Our Future Of Harmony

Chapters

Prologue: The Present Is Friendship
Act 1 - Chapter 1: Together Beneath The Stars
Act 1 - Chapter 2: The Convergence
Act 1 - Chapter 3: Lives Bereft Of Dreams
Act 1 - Chapter 4: Guarded Utopia
Act 1 - Chapter 5: The Price Of Freedom
Act 1 - Chapter 6: The Pain Of Truth

Prologue: The Present Is Friendship

“It's ironic how much we take the things which have occurred in our lives as granted, not realizing that everything could have been completely different. Just a tiny change, a mere step taken in the other direction, and everything that is today would have never been. I've seen the many possibilities, futures without me and my friends spreading friendship, and they all have been disastrous. Still, even with us as protectors, there were lots of conflicts and imminent dangers to overcome, which we thankfully did. These days, Equestria and our neighbors live together in peace, though that does not mean conflict has ceased forever. Yet I play my part as princess of friendship unyieldingly, taking care of my subjects and everyone who needs help. Subjects... it's still so weird and funny to say that, I-”

A loud groan broke Princess Twilight Sparkle out of her thoughts, making her tilt her head to her right as she looked with confusion at her most faithful companion. “What's the matter, Spike?” She asked, smiling at the purple dragon resting next to her in the garden of her own castle.

Thin smoke rose out of his nose as Spike rolled his eyes, puzzled as always by his best friend's lack of consideration. “You're always talking to yourself when you write in your diary. Could you tone it down please? I just want to nap.” Spike mumbled before closing his eyes again.

Twilight could not help herself but chuckle, but soon nodded and stroke her most favorite dragon's head. “Sorry. You know I sometimes get caught up in things.” She calmly apologized, to which Spike responded mostly with inaudible nagging. Once, Twilight could have sworn he said the word 'sometimes' in a very sarcastic way, causing an impish smirk to form on her muzzle.

Letting out a quiet sigh, the princess raised her head towards the sky, gazing at the radiant blue with a dreamy smile. Not a single cloud in sight, the mild warmth gently caressed her lavender fur, and the grass and plants around her waved back and forth due to the occasional gentle breeze. It was without a doubt a wonderful day; one of many others to be precise. Twilight had seen such days for many years now, but it never failed to delight her. There was simply something about this harmony that touched her very core, perhaps due to her inherent nature or what she had accomplished together with her friends.

Mere moments felt like an eternity to her as she closed her eyes, wallowing in nostalgia as she remembered days very special to her, like the marriage of her brother and sister in spirit, but also unpleasant ones like when Tirek nearly laid waste to Equestria. Twilight shuddered as she opened her eyes again, a saddened frown now gracing her lips. Memories, as much as they forge who one was, often contained pain one would prefer to forget.

“Spike, I-” Twilight spoke under her breath, making sure her dear friend was awake before she started talking again.

“What is it?” Spike asked her, more out of courtesy than actual interest. However, that was all she needed from him to commence.

“Are things these days good? No, could they be better, different?” She requested an opinion from Spike, who was openly baffled by this surreal question.

“I guess. I mean it's pretty unexciting these days. Ponies, dragons, changelings, you name it. Everyone's happy and so on.” Was his halfhearted answer.

Princess Twilight Sparkle was not surprised by this kind of response, even if it still annoyed her every single time. “Not quite what I wanted, but I get your point.” She commented cheerlessly. Spike noted that and opened his eyes again, looking at Twilight with an expression of concern.

“Why you ask? Is something wrong?” He gently questioned his friend's sudden mood swings, to which though she could only shake her head.

“No, I'm fine. I was just- thinking- about everything, especially our encounter with Starlight back in the castle.”

Spike scratched his chin, worried by Twilight's cheerlessness. He understood that something had gotten to her, but he did not know what it was and his friend did not seem willing to share her feelings with him. Yet he grasped the link between Twilight's different trains of thought, hence, as a faithful friend, he played along with her scheme. “Does this 'thinking' involve a certain time spell perhaps?” Spike challenged her with an impish grin, to which Twilight could only look away nervously.

“No- no. Just, you know, everything in general.”

She denied his assumptions, though it was easy for Spike to see that he had hit the nail on the head. With minor disappointment, though he understood where she came from, he eventually smiled at her and gently nudged her. “Every scroll is nothing but ashes now, remember? You personally made sure nopony would mess with time again. What did you call the bad futures we've seen again, fake illusions never meant to be? You even called the spell one of Star Swirl's errors, and made sure to let everypony know that time travel is not something to be messed with. Trust me- you did that often enough.”

There was a tone of biting sullenness in Spike's speech that made Twilight giggle like a small filly towards the end. “Yes. I know you're right. Nothing but ashes.” She commented, taking in a deep breath so she could calm down again. While often infantile, she had to admit that there was a wise hero deep within his heart.

“Well then that's that. Like you always said, work towards the future, don't be stuck in the past. It's what made Starlight change her mind after all.” Spike added as he stretched himself, letting out a pleasurable yawn. “And now, if you excuse me and my code, I'd like to nap a bit longer before the big event starts.” He sleepily grouched as he let himself fall on his green tummy again, enjoying the soft grass beneath his scales.

Twilight decided to not say anything, instead looking at her best friend sleeping for a minute. Without a care in the world, that was always how he was. No matter what adverse occurrence, he faced it courageously and looked forward to every day and what it had in store. Sometimes, she wished she was just as easygoing as he was.

Eventually tilting her head downwards, she gazed at the verdant blades of grass that moved with the wind. She spotted some ladybugs leisurely munching one of the blades, though fighting for who got the bigger piece. Twilight harrumphed, wondering if these insects did not realize that there were a million more pieces of grass for them to share. But it was always like this, wasn't it?

Closing her eyes, Twilight once again found herself smothered by her own memories. Just one more time, that's what she always told herself. Everything that had happened, everything that could have been, everything that was never meant to be. “Nothing but ashes...”

Act 1 - Chapter 1: Together Beneath The Stars

'Just a tiny change, a mere step taken in the other direction, and everything could have been completely different.'

It was a starlit night in Equestria, a pleasant cold embracing everything and everyone outside. Such tranquil serenity was a complete contrast to the havoc the inhabitants of Equestria had experienced a month ago, yet it already seemed like a distant memory. That was one of the qualities of the ponies, putting aside the past and welcoming the next day. Discord had ultimately proven to be on their side and hence was excused from his past transgressions. Tirek, one of the worst fiends the world ever had to suffer, was once again safely locked away. Unfortunately, Starlight Glimmer was gone without a trace, planning Celestia knows what.

Despite Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship, still bearing the burden of her heart heavy from loss, she had managed to adjust to her new home, her very own castle. Tomorrow, she would invite all her friends for board games and muffins, but this night was just for herself. Even Spike was already cuddling with his blankie and enjoying sweet dreams of gems and his most favorite gem Rarity. And although this was meant to be her night, Twilight was far from alone.

Assembling her telescope, the winged unicorn yawned as she turned around to look at Fluttershy's near-natural house, illuminated only by cozy candle-light. Twilight heard her friend's gentle steps as the graceful pegasus approached her with a warm smile.

“Snacks are ready if you want some.” She offered to Twilight, who nodded with appreciation and followed Fluttershy back inside.

“Thank you, but are you sure Angel won't mind sharing?” Twilight asked with an ironic, smug grin on her lips.

Fluttershy could only roll her eyes in amusement and shrug her shoulders. “You know I have my ways with him.”

Inside, Twilight Sparkle took a seat at the wooden table, on which fine cutlery and plates already rested. Briefly entering her kitchen, Fluttershy soon returned with a bowl of mixed salad and a traditional kettle out of which steaming regalement surged. In her typical courtesy, she first served Twilight a plate full of salad and poured hot tea into her cup before serving herself.

Twilight let out a pleasurable sigh when the enchanting smell of the tea rose into her nostrils. “Honey Ginseng, right?” She asked Fluttershy with an expression of satisfaction as she took a sip.

“50 points for Griffonstone.” Fluttershy responded, a beaming grin directed at the young princess.

She in return could almost not believe what she had just witnessed as she rubbed her eyes to make sure she was truly awake. “Did you just tell a joke?” She asked Fluttershy, who merely looked away with the same rapt grin. “I'm so proud of you.”

Their midnight dinner remained mostly quiet and unwound, just like the host enjoyed it the most. Twilight Sparkle did not mind either, as it was a genial change from Spike's lacking table manners, which were even outclassed by the critters living alongside Fluttershy. Speaking of which, when Twilight was almost finished with her meal, she realized that an unusual amount of exotic pups were frolicking in her friend's home.

“Jackalopes, manticores, tanukies. I must say Fluttershy, you've quite the gathering of rare new fosterlings here.” Twilight expressed how impressed she was by the sportive crowd, which of course Fluttershy took as a badge of honor. Skipping out of her chair, she walked towards the stove around which most of her little friends had gathered to enjoy the warmth of its fire. Twilight watched her affectionately petting them, filling her heart with pure bliss.

From her gentle touch alone, many of the youngish critters began to feel dozy and promptly laid down on the blue carpet to sleep. Only Angel, Fluttershy's tiny sweetheart, and a couple of others remained awake to continue their recreation for a little longer. However, just as the yellow pegasus was about to return to her dining table, she felt something pull at her hind leg. Both she and Twilight gazed curiously at the small being that sought Fluttershy's attention.

“I've never seen something like this. Do you know what it is?” The lavender alicorn asked while Fluttershy caressed her little admirer.

“He- and I have no clue either. I found him a day after you defeated Starlight just wandering aimlessly and hungry, so I took him in. Nopony I asked knew what he was, and the 'Woodchucks Guidebooks' don't have anything on him. Though considering he likes to eat crisp vegetables just like Angel, I guess he is some sort of arctic fennec. Not that it matters, because you are my little Fluffy, aren't you? Who is my wittle fluffy friend, yes you are.” Fluttershy at first explained before returning to her baublery with the little animal, which enjoyed it greatly.

