Another Everfree?

As it had been an average uneventful day like any other, aside from that I had decided to take the train downtown for a peaceful time around the strange harmonies of old brick buildings, and modern skyscrapers, I never could have expected my world would be thrown into chaos by that simple decision. It had been twilight when it happened, the moon being visible in the sky along with the sun if one were to look out past the buildings too tall to see them well. There was a light fog which rendered the tops of the buildings invisible aside from the fact that the lights from those heights shined through the fog, most noticeably the green lights of the tallest building in the area of downtown I had been in. I took in a deep breath of the fresh air, while not really the freshest being in the city, the recent rain had made the air moist, and the scent of dew still lingered on the trees. The streets were quiet aside from the trains running through the nearby station, the birds, and a relative few people bustling about. It was just as I had released that breath to enjoy the dewy ebb of the day, that I saw a girl with red, and golden hair, wearing a white and purple Camp Everfree shirt with shorts and a belt the buckle of which portrayed her sun shaped cutie mark colored the same as her hair with a downtrodden expression sitting on a bench. Processing this I turned around, and backtracked to take a seat next to her, “Hey, what’s up?” I tried not to show too much excitement or get my hopes up though it was doubtful anyone would already be cosplaying from the Legends of Everfree movie as it hadn't actually been released in my country yet.

She looked up at me slowly with her aquamarine eyes expression of despair turning to confusion as she took a moment, “Sorry, have we met somewhere?”

“Nope, first time, name’s Ivan Jonah Jostar, Nice to meet ya’.”

“I’m Sunset Shimmer, … wait, Jostar? Where am I now?” She looked around to be sure she was in the same place she had been when she sat down. Still unsure she tilted letting our shoulders touch closing her eyes so had I been unaware it would happen I wouldn't have noticed their glow, for no more than a second. “No you’re not, show me your star,” Sunset suddenly demanded.

“You caught me,” I put my hands up, “My name is actually Ian, and I’m not a Jostar, I just wanted to be sure that you were actually Sunset Shimmer, not just a really good cosplayer.

“Cosplayer? Oh, right I’m not real… I wish my friends were here.”

“One is, and he’s right here, I may not embody an element, but I still wanna be your friend. So what’s got you down, read the wrong mind?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Well, how long ago did you come through? Let’s see if we can get you home, ya.”

“It was right after we got back from camp… Rarity tripped getting off the bus and knocked me into the portal, but instead of Equestria I ended up here.”

“Hmm, well it’s good that it’s you in a way, Twilight would be freaking out if she had found out what you did, she can’t read memories, but she would be anyway. Umm, so why couldn’t you go back through? I know there was somethin’ goin’ on with magic leaking through the portal but it should have still been open.”

It wasn’t,” Sunset sadly stated in a dry tone.

“Well, I’d like to check it again if you wouldn’t mind. Where was it?”

“umm, I think it was near some place called ‘Dick’s Last Resort’, I figured I’d only try asking in there as a last resort, I don’t remember where it was.”

“Doesn't matter,” I stood up and popped my neck, “I do, I’ve been there a few times. It wouldn’t help unless the jukebox’ll activate the portal for some reason, but it’s gotta still be there, and by Discord’s beard I’ll get you home. Why didn’t I say Starswirl? Whatever.” Giving me an odd look but choosing not to say anything about it she got up and started walking.

“Well, here it is, or was,” Sunset declared having brought me to the back of the building.

“But why here?” I touched the wall with no reaction. “Have you tried using your crystal?”

Rather than reply in words she removed the pendant from her neck, and pressed it against the wall like a key to an invisible lock causing it to ripple slightly as her hand went through.”Oh, that’s odd,” sunset stated more with curiosity than anything. “Why didn’t I think of this.”

“Probably ‘cuz ya’ just got the thing. What was odd though?”

“My hand felt like a hoof when I put it through.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” I nodded.

“How? Why would the portal change destinations twice now?”

“I don’t know, I just said that. I like to pretend I’m not freaking out even though I am on the inside. Could be that that pendant’s magic is Equestrian in origin. Oh, I am so excited, nervous but excited.”

“What are you Excited about?” Sunset withdrew her hand from the portal feeling that her fingers were all there.
“I’m going with you obviously,” I deadpanned as if it should’ve been obvious. “First though,” I checked the time, “there is still a little time till the sun will really set so we should get some food an' stuff we can eat as ponies if we don’t come out in Canterlot. There won’t be enough time to go to my house and get back though. When twilight ends the portal will probably close trapping you here, we’d both prefer Equestria I think.”

