Fillystata

Chapters

Act 2. Pedigree
Act 3. Restoration
Act 4. Unburied
Act 5. Revenant
Act 6. Mesmarerized
Act 7. In The Flesh
Bonus Act. The Thing in the Moonlight
Act 1. Antecedent

Act 2. Pedigree

Scene 1
“I never meant for it to go so far. I never meant to hurt anypony.”

Twilight stepped aside to allow Luna inside, closing the door behind them as her mind tried to grapple with the situation and think of something to say. She had been thrown off by opening the door to find the young princess standing in the hall on the other side, and even more by her profuse apologies.

Twilight hadn't seen or heard much from Luna since the Nightmare Night when they first properly met after Luna’s return. Princess Celestia occasionally mentioned Luna in passing, but Twilight never heard or saw much from the Princess of the Night herself. Twilight had never given it much thought prior to now. Obviously both princesses were busy with royal duties.

And now she was standing there, head bowed in shame and apologizing. It took Twilight a moment to connect the events of the day. “What are you—“ she broke off but didn't get to continue as Luna spoke up again to stop her.

“I didn't mean to go so far, and then I couldn’t stop it again. I only wanted to teach her a lesson.” Luna stood there, looking down with a distant look as she spoke. “The things she said on that stage, it's like that all the time. Even now, everypony still fears me. When I show myself in public without my sister, ponies start staring and whispering. I have to walk in this disguise to avoid their looks; I can never just be me. It’s like I don’t have a friend in the whole world.”

Twilight felt her stance harden. She was furious. She couldn't easily put aside the fact that Luna would have killed Trixie had Twilight not been there to step in. “And you seriously thought killing an innocent pony, in front of a crowd no less, was a good way to make friends?” A part of Twilight felt that her words had come out a little harshly, but another part didn't care and thought she should have been even harder.

Luna to her credit did not flinch as she faced Twilight with a look of acceptance. “I know my actions were contemptible and wrong. I wanted to make her see how much her lies hurt me, and there's this side of me …” Luna closed her eyes as she turned around. “A part of me enjoyed it. A part of me enjoyed punishing her like that.”

Luna looked at Twilight in the glass of the window. “I try to fight it, but when I'm alone all the time with no friends, when I see how everypony thinks of me, it tries to take over again like it once did. I don't want it to take over, Twilight. I don't want to be like that.”

A long silence followed. Luna looked miserable, but Twilight stood her ground. Luna continued, “I hoped we could be friends. You are the only other pony I know who may forgive me and help me overcome this side of me. I can't hold back the Nightmare inside me alone. I need your help, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight looked at Luna. It felt like forever. Her muscles relaxed a little and her face softened. The pain and loneliness was evident in Luna's eyes. You could almost see those thousand years of crushing solitude in her eyes. Twilight stepped up next to Luna and placed a hoof around her shoulders. “Why didn't you come to me earlier?”

Luna looked at her. The expression on her face was hard to decipher. “I sent you a letter, but you never replied. I thought you didn't want to see me.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed as she tried to remember. She couldn't recall any letter from Luna. “I never got any letter from you, Luna.”

The princess turned her head and looked at the owl sitting in the window. “But the owl … I sent him to you with the letter. I hoped we could write to each other, like my sister and you. I thought you'd like the owl; he's been my only real friend since I came back.”

Owlowiscious made a little affirmative “Hoo” at Luna's words.

Luna returned a sad little smile. “You, indeed.”

Twilight felt her heart sink. Had she really missed a letter from Luna? She thought back to the stormy night she had met Owlowiscious. The owl had brought her the scroll she lost, but had it lost its own letter in the wind and found her scroll instead, thinking it was the letter?

“Oh Luna, I'm so sorry. I didn't know the owl was from you. He must have lost your letter in the storm. Had I only known, I would have been happy to write you back.”

Luna looked at her. “Really?”

“Really!” Twilight smiled and gently hugged the princess. “I don’t think all these ponies really fear you like you think. They are just curious because they don't know you that well.”

Scene 2
Twilight sat back down on her bed. It was late when Luna had left, taking Owlowiscious with her on a nightly flight. But despite her eyelids feeling like lead, Twilight found herself inexplicably reaching for the little book under her pillow.

She sat for a time, staring at the word on the cover while thinking of Luna. It was hard to get the princess and her conflict out of her mind, but finally she opened the book with a sigh.

The first hoof-written note was followed by a few articles from local newspapers, many generations old but all from the same period. Each seemed to concern the same controversial character, a local business mare and philanthropist by the name of Midnight Spindle.

The header of an early article drew Twilight's attention.

“Fillystata Funds Fillies
“On Monday, local celebrity and colorful character, Mrs. Spindle made a rare appearance to help celebrate the opening of the new schoolhouse and playground, the latest project funded by the local business mare for the betterment of Dappleshore and its growing community.

“The fillies in the schoolyard may whisper in childish fear of Fillystata the wicked witch, as she has come to be known to them, but they have much to thank the elusive yet generous Mrs. Spindle for.

“ ‘Our young fillies need the best care we can offer them. I am pleased that my fortune can help them grow and prosper, and through them also our fair town,’ she was heard speaking at the opening ceremony to much applause.

“Indeed, Mrs. Spindle is on everypony's lips these days. Between a reputation for being aloof and eccentric, certain insidious rumors surrounding her remarkable longevity, and the rare and increasingly brief sightings of her husband Mr. Cotton Yarn, Mrs. Spindle has undeniably done more than anypony else can claim for the prosperity of Dappleshore in recent years. Many are willing, indeed quite happy, to let rumors be rumors and vouch for her decency.

“ ‘Elderly mares are so often the subject of foalish rumors and fanciful tales. Mrs. Spindle is a fine and most upstanding citizen of our fair town, and we are ever thankful to her that she has done so much for our community and asked so little in return,’ the mayor spoke.”

On the next page, an official-looking letter bearing the seal of the Royal Court in Canterlot confirmed the official name change of one Nightwind, daughter of Midnight Spindle, to Daisy Sparkle. “An unusually cheery name”, Twilight thought to herself as she read it. “Was she the first Sparkle? The one who began the family tradition?”

On the opposite page, another official letter from a much later date denied a similar request from one Manna Sparkle to change her last name to Spindle. From the crumpled look of the second letter, Twilight imagined the message from the Court had not pleased Manna, but why had they denied her the old family name?

Twilight flipped the page and paused, running her hoof over a page adorned with a rough family tree. Near the bottom, the name Midnight Spindle had been supplemented with “Fillystata” in parentheses. Her lone daughter's name had likewise been altered with “born Nightwind” added under the name of Daisy Sparkle.

Twilight read it twice before her eyes continued up through the tree: Lilac Sparkle, daughter of Daisy Sparkle; Amrita Sparkle, daughter of Lilac Sparkle; Manna Sparkle, daughter of Amrita Sparkle. Twilight’s eyes lingered on Manna’s name. On this tree it had been scratched out and replaced with Midnight Sparkle.

Manna in turn had a daughter, Evening Sparkle. Twilight recognized the name of her own great-grandmother. The tree ended there, but Twilight mentally continued the branches that Midnight hadn’t known at the time: Sunset Sparkle, Daughter of Evening Sparkle; Silver Sparkle, Daughter of Sunset Sparkle; Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Silver Sparkle.

She sat for a while, staring at the family tree in silence before forcing herself to turn the page with a shaking hoof.

The old picture of a large mansion on the outskirts of the town, surrounded by marshy fields, almost leaped out at her from another newspaper cutout. Twilight glanced over the brief notice beneath the image and read the report.

“On Saturday evening, at least three presumed robbers broke into the mansion at 110 Pedigree Lane, Dappleshore, home of local business mare Mrs. Spindle and her husband Mr. Cotton Yarn. The robbers woke up the residents and fled before they could be apprehended or identified. Nothing was reported stolen, but the elderly couple described the incident as ‘disturbing.’ ”

Twilight's eyes remained on the ancient picture of the house until she succumbed to sleep.

Scene 3
Twilight spent the next day at the fair with her friends, barely aware of what went on around her. After managing to escape the watchful eyes of her friends, she spent a time in the shade of a large tree on the outskirts of the fair, absorbed once again by the book.

There were more accounts of strange events surrounding Mrs. Spindle and the house at 110 Pedigree Lane, more family records confirming among other things Manna's official name change to Midnight after her initial failure to secure the family name, and a strangely brief obituary announcing Mrs. Spindle's unfortunate passing. The old business mare had passed away at an exceptionally old age for a pony; she was 65 when she died.

Little was revealed about her death, and the recordings in the book seemed to end abruptly with the obituary. Had Midnight Sparkle abandoned the research of her ancestor, or had she perhaps hit a dead end? Disappointed but still undeterred in her pursuit, Twilight resolved to continue the digging where the book left off.

She needed to know. As strange as it was, she felt that there was no way she could turn back now.

* * *

As the evening came, Twilight greeted her friends goodnight and walked back towards town. But instead of heading back to the hotel room, she took a turn down one of the old lanes. She had to see it for herself. Was it still there?

Pedigree Lane had no doubt grown more crowded since those early days, but as it wound its way towards the edge of town, the houses grew sparser. As Twilight trotted along with determined steps she almost felt like walking back through time, and as she stopped and looked up at the mansion she felt for a moment like she was looking again at the old photograph.

The place had sustained a great deal of wear and tear over the generations since the photograph was taken. It was obviously long since abandoned, but there it was, 110 Pedigree Lane, the home of Fillystata more than a century ago.

Windows had been broken and barred, the roof was full of holes, the garden was a jungle, and in all ways the place looked miserable. It was a wonder, Twilight thought, that nopony had done anything to repair it or tear it down. It was a sorry sight indeed. Once the home of one of Dappleshore's finest residents, now left to ruin.

What had happened?

Twilight approached the overgrown lot. Something drew her to it, and as she looked at the broken and barred windows she thought she spotted a shadow moving behind one of them. Startled, but unable to resist the pull of mystery, Twilight moved closer, forging a path through the grass and weeds of so many ages.

A faint orange light sprung up in the window, causing Twilight to pause and shiver. Was it just the cold of the night, or something more? Admonishing herself for her foalish fear, Twilight continued up to the window and peeked through the cracks in the bars, narrowing her eyes at the light while her heart raced in anticipation.

In the light of a small kindling fire in the old fireplace, a blue unicorn was trying to drive out the cold from her bones. Draped in her cape and lying on a bed made of leaves and old newspapers, Trixie seemed almost as poor as the house within which she had sought shelter from the night.

But it was not this that drew Twilight's immediate and total attention. Mounted above the fireplace was the portrait of an elderly mare, and through ages of neglect and grime it seemed to Twilight as if she was staring now upon a near-perfect picture of herself!

Act 3. Restoration

Scene 1
The elderly mare in the portrait glanced back at Twilight with a dignified, dispassionate look. The unicorn was undeniably older than Twilight, and her deep eyes were suggestive of an even greater age than was apparent from her face.

The resemblance was truly uncanny despite the age. A black spider in its web graced her flank, but beyond this mark and their different mane styles, the similarity was complete. Twilight stared with wide open eyes at what could have almost seemed like a mirror into her own future.

A cry broke Twilight out of her reverie. “Damn you, Twilight Sparkle!”

Too late did Twilight see the blue unicorn charging at her. In a shower of splintered wood, Trixie threw herself through the window, and with all her weight she crashed into Twilight.

Twilight stumbled back with a pained cry and fell on her back with Trixie above her.

“Won't you just leave me alone!” Trixie cried, but Twilight didn't hear her any more.

* * *

The soothing warmth of the fire and the soft, if somewhat crude covering of leaves and papers greeted Twilight’s aching body as she woke again. As her senses returned to her, Twilight soon realized that her legs were tied up with rope.

“Trixie?” she called but received no reply.

Her head was aching, and Twilight reflected that she must have hit it pretty hard in the fall. She glanced around the room in the dim light of the fire. There was no sign of Trixie, but her eyes soon fell upon a piece of paper stuck under a rock just within reach of her head. Stretching her neck, she pulled the paper free and held it up in the light of the fire.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle.

“I'm sorry I hurt you. I should be thankful that you saved my life yesterday, but I keep thinking it had been better if you hadn't. I know you just want to help me, but I don't want your help. I don't want your pity. Look at what the Great and Powerful Trixie has been reduced to! I spent everything on that last show. I've got nothing left, and now everypony knows what a failure I am!

“I'm going to the woods to find my peace.

“I'm sorry for the rope. By the time you get free, I hope to be gone from this world. If your concern is at all genuine, I ask only this: Bury me in an unmarked grave, and tell everypony that I died a true hero, defending Equestria from a great monster.

“— Trixie.”

Twilight felt the tears well up in her eyes. “No … she can't!” she whispered as she dropped the letter. She closed her eyes and focused, ignoring her pounding head as she disappeared in a flash, reappearing a second later, still tied.

“Curses!” she hissed. She had to get free, and quickly. Glancing around for anything to help her, her eyes fell on the flames of the fire. Biting her lip, she focused once more. A piece of burning wood rose from the fire and levitated towards her.

Twilight took a deep breath and brought the fire closer. The flame licked against her hooves as she held the burning wood under the rope. Twilight cried and gritted her teeth. The searing pain was almost unbearable, but she had to get free.

The smell of burning hair and flesh mixed with that of the rope until finally the rope burst and she was free. Twilight threw the piece of wood back into the fireplace and got up. The pain in her legs was terrible, but she could worry about that later.

Forcing herself onwards, Twilight ran out of the house and glanced around in a panic. Woods. She had to find the woods. Running around the house, she spotted a line of trees to the west and set off at a gallop. “I'm coming Trixie, please don't let it be too late!”

* * *

Twilight stormed through the dark woods, her horn lighting the way while her eyes darted from side to side in the vain hope of spotting Trixie. She knew it was no use; Trixie could be anywhere.

Twilight stopped under a large tree, trying to concentrate, trying to think of something. Rarity's gem finding spell, could it find ponies too? She knew she was grasping at straws, but she had to think of all options.

A distant sound barely registered in her desperate mind. “Hoo.”

Twilight looked around, ran a bit, and stopped again.

“Hoo!”

She began to cry. She would be too late. It was hopeless.

“Hoo!”

Twilight looked up as the insistent call finally reached through to her conscious mind.

“Hoo!”

Feeling a spark of hope ignite within her, Twilight turned and rushed towards the sound as fast as her wounded legs would carry her. It was her only chance.

“Hoo!”

Twilight stormed into a small clearing of trees and tripped over her own hooves as she tried to stop and call out at the same time. “No! Please don't—“ She fell face first on the ground, rolling several feet before coming to a halt.

Trixie turned and stared at the other unicorn. She was sitting on a branch, a long piece of rope around her neck was tied at the other end to the thick branch. “Twilight?”

Twilight jumped back on her hooves, covered in mud and bruises. “Don't jump, Trixie! I beg you, let me help you instead!”

Trixie looked away, hiding her face and tears. “Don't stop me, Twilight Sparkle. I don't want to live with this shame. I could never be as great as you, and now everypony knows what a big fake I am. I can never show my face again. I can never—” Her voice broke.

Twilight tried to walk in a circle around the tree to look the other unicorn in the eyes. “You are not a failure, Trixie! I’ve seen you, and you have great talent. I don't possess a fraction of the showmareship you do. You just made a few mistakes, that's all. Everypony makes mistakes.”

Trixie didn't reply. She looked up at the night sky through the leaves, her voice faltering as she sang quietly. Twilight didn't recognize the song, but the sadness pulled at her heart like strings.

“Please come down, Trixie. I can help you. I'll get you back your show. I'll—“

Trixie looked down at her, tears trickling down her cheeks like tiny pearls in the light of the moon. “The show is over, Twilight Sparkle. I'm sorry.”

Twilight cried out in horror as Trixie bowed one final time and let herself fall off the branch.

* * *

The rope around Trixie's neck tightened with a snap, and her body came to a sudden stop in mid-air. She hung there for a few seconds before opening her eyes.

Twilight dug her hooves into the ground and gritted her teeth, the glow from her horn shining like a little star to engulf the blue unicorn dangling from the tree.

“Let go of me!” Trixie demanded and fought hopelessly against the unrelenting grip of Twilight’s magic.

Twilight stomped the ground, beads of sweat on her brow. “No! I will not let you kill yourself! Take off the rope, now! Or Celestia so help me, I'll tear up this tree, roots and all! You know I will!”

Trixie looked away with a pained sigh as she took off the rope around her neck. Twilight let out a deep breath of relief as she brought the unicorn back down to the ground. Twilight’s entire body was shaking from pain and exertion, but she paid it no heed anymore.

Trixie lay on the ground, hiding her face under her hooves.

Twilight walked up to her and lay down next to her. “Trixie …”

Trixie sobbed quietly.

“Trixie …” Twilight continued and placed a hoof on the other unicorn's shoulder. Trixie lifted a hoof from her face and looked at Twilight. “Trixie, I don't think I'll be able to walk back on my own. Will you help me?”

Trixie looked at Twilight's burned hooves and slowly nodded.

Twilight sighed. “It'll be alright, Trixie. We'll help each other.”

Trixie helped Twilight back up, and together they made their way back towards the old mansion.

Twilight hobbled along, leaning on Trixie for support. Her hooves were pained, and her legs shook under her weight. Trixie walked with bowed head. Once in awhile she glanced at Twilight as if to say something, but paused and turned back to staring at the ground. Twilight didn't want to push her, even if she hadn't been too tired to speak anyway.

They walked in silence, and when they were back inside, Twilight collapsed on the rough bed in front of the dying flames of the fireplace. Trixie sat down on the cold floor, watching the portrait hanging above Twilight in silence.

* * *

“Family of yours?”

Twilight woke as Trixie broke the long silence. She wasn't sure how long she had been lying there. Had she fallen asleep? She must have. Blinking at the darkness, Twilight glanced up at Trixie, then at the portrait. She nodded.

Trixie sat there like a gargoyle, looking at the old mare in the picture. “Your family must be proud of you, Twilight.”

Twilight wasn't sure what to respond. She sat up and turned to face Trixie.

“My parents never wanted me,” Trixie continued. “I promised them I would become something great one day, that everypony would know my name, that I would make them proud. They never believed in me, or anything I did. When I left, they disowned me, but I didn't care. I knew deep in my heart that I could make it on my own, that I didn't need their support. I would become something great, on my own.” Trixie lowered her head.

Twilight dragged herself up and walked the few steps over to sit next to her.

“I wish I was like you, Twilight. I wish ponies would look at me like they look at you.” Trixie lay down on the floor with her hooves under her head. Twilight sat and watched her sadly as Trixie sang quietly to herself.

Trixie wiped a tear from her eye as she finished.

“What is that song?” Twilight asked quietly.

Trixie sighed and looked away. “When I was a filly, I would spend a lot of time in my room. There was a single window, and from it I could look into the room of another filly who lived next to us. Her mother would sing this song to make her sleep. I would lie under my window and pretend the song was meant for me … that I had a mother who cared too, that there was somepony who loved me like that.”

Twilight lay down next to her and nuzzled her silvery mane a little. “You don't have to be alone, Trixie. And you don’t have to make it on your own. You can have friends too.”

Trixie looked unsure, turning her head away again.

“I'm investigating my old family legacy,” Twilight said with a nod towards the painting. “I think I'll be staying here in Dappleshore for a while. Maybe I'll buy this old place and spruce it back up. Would you like to stay and maybe help me with that?”

Trixie turned back to look at Twilight. “I … I would like that.”

Twilight gave Trixie a tired smile. “Then it's a deal,” she said and rested her head on her hooves with a tired sigh.

Trixie watched her for a time before nodding at her hooves. “I'm really sorry about those burns. I thought you could get free of the ropes easily.”

Twilight looked at her burnt hooves, then up at Trixie and blushed. “I've never actually been good with ropes. For some reason I just can’t get my magic around them. But you couldn’t have known that.”

Trixie smiled for the first time that night and lay down with her head propped against Twilight.

* * *

There was a soft “Hoo” from the broken window.

Trixie looked up at the owl as it flew in through the hole and landed next to the two unicorns, holding a small package of leaves. Twilight was breathing calmly in her sleep and didn't stir. Trixie took the little bundle the owl had dropped, careful not to wake Twilight.

“Hello there, little one. Are you one of Twilight's friends?”

The owl gave a happy “Hoo” in response and fluttered off back through the window.

Trixie watched the bird until it was out of sight, then she turned her attention to the leaves. They smelled strongly, and the scent made Trixie feel relaxed and warm. Unfolding the bundle, Trixie found a small dollop of light green salve.

“Do your friends stalk you or something, Twilight?” she muttered, wondering who the package was from as she gently treated Twilight's hooves with the salve and bound them in the long, soft leaves.

