“Hey everypony,” Rainbow Dash waved, walking over to the table, “Nice to see you all again,”

Everyone watched as Heart Anchor moved over and Rainbow Dash took her seat at the table. Most of the old element bearers saw each other at least every once in awhile, but Rainbow Dash seemed to have completely disappeared from the group. Not that she could be blamed for that, having to take over for Spitfire was a hard task and she barely got anytime to relax. That being said, their was one among the group that hadn’t forgiven her.

“Ya sure have a lot of guts showing back up here,” Applejack said, finally able to get her anger out. “What happened to being the Element of Loyalty, huh? Going and abandoning your friends for a job, is that what loyalty is to you?”

“Calm down Applejack,” Twilight said, seeing what was happening. “Celestia wanted Rainbow Dash here because she felt Rainbow would be the best pony to teach Stardust how to fly,”

“But Twi,”

“Applejack dear,” Rarity said, seeing her friend’s anger. “How about we save this for a more appropriate time, preferably one where we aren’t discussing the safety of a princess,”

Applejack opened her mouth, but quickly took back what she was going to say. Twilight sighed, glad Rarity managed to get her to be quite. Twilight didn’t want her friends fighting, especially when this was the first time they’ve seen each other for a while. She was just glad it stopped as soon as it started.

“Anyways,” Heart Anchor said, getting everypony’s attention “Now that we are all here it’s time we started discussing our plan to keep Chrysalis away from our new princess,”

“There aren’t a lot of things we honestly do know,” Twilight said, continuing off of Heart Anchor “Unless we know when Chrysalis is going to strike we can’t do anything to stop her, which is why we need to know what they’re planning,”

“I’m guessing that’s what you want me to find out,” Solitaire said, leaning forward.

“Correct,” Twilight acknowledge, “As you may already know a griffon by the name of Graf has been spending the week in town. I’ve heard that he may have had an old connection to Chrysalis and helped her with the wedding incident many years ago. He also has a liking for anything made out of gold and has been gambling himself a life's worth of bits in underground societies. You are to find out what you can from gambling him, anything else you win is yours,”

While Twilight hated to say it, she knew how Gamblers thought. They wouldn’t do anything unless it had a price tag on it, and Solitaire seemed no different. If she was to get this pony to help her she would have to let them play their way.

“Put a thousand bits in it for me and we have ourselves a deal,” Solitaire said, not happy with simply just self earnings.

“Okay, but nothing more,” Twilight said, “and you get it after this is all done, got it,”

“Princess,” Solitaire said, “If a pony can end up trapped in another's subconscious, then I think I know when to not push my luck with an alicorn,”

“Okay, I got two questions,” Rainbow said, not getting a single word Solitaire just said “One, how did you come up with that relation? And two, what does that have to do with alicorns?”

“First of all,” Solitaire replied, “It was part of a story that I’ve read, and second of all, because I think it does,”

After a few seconds of silence, Twilight continued. “Anyways, our next job is to find a way to get everypony during that time to be in the same place. I can cast a spell to detect Changelings, but it would be easier and less exhausting if we could gather a large crowd in the same place,”

“How about a play,” Applejack asked, “If we could get enough ponies together, we could do a play here in ponyville. The only problems are finding a pony to direct it as well as a play that might catch ponies interest,”

“Sonnet could do that,” Heart Anchor addressed “She’s an author after all, she would be the perfect pony to direct a play,”

“And I think I may have the perfect play for us to do,” Twilight said, getting up from her seat. “I’ll be right back, I have a copy in the library,”

She left the room, leaving everyone else to themselves for the time. With Twilight gone, things got eerily quiet. Everyone looked at each other, waiting for someone to speak. Seeing how things were, Applejack had a question she decided needed answering.

“So, miss Solitaire,” Solitaire turned her attention to Applejack, who was busy trying to find the right words to use. After a few seconds, she finally managed to ask. “How does a pony like you get the liberty of working with a pony like Heart Anchor?”

“That’s simple,” Solitaire rolled her eyes, unable to believe what she was having to explain. “The only one that can bail you out of an Equestrian jail, even with the princesses approval, is a family member. I just so happen to Sonnet’s first cousin, and she was able to get me out of jail,”

“What does Sonnet have to do with any of this?” Rainbow Dash asked, “Isn’t she a writer of that murder mystery book Shadow Games or whatever it’s called,”

“She is,” Heart Anchor acknowledge, deciding it best not to deny anything to her future partners. “But what if I told you that the events in that book is actually real?”