After a rushed trip to buy food, and backpacks to carry it in, we returned to the portal which Sunset once again unlocked with her pendant. We stepped through together, and when we did we met with a terrible fate... dark forest Sunset had to illuminate with her magic. "Where are we?" We asked simultaneously.

"Well," I reasoned, "by Murphy's law I would assume the Everfree. Yep, this is bad."

"Oh, well let's lighten the mood a little." Sunset nervously trotted into my view clearly apprehensive about where we were. "What's your name now that you are a pony?"

"Grav..." I stopped when I saw my cutie mark. "Oh, or not? That isn't what I expected, though I should’ve," I shrugged, feeling the weight of my new saddle bags on my back. "Name's uh… how about… Grimoire Dusk, the first thing I thought of," I stated looking over my light gray coat, unexpected cutie mark, and what of my scraggly long almost purple gray mane I could see," feeling for the first time an odd sensation on my forehead I looked up to see a sharp horn.

"Well that's..." Sunset paused, "Foreboding?" What were you originally going to say?"

"Something more so," I shrugged. "This is a much more helpful talent to have I'd imagine. Also, I probably would've been an Earth pony, nothing wrong with that but I love Magic so... ya."

"So, are you a writer or something?" The amber mare asked.

"No, it can't be that, certainly nothing I could get a cutie mark for, I don't generally care what other ponies think so, unfortunately, I don't give it much thought. I'd imagine it had more to do with reading or magic comprehension, or something." I paused. "Do you perhaps have some sort of compass spell?"

"I could send out a magic ping like sonar, but it might attract the things that live here," she nodded.

"Hmm, well then, I guess we are radar-less... levitate me."

"What?" Sunset stumbled.

"Levitate me above the trees so I can see over, if that's OK with you," I clarified, imitating Fluttershy a bit.
"Um well, I'll try," the mare nearly scoffed.

"Well, what did you see?" She asked after bringing me back down.
"It's um dark," I stumbled through my words with worry.

"Well it is night time," She stated matter of factly.

"No Sunset, this isn't just dark. It's way too dark; this is... Advanced darkness." I stated, which didn't change her expression. "I could be assuming the worst, but I think it's supposed to be day right now."

"Which would mean?" Sunset queried, now worried.

"Which would mean that this timeline isn't the one we are familiar with."

"Well, before we flip out, what makes you think it should be day?"

"I saw a light in the distance. If I am right, that is Canterlot, also the stars aren't out."

"So this might be a timeline where Twilight lost to Nightmare moon?" Sunset fearfully realized.

"More likely a timeline where Twilight never left Canterlot at all. It will be alright. As long as we have Canterlot we have the forbidden archives, and as long as we have that there are Grimoires for me to read, and possibly the original mirror," I gave Sunset an awkward little smile. "Can you take a scan of the portal's magical signatures before we head out? If we can give that information to Celestia it would be helpful."

"I haven't done that in a while," she smiled back.

"First let me send this text." "Went to Equestria with sunset. In Everfree. Don't send help," I typed on my now gemstone phone and sent to two of my contacts. As an afterthought I took a Selfie with Sunset and sent it to them with a, "Tell no one." message added.

After that Sunset took her scan, and we moved towards Canterlot. A few minutes into walking my crystal vibrated and displayed, "You either got real good at photoshop when I wasn't looking, or you're telling the truth. let's not forget you are too much of an ass to lie so yeah. Well, keep in touch get Maud's autograph, and flip off Rainbow Dash for me. I'm gonna go out lie Kyousuke to your family."

"Well, " I stopped and blinked, "That's unexpected, but makes sense for who it is."

"Why Rainbow Dash?" Sunset asked looking at my rock phone.

"He doesn't like Rainbow, he's strangely OK with human Dash though."

"Uh, OK?" Sunset refocused her attention to the path. "So why would it be so dark? Shouldn't it just be night eternal?"

"Advanced darkness. 'When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals, a world without light,"' I quote not knowing how else to respond.

"Well, whatever you just said do you have a plan? You seem awfully confident."

"Do I?" I paused to consider that. "Because no, I don't. Well not really," I whispered glancing around in the darkness my eyes having adjusted to the dim light.

"Oh," she sadly whispered back. After that, we walked in silence for a ways. Sunset dimmed her light as we approached what I knew to be the Castle of the Two Sisters, knowledge which I had immediately shared.

"Oh, this is not where we want to be... or is it?" I thought aloud considering a reckless plan.

"Um, in what way could this be good?" Sunset appealed in just above a wispier.

"We could walk right up to Nightmare Moon, and I could declare that I had gone out near the beginning of her reign to find a way to get to Celestia's heart by her order and that I had found that in you. Best case we get bed, food, and a ride to Canterlot. Worst case execution."

