Revenge of the Puffs

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Dedicated to Vinicio Simón Suárez.
Special thanks to proofreader McClaw!

The sunset was beautiful, worthy of the two entities who made it possible. It was the perfect balance between the higher and lower forces charged with advancing time. On one count, the sun was dim, ready to get to sleep. On the other, the moon was waking up, ready to do her work.

It was under these conditions that Beezy, also known as Mom, watched from the heights to observe the lives she was most proud about having created. The ponies had changed physically and in attitude, but never in values and principles. To wit: the air of absolute happiness going through the massive terrains of Sweet Apple Acres. Beezy is still amazed at the ease with which the ponies rebuilt their lives so fast. Who wouldn’t be?

Dozens of multi-colored miniature horses, with curious symbols on their rumps which represented each one’s special talent, relentlessly worked picking apples from the trees on the massive field, property of the Apple family for generations. Some would kick the trees so that the apples would fall off, while others, pulling wagons, would wait for the apples to fall into them, so they could bring them to the barn where draft stallion Big Macintosh, his middle sister Applejack, and Granny Smith supervised.

For a while, nothing strange had happened in the magical realm of Equestria, home of the ponies. For quite a long time, there had been no attacks from weird creatures, or conflicts, or anything out of the ordinary, except for the few times when Derpy Hooves, a slightly clueless pegasus pony, was flying upside down without noticing and then she needed help to get back upright. That’s how Equestria had been since its foundation; that today’s afternoon was like that, as well, was absolutely refreshing for a change. From what legends tell, this is how the Equestrians’ ancestors’ lives had been in another time, although it seems this didn’t last.

Not to mention the excellent comradeship the Apples exhibited at work. They helped each other without condition, no matter their age (and some were older than even Granny Smith!) and always respected each other’s opinions. For the icing on the cake, what better than watching Apple Bloom, Applejack and Big Macintosh’s little sister, playing with her friends Scootaloo the pegasus and Sweetie Belle the unicorn? No one would have thought of something as nasty as ruining their fun. Not a chance!

Things were about to change…

“Ah, those were th' good ol’ days!” Granny Smith said. “Ah remember when nothin’ ever happened here… no monsters, no friends fighting over silly things, none a’ that! Ah wish we could go back t’those times, t’least fer a while…”

“Don’t ya’ll get too sappy, huh, Granny?” said Applejack. “Nowadays, they call ya horrible things if ya so much as think 'bout sayin' any good things about when ya was little, or th’ past in general! You of all ponies oughtta know that. Am ah right, Big Mac?”

“Eeeyup,” he replied. “Thirty million years, made instan’ly worthless. Ah still find it highly ‘ffensive t’ this day, but nothin’ we can do.” Big Macintosh appeared to be the smartest of the three, because his vocabulary was a bit more sophisticated. In fact, all Apples had the same education, thanks to their studies in the kindergarten run by Ms. Cheerilee’s family, but Big Mac had taken his books more seriously. To each their own.

“If only they dinn',"” replied Granny. “Oh, but ponies are hard t’ change opinion… and anyway, ah’ve lived here for so long. Ah wouldn’t dare change anythin’.”

They almost didn’t notice something gigantic was casting a shadow from the sky. They looked up to see it, but only Granny immediately knew what it was.

“Aieeeee!” she screamed. “The Pony Puffs! The Pony Puffs have returned! All a you, run! Get ta safety!”

Everypony else in the family realized Granny was right. Over their heads loomed the silhouette of something that resembled a huge, flying, metallic, 17th century war galleon without masts, heading towards the mountains where the city of Canterlot, capital of the realm, stood. Everypony was soon yelling in terror and running for cover... except for one.

“What’s goin’ on? What’n the name of a thousan’ bull herds are the Puffs?” demanded Applejack.

“Right now there’s no time to explain you that!” Big Mac said. “Would ya do me a favor ‘a talk less and put th’ girls someplace safe more?”

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, the three little fillies, were running in circles in a fit of panic. It took some effort to get them into the barn and calm them down. Granny and the rest of the senior adults prayed to Beezy and even Eleff, imploring that nothing happened to them, that everything worked out fine in the end.

Applejack, herself, always preferred actions before words. Before begging for salvation, she would rather run away in search of the only pony who could solve the problem.

And she met her along the way. She was walking along the streets of Ponyville, the town where they all lived, with four other ponies. These specific six ponies, which they lovingly called “The Mane Six”, were mutual friends.

“Twilight! Somethin’s up, and nopony wants ta tell me—Hey, ya brought the others?”

“Yes, I did,” said Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn. “We’re facing a life or death situation here. There is an elevated probability that the Puffs will invade.”

“Aha, an’ what’re th’ Puffs?” asked Applejack again.

“It seems they’re a breed of evil ponies which have attempted to take over Equestria for years. Their leader is a Pony Puff Princess.”

“Wait, wait a minute!” interrupted Pinkie Pie, another earth pony. “Princess? An evil princess? That's impossible! How can there be an evil princess? I didn’t know princesses could be evil! I thought all princesses were good!” she said quickly and so loudly that those who weren't part of their conversation ended up hearing it. “This is way too freaky! I don’t get it…”

“Well, Pinkie, darling,” said Rarity, another unicorn, “I have seen more than one spoiled moneybags acting as if she was a princess. It’s not exactly ‘evil,’ but… it’s awfully close.”

“Guess which six of us have a mission to kick the Puff Princess and company’s keisters into next week?” said pegasus Rainbow Dash braggingly.

“Not yet, Rainbow,” Twilight reminded her. “We still don’t know their intentions. There’s a chance that this might not be an invasion, so we must not act without being certain.”

“One thing we’re certain about… they’re scary,” said pegasus Fluttershy in a very low voice.

“Stuff your opinion, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow Dash. She wasn’t trying to insult her friend, but she couldn’t stand her ‘lack of awesomeness’, what she called not being as daring and fearless as her. “You think everything is scary? Twilight, now that I think about it, you sure all six of us gotta go? Cause I don’t think…”

“Whatever is bothering you about Fluttershy's character flaws is at this time irrelevant, Rainbow,” said Twilight. “I’m afraid, right now, we have other things to worry about.”

“Can we finish keepin’ an eye on them Puffs?” said Applejack, impatient. “Mah family is more upset than a cow in'a middle'a field o’ snakes! Th’ sooner we find out what them Puffs want here, the sooner th' fam'll calm down and th’ sooner they'll finish buckin’ th’ rest o’ the apples! Them trees don't buck themselves, ya know? We gotta finish buckin’, and we gotta finish buckin' right now!"

“Good idea,” Twilight acknowledged. “Let’s all be alert now for any suspicious activity."

They turned around in the direction of the flying metal galleon. It seemed to be doing nothing wrong; it was still approaching the palace with no apparent hostile intentions.

Suddenly… firing! Yes, firing!

“GOSH! Did you see that?”

“Wait for you there, girls,” Rainbow Dash said. “I’ve been dying to laugh in the face of danger for a bit!”

And she zoomed away to the palace, not showing the slightest fear -or the slightest care-. The rest (even Fluttershy, who felt too embarrassed and self-conscious to fly) followed by land.

