Author's Note

Not dead just yet

An Introduction Is in Order

Above, on the outer edge of one of the many roofs of Maretime Bay, I sat in silence, taking in the reinvigorating feeling of that young stallion's body with my eyes half closed, all while listening to Misty's never-ending pleas as she followed my newest toy down the street below me.

She would never be a second Luster, that much I'd come to accept. No matter, she'd still be fun to have around one way or another. I smirked at the thought of what was ahead.

There was no need to hold back. My lust was going as strong as ever. And one little play wasn't going to cut it for me.

"Please, you have to stop this!" Misty cried out in tears, trying desperately to keep up as Hitch galloped away into the dark.

She seemed to care about what would happen without her around. It kinda warmed my heart. This was going to be a lot more fun than I originally thought.

Not granting even a glance back, I mocked her, "You have to do a little better than that, my dear Misty! Come now, the night is still young."

The sniffling murmur that followed close behind was incomprehensible to me, so I focused on the question of where to go. It didn't take long looking around for me to set my sights on the prominent rainbow trail piercing the sky.

With determination and high expectations, I ran straight to the oh-so-familiar source, only to be stopped by an eerie feeling as I came closer. There was something surrounding the Crystal Brighthouse. Some magical barrier, a last remnant of my prison, perhaps?

Like a cheap mime, I stretched across the invisible wall with my upper butterscotch-colored body as I stood on my hind legs, trying to get a feel for it, knowing it was pointless to try breaking it by brute force.

"So you're gifting them a bit more time, Twilight? How generous of you," I said more to myself than the out-of-breath unicorn who had finally caught up. "It won't last."

I looked up to the magic pouring back into Equestria like there was no tomorrow. It would only be a matter of time.

"Plea--"

"Shut up, Misty! I'm thinking." I looked at her in thought, already disappointed since I knew she wouldn't be of much help to lure them in. At least not voluntarily.

The expectation of having a bit of fun with one of the new mares had me excited, so I was bummed that I would have to postpone it or wait for them to come out. I barely remembered their names, but they sure looked fine from what little I could recall.

"Who this?" it suddenly chirped from the ground, almost giving me a heart attack.

Dumbfounded, I looked down before me. Some seagull with a tin hat looked up to me, tilting its head.

"Who this?" the bird repeated like a broken record.

It must have been Hitch's talent. He could talk to animals just like... Fluttershy

I shook my head to get rid of some unwelcome thoughts and made use of it immediately.

"Go and get help, quickly! This mare is gravely hurt and can't walk any farther!" I pointed to her blood-soaked fur for dramatic effect while leaning over to Misty, ensuring she wouldn't ruin this chance.

"Mmphp!" she protested with my dirty hoof in her mouth, not daring to bite into it. I wouldn't have minded, though.

"Shhh, it's okay! Help will be here soon!" I sheepishly glanced over to the bird with one eye as I helped the unicorn to the ground.

Overwhelmed but determined to fulfill the task, the feather-brain saluted and flew up the hill and through the forsaken barrier.

I took joy in Misty's wide eyes and trembling body as she looked up. It was a great way to pass some time.

"Don't worry, I'll try to make it quick." I couldn't help but smile.

Unfortunately, I had to make her situation look a bit more believable for it to work as I imagined. My smile grew even wider at my made-up excuse.

Sunny and friends came running down after Kenneth had succeeded in getting their attention, urging them to follow out into the night. It had been impossible to make out the details without Hitch, but the loud chirping and nervous flapping made the urgency clear.

Kenneth had to have been sent by Hitch, who was still out there somewhere, no question about it.

They all halted when Kenneth stopped in the middle of the road, hovering around, looking left and right, puzzled.

"Where is Hitch?" Zipp asked while flying a bit closer to the ground.

A scream filled the night and sent a shiver down their spines.

"T-That wasn't Hitch," Pipp said, startled and hiding behind her big sister mid-air.

"Somepony needs our help!" Izzy circled around them and yelled into the dark, "WHERE ARE YOU?"

The answer came in the form of another scream, followed by what seemed like muffled crying.

"It's coming from opposite directions!" Sunny and Zipp said in union.

"Please, why won't you stop?" echoed an unknown voice around them.

Izzy frowned, close to tears. "Stop what? What is this?!"

Sunny hesitated but said, "We should split in two. One pegasus per--"

"I will not separate from my sister," Zipp interrupted. "Not after all that happened. This could be exactly what we were warned about."

"Zipp! I'm not a foal anymore. I can look after myself." Pipp brought some distance between her sister to emphasize.

"Listen, I don't think we have time to argue," Sunny started, "but I can't force out my wings on command yet and it would make more sen--"

Another bloodcurdling scream, followed by a calm voice, "Get a move on already, mares."

The group looked at each other for a moment with frowns, unsure what to make of it.

"HITCH?" Izzy broke the silence. "WHERE ARE YOU, THIS IS NOT FUNNY! "HITCH?!"

No answer.

Sunny ran off in one of the directions the voice was coming from. "Izzy, Kenneth, with me!"

Zipp and Pipp flew off in the other.