"Are you crazy," She whispered, "She'll see right through us."

"If we don't, we risk being caught by her guards While moving toward Canterlot, in which case we would be executed for sure."

"Damned if we do damn if we don't huh?" Sunset lamented.

"I say we try it, if we fail, teleport us out as far as you can, then we run," I proposed.

"Wow, let's make camp for a bit to think it over," Sunset suggested.

After a bit of backtracking, so we wouldn't be too close, we made a small camp with blankets from the Saddlebags and a hole Sunset magically dug. We ended up falling asleep in said camp from exhaustion.

The morning following our entrance to Equestria I awoke before Sunset, and used that time to walk around getting used to walking on all fours, as well as walking on only my hind legs as I found the higher view and freedom of my forelegs more natural. I did, however, decide that to use magic for the first time in the Everfree, or as the Japanese dub puts it "The Forest Of No Return" might be a bad idea. I had read plenty enough fanfictions to be well aware of the possible consequences of magical surges, as well as the consequences of suddenly causing an uproar in the Everfree without being ready for a pack of Timberwolves, even with Bioshock references to make charcoal of them, could have. Thusly I resigned myself to the earth pony way, as I undoubtedly would have been, had my Cutie Mark been the same as my OC. During this I frequently allowed my vision to flit about watching not so much for Timberwolves as much as Nightmare Moon's guards who may or may not inhabit the trees,... Who may be patrolling the forest. The moon had just begun its rise in the sky when Sunset woke to hear and see me sitting on the forest floor, "Luna, I swear we'll save you."

"If I didn't know your contextualization of that matter I'd be out of my mind to think you right with yours," Sunset Smirked, surprising me and eliciting a jump further than I think I'd like to admit leaving my coat standing on end like a cat's and my glasses slid most the way down my muzzle.

"Sunset,... you're up... Mornin'... or night I s'pose?"
"Wow," Sunset blandly stated. "So that wasn't the most comfortable I've ever slept, but I trust you've figured out breakfast while you've been up?"

"Y'all would. Nevermind, ya I 'ain't gonna say I'm ready t' eat daisies er anithin', but we bought stuff we ponies can eat so I figure we don't need to scrounge around yet."

"What do you mean by 'Y'all would'," Sunset scrunched her face.

"Nevermind."

"What were you doing up if you weren't finding your way into poison joke?"

"Please Sunset, while normally I’d say 'Never underestimate how stupid I am,' I know well to avoid blue flowers in the Everfree, I’m not Twilight Sparkle. Sunset simply snorted climbing out of the hole she dug. Tilting my head a little, "What 'az ya' so cozy in the Forest a' Death? Celestia turn the trees t' cake when I wasn't lookin’?" I joked. The only response I got for that was another exhalation of air and a roll of her eyes. "Well, she is the Princess with the cake flank," I stated somewhat flatly.

"Never say that to her," Sunset chuckled unwrapping some of the fruit we brought, selecting from it a pack of strawberries.

"Pfff, never underestimate how simple I am, I probably won't be able to help myself from calin’ 'er Cake Flank or Sun Butt," I grinned taking a strawberry in the frog of my own hoof... after wiping my forehooves first of course, as is dictated by human hygiene without giving it a second thought. Which is why for a moment, after I realized Sunset was watching the strawberry in my hoof with a confused look on her scrunched up muzzle, I failed to understand why.

"Uh, it's just... hooves you seem really used to them... that is weird even if you've seen ponies do it." For a moment I blankly stared into her eyes before slowly realizing that what I was doing at that moment shouldn't be possible.

"Oh... right, uh well ponies just, can pick things up right? Isn't it just a natural magic ponies have 'n don't think about?"
And for a moment she stared back before giving a simple response, "Yes." It wasn't until the entire container had been emptied and we stood up back on our hooves that she broke the silence, "There's also that," She gestured to my hooves.

"what?" I blinked looking between my hooves and the golden mare.

"Bipeds shouldn't just adapt to walking with hooves as quickly as you did," Sunset deadpanned.

"Oh, uh... I don't know what you mean," I looked away as we continued trotting towards Canterlot. "Not that it wouldn't have been more convenient had I been human, but I did consider the possibility of anything up to including Draconequus, and actually, to be honest, I was just a little surprised I didn't become one."

"Sure, whatever," Sunset stated in a half annoyed half bewildered tone.

Soon thereafter I stopped walking entirely, and without notice fell over, lye on my back, and stretched my limbs. Then I sat up popped my shoulders, and stated as fact in an all too high pitch from what Sunset had become accustomed "I'm gonna roll around on the floor for a bit, k."

