Good Heart: Friendship Family

Chapters

4 Millennium Mines
1 The Carnival of Twilight
2 Wrecking Waves
3 Caballo Viejo

4 Millennium Mines

Somewhere in an unknown location, Trixie was imprisoned. Water was dripping from the ceiling. Putrid smells hammered her senses from every single corner. Rats crawled around the wooden beams. Loud hoofsteps were heard coming through the main corridor until they stopped. An orange mare appeared from the darkness carrying an oil lantern. She looked angry.

“Wake up! How did you find me?!”

“What…?” mumbled Trixie, while rubbing her eyes. She felt exhausted.

The earth pony knocked on the bars. “How many are you? How do you intend to attack?”

“You already tracked me to Ambrose. What else do you know?!”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Playin’ dumb, Agent? Very well.”

“I’ll come back tomorrow and see if ya changed your mind. Until then,” said the orange mare while leaving. Darkness returned to consume the small jail cell.

Minutes later, once the hoofsteps echoed no more, Trixie tried to use her magic, but once again, she could not. It was gone, just like before. Her hooves tried to search for a gap or a window. There was nothing. The room was solid. She felt too tired to attempt kicking down the door. After seeing her options, she lay down.

*********

Water kept dripping from the ceiling, almost like a ticking clock. Many hours later, a sweet voice called Trixie. Very slowly, she woke up. In front of her gloom keep, a small filly was standing with a candle. It was Apple Bloom. She looked sad.

“I-I am so sorry.”

“I didn’t know what Applejack was going to do to you…”

Trixie approached. “You must be Apple Bloom, right?”

“Y-Yes” – the filly tries to smile – “I am Apple Bloom.”

“And you must be an agent of the Parsons Detective Agency…”

Apple Bloom put down the candle. “Listen, miss agent. My sister is not a bad pony.”

“When our parents died, she and Big Macintosh had to keep this family afloat. Gettin’ a real job is not that easy, specially on a region like this one…”

“Wait” – Trixie puts her hoof in her chest – “What makes you think I am an agent?”

“Because… unicorns never, ever come this far. You must’ve come to take my sister to prison, right?”

“And why, exactly, would I do that?”

“You know. Because… she is The Orange Ghost.”

The unicorn sighed. “Applejack… is a thief?!”

Apple Bloom’s face turned sick. Her ears dropped and her eyes closed.

“Please, please don’t take her away! She and Big Mac are my only family.”

“I know that stealing is not an honest way to live, but you’ve got to understand!”

“Listen” – Trixie approaches – “I am not an agent and I have no intentions to hurt your family.
My name is Trixie Lulamoon and I sell goods for a living in Alicornia.”

“Alicornia? Like the fabled city? That is just and old pony’s tale. That place isn’t real!”

The unicorn sighed. “If only I could use my magic, I could use it to show you my Solar Permit.”

“Oh, yeah? If that’s true, why are you here? Why did you were looking for Applejack in the first place?”

“Because… there was once another pony called Twilight Sparkle and she was friends with your sister…
on another life.”

“They were part of a larger group called The Mane Six and together, they fought evil and were in charge
of protecting what Celestia called The Elements of Harmony.”

“Who is Celestia?” asked the small filly with curiosity.

“Well, she is the current ruler of the Eternal City, and my friend.”

“You have met an alicorn?!”

“Pretty much. They invited me a month ago to attend their carnival at sunset, but two immensely powerful foes released a dark spell that turned everypony into soulless soldiers… puppets, if you will.”

“I came this far searching for your sister because I thought she would be able to help me free them from those two” – Trixie turns around – “But now that you have told me what Applejack has been doing, I don’t think she represents the Element of Honesty anymore.”

The unicorn remained quiet.

“B-But how did you know about me? We’ve never met before and yet, you were able to recognize me outside the saloon.”

“Twilight left a diary containing detailed information about her past life on Equestria.”

“That included your description… and the ones of your friends.”

“I… I have friends?”

“Seems like it. They are Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. You made your own group called The Cutie Mark Crusaders…”

Apple Bloom sat near the bars. “Please, miss. I would like to hear more about them… if you don’t mind.”

*********

Nighttime painted the skies above a small shack. Some of its windows were covered with planks. Around the complex, there were several rusty minecarts and rails. Next to a rock wall, the entrance of a mine shaft laid. Deteriorated signs written in an unknown language polluted the view. Apple Bloom came out of the shaft, very slowly.

“Where were you?!” asked Applejack. She looked mad.

“I-I… I was with her, the unicorn.“

“WHAT!?!”

“She is not a bad pony and she is not even an agent!”

“Sister, she is innocent” – the filly approaches – “We must set her free. There’s still time to right this wrong.”

Applejack raged. She used her powerful hind legs to kick down some barrels. Big Macintosh rushed to investigate the noise. He looked scared.

“What is going on?!” asked the stallion.

“Our little sister believes the unicorn isn’t an agent… that we must let her go.”

Big Mac stared. “What else did she tell you?”

“The only reason for her to come to Ambrose was to recruit Applejack on her mission to save Alicornia!”
replied Apple Bloom, stuttering.

“Alicornia?”

“Yes. She told me many nice things about us. Big Mac, you have to believe me!“

“YOU FOAL!” – Applejack rages – “That wasn’t kindness, it was cunning!”

“She was trained to tell anypony what they want to hear, and she won’t stop until the job’s done…
that’s how Parson’s agents work!”

“Big Mac” – the orange mare pointed at a building – “Take Apple Bloom and lock her inside the Hoistroom.
We cannot risk anything at this point.”

The massive red stallion picked up a barrel and captured her little sister inside. With caution, she took her where Applejack suggested. With his raw strength, Big Macintosh pushed a minecart to block the cabin’s front door.

“I am sorry, but this is for your own good,” said the stallion before leaving.

Inside the shack, the filly tried to kick down the door to no avail. The walls were strong, despite their age. At the very top of the room, a small window was open. Apple Bloom took a deep breath and climbed the cables leading upwards. Midway through the window, her own weight pulled her down outside the cabin. She landed on top of dry grass.

*********

“Wake up!” shout Applejack. She was carrying a bucket of water.

Trixie was sleeping next to a lit candle left behind by her sister. After hearing no response, the orange mare threw the cold water unto her. The blue pony waked up immediately, scared.

“Listen, you filthy agent” – Applejack approaches – “I don’t want you talkin’ to my little sister no more.”

The unicorn broke into tears.

“You can cry all what you want, but you are not going anywhere because we need you.”

“As soon as the rest of your fellow agents show up, you will be our trump card for a safe passage away from this forgotten hole.”

The orange mare laughed. “Hopefully, you won’t starve by then…”

********

Water kept dripping from the ceiling. Having no other source of light, Trixie was left in the shadows inside her cell. She was shaking. Her mane and hooves were still wet. Suddenly, Apple Bloom appeared pushing a large crate with an oil lantern on top of it.

The filly opened the box. “Trixie, I am so sorry…”

“Everything is my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything to Applejack…”

“I’ve tried to be patient” – Apple Bloom opens the cell – “but I don’t want to continue livin’ this life no more.”

“Please, take this… your stuff. Everythin’ is inside. Big Mac brought it from Ambrose a few days ago.”

Trixie trotted outside, very slowly, and put on her saddle. Twilight’s diary was intact, just like the rest of her money. She nodded to the sad little filly and patted her back. Before leaving, Apple Bloom trotted forward.

“Hey, since we are not enemies anymore… can I go with you?”

The unicorns stopped. “Seriously? But… but what about Applejack? Your family’s in here.”

“I know. I know. It’s just that… I don’t want to continue being part of them. I am tired of robbing other ponies’ belongings. That’s no way to live.”

Apple Bloom closed her eyes. “Please, Trixie. Let me go with you. I can help you save Alicornia…”

The blue mare thought about it for a minute. Her common sense demanded to decline her offer because she was not even an adult capable of taking such complex decisions. On the other hoof, she could understand Apple Bloom’s exasperation with her dishonest way of living.

Moreover, her magic was missing still. She was completely helpless without it and the path ahead seemed really dangerous. They were inside an ancient mining complex. For the third time on her journey, Trixie was in a dilemma. She sighed heavily.

“Alright, you can come with me and help me… under one condition.”

Apple Bloom smiled.

“You must do as I say from now on and I don’t want you to take any unnecessary risks. If you want to get back here, with Applejack, I can do it whenever you want. You don’t owe me anything, okay?”

“Alright. Sounds fair,” giggled the little filly.

“Do you know how to get out from here? Somepony told me Aero is nearby this area.”

“Sure, I know about a secret tunnel that will take us directly to it. This way,” said Apple Bloom before trotting away from the jail cell. Trixie soon followed her with the lantern.

********

Hours later after heading deeper into the mines, the traveling ponies found an abandoned mine cart turned sideways next to a tunnel. The entrance was blocked by planks as big as tables. The size of the cart was also massive compared to them. The poor lighting revealed a sign written in an unknown language on the very top of the cave. Glowing mushrooms could be seen around them.

“This tunnel was first discovered by my granny fifty years ago…”

“Although no pony was able to read these signs, she and her cousins ventured inside and found a way that led directly to Aero, the city of pegasi!”

“This mine cart” – Apple Bloom points to her left – “has been in here since the beginning.
It was probably left behind by the original owners.”

“And over there” – the filly points to her right – “you can see the original entrance made by them.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” cried Trixie.

“We can’t… it’s blocked.”

“A year ago, an entire section collapsed due to an earthquake. Applejack and Big Mac destroyed the remaining catwalks and sealed the entrance.”

“Our only option is that mine cart.”

Trixie approached to the rusty wagon. Her hooves tried to push to no avail.

“I could lift it if only I had my magic…”

Apple Bloom’s face turned sick again. “Jada Stones.”

“What’s that now?”

“Applejack… she must’ve used them to capture you.”

Trixie remained serious, almost angry. “And what do these rocks do?”