The galleon was in fact no less than a flying battle cruiser, the kind you'd see in one of those science fiction comic books, sustained in the air by an unknown power source and armed with laser cannons. Its crew was all Puffs, and they were attacking Canterlot Palace! The cannons fired colorful laser beams and blew holes on the walls, through which soldier Puffs wearing jetpacks invaded to attack the Royal Guard and other innocent ponies with plasma rifles set for low damage. Unlike ponies, which could be female or male, unicorns, pegasi or earthies, all Puffs were female, and none were unicorns or pegasi; they were all earth. The Equestrian Royal Guard was there to defend their palace, but while the Puffs didn’t surpass them in number, they did in firepower.

The inside of the ship's command bridge looked like a mix between a nuclear submarine's command bridge and a science lab. In the center there was a captain's chair on which sat a Puff; tall, thin, and frankly ugly, with a long face, a green jewel on her forehead and a mouth which housed a set of big horse teeth. This Puff, General Rinse N. Spit, was evidently the ship’s captain, because she was giving orders to the other Puffs, her bridge crew.

“All artillery, FIRE! Destroy the walls! But remember, your orders are to kill nopony! I want them conscious!”

The face of a Puff suddenly materialized before General Rinse N. Spit; a Puff that looked like an evil version of Fluttershy, had pink coat and yellow hair, and resembled a pig more than a horse. This was the Pony Puff Princess herself, and she expected the General to tell her how the battle was going. Despite none of them being unicorns, some Puffs had magical powers like those of unicorn Equestrians; the Puff Princess could use her own to broadcast her face and communicate with her underlings from a great distance.

“Ah, our Princess…! The capture of Canterlot Palace is now well underway! Soon it will be ours!”

“Excellent job, General Spit,” the Puff Princess answered in a voice that sounded also like an evil version of Fluttershy’s whispers. “As soon as you do, make sure to block and keep good watch over all exits. I want nothing getting in or out of that Palace!”

“So it shall be, our Princess! The Palace will be completely sealed by the time of your arrival!”

“I hope so, General. Don’t forget as well that I wish to be sure I won't have… competition, so to speak.”

“The Royal Sisters?”

“Exactly. Do not harm them, but lock them up, and make sure nopony makes a rescue attempt… not even themselves!”

“As you wish, oh, our Princess,” General Spit praised. The Puff Princess' face disappeared, and the general addressed her crew when the Puff Princess’ face was no longer visible. “You heard her! You will comply or I will personally wring your necks!”

She rubbed her hooves in satisfaction. It seemed too good to be true, like some kind of dream, but it was a reality; after so many years, they would finally own Equestria… and the world!

To the Puffs, this was the battle of their lives. Years of training had brought them here, to their final victory against the Equestrian ponies. The Royal Guard tried their best at making a stand, but it wasn't enough. The Puffs captured the Palace in the blink of an eye and took plenty of prisoners.

The great throne room’s ceiling was blown to pieces, and more Puffs came in through, to make prisoners of the Royal Sisters, winged unicorns Celestia and Luna. Normally, Celestia of the Sun would have gone to sleep while Luna of the Moon took her place (by day, Luna slept and Celestia ruled), but the emergency needed both of them awake at once. The Princesses posed a bit of resistance too, but the Puffs eventually subdued them.

The Puff Princess herself then showed up, to mock the Royal Sisters to their face. She, like most of her breed, was indistinguishable from a common pony, save for being a lot chubbier, and having thinner legs and a more protuding snout.

“Celestia, my dear,” she mocked. “Have I mentioned my dislike of you today?”

“Puff Princess, this is an act of war.”

“You don’t say, you fickle little nitwit! Everything’s an act of war to you, no?”

“Silence!” Luna exclaimed, angered. “I won’t allow you to talk like that to my sister! I warn you, one more offense and…”

“Would somepony shut up this premature old coot?” demanded the Puff Princess. One of her Puffs forcibly covered Luna’s mouth with her hoof.

“I’ve always pitied you, Celestia,” the Puff Princess continued. “All my life I’ve been ashamed of this habit of yours, of preaching about the virtues of love and friendship towards non-ponies. That a pony by worthy birthright, such as you, could ever think love and friendship towards non-ponies will get her far in life… Frankly, it sickens me.”

"You still see all creatures unlike you as inferior, Puff Princess? Can you never open your mind? Must it entertain such evil thoughts for all eternity?”

“Look who’s talking! Your mind is one-track too, Ms. Oh-How-I-Love-To-Make-Friends! When it's not thinking of blasting everypony who looks at you funny into outer space, of course!”

Luna protested again, but she came out muffled. Her mouth was still being kept shut.

“You won’t get away with this, Puff,” said Celestia. “My student Twilight Sparkle and her friends will defeat you. And even if they should fail, it is written that somepony else will succeed in the end, for good must prevail over evil. Those are the designs of Beezy. Remember my words.”

“Ah, yes, Sparkle,” the Puff Princess said, ignoring the rest. “I’ve heard a lot about her. Tell me, do you think someone like her would be a good…”

General Spit’s voice was suddenly heard as if it came from everywhere at once. “Princess! Our Princess! Intruders! They're headed in your...!”

The throne room’s doors were rammed off their hinges, and Twilight and her friends came through! They had climbed the side of the mountain on which Canterlot resided, and through the sheer magic of friendship defeated all Puffs who stood in their way. Now they had completely assimilated the power of the Elements of Harmony, which they represented, to defeat the Puff Princess once and for all!

“Sparkle, I suppose,” said the Puff Princess, unfazed, upon seeing Twilight. “Are you too going to give me a lecture on my future failure?”

“What we’re going to do is teach you manners, Puff Princess.”

“You’ve been a VERY bad girl,” said Rainbow Dash, “but don’t worry… nothing a good whopping won’t fix!” Twilight rolled her eyes at the aggressive comment.

Pinkie went on rambling very quickly and loudly, as usual. “Of course you could always surrender and then we wouldn’t have to beat you or use the Elements of Harmony against you!" she said. "And then we could be the bestest of friends ever and we’d go for walks and have fun and play hide-and-seek and hopscotch and lots of other games and I could even invite you to one of my parties! Don’t you think that’s an amazing idea? Because I think it’s an amazing idea! There’s amazing ideas I think are more amazing than others, but —“

”HERE'S WHAT I THINK OF YOUR PARTIES, AND YOUR WAY OF TALKING NONSTOP!” the Puff Princess hollered, deafening Pinkie Pie’s relentless rant.

Pinkie wasn’t upset from getting screamed at to her face, but became a little serious. Fortunately, just a little.

“That wasn’t very nice of you, Puff Princess,” she said. “Alright, girls, hit ‘er hard!”

“I like your initiative, Pinkie!” said Twilight.

The precious stones which topped the six ponies’ jewelry items gleamed with an otherworldly intensity. From said jewels, bright colored streaks were cast, forming one rainbow-colored which hit the Puff Princess… and did absolutely nothing!

The Six were shocked and confused when the Puff Princess turned up intact. They had expected the power of the Elements of Harmony to have some kind of effect on the Puff Princess, and it hadn’t even scratched her.