Sunset looked away from the gray pony rolling around on the forest floor, with all the grace of a pegasus foal, suppressing a chuckle. "Why?" Was all she asked.

"I can not, and even if somehow the Heart Song magic of Equestria would make it possible, will not sing, and it is important to giggle at the ghastly... not the Pokemon, that doesn't seem like the best idea," I stood up responding less than seriously.

"Hmph, that sounds like something one of my Canterlot High friends would say."

"Yep, Pinkie Pie said it in this forest... the Giggle at the Ghastly part, not the rest of it, well sung it but that doesn't matter," I bubbled with just a hint of Pinkieishness, before deciding blandly. "Ya know what, screw it," and standing slightly shakily at first on only my hind hooves, "I'll take the more human view here to keep my forehooves free." Although odd with the anatomy I put myself into, the view range and not having to keep two sets of legs in sync with each other allowed me to be more comfortable... Feeling less like pray and more like an Omnivore in the dark forest was also definitely a factor in the decision... the main factor.

"Well, now you've done something that makes sense in a way," Sunset stated a smile threatening to find her face. "What's up now?" Sunset frowned realizing I had a serious expression.

"It is nothing, Sunset," I started seriously following with a sigh before whispering “Act natural we’ve got a tracker,” while trying to discern who it was. In the moment the tracker’s heightened hearing picked up my whisper they tensed and the reflection of their cutie mark became visible in a puddle on the damp forest floor for a second before they moved higher forbidding sight of any more of them self.

"Oh, alright," Sunset sunset followed the shift, "So I've noticed we have not only passed the castle but gone completely off path to run into it," Sunset questioned, "Are we not going to talk to Lu- Nightmare Moon?"

"No. Not yet. Her Highness need not be bothered with us 'till we've accomplished our mission!" I stated in a much firmer tone and higher volume than I had previously, continuing to walk with my hooves behind my back as Iron Will had stifling a laugh at how silly I sounded.

"So, you think it best we do it all first even though we are here now?" Sunset picked up following a short breath of silence passing through the forest.

"Yes, although it has been quite some time I can't say I imagine her responding well to being informed of a half-done job," I slowly enunciated carefully considering the words.

"True. Then onward we go," Sunset suggested attempting to ignore how suffocating the forest had suddenly felt.

"Yes," I stated blankly to the forest before us. After another 15 or so minutes had passed, I first noted that my sense of time seemed to have improved in this form, then slowed my pace to be half of what it had been taking in a deep breath. "Silver Cresent, show thyself. You have been following us for some time now." As soon as Sunset had turned, a pony with a very dark gray coat wearing what I had already recognized as the uniform of the Night Guard as I had seen in the finale of season five, who had on his flank a silver half crescent like a newly waxing moon, stepped hesitantly from the foliage.

"You caught me? The name is, Waxing Crescent though, Silver Crescent is my sister," the pony stumbled. "Who Are you two though?" The new arrival squinted at us with a scathing gaze.

Composing myself from guessing the name, I snorted as intimidatingly as I could... which was very much so as it turned out. "Apologies, I mistook your figure for a that of a female. Tell me," I gave pause both to compose my follow up as much as for effect, "Dost thou in truth know not who I am? Art thou new in service of the night?"

"N-no?" The dark-coated pony shifted uncomfortably, "Should I know you?" The Armored Pony stepped back to prevent me from hovering over him.

"No. You should though, have Sir at the end when answering my direct questions," I cracked my joints standing taller imitating Iron Will again to intimidate the smaller pony.

"Y-Yes Sir!" Waxing Crescent shook.

"Good," I squinted in a calmer voice backing away enough to slam my forehooves back to the ground putting myself in an aggressive stance face to face with the pony before me as hard as I could without feeling pain from it. It should be said that amount is higher than it should be, enough so in fact that both the pony in my line of sight and Sunset flinched thinking I'd hurt myself. The darker of the two stepped away looking me up and down as I had landed before him. "What?"

"You uh, that didn't... hurt... sir?"

"No. I have spent a lot of time with minitours and griffons after all, and grown a fondness for meat. Meat has to be tenderized if one lacks a griffon's beak and claws. Personally, I use my hooves and a stone to beat it against,... marble if you care," I elaborated purposefully adding to the questions. Though neither of them verbally responded, both backed away. "I don't eat ponies, both of you can calm down," I dryly deadpanned adding, "Usually,... I don't make a habit of it," and licked my lips purely to moisten them although the true intention must have been lost to both Crescent and Sunset. "Anyway, why were you following us," I continued to glare with the rage of Gordon Ramsay.

Gulping down his fears waxing Crescent finally replied, "I heard a sound like hooves and followed it. I am currently on guard, Sir."

