicking back her hooves, wielding the blade once more, the alicorn held her breath, her lustrous mane now soaked with rain and sweat, as she braced for the plan brewing in her head.

"What matters is what comes after, Harmony."

Instead of charging headfirst, her horn started to glow a bright yellow, her eyes shining into a pure brilliance of white as she rose from the ground, her ethereal blade diminishing from the overpowering magic of its owner.

Harmony just gritted her teeth as she stepped back, raising her pair of white blades in self defense, though apart from the princess, only one other pony knew what was about to happen.

"GET DOWN!!"

Caduceus's voice made Pinkie and Stellar duck, just in time as a white blast suddenly engulfed the night, with Princess Celestia spreading her wings apart. The grandeur of white immediately narrowed into one powerful beam of light, shooting towards the mare at the other end.

Harmony, however, jumped over it, despite a part of it already striking her square at the hooves, making her yelp in pain. Her cape and mask soon formed from the black darkness, before she swirled in a cloud of ash, escaping from the flare of energy.

"Princess!!" Pinkie called out as the hanging portion of the tower started to bend once more, the alicorn frantically speeding towards the three ponies with her wings, darting past a few chunks of rock and debris.

The metal supports keeping the impaired structure hanging finally snapped, with Princess Celestia narrowly jumping into the standing base of the tower, watching the fractured top crashing through the fragile windows of the Equinox Ballroom, before sighing with relief.

A loud, electronic whir snapped her attention back, followed by a divergent blast of electricity, the bolts streaking throughout the room in a static frenzy. It was only after the dust cleared that they realize what it was; the shattered fragments of the Dreamscape machine.

"Winter's going to kill me," Stellar quipped first, before the four of them burst out in laughter.

Frantically galloping towards the base of the tower, they've finally emerged into the corridors of the palace, yet the danger was still evident, which only fueled their desperation.

"We'll have to get Twilight to signal us somehow," the Princess ordered, trying to remain strong.

"And somepony must keep watch from our reinforcements, just in case."

"Understood."

Caduceus was the only one not being attentive, instead glancing around at the corridor.

"Is it me?" he suddenly spoke, making the rest look at him perplexedly.

"Or did the doors just... stopped?"

Sure enough, the wooden doors that had once shifted endlessly were now fixed in their positions, not moving a single inch. It only took a second for Pinkie to jerk up suddenly, her eyes widening in horror.

"Oh no..." she muttered, instantly galloping off without another word.

"Pinkie! Wait!"

The alicorn's attempts to call her back were futile, though Stellar just marched to her front, brushing the dust off his suit whilst he glanced up at Princess Celestia's worried face.

"I'll follow her, my Princess, just in case anything happens," he said reluctantly, before turning to his friend.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Be careful!" was his friend's last response, the butler now galloping off after the pink mare.

His dread only grew with every step towards her, wanting to deny the dark possibilities that had formed inside his head. He bit his lip, frantically praying to himself in doubt.

The corridors only added to his trepidation, the few turns that both he and Pinkie made only wretch up the fear in his gut; the fear of getting closer to their intended destination, wherever it is.

"Please be safe..."