Blink Again: Long Shadows

Chapters

1 - Alive at Last
2 - Warm Apple Pie
3 - Room 209
4 - Party and a Quest
5 - Tea Two Me
6 - Friendship Express
7 - Storm and Shutter
8 - Shattered Glass
Prologue - Blacker Than Night

1 - Alive at Last

The first time Rarity awoke, the light was blinding. She could not help but snap her eyes shut again. She would almost say it hurt, but there was this fuzzy feeling in the way—a feeling that applied not just to her body but to her thoughts as well, leaving her somewhat disconnected.

There was, of course, only one explanation for the bright light and strange, fuzzy phenomenon: she had entered the great beyond. Yep, she was dead. Oh, woe to her! So young! So pretty! And to think, she had so much more to give the world! So many ponies in need of style!

Ah, but perhaps it was only fitting. It was a timeless tale, the brilliant artist whose flame burned so hot, only to be tragically snuffed out before her time. At least it made for a good, if overdone, story. But did such a cliché end really suit her? For the pony called Rarity? There was nothing to be done for it now of course, but she would be raising these concerns with whatever power lay beyond.

And really, what was she even doing when she...

“It isn’t fair! We won! You’re supposed to live!”

The memories of her last moments with Sweetie Belle came flooding back, and her heart stopped—a rather strange occurrence for a dead mare. She recalled now how she'd given her life for her precious little sister. A more than worthy cause, though one she was afraid would have effects on the sweet little filly.

"Sis, what's the point of living if I'm all alone?"

Sweetie wouldn't be alone. Of that much, she was certain. Even if one discounted their parents, there was still another Rarity out there. Assuming help and a way out did eventually come, Sweetie Belle would be taken care of. She knew because the truth was she'd give of her life for any number of Sweetie Belles. No sister of hers would ever be left wanting if any version of her had something to say about it. Though she wished that other Rarity the sincerest of apologies for the trouble. The stress of dealing with two Sweetie Belles would surely ruin her complexion.

"Can we just pretend help is almost here?"

A series of noises tickled her ear, indistinct yet grower clearer by the moment. Was that somepony talking? It hardly had the angelic ring or fearsome snarl she might expect from something in the great beyond. If anything, it sounded... frustrated? Rarity focused on that tone, trying to understand. If somepony was speaking, it was surely important.

"...unchanged and her vitals remain stable. Still, no sign of conscious thought. Shouldn't she be up by now?"

"Maybe, but this is an unusual case. I've never heard of so much magic poured into a single pony before. Please, Redheart, just continue to keep an eye on her. If Princess Luna says her waking spell worked, then I'd be loath to contradict her. I'm sure it's just a matter of time while the magic settles."

"And what if you're..."

The voices once again lost clarity, returning to a buzz in the back of Rarity's mind. Still, she didn't miss their meaning. She was alive. Help really did come. Which meant she'd wasted the last several minutes' worth of Woe Mes. What a way to mess with perfectly solid drama! She'd be embarrassed by mistaking waking for death had she not been so elated at being wrong. After all, this meant she could be there for Sweetie Belle, and see all her friends again outside of that blasted pocket dimension, and even meet another version of herself! That would be a treat. Ponyville beware, for fashion strikes twice!

And just then she realized everything was becoming dim. Her extremities had no feeling; her thoughts slowed; the brilliant light from before could hardly be perceived. No! Not now! Not when I only just realized I still have some life left in me!

Rarity tried to scream, tried to call out to the nurse only a few steps away. Not so much as a peep escaped her bone-dry throat. Getting desperate, she tried instead to kick, flap her ears, wag her tail, anything that might get her attention. Nothing moved. She was trapped. Her body a locked closet and she the old dress left to be eaten by moths.

Help! Please, help me! She would cry if she could. Her efforts were hopeless, and soon everything began to fade. This second slumber would be as long and fraught with nightmares as the first.

The second time Rarity awoke, the room was pitch-black. The only sound her own heavy breath. Even the medical equipment must have been off and the blinds drawn because there truly was nothing. The feeling of it sent shivers down her spine. It was all too easy to imagine piles of bodies hidden in that darkness. Had she imagined those voices earlier? Perhaps she was still in the pocket dimension—a most horrifying thought.

Rarity tried to move her hoof, finding this time she was weak but not immobile. She thanked her lucky stars for that. Moreover, the movement brought her attention to the feeling of the hospital bed covers. Definitely not in the pocket dimension then. She almost cried from relief alone. She may have been weak and sore, but she was safe and clean. That was worth more than words could express, even after she noted the awkward feeling of the IV and catheter attached to her.

"Nurse!" she called into the black. "I am awake, but I fear your lights have gone out. Might I request aid? Anypony?" She huffed at the lack of response. It seemed very typical for her to escape one prison only for negligent hospital staff to land her in a second. Come on, I want to go home. See my family. Didn't they have somepony attending to me? It hasn't been that long, has it?

She knew it might not be wise to try magic so soon after everything, but it seemed she had little choice. Rarity directed a small flow of energy into her horn, creating a single spark of light at its tip and illuminating the room in a dim cornflower blue. It was a typical, sterile hospital room—though she noted with a shiver how long and dark the shadows seemed. Was she imagining it, or were they reaching toward her? It all made her head hurt, and channeling magic gave her the strangest tingling sensation after going so long without. She could hardly trust her own senses anymore.

She felt a sudden spike of pain at the base of her horn, and the light went out. It seemed she was right in her initial assertion: magic so soon was a bad idea. Still, being plunged back into darkness brought on feelings of dread that almost left her whimpering. She could hardly help but try again.

Alas, her horn failed to light the second time, and she received another painful stab for her efforts.

A brief draft of wind stirred several hairs into her eye, quickly blown out by an irritated huff. "Well, that's splendid then, isn't it? First you leave me in the dark then it turns out you have ventilation problems! Where is that coming from anyway? I don't hear a fan!"

When she once again received no indication of anypony having heard her shouts, she settled on grumbling to herself instead. Well, this is frustrating. Is something wrong, perhaps? She paused. Oh dear, there hasn't been some new malefactor that's gone and captured everypony, has there? I would hate to think I woke up on a Tuesday.

A loud squeak from the direction of the far corner set Rarity's hairs on end. Every inch of her body froze stiff as a board. What could possibly have made that noise? Am I not alone in here?

She struggled to quiet her breathing as she tried to recall what the room looked like. She only saw it for a single moment while her light was working, but she was sure she remembered a rolling stool in that corner. Perhaps that breeze had somehow shifted the stool, and one of its wheels just so happened to be squeaky. It didn't seem likely; the wind couldn't have been strong enough. She knew she was rationalizing.

Something brushed against one of her hind hooves. She yelped, scrambling to push herself back to the head of the hospital bed. Medical equipment clattered across the room—not all of it from her own panicked movements. Her heart beat to the tune of a thousand drums.

"Please," Rarity begged, "I know not what you are, but I swear I have nothing you want. Please, just go." She was at the point of tears. She was sure now that something malevolent was in the room, and after the pocket dimension, she just couldn't take it anymore. It was too much.

"Don't be afraid, darling," a voice eerily similar to Rarity's, albeit colder, cooed from the bedside as a hoof stroked her sweat-matted mane. "I'm only here to help. You can trust me."

Rarity screamed, instinctively rolling away from the voice and straight off the other side of the bed, hitting the ground with a painful thud. The tubes from her IV and catheter were pulled with her, causing a clatter as whatever they were attached to came crashing down. Something metal landed on her face, causing her to cry out as she felt a warm liquid begin to seep from her brow and into one eye.

"Aw, you poor precious thing," the voice said with exaggerated sympathy. "You've hurt yourself. Here, allow moi."

Rarity felt the weight of whatever fell on her disappear, presumably pulled off. Then came the tubes, rearranged to a more comfortable position. Through this, she remained frozen. But when she felt a cloth dab against her bleeding eyebrow, and the impression of a hoof through said cloth, she kicked.

It was a weak hit, what with her strength at a fraction of normal, but it was still enough to elicit a yelp of surprise as her new roommate staggered back.

Rarity wasted no time with the follow-up, swinging a hoof in a wide arc to catch the unseen adversary. This too was answered by a satisfying smack and a grunt in response. Her third strike, however, caught only empty air. By the sound of hooves scrambling across the floor, it seemed the other had retreated.

She was already slowing down, breathing hard. Her weakened body was in no condition for any sort of prolonged effort. To her surprise though, no retaliatory attack came. Even when they both knew Rarity couldn't possibly defend herself for long. It seemed either her opponent wanted her uninjured, or it knew it only had to wait while she tuckered herself out.

“Rarity,” the other said with a hint of amusement, “always so dramatic. But why the violence? Surely the element of generosity and purveyor of style knows better than to engage in such barbarism?”

“I’ll give you a generous beating if you touch me again,” Rarity huffed, knowing it was a hollow threat. “You really thought I’d trust you? No, I have a better intuition than that, and right now it says you want to use me and throw me away. Well, guess what, you ghastly brute? That’ll happen over my rotting corpse!”

“My, that place has made you morbid,” the voice mused. “Very well. Have it your way. I’m sure Sweetie Belle will be terribly saddened to learn you committed suicide. You just couldn't take everything you saw, couldn't readjust, couldn't face your friends again. She’ll understand. Surely such thoughts have entered her mind as well, given the trauma.”

“Wha—“ was all Rarity got off before the thing was on top of her, pressing her to the floor as it wrapped some sort of cord around her neck.

Rarity pawed futilely at the cord with her hooves, tried to beat at the other with her legs. She couldn't even slow it down. She was too weak, and now growing weaker by the moment. Each breath was a pitiful, bedraggled thing that provided no succor and was exhaled as little more than a whimper.

"That's strange." A voice at the door? "The door's not locked... It must be jammed. Can we get maintenance down here with a bottle of oil?" One of the nurses. Or maybe her doctor. They could save her!

Please, hurry!, Rarity thought desperately. I can't hold on... much... It was becoming too difficult to think. She had no fight left in her. She could only wait while her fate was decided by the leisurely pace of the hospital staff. Being a damsel in distress wasn't as much fun as the stories made it look.

The pain around her neck lanced through her like steel as her lungs were doused in a thick, black oil and set on fire. It turned out, being violently murdered was a painful ordeal. At least with Fluttershy she'd had some ability to fight back. Here she just felt useless, pathetic.

"You," the thing whispered at her dying mind, "do not deserve to take part in the mistress's salvation. She was mistaken to send me after you. And if you will not accept her glory, then I shall grant you the endless escape of oblivion. Fear not, I'm sure it'll look rather fetching on you. Do say hello to your friend, Fluttershy, for me if you get the chance. She was delicious."

If the voice continued talking, Rarity could no longer hear it. She could no longer feel the pain either. That was nice, though she supposed it should have been alarming. In fact, she couldn’t feel much of anything anymore. It was calming, in a strange sort of way. Like drifting listlessly on one’s back in the pool.

Then a little, indecipherable something began nagging at her ears. Quiet at first but growing ever so steadily louder. Was it somepony talking? A different voice from the first, to be sure. It sounded alarmed but in no way aggressive.

"Let go! Miss Rarity, please, let go!"

Rarity's eyes snapped open to find the room once again dazzlingly bright. Nurse Redheart knelt before her franticly trying to loosen the grip Rarity had on her own catheter tube. She released her grip the second she realized what she was doing, and the coil around her neck went slack. The nurse breathed a sigh of relief and quickly set about untangling Rarity and tending to her injuries.

"Now why would you do a thing like that?" Redheart muttered under her breath. "All this work to save you and... well, I suppose it's not my place to comment."

"I'm sorry," Rarity barely croaked out. "I..." she realized how hard it might be for the nurse to believe the truth, "had a nightmare. I must have done that in my sleep." A lie, to be sure, but the last thing she wanted was to be put on suicide watch.

“Must’ve been some nightmare,” Nurse Redheart said doubtfully, examining a bruise Rarity sustained in the fall from her bed. “I suppose it wouldn’t be too surprising, given where you’ve been. Still, I’ll have to make a note of it, and I’d recommend seeing a counselor. Doctor Horse will probably tell you the same thing. He’ll be here in just a minute.”

Rarity nodded, feeling her head swim with the action. “Of course. Say, you didn’t happen to see anything strange when you came in, did you? Maybe some unexpected movement, or perhaps the lights went out?”

Nurse Redheart frowned, worry creasing her brow. “The lights were on and you were the only movement I saw. Why, did you see something? Or have you experienced any loss of vision?”

“Uh, no,” Rarity hastened, not wanting the nurse to think her crazy. “It was probably just part of the nightmare. Um, when will I get to see my friends?” At least she could trust them with the truth. If anypony was going to believe this, it was them.

“Very soon,” Redheart reassured her with a warm smile. “Let’s just get you cleared by the doctor first. Now, shall we get you back in bed?”

Over the course of the next hour, Doctor Horse ran every test imaginable on the exhausted Rarity. And in the end, she learned everything she already knew.

She was bone thin and badly malnourished, weak from her injuries plus close to ten days in the hospital bed, and now sported a series of scars crisscrossing her face and body. The old Rarity would have been most appalled by that last bit, but now she was just happy to be alive. Well, mostly. She suspected she’d feel more strongly about it once she had a mirror and the initial euphoria of survival wore off. Oh bother, how would she deal with those?