“I hope this helps. It's the best I can do, I guess,” she whispered and lay back down next to Twilight. With a long sigh, Trixie closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Scene 2
The following day was the last day of the fair. Twilight did her best to deflect all questions about her burnt hooves, or where she had been all night. Everypony was so terribly concerned for her, but she assured them that she was fine.

Twilight spent most of the day at the market, resting her legs and drinking apple cider with extra ice cubes. Holding the icy cold drinks in her hooves dulled the pain a little, at least for a time.

Trixie insisted on staying back in Twilight's hotel room. She refused to show herself at the market or even step a hoof outside the door until nightfall, despite Twilight's offer of introducing her to the rest of her friends.

A troupe of dancers was performing nearby when another pony settled down next to Twilight. She was so engrossed in watching the dance that she didn't notice the dark blue unicorn until she spoke. “Oh my, Twilight Sparkle. What happened to your hooves?”

Twilight jumped a little and turned around. “Oh, hi. I didn't see you there.” Twilight followed Luna’s gaze as the disguised princess looked down meaningfully at Twilight’s hooves. “Oh right … It's nothing serious, just a little burn. I'll be fine. Trust me, princess.”

Luna didn't look convinced but decided to leave it be for the moment. She looked around with some concern at the ponies sitting or walking around nearby. “I would like you to call me Bluebird while I’m looking like this,” she said and looked back at Twilight. “I don’t want anypony to notice.”

Twilight nodded in understanding. “I understand. Sorry.”

Luna looked down a little before placing a small present on the table in front of Twilight. “I got you a small gift, if it is not too much.”

Twilight looked at Luna with surprise. “What for?”

Luna looked a little uncomfortable. “I just wanted to say thank you. I'm sorry if this is inappropriate or gives the wrong impression; I am not very good at social customs anymore. I just want you to know that your friendship means a lot to me.”

Twilight smiled and picked up the present, carefully unwrapping a small, beautifully carved wooden box. She looked at Luna, who smiled and gestured for her to open it.

Twilight lifted the lid of the box gingerly and peered inside. The inside of the box was lined with a coating of soft, protective fabric, and carefully placed in the middle of this was a small, gray rock. Twilight looked back up at Luna.

“It's a moon rock, a little piece of the moon,” the princess explained.

Twilight stared back at the treasure in her hooves, left speechless for a moment.

“Do you like it?” Luna asked.

Twilight got up and wrapped her hooves around the disguised princess. “That's an amazing gift, Lu—Bluebird! I love it!”

Luna beamed at the response and returned the hug. “You’re very welcome, Twilight Sparkle.”

* * *

“Do you want something to drink, or eat perhaps? I know the fare isn’t exactly royal here, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't offer?”

Luna chuckled and nodded at Twilight's drink. “Whatever you're having will be just fine, Twilight Sparkle. Unlike my sister, I do value the formality and social gatherings of Canterlot, but my sister insists that I also experience life among common ponies.”

Luna watched as Twilight ordered her a glass of apple cider. “And to speak the truth, I do enjoy this simple and carefree fun. That is why I come to these fairs and markets, even if I have to hide under a disguise to avoid attention.”

“I think I can understand that,” Twilight said as she watched Luna.

A young filly brought over the frosty drink, and Luna took it with a thankful nod. She took a dainty sip before looking up at Twilight again. “Have you been enjoying the fair so far?”

Twilight shrugged a bit. “I haven't quite been able to enjoy it as much as I thought I would.”

Luna swirled the cubes of ice around in her glass. “Why not?”

Twilight fiddled with the little wooden box, recalling how hectic this weekend had proven to be. “So much has happened,” she said. “I found out that I have ancestors who lived here in Dappleshore. Between that and … everything else, I've just not been able to think about much else. I think—” She paused as a thought occurred to her. “You have access to the Canterlot archives don't you?”

Luna nodded between sips of cider. “Of course. I’m a big and important pony.”

Twilight chuckled, she couldn't help herself, then paused anew before continuing. “I feel I need to get to know this ancestor of mine, and I think some of it may have been covered up by later relatives. I won't be returning to Ponyville tonight; I need to stay here to investigate. If you could find what you can in the archives, I would be grateful for it.”

Luna smiled. “Anything for you, Twilight Sparkle. I shall send what I find with Owlowiscious.”

* * *

As Twilight had predicted, her friends were not eager to let her stay behind in Dappleshore. She had to assure them that she would be fine, and that she would write as often as she could. She was a little sad to see them go, but she knew she had to stay. At least she had Owlowiscious, and her two new friends, Trixie and Luna, to keep her company and help in her studies.

Twilight soon learned that Zecora was still in the area as well, gathering rare herbs from the fertile marshes around Dappleshore. The zebra seemed concerned for her, and frequently sent her herbal salves for her wounded hooves along with cryptic letters of everything from random rhymes to strange warnings. Twilight was thankful for the salves. Zecora's herbs were a great relief, and their fresh scent always cheered her up a little, but Twilight suspected the zebra of being a bit superstitious at times.

With the fair over and her friends back in Ponyville, Twilight intensified her studies of Fillystata. She and Trixie scoured the village and its archives, and Luna sent frequent letters with information she had dug up in the archives of Canterlot.

Twilight soon realized that the inhabitants of Dappleshore were of little help in her investigation. The few who seemed to know anything refused to speak to Twilight, and the local archives were not much more helpful to her. The bits and pieces scraped together, especially from Luna's tireless work, formed only a crude picture of events.

The rumors surrounding Mrs. Spindle had continued to spread and grow, and her appearances became ever more rare. There were some reports of unseemly sounds from the mansion, but none of the papers or records mentioned anything specific. Everything seemed very hushed up.

As for Mrs. Spindle's tragic death, most papers simply agreed that she had died in a fire and was buried with no great ceremony. Only some vague remarks suggested that a group of locals had broken into the mansion on the eve of her death and may have been behind the fire, if indeed there had been a fire at all.

To Trixie, Twilight seemed frustrated by the lack of progress and apparent dead end in her research. She was desperately looking for a breakthrough of any kind, but none was presenting itself. Trixie was sure they had looked everywhere, but Twilight kept up hope.

* * *

A week after the fair, Twilight acquired the old house at 110 Pedigree Lane. Nopony had lived there for generations, and the ponies of Dappleshore now whispered of it as haunted. Twilight had never been one to believe in ghosts and curses, and she got it for a trifle. With Trixie's help she began restoring the old mansion to something at least close to its former self.

The days that followed were some of Trixie’s best. With no leads to go on, Twilight relaxed her studies and seemed to resign herself instead to work on the mansion along with Trixie. They spent the days together, talking about anything and everything while working on the house and its extensive garden.

In the evening they cooked and dined together. They spent the rest of the night relaxing. Sometimes Twilight went over her studies—and Trixie tried to help—without making much progress in any direction. Other times they worked instead on Trixie’s performance and magic, or simply watched the sky together when they were both too tired.

Trixie had never been close to another pony like this, and as the days went by she found herself wishing to be even closer. Whenever they were studying or working close together, or just sitting together, Trixie found her attention and senses drawn to the mare next to her.

She had admired Twilight’s skill and magic since their first fateful meeting in Ponyville, and now Trixie found herself noticing all the other things she admired and liked about Twilight. Sometimes Trixie found herself simply watching Twilight as she worked or studied, lost in the little smiles or furrows of her brow she made while reading.

Trixie also began to notice the letters from Luna. Some of them had contained information the princess dug up in the royal archives, but as the stream of information dwindled, the letters only became more frequent. Trixie found herself watching and wondering as Twilight read them.

And then one day Twilight went out and was gone all day. When she got back, she holed herself up in the attic to study and told Trixie that she didn’t want to be disturbed. Trixie hadn’t thought much of it, but in the days that followed Twilight seemed less and less as her former self and refused to talk of what had happened or what she was working on.

Trixie watched with a growing knot in her stomach as the Twilight she knew retreated into herself and increasingly spent time away from Trixie.

Scene 3
Trixie opened the window to let Owlowiscious in. The owl dropped a letter on the desk and sat down on its peg to preen its feathers. Trixie closed the window and looked at the letter. Another message from Luna.

Trixie frowned and looked around the room. She was alone. She took the letter and held it for a time, dreaming as she gazed into the flames of the fireplace. She had frequently been tempted to throw Luna's many letters into the fire, but Twilight would just become concerned if Luna stopped writing. Trixie sighed and put the letter back down.

What did Twilight see in her? Was it the wings, or the royalty? Perhaps the power? Trixie lay down, looking sadly at the moon through the window. How could she, a simple poor unicorn, compete with that?

What was Twilight doing up there anyway? Trixie saw her less and less as the days went by, and when she was around it was like she was a completely different mare, like she was obsessed. “But not with Trixie,” Trixie thought and closed her eyes.

She tried to imagine if only Twilight would be as obsessed with her, but the image of Luna always intruded, invading her beautiful dream and making it ugly.

Sometimes, when Twilight was in the attic where she always worked alone and didn't allow anypony else, Trixie would lurk outside the door. She would sometimes think she heard voices behind that door. Did Twilight meet with somepony else? Was it Luna? Of course it was, it had to be. The image of Twilight and Luna together …

Trixie cursed under her breath. It was all Luna's doing, it had to be. That wicked mare wanted Twilight for herself, and she was turning her against Trixie. All those letters, and the gifts. Trixie couldn't afford such gifts. All she had left was her old cape and hat.

Trixie stood up and grabbed the letter with an angry stomp. Curse Luna and her letters. She was about to throw the letter into the flames when she heard the attic door open and hoof steps coming down the stairs. She quickly dropped the letter back on the desk and pretended to be watering the flowers as Twilight walked into the room.

She didn't seem to even notice Trixie as she walked up to the desk and opened the letter. “Oh Luna …” she muttered while reading the letter, a little smile on her lips.

Trixie clenched her teeth and tensed, burying her anger and frustration deep inside. “That wicked … evil … mule!” Oh how she wished she could scream that out loud to the heavens above. She would make the celestial foundations themselves tremble at her voice.

“I'll be out tonight. Is there anything I can get you from the village?”

Trixie broke out of her dark thoughts at Twilight's voice. She seemed so dispassionate, so uncaring. Trixie felt it like a stab in her heart. “Where are you going? You're always gone. I could come with you. I could help you,” she blurted out.

Twilight folded the letter up and smiled at her, but to Trixie the smile looked unsatisfying, almost fake. “I'm sorry, Trixie. You know I'd love to spend more time with you, but I'm just so close to a breakthrough. I can't stop now, but I promise it won't be long.”

Trixie pouted. “What is it you're working on anyway? You've never said anything. Please Twilight, even I can see that this isn't healthy. You need to put this … work of yours aside and think of something else.”

Twilight wrapped an old traveling cloak around her neck and walked past Trixie to open the door. “I'm so close, Trixie. I promise, I'll let you know as soon as I know if I'm correct. I just need to be sure.” Twilight walked out the door. “I won't be gone long. I'll bring you something nice from town, okay?”

Trixie stomped the old wooden floor in frustration as Twilight disappeared into the night.

* * *

Trixie woke up feeling like a great big hole had swallowed her stomach. She had fallen asleep waiting for Twilight and hadn't eaten. She blinked at the light of the sun shining through the window. “Won't be gone for long my flank!” she grumbled and got up. There had to be some hay around. It would do in a pinch.

Days passed without word. On the evening of the third day, Owlowiscious brought a batch of letters from Ponyville. Always for Twilight, Trixie thought with a sigh as she flipped through the letters. Never anything for her.

And where was Twilight now? Trixie had slept on the floor outside the attic door, hoping Twilight would return, but she hadn't heard a sound for days. A terrible thought kept imposing on her mind and wouldn't let go. Had she abandoned Trixie? Had she gone to be with Luna instead and left Trixie on her own? Trixie frowned and wiped off the tears that welled up in her eyes at the thought.

She looked at the letters. Perhaps she could sneak a peek at them, pretend they were for her. She picked one up, hesitating, then carefully opened it. It was from Spike, asking why she hadn't sent him any letters lately and when she would come back to Ponyville.

Trixie read all the letters. It was all the same. They all wanted her to come back. Trixie sighed. “So do I.” She put the letters back down and looked out the window.

“Where are you, Twilight Sparkle? Won't you come back? I miss you so.”

Act 4. Unburied

Scene 1
There was a tapping at the door. Trixie looked up from the letters she had been reading. Could it be Twilight? No, Twilight wouldn't knock on her own door. Trixie hesitated. She peeked out the window but couldn't see anything through the heavy rain.

The tapping became a knocking.

“Pull yourself together, pony! Are you Great and Powerful or just a frightened little filly?” Trixie shrank back a little at the voice in her mind, then straightened up, proudly stretching her head up high. No! She had cowered long enough. She didn't need Twilight. She didn't need anypony! If they didn't notice her, she would make them notice her. She would make them love her!

The knocking had stopped. Trixie looked up from her thoughts and glanced at the window. A dark face appeared in front of her, and Trixie jumped back with a shriek.

The mare on the other side looked just as surprised for a moment, then frowned. “Are you going to let your princess stand out in the rain, or shall I be forced to break down the door?”

Trixie cursed herself for her cowardly display in front of the princess and got back up, facing Luna with a haughty sneer. “And what does the oh so high and mighty princess wish?”

Luna returned the sneer with a cold stare through the glass. “I am here to see Twilight Sparkle. I demand that you let me speak with her.”

Trixie didn't flinch. She didn't want to show any weakness in front of Luna. She had been weak for far too long, but not any longer. “Twilight is not here, so demand all you like.”

Luna's face remained hard. “Is that the truth, or just another one of your lies?”

Trixie felt the anger bubbling inside her. “I haven't seen her in days, and I bet it's all your fault! You and your fancy gifts! I guess you couldn't get her any other way. Well congratulations, your highness, it seems you can buy somepony's heart after all.”

Luna's face had disappeared from the window. “Yes, that's it! Go back to your castle you royal leech!” Trixie felt the warmth spread in her face and body as she let go of the big ball of frustration and jealousy in her chest. It felt great. No, it felt better than great! “I'm sure Twilight will be waiting there to grovel at your hooves like a good little slave, probably just yet another poor pony for your gilded harem!”

The door exploded in a rain of splinters, throwing back Trixie and knocking all the air from her lungs as she hit the wall hard. A large splinter streaked past her, leaving a bloody trail beneath her eye and embedding itself in the wall.

Luna stepped through the door like something out of every little filly's worst nightmares. Her dark, stormy eyes pinned down Trixie who felt herself getting pulled up against the wall as if by an invisible claw around her neck. She struggled to fill her screaming lungs.

“Insolent wretch! Do you even care for Twilight, or is it all for your own selfish desires? Did it never occur to you that others may care about Twilight too? Look at yourself!” The princess stopped in front of Trixie, their faces inches apart. A terrible darkness shrouded Luna's face.

The young, insecure filly inside Trixie wanted to disappear, to hide away. If she couldn't see it, it couldn't hurt her.

“What are you but a worthless gnat! A pathetic little cretin! You were never worthy of Twilight!”

Trixie's muscles tensed, every nerve in her body screamed. No! She was not worthless! She was not a frightened little filly, hiding under her bed! No more! A power she had never known surged through her mind and soul.

Her horn flared, and with her last breath of air she opened her eyes and stared into Luna's. “I am not pathetic. I am the … great … and … Powerful TRIXIE!”

There was a bright flash of intense light. Trixie felt air flushing back into her lungs as the invisible claw holding her fled like darkness before the light of day. She fell on her haunches but quickly stood up on shaking legs.

Luna took a step back but looked unshaken. “Oh look, it grew a spine.”

Trixie breathed heavily. “Leave!”

Luna held her head up defiantly. “Oh? Are you going to make me?”

Trixie straightened herself up. An old feeling of pride filled her again, and she couldn't help but smile. “No, Luna, because the Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't go around attacking ponies or trying to kill them! But she may just have to humiliate you.”

Luna gazed at Trixie with fury in her eyes, but the unicorn stood her ground and didn't shy away. Trixie walked confidently up to Luna, looking her in the eyes. “Why, I bet your sister would love to hear of this. Or are you going to shut me up?”

Luna hesitated and took another step back.

“And what about Twilight? Would she love a brutish thug like you? Why, I can't believe she ever would. Twilight wants somepony with class and style. Somepony like the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Luna's face darkened, and for a moment Trixie thought she would attack again, but instead she lowered her head and looked away with a pained expression crossing her face. “I … am sorry,” she whispered.

Trixie smirked, savoring the delightful taste of victory. “What was that? I couldn't hear you, did you say something?”

Luna glared at her and almost hissed through her clenched teeth. “I'm sorry!”

Trixie held up a hoof to her ear. “Speak up, princess, or did you lose your tongue?”

Luna stood up with a light stomp of her hoof. “You're pushing it!” She sighed again. “Look, I just want to know where Twilight is. She hasn't written in days, and I got worried.”

Trixie felt an urge to say something sarcastic, but not before now had she stopped to consider the realization that Twilight was not with Luna. Then where could she be? Trixie sat down heavily at the realization. “She's not been with you?”

Luna stared at her in disbelief. “Just how slow are you?”

Trixie gave Luna a cold stare. “Well fine, I didn't exactly put two and two together. I'm sorry, we're both sorry. Great!”

Luna shook her head. “So where is Twilight?”

* * *

“Great Celestia, whatever happened here?”

Luna and Trixie both turned at Twilight's voice. Twilight stood in the shattered doorway, staring at the room. Trixie only now noticed the destruction around her. The shattered door, but also the walls, everything was charred and blackened by fire. She blinked. Had her magic done all that? She didn't remember doing that.

Luna jumped up and embraced Twilight. “Twilight! I was so worried, where have you been?”

Trixie gave Luna a piercing glance.

Twilight smiled at them both with a bewildered face. “Never mind that. What happened here?”

Trixie gave Luna a hoof in the side. “We were just having a little talk, girl to girl you know. Luna was just about to leave, too.”

Luna glared at Trixie and rubbed her flank. “I most certainly was not!” she replied before turning back to Twilight. “We were just having a little argument. That is all. I am terribly sorry about the door.”

Twilight looked between them. “Oh girls, forget the door, I'm just glad you didn't kill each other! I'm sorry for disappearing like that. I never expected it to take so long. Just let me drop these bags off,” she gave the saddle bags hanging over her shoulders a little shake, “and then I'll make it up to you, I promise. What do you say we all go out and have a great night together?”

Twilight disappeared up the stairs with her bags, while Luna and Trixie exchanged icy stares.

Scene 2
Twilight had returned and seemed uncommonly happy. More lively than she'd been in a while, at least, but she blankly refused to talk about her disappearance or her work despite both Trixie and Luna trying their best to convince her to give up her studies.

Trixie was glad to be out of the mansion for once. Ever since her failed show at the fair she had been afraid to go out, afraid of the stares and whispers she knew she would get. Now she didn't care. She would rebuild her name and honor, and she would have Twilight too, Luna be damned.

Despite having to drag along the princess, this night had been the best one Trixie could remember having in a long while. Yet she couldn't help but notice that Twilight remained a little off, her eyes frequently growing distant as if her mind was occupied elsewhere.

As the evening dragged on, Luna had to excuse herself and return to Canterlot. Trixie could hardly say she was sad to see the alicorn leave. She and Twilight decided to call it a night too and turned back towards the mansion. Trixie walked beside Twilight, occasionally giving her a glance and a smile. Twilight seemed oblivious to Trixie's glances, perhaps even her presence judging by her distant look.

Trixie felt a stab of disappointment. “Come on, Trixie. This is it. You got rid of that skank Luna, you're alone with Twilight, it's a beautiful night. If she's not going to notice you, then you've got to take the first move! What's the worst that could happen?” Trixie winched a little at the thousand nightmarish possibilities racing through her mind. Maybe Twilight would turn her into something small, ugly and slimy and leave her in a bog somewhere.

She looked at Twilight, the object of her greatest passions. The last light of the day made her violet eyes twinkle like little stars in the growing darkness. Her face looked relaxed, content despite the mildly vacant look. Trixie edged a little closer to her. Twilight had a scent of the fresh soil and the fallen leaves of the woods, with a trace of tree sap.

“T-Twilight?” Trixie finally dared.

Twilight paused and turned her head at Trixie. “Yes?”

Trixie looked down at the ground, scraping her hoof against the stone a little as she found words hard to summon. “Damn it, Trixie, come on, just … do it!” she thought to herself. With a final breath she looked back up, her eyes meeting Twilight's. She felt herself falling into a sea of violet as she leaned forwards. She just hoped she could swim.

“No regrets!” She closed her eyes, and their lips met in a brief kiss.

When she opened her eyes again, Twilight was staring at her. The vacant look was gone, replaced by … something else. Was it confusion? Doubt? Probably both.

Trixie took a step back and looked down. “I'm—” No, she wasn't sorry. It had felt so right. She tried to breathe normally, tried to steady herself. Was she thinking straight? Twilight looked away, then back at Trixie.

