A lot had been explained. Twilight didn’t know how to initially react. After a brief display of chaos, Enclave soldiers surrounding the massive dragon, Study Guide was forced to threaten the commander to stand down or risk a photo being leaked to the missus.

The emotion that was there between both her and the dragon was unmistakable. There was some odd mixture of regret that Twilight couldn’t explain, something deep in her mind telling her that this dragon… was Spike.

She had several images in her mind that she wasn’t able to interpret the origin from. She remembered… an organization, a war, and the feeling of abandoning her own. Standing outside on the ground and facing him, she muttered in disbelief, “This doesn’t make sense.”

“A lot doesn’t make sense right now,” said the older Spike. “I… never thought I would see this day.”

Twilight could see that the dragon, although he was big and strong now, was trying to hold back tears, heavy breathing coming from him. “Did I really do this…?” she asked. “Did I really leave you behind?”

“No,” said Watcher. “It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have… I mean, I... It’s hard to explain when you don’t remember a thing about the past.”

Twilight felt the tug of the original Spike on her wing. “Twilight? Is that really…?”

Twilight was at a loss for words. She looked down at the small baby dragon with hesitance. “I don’t know what’s going on,” she said. “I keep remembering events that I’ve never been through.”

“There was no war in your world, was there?” asked the older Spike. “Things turned out better, didn’t they? I see those wings on you, and it makes me think that you did a lot of things right.”

Twilight wanted to scream. There was some kind of strange burst of emotion within her chest, one of intense sadness that she couldn’t get rid of. It was like she was going through an entirely different set of events. “I… I couldn’t have--- I… I need answers! What’s going on?!”

Study Guide approached, a look of skepticism on her face. “Forgive me if I’m interrupting, but I don’t think this is really the time. The Enclave are eager to pull the trigger right now.”

“Can’t you just get ‘em to stand down?” asked Dash.

“I would, but blackmail can only get me so far,” replied Study. “The commander is very upset right now and I don’t think a dragon standing in front of the tower is good for business.”

“Hold on now,” said Applejack. “This guy ain’t hurtin’ nobody. Why so hostile?”

“It’s a literal dragon,” answered Study Guide, annoyance in her voice. “What the fuck do you expect me to do about it? Of course the Enclave are gonna want to shoot it.”

“Maybe I should talk to him elsewhere for a bit,” said Twilight. “I need to gather up these feelings anyway, so a short fly should help me.”

“So you’ll take him elsewhere?” questioned Study. “Fine by me. It’s one less headache I’ve gotta worry about. Actually, make that two since you’ll be gone for a bit as well.”

Twilight flew up and hovered in front of the older Spike. “Let’s take this somewhere else, okay?”

“That’s fine,” said Spike. “We can catch up without interruptions. There’s just a lot I have to say.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

Chrysalis stood atop a nearby building, her changelings having been forced into line by Tirek. It was odd, as Tirek had absorbed some sort of ambient magic from the surrounding area, and he was getting bigger and bigger every few hours. While this gave Chrysalis some concern, she brushed it off and hoped there would be a limit to how much Tirek could hold.

“This will be the day I start my conquest,” said Chrysalis. “After I take this tower, I will take every settlement, one at a time, cementing my hold in this pitiful realm.”

“I feel like we should start off with taking out the bigger forces in the tower,” said Tirek. “Leaves the weak enemies to clean up later once we get rid of the real threat. Those teams on top are probably one of the less-prepared, seeing as they’d expect almost nopony to fly up there. It’d be suicide to do that.”

“We’ll take out the soldiers inside first,” said Chrysalis. “Get some rumors to spread of betrayal. These stupid ponies will be at each other’s throats, allowing us to take out only a few to start the real fight.”

“They’ll all think the pony closest to them is the enemy, right?” asked Cozy. “You’d have to be quite the manipulator to get them to become that paranoid.”

“I’m a changeling queen,” said Chrysalis. “I’ve had centuries of experience…”

“Then what are we waiting for?” asked Tirek. “Standing around isn’t going to do anything, unless… you already have your forces inside?”

Chrysalis’ lips slowly turned upward, parting into a sinister grin, her sharp teeth bared. “They’re already spreading the word as we speak.”

“And the changelings behind us?” asked Tirek, looking back at the group.

“These will be the forces to come in and take over once the enemy has taken enough of themselves out,” explained Chrysalis.

“Why didn’t you do this in Canterlot?” asked Cozy.

Chrysalis’ grin vanished, the annoyed queen looking down upon the small filly. “Clearly, it seemed as though my plan was certain years ago.”

Tirek smirked. “For a queen with ‘hundreds of years of experience’, you sure are messy with tactics.”

“Don’t talk down to me,” warned Chrysalis. “I’m the one in charge of these changelings. I could be rid of either of you if I wanted.”

“Oh, is that so?” questioned Tirek, folding his now-muscular arms. “Then why haven’t you done so?”

“Maybe it’s because… she considers us her friends,” Cozy pointed out with a smug smile on her face.

“I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND!” shouted Chrysalis, straining her voice from yelling. “I am Queen Chrysalis, the mistress of deception, the ruler of all changelings! I need no friends!”

“Golly, that makes me wonder why we’re still here,” Cozy queried.

“Maybe we should go elsewhere,” suggested Tirek. “Cozy and I can get a lot done on our own.”

“If we want to get back home, I am likely your best bet with my experience in magic,” reasoned Chrysalis. “I can get us the information we need.”

Cozy glared, wanting a way to get to Chrysalis’ nerves, but she was out of funny comments and rude remarks at the moment. Tirek stayed silent as well until he noticed something on the ground by the tower.

“Now that the dragon has left, I’m still wondering what that thing is down there,” he said.

“What thing?” asked Cozy, trying to see what he was referring to.

“It looks like a diamond dog that’s been beefed up by spells,” said Tirek. “I’ve only seen muscles like that on either minotaurs or magically-enhanced creatures.”

“I doubt he’ll be a problem,” said Chrysalis. “It’s just one diamond dog.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

“It’s just one hellhound,” said Double Blind. “Right?”

“Overgrown hellhounds are always growing,” said Study, looking out the window at Brute. “Each one grows at a different rate. What I want to know is how fast this one is growing.”

Double Blind, looking down at his can of… jiggly food stuff, said, “Well, that clearly depends on how old it is, right? We can compare that, right?”

“Only if we knew what size he was born at,” said Study. “Every hellhound grows at a different rate, and just because of his age, I still can’t compare because we’d also need to take puberty into consideration. They grow faster during these periods, but it’s not known whether or not they keep that increased growing speed or lose traction.”