She shook the thought away, considering instead the doctor’s orders. She was to engage in light exercise daily as a form of physical therapy, go on a special diet that would help replenish her after all that time eating meat, and see a counselor. He even had a list of recommendations. Nevertheless, she’d sooner wear a burlap sack and call it a ballgown. A counselor would only make her talk about it.

The doctor also prescribed as much time with loved ones as she could stomach, saying it would be good for her mental and physical health. She could hardly disagree with this assessment. She intended to latch onto them like a shrunken sweater for as long as they let her. Celestia, she missed them more than anything.

Once the doctor was gone—leaving behind a stern warning to avoid over-straining herself too quickly—she hardly had to wait a second before her first visitor came barreling in.

Sweetie Belle didn't say a word. She just leapt onto the bed and pressed her muzzle to Rarity's side, hooves holding onto her insistently but gently. It was as if Sweetie feared she might break her, or lose her, and decided to physically safeguard against both in equal measure.

For Rarity's part, she merely hugged back, cherishing the filly's presence like never before. Prior to the pocket dimension, she could never have known the stark terror of losing her sister. In the pocket dimension, she was afraid of it at every moment. And here, now, she finally knew just how much it meant to have her, safe and sound.

So distracted was she by Sweetie Belle's snuggling, she didn't even notice the other pony standing at the door. That was, until Light spoke.

"Rarity, we can’t express just how glad we are to see you’re alright. I don’t know what I’d do if my failure to stop Fluttershy got you killed.”

“Light, y-your alive!” Rarity stammered in shock. “Wh-how? I saw the axe fall! You… wait. Light, what happened to your horn? Did the impact…?”

Light nodded grimly. “Yeah. Apparently, what little was left became dangerous once we were back in Equestria and they had to remove it for my own safety. They saved my life though. Apparently, I was at death's door.” She gave Rarity a solemn look. "Much like you yourself."

"Oh, dear," Rarity breathed. "I am so sorry. I mean, it's wondrous to have you alive, but truly, I couldn't even imagine what you've lost." She hung her head low. "And here I was worried my scars might bother me. It seems rather vain in comparison to your plight, does it not?"

"Not at all!" Light rushed to reassure her. "That place has affected all of us. But the three of us are still a team, and that means we can all help each other with whatever comes next."

"Well, then I shall endeavor to be the best teammate I can. And I'm sure there are at least a half-dozen more ponies willing to do the same."

"Yeah, you're right." Light blinked a few times, then suddenly started laughing. "Huh, well would you look at that!"

Rarity glanced down to find Sweetie Belle dozing peacefully against her side, letting out the most adorable yawn and subconsciously readjusting when Rarity shifted her weight.

"She hasn't slept more than a wink while you've been out," Light added. "I guess she just needed her big sister to get comfortable."

Rarity couldn't help but smile. "Poor dear must have been exhausted. Don't you worry, Sweetie Belle, your sister's going to look after you now. I promise."

"That's good to hear," Light said, "but for now, why don't you let me carry her. We have somewhere to be, and you shouldn't strain yourself."

"Why, wherever could we possibly have to be? I just woke up!"

"Applejack's," Light grinned. "She called dibs on your first meal."

Rarity's stomach rumbled in a rather undignified way in response. "Well, good. I suppose I could have a bite. But first, I should tell you that there is something we must discuss. It can wait until tonight before bed, but no later."

"Oh, is there something wrong?"

"Very much so." Rarity's tone turned grave. "It may be a matter of life or death, actually. But it can wait. Just a little bit. I would hardly wish to sour our meal."

"Are you sure?" Light stepped up to the bed, setting one hoof upon the covers as concern etched into her features. "If there's a problem, we should take care of it right away. I'd hate to let it affect you any longer than necessary."

"I said it can wait," Rarity insisted. "Please, darling, let's just go and enjoy ourselves for now. It'll be easier after some warm food and good company anyway. Now, why don't you help me out of this bed? I'm afraid my legs are not entirely stable just yet."

"Right." Light put a foreleg around her. "It's time to bust you out of this joint."

"Light!"

"What? Not funny?"

"No." She paused. "I am cleared to leave, right?"

"Eh, who cares? It's not like they're going to stop us."

Rarity gasped. "Light, I never knew you were such a rebel!"

"Actually, I lied. I care quite a bit. I filled out a lot of paperwork for you—in triplicate, just in case—to make sure you were properly set to go. They said that wasn't all necessary, coming from a princess, but the hospital's policies were very clear! I should know, I read them all."

"And... you ruined it."

2 - Warm Apple Pie

The walk toward Sweet Apple Acres felt more serene than Rarity could have imagined. The taste of fresh air alone was a blessing, but there was so much more than that. Birds chirped cheerfully through the trees, autumn leaves drifted lazily down and were caught by eddies of wind that made them dance, rays of setting sunlight painted the hills and pastures in golden strokes. After all that time trapped in a nightmare, it was like a dream.

Somewhere along the way, Sweetie Belle had woken as a beam of sunlight tickled her face. Upon realizing where she was, she’d leapt off Light’s back and proceeded to prance around in foalish delight at having her sister back. It was the sort of thing that normally annoyed Rarity as the filly inevitably bumped into things and got in the way, but now she could only laugh, grinning like a madmare at the sight of it.

When the three of them arrived at the front porch of the farmhouse, Light had only to knock once before the door flung open. In its wake stood a familiar orange farmpony with glistening emerald eyes and her Stetson slightly askew. Applejack.

Rarity thought she was going to be sick. Her breath quickened as she hung her head, staring at the green grass beneath her hooves. Yet she was helpless to stop the unbidden image drawn up from her darkest memories.

Before her sat a rotting carcass. It was of a vaguely orangish hue and would have been unidentifiable if not for the bloody, battered Stetson hanging from what remained of its head.

The last time she’d seen Applejack hadn’t been pretty. Her only consolation was that she’d never eaten any of that one. What meat remained was rancid already. Besides, the bite marks indicated the best parts had previously been claimed by other prisoners of the pocket dimension.

“Rares, y’okay?”

Rarity slowly forced her breathing under control, gulped, then looked up into the concerned eyes of her friend. An orange hoof rested gently against her shoulder, a frown marring that muzzle as her straw hair shifted gently with the wind. And just past her stood Light and Sweetie Belle. The sympathetic looks offered said they understood exactly what she was thinking.

“Of course, darling,” Rarity mustered up. “I’m quite alright. In fact, I don’t think I could be more ecstatic at finally seeing you again.”

Applejack slowly nodded, detecting the lie yet unwilling to call her out on it just yet. “Well, I'm mighty pleased to see you too. I'm just sorry y'all had to go through what you did. I wish there was somethin' I coulda done to help. It pains me to know I was living my best life while y'all were stuck in that place."

"And yet it warms my heart to hear you were doing just that." Rarity gave the farmpony a fond smile. "Besides, you had no way of knowing. And even if you did, there was nothing you could do. Now please, let us not speak of it further."

"'course," Applejack nodded conciliatorily, stepping away and toward the door. "I didn't mean to drag you back through nothin'. Here, why don't y'all come on in. Supper's waitin', and that apple pie ain't stayin' hot all night."

Rarity, Light, and Sweetie Belle followed their friend through the threshold, encouraged by the ambrosial scents wafting from the kitchen. Inside, they were warmly welcomed by the rest of the apple family: Granny Smith, Big McIntosh, and Apple Bloom. The last of which immediately went to Sweetie Belle, of course, so she could talk hurriedly in hushed tones about what the now four crusaders had in store next.

For her part, Granny Smith shakily made her way over to the group before saying, "Well, you fillies been through the ringer, that's for dang certain. Come, sit now. Ain't no ailment a home-cooked meal won't soothe. Ain't that right, Big Mac?"

"Eeyup."

And so the seven ponies seated themselves around the table with Granny Smith at one end and Big Mac at the other. For her part, Rarity took a seat next to Light and opposite from Applejack and the fillies. It was the best option for a view out the nearby window. Somehow, it was comforting to keep the setting sun filtered through the branches of apple trees visible. It was like she needed to remind herself where she was, and more importantly, where she wasn't.

Between the seven ponies was a spread like no other: cornbread with a choice of honey or apple jam, fresh-baked fritters, collard greens, baked beans, two varieties of casserole, mashed potatoes, and of course: that famous apple pie. There was even a choice of water, sun tea, or apple cider for drinks. The apple family had gone all out.

"This is a most generous display," Rarity breathed. "I don't think I've seen you prepare this much for twice as many ponies before."

"It ain't a display," Granny said, "and it ain't for 'seeing.' Now dig in! You look scrawny as all get out, and we don't let nopony starve in these walls."

She didn't have to tell them twice. What followed was an hour of the most pleasant meal Rarity could recall. Laughter and light conversation filled the air as the assembled ponies reminisced on old times, speaking about anything and everything but the pocket dimension. Light, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle took great pains to avoid that topic, lest they sour the evening with bad memories. They even had to abruptly steer the conversation away whenever Apple Bloom got curious.

On one such occasion, Apple Bloom blurted out, "So what'd y'all do for fun when you we're stuck in that place? Must've been mighty borin'."

Applejack shot her a scowl at this, but Rarity merely responded, "We read a book. Daring Do I believe. Ahem, speaking of," she nodded toward a bookcase at the far end of the visible section of the house, "is that a copy of Shadow Spade and the Murgese Falcon I see? A little hard to tell from this distance. My eyesight isn't that of a bright young filly anymore, I'm afraid."

"Y'know, Rarity? I think you're exactly right." Applejack nodded. "I believe Big Mac's been trying out the series. Isn't that right, Big Mac?"

"Eeyup."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Rarity cried out perhaps a bit too loudly. "It's one of my favorites, you know. Tell me, Mig McIntosh, have you figured out who killed Archer and Derby yet?"

"Eenope."

"Well, it is a bit of a shocker, let me tell you that. I won't spoil anything. Just trust me: you're going to love it."

"Ugh," Apple Bloom groaned, "mysteries take too long to get to the point! Tell me about the Daring Do! Which book was it? Was it the one about the terrifying towers? Or maybe the one about the high cholesterol test? Oh, oh, was it the one Rainbow Dash got recently but says Scoots and I are too young to read?"

"Sugarcube," Applejack said, "I don't think it matters. That does remind me o' somethin' though. Word is, there ain't been hide nor hair o' A. K. Yearling since that weird, limited book release 'round... where was that again?"

"Mmm," Light gulped down her bite of casserole, "Seaddle. Tackoma too. I'd had to search the whole area to find it. I wouldn't be too worried about her though. Probably just off on another adventure."

"But," Sweetie Belle began, "Isn't that, like, really soon after her last one? I thought you said she normally rests in between?"

"Well," Light conceded, "I'll admit, it is highly unusual for her. Maybe something urgent came up. When I get the chance, I'll have to ask Rainbow Dash. If she isn't panicking about Yearling's disappearance, then she's probably heard something."

"Speaking of," Applejack said, "Pinkie Pie wanted y'all to know you were invited to a party tomorrow at midday. You can ask Rainbow your question then. The whole darn town's invited, after all."

"Oh, dear," Rarity said. "I had hoped to avoid this very thing. I'm afraid it will just be half the ponies we know offering their condolences for what we went through. Not to say that I don't appreciate the thought, but I think Pinkie will agree that a pity party is the very worst kind."

"Then you'll be glad to hear it isn't for you," Applejack replied once she'd swallowed her mouthful of greens. "At least, not officially. Pinkie's calling it the 'First Annual Ponyville All Ponies Get-together and Coalminers Appreciation Celebration.' Bit of a mouthful if you ask me. 'ccording to her, it's pure coincidence you three absolutely have to be there."

"And," Light said, "I don't suppose she's the least bit concerned that Ponyville doesn't have any coal mines, right?"

"Yep. She was highly distraught when she learned she'd forgotten to give the coal miners even a single party over the years—on account of them not existing. Now, she intends to make it up to these not-ponies by giving them the biggest party they've ever not-seen. I reckon that won't be too hard."

"That reminds me," Rarity added. "Does Trixie happen to be in town?"

"Oh! Oh!" Apple Bloom piped up. "I know this one! Me, Scoots, 'n other Sweetie spotted her down near the Ponyville main stage earlier today. Looked like she was preparin' something!"

"Little tricks for the young foals, sounds like," Granny Smith said, signaling for Sweetie Belle to pass her a fritter. "I heard Pinkie Pie requested her for the party, though princesses knows what for. That filly's still nothin' but trouble, if'n you ask me. Why, what could you possibly need 'er for?"

"Actually," Light took a sip of water, clearing her throat, "we had some questions for her. There was an odd snake she had a version of me teleport, supposedly for a magic trick. We'd like to know exactly what she's doing with it."

"Snake? I ain't seen no snake." Granny said. "Be foals business anyhow, bringing a thing like that into town. Don't surprise me with her type."

"Eeyup," Big Mac nodded in agreement.

After that, Rarity steered the conversation back toward more pleasant topics—starting with news on the latest Apple family reunion and the hijinks that inevitably followed. The black serpent brought up dark memories, ones she'd rather confront when she had Trixie standing there in front of her. As a result, the rest of the meal passed as one might expect of a joyous reunion amongst friends.

