Sunrise Street was nothing but home after home showing off beautiful hedges, neatly trimmed rose bushes and lawns, and lots of tall windows. Several ponies were carrying on their days, many tending their various yards.

A pegasus delivered mail at a leisurely pace, headphones on their ears shutting out the outside world.

Midnight Sonnet glanced to Skyset and Starlight Glimmer. “I think you ought to stay back, just in case they freak when they see the guard at their door.”

“...no way.” Starlight said with a frown. “I don’t like the feeling I’m getting from that house.”

“What feeling?” Silver asked before blinking a few times. “Is it… like that feeling of being watched? Cause I feel like I’m being watched…”

“Yes.” Starlight said curtly.

Midnight seemed to be staring at the cobblestone, a frown slowly crossing her own muzzle. Unbeknownst to the others, she was watching several beautiful white vines tinge and darken, withering under a dark influence of some kind. “...there’s bad energy about this place…” she said, following the trail of corruption to the home ahead. “...there may be something nasty in that house.”

“I… kinda like the idea of staying back, myself. Somewhere… distant.” Skyset said.

“I’m almost inclined to agree, but you’d be a bit far from anypony else.” Fire said. “If something snatched or went after you we’d have no warning.”

Skyset gulped. “R-right…”

“Let’s consider how we want to approach this…” Silver suggested, looking to Skyset and then back to the house. “We know the pony we’re after is likely a pretty good mage…”

“For certain.” Starlight confirmed.

“We know that there may be dark spirits at play…” Silver said, looking to Midnight.

“Unquestionably.” Midnight agreed.

“We’ll need both inside if this goes south… we should call some backup to make sure Skyset is safe.” Silver said with a tone of finality.

“Perhaps Spearmint and Cinnamon Stix would be good?” Midnight asked. “And Nightcharm, so we have a medic with both groups. Or perhaps… maybe we should just send Skyset to the estate? She’d be far safer there with everypony.”

“Sapphire could get here and get her out in a flash.” Silver suggested.

“Let’s not upset Skyset’s stomach again so soon.” Starlight countered. She knew a pony only got past teleport sickness with repeated experiences, but she felt the poor pegasus had gone through enough for one day. “She can teleport here, but they should probably walk back.”

“Good call.” Crimson said. “She’ll be safe, and there’s lots to do at the mansion.”

“T-teleport here?!?” Skyset cried. “Another unicorn???”

“For crying out loud, we’re not out to get you!” Crimson groaned. “Look! I’m a pegasus! These are my friends you’re insulting here.”

“I-I didn’t mean… but…” Skyset whimpered. “F-fine… I’ll go…”

“Good. Give her a call.” Fire commented. “And lighten up, will you Crim?”

“Yeah… sorry…” Crimson said with a sigh.

Silver used his pendant to send word to Sapphire Chisel telepathically. Seeing as they were both in Canterlot it would certainly be in range.

Moments later an azure flash signified the arrival of grayish blue unicorn, her purple-blue mane with its single white stripe in slight disarray. She looked to the house and raised an eyebrow. “Feels like bad news.” she muttered. “I just got out of bed, what’s up?”

“We’re gonna check this place out.” Crimson said, gesturing to Skyset. “This is someone we need to protect. Was thinking she could go back to the mansion while we did our thing here.”

Skyset was going to try her best to go through with this. It was a dangerous place, after all. But she couldn’t hide that she was scared.

A violet glow spread across the unicorn’s body and lunar guard armor materialized in its wake. “I’m on it… also hey Starlight, good to see ya.”

“Uh yeah… you too.” Starlight said with a shy smile. “Better meeting than last time.”

“Hopefully it stays that way… so you’re… Skyset was it?” Sapphire asked, approaching the pony Crimson had gestured to.

“Y-yes…” Skyset said, her voice cracking, even as she tried to will it not to.

Sapphire tilted her head. Was this pony really that scared? “You wanna grab a milkshake on the way over? I know of a pretty nice place.”

“Ah no! No, I don’t think I could handle that.” Skyset said, putting a hoof on her barrel. “I uh… don’t think my tummy wants dairy right now.”

Sapphire started to walk down the road towards a fancier part of town. “Alright then, follow me.”

“Thanks, Sapphire.” Crimson said.