“Why do you know so much about them?” asked Double.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” Study asked back. “I’m out in the field every day, doing research on any subject the Enclave asks of me. I’m one of the reasons they were able to make those damned mind control devices. Fucking took my research and used it to attempt a takeover on their minds.”

“We what?” questioned Double. “Sorry, I don’t have access to every document yet.”

Study leaned back in her chair, rolling it away from the window and back to her terminal, her eyes glancing over the green text. “You just need to know that the Enclave is full of corruption.”

“Why join?” asked Double.

Study Guide blinked. She didn’t expect that question. “Uh… That’s complicated. Grew up a prodigy, fell in love, shit happened.”

Double Blind jabbed a fork into the food stuff, only to find that he couldn’t pull it back out. His eyes narrowing in concern, he asked, “Did something happen, if I may ask? I’ve never heard you mentioning a partner.”

“Nope,” Study said quietly, her wings pressing buttons on the terminal. “Jeez, you ask a lot of questions, almost dangerously so.”

“Isn’t that your job, though?” Double Blind responded. “Asking questions and such?”

Study Guide continued to type, not even answering. It made the silence awkward. Double Blind stood up, looking down at the can in his wing.

“I think I need another can,” he said. “This one might have a life of its own. It won’t give my fork back.”

“Uh-huh,” muttered Study. “You go do that.”

As Double Blind left the room, Study’s wings relaxed, the pegasus letting out a sigh. Looking at a framed picture on her desk, she pulled it closer, seeing her children in the picture. She thought back to that day, the day she received the news.

“I’m sorry to inform you, ma’am, but… your husband won’t be coming back.”

It was supposed to be a harmless mission. He was just supposed to guard an abandoned building until the team inside was done. No one knew where the swarm had come from. It was just so sudden, a group of ghouls running out of nowhere.

The investigation team had ruled out any foul play. It was a check gone wrong. They were supposed to have looked everywhere for hazards that they should’ve been aware of, but even then, they had somehow missed an open cellar. Celestia only knew why.

She knew that when she had married him, there’d be the risk of losing him, but with his confidence, it had spread to her, making her think nothing bad could happen. She was wrong and he was gone, just like that. Since then, she had isolated herself from her coworkers, doing most of her work alone unless she had to go out into the field.

Drinking helped, but not by much. She could only drown so much of the sorrow. Suffering from alcohol addiction, she just couldn’t stop. It only took one bottle out of desperation. She was about to put on a bit of music when Double Blind came back in.

“They wouldn’t let me grab another,” he said. “We’re low on rations right now.”

Study Guide simply nodded slowly. “Mhm…”

“Are you okay?” asked Double Blind. “I’m studying to be a therapist, so maybe I could help you out a little?”

“Shut the fuck up,” she replied, grabbing a bottle off her desk. “I don’t need therapy. I need a drink.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

Twilight and Spike had talked about quite a bit. The details of Twilight’s involvement in the war had astounded her, but what was more shocking to her was what had happened to Spike for the last two hundred years.

Twilight sat upon the top of an old pile of concrete rubble, looking at the larger Spike with mixed feelings. “I can’t explain why,” said Twilight, “but I feel like all of this is my fault.”

“Your fault, no,” said Spike. “It was a domino that fell way before you had ever been put in charge of a ministry. Dominos kept falling until the last one was reached. I don’t think it was possible to stop it.”

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” said Twilight, choking back feelings that weren’t her own.

Spike closed his one eye, a solitary tear dripping down his scaly face. “I… I’ve missed you so much. I don’t ever want to go another century without you, but I know you have to go back home…”

Twilight didn’t know what to do. There didn’t seem to be a way she could comfort him. She could tell him it was okay now, but when looking at all the desolation around her, it was impossible to even consider it that way. She flew up to his face, hugging his muzzle as best she could, resting her cheek on it. “I’m sorry!” she tried to say, only for her words to mess up from the overwhelming emotion.

Spike sniffled, then pulled away. He looked down at the pile of rubble, seeing the smaller version of himself. He smiled and said, “I’m sorry you have to see yourself like this. Bet you were hoping to be the big strong dragon who doesn’t cry.”

The smaller, younger Spike shook his head. “After spending time with both ponies and dragons like Ember, I’ve learned it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to have feelings.”

“You’ve learned a lot, then,” said the older Spike. “Don’t ever take Twilight for granted. You’re lucky you still have her. I’ll never see my Twilight ever again…”

Young Spike scratched the back of his neck. “While we’re on the topic of there being two of me, how do we distinguish our names? Young Spike and Old Spike just kinda seems repetitive.”

“Just… call me Watcher for now,” said the older Spike. “That’ll help us avoid confusion…”

Twilight looked at both of them, concern in her eyes. “I didn’t think I’d ever be having this kind of moment. It’s very confusing and emotional and I don’t think I can handle much more of it without breaking down. I keep getting these flashbacks of memories that aren’t mine.”

Watcher looked on with a squinted eye. “Memories that aren’t yours…?”

Twilight landed back onto the pile of rubble, facing him. “Like, they’re my memories, but they’re not my memories.”

“I think I see what’s going on,” said Watcher. “It may be because you’re stuck here where you shouldn’t be. Now I’m wondering what would happen if you stay here for too long.”

“If that’s the case, the girls and I will have to hurry it up with our friendship lessons,” Twilight concluded. “We’ll need help to teach everyone in the wasteland the importance of friendship. But after that, and when we leave, what… will you do?”

Watcher stayed silent. From Twilight’s perspective, it was obvious that he didn’t know what he would do after she’d leave. He eventually just said, “I’ll figure it out… Right now, let’s focus on you and the others. If you leave, I think I can finally feel some remnant of peace now that I’ve spoken with you. It won’t be easy, but I’ll do what I can, at least for you.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

Taipan’s nose twitched. It was a familiar scent she knew all too well. Walking around the tower, she could tell that there were hatelings in the area. Sensing them was something her species had evolved to do long ago, and right now, her nose just kept picking them up.

Zone, who had been wandering beside her, could see that the scorpony was very focused. “Is something the matter?” Zone asked. “You seem very uneasy.”

“I smell prey close by in the building,” Taipan explained as she put her nose in the air, sniffing for a solid trail.

“But aren’t your natural prey hatelings?” Zone questioned. “If that is the case, why would they be here?”

“I dunno, but find out I will. Sniff them out I shall,” said Taipan.

“Your way of speaking sounds familiar,” said Zone. “I just cannot place where I have heard it from. Do you think you can lead on?”

“Let’s go then,” said Taipan, beginning to follow the scent. “Something different about this one,” she commented.

The trail was hot, and it led Taipan and Zone to the stairs, where they were taped off. Zone and Taipan looked at each other, and without hesitation, Zone simply slammed her tail down on the tape, clearing the way. She looked at her tail, however, in frustration, tape now stuck to it.