“They… they cancel the magic power of any creature, including unicorns and changelings alike.”

“But hey, y-you… you will be back to normal in no time!”

The unicorn touched her face with exasperation. “That Applejack sure is special when it comes to fight for what she holds dear.”

“ANYWAY” – Trixie comes closer to the tunnel – “help me break one of these planks. We will use it to put this minecart back on the tracks.”

With caution, both ponies began hitting the lowest plank with their hind legs. A thick dust cloud polluted the air. After many hits, the ancient piece of wood yield. By using their combined force, they pulled the heavy plank and positioned it under the trolley. A medium-sized rock was used as a pivot.

Trixie helped Apple Bloom get on top of the wagon. She later joined her in there. The poor light of the lantern illuminated their intended landing zone.

“On the count of three, we jump at the same time. Our combined weight should be enough to flip it.”

“Alright!”

“One… Two… Three-“ shout Trixie right as they jumped.

Just as it was expected, the plank withstood their weight and flipped the mine cart. Before it could roll away, the unicorn launched her saddle bag inside. She used her strength to help Apple Bloom board. After hanging the oil lantern, she boarded it too. Very slowly, it began speeding.

All of a sudden, coming from behind them, Applejack appeared trotting at full speed against them. She was carrying her own lantern on a saddle bag. She looked really angry, but among all, worried.

“COME BACK!” shout the orange mare.

“DON’T TAKE MY SISTER AWAY!”

The mine cart accelerated.

“I AM SORRY… COME BACK!”

Apple Bloom approached to the edge. “Applejack… I can’t continue doing this…”

“DON’T!”

“I’ll come back… I promise,” said the filly just as the mine cart began gaining more speed.

Applejack kept trotting through the tunnel. Her sadden face was lost to the shadows of the mine. The little filly sat on a corner. Trixie remained quiet. She took out a hoofkerchief from her saddle and gave it to her. The wagon’s heavy screeching drowned Apple Bloom’s painful sobbing.

********

Bright sparks came out of the large metal wheels. With the help of her magic, Trixie used the brake to stop the trolley. Very slowly, it halted its thunderous march. With caution, they jumped out of the vehicle and trotted to a nearby exit. Nighttime ruled the exterior above them. Mountains as high as the sky towered before them.

The wind speed through the majestic rock facades. Trixie looked around searching for something or somepony. Apple Bloom, suddenly, pushed the unicorn’s leg and pointed. In front of them, a pink pegasus with violet mane was staring at them. She looked surprised. With caution, they approached to her.

“Evening” – Trixie salutes the stranger – “My name is Trixie and this Apple Bloom.”

“Where are we, exactly…?”

The pink pegasus remained quiet. Her face and eyes seemed troubled.

“Can you understand me…? Are we on Aero…?”

“Y-You… h-how did you get here?!” asked the pegasus.

“By cart… we come from the Millennium Mines,” replied Apple Bloom.

“My, y-you are the first non-pegasus ponies to ever set hoof this far on Aero.”

“I-I am Cadenza, but you can call me Cadence.”

“Do you know, by any chance, Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy…?”

“Not really. But… are they important from where you come from? Last year, another unicorn like you came here and searched for those two.”

“She told me I reminded her of somepony really special… somepony that used to foal-sitter her.
Her name was… Twilight, I think.”

Trixie smiled.

Cadence pointed to her right. “Maybe if you two head to the local tourist center, they might know something. Here in Aero we don’t have lists of our citizens like you do down there, land ponies.”

“Farewell and be careful. A fall from this height would be your doom,” said Cadence before taking off.

“Wow, did you see her wings?! They were gorgeous!” giggled Apple Bloom.

“To be honest with you, this is the first I have ever seen a pegasus… they are like alicorns, but of course,
without the horn. Interesting,” added the unicorn.

With caution, they followed the mountain trail hinted by Cadence. The speeding wind pushed them from time to time. Some clouds could be seen floating next to them above the chasms. The view was really breathtaking, and it could not be compared to anything previously seen by them. Several purple and yellow oxeye daisies were growing in the trail. Trixie picked up a few and store them inside her saddle bag.

After trotting for a couple of minutes, they found the tourist center. The complex consisted of two small log cabins built next to each other. Their size was not bigger than a regular house. Large torches illuminated each side of them. With caution, like always, Trixie approached the counter. A pale persian blue pegasus saluted her.

“Hello and welcome to Aero’s Tourist Center!”

“My name is Cloud Chaser… and you two, my, must have come from a faraway place.”

The earth filly stood up to reach the counter. “Actually, yes. I come from Ambrose and Trixie, here, she comes from Alicornia.”

“Alicornia?!” – the pegasus touches her face – “You are our first guest that has ever come from there.”

“Tell me, blue pony, what is like to be in the presence of an alicorn?”

“Actually-“

“Can they really control the weather like we do? Can they fly at great heights like we do?
PLEASE, you have to tell me!”

“HEY, FLITTER. We have a visitor from Alicornia!”

Another persian pegasus, with a bow, approached from the other hut. “Awesome!”

“I’m not really from Alicornia, but I’ve been in there,” replied Trixie. She looked nervous before
the curious stare of both pegasi.

“What brings you here?” asked Cloud Chaser.

“I’m looking for two pegasi, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Do you know them?”

“Never heard of the second one” – the pegasus touches her chin – “But Rainbow Dash, sure. She lives on the other side of this mountain range.”

Flitter points to her hut. “If you are interested in taking a tour around, you can do so in my office.”

Cloud Chaser stomps the counter. “OR you can stay at our local inn and wait for her to deliver the morning newspaper like she always do.”

Trixie and Apple Bloom stared at each other in silence.

“Listen, miss unicorn” – Cloud Chaser smiles – “You clearly look like a smart unicorn. Obviously, you were able to climb our extremely dangerous mountain, somehow. And now it is time to spoil yourself, to rest in my luxurious inn… at a very reasonable price, of course, because I like you.”

“Oh, no, no, no” – Flitter flies next to Trixie – “My associate here clearly has mistaken you for a lone wanderer with no duties or social life whatsoever. Clearly you must be terribly busy, with no time to waste sleeping in a two-star inn. I bet many important folks are waiting for your return in Alicornia... SO, why don’t you take my two-hour tour instead?”

The two pegasi began fighting over Trixie. Apple Bloom was shocked.

“Hey, hey, hey! I just want… to find Rainbow Dash, if possible,” cried the unicorn while covering her eyes.

“If I take your tour, will you take me directly to her…?”

“Absolutely. Although her house is currently not considered as a place of interest, but sure. No problemo.”

Flitter stuck out her tongue at Cloud Chaser. “Follow me.”

********

Inside a cave, right at the edge of a cliff, a black wooden chariot was standing in front of an improvised runway. Each side of the strip was illuminated by small red lanterns. Snow was falling outside. Apple Bloom and Trixie passed through an old turnstile to access the hangar. Flitter was checking everything before takeoff.

“I don’t know, Trixie. This doesn’t look very safe to me,” said the worried filly.

“I’ve come this far searching for Twilight’s friends and I still have nopony to help me. The last thing I want is risk your life. But… she did recognize the name so, maybe this is the best option.”

Trixie pointed at the exit. “You don’t need to come if you don’t want to, Apple Bloom.”

“But sometimes, we have to take a leap of faith…”

Flitter approaches. “I’m ready. Are you ready?”

“Yes” – the filly comes forward – “We are ready.”

Very slowly, they boarded the wooden chariot and secured themselves with belts. The persian-bowed pegasus put on her aviator goggles and strapped herself to the vehicle. After clearing her throat, she spoke.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome onboard Flight R334. The weather is expected to be good... somewhat cold. Keep all parts of your body inside the vehicle at all times.”

“Thank you for choosing Nimbus Airways. Enjoy your flight,” said Flitter, just as she began trotting at full speed through the strip.

Moments later, they were in the air, flying above the imposing mountain range of Aero. Distant rivers and lakes could be seen flowing through the landscape below. Pine trees, tall as buildings, now looked like saplings. The desert region of Caballo Viejo was perfectly delimited, almost like if somepony drew it with a pencil. A full Moon crowned the firmament.

Apple Bloom was so happy, yet so scared of the thrilling sites she was witnessing. Trixie took out her leg and touched a nearby cloud. The edges of the vaporous sky-rider dissipated through her hoof. This was an emotional experience for them. The pegasus pointed to her left. On top of a cloud, some pegasi were sleeping.

“We haven’t seen a sunrise for over a month now.”

“With no heat to use, fluffy clouds are harder to find.”

Flitter pointed to her right. “That… hole next to the mountain is thought to be the original entrance to the Millennium Mines!”

“Some ponies believe alicorns were the first miners of the project. Based on the characteristics of these lands, it is possible that they originated from here before heading west more than two thousand years ago!”

“Hold on” – the pegasus tilts forward – “Rainbow’s house is nearby.”

********

“…”

“Rainbow Dash…!”

“RAINBOW DASH!” screamed Trixie.

Standing on top of a small rocky ledge, they called the sleeping pegasus. Several attempts later she woke up. Very slowly, Dash left her cloud and approached to them, yawning. Her sleepy eyes looked angry.

“What do you want, chumps? Can’t you see I’m napping?!”

Trixie tried to smile. “Are you really Rainbow Dash?”

“Of course” – the pegasus yawns – “I am Rainbow Dash…”

Her eyes suddenly opened.

“W-What… w-why… h-how d-did you manage to get here?!”

“Ponies like you can’t tread on clouds like we do…”

“Am I dreaming?” asked Rainbow Dash, scared.

“I don’t think so… no.”

“ANYWAY” – Trixie takes out the diary with her magic – “You are Rainbow Dash, one of Twilight Sparkle’s best friends, and current master of the Element of Loyalty.”

“I have terrible news, my dear flier. Something truly awful has occurred and I need you to come with me
and save Alicornia from evil!”

“Alicornia you say?”

