The Return of Loyalty

by Matthew Penn

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Other
Length: 18953

Rainbow Dash escapes from her dimensional prison to help free Equestria from the forces of darkness.

Scarlet Penhoof is your average, unexceptional pony whose only wish is to escape her mundane reality. She has dreams of flying which end in an amazing explosion of color and light. Then she receives a book in the mail from an anonymous author, The Story of Equestria. She reads about the adventures of the Elements of Harmony, and most importantly, the last flight of Rainbow Dash. And that is where the pages go blank... the book has no ending.

She soon discovers the reason why the story has no conclusion is because the events are happening right now; an elderly librarian tells her that the land of Equestria is in grave danger and its only hope is for Rainbow Dash to reunite with the Elements of Harmony.

What does any of this have to do with Scarlet? How does this librarian know all of this? And isn't Rainbow Dash and the Elements of Harmony fictional characters? As a series of unexpected events unfold, the mystery to who or what is responsible for Rainbow Dash's disappearance will be solved.

No matter what happens, one thing is for certain... the truth can be stranger than fiction.

Published 2018-05-03 12:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2018-05-25 03:46:08 UTC

Chapter 1

Scarlet Penhoof hated how irritatingly loud the alarm clock was. It buzzed like a screaming banshee, and whenever she woke up her head and ears always throbbed with pain. Her eyes were half-closed, she mumbled and slurred, her blue hoof trying to reach for the button to turn off the stupid buzzing. Scarlet picked up the alarm clock and looked at the time. Eight o’clock in the morning. She put her face on her pillow and groaned.

She turned her head sideways, away from the window. The shutters were closed although there were slits of sunlight coming in. Scarlet wanted to stay in bed and be lazy all day. She had to get up eventually. She had a job to go to and the rent wasn’t going to pay itself.

Scarlet sat up and stretched her limbs. She had the most wonderful dream the other night. She took a moment to conjure the images back into her mind before she couldn’t remember. Scarlet was flying really fast, over and through the clouds over the blue sky. There ponies and they were cheering for her. Then something else happened. She flew upward, toward the sun. Scarlet flew down really fast and… she saw colors and light.

That was all she can remember. Whatever it was, it was wonderful. She hoped the next time she went back to sleep she’d have it again.

Well, there was no time trying to think about dreams. She had to get ready for work. She can hear the cubicle calling her name blocks away, or maybe that was her boss Mr. Sternmane. Scarlet was a pencil pusher at a telemarketing firm in the city. It was a regular nine to five job full of suits and ties, sitting isolated from everyone in your own little corner and making unpleasant phone calls to strangers, complete with boredom and repetition. Maybe it was punishment for something bad she did in the past life. Was it too late to atone for her sins?

Scarlet searched her closet for her white dress shirt and black tie when there was a knock on the door. She groaned again. Why won’t the landlady leave her alone? The knocking continued until she opened the door half-way.

“Yes,” she answered flatly.

“Just to remind you rent is due next week,” the landlady said with a smile, although Scarlet knew it was fake. She does this every second to last week of the month, annoying her three times a day about the due date. The landlady had long, dirty, grey hair with a tye-dye shirt. She carried her sickly cat wherever she went.

“I get paid next Wednesday,” said Scarlet.

“I know dear, this is just a friendly reminder so you won’t forget,” the landlady said.

Scarlet nodded her head and closed the door. A friendly reminder. She ran that phrase in her mind. She witnessed the times the landlady unleashed her fury upon the poor souls who neglected to pay her rent. It even happened to her, once before. The landlady likes to think they are on friendly terms, but Scarlet tried to avoid whenever she can. Besides, she seemed like the crazy cat lady type. Scarlet hated cats.

She looked in the mirror and straightened her shirt collar and tie, then combed her red hair. There was a saliva stain on her blue cheek. Scarlet went to the bathroom to clean that up. Now she was ready to go.

Scarlet opened the window and took a deep breath of the city air. Traffic, oil, smog, and whatever was in the sewer underneath her building. She climbed down the metallic fire escape and landed on the ground, and out of the alley and into the city streets. Scarlet didn’t mind walking to work. It’s much better than taking the taxi or the bus, considering how traffic is in the city. It was also infinitely better than taking subway, where there were weirdos hanging about.

“Hey Scarlet!” she heard someone yell. Scarlet turned her head, and a filly wearing a scarf and beret cap appeared at her side. “Yo, what’s up?”

“Hey squirt, shouldn’t you be in school?”

“Nah, I decided to skip today. Don’t worry, nobody will notice.”

Scarlet smirked and shook her head. The filly’s name is Penny, although Scarlet wasn’t sure if that was her real name. She wish she had the guts to not go to work. That will prove to be impossible. Her pencil pushing job was the only job she can get, and she had nowhere else to go if the landlady kicks her out. It must be wonderful to not worry about the cares of the world at such a tender age like her young friend.

“You better be sure the truant officer won’t find you. I’ll probably get in trouble just by being seen with you,” said Scarlet.

“Don’t sweat it, I got a couple of hiding spots where he can’t find me. If he asks about you I’ll just say I was trying to spring some money off of you. Which reminds me, can I borrow a couple of bucks?”

Scarlet gave her a look. She knew there was a reason the filly caught up with her. “Again? What is it for this time?” she said.

“Bus fair. I’m going to the arcade,” said the filly.

“Word from the wise - fun places like the arcade and amusement parks are the first places truant officers go to search for kids. If I were you (and I wish I was) I’d go a place like the library. They’ll never think to find you there.”

The filly made a disgusted look. “Why would I want to go there? I hate reading.”

“You don’t have to read anything, you just have to hide there. Trust me on this.”

The filly took a moment to consider this. No pony her age willingly go to the library, aside from those eggheads she copies her homework from. The library didn’t seem like a bad choice. And it was like Scarlet said, she didn’t have to read anything. “You know, Scarlet, you’re really smart. You have some good ideas. You sure you’re not secretly an egghead?”

“Believe me I’m not. Otherwise I wouldn’t be going to my crummy job.”

The filly looked to either side of her. The truant officers are ponies hiding in plain sight, but there are some that can be pointed out. Those are usually ponies wearing beige trench coats and brown fedoras, like they were trying to look like Detective Ace Spade. Not wanting to get caught the filly bid Scarlet goodbye and quickly went out of sight. Scarlet silently wished her luck. She hadn’t told her what to do if the school makes a phone call to her home.

Scarlet continued her walk to work in silence. She thought back to her dream. It’d be so awesome if she flew, Scarlet thought. If she had wings she can fly away from her job, the landlady, this awful city. Sadly she was not a pegasus.

The pencil-pushing office building was a tall and oppressive glass structure. Sunlight bounced off the glass and the city was reflected off the glass like a mirror. She entered through the revolving doors of the lobby and marked her arrival time. A receptionist sat at the far end of the lobby, taking or making phone calls and reading the stack of magazines she had stashed away. Then there was the stallion working at the vendor. They gave each other little nods. The two of them make small-talk every now and then, but they usually like to mind their own businesses. Scarlet rushed toward the elevator, which had a pile up inside. It usually happened whenever she tried to make it to the higher floors, and the ponies stuck with her had to press buttons to make stops, which annoyed her. It wasn’t a big crowd like other times.

After a few stops of the elevator Scarlet finally arrived at the twenty-fifth floor. She walked through an endless maze of cubicles, taking glimpses of the mindless drones that occupied them. Scarlet found her own, only taking a look at the motivational poster that hung on the wall. GET TO WORK. YOU AREN’T BEING PAID TO SIT AROUND YOU KNOW. The picture that accompanied the caption was a chimpanzee wearing a suit at a cubicle. How was that motivational? Scarlet sighed and took her seat.

“Hello, Miss Scarlet,” someone said. Scarlet squinted and shuddered at that familiar voice. She turned on her seat, meeting a white stallion with grey hair and large glasses staring at her with a blank expression. He held a glass mug in his hoof. This was one of her supervisors, Shrep Turner. “Listen, we have sort of a problem here. Yeah, you apparently didn’t put the new cover sheet on your TPS report.”
“Oh… right, that thing. I’m sorry, I forgot,” said Scarlet.

“Yeah… you see we’re putting the new cover sheets on all of our TPS reports before they go out from now on. Didn’t you see the memo about this?”

Scarlet only looked at him. Really? He was doing this now? She nodded. “Yes I got the memo. I just forgot that’s all,” she said as politely as she can. “Well, it won’t ship out until tomorrow, so everything will be fine. I’ll take care of it.” Scarlet gave the faintest hint of a smile to Shrep.

Shrep took a drink from his coffee mug. “Yeah… if you could just go ahead and make sure you do that from now on, that’ll be great. And I’ll make a new copy of that memo for you.”

Scarlet was about to protest, but Shrep was already gone. She was sort of glad he was gone. Scarlet couldn’t stand the sound of his monotone voice, or those large glasses. The sounds of telephones ringing, pencils scratching papers, and the clacking and clicking of typewriters filled the office air. She had gotten used to those sounds at this point.

The day at the office went by like any other day, which was everyday. She made a phone call, wrote data on a spreadsheet, made another phone call, went to spreadsheet again, and so on. Plus there was lunch in the employee lounge and small-talk at the watercooler. Someone made a funny impression of that one character with the accent on that radio show. Then Scarlet went back to work until it was four o’clock in the afternoon. A few more of her supervisors reminded her of the new cover sheets they were using. Scarlet didn’t say anything that time. Not a very productive day if Scarlet said so herself, but she had to make a living somehow.

It was nearly sunset on the walk back home. Scarlet couldn’t believe she was confined to spend the rest of her life inside an office while other ponies enjoyed the sunshine, and the night in some cases. She wish she had that kind of freedom. Instead she had to wait for another day of her unexceptional life. It doesn’t matter, if it helps support her financially, she’s content with it.

Scarlet entered her building through the front door this time. She liked using the fire escape, but it was difficult trying to climb to her window. On her way up the stairs she walked into the landlady furiously raising her shrill voice at a tenet. A moment later she slammed the door, smiling at Scarlet when she spotted her. The landlady was going to open her mouth about the rent until Scarlet stopped her.

“I know. Next week,” she said flatly.

“Just making sure,” the landlady said with a wink.

Scarlet walked to her door, took her key from her pocket and reached for the lock. She paused suddenly. Something was different. Scarlet looked down and saw a box at her legs. That’s weird, she thought. She wasn’t expecting any mail for her. Scarlet shrugged. Anything was better than nothing. She picked up the box to learn that this package was actually addressed to her. But there wasn’t a return address. Scarlet held the box to her ear, shaking it lightly. The only to find what was inside is to open. Scarlet slowly unlocked her door and stepped inside. She placed the box on her kitchen counter. Should I really open it? she thought to herself. Scarlet inspected the box again. Her name and address checks out. She cut the tape to open to the top sides of the box.

It was a book.

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. “Really,” she said aloud.

It looked like a storybook for children. The book had a brown hardcover and there was an image made of gold that had the shape of a unicorn on the cover. There couldn’t have been no more than a few hundred pages. Who would mail this to her? Scarlet didn’t have any children, nor did she know any filly or colt who would want this book. There was a card inside the box. The card contained a phone number and a name in bold black text - Clovis Magnus.