“It is not easy having a tail I can hardly reach myself,” complained Zone. “Later on, I will remove it. For now, we go.”

As they continued on to the upper levels and down a hallway, Taipan’s senses had led them up to a door at the end. Zone looked at Taipan, her hoof on the handle, slowly turning it before bashing open the door, hoping to have the element of surprise on their side.

In the room was… a very strange sight. While Taipan could most certainly identify the smell of a hateling, it didn’t look like a hateling in the slightest. The male creature stared at both of them, obviously startled. “Uh, can I help you?” he asked.

Taipan, without hesitation, lunged at the creature with the fury of a thousand suns plus three cats. “Become food, prey!”

The multicolored creature jumped out of the way, eyes wide with surprise. “Hey! What are you doing?! I’m not food!”

Zone rushed in, her hooves ready to strike. The creature, upon seeing her, flew up to the ceiling to avoid being pummeled by an angry zebra and a half-mutated bug. Zone, looking up, was not appreciative of his ability to fly. How she wished she had dragon wings as well.

“Get down,” Taipan warned Zone as she charged her tail. She then fired her pin missile attack indoors at the ceiling.

The creature was hit in various places, but his chitin was rather resistant, just barely saving him from certain doom. “Could you stop that?!” he asked.

“Not until you get in my belly,” Taipan hissed. “It’s been long time since I eat good food.”

Study Guide walked into the room, staring at the odd scene. She took a swig from her bottle, then asked, “Could you refrain from making a bloody mess in my fucking workspace?”

“Could you get me some real bloody food,” Taipan barked back.

“If I give you a literal map of hateling settlements, will you back the fuck down and cease your primitive behavior?” offered Study. “This hateling in particular is important and needs to be kept alive.”

“I’m not a hateling,” said the multicolored bug. “I’m Thorax, a changeling.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you’re called,” said Study. “Be thankful I’m saving your ass.”

“You expect me to not have food right here?” Taipan asked as she stomped her hoof in frustration. “It's like asking you to not drink.”

“I expect you to behave the way any of you would act when you’re on another pony’s territory,” responded Study Guide. “You expect me to just let you have your way? I could literally order the entire damn building to shoot you until you’re turned to dust. Now, if you do not accept my terms, then feel free to leave. Otherwise, I will literally take you down with a broken glass bottle myself.”

Taipan readied her stinger and got into a combat position. “You welcome to try.”

Study had gone through more shit than she needed to. The mare smashed her bottle against the cloud brick wall, holding the top half by the neck as she stared down the scorpony with the same look as any angry mother. “One. Last. Chance,” she warned. “Walk away, or I will have you detained.”

Zone, noticing that the situation was getting a little too tense, stepped in between the two. “I think it may be agreeable to take the map,” suggested Zone to Taipan. “If you really think about it, you will have knowledge of where more ‘food’ would be, yes? To turn it down is like turning down a feast, is it not?”

Taipan snorted, but said nothing as she visibly lowered her tail. Her stomach echoed throughout the room with a low growl. Study Guide tossed aside the bottle. “Made me waste a good brand,” she muttered under her breath. “Go wait with your friends and I’ll get you the map. For now, I need to speak with the walking-talking pride parade.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

Twilight and Watcher had both decided on returning to the tower so that Twilight could discuss the plan with her friends. He had given her crucial information on something that would change the wasteland and fix a lot of the damage done from the war. Although it wouldn’t teach ponies the magic of friendship, Twilight felt that she and her friends would help with that with what they had all already discussed.

The tower, standing out amongst the other buildings, seemed different. Twilight couldn’t place her hoof on it. Then she noticed as she approached the roof. The guards were gone. As she landed, she looked back at Watcher and asked, “Maybe it’s best you stay back a bit. I don’t want them coming back out here and threatening you.”

Watcher noted the absence of guards as well. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

Twilight felt like something was wrong, but she also didn’t want to come back outside to find that the Enclave had decided to fire their weapons at him. “Uh… just in case,” she said. “If something’s wrong, I’ll come get you.”

Watcher didn’t seem to like the idea, but he didn’t ask any further questions. “Be careful,” he said. “I’ll be where we just were earlier.”

Twilight flashed him a nervous smile, a bad feeling in her stomach. As he flew away with heavy wing flaps, she went inside, using the elevator. Upon descending down to the floor where her friends were, she heard incoherent arguing getting louder, multiple ponies talking over each other aggressively. When the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened, she was met with chaos.

Ponies were fighting each other, many going after certain individuals while other groups had tried to hold back the rabble. On the ground, there were already ponies with red dripping from their wings and their backs, scorch marks on their hides and their armor as they laid lifeless.

“What in Equestria is going on here?!” shouted Twilight.

Applejack ran up to her, jumping past a pegasus who was flailing to land a kick to another pony. “Uh, you might wanna come back with us to the room. We don’t know what’s goin’ on right now! Study Guide can’t calm ‘em down and Ah’m not sure what they might do next!”

“What’s this fight even about?!” questioned Twilight. “What’s the cause of all this?!”

A soldier walking into the elevator seemed to have overheard Twilight, replying, “Well, Commander Airspeed informed us that Private Pettyfeather Pettywing had been stealing rations and storing them away.”

“And that called for y’all shootin’ ponies with magic?” questioned Applejack.

“Well, it wasn’t just that,” said the soldier. “I, uh, just personally like those snack cakes that were part of the rations and was a little upset about it. Don’t know what the others are fightin’ over, but a lot of stuff’s been revealed about a lot of the stallions that just ain’t makin’ ‘em look too good, so I’m guessin’ that’s why there’s some fightin’ goin’ on.”

“Sounds like somepony might be spreadin’ some lies,” assumed Applejack. “It’s too much of a coincidence for everypony to just suddenly start lookin’ like the bad guy.”

Twilight looked at the floor, a lot of the ponies already downed by friendly fire. “In all my years as a princess, I’ve never had to look at something like this.”

Applejack waved a hoof in Twilight’s field of vision. “Now, hold on there. Don’t start payin’ attention to any of that. We’ve gotta get to the others so we can figure out how to stop all this.”

Twilight nodded and began running back to the others alongside Applejack. “You’re right,” said Twilight. “We need to put our heads together and solve this.”

As Twilight ran into the room where her friends had gathered, she asked, “Can anypony tell me why these rumors are spreading?”

“I have no idea,” Dash replied. “Study Guide had to go and talk to the commander and the next thing we knew, there was fighting between all the soldiers!”

“You don’t think Study did this, do you?” questioned Fluttershy.

“She ain’t exactly the most pleasant pony around,” muttered Applejack, rolling her eyes.