As she tousled his silver coat, Twilight continued to watch and could not help herself but become a little curious. Fluffy, as Fluttershy called him, was bipedal just like Angel and barely an inch larger than Spike. The voluminous white pelt around his neck, his fuzzy tail, big ears and golden eyes had something mysterious yet gracious about them. And the tiny red scarf around its neck, likely a friendship gift from Fluttershy, made it look adorable.

“Twilight? Are you okay?” Fluttershy wondered if she was still awake, standing right in front of her.

“U-uh what? Oh yes, I was just daydreaming.” She casually brushed aside the seconds she had slipped away from reality. Shaking her head a little, she nervously grinned at her dear friend and hastily attempted to change the topic of conversation. “So- uuhm- yes, I meant to ask! Where are all these new furballs coming from?” Twilight asked Fluttershy as she invited her to sit down again, which she gladly did.

“Tirek's ruthlessness destroyed many dens, so me and my partners desperately try to find new homes for them. It's all a mess thanks to him, but we managed somehow.” She explained sternly, not hesitating from letting others know it had not only been ponies who suffered from the centaur's malice.

Twilight only nodded in acknowledgment, realizing it was too early to talk casually about that disaster and that it inflicted much fatigue upon Fluttershy. So much for a better topic to talk about, now both of them were distressed. Internally scolding herself, it was once again Fluttershy who spoke up, a winning smile on her muzzle as she stood up.

“Aren't you here to observe the stars?” She asked the adolescent alicorn, who herself was astonished that she had almost forgotten her original reason for this meeting.

Rashly getting up and cantering towards the door, it was Fluttershy's faked coughing that made her stop and turn to her. Embarrassed to know that she had nearly overlooked her host, she drew circles of shame with one of her hooves. “You can come too- if you want.” Twilight sheepishly offered her.

As a clear response, Fluttershy stood up as well and smirked haughtily. “You allow me to enter my own garden? How generous of you, Twilight.” She spoke with as serious of a voice as possible, before suddenly laughing about Twilight's stiff mien of shock.

It was only a few seconds later that she realized she was once again part of one of her jokes, happily joining the guffaw. “You are on a roll today.” Twilight complimented her with utmost sincerity, liking that her backbone improved daily, although she wished to no longer waste any more moonlight. “Come on, let's watch the stars already.” The winged alicorn insisted before exiting Fluttershy's house.

Agreeing with her wish to marvel at the starry night sky, Fluttershy followed suit swiftly. Together, they spent as much time beholding the beauty of the stars as possible, while Twilight excitedly told Fluttershy everything about stellar constellations and the physical properties of the cosmos. While most of the specifics were transcending the pegasus' capability to fathom, she learned one or two basic concepts which actually intrigued her. To her, it was simply beautiful to see that even in the vast void of the universe, there were laws of nature just like here on their world. She wondered; could there be animals somewhere outside that were taken care of just like she did for her own sweeties?

Gazing skywards with a dreamy smile while Twilight used her telescope, Fluttershy abruptly flinched and jittered. “Twilight! This star there, it's- fading.” She uttered anxiously.

Quickly, Twilight Sparkle adjusted her telescope and observed exactly what Fluttershy had pointed out, only for her to rejoice. “Thank you, Fluttershy! This is exactly what I have been looking for!” Twilight jubilated, leaving the yellow pegasus baffled.

“You are happy because a star fades?” Fluttershy questioned her close friend, unable to believe she would enjoy something so horrible.

Twilight could only chuckle before motioning her to take a look through the telescope herself. “It's not a fading star, silly. It's a pulsating comet. But it's not any old comet! Over a thousand years ago, it nearly grazed our world, but now it simply flies around in our solar system. Documents suggest that it might have even been the great Star Swirl the Bearded who used his powerful magic to change its course. And today is one of those few days each century where it is between our world and the moon, so we can observe it even with the naked eye!” Twilight explicated as she usually did despite Fluttershy being more focused on the view.

Deep within dark space, a radiant sphere traversed the vastness of just a tiny fraction of the universe. The billions of years it must have already existed, the millions of worlds and suns encountered, and now it remained here, likely forever. It's entire core was like a prism of glass, sparkling in every color of the rainbow. Perpetually following it was an azure tail of star dust, coating it like it was cosmic royalty.

“It's gorgeous!” Fluttershy gushed as she pulled her head backwards to face Twilight. Still, something was on her mind that disconcerted her, and she hoped that Twilight could ease her spirit. “Since it's so close, won't it hit the moon? Or worse- us?” She sought a calming explanation from her good friend.

To her relief, Twilight quickly started to giggle, amused by Fluttershy's irrational worries. Closing her eyes, she cleared her throat and began her in-depth explanation. “Don't be scared, Fluttershy. Between us and the moon, there are 250,000 miles. That is like walking around our world, ten times. Every single day, thousands of small meteorites hit us and we do not even notice, because they simply vaporize. And even if it became a threat, I'm sure a simple spell can fix the problem. So you can see there is absolutely no reason to be afraid, so let's continue to watch it. Right, Fluttershy?” Twilight proudly finished her explication, only to open her eyes to see Fluttershy was no longer with her.

“Uuuhm- Fluttershy?” She called out for her, though no response would return to her. Looking around, Twilight eventually found a glittering pair of cyan eyes hiding in a nearby bush. Sighing at her nonrational fear, she rubbed her forehead with one of her hooves. “Should have known not to mention the meteorites.” Twilight quietly berated herself, slowly approaching the shrubs in which Fluttershy hid.

“Fluttershy, what are you doing there?” She made no qualms displaying her disbelief in the pegasus, who at first stammered before devising an excuse.

“Oh, you know- seeing if Tirek broke the branches of this bush.” Fluttershy answered with a weak smile that did not impress Twilight at all.

“In complete darkness?” She impugned her.

Not even attempting to think about another noncredible excuse, she simply nodded with a firm stare. “Yes.” Fluttershy answered, a loud squeal escaping her lips.

Giving her dear friend some moments to calm down, Twilight amusedly rolled her eyes and reached out a hoof for her to take. “Come on, Fluttershy. Let's bring you inside.” She offered her with a mellow voice.

It took the young pegasus a while to overcome her dread, but eventually she accepted her offer and crawled out of the shrubbery. “Thanks, Twilight.” She showed her appreciation quietly.

“Always my pleasure.” She responded, giving her scared friend a mild pat on her shoulder. Together, they returned inside Fluttershy's home to relish the rest of the early night and unwind from their worries, both those that were palpable and those distant like the stars.

'Just a tiny change...'

Act 1 - Chapter 2: The Convergence

~Half a year later...

“As of late, I had these obscure dreams, like long since bygone memories reaching out to me.”

It had not even been a full week since Starlight Glimmer's graduation, but she already indulged herself in her nostalgia. Staring into the most wonderful gift she had ever received, she looked at her own reflection with both self-content and disbelief. Honestly, she could not believe she was the same heliotrope unicorn that once manipulated the minds of an entire town and nearly doomed all of Equestria. Despite being forgiven and having forgiven herself, there was always a small ache of self-doubt lingering in her heart when she thought about it, making her wonder if she even deserved her wonderful new life.

Yet every time she looked at the photos of her and her dear friends adorning her mirror, all remorse faded for a feeling most wonderful; friendship. Thanks to Twilight and all the others, she had managed to make up with her past, learned to welcome every new day and person she met, and most of all learned all about the beautiful magic that was friendship. And ultimately, it was thanks to her rehabilitation that she, alongside Trixie, Discord and the changelings' new leader Thorax, could rescue everyone else from the coveting clutches of Chrysalis. Not only that, but together, they allowed the changelings to transcend their own trepidation; affection filling their holes and transforming them into gracious beings of sympathy.

The only failure which tainted this accomplishment was the fact that she could not reform Chrysalis through empathy and understanding. Corroded by her avarice to this very day, the unicorn was not afraid of Chrysalis' vengeance and only felt pity. Just like her once, she now roamed the world all alone, with a life empty except the desire for retribution. It saddened her heart to know that where Twilight had succeeded, she had failed. All she could look forward to now was, when they would meet next time which was guaranteed to occur one day, that she could rectify her mistake.

Starlight got frightened and leaped out of her chair when the sudden ringing of her alarm bell resounded within her bedroom. Immediately turning it off, she looked at the time, which was 8 in the morning. “Oh my- already awake for 3 hours.” Starlight whispered as she quietly laughed at her own malfunctioning inner clock. Ever since the graduation, she could hardly close an eye before becoming fidgety and full of zest for life like she was Pinkie Pie. Though she did not yet feel confident moving out of Twilight's castle to forge her own destiny, she couldn't deny that she was looking forward to being her most faithful graduate.

She heard someone knocking on her door, yet before she could even fully turn around, the individual responsible for the noises already pushed it open. Not even entering her room, the small dragon Spike gazed at her with a toothy, slightly frightening grin. Ignoring his rudeness for a moment, especially because his stare daunted her, she nervously smiled and waved to him. “H-hey, Spike. Good morning. Can I- help you with something?” Starlight asked him sheepishly, to which he tittered.

“I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't forget the tub of ice cream for today's picnic.” Spike reminded her, his claws already twitching from appetite.

While mildly too creepy for her taste, she indeed remembered that she owed him for retrieving one of Twilight's books she had lost. Thanks to the young rascal, no conflict had arisen between her and her mentor, and if it was lots of ice cream he wanted in return, she was happy to oblige. “With ruby-splits, correct?” Starlight made sure she was giving him exactly what he wanted.

Nodding, he pointed his talons at her before flicking them several times and exiting her view sideways.

Shaking her head as she refrained from laughing, Starlight walked over to her window and opened it to enjoy the view outside. Already this early on this beautiful spring day, the sun stood high in the radiant blue and bestowed upon the world a mild warmth. Fillies and colts fooling about, relishing their free day while the adults were brightly undergoing their assignments. Today was truly a marvelous day for a picnic, and she was without a doubt looking forward to it. The greatest elation this day brought her however was that she had helped assuring that it would happen at all.