“Not funny Clovis Magnus,” Scarlet said. She opened the book, and found a folded piece of paper on the first page. It must be a message from the sender. She opened it and read to herself: “I know you are searching for something, but you can’t explain what it is. Maybe this book will help you. Read the whole book from beginning to end, then come find me. Signed, Clovis Magnus.”

Yep, this is definitely a scam. She had the idea to call the number and give that scam artist of piece of her mind. Scarlet head toward the phone, then changed her mind. It wasn’t worth giving him - or her, attention. Besides, a book came in the passage. Not a self-help book, a storybook for children. But she couldn’t tell if this was genuine. Scarlet placed the book on top of a kitchen cabinet and decided to forget about. Right now it was time for her to get some sleep. She has to get ready for another day at work.

Chapter 3

… Queen Chrysalis was the victor of that horrible day. Canterlot has fallen to the evil Queen of the Changelings. She looked out the window to relish in the sight before her sickly yellow eyes. Innocent ponies running for their lives, screaming; her army kept growing stronger and stronger and advancing in every direction. It was a brilliant diabolical masterpiece.

She looked back at the captured Elements of Harmony, Princess Celestia suspended from a cocoon in the ceiling inside the throne room. “Nothing will stop me,” Chrysalis said with a sneer. “Canterlot is mine, and soon enough, all of Equestria.”

“You will never get away with this!” said Twilight Sparkle. Chrysalis’ only response was mocking laughter.

“Indeed you and your friends have put up a good fight against me, but clearly that wasn’t enough. Now you have to watch as everything crumbles around you.”

Those words pierced Twilight’s heart deep like a knife. She didn’t the evil queen to be right, but it was becoming clear. Canterlot is falling into chaos and there was nothing she or her friends can do. She looked to her friends to some sort of comfort, only to find apologetic faces for not believing Twilight about the deception of Queen Chrysalis.

There was one pony who refused to give up. Princess Cadence, who was to be married to Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor of the Royal Guard. She was trapped by Chrysalis herself in a deep underground cavern with no hope of escape until Twilight found her. Twilight watched Cadence embrace Shining Armor, who was under a love spell by the evil queen, hoping for a miracle to happen.

Cadence gazed deep into his eyes, which had yellow irises as Chrysalis. She gave him a loving kiss and prayed silently. She looked again, this time seeing something different. There was life in his eyes once more. “Cadence?” he responded. “What happened to me?”

Hearing the voice of her true beloved filled Cadence’s heart with joy. His senses returned to him, and he delivered a smile that could melt any heart frozen in ice and can clear away any storm clouds. Their love for each other cannot be bound by any force on earth, and through that love they defeated the evil Changeling Queen and her army. And thus Equestria was saved, this time not by the power of friendship, but by the power of true love…

Scarlet let out a bellowing laugh. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy “A Canterlot Wedding.” It was a wonderful story, and Queen Chrysalis became one of her favorite villains from the book besides Discord, but the day was saved thanks to the power of love? Nothing can be cheesier than that. But these were stories intended for children. It was a good story either way, despite its sentimental elements.

Scarlet looked at her watch. It was nearly four o’clock. She wanted to get some lunch since she hadn’t eaten since this morning. She hadn’t notice her reading marathon had kept her from her other daily tasks. Scarlet figured she had time for one more story. She flipped through the pages, knowing the other stories were just slice-of-life short stories. They usually were after the sixty-paged novellas detailed how the Elements of Harmony saved Equestria, but there were good ones she liked. She continued to search for a story until a particular title stood out.

The Last Flight of Rainbow Dash.

What did the title mean by last flight? There was no way it sounded good, however she was curious. She eagerly sat back and read the first lines:

It was a time of peace in Equestria. The friendship of the Elements of Harmony became stronger than ever before, as did their bonds to others. Rainbow Dash, bearer of the Element of Loyalty, began a friendship with a filly named Scootaloo which grew into something much more. The young and plucky Scootaloo dreamed of becoming as great a pegasus as her mentor and surrogate sister. Rainbow Dash took her under her wing and made a vow to make Scootaloo’s dreams come true, as well as her own.

As much as Rainbow Dash loved to help others achieve their prospects in life, her favorite thing to do out of everything else was to fly. She even joked that the sky itself gave birth to her. From the days she was Scootaloo’s age, she wanted to prove to everyone of what a great flyer she was. Now it was time to finally prove it to the rest of the world.

She planned to show off her newest routine during a self-imposed aerial performance, the Rainbow-Time Extraordinaireas she called it. For months she has practiced the routine day and night without rest. Now she has perfected, and perfection was all she strived for.

On a sunny day in the middle of spring every living soul in Ponyville gathered at the park to witness what Rainbow Dash promised to be the greatest aerial performance they will ever see. She did not exaggerate on her promise. Many have said it rivaled the aerial feats of the Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash flew in ways they never seen her fly before. She zigzagged up and down, left and right, formed shapes out of clouds while a trail of air mist followed her. The ponies below her couldn’t believe what they were seeing, and seeing is believing.

Now it was the time for her grand finale, long anticipated Rainbow-Time Extraordinaire. She had to go through a series of obstacle courses in the sky, fly upwards then descend at high speed, which will create the largest sonic rainboom in the world.

All was not well, however. Her friends were worried about her. They feared she may overexert herself, and suffer injuries if she tried to land. Only one pony believed in her - Scootaloo. She and Rainbow Dash endured good times and bad together. Scootaloo knew in her heart nothing will harm the greatest pegasus who ever lived.

Sadly, it seemed a terrible fate awaited the greatest pegasus who ever lived.

Rainbow Dash soared across the sky and swiftly over the heads of the ponies below. She dazzled the audience with her air-bound twists and turns through the obstacle course until it was completed with ease. She flew up, up, up, until she reached the far stretch of heaven. For the first time in her life the whole world was beneath her. The world above the clouds were cool and quiet, as well as serene. For a moment she was at peace, like every struggle she ever had was gone from her forever.

Eventually she had to come down, so Rainbow Dash descended from that wonderful corner of heaven. She only glide in the air the first time around, then increased her speed several times until it was just right.

A sonic rainboom is a phenomenon like nothing ever witnessed. It was a created by the flight choreographer of the Wonderbolts Commander Easyglider, but it was Rainbow Dash who perfected it, making her mark in history. During her descent there came a sudden explosion that shook the earth and sky. Heaven was washed in a flood of brilliant light and wonderful colors. It could be seen from miles away. The ponies were stunned into silence, for a long moment forgetting who they are and where they were, and when they remembered what happened they sang their joys to the colorful sky. “Hooray for Rainbow Dash!” everyone shouted. “Three cheers for the greatest flyer in Equestria!”

Celebrations were soon cut short when they notice something was wrong. Rainbow Dash had not returned to the ground. Earth pony, unicorn, and pegasus alike searched for her well into night. Some believed she landed on some far-off territory, possibly sustaining injuries. The earth ponies and unicorns searched in areas around Ponyville while the pegasi searched miles away. At twelve o’clock midnight she was nowhere to be found. Her greatest sonic rainboom took her life. The Element of Loyalty was no more, and from that day forth Equestria will never be the same…

There was no more text on the page. Did the story just ended like that? Scarlet flipped through the remaining pages and sure enough all of them were blank. It can’t be the end. Rainbow Dash can’t die like that. What about the Elements of Harmony; will their friendship survive? What about little Scootaloo; she has no mentor to guide her. It didn’t make sense at all.

“It’s not fair,” Scarlet groaned.

She closed the book and fumed with frustration. There should be a law against books ending in a cliffhanger. And why did… whoever the author was, thought it was necessary to kill off the best character ever? Why Rainbow Dash? It would have made much more sense if it was Twilight Sparkle or Princess Celestia, or even Fluttershy. Twilight is the Element of Magic, and her death could have triggered an adventure to bring her back to life. The remaining ponies could travel across Equestria to find magical stones or something like that.

Scarlet inspect the cover of the book. She didn’t know who the author was, or what publishing company mailed it to her. There was only the name of Clovis Magnus. She figured the book must be a prototype.

Scarlet’s stomach churned and growled. She didn’t remember eating anything other than breakfast today. She wanted to stop after reading about the conflict between the Applelosians and the Buffalo, but she kept reading more of the stories. She looked out the window, just in time to see the sunset between two buildings. Scarlet knew she had to give an explanation why she wasn’t at work the next day, but first thing’s first. She had to feed herself. Scarlet will time to think of an explanation later.

She left her building disappointed on how the book ended. It took away all of the joy she had reading The Story of Equestria. Why would anyone write an amazing book with no ending?

On her way to the diner Scarlet thought about the stories, particularly the last one. There was never a time in her life she invested her time reading a book. It was a strange experience, but one that was worth it. Every story in that book was well-written, with a few exceptions. Scarlet wish she had good friends like Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, and even Pinkie Pie - but she had a personal connection to Rainbow Dash. They were both dreamers who wanted something more from life, and wanted to reach for something many thought to be unobtainable. Although Rainbow was everything Scarlet wasn’t - brave, daring, resourceful - she thought they still would have been good friends.

But there was something that troubled her. It was the way Rainbow Dash died. Scarlet thought about the dreams she’s been having recently. She had wings and flew up in the air until she was blinded by light, and sometimes color… exactly the same way of how she went out in a blaze of glory. Did it mean anything?

“It doesn’t mean anything,” she said to herself. “It’s just coincidence. Nothing but coincidence.”

She stopped at the red light of the intersection. Although this side of the street was mostly quiet during nightfall, she felt something was amiss. The was a presence near her, and not the good kind. Scarlet turned her head and notice one of those ponies in a trench coat and fedora on the other side of the street. She pretended not to see him.

The mysterious pony was walking toward her.

Scarlet didn’t wait for the light to turn green. She quickly crossed the street and trotted, making turns whenever she can so the pony wouldn’t catch up with her. “Don’t turn around,” she muttered to herself, and kept trotting briskly.

For a moment she was safe, then more ponies in trench coats emerged from the shadows. Scarlet made the mistake of running into an alley, hoping to find safety. She found a brick wall between the buildings. The trench coat ponies slowly advanced toward the alley, walking in unison as they cornered her. Scarlet looked up to search for a beacon of hope. There wasn’t a fire escape she can climb on.

“W-what do you guys want?” she stammered. “I don’t know anything.”

“Scarlet Penhoof, you have been found guilty of subversive behavior,” one of them said. There was something very unpony-like about his voice.

“I’m sorry for whatever it is I’ve done! Please leave me alone!”

“You neglect to appear at your workplace, lying to an officer of the law, and obtaining unauthorized, subversive material in your living space.”

Scarlet was silent. Had they found out about Penny skipping school? One of the ponies reached into his coat and pulled out a metallica circular device with blinking red lights on opposite ends. What kind of officers were these?

The pony holding the device reached for her head while the others readied to hold her still. Scarlet closed her eyes. There was nowhere to run.

“Scarlet!” someone cried.

She opened her eyes, instantly speechless upon seeing an odd flying contraption heading toward her direction. A filly was riding it. Wait a minute… she knows her. Was that Penny? Yes it was. The filly hovered over head, smiling at her. Even the ponies stopped what they were doing, trying to comprehend the sight before them.

“Subversion!” one of them finally said.

Penny reached her hoof out to Scarlet. “Come quick!” she commanded. Scarlet was in no position to protest, so she climbed the flying machine. The filly pedaled Scarlet couldn’t then the machine rose steadily and soared in the air in swift motion. The ponies on the contraption felt the wind blowing on their skins and hair as they rode through the evening.