Twilight didn’t want to think that Study Guide did this, but that pony didn’t exactly make a good case for herself when Twilight had met her. “Look, we’ll figure this out later. We need a way to calm them all down!”

Pinkie jumped up and down in excitement. “Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!”

Twilight raised a hoof, “Yes, Pinkie?”

As she bounced across the floor, Pinkie shouted, “Let’s sing them a song! That always works!”

Twilight thought back to the carnage, an unsettled expression on her face. “Uh, I don’t think music is going to help us. There are dead ponies out there.”

Pinkie frowned. “Well, how are we gonna stop it?!”

Tricks, looking out the window, asked, “Hey, Twilight? I know we’ve already got enough problems on our paws, but, uh, there’s a bunch of hatelings coming this way.”

Twilight walked over to where Tricks stood. “I’m sorry, did you just say hatelings?” she questioned. Tricks pointed out the window and when Twilight focused her vision with a squint of her eyes, she shouted in warning, “Those are changelings!”

“Same damn thing,” said Study, walking into the room. “We’ve been sabotaged from the inside and now we can’t get the soldiers to calm down. I don’t know where the real Commander Airspeed is, but there’s a hateling disguised as him and is spreading rumors of spies in the building, accusing ponies left and right. After I figured that out, I went to speak with a… confidant, so I could learn how to tell a pony from a hateling.”

Twilight felt a little suspicious. “Confidant? Who?”

“He claims to know you,” answered Study. “He says his name is Thorax.”

Twilight couldn’t help but feel relieved. “Oh, good, he survived!”

“Big fucking whoop,” said Study. “Doesn’t mean this problem is solved.”

“Well, if Thorax is here, then maybe he can help you while we try to fend off the changelings outside,” suggested Twilight.

“How the fuck am I supposed to stop this with just one gay bug?” asked Study.

Dash had a look of bewilderment on her face. “Uh, duh, have him turn into Commander Airspeed and stop the rumors!”

Study blinked in surprise at this suggestion. She hadn’t thought about it before. It was such a simple concept that she hadn’t even thought of it. She pulled herself together and said, “Well, go hold them off already!”

Twilight raced outside with the others, exiting through the back entrance of the tower. Fiddler poked his head out the door, asking, “Mind if I sit this one out?”

“Get your ass out here,” said Dusk. “You’ve got a weapon, right?”

“Just a measly little shooter,” said Fiddler. “I doubt it’d even fire off a single bullet! It’s just that damn old!”

Brute, seeing this sudden crowd of ponies come out, was rather tempted to tear them to pieces until he spotted Rarity. He groaned in annoyance as he stood up and he walked over to her. “What all these ponies doing out here?”

“Oh, hello, Brute!” greeted Rarity. “Uhh, there’s a group of changelings heading this way, and it looks like we’ll have to fend them off.”

Brute snorted as he looked up at the large flock of bugs. “Hatelings? Hatelings just pests,” he commented.

“Well, yes, but it seems they’ve become a bit of a threat,” said Rarity. “Do you think you could help us?”

“Why Brute help a bunch of ponies?” he questioned. “Why not let hatelings wreak havoc? Ponies never do anything for Brute.”

“Well, I did save your life from that stalker,” said Rarity. “Don’t you think you could repay this one small favor? Surely, someone with your strength could easily deter a few bugs, don’t you believe so, darling?”

Brute didn’t like the logic in this pony’s words. She was right. He did owe her. In fact, he owed her twice, not just for the stalker event, but for helping that filly a while back. He let out an annoyed grunt and said, “Fine. Brute help. But only until Brute pay back.”

Dusk Feather pulled out her weapon, examining it. “So, Dash, maybe we can make a little game out of this,” she said. “Let’s see who takes down more hatelings. Loser buys a drink for the winner.”

Dash, not one to turn down a challenge, replied, “You’re on! I’ve taken down a bunch of changelings during my adventures with my friends!”

“Where are Zone and Taipan?” asked Fluttershy.

“Hell if I know,” said Fiddler. “Anywhere’s better than here right now.”

The swarm split off into two, with one half going towards the roof and the other half flying down to where Twilight and her friends were. Dash and Dusk Feather both charged into the swarm, already getting into the fray before the others.

Twilight lit up her horn, firing nonfatal, but still powerful blasts of magic while Rarity kicked away any changeling who got near the entrance. Tricks, having grabbed a broom on the way out, had taken off the hay end of it, using it to knock out as many changelings as he could, spinning it with ease.

Dash, although her wing was injured, was still able to put up a good fight, delivering kicks to the heads of many changelings. Dusk Feather used flight to her advantage, firing at changelings as she flew before they could reach the entrance.

Fiddler didn’t seem to engage unless a changeling got close to the door, firing off his old gun and swearing to himself each time. Applejack, seeing this, rolled her eyes and sent a changeling flying backwards with a powerful hind kick. “Ain’tcha afraid of yer family gettin’ hurt? Ya gotta get mean sometimes!” she said.

After firing off another round, Fiddler replied, “I’m fine where I am, thank you very much, missy! I’d rather not off myself before I can get my big break!”

“Well, fine!” said Applejack. “Suit yerself! Me and the rest of us will handle this just fine!”

Brute was rather savage in his attacks, literally jumping and grabbing changelings out of the air, dragging them back down and slamming them into the ground with a crunch, making Rarity flinch.

Rarity, concerned, said, “B-Brute,darling, I said to deter them, not to--”

Brute interrupted her with an angry bark before swinging his heavy arm into a changeling that had been flying right at him, knocking it away with no problem whatsoever. “Brute not need lesson on how to take out bugs!”

Rarity didn’t know how to get the hellhound to ease up on his attacks, so she simply stayed quiet, doing what she could to just knock out the changelings with her kicks. She looked in Twilight’s direction, seeing the lavender mare fire off multiple shots of magic and taking out changelings with expert precision.

The swarm didn’t seem to end, worrying Twilight. She was getting tired, her energy draining from all her magical output. “I don’t know how long I can keep going!” she shouted.

Dash, kicking away another changeling, said, “They’re everywhere! There’s way too many of them to fight on our own!”

Twilight saw an enemy closing in fast, and although she was willing to use her hooves to fight, a sound similar to the crash of thunder rang out, the changeling’s head busting open, blood splattering out one side, traumatizing the lavender mare.

Another noise rang out, a second changing’s head spewing blood as it went down. Dusk Feather, looking at the sudden drops, said, “Looks like we’ve got a sniper on our side!”

Dash felt a rush of wind whiz past her wing as a third shot rang out. “Could someone tell him not to shoot us?!”

Twilight needed to get Watcher. “Do you girls think you can hold them off while I get help?!” she asked.

“You kidding?!” replied Rainbow Dash. “I could do this all day!”