Trixie took a deep breath. No, she couldn't be weak. She was the Great and Powerful Trixie. If she couldn't be true to herself and stand by her actions, then Luna had been right about her being nothing.

She straightened herself up and tried to look Twilight in the eyes. “Twilight … I love you. I have since the moment I saw you stand up for your friends in the face of terrible danger, though I didn’t realize it at the time and tried to deny it for the longest time. I know it's sudden, and I understand if … if you don't feel the same. I'm not sorry. This is how I feel and—”

Twilight looked down, then took a hesitating step towards Trixie and held up a hoof to Trixie's lips. Trixie stared at Twilight, feeling every word escape her. Twilight looked down again, then leaned forwards gingerly. Their lips met once more, and a spark of magic jolted through their souls as the last rays of light sank beneath the horizon.

Trixie felt herself losing her grip on the world and her mind. She couldn't tell if she had died of joy, but she didn't care.

Stars sparkled across the heavens like pearly tears, but no moon rose that night.

* * *

Trixie looked at Twilight and ran a hoof through her soft mane, watching her peaceful face and listening to her soft breathing while she slept. Trixie had never been happier than in this moment, but a nagging fear and doubt remained and would not let go of her. She had been awake all night, unable to sleep. As the first rays of dawn broke through the window and fell on their entwined bodies, Twilight opened her eyes and smiled at Trixie.

Trixie smiled back, but her emotions must have showed through. Twilight reached a hoof out to touch her cheek. “What's wrong?”

Trixie took Twilight's hoof in hers. “Twilight, I want to know … I need to know that you won't leave me again.”

Twilight lowered her eyes a little. “I'm sorry for disappearing like that. I know you must have been worried sick. But I'll never leave you, Trixie.”

Trixie looked at her seriously. “Twilight, this work of yours—” Twilight sighed and looked away, but Trixie pulled her back and looked into her eyes. “I want you to give it a rest. It's doing something to you, and it frightens me.”

Twilight looked sad. “I can't. Please don't ask me this, Trixie. Surely you understand there are some things, certain things, that you just have to do.”

Trixie closed her eyes and sighed. “Will you at least tell me what it is then? I get worried, Twilight. You're not yourself sometimes.”

Twilight smiled. “Oh Trixie, you clearly don't know me well enough if you say that. I just get a little absorbed by my studies from time to time. I always have been prone to that. I am almost there. It won't be long, I promise. Please don't ask me to stop now.”

Trixie sighed, a little hopelessly. “Just promise me that you'll never leave me.”

Twilight touched her horn against Trixie's, a little spark lighting up between them. “I swear.”

* * *

Trixie sat down at a table at the café as a waiter brought her a cup of tea and a freshly baked bran muffin. She thanked the waiter and picked up today's paper, paying no heed to the looks she occasionally got from other ponies.

Twilight had spent all morning answering concerned letters from Ponyville and had now gone to do some shopping. Trixie wanted to take the time to relax and enjoy some of the local fare. She hadn't had anything but hay and water for days now. It was nice to finally get something more refined again.

Trixie inhaled deeply at the fresh scent of the baked goods and took a sip of her tea. Turning to the paper, her eyes caught something. Trixie read it quickly.

“Grave Robbers Strike Again
“Another sighting yesterday at the Dappleshore graveyard is the third in a week. The latest witness, a local weather pony, told guards that she saw the grave robber flee into the forests west of the city in the early morning. Hoof prints were found, and one grave had been disturbed, say investigators.”

Trixie put down the cup as she read it again. “Grave robbers? What an unseemly thing,” she muttered to herself. She looked up as another pony sat down at her table. For a second she thought it was Twilight, but the stranger looked nothing like Twilight. Trixie gave the black and white mare a confused look. “Can I help you?”

The zebra smiled. “I didn't mean to offend. Twilight Sparkle is your friend?”

Trixie blinked at the stranger. The unusual speaking threw her off for a second. “What? Oh, uh, yes. Why do you ask?”

The zebra held out a hoof in greeting. “Zecora is my name; from Ponyville I came. Worried for Twilight I have been, and many odd things I have seen.”

Trixie shook the hoof a little uncertainly. “Odd things?”

Zecora nodded. “In the forest she has been at night, running and hiding from my sight. Warned her did I at the fair, but she wouldn't listen here nor there.”

Trixie sighed. “Well, she won't listen to me either if that’s what you’re thinking. What did you want me to do?”

Zecora looked at her as she stood up again. “Keep a close eye on her. Through the owl we may confer.”

Trixie sighed and shook her head as the zebra disappeared around the corner. “Your friends are almost as strange as you, Twilight. What's going on with you?”

* * *

It didn't take long for Twilight to revert back to her strange, secluded self. She no longer disappeared without a word, but she was often gone for a while, and she spent hours, even days locked up in the attic.

Trixie often slept on the floor outside the attic where strange sounds and—Trixie thought—voices kept her awake. Twilight, on the rare occasions when she showed herself, refused to speak of what was going on in there and forbid Trixie from entering.

Many of the sounds frightened Trixie and sent shivers down her spine, but Twilight assured her that it was all necessary and that she was almost there, that it would soon be over. Trixie was beginning to doubt if she could believe her. She wanted to believe Twilight, she wanted to trust her, but with each passing day it became harder.

What was she doing in there, and who, or what, was she talking to? Trixie had never seen anypony other than Twilight come by. Was Twilight growing mad and talking to herself now? Twilight remained quiet on the topic.

Letters kept coming from Ponyville, and Twilight answered each one, assuring her friends of her well-being. Trixie noted, with some wonder despite a general satisfaction, that no letters had arrived from Luna since Twilight's return.

And then, after a particularly loud night in which Trixie had felt herself terrified to her core at the sounds coming from the attic and nearly broken down the door in despair, that new mare had appeared. Trixie didn't know what to call her, and she didn't like her.

The sounds had stopped suddenly while Trixie was banging on the door of the attic. Twilight had opened it a crack and, all sweaty, pale and bruised, had assured Trixie that everything was alright, that she could go back to sleep. Trixie didn't sleep that night at all and barely closed an eye for several nights after. Every time she began to drift off to sleep, she heard those screams in her mind and felt the icy cold run down her spine once more.

The following night, Twilight had come down from the attic along with that hellish mare covered as she always was in a black, all-concealing cloak. They had left together, Twilight assuring Trixie that she wouldn't be gone long. Trixie was shivering for hours after. Something about that mare in the cloak freaked her out something fierce, but she couldn't explain it.

That was also when the disappearances began.

Scene 3
Trixie opened the letter from Zecora. The zebra was growing concerned, even paranoid. Trixie couldn't blame her. Zecora had been following Twilight and her new friend, the mare that Twilight had only deigned to call Gray, but the two always eluded the zebra.

Gray only showed up rarely. Twilight occasionally spent some time in the mansion with Trixie, but it was becoming less and less as time went on.

Trixie picked up today's paper and flipped through the pages. She didn't get out much anymore. She didn't want to be away in case Twilight decided to make a rare visit, especially since the chilling news began, but she had arranged for the local mailmare to bring the daily paper and the most basic necessities every morning.

She almost hoped there would be nothing in the paper this time, but her hopes were immediately dashed.

“Two More Missing in Dodge City
“The recent string of disappearances continues as two fillies are reported missing near Dodge City. They were taken from their home by one or more unknown assailants who entered the house through an open window during the night. Police are interested in hearing from anypony who may have information which could lead to the missing fillies, or the arrest of whoever is behind the fillynapping.”

Trixie sat down heavily. Sure, Twilight had acted strange and obsessed lately, but she would never do something like that. Trixie tried to assure herself that it was true. But what about Twilight’s new “friend”? This strange new pony just wasn't right.

Trixie looked up as she heard the clip-clop of hooves outside and saw Twilight through the window. Quickly she hid the letter from Zecora and picked up the paper. As Twilight stepped inside, Trixie threw the paper in front of her, opened on the page of the missing fillies article.

Twilight looked at her, then down at the paper before looking back up. “Yes, I've heard. I do follow the news, you know.” She sighed and shook her head. “I'm sorry, Trixie. I didn’t mean to snap like that. And I’m sorry for being gone so much, too.”

Trixie gave her a cold look. “That's not it, although that bothers me too. Tell me what's going on.”

Twilight looked hurt and picked up the paper. “What are you implying here?”

Trixie pointed at the paper. “Fillies disappear, you're acting strange, and—”

Twilight threw the paper on the desk and broke her off angrily. “Are you suggesting I would do such a thing?” Trixie hesitated just long enough for Twilight to pick up on it. “I see. Well, if that's how you think of me, then I guess I'll just be getting my things.”

Twilight disappeared in a bright flash before Trixie could respond. She returned a minute later from upstairs with a saddle bag over her shoulders and gave Trixie a hurt look.

“Twilight, please—” Trixie tried, but Twilight broke her off.

“Goodbye, Trixie. I thought—” She looked down as she walked out. “I thought you knew me.”

Trixie ran out after Twilight, but she was gone. Trixie collapsed on the street outside, crying.

* * *

Days passed without word, and fillies continued to disappear. There had been no letter from Zecora since the day Twilight left. It worried Trixie. The letters from Ponyville had likewise stopped coming. Had they given up? The owl still came and went. Trixie wondered why it stayed with her, but she was thankful for the company, even if all it ever said was “Hoo”.

Trixie had long since searched the attic now that Twilight had left, in the hope that it held answers, but it seemed Twilight had taken everything of note. Some burnt pieces of paper and a few obscure but unhelpful books were all she found.

She occasionally wandered the city now, but she never saw Twilight or Zecora. She began to feel terribly lonely, even wished on rare occasions that Luna would drop by or send a letter. Why hadn't the princess sent any letters to Twilight?

It was a week after Twilight had stormed out and left Trixie when a letter arrived from Ponyville. It bore the usual stylish markings of Rarity, though the writing on the envelope was frantic and nothing like the fashionista's usual careful strokes. Trixie opened it and read the rushed scribblings.

“Twilight

“Sweetie Belle has been missing since yesterday. Other fillies have vanished near Ponyville too. We're searching high and low, but there's no trace of them. Please, I beg you to come back. We need you. Why have you abandoned your friends? Is your work really more important?

“— Rarity”

Trixie sat down and read the letter over and over. She looked up at the darkening sky through the window, then stood up with a determined frown, pulled a blank paper out, and began to write.

“Dear Luna

“I apologize for our last meeting and all the things I've said. You asked me then if it had occurred to me that others might care about Twilight too. You haven't sent any letters of late, but if you still care about her, as I do, then I hope you will answer this one.

“I fear that Twilight is not in her right mind. I fear she's in danger. I even fear, though I hesitate to believe so, that she has something to do with the recent fillynappings.

“Please, I don't know who else to turn to. I need your help.

“— Trixie.”

She rolled up the paper and gave it to the owl who disappeared into the night with a single “hoo”.

Act 5. Revenant

Scene 1
The burnt piece of parchment drifted in front of Trixie's eyes, held up by her magic. The pale light of the moon drifted through the ancient glass of the small window in the dark attic as she focused her mind on the flow of magic around her.

It had been three days since she sent her letter to Luna, yet still there had been no response from the princess. Trixie had no intention of sitting idly by in case Luna never responded. She had scoured the village for everything on the matter of the missing fillies, but she couldn't draw any helpful conclusions from the vague writings of the newspapers or the rumors floating around the village.

She had walked around the village and countryside, mostly at night, in the hope of catching sight of Twilight or her friend Gray, with no luck so far. She had even asked Owlowiscious to keep an eye out for them too, even though she wasn't sure the owl fully understood her.

She was beginning to feel useless. This was her last hope other than pure dumb luck. The pieces of burnt paper she had found in the attic could hold important clues. Perhaps Twilight had burnt them for a reason. If only Trixie could restore them.

Trixie wasn't even sure if it was possible. She recalled back when she was but a filly where a street magician had performed a wonderful trick. He had asked for a valuable possession from the audience and received a silken shawl from a reluctant old mare. He burned the shawl right there in front of the shocked audience, only to restore it moments later from the ashes to much cheer and relief.

It had taken Trixie a long time to get it right herself since the magician refused to teach her, and it was a long time since she had performed it. Even worse, restoring the actual information instead of just the blank paper was an entirely different matter.

Ever since her last argument with Luna, she had felt her magic grow stronger, as if a dam once holding it back had been cracked. She felt stronger than ever, yet still she had tried several times now to restore the paper, each time getting tantalizingly close only to have her hopes dashed. It was exhausting, but the thought of Twilight being in danger forced her to drive herself to the very limit of her ability.

Trixie closed her eyes in concentration once again and felt the magic surge through her and into the burnt fragments of paper. She could feel the raw magic coalescing in front of her. She felt herself lose touch with it, felt her mind slip. With a hopeless cry, she collapsed, exhausted.

A small piece of paper landed on her nose. Trixie opened her eyes and stared at the product of her spell. Had it worked? Did it finally work? Despite having spent herself to the last, she sat up on her haunches and lifted the paper carefully in the light of the moon.

The paper was mostly intact, and there was writing. Feeling her heart skip a beat, Trixie narrowed her eyes. A smile broadened her face as she collapsed again with a sigh.

“I did it!”

* * *

The writing was faint, as if the ink had been watered down. Trixie blamed her lack of mental strength for this, but was pleased that she could still read most of the previously burnt note.

“… only temporary. My own blood can sustain them for only a few minutes at a time. It is odd. Is it something wrong with me? I thought I was strong, and Celestia always thought I was. I would give more, but I dare not lose concentration from blood loss during the spell. I must remember the warnings: never call forth that which you can not put down again lest it should command you. Perhaps Trixie? Or Luna. Surely an alicorn's blood … No, it is too risky. My own blood simply must suffice for now.

“The last subject was eventually helpful. At last, with the location of her grave in hoof, I must …”

Trixie shivered at the implications of the note. Had Twilight been playing with blood magic? Was she really considering using her and Luna as … donors? And whose grave did she seek, and for what unseemly purpose?

Perhaps the other notes would help, once restored, but she was too exhausted to try it now. She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind and rest just for a moment. She couldn't waste too much time, but she couldn’t keep this up without rest either.

A tapping at the window woke her up. Bleary-eyed, she glanced up and squinted before getting up to open the window. There was a flutter as Owlowiscious landed on the window sill with an urgent “Hoo!” The owl then took off again, hovering in the light of the moon as if waiting for Trixie to follow.

“What? What is it?” Trixie tried, still sleepy and confused. The owl gave another “Hoo!” and flapped his wings. It took Trixie a moment to understand, then she was bolting down the stairs and out the door into the night.

* * *

Trixie galloped after the owl through the dark streets of Dappleshore. She stopped and panted for her breath as the owl landed on a roof and looked down at her with its large, round eyes. Trixie shivered a little and glanced around, then back at the owl with a questioning look. The owl turned its head to stare down a small alley and nodded its head. Trixie hesitated, then warily walked down the alley.

Soon a pair of hushed voices reached her from up ahead.

“I just … I'm not sure about this.”

Trixie recognized the voice. It was Twilight's. She edged closer, staying within the shadows. Up ahead she spotted Twilight and somepony else. She couldn't make out the face of the other mare, but the cold running down her spine left her no doubt about the mare's identity.

“And why is that, my child?”

Trixie shivered at that voice. She couldn't tell what it was, but there was something very wrong about it.

Twilight looked uncertain, even a little afraid. “I don't … don't know, I'm just—”

Gray held up Twilight's head with a hoof to look in her eyes. “You're starting to doubt, Twilight. That is unwise. You must remain focused. You must always know certainty.” Twilight stared at the other mare as if petrified. “You have been very helpful, Twilight. Don't change that.”

There was an ominous sound to those last words. Trixie could almost feel them compelling her too.

Twilight nodded and looked down without another word.

Gray smiled and looked up. Trixie saw the row of white teeth in the dark. “You go on and do what you must. I will be along shortly to assist you. I need to take care of a little private matter first.”

Twilight nodded again and trotted off into the darkness. The mare watched her disappear, then pulled her hood over her head and trotted down a side alley.

Trixie felt her heart beat, almost fearing the other mare would hear it in the quiet of the night as she crept along in the darkness, following just far enough away to keep Gray in sight.

* * *

They walked for what seemed to Trixie like an eternity, through streets and over fields until they reached the woods. Trixie's throat was dry and her heart racing, but she couldn't give up now. She needed answers, and there was only one way to find them. With her heart in her throat she followed Gray into the forest, staying at a distance and hiding behind everything she could find to not be seen.

Gray thankfully seemed oblivious to her lurking presence and walked with purpose through the dark forest. Trixie began to wonder where they were going, what she would find, and if she would be able to find her way back.

After perhaps half an hour of walking, Gray finally stopped in a small glade dotted with large stones, like teeth of a giant strewn about the forest floor. Trixie crept closer, trying to see what she was doing, but the other mare was simply standing there, glancing up at the canopy as if in thought. Trixie was close now and peeked out from behind an ancient oak.

She almost jumped as Gray suddenly spoke without turning. “A trap most deviously wrought, a little insect in the web is caught.”

Trixie stared as a faint purple glow emanated from under the mare's hood. Suddenly struck by immense dread, Trixie began to back away but froze in her tracks as the other mare turned, her deep purple eyes staring straight into Trixie's. Gray smiled under the hood and walked slowly up to Trixie who felt herself left powerless under the gaze.

“The last little insect enjoyed rhymes. I thought you might too. Did you like it? I'm no poet, I shall freely admit.” The mare stood right in front of her now. “You know, I believe Twilight told me about you. Such a fine unicorn,” she half whispered, holding a hoof up to Trixie's cheek. “Such potential … and such a shame. Let me tell you a secret, Trixie.”

Trixie stared as the mare let her hood drop, revealing her face. A gasp escaped Trixie's lips.

Gray smiled a wicked grin, white teeth shining in the blackness of the night. “I prefer younger fare, untainted by experience, but for you I shall make an exception. Tell me, Trixie, what happens to little insects caught in the spider's web?”

Scene 2
Luna landed in front of the old manor and looked at the door with a sigh. She didn't want to see Trixie again. She wasn't even sure she wanted to see Twilight again. The memory of seeing them together on that night still tore at her heart.

For some reason Luna had turned around that night, perhaps feeling that she hadn't said properly farewell. It was a silly thing, but she wished she could forget the moon for one night, maybe let Celestia deal with that, just so she could stay with Twilight. She had flown back only to see Twilight kissing Trixie outside the manor. She should have known better. She shouldn't have dared to hope.

Luna lowered her head, trying to fight back tears, then stepped up to knock on the door. “Trixie?” she called and pushed the door. It hadn't been closed properly and opened with a creak.

Luna stepped inside and looked around, but the mansion was quiet, and there was no sign of Trixie or Owlowiscious. She felt uneasy as she walked from room to room. The house had always been a little odd to her, as old houses sometimes were, but now it seemed positively wrong. It was something few others could sense, but Luna felt her skin crawl at the touch of a dark magic lingering here as she ascended the stairs towards the attic.

The door to the attic opened, and Luna felt herself trembling a little. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before stepping inside. The lingering darkness was strong here, but whatever had caused it was now gone, and the effect was fading.

She looked around, spotting the scattered pieces of burnt paper. Walking up to take a look, she picked up the only piece that seemed intact, slowly reading the troubling words. “Oh Twilight … I have to find you. I just hope it's not too late for you.”

She picked up the rest of the papers and ran back down, placing the burnt remains on the desk before running outside and pausing to glance around.

There came a “Hoo” from somewhere in the distance. Luna's ears perked, and she looked up, responding with a little whistle. A moment of silence, then another “Hoo!” sounded, now more urgently. Luna listened before unfolding her wings, and with a mighty beat she set off in the direction of the sound.

She saw the woods appear behind the mansion and grow closer as she flew. A small pair of eyes looked back at her from among the trees, lit up by the light of her moon. “Hoo!” the night bird called, the eyes blinking as it turned and disappeared among the trees. Luna followed, gliding silently through the woods.

* * *

It was not so much the faint purple glow amidst the trees ahead as it was the sudden waves of almost tangible wrongness emanating from it that drew Luna's attention and forced her down close to the ground with a slight gasp. As her hooves touched the ground again she thought she heard a voice up ahead.

“Tell me, Trixie, what happens to little insects caught in the spider's web?”

At first Luna thought it was Twilight speaking, but doubt soon took root in her mind. She moved closer, suddenly hesitating despite a growing urgency.

Luna stumbled forwards, feeling herself tremble. “Sister help me …” she whispered. The sickening purple glow grew stronger, and the voice she had mistakenly attributed to Twilight broke into a dark, chilling laughter.

Luna thought she could hear a faint cry—a long, pained sound like a dying bird—and something collapsing heavily on the ground. The sound of the cry cut through her heart and broke her out of her brief stupor. She ran forwards, beating her wings before standing up on her hind legs as she lifted from the ground. Her horn glowed, and in its light, clashing with the purple glow, she saw a shadowy figure leaning over a unicorn lying among the leaves under a large oak.