As the night wound down and apple pie was served for dessert, ponies began clearing their plates. It wasn't long before the fillies were shooed off to bed, protesting all the way about how they weren't tired and could stay up with the grown-ups. It was agreed Sweetie Belle could stay with Apple Bloom in her room that night, so Rarity was quite sure they'd be staying up either way.

By the time the fillies were gone, Granny Smith had already fallen asleep in her rocking chair. Big Mac did her the favor of gently carrying her to bed, then he too retired for the night—or 'hit the hay' as Applejack described it.

Once it was only Rarity and her two friends, they relocated to the comfy chairs and sofa of the living room. There, they nursed mugs of hot cider as the fire in the hearth burned low.

Light set her mug down rather quickly, nearly letting it slip from between her two hooves as she awkwardly leaned toward the table just a bit too far from her chair. That was a difficulty she wouldn't have had with her horn. Rarity could see the frustration in Light's face.

Before Rarity could comment or offer to magic the table closer, Light fixed her with a stare. "Okay, Rarity, you said you had a matter of life or death to speak of. Let's hear it."

"What's this now?" Applejack turned toward her on the sofa. "Somethin' happen, Rares?"

Rarity stared down into the scarred reflection within her mug of apple cider. "I'm afraid so," she began at length. "It was earlier today, when I woke from my coma. The lights were out in my room, even those on the monitors, but I wasn't alone. I could hear it moving about."

"It?" Applejack frowned, her wide eyes showing her concern.

"Or maybe her," Rarity muttered, her breath catching at the memory. "It spoke with my own voice, mimicking even my turns of phrase. The thing was terrifyingly accurate, if a tad more in the 'I'm going to murder you' sort of way."

"An intimidation tactic, maybe," Light pondered aloud. "Masking its own voice while showing how much it knows you. Impressive, but entirely possible for a skilled sorcerer or anypony familiar with both yourself and vocal imitation. It didn't touch you, did it?"

Rarity fixed light with a flat stare. "When I didn't cooperate, it attacked me. Tried to suicide me with my own catheter tube wrapped around my neck."

"What!" Applejack shot up in alarm, almost knocking over her own cider in the process. "What kind of monster would do such a thing? We need to gather the others, contact the authorities! There oughta be a warrant out for whatever this pony or things is!"

"No," Light shook her head. "We can't do that. Or at least, we shouldn't."

"Well, why not?" Applejack cried out in disbelief. "I won't stand by while somethin's got it in for one of my friends!"

"And we won't," Light reassured as she gestured toward the couch, silently urging Applejack to take a seat. "But think about how this looks. Rarity just woke up from a coma after sustaining severe injury and malnourishment to find the power mysteriously out, was attacked by an entity with her own voice which was gone by the time hospital staff entered through the only door, and no physical evidence remains of the encounter."

"You're not saying..." Applejack began as she slowly lowered back into her seat.

"I hallucinated it," Rarity finished. "That's what they'll claim. Because of our status as element bearers, we may receive a token investigation, but it won't go anywhere. Not to mention that there are no leads to follow up on. And worse, bringing this to the authorities will alert my attacker that we're actively hunting for it. Though I fear that unless it comes for me again, the chance of us actually finding this thing is near hopeless as is."

"Not necessarily," Light said. "I'll speak to the other Twilight tonight, get her to do a scan of the room for any residual magic. If we move fast enough, we might uncover whatever spells it used to escape."

"You're going to bother her in the middle of the night for that?" Rarity asked. "I didn't hear a spell or see a horn glow. If it was magic, it might not even be in a form we recognize."

"I wouldn't worry about that," Light reassured. "She and I have studied all kinds. Besides, we both know she'll be burning the midnight oil anyway. Even if this turns up nothing, that alone will tell us something."

"Thank you." Rarity exhaled in relief. "That does make me feel a little better."

Applejack leaned over, setting a forehoof on her shoulder. "How are you feeling otherwise, Rares? That must of been mighty scary. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I'll be fine," she gave a weak smile, "but your concern is appreciated."

"There is one other thing that might help," Light added. "You said it spoke. I know you were highly stressed at the time, but can you remember any of the specific words it used?"

"Not necessarily verbatim," Rarity said, "but it claimed it wanted to help me. It said I could trust it. I knew better than to fall for that old trick though. I tried to fight back, assuming that any creature that sneaks into my hospital room without introductions and cuts the power probably isn't good. When it realized I wouldn't comply, it said my sister would be saddened to hear of my suicide. Then it attacked."

"That's awful, sugarcube." Applejack gave her a sympathetic look. "I just don't understand why anything would do that."

"There's more," Rarity continued. "It said something about me not taking part in some mistress's salvation, whatever that means. Then there was something about glory and oblivion, but I fear I was a bit preoccupied with dying at that moment."

"A mistress?" Light seemed taken aback. "So, it was ordered to do this? And as for the concepts of salvation, glory, and oblivion... that sounds almost religious. A cult perhaps? Or maybe something less organized, like an attacker with severe delusions caused by something akin to schizophrenia. Hard to say with so little to go on."

"Oh! I just remembered something else!" Rarity exclaimed. "It said something about Fluttershy."

"Fluttershy?" Light and Applejack echoed in joint confusion.

"Yes. It said she was... deciduous? No, wait, delicious. It said, 'she was delicious.'"

"But that don't make a lick of sense!" Applejack cried out. "I just seen Fluttershy earlier today and she didn't have no bites taken out of her."

"That one doesn't," Light muttered glumly, staring at the floor. "But she wasn't the only one."

"Are you saying this has something to do with the pocket dimension y'all were in?"

"Maybe." Light slowly nodded. "The timing seems highly convenient. I would think something was in there and followed us out, except that the place wasn't that big and we explored every inch. We would have noticed if something was there with us."

"Unless..." Rarity breathed in sudden terror, trembling at the very idea. "Unless it had some way to hide. When the hospital staff came in, the lights were back on and the thing was nowhere in sight. What if there was something in there with us the whole time and we could never see it? Maybe it was referring to the Fluttershy we... I... killed. It would have had time to eat some of her before following us through."

The very thought sent shivers down Rarity's spine. The idea that something was in there, watching her, watching Sweetie Belle—it was too horrible to bear. Rarity already felt sick at the reminder that she’d been forced to end her friend’s life, let alone at the idea that anything feasted on her corpse. Oh, how dearly she hoped she was wrong.

"Let's not jump to conclusions." Light raised a forehoof, making a sort of 'settle down' motion as Rarity realized she was on the verge of hyperventilating. "That theory requires a number of assumptions. I mean, why would it wait until now to attack if it could have at any time? If it wanted out, I could see it waiting until we got the message out, but then why not immediately after that? And if it ate some of Fluttershy, that would imply it needs sustenance, and yet our food stores were never tampered with and none of us noticed any bodies being eaten away at a frequency that disagreed with our own food usage.

"I think it far more likely that this entity was already in our world and was drawn to the hospital by the surge of magic used to get us out. It might even feed on magic—as several other well documented creatures do, such as Tirek—which could explain why it went after you. Residue from the intense magical weaves used to save your life still lays over you. And if it targeted Fluttershy, it may not have done so in a way we might recognize. When I see Twilight, I'll have to ask her to check Fluttershy out magically just in case.

"Either way, all we have now is theories, and it's possible none of the ones suggested are even close to an accurate conclusion. I'll admit that my own theory already has one issue with it: if it was after the magic, why bother speaking to you at all when it could have gone after you unconscious? As we gather evidence, I'll make sure to document our findings with the hopes of answering these questions and narrowing down the possibilities. With luck, my double and I may have something to add this very night."

"Hoo-whee!" Applejack chuckled. "I sure am glad you're on our side, Light. With that mind of yours, I'm sure we'll find this thing in no time!"

"Uh, thanks," Light blushed. "I suppose I still have my uses."

"Right, and when you find it, I'll be there to tie this steer up and hoof it to the princesses like a purty package." Applejack turned back to Rarity. "And Rares, why don't you stay here tonight. An experience like that, I know I'd want to stick close to my ponies. Circle the wagons, you know?"

Rarity was all too eager to agree to that one. She didn’t have a permanent residence set up yet and while she was sure the other Rarity would welcome her into Carousel Boutique, she wasn’t sure she was ready for that conversation just yet. Meeting anypony so fabulous could be nerve-wracking, let alone herself. Not to mention the headache-inducing conversation regarding the running of the business that would no doubt follow. Rarity really didn't have a mind to deal with that while something out there was trying to kill her.

With the details of their plan set, Light offered her best wishes goodnight before heading to the door, stopping only briefly when she opened it to see it had started raining at some point. Even from across the room Rarity could see the resigned look when Light realized she could no longer cast a spell to keep herself dry. Luckily, Applejack was all too happy to offer her an umbrella.

Once Light disappeared into the black, Rarity returned to her apple cider, making a none-too-pleased face after only a sip. It had gone cold.

"I think I shall retire for the night," Rarity said as she set the mug in the sink. "Today's events have me terribly exhausted. Should I sleep on the couch or did you have a guest bed?"

"Just take mine." Applejack downed the rest of her cider in a single gulp, not appearing to care if it was cold. "I'll take the couch."

Rarity hesitated. "Are you sure, darling? I'd hate to impose."

"I'm sure. Have a nice night, Rares."

"But—"

"Please take it," Applejack spoke from the window, staring transfixed into the darkness. "Tonight, I want the couch."

"Very well. Sleep well, Applejack." And with that, Rarity went to bed.

That night, Rarity would find 'sleeping well' had become a foreign concept to her. She tossed and turned, plagued by nightmares until the coming of the dawn.

3 - Room 209

Light strode through the doors of Ponyville's hospital alongside her double. Convincing that one to come with was easy. Twilight had been up late studying just as Light assumed and was more than eager to help, given the severity of what happened. Light also suspected Twilight felt guilty somehow for still having what Light had lost, and for taking her place, but that wasn't a conversation Light would get into just then. A little guilt killed nopony, Rarity's predicament just might.

The young mare at the front desk hesitated not a moment in letting them through and giving directions to the proper room, despite the late hour. She even allowed Twilight to look through the nurse's report on the incident. The staff at Ponyville General all knew Twilight Sparkle, and they wouldn't dare impede the Princess of Friendship. Not that any version of Twilight felt the title really warranted all that much deference. Or that she considered it appropriate to so easily give access to otherwise private medical records.

"It's strange," the office worker said as they passed, "never in one night have I seen so many ponies wanting to visit an empty room!"

"There were others?" Twilight asked way too casually, clearly trying to avoid causing alarm.

"Well, just one, but now three which feels like a lot!" the mare tittered. "The other one said she was some kind of detective. Not sure what there is to detect here, but she carried a badge and everything!"

"Fascinating. Is she still here?"

"I haven't seen her leave!"

The two Twilights shared a look, turning away from the mare who was far too bubbly for the time of night. With that look, Light knew they were thinking the same thing: Rarity didn't officially report a crime and neither was there any evidence of one, so why was a supposed detective here? Ponyville didn't even have its own officers!

There was only one way to find out.

The two ponies marched side by side toward room 209, where Rarity had been treated. Not a soul was seen along the way, with the relatively few patients largely asleep and the limited hospital staff either busy or in other parts of the building. It gave the white walls and fluorescent lights an almost eerie feeling. Sterile, cold, lonely. One of the lights even flickered along the way, adding to the effect. Light barely noticed. She didn't find empty hallways creepy anymore.

When they arrived at 209, they found the door cracked open with light emitting from within. Something moved beyond and a shadow briefly passed across that crack in the doorway. Twilight made a series of gestures indicating they should wait and listen, but Light wasn't interested in sneaking about.

The door swung open easily at Light's hoof, allowing her a full view of the room and the mare standing beside the bed. She was garbed crest to dock all in black such that her gray coat was only visible at the head. A duster, travel-worn boots, and a hat with a flat, circular brim just wide enough to shadow her face and cover most of that dark mane made her look more the part of an outlaw than the law itself.

This new pony watched them silently through silver eyes until both ponies were fully in the room, then bowed low, tipping her hat even lower with a hoof. "Your highnesses," she spoke in a drawl not too dissimilar from Applejack's, "it's a mighty fine pleasure to meet you here."

Light and Twilight shared a look of confusion, though Twilight spoke first. "Were you expecting us?"

"No," the pony moved around to inspect the medical equipment, "but when you're in Ponyville, one must prepare for the unexpected. Important ponies everywhere; crazy things happen."

Light was growing impatient. "Enough with the casual act. Just tell us who you are and why you're here."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "You must understand this is highly unusual."

"Oh," the mare smirked, "is the detective from out of town checking out a random hospital room in the middle of the night without a word to local authorities unusual? I hadn't realized. My sincerest apologies." She once again swept into a bow, practically kissing the floor it was so deep.

When both Twilights merely glared at her, she quickly straightened. "Perhaps introductions are in order. My name is Detective Gray and I am here on assignment from the Canterlot Constabulary." She pulled open her duster to show a badge. "I had heard there was a rather vulnerable young unicorn in a coma here, and a famous one at that. Sounded like a prime target to me, so I thought I'd try to catch my quarry in the act. Seems like I must've been wrong though. By all accounts, Miss Rarity is safe and sound."

"Hold on." Light quietly shut the door. "What quarry? What act were you trying to catch?"

