"Where is everyone? Where's Applejack and Pinkie and Rainbow? And where's my dress?" Rarity snorted angrily.
"Yeah! Tell us where they are or I'll make you!" Twilight threatened.
"Ha ha ha! How so?" Black Stargazer laughed.
"With spells. How the hell did you expect me to?" Twilight angrily responded.
Black Stargazer let out a snort of amusement, "You haven't noticed yet? Your magic doesn't work here. It's actually cute that you didn't realize by now. Only bat ponies can use magic here."
Rarity looked at her, confused, "Why could I pick up that needle earlier then?"
"Because, it's associated with your cutie mark. Just like the other pony can pick up books. Speaking of her," Black Stargazer stepped close to Twilight, "She's an alicorn, huh? How curious. The last time any pony here has seen an alicorn was ages ago."
Twilight gulped, "Heh heh..." She chuckled nervously, "What does that mean?"
"It means, dear, that ponies will be trying to kill you. And what does that mean? It means that YOUR Equestria will be without a princess. And what does that mean? It means tha-"
"I get it! Okay? What do I do?" She muttered.
"Luckily for you, I was the one to find you. Follow me, you two. And stay quiet!"
The three ponies trotted through the shadows, making as little noise as possible. Black Stargazer quietly led them to a small elevator.
"We don't usually have visitors. We'll need to go one at a time. You two go first. It's unsafe for you to be up here for too long." Black Stargazer sighed.
Rarity and Twilight gulped.
"You first, dear," Rarity invited nervously.
Twilight stepped into the elevator and disappeared, followed by Rarity.
"What is this place?" Rarity gasped, running to a wall, "Oh my! Look at those gemstones! I've never seen them before!"
"Rarity! Wait! You were told not to get into trouble! Stop!" Twilight exclaimed. Rarity sighed and walked back towards the elevator.
Black Stargazer stepped out of the elevator, "By the way, I never caught your names?"
Twilight smacked her hoof on her face, realizing that, "Oh! I'm so sorry! I'm Twilight Sparkle. And this is-"
"Wait! You're Twilight Sparkle? That's impossible! She's been dead for years!"
"What? No I haven't! I've been alive and well! Ask Rarity!"
"Who's Rarity?" Black Stargazer queried.
"Rarity, darling. The pleasure's all mine, but you need to get your mane trimmed. It's dreadful, my dear." Rarity grumbled.
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Black Stargazer growled.
"It was too dark for me to see you clearly."
"What in the fuck is this place anyways?" Twilight asked.
"Glad you asked. Come through here, please," Black Stargazer hurried them towards a door and opened it, "After you."
The excited chatter from a room full of bat ponies was heard, "Whoa!"
"Welcome to the Shadow Ponies alliance!" said Black Stargazer excitedly.
"Huh?" Twilight and Rarity said in unison.
She groaned, "After Princess Celestia and Princess Luna turned against one another, Princess Luna reverted back to her form as Nightmare Moon. Chaos spread across Equestria like wildfire. Celestia could no longer keep Luna at bay, and was overthrown. Luna was the only one left. Nightmare Moon trapped all ponies and transformed them into bat ponies. All previously existing bat ponies were recruited as her guards. Nightmare Moon continued to spread her hatred through Equestria. Almost all bat ponies will kill earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns out of spite. Nightmare Moon promised a great reward to any pony who kills an alicorn and presents their corpse to her."
Twilight's eyes widened in terror, "What? Are you shitting me?"
"Unfortunately not. Keeping you safe will most definitely be a challenge. But we'll try," Black Stargazer sighed.
Twilight jumped with a sudden realization, "Cadence, Flurryheart, and Shining Armor! Are they-"
"Shining Armor is a bat pony now. Cadence and Flurryheart are in hiding. We haven't been able to locate them."
"Oh, dear. Well this certainly won't do, now, will it? I suppose we'll need to find them first," Rarity exclaimed.
"But that's impossible! We've been searching for over two years!" Black Stargazer gasped.
"We'll just have to try," said Twilight.
Rarity blinked her eyes open, dizzy, "Ugh..." She moaned, head pounding.
She staggered to her feet and walked over to her desk. Rarity seated herself and picked up her needle to finish a dress she had been working on, only to find it had vanished.
"Well, that just won't do!" Rarity grumbled. She got back to her hooves and searched for the dress. After a while, she grew tired.
"Maybe Applejack could help me," Rarity thought aloud, "Yes, that's truly brilliant!"
Exiting the house, she looked at the streets, "Odd, why is it so empty out here?" Rarity asked.
She started on her way to Apple Acres when Twilight suddenly ran up to her.
"Rarity! Thank goodness! I was looking everywhere for you!" Twilight exclaimed, relief lighting her eyes, "I can't find Pinkie or Rainbow Dash!"
"Well, I was on my way to find Applejack. Maybe they're with her?" Rarity suggested.
"Okay. I'll come with you. I hope they're alright," Twilight stuttered worriedly.
"Oh, Twilight, dear. It will be fine. They're probably all having fun and drinking apple cider. We all know that it's the best in Equestria when Applejack's family makes it," She soothed.
"Oh, I hope so," Twilight said.
They continued trotting out to Apple Acres, occasionally asking a question or making a joke or pun to lighten the mood. But as they approached the farm, they noticed something.
"Rarity?" Twilight whispered.
"Yes?"
"Why is no pony running the cider stand? And why is no pony camping in the line?"
Rarity's eyes widened in horror, "Twilight..."
"What?" She asked nervously.
"I think we're the only ones here!"
Suddenly, a chuckle sounded behind them. They whipped their heads around in fear, "Who's that? Show yourself!"
The silhouette of a pony revealed itself from the shadows, "I am Black Stargazer. I can help you," she chuckled, eyes glinting in the darkness, "That is, If you wish."