The cloaked pony hissed and backed away at the sight of the princess. Luna felt the dark power recede slightly and took the opportunity to advance, trying to conceal her trembling.

“Begone foul creature! I know not what manner of monster you are, but you will not lay your claws upon this innocent pony!” She hovered over the body of the unicorn as she spoke.

The cloaked figure stepped back and laughed. Luna backed away an inch, despite her best effort to remain strong. She kept her eyes firmly on the figure whose purple eyes met hers for a brief second. A tense moment of staring, then the figure turned and fled like a shadow among the trees. A chilling laughter hung in the air behind it.

Luna breathed heavily and sank down on the ground next to the pony. She gasped when she lowered her head to glance upon the unfortunate unicorn. “Trixie!” she called, but the unicorn did not respond.

Trixie’s blue coat had turned a pale and faded color, almost gray like ashes, but was stained a deep crimson by the blood still pouring from the deep cut in her neck. Her eyes had lost their hue and now stared blankly into the darkness of the forest.

Luna gasped. “Oh no!” There was blood everywhere. She pressed a hoof hard against the wound, hoping to stall the flow of blood, hoping to buy herself a few seconds.

The tip of her horn glowed brightly as she lowered her head. Beads of sweat trickled down her face as she concentrated, forcing the flesh of the wound to seal up. It was crude, but it was the best she could do in the situation.

“Don't worry, Trixie. I'll save you!” she said as she lifted the unicorn and placed her on her back between her wings. “I'll take you home, and maybe it's not too late.” Luna spread her wings and rushed back towards the mansion, careful not to drop Trixie on the way.

* * *

Luna placed Trixie gently on a bed of blankets in front of the fireplace. Her horn glowed brightly as she lit the fire and called several things to her side. Trixie was breathing only faintly, showing no signs of improvement. She had lost a lot of blood. Luna just hoped it hadn't been too much.

While a pot of water was heating over the flames, Luna examined Trixie closely. She had only a weak pulse, and she was growing cold quickly.

Luna soaked a piece of cloth in the hot water and carefully washed Trixie, hoping to bring some warmth and life back into her body. There was no detectable response, but Luna kept working. “Don't die on me, Trixie. I know we haven't been the best of friends, but I never meant for you to get hurt. And I need you. Twilight needs you.”

Luna closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, then gently placed the tip of her horn against Trixie's. She focused, extending her senses and trying to feel Trixie’s wavering life force. She could barely sense it any more. It was as if the unicorn had been sucked dry, and not only of blood, leaving behind only an empty husk save for the barest trace of life.

“A spark of life. Just a little. Just … enough,” she whispered to herself. It wasn't exactly her greatest strength. The magic of life and light was more her sister's area of expertise, but Luna had to try. “Better to try and fail than not try at all!”

Luna took a breath and felt the flow of magic gather at the tip of her horn before releasing it. A brief, bright spark jumped between their horns, causing Trixie's body to shudder with a slight gasp. Luna opened her eyes slowly, glancing down hopefully.

A faint hint of color returned to Trixie's coat, and her eyes cleared a little, but it soon faded again. Luna lowered her head. “I'm sorry Trixie. I was too late for you.”

* * *

Luna opened her eyes. She hadn't moved, for how long she didn't know, while her mind drifted the oceans of night. Blood. The thought of blood emerged out of the dark, perhaps spurred by Twilight's note in the attic. Had she been dreaming?

Luna looked down. Trixie was still lying there, motionless. Was she dead? Luna placed a hoof against the unicorn's neck. There was only the barest pulse. She looked up at her moon through the window, then back down at the floor in front of her. She hesitated, biting her lip. After a moment she looked back up at the sky.

“I'm sorry sister. I know—” She looked down. “I know I shouldn't perform such magic, but this is to save a life. Surely you can forgive me this.”

Luna held up a hoof as a small knife levitated off the floor. With a quick breath she clenched her teeth and placed the blade against her leg, making a swift cut. The deep crimson blood of the alicorn trickled down Luna's hoof and fell as drops upon Trixie's lips and tongue. A bright glow surrounded them both as Luna closed her eyes, giving herself over to the magic enveloping them both.

With a gasp of exhaustion, Luna collapsed on the floor next to Trixie. Her wound had stopped bleeding. She had given everything she dared, and the magic had been draining on her. Barely able to sit up, Luna simply lay there, watching Trixie.

Color began to return, little by little, to the unicorn's features. Her eyes cleared and blinked before closing in peace. Her breathing grew stronger as she seemed to lapse into a deep and restful sleep.

Luna sighed with relief and closed her eyes as well.

Scene 3
The light of the sun filtered through the window and lit up the desk where Luna was standing, flipping through papers and letters. This was around the time she would normally get some rest, but despite being drained and having stayed up all night watching over Trixie, she couldn't find rest.

Trixie was improving, and now Luna found her mind struggling to puzzle out the situation. Something was going on, and Twilight could be in grave danger if she wasn't actually at the heart of it herself.

Luna had gathered everything she could find in the house; all the letters and papers Trixie had collected since moving in with Twilight. She had also done a little research in the archives of Canterlot before coming here. Luna thought she had found some patterns, but she wasn't sure yet what they meant.

She looked up and turned her head as Trixie stirred a little. Pausing in her work, the princess walked over to the unicorn and knelt down to examine her. The color had almost returned to Trixie's coat, and her breathing was normal. The wound in her neck looked bad, but seemed to cause no trouble. Luna wondered if she would make a full recovery, or suffer permanent scars.

Trixie stirred again, slowly opened her eyes, and turned to look up at Luna who was kneeling next to her. Trixie's eyes had cleared and regained their color like her coat, but they were now filled with confusion.

“How are you feeling?” Luna asked quietly.

Trixie looked at her and the room around them for a time as if trying to remember. “What … happened? I remember—” She paused, clearly unsure of something. Luna sat down, deciding to give the unicorn as much time as she needed. Trixie furrowed her brow, thinking. “I sent you a letter. Did … did you get it?”

Luna nodded. “I did, a few days ago.”

Trixie stared at her, then looked down. “A few … days? I remember little after that.”

Luna smiled sadly at her. “If hazy memories are the worst you come away from this experience with, then consider yourself lucky. You were in a very bad condition when I found you.”

Trixie sighed and lay her head on her hooves. “I feel … strange. Empty.”

Luna nodded and stood up. “You seem to be recovering well enough. Just try to rest, and I'm sure you'll be fine.”

Trixie lay quietly as Luna returned to the desk. “What about Twilight?” she asked after a while.

Luna glanced over her shoulder. “I'm not sure. I found this in the attic. It may be a clue.” Luna held up the piece of paper Trixie had previously restored, while she searched through the other papers on the desk.

Trixie was silent for a few seconds, then let out a shriek.

Luna jumped and spun around, staring at Trixie's horrified face. “What is it? What's wrong?”

Trixie's eyes were tearing up, her face twisted in exertion. “My magic! I can't … I have no magic!”

Luna stared at Trixie, then at the paper Luna was holding up and which Trixie was evidently trying to pick up with her magic, to no effect. Trixie collapsed and burst into full tears. Luna stood for a second, before sitting down next to the distraught mare. “I'm so sorry, Trixie! Maybe it will return. Maybe you just need time to recover fully.”

Trixie looked up at Luna through her tears. “And what if it doesn't?”

Luna sank a little and placed a wing comfortingly over Trixie. The thought of a unicorn losing her magic was a painful one. “I'm sorry, Trixie. I know it may not mean much coming from me, but I mean it!”

* * *

“I spoke with the investigators in Canterlot before coming here, and they confirm that all the missing fillies were unicorns and young ones too. Most of them still didn’t have their cutie marks. I see one of the recent disappearances is the sister of Twilight's friend, Rarity.”

Luna glanced at Trixie who just nodded silently, still looking at the paper from the attic which, after having read it, she was trying to levitate off the floor to no effect.

Luna continued, holding up a map of Equestria filled with dots in the lower right corner. “All disappearances happened within a rough line of flight from Dappleshore to Ponyville. All the early disappearances happened here or in the nearest villages, mostly between Dodge City and the Horseshoe Bay. Since then it has spread out as far as Ponyville, but no further. It has largely avoided Baltimare, perhaps because there is a greater risk of guards in the big city.”

“I don't know what the significance of all this is, but that's what I have been able to find,” Luna concluded.

Trixie sighed, giving the map an uninterested glance. “It's more than I could tell.”

Luna looked at her sadly. “You did what you could, Trixie. You didn't have access to the official reports in Canterlot, but I am very impressed with your restoration of that letter. It could prove an important clue.”

Trixie sighed and lay her head down on the floor, staring at the paper in front of her, still not moving the slightest bit. “That's not much consolation if I can't get my magic back or restore any of the other pieces. Only makes the tragedy greater. The Great and Powerful Trixie, finally beginning to live up to her name, only to lose it all.”

Luna watched Trixie sadly, then turned back to her papers with a sigh. “I also found something else in the records. Turns out Twilight bought another place here in Dappleshore not long ago. An old farm in the fields outside the city at 5 Buckskin Road.”

Trixie looked up. “I bet that's where they're staying then.”

Luna nodded. “I bet it just might be. I think we need to check it out, in any case. You should stay here and recover. I'll go take a look and return with what I find.”

Trixie frowned and stood up. “No deal! I have no intention of staying here while you run around and do all the work. Magic or not, I'm not useless, and I won't be treated as such!” Luna opened her mouth, but Trixie gave her a cold stare. “Don't you dare argue. I'm coming along!”

Act 6. Mesmarerized

Scene 1
Luna paused on the street outside the old farmhouse. It was located on a large deserted lot of land north of town, sitting along one of the side roads of the road to Baltimare. “It looks abandoned to me,” she said as Trixie came to a halt beside her.

The farm was old and decrepit, much like the mansion had been before Twilight and Trixie had moved in and shined it up a little. If Twilight lived here now, she hadn't done anything to make the exterior look inviting.

Trixie gave the place a glance and felt a slight shiver. “It looks creepy, is what it does. I can't imagine why Twilight would live here, if that is what she does.”

“Only one way to find out if she does,” said Luna and approached the front door.

Trixie followed, glad that the sun was still high in the sky. The mere thought of going here in the darkness of night made her uneasy.

Luna glanced through one of the old windows and shook her head. “It looks empty.”

“Should we knock?” Trixie gestured at the door.

“Maybe that's best,” Luna murmured and gave the door a few hard knocks. There was no response. Everything was silent save for a distant bird chirping; an oddly ominous sound.

Trixie looked through the window. “I don't like this, even in broad daylight.”

“Maybe it's our luck they're not home,” Luna mused. “I'd like to take a look around inside, and you can't do that very well with other ponies there.”

“What if they return and find us snooping around?”

“We just say the door was open, and that we were looking for Twilight.”

Trixie nodded a little, but she wasn’t feeling too good about the plan. “Alright, how do we get in?”

Luna considered the door and the old, rusty lock. “Piece of cake.” Her horn glowed slightly, and there was a click from the lock before the door opened with a long creak. “I have done my share of sneaking around and learned a thing or two about locks.”

“Somehow I don’t find that hard to believe at all,” Trixie said in a deadpan expression and followed the sneaky princess into the house.

While Luna checked out the living room, Trixie took a look in the kitchen. “Somepony has been making tea recently,” she called and took a smell of the pot on the kitchen table. “Twilight's favorite, too, if I'm not entirely mistaken.”

Trixie opened the pantry door and peeked inside. “Oats and hay. Pots and pans …” She paused in her brief summary of the room's contents as her eyes fell on a pile in the corner. “And a lot of rope.”

She stepped into the small room and poked a hoof at the pile of ropes. Her eyes narrowed as she thought she saw something. As she dug through the pile her heart skipped a beat, and she took a step back. A slight smear of red covered some of the ropes, and now her hoof.

Trixie stared down at her hoof and the drops of scarlet. Hesitantly she took a sniff and wrinkled her nose at the coppery tang. “There's blood on some of these,” she whispered and backed out of the pantry.

A hollow sound as of something hitting the floor caught her attention from the other room, and Trixie spun around, ears perked. “Luna?” she called as she hurried out of the kitchen.

Luna turned to Trixie as she came through the door. “Oh, I just … dropped a book. Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

Trixie stopped and glanced around the room. It looked like a fairly nice study given the otherwise decrepit state of the house. A few bookcases, a small fireplace, a desk. Luna was standing in front of the bookcases, a large and heavily worn book on the floor in front of her. “I could say the very same of you, Luna. I found rope in the pantry. A lot of it. Some of it had blood on it.”

Luna picked the book up again and dusted it off a little. “Are you sure it was blood?” Trixie simply nodded. “That's troubling. But maybe there's a harmless explanation. This is harder to explain.” She gave a nod at the book.

Trixie walked over to look at the cover. “Quirts and Irons? You know, I can almost imagine that Twilight secretly enjoys being tied up and treated like a bad filly, and I almost hope that actually explains the rope.”

Luna tilted her head at Trixie, her expression one of mild amusement. “You have a dirty mind, Trixie, but as disturbing as that image is, it wasn't what made me drop the book. Look.” She opened the book and flipped through a few pages of ancient writing, esoteric diagrams, and disturbing imagery, none of which seemed to have anything to do with whips or stirrups.

“The title doesn't fit the content,” Luna explained. “I know this book all too well. We have a copy in the royal library under very heavy guard ever since—” Luna stopped and looked away. “I shouldn't be looking at this. Celestia will have me banished again if she finds out. I had no idea there even existed other copies.”

“I don't follow. What is this book?” Trixie looked confused. She had never been much of a bookworm, and what she had gleaned from the book was totally incomprehensible to her.

Luna glanced down at the book again. Trixie thought there was a hint of curiosity and desire, even lust, in her eyes as if something within her drew her to peruse the ancient lore in front of her. “It's better if you don't know. The fact that Twilight has this kind of book in her possession makes me ill.”

“It could be her friend Gray's. That pony freaks me out.” Trixie felt an icy chill run down her spine at the thought.

* * *

“Can I help you two?”

Both Luna and Trixie jumped and turned around at the voice. Luna swiftly returned the book to its place on the shelf. “Oh … Yes, we were just looking for Twilight Sparkle.”

Gray, her face concealed by shadow under her cowl, looked at them from the doorway. The silence felt like it lasted for ages before she spoke again. “Twilight is not here at the moment. Perhaps I can help you instead?”

Luna looked at Trixie who stood there as stiff as a statue. “Oh no, it’s fine. Just tell her we were here, please,” Luna said with a practiced voice.

Gray gave a brief nod and stepped into the room towards the two. “Certainly. But perhaps you would like to stay, your majesty? It is not every day we get royal visits out here, and I do not think we have been properly introduced. I am called Gray Ashes.”

The cloaked pony stopped in front of the two and bowed slightly, somewhat formally. “And of course I already know the two of you from Miss Sparkle. I do apologize if I have seemed unfriendly. I am simply unaccustomed to these lands.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Luna said in a slightly lowered voice, feeling uneasy around the mysterious mare. Something about her didn’t feel right. “You are not from around here?”

Gray smiled, rows of white teeth visible under the hood. She seemed accommodating and friendly, or at least acted so, Luna thought. “I am only passing through these lands, yes. Twilight is a distant relative of mine you see, and she has been most courteous in allowing me to stay with her briefly. Such a bright young mare she is, very studious and clever.”

“Yes, very bright indeed,” Luna said and glanced at the frozen Trixie. “We should really go, Miss Gray. It has been a pleasure meeting you, but we wouldn't want to impose.”

“Nonsense, your majesty. It is no imposition at all. Perhaps I could offer you something to drink while you wait? I'm sure Twilight will be back soon and happy to see you.” The dark mare walked over to a small cabinet and opened it, levitating three glasses and a bottle out in a faint glow of purple.

“Not exactly royal standards, mind you, but we have a passable malt whiskey if you like.” Gray glanced over her shoulder at the two as she spoke.

Luna had given Trixie a nudge and begun edging towards the door. She stopped when Gray turned around to look at them. “We would love to stay, but we really have to get going. Royal business. Just tell Twilight Sparkle that we were here.”

“Of course, princess,” Gray said and bowed. Luna thought there was a hint of disappointment in her voice, although she suspected it was faked like the rest of the mare's friendly demeanor. “Let me at least follow you out,” Gray added and gestured them through the room and out the front door. Luna gave a strained smile in parting and hurried off with Trixie.

As Luna glanced back she thought she saw a pair of purple eyes observing them from one of the windows and the glint of a glass being lifted at them. She shuddered and quickened her pace.

* * *

Luna stopped outside the mansion and looked at Trixie. “Are you alright? You look as pale as a ghost.”

Trixie shivered and looked over her shoulder. “I'll be fine. That mare just freaks me out something fierce. I don't know what it is, but she's just … so wrong.”

Luna lay a hoof around Trixie's shoulders. “I know. She makes me uneasy too. Come on, let's get inside and get something to eat. You need to take it easy.”

Trixie nodded and pushed the door open. A pair of purple eyes stared at them from inside, and Trixie nearly screamed.

Twilight looked almost as shocked herself. “I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—” Her voice broke. “Come in, quick! Close the door!”

Luna and Trixie walked in, and Luna closed the door behind them. “Twilight? We've been so worried for you. What's going on? Are you alright?”

Twilight glanced out the window nervously. She looked completely frazzled. “I'm so sorry. I'm in way over my head here! You must help me, please!” she cried.

Trixie walked up to Twilight and placed a hoof on her back. “Sit down, Twilight. Take a deep breath.”

Twilight fell down heavily on her haunches and breathed deeply. Luna stood a bit away while Trixie sat down next to her and tried to comfort the panicking pony. “Just calm down, Twilight.”

Twilight didn't seem to calm much. “It's terrible, and it's all my mistake. Please, you must help me.” She looked up, staring between Trixie and Luna. “You must help me kill Gray! We must kill her and … and …” She jumped up, but Trixie quickly pulled her back down. “And acid! We need acid, lots of acid! It's the only way! We need to kill her and get rid of the body!”

Luna and Trixie exchanged concerned glances. Luna knelt down next to Twilight and looked her deep in the eyes. “Twilight, calm down! Do you hear me? Let's get something to eat, all of us, and then you will tell us everything from the beginning. I think it's high time we learned what you've been doing all this time.”

Scene 2
“It began when I was investigating my ancestor. I hit a dead end as you remember. But then, while we were doing all that work on the house and it was looking like there wouldn’t be any breakthroughs, by chance I stumbled upon something.”

They were sitting in the kitchen. Luna had made tea and sandwiches while Trixie tried to calm down Twilight. Something had made their friend freak out, and it had taken a long time for her to relax enough to speak coherently. She was sitting, staring into her tea as she spoke, occasionally looking up with a start at the slightest sound outside. Trixie was sitting next to her, holding her and trying to comfort her.

“You remember the old portrait out in the hall? The one of my ancestor, Midnight Spindle. It has a hidden compartment behind it. It was there I found what I was looking for: documents, books, and … other things she left behind for me … for her descendants.”

Twilight lowered her cup of tea, resting it on the table. “Fillystata, or Midnight, my ancestor … she was an accomplished sorceress in her days. She described her work in those documents, and I became obsessed with it. I learned all I could from her notes and books. But it was not enough. I knew there was more, much more. And I knew there was only one way for me to learn it.”

Luna and Trixie looked at her in silence, waiting for her to continue her story. Twilight stared into her tea. It had probably grown cold by now, but that seemed to be the least worry on Twilight's mind. “Midnight had found a way to—” She glanced up at Luna and Trixie briefly, as if trying to determine if she should really tell them this “—call the spirits of the dead, to learn from them.”

“Imagine how much you could learn. So much is lost when a pony passes away. It's a tragedy, but Midnight could learn from them. And I knew I could learn from her in the same way. I just needed her—” Twilight sank a lump forming in her throat “—ashes. I had to find her grave, and … well, I did.”

Trixie looked at Luna, then back at Twilight. “You were the grave robber? It was you?”

Twilight nodded, clearly uncomfortable admitting such a thing. “I had to! And I thought I could … I thought I was strong enough to do what I had to do. Oh Celestia, what have I done?” Twilight slumped over, hopelessly.

It took her awhile to continue. “There were rumors in those days that Midnight was a witch. The fillies called her Fillystata because of her cutie mark of a black spider in its web, and because it sounded ominous, I guess. They whispered of how she took away fillies and did awful things to them. I don't know, silly filly tales. Maybe they thought she ate them.”

Twilight finally took a sip of her tea, grimacing a little at the cold drink. Luna offered her a fresh cup, and she took it with a sigh. “Eventually others, not just fillies, began to whisper. She was growing very old but didn't show it at all. She was older than most ponies could hope to be, yet she still looked like a mare in her prime.”