"It's probably unrelated to anything your highness would need to know, but I'll talk." Gray paced over toward the window, briefly lifting the shades and glancing out. "There've been several disappearances in Canterlot recently. All unicorns, all relatively young. Now, Canterlot's a massive city. A few seemingly similar disappearances could be nothing. An anomaly. Some of my superiors certainly think so. I'm a cautious mare though. If there's even a chance of a connection, I want to be on top of it. I wasn't sure there'd be anything this far from the big city, but given how the one before last disappeared from a hospital too, I figured I'd roll the dice on it."

"That's a commendable attitude," Twilight hesitantly smiled. "And you may not be as wrong as you think. Rarity says she was attacked."

"I'm not sure we should tell—" Light started, but it was already too late. Twilight was all-too-happy to share with the strange detective the whole story, which Light herself had given Twilight not an hour gone.

When Twilight finished, Gray merely frowned. "Interesting, but I'm not convinced it and the Canterlot case are connected. It doesn't exactly fit the circumstances around the others. In fact, given your friend's state and the total lack of evidence here, I'm more inclined to believe what you're describing was nothing more than a trauma-induced hallucination. I ain't a doctor though, so what do I know? Maybe it's something else altogether."

Light could feel her hoof itching to collide with her face. It was exactly what she expected would happen. But then again, maybe that was a good thing. She had no reason to trust this pony and her nonsensical story anyway.

Twilight, on the other hoof, seemed perfectly willing to consider this explanation. "It’s entirely possible that you’re right, detective, but I wouldn't assume so without checking all our bases. Fortunately, I have a way to test it. A detection spell will reveal any magic cast in or near the room within the past twenty-four hours. Seeing as how the nurse came through the only door and the window remained unopened, if there was something here, it would have had to use magic to escape."

"A reasonable assumption." Gray nodded. "I already checked: nothing larger than a rat could safely fit through the ventilation; nothing was seen coming in or out on either the interior or exterior cameras. Cast your spell. Let's get us some answers."

Twilight took a breath then walked to the center of the room, her horn shining brilliantly enough to give the entire room a raspberry glow. The flare of magical energies was as brief as it was bright, disappearing to leave only a faint trace of magic in the air over Rarity's bed, right where she'd been sleeping.

"That bit there on the bed," Gray pointed. "Is that one of these traces of magic we're looking for? Shouldn't there be more? I mean, it didn't escape from on top of the bed, did it?"

"No, it did not." Twilight sighed, lowering her head. "That trace of magic is from what was still inside Rarity when she laid there this morning. If something used magic to enter or exit the room, we'd see more. A lot more."

Light pulled Twilight around to face her. "Then we're missing something. Maybe it had some way of preventing detection. Or maybe it used some as-yet-undiscovered type of magic that can't be detected by normal means. Or... I don't know! There has to be an explanation."

"It is possible we've failed to consider something," Twilight said, shrugging off Light's grip, "but we both know just how unlikely those things would be with our current understanding of magic. The most plausible explanation is that Rarity experienced these events inside her own head. That it didn't really happen, at least not physically."

"You can't be serious!" Light stamped her hoof, incredulous and furious in equal measure. "This is our friend we're talking about here! If she says it happened, then it happened. I thought you would be on our side with this."

"I'm sorry, but it is only logical to form any hypothesis based on the available evidence, or lack thereof." Twilight spoke almost too calmly, as if explaining something at a classroom lecture. "If Rarity's attack happened exactly as she described then we should have found something by now. We've ruled out all reasonably possible means for any creature to pull it off. Hallucinations, however, are extremely common for those who've undergone great mental or physical duress. And they can be quite vivid.

"According to Nurse Redheart's report, Rarity was even found choking herself with the catheter tube and had to be made to stop. That doesn't sound like an attack to me. And unlike the attack theory, the hallucination theory is actually in agreement with this evidence. Not to say that I'm discounting anything entirely just yet."

"But we know Rarity!" Light pleaded. "As prone as she is to drama, this is extreme. A pony doesn't just hallucinate an entire attack in terrifying detail then turn around and have the presence of mind to pass it off as a nightmare and go through a doctor's exam without issue."

"I might point out that a pony usually doesn't have the presence of mind to go through an actual attack and be that stable afterwards either. Regardless, her experience in the pocket dimension has clearly hardened her. It's also done considerable damage. I believe that she believes she was attacked, but going all in on this one idea alone on the sole basis of her belief will do her no favors. If it happened, we must find evidence as to how. Otherwise, the best thing we can do is get her professional help. In fact, it's probably the best thing regardless—for you and Sweetie Belle too. Anypony would need it after what you've all been through. I even have somepony I can recommend."

"No." Light backed away, noticing how pointedly the detective was looking anywhere but at them. "If said psychiatric 'help' would discount our experiences like this, then I don't think I want to see them at all."

"Please be reasonable." Twilight followed after her, doing her best to appear sympathetic. "You two have been through worse than Tartarus together. I understand that you want to show her your support now, and I understand how you're probably more ready to believe terrible things are out there after all you've been through, but we are still mares of logic. You know I'm not your enemy. You know you need help. Please let me be that help."

"It's getting late." Light stared at the floor, trying not to notice how her shadow lacked a horn. "You should probably get to sleep. Big party tomorrow by the sounds of it."

Twilight slumped, perhaps realizing she'd get nowhere with this tonight. "Fine. I'll go. But please remember that we all just want to help. My door's open any time."

"I know. Make sure to check Fluttershy for any sign of magic. We still don't know what it meant when it said she was delicious."

Twilight sighed. "Of course I will. Try not to be too upset if I don't find anything."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

And with that, Twilight swung the door open with her magic and left the room.

Light waited a moment longer as she took a few breaths to calm down. This was stupid. She couldn't even get along with herself. And now she was embarrassed at having had that argument and probably coming across as a madmare right in front of a Canterlot detective.

Light made to leave but was stopped by a hoof on her shoulder.

"A moment of your time," Detective Gray drawled as she gently closed the door. "We may just be able to help each other yet."

"Why?" Light turned. "You said it yourself: you don't think this has anything to do with your investigation."

"I did say that, didn't I?" Gray walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge and motioning Light to take the chair opposite of her. "Course, that don't mean I was telling the truth. The circumstances are a bit different, I'll give ya that, but I ain't willing to give up on the idea just yet."

"Then why did you say otherwise!" Light practically screeched. "If you'd backed me up a minute ago, I might have gotten her on my side!"

"Well, you see," Gray motioned again for her to take a seat, "that's sort of the point. If we bring the Princess of Friendship in on this then it's only a matter of time before they know we're onto them."

"Who's 'they?' Also, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm the Princess of Friendship too!" Light could feel a migraine coming on. She let herself fall into the chair, more out of fatigue than any desire to comply with the detective's request.

"Legally speaking, you're right. But that don't mean most ponies will see it that way." Gray glanced toward Light's forehead. "Your loss is most regrettable, but it may just be to our advantage. As long as the other Twilight's walking around, she's the one they'll be paying attention to. You're nothing more than an amusing side story to them."

"Joy," Light deadpanned, feeling herself sink further into the chair.

"As for just who the enemy is, we don't know yet. What we do know is that they've been kidnapping unicorns, and they started the very same day the princesses and your friends started working on their spell to pull you out of that strange place you were in. Quite the coincidence, no?"

Light sat up at that. "Earlier, you said the disappearances might be nothing, unconnected. That was a lie too, wasn't it?"

"Oh, I'm quite certain there's a connection. The last one I went after; I was right on top of them. Could hear the struggle from outside. This one was in training for the royal guard. Put up a real good fight by the sounds of it. But then things went dead silent. I'm talking tearing the place apart straight to not a peep with no in-between. No heavy breathing, no thud of a body hitting the floor, no nothing. It was unnatural. And by the time I was able to break in, there was no sign of the unicorn or his attacker."

"Interesting," Light leaned forward. "Very well, I'll help. If there's something I can do to protect those unicorns and help Rarity in the process, I'll do it. I need you to be honest with me from here on out though. I can't trust somepony who lies to get her way."

"Fair's fair." Gray pulled a flask out of her coat, taking a swig before shoving it toward Light. "To an uneasy yet highly productive partnership!"

Light took only a sip, feeling a shiver pass through her body. The stuff was vile. "Agreed. What's our first step?"

"First, you wait here while I head back to Canterlot. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but you've got a party to enjoy. It'll be sometime tomorrow you'll get a message from a friend of yours. They'll ask you to come to Canterlot. Accept, and bring your friend Rarity with you. I'll find y'all at some point after that."

"And how do you know about this message?"

Gray smirked. "I pay attention when important ponies want important things done. It rather helps with my line of work. Now, get some rest. It's good for ya."

Later that night, Light laid next to the fire, snuggled up in the filthy, tattered remains of what had once been a cloak. The darkness around her seemed to press in, and no matter how she shifted and squirmed she couldn't find a comfortable position. It didn't help that she could feel bits of pony viscera squishing beneath her.

A scraping sound alerted her to the presence of another. Across the fire, another version of herself hobbled into view from behind a mound of bodies, struggling to drag one of the better-looking lavender carcasses on account of her bad leg.

"Trouble sleeping?" Twi said. "Strange, I don't have that problem much anymore. You'd think it'd never go away in this place, wouldn't you?"

"I guess." Light rolled over, coming face to face with the wide-eyed stare of Fluttershy. She jumped, her heart pounding like a line of bookcases falling over.

How had she forgotten? Fluttershy was completely catatonic after being teleported by the next version of Twilight Sparkle. Light was determined to care for her, Twi was less so.

"Hah!" Twi belted out. "Scared by a shadow!"

"She's more than that, and you know it!" Light yelled, feeling the old argument take over. "If we don't care for her, what does that make us? Besides, you don't know she won't wake up."

"She won't if you keep going about it that way," Twi snorted, grabbing a bit of sharpened bone and getting to work on the corpse she'd dragged in. "Talking to her in soft tones won't accomplish anything. I say we try hitting her. Maybe we can shock her out of it."

"No! I won't let you!"

"Well, then what?" Twi snarled. "Do you care nothing for me? Would you so easily let me die? Can't you see that her presence is like a poisoned axe hanging over my head?"

"...what?" Light was confused. A poisoned axe? Something was wrong. This argument wasn't supposed to go this way. Twi accused Light of many things, but never of actively wishing her dead.

A memory flashed before Light's eyes. Twi, broken and bloodied, surrounded by a scattering of yellow feathers.

"Don't you see?" Twi continued, sounding desperate. "I remain crippled and weak, while she maintains her strength on the food you gave her. I only ever did what I thought was right, and yet I will be left to die alone, away from the comfort of my friends."

"I'm sorry!" Light cried as the memories came rushing back. "I should have tried to reconcile things sooner. You never were my enemy. And you're right; it's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Fluttershy have the snake or the potion. I shouldn't have let you go off on your own."

"Well, I suppose I forgive you." Twi set the sharpened bone she was working with aside. "I could hardly hold a grudge against myself, now could I? Not like the Twilight that gave me this." She shook her injured leg.

Light heaved a sigh of relief. "You... you really forgive me? Even though I got you killed?"

"Filly," Twi shook her head, "you are such a softy. Besides, it was the angel that did it."

"The what?"

Twi looked around conspiratorially before closing up and whispering in her ear. "Fluttershy's little friend. And now that she's gone, I wonder what happened to it? Best to be careful, don't you think?"

"Right..." Light turned back to look at Fluttershy, only to find her gone. In her place was a pool of blood, and within its dark reflection, a pair of golden eyes—watching, evaluating.

Light stumbled back in shock. "Uh, Twi? Twi!"

She turned. Twi stood there before her, a red line running down from her throat. Above her flapped Fluttershy, unimpeded by the effect which should have prevented flying. And held within that pony's manic grin was the same bit of sharpened bone Twi had set aside a moment earlier.

"No!" Light rushed to hold Twi, Fluttershy disappearing above them like a dispelled illusion.

"You've been given a window," Twi croaked, though it should have been impossible with an open throat. "I'll do my best to protect you. To help you see. I promise."

"Twi," Light tried and failed to stanch the bleeding, "I don't understand. You're dying!"

"Oh, right." Twi coughed, splattering Light's face with blood. "That's rough. I guess I'll see you later then."

Twi's head lolled back, her eyes going dead.

Light released the body and stepped away, feeling numb. It was bad enough the first time. Did her head really have to reimagine it in such detail? Though a fog had swept over her mind before, everything was clear now. This was a nightmare, and she needed to end it.

Light bit her own hoof, a supposed classic in the field of waking oneself up, only to find all it did was hurt. She tried shutting her eyes tight and counting to ten too, but that tactic fared no better. She even tried jumping up and down and flapping her wings to no avail.

Her frustration was rising, and her fear. She was not going to be stuck in this place! Not again! Not even in a dream!

Just as Light was searching for another idea, she noticed Twi's body was sinking, or perhaps melting. A black-red liquid was forming under her, consuming the body and those near it as this new pool slowly rose higher.

Light turned and ran, climbing over the endless mounds of decaying flesh. She slipped in gore, pricked herself on bones sticking up, and even briefly tripped on one of her bodies' horns. And despite her frantic pace, the liquid kept on rising, so quickly now she barely stayed ahead of it.