Taking in a deep breath, Starlight Glimmer closed her window again and left her room. She had not felt too well the last few days, but for such a delightful day, she would make sure to appear well-tended.

After her short yet pleasant visit in Ponyville's spa, the flavorsome unicorn walked through the streets of this charming little town. Happy ponies who were thankful for her heroic deeds greeted her, sometimes effusively so. Of course, modest as heroes were, she simply nodded and remained calm, trying to not attract too much attention. The last thing she wanted to do was drag an entire caravan of ponies to the picnic.

Across country, she eventually reached the peaceful glade near Fluttershy's home at noon. There her beloved friends were already awaiting her, looking forward to a day of serenity. Coming to a halt, she smiled at all of them, who in return smiled back. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike. Trixie unfortunately could not make it today, and the princesses Celestia and Luna seemed to be missing.

“I hope you don't mind that I've brought some of my sweeties with me.” Fluttershy spoke up, surrounded by a small crowd of critters, among which Angel and Fluffy were as well.

“No, of course not, but where are Celestia and Luna?” Starlight wondered briefly before Spike took a step towards her and let out a loud belch.

Shortly engulfed in green fire, a scroll appeared out of thin air and fell into his claw before he started rubbing his aching tummy. “Did I ever tell you how much I hate this?” He moanfully turned to Twilight who simply rolled her eyes amusedly. While briefly grumpy, his gaze quickly shifted to the tub of ice cream in Starlight's backpack, causing him to lick his lips. “Still totally worth it. Catch!” He shouted unconcernedly after clearing his throat, tossing the scroll over to Starlight.

It was with minor disgust that she caught it, not even wanting to know how exactly Spike's delivery service worked in detail. “Uuhm- thank you.” She uttered her appreciation with a faked grin before opening the letter and reading its contents aloud. “Dear friends. Due to a dissension between members of the senate concerning the future relationship between pineapple and pizza, Luna and I will be late for the picnic for at least half an hour. Sincerely, Celestia.”

Everyone gaped at the letter in disbelief, awkward silence ruling the glade until Rainbow Dash vocalized what everyone thought. “They're kidding us, right?” She wondered, though perpetual hush continued to reign supreme. “Besides, the answer is clearly-”

“Don't you even start.” Rarity gravely reprimanded the blue pegasus who merely took a fearful step backwards as to honor a cease-fire which started this exact second.

“Hey girls, calm down. No need to fight over something so silly.” Pinkie Pie attempted to steady down her friends little dispute with a winning smile, tightly embracing both of them, not letting go until they would reconcile each other through a hug. Eventually admitting defeat, both Rainbow Dash and Rarity hugged the other, vowing to never think about this estranging subject again. “Aunt Pinkie always at your service.”

There was brief merriment within the group, but soon many stomachs started to growl and Applejack insisted that they would finally start their picnic. “Dunno about y'all, but all this talking about food made me hungry. How about we dig in?” She suggested, group consensus immediately agreeing with her.

All eyes shifted to Starlight who promptly unpacked the big bucket of ice cream and presented it to the others. While Spike drooled over it furiously, disenchantment and confusion soon overcame the other ponies who exchanged skittish views. “Is something the matter?” Starlight asked them discomposedly.

Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs as she fluttered over the ground, wondering if her new friend was twitting them or not. “And the rest? Like some sandwiches, or a blanket to sit on?”

Starlight Glimmer did not even know what to say, as she was utterly bewildered by Rainbow Dash's words. If anything, she could only explain her own point of view. “This is mostly meant for Spike. I thought- that you-”

Complete silence once again prevailed between them, neither side understanding the other. After it became simply unbearable for Twilight, she stepped forward and showed utmost understanding to her pupil. “Just two days ago, you invited us all to this picnic while we were planing our weekends.” Twilight explained, everyone else nodding in unison as a thousand unanswered questions started raging inside Starlight's mind.

“B-but I thought that you- Twilight.” Was all she could utter, her breath becoming heavy and infrequent. How could she have possibly forgotten something so important? Although considering everything, she barely remembered anything at all about that day, except that splitting headache that had forced her to go to bed early. “I don't remember. And I was pretty sure that the picnic was your idea, Twilight. Perhaps I- didn't get enough sleep.” She admitted, her sincerity visible to everyone.

“How bizarre. I hope you won't fall ill.” Rarity showed her the same sympathy she gave all of her close friends. Visibly cheering Starlight up, the others quickly followed Rarity's example in their wish to see their saddened friend happy again.

“Don't worry about it. We just get ourselves somethin' to eat elsewhere.” Applejack downplayed the severity of their current situation, which was minimal to begin with.

“Yeah! Why don't we just go to Sugarcube Corner? We've all the goodies in the world there!” Pinkie Pie proposed blithely, a suggestion everybody approved of.

“And before that, if you don't mind, we can go to my home and pick up something healthy. I still got plenty of vegetables in my basement, and I have to bring home my little friends anyway.” Fluttershy put forth her request, something her best friends accepted without hesitation.

Spike meanwhile knelt on the ground, enmeshing the tub of ice cream and gently fondling its lid with a dreamy grin. “And I don't even know what we are complaining about. We got all we need, isn't it right- my precious.” He jabbered, quickly receiving the attention of everyone around him. He eventually noticed the perturbed gazes directed at him, his eyes shifting to Rarity who carried the most smug smirk on her lips. With a raised eyebrow, Spike shrugged without a care in the world. “What? At least when I kiss the ice cream it doesn't throw me out of its house.”

Peals of laughter pervaded the glade with exhilaration for a long, joyful moment. It only ceased when they heard a thunk and loud noises of shallow breathing. Turning to its source, their eyes widened with dread as they saw Starlight Glimmer staring towards the ground with a hollow expression, her legs close to giving in. “Starlight!” The others shouted, rushing over to her and surrounding their afflicted friend.

“Starlight, what is wrong?” Twilight anxiously asked her friend.

Her weak gaze meeting that of her mentor, Starlight found her world contorting without even moving a single muscle. Shapes and colors, all shifted towards an incomprehensible mess as even the sounds around her were almost completely silenced by her rapid heartbeat. “I- don't know. It- it's this- headache.” Starlight muttered, feeling her body become numb, stark and stiff. She stood at the brink of blacking out, reality fading in and out of her consciousness for several seconds, until her own strength could no longer support her and her eyes finally remained closed.

Her friends honestly did not know what to do for her and could only watch with concern as they feared their intervention would only worsen Starlight's condition. Suddenly jerking her head towards the sky, Starlight cried a breathless yelp. Her concerned friends flinched, struck with terror as a turquoise blaze of raw magic engulfed Starlight's horn before rising as an erratic beam towards the treetops.

“Starlight, snap out of it!” Twilight yelled at her former student as she grabbed her shoulders, all in vain. Fluttershy's critters stampeded as sparks kettled every pony and Spike closer to Starlight. Within a single blink of an eye, a translucent sphere formed itself around the caged group, and no matter what they tried to shatter it, be it through punches or magic projectiles, it remained intact.

Slowly, spots of reality around the imprisoned tore apart, releasing unstable elemental forces that gnawed at their bodies. Twilight turned her head back to Starlight and, losing all hesitation from exacerbating her delirious friend, she gave her a good shaking. “Starlight, stop-”

Yet before she could even finish yelling her order, a glaring flash swallowed the entire sphere and the individuals within. Immediately fading away, it left nothing but a thin, pulsatile rift.

Act 1 - Chapter 3: Lives Bereft Of Dreams

'At least this once, you did not fail.'

Her entire body jerked as Starlight opened her tired eyes. Holding her aching head, the young unicorn groaned with pain as she forced her feeble body to get up. Her senses steadily returned to her, but as soon as she could comprehend the images in front of her, she wished they did not. Fearfully looking around, Starlight saw nothing but an endless horizon of darkness. She found herself in a realm so devoid of light that her own body appeared to emit a weak glow which illuminated the cold ground of cracked obsidian beneath her. In this plain, even shadows seemed bright like candlelight.

“Guys?” Starlight called out for her friends with a trembling voice, but even its echo abandoned her eventually. Shaking her head in frustration, she gritted her teeth as she took a couple of steps backwards. “What happened?” She though out loud, desperately scanning her void surroundings for anything that was not pitch-black eternity.

Ultimately, something close startled her as it suddenly appeared within her view. “Where did that come from?” Starlight wondered, only requiring a single step to stand right next to an object resembling a stalagmite of crystalline glass. It stood upright, towering the filly like an oak tree, and a gauzy veil of azure drew around its frame like veins. “And- what is it?”

Carefully touching it, Starlight's disquiet peaked when she felt absolutely nothing upon contact but its solid mass. She spotted her reflection within, yet it was a mere shadow of her actual self. Tired, periwinkle eyes drifted aimlessly, her once luscious fur a weak thistle, and a colorless mane and tail graced her brittle body. Starlight stared at her reflection in disbelief, unable to accept that this illusion could possibly be her. “What is happening?” She whispered so quietly that the words barely escaped her mouth.

Still, it was enough for her reflection to suddenly stare at her, a weak smirk forming on its muzzle. A faint glow the color of autumn leaves engulfed the reflection's iris, its simper forming into a haughty grin. Taking a single step forward, her splitting headache returned, causing her to cry out. In unison with her shout of pain, several flashes of lightning collided with the ground around her, frightening and briefly blinding her.

She felt her aching head calm down fast, and as she tried to look at the structure of crystal again, she realized it was no longer there. Instead, uncountable panes orbited her, showing her images that tore at her heart. Ponies with fake smiles exalting her, futures of suffering that had never been real yet had almost been eternized by her, and grief bestowed upon herself and others. All of them were memories of her errors and disgrace, pointing at her, mocking and laughing at her, showing her who she was deep inside.

Violently, Starlight shook her head and crouched down, facing the images with odium. “No! I atoned for my mistakes and learned from them! I have great friends and do my best to help everypony out as much as I can! Nopony is scared of me anymore- you hear me? And I am not scared either!”

