Ciderfest 2023 Mane Story Epilogue - "Fin, and Again."by NyronusChaptersIf Fizzy Is Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousIf Fizzy Is Saved, and Chaos Is Victorious [CANON]If Fizzy Is Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousIf Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousIf Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Chaos Is VictoriousIf Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousIf Fizzy Is Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousThere was a great flash, and, much to the great shock of the citizens, the hotel in the center of Marewaukee reappeared just as it had mysteriously disappeared three days ago, with a whole host of strange ponies now milling about in front of it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy slowly stood up. “Whew!” Barley breathed. “Marewaukee air! It’s good to be back!” “Tastes like concrete and gasoline.” Caramel wrinkled her muzzle and stuck out her tongue. “Yeah.” Fizzy gave a lopsided grin. “Like home!” “Look!” a guest shouted. The three turned and saw that the crowd had parted. In the center was Twilight Sparkle, holding in the Book of All Stories, and arrayed across from her were all the evils of Equestria, new and old. “So, what now, Princess?” Sombra’s grin was venomous. “Blast us with rainbow lasers? Or perhaps you’ll simply write us all into being compliant and friendly?” “No, Sombra,” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Stripping creatures of their free will is more your speed.” “Ah, a shame,” he said. His eyes suddenly shifted to some point behind Twilight. “A choice I hope you won’t regret!” His horn flared with dark magic– “‘And then Sombra returned to the state he had been before the stories of Equestria were altered.’” Twilight Sparkle’s statement was punctuated with a definitive stroke of her pen. Sombra’s scream distorted and echoed as his body boiled into a writhing mass of shadows, and then vanished. Twilight took another step forward. No one else tried anything. At least not immediately. “I hope one day, we can perhaps change what’s happened between us. You wouldn’t be the first people we’ve forgiven. Equestria is a kind place–” “Spare us!” Chrysalis snapped. “As long as we exist, we’ll oppose you, Twilight Sparkle!” Twilight sighed. “Very well.” She looked back down at the book. “‘And with that, one by one, the villains returned to their stories, as they had been before.’” The crowd watched as each of the villains, sneering in useless defiance, blurred, and were drawn into the book. The last to remain was Grogar. “You know, Twilight Sparkle, stories never really end,” he said, the edges of him beginning to blur. “The tales go on and on. Stories of victory… stories of defeat.” His voice echoed as he dissolved. The last parts of him to vanish were his glowing red eyes. “There are always more turns of the page.” The crowd was silent as he disappeared. Twilight Sparkle let out a huff and rolled her eyes. “Boy, don’t I know it.” She shook her head, turned, and addressed the crowd. “Greetings, everyone! I am sorry for the inconvenience, but things are settled now! Unfortunately, the book will be closing soon, and those of us called here by it will be leaving with it.” The crowd gave a disappointed “awww.” Twilight giggled. “Still, it was wonderful meeting you all! I know I’m going to remember this; all the help we received, and the new friends we made along the way. I hope we can all meet one day again, and remember; as long as the magic of friendship exists in our hearts, nothing can separate us, and nothing is impossible.” The crowd cheered. Twilight’s eyes widened slightly as Fizzy, Caramel, and Barley walked to the front of the crowd. “Alright everyone, say your goodbyes! If you excuse me, I have a couple things to tie up.” The crowd began dispersing and Twilight strode up to the trio of con hosts. “Well, that was an adventure!” “Sure was,” Caramel giggled. “I hope we all learned a valuable lesson about using magical artifacts we don’t understand,” Twilight said, giving Fizzy a pointed look. Fizzy gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her head. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that, Princess,” she muttered. “And about communicating with friends?” Twilight turned to give an equally pointed look at Barley and Caramel. “Underlined and highlighted, Princess.” Barley nodded. Twilight gave a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good! Glad that all worked out!” Twilight caught something out of the corner of her eye and gave a small smile. “Well, if everything here is right as rain, I’ll leave you to it.” She began turning. “I have a friendship problem of my own to deal with.” And with that, Twilight strode off. Fizzy let out a breath of relief and then groaned. “Dang it! We’re gonna have to pack all that stuff up now! And we didn’t even use it!” Caramel put a hoof on Fizzy’s shoulder. “I think the AV stuff can wait for a bit, Fizz.” She grinned. “Huh?” “Right!” Barley’s eyes lit up. “Before all this started, me and Caramel were heading up to your room. We were gonna buy you dinner!” “How about it?” Caramel said, nodding towards the hotel. “I could use a good hayburger right about now.” Fizzy's smile was small and lopsided, but her eyes shone bright with understanding and acceptance. “Yeah,” she said. “That sounds great.” Twilight found Pinkie Pie and Discord lurking at the edge of the crowd. Pinkie was bouncing up and down, excitedly describing something or other. Discord though, stared at her as she approached, stance low, expression tense. “So, Pinkie,” Twilight said, half grumbling. “Had fun trying to destabilize reality?” Pinkie stopped mid bounce, eye looking up, as the gears in her head audibly cranked. “Oh!” She landed. “Was that what we were doing?” She gave a gigglesnort. “I just thought we were gonna throw the biggest party ever! Although your idea sounds fun too, haha! And I bet if we succeeded we could have thrown an even bigger party!” Twilight rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm with nostalgia. “Never change, Pinkie.” “Don’t plan on it!” Pinkie giggled. She suddenly seized up as random parts of her body ranging from her tail to her eyes began vibrating asynchronously. “Oh, that’s a doozy! Guess it’s time to go! Have fun talking about your mistakes, Discord, hah! Canon ball!” And with that, Pinkie leapt into the air, curled into a ball, and was promptly sucked into the Book of All Stories. Discord and Twilight stared at where she had been a moment before. Discord absentmindedly scratched the side of his face as he stared at where Pinkie had been in muted dismay. “Sometimes she even confuses me,” he muttered. “Why does that not surprise me, and still somehow fill me with dread?” Twilight replied. She shook her head and looked up at Discord. “The book’s closing soon, Discord. Want to walk while we talk?” “Oh, what’s the point?” Discord harrumphed, crossing several extra sets of arms for emphasis. “You won, I lost, Twilight. Go ahead and gloat!” Twilight gave a small smile. “Just humor me, Discord.” Discord curled up into the air alongside her, frown stretching his face like putty before rolling his eyes. “Fineee. I suppose I shall be gracious in my defeat and listen to at least one friendship speech.” “Glad to hear it!” Twilight said, turning to walk. As she did so, various ponies began glowing and growing indistinct. “So, I took some time to think about what you did.” “And?” “Well, for one, despite the harm you might have caused, I do understand why you did it. Or at least I think I do.” Twilight began writing in the book as she walked. Discord rolled his eyes again and made a gagging motion. “It wasn’t healthy for you to try and run away from your problems, but… maybe after what happened at the Battle of the Bell, we could have made it more clear that we had forgiven you.” All around them, ponies were starting to blur and fly into the book. Discord continued to say nothing, but he looked away, anger and shame clear on his face. “But, all that said, you have given me an idea.” Discord perked up. “Oh?” He said, leaning over, and then his brow furrowed. “What are you writing, anyway?” “Just my plans for when we get back.” Twilight grinned. “Wanna set them in stone now, before I forget.” “Oh, and what are those?” “Well, Discord, like I said, I think you had some fair points. There have been creatures in Equestria who’ve suffered, and even if we won’t rewrite the past for them, maybe there’s more we can do to help them have better futures,” Twilight’s grin was sharp, “and maaaybe we could stand to explore some new horizons. Have a little fun. Get a little… chaotic?” For one moment Discord was stunned, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes shimmering with honest appreciation for her gesture. And just like that, it was gone. “Ah, well, of course! Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle! You’ve gotten an A+ in my secret friendship lesson, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve!” He quickly leaned forward and slapped something onto her chest. Twilight looked down. It was a scuffed golden star sticker. Written on it, off-center and loosely scribbled, was the phrase “you tried.” Twilight laughed. “Naturally, you’re going to want some help with all that…?” Discord said, his tone perhaps a tad more leading than he intended. He was beginning to glow and blur at the edges. “Well, of course, Discord.” Twilight replied. She too was beginning to blur and glow. “I can always use the help of my friends.” For a moment, Discord allowed himself to honestly appear touched. His grin was lop-sided, but his eyes were soft and warm. “See you on the other side, Twilight,” he said. “See you on the other side,” she said back. And with that, the two of them were sucked into the book. The crowd of guests watched as it rose into the sky, glowing with a pastel rainbow of light, before it suddenly shot off like a comet, to parts unknown. Meanwhile, inside the hotel, huddled in a booth at a cozy, dimly lit pub, were three little ponies… Fizzy put down her fork and knife, and smiled. Then her smile slowly started to fade. She reached up to pat her cheeks. “Uh-uh!” Caramel interjected. “None of that!” Fizzy looked up, surprised. “Now is the time of celebration, hon.” She smiled. “We saved Ciderfest! And you, Fizz, put on a heck of a con!” “I mean, I almost got the world conquered by villains.” Fizzy’s grin was barely there, and her eyes wide and ashamed. “Yeah! And you think any other convention is gonna be able to top that?” Despite herself, Fizzy laughed. Her head lowered though, and she frowned. “I… I lost control, guys,” she said, not looking up. “I was so angry… at myself… at you. I just wanted to do something, anything, to prove I could make a difference.” Barley and Caramel exchanged a glance. “You weren’t the only one who screwed up, Fizzy,” Barley said, leaning forward. Fizzy shook her head and looked up. “You’re not the one who lost control or nearly got us all enslaved or drained of love or whatever!” “Yeah, Fizz, we didn’t.” Barley was frowning. “But you’re not the one who ignored her friend when she was hurting.” “Not to mention getting so caught up in our own little world of hype that you just plum forgot you were on a team.” Caramel leaned in. Fizzy looked at her two friends, and didn’t know what to say. “We should have guessed you were hurting.” Caramel went on. “We all were, I think, but you’ve got a big heart and a brave face, so we should have figured you were hurting just as much, even if you didn’t show it.” “Honestly, after the last few years… I think we were just so excited to be back into the swing of things… to feel a little normal after everything that happened, that we got caught up and forgot how to try something new,” Barley said, looking away. Fizzy gave a small smile. “Yeah, well… maybe I should have said something. I just… I wanted to be the one to make everypony happy. No, that’s not right. I thought if I could make them happy, could make them smile, I could do something about all the awful stuff going on… and about the awful things I felt about myself.” “Alright!” Caramel said, lightly slamming her hoof down on the table. “First motion as a reformed team, we are going to settle this democratically! On the count of three, point to the pony most to blame for what happened.” She looked at the other two. “Ready? One, two, three!” Barley's hoof instantly shot towards his own face. Caramel whipped her hoof off the table and pointed at her head in almost a mock salute. Fizzy’s hoof hung in the air, her gaze, wide eyed, looked back and forth at Barley and Caramel. “We’re waiting on your vote, Fizz.” Caramel grinned. Slowly, unsure, Fizzy lifted her hoof up, and turned it to point back at her. “Well, it’s settled!” Caramel said, lowering her hoof. “By vote, we are all equally to blame! Barley, you need to be better about making sure everyone is involved, Fizzy, you need to tell us when we’re screwing up, and Caramel, you need to watch out better for your friends! Meeting adjourned!” Caramel’s grin suddenly became mischievous. “Now, new meeting; plans for Ciderfest 2024!” Barley groaned. “We just saved the world!” He moaned. “Yeah, and Fizzy here promised Twilight we’d do a grand celebration of the history of Equestria. I’m not about to procrastinate on a promise to royalty!” Caramel and Barley continued back and forth for a bit, while Fizzy laughed. There were tears in her eyes, yes, but her laugh was a natural one. All the more reason for her relief. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. And here, in this restaurant, listening to Barley and Caramel jokingly bicker, she was, perhaps for the first time in a long time, truly among friends. If Fizzy Is Saved, and Chaos Is Victorious [CANON]There was a whirl of light, a cacophony of bangs, whizzes, and wapows! and, with that, much to the surprise of the residents of Marwaukee, the hotel that had vanished three days ago reappeared, a crowd of confused, colorful ponies surrounding it. Fizzy, Caramel, and Barley all got to their hooves. The crowd around them milled about in uncertainty. Then, the nervous milling was cut short with the thunk of a spotlight far overhead switching on. And coming down in a pillar of light, dressed in white flowing robes, surrounded in a cloud of cherubic whoopie cushions and kazoos, was Discord. As he touched down, he looked out upon the crowd, beatific smile across his face… only for it to suddenly be marred with a grimace of annoyance. “Itching…” he muttered, slithering around on the spot, pawing at himself. “Wool really is… argh!” And with a jerk, he threw the robe and the heavenly gag props to the side. “Not my style, anyway!” He whirled to face the crowd. “Ciderfest! Ah, what a con! I want to thank, first and foremost, my fans, really couldn’t have done it without you!” He fired a pair of finger guns, causing several audience members to duck. “We have a whole new world to make, together!” He grinned, somewhere between triumph and oddly, hope. “And I for one cannot wait to see what we make.” “You will make nothing, you glorified sock puppet!” a voice snarled. Discord slowly turned, and out of the crowd came a wedge of a Who’s Who’s of Equestria’s greatest monsters. “Ah, look who it is, the losing team!” Discord grinned. “You may have the book,” Sombra snarled. “But that just means it’s all in one place to be ta-urgh!” “Why, Sombra,” Discord said, shoving the oversized candy bar into the evil mage’s open maw. “You’re just not yourself when you’re hungry! Have a snack!” With a final shove, he sent Sombra sprawling over. He looked up at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else hungry?” Grogar stepped forward. “You may have won, Discord, but even you must know that fortune is a wheel, and those it lifts up, it will one day cruUSHARGH–UNHAND ME!” “Yes, yes, ominous speech, the fight against evil is never over, sequel bait, we’ve heard it all before!” The second Discord said, shaking his head as he lifted Grogar up by the scruff of his neck. “Always with the motions! Ally-oop!” And with that, a second Discord hucked Grogar face-first into the Book of All Stories, held out by the first Discord, and the whole crowd watched as the demonic goat was sucked inside and disappeared. The first Discord turned the Book back to face him, and began writing. “‘And then he was banished to the Clown Dimension for all eternity, with no mystical gates, shatterable seals, or any other conceptually related MacGuffins allowing for his escape.’” Discord said as he wrote. “Very clever!” The second Discord said. “I’m glad you like it!” The first Discord replied. And then they high-fived. “Now,” Discord, only singular again, said, looking at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else want to join him?” There were not, to his displeasure, any takers. “Ah, oh well. ‘And then the rest of the villains vanished into the book, to await what wonderful things would happen next!’” And with the final scratch of the pen, it was so, and the rest of the villains began to blur and glow, and disappeared into the book. “Now… ah, yes!” Fizzy, Barley, and Caramel had made their way to the front of the crowd as Discord turned to face them. “Ms. Glitch! Wonderful show you’ve put on!” He grabbed her hoof and shook it so vigorously that various odds and ends began falling out of Fizzy’s mane. “Your community is absolutely wonderful, an absolute pleasure to have been a guest at this con!” He let go and leaned back. “Of course, I do hope we all learned a valuable friendship lesson about listening to each other, hmm?” All three of them grinned awkwardly. “We’re gonna try to do better in the future, Discord,” Caramel said. “Ah, well, good!” Discord leaned back, pulling a notepad out with a third arm. “‘Participated in bringing about the friendship lesson.’ Check!” He tossed the notepad aside where it landed square on an otherwise unshaded lamp, and turned and started marching back to the center of the clearing. “Pinkie! It’s time!” “On it, boss.” Pinkie bounced out to meet him. Discord strode beside her, writing away in the book, grinning wildly. “Oh, I have such plans!” he said. Suddenly, all the creatures called there by the book began glowing and rising into the air. Pinkie giggled as she started to levitate, spinning in the air. “Have you ever wanted to taste color, Pinkie?” Discord laughed, rising alongside her. “Boy have I!” Pinkie laughed. “You’ll love it! Chartreuse is my favorite!” Discord laughed in return. “I can’t wait!” Pinkie giggled, wiggling her legs with glee. “Discord! Discord, wait!” a soft voice cried out. Rushing out from the crowd came Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, dear! Oh, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you!” Discord shouted, continuing to rise heavenward. “Discord! I forgive you! We all forgive you! You don’t have to change the past!” Discord, for a second, looked panicked. “There will be nothing to forgive, Fluttershy!” He said, his bravado undercut by a nervous breath of air. “We will make everything better, for every creature!” “Discord–!” “Please.” Discord for one brief moment, looked afraid. The rest of the Mane 6 caught up to Fluttershy. She turned to look at Twilight. Neither said a word, but eventually, Twilight nodded. Fluttershy, eyes wide, frown taking on a determined cast, turned and looked back up at Discord, stepping forward. “I’m coming!” she shouted, and with a flap of her wings, launched herself up beside Discord and Pinkie. “Ahah! I knew it! I knew you’d understand!” He swept her up into a great hug. “You’ll see, Fluttershy, the wonderful world we’re going to create! So much potential! We’ll all get our time in the sun, you’ll see!” “Promise me, Discord,” Fluttershy said, breathless as the two twirled together, rising into the air. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll do what's best… for us. For all of us.” “Fluttershy,” Discord’s smile softened. “Of course.” Fluttershy curled into his arms, and their ascent halted as the Book of All Stories rose above them. “Thank you, everyone, for this wonderful con!” Discord shouted to the crowd below, throwing out his arm. “We have a glorious new project ahead of us, all that we can do unveiled. I look forward to seeing it all, and remember: pre-order your tickets for next year’s Ciderfest!” And with that, every single creature the Book had called began to blur, and in a shower of light, flew into its open pages. The Book of All Stories slammed its covers closed with a crack of thunder, and began to vibrate. Suddenly, it exploded into a corona of multi-hued light, and blasted off on a jagged, erratic path, to whatever future awaited it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy, and the crowd of guests, were left in silence, looking up at the empty night sky. “Do you… think they’re gonna be okay?” Barley said. “I mean… the future is always unpredictable, Bar,” Caramel said. “But they all have each other, and, you know, they can take things as they happen. I suspect they’re a pretty adaptable bunch.” “Whatever happens.” Fizzy said. “It’s gonna be wild.” And then her stomach growled. Loudly. She looked at the other in embarrassment. “Say, either of you hungry?” she asked sheepishly. Barley and Caramel both grinned. “You know,” Caramel said, “right before you sucked us all into that book we were gonna treat you to dinner.” Fizzy let out a short laugh, the tension leaving her body. “Honestly? That sounds amazing.” A short while later, the three of them found themselves in the low, soft light of the pub in the hotel, chatting away as they ate. As the three were finishing their meal, though, Fizzy looked down at her plate and frowned. “Guys… I’m sorry all this happened.” “No, none of that!” Caramel rose up in her seat. “You’ve had enough of beating yourself up, Fizz.” Fizzy shook her head, looking up at Caramel. “I lost control, Caramel. I just…” She looked away. “When you brought me on, all that awful stuff was happening, and I really felt like I was making a difference… but then nothing changed. It just went on and on, getting worse. I felt helpless. Worse. Useless. Between that and feeling like you guys had forgotten me, I just snapped. I’d do anything to feel like I wasn’t useless. Like I mattered.” “Point of order, Fizzy,” Barley leaned forward. “We did forget about you. I completely screwed up on your idea, remember?” “Yeah, Fizz.” Caramel’s smile was sad. “You aren’t the only one who screwed up!” “But you didn’t–” “And maybe if we didn’t ignore you, you wouldn’t have snapped!” Barley shrugged. “Reality is complicated, Fizzy. That’s certainly clear after this weekend!” “Alright, alright.” Caramel said, leaning over the table. “Everypony put your hooves out on the table. On three, we all say we’re sorry, and make a promise about what we’re gonna do better! Okay, one, two, three!” “Sorry!” They all said, in unison. “I promise to keep an eye out for all my friends and make sure we’re all shouldering the burden!” Caramel said. “I promise to keep track of things and remember we’re a team.” Fizzy just looked at the two of them, a small, lopsided grin on her face. “And… I promise to make it clear when I’m struggling… and maybe read the fine print on any magical artifacts I get mailed in the future?” It started with a chuckle from Barley. Caramel’s laugh quickly rose louder than his. It spread between them, infectious, until they were all doubled over. Laughing with relief. With joy. “Move! Out of my way!” Caramel said, nudging Barley. He did so, and she trotted around the booth and leapt onto Fizzy with a great hug. “I missed you, girl!” “Hey, make room for me!” Barley said, flying into the hug as well. “Guys…” Fizzy said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Alright!” Caramel said, letting go and standing up. “Whew! What a con!” “Right?” Barley said. “Oh!” Caramel bounced. “I can’t wait for next year!” Barley groaned. “After what we just went through?” Barley said, laughing. “Can’t we take a break?” “I’m so excited, though! Discord might have been a little sketch, but the idea sounds so fun! I’m really on fire for this creativity theme! There’s so much we could do!” “Right,” Barley said, “which is why we should take a break first!” Fizzy watched her friends bicker, and they really were her friends, she realized, even if the stress of the world had made her doubt and forget. Here, in this moment, whatever the past had been, they were all together again. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. And with her friends, and a future wide open before her, there was nothing she couldn’t do. If Fizzy Is Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousSuddenly, and without warning, all the light vanished from Marewaukee. Then the shadow lifted, and just like that, the hotel that had vanished three days prior appeared again, a crowd of ponies, afraid and confused, cowering in front of it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy slowly stood up, waiting with dread for what was coming. There was a second ripple of darkness, and in an unnatural blink, standing in the center of the rapidly parting crowd, was a collection of Equestria’s worst foes. Rushing to the front of the crowd was the Mane 6. With a snap, Discord appeared as well, his allies fanning out behind them. The guests shied away, uncertain what would happen next. “This isn’t over,” Twilight began, flaring out her wings. “As long as there is friendship, as long as there is hope, there will always be a light to oppose you, and even if you stomp it out, it will arise again. Creatures are fundamentally good. You cannot defeat that. Not forever.” “Not to mention,” Discord said, leering at Sombra. “This wouldn’t be the first time you failed miserably in the final act.” “Oh, how droll,” Sombra snickered as he stepped forward, the Book of All Stories floating in front of him. “Unfortunately, this is very much over.” His last words were punctuated with the stroke of a pen. Without warning, tendrils of darkness burst from the earth, snapping taunt across the horns, wings, and limbs of every creature summoned by the book not part of Sombra’s dark alliance. The crowd gasped and backed away. “Augh!” Twilight barked as the shadows dragged her to the earth. Her horn flared, only for dark lightning to course across the tendril binding her horn, causing her to cry out, and then collapse. Discord raised a hand, thumb and finger pressed, only for tendrils to wrap around each finger, pull them apart and drag him to the ground. “I admit,” Sombra said, walking up to loom over her. “I am going to enjoy our time together, dear Princess.” “Well done, Sombra,” a voice rumbled. “Now, the book.” Sombra turned to see Grogar stride to the fore, the rest of the villains arrayed behind him. “Dear friends,” Sombra began, “I was merely finalizing one last… obstacle, to our ascendency.” The pen he controlled had not stopped writing. “For that, we are most grateful,” Grogar rumbled, a small, loose grin on his muzzle. “Of course, it seems the situation is well in hand. So, of course, you don’t need to hold the book anymore.” A great eyebrow rose. “Unless you intend to keep it.” Sombra glanced around. The rest of his allies were watching him. Tension filled the air. And then Cozy Glow buzzed next to him and smiled. “Golly gee, Mr. Sombra, Mr. Grogar did a lot to help us, and we like him so much, that it only seems right that he get to do the honors of holding the book,” her bobbing took her close to Sombra’s ear and she finished, barely a whisper, “for now.” Sombra paused for a moment longer, catching Chrysalis’s eye. Out of Grogar’s field of view, she smiled. So did he. “Of course, Emperor,” Sombra said, turning and leaning into a curtsey. “Your power was most instrumental to the success of this alliance. It is only fitting that you should do the honors.” The Book of All Stories floated up from beside him into Grogar’s telekinetic grasp. Sombra’s contempt was disguised, but only just. Grogar didn’t seem to care, turning his attention to the book, and began to write. After a moment, he looked up and addressed the crowd. “Denizens of this world, your… participation in this monumental event is greatly appreciated. You have seen the wisdom of inevitability, and when the time comes, your servitude will not go unrewarded.” He briefly glanced down at the bound creatures at his hooves, before glancing back up, a grin splitting his face. “A new age has begun, one of power, and glory. What wonders we shall see now that justice–” his red eyes flickered down at the struggling Twilight Sparkle “–has been served.” As he finished speaking, his pen stopped. With another great rending sound, the streams of shadow burst up from the earth, and began flowing into the Book of All Stories. One by one, Twilight, Starswirl, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and all the other creatures bound by the dark magic were dragged into the book, no matter what they did to resist. Grogar turned from his and Sombra’s handiwork, and frowned. He looked down to see his own hoof had begun to blur and grow indistinct. “The spell ends…” He muttered. “Where is the kirin, Fizzy Glitch?” He called out. “I’m here,” Fizzy said, finally stepping forward. “And you too have promised to serve us, from what I understand?” he asked. “Yes, sir. I have. I promise, in one year’s time, Ciderfest will be the greatest celebration of your victory you could image-aaaaah!” And with the stroke of a pen, Fizzy Glitch was cut off, as a tendril of darkness snapped closed around her horn and pulled her to the ground. “Fizzy!” Barley and Caramel shouted in panic as one. “You will be coming with us,” Grogar continued. “To better coordinate our… celebration.” “WAIT!” Fizzy cried out as the tendril dragged her to his hooves. “Wait! I can’t do it alone!” Grogar frowned. The rest of the villains snickered and laughed. He looked up at Barley and Caramel, who stood, frozen. “I can bring them as well–” “No!” Fizzy said, trying desperately to get a hoofhold as the shadow dragged her towards the book with another jerk. “No, sorry, sir! There’s no need.” She looked out at Barley and Caramel. “I just need to be able to contact them! We’ll need servants on the outside as well! To coordinate things here.” Grogar mulled it over, looking into the middle distance. He then turned down and wrote another note. “Your communication devices will suffice for this task, I assume.” “Yes!” Fizzy nodded. “That is more than enough, sir!” “Very well…” Grogar looked up at the crowd, now. “Know this: In one year’s time we shall return.” “Our power beyond imagination!” Tirek laughed. “Our control unbreakable.” Chrysalis purred. “And your love for us unquestioned!” Cozy cackled. “Expect us, and prepare for us, for our glory,” Grogar continued, his face twisted into a mocking grin, “shall be eternal.” And with that he turned, and faded into light, disappearing into the book. One by one, the villains turned to join him. Sombra paused to give one last mocking glance at Barley and Caramel. The shadows began to pull in their victims, faster and faster. Caramel and Barley watched, helpless, as it all unfolded. Their eyes were fixed on Fizzy, who looked up at them, and mouthed one last thing. And then she grinned before she was sucked in as well. The Book of All Stories rose into the air, wreathed in streams of darkness and black lightning. As it reached its apex, once again, all light in the city vanished in a dark flash, leaving everyone within alone in a void for a moment. And then, it was gone, to whatever dark future was left for it. Barley collapsed, looking on at that empty spot of air. Caramel stood beside him, stunned. There was nothing left to do, it seemed. Evil had won. Sometime later, Caramel walked out onto the roof of the hotel. Barley was alone there, looking out on the city. She walked up behind him, and laid down a styrofoam box. “Got you something from the pub, hon,” she said. “Thanks,” he croaked. His face was matted with tears. Caramel’s would have been no better if she hadn’t washed up before coming here. She sat down beside him without saying anything, looking out on the city as well. “It’s not fair,” he said. “We screwed up, and she paid the price.” Caramel grimaced and looked away. “We should have paid more attention,” he went on. “Should have been there for her, but we got so caught up in getting what we wanted that we ignored her, and now–” “Beating ourselves up won’t fix this,” Caramel said, nudging Barley. He grimaced and looked away. “What do we do now?” he said, finally. Caramel gave the smallest of smiles, just shifting her tired face. “We wait,” she said quietly. “Fizzy said she had a plan.” “Yeah, I just–” His phone buzzed, startling him. After a moment of numb confusion, he fumbled it out of his vest, and took a look, and barked one, high, desperate laugh. “Look!” He said, and showed it to her. Caramel looked as well, and that small smile became much wider. It was from Fizzy. It had been months since Ciderfest, and Fizzy had fallen into a rhythm. It wasn’t… pleasant, in this new Equestria, but she had a certain amount of protection. After all, monsters or not, she was their herald, and they seemed to enjoy having their ego stroked, if nothing else. The grand doors to the Court of Darkness opened wide, and Fizzy stepped in. The whole room was an altar to the self-obsession of its denizens. Tirek was showing off the most flattering fanart Fizzy had found of him, and Chrysalis was showing off equally unflattering fanart of Starlight Glimmer. Cozy Glow was holding court with a crowd of