“Hm. Not bad, but it definitely needs a lot of being worked on. Don’t be offended, it’s constructive criticism.” Seemed as if all that came out of the Puff Princess’ lips was orders or wisecracks. “Now, it’s my turn!”

The Puff Princess fired magic beams… from her eyes! The beams hit the Six so hard they were sent flying through the wall and far off into the distance.

“Well, I’ll get to deal with them later. Now, to the dungeons with these two!”

“But, our Princess,", said one of her minions, "there’s no dungeons here…”

“No? Ah, true, Celestia,” she mocked again, “the Palace dungeons aren’t on this planet! Sorry, I had forgotten.”

Luna bit the leg blocking her mouth and nearly lunged herself against the Puff Princess, but her sister held her by the armpits.

“Luna, no! That will solve nothing. We must have faith that there will be a sensible solution.”

“Forget about that! I won’t let her insult you any longer! Let me go! I’ll finish her off!”

“Luna, settle down!” she said, and her tone made clear that she was serious. Luna calmed down on the spot; after all, she wouldn’t have been comfortable with disobeying her sister again. After what had happened a thousand years ago…

“Thanks, Cel,” mocked the Puff Princess. She closed her eyes a moment and started talking to General Spit as if she was there. No doubt, she was projecting her face magically.

Spit's voice was heard saying, “Our Princess! How did it go?”

“Perfectly, General. You’ve done a good job yourself. I’ll take it from here; for now, deploy your troops across the whole realm and allow nopony to try and escape to the borders. Each and every one of them will be subject to strict vigilance until further notice."

“Understood, our Princess. Spit out.”

The Puff Princess then addressed her lackeys again. “Lock them up… somewhere in the Palace with a bird’s eye view of the entire realm,” she ordered about the Royal Sisters. “Make sure they have no way to escape... and yes several reasons to!”

Chapter 2

The Mane Six lay on the ground. The impact of the Puff Princess' beams had sent them tumbling down the mountain until they reached the bottom. They weren’t fatally injured, but they felt pain from the hits they had taken, and had a hard time getting back up.

“Ouch… anypony got th’ number o’ that wagon?” asked Applejack.

“I knew you were gonna say that,” said Rainbow. “Why couldn't the Elements of Harmony do anything to that creep?"

“I don’t know,” Twilight said. “I’ve never known of any being immune to the Elements.”

“Speaking of which… where are they now?” Rarity inquired casually. “Due to my innate perfectionism I cannot help but notice that we’re no longer wearing them.” Even battered and hurting, Rarity’s voice overflew with total finesse and elegance.

“She’s right!” said Fluttershy. “Maybe... they fell off of us?"

“What I find strange is the way we found them - stumbling upon them on our way to the Palace,” said Rarity. “Twilight, dear, do you know if the Princesses normally keep them someplace safe?”

“No. I have never asked them, to be honest. But if we don’t have them with us now…”

“Could they still be in the Palace?” Fluttershy said. “What could happen if… that Puff Princess had them? What could happen to us if she did something bad to them?”

“We oughtta go get them back!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Oh, yes, no doubt, so that maniac can crash us through the wall again," said Rarity. "Sweetheart, are you sure you thought this through?”

“Let her try! Let her try all she wants! We’ve got to show her we’re not afraid... five of us aren’t afraid of going head to her with her!” Fluttershy whimpered at the verbal jab.

“Goshdang it all, Rainbow Dash!” said Applejack, exasperated. “Can't ya see Rarity’s right? We barely survived that fall! We can’t risk a fall like that'un again, sugar, or else we won't be goin’ head t’ head with her whatsoever! Ya'll better believe me when ah tell ya we’d all better stay in one piece while we still can.”

“And what good would that do?”

Twilight interrupted them to ask, “Pinkie, why haven’t you spoken?”

“Who, me? Oh, no, nothing, just listening to you girls is entertainy! Go on, go on!”

All of them noticed Pinkie was suddenly eating chips from a bag and drinking soda as if she was at the movies. “How does she do it…?” they wondered.

“On the other hoof, though, switching to a bit of a more serious note,” Pinkie said, “we’re already about eighteen paragraphs into this chapter and nopony has come up with an idea of what we're gonna do about those Puffs yet, so, what are we gonna do about those Puffs? We can’t let them have the Palace for too long, can we?”

As usual, everypony understood what Pinkie wanted to express, just not how she expressed it.

“Listen, girls,” said Twilight, “if the Elements of Harmony had no effect on the Puff Princess, then she is unlike any adversary we’ve ever faced so far. Most likely, there is a special characteristic to her being which makes her immune even to the most powerful magic available to us.”

None of them understood a word Twilight had just said.

“Could you please repeat that? In a language other than Librarian-ese?” said Rainbow. Twilight was visibly annoyed by this.

“…The Puff Princess has some inner trait protecting her from the Elements. Remember, the Puffs aren’t from Equestria. Their physique might react differently to certain kinds of magic. However, it is possible that there could be a magical power she is not naturally..." She quickly corrected herself before somepony complained about her vocabulary again. "...A magical power she is not invincible to."

“But… there’s no magic more powerful than the Elements, is there?” said Fluttershy.

“Wrong, Fluttershy. There's no magic more powerful known to us. This means we’ll have to ask some other being who has transcended the boundaries of... who has traveled outside Equestria.”

“You mean…?”

“Precisely. We’ll have to ask Zecora.”

The Everfree Forest was a perpetually dark and still largely unexplored place. The very mention of the name was enough to run chills down the back of the bravest pony. Petrified trees seemed about to grab and eat ponies, and strange creatures which did not took well to those who dared approach their nests were known to inhabit the place. What terrified the ponies the most, however, was the forest working without magic; trees grew themselves, fruit fell from said trees itself, and clouds moved themselves. Twilight had said many times that there was no reason to be afraid of any of that, but nopony paid attention to her. Nevertheless, for those who knew their way through the swampy terrain, Everfree was an open book, and not too different from one's own backyard. Here, indeed, lived one for whom Everfree was their backyard.

Here lived Zecora, the mysterious guru zebra who spoke in impromptu rhymes. She was in her hut, quietly meditating, when the door knocked. She did not like being interrupted while she meditated, but was glad the interruption hadn’t been as abrupt as other times.

“Come in,” she said. Twilight and the rest did so, and Zecora couldn’t help but smile at recognizing them.

“Ah, Twilight Sparkle, a friend I deeply esteem, what would bring to my home you and your friendly team?”

“Zecora, we need your help. Are you cognizant that Equestria is under attack by the Puffs?”

“Oh, the Puffs, have you said? May Stars watch over me, if it’s true they’ve returned, this I could not foresee. I know well who they are, and what their intentions be. Am I right to assume a conquest they'd wish to see?”

“If ya mean they’ve come ta conquer Equestria, well yeah,” said Applejack.

“You see, Zecora... do you know the Elements of Harmony?” asked Twilight.

“I know them, know them I do, for before me they stand,” said Zecora. “Yes, Twilight,” she added at Twilight’s disbelieving face, “you represent them, I do understand.”

“Then you know we also obtain their power thanks to the ancient Stones still existing, and that we can merge with them to be bestowed with their magic.”