“YES. If Twilight’s diary is correct, and for what I have seen it is, only you can claim this power back. In Equestria you saved the world from Nightmare Moon and Discord. Now you must do it again… except this time we do not have the rest of the Mane Six, unfortunately.”

“Uh-huh.”

“So, what do you think? Are you ready to follow me into the Eternal City and be a hero once more…? Do you accept your destiny?” asked Trixie with excitement. Her eyes were wide open with joy.

“You see…”

“Trixie.”

“Yeah, Trixie. I don’t even know where to start.”

“First” – Rainbow Dash moves her right leg – “You come to my house in the middle of the night and tell me all these crazy nonsense about somepony I don’t even know!”

“Second, you expect me to believe everything you said and come with you to Alicornia, which, by the way, does not exist?!”

“I genuinely appreciate your effort of… climbing to the top for me, but being a hero is not my thing. I deliver newspapers everyday… and sometimes I nap. A lot.”

“Sorry. I am not the one you’re looking for,” said Dash with a serious expression.

“What if I told you that I know how to stop this unending night? And despite what you may think, Alicornia is very real. So real, that I can show you my Solar Permit!” replied the unicorn with a serious face.

With the help of her magic, Trixie appeared a piece of paper signed by Celestia. The ink was glowing bright, and the text was written in alicornian. The blue pegasus took it and stared at it for a moment.

“I have to admit, this looks really good. But it is a cheap prop, nonetheless…”

“Sorry, Trixie… I am not your pony,” said Rainbow Dash just as she took off. She flew away with her cloud.

Trixie closed her eyes and fought not to break into tears. Apple Bloom sat next to her.

“What’s next?” asked the worried filly.

“I… I don’t know.”

“Time is running out and the only Mane Six I could find were your sister and this so-called Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh my, I-I don’t know that to do next. I am so tired of trying to be like… Twilight Sparkle. She is so better than me. She knew all these amazing spells and used them to help others.”

“My only expertise is selling stuff. I travel from town to town trying to keep alive my parent’s business. Money has been my only motivation in life and right now, one of the best ponies I have ever met is a prisoner. I feel so useless right now,” said Trixie. Her eyes were watery.

Apple Bloom sighed. “Despite what you may think about my sister, Applejack wasn’t always like that.
She was a decent pony that used to sell apples on Ambrose.”

“When I was born, our parents had the idea of traveling west and search for the legendary city of alicorns. They were planning to leave everything behind and start again.”

“They died before trying, Trixie. I grew up and heard this from my good ol’ granny.”

“Tell me. Why did you start this quest in the first place? Was it for… a reward?”

“No.” replied Trixie, annoyed.

“Then why?”

“Because… I was there, Apple Bloom, and saw what those two foes did to Celestia. They used her, and all the guests of the carnival, to attack me. They didn’t care if they could get hurt or even… well, you know.”

“I decided to do something about it” – Trixie takes out the diary with her magic – “And this thing was supposed to taught me something I still cannot understand!”

Trixie threw the diary away. “I failed everypony…”

Bitter tears ran through the unicorn’s cheeks. Her sobbing echoed in the mountain. Apple Bloom closed her eyes and stood next to her in silence. Distant clouds kept moving through the mountain tops. Very slowly, the persian-bowed pegasus approached. She was not carrying the chariot nor using her goggles anymore. She looked sad too.

“Forgive me for eavesdropping… but I think my sister and I can help you.”

Trixie stared at Flitter. “R-Really?”

“Now that I know why you wanted to find Rainbow Dash, I want to help you set free those innocent ponies.”

“Come on, you two. We have to get back to the tourist center!”

Apple Bloom picked up the diary from the floor and put it in front of Trixie.

“Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith…”

1 The Carnival of Twilight

GOOD HEART: FRIENDSHIP FAMILY
By Roger334

"The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”
-Hannah Arendt

Peace reigns supreme over Alicornia, the Eternal City. Long gone were the days of its unending isolation because, nowadays, its doors are open. Dusk skies paint the world, leaving no place for light to hide. Nighttime is soon to come and with it, the arrival of its majestic blanket of stars. Gentle winds are howling over the evergreen prairies and forests of the valley. Crystalline rivers flow into this region.

The metropolis grandiose identity cannot be matched by any other settlement, nor town, in the entire land. Its massive walls, once designed to keep non-alicorns at bay, now shield an ever-growing cosmopolitan society. At the main gate the statue of Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who came from Equestria, still welcomes its guests and grants the entrance to the city.

Many have heard the legend, but only a few can remember her adventures. One of them is Celestia, the white alicorn. After the downfall of Sombra, The False King, she was chosen to be the new ruler, thus beginning The Age of Friendship. Aided by the powerful Elements of Order, everypony under her reign has been living peaceful lives ever since then.

It only has been a year since Twilight’s departure and the villagers are preparing to commemorate her legacy by celebrating a carnival at sunset. The metropolis skyline is littered with decorations and festive motives made by each citizen to represent what they understand as friendship.

Near the world-famous Clock Tower, at the main plaza, different types of unicorn merchants are installing their shops and venues before the beginning of the event. Exotic spices, clothing, food and all-kinds of goods are waiting to be sold. Street performers march around the streets and alleys inviting everypony to celebrate this special occasion.

This is where our story begins…

*********

“Your majesty, we are ready to begin with the ceremony,” said an alicorn guard.

“Very well. I’ll be there in just a moment,” replied Celestia with a serious expression.

The guard nodded. Once he was gone from her room, the white alicorn began crying. Painful tears dropped from her beautiful eyes. Her mouth was fighting itself to stop sobbing. Her crown felt to the floor and rolled under a chair. Very slowly, Celestia cleaned her tears before attempting to regain her composure.

“If only you were here… this would be much easier to me.”

“Oh Twilight” – the princess gazes at the sky from a balcony – “I miss you so much.”

The immortal being trotted back inside. With her magic, she picked up the crown and put it back where it belonged. In front of a mirror, Celestia brushed her mane and discarded all her sadness away. After taking a deep breath, she stood proud again.

“T-This… is for you, because they need to know,” said the white alicorn for the last time, right before leaving.

*********

In the outskirts a mysterious wagon with metal wheels crawled its way to the western gate, leaving thick dust clouds behind its trail. This particular cart did not seem to have a driver since it was able to move, apparently, on its own. Before it could even dare to enter, two alicorn guards landed in front of it.

“HALT. Who goes there?”

No answer was heard. Suddenly the wagon shook violently on its position. The knights kept their guard up. They looked nervous. A powerful voice, yet enigmatic, soon muted their thoughts.

“Such violence. Such ignorance. Such rage... !”

“Identify yourself!” shout one of the knights, while trying to draw his sword.

“There’s no need for that… specially today,” said a cloaked figure while coming out from behind the cart. This enigmatic foe was really tall, almost like them. A black mask was covering its face, causing even more unsettling feelings among them. They backed up two steps.

“Strange as it may seem I am a performer. A lover of fine arts and my name is Arcani!” giggled the cloaked figure while taking off his hood. His head was also covered by a white hat. His outfit, also odd in nature, was an old-fashioned chequered suit.

“AND I AM” – shouts another unicorn while doing backflips – “ARCANI’S ASSISTANT, PEDROLINO!”

“And together we are The Truffa Company,” said the pair of strangers while continuing with their act.

The whole scene appeared to be taken out from a dream. The guards were really impressed after seeing such feats of balance and agility. Even though they looked harmless, somehow, they felt something was wrong with them. Nevertheless, they ultimately decided to dismiss their worries and allowed them to enter with its strange cart-like contraption.

“Just follow the road ahead and soon you’ll be at the town square with the rest of your friends,” said one of the knights before raising the iron curtain with his magic.

“Welcome to Alicornia.”

*********

Princess Celestia was trotting among the streets with her royal guard. Her majestic figure could be seen from anywhere around. All the guests cheered just as she passed in front of them. Despite her sorrowful feelings she looked quite happy, giving back smiles and even minor winks at the audience. A few blocks later the white alicorn turned left. All of a sudden, she stopped.

“Is everything alright, princess?”

“Yes. It’s just that…”

“...”

“In here I-I… I used to work here,” replied the immortal being with sadness.

In front of them lay Baked Dreams, Celestia’s old shop. Countless memories were born between those wooden walls. Although it was abandoned, the shop’s windows, just as the front door, did not look deteriorated at all. Perhaps a little dusty, but not run-down like some old shack in the middle of nowhere.

“I used to bake cakes with Twilight in this very place, not so long ago,” added the white alicorn, smiling.

“Twilight Sparkle, your majesty? We didn’t know.”

“There are many things unknown about her. That is why I decided to make this carnival in the first place!”

“But we will get to that later. Let us go before it’s late.”

*********

The Clock Tower was about to struck six o’clock in just a few minutes. Citizens and guests of the Eternal City gathered right in the heart of the village called the Great Square. A large stage was built for Celestia’s speech and it was decorated with different types of local flowers and rose bushes.

When she finally arrived, everypony cheered her name. The festive decorations of the nearby buildings followed the gentle breeze. The white alicorn took a deep breath. She decided to use a special voice-spell so her words could be heard among the jolly noise. She spoke.

“Citizens and guests of Alicornia.”

“We are gathered here to celebrate the life and adventures of a unicorn like no pony else…”

As the immortal being kept speaking, Arcani parked his wagon in a lonely corner. Aided by his powerful magic, he freed the contraption from its bindings. In a matter of seconds, a machine emerged from it. With the help of his assistant a large antenna-like structure was mounted, pointing directly at the sky.

The contraption’s warped silhouette haunted the nearby houses and buildings with its shadow. Once it was ready, the top of the antenna began to glow blue. Likewise, an ominous humming gradually echoed among the oblivious citizens. The machine sparked and shook on its position.

Pedrolino put his hoof over a lever. “Now?!”

“NOT YET! It isn’t ready,” replied Arcani, while pulling some cables with his magic.