“Are you okay? Those guys were going to get you for sure!”

“What the heck are you doing?” Scarlet said frantically. “What are you riding? What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain everything later. Right now I have to take you to my uncle.”

“Your uncle? You mean the librarian?”

“Of course. Well, he used to be a librarian. We hide in an abandoned house now ever since we got here.”

“Got here? What are you talking about?”

“Like I said, everything will be explained later.”

Everything was happening so fast. Scarlet told herself to wake up. This had to be a dream. Scarlet held onto dear life as Penny maneuvered the flying machine. She was definitely caught in the middle of a fairy tale. Scarlet held on to Penny and prayed they didn’t run into an unfortunate bird.

“By the way… did you enjoy the book?” asked Penny.

Chapter 4

Penny lowered the flying machine until it hovered only a mere inches above the grass on the lawn. The filly jumped off, then help Scarlet step of. Scarlet’s body shivered not from flying at high speeds through the cool air, but from every strange thing that happened tonight. The ponies in trench coats, their voices, and Penny rescuing her were no more than blurred images in her mind.

Little Penny pointed a large, creepy house with only a few lights on. “That’s where we live,” she said. As with the stallions who cornered her in the alley, there was something different about her voice. It didn’t carry the street-smart vibe Scarlet had always known her for.

"Is this your house?" asked Scarlet.

"No, it's a library. We found it when we arrived here. It looked like there hadn't been used in a long time and it's located outside of the city, which made for the perfect hideout. Besides, my uncle and I love books."

Hideout? Scarlet didn't like the sound of that. What were these ponies? Is the government after them? She remembered the advice she gave to Penny a few days ago. Was it some kind of test?

“Penny, please tell me what’s going on.”

“I told you, my uncle will explain everything.”

Scarlet had to admit she's always known the filly was holding back a few details about herself, but how did she know about the book? She wondered what else the filly was hiding. Scarlet wanted to say something, but the filly was already leading the way to the front door of the creepy old library. It reminded her of those horror radio programs she caught one time or another. She imagined frightened music playing from an organ, and thunder and lightning being seen in the background.

The library towered over them once they arrived at the door. Penny removed her beret hat and took out a weirdly designed door key whose back end looked like a light bulb over a cloud. She unlocked the doors, and Scarlet gritted her teeth at the slowly creaking sound they made. The filly stood aside to let her in.

Penny motioned for her to come inside, and quickly closed the door. Each area of the library was dimly lit, although Scarlet can see the rows and columns of bookshelves that outlined in the darkness, as well as items and antiques that decorated the rooms and halls. She and Penny walked passed a line of armored suits that lined both sides of the hall, holding spears across from each other. Medium sized columns held vases designed with ancient paintings and sculptures. There was a melody coming from the notes of a piano in another room, although neither knew which room. The place was more of a museum than a library. There was a junction at the end of the hall. Penny and Scarlet turned left, and at the far end of their direction were arched doors.

Before Penny knocked she looked at Scarlet with a serious face. “You’re about to meet my uncle,” she said. “He’s a bit on the quirky side, but he’ll explain to you everything you want to know.”

“Is he the one who wrote that book?” asked Scarlet.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Penny knocked on the door. There wasn’t an immediate answer, and after a moment she called out, “Uncle Clovis, are you in there?”

“Yes, I here,” a voice said. He sounded like an elderly pony to Scarlet. “Penny, is that you, darling?”

“Yes. I have Scarlet with me.”

“Oh my goodness! Scarlet Penhoof? I’ll let you two in right away!”

The large doors unlocked from the other side, and a friendly face greeted the two ponies. Clovis Magnus, the elderly uncle of Penny, had a pink face with white hair on the sides of his balding head. He immediately smiled at Scarlet when he saw her nervous blue face. He leaned on to his walking cane while extending his other hoof to her. “Miss Penhoof, it’s such a pleasure to meet you,” he said happily. “If I would’ve known my dear Penny will bring you here I would have tea and crumpets prepared!”

“I’ll get the water boiling right away,” said Penny, and skipped to another room.

“Isn’t she wonderful?” asked Clovis. He led Scarlet, who hadn’t said anything when she was introduced to the old stallion, to a fireplace with two comfortable looking chairs on either side. “Please, do have a seat. I’m sure Penny had you ride on her magic carpet. How was the flight, anyway? I had not sat on a flying magic carpet since I was a young lad, although I would like to someday before my age catches up with me.”

Just as she suddenly vanished Penny returned with a tray of tea cups, a teapot and biscuits, which Clovis referred to as “crumpets.” Penny set the tray on a small table between the chairs. Clovis took a tea cup and raised it to his lips, while Scarlet was cautious. She had no idea what Penny laced it with.

“Nothing like a cup a tea on a pleasant evening,” said Clovis. “Now, let’s get on to business shall we? I believe you have many question running through your mind.”

“Yeah, I kinda do,”

“However, may I ask you a question first?”

“Sure,” Scarlet answered.

“Did you enjoy the book?” Clovis asked with an eager face.

“The Story of Equestria? I liked it a lot. It was very interesting, although the ending could’ve been better.”

“Oh yes, do tell,” chuckled Clovis.

“But… I really like the stories with Rainbow Dash. When she first appeared she became my favorite character. I mean, sure; Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, and the others were okay, but I made a personal connection with Rainbow Dash. I was disappointed when the book ended with her death.”

“Of course. Rainbow Dash is a very peculiar pony in that book,” Clovis said, inspecting her closely.

“Are you the one who wrote it?”

“Well… I didn’t write it. It was given to me.”

“By who?”

“I have no idea,” said Clovis. “It just came to me in the mail, just like it had with you. But before we move forward, tell me about yourself.”

“I don’t think my life is that interesting,” said Scarlet.

“Nonsense! Everyone has a story to tell.”

“Okay… well, I can’t remember most of my life. I live in a apartment in the city where I pay my landlord at the end of every month. I work at a pencil-pushing job from nine o’clock to five o’clock. There’s nothing about me that stands out. I just exist in somebody else’s story.” She smirked, looking away from Clovis. “I’m sorry, but I can’t think of anything else. I told you I’m not interesting.”

“That’s quite fine, miss.”

“So Penny tells me you used to be a librarian.”

“Ah yes, I was a librarian… of course, that was in another city, before Penny and I moved here.”

“What city are you guys from?”

Clovis stopped drinking his tea. He and Penny gave each other certain looks. “Actually, I will tell you where we are from later. Right now I wish to talk to you.”

Clovis took another sip from his tea cup, then looked at the fire as the flames danced and cracked. It was the only source of light in the moderately dark study room. Scarlet wondered what he wanted to talk to her about. She hoped she didn’t get his niece into trouble with those ponies from before.

“Miss Penhoof, do you believe in chance or coincidence?” asked Clovis.

“I don’t know. Nothing really happens to me, so I don’t have an opinion.”

“You must have an opinion. All opinions are worth hearing.”

“Well… I think coincidences only happen when you’re not thinking about it. Like, say when there’s a connection between working at a job you don’t like for long hours and depression. Not that I’m depressed or anything. I do what I can to get by.”

Clovis nodded. “What about chance?”

“Chance is like rolling dice and see which sides they land, or flipping a coin. I can’t get more specific than that.”

“What are the chances that Penny would bring you here so I can meet you?” asked Clovis.

“I don’t know. We’ve been friends for a while, so I guess she had to do that soon.”

“And chance is like… well, such as…” Clovis trailed off. He looked off, as though his remaining thought was somewhere on the ceiling. “Well, I’m not entirely sure where I was going with this conversation anyway. Now, The Story of Equestria… you enjoyed it, yes?”

“Yes, I certainly did. Are you the author?”

“No, I’m not. It was given to me.”

“Oh. Did that someone wanted a review or something?” asked Scarlet.

“Not really, but I suppose the author appreciated you reading it very much. For you see, it’s important that you do.”

“Why is that?”

Clovis drank his tea and set it on the table. He looked at Scarlet squarely in the eye, which made her slightly uncomfortable. “Do you remember how the story ended?” he asked.

“Yes. Rainbow Dash died while doing that sonic rainboom thing. I sure like to see that for real.”

Clovis chuckled under his breath. “What’s so funny?” said Scarlet.

“Forgive me. I have to say; although I’m not the author of the book, I can tell you that Rainbow Dash is not dead. Or, she’s not supposed to die, anyway.”

“Oh. In that case, what really happened to her?”

“Do you really wish to know?”

“I kinda do, if you don’t mind.”

Clovis leaned toward her. Scarlet wasn’t sure if he blinked or not.

“She is right here, with us. Sitting on that chair before me, next to the fire, drinking from that tea cup,” he whispered.

Scarlet didn’t say a word. She placed the tea cup down and looked at him like he was crazy. She thought about putting the tea cup down and leaving this place, but she didn’t know where she was. Scarlet stayed in her chair, ready to call for the authorities if she had to.

“Would you like to know something else?” said Clovis.

“... I’m not sure I want to,” she said cautiously.

“What if I told you that the events in that book are real accounts?”

“Real? Like they’re historical events or something?” said Scarlet.

“No… the events described in that book did not happen in the past; they are happening now as we speak.”

Scarlet didn’t know what to say. She nodded, even though though the words that came out of his mouth were impossible.

“I see you have doubt, but it is true. And the characters are real as well - Celestia and Luna, the Elements of Harmony, Discord; everything in that book are more real than you can imagine.”

“... Where did you get that book?” she asked after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“The book was given to us. The author of the book was none other than Twilight Sparkle herself. She completed the book for future generations to read in case the power of the Elements failed. Alas, she gave it to us before the darkness consumed her. That's why we spent so much time looking for you. A distressing situation for our world if I might add."

Penny reached into the inside of her shirt and held the mood necklace for Scarlet to see. “Do you recognize this by any chance?”

“Your necklace?” asked Scarlet.

“It’s not a necklace. It’s a magic ruby. It was given to us by Twilight as well. It only glows when it’s near you,” answered Penny. “We used it to find you.”

“To find me?” repeated Scarlet.

“Oh yes,” said Clovis. “We located you here as we traveled through the living veins between worlds.”

Scarlet lost her voice for a moment. Finally she asked, "How?" in a quiet voice.

"By the flying machine the two of you arrived in," Clovis happily answered. "It's actually a vessel that can travel between worlds and dimensions. It's invented by a pony named Doctor Hooves when he discovered the secrets of dimensional travel. He, too, was investigating Rainbow Dash's disappearance - that is, until the darkness consumed him as well." His last statement carried a note of somberness.

“Back to the ruby. From the moment we met and it glowed… we knew you were the right pony,” said Penny.

“We had to take some time to be sure.”

“Are you telling me that I’m some kind of… reincarnation of Rainbow Dash?”

“No, not a reincarnation. You are Rainbow Dash, right now. You always have been Rainbow Dash. We don’t know what exactly happened when you were transported to this dimension. However, we had not suspected that somehow… something might have caught hold of you, stripped you of your wings and identity, even your personality, and brought you here to Mobil.”

“Mobil? What’s that?”

“A world created for those who were wiped away from their plane of reality,” Penny explained.

“They live their lives with new identities in a constructed reality under the watchful eyes of the Sentinels.”

“Sentinels?” said Scarlet.