“Don’t worry, Twi!” assured Applejack. “We’ll do what we have to to keep this tower safe! Just don’t take too long!”

Twilight flew away from the fight, towards where she had last spoken with Watcher. Looking back, she saw Zone and Taipan fighting changelings on the roof, giving her some relief from the stress of worrying about the ponies inside the tower.

Meanwhile, inside the tower, Study Guide had been collaborating with Thorax to convince the soldiers to stop, having Thorax disguise himself as Commander Airspeed. Surprisingly enough, it seemed to work.

Standing in front of the group of soldiers in the lobby, Study Guide said, “We have a hateling infestation on our hooves at this very moment. While you idiots were squabbling over lies told by a fake commander, the hatelings have been trying to get into the tower. There’s already a few inside, but I have a foolproof way of exposing them.”

Thorax, still disguised, looked at her with confusion. “And that is?” he asked.

“I’m just going to shoot each and every one of you in the leg,” said Study. “If you don’t want to get shot, you will tell me the truth. If I go through each and every soldier here and don’t find the hatelings who have already infiltrated our ranks, I’ll have you all healed, then shoot you again and again.”

“That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” asked Thorax, having seen what these weapons could do during the lobby brawl.

“This is an extreme problem,” countered Study. “Plus, I don’t like any of these ingrates, so it’s good for me and it’s good for the Enclave at the same time. Solves a problem and lets me relieve stress.”

The soldiers all looked at each other with obvious nervousness. Study Guide pointed to one soldier, motioning for him to walk over. His eyes widened in fear. When he refused to come forward, another soldier pushed him towards her.

Study Guide looked over the soldier with cold eyes and asked, “Are you a hateling?”

“N-No, ma’am!” he said.

She pointed her revolver at his leg. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, ma’am!” answered the soldier.

She didn’t hesitate, shooting him and leaving a bloody wound in his front leg. He screamed in agony. She simply said, “Go wait by the wall and the nurses will get to patching you up.”

The soldier screamed, “You’re a fucking psychopath!”

“Did I stutter?” she replied. “Get moving! You trained for this shit! If you can’t handle pain for the good of your fellow soldiers, then you should’ve stayed at home!”

With a few pained grunts, he limped over to the wall where two nurses were sitting on the benches with health potions in a wooden box. Study Guide then shouted, “NEXT!”

The second pony walked forward, his eyes darting between her and the other soldiers. Study Guide asked him, “Are you a hateling?”

“No,” he quickly responded.

She aimed her revolver at his leg. “Are you sure?”

The soldier seemed to be hyperventilating. Before she could shoot, he screamed with fear, “Yes, I’m a hateling!”

Study Guide motioned towards one of the soldiers behind her. “Take this piece of shit to the lab and keep him contained.”

As the soldier approached, the pony broke his disguise, his appearance reverting back to the bug creature he was before. He hissed and lunged at Study Guide, who promptly struck his face with a front hoof and pinned him to the floor, her revolver against the side of his head.

He made heavy breaths, the hateling fearing for his life. “Please don’t!” he begged.

Study Guide rolled her eyes as the soldier approached and put him in bindings. She took her revolver from her mouth and uttered, “Fucking degenerate filth. NEXT!”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

It had taken her hours, but after struggling with all her might, Wreckage had dug her way out of the rubble of the collapsed building. She wheezed, coughing up small chunks of cement and brick. She shivered as her mind backtracked to the pony named Rampage.

“She was like us,” Burnout said in her mind.

“I thought we were alone,” said Tracks.

“Just shut up, already,” whimpered Wreckage. She needed help, and this Rampage was a pony who couldn’t be killed. Any other pony would just be slaughtered, leaving Wreckage with no one to help her. “Maybe she can help me,” she whispered. “I don’t wanna live like this anymore.”

The only question was: how could she do that?

Did Rampage go through the same thing she did? “Maybe she did,” reasoned Wreckage. “Maybe I can say sorry and maybe I can--”

“Forget her,” said Burnout. “You’re fine with us. Besides, you’ve already pissed her off.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Wreckage shouted, hooves to her head. “I want to be normal! You’re both just… temporary!”

“You’re here because of us,” said Tracks. “If we’re gone, you’re gone. You don’t have a soul. We do.”

Wreckage didn’t want to stop existing. Although she was the product of two ponies’ fucked up minds, she wanted to be something more. She wanted to live in peace and solitude. She wanted to stop killing.

She would seek out Rampage and she would do what she could to talk to her. She just needed a way to do it without looking at her. She stumbled off of the hill of building debris and felt a sudden tug on herself. Something behind the scenes of life was trying to compel her to walk in a single, particular direction.

This wasn’t the other two in her mind, no. She’d know if it was them. This was an urge to walk in this direction, and so she listened in desperation, willing to do anything to actually be happy for once in her life. The smile on her face was forced, a byproduct of these two conflicting souls. It had always ached, the muscle forever wanting to frown but unable to, a constant pain.

It didn’t reflect her.

“I’ll find her,” she muttered. “I’ll get her help. She’s like me, right?”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

It was prophecy. It was all prophecy. Hindsight had foreseen it, all thanks to Lord Bale. As he approached the tower with his own personal forces, he could only think that this was too easy. A hateling invasion wasn’t too difficult to deal with, especially with help from the Enclave’s secret files at his disposal.

Finding the files wasn’t too difficult. In fact, not even the Enclave had known they existed. At least, not this generation of Enclave. The files had long been abandoned for fear that they may have been impractical, but Hindsight saw potential in them. With weeks of prepping, he was able to put together a force with weapons the Enclave could have only dreamed of in their early stages of being assembled after the megaspells had dropped.

Behind Hindsight was a small squadron of pegasi wearing the standard Enclave armor, but there was something a bit extra in their armor’s tails. With some advanced knowledge from the otherrealmly visitor and Hindsight’s own understanding of balefire, they were able to create something that was much more effective than the standard equipment.

Hindsight approached the group of ponies who had been defending the tower. He recognized them, obviously, as he had been monitoring their progress. It was Lord Bale who had brought them here. There was one in particular who had caught his eye, however.

The infamous Rainbow Dash, fighting off hatelings with simple kicks and her own brand of punches. Fighting with an injured wing was most definitely something befitting this daring pegasus. Hindsight could admire that. If only the Enclave had seen her ‘betrayal’ as something other than that.

Hindsight turned around, looking at his army and saying, “Wipe them out. Make it quick and clean. No hateling survivors. Protect the prophesized six at all costs.”

In less than a second after he gave his orders, the squadron took off, making Hindsight smirk with smug satisfaction. He was going to show the Enclave what he was capable of. They’d listen to him after this. They’d be stupid not to. The commander of his own rogue squadron swooping in with the intent to save the nonbelievers? It would be seen as a noble act.