Despite the overwhelming feelings of the event, Celestia was able to spot the strange apparatus lurking from afar, causing her to lost focus. Her speech morphed to short sentences and incoherent ramblings.
Something was terribly wrong.

“A… y-year from now.”

“I… I invite you t-to…”

“...”

“What is that?” asked the white alicorn, just before flying towards the machine.

Everypony looked confused, but the music did not stop, nor the celebration. The guards stared at the direction where Celestia was heading. It was until then when they noticed the eerie apparatus. They followed her immediately. Swords and halberds were drawn. Chaos broke amidst the crowd.

Before they could even reach them, Arcani gave the order. “NOW!”

Pedrolino pulled down the lever. From the antenna, a massive beam of light pierced the sky. It reached heights beyond the Clock Tower, which was just mere seconds away from striking six o’clock. When the light pillar stopped, a magic dome fell unto the entire city seizing it, and its many inhabitants, inside an invisible jail.

Afterwards there was silence.

*********

“NO. NO. NO!”

“MY GOODNESS. How can I be so late?!” said Trixie, the unicorn merchant,
just as she kept pulling her enormous carriage through the Brown Road.

“Tonight is the most important event of the year and I’m missing it!”

“Hopefully, I’ll still be able to sell a few things before it’s over.”

“A LIGHT DOME?! My, Celestia didn’t lie about this carnival being special.”

The more Trixie forced her pace, the more objects fell from her cart. Apples, strawberries, seeds and even jars full of exotic jams soiled the path left behind. Loud noises and metal clanging coming from her goods muted her complaints all the way down to the city front gates.

“I-I… I am finally here,” gasped the tired unicorn.

Trixie looked around, but no pony could be seen guarding the area. Twilight's statue welcomed her inside.

“HELLOOO…?”

The weary seller noticed that the doorway was open. Even the iron curtain was locked away. Nevertheless, they were behind the energy dome. Without hesitating, Trixie used her magic to make a hole big enough for her to get inside.

“I guess they won’t mind…” mocked the blue unicorn while continuing with her canter.

Moments later, she was deep inside the silent metropolis. Blinded by her own tardiness, the unicorn kept her pace without noticing her surroundings. Although the number of decorations hanging between the buildings was considerable, the whole place felt like a ghost town. The only thing one could hear was Trixie’s noisy wagon.

“Excuse me” – Trixie knocks on a door – “Is the festival over yet?”

“...”

“EXCUSE ME” – the unicorn knocks even harder – “AM I LATE FOR THE FESTIVITIES?”

Once again, no response was heard.

She returned to her wagon. “Ugh. I can see the lights on. You are mean!”

Even with most of the plaza already taken by other merchants, Trixie managed to find an empty spot next to a tree. Her mind focused only on installing her store before the carnival was over. With the help of her magic, she was able to do it in just a matter of minutes. Long tables and wicker baskets displayed all her imported goods.

“OKAY. This is it!”

“Trixie’s Wonderful Emporium is now… open!” shout the happy unicorn while cutting a huge ribbon with scissors. From her horn, small fireworks were shot at the sky to commemorate this event.

Once again, nothing happened.

“Mm-hm. I already opened my store, but nopony is heading in this direction…”

“Maybe if I shoot bigger fireworks, they will come to me and buy my legendary goods.
YES. Maybe that’s the answer to this problem!”

After uttering her intentions out loud, Trixie shot with her horn bigger fireworks into the sky, almost the size of regular ones. Just as they rumbled over the mute city, a familiar silhouette was touched by this colorful light.

“C-Celestia?!” gasped the blue unicorn, right before trotting towards her.

“What is going on? I thought this place would be crowded…”

“Is everything okay?”

Suddenly, without warning, the white alicorn took off and began to attack Trixie. Celestia’s magic spells were powerful enough to destroy anything standing on their way. The unicorn took cover behind the nearby caravans. Scorching waves of fire engulfed them. Before falling unconscious to the smoke, Trixie retreated.

Despite her plea, the princess kept fighting without mercy. Fire rained from the sky. The open space of the town square allowed the spooked unicorn to flee back to her emporium. She took cover behind it.

“Why are you doing this?!” asked Trixie, just as she broke into tears.

“I am not your enemy… please!”

Confusion and fear invaded her without truce. Her heart was racing at full speed. Many ideas were rushing through her head. The white alicorn’s wings were beating so fast, and so strong, that it did not take long for Trixie to realize that she now was over her, ready to attack.

With complete and utter horror, she gazed up. “What happened to you?”

From the princess’s horn, one final spell was shot. It came pouring down like a river, consuming everything on its way. Against her feelings, Trixie halted her sobbing and closed her eyes. She used all her power to save herself. A blinding flash of light pierced the sky. The immortal being shouted in pain before falling from the sky, unconscious. With caution, the unicorn approached to her aid.

*********

“TRIXIE” – Celestia opens her eyes – “W-What are you doing here?!”

The blue pony hugged her. “You’re alive!”

“Of course, I am…”

“NOW I REMEMBER! The machine,” mumbled the immortal being. With difficulty, she stood up and stared at the destruction left behind by her attacks.

Celestia’s face turned sick. “Did I… do that?”

Trixie remained quiet. A bitter minute of silence reigned between them. The destroyed houses and shops of Alicornia kept burning. Toxic smoke polluted the air. The white alicorn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Moments later, she spoke.

“Trixie, listen to me very carefully.”

“At the end of the street, behind you” – Celestia points – “There’s a machine that was activated during the ceremony.”

“I don’t know how much time has passed… or where is everypony, but you have to leave before it's too late!”

“What are you talking about?” asked Trixie, confused.

“Listen to me, please. There’s no time to explain…”

The immortal being touched Trixie's shoulder. “You need to get out and go to my old house in the woods.”

“In the attic there’s a chest containing Twilight Sparkle’s original diary.”

“You MUST get it because it might hold--”

Before the white alicorn could even finish her sentence, a powerful spell landed upon them, pushing them away. Trixie’s wagon was destroyed.

“CELESTIA!” cried the scared unicorn.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” said Arcani, while coming out of the smoke. His voice sounded really angry and his eyes were glowing bright through the mask.

Pedrolino comes out of a nearby alley. “An intruder, that’s for sure.”

“But not any intruder. One that was able to break my spell…”

Trixie began to cower away from them.

“Pity, because you’re not leaving this place alive.”

Arcani raised his hoof and pointed at the blue pony. In that moment Celestia, who was left unconscious on the street after the attack, woke up. Very slowly she approached against Trixie. Painful tears ran through her empty eyes. Her horn caught on fire once more.

“Goodbye,” said the unicorn trickster while putting down his hoof.

The immortal being rushed to attack. The unicorn trotted away from them as fast as she could. The deadly spells of Celestia kept destroying everything on its way. Entire buildings and houses succumbed to her rage. Shortly after, more foes joined the hunt. All the alicorn knights, plus the guests of the carnival, were also under the influence of Arcani’s dark magic.

Like hollow puppets following orders, all of them chased Trixie through the abandoned streets of the Eternal City. These heartless husks had no mercy and did not seem to get tired. They were ready do to whatever it was needed to fulfill the wishes of their master, no matter the cost. Although Trixie was outnumbered, their lack of intelligence helped her escape.

At the very edge of the magic dome, the puppets stopped. Arcani trotted among them and turned off his green magic aura. He gazed upon the fugitive pony with a sinister grin.

“What are you doing?!” – Pedrolino stops – “She’s escaping!”

“I know, but the possibility of her coming back is nearly impossible.”

“And if she dares to…” – Arcani’s eyes glow bright – “We will be waiting.”

*********

In the nearby woods, not far from the brown paved road, Trixie took a moment to rest. Afterwards, she started looking for the house. The darkness of the dusk forest led the blue pony to wander aimlessly around the area. Although she wanted to quit, all the frightening memories rushed back to remind her of the promise she made.

Her endurance was ultimately rewarded because Celestia’s old cottage appeared next to some trees inside a gorgeous clearing. Trixie wasted no time entering the fenced front yard. Vines covered the walls and windows, while wild sprouts and mushrooms fought their way through the main pathway. The garden was completely decayed.

Very carefully, the blue unicorn opened the door with her magic. The living room and kitchen were completely empty, just like the rest of the house. A musty scent coated the air. Trixie climbed the stairs and looked for a way to enter the attic. By pulling a large cord, she had access to it.

“Now, where is it…?”

Despite the nature of the room, it did not look dirty nor full of useless rubbish like most attics do. There were, of course, stacked crates among other mysterious items crowned by cobwebs. On top of a wooden beam, inside a gap surrounded by broken bricks, a silver chest lay.

Trixie, with the help of her magic, took it down and opened it. Just as promised, the original diary left behind by Twilight was inside. Its weight was considerable for its small size. Each cover was decorated with the figure of a horseshoe. With caution, just like before, the blue pony lit a candle and began to read it.

“FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN, I LEAVE THIS AS A TESTIMONY OF MY JOURNEY
THROUGH THIS STRANGE LAND CALLED PONYA.

FROM MY ARRIVAL, TO MY LAST DAYS SPENT IN ALICORNIA, THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES
WERE WRITTEN WHENEVER I COULD.

THIS IS MY DIARY AND MY NAME IS TWILIGHT SPARKLE OF EQUESTRIA.”

*********

After reading a couple of pages, Trixie felt completely astonished by the journal. The complexity of its words, descriptions and charts gave her a more profound understanding of who Twilight really was and why her sudden appearance changed things around. Never before she had felt such admiration for somepony else besides her.

The more she read, the more she began to comprehend the importance of the document. However, it did not contain a solution to end Arcani’s wicked plan. The diary also described avant-garde spells and scientific experiments, even cooking recipes, but nothing seemed conclusive. Except for a single random chapter.

“Entry #36” – Trixie lights another candle – “The Elements of Harmony.”

“First discovered by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna during their battle with Discord in the Fourth Age,
little is known about these magical artefacts besides its powerful properties against darkness.