“For today it’s not wise to live as we do, and not know that this is unquestioned and true.”

“Twilight, ‘scuse me, but ah don’t get ‘er at all,” said Applejack.

“She means she knows we represent the Elements of Harmony, and that it’s true we can use them.”

“Ah.”

“So tell me now, Twilight, what brings your group woe? I am still impatient and waiting to know.”

“Well… we meant to use the power of the Elements to defeat the Puff Princess. But…”

“We couldn’t,” followed Rarity. “When we tried to, she just brushed the magic off. Oh, it was terrible!”

“The Stones have disappeared. We think they're back at Canterlot Palace, but we can't go back for them defenseless, or we'll be killed," said Fluttershy, " know I’m the only one... but I’m afraid of dying…”

“Fluttershy dearest, it’s okay to fear,” Zecora said, comforting her. “I’ve feared more than once, and yet I’m still here. To fear makes you cautious; it is defensive. To suggest you shouldn’t would be offensive.” Fluttershy felt better, though Rainbow Dash made a disapproving face.

“The point is we cannot use the Elements anymore, at least for now,” Fluttershy continued. “Twilight thought maybe there could be a magic more powerful than the Elements... And since you’ve traveled all over the world, we came to ask if you wouldn’t know such magic by any chance. It’s okay if you don’t know… we can look for it ourselves.”

Zecora smiled even wider. It seemed as though she had waited a long time for someone to ask her that question.

Pinkie took a chance to ask, “Do the natives happen to be friendly?" The others looked at her funny. "Just in case! Don’t you think we should know if the world’s salvation is surrounded by mean bullies?”

“I know a power, but it is legend-bound," said Zecora. "I wouldn’t hope you, Twi, to gulp such things down.”

“After all the things that have happened in my life so far, I’m willing to believe anything.”

“You shouldn’t,” Zecora noted. “Anyway, legend tells us that there used to be a power greater than Harmony, in magical force as well as in mass; yet, in luck for all of us, not in class. Like the Eye of Osiris craved and famed, ‘The Rainbow of Light' it had once been named!"

“Wait just’a minute there!” Applejack exclaimed, as if Zecora’s words had awakened her from a long sleep. “Ah know that legend!”

“What, the eye one?” said Rainbow.

“No, ya bonehead! The Rainbow of Light one! And let me tell ya somethin’, ah know this sounds weirder than a chicken with her knees pointin’ forward, but ah tell ya with all the honesty ah can muster inside’a me, that’s no legend. It really happened!”

Twilight began to argue for the opposing viewpoint. “Applejack, surely you don’t really believe that legend is true.”

“Ah dun believe it is, Twilight. Ah know. Happened to mah family. It has been runnin' millions o' generations 'f Apples, dads to sons, moms to daughters, b'tween other relatives.”

“Millions of generations? What are you talking about?”

Applejack sighed. “Twilight, mah family dates to the time o’ Dream Valley. Back when Equestria was called…”

“Ponyland?” Twilight was flabbergasted. “But… that was…!”

“'Round thirty million years ago. Believe it’r not. In fact, mah earliest ancestor was also named Applejack, and ah’m named Applejack after her.”

No one else present, except for Zecora, could believe what Applejack was saying. It was known that the Apple family was one of the oldest in Equestria, but they would have never imagined it dated back to the very beginning of time.

"Ya see," Applejack explained, her accent dropping, her words now so formal that it didn't seem like it was her who was saying them, "there was a monster named Tirac, who wanted to do the same thing as Nightmare Moon two months ago. He wanted to turn four ponies into slave dragons to pull his Chariot of Midnight, and then he'd use the Rainbow of Darkness to cover up the sun forever, Back then, the sun moved by itself and so did the moon. The only thing that could stop it was the Rainbow of Light, but nopony knew where it was. So a pegasus pony named Firefly had the idea of going somewhere she'd never been before, and went to look for a human girl."

Nearly all of them exclaimed in surprise. They'd only heard of creatures called 'humans' in ancient legends and bedtime stories. Was it true? Had a human girl really save the lives the entire pony species millions of years ago?

"Turns out only a human girl could open the Rainbow Locket where the Rainbow of Light was, and she used it to destroy Tirac and save the ponies. And she became the bearer of the Locket ever since.”

Applejack took a breath. Her accent and 'country talk' were back. "But now, ah can't tell anypony about it, ‘cause ponies today treat history and their ancestors very wrong, and say everythin’ that ever happen’d in older times ain't worth anythin’ 'Jus' nostalgia', they say. 'Ya'll only think it was good 'cause ya grew up wit', it' they say. Can't stand 'em... but ah have no option other than keep quiet, so they won't insult mah family tree."

Twilight instantly felt compassion for Applejack, and had the impressions that she had just helped contribute to her friend's emotional suffering a moment ago.

“Applejack,” asked Fluttershy, “how has your family known that story for so long?”

“Cause one o’ th’ ponies Tirac grabbed was mah own ancestor,” answered Applejack. “Ya don’t forget that sorta thing, Fluttershy. Ya thought ah’d speak lightly of somethin’ like that?”

“Excuse me… I wasn’t trying to be so… rude.”

“Nah, ya weren’t. Ah’m a bit upset ‘bout the whole thing too.”

Fluttershy smiled. Both were at peace now.

“There you have it,” Zecora spoke at last. “The Rainbow of Light you must find, so that no more problems will weigh inside your mind.”

“Wow! Humans! I’ve never seen a human! I wanna go to to human-land and find that Rainbow of Light! I’m sure we’ll have lots and lots of fun!” exclaimed Pinkie.

“For the first time in a long time, I agree with you, Pinkie,” said Rainbow. “You know adventures on parts unknown are my thing!”

“I have to acknowledge,” said Rarity, “even I wish to go to the Human Realm! I wonder how will it be… Perhaps it will be a place most dazzling, and perhaps there will be fine and glamorous humans with which to be seen in public! On the condition, of course, that they’re not among those arrogant nouveau-riche that there will doubtless be around.”

“You know? I want to go too!” said Fluttershy loudly. She gasped at her own overblown excitement and lowered her voice again. “I’m a little bit scared… but maybe it won’t be so bad! There could be animals and cute little creatures to take good care of!"

“The curious thing is, that is how humans roll,” Zecora confirmed. “They’re not different from us; we might share a soul.”

“It’s settled, then,” said a resolute Twilight. “I trust your word, Applejack, and I agree to travel to the Human Realm. Tell me: what was the girl’s name?"

“Ah’ll never forget that name: Megan Wiilliams! She lived in a farm named Bargin’ Barn.”

“What a funny name!” Pinkie said. She had never heard a human name in her life.

“Wait a moment," said Rarity. "There is a most considerable problem. This 'Megan Williams' lived thirty million years ago. She can’t still be alive. Not even the Royal Sisters have lived that long!”

“She might have left descendants,” said Twilight, “meaning she had children, and her children had children, and so on and so on. If Applejack’s family has had descendants for so long, then it could be that so has Megan’s. One of her latest relatives must know what happened to that Rainbow of Light.”

“Twilight, what if they don’t?”