Hindsight then calmly walked past the fighting ponies, approaching the door and heading inside. They wouldn’t dare try to hurt him. He was a fellow pony, after all. As the door slid closed behind him, he made his way to where the crowd was on the upper floor. He could see a blonde-maned, white-coated mare with a displeased look on her face.

“Next!” she shouted, and Hindsight could see a soldier approaching.

“What, may I ask, is going on?” asked Hindsight.

The mare’s cold, blue eyes steered in his direction. “Who are you?” she asked. “You don’t look like you’re one of ours.”

Hindsight’s eyes glanced over most of the crowd of soldiers, an almost-overwhelming barrage of sins hitting his mind as he witnessed their own crimes. “I believe I’m the one who’s going to benefit your team greatly,” he said, his eyes already picking out a few hidden hatelings. He needed to make this quick. He couldn’t take in so many sins at once for so long. It was something he had been training for for a while, having groups of his own forces appear before him as practice to see how much his mind could take living through multiple sinful lives at once.

“Are you toying with us?” asked the mare. “We’re in the middle of an investigation. This is no time to make jokes when lives are at stake.”

Hindsight approached one of the soldiers, barely keeping his own cool as he said, “This one is a hateling, as are the other two behind him. There’s another in the back and a fourth in front.”

“Excuse me?” she questioned. “Mind me asking how the fuck it is you can tell them apart?”

“Training,” Hindsight partially lied. “If you don’t believe me, you can interrogate the ones I just pointed out.”

The blonde mare thought for a bit, her eyes swaying over to the crowd. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll humor you. Bring them forward.”

Hindsight instructed the ponies he had picked out, the whole selected lot sweating as they approached the blonde mare. “I believe these are the ponies, or rather, hatelings, you’re looking for,” said Hindsight.

Without a second too soon, the blonde mare asked them, “Are you hatelings? Speak now or I shoot.”

Hindsight could hear the whispers.

“H-How the hell?!”

“I don’t know!”

Hindsight approached the one who was sweating the most, his eyes seeing every single sin the creature had committed. It seemed that even hatelings were capable of feeling guilt, especially if it was towards their own kind. “I see you’ve dealt quite some damage in your life,” said Hindsight.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” replied the disguised soldier.

“Don’t lie to me. I can see all the atrocities you’ve committed,” said Hindsight in a calm voice. “You feel so much guilt for hurting that fellow hateling of yours. A bookworm, he was, very intelligent. You couldn’t stand know-it-alls, could you…?”

“M-Miss?” said the soldier, trying to direct attention away from himself. “He’s interrupting the investigation.”

The blonde mare simply replied, “Shut up. I want to see where this goes.”

“Lured him to the edge of your camp,” said Hindsight. “Took an old pipe… and beat him with it. He was near death and you simply didn’t care until you heard what happened to him later.”

“Back off, dude,” said the soldier, shaking visibly.

“What’s wrong, dude?” asked Hindsight. “Don’t like facing your own actions? You don’t want consequences, do you? No one does, but it seems like karma’s caught up to you, her claws at your neck, ready to make you suffer for the things you’ve done.”

Several tears began roaming down the soldier’s face. “St-St...Stop…”

“I can make it stop,” said Hindsight. “I can give you redemption. I can make the pain go away and I can keep you safe, but… you have to confess…”

“You’re lying,” the soldier muttered quietly. “Y-You’re lying.”

“I guess I’ll leave your fate to the Enclave, then,” said Hindsight, a pitying look on his face. “You know what they do to anyone who isn’t a pegasus. You’ve seen how they torture and murder those outside their faction. I guess karma’s caught up after all. She’s ready to feast and revel in your screams.”

“I-I’m a hateling!” shouted the soldier in desperation, changing back into his buglike form. “Th-They’re hatelings, too! Let me live! I wanna live!”

The blonde mare just stared at Hindsight, biting her lower lip as she made silent judgements. After a few more seconds, she said, “Interesting.”

Hindsight stepped back from the hatelings. “It’s my pleasure,” he said. “I’ll fill you in on more details once this is all over.”

The mare then instructed for the hatelings to be taken back to her lab. As the hatelings were dragged off, the one who Hindsight had spoken to said, “W-Wait! You said I’d be safe! I wanna go home!”

Hindsight put on his blindfold, not answering. His job was done here. His forces outside were taking out the invading forces with probable ease. Everything was as it should be and he was content with his actions. He was justified in it all.

“Y-You lied!” the hateling shouted, his voice becoming more distant. “You fucking liar!!!”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

“What’s going on?!”

“Everypony, get inside, quick!”

“Cheerilee, what are those?!”

“Just get inside!”

“Scootaloo? What’s going on?”

“These weird portals keep showing up in Ponyville and nopony can figure out why!”

“Have any of you seen muh sister?”

“Rarity’s missing, too!”

“I haven’t seen Dash all day!”

“Wait, what’s that noise…?”

“THE ROOF!”

“Scootaloo! HANG ON!”

“I CAN’T GET A GOOD GRIP ON THIS THING!”

“SWEETIE!!!”

“IT GOT HER! I’VE GOTTA GET HER BACK!”

“SCOOTALOO, DON’T!”

“...I can’t… I can’t let her go alone. H-Here I go… I’m coming, girls!”

The sky over the wasteland warped, clouds twisting, trees sizzling nearby with glowing embers. Lightning struck various points without any source as to where they had come from. Reality was tearing apart, but only for this one instance.

The emptiness in the sky gave way to reveal a black void beneath the curtain of reality, pouring out three fillies into a world that was no longer their own. Just when impact with the ground seemed certain, their descent was slowed by a hidden force, allowing them to gently land with the light touch of a feather.

The yellow earth filly with a red mane and bow, Apple Bloom, eyes wide open, was fraught with panic. “Scootaloo?! Sweetie Belle?!” she called out.

The cream-colored unicorn filly with a purple and pink mane, Sweetie Belle, ran up to her friend. “I’m here, but where’s Scoota--”

Before the sentence could even be finished, an orange pegasus filly, Scootaloo, landed atop of her, sending the two tumbling just a small ways away from Apple Bloom. Scootaloo rolled off of Sweetie, then stood up, questioning, “Where are we?!”

Apple Bloom turned a full three-sixty, seeing nothing but desolated lands with a very sparse amount of dead trees. “Ah know one thing… we ain’t in Equestria no more.”

. . . M e a n w h i l e . . .

By the time Twilight had returned to the tower with Watcher, the scene was vastly different than from when she had left it. The rest of the gang were standing by the entrance of the tower next to a group of armored ponies who Twilight could only recognize as Enclave. Their armor was similar to the gear the ponies inside wore, but the tails of their suits were slightly different, tinged green with a red tip on the end.