They are six in total and each one of them represent an element, a piece of a bigger structure
capable of creating harmony amidst chaos.

Used by Princess Celestia to seal the Night Queen in the depths of the Moon, they are Equestria’s
only weapon of salvation.

My friends and I, the Mane Six, are the current bearers of this power.”

The unicorn closed the diary. “THAT’S IT!”

“During the battle against The False King, Celestia created our own Elements of Harmony…
The Elements of Order.”

“Maybe if I find Twilight’s friends, they will be able to use them to defeat those two.”

Trixie stood up from the floor. “But…”

“Ponya is just too big to travel around. Not even I have seen most of it, despite my long journeys...”

All of a sudden, a single page felt from the diary, landing in front of her hooves.

“WHAT’S THIS?!”

“Magic teleportation spell #3”

The unicorn read it. “My, this describes the spell used by Twilight when she rescued Celestia from the desert back then.”

“So, it was actually possible, after all.”

“...”

“Nevertheless” – Trixie sighs – “where could these so-called Mane Six be? Which cities could they be?”

“Not even Twilight was able to find them all. Except for that one in Reins Harbor… I guess.”

The blue unicorn sighed exasperated. She trotted to a nearby window and gazed upon the light dome covering the Eternal City. “This is bigger than me!”

She closed her eyes. Her hooves covered her sad face.

“Celestia needs me… Alicornia needs me.”

“This is bigger than me, but I must do it. Everypony is counting on me.”

“I cannot fail this mission.”

“Reins Harbor, here I go… I-I suppose,” said Trixie for the last time, just as she took the diary, some candles and a saddle bag from the attic. She trotted outside the house towards the depths of the dusk forest.

The beginning of a new adventure has just begun.

Author's Note

Proofreading services provided by MID Systems.

2 Wrecking Waves

In the middle of the forest, right beneath its leafy canopies, Trixie prepared for the trip ahead. Nevertheless, there was still a major problem about it, and that was mastering Twilight’s teleportation spell. Around a perimeter not bigger than a large house, the blue unicorn arranged an experiment. Every two yards, she put a lit candle on top of a rock. Once they were over, she proceeded to reread the entries.

“… and that should be it!”

“OKAY. I just need something to… send away,” said Trixie, while looking for an item.

With the help of her magic, she picked up a nearby mossy pinecone.

“According to Twilight” – the unicorn puts the strobile on the first mark – “Now I should be able to move it.”

The blue pony closed her eyes and focused on the object. A blinding flash of light consumed the pinecone before disappearing. Yards away, as expected, it reappeared undamaged. Trixie’s first test was a success.

“Yay! Now I can move objects anywhere I want.”

“With this power, I will become the best merchant ever seen on this land!” cried the humble pony, out loud,
with a smirk smile.

“But first, I need to help Celestia and the others.”

Trixie retrieved the pinecone and returned to the first mark. She proceeded to repeat the same process over and over again until she was able to do it without closing her eyes. After several tests, she felt ready for the next level of the spell.

“Now, about number three” – the unicorn reads the diary – “Twilight wrote that this one is tricky and really dangerous if it is done incorrectly.”

“Only advanced unicorns should attempt it.”

Trixie laughed. “I am advanced."

“Mm-hm. Let’s see, where do I need to go first?”

“My amazing Emporium was destroyed and I have no contacts on this side of the valley.”

“I have no money, no food and obviously no place to stay for tonight.”

“Well” – Trixie giggles – “There’s only one place for me to go when something like this happens…”

The unicorn put away Twilight’s diary inside the saddle bag. Her thoughts flew away to the place where she wanted to be. Alicornia’s fate and all her other problems were muted by these sweet memories. Despite her apparent mastery, she closed her eyes.

A blinding flash of light consumed her.

*********

“TRIXIE!” shout Starlight Glimmer, the First Tycoon.

The blue pony’s spell was successful, but her landing told a different story. She appeared on top of Starlight’s desk. Piles of coins and stacks of books fell to the ground. Even some ink was spilled. The pink mare did not look so happy with her presence.

“Next time use the door..."

“I’m so sorry” – Trixie gets off the desk – “But I need your help!”

“Weren’t you supposed to be in Alicornia for the festival?” asked Starlight, while cleaning the ink with a sponge.

“You told me you’d be gone for the whole season… and NOW you fall from the ceiling?”

“What is going on?!”

“Lit, a terrible thing happened…”

“Don’t tell me. Did they finally ban you from entering?”

“A couple of foes activated a machine in the heart of the city and now they are all like… heartless puppets, even Celestia!” said the blue pony, with sadness.

“Oh no. That’s terrible…”

“I know!”

“Alicornia was a good spot to sell.”

Trixie stomped the desk. “I AM SERIOUS!”

“Everypony in there is doomed if we don’t do something about it!”

Starlight’s face turned sick. “My, I-I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“B-But…” – the pink mare looks up – “How is something like that even possible?”

“Not even alicorns are capable of creating such magic.”

Trixie stomped the desk again. “But it’s true! I barely escaped alive.”

“But what can we do? I am nothing more than a businessmare. A successful one, if you will, but nothing more.”

“W-Well…”

“I’m also a merchant, but they need me… and I cannot stay in here and do nothing.”

The blue pony sat and stared away from Starlight.

“I witnessed two enemies with pure evil on their hearts take over an entire city. They just wanted me to disappear because I broke their spell.”

“My Emporium was destroyed. I’ve nothing left…”

Starlight trotted towards Trixie and hugged her. “My, I-I… I had no idea.”

“I know about your friend, the one you call Celestia. You told me about her good deeds with you in the past.
I wish I had somepony like her as my friend…”

The pink unicorn deployed a map with her magic.

“Tell me, what do you need?”

Trixie smiled. “My first stop is Reins Harbor, where somepony called Rarity lives. She’s the owner of a local inn."

“I see.”

Starlight put her hoof under her chin. She was thinking.

“That’s northwest of here, through Wheat Country.”

“I can lend you a cart. It is light-weighted, which makes it perfect for traveling long distances no matter the terrain. What else, Trixie?”

“A lantern, some oil and food for the journey. Blankets and… money.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I still have a unicorn lantern1, so there’s that. I can also give you a pack of food and blankets. About the money… how much do you need?”

“One thousand tails…?” said Trixie, while trying to smile. She looked nervous.

“ONE THOUSAND TAILS?! What do you think I am? The richest pony on the Red Brick Market?”

“Y-Yes.”

“That’s right. I am!” giggled Starlight.

“But that’s not enough, I must say. I’ll give you THREE thousand tails.”

“OH DEAR! I… I-I don’t know what to say…”

“Say nothing and take this.”

By using her magic once more, the pink mare gathered the money from her fallen piles of coins and gave them to Trixie inside a wallet. From the top of a nearby shelf, she also picked up the magic lantern. Outside her office, in an alleyway, Starlight gave the promised food packs and blankets.

“Lyra, I’m going to lend her your cart for a couple of months.”

“Don’t worry” – Starlight pats her back – “You’re not fired. This is more like a… forced holiday.”

“Please visit Bon Bon, wherever she is.”

Lyra jumped of joy before leaving. Very carefully, both unicorns packed the wagon with the supplies needed for the long journey ahead. Moments later, the time for departure arrived.

“I guess this is it…” said the pink mare, with sadness on her voice.

Trixie hugged her. “Thank you so much, Lit.”

“Be careful out there. If you run into troubles, you know where to find me.”

“You ARE my best friend and nothing will change that, but this is something I need to do.”

“See you soon,” said Trixie for the last time, right before leaving towards the busy streets of the market. Starlight remained in the alley waving at her.

*********

The wind howled through the golden fields of Wheat Country. Despite being no nighttime ruling in the sky, somehow, the blue unicorn felt tired. Yawning and stretching, she kept moving as fast as she could towards the west to the great sea.

Many hours later, Trixie reached the outskirts of the harbor. From the top of a hill, she gazed upon it and kept trotting towards the main entrance. Rusty letters casted on iron welcomed her to this unexplored part of Ponya.

“REINS HARBOR.”

Merry music could be heard coming from the town square. A trio of musicians were playing their old instruments before an absent audience. The sound of the waves breaking against the cliffs also echoed among their notes. Trixie approached them.

“Excuse me, but where can I find the Inn?”

The musicians stop playing. “You have just arrived and you want to go to sleep?!”

“MY, that’s… sad,” said one of them. They broke into laughter shortly after.

Trixie remained serious.

“I’m sorry. You are new around here, right?”

“In this corner of the world you can find many inns. Even houses. If you can afford them, that is..."

The artist puts down his cello. “SO, what’s your budget for tonight?”

“Are you blind?!” – one of the musicians points at the sky – “The Moon isn’t up there!”

“If you sleep during the day, it is called a nap!”

“Oh yeah. What about Little Pony?!” replied the irked artist.

“What about it?”

“That ship only arrives at midnight, mate!”

“SO?”

The artist points at the pier. “If you look to your right, you’ll see it docked because it’s already midnight.”

“It can’t be midnight if there’s no Moon above us!”

The musicians, all of a sudden, started arguing between them about who was right or wrong. Trixie, very slowly, trotted away from them towards the nearest street, in silence. Even with that wacky welcome, she managed to find the right place just as it was described in Twilight’s diary.

Impressive as a wooden building can be, the three-story Purple Inn lay in front of her. Its dusk walls perfectly reflected the atmosphere of the region. Trixie left her cart parked outside. With the help of her magic, she managed to open the heavy mahogany doors of the place.

“Welcome to the Purple Inn. How may I help you?” asked the receptionist, a young unicorn mare.

“Hi,” said Trixie, trying to smile. Her lack of sleep was noticeable.

“I would like to talk with Rarity, please. Is she here?”

“Rarity…? I don’t know anypony named like that,” replied the employee.

“What about your boss? I’d like to speak with him… her.”

“I’m very sorry, but she’s not here at the moment.”