“Really?” Rarity’s eyes widen with shock as Heart Anchor gave a nod. “My stars, then Magni must be based off of you,”

“Come on Rarity, there’s no way it could be him,” Applejack said, not believing Rarity “No way he could be that stallion even if they shared the same spotlight. That was a unicorn, Heart Anchor here is a earth pony. It’s not like Heart Anchor here came feel the pain of the dead... right?”

Heart Anchor’s head dropped, while no one around him could hear it, he had certainly heard the scream of a pony. It wasn’t an unusual thing for him to hear, not anymore. Sometimes he had enjoyed the companies of the spirits around him, but other times he felt like he was forever haunted by ghost that came to him to pass the news of death and of their final message to their loved ones.

“I don’t feel pain,” Anchor said, his voice growing a bit of a haunting tone. “But I can hear it. The death of everypony in Equestria, the sadness they feel for not being able to tell someone something, and the spirit of those who could not pass easily to the next world. Some have waited centuries, even millennia, before finally getting their wish, but sometimes their wish makes it so they will never leave, because they must protect something that will never die. I’ve cried for every lost soul, helped many find peace in life, and helped others find those they wish to protect,”

“Except for one,” A voice around him spoke in corrected, coughing afterwards.

“Except for one,” He repeated, but to everypony else it seemed like the first time he said it.

Invisible to everypony except Heart Anchor, a pony swiftly floated by his head and next to Rainbow Dash. She knew the pony, not through memory in life, but because of a very different cause. Despite feeling happiness for the pony, she also felt a lot of disgust for them.

“Is this really what I’ve become,” The pony said, poking at Rainbow Dash’s belly. “A giant machine of muscle and bone. You know, even I got a break more than you do. I mean seriously, you,” She coughed a little as she continued to speak “look as if your work is all the life you had. Oh, and you think you’re so special with your sonic “Rainboom”, well I would like to see you try three of those simultaneously with a soft body like mine was. What, thought you were the only one who could do it, well how did you think they found out it was even possible in the first place? That’s right I did it before you, but it was forgotten, just like me, just like Stardust, and just like Diminshia, and for some reason I’M the only one who is dead,”

The spirit pony reared around, and swung a kick at Rainbow Dash, who was actually flung from her chair by the impact. Everyone looked on in confusion as Rainbow strangely went up into the air and fell back down. It felt, haunting, especially considering what Heart Anchor had told them. As Rainbow got up from impact, she looked around, unable to see what had hit her square in the chin.

“What the hay just happened?” Rainbow responded as she got back in her chair, not realizing that the spirit pony was mocking her in front of her face.

“I,” Heart Anchor said, not getting the spirits sudden anger towards Rainbow Dash. “Just saw a spirit kick you in complete and utter rage… and she is currently sitting on the table right in front of you sticking her tongue out. In other words, I have no idea what the heck just happened,”

“Rain. Bow. Dash,” The spirit said, spelling out Rainbows name slowly. “I will tell you that from now till the end of your life I will haunt your dreams, and then I will have MY body back, you GOT THAT,”

Everyone went silent as they heard the doors open behind them and Twilight came in the cover of a book. Walking over to the table, sitting down, and placing a small book down in front of them.

“This is the play I was thinking of,” Twilight said “Sunset gave it to me during a visit two months ago, said it was written by a famous play writer in her world,”

Solitaire took the book into her hooves and looked at the cover. It was called A Midsummer Night’s Dream by a human called William Shakespeare. Given that this is the first piece of human work ever brought over to Equestria, it was something entirely different for the ponies.

“It’s a love story,” Twilight explained “But the way it plays out makes it worth watching, and I’m not one for love stories,”

“Really,” Solitaire threw the book across the table, hitting Rainbow in the process. “I would like something less kissy and flirty and more funny and over the top,”

“This is the princess's choice,” Heart Anchor remind Solitaire, “And as such we should follow what the princess thinks is best. Besides, this human play intrigues me. I’m on board with it,”

Solitaire was outvoted by the other ponies in the room, and admitted defeat. The spirit pony looked at the book, which Rainbow Dash had decided to skim through as well. She found human names weird, Lysander, Peter, Hermia, most of them didn't make since.