As she yelled those words, she felt a freezing liquid rush past her legs and cover her knee-deep. Fully rising again, she looked at her mirror image within the oily, black water. Once again, it showed her the same, vitiated image of herself. This time however, she noticed that it moved just like a reflection should, in accordance with the original. Trembling with fear, Starlight pulled one of her wet hooves out of the water and pulled a streak of her mane into her field of vision. Both were pale like the reflection.

“No. No!” Starlight brayed, panic overcoming her mind as she stared at the panes circling her. Slowly, they started to shatter into millions of shards which dropped into the oily liquid. With every fragment, she felt it rising closer to her throat, becoming stickier until she could barely move her limbs within.

“Somepony- help me- please!” Starlight screamed for dear life, every movement of her forworn body causing the water to be in greater turbulence. As much as she attempted to breast the waves, she was ultimately helpless and alone. Her head often sank beneath the surface and Starlight desperately gasped for air as she chocked on the thick water.

It did not take long despite her hopeless struggle for her to break down from exhaustion, barely a single part of her body listening to her will. As she sunk deeper into the eternal abyss, her wrought up soul entered a state of placidity. Instead of the sounds of the sea, she only heard dulled, incomprehensible words calling out to her. The exception was her own name, at first spoken with a tone of amity that quickly faded for nothing but disdain.

Yes, it was true, was it not? Her name alone was the very essence of so much harm she had inflicted upon others. It had always been implausible to her how they could have forgiven her so easily, but perhaps the truth was that they had merely been pretending. Maybe the same was true for her supposed friends, who had treated her kindly solely for her to no longer be a danger to them and everyone else.

“No- I don't believe this.” Starlight thought as memories of her photos taken with all her friends appeared in her mind's eye. She remembered all the warm smiles and genuine bliss they had experienced together, the aspects of her life that made it worth living. She held it dear within her heart, and nothing would ever take this away from her again.

Something bedazzled the tired unicorn and when her weak gaze shifted to it, a faint smile grazed her muzzle. At first a tiny sparkle, it steadily grew into a gentle, white light, like the sun's reflection in the seashore during dawn.

Reaching out for it, her eyes tore open as she felt something grabbing her chest.

A bloodcurdling scream clang throughout the forest's edge as Starlight's body erected itself upwards. With her body demanding heavy gasps, she frantically looked in every direction, seeing nothing but vague shapes. Steadily, as her senses returned to her, her spirit eased, feeling the gentle touch of her mentor's hoof on her chest as she was greeted by a troubled smile. “Shhh- everything's fine. Starlight, are you okay?”

It took the frightened unicorn a long moment to comprehend her surroundings, but Twilight's soft touch and soothing voice allowed her to calm down eventually. Behind her teacher stood all of their close friends, as concerned about Starlight's well-being as Twilight. “I- think so.” She answered uncertainly, but with the wish to end her friends' concerns.

Taking Twilight's other hoof, she got back up on all her 4 legs, her dizzy head still inflicting pangs upon her. “What happened?” Starlight asked all of them, all looks shifting to Twilight Sparkle who most likely had an answer.

Letting go of her former pupil, the purple alicorn stared at the treetops of the glade, desperate to find an answer. To all of them, it felt like an eon past them by that only consisted of dead silence, filling their hearts with apprehension. Ultimately, it was Applejack who broke the calm. “Honestly, we dunno either.”

Rarity scratched her chin, her gaze wandering over the trees and shrubbery which encased the still glade. “We just woke up ourselves. At first, there were still these- strange holes in the air. But before we could do anything about them, they already faded away.”

Spike let himself fall onto the grassy ground, letting out a deep-drawn sigh. “And whatever happened, it took my ice cream away.” He lamented his loss, pouting like he was defying the clamors of a strict mother.

Rainbow Dash shook her head, questioning how escapist the young dragon actually was. Grabbing him by the nape, she made him get back on his feet. “Calm down. I buy you some more if you cut it out, okay?” She bribed him, which he gladly accepted.

Twilight Sparkle finally turned around, staring at Starlight Glimmer with an expression of trembling uncertainty as the others merely watched. “I don't know. It looks like your time travel spell didn't even transport us 5 minutes into the future or past, but some things are just not right.”

“Yes, like where my little sweeties are. Oh- I'm so worried about them.” Fluttershy anxiously expressed her concerns. Pinkie Pie, without hesitation, put a foreleg around the worried pegasus' shoulder, hoping her commiseration would ease Fluttershy's mind.

While everyone else took Twilight's words lightly like she had already told them everything before, Starlight found herself stammering an incomprehensible mush of syllables. Her mind could not even fathom what her teacher was telling her, much less form a satisfying answer. “My what- how?” Was all she could muster as a response, which was exactly as Twilight had suspected.

“You completely lost control over your body, and cast the same spell as- back then. But what I don't understand is how. The scroll was destroyed alongside the portal, and all the others I know of are safely locked away in Castle Canterlot's library. Not that it really matters, because you did it without one, which should be impossible.”

“Not to mention you collapsed before you even created it. Last time I checked, there was no such thing as sleep-casting.” Spike completed Twilight's illustration of the events that had transpired, to which she in turn could only nod affirmatively.

Starlight meanwhile felt like reality was slipping out of her grasp, her body quivering and her eyes rapidly moving like it was fighting an infection. She was unable to ponder, let alone utter her scattered thoughts and emotions to let her friends know how she felt about this imbroglio.

Approached by Twilight, Starlight once again felt her soft hoof on her chest as their gazes met. “Hey, it's okay. You don't know, and that's not a problem. Wouldn't be the first mystery we solved, and what matters the most is that nopony got hurt. Trust me, we'll sort everything out, 'cause that's what we always do best as best friends, right?” She spoke self-assuredly, occasionally looking over her shoulder to gain validation from the others.

As much as Twilight's words always filled her soul with confidence, a talent she greatly admired her mentor for, it still took her a while to fully accept them. “Okay.” Starlight affirmed, a weak smile forming on her face.

Twilight Sparkle nodded and let go of her. Quickly cantering to the glade's edge, the others followed suit unhesitatingly. While never having been officially enunciated, they greatly valued Twilight as their leader and pony who always knew what to do. “And to do that, we first need to get a picture of the situation. Let's head back to the castle and, if necessary, make a plan there.”

Together, they trotted through the tranquil streets of Ponyville, looking at all the other ponies who appeared to pursue their daily routines. Just like in the morning, Starlight noticed that the sky was cloudless and blue like the ocean. If it wasn't for the bizarre incident, the group would not even suspect that anything was out of the ordinary. However, the devitalized unicorn observed a surprising change in the villagers’ behavior. Before, they had been more than happy to see and thank her, but now it was like she and the others were at best non-existent.

Pinkie Pie found herself shivering slightly despite the sun shedding its yellow light at everything. “Girls? Is it just me or is it- not warm.” She wondered, certain that a spring day was not meant to be this mild.

“Yes, but it's not cold either. It's like- nothing.” Fluttershy tried to express her impression, and while it was a difficult concept to grasp her friends could relate to what she meant regardless.

Unsettled, they nevertheless ventured through Ponyville, passing by many more faces than usual. Like a national celebration was close to occur in this humble town, everything felt crowded if not overloaded, though nobody appeared to mind that. The group's acceptance that normalcy was present dwindled away with every passing second. In the end, it was the presence of a single, familiar stallion that assured Twilight that something was very wrong.

“Brother?” She spoke under her breath before galloping to the burly prince of the Crystal Empire. “Brother!” Twilight called out for him, coming to a halt at his side. “What are you doing here?” Jolting her brother's shoulder, she at first was happy to see her beloved sibling. Yet when he turned around to face her, unadulterated terror overcame her and her friends. Barely able to refrain from screaming, Twilight shook her head as she slowly moved away from her brother- or what was left of him.

“Hello, Twilight. Nice to see you after all this time. Isn't it another wonderful day?” Shining Armor spoke in a monotone voice empty of any emotions. A rapt yet false smile was on his lips, just like on every other pony that passed them by. His hair as pale as ashes, what struck true anguish in Twilight's heart were his eyes. Sallow and bereft of sheen, they were empty of any zest for life and spirit. Perpetually glancing towards emptiness, he simply walked away unconcernedly when he received no answer from his sister.

Left speechless, all of them could only watch as hundreds more walked past them. An all too familiar sight for everyone in the group, every single passerby had the same soul atrophy as the one before and after them. Pony or not pony, adult, elder or child; inside, all of them were perfectly equal.

Act 1 - Chapter 4: Guarded Utopia

Without a word, Twilight Sparkle hastily cantered in the direction of her home, her friends following her without ifs and buts. Inside the young alicorn's mind, uncountable amounts of hypotheses about what they had experienced claimed her full mental capacity. What exactly had Starlight's spell done that everyone they met were a uniform accumulation of routine, lacking what made them their true special self? Had they truly traveled through time, and if in which direction and how far? Or was this perhaps all just an illusion, like a nightmare they had to free themselves from? The two most important questions however were who could possibly be behind all of this, and how they could return to stop the one responsible for this false timeline so it would never happen.

Starlight Glimmer meanwhile could barely muster enough willpower to even look at all the faces that past them by. Every single one of them was a painful reminder of who she once used to be and what harm she had caused. What had happened to Ponyville, and there was good reason to believe it was not only this town, might as well had been her own doing. As much as she refused to believe that she was responsible for this, the lack of revelation ate away at her spirit. “Twilight, I'm-”

The young alicorn abruptly stopped, her narrowed eyes unyieldingly staring away from her friends. This act of sudden interruption unsettled Starlight deeply, her soul consumed by anguish, though unlike in her nightmare she did not see a white light in the distance that gave her hope. The others close to her realized how much her guilt afflicted her, and it was ultimately Applejack who stood up for her. “Twilight, you know it ain't her fault. I could tell if it was.” She attempted to make Twilight compose herself again with the reminder that she once used to be the bearer of the element of honesty.