As Sapphire continued to walk, leading the pegasus to the estate she called home, an uncomfortable silence had settled between them. Sapphire eventually thought to try and break the silence. “So… I’m Sapphire Chisel…” she tried, making what she felt was a poor attempt at being social. She floundered for a topic to discuss before settling on a simple idea. “What brings you to town? You’re from out of town, right?”

Skyset sighed. “Understatement of the century.”

“Yeah? You come from far away?” Sapphire pondered. “I come from a small town out in the Everfree… peaceful quiet little place, a bit smaller than Ponyville.”

“You could say I do.” Skyset said simply.

“So… you get teleport sick? I’d heard that from Silver.” Sapphire commented. “I’ve heard it helps if you close your eyes first.” she offered. Sapphire had never been one to experience it, so she wasn’t entirely sure what it was like, or what helped. There’d been many remedies from carrying ginger ale to weird things involving standing on one hoof. None of which had any scientific backing, of course, save for ginger ale helping with an upset stomach.

“Apparently so.” Skyset said. “Who’d’ve thought?”

As they continued they eventually came to a large gate. Sapphire pushed it open with her magic and stepped through. “So, this is the place…. Could hit the hot tub, if you like, you do seem a bit tense.”

A hot tub visit did seem nice, and this was definitely the kind of place that could have it. That other pony further back wasn’t kidding when they said “estate.” The place was huge. She almost didn’t believe it was real. A decently sized lawn, and pony statues, rearing up on their hindlegs on either side of a pathway that led right up to the entrance. She shook her head. No. This unicorn probably had ulterior motives, and besides, if she said no, she’d leave her alone, right? “Eh… I’m not really a… hot tub… mare. I get all… eh… let’s just say it’s not pretty.” Hopefully she’d buy that.

“Huh… really? Never heard of a pony who didn’t like them.” Sapphire chuckled. She reached the door, opened it, and stepped in.

On the other side of the door was a foyer, with a glossy, checkerboarded floor colored grey and white, a staircase that led up to a second story. There were paintings on either side, one depicting a unicorn stallion, the other depicting a chiro pony mare. There were doorways on either side as well, and a pink unicorn with a short black mane, in what could only be described as a generic maids’ uniform stood in the room. She casually dusted off a bookshelf with a yawn, the duster held in a scarlet aura. “Hey, Sapphire. I see we have a guest.”

Skyset’s ears immediately and involuntarily pinned to her head at the sight of yet another unicorn.

“Hey, Rosette, how’re things?” Sapphire greeted. “And yes, this is Skyset.”

“They go.” Rosette said simply. “Skyset… that’s a nice name. I like it.”

“Ah… th… thanks…” Skyset said weakly.

“What’s Lotus up to?” Sapphire asked curiously.

“Taking care of Midnight’s little monster.” Rosette said with a laugh. “She seems cranky today.”

Sapphire glanced out the window. “Bit bright for little bat pony eyes, isn’t it?”

“I think that’s why she’s cranky.” Rosette suggested.

Skyset said nothing, listening to the two converse. She’d be content if they never spoke to her. Hopefully whatever that criminal was up to would be ended quickly, then she could be home.

It was at that moment that an entirely different sort of pony entered the room. Her coat was black like Silver’s, her mane a pale yellow. From her back sprouted thin, translucent wings that sparkled lightly when the light got them just right. From atop her head, a horn protruded and curved slightly backwards. Her slitted golden eyes fell on the pegasus. “...is… she okay?” she asked softly.

Skyset was not okay. Every fiber of her being was no longer indicating this was a safe place. She wanted out. Anywhere. She felt the urge to run back to that forest, but of course, she had no clue where it was now. There was nowhere she could go. She was trapped.

The strange new pony winced reflexively. “...goodness, you poor thing, you’re terrified… What’s happened?” she questioned worriedly.

“Ah, Honey Spark… I’m… I don’t really know what’s up, I’m assuming I’ll learn that later. Silver, Crimson, Fire, and Midnight are out on a thing and wanted her somewhere safer. She seems kinda jumpy… maybe whatever they’re dealing with freaked her out?” Sapphire tried.

Honey shook her head. “No… it isn’t that. She’s actively afraid… i-is it me? If I’d known we were having guests I would’ve…”

“You don’t need to hide yourself, Honey.” Sapphire said flatly. “Not in your own home.”

Skyset was not afraid of one singular unicorn. She was afraid of all of them. She found it interesting that this one would find herself a target, but she didn’t care about that right this very moment. How many more were in this home?