“Such things breed jealousy and suspicion, but there were other whispers, rumors about her husband. Cotton Yarn had never been in the spotlight much. He was a rich merchant and much younger than Midnight. I honestly think Midnight only married him for his business and to ensure that she had a daughter.”

“Cotton Yarn became more and more secluded, much like Midnight herself, and eventually he simply disappeared entirely. No wonder Midnight was the subject of much gossip.”

Twilight sighed and lifted her cup to take a sip. “Finally, a group of Dappleshore citizens decided to take matters into their own hooves. Midnight was well respected in Dappleshore for all her donations and civil work. She did much for the little community, and despite being eccentric and aloof she did seem quite pleasant to many.”

“There was no official evidence of anything amiss, only stubborn rumors going back decades. So these ponies decided to break into her mansion and find the evidence. If the police wouldn't look into her dealings, they would do it themselves. I am not sure what they found, or what exactly happened, but I know how it ended. There was a fire, and Midnight died.”

“Her burial was quietly and quickly performed in secret, and everything about the whole incident was hushed up. Her daughter Nightwind had changed her name to Daisy Sparkle years before, seemingly in a move to distance herself from her mother. Daisy passed away almost two decades before Midnight, but her daughter, Lilac Sparkle carried on and may well have been among the ponies seeking to uncover the truth and later cover it all up.“

“What is important is that I managed to find out who was behind the burial, and I found their graves.” She paused, silent for a long time. “They … they weren’t happy to talk, but I managed to learn from them where Midnight had been buried. I found her grave, recovered her ashes, and—” She stopped, staring into her tea.

Both Luna and Trixie were staring at her. Luna broke the silence first. “What are you saying?”

Twilight fiddled with her cup a little. “I brought her back from the dead. At first I could only keep the spirits of the dead here in the mortal world for a few minutes at a time, using my own blood. I thought I would just ask her about her studies and then return her to the grave when I was done, but Midnight remains and I … I fear I know how she sustains herself.”

Trixie broke her off. “Wait wait wait … you're saying that Gray is your dead ancestor?”

Twilight nodded.

“And you think that she's behind the filly nappings?”

Twilight nodded again.

* * *

Luna stood by the desk, looking out the window at the night sky. She had arranged for Celestia to handle the moon for a few days. She would have to make up for it later, but right now she knew she had to be here for Twilight and Trixie.

She sighed. Maybe she had failed Twilight. Maybe she should have paid more attention. She looked up as she heard Twilight step into the room. She lowered her head again with a faint sigh.

Twilight stopped in the doorway. “I can’t express how sorry I am, Luna. You must be disappointed in me.”

Luna turned to look at her, shaking her head gently. “I know better than most how it is to fall prey to such spells. It's all too easy, even for the best of us. I am not disappointed, Twilight, not in you.” She lowered her head. “I'm just …” She paused, feeling Twilight looking at her and waiting for her to continue. She sighed. “I guess it's also far too easy to fall prey to jealousy.” She glanced up at Twilight as the purple unicorn walked up next to her. “You and Trixie, I really should be happy for you.”

Twilight laid a hoof on her shoulder. “Luna, you know I care about you deeply, and I will always be your friend. But it would never work for us. You are a princess, you're immortal, while I'm just another unicorn. My entire life is but a drop in the ocean of yours.”

Luna glanced down at her hooves. She knew it was true, but her heart rebelled against all reason. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Twilight pulled her close. “My heart belongs to Trixie. That is, if she can ever forgive me for what I have done. But you will always be my friend, Luna, and I shall never forget you. One day you'll find somepony who can be more to you, somepony you can spend eternity with, and perhaps you will remember me as a friend long after I am gone to whatever punishment awaits me beyond.”

“Don’t say that, Twilight.” Luna buried her face in Twilight's mane. “I will never forget you, no matter what happens. That I swear.”

* * *

Trixie lay on her bed of blankets, staring into the darkness. She heard Twilight walk in and felt her sadness, but Trixie didn't turn or say anything. She wasn't sure how she felt any more. She loved Twilight, but the other unicorn had let her down repeatedly so many times now. How many times was too many?

She could hear Twilight sit down nearby. Even without looking, Trixie knew that she was ashamed and sad.

“Trixie?”

Trixie didn't respond, but Twilight knew she was awake. She looked at Trixie lying in the dark with her back to Twilight. “I'm sorry. For everything. I know I may not deserve it, but I wish you would forgive me. I let you down. I just wish I could make it all good again.”

Trixie didn't say anything, but Twilight thought she heard her crying. “I … heard about your magic. I can't say how sorry I am. I should have been there for you. If I could, I swear I would give you all of mine. It's all my fault, and I can understand if you hate me.”

Trixie stirred a little and turned her head at Twilight. “I don't hate you, Twilight. Perhaps I'm disappointed. Perhaps I don't know if I can trust you yet, but I'll never hate you. I know where to place the blame for all this, and it was never on you.”

She turned around fully and sat up. “I love you, Twilight, and no ghoul from the past will ever change that. Together we'll deal with this mistake of yours.” She reached out a hoof to Twilight who took it and smiled a little.

Trixie leaned forwards, and the tip of her horn touched Twilight's briefly. A tiny light, like a little purple star, lit up between them as their lips met in a kiss.

Twilight sighed in Trixie's embrace and closed her eyes. “Whatever happens, I will always be with you.”

Scene 3
Trixie opened her eyes. Something was wrong. The sun had not yet risen above the horizon, but Trixie was wide awake. Twilight wasn't resting next to her. In her place was a small note. Trixie strained her eyes to read it in the darkness.

“Dear Trixie

“Don't worry, I am fine. Please come and see me at the farm when you have the time. I'll be there all day.

“Your Twilight Sparkle.”

Trixie cursed loudly. Loud enough for Luna to poke her head in from the next room. “Are you alright?”

Trixie nodded at the note. “Twilight has run off again.”

Luna took the note and read it with a sigh. “We need to find her. Now. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Trixie stood up. “Do you think she's decided to face Gray on her own?”

Luna shook her head. “I don't know.”

* * *

Luna and Trixie hurried out the door and down the street towards the farm. The red glow of the sun was just rising above the horizon as the old house came into sight. A bit of smoke rose lazily from the chimney, and a faint light flickered in one of the windows.

“Looks deceptively idyllic, in a creepy sort of way,” Luna muttered as they stopped outside.

Trixie frowned. “Do you think Gray is in there? Do you think it's a trap?”

Luna considered. “I don't know, but we should be ready for anything.” She looked at Trixie. “Be careful, and stay behind me.” She then walked up to the door, preparing herself before knocking.

Barely had she knocked before the door opened.

Twilight smiled out at them and gestured for them to step inside. “You're early. I'm sorry if I made you nervous. Please come in, and I'll explain.”

Luna and Trixie exchanged concerned glances as they followed Twilight inside. The sudden change in mood from the night before, when she had seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown, was troubling.

Twilight led the way into the kitchen where she quickly prepared three cups of tea before gesturing for them to sit down. “I'm really sorry about last night, and for my negligence before that. I have been so terribly busy, so consumed by my studies, that I have barely slept for what seems like weeks.”

“I hope you'll disregard my crazy talk last night. Stay awake long enough and you'll go crazy sure enough and start having trouble distinguishing between dream and reality. I should have known better, but …” She smiled and shrugged. “You know how I am once I get started. Once something catches my interest, it's so hard for me to let go again.”

She sipped her tea while Luna and Trixie stared at her. Noticing the stares, she looked up and sighed. “I really am sorry for my behavior these past weeks. I've been a terrible friend, and I hope I can make it up to you again.”

“Anyway, Gray left this morning, returning home to continue her own studies. I wish you could have said farewell to her. I really think you got off on the wrong hoof with her, but I didn't want to wake you. I'll be doing some cleaning up here today, but maybe we can all go out tonight and have some fun? I really want to make it up to you.”

* * *

Trixie looked at Luna as they left the farm. The princess appeared deep in thought as they walked back towards the mansion. “What do you think?”

Luna glanced over her shoulder, then back at Trixie. “I think something is wrong. And I think we need to find out what it is.”

Trixie nodded. “She was acting weird, and I don't just mean the sudden change of mood. There was something about her that seemed off. What do you think it means?”

“I don't know, Trixie. Maybe she's brainwashed. Or maybe what she says is true, and she just needs a good night's sleep or two.”

“I don't believe that for a second. In fact I don't think I believe a word she says anymore. What do you suggest we do?”

Luna thought for a while, then stopped and turned to Trixie. “You go with her tonight as planned. Have dinner, chat with her and see if you can get anything out of her. I'll come up with an excuse to not go. Shouldn't be hard; I'll just say Celestia requested my presence in Canterlot. While you're out, I'll have a look around the farm.”

Trixie bit her lip nervously. “What if Gray is still there?”

“I can handle myself, and it will be easier to snoop around if it's just me. I'll be fine. If I can sneak past my sister's watchful eyes and all her guards and locks, I think I can handle one unicorn. As old as Gray must be by now, she’s got nothing on me and my sister.”

Luna didn't seem entirely convinced of her own words, but Trixie knew there was no point arguing it. She couldn't think of a better plan herself, and they needed to get to the bottom of things. “Just be careful, Luna. I don't want to be alone if something happens.”

Luna smiled at her. “I will, Trixie. I promise.”

Act 7. In The Flesh

Scene 1
The moon peeked above the horizon as Luna landed in the garden outside the farm. She glanced up and watched the pale orb and the thousands of stars sparkling in the black sky. This was the time when she felt most comfortable, but there was little consolation in the sky tonight.

She didn't know how much time she could expect to have before Trixie and Twilight returned, and she had no idea what she was even looking for or what she should expect to find. She turned her gaze to the farm. There was no light in the windows or smoke from the chimney. The place seemed completely abandoned. She hoped it wasn't merely a ruse.

With slow steps, Luna walked up to the old door and focused on the lock. A click and a creak later the door stood open before her, a portal into the darkness and the unknown. She stood for a brief minute, listening breathlessly, but everything was dead silence. Finally she braced herself and stepped through the door.

The kitchen looked like it had when they were there earlier. It obviously wasn't here Twilight had done her supposed cleaning; the cups of tea were still standing out on the table.

Crossing the room, Luna pushed open the door to the small pantry. Trixie had mentioned rope and stains of blood, but all Luna could see was bales of hay and sacks of oat. Nothing out of the ordinary for a pantry.

The study was no more helpful. The book she had found earlier was gone, and none of the others seemed out of place. Luna searched the desk but found nothing. She paused, sighed, and then went back out into the hall.

A pair of rooms followed, obviously the rooms of Twilight and her guest. Luna had no trouble picking out Twilight's room. It was overflowing with books and parchment, the obvious product of an obsessive mind.

Luna searched through the piles of books and papers. Most of the books appeared to come from the local Dappleshore archives; long records of local matters dating back to the founding of the village. No doubt it all had to do with Twilight's original research into her family.

Gray's room on the other hoof gave the impression of having never been used. An old mattress and an empty desk was all the room had to offer. Maybe Gray had left as Twilight said and taken everything with her.

Luna stood in the dark hall and watched the room in silence. No, the more she thought about it the more it began to seem like a facade. This room had not been used in ages. The mattress and desk had been put there simply for show. But if not here, where then had Gray been spending her time?

Luna continued down the hall, past the bathroom to a single door at the end. She pushed at it but found it locked. The keyhole revealed nothing but darkness beyond. Carefully Luna focused on the lock, and a faint light shone from the tip of her horn. There was a click as the bolt moved, unlocking the door.

Luna paused briefly to listen. When she heard nothing, she slowly pushed the door open and looked down a short flight of stairs into a small cellar.

With wary steps, Luna descended the stairs and glanced around the room of cold stone walls and rough floor. She took a few steps into the virtually empty room and struck a hoof against something hard. Previously concealed by sand and dust, a metal ring now revealed a large trap door at her hooves.

Luna pulled open the hatch with her heart beating fast. She looked down into the dark to find more stairs leading into the ground. The steps looked ancient, the stone rough and crumbling in places, but the dust and cobwebs had been disturbed, proof that it had been used frequently of late. Glancing back over her shoulder, Luna then began her descent into the ground.

* * *

The stairs ended in a long tunnel. Luna paused at the last step and glanced down the pitch black corridor, allowing her keen eyes to get used to the darkness before heading down the tunnel. She didn’t want to use any light, in case it gave her presence away.

After a few steps she stopped suddenly, holding her breath. Her gaze focused upon a cloaked figure hiding in a niche ahead. When it didn't move, Luna dared to edge closer. She drew a breath of relief when the specter revealed itself to be a black coat thrown upon a torch set in the wall.

Still, the discarded piece of cloth left Luna wary. It looked like Gray's cloak which she had always been wearing, but if her coat was here that meant Gray could be nearby as well. Luna gave the niche and the cloak a wide berth as she moved on down the corridor.

A strong and unpleasant scent of copper wafted up from somewhere ahead. Luna edged closer and stopped where the tunnel took a turn. Peeking around the corner, she stared into a small room with a large slab of stone in the center. Something was lying on top of the stone.

A lump formed in her throat as she rounded the corner and stepped into the room. For a while she didn't dare to look, keeping her eyes shut. Finally she opened one eye slightly and looked at the thing on the stone.

The gray stone slab and much of the surrounding floor was smeared in layers of dried blood. On top of the stone lay a small figure, huddled together like a newborn foal, her legs still bound together with rope. Luna knew instantly that the filly was beyond saving; she was already long dead. Her white coat and rose-and-purple mane lacked all luster, her skin was stretched taut over her bones, and a deep wound cut across her throat like a wide red grin from ear to ear.

Luna felt her heart sink and turned her eyes away, fighting back tears only to have her gaze fall on a large stone furnace set into the wall. Blackened bones and skulls with tiny horns mixed within the now cold ashes of what Luna assumed to be all the missing fillies of recent weeks.

“May you all rest in peace.” Luna bowed her head.

She wished she could do something for them, to give them a proper burial at the very least, but such concerns would have to wait. She gave the scene a last sorrowful look, then walked up to the only door in the room and slowly pushed it open.

She paused as she thought she heard something, but after awhile of breathless listening everything was still silent. Luna looked around. Up ahead, the corridor split off in two, one continuing straight ahead, while a side passage lead off to the left.

Luna sneaked closer and took a peek around the corner. The side passage ended in a heavy wooden door with a small, barred window. It was barred from the outside. Luna glanced through the window. The light from her horn fell upon a figure lying motionless in the corner. This one was much too large to be a filly, but Luna had no doubt that it too was dead.

The latch on the door was easy to open from this side, and Luna gently pulled the heavy door open and took a step inside. No sooner had she set a hoof through the door than something small crashed into her side at great speed and with a loud cry.

“For Sweetie Belle!”

Luna lost balance and fell over, knocking her head against the stone wall. The fall almost knocked her out and her vision blurred. Struggling to keep her consciousness, Luna tried to fend for herself in the resulting chaos as small hooves beat down upon her.

“And this is for Apple Bloom!” the young voice cried, and a hoof struck at the base of Luna’s horn, disrupting her concentration on the spell she had tried to summon up. “You won't touch her! I won't let you!”

Luna felt a sharp pain as strong teeth sank into her neck and held fast. “Please … stop … I don't mean you harm!” Luna cried, and her horn lit up brightly to light the room.

The young pegasus fighting Luna blinked at the bright light and closed her eyes tight but didn't break her hold on Luna’s neck.

“Scootaloo … Scootaloo! It's not her!”

The voice came from one of the corners where a pale yellow pony was lying, holding up a hoof to shield her eyes against the bright light.

Luna finally got a grip on the pegasus and tried to pull her off.

The young pony let go and stared at the princess. “Whoa!” She gasped, then narrowed her eyes. There was no doubt that she had been crying. “Are you real?”

Luna let go of her and sat up, pressing a hoof against her wounded neck. “I think my blood on your snout proves it.”

Scootaloo backed away, placing herself in front of Apple Bloom protectively.

Luna looked up at them, letting her light fall upon the two fillies. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. Are you hurt?”

Apple Bloom cringed, but neither filly replied.

Luna glanced over at the larger figure she had originally seen through the bars. The black and white equine was lying perfectly still on the cold floor. Luna only now noticed how her neck was turned in an unnatural way. The way her head was staring into the wall made it impossible to see her face.

“S-she's dead,” Apple Bloom cried. “Twilight killed her!”

Luna looked back at the two fillies. “Twilight Sparkle? Are you sure?”

Scootaloo frowned. “Yeah, we're sure! We followed the trail when Sweetie Belle disappeared. We found Twilight, and we thought she would help us, but she just locked us up in here.”

Apple Bloom sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “I don't understand! Zecora was Twilight's friend, and e-everypony loved Sweetie Belle. Why would she do this?”

Luna thought of Trixie. If Twilight was really behind this, if she had really gone mad and murdered all those fillies, then Trixie might be in danger. She took a step towards the two fillies but stopped as Scootaloo stomped the ground angrily.

“Don't you come closer! I don't trust you! You'll hurt us like she did!”

Luna paused, then lay down flat on the ground in the most defenseless posture she could. She placed her head on the floor and looked up at the small but fiercely protective pegasus. “I swear that I won't hurt you, but we're all in grave danger here. Do you think you can make it out?”

Apple Bloom cringed again. “I think my leg is broken, but I can still stand on the other three.”

Scootaloo glanced at her, but didn’t leave Luna entirely out of sight. “I'll get you out, and I won't let anypony hurt you again!”

Luna remained on the floor, not wanting to scare the fillies. “You should get out. There's a mansion back in the village, the address is 110 Pedigree Lane. Go there and hide, and if you see Trixie, warn her of Twilight too, will you?”

The two fillies glanced at each other. “Trixie? That silly magician who once visited Ponyville?”

Luna nodded as well as she could in her position on the floor. “You can trust her. And if you see Twilight's owl, tell it to find my sister too. Now go, before Twilight returns.”

Scootaloo helped Apple Bloom up and supported her as they staggered towards the door. Apple Bloom stopped in the door and looked back at Luna. “What about you?”

Luna turned her head and smiled. “Don't worry about me. I'm going to get to the bottom of this place.”

Apple Bloom gave a worried nod, and with that the two fillies were gone. Luna lay for a minute, regaining her breath, then stood up and walked back out.

She might not have a lot of time left.

Scene 2
“It's a shame Luna couldn't be here.”

Trixie watched the waiter walk off to get their order. Twilight was sitting on the other side of the table, smiling at her. Truthfully Trixie would rather have been alone with Luna, but she didn't say that. Something about Twilight made her uncomfortable tonight, and everything that had happened lately didn't put her mind at ease either.

“Just the two of us tonight.” Twilight smiled.

Trixie gave a nervous smile back, eyes trying not to look into Twilight's.

Twilight watched her silently for a time before she spoke again. “Is something wrong, my dear?”

Trixie straightened up and tried not to look too concerned. “It's nothing. It's just that so much has happened of late.” She knew she had to buy Luna as much time as she could, and if she could get something out of Twilight, however little, all the better.

Twilight didn't say anything. The waiter returned with two plates of trefoil sandwiches with roasted alfalfa seeds and hay fries on the side.

Trixie picked a little at the fries as the waiter filled their glasses with sparkling spring water. Despite being rather hungry she didn't quite feel like eating. The waiter left, and Twilight sipped her water while looking at Trixie, who began to feel a little uncomfortable at the silence.

When Twilight didn't seem about to speak, Trixie gathered her courage and looked up to meet her eyes. “Twilight, I need to hear the truth. With everything that's happened I feel like I don't know you anymore.”

Twilight looked down a little. She hadn't touched her food yet either. “I know I owe you a better explanation, but I had hoped we could simply enjoy tonight together. I know I shouldn't think of myself in this situation, but I had looked forward to putting all this behind me for just one night.”

Twilight looked back up at Trixie. “Will you give me that? Just for tonight?”

Trixie stared into her glass.

Twilight reached out a hoof to her. “Tomorrow I'll wrap up my business here. I'll sell the mansion and the farm, and then we can return to Ponyville. Together. Does that sound good?”

Trixie smiled a little and nodded. She wasn't sure, but at least getting away from this dreary place might raise her spirits a little.

Twilight smiled back and gave Trixie's hoof a light stroke. “Don't worry. Tomorrow all this will be behind us.”

* * *

The evening progressed slowly but quietly. Twilight took her time eating, ordering both seconds and dessert. Trixie was mildly perplexed by her friend’s unusual appetite but didn't complain. If it meant giving Luna more time, Trixie would be the last pony to complain.

They didn't speak much. Trixie still felt concerned, but Twilight seemed happy to just enjoy the evening together in silence.

Twilight pushed the rest of her dessert—rich chocolate cake with strawberry and cream—to the side with a sigh. She had been poking the remains for a while, clearly full but eyes wanting more. Trixie hadn't been able to finish hers either, but for entirely different reasons.