foals she had graciously “protected” – that is to say, lied to and molded into her little pets. Sombra… he was always in the shadows, but his servants, always unwilling, watched and waited around every corner. And sitting in the far end, upon his throne, was Grogar. Fizzy approached. “My Lord,” she said, bowing. “The early phase of planning is going well. We have many ideas, and community response has been very positive. I think you will enjoy the celebration awaiting your return.” She floated a stack of paper up to him, which he glanced at, lazily. “You know, Fizzy Glitch, it fascinates me,” he began, eyeing another page. “I looked into your past. Your world was a wretched place for you. You were so small, and in the end, even your meager supplicants and friends abandoned you. You lashed out in desperate rage, desperate for meaning in your existence, and yet, despite now, serving at our side as our herald…” He slowly looked down at her, disinterest slowly forming into a catlike grin. “You still insist on plotting to betray us.” Fizzy realized the hall had gone silent. She felt all eyes bore into her. The malicious glee behind those gazes was palpable. “Well, of course, my lord,” she said, not missing a beat. “Aren’t we all planning on betraying each other?” She looked around. The silence now was one of humiliation and contempt. Grogar laughed. “Of course, child,” he said. “It is the nature of things.” He looked out at his erstwhile allies. “Hunger is never sated forever, and the lust for conquest can never be slaked. Of course…” He looked back down at her. “You stand among gods and monsters. The terror of every age surrounds you, and you are just an entertainer. A morsel in a sea of maws.” “That’s not all,” Fizzy said, and then smiled her biggest smile. “I also have my friends!” There was another hanging silence, broken only again when Grogar barked a laugh. “Very well,” he said. “Your betrayal at least amuses me with its audacity. You are dismissed, for now.” Fizzy bowed, and turned to leave. The eyes of every tyrant, terror, and villain from Equestria, past, present and future stared at her as she strode on. Some mocking, some wrathful, some with hungry eyes, seeing her as another tool in their games. It didn’t matter, though. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. From that joy, sprung a faith. The storm will always end. That which only destroys cannot last. As long as she held onto that faith, she knew her friends would come through in the end, and even this darkness would be overcome. If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousThere was a great flash, and, much to the great shock of the citizens, the hotel in the center of Marewaukee reappeared just as it had mysteriously disappeared three days ago, with a whole host of strange ponies now milling about in front of it. Barley and Caramel slowly stood up. “Can’t believe we made it through all that!” Barley muttered, wiping the dust off his sleeves. “It looks like things worked out…” “Yeah, but…” Caramel looked around. “Where’s Fizzy?” Barley looked up and frowned, realizing the two of them were alone. “I… don’t know.” “Look!” a guest shouted. The two turned and saw that the crowd had parted. In the center was Twilight Sparkle, holding in the Book of All Stories, and arrayed across from her were all the evils of Equestria, new and old. “So, what now, Princess?” Sombra’s grin was venomous. “Blast us with rainbow lasers? Or perhaps you’ll simply write us all into being compliant and friendly?” “No, Sombra,” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Stripping creatures of their free will is more your speed.” “Ah, a shame,” he said. His eyes suddenly shifted to some point behind Twilight. “A choice I hope you won’t regret!” His horn flared with dark magic– “‘And then Sombra returned to the state he had been before the stories of Equestria were altered.’” Twilight Sparkle’s statement was punctuated with a definitive stroke of her pen. Sombra’s scream distorted and echoed as his body boiled into a writhing mass of shadows, and then vanished. Twilight took another step forward. No one else tried anything. At least not immediately. “I hope one day, we can perhaps change what’s happened between us. You wouldn’t be the first people we’ve forgiven. Equestria is a kind place–” “Spare us!” Chrysalis snapped. “As long as we exist, we’ll oppose you, Twilight Sparkle!” Twilight sighed. “Very well.” She looked back down at the book. “‘And with that, one by one, the villains returned to their stories, as they had been before.’” The crowd watched as each of the villains, sneering in useless defiance, blurred, and were drawn into the book. The last to remain was Grogar. “You know, Twilight Sparkle, stories never really end.” He said, the edges of him beginning to blur. “The tales go on and on. Stories of victory… stories of defeat.” His voice started to echo as he dissolved. The last parts of him to vanish were his glowing red eyes. “There are always more turns of the page.” The crowd was silent as he disappeared. Twilight Sparkle let out a huff and rolled her eyes. “Boy, don’t I know it.” She shook her head, turned, and addressed the crowd. “Greetings, everyone! I am sorry for the inconvenience, but things are settled now! Unfortunately, the book will be closing soon, and those of us called here by it will be leaving with it.” The crowd gave a disappointed “awww.” Twilight giggled. “Still, it was wonderful meeting you all! I know I’m going to remember this; all the help we received, and the new friends we made along the way. I hope we can all meet one day again, and remember; as long as the magic of friendship exists in our hearts, nothing can separate us, and nothing is impossible.” The crowd cheered. Twilight’s eyes widened slightly as Caramel and Barley walked to the front of the crowd. “Alright everyone, say your goodbyes! If you excuse me, I have a couple things to tie up.” The crowd began dispersing and Twilight strode up to the two con hosts. “Well, that was an adventure!” “You can say that again!” Caramel giggled. “Yeah…” Barley said, looking aside. “Kind of wish it came without the whole ‘alliance of evil’ thing.” “Don’t we all,” Twilight muttered. She straightened then, and gave the two of them an examining look. “Given what I saw, I take it you two never reconciled with Fizzy Glitch.” Both of them winced. Twilight nodded. “I don’t have much time, but if you want my advice: listen to her. People don’t do things like this without being in pain.” Twilight frowned. Both Barley and Caramel were looking away in shame. She leaned forward, and spoke softly, giving a comforting smile. “For what it’s worth, I have seen worse friendship problems get solved.” Caramel giggled. Barley gave a halfhearted smile. “We just don’t know where she is…” Caramel explained. “Well…” Twilight stood up and looked around. She suddenly stopped, looking over her shoulder. “I might have an idea…” Barley and Caramel followed her gaze. On the roof of the hotel was a flickering blue light. They both gasped. “Thank you, Princess!” Caramel said, reinvigorated. “We’ll do our best!” “Yeah!” Barley followed up. “Thank you. We’ll try not to let you down.” Twilight laughed. “Well, I wish you luck, my little ponies. I hope I can do what I can for any friendship out there,” Twilight caught something out of the corner of her eye and her smile grew smaller and more wistful. “I think I’ll leave you to it.” She began turning. “I have a friendship problem of my own to deal with.” And with that, Twilight strode off. Caramel and Barley raced off at the same time towards the hotel. Twilight found Pinkie Pie and Discord lurking at the edge of the crowd. Pinkie was bouncing up and down, excitedly describing something or other. Discord, though, stared at Twilight as she approached, stance low, expression tense. “So, Pinkie,” Twilight said, half grumbling. “Had fun trying to destabilize reality?” Pinkie stopped mid bounce, eyes looking up, as the gears in her head audibly cranked. “Oh!” She landed. “Was that what we were doing?” She gave a gigglesnort. “I just thought we were gonna throw the biggest party ever! Although your idea sounds fun too, haha! And I bet if we succeeded we could have thrown an even bigger party!” Twilight rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm with nostalgia. “Never change, Pinkie.” “Don’t plan on it!” Pinkie giggled. She suddenly seized up as random