“I don’t think it’s just me she’s afraid of…” Honey said unsurely. “But I can only read emotions, not thoughts…”

“Is there… something we could do to help you feel more at home, Skyset?” Sapphire asked awkwardly. She was scared of something in the room? What could she be scared of? Was it the setting? “Is… are you feeling overwhelmed?”

Skyset tried to speak, but no words came out. She felt like she’d run a marathon. She suddenly was feeling lightheaded.

“Skyset? You don’t look so good… do you need to sit down?” Sapphire asked worriedly.

“I-I…” she sputtered, but she really was panicking. She didn’t want to panic. She tried hard to will her body not to panic, but at this point it was too late. It was getting worse by the second. She couldn’t even see in front of her any more.

“Somepony fetch Nightcharm!” Sapphire called. “I think she’s gonna-”

And that was the last thing Skyset heard before slipping into unconsciousness.

The eerie sensation that had haunted the home had only grown worse and they had decided it was enough cause to force their way in when nopony would answer the door. Inside the home was a mess. One might expect that an upper class Canterlot home would be well put together, but the interior painted a very different picture.

A potted plant was upturned on the floor along with the stand it had been sitting on. There was a couch on one side of the room with a coffee table in front of it, the coffee table’s glass surface having been shattered at some point. Red smears intermingled with broken glass suggested somepony had fallen on it.

“I don’t like this…” Silver said, swallowing as he eyed a trail of red from the coffee table to a hallway.

Midnight was thankful the sight of blood was something that no longer sent her into hysterics. “The corrupt energies are building down that way.” she said, pointing to the hallway. “We should get moving.”

Starlight Glimmer, though she didn’t have any guard armor of her own, kept her confidence and wits about her. She stared at the coffee table for a long moment before concluding. “Somepony likely fell, or was pushedonto the table… they made their way down the hall after getting up… likely to the bathroom for first aid…”

“Great…” Crimson sighed. “I hate to think the worst, but what if it’s a murder case?” Crimson asked. “Or at least attempted.”

“I wouldn’t rule it out…” Starlight muttered. This had not been how she’d planned to spend her day, but here she was nonetheless. She carefully stepped ahead. “Bingo… they went for the bathroom… trail goes back out and down the hall to what I think is a bedroom… and uh… the magic we’re feeling is stronger back there… be ready for anything.”

“Right.” Fire said. “I’ll take lead.”

As Fire opened the door to what Starlight had indicated was likely a bedroom, the situation became much clearer. A blue unicorn with a lighter blue mane and tail, sat huddled in a corner, she was covered in small cuts and staring wide eyed at what appeared to be a glowing shard of crystal, pulsing with an inky black aura left on the bed.

“R-Radiant Jewel?” Silver called out.

“S-stay back! Get away!” the blue unicorn promptly screamed, turning her head to face them. “Don’t come any closer!”

“Radiant you need to calm down…” Silver urged.

The crystal went completely dark. Within a near instant a glowing blue-ish green wall of light was stopping thousands of needle like projectiles.

Silver quickly glanced to Starlight, the origin of their shield. “N-nice catch. How did you-”

“Just a hunch… get down!” Starlight cried before throwing herself to the floor.

Silver quickly followed and so did Midnight and the others.

A much larger pillar of crystal shattered Starlight’s shield and slammed into the wall behind them, shaking the house in a way that threatened to cave the roof in on them.

“AH! Cut it out!” Crimson called out over the noise. “You’re going to kill all of us, you included!”

Silver looked up to see the blue unicorn now hovering in the air, the gem seemingly attached to her chest. It seemed to grow around her, forming some kind of shell. The unicorn looked both angry and terrified at the same time. “G-get out of my house!”

“Radiant stop!” Starlight cried. “You’re not in your right mind! It’s messing with your head!”

“I… I don’t need… to… I-I have what I want!” Radiant shouted. Her horn flickered a few times before its purple aura faded to the same inky blackness that flitted about through the crystal armor she now effectively wore.

“Oh no.” Silver groaned. His eyes went wide and he vanished in time for a launched shard of crystal to hit where he’d been moments before. He faded back next to Crimson. “We’ve got to get out of here, if she keeps doing stuff like that she’s going to bring the house down on-”

Flash

The group appeared outside the home in time to see another crystal skewer it’s way up through the roof.

“... us… oh sweet Celestia… what the hay is that thing!?” Silver demanded. “Uh… thanks for the second save, Starlight.”