“We’ll have to take that risk… at least we’ll have lived enough to find out.” She turned towards the zebra. “Thank you, Zecora. We are in your debt.”

“Twilight, my dear, it’s a pleasure too. Good travels, ponies, and may fate be with you.”

“And you, Zecora. Let’s go, girls!”

“Applejack, if it wouldn’t bother you so,” Zecora started before they left, “would you tell your sister that I said hello?”

“Sure thing, Zecora. Thanks again.”

The Royal Sisters had been gagged, and their legs and wings had been bound so they couldn't try to escape. The Puff Princess' mares had thrown them into an empty room with a solitary window, through which all of Equestria, primarily Ponyville, could be seen perfectly; after which they had removed the gags, but not the binds, and locked the door.

No sooner than they were left alone, the Sisters stared at each other. Celestia’s multi-colored mane did not stop moving by itself, contrasting against her gleaming white coat, as did Luna’s dark blue did against her electric blue mane. Luna was still very young, and a long time would pass before she reached a more mature age; for now, she was still a thousand years younger.

“Now’s our time to free ourselves and reclaim our land, isn't it?” asked Luna.

“You read my mind, my sister,” Celestia said. “You always had a certain talent for that.”

She giggled, and so did Luna. Even in their current situation, they still had time to talk to each other as they hadn’t been able to for many years… as sisters.

“Alright, count of three. One… two… three!”

On that moment, the two used their magical powers to untie each other… but they had no effect. The ropes wouldn’t move. The Sisters tried using their powers on other things laying around –shards of rock, dirt, etc.- laying around, and nothing they tried had the slightest effect. They had to bite off each others’ ropes, with the most care, to free themselves.

“Why does our magic not work?” Luna wondered.

“The Puffs seem to have taken measures to stop us from escaping, as they were ordered. Can you try moving the moon? I will try to move the sun.”

It tured out so that all they could magically manipulate at this time was, indeed, the sun and the moon. Anything else they tried their magic on remained untouched.

“It’s evident that the Puff Princess intends us never to leave this room again, and to be unable to escape, or use our magic again for any other activity than the passage of time; also, considering the view from this window, she wants us to witness as she conquers Ponyville, and suffer for being helpless to stop it.”

“And we cannot stop it?”

“No, Luna, I’m afraid not.” Her words were like if an unmovable weight had fallen on them. “We can only hope for Twilight, her friends, or somepony else, to find a way.”

“Celestia… surely you knew this was going to happen. Why didn’t you do anything?”

“I assumed Twilight would,” Celestia admitted. “You of all ponies should know even I am not flawless, Luna.”

Both looked into each other's eyes. Celestia could see the twinkle of sadness in the eyes of her sister, and both sat down next to each other. Celestia took Luna between her wings, like in past times, when her sister felt sad and needed comfort. Luna snuggled on her sister’s chest, feeling more refreshed.

“You’ll never change, Luna. You will always be my little sister. I love you so much…”

Luna sobbed in relief.

“Don’t worry," said Celestia. "I am here. I am with you. I will never leave you again. I am sure that, if not Twilight, somepony out there is thinking of a way.”

“They had better hurry up…!”

Chapter 3

“Our objective is clear, girls,” said Twilight. They were trotting back to Ponyville as fast as they could, full thrusters. “We must travel to the Human Realm and find Megan Williams' family. If we find them, we’ll find the Rainbow Locket. It’s our only chance.”

“And then we’ll get back to Ponyville and use the Rainbow of Light to send those Puffs on a one-way trip to the pig sty they crawled out of!” Rainbow said.

“Where is the Human Realm, Applejack?”

“Gotta cross over t’ the other side o’ where th’ rainbow ends. Problem is we dun have a rainbow right now.”

“No problem!” Pinkie said, laid-back. “Rainbow can make one herself from the Cloudsdale factory she works at, right?”

“Not so easy, Pink,” Rainbow said. “You got to talk to the weather schedule guys, check the sun’s position, calculate where the ‘bow should appear, the usual. And even if we could do all that on time we’d still have to call a worker's meeting, give them the sit-rep, you know… Unless I can get permission to use the emergency generator, but it has to be assembled first. You girls won’t be able to help me, except Fluttershy.”

“Why not? Twilight could…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, the wing thing, but that's gonna take some time. Also it’s a pegasus thing, you know. Fluttershy and I better find the generator and you do the rest, have something planned out by the time we arrive.”

“Makes sense,” acknowledged Twillight. “You and Fluttershy find the generator. The rest, follow me to the library. I must check if I have books on humans and explain the situation to Spike.”

“C’mon, Fluttershy, let's get going!” And the two pegasi took off to Cloudsdale, city in the clouds.

The Ponyville Public Library was a gigantic oak, hollowed on the inside so that it would hold racks and racks of books, not to mention a room upstairs where Twilight, unofficial manager of the place, slept. Sitting around was Spike the baby dragon, who at this time was entertaining himself reading Star Trot, his favorite comic book.

Twilight and the rest immediately entered. Spike turned towards them.

“Hi, girls! What took you so long?”

“Spike, do we have books on humans?” asked Twilight.

“…Yeah, I'm fine too, thanks. How about you?”

“Argh! HELLO! HOW ARE YOU!? Are you happy now? We’re rushing here! Do we have books on humans or not?”

“Hey, settle down, will you? What happened out there? Did you get rid of those Puffs or what?”

“Listen, Spike, I can’t tell you about that right now. I have to know if we have books on humans because we’re going into their Human Realm, and we must go as prepared as possible.”

“The latter one goes without saying, but--Did you just say Human Realm? Why? What are you doing there?”

“We have to find a magical charm known as the Rainbow…”

“--LOCKET? The Rainbow Locket? THAT magical charm?” Spike was suddenly excited and eager for Twilight to tell him more.

She couldn't believe it. “You too…?”

“My great-great-grandpa was a part of that old story! The Tirac thing, right? In my family that’s practically pop culture!”

“Mine too!” Applejack said

“Your family told you the story, too, AJ? It’s the best story ever! It’s been handed down parents to kids in my family. My great-great-grandpa told my great-grandpa, and then my great-grandpa told my grandpa, and then… yeah.”

“Let’s see, so is there anypony else other than me who doesn’t know that legend?” Twilight complained. “True story!” she corrected herself when Spike and Applejack gave her indignant looks.

“My great-great-grandpa was named Spike too, and I’m named after him,” Spike said. “He was the pet of Tirac’s servant, Scorpan. Back then, all dragons were evil, except my great-great-grandpa! My great-great-grandpa was the first dragon who turned good…!”

“Wait, don’t tell me: Caped Raider is my father?"

Spike ignored the lame joke. “Hey, what if I go with you? Not that I know humans, but I know Megan Williams and her siblings.”

Twilight became amazed. She had almost never seen Spike that eager to help her with something. In fact, she had almost never seen him that willing to help her with something.

“Spike,” she began, “I doubt Megan or her immediate family are still alive. However, you could help--”

“What do you mean you doubt? After thirty years?”

“Thirty? You mean thirty million!”

“Pffft, where’d you get it’s been thirty million years in the human realm ever since that? Time is slower in the Human Realm. A million years here is a year over there.”