Light panicked, hyperventilating as a new problem came upon her: the pocket dimension was spherical, eventually she wouldn't be able to climb the slope. And with her hooves still slippery with blood, she came upon that point all too quickly.

She scraped and squirmed against the smooth, gray-stained-red walls of the dimension, desperate to gain even another inch as the dark liquid rose above her tail and then her hindlegs like half-congealed blood. In no time at all, her head was the only thing above the surface.

Light kicked her legs, trying to stay afloat in the viscous mess even as her body trembled in terror. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she continued to sink. Soon, the liquid passed over her head too and she was forced to close her eyes, tilting her muzzle up to take one last breath.

Finally, she slipped under.

No! She wanted to scream, but to do so would only invite the filth inside her. She wanted to cry, but some part of her knew that breaking down would do nothing. And so even as she slowly drowned, she plotted ways out. Maybe there was some way yet to wake herself?

And then she heard it: muffled screams, like a thousand other ponies drowning there alongside her. Was her imagination really so morbid? Was she so broken that she had to dream even worse horrors than the ones she actually experienced?

Light willed herself to open her eyes, knowing that in a dream it shouldn't matter what she got in them. What she saw petrified her whole, like a paralysis spell gone wrong.

Before her were a pair of giant, gleaming yellow eyes. And they spoke. Not with any words an ear might hear, but rather the power of pure projected thought.

I've seen you.

Light gasped, falling off the bed in the side room she'd taken within the Castle of Friendship. The hard, cold floor was a rough awakening, but she practically cried in joy to be on it rather than with those eyes.

The door burst open a moment later, admitting a familiar baby dragon. "Twilight! Twilight! I mean, Light! Light! Are you alright?"

"Now's not the time for rhyming, Spike," Light groaned, turned over on the floor to get a better view of her number one assistant.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to." He knelt down next to her, carefully checking for bruises. "What happened? Was it a nightmare? I hear Princess Luna's having trouble helping with those ever since... well, you know."

"Yeah, Spike," Light breathed, "a nightmare. A really weird, terrifying one, but still just a nightmare."

"Do you need me to get the other you? Maybe she has a spell that can help."

"Is she asleep?"

"Yeah. For once. But I'm sure she'd still be happy to lend a hoof!"

Light paused a moment to take in Spike's worried face, his eagerness to help. She almost took him up on his offer right then just to make him feel useful, but then she remembered her earlier exchange with Twilight. She even felt bad for exploding at her the way she did. It had been an emotional day. "There's no need to wake her. Thank you for the concern, but you can go back to bed. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" He hesitated, claws scraping against each other nervously.

She nodded.

After another moment's hesitation, Spike left, patting her on the shoulder reassuringly and shutting the door with the utmost care on the way out.

With him gone, Light turned to stare out the open window. From where she laid, she could see the beautiful night sky, filled with a million shining stars and peppered with the occasional cloud, one of which she was sure was Rainbow Dash's house. That at least was comforting. Not a view she'd ever take for granted again.

"It was just a nightmare," she told herself, breathing in and out at a slow, measured pace. "Just a nightmare."

4 - Party and a Quest

Ponyville was abuzz with activity, not for the first time because of a particular pink party pony. Banners hung from one building to another; streamers, ribbons, and balloons filled the air; and tables throughout the town square were stacked with every manner of confection one could imagine. In all, almost every resident of Ponyville was present, along with a few non-residents. There were even a total of four crusaders running about the place—including two Sweetie Belles—causing every kind of chaos.

This was the so-called “First Annual Ponyville All Ponies Get-together and Coalminers Appreciation Celebration.” Given that Ponyville had no coalminers, this was generally understood to be a celebration of Light, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle’s return. Pinkie had correctly anticipated their desire to not have a spotlight shined directly on them so soon, even if her solution was quite transparent to most.

And so that was how Rarity found herself at a table stacked high with cupcakes, scones, cookies, and ever other sort of confection, trying to make polite conversation with Bon Bon and Lyra Heartstrings. The former of the two was the picture of social grace, showing concern without prying or pitying, whilst the latter smashed through such worries like Discord at a fashion show.

“So what does pony taste like?” Lyra blurted out, prompting a horrified gasp from Bon Bon and a sprayed drink from Rarity. This mare was worse than Apple Bloom! If she hadn’t helped the princesses with the spell to get them out of the pocket dimension, Rarity would have scolded her even in front of her marefriend.

As it was, Rarity simply replied, “Horrid. Believe me, you'd have no taste for it at all."

"Good princesses, I hope not," muttered Bon Bon even as Lyra leaned in closer, curiosity written into her features.

"I never saw the place. Minuette went in to help, but they said too many hooves would just get in the way so they had me and Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts wait outside. Minnie came back with this look on her face though…” Lyra paused just a moment to consider before adding, “Was everything rotten? Did anypony ever count the bodies?”

“Not quite as much as you’d expect, and no, we did not. Now if you are quite satisfied with darkening the occasion, your marefriend is beginning to look ill.”

“Please, Lyra, that’s enough,” Bon Bon groaned, patting the mint unicorn’s hoof pleadingly.

“Sorry, Bonnie. You too, Rarity.” Lyra gulped, suddenly contrite. “It’s just… not to be selfish or anything, but that could’ve been me.”

She sunk down in her chair, an almost comical position given the strange way she sat. “During our final year at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, Princess Celestia offered a reward to anypony who could teleport across the room. I was at it for months, trying to figure it out. Never could get it. In the end, only three did: Twilight Sparkle, Moondancer, and Minuette—and that last just barely. I’ve never been so glad to fail at something in my life. I guess I just wanted to know what it was like, what I almost did to myself for a few extra points on a report card.”

“Oh, honey.” Bon Bon wrapped her hooves around Lyra.

“I see.” Rarity smiled sympathetically. “In that case, you need not let your imagination run wild. Had you succeeded the one time, you’d have found nothing of the sort. It would be horrible, of course, but not quite so graphic. I daresay nopony teleported as often as dear Twilight. Though I’m sure that makes for little comfort.

“I’m also concerned for Moondancer and Minuette. Has anypony thought to check up on them? From experience, I can say finding out you’re not the original version of yourself can be a dreadful experience. Existential crises are rarely pleasant.”

“Well, Moondancer hasn’t been seen since this started,” Lyra said, idly passing one of the cupcakes from hoof to hoof, smearing herself with bits of frosting in the process. “Twinkleshine found a note on her door though. Apparently, she’s been away working on some special project. Pretty typical behavior for Moondancer really.

"As for Minuette, she left back for Canterlot the very day we got you out of that place. Didn’t talk much to me before she left, but sounded kinda hollow. You know what I mean? Anyway, Lemon Hearts offered to stay with her for a bit, make sure she’s okay. I haven’t heard anything else since.”

“Then I shall make it my mission to check on the both of them at least once,” Rarity said as she picked a pink streamer that had been launched from somewhere out of her mane.

“And this,” Bon Bon said, amazed, “is why you bear the element of generosity. By all rights the rest of us should be looking after you, not the other way around!”

“Nonsense.” Rarity rolled her eyes dramatically. “I’ve done next to nothing. Lyra and her friends, however, helped power the spells to get us out of that wretched place. That deserves repayment.”

Just then, Rarity noticed Light and Rainbow Dash huddled together at one of the tables, serious looks on their faces. "I'm sorry," Rarity began, "but I was hoping to speak with Light. I hope the two of you will excuse me for the time being."

They both nodded their assent and Rarity left them to their treats, making her way through the crowd and giving polite greetings whenever somepony addressed her.

Balloons and streamers filled the air, ponies chattering about the day’s happenings around mouthfuls of party food. Rarity caught mention of Light or herself, or teleportation in general, more than once. It seemed that while the specifics of the perils of teleportation were not widely known outside Ponyville, here it was the talk of the town. Inevitable, really, once the likes of Lyra Heartstrings and Minuette got involved.

A small band played music in front of Sugarcube Corner, led by a fiddle player who just so happened to be some distant relation of Applejack’s. Fiddlesticks, Rarity believed her name was. Somepony had even convinced Big Mac and Toe-Tapper to sing, though the tune was more country than she’d expected of the latter.

“Oh you can do it at a trot,
You can do it at a gallop,
You can do it real slow so your heart won’t palpitate.
Just don’t be late!
Do the Puygallop.

All the ponies and the animals down at the fair,
They do the Puygallop like they didn’t have a care
And it looks like so much fun to do
I think I’m gonna learn how to do it too.

I saw a duck and a chicken down by the farm,
A kickn' up the hay and a raisn' such a storm,
That I asked the farmer what they were up to
and he said ‘Puygallop, That's what they do!’”

Rarity wasn’t sure where Puygallop was, but it was a catchy enough tune. She didn’t have time to stop and listen though. She needed to know what Light had found.

Rainbow Dash was the first to notice Rarity’s approach, calling out to her, “hey, Rares, you coming to join us?”

“Why, of course,” Rarity smiled, taking her seat. “I wouldn’t dare miss a conversation with the great Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow scrunched up her muzzle. “Okay, very funny. You’re here for Twi—I mean Light—aren’t you?”

“I can be here for more than one pony.” Rarity settled back, looking between them. “Any news?”

“Yes, but none good,” Light grimaced. “Other me and I checked the hospital but found no evidence. She seems to think it was some sort of hallucination, but I disagree. We also met a Canterlot detective there. She seemed to think it was related to a case in Canterlot. She also requested our assistance and said we'd soon be called to go to Canterlot, where she'd see us again. I’ll fill you in with more detail once we have privacy.”

“Aw, come on, Twi—Light, ponyfeathers!—you don’t trust me anymore?” Rainbow Dash started. “I have no idea what this is all about, but you know I got your back. Just point me at the bad guys and I’ll give them a taste of my sonic justice!”

“Which is appreciated, Rainbow,” Light said, “but it’s not that simple. Besides, I’m not hiding anything from you. I’ll tell you later too. It’s just that we’re in the middle of town square, and I’m pretty sure Golden Harvest and Berryshine over there are eavesdropping.”

Twin gasps could just barely be heard, followed by the two aforementioned ponies studiously looking anywhere but at them.

“Well, you can hardly fault them a bit of curiosity,” Rarity said. “I'm sure the rumor mill is running wild after all that activity here to save us. As for Twilight, her response is disappointing but not surprising. You never were quick to accept that which seemed impossible. Remember when you learned about Pinkie’s ‘Pinkie Sense?’”

“That was years ago! She should’ve learned to take it on faith! Ugh.” Light pressed a hoof to her forehead, only to pull it away in a brief moment of surprise at not feeling her horn. “This doesn’t even matter right now. Arguing with myself just makes me feel like an idiot.”

“Well, let’s not be too hard on yourself,” Rarity said. “Everypony’s been under a lot of stress. I’ll talk to her later, see if I can’t bring her around. In the meanwhile, was there any other news? You two seemed to be discussing something earlier.”

“Right, that.” Light turned to Rainbow Dash. “You want to tell her?”

“Yeah.” Rainbow leaned in close, glancing briefly toward the nearby ponies. “Yearling’s missing! I mean, maybe she’s off on one of her things, but I’ve got a bad feeling. I should’ve heard from her by now. Even sent a letter when Secrets of Brodfeld came out, but nothing. Luckily, I’ve got a plan. I got leave from the wonderbolts. Tomorrow morning, I head to Seaddle and find out where she went. And if she needs my help kicking some baddie flank, then I’ll be right there to do it.”

“Hold on,” Rarity said, keeping her voice low, “please tell me you spent more than ten seconds thinking this through. I mean, who are you bringing for backup? Do you have a way to get help if something goes wrong? Do the others even know what you’re doing?”

“Relax, Rares.” Rainbow’s foreleg made a dismissive gesture. “I’ll tell them before I leave. And if I need help, I’ll just zoom right back here and get it. Fastest flyer in Equestria, remember? Besides, the others are busy. I don’t want to disturb them for what might be nothing.”

“Please disturb them,” Rarity pressed. “I should think the lesson on not charging in alone should have penetrated through even your thick skull by now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest. “They don’t call me Rainbow ‘Danger’ Dash for nothing!”

“Nopony calls you that! Except yourself. And maybe Scootaloo.”

“Ugh, fine,” Rainbow groaned. “I know Applejack and your doubles have stuff this week, so I’ll try Pinkie. Maybe she’ll want to come.”

“I’d love to come!” the pink blur announced as she burst out of the center of their huddle, nearly knocking all three over in shock. “Wait, where are we going? Is it somewhere fun?”

"Gah! Pinkie!" Light exclaimed. "Where'd you come from?"

“Well, I was talking to Fluttershy about trying out my new cakes for snakes idea, but then I started feeling the tinglies and I just knew somepony needed my help! So here I am!”

“Makes as much sense as ever,” Light deadpanned. “Rainbow, you want to fill her in too?”

Rainbow groaned, then started again. For the third time. Except by this point she was growing bored with explaining herself and so was a tad less careful of who heard. That A. K. Yearling had disappeared and Rainbow Dash was going to find her would no doubt soon become the talk of the town. By this point, more than one of them were realizing they had chosen the worst possible spot to have a sensitive conversation.