“...a-any time…” Starlight replied, brushing a few shards of crystal from her tail. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s dark magic… you might wanna call reinforcements if you have any… I don’t think this is going to go well…”

Before Silver could respond another shard of crystal jetted out from the house, shattering a window. It whistled through the air before crashing into Silver’s peytral, shattering on impact. “Aghhhh!” The alicorn was thrown back into a roll. He sat up, slightly dazed before gazing, somewhat in horror at the significant dent about where his heart would be if it had gone all the way through. “Okay… do not get hit!”

“No kidding!” Crimson exclaimed. “Really glad we sent Skyset home.”

“Crimson, do you have Shadow?” Fire asked, referring to Crimson’s PONET, who preferred to remain out of sight, as she was more shy in nature. “Maybe one of you with PONETs send out an alert to our group?”

“A-already done.” came Shadow’s meek voice.

Good.” Fire said, unsure of what to do next.

Starlight stared as the crystal coated unicorn hovered from the hole she’d made in the ceiling before turning towards them. Sparks danced along Radiant’s body and her eyes glowed bright enough that white was all that could be seen. She fired a quick test shot at one of the nearby shards and winced when it bounced off and blasted the cobblestone instead. “...as I thought… no direct magic attacks! They bounce off…” she warned.

Several more shards of crystal were launched at the group, this time primarily at Crimson.

Crimson’s response was to take wing, flying into the air to dodge where he’d been standing. “GEEZ!!! Can you not?!?”

Silver wasn’t sure what he could even begin to do without a direct magic attack. “I-I’m not useful in this situation…” he noted.

Midnight’s hoof illuminated with a green aura as she stomped it down to the ground. After a short delay several large vines burst from the road and shot towards Radiant, ensnaring her. Midnight followed up with a sort of yanking gesture, causing the vines to snap tight. The seemed to have success in pulling her further towards them. “Get… down from there!”

Radiant spun in the air, shredding the vines that held her before firing another volley. Midnight jumped back and let out a scream before holding a hoof to the side of her face.

“Midnight!” Silver shouted.

“I-I’m fine! It just grazed me!” Midnight replied, letting her hoof drop. As suggested, there was a small cut.

An azure flash brought Spearmint, a green pegasus mare with a blond mane, Cinnamon Stix, a brown earth pony mare with an even darker brown mane, Fizzy Sweet, a yellow honeybee pony mare with a brown mane and black stripes encircling her hooves, and Sapphire Chisel.

“Whoa…” Fizzy said staring at the mess of torn up road and crystals around them. “P-ponies evacuated right?”

“Most of them started getting really uncomfortable when we were having a staring contest with the door. We encouraged all of them to potentially vacate the area.” Midnight answered.

Spearmint took to the air and flew alongside Crimson. “This looks like it might be a bit much, even for us…”

“We can’t back down now.” Crimson said. “We’re in this. Shadow called for backup, I’m assuming that’s you, but others should have been alerted as well.”

Honey Spark paced as she pondered the news. She could tell something terrible was happening and it wasn’t that far away if the noise was anything to go by. “Nightcharm… how’s… how’s Skyset doing? We might wanna move her and everypony else further away…”

“She’s just woke up. Had to calm her down.” Nightcharm, a dark blue, almost black bat pony, with a pitch black mane and tail said. Her emerald eyes expressed concern. “I don’t know if we should be thinking about moving or not, not in her state.”

“It might be more dangerous for her to stay here.” Honey said worriedly. “...and I’m worried about Cherry and Dusky…”

“I think we should be ready to leave, but it might be too early to make that call just yet.” Nightcharm noted.

“Right… I’ll start getting stuff ready.” Honey said before hurrying off.

“W-why do we have to leave, we just got here!” Came Skyset’s voice, causing Nightcharm to jump, slightly. She hadn’t heard Skyset come to the door.

“Ehh… there’s… wherever our friends went, apparently the situation has escalated. I… can’t say any more than that, but it could come further down here.” Nightcharm stated unsurely.

“W-well… I mean they ARE unicorns…” Skyset said weakly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nightcharm said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well I mean… it’s just… easy for them to… do what they… want… why are you looking at me like that?” Skyset questioned upon finishing her sentence.

“Is that why you panicked? Because we have unicorns?” Nightcharm said, raising an eyebrow.