"Well then," I paused considering how seething the tone of voice should sound, "Shouldn't you be watching for threats rather than stopping us," I more demanded than asked.

"Waxing built his courage and turned on me to say in standard Skyrim guard tone, "I don't yet know if you aren't a threat."

With a groan, I introduced Sunset and I not bothering with creating alias names as neither would be known, “I am known as Grimoire Dusk, and this mare is… My partner, Sunset Shimmer.”

The names gave Crescent pause. “Oh? I don’t think I have heard of you, again should I have?”

“No, it is unlikely even Nightmare Moon herself bothered remembering me, I wasn’t much back then… Now though,” I grinned, “I’ve found what I set out for.”

“Which was?” Crescent skeptically egged on.

“Her. A way to get under Celestia’s fur so to speak, and set her off her guard,” I stated with a plain expression of boredom waving a hoof Sunset’s way.

“What’s so special about her?” Crescent asked yet another question which was honestly grating on my nerves at this point.

“You ask too many questions,” I mumbled with an incoherent addendum. “But, what the hay, if thou art so curious then I shall tell you but you wouldn’t want to be found away from your post only to have to report that you had run off on a foals errand would you?” With that the smaller, but more muscular pony went wide eyed before galloping back toward the castle of the two sisters.

Sighing and slumping my shoulders I trotted sluggishly up next to Sunset, “Finally!”

Sunset stared at me for a moment. “So you don’t actually eat ponies do you?”

“Eww no! I don’t even eat marshmallows if it wouldn’t be weird not to. Well not after your experience with them in a lighthearted fanfiction I read especially.”

“I am going to try not to read too far into what you just said.”

“Do what you want, as for me I hate lying, and that was really hard… that was a lie, it was hard though, I don't like being loud or under pressure.”

“Out of curiosity could you tell me what of that was a lie, and what wasn’t?” Sunset tilted.

“It isn’t even real Marble, so I can hit it harder,” I put shortly. “Silver Crescent is still following us by the way, only Waxing went back,” I whispered to sunset a minute or so later, still seeing the outline of a pony I was barely able to make out in the light of Sunset's horn. Sunset responded to this by sending out a wave of the magic radar she had mentioned earlier continuing on as she had been. To anypony unable to hear her words it would have looked as if she had tried, and failed to cast a spell, when in fact she had located not only Silver Crescent but a nearby pack of Timberwolves as well, “Timberwolves, 1:00, pony 1:30.”

“Then we ignore her, she’ll run into the Timberwolves and both of our problems will be solved,” although I’d said that I quickened my pace.

“Wait, Grimoire! Don’t just run into danger!”

“I do not run, I jog briskly!” I corrected. “But I’ll admit it I can’t be that cold. Tell me when she’s at our 3."

“She jumped forward when we moved she’s at 1:15 now!” “... She’s too close!”

Coming to a halt I moved back the direction we had come from but told sunset to stay only within whatever she felt would be a safe range for spells either way. This turned out to be both closer than I’d expected and Further than I’d like, as she hurled a spell near my hooves engraving in shallow letters the words ‘She Follows’ in the dirt. I stopped, collected myself and allowed Sunset to close the gap between us. Once she had I asked, “Where is she?”

“3.”

With that as a cue, I walked straight towards where Silver Crescent should have been. “Silver Crescent we know you’re in there! Please go home!” A Pegasus mare with similar features to her brother we had encountered before Lept down towards me.

“Above you!” Sunset shouted in just enough time for me to roll to my right and avoid the Mare, dropping my saddle bags as I did so.

“There you are, Silver,” I scolded with a concerned condescending tone of voice. “Go home, you’re too old to be playing foalish games like this.”

“You won’t trick me like my brother I’ll find out what you’re really up to if I have to capture you to do it!”

I smiled, “Ponies and their threats,... as I told your brother next to the monsters of my home you can’t rightly threaten me.” To which she bared her fangs, and charged. I dodged left, and rose again to only my rear hooves. “Really go home, I don’t want to fight you, Silver Crescent!”

“Why is it because I’m a Mare!?”

“Y- yes it is! Also because it would be pointless and stupid, there was a pack of timberwolves not 20 hooves from you and you hadn’t even noticed, had you?”

“You’re lying!” She accused.