This didn't matter to Pinkie though. For her part, she nodded along until Rainbow was finished then whipped a pair of night vision goggles out from her mane and slipped them on. “Ooh, secret mission!” she practically yelled. “Don’t you worry, Dashie; Special Agent Pinkie Pie’s got your tail!”

Rainbow facehoofed. “Thanks… Anyway, it might be nothing. Just gotta make sure she's actually off doing her job and wasn't foalnapped or something.”

"Foalnapped?" Pinkie said. "Oh, maybe that's why that detective was in town! Looking for foalnappers, like the ones that might, possibly, conceivably, probably have taken Dari—"

"Dairy cows!" Rainbow finished for her as she stuffed a hoof in Pinkie's mouth to prevent her accidentally spilling a big secret.

"Heh, heh. Right." Pinkie flushed in embarrassment. "That's what I meant. Super-duper sorry."

"Wait a moment," Light added. "Pinkie, you know about Detective Gray? I thought she was only here for one night. When did you see her?"

"Last night!" the pink mare chirped. "She was walking around town super late! Or maybe it was super early? Yeah, that's it. Super early, and she was wearing all black and never went into the light. I think she was trying be all sneaky, and it mostly worked because I'm the only pony that saw her! Oh, and she kept looking into ponies' windows too!"

"That's... alarmingly creepy," Rarity muttered. "Did you, perchance, see which buildings she was looking into?"

"Yepperoni! Let's see... it was Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, Fluttershy's Cottage, Rarity's parent's house, and she even tried at the Castle of Friendship—though I don't think she got a good look there. The windows are very high."

Rarity's parent's house? Rarity could feel her heart quicken in terror at the very idea, even if they were out of town since before all this started. "If you saw her doing this, why didn't you stop her? Why not raise an alarm?"

"But that's what I was doing, silly!" Pinkie answered happily. "At first I thought, 'oh looksie, a new pony in town! I should invite her to the party!' but then she got all super weird. I followed her to make sure she didn't do anything mean, and to stop her if she did. She didn't do anything though. Just looked around, then walked out of town. In the pitch black. So she was probably just curious!"

"Or maybe," Light began, still bothering to speak quietly even if Pinkie wasn't doing the same, "she was trying to learn more about us, the element bearers. All of the places you mentioned have something to do with at least one of us. I'll have to press the truth out of her when I see her in Canterlot. She didn't see you following her, did she?"

"Nope! I was wearing my ninja costume at the time, so I was sneaky as a yak!"

"I'm sorry, 'sneaky as a yak?'"

"Yeah, yak's are the best at sneaking, because they're the best at everything!"

Light's eye twitched. "I'm going to pretend that made sense. I'm also not going to bother asking why you were out in the middle of the night in a ninja costume."

"Good!"

"Well," Rarity said, "I for one would like to thank you, Pinkie, for assisting Rainbow. It eases my worries a great deal to know my friends will be looking out for each other. I would volunteer my own services on this mission, but it seems Light and I will soon be required elsewhere. Oh, and thank you for the party as well. You don't know how dearly I've missed this."

"No problemo!" Pinkie grinned. "If you wait another half hour, there's even a magic show. Make sure not to miss it!"

"A magic show?" Light asked. "Wait, who's performing?"

"Trixie! She's setting up now over at the mane stage."

"I see." Light abruptly stood up. "It was good to see you girls, but Trixie and I are due for a chat. There's a bit of an issue we need to work out."

"Ah, yes." Rarity stood to join her. "This would be about the snake then? I shall accompany you."

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash shared a confused look, with the latter mouthing "snake?" Neither Light nor Rarity made to fill them in though. It was too much to explain and they still didn't know why it happened.

As the two ponies approached the stage, they found it mostly set up for the show already. A purple curtain bespeckled with shining silver stars hung across as a backdrop, a table upon which sat a chest and a number of bits and baubles common to most stage magicians was at stage left, and a sign hung overhead which proudly displayed Trixie's cutie mark along with the words, "The Great and Powerful Trixie!" As for the showmare herself, she was nearly fifty yards from the front of the stage loading a giant purple cannon.

"Trixie, we need to talk!" Light called out as they approached. "It's important."

"Yes, yes," Trixie started without turning from her work. "All conversations with The Great and Powerful Trixie are important. What is it this time?"

"Some time ago, you asked another version of me to teleport a strange black snake for an act that you were practicing. Do you remember it?"

Trixie turned to eye Light and Rarity. "Oh, yes, that. Er, The Great and Powerful Trixie decided not to use it. Turns out it was dangerous or something. Who knew? And Trixie always makes safety her number one priority." She turned the cannon, adjusting its sights to aim directly at her own stage. "Besides, since Starlight went to Canterlot to see some crazy version of herself they pulled out of her pocket thingy, Trixie doesn't have anypony here to assist her with such things."

"And while we feel for Starlight," Rarity said. "I'm afraid I must insist we remain on topic. The Snake, Trixie. Where did you get it? You told the Twilight we spoke to you got it from a thestral merchant from Tzinacatlia. I spoke to some ponies earlier though, and they told me that no such merchant entered town, yet you were here the whole time."

"Hmm," Trixie rubbed her chin with a hoof. "That's strange, because The Great and Powerful Trixie definitely met him. The townsfolk must simply be mistaken. He wasn't in town very long, so perhaps they missed him."

"All of the townsfolk missed him? Everypony except you?"

"Um... yes?"

"And what, pray tell, was his name?"

"Oh, uh..." Trixie bit her lip, sweat forming on her brow as she searched her surroundings, "it was... Cannon Ball. Yes, Cannon Ball was his name!"

"Cannon Ball?" Light's eyebrows furrowed. "That would be highly unusual given the unique naming conventions of Tzinacatlia."

"Battholomew?"

"Trixie," Light stamped her hoof, "just stop. We know it didn't come from Tzinacatlia."

"Besides," Rarity added, "you, my dear, are a terrible liar. You should have simply said you didn't remember his name, or that he never he said it."

"I don't remember his name!"

"Too late." Rarity smiled, trying to exude the confidence of somepony who already knew everything. "Now, you get one more chance at telling the truth. Just one, mind you."

Trixie licked her lips, shifting her gaze rapidly from Rarity to Light and back again. "Fine. Fine! It was that Canterlot friend of yours, Twilight. The one with the glasses. Um, what was her name? Moondancer! Yes, that was it! I was up late practicing a trick when Moondancer came up out of nowhere, said she had to speak with me. I thought she wanted an autograph or something, but then she pulled me into an alley and threatened me! She pulled this black serpent out of a box she was carrying and said she'd sic it on me if I didn't get Twilight, you, to teleport it. Please, please don't tell anypony I told you that. She said bad things would happen to me if I said anything!"

Light stepped back in shock, only to step forward again a moment later, her nostrils flaring with rage. "I can't believe you! That you would lie about a merchant is one thing, but about one of my own friends? Moondancer would never do any of that. It's just not in her character, and you're despicable for saying so."

"Light, darling," Rarity breathed, "I don't think she's lying. Look at her, she's terrified. Any will to resist is already broken."

Trixie nodded along to that statement rapidly, pleading with her eyes to be believed.

“But… but…” Light’s lip trembled, “it doesn’t make sense. Why?”

“I don’t know,” Trixie said softly. “She looked scared too. Kept looking over her shoulder. I still don’t know why it happened or what she was hoping to gain, but I swear on my own hat and wagon that’s the truth.”

“Lyra Heartstrings also mentioned Moondancer,” Rarity said. “Apparently, your friend Twinkleshine found a note on her door saying that she was away working on a special project. Perhaps this is related? She might even have anticipated Trixie spilling the proverbial beans and is laying low.”

“I suppose.” Light sighed. “Okay, if I accept what you say, then I have to believe Moondancer had other reasons for doing what she did. Maybe she was made to do it by somepony else, just as Trixie here was forced into this by her. Or maybe it was somepony else using illusion magic to look like Moondancer, thereby throwing us off the trail. Either way, I guess we’ll just have to find her.”

“Which means going to Canterlot,” Rarity nodded. “It seems our suspicious detective was right.”

“Well,” Trixie gave a slight bow, having gotten over her fright, “in that case, The Great and Powerful Trixie is very pleased to have assisted in your endeavors. She still has a show to do though, so you will allow her the space and time to prepare. Oh, and do remember: speak none of this to anypony. Trixie would very much like her heart to keep beating and lungs to remain breathing.”

"Naturally," Rarity said. "You were never involved in any of this."

Trixie nodded her agreement then turned back to the cannon she'd probably almost kill herself with later.

Light turned to walk away from said cannon, prompting Rarity to follow. “I’ll tell everypony where I’m going by day’s end, then head out tomorrow morning. Do you… want to come with me? I mean, I can check on this myself. You might be best served to stay here, get some much needed rest alongside our friends.”

Rarity gave Light a withering look. “And here I thought you were smarter than Rainbow Dash, when clearly you are birds of a feather. Nopony goes charging off alone. I’m coming. I didn’t think that was even in question.”

“Right. Thank you—“

“Delivery!” A great crashing sound disrupted the cheer of the party as Light was sent tumbling end over end in a swirl of gray feathers and loose envelopes. Ponies standing all around turned in shock from their conversations to gawk at the strange sight of Light and Derpy laying in a heap, a trail of destruction leading from where they now lay to where they collided almost ten paces away.

Derpy picked herself up first, even as tiny birds still flew circles over Light’s head. “Oh my goodness, Twilight! I’m so sorry about that. The ground just came at me so fast! Here, let me help.” She offered a wing which Light took, slowly rising to her hooves.

“Again, very sorry,” the mailmare continued. “Here, priority mail. It’s from Princess Luna!” She fished into her bag before pulling out a black envelope graced with the most beautiful silver script. That the envelope was bent nearly in half only slightly ruined the effect.

“Thanks,” Light managed, still trying to get her bearings. “Does it say which Twilight it’s addressed to? If one of us can be of use to Luna, it’s probably the one who still has her magic.”

“Um…” Derpy scanned the names on a list with one eye. “Yep, right here. It says ‘deliver to Twilight Sparkle (the hornless one).’ By the looks of it, that’s you!”

Light glowered at her. “Yep, that’s me. Hornless Twilight.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Derpy cringed guiltily. “I said something rude, didn’t I? Bad Derpy. Want a muffin?” She pulled a blueberry muffin wrapped in plastic from her bag. “They’re better than they look!”

“No,” Light shook her head, “that’s alright. You don’t deserve my ire. Thank you though. I’ll take that letter now. Oh, and it’s good to see you, Derpy.”

“You betcha!” Derpy made a salute with her wing then took off, abruptly veering to the side after a few seconds and passing behind a nearby building.

"Well," Rarity said, "what does it say? The anticipation is simply killing me."

Light glanced back at her, then clumsily opened the letter with a wing, holding it such that both of them could see.

Dear Light,

I realize the last few weeks (months?) have been especially trying for you. You suffered through the horrors inflicted by one of the most famous spells in Equestria, and in so doing have discovered something that may yet change the way we think about magic forever. Moreover, your suffering and your ingenuity in getting out of it has certainly saved the lives of almost everypony who knows that profane spell many times over, myself included. For that, you have my utmost thanks as well as my sincerest apologies for the emotional, physical, and spiritual injuries you received under a spell that our teachings perpetuated.

That I myself have died many times to this spell is a topic that troubles me still, as I am sure it does for you and all your friends. There is one pony I suspect it troubles most of all however: my own sister, Princess Celestia. She taught many generations of especially gifted students this spell within the walls of her school or in their time as her apprentices. Guilt wracks her mind and she has shut herself off from the world, even going so far as to raise the sun not from her balcony but from her bedroom window. As a result, I have taken over any necessary affairs of state she might normally be burdened with.

Light, she blames herself for everything. I have tried to show her that it is not her fault, that she could not have known, but I fear my words ring hollow to her ear. And so, I have come to you. I do not know whether you blame her in any part for your experience, but if you do not, then I beseech you: come to Canterlot and tell her. You alone, as her most recent prized pupil and the one most harmed, can offer the forgiveness and affirmation she needs. Or at least, that is my hope.

If any part of you does lay this tragedy at her hooves, then I understand. I would only urge you to stay away should you carry such a sentiment. I can offer you any reparations you require, but she does not need more pain. Our sun is more fragile than she looks, and I would not be the cause of another crack. I also understand if you are not feeling sufficiently sound of mind or body to make the trip. Should that be the case, I will make do. You deserve to rest and I am not in a position to demand anything of you.

Whether you come or not, please remember that Equestria has always and will always need Celestia shining at her brightest. Our support is more important to that end than most ponies know, and I intend on making sure she has it.

Your friend,
Princess Luna

“Well," Rarity said at last, "rather convenient that we were going there already, no? It seems all roads truly do lead to Canterlot."

"Indeed." Light paused, taking in the laughter and cheer of the partygoers around them. Almost as if saving the memory, Rarity thought. As if she didn't expect to see it again for some time. "I'll purchase the train tickets. Be ready to leave by mid-morning. Oh, and you may want to find a more permanent place for Sweetie Belle to stay."

"Naturally," Rarity agreed, "but Luna's question remains unanswered. Do you harbor any ill will toward Celestia for teaching you and the others that spell? Any at all?"

Light hesitated just a moment, eyeing Rarity, her expression briefly becoming impossible to read. "Of course not. That would be unreasonable of me. She had no way of knowing, and she did help save us."