“Can you blame me?!?” Skyset cried. “If left unchecked, they’ll cripple all of us!”

“Skyset, was it?” Nightcharm questioned, already knowing the answer. “Do I seem crippled to you?”

“I-I don’t know. I haven’t met you before. Maybe.” Skyset said unsurely.

“I can tell you right now I’ve had no major issues at all. There is nothing wrong with me. I’d know if something went on that long, and I’ve been around unicorns my entire life. Why would unicorns do that? What reason would they have for doing it?”

“Well, I-I’m sure there’s some rea-” Skyset started

“Name one.” Nightcharm said. “What advantage would that have?”

“How can I???” Skyset cried. “It was probably wiped from my mind!”

“Really.” Nightcharm said flatly.

“YES!!!” Skyset said. “I can’t fly thanks to unicorns!”

“Unicorns made you unable to fly.” Nightcharm deadpanned. “And just how did they manage that?”

“Well they… um… used their magic…” Skyset tried.

Nightcharm hovered in front of Skyset. “Those darn unicorns.” She said flatly.

“But… you… They just let you use yours!” Skyset tried.

“Uh huh. I’m a special one, I guess.” Nightcharm said. “Must be the fur. I use that wonderful shampoo.”

“L-look, I don’t know, okay!” Skyset finally relented. “I wasn’t alive when it happened! I wasn’t even born!”

“Well I’ve been around for about twenty five years now, and I can fly just fine, and always have been able to.” Nightcharm said.

“Twilight said I’m from the future…” Skyset said weakly.

“Oh, the unicorn-turned-alicorn?” Nightcharm smirked.

“Ye… no!” Skyset said. “That’s not fair!”

“Sure it is.” Nightcharm said simply. “Why isn’t it?”

“Because she-” Skyset started.

“Was once a unicorn.” Nightcharm finished. “What an evil pony she is, am I right?”

“Well… no… she…” Skyset tried. “I don’t know, okay! We were told to stay out of unicorn areas because unicorns ruined our lives!”

“Who would tell you such a thing?” Nightcharm questioned.

“It’s common knowledge!” Skyset said. “We’re taught that since we’re young, to protect us!”

Nightcharm sighed. “Well, I don’t know what happened in your time, but I can tell you now, whatever nonsense that is isn’t happening now. We’re all friends here, and our group just wants to help you out.” she let out another sigh, and sat down on her haunches in front of Skyset. “Look. I can’t force you to do anything, but I can promise you that nopony here is out to get you. Whatever world or time you came from taught you about unicorns? Forget it, because it doesn’t apply here. I don’t want you to trust them, just… give them a chance. I think you’ll find that there’s no ill intent here. In fact, I challenge that you’ll actually have a unicorn friend before you leave.”

“W-what? No way!” Skyset gasped.

“Prove me wrong, then. Give them a chance, and if you can honestly say that by the time this is over… You’re from the future, you claim? How about if I give you something, like a Bit or something to take with you? Surely whatever monetary thingy you’re using now it’ll put a lot of value in something that old. Overnight riches.” Nightcharm said confidently. “And it won’t cost me hardly anything to do.”

“How do you know I won’t just try not to be friends just to get it from you?” Skyset questioned.

“I’m so confident that that won’t work, that I’m willing to take the chance.” Nightcharm looked towards Skyset out of the corner of her eye and smirked. “...unless you’re just a bitch. You’re not a bitch, are you?”

“N-no!!!!!” Skyset said indignantly.

“Then I see no problem here.” Nightcharm said with a smile. “Enjoy your stay!” Nightcharm said, giving her a pat on the head, then turned and headed in the direction Honey Spark took off towards.

“That… she…” Skyset sputtered. “Oh fine. Whatever.”

Author's Note

Meant to get this out last week. Got really busy, and had a bit more editing than usual for this chapter to do. But here it is!

Only thing I feel like I need to note here is the "estate", Fire Dancer, the unicorn with Crimson, Silver, Midnight and Starlight, is incredibly wealthy, though not through his own work. It's all inherited wealth, and he decided to let his friends and team utilize the home because he didn't really see himself using a giant house on just him, Midnight, and one foal. So it's a home for all of his friends, serving as a base of sorts for Team 77, including former teammates as well who are taking a break from action.

This one I kind of felt stuff started happening really fast. I was also trying to think of different ways to slow it down but given this is in a short story form factor from what we're used to, I couldn't think of a good way to make that happen.