The blue pony grunted with frustration. The receptionist looked nervous.

“MEANWHILE, would you like to stay in a room? The night’s only thirty coins.”

“Sure” – Trixie puts the money on the desk – “Although I only have Tails.”

“That’s fine. We accept most of your foreign currencies as long as its gold.”

*********

After sleeping for hours, the blue unicorn woke up. She was staying on the third floor. The sound of the waves crashing and splashing against the harbor’s steep cliffs was something entirely new to her. She felt in love with it and even thought about staying for longer.

Trixie returned to speak with the receptionist, but her answer was the same as before. Rarity, the master of the Element of Generosity, was someplace else. Having no other option, she decided to go out and explore the village by herself.

Dusk still reigned supreme. Sunlight was barely visible at the very edge of the ocean. Many ponies were buying what it seemed to be candles and lanterns in their local marketplace. Barrels of wax were auctioned for unreasonable amounts of money. Trixie felt perplexed by these strange interactions.

Many ships and other smaller vessels were docked in the piers. The mild movement of the tide made them move at its own will. Heavy ropes bounded them tight to the port, polluting the vision of the almost sunset.

Perhaps it was the lack of accurate descriptions provided by her that caused this situation, but no pony was able to recognize the name of Rarity at all. Unexpectedly, on a lonely corner next to an aged boat house, progress was made.

“Ah yes, I know her,” said a unicorn mare. Her mane was red and yellow, almost brilliant and her skin was light amber. She was wearing a white sailor uniform.

“White, blue eyes and purple mane… Yep, that’s her.”

“REALLY?! Where can I find her?!” asked Trixie, excited.

“She’s currently living in Lobster Bay. That’s on the other side of this ocean.”

“However” – the sailor points at the docked vessels – “No pony will take you there as long as this weather continues. The sea is dangerous at night.”

The blue unicorn looked down at her hooves. Her ears also dropped.

“Yeah. It’s a shame…”

The amber mare gazed upon her with a mischievous grin. “Maybe the captain of a smaller vessel could help you, if the price was right...”

Trixie rolled her eyes. “How much?”

“Nine hundred coins, and I promise you safety aboard my ship. Food is also included.”

Trixie considered the stranger’s offer. She was the only one who described Rarity’s appearance exactly as it was written on Twilight’s diary. Having no other choice, she sealed the deal with a hoofshake. The almost-sunset shined upon them on the edge of the harbor.

*********

High tides and wrecking waves crashed against the boat’s wooden hull. The captain was struggling to keep the brigantine on course. Trixie was fighting not to fall sick. The topsails were reefed, and the cargo was bounded to the stern. Everything else on the deck was either wet or broken, leaving nothing safe from the fury of the ocean.

The sailor mare, with a gesture, invited her to get inside. “I felt exactly like you during my first trip onboard this very ship.”

“Y-You did…?”

“These regions of the world aren’t for everypony… or no pony, depending on your perspective.”

“I used to travel a lot when I was younger, but nowadays I am more focused on selling griffin’s Mighty Dust more than anything. They sure know how to make explosives.”

By using her magic, the captain opened a small crate with some fruits and vegetables inside. All kinds of exotic edibles were offered to Trixie. Ultimately, she decided to go with the apples, not without acknowledging the declined options.

“What are those, anyway?”

“That’s a Pine’s Apple” – the amber mare picks up some fruit – “And these are Mean-goes.”

“In the bag behind you, I also have Cow-fee beans.”

Trixie stared at the strange edibles. She even attempted to weigh them.

“So” – the sailor eats a pineapple – “What’s your deal?”

“You paid me with Tails, a foreign currency I’ve only seen at the harbor. OBVIOUSLY, you come from a faraway place, so… why are you here?”

“I must find the unicorn that goes by the name of Rarity.”

The captain mocked Trixie. “Good luck collecting your money.”

“This is not about money. I need her to help me save Alicornia!”

“ALICORNIA?!” – the amber mare stops eating – “You mean the legendary Eternal City?!”

“Y-Yes.”

“Oh, tell me. Does the Sun ever set in there? Because one stallion at the bar told me it didn’t. It was always sunny and it never rained nor stormed thanks to their powerful magic,” giggled the curious unicorn.

“W-Well… the Sun sets like in every other place. Maybe it rains. Maybe it doesn’t. I don’t know for sure. Maybe Celestia knows…”

“You’ve met an alicorn?! A REAL one?!”

“Of course, and she’s my friend.”

“WOW!”

“Yes, but--”

“But what?! You have been there, and you have met alicorns. What could be wrong?”

Trixie’s face turned serious. “They are in danger and Rarity is the only one that can save them.”

The sailor laughed. “Seriously? Do you really think a teeny-tiny unicorn can save an entire kingdom? Yeah, I’m not so sure about that--”

Without warning, the boat shook violently. They were knocked to the floor. Things started falling off the shelves inside the room. The sound of the hull cracking was loud enough to be heard. They both struggled to get up.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah… what was that?!”

“I don’t know. You better stay here…”

*********

Thunderstorms raged in the heights. The sky was pitch black, almost like nighttime. Heavy rain was hammering down its way onto the small ship. The sailor mare was using all her magic power to protect the sails from the speeding winds.

With caution, Trixie exited the room. Just as she set her hooves out, the cargo on board set loose. Heavy barrels began to roll all over the place. The deadly stampede forced her to take cover inside the boat. Some barrels fell overboard, while others ended up lodged against the mast. A few of them leaked a yellowish powder all over the deck.

“Help me keep her stay afloat!” – shout the captain – “Grab a bucket and go downstairs to bail out water.”

Trixie nodded. With her magic, she was able to move some barrels away from the hatch that led downstairs. Papers, sea charts, crates and more exotic fruits were floating in the cargo hold. The hull was heavily damaged. The blue pony lit an oil lantern, then proceeded to seal the cracks with planks and nails.

Afterwards, she used two metal buckets to bail out water as fast as her hooves allowed her to. During one of these trips, she noticed something truly terrifying. Floating upside-down, another ship was coming dangerously close to them. It was massive. The storm also revealed more wreckage in the distance.

Masts the size of trees were still attached to their decks, or what was left of them. Thick ropes and large pulley blocks were tangled in such a way that they looked like a floating noose, waiting to drown somepony on its deadly grip. Panic broke inside her. Trixie ditched the buckets and cowered away from the railing.

The sailor mare approached. “There's only one creature capable of creating such destruction…”

“I need you to keep bailing out water if we want to escape alive from this!”

Trixie nodded.

The captain used her magic to throw overboard some of the loose barrels. The hungry ocean took them away in seconds. Meanwhile, the blue unicorn kept struggling with the water downstairs. After several trips, and more buckets, the level dropped to a more reasonable height. Suddenly, she heard a loud scream. Without hesitating, she went upstairs to investigate.

Standing amidst the waves, a tentacle the size of a mountain towered before her. The sailor was trapped on one of its suckers. She was fighting her way out with a metal spear, further enraging the beast. The water around the small vessel began to bubble up. Another tentacle, accompanied by eight more arms, raised to wreak havoc.

The first one came crashing down unto the turtled boat. Splinters and other dangerous debris were dispersed in all directions. Trixie took cover inside the wheelhouse. Moments later, one of these arms swept the entire area from left to right, obliterating everything on its path. Broken glass shards rained on top of her.

“Let go of me!” shout the captain, with anger.

The spear managed to wound one of the beast’s suckers, thus dropping her instantly to her doom. Beneath the falling sailor, the deadly rope knot from before was waiting. Trixie was paralyzed and her legs shake in utter fear. Thunder kept raging in the sky. Regardless of this eerie chain of events, and possible outcome, she closed her eyes. For a brief moment, all that fear and insecurity was washed out by something never felt before.

A blinding flash of light teleported Trixie away into the sky. Mid-air she managed to intercept the falling unicorn before it was too late. They landed behind the monster on the remains of another brigantine. The captain lay down to recover her breath. Trixie kept staring at the beast.

“Y-You saved me…” mumbled the amber mare. She was breathing really fast.

“You can thank me later. NOW we need to stay away from that thing!”

Even with no sails whatsoever, their current ship was able to stay afloat and move thanks to the powerful force of the waves. Trixie took the wheel and attempted to steer away. The monster kept rampaging the area with its mighty tentacles. More wreckage stacked up in the water. The captain’s boat was on collision course with the beast.

As soon as it hit the underwater creature, an arm smacked it. An explosion the size of a firework blew up the appendage. Burning planks and other smaller remains fell from the sky. The amber mare cried for her loss. Her sadness quickly turned into sickness, because the angered monster began to create an immense whirlpool around its sharp beak.

All those floating debris were chipped by the kraken. Entire decks and masts were turned into nothing more than splinters. There was no escape from this. Trixie ditched the wheel and trotted towards the captain at the front of the deck. She was holding on for dear life.

“Hold on!” cried Trixie, just as she closed her eyes and put her hoof on the back of the scared unicorn. Another blinding flash of light consumed the little ponies away.

*********

Out of nowhere, they landed in the middle of an alley back in Reins Harbor. Sunset shined in the village and it was not raining like before. They needed some time to recover from the effects of the teleportation spell. An unknown foe witnessed the whole event. Its skin was dark gray. It had a horn and wings like an alicorn, but her legs and mane had holes in them. Fangs also peeked from her lips.

“W-What…?!” mumbled the foe, in awe. She looked shocked.

“Are you okay?” asked Trixie, with a serious expression on her face.

“I’m fine…”

“Say” – the sailor used her magic to squeeze her hat – “How did you do that?”

“We were done, for sure! But you, somehow, managed to save me twice in a row…”

The captain hugged her beret. “I-I am so sorry for what just happened. I… I’ll pay you back, I swear.”

“Don’t worry about that” – Trixie moves away – “I guess I will have to find another way to find Rarity.”

The amber mare put on her hat. “WAIT! I might not be the pony you are looking for, but I can help you on your quest to save Alicornia!”