"How very logical," Rarity mused. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. You should stay here and enjoy the party for a bit. I'm going to go talk to Twilight, gather some emergency supplies, that kind of thing. Never hurts to be prepared."

"If you say so, darling," Rarity muttered, watching Light trot off like she was already on a mission. "If you say so."

5 - Tea Two Me

The bell over the front door of the Carousel Boutique rang as Rarity entered for the first time since her return to Equestria. The last two nights had been spent enjoying the hospitality of the Apple family and she hadn’t stopped by before on account of being somewhat nervous to meet her own duplicate. That changed when Roseluck caught her on the way back from the party and told her of the other Rarity’s invitation for tea the next morning.

Rarity could hardly turn down an invitation from herself, so she came despite having only an hour before she was due to be on a train toward Canterlot. It was not as if she had much to pack anyway. While Carousel Boutique and its inventory still technically belonged to her too, she didn’t want to intrude on the life of the other Rarity. Her plan was to borrow some bits and buy what she needed in Canterlot.

The first thing she saw upon entering was the last thing she wanted to see. That was to say, a mirror. The many scars on her face and body were a ghastly reminder of her battle with Fluttershy, despite her best attempts to conceal them with makeup. That they showed through was proof she’d never regain the beauty she valued so much. Yes, in this she could be quite vain. She knew it, but the knowing didn’t make it better. Still, she did have greater things to worry about. She decided then and there such trivialities would have to be but passing thoughts. Ensuring the wellbeing of her friends and family needed to be first on her mind.

As she looked around at the rest of the room, she found it unsurprisingly about the same as how she left it. A few of the dress forms had been moved and the couture was all in autumn styles whereas the summer had still been out last time, but the boutique was otherwise unchanged. It was strange though to find completed dresses where they had previously been but sketches on a notepad. Mere weeks had passed in this world, but that was bordering on forever in fashion.

Rarity stopped at a red dress streaked through with lighter colors, gold and orange. It was meant to evoke the intensity of flame, but also that of passion. Yet while the colors were like she drew them what seemed to be a lifetime ago, nothing else was. This version was longer; the seams were in different places; the collar was higher. Rarity agreed with the changes, really. How could she not? She made them. Yet it gave her a strong feeling of disconnect to skip over a large part of the creative process. It was like the outcome was always inevitable, though her creative mind rebelled at the idea.

"Like what I came up with?" Her own voice asked from partway up the stairs. "It is a strange feeling, knowing you started those designs and I finished them. I remember planning them out so well, I can scarcely believe it wasn't really me."

Rarity could do naught else but freeze like a light blinded deer, seeing her own body gracefully descending the stairs toward her. How was it that the pony she would henceforth internally refer to as Other Rarity could affect such grace, while she felt caught off guard? Had her confidence been eroded so badly? Or... yes, that was it. Other Rarity's movements were too perfect, her voice at too even a cadence. She'd rehearsed this, just like Rarity rehearsed many of her meetings with big clients. Was that a good or bad sign? It could mean she was nervous and wanted positive relations, or that she felt threatened by the presence of a duplicate, as unlikely as that seemed knowing herself.

Rarity finally recovered, taking on an easy smile as Other Rarity reached the bottom of the stairs. "The designs are simply marvelous! Your talent is nearly without equal, though of course I knew that. You must tell me where you got the idea for that fascinating little pattern on the neckline. It certainly wasn't in my original designs."

"Oh," Other Rarity said, "well it was actually from a place I'll bet you would never guess. A fence! Yes, you heard me right. Some foals had been etching their own little designs into the posts on one of the old fences at the edge of town and when I saw it I received the most irresistible idea. But the shop talk can wait. I invited you for tea, did I not? The pot's already at perfect temperature and awaiting us in the kitchen."

"Is it still?" Rarity said, walking beside her to the kitchen table. "I'm a little late. I'd hate to hear you warmed it in advance only for it to grow cold in the waiting."

"Fashionably late, darling." Other Rarity smiled in self-satisfaction as she took her seat, lifting a steaming teacup with her magic. "And entirely accounted for."

"My, but you are a delight!" Rarity exclaimed as she too lifted the tea. It was oddly refreshing to speak to somepony who understood her so perfectly, though she felt even more vain for thinking so. "And who would have guessed? The tea is exactly how I like it."

Other Rarity giggled. "Is it? What a surprise! And to think, I was worried events in that pocket dimension might have changed you."

"Perhaps a little, but I can tell you for sure they didn't change my tastes." Rarity took a sip of her tea, humming at the smooth warmth. "Overall, not an experience I recommend you try."

"Indeed." Other Rarity grew quiet, turning her attention to a family portrait on the wall. "I spoke with Sweetie Belle last night. Both of them, actually. The version of her that ended up in that wretched place with you... I believe she was affected deeply. Not only in the ways you might expect either. So little time has passed, but with the way she talked it was like she'd grown years. The two Sweetie Belles already have so many differences. That said, I think she'll be okay. I very much doubt that would be true had she not had you by her side. Thank you. It breaks my heart to hear of what you went through, but I'm glad neither of you had to endure it alone."

"I did the best I could," Rarity said, "but I wish I could have done more. For the time being, I've asked Applejack to watch after Sweetie Belle for me whilst I'm in Canterlot. She offered to help, and I believe the Apples can provide a healthy, safe environment for her. I would have asked you, but I'm sure having two Sweetie Belles here until our parents return would have resulted in a burned down shop."

"That seems quite probable," Other Rarity smiled, "but have you considered that the best for her might still be by your side? You were her life preserver in the very darkest of seas. She's more connected to you now than anypony, and you and Light are the only ones she can relate to in regard to her recent experiences. She feels she needs you and she wants to be helpful. I would hate for her to feel abandoned."

"I'd love nothing more than to have her with me, but it's too dangerous," Rarity argued, setting her cup down. "I don't know what we're galloping toward in Canterlot, but I have a feeling it's less than perfectly safe. There’s a detective who’s been snooping around, and she seems set to involve us in some case of hers—though I don't yet know the details. If Sweetie Belle were hurt on my account, I couldn't live with myself."

“I’m acutely aware of that,” Other Rarity said, “but she needn’t be involved in all that to be near you. In fact, hearing about what happened in the pocket dimension inspired me to spend more time with the Sweetie Belle that remained here. I think you’ll find she won’t forever be the little filly we remember. I’m sure I embarrassed the poor dear something terrible with my antics, what with my insistence on the puppet show and the balloon animals and the silliest costumes one can imagine. It turned out, none of those excited her anymore. She's a growing filly. An enormous bowl of ice cream still does the trick though. Regardless, I do believe she may finally be mature enough to at least help out at Canterlot Carousel while you’re in town.”

Rarity blinked. “Excusez-moi? What does Canterlot Carousel have to do with any of this? Does Sassy Saddles not have everything well in hoof?”

“Not exactly,” Other Rarity hedged, hesitating for a moment on her next words. “You see, Sassy Saddles didn’t show up for work yesterday. She didn’t even provide notice of an absence. I’m concerned something untoward may have happened. I was hoping you might, since you’re going to be in Canterlot anyway, investigate the issue and perhaps take over Canterlot Carousel in the meantime. That is, if you wouldn’t mind. Obviously, I can’t tell you what to do and you own the same stake in all three boutiques as I, but I would consider it a massive favor nonetheless. I can trust nopony more than myself, after all.”

As startling as the news was, Rarity relaxed. This made sense. Other Rarity had rehearsed because she was nervous about asking something she considered so major, she’d suggested Sweetie Belle go with her because she thought the store would be a relatively safe place to build their sister up after everything, and it all came with the bonus of allowing Rarity to take a place back in the business completely free of any misgivings about stepping on Other Rarity’s hooves.

"I'd be delighted to help," Rarity said at last, "though the news of Sassy Saddles is troubling indeed. Finding her will be my first priority. Perhaps she's simply sick and forgot to write."

"Celestia willing," Other Rarity agreed. "But what of Sweetie Belle? I sincerely do believe she needs you right now. Will you take her with you? If not, Applejack and I will watch over her, of course."

"Very well," Rarity sighed. "I shall take her with me. If you think that is what's best for her, then I trust your judgement. How could I not? It may be that your perspective is clearer than mine. I feel like my head's been in a fog ever since I woke up to that dreadful thing in my hospital room."

"Yes, Twilight mentioned that..." Other Rarity faltered.

"Did she mention that she doesn't believe me?"

"Not exactly. She said she understood why you think you saw what you saw, but that there were more probable explanations. I don’t think she likes the idea that something so sinister could be completely undetectable."

"And do you believe me?" Rarity met her double's eyes, watching expectantly for dismissal or disbelief.

“I’m hardly in a position to contradict you,” Other Rarity tittered, tapping the edge of her teacup nervously. “You say it is so and Applejack believes you. Either one of those should be enough for me to accept it, even as uncomfortable as that truth is. I can only hope that it was a one-off occurrence. If this thing is still after you, Canterlot Carousel may not be as safe as I assumed. You will come to us or the Royal Guard if any sign of it rematerializes, yes?”

“If I survive said reappearance,” Rarity breathed, “I shan’t be quiet about it. And if any danger does present itself at the boutique, I trust I can send Sweetie Belle back to the safety of Ponyville?”

“Write me a letter and I’ll be there to get her in a heartbeat. And should you need any assistance, I’ll come for that as well.”

“That is appreciated to no end,” Rarity said. “My, but it’s almost as if I’ve gained a twin sister! A very helpful, stylish one no less!”

“I was just thinking the same thing!" Other Rarity laughed. "Isn’t that marvelous? We'll have to work together after the current issues are solved. The fashion world wouldn't stand a chance! You wouldn't mind modelling some dresses for me, would you? I'll extend you the same courtesy, of course. Much easier than trying to work on myself.”

“I'd be happy to." Rarity wavered, glancing at her reflection in the kitchen window. "Though I suppose I make for a rather flawed model now."

"Flawed?" Other Rarity shook her head as if trying to throw the very word from her ears. "No, no, no, no, no! How can you say that? Are you not one of the most beautiful, most fabulous mares in Ponyville? Have you not been on the cover of multiple fashion magazines? Are you not Rarity?"

"Well, yes, but there is the matter of the scars..."

"Scars!" Other Rarity sat straight like a rod, practically shrieking the word. "Darling, don't be ridiculous! A few lines on your flesh do not diminish who or what you are. Some might even say they add character. In fact, I recently learned that in certain parts of Griffonia scars can even be seen as fashionable! Young griffons in these places are known to get into duels and such with the objective of earning scars, which they then use to impress friends and potential mates alike.

“If there is anypony whose opinion on this you should consider, it is mine. You are as beautiful as ever. The scars do transform that into a fiercer, bolder kind of beauty, but that does not mean it is any less so. It just means you may want to change your style slightly to fit, and perhaps stop trying to cover them. In fact, I have some designs I’ve been working on specifically to match your adjusted look. I’ll send them to you once I’m satisfied. I’m sure you’ll adore them.”

Rarity’s head was in a whirlwind. She wasn’t surprised that Other Rarity would try to bolster her, as she had done with many ponies before, but she was shocked to find her response so thorough. Other Rarity had expected this and prepared accordingly.

“You knew I would have difficulty adjusting,” Rarity said. “You probably researched that little bit about griffons and their scars with the sole purpose of using it here.”

“Well, yes,” Other Rarity confessed, “this much is true. Though I expected you to have more than just ‘difficulty adjusting.’ I expect I would have been beside myself! Clearly, you’ve grown tougher since we were the same. Nevertheless, not a word of what I say is untrue. Looking at you here, I can see clear as day that you remain as fabulous as ever. And if I am wrong, may a lightning bolt from the Everfree strike me down on the spot.”

Rarity was flabbergasted. She knew everything Other Rarity said was completely in line with her own character, but it seemed she could still be caught off guard when she had an outside view. And as strange as it was, she actually did feel a little better. "Thank you. I suppose you've given me something to consider. Still, there are far more pressing issues than my own insecurities. I soon have a train to catch, and now I must retrieve Sweetie Belle too."

"Oh, but of course!" Other Rarity downed the last of her tea, then jumped up, moving to the entrance of the workroom. "We need to get you squared away. You have so very few belongings with you at the moment and I suspected you might hesitate to ask for what is rightfully yours, so I took the liberty of packing your bags for you. Took me half the night, but I think you shall be satisfied." She levitated no less than four bulging suitcases over with her magic. "Just the bare necessities, of course. Canterlot Carousel should still be stocked with anything else you might need."

Rarity gasped. “You didn’t! My, but you are marvelous! Oh, I don’t think I could possibly thank you enough. We’ll just say I owe you, yes?”

“No!” Other Rarity stamped her hoof against the floorboards. “I shall not accept debt for what is already yours. Besides, you are helping me as well. And we could hardly allow Rarity, queen of fabulosity, to go about destitute, now could we?” She paused, tapping her chin. “Don’t answer that. I have one more gift for you before you go.”

Other Rarity abruptly trotted out the room and up the stairs, leaving Rarity wondering if she should follow or not. Ultimately, she decided remaining at the table was best.

Rarity finished the last sip of her tea, quickly cleaning up the tea set and tidying the kitchen. She figured she could do at least that much for her double. There was still the odd feeling of this being her home whilst she was simultaneously a guest in it, but the brief housework helped dispel some of that.