Twilight looked at her, still smiling. “Sorry. I've been so distracted lately. It's just nice to finally relax and enjoy a night out. The food is quite nice here.”

Trixie nodded in silent response.

Twilight gestured for the waiter to bring them the bill. “We have the night ahead of us. Is there anything you'd like to do?”

Trixie didn't respond immediately. It was getting late; surely Luna would have searched the house by now. On the other hoof, it wouldn't hurt to be on the safe side.

Twilight paid the waiter, and when he left she turned back to Trixie. “I know a nice, quiet place where we could go if you like. It's not far, and I think you’ll love it.”

Trixie hesitated, feeling suddenly nervous, but finally nodded.

Twilight smiled brightly and stood up, offering Trixie a hoof. “Come, then. Tonight it's just you and me.”

* * *

Trixie walked next to Twilight as they trotted down the streets towards the fields and marshes outside town. As the forest came into view, Trixie felt her throat narrow and her heart beat faster. Luna had told her how she had found her in there, nearly dead. Trixie didn't remember anything of the incident, but something deep within her fought to make her turn around and run.

Twilight looked at her and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Don't worry, Trixie. We won't go far in, and I'll be with you the entire time.”

Trixie continued, though slowly. She didn't know why, but the looming forest brought up a sense of absolute terror within her. She fought to keep herself under control as Twilight led the way into the forest.

As Twilight had promised, they didn't have to go far in the shadows of the trees before Twilight stopped at the foot of a small hill poking up above the canopy.

Twilight looked at Trixie and smiled before they continued up the hill. “The view from up here is simply marvelous,” Twilight said and stopped at the top.

Trixie looked around. Twilight was right; the view was quite spectacular up here. The forest and swamps stretched out as far as the eyes could see without interruption, except to the east in the direction they had come, where the faint lights of the village shone against the dark blue of the sea.

Twilight sat down and pointed a hoof up at the starry sky. “I've come here a few times, but it's always been a little lonely.” She smiled at Trixie, watching her silently.

Trixie looked up at the sky. Luna's moon was full tonight, shining brightly down upon the two ponies on the hilltop.

Twilight reached out and stroked her mane. “Won't you sit down here with me?”

Trixie looked down again and smiled sadly at Twilight before sitting down.

Twilight laid a hoof around her shoulders and glanced up at the sky, watching the stars in silence.

It was a perfect night, yet Trixie couldn't stop feeling a deep sense of unease. She closed her eyes, trying to relax, trying to clear her mind. When she opened them again she noticed that Twilight was looking at her. She turned and looked into Twilight's deep violet eyes. For a moment she sat there breathlessly.

Twilight smiled and leaned closer, meeting her lips.

Trixie closed her eyes and remembered their first kiss, outside the mansion on that night. It had felt so right. Something lit up within her, a tiny spark, a fragment of something familiar that she had lost. As her horn grazed Twilight's, the sensation of magic that she had almost forgotten burst and flooded her mind, and something else welled up inside her as well.

With all the suddenness and force of a lightning strike, a sense of utter dread filled her and consumed her. Their first kiss had felt so right, but this … this was so very wrong!

Trixie pushed Twilight away from her with all her force and jumped to her hooves, breathing frantically and staring at the confused mare now lying on the ground looking up at her.

“Trixie? What's wrong?”

Trixie stared at her in absolute shock and disgust, then spun around and galloped down the hill.

“Trixie! I'm sorry! Please—”

She didn't hear Twilight's plea or look back as she ran. Her hooves barely touched the ground as they carried her through the forest, faster than she had ever run before. A power that she had never known coursed through her veins, and for the briefest of moments all four hooves left the ground as her body shot forwards on the beats of phantom wings.

All Trixie could think of was flight, of getting away and finding Luna!

* * *

Trixie landed outside the mansion and burst through the door. “Luna!” she called out as she glanced around frantically. Her eyes fell upon two small figures huddled behind the desk, their frightened eyes staring back at her.

Trixie took a deep breath, the rushing of blood calming a bit.

“Are you two alright? What are you doing here? Have you seen Luna?” Seeing that they were still too frightened to speak, Trixie reached out a hoof to them. “Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Please, it's important that I find Luna. She may be in danger. We may all be in danger!”

“S-she was in the dungeon. She told us to go here,” Apple Bloom stammered.

Trixie looked between the two. “Dungeon? Where? When?”

Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom uncertainly. “We were looking for our friend, Sweetie Belle. She disappeared, and the trail lead to a farm near here. We met Twilight and she … she locked us in a dungeon.”

Apple Bloom nodded while crying. “Luna broke us out and told us to go here. But we've been here for—” she looked at Scootaloo who finished the sentence for her.

“—really long.”

Apple Bloom nodded and wiped her eyes. “We were so afraid.”

Trixie walked over and sat next to them. “Don't worry. We need to find Luna. Are you hurt?”

Apple Bloom nodded at her leg. “I think my leg is broken.”

Trixie looked at the leg and nuzzled the young pony gently. “Come, I'll carry you on my back. I won't leave you here; it's too dangerous.” Trixie lay down and allowed Apple Bloom to crawl up on her back with Scootaloo's help.

Apple Bloom clung to Trixie's neck. “Are we going back to that dark place?”

Trixie nodded “Be brave, my little ponies. You will need all your courage now.” She turned around and trotted out the door.

“S-she killed Sweetie Belle … and Zecora,” Apple Bloom cried into Trixie's mane.

Trixie looked at them as they ran down the street. “Who?”

Scootaloo frowned, trying to keep up with Trixie. “Twilight! She killed them both and locked us up.”

Apple Bloom continued to cry. “Why would she do that? Poor Sweetie Belle …”

Trixie bit her lip. “She's not Twilight. She just … looks like her.”

The two fillies looked up at Trixie. “But where is Twilight, then?”

Trixie lowered her head, holding back tears. She couldn't get herself to say it. She still hoped that she was wrong, even though deep inside she knew the truth.

Scene 3
Luna glanced around the room at shelf upon shelf of vials, each laboriously labeled with numbers. She picked one up at random with the number 3 and carefully unscrewed the lid. The vial was full of a fine, gray dust. Cautiously, she poured a little amount out on her hoof and looked at it. It looked like ash.

Luna shivered as the image of the furnace and the bones of fillies forced itself to the front of her mind. The vial dropped and clashed against the stone floor where it shattered. Luna stepped back and stared at the ashes on the floor and the hundreds of vials on the shelves.

“Are these …? But there are so many,” she whispered to herself.

She forced herself to look away and quickly moved across the room and into the small study beyond. A long desk was overflowing with scrolls and books. A single vial, like the others, was standing alone on another desk along with a small bowl of silver and an open book. Luna ignored that desk for now and walked over to the many scrolls and books littering the first desk.

One book was open. It seemed to be a catalog of the vials in the other room, each line containing a number, a name and a pair of dates. Luna flipped back a few pages to the very beginning, unconsciously searching a particular number.

“3: Mandrake Meadows, June 6, 1646 - November 1, 1652”

Luna shivered and nervously flipped to the last page but found no recent records. She closed the book and put it aside, turning her attention to a small black book placed under a bottle of ink and a quill.

Luna carefully pulled the book free and opened it. It looked like a journal, but not the one Twilight had originally found. She flipped to the first entry and began to read with growing dread:

“May 21, 1799
“My spirit has returned to the lands of the living once again! After repeated, embarrassing failures with those fools who I call my descendants, I am eager not to repeat past mistakes. My most recent great-granddaughter, Twilight Sparkle, may well bear that cursed family name, but she has proven more useful than the bunch of them so far, and I think I shall be quite pleased with her.”

“May 23, 1799
“My descendant has been very helpful in reacquiring my former estates. I have no use for the mansion, but it is good to see these old catacombs still stand after all these years. The loss to my studies appears to be minimal, all things considered. My foolish granddaughter and the goonish villagers must have assumed it all collapsed during the assault.”

“May 28, 1799
“The supply of young unicorns in the area is unsatisfactory! I can not risk taking too many in one place, and the big cities are too crowded. I had to make do with an older pair last night. They both had their cutie marks already. Their combined blood was just about enough, but it loses vitality too quickly as they age.

“My descendant's inability to sustain the spirits for more than mere minutes on her own blood is a testament to just how strong she is, as one should expect of one of my own line. With such talent and will there is little left of the raw potential residing only in the very young and inexperienced.

“I may be forced to travel further to get what I need until I have regained enough strength to take the final step. It will not be too long now.”

“May 30, 1799
“That rhyming zebra is at it again. I believe I shall have to do something about her. Twilight seems to like her, but I can't have an outsider nosing around and getting too close.”

“June 3, 1799
“I went as far as Ponyville last night in my hunt for the much needed blood. I do not think I can make it much further. I did come away with a most interesting little pony; at the risk of upsetting Twilight, but my options are limited, especially now that news are spreading. It is that or the big cities, and my one venture into Baltimare has convinced me that I can not afford that risk.”

“June 6, 1799
“My descendant is starting to question a little too much. Perhaps the news from Ponyville upset her more than I expected. She has been a great help in my restoration and will soon provide me with the greatest gift of all. For now I will have to keep her appeased a little longer. She can not be allowed to ruin my plans. Not this time!”

“June 7, 1799
“Found Twilight's little lover snooping around in an alley and had to deal with her. Unfortunately we were interrupted most rudely by the young princess of the night. I am not yet strong enough to face such a power. I must be more cautious, but they will be dealt with in time. I may consider playing her sister against her if everything goes as planned. It would be interesting to see who the beautiful Celestia trusts the most, her faithful student or her very own sister. What a delightful scheme.”

“June 9, 1799
“Success! I have cast aside my cloak and embraced the living, breathing flesh once more! And not a moment too soon.

“Oh to feel the beat of the heart in your chest and the breath of air in your lungs. The flow of the life's blood is potent in my veins! Twilight struggled mightily, but I wouldn't have it any other way from a descendant of mine. She is the perfect heir indeed. Fair Celestia has raised her well for me, and provided me a unique opportunity. A student of Celestia herself, the perfect ticket into Canterlot.

“Oh to have waited so long for this. And with the flesh comes all the old urges I thought I had forgotten. I must indulge them as soon as convenient. Why, I haven't had a proper meal in generations. Ah, how I suddenly crave all the old sweets … what a bliss to taste and smell again.”

Luna sank a lump in her throat and dropped the journal on the table. Twilight had told the truth the other night, and they had failed to protect her. They had failed her, and now she was …

Luna closed her eyes, unable to hold back the tears. “I'm so sorry, Twilight!”

It took her awhile before she opened her eyes again and turned to the other table, the one with the vial and silver bowl. The vial had no number, simply marked by an X, and its contents—fine gray ashes like the others—had been emptied into the bowl. Luna walked up to glance into the bowl, then let her eyes fall upon the pages of the open book next to it. A small passage had been underlined:

“From the ashes of the dead, properly prepared, may be called up the forms of their spirits.”

And in the margin was scribbled a note:

“Never call forth that which you can not put down again, lest it should command you.”

A piece of parchment had been attached to the page. Luna carefully picked it up and read it. The closely written script and diagrams described a spell. Luna had seen similar magic once long ago. Forbidden magic that she had studied behind Celestia's back. She felt a shiver as she read over the spell. It was impossible to tell what it was meant to do.

* * *

A noise broke Luna out of her thoughts. She turned and listened carefully. Was it a door, or hoof steps? Everything was silent again. Luna stepped quietly over to the door and peeked through it into the room with the vials. Everything was as she had left it.

Luna hoped that it was just the place playing tricks on her. She needed to get out; she had seen enough, and she had to make sure Trixie and the two fillies were safe.

Luna hurried out of the vial room and through the corridors, as quickly as she could without making a noise. The ancient tunnels bent and split in several places. Luna tried to recall the path she had taken when she came but nearly ran into a wall as the tunnel came to a dead end.

She turned around and froze as she heard hoof steps back the way she had come from. Quickly stepping back against the wall, she stood perfectly still in the darkness and listened. She knew there was no way to run except through whoever was coming, but this time she wouldn't be taken by surprise.

Luna braced herself for a fight as she listened to the hoof steps getting closer, her keen eyes staring into the pitch-black darkness. The steps were now very close, and through the darkness Luna could see a cloaked figure.

Luna focused her magic, feeling it coursing through her horn but suppressing the glow. Instead she gathered the light that would normally surround her horn and directed it at a spot behind the figure. A faint light sprung up far down the hall, not very strong but just enough—she hoped—for a distraction to give her the edge she wanted.

The steps came to a sudden halt, and Luna saw the figure turning towards the light. Wasting not a second, Luna lashed out at the specter with a powerful blast of magic, sending it flying through the tunnel. She stormed after it and was upon it in the beat of a heart, her horn lowered threateningly and her teeth clenched.

She paused, confused. Beneath her lay Gray's old cloak, but it was empty. Luna poked it with her horn then turned around, casting a bright light in every direction to chase off shadows, trying to reveal anything that might be hiding.

As she looked up, the cloak moved with a sudden jerk and pulled her legs away from under her. Luna fell over, and her jaw hit the floor painfully. Her vision blurred, and she could taste her own blood. Before she could regain her composure, something wrapped around her head and neck and tightened swiftly. Blinded and struggling to breathe, Luna waved about frantically.

“Inquiring minds wish to know if alicorns can die. Are you truly immortal, or just really long-lived?” A voice spoke behind her.

Luna struggled and wheezed under the strangling cloak. The voice moved closer, and she felt a hoof kick her in the side. “I must confess, your majesty, that I find myself disappointed. I had hoped for more of a fight from the mighty princess of the night.”

Luna's muscles relaxed, and her wheezing stopped. The princess lay sprawled on the cold floor of the dungeon with her head wrapped in Gray's cloak. She scrambled for a moment longer before her body stopped moving.

The pony standing above her smiled darkly. A knife flashed in the dark, and the unicorn bowed down over the limp body of the princess, untying the cloak to expose the neck. The blade pressed against Luna's throat. “Goodnight, princess.”

* * *

Luna's body tensed, and in one powerful movement her back arched and her hind legs shot out behind her. The sharp blade cut into her neck before it clattered against the floor, as her hooves sank deep into the soft flesh of the unicorn's exposed stomach.

Twilight gave off a pained cry as she was thrown backwards and rolled into a ball on the floor.

Luna was on her shaking hooves in a split second, the loose cloak falling off her head. She spun around, and her horn flared. Her magic took hold of the fallen unicorn and pulled her into the air. Luna staggered, her vision blurred, and her head started swimming. She had stood up too quickly after the strangling.

Her magic faltered, and Luna lost her grip for a second, long enough for Twilight to respond with a brief but powerful strike to the head. Luna just barely managed to block the magical force and staggered backwards. She was feeling weak. Blood poured from the cut in her neck, and it seemed her enemy had managed to gain the upper hoof from the start.

Luna gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, magic coursing through her body and flaring intensely at the tip of her horn as she charged. She would not go down quietly!

* * *

Trixie stumbled, feeling the ground tremble violently under her hooves as dust and small pieces of rock fell from the ceiling. She stopped and glanced around nervously at the distant explosion.

Scootaloo came to a halt behind her. “Whoa! What in Equestria was that?”

Trixie frowned. She could barely see anything in the crushing darkness of the tunnel. Since her flight from Twilight on the hilltop she had felt a spark of magic inside her, but only a trace was left now, barely enough to light up the tunnel ahead of them.

“I don't know,” she muttered but stopped as a long cry broke the silence, sending chills down her spine.

Apple Bloom shivered and hid her face in Trixie's mane.

“Come on. Quick! That way!” Trixie charged down the tunnel with Scootaloo following behind as fast as her small legs could carry her.

* * *

Luna stomped her hooves against the shattered floor and breathed heavily. Her eyes were obsidian orbs of night, and black flames swirled around her, licking her sleek coat like a mane of living fire.

Twilight was in front of her, staring back intently. Her purple eyes burned with a cold, otherworldly light as the two enemies observed each other without daring to blink, waiting to find a weak spot or a moment to strike.

Celestia had always said Twilight held immense power, and yet this was not Twilight. Luna recognized the bleak, eerie power swelling within those purple eyes. Luna had once resorted to similar powers and had lost herself in the process. She felt it even now, clawing within her to get free. She felt her mind fracture, felt opposing powers battling for control within her.

“Let it go!” the voice screamed at her. “Why are you holding back? Unleash the power and beat the foal into the ground. Crush her under your hooves like the bug she is! Why do you let yourself get beaten?”

But she couldn't. She couldn't lose herself. Not again. She had to resist. “Think of Twilight and Trixie and everypony who depends on you now! They have no hope without you. Will you fail them now? It is justified. You know what you must do!”

Tears of rage streamed from her eyes and down her cheeks as she lowered her head and set off in a flash of lightning, sending stone and dirt flying in every direction with each strike of her hooves as she closed in on her target.

Twilight disappeared in a flash a split second before impact, and Luna crashed into the ground with an agonizing cry as she felt a sharp pain in her hind leg and heard the sound of splintering bone. She scrambled to get back up, but a hoof beat her back down.

“Pathetic! You have such power and potential, and you squander it even when your life is on the line!” Twilight stood above her, a derisive sneer on her face as she forced Luna's head down into the ground. “You would be a magnificent beast if you were not so afraid of yourself, of what you could become!”

“I would rather die than become what you are!” Luna sneered.

“You would deny this power? Then you are a fool, and I shall take it from you!” Twilight lowered her horn and pointed it at the back of Luna's head.

Luna closed her eyes, awaiting the final strike that would crush her skull.

* * *

It never came.

A terrifying shriek resounded between the walls and through the catacombs. Luna felt warm blood spatter over her back as the hoof let go of her head. Opening her eyes she saw Twilight stumbling back, a deep wound in her flank.

Trixie charged again, her horn striking Twilight between the ribs and sinking in deep. A small orange pegasus pounced upon Twilight and pulled her mane. The violent jerk caused Trixie's horn to tear a long, bloody gash in Twilight's side as she stumbled.

Twilight screamed in agony and panic. She threw off the filly and turned, burning eyes of purple fire focused straight upon Trixie. “You will pay for this!” Her horn lit up like a violet sun.

The walls and ceiling of the tunnel trembled, and Trixie fell backwards, losing balance as dark waves of force crashed against her.

Luna held her hooves over her head protectively and closed her eyes tightly. Something within her reacted instinctively, or perhaps it was merely all her panicked mind could think to do. Her horn flared up, surrounded by dark flames. A memory of an unknown spell from a slip of paper was all she could reach for and unleash in a desperate last call.

Luna stood up, leaning against the wall with her broken leg hanging in a painful and unnatural position behind her. She cried but focused all her energy on the magic. Waves of black flames clashed against the purple inferno.

The light flickered, and the purple flames died with a sudden cry and an infernal hiss. The earth shuddered as Twilight's charred corpse fell to the ground and crumbled to ashes in an instant.

Luna collapsed as everything fell apart in a shower of rock and earth.

The earth groaned like a mighty titan and swallowed up the tunnels and the farm in a crushing maelstrom of stone and dirt.

* * *

The moment Twilight's body dissolved to dust, a jolt ran through Trixie's body, and a voice whispered in her mind. “If I could, I would give you all of mine.”

Trixie rose back on her hooves. Her horn shone with a tangible flame. She cried as raw power surged through her veins like a raging flood of fire. Her body wracked with pain as a pair of azure wings unfolded protectively over the two terrified fillies holding on for dear life to her legs.

White flames erupted around Trixie, a blazing aura melting stone and earth as everything came falling down around them.

* * *

Ponies from all over Dappleshore were rushing to the site of the crater where once a farm had been. Hushed whispers and cries were quickly replaced by reverent silence as the regal figure of Celestia landed gracefully in front of the gathering crowd, flanked by her ever-present royal guard. The princess glanced sadly over the ruined land and lowered her head.

A slight tremor caused a frightened commotion among the gathered ponies. The rumbling grew, and everypony watched as the ground cracked and shivered, finally bursting open in a flare of white light which, for a brief moment, left the early morning as bright as the day.

As the light faded away, a bright figure hung in the air above the crater, wings outstretched and horn glowing. Two frightened fillies were clinging to her legs, and beside her floated the bloodied and unmoving body of Princess Luna.

Epilogue
The lights in the grand theater dim, and Trixie stands alone upon the stage. The audience is breathless and quiet. The unicorn looks up, tears blinking in her sorrowful eyes. For a moment her voice falters, and she falls quiet for a minute before speaking again.

“So ends the tale of Fillystata and of Twilight Sparkle's greatest mistake, for which she paid the highest price. But when I tell this story tonight it is to tell the truth that you all deserve to hear, and to allow us all to put it behind us. Let us not dwell on the evil, or the unfortunate deeds of a lone unicorn driven by forces beyond her control.”

“Tonight I want everypony to give a minute's silence for all the young fillies who died, and for Zecora, who lost her life trying to help a friend.”