“Those ponies wearing trench coats. They make sure the truth of their circumstances for being here will never be known to them. If anyone finds out, they come for you with their halos and wipe your memory clean, and you can once again live the rest of your life as a mindless drone.”

This was too much for Scarlet to take in. Just before this moment she was just an average pony, or she thought she was one. Her mind was racing from one thought to the next, trying to figure what the heck is going on? This has to be nightmare. She must have hit her head on something hard. Any moment she’ll wake up on a hospital bed with a bandage on her head. Scarlet wanted to get up and leave.

“I don’t believe it,” said Scarlet. “This can’t be true.”

“It is true, whether you believe it or not,” said Penny.

“Listen, I’m not some fairy tale character from a storybook. I’m Scarlet Penhoof. Always have been, always will be. I’m not part of an elite group of mares who save the world with the power of friendship.”

“I assure you Equestria is not a fairy tale,” said Clovis. “Everything in that book is true, and Equestria is in grave danger. Darkness has ruled over the land; an evil unlike anything before, and it's only hope is for you to reunite with your friends.”

Scarlet shook her head and got up from the chair. These ponies were crazy. The old pony was speaking gibberish she never thought was possible. All of this talk of dimensional travel, magical rubies and storybook characters. No wonder he lived by himself and having his niece take care of him. And to think someone as young as Penny was encouraging this. She wanted this to be over. Scarlet wanted to be back in her room again.

“Leaving so soon?” asked Clovis.

“Yes. This is insane. What you think about me is simply not true. I’m not the lost Element of Loyalty, or whatever you call it. You got the wrong pony. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll have to call a cab. What’s the address to this place?”

“Do you really want to do this?” said Penny. “Do you really want the Sentinels to find you and erase your memory, take you back to your apartment like nothing happen, and live the rest of your working at a job you hate? Believe or not, that pencil-pushing job you desperately have to go back to is meaningless. It was designed to crush your spirit until you have no sense of hope. Do you really want to do that while your friends and loved ones back in Equestria are suffering under the grip of a tyrant? Would you actually run away when they need you the most?”

Scarlet still didn’t believe it, but from what Penny said and the tone of her voice, she sounded sincere about everything. It was almost like she was upset at Scarlet. That was something new. She remembered her bosses being disappointed in her (or whatever emotion they were trying display), but Penny sounded like she was counting on her to make the right decision that can affect the lives of ponies she didn’t know, or rather not know. Scarlet gazed at the dim hallway, thinking of all of the information that was revealed to her. Did she really wanted to do this?

“Okay, let’s get this straight,” she sighed. “What if I’m really am… what you think I am. Then what? How do we know if I’m Rainbow Dash.”

“To find that out, we have to go to Miss Paradigm,” said Clovis. “She’s a mystic with a fondness for the strange and peculiar. She’s a lovely goat,” he said with a smile.

Scarlet hated to ask, but she had to. “And where do we find Miss Paradigm?” she asked.

“At the Bizarre of course,” said Clovis.

“A bazaar? We’re going to a market place in another country?”

“No, not a bazaar… a bizarre. You’ll find out when we get there.”

“So… have you made up your mind?” asked Penny.

Scarlet was silent. The fireplace cracked. She looked around the room at all the antiques Clovis Magnus acquired. Shelves stretched around the room that was lined with books, a ship in a bottle that stood on his table. In the corner there was a portrait of a pony with a large mustache in a old-fashioned naval commander’s uniform. Maybe these ponies were telling the truth. Scarlet lowered her head and sighed.

“Okay. Let’s do it,” she said.

Clovis’ wrinkly face beamed with a smile. He held tight to his walking cane as he leap with joy. Penny was close by to make sure he didn’t hurt himself. The elderly pony hugged his niece and kissed her on the cheek, then approached Scarlet to shake her hoof.

“Oh how wonderful! This is truly a remarkable time!” he declared.

After Clovis gave Penny a nod she rushed to a sculpture of a pony that stood on a column. She removed the scalp which revealed a miniature-sized keyboard. Penny pressed some buttons and turned a few dials, and closed the scalp up. The carpet on the floor separated, revealing a square-sized hole, and the flying machine emerged.

“Oh no, not that thing," groaned Scarlet. She turned to Clovis, who was just ecstatic about riding that weird contraption. Scarlet hadn't noticed the first time riding it, but there were three seats on the machine. The old stallion took the third seat on the back, while she and Penny sat on the front. The filly held the steering wheel and was in charge of the controls.

“Now, I must tell you to hold on to something and don’t let go," said Clovis. Despite giving the warning to Scarlet, he bounced on his seat in excitement.

Penny pulled a lever, then pedaled to the metal. A deep hum emanated from the machine which grew louder as Penny continued to pedal like she was riding a bicycle. The room began to stretch, almost looking like an oil painting that was melting.

“W-what’s happening?” stammered Scarlet.

“We're about to jump dimensions!” said Clovis. “We’re leaving Mobil!”

The living room completed faded away. Her vision was filled with blinding light. The light changed color from black, to blue, to blue and white. She closed her eyes and felt herself being pushed backwards by force. She heard thunder exploding, and other strange sounds she didn’t know. Scarlet feared if she opened her eyes to look she’ll go insane. She kept them closed, and even then there were little spots of color popping out of the blackness. Eventually the machine came to a halt.

Chapter 5

When you wake from a dream you can’t remember when you started to have it. You close your eyes and the next moment you’re suddenly being chased by a monster, or discover a cave full of lost riches, sprouting wings and fly with every bird in the sky. Maybe you could be inside a house that can travel through dimensions. A dream can become so real that it’s impossible to know the difference between reality and what’s projected in your mind, until you realize the scenarios you’re experiencing are too good to be true, and the illusion fades away.

It wasn’t like that for Scarlet Penhoof. Her eyes were closed and she remained on her seat. She hoped everything was just a fever dream. If she opened her eyes she’ll find herself in her own room again.

Scarlet opened her eyes. She was still in the flying machine, or dimension-hopping machine, or… whatever it was. He was reaching for his walking cane while Penny appeared from the corner. Her heavy breath grew audible in the cave they were in.

Wait a minute. They’re in a cave?

Scarlet pinched herself two times. So it really happened. Or did it? Scarlet rationalized that she had passed out and the machine didn’t actually travel across dimensions. It was probably just an illusion. Either one of them could have added some weird ingredient to the tea that made her see and feel things that weren’t there.

Clovis climbed out of his chair and went to Scarlet, chuckling when he saw how stunned she was on her seat, with her arms protecting her head. “The trip is over. Are you alright?” he asked. Clovis helped Scarlet to her hooves.

“I don’t know,” she mumbled.

A swell of pity overtook the old stallion. He laid his hoof on the back of her neck. Scarlet looked up, and groaned when she realized the cave was real as well. There was noise in the distant, and music.

“Have you ever been to the Bizarre before?” he asked Scarlet. She shook her head. “Well, I believe you’re going to have a magnificent time.”

The ponies stepped away from the flying machine. They walked down a steep formation inside the cave. As they became closer the music and commotion became clear to their ears. They were finally here - the bizarre. Creatures big and small scuttled and trotted between booths, wagons, and tents. An intoxicating scent hung in the air, and nobody knew what it was, but the smell promised of strange new things. Scarlet saw things she couldn’t begin to describe. Goblins persuaded passersby in their screeching voices to try their enchanted fruit. A pale thin insect hung skinless chickens and fish from his display. There was music playing from somewhere, but it was the kind of music Scarlet knew. It wasn’t like anything she knew. The instruments blended together to make this unnatural sound full of mystery and wonder, and sent chills through her spine.

She gazed at Penny and her weird uncle. Have they been here before? They must have, because they briskly walked through the large crowd like it was an average Tuesday afternoon.

“Charming, isn’t it?” asked Clovis. “Around here to can find anything that can’t be found anywhere on Earth.”

“We’re not on Earth anymore?” Scarlet asked fearfully.

“Well… technically speaking, we were never on Earth. All of the pieces will fall into place. Right now we have to find Miss Paradigm. If she’s even here.”

Words were coming from her guide’s mouth, but her mind couldn’t process what she was hearing or seeing. Scarlet looked to her side. There was an ugly-looking feline staring at her with yellow eyes. It stood behind a table with a display of books, many of them with horrifying designs. One of the leatherbound covers looked like it had an agonizing face.

“Those are the forbidden tomes,” said Penny as she pulled Scarlet away. “Reading them can drive you insane. How these guys are getting them we’ll never know.”

Clovis stopped… someone was a thin head and red cloak and asked him a question. The cloaked being made hand gestures and spoke in its own language, then pointed to a direction. “The kind fellow said that Miss Paradigm is not far away,” said Clovis. “Her tent is just outside.”

“Outside? You mean we’re… inside somewhere?” asked Scarlet.

“Oh, you hadn’t notice,” chuckled Clovis.

They approached to what looked like the end of a tunnel. Scarlet’s jaw hung open. When they arrived outside she realized the entire market was under the sands of a beach. A giant crescent moon reflected and rippled over the dark ocean, mountains far off gave off orange specks of light like they were neighborhoods. Scarlet never been to the beach before. She sniffed the salty air. It was exactly what a beach should smell like.

“Miss Paradigm’s tent should be… somewhere,” said Clovis. “We’ll know when we’ll see it. You do remember what it looks like, don’t you Penny?”

“Of course; big, black with gold designs. Easy to spot in the dark.”

Scarlet wanted to say something about Miss Paradigm, but something caught her eye. A glowing winged creature was flying across the stars, but as Scarlet gazed at long enough she learned it was a winged being she only imagined in stories. It was a combination of different things; the body of a great stallion, the head and a torso of… an animal she knew not the name of. It’s wings were appendages that extended from the sides of the torso, like arms, with more appearing from the sides of the stallion part. It gave off the magnificent, comforting light she ever felt. She wanted to point it out to Penny and Clovis, but she couldn’t stop looking at it. Beautiful was too simple a word to describe what she saw.

“What is that?” Scarlet finally said.

Penny turned her head to where Scarlet was looking. “That’s a seraphim,” said Penny. “Many say they are the highest order of angels. They give off good vibes, or so I heard.”

Scarlet tried to find it before it became another speck of glowing light among the stars. She made a silent wish to see it again.

A breeze settled on the beach, but it didn’t make Scarlet shiver. In fact, it was smooth and welcoming. She looked at the stars. During all her time in the city the stars were never visible. There was too much electric light. But now the stars were everywhere, illuminating the night sky along with the moon. She guessed this is what astronomers wish would happen, if the entire world turned out the lights for one hour.

Clovis stopped on his sand tracks. He squinted squarely into the darkness.

“What do you see?” asked Penny.

There was a dark tent in the middle of the beach, or what looked like a tent. Yes, it was a tent. Clovis propped up his legs in excitement. He trotted quickly towards it, with Penny and Scarlet following him. There were slits of pale light from the sealed curtain when they arrived at the black tent. Scarlet tried to look for the gold designs they talked about earlier.

“Excuse me,” someone said.

Out of the darkness came a pair of yellow eyes. Unlike the yellow eyes Scarlet saw earlier at the Bizarre, this pair had a quality of friendliness to them. The patch of darkness to the form of a black cat, Miss Paradigm’s familiar. “You can’t go in yet,” it said to the group of ponies. “She’s conducting a séance.”