“I am really powerful, you know, and I know a lot of special spells. Please, let me help you.”

The blue unicorn stopped. The memories of Arcani’s dark magic rushed back to her. Despite what Twilight’s diary suggested, she realized that another attempt to find Rarity was a complete waste of time at that point. Celestia, just like her subjects, remained imprisoned. Nothing had changed.

Trixie sighed. “Alright. I am going to need as much help as possible if I want to succeed.”

“What is your name?” – Trixie touches her chin – “I don’t think you ever told me.”

The sailor rushed to end of the alley. “My name is Sunset Shimmer!”

A minor hoofshake took place between them.

“If you are ready, let’s go. Alicornia awaits!” said the blue pony. Seconds later, another blinding flash of light took them away. And just like that they were not in Reins Harbor anymore, leaving the witness more confused than before.

“I shouldn’t have drunk that…” mumbled the gray foe before entering a nearby door.

Author's Note

1A special type of lantern that runs on magic instead of oil.

3 Caballo Viejo

Different ponies are chattering, eating, and drinking inside the Andromeda Bar, an old building located in the heart of the Red Brick Market. This fine establishment is one of the oldest places around Wheat Country. It is well-known for its good atmosphere and decent food. In the middle of the already-late night shift, Sunset Shimmer and Trixie landed on top of the billiards, obliterating the expensive tables in the process.

“TRIXIE!” shout Starlight Glimmer from the other side of the place.

She approached to assist her fallen friend. Some waitresses helped the amber mare. “You know how expensive those tables were?! I brought them all the way from Uninopolis!”

“You’ve got to stop falling from the ceiling… it’s weird and you are destroying my property!”

Starlight turned her head. “Who’s this?”

“RIGHT” – Trixie shook off the remaining splinters and dust – “this is Sunset Shimmer. My new associate
in my quest for Alicornia’s freedom!”

Both unicorns stared at each other. Distrust fueled both of her judging eyes.

“Uh-huh. If you say so.”

“Lit, there’s something I would like to talk to you…”

“Sure, Trixie” – Starlight waves her left hoof at the staff – “and you, take a seat and order something.
This time it will be on the house.”

The sailor mare rolled her eyes and sat on a nearby table, away from them.

Shortly after they entered a private room behind the counter. The size of it was considerably small. Mops, brooms, and other cleaning tools were kept in there because it was a janitor’s closet. An oil lantern lit the place. The stench of soap impregnated the air.

“Starlight” – Trixie moves a bucket away – “I couldn’t find Rarity on Reins Harbor.”

“Who would have known? You even had a plan,” mocked the pink tycoon with a serious expression.

“I know! Luckily for me, Sunset is willing to help me.”

Starlight frowned. “What did you promise her?”

“Nothing! I saved her life twice from a giant octopus-like monster.”

“For real?”

“Absolutely!”

“Well” – the pink unicorn touches her chin – “I guess that is a pretty good reason to help somepony out.”

“Still, you better be careful about her. I wouldn’t trust a pony I just met. Specially if you are planning to fight some powerful foes as the ones you described to me.”

Starlight used her magic to open the door. “You must tell her your true intentions and the risks
she is getting into if she decides to tag along with you.”

“I know and I will, but right now, I need her to stay with you so I can continue my quest.”

“Time is running out and I’ll be back for her once I find the remaining Mane Six.”

The pink unicorn sighed heavily while covering her face with exasperation. For a couple of seconds,
she mumbled inaudible sentences back at Trixie. She stood still inside the small room, waiting
for the intense moment to end.

“FINE. We’ll do it your way!”

“But I warn you” – Starlight points at her – “If you fall from the ceiling one more time, that’s it and I mean it.
No more help from me. Understood?!”

Trixie hugged her.

“Don’t worry, Lit. This is why I am training. I start with your expensive tables and I learn from my mistakes.
And now I know where not to land next time…” said the blue unicorn before teleporting away from the room.

“Next time?!” gasped the pink mare, with horror.

*********

From a blinding flash of light, Trixie appeared in the middle of some bushes in a public park in the heart of Uninopolis, the first unicorn city. Tall buildings blocked the almost-nighttime skies above her. Passing tramcars pulled by strong stallions made their way through the busy roads. Several ponies were either crossing the street or moving goods with heavy wagons.

All of a sudden, a loud whistle caught her attention.

“Public napping is forbidden! Do you want to spend the night on jail?” shout a police officer.

“No, sir!” replied Trixie before fleeing the scene.

While trotting through the streets of her hometown, the blue pony was trying to remember the address of one of Starlight’s contacts in the big city. She worked as a fashion designer, but most importantly, she was an earth pony. According to Twilight’s diary Applejack and Pinkie Pie, the next missing members of the Mane Six, were residents from Ponyville. Despite her long journeys across Ponya, Trixie has never seen a town comprised only of earth ponies.

If they were needed to save Alicornia, she needed to find the right spot first and talking to this designer seemed like a good idea to begin with. While buying a blue-glazed donut from a street vendor, the address came back to her. On a lonely corner, Trixie called a cab. As soon as her hoof raised, one of them stopped in front of her.

“To Brumby Heights!”

*********

Minutes later, after racing through the traffic, Trixie arrived at the location of a massive five-story brick building. Random clothing hanged from wires between neighboring windows. A cloaked figure was outside the main entrance loading some crates into a small cart. It looked rather busy doing its chores. The blue unicorn approached with caution.

“Excuse me, but do you know on what floor I can find the fashion designer?”

“I cannot remember her name, I’m afraid.”

The mysterious figure turned at her while taking off its hood.

“Maybe you’re looking for me, considering I’m the only fashion designer on the block.”

“I’m Coco Pommel. And you are…?”

“Trixie’s the name” – she waves – “And I’m looking for somepony…”

The cyan-maned mare blushed. “I don’t think I can help you with that… sorry.”

“WHAT?! NO. I-I… I need to find more Earth Ponies like you,” replied Trixie with a serious expression on her face.

“Oh, I see.”

“Please, do not take this the wrong way, but I’ve never seen a settlement of ponies like you before.
Not even once in all my years of traveling and selling.”

“It is particularly important for me to find some ponies I have been looking for before it’s too late.
My problem is that I don’t know here to start!”

“Mm-hm” – Coco loads more crates – “I’m aware that we aren’t a common sight for unicorns like you.”

“Or even pegasi, I assume.”

“Nevertheless, the only place I can think of is Ambrose. My hometown.”

“Never heard of it…” replied Trixie.

“I thought not. It is a small settlement located east from here in the Caballo Viejo region.
Maybe you’ll find something useful in there that can help you.”

The blue pony smiles. “Can you take me there? I’ll pay you, that’s for sure.”

“There’s no need for that. I am going there, as you can see, to spend a couple of days with my family.
You can come with me if you want.”

“YES. That would be great. Thank you!”

“Let me get my stuff” – Trixie enters a nearby dark alleyway – “I’ll be back in a minute!”

Another blinding flash of light lit the gap between the buildings. Seconds later, the blue unicorn reappeared pulling a cart. It was the same one that Starlight lent her before leaving to Reins Harbor. It had plenty of supplies, all of them still intact.

*********

After leaving the city hours ago, they entered the desert region in the far east. Nighttime ruled the sky. There was no path to follow, just Coco’s memory. Near a massive rock formation, they decided to rest by setting a small camp.

The unicorn used her magic to install her tent before lighting a fire. Coco built hers next to Trixie’s. Crickets were screeching from their hiding spot between some ancient saguaro trees. A curious owl was staring at them from its nest.

Coco put a silver pot near the fire. “Hot chocolate is the best medicine for cold nights like this one.”

“Say” – she approaches Trixie – “How long has it been since the last sunrise?”

“What do you mean?” asked the unicorn, confused.

“It’s probably just me, but it has been almost two weeks since I last saw a sunrise.”

“These eternal nights have been pretty rough. I had to buy more candles than usual for me to finish the last orders in time.”

Coco poured hot chocolate on a mug. “Who knows? Maybe one day the Sun will return.”

Trixie remained quiet, but her mind began thinking about what she just heard. The last time she saw a sunset was before the events that took place in Alicornia. After that, all the past days have been spent searching for Twilight’s friends. This new idea now haunted her.

“I think I’ll bunk for the night. See you tomorrow,” said the blue pony, just as she took a deep breath before entering her tent. Coco remained outside near the gentle fire.

*********

Deep in the desert, far from any known settlement, a dirt crossroad appeared in front of them. Dry bushes and small cactuses populated the surroundings. Right in the middle, towering before them, there was a large wooden signpost indicating only three possible directions to follow.

“🠔AMBROSE” “LAS COLINAS 🠕” “MILLENIUM MINES ➞”

Coco stopped. “This is where we part ways, Trixie.”

“I need to keep going to Las Colinas to deliver an order.”

The cyan-maned mare pointed to the left. “Down this path you will get to Ambrose in a couple of hours.
Just... follow the road and you’ll be fine.”

“Thank you so much for everything. Hopefully, I will find what I need in there,” said Trixie,
with a smile on her face.

“One more thing” – Coco put her hoof down – “Be aware that your kind aren’t as common as you think
in these regions.”

“Ambrose was founded a century ago by earth ponies. Pegasi, sometimes, come all the way from Aero
to sell their goods. But unicorns... well, that’s another story.”

“Just be careful… and try to be friendly.”

“Good luck. Give Starlight my regards,” said the earth pony before cantering away with her heavy cart.

And just like that, Trixie was completely alone once again. With the help of her magic, she took out Twilight’s diary and read the entries regarding the remaining Mane Six members. After finishing her lecture, she put it away. She closed her wallet and secured her belongings with more ropes.

“Alright. Let’s go!” cried Trixie before cantering away from the signpost.

Despite being on a desert during nighttime, the challenge of traversing an unknown region was the same. Trixie had to cross through several rickety bridges that ran over deadly ravines and cliffs. Some parts of the road were completely erased due to sandstorms or rockfalls. Her magical abilities allowed her to surpass these obstacles.