Other Rarity returned just as she finished, a ball of fabric floating beside her in sapphire magic. “I just got the most magnificent wool in from Llambet. It’s magically treated by Llama mystics to warm the wearer to the perfect degree no matter how chilly the season. Fascinating, isn’t it? A bit pricey, but worth it. Next time I’m able to get my hooves on any, I’ll send some to Canterlot Carousel so you can try it out for yourself. If you’re still there by then, that is. In the meantime, I made this scarf. For you!”

Other Rarity unrolled the bundle to reveal a scarf striped in an alternating pattern of white and purple with a tiny version of Rarity’s cutie mark made of diamond in the corner at one end. “My idea was originally to include it in the supplies we sent to you in the pocket dimension, but you were ultimately rescued before I could even get the material in. I suppose that’s the best reason for being late I could ever ask for.”

“C'est magnifique!” Rarity took the scarf in her magic and wrapping it around herself, a gentle warmth radiating throughout her body at its touch. “Thank you so much! The idea of magic infused clothing… it gives me so many ideas! Think of the possibilities! Conjury couture! Remember how the crystal heart made everypony’s coats shimmer? Imagine a necklace that could do the same!”

“Goodness, but I had the same thought!” Other Rarity pranced in place giddily. “It would look simply divine! At some point, we absolutely must pester Twilight into casting a few choice spells. I’m thinking a tiara that summons a breeze just strong enough to ensure my mane floats like Princess Celestia's. Though I’m sure dear Twilight will think the idea is silly or too dangerous or some such.”

“Please,” Rarity scoffed, “It’s magic! That alone should convince her to help, whatever the apparent risks.”

“I suppose you might be right, though she may be more careful now after this teleportation business. For that matter, maybe so should we. I… oh dear.” Other Rarity pointed at the clock hanging on the wall. “I'm afraid I've wasted far too much of your time. You have a train to catch!”

Rarity flinched, realizing she’d have to move at a most unladylike speed to go to Sweet Apple Acres and grab Sweetie Belle before making it to the train station. “You’re right. I’m so sorry to dash! I really should have planned better.”

“It’s no matter at all. Go!”

Rarity wasted no more time in gathering the suitcases in her magic—princesses, but it felt good to have that back—and bolting out the door. She still had time to make it to Sweet Apple Acres and then to the train station despite the former not being in her original plan, but only if she avoided any hiccups along the way. And after the events in the pocket dimension, she found she no longer liked relying on good luck.

As Rarity rushed through town, taking care to avoid passing too close to anypony she might feel compelled to talk to along the way, she could feel the buzz of anticipation growing. Any visit to Equestria's capital warranted excitement, but rarely was she so unsure of what she would find. That no less than four reasons to be there had popped up all at once made it feel like she was galloping toward her destiny, as she often thought the city was when she was younger, but this time she got the distinct feeling said destiny might not turn in her favor.

Light would probably think that idea silly.

You are silly, Rarity, she thought to herself. Stop worrying about destiny and stressing yourself out. Treat this like any other high-risk adventure. Canterlot awaits.

6 - Friendship Express

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

7 - Storm and Shutter

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8 - Shattered Glass

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Prologue - Blacker Than Night

Princess Luna found herself staring at her exact copy, forming from nothing before her eyes. Flesh grew over bones and cyan eyes sprouted from the skull, staring back at her without any hint of comprehension or life.

Luna panicked and tried to teleport back out. She kept trying even as the clone disappeared from before her, as she fell to the smooth floor of the mysterious dark gray sphere she was trapped within. And when she landed, the echoing ring of her horseshoes hitting the unidentifiable material of the sphere marked the first and only sound she'd heard since her arrival.

She was beginning to hyperventilate. She couldn't fly, didn't have magic, and could see no exit nor even so much as another thing besides her and what little she had on her when she teleported. And if it weren't for her superior dark vision, she was quite sure she wouldn't be able to tell even that much about the place. There certainly were no visible light sources, after all.

Oh stars and skies, was this to be her new prison? Could she really not have had even a few more days of freedom?

"One thousand years..."

The voice filled the sphere, bouncing off the walls to make it seem as if it came from every direction, even though it definitely didn't. It came from one very specific direction. The direction in which a black fog seemingly flowed out of the ground, filling up a full third of the large sphere right before Luna's eyes. And in the center of that darkness grew two golden eyes, staring down at her in contemplation and perhaps even a hint of disdain.

She recognized those eyes, that wise, matronly voice, and she knew immediately that if this was more than mere hallucination or a nightmare she shouldn't have been able to get, then she might as well have been dead already.

"Concordia," Luna spoke breathily, "is that you? How are you alive? We saw you dead!"

"You are standing in the answer," the voice whispered with audible sneer. "But I did not come to sate your curiosity. It is I who have questions. How are you here, and not on the moon? Or in Nightmare form?"

"You think We'll answer you?" Luna shot back. "If you're going to kill Us, just do it already. We have no patience for interrogation."

A deep laugh filled the room. "Foolish filly. You are already dead, and even if you speak not a word to me, the answers I seek will reach me soon enough."

"Then why bother coming?"

"Perhaps I just wanted to see you again," Concordia answered, sounding highly amused, but also mocking. "It has been so very long, after all. Besides, you should be grateful for my visit. I so rarely directly involve myself like this anymore. I even cleaned your sphere up, just for this occasion."

"Our sphere? Have you built some kind of prison for Us then? Is this your version of revenge?"

"Revenge?" Concordia's voice echoed back, almost surprised. "No. I am above grudges. This is pure necessity, and only incidentally a prison."

"We see." Luna considered for a moment, staring into those golden eyes. "You must have some greater purpose then. Do all ponies that teleport get sent to one of these? Well? Speak!"

A moment of silence hung in the air. "...you would command me? Oh, little Luna. I would be offended were the notion not so foolish... and entirely typical of you and your sister."

"Our sister?" Luna felt almost nauseous. "What have you done to her?"

Concordia chuckled, a noise that sounded utterly vile on those formless lips. "I have done nothing that she did not bring upon herself."

"So, a place like this does appear for all teleportations then."

"...very clever, Luna. I should have remembered that. Especially after Silverbright spoke so loftily of your capabilities."

"Silverbright?" Luna blinked in confusion. "What does a thousand-years dead commander of Our guard have to do with this? How do you even know her name?"

"I learn all things, given sufficient time and effort." The obscured mare paused, as if waiting to build suspense. "...I was there, you know. When she hanged herself."

Luna's breath hitched. "She... she did what? No, she wouldn't. Why?"

"She thought you abandoned her. All your supporters did. And, in a way, you did, didn't you? Because nothing was ever enough. The love of a few meant nothing, when your sister had so much more."

Luna felt tears welling up. No matter the source, she knew the truth of those words. She had abandoned them. Before now, it had been so easy to pretend she'd only ever hurt herself and her sister. But Concordia knew how to use truth as a spear—to break her opponent's resolve—and so she did her best to bite back those tears, meet those golden eyes.

Stars, why was it so hard?

"Silverbright," that voice continued in the same tone one would use to correct a misinformed foal, "spent those dark times like many of your supporters did: fighting amongst themselves, becoming displaced from society, watching everything they loved crumble apart... until there was nothing left for them in this world. They all gave up, in one way or another. Fled Equestria, attacked your sister, lost themselves in the deep jungles of Tzinacatlia…

“She did it under the light of the full moon, you know. Your favorite commander—your friend—probably thought you were looking down on her from your prison, but you weren’t, were you? How much of that time do you even remember?”

“Enough,” Luna muttered bitterly, defeated.

“Indeed.” She could almost hear Concordia smile. “And now would you like to answer my questions? How have you returned? What happened to that foul creature within you? I promise, this imprisonment shall be far less painful than the last.”

Luna considered for a moment. “Less painful how?”

“You already know this imprisonment can only end in death. I will provide you the proper tools to end things on your own terms, painlessly. And until then, you shall be treated as a prisoner of war. I assure you, that’s much better than most get.”

“And are we at war?”

“You tell me. It was you and your sister who attacked me, as I recall.”

Luna slowly nodded. It was strange, but even as enemies, she could always trust Concordia’s words. And now, it seemed, she had little choice. Historically, Concordia rarely ever got anything she wanted, no matter how hard she tried, but today she would.

“Very well,” Luna began, “We’ll tell you.”

Luna jolted out of her sleep, gasping for air like a drowned mare resuscitated. What? What was that!

A nightmare? More like a daymare, given the sunlight still shining through her room’s dark blue curtains.

It didn’t make sense. She didn’t get nightmares, at least not ones she didn’t cause herself. Her mastery of the dreamscape made sure of that. Worse, she already couldn’t remember a wink of it—just feelings. And she always remembered her dreams.

She shook herself, jumping out of bed in the process as she immediately began donning her royal regalia. She wouldn’t be going back to sleep.

Perhaps she shouldn’t be so alarmed. Recent events were bound to have some odd effects upon the mind. First, she and her sister received urgent news telling of the dangers of teleportation, then they and their unicorn allies led a series of missions into places that would give nightmares nightmares, and then she'd been forced to exhaust herself even further working with that zebra—Zecora—to save a badly damaged Rarity. The last of those efforts finally succeeded, much to her pride, only a few days before.

It really was no wonder her grip on the realm of dreams was temporarily a bit looser. She'd need to focus on her own recovery, but first, Celestia.

Her sister had locked herself away since their successful missions to Twilight's, Starlight's, and their own pocket dimensions. Seeing so much carnage in Twilight's pocket dimension, followed by the cackling madmare they pulled out of Starlight's, and then the neat lines of bodies in their own pocket dimensions had driven Celestia to the edge of her ability to cope. Worse, her sister had to live with the fact that she'd taught that very spell to many of her more adept students throughout the last thousand years. In a way, Celestia considered herself guilty of mass murder.

Yes, Celestia would need help, and Luna intended to give it even if she had to monitor every second of her sister's dreams. But there was only so much one pony could do. Convincing Celestia to come out of her room and interact with somepony, anypony, would be far better for her mental health than simple dream watching. And come to think of it, Luna had just the pony in mind.

It seemed a visit to the now hornless Twilight—who everypony called Light—was in order. She was the only one who could offer the forgiveness Celestia so dearly needed to hear. Luna only hoped she hadn’t misjudged the young mare. If things went wrong, if she ended up more like that crazy Starlight they found and promptly placed in a mental ward, then this could only do more damage.

She charged up her horn, then came to a screeching stop once she realized what she was about to do.

Okay, maybe let’s not teleport. Yes, very bad. I'll just have to find another way to contact her then. Perhaps in a few days, once she's had a chance to recover. In the meantime, it seems I must tend to Tia in other ways.

Luna nodded to herself. This would be for the best. Her sister and nation both needed a calm, rational mind in these times. The best way to start would be to temporarily suspend some of Celestia's more meaningless duties whilst delegating or else taking on the rest herself. That would give Celestia the time she needed to work through her current blues without also lumping on guilt at neglecting her responsibilities.

Luna stopped her pacing abruptly, then made for the door. With a plan in mind, it was time she find one of her sister's aides: Raven Inkwell. That one would know exactly what kind of work she could take off her sister's hooves. Only after meeting with her could Luna get to work on her rearrangements.

Gray placed eye to telescope, watching the silhouette of Princess Luna move about the royal bedchambers. It was difficult to make her out, what with that window and those not-quite-opaque curtains between them, but her viewing spot in the tower that was once Princess Twilight Sparkle’s home could not be more perfect.

She’d been forced to break in, of course, but her unique skillset made it laughably easy to get by the one royal guard watching the way. Though maybe “break” in wasn’t the right term. Nopony would find anything amiss, not so much as a mote of dust out of place, and she’d be sure to lock it back up when she left.

She’d rather not have to do it at all, but she was still working on getting proper clearance to the palace at large—where sneaking about would be impossible on account of so many prying eyes—and her mission would only be made harder not knowing the princess’s schedules. And that wasn’t to mention her personal reasons.

Gray lowered the telescope, rubbing at her chin before readjusting her black bolero hat with one hoof. It looked like Princess Luna was gone. She’d have to keep her ears open as to where. That one could be formidable, when she didn’t land herself in the jaws of trouble.

Gray turned back from the window, silently cursing to herself. Thinking back, the Princess had woken up too swiftly, her movements anxious or perhaps stressed. She must have seen something, become agitated. And if Luna did anything too extreme, then chances rose that Gray might have to jump in and bail her out. The chance of doing that covertly was frustratingly small.

Gray made her way to the exit, slipping her picking tools onto a strap around one hoof so that she might lock the door from outside.

The tower really wasn’t a perfect solution to her princess problem. She’d just have to find another way to watch them, one where she could be close enough to intervene if their lives were threatened. Those two didn’t know it yet, but things in Canterlot were about to heat up, and if the princesses became as involved as she suspected they might, an assassination attempt was not out of the question.

Gray growled in frustration as she worked the lock. Any number of disasters could occur, brought on by one of countless enemies. And here she was, an earth pony with no more than a few useful skills and some less than trustworthy contacts. And it was up to her to somehow keep this whole mess under control?

No, she’d need allies—her own, not ones brought on by the boss—and she was beginning to think she knew just where to get them. But first, she’d need a good story.