“He isn’t,” Sunset interjected, “I'd say: 'Go ahead cast a positioning spell they chased you chasing us!' but obviously I can't.” Just as Silver had turned, a look of realization dawned on her face, and 3 Timber Wolves leaped towards us. First to action was Sunset who had readied a concussive spell which slammed into the center wolf sending it careening back into the forest. Next to action was me who in losing all inhibitions about attracting predators begun to weave a spell of unknown properties while charging headlong towards the wolf furthest to the right, locking it into a bear hug with the smaller creature I was, thanking whoever decided Equestrian anatomy ought to be somehow similar enough to human anatomy although equine to make that possible. Sunset cast another concussive spell wayward of the third wolf which missed but allowed Silver’s instincts to return to her as she leaped to grapple the wolf from its back with her sword gripped in her teeth.

“Sunset, use Fire! They are wood!” I yelled over the roars of the Timberwolves trying to escape Silver and my grips.

“Are you an idiot!” Both mares yelled.

“Yes!” As I yelled this Sunset turned catching fire to the wolf she had hit earlier as it pounced from behind her, and I wrestled the pile of wood in my own hooves to the ground refusing to let go. All through Sunset and I had some level of success in managing our wolves Silver Crescent had been thrown off by her’s which now bared its fangs down at the unarmed pony. Sunset’s burning beast had become enraged like a rodeo bull. In the moment of distraction, I had let go of both the wolf and the spell so that whatever spell I had put together was fired into the jaw of the tackled timberwolf, until moments later its grip loosened and it fell apart. It just fell apart. “Oh, well it makes sense that’d be what I’d get ‘ah s’pose.” Looking over while massaging my now sore withers I saw that Sunset had apparently had the same train of thought about her’s as she had conjured a large red cloth egging it to charge making her way in a zigzag pattern to Silver Crescent eventually causing her flaming wolf to crash headlong at full speed into the one assaulting Silver obliterating the both of them into a single pile of burning and charred wood. As I watched this I looked to Sunset with concern realizing the spell I’d cast, “Sunset I think I did something very wrong!”

“What the buck did you do now?” Sunset surprisingly coldly cast back.

“Uh, well I think I just accidentally cast Avada Kedavra rather than a disassembly spell!”

“So what it’s dead then?”

“Seriously! I may have just disassembled a soul with one of the unforgivable curses, but this is fine?”

“It was a timber wolf their souls are artificial products of Discord anyway, they were already a sin against magic.”

“Oh,... I wasn’t, but perhaps I should have expected that reaction from you, living with my kind as long as you did.”

“Excuse me,” the very confused Silver Crescent interjected, “What is going on?”

Sunset extended a hoof to help Silver Crescent up, “Well you are the one who followed us, shouldn’t you explain that first.” Although Silver Crescent hadn’t seen it I saw sunset’s eyes flash white for a moment when she took Silver’s hoof.

When Silver Crescent took her hoof hesitantly but didn't respond to the question I posed a new one, “Inquisition: Does the name Twilight Sparkle mean anything to you? Supplemental information: She would be a purple pony with a cutie mark resembling a large star surrounded by five smaller ones, also she should be an alicorn.” Silver expressed shock shaking her head that she didn’t. “Silver if you do know of her, I can be of help explaining the events of that night.” (The styling of this question is in reference to an anime called 'The Sunday without God' or 'Kamisama No Inai Nichiyoubi')

“I told you I don’t know who this Twilight is,” Silver shrunk back.

“Then either you don’t know, it hasn’t happened, it has yet to possibly happen, or you do but you are lying… I don’t think you are lying.”

“I Think I Would Remember an alicorn showing up.”

“You wouldn’t actually,” I shrugged her off “You weren't, or at least won’t be there. I was wondering if word of her had reached you. Since this is the case she may have yet to appear. If you do see her, tell her... Act’ally I dun't know how much I can tell you more than that. Well, you don’t trust us I s’pose, do ya?”

“No? No, I don’t. How could I? You pass right by without reporting to the Princess, but claim she commands you, even though I’ve never heard either of your names.”

“That is true, you can’t trust us. All you have is our word on it. Tell me, Silver Crescent,... Have you ever danced with Discord in the pale moonlight?”

Silver at first backed away from me, but then stopped, sat on her flank and pondered, “Did you intentionally reference Bat Mane?”

“Yes, I did. Serious question this time. Why do you follow Nightmare Moon?”

“Why so serious?” Silver cast back.

Turning my head away closing my eyes I whispered to myself, “Should ’a’ve seen that coming. “Sunset, bind her with a spell, would you kindly.” Sunset’s horn lit up conjuring rope tieing Silver’s hooves as she glared at me with a sideways glance. “What I don’t know the spell?”

“Shut-up, would you kindly,” she deadpanned my way. (If you don’t understand why she is mad it’s because of the way “would you kindly” connotes as a Bioshock reference.)

“As you wish,” I became silent and walked a half circle behind Silver.