Hearth’s Warming colors much?

As she landed, she asked Applejack, “What happened? Where are the changelings?”

Applejack shuddered. “Ah don’t know how to describe it. These fellas just happened to come along and, uh, they took out the changelings. It was just… in a way Ah don’t think anyone would want to do.”

“I’m confused. What are you talking about?” questioned Twilight.

“They just kinda… exploded into dust?” said Dash.

“Every single hit,” said Dusk Feather. “That’s not usually possible unless it’s a really good shot. These ponies were able to turn them all to dust every single time.”

“Sounds like the Enclave got an upgrade since their defeat,” Fiddler commented.

Twilight noticed Fluttershy by the door, eyes wide and looking at the ground. She looked… traumatized. Twilight approached her with concern. “Fluttershy? Are you okay?”

“I didn’t know this would happen,” Fluttershy whispered. “They’re all gone. I thought we were just going to push them back, not… t-t-turn them all into ashes.”

Twilight tried to think of a way to distract the poor pegasus. “You wanna go inside?” she asked. “We could get you something to drink.”

“She ain’t touching my booze,” said Study from a distance. She walked out from the tower, looking at everyone.

“I’m not talking about whatever that stuff you’re hogging is,” said Twilight. “She needs some water.”

“We might be a bit low,” said Study. “Water talisman we brought along fizzed out a few days ago. We’ve been running on extra bottles and it’ll be a while before we get another delivery, but enough of that fuckery. I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Twilight looked behind her. Watcher had just landed, prompting some of the new Enclave pegasi to aim. Before Twilight could say anything, Study tapped the ground. “Hey, knuckleheads. Not without my say. I have authority here.”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to say this, but you’re below the clearance needed to boss us around,” said a stallion pegasus.

“I’m literally up there with Commander Airspeed,” Study stated. “He’s only slightly above me. We appreciate your enthusiasm, but your itchy trigger hooves aren’t very appreciated here. We’re professional.”

The stallion seemed to back down after that. “A commander? Sorry, ma’am. I wasn’t aware that you were--”

“High in status?” Study finished. “Most don’t realize it. I don’t fucking dress for it. Get inside. The dragon will leave in a bit.”

The odd-looking soldiers went inside the tower while Study directed Twilight to the side, a small ways away from the others. Study had an aura of exhaustion about her. This pegasus had been through a lot today, and Twilight wasn’t sure the booze was helping her with that.

Study placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, leaned in and asked, “You mind telling me why there’s a pegasus in my tower claiming to be responsible for your arrival…?”

“Wait, what’s going on?” questioned Twilight.

“There is a pony inside Tenpony Tower who is claiming to be both Enclave and the one responsible for bringing you lot here,” Study repeated. “I don’t know what twisted experiments your ministries got involved in and I don’t want to fucking know. I just want you to leave. I’m taking this hateling invasion as a sign that you freaks are bad luck.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Twilight. She didn’t know a single pony was responsible for bringing them here, especially a pegasus. “My friends and I aren’t here by choice. If what you’re telling me is true, then I want to meet this pegasus.”

Study rubbed at her forehead and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll direct you to him. I want this done and over with so I can go back to doing what I do best.”

“What would that be?” asked Twilight.

“Swearing, drinking and sleeping, with a hint of procrastination,” answered Study.

Twilight followed Study into the tower, with Twilight’s friends and company behind her. She wasn’t expecting any of this today. She just wanted to go home, but with the state this world was in, she had to stay and help these ponies get back on the track to friendship.

When they had exited the elevator onto the upper floor, Twilight was met with an odd sight. It was a blindfolded, white-coated, green-maned pegasus wearing a skintight, black and green suit. The suit itself seemed to have been professionally made, consisting of a soft-looking fabric. On the collar of the suit were the initials M.O.A., confusing Twilight even further.

“Rainbow Dash told me those initials meant Ministry of Awesome?” Twilight mentioned to Study. “She said Dusk Feather had told her a lot about the ministry itself.”

“I don’t give a fuck, even if he’s wearing royal garbs,” said Study. “I don’t recognize him or his name.”

“What is his name?” questioned Twilight.

The pegasus walked up to Twilight, taking off his blindfold. “My name is Hindsight,” he said. “I’ve been working with the Enclave for a very long time. I presume you must be Twilight… You’re the spitting image.”

Twilight already felt creepy vibes coming from this pony. “That’s correct,” she responded. “Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Odd,” said Hindsight, his green eyes looking her over repeatedly. “Not as many as I thought...”

“Not as many what?” Twilight asked, confused.

“It’s nothing,” he replied. “I was simply observing something. Have you been in Tenpony Tower long?”

“I’ve only been in this world for about a day,” said Twilight.

“And you’ve already encountered hatelings? My, my, Twilight. That’s some awfully bad luck,” said Hindsight.”

“Look at waste of food.” Taipan grumbled as she and Zone came back from the roof. “Can’t eat dust.”

Zone smiled nervously. “We’re sorry we could not join your fight on the ground, Twilight. Taipan had caught the scent of hatelings and it seemed to have led us up to the roof, and there they were, swarming like locusts.”

Twilight gave a quick smile. “I’m glad you two were up there when it happened. Otherwise those changelings may have been able to get inside.”

“Quite a few had gotten in already,” said Hindsight. “But we’ve taken care of that situation.”

Taipan stomped up to the stallion and practically screamed “You waste food! Could have fed whole tribe for long time with them. You wasteful bastard.” She breathed heavily after she finished, an expression of raw anger on her face.

Hindsight replied calmly, “If you are referring to the hatelings that were captured, you should direct those complaints to our researcher friend here. She’s the one in charge… for now.”

Study stated, “The hatelings have been detained and are still alive. They’re going to be dealt with when this is all over.”

“Not them,” Taipan huffed as she gestured to the dust cloud that was forming in the wind. “Those.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at the scorpony’s constant complaints over ‘food’. She turned to Hindsight and asked him, “Who are you exactly, and why are you here? Study Guide seems to be--”

“In question of your authority,” Study forcefully intervened. “I see no badge, no proper Enclave uniform, and all you have to back you up are a few stallions and mares that I’ve never even seen throughout my time here at this tower.”

“I believe Commander Airspeed can vouch for me,” Hindsight responded.

“You’re telling me that if I talk to the real Commander Airspeed right now, he will vouch for a pony in a common stable-dweller suit and say you’re allowed here?” questioned Study.

Hindsight nodded and held up his right hoof, upon which was a device Twilight had never seen before. It was bulky and gray, and its black monitor showed green text, along with a depiction of a pony in the center.