Briefly closing her eyes, Twilight took in a deep breath before sighing at the unnecessary quarrel they were having. “I know that, Applejack. I don't blame her.” She replied firmly, visibly easing Starlight's mind. Turning around, the two protégés' gazes met as Twilight walked over to her. “But we can't deny that all of this is very familiar, even if it is much worse this time. Uniformity, the time-gate; whoever is behind all of this knows you or at least knows about you Starlight- and the methods you once used.”

The last part of her venerated mentor's explanation was like a sting to Starlight's heart, although she realized that Twilight was right. The resemblances were striking, though it was also clear to her that the perpetrator had far greater success. But wallowing in her own self-pity would not do any good, hence she took a long moment to think about someone who might want to get back at her, until finally a flash of wit struck her mind. “Chrysalis. If anyone wanted to get back at me, especially in such a horrible way, it would be her.”

Most of Starlight's friends were quick to nod, assenting to her logical suggestion. Admittedly, Starlight had a fair point, but Twilight shook her head in negation regardless. “No- perhaps- I'm not sure. While you could be right, many things don't add up. She might know about you taking control over the village through changeling spies, but the journey through time? I doubt that. Besides, she is not powerful enough to pull something like this off on her own, even if she still had her throne. Thorax, Cadance- they would never fall for her manipulation again, much less allow all of this to happen. She does not care about her subjects' happiness either, so why-”

“We get it, Twilight. It wasn't Chrysalis.” Rainbow Dash frustratedly interrupted Twilight's seemingly everlasting dissertation.

The young princess was slightly irritated by the blue pegasus' typical crassness, but was quick to nod and turn around since she could relate to where she was coming from. The less time they had to spend in this false reality and the less they had to witness of it the better. “At least she did not do it on her own. But we should. I don't expect good answers from ponies around here, and avoiding attention is probably for the best anyway.”

Continuing their march, the group arrived at Ponyville's center, where the town hall and its waterspout fountain existed intactly just like the rest of the entire village. Twilight kept wondering about what kind of varmint would manipulate the minds of everybody to be mere automatons, yet not indulge in their own hubris by placing monuments of their greatness everywhere.

“Perhaps it was Starlight's evil twin!” Pinkie Pie suddenly revealed her epiphany with a gallant posture of pride. To her disenchantment, all she received were unimpressed, raised eyebrows while Starlight squeezed her eyes shut from bewilderment. “Too soon?” Pinkie asked, silent nodding leading her to descend from her high horse.

“If I had a sibling who was interested in me, I doubt any of us would have ever met.” Starlight assured everyone that there was no bond within her family that would lead to such mass enslavement.

Rainbow Dash let out an audible, dissatisfied sigh as she impatiently kicked the ground. “Can we get a move on, please?” She reservedly voiced her frustration with an aggrieved frown. Her friends were openly vexed by her atypical moroseness, but since they shared the common interest of returning to their time they did not object.

Quietly, the 8 heroes kept moving, able to see the top of Twilight's castle which resembled her cutie mark shining brightly in the noonday sun. By now, Rarity had attained a good picture of this dreadful timeline and she wondered if it was anything like the descriptions Twilight had shared with them so many months ago. “Spike? Is this similar to- you know?” She asked her dearly beloved dragon in a low voice as to be considerate of Starlight.

Thinking about his response while enjoying their intimate adjacency, Spike eventually found himself with no clear answer. “It looks nicer, but back then the others weren't zombified. It's still unpleasant I'd say.” It was not really a satisfying answer to the light gray unicorn, but before she would cause more upset she chose to accept it without protest.

Even here in Ponyville with all its current inhabitants of different species, Fluttershy was dismayed to not see a single animal, let alone one of her fosterlings. Deep inside, the unsettled pegasus knew that worrying about them would do nothing but hurt her, yet it still was difficult for her to suppress her fears. However, Fluttershy realized that the friend most dear to her did not manage to hide her feelings on her own. Unwilling to leave her in heartache by herself, Fluttershy walked up to her and gave her a compassionate smile.

“Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?” She attempted to spirit the otherwise stalwart pegasus up, though only with short-lived success. Despite not letting her head hang low, she simply could not pretend that she could easily brush aside everything they had seen. Dastardly villains with plans to take over the world were leaving her mostly unperturbed, but seeing Twilight's brother utterly insentient, not to mention her reaction to this horrifying event, made it personal.

“I'm fine. It's just our friends- and family- I don't want to see anypony else like this.”

Briefly, Twilight held her eyes shut so her soul could digest the pain of this frightful timeline. It had been difficult enough for her to cope with the loss of her first home and all the memories it once held, but the second time was even worse. Most of her castle was nothing more but an enormous pile of crystalline rubble. Only the spire in its middle remained, bearing the giant crystal in the shape of her cutie mark. “So- it's not only you they know, Starlight.” Twilight spoke under her breath as she decided to face her bale.

Despite her grief, her friends noted grave determination in her eyes, which was why they hesitated from doing or saying anything. Twilight put one hoof on a gobbet of the destroyed castle, taking in a deep breath, swearing to herself that it would never come to this. Looking upward to the spire's top, she tried to fathom the reason why it was glowing so intensely and eventually reached the conclusion.

It was emitting a thin, rainbow-colored veil that encompassed the entirety of Ponyville like a barrier. It was nearly impossible to see at first, but once she realized it was there it was equally as impossible to overlook it. That and the origin of the crystal's glow. 6 golden shimmers were within the white light, which were its everlasting source of energy. “The elements of harmony.” Twilight whispered.

The others could not believe that the aspects they once represented were now the foundation of this empty kingdom. It was only Starlight who could not relate, although she knew about them thanks to her mentor's many narrations. She knew they were a powerful source of good, but perhaps they could be twisted for duplicitous purposes after all. “Do you think they are the reason why everypony is acting so strangely?” Starlight voiced her belief, and while it was hard for Twilight to accept, she was probably right.

“Then I'd say we get them down from there and free our friends!” Rainbow Dash blared as she took to the sky with an irate glare.

“No! Come back here!” Twilight attempted to order her friend in vain.

Fluttering in front of the grand structure, Rainbow Dash stared at the elements of harmony within, encased by nearly impervious crystal. She struck and kicked it over and over again, though she did not even scratch its surface. “Come on you piece of junk!” She groused as she rammed her shoulder against it without success.

Seeing their dear friend so agitated and misguided by her own loyalty left a twinge in their hearts. Rarely ever had Rainbow Dash lost her composure like this, but her iron will to get payback for her friends left her even more stubborn than usual. Suddenly, breaking the earthbound members of the group out of their chains of thought, they felt the ground beneath them shake violently. “Uuhm- whatever it is, I didn't do it.” Pinkie Pie hastily denied all potential accusations.

Frightened, they slowly distanced themselves from the castle ruins. Sparks of untamed magic broke out of the crystal fragments as they hovered above the ground and swirled around the spire's bottom like a vortex. 2 glints of aureate menace within the whirl's darkness emerged, at first gazing at the frightened heroes before shifting its attention to the flying pegasus.

Gasping, Spike tilted his head to the sky and tried to warn her. “Rainbow Dash, look out!” He yelled, but just as he did a big shard of Twilight's former home careered towards her.

Barely having any time to react, the others heard her cry out in acute pain. Her seemingly numb body fell to the ground, and if it had not been for Fluttershy's intervention she would have collided with it undampedly. In a rare moment of valor, the yellow pegasus soared to her best friend with a speed that nearly rivaled that of the Wonderbolts. Winding her arms around Rainbow Dash's belly, Fluttershy found herself having trouble carrying her weight, but by the skin of her teeth she managed to crash-land safely.

Coughing fiercely in her arms, Rainbow Dash smirked weakly at her fellow pegasus. “Thank you.” She spoke quietly as she attempted to get back on all of her legs with the help of her friends. After a single step, she groaned loudly as she felt her bruised left wing demand healing. “Cripes. That boulder hit my wing. I don't think I can fly like that.” Rainbow Dash admitted though she loathed to do so. After all, with her best skill unusable, how was she supposed to help her friends?

They could not even exchange relief and questions before a hulking shadow burst out of the maelstrom of crystal shards and landed close to them with a loud crack. The ground beneath the heavy entity's paws gave way, and it was with savage intent that it beheld the intruders. It was with fear they rarely experienced that they looked at the cantankerous beast bearing its opal white teeth. On its 4 legs it dwarfed a common timberwolf, especially due to its length, making it appear more like a werebeast. Its entire body was constructed out of dark, ragged crystal, unlikely to be forged out of the castle's remains. A coat around its neck and long tail, both made out of royal purple fire, bestowed upon the monster black-hearted grandeur.

Neither of them had seen such a tenebrous creature before, but all of them were certain that it could pass off as King Sombra's lap dog. Rainbow Dash's dread faded quickly as overwhelming scorn clouded her judgment. “What have you done?” She asked the beast with gritted teeth, galloping towards it, ignoring the pain of her damaged wing. “What have you done with Scootaloo?!” She bawled at it, demanding a straight answer.

The monster's only response was an earsplitting roar, its abyssal blaze flaring up like a firestorm. It was this moment of arrogance Rainbow Dash took advantage of, planting both her hind legs' hooves into its chin as vehemently as she could. Groaning and staggering a few steps, the hulking creature quickly recovered from Rainbow Dash's feeble efforts. Snapping out of her blind rage, she realized in what kind of a mess she had gotten herself into, yet her battered wing denied her a quick escape.

Just as the beast attempted to pound the pegasus into dust, two magic projectiles, one turquoise and the other a light raspberry, struck its chest. While engulfed in a detonation of arcane radiance, Applejack quickly grabbed Rainbow Dash by her foreleg and dragged her to safety. “Are ya nuts?” She questioned her most favorite rival's sanity, to which she replied only with glum apologies.

When the group reunited, Twilight and Starlight stood at its sharp end with their horns covered in their magic auras. The dust and smoke of the explosion settled again, revealing their adversary to be virtually unharmed. “Again!” Both magi shouted as they fired thin beams of raw power at the creature. The entity of dark crystals smirked before bellowing at the top of its lungs, its scream echoing throughout Ponyville entire and beyond.