“Please, it’s very important that we meet her,” said Clovis. “We have someone we’d like for her to meet, and well, maybe restore some of her memories.”

“I apologize, but she needs her full concentration,” said the familiar. “You just have to wait for a few more minutes. I’m sure she’s almost done.”

The cat bowed - or was it trying to stretch - then returned to that patch of darkness on the ground. Clovis leaned his ear on the curtain, trying to hear what was happening inside. A giggle came out of Penny. There were moments when she often forgets who was supposed to be the child in their small family.

“Did a cat just talked to us?” asked Scarlet.

“Yes. His name is Bubastis,” said Penny. “He’s been with Miss Paradigm for awhile, but he’s not really a cat.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened. “What is he?”

“He’s a demon. He takes the form of a cat. That’s why they call those like him familiars. Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you, although he will do Miss Paradigm’s bidding.”

“There’s something I need to know,” said Scarlet. “All of this time… your uncle sent you to spy on me?”

“I wasn’t spying on you. We the book and the ruby on one of our trips. He sensed that whoever sent them was trying to send us an urgent message. My uncle says we must never ignore a world’s cry for help. Uncle Clovis believed the ruby belonged to someone important.”

“How so?” asked Scarlet.

“One night when he touched the necklace, it gave him some visions of a pegasus that can create massive rainbows by breaking the sound barrier. He heard a voice in his head that uttered a name: Rainbow Dash. We spent all this time trying to find you.”

“Is that all that I am? A scavenger hunt?” said Scarlet.

“Scarlet, you might not believe what I say, but you’re probably the only friend I have,” Penny said with sincerity. “You give out some pretty funny advice. And there were some things I wish we could have done together.”

“So if this Miss Paradigm character turns me back into Rainbow Dash - and that’s a big if, does that mean I won’t remember a thing?”

Penny didn’t say anything. She looked back at her Uncle Clovis. He fidgeted, pounding the bottom of his walking cane on the sand as he waited impatiently. Penny looked closely at the slit of light from the black curtains. The pale light turned yellow, and the curtain opened. A couple stepped out of the tent with fear in their faces.

“May the two of you have an enchanted night,” a female voice said pleasantly. She stopped waving when she saw the three ponies standing near her. A lantern manifested out of thin air. It hovered over her white furry face and revealed the faces of the party. “Clovis, is that you? Bubastis told me you’d arrive.”

“Miss Paradigm, it’s been too long,” Clovis said happily. He introduced the medium to his niece, telling how she has grown from the last time Miss Paradigm has seen her. The goat-medium only glanced at Scarlet’s direction before approaching her.

“Ah yes, so this is the pony you told me about,” said Miss Paradigm. She held the lantern over Scarlet’s face and inspected her.

“Hi,” Scarlet said nervously.

“And what is your name, child?”

“Scarlet. Scarlet Penhoof.”

Miss Paradigm took a few steps back, this time looking at the entirety of Scarlet. The pony didn’t know if the medium liked what she saw, or had unpleasant thoughts of her. She was so nervous she looked to Penny for some form of encouragement, but the filly only shrugged.

“What do you think, madame?” asked Clovis.

“This young mare gives off a quite a unique vibe I have ever felt in a pony,” said Miss Paradigm. “Yes, very peculiar indeed. Clovis, my friend, you said this pony was… special?”

“Oh yes, very special.”

Scarlet couldn’t comprehend anything that was happening or being said, or even what she was seeing. She never thought her first time at the beach will be with a weird goat that told fortunes, or whatever she does as a day job. And she still didn’t know what was so special about her.

“All of you, come inside my tent at once,” said Miss Paradigm. She turned to Bubastis. “And cancel my other appointments. This situation with our new guest may take a while.”

“Aye aye, captain,” responded Bubastis.

A magnificent aroma hung in the air when Scarlet and the others entered the tent. The scent came from the candles that spread throughout the tent, giving the inside a warm and yellow glow. With so many of them Scarlet wondered how the tent hadn’t burned down. Then she remembered whose tent she was in, and figured Miss Paradigm had enchanted candles that wouldn’t cause any harm. It was probably the reason why they smelled so good.

Not only did the sweet aroma caught her senses, she also took in how wide the inside of Miss Paradigm’s tent was. Along with the scented candles, there was a bookshelf that stretched from every inch and corner of the tent. For some reason she had the sudden urge to pick one and read. Souvenirs and antiques from foreign lands can be found everywhere; masks, rugs, lamps, dolls, bits and bobs, knicks and knacks - how can Miss Paradigm navigate her way around the tent without stepping on anything? In the middle of the tent were a pile of pillows for everyone to sit on, which is what Miss Paradigm ordered them to do.

Penny helped her elderly uncle get comfortable sitting down while Scarlet searched for anything else she hadn’t seen before. She looked up to find a miniature model of the solar system dangling over her head. Scarlet looked closely and realized it wasn’t exactly a model the solar system, but a nursery mobile for foals that only consisted of the sun, the moon, the earth and six stars. The yellow sun and white moon had faces painted on them. They looked feminine, like mares. The stars were in different colors with small symbols on them that Scarlet couldn’t make out.

“What do you think of my humble abode?” said Miss Paradigm.

After everything that happened to the bewildered pony and all of the things she has seen, no words could describe how she was feeling. “It’s nice,” Scarlet finally said. “It’s much bigger on the inside.”

The goat medium chuckled. “My child, if you think the inside of my tent is amazing, just wait until you discover what is about to come to light,” she said. Her voice carried an air of intrigue.

“This is exciting, is it not?” Clovis whispered to his niece. He wore a foalish smile as he waited for what was to happen next.

Miss Paradigm sat on a pillow facing Scarlet, who shifted nervously on her seat. The goat squinted her eyes and examined the pony closely. Bubastis stood at the side to watch and to carry out any of Miss Paradigm’s orders. Scarlet stole a quick glance at the black cat. Bubastis also examined the pony while he groomed himself. She remembered how a few moments ago Penny told her the cat was actually a demon in disguise. Scarlet didn’t want to know what Bubastis actually looked like.

“You’re afraid,” a voice said. Scarlet felt as though her heart was going to pop out of her chest. Nobody in the tent opened their mouths. Something in the back of her mind told her it was the cat. She was right. Somehow Bubastis was telepathically communicating with her. “I can feel it. Fear is an undoubtedly very pony-like behavior, not to mention a rational response to the unknown and the incomprehensible absurdities this life brings to us.”

What the heck was he talking about?

“Tell me, child… where were you born?” asked Miss Paradigm. Her lips curled into a little smile when she saw Scarlet seemingly coming out of a trance. Bubastis must have been having a conversation with her, she figured.

Scarlet answered after thinking of the recent information about her existence that was given to her, “I don’t know. All my life I lived in that city in that crummy apartment and boring job. I can’t remember much of my fillyhood. In fact, I’m not sure if I even had a fillyhood.”

Miss Paradigm nodded. She placed her small hooves on Scarlet’s blue face. “Do me a favor and open your mouth,” she said. The pony hesitated before complying. The medium searched the inside of her mouth thoroughly like a doctor, then she moved on to inspect her blue skin, red hair, her eyes. The goat stared at Scarlet for a long while, making a quizzical sound underneath her breath.

“Is something wrong with me?” asked Scarlet.

“I’m not sure, but do tell me… have you had any dreams lately?” said Miss Paradigm.

“Now that you mentioned it, I’ve been having dreams where I’m flying. I don’t just hover off the ground or anything like that. In my dreams I’m an actual pegasus, with wings and everything.” Scarlet gave herself a little smile, remembering how good those dreams made her feel.

“And how did those dreams end?”

“I fly so fast that the world fades away. Then I…” Scarlet tried to think of the right word, but nothing came to mind. “And then I explode.” Miss Paradigm raised in eyebrow. Bubastis tilted his black furry head. “It’s not just any explosion. There’s no fire or destruction. Everything was bright, like the sun appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the night. My vision was nothing but swirling colors. And then I wake up.”

“I see,” said Miss Paradigm. Before Scarlet asked what she was thinking about, the goat put her ear on the pony’s chest to listened for a heartbeat.

“Is something wrong with my heart?” asked Scarlet.

“Nothing is wrong, although I sense… a presence inside you.”

Miss Paradigm let go of Scarlet. She motioned for the pony to resume sitting on the pillow. Nobody said anything for a few minutes, letting an uncomfortable silence pass through the tent like a lite breeze. Clovis and Penny gave each other uneasy glances. Although Scarlet couldn’t predict what Miss Paradigm was going to do or say, she knew whatever is going to happen will be anything but ordinary.

“Did those dreams have any significance for you?” asked Miss Paradigm.

At this point the medium was sounding like a therapist, but Scarlet answered her anyway. “Well, at first they didn’t, then Clovis tells me I’m some important pegasus named Rainbow Dash, but I have doubts about that.”

The goat’s eyes widened. Even Bubastis stopped grooming himself when he heard the name. Miss Paradigm remembered all those times Clovis visited her tent and asked whether he’d find “the One.” She’d always consult her crystal ball, performed an incantation or two, and gave a vague answer. Miss Paradigm felt bad for him during those days. Now things were different. Could it be true? Has Clovis found the one called Rainbow Dash? Luckily she had something prepared just for this special occasion. Although Clovis’ search for “the One” had taken him a long time, it didn’t mean Miss Paradigm gave up on helping her good friend.

“Everything is becoming clear now,” she said.

“What’s becoming clear?” asked Scarlet.

“I can see through the facade of the pony standing before me. I mean no offense to you, but Scarlet Penhoof is nothing more than a shell, a false identity that was made for you. Something… or someone has put your soul - the essence of your true self, into a deep slumber. However, I have the means to wake your soul. It’s a good thing Clovis brought you to me in such a time as this. I was growing interested in memories.”

Miss Paradigm rushed toward one of her shelves and grabbed a bag full of herbs. She ordered Bubastis to boil a pot of water, which the cat did just by staring at it. Scarlet thought she seen the dark feline’s yellow eyes turn red. The goat dumped the herbs into the pot, add some other ingredients, and stirred for a few minutes. Miss Paradigm ordered Bubastis to give her some powder. She poured some into the cauldron, and a cloud of green mist exploded into the air. She stirred for another few moments until she felt it the brew was completed. She scooped some of the contents into a bowl and presented it to Scarlet.

“What is that?” Scarlet asked cautiously.

“Take this. It will take you into a journey deep inside your mind. This brew will help you unlock the secrets kept in your psyche, and find the lost memories of your past life. And then, only then, you will remember who you really are.”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. “How can I be sure it’s not poisonous?”

“Why would I give poison to a stranger whom my good friend spent his old age trying to find? Do you honestly believe you came all this way to this place to consume something deathly?”

The red-headed pony didn’t try to wrap her mind around that logic. So much was happening so fast that she didn’t think Clovis or Paradigm will let her go until she eat that soup… or whatever it was. Scarlet looked back, grimacing when the old stallion and the young filly silently encouraged her to consume the brew. Even Miss Paradigm gave her a pleasant smile, but she didn’t know her true intentions.

“Oh well, here goes nothing,” Scarlet muttered. She took the bowl from Paradigm’s hooves, putting it to her lips so the substance can pour into her mouth. It didn’t taste like the kind of soup she’d give to others; in fact it tasted like herbal medicine or tea, which wasn’t so bad.

