The Darkest Hope

Celestia stood on the castle's balcony, looking over courtyard. It was there that many guards that had been selected to give aid to Ponyville. All of them were packing supplies or cleaning their armor. As Celestia watched, Luna came up behind her.

"Tia.

"Yes sister?"

"We have received word Thorax's location."

"Please tell me that he has been apprehend ."

"Well...yes and no."

"What do you mean by that Luna?"

"Thorax traveled all the way to the Crystal Empire proclaiming his innocence. Cadence decided to assign him to be with at least two guards until further notice. Also Cadence wants to visit ponyville to discuss this with Twilight." Celestia didn't respond, she just stared at guards.

"Tia?"

"I've already sent Twilight a letter, I told her that the guards would arrive by morning..."

"Do you want us to deliver the message?"

"Please do"

"We understand."

Twilight was in the castle kitchen watching the oven as it baked the cookies she had made. She planned to serve them to her friends. In the corner was Fluttershy sleeping on the floor like an animal.

Ding!

The timer went off and Fluttershy shot up as Twilight pulled the hot tray out. Twilight put the tray down and walked over to Fluttershy

"Go decorate the cookies." Twilight dropped a small envelope in front of Fluttershy. Twilight walked out of the kitchen as Fluttershy got up and stumbled to the tray. She thought about how funny it would be to burn Fluttershy's fur with the hot tray, but she had over things to deal with. Twilight had received a letter from Celestia granting her request not to mention her friends that were coming back later tonight.

Twilight set up the library to be comfortable earlier. Any pillows and blankets in castle were placed in the library, along with a box holding the rest of the corrupted elements. She had everything...except a victim to kill. Twilight would have to find somepony that was not cared about if she was going to kill again. Frustrated Twilight left the castle and flew around, searching for anypony that she could snatch.

"GET YOUR FILTHY HOOVES OFF MY WARES!!"

Twilight looked down in the direction of the yelling. She spotted the market area and there was an grouchy stallion yelling at two foals running away. She trailed behind the the two who ran into a dark alley, perfect. Twilight landed on a roof that looked over the alley as she watched.

The two foals were dirty and skinny. She could tell that both were earth ponies, neither had a cutie mark. The two foals sat on the ground and dumped a bag, Out from the bag came a few fruits. At this time Twilight put a shield up to seal in the noise. She then jumped down and made her presence known to the two.

"Princess!?" The two cowered into the corner, both fillies.

"Why did you steal from the market?"

The two foals didn't answer, but Twilight could hear their stomachs growling.

"hmm...I could let this go as long as you do me a favor."

"Come back to with me to the castle and allow me to clean and feed you." The two fillies looked at Twilight before whispering to each for a minute.

"Okay...but why?"

"As a princess it is my duty to make sure all of my subjects are properly cared for. No matter their status in life." Twilight gave her sweetest smile as she lied. The two fillies carefully walked up to Twilight.

"What are your names?" Twilight said as she lowered herself for the two to get on her back.

"What is a name?" The two got on her back.

"Oh. I'll tell you two later." Twilight turned to them to check that they were secure before taking off. She couldn't believe her luck, two fillies with no name. Twilight made haste flying back to her, using her magic to hold the fillies on her back.
She landed on the balcony on the top of the castle.

"Here we are..Let's get you settled." Twilight led them down the many halls, there was only one place to put her new victims. She was annoyed as the two fillies kept asking questions, but she answered to each one without thought. The walk was longer than expected but she made it to the wall. Twilight opened the lab's door before turning the corner with the fillies running around behind her. Of course they both got curious about the strange room. While they were looking inside, Twilight snuck behind them.

"What is this?" Twilight quickly grabbed the two in her magic. She inside the lab and locked the now screaming fillies inside a cage. She looked at them cry as they held each other.

"Your new home, for now...Don't complain about it because you are not going to be here for long."

Shocked the fillies cried out for help, hoping for anypony to hear them.

"*sigh* FLUTTERSHY!! Get in here NOW!!" Twilight voice boomed out. Fluttershy rushed down the hall to meet her master.

"Stay in here and make sure that these two don't make any noise!" Twilight pointed her hoof at the caged fillies. Fluttershy layed on the cage like an obedient dog. Twilight walked out and closed the door, giggling at the fillies. She walked over to the kitchen to see the finished cookies, but the tray wasn't there. Twilight was confused, where did that pegasus put them.
She was about to go punish Fluttershy when a series of loud knocks came from her door.

"Twilight!" Her friends were here for the sleepover.

"Ugh..." Twilight teleported to front door to let her friends in. Everything was prepared except for those special cookies.

All of her friends came in excited with their own blankets and pillows, each greeted Twilight. Twilight just went through the motions of talking and movements. She didn't want to spend her energy on ponies that would soon be her slaves. She led them to the library and inside on a table sat the cookies. Twilight was surprised how did Fluttershy know that she wanted to bring them here.

"I'll be right back girls. Please help yourself." Twilight excused herself away from the group, she waited outside the library. She listened to friends move around and talk about useless things. She then heard them eat the cookies that she had drugged. Listening a bit longer, she heard as a wave of sleepiness took each them.

"Sorry I took so long. Hope I didn't miss anything." Casually walking back in she went to a shelf to bring a box out. Behind her, she heard her friends fall to the passed out. Twilight opened the box and brought out four of the elements, placing each on the correct pony. Now she just had to wait, Twilight decided that sleep would be best.

Twilight was now dreaming and she could feel Luna's presence.

"Princess Luna?"

"Hello Twilight. I bring a message for you"

"Really?"

"Yes. It's from your brother"

"My brother?"

"He will be coming to ponyville...with Thorax" Twilight face turned to anger at that name.

"I know of he did, but Thorax said that it was innocent."

"So he's coming here to try and prove it."

"Yes."

"Sigh...Okay. When will they be here?"

"Tomorrow evening at the latest"

"Thank you for telling me.."

The dream began to fade out and left Twilight to rest. Soon was her last thought.