Space in front of it distorted like waves contorting the surface of water, and it was abruptly that the two unicorns' attacks stopped, merely floating in midair. It was with torpid ears and daunting shock that they beheld their attacks nullified so easily, unknowing the worst was yet to come. The bolts of energy shifted in color, eventually resembling the fire that coated the beast. Twisting and turning, they split in half, then again and again until they covered its entire front. Dozens of tiny, gloomy twinkles, all of which were under the monster's control and eager to tear the trespassers to tatters.

With a single grunt, the projectiles whizzed towards the group like an artillery barrage. The ground around them burst apart into incinerated grime, and almost immediately after they were struck as well. The blast guzzled its victims, brilliant purple energy surging outward until it dissipated.

It was without breath that Twilight crouched, looking at the unspoiled grass beneath her within a crater of ashen obliteration. The last, shattered remnants of her barrier melt away like sand in one's hand. With this technique created by her brother, she had already often protected herself and those around her, but this time it had been different. Their opponent's attack had been exponentially more violent and powerful than anticipated, leaving her already forworn.

As fast as everyone in the group attempted to process the trauma and as much as they wanted to thank Twilight for her split second reaction, they were not granted any time to do so. Without restraint, the beast lunged at them, its paws ablaze with the intent of slicing the violators of its territory into burned shreds. It was clear that Twilight did not have enough stamina left to conjure another barrier to protect her friends from the guardian's attack, hence she had to forge a plan faster than ever before or suffer the fatal consequences of her failure.

Author's Note

Celebrating 21th birthday and the first 10.000 words of this fanfiction! And thank you all for your kind support; it's truly a wonderful gift :heart:

Act 1 - Chapter 5: The Price Of Freedom

From afar, the inhabitants of Ponyville could see the pillar of scorching hot purification that sprouted skyward, unsure about what to think of it. Within the bustling streets, a sudden flash of light appeared, vanishing as quickly as it came. Twilight Sparkle stood in its middle, while the rest of the group attempted to comprehend their surroundings again. “I love this spell.” The alicorn tried to deadpan, her voice weak from fatigue.

While the bystanders distanced themselves from the 8 dissenters, they just made sure that their leader and hero Twilight would not collapse by landing her a helping hoof.

“Thank you so much, darling. Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the- worst- possible- thing.” Rarity whinged about their current dilemma, and for once nobody else challenged her on that declaration. Not even the success of their escape could sway this opinion.

“What in Tartarus was this thing?” Spike asked vociferously, immediately having his mouth shut by Starlight.

“Be quiet, you-” She reprimanded the young dragon, stopping just before she would accidentally insult him.

Everything turned silent as the group realized that all eyes around them were staring at them with great displeasure. It was easy for them to fathom that people like them were not welcome in Ponyville, maybe even the entirety of Equestria and beyond. Leaving was most likely the best course of action as to avoid the notice of whoever was behind the conjuration of the beast they had narrowly escaped from anyway. “What's the plan now?” Starlight asked, hoping Twilight would have a backup plan up her sleeves.

She could not even begin thinking about something when the ground started shaking yet again, like thunderous steps were steadily approaching them. To Fluttershy's fear, she realized that was exactly the case when she saw the enormous silhouette of the beast sprinting towards them. “If I may suggest-” She at first spoke hesitatingly before running away for dear life. “Run!”

The others followed suit swiftly, galloping through the roads of Ponyville as fast as they could. Anxiety alone numbed all previous pain and exhaustion. However, due to the beast's size and fury-induced mobility, it closed in on them with every tremulous step. Before long, Starlight comprehended, it would reach them, an event she preferred to avoid. “Can't we fight it? We might find a way to win!” She asked Twilight, breathlessness separating every single word.

“Perhaps, but not here in Ponyville! We can't risk harm to others!” She chided her most faithful graduate, disappointed by her current lack of circumspection. Of course both of them realized that, if they returned back in time, that it did not matter. Twilight's strong sense of morality would not allow for such recklessness regardless, and considering the possibilities that things were not as they seemed or that there might be no way back after all, she would never be able to forgive herself if someone got harmed.

They rushed past innumerable faces, all of which gazed at them with contempt. When the beast did the same, it was greeted with full-throated exultation like a king much-loved by its subjects. Knowing that everyone, even those they called friends and family, were against them struck dolor in the heroes' hearts. Only their will to survive and the belief that it was not truly them who supported their destruction kept them pushing forward.

Once, Twilight's ears twitched as she made out hushed words within the accord of jubilance. “The queen's guardian?” She wondered under her breath, believing to have attained a valuable clue to solve the mystery. The creature that was hunting them was expectedly not a sovereign, but just another servant of a power much greater. Whoever this queen was who wielded so much might was unfortunately beyond her understanding.

“Turn left!” Twilight instructed when they reached a blind alley. Just as they felt the guardian's stone-cold breath against their necks, everyone in the group made a sharp turn into a side street. Not looking back, they heard their massy pursuer trip over its own legs and crash into a family home. The collision made the building come tumbling down, scattering planks and scales of wood in all directions, some of them only narrowly missing the fugitives.

Not even thinking about if ponies had been inside the collapsed house, they simply kept on moving and soon left the rings of buildings Ponyville was made of. Over hill and dale, the silhouette of the creature returned at the horizon behind them, its golden eyes staring narrowly at its prey. The first trees and shrubs came close, indicating that the entrance to the Everfree Forest was within reach. Hiding within the thick forest was the only way they saw to shake the guardian off. The concentrated flora, that was Twilight's hypothesis, should significantly impede the monster's mobility, giving them enough leeway to lie quiet.

Even with her body fueled by adrenaline, Twilight Sparkle felt debility creeping into every fiber of her being. Seldom had any of them endured such physical strain, and if it was not for their willpower they might have relinquished freedom after all. Everyone noticed the curvature of the faint prismatic barrier that separated Ponyville from the outside world. Solely with the slight hope that it was penetrable, they traversed through it head first without slowing down.

A brief flash of light bedazzled everyone as they passed through the barrier's wall. Some of them briefly stumbled, but no one allowed themselves to fall over now where their destination was within their grasps. As their surroundings got engulfed in pitch-dark wildlife, the roars and steps of their hunter gradually turned into a near-inaudible echo drowned out by the rupturing of brittle wood.

Breathlessness quietened down when everyone in the group laid down and leaned against the cladding of Zecora's tree house. Sweat and fatigue tainted their bodies, though the knowledge alone that they had escaped successfully was enough to put simpers of relief on their lips while occasional sounds of levity clang through the forest.

Eventually able to stand up again, relaxation was quickly eclipsed by apprehension as everyone finally took time to behold their surroundings. For all of the danger the Everfree contained, they still remembered it as a beautiful place of biodiversity. However, what they looked at was the far opposite, a withered husk drawing its last breaths.

The few spots of grass beneath their hooves that remained were as dry as a bone, and neither trees nor shrubbery bore any leaves. Everything, even the bark of the trees, were nearly devoid of color, and a gauzy fog enwrapped everything in a sickly indigo. Where the group had just witnessed an almost normal spring day, all they could see now when looking through the branched tree tops was perpetual, raw umber crepuscule. And throughout the entirety of the decaying deep forest, none of them could make out a sound, not even a single cricket's chirr.

“What happened?” Fluttershy uttered her disbelief, her heart sorrow-stricken by the forest's lifelessness.

“The Everfree did not look like this from inside Ponyville. Could it be part of some magic trick?” Pinkie Pie wondered, believing that the queen their brainwashed friends mentioned was a very talented magician, unlike Trixie. While the others did not share her bizarre latter point, they had to admit that she was completely right about the former. From within their hometown, everything outside had appeared lively as usual. Yet since they had exited the barrier, all they saw was terrible gloom.

Starlight Glimmer attempted to make sense out of this warped reality, but she simply lacked the information to find a satisfying explanation. “So- what? The barrier was also an illusion spell? But who would- and why?” She asked the others and no answer returned. Even with everything they had seen, the enigma remained untouched, much less solved.

Twilight Sparkle, without valid responses for her student, looked around to fully take the scenery of the moribund woods in. With all the information at their disposal, she concluded that this was not how the Everfree Forest was supposed to look like, and the same applied for Ponyville as well. “Without the elements of harmony, Discord's plunderseeds should have overgrown everything by now. Maybe- everything became like this before they were stolen, and the soil was too barren for them to grow.”

While a valid theory in their eyes, it did not hold much importance in consideration of recent events. All of the significant questions, like who and why, still lingered unanswered. They might have been able to gain more insight by examining Equestria from the sky, but the risk of being spotted by the guardian was none that was wise to be taken.

It was a foul stench that abruptly made the group forget the current subject they were talking about as it rose into their nostrils. Instead, they found it difficult to suppress their gag reflexes, though their empty stomachs made it less cumbersome. “What is this reek?” Rainbow Dash asked with tears in her eyes.

Applejack, who as a farmer was the most resistant to malodor, brought herself to track it down. Looking through one of the tree house's windows, she eventually spotted the source of their qualm. “Eeyup, those potions ain't look good no more.” Applejack whinged as she hastily got away from the building with the others on her coat-tails. “Not even for the compost heap.”

Her friends did not dare imagine what kind of sight Applejack had to endure, which was why they quietly agreed to never speak about it again. Still, deep inside they knew that such rot likely meant that they were in the future. Without thinking about it, Twilight Sparkle assumed her role as leader of the group again and motioned everyone to simply follow her to get away from Zecora's decaying home. “We can talk while we walk, right?”

As they reached one edge of the forest, the barren sky not having shifted in the slightest throughout the hours of marching, all of them felt hunger, thirst and exhaustion gnaw at them. Before they crossed the hill that would lead them outside the Everfree, the ponies decided to sit down and use the withered trees as backrest. Spike however was not so eager to capitulate and looked around for anything that vaguely resembled a tuber's flower. “No berries, not even a dirty puddle to drink out of. There must be something somewhere.” He grumped as he pushed himself through the thorny plants around them.