“So Silver, now that we have you captured, it doesn't matter what side we are on, so I’ll go ahead and tell you it has been years since either of us has spoken directly with the princesses Luna or Celestia. We are on both of their sides in this, in a way,” Sunset explained calmly removing a blanket from the saddlebag I had dropped to fight, and laying it out to sit on inviting Silver to do the same. Silver did with some struggle her hooves being tied and all. “We aren’t villains and at least Grimoire doesn't want to be your enemy. I would also rather make friends than enemies if possible.” Noticing Silver Crescent looking for an opening to escape to the air Sunset added, “Grimoire, hold her, would you kindly.”

I did just that pulling my forehooves up and around Silver’s shoulders to hold her against my barrel as firmly and painlessly as possible for her… well not as painlessly as possible but close to it. “I am the best at hugs.”

“This is not a hug! Let go of me!” Silver Crescent shouted.

Sunset sent out another ping but sensed nopony, “There is no pony around,” she declared more to me than to Silver.

“Well we can’t stay out here all night, either way, let’s take her with us, I can hold her, no problem.” And so we did carry on in silence Silver crescent pouting against the rope and my grip.

“Ya know, no offence, but you don't look strong enough to hold a pony in place, especially for as long as you have,” Sunset finally let out half an hour later in our walk when we had exited the Everfree and chosen that rather than walk through a town with a restrained, pony whose armor Sunset took and put on, we would take the longer roundabout route to the train tracks we would follow to Canterlot.

“Well it isn’t entirely about strength, partly is but not wholly. Is it, Silver? Am I holding too tight?”

“No, I’m fine,” Silver pouted struggling a little unwilling to admit her struggle.

“This hold, the way I do it isn’t about strength, I’m holding her so she can’t move enough to generate any force. If she struggled hard enough she could get out of it but it would pop out her shoulder joints to do so, and the psychology of most living things won’t allow them to do that. From experience, it hurts for about a month and a half if you do. Speaking of hurting I’m getting tired, we could probably get Fluttershy to let us use her guest room.” Both girls reacted to the name in much the same way, by repeating her name once, and in Silver’s case struggling harder. “Chill, I’d never threaten Shy. I know she works for Moonie now but she’s still Fluttershy. Though having you tied up could be an issue. Since we aren’t really on one side or the other yet, you have no reason to fight us, if you don't try to run away we can untie you. Hmm, yep agree to help us stay at Shy’s place and I’ll put you down.”

Silver stopped struggling. “Really, that’s all you want from me?”

“Yes, as far as I’m concerned right now, you fought timberwolves with us so you’re my friend, and as a friend, I’m holding you back from doing something stupid.”

Sunset stared at me for a moment, “She tried to kill you, no pony can be that forgiving.”

“I am. You haven’t heard any issue from me about the Elements of Harmony turning you into a demon and your enslaving of the school have you? That could be because I have a thing for girls who use ancient powers to transform into hot-headed demonesses, and come back from it to make friends without losing who they really are but, either way.”

“Wait, what!? Who are you two!?” Silver shouted.

“No one much, just a couple of ponies drifting in the ocean of time,” I said like a Jojo line, had I not been holding Silver Crescent I would’ve possed as well. “Anyway, as a friend, will you help us?”

“Just because we fought together doesn't make us friends, I still want to take you to the castle,” Silver hissed.

“Sure it does, and if you still want to hurt me that’s fine. We can still be friends.”

Sunset and Silver stared at me, or in Silver’s case tried to, “Are you an idiot?”

“Yes. We’ve been over this.”

“This is getting us nowhere,” Silver sighed. “Fine, I’ll help you, if you promise you won’t hurt Fluttershy.”

I put Silver down and brought all four hooves to the ground. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! It’s a pinkie promise!”

Silver hesitantly moved to complete the Pinkie promise, “Wait, you know Pinkie?”

“Yep, I do. Pinkie doesn't know me though… and this Pinkie doesn’t know her either. But yep we know Pinkie. It’s pinkie though I wouldn't put it past her to somehow guess.”

“Uhh?”

“Don’t worry about it, sometimes he says random things he shouldn’t like Pinkie,” Sunset gave addendum.

“Uhh?” Silver continued not moving.

“Oh, ya, so can you Pinkie promise you won’t try n’ turn us in?”

“Uhh, no?”

“Please as a friend?” I asked in the same tone as before but with a spell weaving in my horn.

Silver stepped back, “Whoa, friends don’t threaten friends!”

“So will you do it?”

“Uhh,” Silver twitched. “Wait… I’m free now. Bye, losers!” Silver took to the air only to be pulled down by Sunset manipulating the rope still tied to her hooves.