Whenever she felt tired, Trixie took a moment to rest. If she was thirty, she drank water from her copper canteen. The unicorn lantern allowed her to scare away the snakes and bats that lay hidden in the path. She was an experienced adventurer, but for the first time in her life, all her knowledge was put to the test.

Finally, after hours of trotting through the desert, the small town of Ambrose appeared. From the distance, some buildings could be seen illuminated. The place looked like a lonely ship sailing in the middle of a dark sea of dunes. Without hesitating, Trixie cantered to the main street with her cart. All the houses and stores were built entirely out of wood. Colorful banners and signs categorized each business´s purpose.

Lanterns, candles and torches were the only source of light in this place. Raising behind what it looked like a bank, an impressive water tower with the name of Ambrose painted on it crowned the skyline. No pony was outside in the street except her. Trixie approached to each store and knocked on every door, but they were all closed.

Merry music and loud chattering could be heard coming from a nearby two-story building. It was a saloon. The unicorn trotted there and parked her cart outside the noisy establishment. Very slowly, she opened the rustic swinging doors with her magic. Just as her hooves touched the carpet, the music stopped.

The pianist and the waitresses, just like everypony inside the saloon, stared at her. To make matters worse, one of them dropped her drinks in the floor. Trixie began to feel nervous. With caution, she approached the counter. Some stallions decided to exit the room, while others whispered something about her.

The bartender, and old stallion with glasses, ordered the pianist to keep playing.

“Howdy, stranger. What do you want in here?”

“Hello. I-I am looking for somepony called Applejack… and Pinkie Pie.”

The stallion yelled. “Are you going to order something?”

“S-Sure. Give me one glass of… iced tea?”

“ICED TEA?! We only serve REAL drinks in here, stranger.”

“HERE” – the bartender pours a beverage on a glass – “Have some cider.”

Remembering Coco’s advice, Trixie smiled and accepted the drink. In mere seconds, she drank it all.
The old stallion stared at her with a serious expression. He looked irked rather than pleased.

“You had your free souvenir from our town. Now leave my saloon immediately."

“B-But I didn’t pay you…”

“Doesn´t matter. Your money’s no good in here.”

The bartender pointed at the exit. Trixie closed her eyes and sighed with sadness. She trotted very slowly to the exit. As soon as she closed the doors, the loud chattering returned. A young filly carrying apples on a basket was accidentally hit by the swinging doors. The unicorn panicked.

“My apples!” cried the filly.

Trixie used her magic to gather all the fugitive fruits back on the basket. She even used a piece of cloth to clean some of them. The arranged fruits were delivered back to the nervous filly, who kept staring at her.

“Hope I didn’t hurt you,” said Trixie, trying to smile.

Just as the young pony approached to receive the basket, the blue unicorn noticed something about her. Somewhere in Twilight’s diary, she mentioned something about a troop of friends that played together around Ponyville. The physical characteristics of the filly in front of her matched the description of Apple Bloom, Applejack’s baby sister.

“Apple Bloom…?”

The filly picked up the basket and flee. “I-I… I have to go!”

Trixie felt confused about her reaction and the way she was staring at her. So far, her experience on Ambrose has been rather awful. The town’s sheriff, another old stallion, approached to her with a thick lasso attached to his back. He was wearing a white hat and a blue vest with a silver star on it. He also had a dark mustache.

“Howdy, ma’am” – the sheriff stops – “Some good ol’ folks told me about a unicorn that decided to pay us a visit.”

“Listen, stranger. I don’t know why you are here and what are your intentions. But if you are planning to do something against these good ol’ souls, you better tell me now.”

Trixie’s ears dropped and her face turned sick. “My, I am only looking for a couple of ponies I need
for my… m-my new enterprise. Yes. That’s all, I swear!”

“Okay.”

“I suppose you don’t know anypony around here” – the lawstallion points at a building on the other side of the street – “We have a nice hotel for outsiders like you. If you can’t afford it, you can always camp on the outskirts. Just be careful about snakes.”

“Welcome to Ambrose, ma’am.”

*********

After parking her cart outside the suggested place, Trixie entered the building. Compared to the saloon, the atmosphere felt much nicer in there. Oil paintings and large sand-green couches decorated the main hall. An old grandfather clock with gold features was ticking on a corner. The receptionist, a young mare with cerise skin and rose-colored mane, greet her.

“Welcome to Elcoyote. My name is Cheerilee. How can I help you?”

“Hi. I want a room for tonight… and probably for the whole week.”

Cheerilee took out a book. “No problem. Tell me, which currency do you intend to use?”

“I have Tails.”

“Mm-hm” – the cerise mare turns pages – “I see. You must come from Uninopolis.”

“Considering the percentage of gold present in your coins, the room’s fee will be adjusted to match
our establishment’s pricing.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you so much. The fee for tonight is… twenty-seven coins.”

“Fine by me.”

“Excellent! Now, please sign with your name in here while I get your key…”

*********

Trixie slept for a couple of hours before feeling ready to continue with her quest. Nighttime still ruled in the sky. The unicorn went downstairs and sat near the front desk. She reread Twilight’s diary again and took notes on a scroll she was holding with her magic. Cheerilee was sweeping the entrance. A sweet tune coming from the grandfather clock echoed in the hall. The sound of its bells reminded Trixie of Alicornia.

The blue pony put away the diary and the scroll. “I am wasting time.”

Cheerilee picked up the dust and threw it on a small garbage bin. Just as she passed near Trixie, she noticed her saddened face. “Is everything okay? You look troubled.”

“Yes. I just need to keep… going, that is all.”

“If you are planning to venture outside Ambrose, be aware that thieves are known to raid travelers
in these regions.”

“Thieves?” asked Trixie, worried.

“Oh, yes. The route to Aero is filled with dangerous crooks. Maybe if you want to visit the pegasi city, you should go back and enter the Cloud Road through Las Colinas. That is the safest path, according to all my previous guests.”

“I didn’t know Aero was this close… Wow, thank you.”

Cheerilee smiled. “Anytime! You can leave your stuff in your cart outside if you want. Right now, there’s no pony else booked in the hotel.”

Trixie nodded before standing up and leaving. With the help of her magic, she took out some tools, food and money for her upcoming journeying. Just as she finished packing up her saddle bag, a mysterious stallion called her. He was massive even compared to Celestia. His skin was brilliant amaranth, while his mane was orange. He was wearing a black top hat and a small gray bow. His lips were chewing a straw.

“Heard you were looking for Apple Jack…” said the stallion with a grin on his face.

“Yes, I am. As a matter of fact.”

“But… how do you know?”

The stallion spit the straw. “The only unicorn that has ever come to Ambrose was also looking for her.
She came from the big city, just like you.”

“I can take you to her” – the colt pulls a yellow stagecoach out of an alley – “If that is what you came for.”

“This unicorn… what color was she? What was her mane like?”

“She was purple. That’s the only thing I can remember.”

The look on the stallion’s face was serious, just as his offer. Considering everything she has heard about the area, especially the dangers that lurked beyond town, Trixie did not want to take any unnecessary risks just like she did in Reins Harbor. Furthermore, the stagecoach was in mint condition.

Maybe this stranger was trying to be nice or maybe, on some level, he was expecting some kind of monetary reward for his gesture. It has been almost two weeks since Arcani took over the Eternal City. Having little to no other choice, Trixie considered the offer and ultimately decided to accept it against her common sense.

She boarded the stagecoach with her saddle bag. Once inside, the stallion closed the door and began pulling it away from the hotel. Minutes later, they were far away from town. Despite the luxurious interior and red velvet cushions the road’s bumpiness could not be avoided. The blue pony was struggling not to hit her head with the roof or walls.

She had never traveled by stagecoach before and this uncomfortable experience was not helping at all to improve her impression. At some point of the trip she lost her patience. “Are we on the right road?!”

“I am terribly sorry, ma’am, but this is the only path to reach Applejack’s house.”

“Okay. Okay. Just… be more careful. I am hitting my head back here!”

An hour later, the wagon, all of a sudden, stopped shaking. The movement was smoother and Trixie, finally, was feeling relaxed. Soon, she was yawning. The soft velvet cushions took their toll. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep. Her saddlebag was used as another pillow.

Trixie began dreaming about her past adventures. Twilight’s shadow was casted unto her and its weight was considerable. Many things depended on her alone and failure was not an option, specially not this time. Similar ideas were rushing through her mind, and all of them were equally haunting.

Without warming, a strong solid hit came from the undercarriage, ending Trixie’s dreamland. She waked up so fast, that her hooves could not save her from falling to the floor. The stagecoach started to accelerate at an alarming rate. As soon as she attempted to use her magic to open one of the small windows, something truly eerie occurred. Her magic, somehow, was not present. Panic and utter fear invaded her just as she realized that her magical abilities were completely gone.

The stagecoach continued speeding. Trixie attempted to kick the door open, but it was futile. They were heavily locked from the outside. Moreover, the windows were too small for her to use. She was trapped inside. The sound of the wheels hitting rocks was loud enough to mute her sobbing. Suddenly, a rock broke one of the windows, leaving a gap behind. It was large enough for her to use as an exit.

Without hesitating, she put her saddle bag on and jumped.

Shortly after thousands of wooden shards and other debris were dispersed everywhere after the stagecoach hit the bottom of the cliff. The unicorn rolled down at a great speed, but the sand eventually stopped her. Her hooves were shaking, and her mane was completely ruined. She had some bruises and minor cuts due to her rough landing, but she was alive.

Her eyes saw the pile of useless splinters that once were a luxurious vehicle. Before even doing something else, somepony knocked her unconscious. An unknown foe approached.

“Is it her…?”

“Yes. She was asking for you in town. She recognized Apple Bloom.”

“I see. Our worst fears came true.”

It laughed. “Well, no matter. She won’t be going anywhere soon…”