“Don't walk too far, Spike!” Twilight instructed him, not wanting the boy to get lost or caught by another creature of the unknown queen. Letting out a deep sigh, she knew she had to trust him and his underestimated intelligence. Surely, after the harrowing experience they had endured, he would tread quietly and with caution. Besides, she and the others would give anything for something to eat at this point. Maybe Spike and his serendipity was exactly the right call for their appetite.

Tangled in her sense of guilt, Starlight hesitated for a while before she found enough courage to voice her thoughts. “I am so sorry. If I at least had brought sandwiches with me for the picnic, then-” She attempted to apologize, although the reference to food alone lead to a collective groan that silenced her.

Pinkie Pie looked the most hypoglycemic, her tongue hanging out of her mouth as she daydreamed about juicy, sickly-sweet muffins. “Please, Starlight. Don't mention food. Gosh- if only the ice-cream was with us. Sorry.” She mumbled, longing for delicious repletion like all her friends. Yet again, Pinkie put forth a valid point Starlight considered. Why hadn't the ice cream and her backpack been affected by the time-spell, but Applejack's hat had been? Was it that only personal items could be brought through time, though why would that be the case?

Hunger did not allow Starlight to focus for long on her contemplation. Twilight Sparkle on the other hand was too stubborn to let her body command her mind. “I don't get it. Nothing we've seen makes sense. Ponyville and now the Everfree, it just doesn't add up. Tirek would have left everything a wasteland, and Sombra, however he would have returned, is too similar to Chrysalis, so why would he not make the lives of everypony miserable?” She expressed her frustration and perplexity to everyone.

Unfortunately, even in their tarnished state, her best friends understood what she was trying to imply. They, let alone minor opponents they have fought over the years, would not act this way. Furthermore, most of them were male, so they could not be the aforementioned queen. In a brief moment of intuition however, Rarity suggested an idea so simple that it was openly baffling to everyone else. “Who says it must be somepony we've faced before?”

Despite not responding, Twilight could not help herself but chuckle a little. Of course this was the easiest hypothesis to be made, but it led to many more unanswered questions than the belief that the culprit was a villain they already knew. For example, who and what could the perpetrator possibly be, and how and why had they assumed control over Starlight and created this direful timeline? No matter the assumption, it became painfully obvious that despite their best efforts to make sense out of their predicament, they lacked the information to form a conclusive answer.

The only thought that ultimately mattered was about their return, which Fluttershy reminded them of. “We should undo all of this pain. That's what matters most, not?” She wondered if her friends agreed, which they quickly did.

The young princess knew that of course. After all, the direction they had taken through the Everfree had been no coincidence. From years of experience, she knew that they were heading north towards the only place that could possess the solution to their problems. “That's why we're going to Canterlot. If we're lucky, then there are still scrolls in the castle's library we can use to return to our time.” Twilight's plan fueled everyone in the group with weak hope, but anything they could cling to was better than nothing.

The rustling and snapping of withered branches grabbed their attention as Spike slowly returned. The group rejoiced and Rarity overcame her weakened body to approach the young dragon with a warm smile. “Welcome back. You found anything, Spike?” She asked, her smile steadily fading for utmost worry. “Spikey-wikey? Are you- okay?”

Everyone looked at the boy discomposedly, afraid of what had gotten into him. It was with wide, hollow eyes that he stared at the ground motionlessly. His breath was as quiet as it was shallow, and not even the presence of his dearly beloved gently caressing his soft cheek calmed him down. For a long, frightening minute, the ponies joined the everlasting silence of the forest, waiting for Spike to finally explain why he was so dismayed.

His reptilian eyes shifted to Twilight Sparkle as if he was staring right through Rarity, leading her and the others to stand up anxiously. At first only stammering, Spike swallowed his trepidation and pointed at the direction whence he came. “I- I think we need- another plan.” He uttered before turning around and walking back in the direction he had returned from. Quietly, the others nodded to each other and followed him through a thin wall of shrubbery towards the hill that marked the border of the Everfree.

As the ponies reached its top on which Spike already stood still, they immediately grasped what had afflicted him so severely. They shared his reaction, vacant eyes gazing at the haunting nightmare that unfolded in front of them. Some, due to sheer shock, did not manage to keep standing and let themselves fall to the ragged, earthy ground. There was neither warmth nor cold, no wind nor sound that implied life. All they saw was eternal, dark emptiness.

Just like they had beheld from inside the forest, the sky was a static cover of dirty brown twilight. Not a single cloud embellished this image of deterioration, and only a faint orange light at the horizon's edge hinted at any form of vitality. The only object that adorned the sky was the moon, although it was only a gruesome reminder of the truth. Torn open like a crushed skull, uncountable moon rock shards and spilled, pulsative blobs of magma orbited their planet like the rings of Saturn.

Stretching as far as their eyes could see and beyond, the ground was a fissured, barren wasteland in which flashes of lightning flared up out of seemingly nowhere. Ravines the size of rivers drew through the ashen surface like veins, leaking a haze of sickly turquoise magic that was part of this world's core. Most mountains only were eroded, sharp pillars of obsidian piercing the canopy. Canterlot was the same, no silhouette of its city, much less its castle, remaining.

Amidst the void was a tiny sphere of glaring light in which the illusion of a vital world was preserved. Yet the truth of this future was that not only Equestria, but the world entire, died a long time ago.

Act 1 - Chapter 6: The Pain Of Truth

It was quietly that everyone in the group marched through the desolate wasteland that once was their home Equestria. Avoiding the unnatural hazards which blighted this world, they repressed their hunger and exhaustion for as long as they could. What felt like an eternity to them had only been mere hours, though the lack of any motion except the shattered remains of the moon orbiting the planet made any impression of time obsolete. They knew the sky would never shift again, much less the celestial bodies adorning it.

Their destination, the bottom of Canterlot's mountain range, was within reach. It was maybe only due to Twilight's never-ending determination that the others managed to swallow their dread. The marginal chance that some parts of the library, or at least a single time-scroll, was intact, made the alicorn push forward. The void destruction they could not overlook was something she could not accept, and whatever it would take she would make sure to return home with her friends.

To their relief, the crystalline beast was no longer hot on their heels. Avoiding the cracks which disgorged natural magic, the more timid members of the heroes often winced when enigmatic thunder and lightning appeared near them, scorching the ashen ground further. Ultimately, their bodies remained unharmed, though the scars their souls gained from this sight of annihilation would take a long time to heal again.

Starlight Glimmer, despite knowing Twilight Sparkle on a very personal level and being her first student, held the least faith of them all. She had not personally experienced many of the direful situations Twilight and the others had narrowly overcome. While trusting her judgment, Starlight did not manage to be optimistic and thought about what to do in case they would never be able to return. Considering in what kind of a timeline they were, was there even a point in doing anything?

Deeply grieved, the gifted unicorn looked over her shoulder and into the distance. The only light that survived this world's end shone adamantly. It did not matter if they were part of it or not, or if they even existed. The people in Ponyville lived blissfully unaware of the outside world in tranquility. However, the price for life was a numb soul. Had they been forced into this existence, or had they chosen it? Given everything that must have happened, it started to sound appealing to her.

Forever protected by a guardian, living in everlasting, perfect harmony under the guidance of one supreme entity. Not even a year ago, if she had been in the queen's place, she would have done exactly the same. And seeing how desperate life was outside the illusion of Ponyville, who was to say it was not the right thing to do? Neither revenge nor the misguided desire for control would have guided this act, but the compassion for innumerable lost souls. Was this not good; was it not the right thing to do?

Gasping quietly, Starlight stopped abruptly as in her perception reality distorted once more. It was not as severe as during the picnic, but to her it still felt like something was trying to rip her spirit out of her chest. Moaning and gasping for air, her legs gave in, forcing her to kneel. Staggered, Starlight's eyes swayed uncontrollably, although she was still able to behold her friends rushing to her with the drive to support her.

With her body partially resting on Applejack's back, she looked past the worried faces of her best friends and at the veil of raw magic that enmeshed most of the surface. She beheld the green energy darkening into a jet-black, thick gauze that was almost liquid. Starlight's pupils shrunk to the size of seeds as she witnessed it shedding shadowy stains. As if attracted by her lurking doubts, the shadows wriggled towards her relentlessly.

“Watch out!” Starlight yelled when she suddenly regained control over her body. Just as one of the shadows manifested into a solid entity which attempted to pounce on Applejack, Starlight pushed her and herself into the ground. The apparition did not manage to land and just disintegrated into obsidian dust upon impacting the brittle ground. As fast as it had appeared, it had already ceased to be.

“What the buck was that?” Rainbow Dash wondered full-throatedly while helping Starlight and Applejack standing up.

Unfortunately, they were not granted any time to contemplate about the assault, since it had just begun. Dozens of molten shades kettled them like livestock and every single one of them craved their existences. With nauseating sounds of cracking bones and tearing flesh, fragments of bodies slowly climbed out of the primordial ooze. Shrouded in hazy darkness, these beings of shadow were barely corporeal and only a couple of their body parts were visible, all of them being purple bone fragments.

These tainted skeletons came in many, familiar shapes and sizes. Ponies young and old, griffons, goats and other sentient quadrupeds; they knew all of them. Only a faint, white light was within their empty eye-sockets, perpetually focused at the group of the alive heroes. Sluggishly, they crept closer to them, their every step a fidgety act of balance. While their silhouette was familiar, it was also drastically vitiated. Abscesses the shape of ragged crystals that were almost half the size of their whole bodies imposed agony on these foul creatures in every second they roamed the world. Yet their desire to consume dominated even this agony.

Huddling together, the ponies and Spike could not fathom what horrifying entities they were looking at. To them, they were nightmares turned real, although the true nature of their existence was likely much more terrifying. Whatever they once were, whatever was left of them, all they were now were specters who sought harmony long gone by any means necessary.