She spoke about she didn’t feel anything, but nobody seemed to listen to her. Scarlet tried to speak in a louder voice until her legs felt like noodles. The muscles in her jaw tried to move so she can form words, but it was no use. Any moment her body will fall squarely on the ground. Clovis and Penny caught her before that can happen, although Scarlet had already blacked out at the point. The last thing she saw was the blurriness of the world and the muffled, echoey voices of her insane captors until everything went dark, and then there was silence.

Miss Paradigm never realized her brew would be that strong. She glanced at her pocket watching, gasping inwardly learning the pony had been unconscious for over twenty minutes. Well, not entirely unconscious. There were moments when Scarlet was muttering something underneath her breath, giggling and soft crying.

“Do you know how long it will take before she comes to?” Clovis inquired. “I’m beginning to feel rather concerned. She’s been asleep for what seem like ages.”

“The effects of the brew will take as long as they have to, until Scarlet Penhoof discovers who she really is.”

“And what if she doesn’t?” asked Penny.

“Then that will be a reason to worry.”

The young filly couldn’t help but give another nervous glance to her old uncle. The day began with excitement for the salvation of Equestria, only to have it all hang on a loose thread. Clovis, especially, didn’t want to believe anything could go wrong. He and his niece worked too hard to find Rainbow Dash to have all of their hopes smashed to pieces.

Scarlet’s jaw twitched, like it was trying to make words. The ponies, the medium and her familiar, edged closer to her in anticipation. Nothing happened for a few moments until Scarlet raised her arms. Again she tried to make sounds in an attempt to speak, but all that came out was gibberish. Beneath that gibberish came a phrase everyone in the tent can understand.

“Sonic… sonic rainboom.”

She arms remained stretched; maybe she was reaching for something. Maybe she was flying. They looked closely at Scarlet’s face, seeing that she was smiling. They couldn’t know for sure if she was having that same flying dream or if she was actually experiencing it. Whatever was happening, it was truly extraordinary.

“No… no, don’t!” she muttered. “Don’t take me! Please, don’t take me away!”

Her body squirmed on the ground, which later turned into violent thrashing as though she were having a nightmare.

“Oh goodness, we have to wake her up! She’s terribly frightened!” exclaimed Clovis.

“No! We have to let the effects of the brew run its course! She will be fine,” said Paradigm. “At least, I hope,” she quietly added.

Now Scarlet began to flair her arms, seeming falling into an abyss or swimming through something unpleasant. She breathed heavily, once again trying to grab hold of something that wasn’t there. Finally she inhaled deeply and let out a soul-piercing scream that made everyone jump out of their skins. Her loud shriek almost made Bubastis shed his feline form out of fear. The red-headed pony stood in the middle of the tent, catching her breath. She looked around the tent, completely not sure of where she was.

“Scarlet, are you alright?” asked Clovis.

The pony looked at him with wide, fearful eyes. She was sweating profusely. Clovis dared not take another step forward.

“Who’s Scarlet? My name is Rainbow Dash,” she said, her voice still shaking.

Chapter 6

Rainbow Dash’s senses took a long time to catch up with her. The world around her spun uncontrollably, all she can see were blurry images of objects and, maybe ponies, in a small space. She tried to open her eyes but the orange light burned her retinas. The pony couldn’t remember a thing. To her it was like swimming through a thick blackness for a long time until someone forced her out. Her body felt weak again. She stumbled and almost collapsed when Clovis and Miss Paradigm caught her just in time, then laid her safely on the pile of pillows.

No word was uttered from anyone in the tent, not even a shot of breath. Rainbow Dash slumped on the pillows while chest rose up and down in trying to catch her breath. Miss Paradigm silently communicated with Bubastis, wondering if the brew actually worked. Clovis, meanwhile, had other things on her mind. The pony before her said her name was Rainbow Dash, but there was something else that was wrong. Immediately after looking at her long enough he knew what it was that bothered him.

“Oh dear,” he muttered.

Clovis mumbled to himself as he approached the pony cautiously. As to not frighten her he waved his hoof until he received Rainbow Dash’s attention. His mouth was dry and the words wouldn’t come out when their eyes met. “Are you Rainbow Dash?” he finally asked.

“Yes,” she answered. Rainbow Dash looked around and realized she was inside a large tent. Many questions were racing through her mind. “Where am I?”

“You are in the world of Szardoz,” said the medium. Rainbow Dash looked to see a goat approaching her. “My name is Miss Paradigm. I am the one who has brought you here. Are you feeling well?”

“I don’t know. I’m so confused. What am I doing here?” There was a rising tension in her voice. As though some had flipped a switch on the back of her head, she began to remember fragments of what happened before. For a few moments she said nothing, although Miss Paradigm understood what was going on with her. She was trying to remember. “The sonic rainboom,” Rainbow Dash said. “I was doing the… the Rainbow… my trick. What happened to me? Did I do it?”

The only thing anyone can do now was to look at her. Even Bubastis was at a loss for words. Rainbow Dash was going to demand for an answer until she had a weird sensation that something wasn’t right. For some reason she did not feel complete, whole. Rainbow Dash looked to her sides and came upon a horrifying realization.

Her wings are missing.

Panic overtook her breathing once again. She thought her heart will explode from her chest right there for everyone to see. Clovis tried to calm her down, but Rainbow Dash gave the old pony the most furious glare he’d ever seen.

She sat up and stood firm. “What did you do to me?” she demanded in a loud voice. “What did you do to my wings? Answer me right now!”

“Please, if you allow me to explain,” began Clovis.

Rainbow Dash was hearing none of it. She used one of her front hooves to scratch the ground like a bull. Clovis thought he saw steam coming out of her nostrils. Penny stood between them, acting as a shield for her elderly uncle. Miss Paradigm can feel the swell of emotion rising from the pony. She looked to Clovis, who desperately tried to calm her, but it looked as though Rainbow Dash might harm him, or find a way to run out of the tent. Bubastis wasted no time and leaped toward the frantic pony and laid his black paw on her forehead, releasing some kind of soothing energy to make her stop yelling. Rainbow Dash sat down while the energy from the cat coursed through her. Miss Paradigm approached her again.

As the soothing energy slowed her down, Rainbow Dash gathered all the strength she can to ask in a slurred voice, “What are you doing to me?”

“The question is not what I am doing,” said Miss Paradigm. “However, the real question is where have you been.”

Rainbow Dash couldn’t think of a response, so she only stared at her. Miss Paradigm nodded at Bubastis, and the black cat removed his paw from Rainbow Dash’s forehead. The goat and the cat sensed the anger inside the pony dissipating, although she was still confused. Rainbow Dash noticed the young filly was still protecting the old stallion from her, which suddenly caused her to remember she had no idea where she was.

“W-where have I been?” stammered Rainbow Dash. “What happened to me?”

Clovis, Penny, and Miss Paradigm took turns explaining to Rainbow Dash of her current predicament. She didn’t display any emotion; not anger, nor anguish, not even confusion. All she can do was let their words sink in, hoping she’ll come to understand it in time. Although the pony couldn’t remember what happened during her greatest sonic rainboom she never experienced anything like this, and she watched Fluttershy give a harsh scolding to a fire-breathing dragon.

She listened to everything from the sonic rainboom to her imprisonment and escape from Mobil. Miss Paradigm presented to her the memory brew she consumed, although why her wings or her cutie mark hadn’t appeared she did not know. Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure of what to feel or say. The storytellers let her have a moment to herself until she gave her answer.

“This doesn’t make sense,” she finally said.

“No it does not,” replied Clovis.

“So… what do we do now?” Rainbow Dash asked somberly. She already knew she will not like what they had to say.

“Well, you have to go back to Equestria, reunite with your friends and restore harmony,” said Clovis, although he was unsure if that will work due to recent developments.

Rainbow Dash understood his tone and looked at her wingless sides. Then a thought came to her. “Wait a minute… what do you mean by restoring harmony? What happened to Equestria? Is everyone alright?” Her voice carried a tremor of fear.

Clovis could simply tell her what was going on, but he felt it would be effective if Miss Paradigm show her. She was good at that sort of thing. He turned to the goat and silently indicated what he wanted her to do. Miss Paradigm, with a little wave of her hoof, dimmed the lights inside the tent until it was almost dark. Out of the blackness something spherical and shiny appeared in front of Rainbow Dash.

“Come my child, and look closely,” said Miss Paradigm.

Rainbow Dash shivered with a growing fear, but did what the goat ordered. A swirling mist enveloped the glowing sphere. As the light conjured images, Miss Paradigm’s voice spoke like a soft wind.

“Glory has vanished from the land you call home. The sun and the moon have fallen. Darkness has consumed light; harmony is a fleeting memory… and the spirit of hope suffocates in smoke made from the fires of despair.”

The images that appeared in the crystal sphere were as clear as day, and Rainbow Dash’s immediate response was to look away. A yin-yang formation of a white sun and blue moon appeared, as bright and wonderful as the princesses themselves. The glowing light faded, and a black mist covered it like an ugly hand. Out of the blackness came symbols - a multicolored lightning bolt lost its colors, and the bolt dissipated; a pile of apples withered and rotted; diamonds were crushed; balloons inflated and popped; butterflies dropped like flies. And last, but certainly not least, a beautiful lavender star emerged out of the sea of shadows, trying to shine as great as it could until the darkness surrounded it, and then it was no more.

“No more. Please, no more,” said Rainbow Dash. “I don’t want to see anymore!” she shouted.

Immediately the tent was luminous and the glowing sphere vanished. Rainbow Dash breathed heavily, her panting worse than when she “woke” from her soul-sleep. The horrible images burned through her mind. Slowly she was on the verge of tears. This had to be a nightmare, she thought. She can no longer fly, Equestria has fallen to darkness, the power of friendship failed to save the day. It was madness. There was no way this was actually happening.

Miss Paradigm laid a hoof on her. “Now you know what is at stake,” she said. “Harmony must return to Equestria. You must fill their hearts with hope.”

“... How?” Rainbow Dash asked wearily. “How can I do that? I can’t fly! I don’t have my cutie mark! I’m not even Rainbow Dash anymore! How can I save Equestria myself? I don’t even know what happened to my other friends!”

“There are other ways to bring hope,” said Miss Paradigm. “One does have to fly or do extraordinary feats to be great. You must simply be the best pony you can be.”

Rainbow Dash wiped her eyes of the incoming tears. She turned to Clovis and Penny. “You should have just left me in whatever world I was in! I can’t do this! At least I was sort of happy! Why did you pull me away?”

“Because Equestria needs hope right now,” said Penny. “Your friends need you.” Rainbow Dash only turned away. Penny didn’t want to do this, but she had to bring out the big motivator. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. “Scootaloo needs you,” she muttered.

“What did you say?” whispered Rainbow Dash.

“Everyone in Equestria is suffering… even Scootaloo. If you don’t come back, who knows what will happen to her.”

“What happened to her? Tell me!” Rainbow Dash demanded.

Penny decided not to say anything. While she and her uncle spent their time searching for Rainbow Dash Penny visited Miss Paradigm so she can see what has happened to Equestria while they were gone. It was almost always the same thing, only much worse than the last. When it came to Scootaloo… it was best if Rainbow Dash found out for herself.

“I can’t say,” said Penny. “But I implore to please help my uncle and I save Equestria. Only by uniting the Elements of Harmony can peace and harmony flourish once again.”