“Anyways, onto the most important matter of all,” Twilight levitated the book away from Rainbow Dash in order to get her attention. “Regaining Stardust’s memories, which I will be leaving in the hands of Heart Anchor and Rainbow Dash while I go to Canterlot to report our plan to Celestial, and Applejack and Rarity help Sonnet with the play,”

“Sure thing,” Applejack agreed, having no objections.

“I’ll start working on costumes as soon as I get caught up on Stardust dress,” Said Rarity excited.

“Why am I helping with Stardust’s memories?” Rainbow said confused.

“Because Heart Anchor said you might be able to help in that area,” Twilight answered, “Not to mention you will be teaching her how to fly,”

“Another thing,” Applejack said, “Why didn’t Celestia and Luna come here, aren’t they her sister?”

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, “Well, they're trying to figure out how to break the news to Equestria about Stardust being their sister. I think you can get exactly where they are going with that,”

“Excuse me princess,” Heart Anchor stood up as he spoke, “Might I request that we add one more pony, or changeling, to this plan of ours,”

Everyone looked at Heart Anchor with confusion. A changeling? Nobody knew that Dandelion was one except for Twilight, Heart Anchor, Solitaire, Sonnet, and Stardust (Blue Moon wishes to stay in the denial area). Heart Anchor had a reason for bringing her up in their plan, however.

“Changeling,” Applejack said, completely baffled by Heart Anchors idea. “You’re kidding me right?”

Twilight looked at Heart Anchor, curious as to why he had asked that, “What do you think Dandelion could do to help us,”

Applejack looked at Twilight with surprise. There had been a changeling around her this entire time? And she didn’t notice? It made sense why Twilight had rejected the idea of an anti-changeling barrier around ponyville a few months ago, which Applejack had backed up.

“We need to know if there are changeling around before the date of the attack,” Heart Anchor. “Surely someone who had turned their backs on the hive would be willing to help us in our endeavor to stop Queen Chrysalis, especially since Sonnet will already be helping her with some self-esteem problems. A changeling can easily pick out one of their own from a real pony, it would help us get a good idea on how to deal them apart,”

“And how do you know we can trust this changeling?” Applejack asked.

“Because I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for her,” Twilight addressed, leaving Applejack silent. “And I agree with Heart Anchor, it would be nice to have somepony on the inside. Besides, I know that besides her discomfort around ponies, she has a great amount of hatred towards Chrysalis. Let Sonnet know tomorrow, okay?”

Heart Anchor nodded, and Solitaire yawned, showing how late it has gotten. They decided it was best to call it a day and everyone made their way out of the room, except for Twilight and Rainbow Dash, who wished to talk together. Before he was able to leave the room, Heart Anchor was stopped by the spirit.

“You going to stay with Rainbow Dash?” The spirit nodded in response to Heart’s question. “Just make sure you don’t mess with her to much,”

“Don’t worry,” The spirit rolled her eyes. “Like I’d do anything to hurt myself that badly,”

With a smile on his face, Heart Anchor left the room, leaving Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and the spirit to themselves. The spirit decided to take a seat where Fluttershy use to sit, and watched as Twilight got up.

“Would you mind joining me on the terrace?” She asked, happy to be able to speak with Rainbow once again.

Rainbow nodded their head, and the made their way to the terrace located outside of Twilight’s room. They use to do this all the time, chatting with each other until one of the (usually Twilight) fell asleep on the railings. Being there again gave of a mystical vibe that both ponies didn’t understand.

The night sky was as beautiful as ever, it was one of the things Twilight enjoyed about the small town. It was the reason she spent her time in the library at Canterlot, because anywhere else it was impossible to see the stars in the sky. Being there also made her realize something bigger about the love between Luna and Stardust. It made her wonder if that little pegasus was the reason the Stars looked so beautiful in the sky.

“Sure has been a long time,” Rainbow said, looking into the town.

“Yeah,”

Rainbow Dash looked down, feeling ashamed of having ever left this place. “I wish I could stay here forever,”

Forever, those words gave Twilight a perspective of what her future was like. She would see the death of all her friends, wouldn’t she? She didn’t want to, and she didn’t want Rainbow to live forever. What is their to enjoy about life if you have all the time in the world to do it? Sometimes she considered becoming an alicorn the worse thing that ever happened to her, even with all that has happened because of it.