Surrounded alongside her friends, Twilight comprehended that these shades would never allow them to leave, which was why they had to fight them. Suppressing her angst, she stood tall and strong as a role model to inspire courage in her scared friends. “Our friends and families trust us to return home and prevent all of this from happening. We mustn't give up, understood?” Twilight implored the others to overcome their fear and stand united.

As a demonstration that this was simply another ordeal they had to triumph over, she launched a beam of light raspberry magic at one of the fiends, which ripped it apart instantly. For a few seconds, the echo of its static, gargled scream lingered until it finally faded forever. This small victory was the proof most of her friends needed to have their hearts fueled with confidence again. The two exceptions were the craven Fluttershy and the traumatized Starlight, who sought refuge in the middle of the others.

“Let's get them!” Twilight shouted before taking to the skies and bombarding their adversaries with blasts of raw magic.

Standing flank to flank, Rainbow Dash was eager to proof that she could reduce more of the shadows to a pulp than Applejack, even while injured. Gladly, the keen earth pony accepted her challenge and used the devastating power of her hind legs to treat her opponents like the trees of her farm, although without gentleness. Rainbow Dash, unable to use her speed force, followed her example.

At first, Pinkie Pie only bounced back and forth, unable to think about a way to help in this battle. She disliked hitting others, which was why she considered more entertaining ways to win. “I got it!” She yelled as she rummaged through her bulky mane. With a rapt grin, she pulled her treasured rubber chicken out of it. Laughing joyously, she utilized the squeaky item like it was a flail, shattering the hostile apparitions which tried to harm her and her friends.

While a fine lady of sophistication, Rarity did not mind getting dirty from the mud dispersed by the arcane detonations Twilight's attacks caused. Still, she was not proficient in the arts of combat, and only knew how to clout someone with graze. It was a sufficient method to vanquish individual specters, but she eventually found herself overwhelmed by an entire group that wanted to make her a part of them.

Just as they tried to lash out at her, a spinning object ripped through them like a cannonball through a ship's hull. Rarity beheld it return like a boomerang to the person who threw it, who was none other than her beloved Spike. She looked at him with a dreamy smile while he proudly spun Applejack's hat on one of his talons as if it was a basketball. Speaking of which, the farmer was not amused about the rascal's simple theft and snatched her hat out of his claw.

For the most part left alone by the aggressors, Starlight Glimmer did not understand her own hesitation. No matter how hard she tried to make her body move through force of will, it denied her control. Similar to being stuck in a dark dream, everything around her felt out of her influence, like watching a movie at the cinema without the ability to leave. She desperately wanted to help protecting her friends, but it was as if the presence of the dark entities alone forbid her to do so. Was it perhaps that they were already feasting on her ever-growing doubt? If that was the case, then even the young unicorn found it amusingly ironic that she once believed herself to be a great leader with a higher purpose.

“Starlight! Look out!” Fluttershy attempted to warn her with vociferous whispers.

Unable to react in time, one of the shadows relentlessly tackled Starlight and pushed her into the dust. Chest on chest, the specter pinned her down and opened its gaping jaw with the intention of feeding on the unicorn's mind. Everything around Starlight turned black as she screamed with fear for her life, trying to push the creature off of her in vain. Its white pupils started to glare and flicker, blinding Starlight while she felt her other senses and her life force elapse.

“Get- off me!” Starlight bawled through her clenched teeth. Utilizing all of her remaining strength, she erected her head and leaned her horn against the fiend's forehead. Her turquoise aura engulfed her horn, flickering weakly as she tried to channel magic through it. Before she could attempt to defend herself however, the darkness shattered like broken glass alongside the entity on her. Snapping out of her struggle for survival, she looked at her savior with utmost relief. “Thank you, Fluttershy.”

The yellow pegasus did not look pleased about what she had just done, but she had not been given another choice. Just like years ago against the giant, red dragon, she put aside her personal objections and focused on protecting those she cared deeply about. Reaching out to Starlight, Fluttershy helped her getting back on all of her four legs. “Are you alright?” She asked the heliotrope pony with a mellow voice.

“Y-yes. I think so.” Starlight answered groggily, finding it difficult to remain unshaken. Regardless, with Fluttershy by her side, she found vigor again and was ready to give their enemies the lesson of their lives. Her newfound courage was of no more importance though, as all that was left of the corrupted creatures were stains of ash and dust. They did not require her support to surpass such obstacles, a fact that aggrieved her. “Well- I guess it's over.”

Mostly silent and wary, the group proceeded with their march through the empty, sallow wasteland. The elation of their victory quickly faded when their minds comprehended the truth of this reality again. Yet it allowed them to cling to hope that was not a mere illusion, but the power that pushed them to their limits. Everyone's will was clear of doubt, even Starlight's, although she mostly forced it back into the deepest abyss of her subconsciousness. She had seen what her uncertainty produced and she refused to ever let it happen again. Her friends did not blame her for the fight, but how could she possibly not blame herself?

In the end, all of them reached the foot of Canterlot's mountain range safely. Knowing that they were on their last legs, they decided to look for a hiding place to spend the figurative night in. It did not take them much time to discover the entrance to a deep cave. At first gratifying everyone, the infrequent flashes of faint, green light from within disconcerted them. If they had a choice, they would have refused to take a single step inside, but considering their current situation it was clear to them they did not.

Their leader Twilight turned around to face everyone and granted her friends reassurance via a look of confidence. “Alright everypony. We made it this far, so don't give up now. Whatever is inside the cave, we'll face it bravely. And then we finally get some rest.”

The suggestion of rest alone motivated even the anxious members of their group to stand their ground. The sole exception was Spike, who was rewarded a ride on Rarity's smooth back for his dashing rescue. “Sounds good. Hopefully, there's something to munch inside, too.” Because of the reminder that pangs of hunger and thirst still plagued them, almost everyone glared at Spike. Pressing his face into Rarity's neck, he hoped that their anger would dissipate soon.

Having regained composure, the ponies trotted inside the dank, dim hiding place. The sounds of brittle sticks and parched leaves beneath their hooves briefly alarmed them, but as soon as everybody realized that they posed no danger they calmed down. “Where are they even comin' from?” Applejack wondered why the floor was littered with objects that normally belonged to a forest, decayed or not.

Rarity remembered their conflict with the diamond dogs many years ago, and wondered if this was a similar situation to back then. “Maybe it's an alarm system.” She proposed unconcernedly.

While primitive, it was most certainly loud enough to function as such. Twilight nodded and motioned everyone to hunker down. “Okay. Then let's be very careful now. Look out for traps and ambushes.” She instructed her friends in a whisper.

As they ventured into the cave's heart, they found no living entity inside. Yet what Spike discovered instead of the source of the green glow ecstasized him like the promise of chocolate overjoyed a child. “Water!” He shouted before jumping down Rarity's back and rushing over to the glittering puddle of stone-cold refreshment.

Twilight Sparkle wiped through her face in frustration, but when she realized that no hostile entity appeared she forgave the young dragon for his carelessness. Without hesitation, the ponies cantered to the puddle as well and gobbled its contents indelicately. Naturally, the water was contaminated with fine dust and other particles that gave it a sickly brown appearance. Regardless, their survival instincts overpowered the regrets and stomachaches they would experience in the near future.

Satisfied, they decided to end this day and sit down. The hard ground was not a comfortable surface to rest on, but for this overnight stay it had to suffice. Using the last reserves of her magic, Starlight conjured a small, blue fire in the middle of the cavern. “That- should last for an hour of two. At least it does not need fuel and produces no smoke.” Starlight explained quietly. But before long, her insecurity gave way for a winning smile when the others kindly thanked her for the warm bonfire.

At least this once she believed to have contributed in a positive way to this endeavor. She thought about it for a little longer and remembered that she had also helped saving Rainbow Dash. Even if all of this was somehow her fault, she would give everything to see her friends and the world bright again. The idea that all of this pain once again occurred because the former bearers of the elements of harmony were absent saddened her, but she knew that to change the status quo they had to save the world a final time.

“Hey! Who is there?” Rainbow Dash shouted as she leapt back on her legs. Ready for the fray, the blue pegasus stared at the entity that was responsible for the green light they had seen outside. Her daring simmered down fast when she and the others recognized the light was in the shape of eyes and that they hovered mere centimeters above the ground. Most of all they looked scared and woeful.

“Oh no.” Fluttershy gasped as she cautiously yet swiftly cantered to the small being. As she knelt down in front of it and extended a hoof, the benign pegasus at once comprehended everything. It imposed grief upon her fragile soul, but she had to keep strong for the sake of this tiny creature. Slowly stepping out of the shadows, a timberwolf puppy nosed at her. Carefully picking it up, she brought it over to the campfire and huddled against it.

The others remained quiet, not even knowing what to say as they beheld Fluttershy taking care of the ill pup. Though gently petting it and giving it as much affection as she could, the yellow pegasus bore a constant, mournful frown. The poor pup lacked color and vitality just like the flora of the Everfree Forest, and the green glow of its eyes often dimmed. Rainbow Dash, in a moment of compassion for her best friend, took in a deep breath and sat down next to Fluttershy, letting her know that she was always there for her.

“I- well.” Twilight Sparkle stammered, for once in her life at a loss of words. Desperately, the alicorn tried to think about something to lighten the mood or at least distract all of them from their dreadful situation. “So- anypony got an idea what those evil spirits were?” She asked everyone without receiving an answer, much less a lot of attention. The only one who really considered Twilight's matter was Starlight, but she too remained quiet in her hate to think about it.

With everyone remaining silent, Twilight sighed and laid down as her gaze often shifted to Fluttershy caring for the small timberwolf. She remembered the lovely night she spent together with the kind pegasus, and how much she loved her animal companions. She could not fathom how much anguish Fluttershy felt, yet she admired her deeply for remaining stalwart and caring. Twilight did not care what others said about her friend, she knew that her heart was stronger than most others.

Outside, the last remnants of the orange horizon faded. With the world covered in jet-black darkness, the green glow which weakly illuminated the cave's entrance was one of the few lights left in the world. But just like millions before it, it too glinted unsteadily for a long moment until extinguishing once and for all.