parts of her body ranging from her tail to her eyes began vibrating asynchronously. “Oh, that’s a doozy! Guess it’s time to go! Have fun talking about your mistakes, Discord, hah! Canon ball!” And with that, Pinkie leapt into the air, curled into a ball, and was promptly sucked into the Book of All Stories. Discord and Twilight stared at where she had been a moment before. Discord absentmindedly scratched the side of his face as he stared at where Pinkie had been in muted dismay. “Sometimes she even confuses me,” he muttered. “Why does that not surprise me and still somehow fill me with dread,” Twilight replied. She shook her head and looked up at Discord. “Book’s closing soon, Discord. Want to walk while we talk?” “Oh, what’s the point?” Discord harrumphed, crossing several extra sets of arms for emphasis. “You won, I lost, Twilight. Go ahead and gloat!” Twilight gave a small smile. “Just humor me, Discord.” Discord curled up into the air alongside her, frown stretching his face like putty before rolling his eyes. “Fiiiine. I suppose I shall be gracious in my defeat and listen to at least one friendship speech.” “Glad to hear it!” Twilight said, turning to walk. As she did so, various ponies began glowing and growing indistinct. “So, I took some time to think about what you did.” “And?” “Well, for one, despite the harm you might have caused, I do understand why you did it. Or at least I think I do.” Twilight began writing in the book as she walked. Discord rolled his eyes again and made a gagging motion. “It wasn’t healthy for you to try and run away from your problems, but… maybe after what happened at the Battle of the Bell, we could have made it more clear that we had forgiven you.” All around them, ponies were starting to blur and fly into the book. Discord continued to say nothing, but he looked away, anger and shame clear on his face. “But, all that said, you have given me an idea.” Discord perked up. “Oh?” He said, leaning over, and then his brow furrowed. “What are you writing, anyway?” “Just my plans for when we get back.” Twilight grinned. “Wanna set them in stone now, before I forget.” “Oh, and what are those?” “Well, Discord, like I said, I think you had some fair points. There have been creatures in Equestria who’ve suffered, and even if we won’t rewrite the past for them, maybe there’s more we can do to help them have better futures,” Twilight’s grin was sharp, “and maaaybe we could stand to explore some new horizons. Have a little fun. Get a little… chaotic?” For one moment Discord was stunned, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes shimmering with honest appreciation for her gesture. And just like that, it was gone. “Ah, well, of course! Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle! You’ve gotten an A+ in my secret friendship lesson, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve!” He quickly leaned forward and slapped something onto her chest. Twilight looked down. It was a scuffed golden star sticker. Written on it, off-center and loosely scribbled, was the phrase “you tried.” Twilight laughed. “Naturally, you’re going to want some help with all that…?” Discord said, his tone perhaps a tad more leading than he intended. He was beginning to glow and blur at the edges. “Well, of course, Discord.” Twilight replied. She too was beginning to blur and glow. “I can always use the help of my friends.” For a moment, Discord allowed himself to honestly appear touched. His grin was lop-sided, but his eyes were soft and warm. “See you on the other side, Twilight.” He said. “See you on the other side.” She said back. And with that, the two of them were sucked into the book. The crowd of guests watched as it rose into the sky, glowing with a pastel rainbow of light, before it suddenly shot off like a comet, to parts unknown. Fizzy heard the door to the roof slam open, followed by two gasping breaths as two ponies stumbled onto the roof with her. Her face twisted into a small grimace, but she didn’t turn around. “Fizzy!” Caramel called out, stumbling across the roof towards her. “Hon, we gotta talk.” “Yeah!” Barley said between pants. “Please, Fizz.” “What’s there to talk about?” Fizzy said, her quiet reply belying the strain she felt. “It all worked out, in the end.” “But it almost didn’t–” Barley began. “You think I don’t know that?!” Fizzy snapped, glaring over her shoulder. “You think I didn’t see?! You wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t–” She snapped short and turned away again, not letting them see her face screw up in pain. “It worked out, in the end,” she repeated, finally, after a long moment of silence. “Fizz…” Caramel began, uncertain. “We know we hurt you, we just don’t know how.” “The fact that you don’t know is why you hurt me.” The three were silent for a long time. Finally, Fizzy pulled herself away from the edge of the roof, and began to walk past Barley and Caramel. “Wait–” Barley sputtered. “Just, please, Fizz, we just want to make this right.” Fizzy halted again, shaking. She didn’t want to turn to face them. She didn’t want them to see how much pain she was in. Finally, she turned. “You want to know what you did wrong? You ignored me. Forgot about me. I went from your partner to just… to just the AV kirin.” She grimaced, looking away. “Nothing I ever did mattered to you, in the end. Nothing I did ever really mattered to anyone.” She gave a sideways smile; it didn’t even remotely touch her glowing, white eyes. “You wanna know why I did all this? Because for one, single moment, I wanted to be in control. I wanted to do something so amazing nobody could deny it. Something no one else could do. So I used the book. I made Equestria real. I reordered reality to make the best con ever imaginable.” Her grin faltered into a look of contempt. “But when you finally talked to me, you didn’t care.” The contempt faded to a look of bitterness. “Of course, why should you have? I just ended up screwing it all up, didn’t I?” Finally, exhausted, Fizzy turned away from the stunned Barley and Caramel and began to leave again. “We’re sorry, hon.” Caramel said, finally. “I bet you are,” Fizzy muttered. “We are, though.” Barley said, stepping forward. “We… we had no idea! And… you’re right. That is our fault. We should have paid attention…” He shook his head. “Is there anything we can do to fix this?” Fizzy let out a single bitter huff of a laugh as she stopped by the door. “Think you can change the past?” she quipped, looking back over her shoulder at them. Two small wisps of steam were rising from her eyes, but her grin had a shadow of the old Fizzy in it. Despite themselves, more caught off guard than anything else, Barley and Caramel also gave short laughs. “We can’t, Fizz,” Caramel said, “but maybe we can be better friends tomorrow?” That shadow of a grin faded, and Fizzy looked away, exhausted and hurt. “I need time to think,” she said, and with that, she opened the door to the stairwell and disappeared from view. Barley and Caramel were left alone with the wind upon the roof as Fizzy descended into the dark. Each one left with a void carved out by their shame and regrets. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. It was a joy that had left her, and the pain that caused was great and unhealed. Her past had been unkind, and she had made mistakes, and there was no changing either of those things. But tomorrow came on anyway, and maybe in the light of that dawn, she could find a way to move on. If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Chaos Is VictoriousThere was a whirl of light, a cacophony of bangs, whizs, and wapows! and, with that, much to the surprise of the residents of Marwaukee, the hotel that had vanished three days ago reappeared, a crowd of confused, colorful ponies surrounding it. Caramel and Barley all got to their hooves. The crowd around them milled about in uncertainty. Then, the nervous milling was cut short with the thunk of a spotlight far overhead switching on. And coming down in a pillar of light, dressed in white flowing robes, surrounded in a cloud of cherubic whoopie cushions and kazoos, was Discord. As he touched down, he looked out upon the crowd, a beatific smile across his face… only for it to suddenly be marred with a grimace of annoyance. “Itching…” He muttered, slithering around on the spot, pawing at himself. “Wool really is… argh!” And with a jerk, he threw the robe and the heavenly gag props to the