Hindsight fiddled with the knobs with the tip of his wing, the device switching in between different visual interfaces. After finding the display he was looking for, he pressed down a button on the device and said, “This is Hindsight, requesting Commander Airspeed on an open channel. Repeat, this is Hindsight requesting Commander Airspeed on an open channel.

Study Guide shook her head as she heard static. “Is this a joke?” she asked. “This must be.”

“One moment,” said Hindsight.

From out of the static came a gruff voice, saying, “Commander Airspeed present. Why are you contacting me on an unencrypted frequency?”

“May I ask your location?” asked Hindsight.

“...Uhh, that’s classified,” responded Airspeed.

Study raised a brow. “Are… Are you at her place again?” she questioned.

“Who’s place?” asked Twilight.

“N-No! Study Guide, what are you doing on this channel?! I thought you used your own channel!”

“Celestia, help me with this one,” said Study quietly. She then said a little louder, “Is it true that this ‘Hindsight’ is allowed here in the tower?”

“He’s a Class Buzzard,” responded Airspeed.

Study Guide blinked in what looked to be surprise on her face. “That rank hasn’t been given to anyone since--”

“Class. Buzzard,” repeated Airspeed.

Study Guide looked up at Hindsight and then asked Airspeed, “Well, he’s here with some kind of squadron.”

“I’ll have you know that my squadron helped to turn the tide of an invasion,” said Hindsight. “An entire settlement’s worth of hatelings.”

There was silence on the airwaves for a few seconds before Airspeed replied, “I don’t like how that sounds. That sounds like paperwork.”

Study Guide then asked, “What do I do with this pegasus?”

“Uh, I don’t fuckin’ know,” said Airspeed. “We’ve got rooms, right?”

“We’re pretty much packed right now,” said Study.

“Uhh, make room, I’m pretty busy,” said Airspeed.

“Busy cheating on your wife?” guessed Study.

“Ngghh… Uh… No, I, uh, I’m doing patrol. Yeah, that’s it. Patrol,” he excused.

Twilight was disturbed the moment she heard a mare in the background utter a very discomforting noise. “I… think I should go,” said Twilight, no longer wanting to hear this awkward conversation.

Study groaned in frustration and reached over, flipping off the airwave transmission and silencing the disturbing noise. “Fuckin’ hell,” she muttered. “Fine. You, Hindsight, are to stay with one of our soldiers for a while until Airspeed comes back from… business.”

Hindsight softly smiled. “I’m glad we could sort this out,” he calmly said. “And Twilight, I’d like to speak with you sometime later tonight. There’s a lot you need to know.”

Twilight wasn’t liking any of this. Hindsight just seemed to show up out of nowhere with his own squadron. If Study Guide wasn’t liking it, it hinted to Twilight how she should be feeling about it as well.

“I’m going to go check on my friends,” said Twilight, a bit desperate to leave.

“Very well,” said Hindsight. “I’ll be getting myself settled in.”

“I know I said I wanted you to leave, but I sadly was in a moment of stress at that time,” said Study. “You and your friends are still required to stay here until I get the results.”

Twilight nodded. “I just need to check on them for now.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Study as she dismissively waved her hoof.

Without hesitation, Twilight went back outside to find her friends seeming a bit worried. There was an obvious expression of concern on all of their faces. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Couldn’t help but notice Pinkie’s gone missin’,” Applejack answered. “Her new friend, too.”

That was cause for alarm in Twilight’s mind. “Wasn’t she with us during the fight?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I wasn’t really paying attention. Kinda hard to focus when you’re taking on a changeling army.”

“I hope she’s okay,” said Fluttershy with worry.

Fiddler and Dusk exchanged glances, the pair looking puzzled. “Who’s Pinkie?” asked Fiddler.

Dash approached Fiddler, looking appalled, her face inches away from his. “What?! You know who she is! Pink coat, poofy mane, always acts like she’s hopped up on sugar most of the time?!”

Fiddler stumbled back, replying, “Woah! Woah! Hold on now! Ain’t no need to get upset!”

“We’ve never seen, nor heard of, anyone named Pinkie,” said Dusk.

“You guys said we were all ministry mares,” said Twilight. “If I recall correctly, you said she was in charge of the Ministry of Morale?”

“Now I know y’all are makin’ things up,” said Fiddler.

What happened? Did Pinkie Pie literally just stop existing? What was Twilight going to do? She just couldn’t go home without finding her. As these thoughts ran through her mind, a pony stepped in. It was Discord, from what Fluttershy had explained to Twilight earlier.

The stallion seemed to be confused. “Now, that’s peculiar,” he said. “Very peculiar indeed.”

“Discord, have you seen Pinkie Pie?” asked Twilight with worry.

The draconequs-turned-stallion tapped one of his front hooves on the ground. “That’s just it,” he said. “Something has gone awry with the universe.”

This was now a big concern to Twilight. “What happened to her?!”

Discord scratched his cheek with a hoof as he stared blankly. Twilight was about to ask if he was okay when he blurted out, “Oh! Now I know! Don’t worry. It’s only temporary. Pinkie should be back in about… five seconds, I believe?”

As Twilight was just about to ask Discord what in Equestria he was talking about, she heard, “Hi, Twilight!”

Turning around, she saw both Pinkie Pie and Lucky Break. Pinkie looked just fine while Lucky Break was shivering, looking like she’d seen a ghost. Twilight was puzzled. “Where were you two?”

“It was like an endless street in the city,” said Lucky. “It was so foggy, I couldn’t see my own hooves. Ponk and I were tryin’ to find our way out.”

“You were in another realm,” said Discord. “It’s common when realities are clashing. Some things are forgotten by the universe either temporarily or permanently. You just saw where those forgotten things go.”

“How do you know this?” asked Twilight.

“Twilight, puh-lease, I’m the Spirit of Chaos,” answered Discord, looking offended. “I’ve been in plenty of situations like this.”

“Well, how long do we have until things really unravel?” asked Twilight.

“Hm… I’d say six months, maybe a year if we’re lucky,” answered Discord. “Think of our two universes like bubbles. One bubble bumps into another and sometimes they merge, but one bubble has to give. They can be separated in time but we need to hurry.”

As if Twilight had enough problems to deal with. Things were happening way too quickly, and she wanted to slow it all down. Annoyingly, it seemed that the only way to figure out why they were really here was to talk to that odd pegasus, Hindsight.

. . . -Checkpoint Passed- . . .

“St-St-Stars and moons and air balloons… f-fluffy clouds to the horizon… I-I’ll wrap you… in ra-rainbows… and… a-and… and r-rock you to s-s-sleep again…”

Author's Note

Introduction Arc complete.

Kindness Arc is now up next.