Trixie lowers her head, and every pony in the audience follows. A deep and extended silence falls over the hall as tiny candles light up in the dark, one for each of the dead.

Finally Trixie looks back up.

“It has taken weeks to recover all the bones of the dead from the site of the farm, but they deserve a proper resting place. Princess Celestia herself will oversee the official funeral this night. Let us never forget those who died, and may they live in our hearts forever more. But let not grief so consume us either, that we forget each other and those who yet live among us.”

She glanced out over the audience. “Tonight I wish to thank a very special pair of fillies. Two young fillies who saw their best friend taken away and murdered, and who showed unbreakable loyalty and bravery till the very end. Please come up here, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.”

Two young ponies rise from the audience and make their way to the stage as the audience applauds solemnly.

“Another who gave everything to save those she cared about,” Trixie says and turns as Luna walks out from behind the curtain, standing next to Trixie with a sad smile. “She just came out of the hospital last night. Give her a warm thanks. Had it not been for her, this tragedy may have been greater still.”

The audience breaks out in applause again, and Trixie gives Luna a sad smile back.

“There is another pony who we should not forget, and she is here with us today in spirit at least. Twilight Sparkle. If this story has a moral, it must be that even the best of us can be led astray by forces we do not comprehend. Twilight deserves to be remembered for who she was, not for what her ancestor did to her. She was a friend to many, a friend whose loss and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

“And finally …” Trixie's hat and cloak floats off and the blue unicorn unfolds a pair of azure wings, a hushed whisper of awe running through the audience. “I wish to give my personal thanks to our fair Princess Celestia, for accepting me—” She turns to Luna with a smile “—into her family.”

Trixie and Luna lean forwards, and their lips meet in a long kiss as the curtains fall.

Bonus Act. The Thing in the Moonlight

“My name is Princess Luna. On June 10, 1799—for I know not even what the year may be now—at an old farm on Buckskin Road 5 in Dappleshore, I cast a desperate spell of unknown provenance and must have fallen unconscious as a result, since when I have been unable to awaken from this dream.

“My dream began in a dank and fetid marshland garden, perhaps once the property of some ancient castle in days of yore. If such a castle once existed here, it strikes me that it must have long since sunk beneath the reeds and waters of this wasteland, for I can see no sign of it.

“Impelled by some obscure quest, I ventured out among the lichen-encrusted walls and labyrinthine shrubs of this festering garden. At intervals, the passages of this land were roofed over by growths or ancient structures too damaged to identify, and these places were exceedingly dark and forbidding.

“In many such places I felt conscious of a singular sense of fright, as if some subtle and bodiless emanation from the abyss engulfed my spirit, but I could not divine the source of my alarm or pierce the darkness of this place. I appear to not be in possession of my full powers.

“At length I emerged into a vast, flat land of still waters in which I spied the hollow and crumbling shell of a large ship, lit by a faint moonlight which had replaced the expiring orb of day. Casting my eyes about, I beheld no living object, but felt aware of a very peculiar attention upon me from among the whispering reaches of the pestilential garden.

“After walking for some distance through the shallow water, I reached the remains of the ship, a plain three-masted vessel. I ran my hoof along the worm-ridden wood of the outer shell and crawled through a wide crack in the hull, emerging into a cabin. The room I found myself in struck me as remarkably well-preserved.

“It had a bed of carved wood, made with clean sheets and a pillow; a nightstand, still with a loaf of bread and knife; a heavy closet, and a desk and chair with flowers, quill and paper under a window. A few papers lay scattered across the floor, blown by a gentle wind from the window, a wind which has long gone. All of this appeared untouched by time.

“A door next to the closet proved stuck when I tried to open it. Beside it, by the desk, hung a mirror frame with the glass missing. In the middle of the empty frame I spotted a peephole in the wall. Nothing but complete darkness seemed to lurk behind it.

“A sound like the sloshing of hooves through shallow water to my left drew me away from the peephole and towards the window. I leaned over the table to see the dark forms of two figures looming in the moonlight. From the one’s attire and stature I could not doubt it to be the captain of this forsaken vessel. The crew member beside the captain, a creature of a mean and rough stature, sniffed the air and raised its head to howl strangely.

“I leaped up at once and galloped madly out of that ship and across endless leagues of wetland till exhaustion forced me to stop—doing this not because the crew member had howled like a beast, but because of the realisation that there was not two but a singular shape, the form of which was a mere white and corpse-like frame stretched and tapered to eight needle-like legs.

“I was aware that I only dreamed, but the very awareness was not pleasant. Since that fearful night, I have prayed only for awakening—it has not come!

“Instead I have found myself an inhabitant of this terrible dream-world! That first night gave way to dawn, and I wandered aimlessly over the lonely swamp-lands. When night came, I still wandered, hoping for awakening. But when I parted the walls of reeds and shrubs, I saw once more before me the ancient ship—and to one side a pale thing of eight legs lifted its head and in the streaming moonlight howled strangely!

“It has been the same each day. Night takes me always to that place of horror. I have tried not moving with the coming of nightfall, but I must walk in my slumber, for always I awaken with the thing of dread howling before me in the pale moonlight, and I turn and flee madly.

“Dear sister! when will I awaken?”

* * *

Trixie let the pen drop and sat, staring in the soft summer breeze from the open window at what she had just written. A moment earlier she had picked up the pen at a whim and started writing words that were not hers. The urge to write had persisted until the last word and then gone as suddenly.

The gentle wind played with the edges of the paper as one of the nurses picked up the empty plate on Trixie’s nightstand. Trixie looked up as the nurse turned to leave the room again. “I need to speak with Princess Celestia.”

The nurse looked at her in surprise. “Oh, o-of course, princess.”

Trixie looked back down at the paper containing Luna’s words as the nurse left in a hurry.

* * *

“This is Princess Luna writing for the second time. I have yet to deduce a way in which to extract myself from this dream in which I am trapped. Normally such a dream should present me with a minor challenge at most, but I believe my own powers have been turned against me.

“I am writing this on paper I found in the old ship. Strangely, it contained no writing before. I do not know if anypony will ever read these letters that I write, but it makes my stay here a little more bearable to occupy myself in this manner.

“The swampland is indeed vast, for I can find no end to it in any direction. I have found no other fixtures or landmarks of note except for that ship, nor seen any signs of life aside from myself and the eerie thing that haunts me in the moonlight.

“I must assume that my body was saved from the underground tunnels in which I fought against Twilight Sparkle’s undead ancestor. I can only imagine my body would have expired without care otherwise, or is this indeed my final fate? Have I left the mortal coil to wander these dreamland wastes forever? It is not such a far thought.

“What happened to Twilight Sparkle and her ancestor? I fear that I already know in my heart, and in the time I have been wandering around this place I have often cried and begrudged that, one way or another, I do not believe I shall ever see Twilight Sparkle again.

“Sister forgive me. I pray that Trixie and the two young fillies got out alive and unscarred, and that Midnight will haunt the living no longer. If I died for that, then I died gladly.”

* * *

Celestia opened her eyes slowly as the light from her horn dimmed. She looked at her sister’s unconscious form in the hospital bed and shook her head softly. “I can not reach her dreams. Whatever is keeping her from waking up must also be keeping me from joining her.”

“Is there nothing we can do?” Trixie looked at the princess of the night. The normally proud alicorn looked small and helpless in this state.

“It would have to be a stroke of luck. Not unless we can somehow understand what magic she was dealing with in the last moments of that fight.” Celestia lowered her head. “Unfortunately …”

Trixie looked up at Celestia. Something in the princess’ eyes looked pained.

“We are digging up the entire farm and burning everything we find,” she continued. “That may well include the only information on what spell Luna could have cast, but even if it hasn’t already been burned, I will not risk any other ponies being possessed and destroyed like Twilight by this dark and corrupt magic.”

“You would let your sister die instead?” Trixie stared at Celestia.

“It may … be kinder to let her go, Trixie, than to keep her alive indefinitely only to suffer an endless nightmare from which she has no hope of escaping.” Celestia looked back up at Trixie. “But we will explore all available options. Trust me. I just can’t justify saving her if it means risking the lives and souls of other innocent ponies.”

“But …” Trixie reached out to touch Luna’s unresponsive hoof. “What about the letters?”

“We can only hope that they truly are from my sister,” Celestia said and put the letter back down on the bed next to Trixie. “Maybe she will reveal something about her spell.”

Trixie picked up the note and looked at Luna’s face.

* * *

“This is Princess Luna writing my third letter. I have explored this twisted garden of dreams for more days than I have counted. A sense of fright and evil lurks in the holes and drifts through the shadows and reeds of this place, like water through roots, but it is a dead and hollow thing that I do not think can harm or help me. I am half convinced that it is the mere spiritual imprint of something long dead. I can no longer doubt that there is nothing to be found here except for that accursed ship. If this dream has any answers or aid to offer, they must surely be found there.

“Only problem is that infernal thing. I can never seem to remember exactly where the ship is, and always stumble upon it by sheer fate, at which point my presence inevitably alerts the guardian. Even if I could overcome the dread and impulse of the dream which leads me to run, I do not think it would be wise to face it.

“The solitude is starting to make itself felt. I am alone here. I have been alone before. I was alone for a thousand years, but this feels different. I have never lost a friend before, because I never really had a friend before.

“I like to think I had a friend, at least. I like to think … maybe I even had two.

“The sun is going down. I am not used to being up all day or not knowing the movements of the great orbs, but I have no control over the night here or even my own sleep, and my beloved moon feels alien and strange to me in this endless garden. It is frightening, on a much deeper level than the primitive fear of that thing.

“I feel … small and bereft of so many things that were dear to me.”

* * *

Trixie dropped the pen on the floor next to her bed and fell back into her soft blankets. She had just enough will left to pick up the letter she had finished writing and read it before she fell asleep again with a sigh.

* * *

“This is Princess Luna, writing my fourth letter.

“I can not tell how many days have passed. It feels like a year at least, but perhaps this is merely the dream speaking. I am still alone except for that thing which guards the ship. I am no closer to finding a way out, and I am starting to feel myself losing hope. I must try not to succumb to the feeling. Surely there must be a way out.

“I have been thinking extensively of my friends. About Twilight Sparkle, whom I loved, and Trixie who stole her love from me. I say stole, but I know it was Twilight Sparkle’s own choice to love Trixie and not me. I should not listen to the jealous whispers that would make me a monster. I have lost too much before by listening to that little voice deep within me.

“But she was also wrong. Twilight Sparkle was wrong. I don’t know why I should not be able to love her, or anypony, just because I would live to see them grow old and die. Who is there for me, who live as long as me? Why should I not follow my heart if it tells me to love a mortal pony? Why should I not be allowed that brief but happy time with a pony I truly love?

“I wonder if I shall ever find somepony who will love me, even if only for the brief life of a common pony.

* * *

Trixie carefully lifted Luna’s head and changed the pillow. She wiped the drool from the princess’ mouth before gently laying her head back down. She watched the unconscious princess for a minute before sitting down next to the bed again.

It was strange to see the princess like this and to care for her like this. Trixie imagined it was a bit like taking care of a newborn foal, except Luna never cried or moved. The nurses handled most of the care—the feeding and cleaning, the changing of sheets—but Trixie felt a strange need to help in little ways. She brought fresh flowers each day and changed the pillows when she was there.

Trixie wanted Luna to wake up, and something compelled her to be there for her. Perhaps it was the brief time they had together at the end, trying to save Twilight. Perhaps it was the loss of Twilight, or Trixie’s new life as a princess in her own right. Perhaps it was the letters.

It was frightening and stressful to be the unwilling vessel for another’s intruding mind, writing words that were not her own, but at the same time Trixie felt keenly aware that she too was intruding upon the private and innermost thoughts of the princess, even if she did not do so by her own choice.

And what she found in the letters were not so different from her own thoughts and fears before she met Twilight Sparkle. Luna too just wanted somepony in her life.

Trixie reached out and took Luna’s hoof in her own as she watched the princess.

* * *

“This is Princess Luna writing my fifth letter.

“I am starting to suspect that the thing is no more guardian of the ship than I am. Watching it as I have, I am now of the impression that it too is merely drawn to this place while seeking an escape. I can not imagine that I should want to offer it any assistance towards this objective.

“I have been trying to analyze the spell, as I recall it from the note. The note I found in the book was not sufficient to tell its purpose, and without a library of any sort it is hard to analyze its precise effects. But while mulling over the signs involved, I was subtly reminded of a certain four sigils in the Scripture of the Ghoul. I do not recognize it as one of these exact signs, but I should not be surprised to find that it matches one of them with only subtle differences. I will attempt to write them down below, as best as I can remember them.

“If I am correct about the sigils, then I may not be wrong in my assessment of this creature either. Is it possible that it is in fact the entrapped spirit of Twilight’s ancestor, or at minimum some fragment of her soul? If so, I fear that in banishing her from Twilight’s body as forcibly as I did, my own soul has become trapped in here with her. I can not imagine this was a normal effect of the spell. Midnight must have tried to strike back at me and turn the spell against me, only to be partially successful.

“Is it possible to work out what she did? It may be my only hope.

* * *

Trixie studied the intricate spells she had laboriously inscribed, without even the slightest clue what she was doing. Trixie had always been a very practical magician. She had never read a lot of magical theory, simply experimenting and using what she had found to work, or what other performers had been willing to teach her.

Trixie bit her lip. This sounded like dark and dangerous magic. Whatever scripture Luna was referring to was no doubt under heavy guard. Would Celestia deem it too dangerous to try? Would she take the letter from Trixie for fear of what such knowledge might do?

Trixie couldn’t risk that. If she was going to help Luna, she was going to have to do it on her own.

* * *

“This is Princess Luna writing my sixth letter.

“I can not know for certain what Midnight did, but in analyzing my own spell I believe I can make some guesses. I should think it highly probable that it was some sort of counter charm. The big question is what she hoped to do. Did she hope to make me the target of my own spell instead of her? That would be difficult, unless …

“If the spell was a corrupted form of the ghoul sigils, and given where I found it, its purpose must have been to banish the souls Midnight summoned. ‘Do not bring forth that which you can not put down again’, so it makes sense to have such a spell close at hoof.

“Midnight provided Twilight with research and information, enough for her to summon the dead and question them, and also to put them down afterwards. But this would also mean that Twilight could have returned Midnight to the grave in the same manner, unless Midnight made sure that the spell her descendants knew had a loophole that only she knew about, and which she could use against them if they ever tried to banish her.

“Indeed, I believe this is what she must have done, but in her wounded and frantic state, Midnight fumbled the counter spell and trapped us both.

“If I can work out what exactly was the charm’s intended effect and how it went wrong, I should be able to work out a spell to unweave the dream and regain control.”

* * *

“This is Princess Luna, and this is my seventh letter. I think it may fit to be my last, for I fear that I shall never escape this dream. I have come to this grim conclusion after an epiphany in which I spied a glimmer of hope, but this hope has now proven to be my doom instead.

“This place is suffused with sympathetic magic. I almost missed it, because of how subtly it creeps through this place. I can not imagine what Midnight intended, but what her fumble did was to create a very strong connection between us. The spell I cast banished and trapped Midnight in this dream construct, but because of the connection between us, my own soul has been tangled up in it as well.

“The good news is that it is not a difficult task to untangle me from Midnight and the dream. I have devised a spell, which I shall inscribe at the end of this letter in case I ever wish to be reminded of it. With this spell, one should be able to open a way for me to escape this place. The bad news is that I can not do so myself, and a connection must already exist between me and anypony else who should attempt the spell.

“There is but one pony with such a connection, and this pony is Trixie. When I gave her my blood and performed the rite that saved her, I created a sympathy between us, admittedly quite weak. In addition, she was also in the dungeon when I cast my spell. Since I have not found her here, I must assume the connection was not strong enough for my spell to trap her as it did me. The combined effect of all this should be sufficient for her to open the way, however.

“Alas, if Trixie did not actually die in that terrible event, then she is at least unlikely to help me. Not only can I not explain my predicament to her, but even if I could, why would she agree to help me when all I have done is hate her and try to kill her?

“I wish I could tell her how sorry I am. I wish I could tell her that I only ever wanted somepony to love me, and when I felt she ‘stole’ Twilight from me, I let my jealousy and hatred take over.

“I am so truly sorry, Trixie. I hope I redeemed myself a little in the last days, and if I wasn’t trapped here I would like to make it up to you in any way that is within my power. Maybe we could have been friends, if I hadn’t been such a big, jealous foal.

“I think I shall never have that chance again.”

* * *

“We were both big, jealous foals,” Trixie said as she watched Luna on the bed before her. “But you still saved my life, even when you didn’t have to.”

She looked down at the letter and the spell inscribed at the end. Luna had described it as ‘not a difficult thing’, but Luna knew much more about magic lore than Trixie could ever hope to do. What if Trixie screwed it up? What if she somehow made it worse?

Trixie sat down and stared at the spell. She had to get it right. And she would! With a deep breath to clear her mind, Trixie studied the spell closely and stood up. “This is it … The Great and Powerful Trixie can do this!”

Her horn lit up the form of the princess as Trixie closed her eyes and focused all her attention on Luna’s spell. Trixie gritted her teeth and groaned as she strained herself.

Threads tangled and untangled in the vision of her mind. Trixie pulled at the weave and felt herself suddenly drawn in …

“No no no …”

* * *

Luna pushed aside a dense blanket of reeds and shrubs. The old wreck of a ship came into view before her. Luna scanned the open marshland cautiously. There was no sign of the eight-legged thing. Cautiously she crawled out into the open and hurried as silently as she could across the watery wasteland.

She reached the ship and looked around, her heart beating in her chest. Nothing.

Luna breathed out and turned with relief, running her hoof along the wood until she reached the crack in the hull. Once again she looked over her shoulder before slipping inside. She might not have much time.

The room looked the same as it always did, the few times she had been lucky enough to get this far before alerting the creature. The same, at least, except for the papers she had taken to use for her letters. Why had she written those letters?

Luna shook the thought aside and turned to face the door and the little peephole beside it. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to find anymore, but what would she do if she just gave up? Simply wander around the swamp forever? She might as well try to pretend that she was doing something to better her situation, even if it was pointless.

A faint blue light seemed to shine from the other side of the peephole, something she had not noticed before. Luna blinked and moved closer, placing her eye against the hole to see. She was surprised to find another eye staring back, its pupil a deep violet.

Luna blinked and quickly spoke, “Hello? Anypony in there?”

No reply came back. She was about to look again when an eerie howl broke the silence. Luna’s body tensed as she spun around, ready to bolt. At her movement, the door behind her opened a crack as if by some unseen power.

The howling and running of legs was getting closer. Luna stared at the door for a breathless second before leaping through. “I’d rather take my chances in here than spend an eternity in that swamp!” she thought as she slammed the door shut behind her and leaned against it.

A long winding flight of stairs descended into the earth before her, surrounded by nothing except darkness as far as her eyes could see. She glanced back at the door in the dark behind her. The wall was gone, as was the peephole.

Luna turned back to the stairs and took a careful step ahead. Quickly she picked up pace, glancing back frequently as she descended the steps.

The scent of the moist earth was all around her, and it did not take long for her to lose all sense of direction. The stairs just wound their way onwards, but whether it was up or down, left or right was impossible to tell. Luna paused and looked over the edge of the stairs. Nothing but the blackest abyss greeted her.

A shiver ran down her spine. The long creak of a door in the darkness behind her made her heart skip a beat. She quickly hurried on, taking several steps at a time.

The sound of many scuttling legs in the dark behind her drove Luna on. She was too frightened to look behind her as she galloped down the old stone steps in the dark. A pale light flickered far ahead. Luna cried out in desperation as she steered for the light, feeling the presence close behind her.

A grand citadel of light, surrounded by vast gardens loomed ahead of her. Luna stumbled and closed her eyes as she fell into the light screaming.

* * *

Luna cried and fell into a pair of outstretched hooves. She felt herself pulled up and through the blinding light. Behind her, the darkness and the stairs dissolved and disappeared. Luna blinked and opened her eyes. A fresh breeze from the window tickled her coat as the light faded.

“Trixie!” Luna hugged Trixie tightly and let her tears flow freely. “You … saved me!”

Trixie let out a long breath of exhaustion and grinned, hiding her own tears as she held Luna. “Hah! Was there ever any doubt? Now Trixie thinks she is entitled to half the kingdom, maybe.”

* * *

Eight legs crept through the darkness, blindly searching the stairs and walls around them. It stopped and looked out over the grand castle and lush gardens.

The creature smiled.

Author's Note

This bonus act was inspired by a little story of the same name by J. Chapman Miske. Miske wrote his story based on a letter written by H. P. Lovecraft. You can see the similarity in Luna's first letter.

Act 1. Antecedent

Prologue
“The Great and Powerful Trixie presents, live on the main stage of the Canterlot Royal Theater: The Fillystata, a magical puppet show! One time only! Come one, come all, and witness the story of the century!”