side. “Not my style, anyway!” He whirled to face the crowd. “Ciderfest! Ah, what a con! I want to thank, first and foremost, my fans; really couldn’t have done it without you!” He fired a pair of finger guns, causing several audience members to duck. “We have a whole new world to make, together!” He grinned, somewhere between triumph and oddly, hope. “And I for one cannot wait to see what we make.” “You will make nothing, you glorified sock puppet!” A voice snarled. Discord slowly turned, and out of the crowd came a wedge of a Who’s Who’s of Equestria’s greatest monsters. “Ah, look who it is, the losing team!” Discord grinned. “You may have the book.” Sombra snarled. “But that just means it’s all in one place to be ta-urgh!” “Why, Sombra,” Discord said, shoving the oversized candy bar into the evil mage’s open maw, “You’re just not yourself when you’re hungry! Have a snack!” With a final shove, he sent Sombra sprawling over. He looked up at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else hungry?” Grogar stepped forward. “You may have won, Discord, but even you must know that fortune is a wheel, and those it lifts up, it will one day cruUSHARGH–UNHAND ME!” “Yes, yes, ominous speech, the fight against evil is never over, sequel bait, we’ve heard it all before!” The second Discord said, shaking his head as he lifted Grogar up by the scruff of his neck. “Always with the motions! Ally-oop!” And with that, a second Discord hucked Grogar face-first into the Book of All Stories, held out by the first Discord, and the whole crowd watched as the demonic goat was sucked inside and disappeared. The first Discord turned the Book back to face him, and began writing. “‘And then he was banished to the Clown Dimension for all eternity, with no mystical gates, shatterable seals, or any other conceptually related MacGuffins allowing for his escape.’” Discord said as he wrote. “Very clever!” The second Discord said. “I’m glad you like it!” The first Discord replied. And then they high-fived. “Now.” Discord, only singular again, said, looking at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else want to join him?” There were not, to his displeasure, any takers. “Ah, oh well. ‘And then the rest of the villains vanished into the book, to await what wonderful things would happen next!’” And with the final scratch of the pen, it was so, and the rest of the villains began to blur and glow, and disappeared into the book. “Now… ah, yes!” Barley and Caramel had made their way to the front of the crowd as Discord turned to face them. “Ah, what a shame Ms. Glitch isn’t here in person. She truly put on a wonderful show!” He clapped his claws together, rubbing them. “Well, either way, your community is absolutely wonderful, an absolute pleasure to have been a guest at this con!” He leaned back. “Of course, while I am sure it is absolutely wonderful to sit here and accept all this well earned praise, perhaps there is someone watching all this you should rather be talking to? Hmm?” Discord pointedly looked down at the two of them, quirking an eyebrow. Said eyebrow quirked so hard, in fact, it morphed into an arrow, pointing above and behind him. It even flashed. Caramel and Barley followed the arrow to see, lingering on the edge of the roof of the hotel, a flicking, blue light. They both gasped. “Fizzy!” Caramel gasped. “Uh, thank you, Discord!” Barley said, an awkward smile on his face. “We’ll get right on that!” “Well, glad to be of service!” Discord leaned back, pulling a notepad out with a third arm as Barley and Caramel sprinted off. “‘Negged the protagonists into learning the friendship lesson.’ Check!” He tossed the notepad aside where it landed square on an otherwise unshaded lamp, and turned and started marching back to the center of the clearing. “Pinkie! It’s time!” “On it, boss.” Pinkie bounced out to meet him. Discord strode beside her, writing away in the book, grinning wildly. “Oh, I have such plans!” He said. Suddenly, all the creatures called there by the book began glowing and rising into the air. Pinkie giggled as she started to levitate, spinning in the air. “Have you ever wanted to taste color, Pinkie?” Discord laughed, rising alongside her. “Boy have I!” Pinkie laughed. “You’ll love it! Chartreuse is my favorite!” Discord laughed in return. “I can’t wait!” Pinkie giggled, wiggling her legs with glee. “Discord! Discord, wait!” A soft voice cried out. Rushing out from the crowd came Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, dear! Oh, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you!” Discord shouted, continuing to rise heavenward. “Discord! I forgive you! We all forgive you! You don’t have to change the past!” Discord, for a second, looked panicked. “There will be nothing to forgive, Fluttershy!” He said, his bravado undercut by a nervous breath of air. “We will make everything better, for every creature!” “Discord–!” “Please.” Discord for one brief moment, looked afraid. The rest of the Mane 6 caught up to Fluttershy. She turned to look at Twilight. Neither said a word, but eventually, Twilight nodded. Fluttershy, eyes wide, frown taking on a determined cast, turned and looked back up at Discord, stepping forward. “I’m coming!” she shouted, and with a flap of her wings, launched herself up beside Discord and Pinkie. “Ahah! I knew it! I knew you’d understand!” He swept her up into a great hug. “You’ll see, Fluttershy, the wonderful world we’re going to create! So much potential! We’ll all get our time in the sun, you’ll see!” “Promise me, Discord,” Fluttershy said, breathless as the two twirled together, rising into the air. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll do what's best… for us. For all of us.” “Fluttershy,” Discord’s smile softened. “Of course.” Fluttershy curled into his arms, and their ascent halted as the Book of All Stories rose above them. “Thank you, everyone, for this wonderful con!” Discord shouted to the crowd below, throwing out his arm. “We have a glorious new project ahead of us, all that we can do unveiled. I look forward to seeing it all, and remember: preorder your tickets for next year!” And with that, every single creature the Book had called began to blur, and in a shower of light, flew into its open pages. The Book of All Stories slammed its covers closed with a crack of thunder, and began to vibrate. Suddenly, it exploded into a corona of multi-hued light, and blasted off on a jagged, erratic path, to whatever future awaited it. Fizzy winced when she heard the door to the roof slam open. “Fizzy!” Caramel called out between breaths as she stumbled across the roof towards the nirik. “We gotta talk, hon.” “Yeah,” Barley panted. “Please, Fizz.” “What’s there to talk about?” Fizzy said, not turning around, a huff of laughter in her voice. “Future’s looking brighter all the time.” “That almost didn’t happen, though–” Barley began “You think I don’t know that?!” Fizzy snapped. One baleful white eye glared over her shoulder. “You think I didn’t see?! That you almost–” Her tirade snapped short and she whipped back around to avoid looking at them. “We made it. One way or another,” she said, her tone clipped. “That’s all that matters.” The other two didn’t speak for a long time, unsure what to say. “Fizz,” Caramel said, softly. “We just wanna know what we did wrong, so we can make it right.” “Fine.” Fizzy turned around, a grin dripping with contempt on her face. “Once upon a time there was a little kirin named Fizzy Glitch. Then the world went to Tartarus, and everyone turned to her to fix it, and she tried.” The grin fell, leaving only bitterness. “And then the world got better. And no one cared about her anymore. Because in the end, nothing she did actually mattered.” Her grin returned, but this time the contempt wasn’t directed at Barley or Caramel. After a moment she shook her head. “I need to go.” She began to walk past them. “Fizz, wait,” Barley reached out a hoof to touch her, and her own hoof lashed out and snatched his wrist. He yelped as there was a hiss of heat at the contact. Fizzy immediately let go, a look of shock and shame on her face, and then whipped her head away, snarling silently. “Barley, you okay?” Caramel stepped in, concerned. “Yeah, yeah,” he said, shaking his hoof. “I, uh, sorry, Fizz. Didn’t mean to startle you…?” He looked up at her wearily. She was still looking away. “You wanna know why I did it?” Fizzy said after a time, not looking