“Fail,” I told the crashed pony, before discharging the spell towards the forest, not knowing how to disengage it. The spell hit a tree and made it sparkle as if it had been covered in multicolored glitter. “And Fail,” I added. “I hate glitter.”

“That you can do magic at all already is impressive, and a high-level spell like the soul disassembly you cast before,... How is it you can do that?”

“Sunset, don’t give away information like that to Silver yet, nevermind I don’t care.”

“Sorry, but I’m sure she doesn't want to try and escape with your magic as random as it is.”

“Alright so,” Silver interjected, “Why shouldn’t you be able to do magic, you’re a Unicorn after all?”

“Ya, I’m new t’ it th’o. I’ve only had magic for two days now, first day casting.”
(Translation: Yes, I am new to it though. I’ve…)

Silver’s Eyes seemed to become 20% bigger. “How can this be your first day, please don’t use any more magic ‘till you understand it! I may not be a unicorn, but I still know how dangerous that can be!”

“Don’t try an’ get away; I won’t use magic.” Silver shook her head slowly, yet immediately in agreement. I added, “My talent is in readin’ magic so I shou’d get some reading material first I s’pose, or at least that’s what my Cutie Mark is telling me.” After that, we walked to Fluttershy’s place, sill where it always is. Upon arrival, I knocked on the door as Sunset continued to hold Silver’s bonds.

“Umm, just a minute… oh, if that’s ok with you,” We heard a small voice from the other side.

“Take your time, no rush,” I said in no effort to be heard by anypony. When Fluttershy opened the door cautiously we had positioned ourselves so that Silver Crescent would be the only one she immediately saw, injured and without her armor. It wasn’t until the door had opened all the way that she saw Sunset, and I. “Hey Shy, we got hurt fighting Timber Wolves in the forest; I know animals are your thing, but would ya mind checking up on us?” I pleaded.

“Oh, of course, I wouldn’t come right in Silver, and … who are you two? I’m sorry I can’t remember you,” Shy meekly invited.

“It’s fine, they are with me,” Silver protested not herself entirely convinced.

Sunset disengaged the rope from Silver as we entered before Fluttershy could take notice. A few minutes later Fluttershy had looked over the three of us. “Thank Goodness, you all look mostly unharmed, Just a few scrapes on you,” Shy said putting a bandage on Silver Crescent. “Whatever you did… um, Grimoire was it?” She waited as I nodded in confirmation. “Um, please try not to do it any more ok, there’s bruising on your ribs, um it’s not too bad but, you really should be careful, i-if that’s ok with you.” Soon as Fluttershy had said it Silver was already glaring at me.

“Thanks Shy, I’ll be sure not to try an’ crush anymore Timberwolves with hugs,” I smiled.

“It did work though,” Sunset added, ” Well it sort of worked.”

When Fluttershy expressed surprise to that Silver Crescent put in, “I’m fairly certain death hugs are his real talent not reading dusty old books,” glaring my way all the while.

“Sorry, you know I had to.”

Soon thereafter, we had reached the end of the night. “Um, it’ll be dark soon. So I’d like to get to bed early, if that’s ok with you.”

“Of course, wouldn’t want ya turnin’ vampony on us out'a the blue,” I smiled at shy with a tired but joking expression.

“EEP! H- how did you know?” Shy hid behind her mane.

“Uhh, What? Shy, are you saying you’re a vampony?” Silver jumped.

“Oh, um I didn’t know actually… sorry,” I apologized.

“Oh, I’m sure you don’t want to stay in through the day with a somepony like me. I’m sorry,” Fluttershy tried to hide behind her mane.

Walking up to Fluttershy face to face I told her, “Even if you are the kinda’ vampony that needs blood, you can have some of mine, it’s fine. I don’t mind if it’s you.”

Silver whispered to Sunset just loud enough Shy, and I could still pick up her words, “What is wrong with him? You have to know, right?”

Sunset shrugged, “He is an enigma.”

“Never overestimate my reactions.”

“No, I think your normal phrase fits better here actually,” Sunset rolled her eyes.

“Well then I’ll quote Fluttershy instead, ‘Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”’

“It sure sounds like Shy, but when did she say that?” Silver tilted her head her silver and blue mane bobbing with it.

“In the beginning,” I vaguely stated as if it should've made sense.

“We have odd histories, don’t worry about everything we say, most of it won’t make sense, and shouldn’t,” Sunset interjected before either could form a response, placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s withers as one would to comfort somepony her eyes glowing once again.

With that out of the way the four of us soon went to bed to wait out the harsh dark of day. I slept on the couch to allow Silver and Sunset to take the bed in Fluttershy’s guest room upstairs.