“That is valuable information, Spike. Thank you.”

“Spike, do you mean it? Would you really help us?”

Spike turned to whoever had asked that question, and needed a massive effort to not lose his decor after realizing it had been Rarity. “Well uh… Sure, sure I would! You’re as much my friends as… each others’… right?”

“I’m glad you worry, darling,” said Rarity. A goofy, blissful grin appeared on Spike's face and his eyes went droopy. Spike had a crush on Rarity; he was in love with her ever since the first instant he saw her. While she had no crush on him, she found him adorable and responded from time to time.

Spike turned towards Twilight once his delight had died down. “Eh… Twilight, sadly I have to tell you we don’t have books on humans, as far as I know. But I know who does.”

“Better than nothing. Who?”

“Lyra! Lyra Heartstrings!”

“The lyre player?” Rarity said, now overly excited. “I know where she lives! I’ve made more than one dress for her on occasions –it’s worthy, if not modest, to note that several of them are counted among my best-rated works- and we get along nicely. I’ve heard from very serious sources that Lyra is interested in humans, and studies them.”

“Lyra studyin’ humans? Now ah’ve heard everythin’!” said Applejack.

“Great! Think we could take her with us?” asked Pinkie as tireless as ever.

“It would be an imposition upon her good will, Pinkie,” said Twilight. “Borrowing her books will suffice.”

“But wouldn’t it be better if she came along? It would be perfect! She knows how humans live and how they deal with each other and how would deal with ponies if they met them! If she came along, she’d explain this herself and we wouldn’t have to read it from somepony we don’t even know!”

“Pinkie, Lyra can't know all of that from her own experience because she hasn’t actually gone into the human realm. On the other hoof, the books’ authors are doubtless academic scholars who may have, several times, and their writing is based on their own observations and, possibly, even on collected testimony from interviewed humans. I think it’s clear what our current best option is.”

It wasn’t clear at all for Pinkie, but she tried to persuade Twilight once more. “But…”

“But nothing!”

Pinkie’s head dropped in sadness, and a curious background music was heard, as if the smallest violin in the world played in the distance though nopony was playing any instrument.

“Easy there, Pinkie,” said Spike. “We’ll see if we can persuade her. Are you okay with that, Twilight?”

“I insist that I don’t believe--“ started Twilight, but Pinkie had instantly cheered up again and hopped up and down in joy, exclaiming “Yay!”

“Bah, whatever,” Twilight finally said. She appeared to be annoyed at the fact that she had been conceding the last word to so many beings that day. “But nonetheless, I intend to ask her to bring her books along anyway. Is that much clear?”

A gesture from Pinkie confirmed so. Rainbow and Fluttershy arrived at the library by then.

“It was tough,” said Rainbow, “but we got the generator working in time.”

“Excellent work! There’s no books about humans here, but Rarity and Spike know that they may be found in Lyra Heartstrings' home.”

“Lyra Heartstrings!” said Fluttershy. “I’ve written songs with her on occasions. You know… because I like music and all… Do you think she’ll help?”

“For our own good, she better,” noted Rarity.

“Me, myself, I’d rather not have to read anything,” said Rainbow. “What’s the good of going on adventures if you already know what’s gonna happen? It’s better to just go straight in cold. It’s more dangerous, which means it’s more exciting!”

“Perhaps, Rainbow, but most of us would like not to get too excited for this particular adventure,” said Twilight. Rainbow rolled her eyes as if saying 'you girls are so boring'.

“Hurry up, girls. Let’s go find Lyra,” finished Twilight. “Spike, would you get theTwinkling Balloon ready for departure, please?”

“Can do, chief!” With that, Spike exited the library tobegin preparing said balloon.

On the way out, before crossing the bridge over the stream outside the Library, Rainbow put the rainbow generator on the ground, hidden in a strategic spot.

“You think maybe everything’s happening to us way too fast today?”

The ponies were about to reach the gate to Midtown Ponyville. It was Fluttershy who had asked that question, and right she was. This day’s pace had been quite swift. They had to process a large amount of information in very little time, and even faster they had to act if they wanted to put an end to the Puff Princess’ plans.

“Ah agree, sugar,” Applejack said. “So many and so important things happenin’ one aft’r the other, we haven’ had time t’ catch our breath.”

“And we’re about to have even less,” Twilight affirmed. “If the total population of the Human Realm is similar to that of all pony territories combined –and that’s a big ‘if’-, there should be around eight million humans living there. But only one is Megan Williams, and we don't know which one. We’ll have to look for information that tells us who she is, where she is exactly located, and how to reach her, and even then it’s possible that we don’t succeed. We must be prepared to--stop.”

Everypony stopped.

“Hide behind that wall,” she ordered. They complied. “When I give you the signal, peer out.”

A few seconds transpired and Twilight gave them the signal. They took a peek from behind the wall (Pinkie did so from mid-air, hanging upside down) and looked out. The terrain was being patrolled by Puffs whose routes took best advantage of their field of vision, meaning they could see almost the whole place at once.

“We've got company,” said Twilight. “Don’t be seen.”

They moved slowly, hiding and stopping behind houses, sneaking past the watchers, as stealthily as possible. Rose, a florist pony, almost greeted them, but Twilight signaled her in time not to betray their position and after nodding in response, she pretended not to have seen them.

There were a couple of Puffs at the gate; one watching for ponies coming in and other for ponies coming out. Twilight whispered something to Rainbow’s ear; the pegasus nodded, left, and came back bringing a couple of rocks the size of baseballs. As a sportspony, Rainbow was the choice to throw them.

She chucked one of them at the coming-out watcher. It hit the Puff in the head.

“Hey! Why did you do that?” the Puff complained at her partner.

“I didn’t!”

“Of course you did! There’s nopony else here!”

They continued arguing like this for a short while, and then stopped. It was Applejack’s turn, since she had just persuaded Rainbow to let her throw the other rock at the other Puff.

“Why are you hitting me?”

“What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!”

“Of course it was you!”

“No! YOU hit me first!”

“No! YOU just hit me!”

The ponies immediately used the diversion to sneak out of the gate and away to safety.

“Brilliant, Twilight,” said Rarity. “Simply brilliant.”

“Ah dun think them two know the good of workin'ogether, did 'em?” Applejack said. “Turns out it's true what mah Granny always says, they who stick t’gether, they clear all the hurdles, but they fightin’ each other, they always lose!”

“Divide and conquer,” remarked Rainbow.

“Well yeah, sugarcube," said Applejack, "it’s somethin’ more or less like that.”

“We’re in Midtown now. There doesn’t seem to be anypony watching here, but we have to follow the fastest route from here to Lyra’s house. Rarity, how far are we?”

“It depends. Where are we?”

Twilight checked the road signs. “Two steps from the corner of 7th and Shetland.”

“Then we should be about five blocks away. I’ll lead, girls. I know the way like the shin of my leg.”

Following Rarity, the ponies reached the street Lyra lived in. They spotted, but avoided, a few more sentinels.