“But I don’t know where my friends are,” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“We will help you find them, no matter the cost,” said Clovis.

Rainbow Dash gazed at her teammates. A young filly and an elderly stallion. This was not the ideal strike force she was hoping for. And what about the goat and the talking cat? Were they going too? Doubt filled her thoughts. What can she possibly do against whatever made Equestria into a total mess? She wasn’t even the incredibly-awesome Rainbow Dash to begin with. And she didn’t want to think about who the bad guy was.

“I don’t want to go back,” she muttered. “Take me to another world. At least my friends can think I’m still dead.”

Clovis stamped his walking cane on the ground. “Are you mad? We can’t do that,” he said sternly.

“Why not?”

“Before the Fall, Twilight Sparkle had an inkling that you were not dead. She, along with a pony named Doctor Hooves, investigated your disappearance. It was only then when they got closer to solving the mystery that evil strangled the very life out of Equestria. That’s why she gave us the ruby from your necklace to find you.”

“Why did it chose me if I still don’t have my wings and cutie mark?”

Clovis thought for moment. He didn’t want to admit he couldn’t think of an answer. The ponies looked to see Miss Paradigm meditating. Her eyes were shut and she sat on the ground like a statue. Not one inch of her moved. A minute later she opened her eyes.

“I have found the answer to your question,” she said. “Spiritually you are still Rainbow Dash. Your memories, your personality, your heart is intact. However - just as in the past life, you must prove yourself by performing the greatest act of loyalty the world has seen. Only then will you be whole.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t like where this was going. How was she going to do that? What qualifies as an act of loyalty, she wondered. Rainbow Dash was lucky enough to still remember all of the times she helped her friends out, but how can she outdo that? Saving Equestria was going to be a challenge without her friends. She still wanted that stallion and his niece to take her to another world and to forget about all of this, but she knew she couldn’t do that when Penny mentioned Scootaloo’s fate in this new Equestria.

She stared at Penny straight in the eye. “If I go with you, will you take me to Scootaloo?”

“I’ll try.”

Try? Try wasn’t good enough, but it will have to do. Rainbow Dash took one last moment to think about this, then she nodded her head. Although the moment was somber, it was the best news Clovis and Penny heard in a long time. They were one step further into saving Equestria. Clovis rushed to Miss Paradigm to shake her hooves.

“Thank you, thank you ever so kindly!” he said. “Thank you for helping us in our time of need!”

“Anything for an old friend,” said Miss Paradigm. She turned her attention to Rainbow Dash. “You will venture into what used to be your home. Do not give up when all seems hopeless. Only when others see perseverance in you will they be inspired. But they must see you are truly the spirit of loyalty.”

Rainbow Dash nodded her head. Before the left the tent Penny gave her the necklace with the lightning-bolt shaped ruby. The ruby released a red glow when Rainbow Dash wore it around her neck. Penny smiled, knowing the necklace is in the hooves of its rightful owner.

Chapter 7

Scootaloo sat under a dead tree.

There was one thing she always brought with her whenever she camped out; her grey cloak. It was to help conceal her identity. Scootaloo chose the cloak and because she believed passersby might pity her, and even pity was a rare thing to find these days. She carried an empty saddlebag, and groaned whenever she looked at it. Scootaloo had eaten the last of her provisions, and they weren’t enough to begin with. Just bread crumbs and nuts. She couldn’t remember the last time she seen food. The days in Equestria were dark and cold, and the nights were even worse. Scootaloo wandered the trail for days and days - or was it weeks or months - with no sign of anything.

The dead tree was curved, bent over like an elderly pony whose body couldn’t handle the pressure. The grass was brown and lifeless. Scootaloo adjusted his cloak to keep warm. The wind was much harsher than when she used to remember.

She turned to see someone on the road. The little pegasus grew anxious, then pretended to not see whoever they were, and hid behind the tree. She prayed the pony on the road hadn’t caught a glimpse of her.

The pony was closer to her way. Scootaloo took a peak from her cloak, seeing what looked like a young mare in peasants clothing from head to hoof. She searched the ground and found a rock near her hind quarters. Scootaloo looked back at the unknown traveler, unsure of what to do. Slowly, she grabbed the rock. She’ll use it if she had to, although she never thought every moment in her life will lead to this. Maybe she should have guessed it, after everything that has happened.

Scootaloo’s world crumbled in pieces at this point. No matter what happened, she hoped some higher power will forgive her. She seen her home consumed by evil, everything and everyone she loved taken from her. And yet she managed to escape the iron grip of the Queen of Misery. What if this pony was one of her agents? She held a firm grasp on the rock.

The traveler stopped, exactly a few inches near Scootaloo’s hiding spot. Fear of being caught kept the pegasus from moving, even whimpering. The nameless pony stood in place. The cold wind whistled in the melancholy air.

“Will you please help a weary traveler like me?” the peasant asked.

Scootaloo remained silent. She hoped whoever it was wouldn’t take another step forward. “Please, I’m terribly lost, and since the world became so dark I don’t know where I’m going. Can you please show me the way?” the peasant said sweetly.

What is she doing, Scootaloo wondered. Is this another one of her tricks? Why would she come all the way from Canterlot to find her in the middle of nowhere? An eerie breeze passed between them.
“I know there’s someone here,” the pony said. There was no emotion present in her voice. “I can feel your presence.”

Scootaloo slowly stepped away from the tree, although she still held the rock just in case. “Please don’t hurt me,” she said. She looked at the pony who spoke to her. Like her voice, her face held no expression. “I don’t know what you want, but I’ll… I really don’t want to use this rock,” Scootaloo stammered.

“Why do you run from me?” said the mare.

Scootaloo’s hoof shook. She whimpered, a chilling sensation crawled through the back of her soul. All she wanted to do was to jump from behind the tree and beat that mare with the rock, but she knew she couldn’t do it. “Please leave me alone,” she begged.

The next thing she realized the peasant was gone. The area around here became much darker and sinister than before. Shadows sprouted from the ground and formed the shape of a pony. Scootaloo knew she was right that this was one of the Queen of Misery’s agents. The evil ruler will never remove herself from her throne in Canterlot to only chase her. She had to send someone.

Someone like Diamond Tiara.

“Scootaloo. What a pleasant surprise,” she said. It wasn’t the usually greeting Tiara gave whenever she sees Scootaloo. Beneath her regular voice was an otherworldly and fiendish voice, and hearing it made the pegasus feel a chill inside her.

There was never a time in her life Scootaloo thought Diamond Tiara herself would side with evil. Of course she was her bully and tormentor at school, but to pledge her allegiance to an evil being; one who destroyed everything Celestia and Luna stood for… that was unthinkable. “Come home, Scootaloo.”

“Why are you doing this?” asked Scootaloo.

“Mother doesn’t like it when her children run away. And you’ve been running away a whole lot. She’s really irritated.”

“I’m not her child, and neither are you! None of us are! She’s brainwashed everyone to submit to her!”

“Mother taught us that friendship and harmony are lies. Pain, suffering, misery, hopelessness - those are the true values we should really hold dear,” said Tiara sincerely.

“Diamond Tiara, I know you better than anyone else! You always thought you were better than everybody else! You rejected the rules and made up your own - how could you let someone like Golgotha mess up your mind?”

“She made me see the error of my ways. I was trying to make myself happy when happiness is just an illusion. Misery is true pleasure, and I intend to spread that misery everywhere I go!” she said happily.

“No wonder Golgotha likes you so much. You’re her pet!” spat Scootaloo.

“Oh Scootaloo, poor Scootaloo. Defiant as always. Mother will surely fix that.”

Diamond Tiara reached out her hoof. Her limb turned dark and murky, and Scootaloo knew what was happening. Those who willingly submit themselves to Queen Golgotha became possessed with shadow demons. Scootaloo tried to run but the black mists caught her by the hind quarters. She looked back to see Diamond Tiara with a wide grin that reached all the way to her ears. Her eyes glowed sickly yellow. The shadows consumed Scootaloo, then they spat her out into a dark hall.

She lifted her oranged face from the cold hard floor. Although a thick blackness surrounded her, she did recognize some parts of where new location. It used to be the throne room of Canterlot Castle, where even Princess Celestia’s presence gave light.

A black swirling mass manifested, causing her to have a fit of panic. This was her. Queen Golgotha, Lady of Misery. The skies were dark because of her. The obliteration of harmony and friendship her doing. The fall of the Princesses, the defeat of the Elements of Harmony; by Golgotha’s very hooves. The unicorns lost their magic, pegasi can fly no longer, and the earth ponies lost their strength and will. The shadows became a solid black robe. It grew tall and menacing, and on her head materialized a crown of devil horns. Her face was pale as death, her eyes green like poison, and she gave a sinister smile at the pathetic pegasus. Queen Golgotha and Scootaloo were surrounded by children with similar freakish smiles and glowing eyes. All the color was sucked out of them.

“The prodigal pegasus; always running, always hiding, yet always found,” she said.

“Welcome home, Scootaloo,” the children said.

“This is not my home. You’re not my mother!”

Queen Golgotha inspected Scootaloo closely. This was a strong mind indeed. Not even the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, wouldn’t submit to her easily. She considered delivering the same fate the unicorn suffered, but she wouldn’t dream of harming any of her little children. This one needed some motherly love.

“You have a strong mind, I can tell. You can’t be broken at a whim. You must have endured so much during your lifetime.”

“You better believe it,” replied Scootaloo.

Golgotha gazed at the filly’s eyes. Yes, she can see the defiance in them. But there was something more behind them. The wicked queen had a feeling for what it was.

“You are waiting for something to happen. You’re waiting for… someone?”

Scootaloo suddenly looked away for a moment, which gave Golgotha the right answer. “I still hold on to the hope that you’ll wake up from this nightmare, that whoever you’re waiting for will come to your rescue. You must see that having hope and faith is foolish. Optimism will only lead to disappointment. The promise of oblivion is true harmony.”

“Rainbow Dash will come back, and you will pay for everything you’ve done!”

“And what power does this Rainbow Dash have over me?” taunted Golgotha.

“All the power in the world, even more! She gave her friends her cutie marks with her sonic rainboom, and she’s the Element of Loyalty!”

“Oh… right. The Elements. A fairy tale. I have much better stories to tell you, my child.”

“Stop calling that,” the filly muttered.

“Very well, then. As much as it pains me to do so, if you won’t listen to your mother then I must punish you.” She called for her demented children. Scootaloo couldn’t get over that many of them used to be her friends. “My dear children, what should be a fitting punishment for young Scootaloo?”

All the children gave suggestions. Some wanted Golgotha to turn her into a newt. Others wanted buttons sewed to her eye sockets. A boy wanted her to walk on a floor full of broken glass. A girl thought the most fitting punishment was for everyone to pelt her with rocks. These were all clever suggestions to Golgotha, but nothing that will make the pegasus see the futility of hope. A shadow crawled out of the black void and whispered to her.

Golgotha’s eyes glowed when she stared down at Scootaloo. “For being disobedient to your mother, your punishment will be to join the adults! You will live in a world filled with nightmares beyond your imagination, until you learn how much your mother loves you!”

Shadows attached themselves to Scootaloo’s limbs. She was pulled toward the ground, being pulled through the emptiness spaces between empty spaces, an ocean of nothingness. She landed on the ground, believing for a moment she only had a terrible dream.