Ponies from all over Equestria trickle into the grand hall of the old prestigious theater. A buzzing of eager voices sends trembling echoes through the room as everypony settles down in front of the large stage. As the lights dim, all voices fade to silence. Anticipation rises until finally the curtains part, and a lone unicorn in a purple cape and pointy hat steps out upon the floor in front of the audience. Bathed in a pale blue glow, like a star in the dark, she speaks.

“Good ponyfolk of Equestria, mares and stallions, fillies and gentlecolts. Tonight you will bear witness to a story unlike any before told upon this or any stage. A story both terrifying and true, whose roots reach back through the mists of time.”

“Yet we begin our tale closer to the present, in the fields outside the humble village of Dappleshore where the fabulous Fabled Filly Fair is held each spring. Here our hapless heroine, Twilight Sparkle, and her ragtag pony friends from Ponyville have gone together for a weekend of fun and festivities.”

“But lo! Behind the idyllic scenery of this countryside funfair, something sinister is weaving the first strands of its insidious web.”

The blue unicorn raises her hooves in a dramatic gesture, and the scene behind her lights up.

“And now she shall make her puppets … dance!”

Scene 1
The smell and taste of apples, cinnamon, and the sweetest crust combined in perfect harmony to entice and delight. It had been a treat, but not for long. Instead, the thick sweetness now clung to Twilight's nose and mouth, becoming less pleasant over time.

“Ugh, when will I learn?” she sighed to herself as she reflected upon how silly she had been to enter a pie eating contest with Pinkie Pie and Soarin' of all ponies. But who could say no to Pinkie Pie and a famous—and handsome—Wonderbolt stallion?

Twilight chuckled in spite of the stabs of pain each movement caused to her over-filled stomach. Sometimes she could be such a silly filly, but who said a pony couldn't dream?

She needed air and to get away from the marketplace with all its food and temptations for a time. Maybe she could find Fluttershy somewhere in the fields outside the fair.

Applejack had invited Rainbow Dash and Spitfire to the grand opening rodeo, while Rarity and Spike were busy entertaining the younger ponies. Breakneck action and loud cheering, or lots and lots of wild fillies and colts romping about, none of that appealed to Twilight's stomach right now.

Fluttershy on the other hoof sounded like just the kind of medicine she needed. Rest and quiet was the best cure she could imagine.

Twilight trotted off down a trail towards the edge of the festival area, passing by a large tent from which a voice could be heard. Twilight paused and listened. The voice, both loud and dramatic, sounded vaguely familiar. Twilight walked up and peeked inside the tent.

A crowd of ponies was gathered around a small stage. On this stage, a blue unicorn was in the middle of what looked like a kind of magical puppet show.

“Trixie?” Twilight muttered the name. The last time Twilight had seen the show mare was when that Ursa Minor rampaged through town. Trixie was still going at it, putting on shows and trying to impress ponies, from the looks of it.

“… but only the Great and Powerful Trixie saw the signs of the impending darkness,” Trixie boasted up on the stage.

Intrigued and curious, Twilight walked into the tent and found a spot in the back where she could see the stage. What could Trixie be up to this time?

Twilight glanced over the heads of the crowd. As she did, another unicorn near the stage turned to look directly at her. Her coat and mane were an unfamiliar dark blue. Twilight smiled a little uncertainly at the attention from the stranger and turned back to watch the show.

Only one puppet was on the scene at the moment, resembling Trixie herself. Strings were pulled expertly by magic, and more puppets appeared to fill the roles of the narrative as the show unfolded. Twilight had to admit that, if nothing else, Trixie was quite the skilled show pony. Too bad she was also such a terrible loudmouth.

“The ponies of Ponyville were too deep in their revels and blind to her warnings. The Great and Powerful Trixie knew she had to take matters into her own hoof if fair Equestria was to be saved.” The lights in the room dimmed, and stars appeared on the scene around a bright glowing moon. “And so she watched as the stars aligned, awaiting the final moment when the dark mare would make her escape and cover the lands in eternal night.”

Twilight's curiosity and confusion grew as she began to recognize the tale. Was Trixie really foolish enough to try this of all tales? The crowd murmured skeptically as well, but Trixie continued undeterred.

A puppet of a dark mare, Nightmare Moon, rose out of the shadows on stage. “With the wicked mare's return and Celestia nowhere to be found, the ponies of Ponyville cowered in the darkness brought upon them. The Great and Powerful Trixie stood alone to defend the land.”

The Trixie puppet took over the stage again. “Trixie knew that she needed the most powerful magic known to ponykind to defeat her foe. Trixie had no recourse but to locate the fabled Elements of Harmony and harness their raw magical power. Only that way could the evil Nightmare be vanquished.”

“Facing great peril, but knowing she could not fail, Trixie went deep into the heart of the dreaded Everfree Forest in search of the ruins of the Ancient Pony Sisters. Trixie’s vast knowledge had revealed these ruins to be the last known place where the Elements were kept.”

“The twisted Nightmare saw the threat to her rule and threw many a frightful creature and obstacle at the Great and Powerful Trixie. Every path was littered with dangers, and only one with Trixie’s awesome magic could have passed such challenges.”

Puppets of manticores and vicious sea serpents danced around on stage, each destroyed in a grand puff of smoke as Trixie the puppet advanced through the story. Twilight watched the immensely silly performance in a mixture of disbelief and amusement. If it had actually been truthful, or just about any other tale, it would have been quite good.

“Nothing could stand between the Great and Powerful Trixie and the Elements of Harmony. When she finally reached the ruins, the wicked mare in the moon herself appeared to challenge the might of the Great and Powerful Trixie.”

“But Trixie was clever. Behind her enemy were the elements, sitting unguarded upon their pedestals. All Trixie needed was to grab them and claim their power as her own. A plan formed in her mind, and she knew what she had to do.”

“With an ingeniously simple mind trick, Trixie distracted the dark mare. It would indeed be a grave insult to Nightmare Moon to reveal just how simple the trick was, as she swallowed it hook, line and sinker. And so, with her enemy distracted, the Great and Powerful Trixie wasted no time in seizing the Elements.”

“Using her mighty magic, Trixie lifted the elements off their pedestals while keeping the mare distracted from what was transpiring behind her. A mere second later, as the elements sailed through the air, the Great and Powerful Trixie showed her hoof. Leaping into the air, she grabbed the elements before Nightmare Moon could realize her mistake.”

“The ancient power of the Elements surged through the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

The puppet of Trixie was going wild on stage, and with a mighty thunderclap, she smote the Nightmare puppet. “Vanquished! The Great and Powerful Trixie unleashed the terrible power of the Elements and brought the evil mare of the moon to her knees.”

“As the Great and Powerful Trixie stood above her, the dark mare begged of her to spare her life, promising great riches and a place of honor by her side. But the Great and Powerful Trixie saw through her lies and wanted none of it. She raised her hooves to deliver the final blow just as the first light of the sun spread across our fair Equestria.”

The room lit up once again, and the Trixie puppet lifted her hooves in a dramatic pose above the Nightmare puppet. Just then the grand figure of Celestia's puppet rose behind them both. “ 'Let her go. She has learned her lesson,' the princess demanded, and the Great and Powerful Trixie bowed to the ruler of Equestria.”

“The dark mare had been broken, but Trixie saw that her wickedness went deep, and only through the pity of Celestia was she spared her fate. Thus ended the short reign of Nightmare Moon at the hoof of the Great and Powerful Trixie, in whose light you may bask tonight!”

The blue unicorn bowed majestically to the audience. Twilight still couldn't believe what she had just heard. The crowd seemed equally confused and outraged. A few of the ponies near Twilight muttered about “lies” and “waste of time”.

Trixie looked out over the audience with that challenging look Twilight had come to know and expect. “You don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie? Were any of you actually there, hmm? If anypony thinks they can tell the story better, I hereby challenge you—” Here she pointed a hoof at the audience “—to come up here and put your hoof where your mouth is.”

Twilight didn't know if she should speak up. Trixie was clearly not aware of her presence among the crowd, or she wouldn't have put out that challenge. At least Twilight wanted to think that Trixie wasn’t that dumb. It all seemed so stupid, and thankfully no pony appeared to actually buy into Trixie's lies this time. There was little to be gained from challenging Trixie's tale.

Trixie laughed haughtily. “No? I didn't think so either. Every word I speak is the truth. The vile and twisted Nightmare Moon was defeated at the hoof of the Great and Powerful Trixie. That she now lives the high life in Canterlot is not on this unicorn's head, and she better not try her little games again while the Great and Powerful Trixie watches.”

Twilight was just about getting enough, despite her best attempts to not let herself get riled up, when a gasp went through the audience. They were all now staring in even greater disbelief at where the puppets had freed themselves of their bonds. Their long threads whirled around, and faster than Trixie could turn or react she found herself dangling in the air, tied up like a calf in a rodeo show.

“What the—” Trixie yelped as several strings wrapped around her muzzle to silence her. Trixie struggled while the audience watched the Nightmare puppet jump up on Trixie's barrel and trot up to look down into her confused eyes.

Twilight thought she detected a hint of fear in Trixie’s wide eyes.

“All talk and tricks!” The voice of Nightmare Moon seemed to come from the wooden mouth of the puppet as it sneered at its helpless prey. “All you should be watching is your mouth, foal!”

Trixie cried out with a muffled, pitiable sound.

“Isn't this what you wanted? A dark and vengeful Nightmare Moon to vanquish? So vanquish me! Come on, you worthless piece of hide! Destroy me!” the puppet dared her as more strings swirled and wrapped around Trixie's neck. “Am I not but a simple puppet to you? Fit only to be mocked and shunned?”

Trixie cried and closed her eyes as the strings tied around her neck. A tiny trickle of blood ran down her neck as the strings tightened and cut into her flesh.

Twilight watched in shock and horror. Trixie's face was growing red. Her horn glowed, but it was evident that she couldn't focus her mind on her magic or overcome whatever was commanding the strings. What was going on? Who was controlling the puppets? Twilight was as confused as the rest of the crowd, who all stood in petrified helplessness before the unfolding of the scene in front of them.

Trixie sputtered and whined as the puppet continued unabated. “Well, Great and Powerful Trixie? Will you really let a mere puppet defeat you?”

Twilight finally shook herself free of the stupor. Trixie was dying right in front of her eyes. She might never have liked Trixie, but this was too much. She couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Knowing time was running out, Twilight's horn lit up, and she felt her stomach churn as, in an instant, she found herself on the stage next to Trixie. Batting away the Nightmare puppet and grabbing Trixie, they both disappeared in a second flash of light.

The crowd gasped at the disappearance.

* * *

Twilight and Trixie appeared in a flash out in the open, in a small space between stalls on the outskirts of the fair. A few ponies stopped and stared, but Twilight paid them no heed. With her heart racing, Twilight snapped the strings around Trixie's neck and tried to get eye contact, but Trixie didn't move or respond. Her purple eyes were staring blankly past Twilight.

With a hoof against Trixie's neck and an ear to her mouth, Twilight searched and found a weak pulse, but the unicorn was clearly not breathing. Twilight pulled back Trixie's head, leaned down and placed her mouth over Trixie's mouth and nose, forming a seal as she repeatedly breathed fresh air into the unicorn's lungs.

Trixie came to life with a gasp and struggled against the binds on her legs in a panic.

“Easy … easy!” Twilight said, trying to calm and hold Trixie still.

“T-Twilight!?” Trixie looked up at Twilight, a confused mix of anger and relief on her face.

Twilight was too relieved herself to be annoyed at Trixie's show. “You need to lie still!” she commanded while trying to untie Trixie's legs at the same time.

Trixie scrunched up her face. “You … You did this! You tried to kill me!”

Twilight shook her head, shocked at the accusation. “I saved you! I swear I would never hurt anypony!”

Trixie looked like she was about to respond but instead fell limp and reached for her head with a shaky hoof. “I … I … You leave Trixie alone!” she cried, clearly too distressed to think clearly.

Twilight looked at her with concern. She tried her best to be comforting. “You'll be fine. You just need to take it easy.”

Trixie didn't respond as two nurse ponies came galloping along with a few bystanders who had called for help. Twilight stepped back and watched them carry Trixie off. She decided not to follow. It had no doubt been a humiliating, not to mention frightening, affair for Trixie.

Scene 2
Twilight glanced at the stalls around her. She had definitely left the main parts of the fair; this place looked like a hodgepodge of stalls selling Celestia only knew what. Walking along the winding paths between the stalls, Twilight looked over all the various things being offered for sale, trying to get Trixie out of her mind.

A stack of books in a nearby stall caught her eyes as she passed it by. She had always enjoyed browsing through markets and antiquaries for old and unusual books. Maybe she would be lucky today.

An elderly unicorn with a graying, once vividly red mane sat behind the stall. She looked up and smiled as Twilight walked up to look at the books. Twilight gave her a friendly smile back and began sorting through the stack.

As Twilight glanced over the books, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Kusalimiwa, or greetings, Miss Twilight Sparkle. Has the day brought you trouble?”

Twilight looked up and smiled as she recognized the familiar stripes of the zebra standing next to her. She hadn't noticed Zecora sneak up on her while she was busy looking through the stack of books. “Oh, hello Zecora. What trouble do you mean?”

Zecora tilted her head at Twilight, giving her a worried look. “Above your head looms a heavy cloud. I tell you my friend, an ill omen is such a shroud.”

Twilight shrugged a bit and turned back to the books. She could only assume her worries about Trixie were showing through. “Oh, that. I just had a little scare earlier, but it's alright again.”

Zecora nodded, and Twilight continued her perusing of the books. “I didn't know you were here at the fair, Zecora,” she said after a brief pause. “I didn't think you were the festival type.” A small book bound in black caught Twilight's eye, and she pulled it out carefully from its hiding place.

Zecora laughed. “My friend, I am not as coy; these markets I quite enjoy. Great treasures you can find, and things that ponies left behind.”

Twilight smiled and nodded in agreement. She knew exactly what Zecora meant. She ran a hoof over the rough and worn cover of the book she was holding. It looked very old but almost untouched. A word was stitched into the cover.

“Fillystata,” she muttered to herself as she read it. Something deep within her stirred at the word, a kind of recognition, but she couldn't place it.

Carefully she opened the book and flipped through the pages. It appeared to be the journal of somepony. Every page was full of small, tightly written text, images and drawings of a great variety, cutouts from papers, and copies of what looked like archival records. It was difficult to read or make sense of at a glance.

Inside the front cover, Twilight noticed a name scribbled in black: “Midnight Sparkle.”

Twilight read it again. It did say Sparkle. Could there be a connection to her own family? It was not so common among most ponies to keep a family name like that, but both Twilight’s mother and grandmother were called Sparkle, as far back as Twilight had actually studied the line. Her grandmother had once told her that it was an old family tradition, and her mother had recently begun poking her about her own plans. Twilight didn’t know what to say or do, except blush and tell the truth, which was that she had no plans.

She glanced up at the old pony sitting in the shadow of the stall, peacefully knitting a sweater with a strange three-headed beast on the front. “Excuse me, do you know about this book?”

The pony got out of her rocking chair and walked slowly up to Twilight, narrowing her eyes and adjusting her small, round glasses to look at the book Twilight was holding up. After a moment she looked up at Twilight with a gentle nod. “That little one turned up in our attic when my sister and her youngins were over to help me clean it out. I thought it was a funny little thing, but my sister insisted I get rid of it. Can you believe she wanted me to burn it?”

The old mare seemed eager to chat, but Twilight's eyes were more focused on the book than on the pony she was talking to. “Why is that?”

The older unicorn gave a shrug of her shoulders. “Oh, silly old tales I reckon’. My sister thinks that name on the front is cursed or somethin’, but mind you, no pony wants to talk about it. She's a nice mare, my sister, just a little …” She trailed off before smiling sadly. “Still, I have no use for the book, and you seem interested. If you like, you can have it for only two bits.”

Twilight gave the old pony the coins and gazed back down at her new purchase. She had never had much time for curses and old mares’ tales. “Do you know the name Midnight Sparkle?”

The unicorn took the coins with a smile and looked thoughtful. “I think one of my husband’s brothers married a Sparkle once. Midnight … no, Evening I believe her name was,” she said and walked back to her chair under the shade of her lean-to.

“Evening Sparkle?” Twilight perked up.

The mare turned around and looked at her. “I think so, yes. Your friend there said your name is Twilight; seems like a family theme, have I got it right?”

“My great-grandmother was called Evening.” Twilight held the book tighter, as if it might fly away from her. “But I never knew her. She passed away before I was born.”

“My, but the world is small.” The mare smiled. ”We must have gotten that book with one of the boxes back when my husband’s brother passed away. Oh the things we collect over the years, but I say it looks like this one’s ended up in good hooves.”

Twilight smiled at the elderly mare and thanked her as she turned around with her book. The mare nodded and returned to her knitting.

Zecora looked at the old book over her shoulder. “A treasure both alluring and antique. Beware what things of the past you seek.”

Twilight nodded, but she wasn't really paying attention. Who was Midnight Sparkle? Was there a relation? And what would her journal reveal? Deep within her heart, Twilight felt drawn to this little book and its secrets in ways which she had never felt drawn before.

Scene 3
It was late and beginning to rain as Twilight walked from the fair to the hotel room she had rented for the weekend. The area around Dappleshore was a vast marshland, and the local pegasus ponies ensured frequent downpours. Twilight would much sooner prefer a clear and silent night than a cold and stormy one, but it was not her job to dictate the weather.

She hurried on through the rain, careful to protect her new book under a coat so it didn't get wet. She had barely been able to think of anything else all day since she found it, and she looked forward to finally having some time to read it. Rainy nights were perfect for reading.

Twilight rounded a corner and paused when she saw another pony walking through the rain with her head bowed. Twilight slowed down to a trot, then stopped entirely as she watched Trixie walk along the street in the opposite direction.

Trixie looked sad and lonely as she walked with her head near the ground, her drenched mane clinging to her body. Only the thin wounds around her neck and hooves hinted at the earlier incident on stage.

“Trixie?” Twilight called out to her.

The other unicorn looked up, tried to straighten up a little and gave Twilight a not very convincing haughty look. The rain washing down her face did little to conceal the fact that she had been crying. “Leave Trixie alone, Twilight Sparkle. Can an honest pony not walk through the rain without getting pestered anymore?”

Twilight walked towards her. “Trixie, I'm not trying to be your enemy. I'm just worried for you, and I want to help.”

Trixie sneered and walked right past Twilight. “Trixie doesn't need your pity, or your help!”

Twilight hesitated, debating whether to follow. Finally she called out as Trixie slowly disappeared out of sight. “I'm staying at the hotel in town, room seventeen. You can drop by anytime.” She hoped Trixie heard it.

* * *

Twilight picked off a note that had been stuck to her door and closed the door behind her. She unfolded her book from the coat and placed it along with the note on the table next to the door while she dried herself. Once she was dry, Twilight read the note.

“Dearest Twilight.

“Spike is sleeping in my room tonight. Poor thing fell asleep at the fair, and your door was locked when we got back. I wish you a restful night, and look forward to another splendid day tomorrow.

“Your friend, Rarity.”

Twilight smiled to herself as she thought of her number one assistant. Poor thing always fell asleep after a long day of activity.

Owlowiscious was sitting on the window sill and preening his feathers. No doubt the owl didn't want to get out in this weather. Twilight offered the large bird a little treat, picked up the book, and threw herself on the bed.

She ran her hoof slowly over the cover and the single word stitched on it. “Fillystata,” she muttered to herself, tasting the word and wondering why it seemed so strangely alluring and familiar.

She opened the book and began to read the first page, slowly deciphering the neat little letters. A brief note graced the top of the first page.

“For all my inquiries into this, my second great-grandmother's life and work remains largely hidden to me. It has been deliberately made so, I suspect, by those around me, both past and present.”

“I know not the source of this fascination of mine with Fillystata. Some would call it unhealthy or even unnatural, but something draws me to her and spurs me on in my research. I must redouble my efforts, and I shall, for myself, keep account of my findings herein lest my mind wanders and forgets.”

Twilight flipped through a few pages of cutouts from newspaper articles, archive records, and handwritten notes. A light knocking on the door broke her out of her thoughts. Twilight looked up and stuffed the book under her pillow before opening.

“Yes?”

Out in the hall, a dark blue unicorn looked at Twilight in the flickering light of a lantern. Twilight recognized her from Trixie's show as the stranger in the audience who had looked at Twilight when she entered the tent. She seemed cold from the rain and a little timid as a gentle blue light shimmered across her features. The plain look of a unicorn was washed away to reveal a different and much more regal shape.

Luna's eyes didn't meet Twilight's as she bowed her head in shame. “I dare not face my sister, so I come to you instead to tell you that I am sorry and beg you to help me, Twilight Sparkle.”