Lyra Heartstrings didn’t go out very often, and so little was known about her that all details about her life were made up by others. She was okay with this, because she had a curious habit of parroting them as if they were true. She was generally "eccentric" - prone to contradicting herself on the spot -especially about herself- and, seemingly, not realizing she just had. Her special talent was playing the lyre with the best of them. Not surprising, for at a tender age she had discovered her love of music and of playing the aforementioned instrument

Lyra was perhaps best known not for her talents, but for living with Bon Bon, her best friend. Despite being a musician in high demand, Lyra didn't make much money and had to pay her rent. Bon Bon (whom nopony called by her real name) had once offered to be her roommate to pay half rent each. From that day on, the two were absolutely inseparable. Ponies said they looked good together, and they always blushed and giggled at this.

At this time, Lyra was alone. Bon Bon had gone out for groceries only a few minutes before the Puffs attacked Equestria. Lyra had tried to go out and find her, but the Puffs stopped her, citing “orders from above” not allow anypony too far from their present location. They refused to tell her what had become of Bon Bon and did not let her keep in touch with her. Thus Lyra felt useless, incomplete. She would have given every ounce of musical prowess inher to see her friend again.

A tapping sound interrupted her thoughts. She reacted, looked around, and saw a clean white hoof tapping theback window.

“Rarity?” was her first thought. Indeed it was her, along with her friends. Rarity gestured and mouthed for Lyra to open the window, which she did.

“Lyra, darling!” greeted Rarity after she and the other five entered the house through the window, with some difficulty. “It’s a miracle you’re still alive!”

“My Beezy, Rarity, what the hay are you doing here? How did they not see you…?”

“No time for that,” interrupted Twilight. “Lyra, we need to ask you a favor.”

“Sure, Twilight… how can I help you?”

“Spike told me that you owned books about human beings, and Rarity confirmed you’re interested in the study of humans. Is this true?”

Lyra frowned. “Who told you that?” she asked Rarity.

“Petina, of course!” was the answer.

Lyra's face became angry and annoyed at the same time. “That gossipy little--” she whispered.

“Pardon?”

“The fact is I’m sorry to disappoint you, Twilight,” said Lyra, “but that’s only half true. I don’t study humans. I’ve never considered studying them. I've never even seen one!” Pinkie whimpered in disappointment. Lyra went on, “But I can’t deny I’m very interested in them, and some day I would like to visit their Realm and see them with my own eyes.” Pinkie cheered up again. Lyra finished, “I have a lot of books on them, but I really only read them for entertainment, nothing serious. You wanted to borrow them?”

“Given the circumstances, that would be a little… complicated,” answered Twilight, “but we need them immediately. We happen to be going to their realm in search of the Rainbow Locket. Do you know that story?”

“Yes, I’ve heard of it,” Lyra replied. “How strange, Twilight. Since when are you the type to believe in old legends?”

“She ain't,” Applejack declared.

“Oh, okay! So then, you want to borrow my books to know how the Human Realm is like, how human behavior is like and stuff… to be prepared?”

“Pinkie wanted you to come, but I believe…"

“Well, I believe it's better to leave my books here and go with you, if that’s not a problem.”

“Lyra, I don’t want to impose upon you…”

“No, Twilight, I insist. It's not imposing upon me, it’s a necessity. I’d better come along.”

“Why?”

Lyra began to speak more frankly. “Twilight, you probably don’t remember this, but I knew you in Canterlot when you still lived there, and I’ve never seen a more literal living being than you. These books cannot and must not be followed to the letter. Humans are a complicated, unpredictable species, and every human thinks and reacts differently. Writing an operations manual to deal with all of them is simply impossible. And it horrors me to think of what could happen to you because you thought following the books’ tips to the letter was the only choice and ended up offending someone. For your own good, Twilight, and mine, I insist on coming along.”

Twilight had begun to think of an answer when Lyra spoke again.

“On the other hoof, I don’t think you could have used my books anyway. If it’s true what one of the authors, an acquaintance of mine, has said, then establishing contact with humans would be extremely dangerous.”

Rainbow got excited at the sound of the word ‘dangerous’. “Really? There’s danger about talking to humans?”

“Yes, Rainbow, there is.”

“I LOVE IT! Tell me more, tell me more!”

“Well… it seems a human woman has written and published a series of children’s stories about Equestria and us in the Human Realm. Apparently, these stories are so successful that a group of humans, overnight, with no warning, have turned into...”

She hesitated, as if she didn’t dare say the rest.

“Into what?” they asked.

“Well… ever seen the fans of Sapphire Shores, or Vinyl Scratch?”

The Six backed over in terror, as if they’d heard the name of the very devil itself. “Exactly,” Lyra said.

Applejack was astounded. “Woo… Is it that bad?”

“It's worse,” Lyra said ominously. “Another group of humans have declared themselves enemies of the woman, and of anyone who likes what she writes.”

“Jumpin’ cinnamon rolls, sweetie, that’s… horrible!”

“And that's not the end of it. There have been increasingly cruel civil confrontations around the world because of that. Some countries have banned the woman’s works, and the resulting riots in the streets are a mess. Now imagine seven ponies suddenly showing up in the middle of humans and they’re discovered. What would happen?”

Fluttershy screamed in horror. Only she knew what had she imagined, and she shook her head in denial.

Rainbow couldn’t have been more excited. “I, CAN’T, BEE, LEAVE-IT! What are we waiting for? This would be the adventure of our lives! Seven ponies standing together against the world looking for an ancient source of power! The fate of the pony species, Equestria, the world, THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, could be lying on our backs! Action! Adventure!”

“Overprotective conservative mothers forcing the cancellation of our TV show! Aren’t you excited too, kids?” added Pinkie, with nopony knowing what the heck was she talking about or to whom.

However, the other ponies’ reaction to Rainbow’s self-centered enthusiasm were enough to knock her off her high cloud completely. Suddenly Rainbow felt slight regret about acting like she had been since the whole thing started. She couldn’t help it, but still…

“Hey, girls,” she said, apologetic, “you don’t have to go if you don’t want to deal with me. ‘Specially you, Fluttershy. I think I've been treating you the worst.”

“Rainbow, you might be selfish”, Fluttershy responded, “but you’re my friend, and I’ll never leave you alone. Doesn’t mean I’m… not afraid… but we’ll stick with you till the end.”

“Thanks, babe.” Rainbow’s words were sincere; she truly loved her friends. “You know, deep down, I dunno how you put up with me.”

“None of us do, dear, but who cares?” Rarity said with a giggle.

If something defined the Mane Six, it was their unusual ability to understand each other despite having attitudes each found unbearable. While Rainbow was selfish and Fluttershy cowardly, Rarity was excessively meticulous, Applejack stubborn, Twilight had very little imagination, and Pinkie, well... was Pinkie. That they could all be friends with each other, despite all that, was the ultimate testament to the true power of friendship.

“If you’re ready to depart, ladies,” a resolute Lyra said, “we’ll depart. Hope nothing happens to Bon Bon…”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight said. “We’ll find the Locket, and save Equestria from the Puffs. I’m certain.”

“Twilight, are we still looking for Megan Williams?” Fluttershy asked. “Because if what Lyra says is true..."

“Megan Williams? Wait a minute, you mean you’re looking for that human?” Lyra was even more incapable of containing her excitement than Rainbow. “Why didn't you say so from the beginning? Wait here.”