“Forever, may be a bit too bold of a term,” Twilight said, seeing her friend. “Honestly, I’m glad you will be able to pass into the afterlife. You’ll have the pleasure of doing something I may never see,”

“If only,” The spirit said, rolling her eyes.

“Are you saying you wish you could die?” Rainbow said, shocked. “Why would you want to?”

“Because I don’t want to see all my friends go in front of me,” Twilight explained “Rainbow, alicorns live much longer than other pony races do. It’s fair to say I might live forever, and see Equestria die before my very eyes, but the possibilities of me dieing before that, it’s something I just can’t put my hooves on. I don’t want to see you or anyone else die old while I’m still young, it just doesn’t make any since,”

“Twilight,” Rainbow said, “If that’s the way you think, then shouldn’t you do everything you want to before that time is over? If you care about us, then spend the time to show us,”

“Rainbow Dash,”

“Yeah,”

“If you had the opportunity to stay, would you have taken it?”

Rainbow Dash looked in confusion. “Of course I would, why do you-”

Before she could finish, Twilight took the opportunity to kiss Rainbow Dash straight on the nose. Rainbow turned bright red, not knowing what had just happened, and Twilight looked at her friend, a little ashamed she hadn’t done that years ago. The spirit behind them gave a much different response. She wanted to feel like she was going to throw up, not sure at exactly what Rainbow was doing.

“Did a princess just kiss her,” She spoke out loud, “Sweet Celestia she just kissed her, or would she be kissing me? I doesn’t matter, I don’t approve,”

While the spirit was busy trying to get over what she had just witnessed, Rainbow Dash was trying to figure out what Twilight had just done. Was there something on her nose? She wiped her muzzle, much to Twilight's amusement. It took her a few more minutes to figure out exactly what had happened, but when she did, her head turned completely red.

“Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said, “Did you just kiss me?”

“Yep,” Twilight replied, showing no regrets at what she had just done. “If you want me to show how much I care, I think it’s time I told that I had love you. Even if one of us die long before the other, I needed to make sure you knew how I felt,”

Rainbow looked for words, unable to describe what had just happened. How long has Twilight felt this way? Her emotions ranged from scared to happy to completely confused.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Rainbow stuttered.

“How about dinner tomorrow night,” Twilight said, “I know you won’t be staying in Ponyville for that long, but could you at least make me that one request,”

“Oh, um,” Rainbow searched forwards, unable to say much. “Sure,”

“Thank you,” Twilight said, heading back inside, “You should get some sleep, you have a big day tomorrow,”

Rainbow, not sure of what to do, simply did what the princess requested, and headed to her room, the spirit following behind her. As they left the room, the spirit took the time alone in the hallway to set her own plan into action, diving into Rainbows body. This time, Rainbow could actually feel what was going on. As she felt the spirit mess with her brain, her body started growing heavy, as if she was about to fall asleep.

She was suddenly jolted back, watching as her own body started to move away from her. After taking a few steps, her body stopped and turned around, facing towards her.

“You made that way too easy to do,” The spirit said, taking the chance to stretch out in Rainbow body. “I’m surprised I didn’t try this beforehand,”

“What?” Rainbow looked down, seeing the floor through her hooves. Her entire body was transparent, “What did you do to me?”

“Isn’t it obvious,” The spirit said, “I took your body, and now you are a ghost. Man you are slow,”

“Who are you?” Rainbow asked, not sure of what to say.

“Well my name is Phoenix Flower,” The spirit introduced herself. “But if you want to know more, I’m you from the past,”

Author's Note

And now another OC joins the fray. Wow, we're around eleven chapters in now and we still haven't met every character, I kind of expected that but still. Anyway's, I just going to address something that will be happening in a month. Summer vacation is coming and while I hate to say it, I will be slowing down from June to April on updates. Usually I'm able to get chapters out for fan fics in a week or so, but due to me not having access to the library (since that's where I get off the bus) over vacation I will be restricted to writing on my Ipad, which means things will take longer to write. Sorry but that's the way it's going to be an a month, just warning you all.

Like, comment, and follow to show your love for this story. With that, I'll see you all when I upload next.