Unfortunately for her, the real nightmare was just beginning.

Ponies everywhere - crying, screaming, thrashing. Creatures that only existed in the imagination of some sick, twisted individual ruled the skies and chased whoever in their path. Fire fell from the red sky above, A tornado made of animals crashed through towers, houses, and farms. Every natural disaster happened at once, every terrible thing a pony could think of became reality.

For the first time, Scootaloo actually believed there was no hope.

Chapter 2

“Excuse me, miss,” a male voice spoke. Scarlet thought for sure it was one of her supervisors reminding her about something asinine. She looked up from her typewriter and became face-to-face with a stallion in a beige trench coat with a brown fedora on his head. He was looking down at her intently and with stern eyes. Was he a detective? Scarlet hoped she wasn’t in trouble. “We are looking for a filly named Ruby Maneshire. Do you know her by any chance?”

Penny Maneshire? Scarlet had never heard of that name. Then she remembered that was the filly named Penny, of whom she made small-talk on her way to work every so often. She looked at the trench coat pony again. He looked pretty mean.

“I don’t know anyone by that name,” she lied.

“Are you sure? Just yesterday you two seem to be well acquainted.”

“I don’t know her. I thought she was another street urchin begging me for money… are trying to steal from me. I shooed her away.”

The truant officer gazed at Scarlet very closely. She wasn’t sure if he bought her story. It sure looked like he didn’t, otherwise he would have gone away by now. Maybe the pony was going to bombard her with loads and loads of questions until she gave in. Penny was the only pony Scarlet talks to. She didn’t deserve whatever punishment might be in store for her. The two of them just wanted to escape the trap of everyday life.

“Just making sure,” he finally said. Scarlet was relieved, but watched herself so she wouldn’t show it on her face. “You have a nice day,” the officer said, and then he left the workspace. Shrep Turner saw the encounter from a distance and went to her cubicle.

“What was that all about?” he asked, although he didn’t look terribly interested. Scarlet noticed he always carried that coffee mug wherever he goes. And he still wore that blank, inexpressive face. She wondered if Shrep ever smiled.

“Nothing, just some truant officer wanting to know if I’ve seen some kid. You know me, I like to mind my own business. I don’t care if kids like those skip school.”

Shrep nodded, but if he cared what Scarlet said she didn’t know. He raised the coffee mug to his lips and reminded her of the new covers for the TPS reports and was on his way. Scarlet only nodded and pretended to go back to work.

The rest of the day went as usual. On some days she had gotten used to the repetition that her mundane life delivered. When something new or exciting happened she hardly notice it until it was too late. On her way home from work she ran into Penny, who had a gleeful look on her face.

“Hey Scarlet, I took your advice on hiding out at the library. It was great! Nobody suspected a thing! So how was your day at work?”

“Fine I guess. It’s nothing but the same thing every single day. No wait, something did happened. One of those ponies in trench coats came into my building today and asked about you. You’re not in trouble are you?”

Penny gave her a strange look. There was a slight hint of confusion and reflection, something Scarlet had never seen in her little friend before. After a moment of thinking the filly smiled at her. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m very resourceful. They wouldn’t find me if they tried. Besides, my uncle can vouch for me.”

“Your uncle? What does he do?”

“He runs the local library, that’s what he does.”

So that was why Penny decided to hide at the library. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself, although she was pretty sure she was telling a fib; either way she couldn’t find fault in her. Someone who spends much of her time on the streets instead of school or home was bound to create imaginary family members or weave a tale about the most amazing thing that happened to them to make themselves feel better about some of the things in their unexceptional lives. Scarlet would’ve done the same thing.

Something around Penny's neck caught Scarlet's attention. "What's that you're wearing?" she asked.

"Oh, this thing? It's a mood necklace. It glows when I'm feeling a certain way."

The necklace was a ruby in the shape of a lightning bolt, and it had a red glow. Penny explained it only responded to positive emotions.

"Where did you get it?" asked Scarlet.

"Someone... somewhere."

They parted ways. Scarlet arrived at her apartment building, not without the landlady’s daily reminder of the rent. Don’t worry, Scarlet thought to herself. Only one more week. And then I have to suffer at the end of next month. She went into the kitchen to make herself a snack. She would have made a stop at her favorite diner but she needed to save money so the landlady can get off her back until the next due date. If Scarlet had to be honest, the diner wasn’t really her favorite spot. The only thing worthwhile about the place was that it was conveniently close to her building and it was open 24/7. Walking past the sink she realized it was in a ugly pileup. She searched the cabinets for any kitchenware that wasn’t used, and remind herself to wash the dishes soon.

Her hooves opened the cabinet where the book she received in the mail was in. Scarlet stared at it for a some time, then retrieved it from the cabinet. She still wondered who sent her the book. It had to be a relative, but she didn’t know any close family members. However, there was the name of the send - Clovis Magnus. Was he - or she - the author of the book? They sounded like a wizard. Clovis mentioned that Scarlet was looking for something. She didn’t know what that meant and she had no idea she lost something. How could they possibly know that? She held the book in her hooves and after thinking it over she decided to give it a read. Scarlet had nothing better to do with her time anyway, besides eat, sleep, and work. Who knows, maybe the book will be good. It had to be better than the so-called “entertainment” this city had to offer. Scarlet took the book to her favorite spot in the living room, the recliner near the window, and began to read:

A long time ago, in a magical land far, far away, three races of ponies - unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, came together from their separate kingdoms to form Equestria, a land where friendship and harmony was valued above all else. As the years passed, a great darkness fell upon the land, one that threatened to destroy the balance of harmony itself. As all hope seem lost, two alicorn sisters, Celestia and Luna, defeated the great darkness by using the Elements of Harmony - honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, and the element of magic. When the darkness was vanquished, the citizens of Equestria appointed the sisters to be their princesses. And there it was that Princesses Celestia and Luna ruled over the Equestria with guiding hooves and loving souls.

One sister, Celestia, raised the sun and gave light and warmth to all living things that inhabited the land. Luna brought forth the night and the shining stars and moonlight. All was well, until one day Luna refused to lower the moon to make way for the sun. She was upset that nobody appreciated the beauty of the night, choosing instead to sleep while they play and work in the daylight. Celestia pleaded to her young sister, but Luna’s contempt grew stronger, and thus transformed her into the dreaded Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon terrorized the innocent ponies of Equestria and vowed to bring the night that will never end. To combat this new evil, Celestia had no choice to but to use the Elements of Harmony against her. Celestia begged her sister to turn from her evil ways, but when Nightmare Moon refused Celestia banished her for a thousand years on the moon, but with that came a terrible price. Not only did she send Nightmare Moon to the moon, but her little sister as well. Equestria was saved, but Celestia ruled alone without Luna. Whenever she looked up at the moon she thought about Luna, and regretted using the Elements against the pony she loved…

Not a bad way to begin a story, Scarlet thought. Because it was a book for children, she initially thought Nightmare Moon was going to learn her lesson and change back into Luna. She liked that it had such a downbeat ending. She hoped the next stories will be just as interesting. She continued to read:

Over the next thousand years since Luna’s banishment, Equestria evolved from a simple medieval society to a sprawling nation. The betrayal of Nightmare Moon was treated as a story passed down from generation to generation and was taught as a lesson to children about letting anger and jealousy cloud one’s judgement. Many ponies have asked Celestia about the night of Nightmare Moon’s defeat, but she always declined to answer. The memories of Luna brought great pain to her heart.

It was during those times Celestia opened a school for young unicorns to hone their skills in magic. One of those students, Twilight Sparkle, was highly favored above many. Celestia witnessed tremendous potential in the young filly, and instantly saw great things for her in the future.

One day Twilight discovered the thousand year imprisonment of Nightmare Moon was coming to an end. She learned from an old prophecy that she will return during the Summer Sun Celebration to bring eternal darkness and have Princess Celestia suffer the same punishment all those centuries ago. Twilight Sparkle was therefore sent to the village of Ponyville, not to find a way to prevent Nightmare Moon’s return, but to inspect preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration and - which was Celestia’s order - to make some friends…

It was probably the first time in Scarlet’s life that she was engaged in a book. She had no idea how wonderful reading was. This particular story, which was called “Friendship is Magic,” gained her full attention for some reason. As she read from page to page she witnessed Twilight Sparkle meeting five other eccentric ponies, and the quest to find the Elements of Harmony. They went through a series of seemingly random obstacles which the story revealed were tricks by Nightmare Moon to prevent them from finding the Elements. Twilight had to put her trust in Applejack, Fluttershy showed kindness to a raging manticore, Pinkie Pie laughed her way out of danger, and Rarity generously gave a piece of herself to someone who needed it the most. But the moment that stood out for her was this:

The rope bridge was torn, so the pegasus named Rainbow Dash flew to the other side to connect it from there. But once again Nightmare Moon had more tricks to pull. She disguised herself as a dark and twisted version of Rainbow Dash’s favorite flying team, the Shadowbolts. The Shadowbolts promised her fame and glory, and all she had to do was abandon her friends. Despite the allure of her desires becoming reality, Rainbow Dash refused the offer, thus passing the test of loyalty...

That moment resonated with Scarlet very much. She liked the idea of being loyal to your true companions no matter what gets in your way, or if someone tells you there is something better than your friends. She thought back to how she didn’t tell the truant officers about little Spritle. But the more she thought about it, she realized she didn’t do it out of loyalty. Scarlet didn’t want to be responsible for a child getting in trouble with the law. She had enough problems of her own to worry about.

The “Friendship is Magic” story ended as she expected; Twilight Sparkle faces Nightmare Moon in a final showdown, when the stones thought to be Elements didn’t work all hope was lost. It was revealed the six ponies carried the spirit of the Elements. They defeated Nightmare Moon and free Princess Luna from her influence, and the Sisters were once again reunited. Scarlet was surprised that all was forgiven so easily. Still, she enjoyed the first two stories.

She looked at the window to see it was nearly dark. How long was I reading, Scarlet thought to herself. She put the book on the kitchen counter and prepared herself for sleep and for another day at work.

When she woke up at sunrise she tried to remember a dream she just had before the images faded. Scarlet was going to fly all the way up to the blue sky and yellow sun, but… there were little voices telling her not to do it. They sounded worried and sad at the same time. She spread her wings and flew higher, higher, until there was a great flash of light. What’s with all these dreams about flying all of a sudden?

Scarlet washed up and got dressed for work. She expected the landlady to knock on her door any second to remind her of the rent. She waited for a few minutes while she buttoned her shirt and tied her tie. Usually Scarlet can hear the shrill voice of the landlady before she approached the door. Surprisingly there was no knocking. Oh well. She was must be out running errands. The landlady will probably get to her when she comes home from work.

Scarlet opened her window to get out of her room, only to stop at the last moment. She notice the book was reading the other night on the kitchen counter. It was too bad she was going to spend another boring day at her pencil-pushing office job. Scarlet couldn’t wait to read about what happens next. She turned her head toward the window, to the direction her job was located. Her breath took in the early morning city air.

An idea sparked in her mind. Scarlet decided not to go to work today. She figured she worked so much everyday of her life that she deserved a break. It wasn’t like anyone was going to notice she was missing. Scarlet climbed back inside and closed the window, unbutton her collar and loosen her tie. She grabbed the book and relaxed on her favorite recliner, and the story of Equestria continued where she left off.