She ran out of the living room and returned with a pile of books, the same books she had been insisting on not bringing along. “Here they are. The trip’s instantaneous, so I’ll explain when we’re there. I warn you--don't let any humans, except Megan or her family, see you under any circumstances or for any reason. It’s the first piece of advice I can give you right now. Do you have a way to make an emergency rainbow?”

“I hid a generator near the library,” Rainbow said. “I’ll punch it on before leaving.”

“Then, let’s go!” said Twilight.

They exited through the same window through which they had entered. Prior to this, they levitated the books out the window. They had already avoided the sentinels, and were almost up to the Midtown gate.

“We must make haste. We left Spike at the Library, and I don’t wish to make him wait any longer. If…”

“Rainbow! Hi, Rainbow! How are you, best friend ever, huh?”

Who else but Derpy Hooves would greet Rainbow and thus unwittingly betray their position! She seemed to have also escaped her guard's sights unwittingly.

It seemed, as well, that the sky was falling on Twilight and the rest when the Puffs pointed them out and identified them.

“There they are!!”

“RUN! RUN!” Twilight said. The Puffs initiated a chase.

Rainbow got a last moment to yell "And just you wait until I get back!" at Derpy.

The ponies reached the Library, having managed to evade their pursuers - but not by much. The Puffs knew where were they headed, and would soon catch up with them again. They had to leave Equestria as soon as possible.

“Spike! Spike!” called Twilight, to no answer. “Where the hay could he be? Spike!” She went outside. “Spike! Where are you?”

A call of “Twilight!” was heard from the great, pink and purple hot air Twinkling Balloon, ready to go and tied by a rope to a stake on the ground. “C’mere!”

Twilight gestured the others to follow her outside. Spike was hiding in the balloon’s basket.

“Why are you late?” he said.

“We ran into some old enemies… What are you doing in there?”

“Some Puffs showed up for a bit and then left, but I heard something like they have orders to destroy any creature who isn’t a pony, so I hid in here.”

“What?” Twilight shook her head immediately after having said that. “No matter, you’ll tell me later. We must leave before…!”

A scream of “GET THEM!” was heard from several hundred miles away.

The Puffs had caught up with them! Now there were more of them than there had been at the beginning of the chase, and General Spit’s ship, with its full crew, was also there. They were trapped!

“Here they come! Let's get out of here!”

Spike quickly climbed on top of the Balloon; Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Lyra got inside its basket, and Pinkie held on to the rope that held the Balloon to the ground. Rainbow turned, pulled some controls on the rainbow generator, and turned it on; like a movie projector, the generator cast a bright rainbow in the distance.

Immediately, Pinkie untied the rope while still holding on to it. The Balloon took off and floated away; Twilight was able to steer it with magic. She aimed immediately for the rainbow. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were flying in formation at the Balloon’s sides; Pinkie held on the rope as tight as she could so she wouldn't plummet back to the ground; Spike had a lookout post on top; the rest fit in the basket.

General Spit gave an order to her crew. “Increase speed to maximum, and prepare a boarding party.” The jewel on her forehead gleamed with her wrath.

“...How do we board a hot air balloon?”

“You work with what you have, soldier!”

“They’re gonna get us!” said Applejack. “Can’t we make this thing’ go fast’ah?”

“The Sonic Rainboom!” Pinkie said.

“That's right!! Rainbow could give us a boost!” Fluttershy said as loud as her own shyness would allow.

“Yeah!” Rainbow liked the idea. “If Twilight could make a shielding spell around the Balloon and everypony, except me, I could break the sound barrier while I push the shield forward!"

“Why did you have to generate the rainbow so far away?” Twilight asked.

“In case they would be chasing after us, but they’re gaining on us quicker than I thought! Quick, Twilight, do it!”

“Alright, here goes nothing!”

Twilight tightly closed her eyes, and her horn shone like a star in the night sky. Almost any unicorn could do magic, but Twilight's required concentration beyond concentration. The slightest distraction would make the spell fail.

ZOOOM! A laser blast grazed the Balloon and Twilight lost her concentration for a moment. ZAPPPP! Another blast almost scorched Pinkie’s tail; she raised it just in time.

The Puff ship was firing on them; jetpack-wearing Puffs emerged from an opening hatch on its hull. It was the boarding party that Spit had ordered earlier.

“Hurry up, Twilight! They’re coming fast!”

“Don’t worry, Rainbow! I can do it…!”

She repeated the words to herself mentally as she closed her eyes again. “I can do it... I can do it… I can do it…”

And she did it! After a great struggle, Twilight was eventually able to deploy an invisible shield which enveloped the entire Balloon, its occupants, and Fluttershy, but not Rainbow.

Rainbow stretched her forelegs out to feel the magic shield; with all her strength, she pushed it forward, her wings flapping the fastest they could. Slowly but surely, she began to pick up speed.

Spit's ship was closing in on her. Rainbow dodged the laser beams it fired. Dodging laser artillery was all in a day's work for her. The real problem was that they also hit the shield. If hit enough, it could be weakened and even completely destroyed.

The boarding party rocketed away at full throttle, gunning straight for Rainbow...

And then it happened. Rainbow hit peak speed. She, the Balloon and the wind all seemed to become as one; ruthless, unstoppable. She had broken the sound barrier and caused the jetpack Puffs to wipe out of the sky; as this happened, the sweat on Rainbow's body was left behind, and the shining of her cyan coat refracted through it, making a rainbow - small but dazzling. She had just pulled off the Sonic Rainboom, just the speed boost she needed to cross the generated rainbow in the distance. Upon doing so, she and her friends vanished into thin air with a bright white flash, like a small explosion.

“Confound everything!” screamed General Spit. “FULL POWER! AFTER THEM!”

The Puff ship throttled to full power and crossed the rainbow in pursuit of the Mane Six, disappearing in the same fashion.

The Puff Princess was receiving a report from one of her underlings.

“Are you sure you’ve looked everywhere?”

“Completely sure, our Princess. All non-pony creatures of Equestria have disappeared from our sight without a trace.”

“Odd. The only possible explanation I can imagine is that Celestia gave them an evacuation signal as soon as she realized we were coming. Clearly she thought herself able to get rid of me and then call the beasts back 'home'. Surely she must have expected that the 'emergency' wouldn’t last long, and she would have… ‘restored order’ before anypony could notice. Alas, what she did was to fail more spectacularly than she was destined to.” The Puff Princess sighed. “Poor little thing. I could have been on good terms with her... but she chose to be what she is. Now she will pay the price for her excessive kindness.”

She closed her eyes. “General Spit, can you hear me?”

“There’s some interference, oh our Princess, but we hear you fine.”

“Where are you?”

“In the Human Realm. We crossed over to the other side of where the rainbow ends just soon after they did, but we haven’t found them yet. They're nowhere in sight. We assume that we haven’t landed on the same region of the Human Realm as they did. Presently, we’re looking for something to refuel the ship with. After that is done, we shall proceed with the search.”

“Keep me informed, Spit. Report to me as soon as you’ve found those ponies. Bring them to me... alive!”