up. “For just a moment, I needed to know I mattered. That what I did meant something. So I took the stupid book, wrote the spell, and made it all real. Everyone could see what I could do, then.” She shook her head. “Of course, even with a magic book I still screwed it all up. Guess you were right to not give a single care.” She began walking away again. “It’s not like that, Fizzy!” Barley said, getting on all fours and facing her head on. “We do care and… we’re sorry we ignored you!” “Little late for apologies…” Fizzy muttered, steam wicking off her unseen face. “Fizz, please, wait.” Caramel said. She started to move towards Fizzy, only to be stopped when Fizzy let out a snarl. “I need time!” she snapped. She then let out a great sigh. “I need time… to think.” Fizzy resumed her march towards the door. “Is there any possibility… that we could still be friends, after all this?” Caramel continued, her voice was soft. Fizzy paused at the door, hoof on the knob. She looked over her shoulder, and for a moment, on her face was a small, honest smile. “Who knows, Car?” she said. “It’s a strange new world out there. Anything can happen.” Barley and Caramel smiled back. Caramel gave a small nod. Fizzy’s smile faltered, and then she turned away. Without another word, she opened the door, and descended into the stairwell, leaving Caramel and Barley alone with the wind and silence. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. Of course, the world had been unkind, random, and cruel. It had denied her this, and hurt her deeply. Still, though, as she marched on, a small part of her knew tomorrow was another day, and no matter what happened, she was still here, and the possibilities of that new day were wide open to her. If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousSuddenly, and without warning, all the light vanished from Marewaukee. Then the shadow lifted, and just like that, the hotel that had vanished three days prior appeared again, a crowd of ponies, afraid and confused, cowering in front of it. Barley and Caramel slowly stood up. Fizzy was already standing ahead of them, her mane ablaze with anxiety. All three of them were waiting with dread for what was coming. There was a second ripple of darkness, and in an unnatural blink, standing in the center of the rapidly parting crowd, was a collection of Equestria’s worst foes. Rushing to the front of the crowd was the Mane 6. With a snap, Discord appeared as well, his allies fanning out behind them. The guests shied away, uncertain what would happen next. “This isn’t over,” Twilight began, flaring out her wings. “As long as there is friendship, as long as there is hope, there will always be a light to oppose you, and even if you stomp it out, it will arise again. Creatures are fundamentally good. You cannot defeat that. Not forever.” “Not to mention,” Discord said, leering at Sombra. “This wouldn’t be the first time you failed miserably in the final act.” “Oh, how droll,” Sombra snickered as he stepped forward, the Book of All Stories floating in front of him. “Unfortunately, this is very much over.” His last words were punctuated with the stroke of a pen. Without warning, tendrils of darkness burst from the earth, snapping taunt across the horns, wings, and limbs of every creature summoned by the book not part of Sombra’s dark alliance. The crowd gasped and backed away. “Augh!” Twilight barked as the shadows dragged her to the earth. Her horn flared, only for dark lightning to course across the tendril binding her horn, causing her to cry out, and then collapse. Discord raised a hand, thumb and finger pressed, only for tendrils to wrap around each finger, pull them apart, and drag him to the ground. “I admit,” Sombra said, walking up to loom over her. “I am going to enjoy our time together, dear Princess.” “Well done, Sombra,” a voice rumbled. “Now, the book.” Sombra turned to see Grogar stride to the fore, the rest of the villains arrayed behind him. “Dear friends,” Sombra began, “I was merely finalizing one last… obstacle, to our ascendency.” The pen he controlled had not stopped writing. “For that, we are most grateful,” Grogar rumbled, a small, loose grin on his muzzle. “Of course, it seems the situation is well in hand. So, of course, you don’t need to hold the book anymore.” A great eyebrow rose. “Unless you intend to keep it.” Sombra glanced around. The rest of his allies were watching him. Tension filled the air. And then Cozy Glow buzzed next to him and smiled. “Golly gee, Mr. Sombra, Mr. Grogar did a lot to help us, and well we like him so much, that it only seems right that he get to do the honors of holding the book,” her bobbing took her close to Sombra’s ear and she finished, barely a whisper, “for now.” Sombra paused for a moment longer, catching Chrysalis’s eye. Out of Grogar’s field of view, she smiled. So did he. “Of course, Emperor,” Sombra said, turning and leaning into a curtsey. “Your power was most instrumental to the success of this alliance. It is only fitting that you should do the honors.” The Book of All Stories floated up from beside him into Grogar’s telekinetic grasp. Sombra’s contempt was disguised, but only just. Grogar didn’t seem to care, turning his attention to the book, and began to write. After a moment, he looked up and addressed the crowd. “Denizens of this world, your… participation in this monumental event is greatly appreciated. You have seen the wisdom of inevitability, and when the time comes, your servitude will not go unrewarded.” He briefly glanced down at the bound creatures at his hooves, before glancing back up, a grin splitting his face. “A new age has begun, one of power and glory. What wonders we shall see now that justice–” his red eyes flickered down at the struggling Twilight Sparkle “–has been served.” As he finished speaking, his pen stopped. With another great rending sound, the streams of shadow burst up from the earth, and began flowing into the Book of All Stories. One by one, Twilight, Starswirl, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and all the other creatures bound by the dark magic were dragged into the book, no matter what they did to resist. Grogar turned from his and Sombra’s handiwork, and frowned. He looked down to see his own hoof had begun to blur and grow indistinct. “The spell ends…” he muttered. “Where is the nirik, Fizzy Glitch?” he called out. “I’m here,” Fizzy said, finally stepping forward. “And you have promised to serve us, from what I understand?” he asked. “Yes, sir. I have. I promise, in one year’s time, Ciderfest will be the greatest celebration of your victory you could image-arrrgh!” And with the stroke of a pen, a tendril of darkness snapped closed around Fizzy’s horn. It went taunt, dragging her forward, as she resisted and snarled. “Fizzy!” Barley and Caramel shouted in panic as one. “You will be coming with us,” Grogar continued. “To better coordinate our… celebration.” “Hold on!” Fizzy growled out as the tendril dragged her before Grogar, her hooves dragging black marks in the asphalt. “This wasn’t part of the deal!” Grogar frowned. The rest of the villains snickered and laughed. He looked up at her. “You promised to serve us–” “Yeah, but I can’t like this!” Fizzy said, the shadow finally dragging her to the ground. She desperately dug in her hooves to try and stay in place. “I can’t make a con happen in this world if I’m in your world. I need–” She glanced at Barley and Caramel. “I need to be able to contact the outside world!” Grogar mulled it over, looking into the middle distance. He then turned down and wrote another note. “Your communication devices will suffice for this task, I assume.” “Yes!” Fizzy said, the shadow jerking hard, causing her to growl. “Very well…” Grogar looked up at the crowd, now. “Know this: In one year’s time, we shall return.” “Our power beyond imagination!” Tirek laughed. “Our control unbreakable.” Chrysalis purred. “And your love for us unquestioned!” Cozy cackled. “Expect us, and prepare for us, for our glory,” Grogar continued, his face twisted into a mocking grin, “shall be eternal.” And with that he turned, and faded into light, disappearing into the book. One by one, the villains turned to join him. Sombra paused to give one last mocking glance at Barley and Caramel. The shadows began to pull in their victims, faster and faster. Caramel and Barley watched, helpless, as it all unfolded. Perhaps unable to stop herself, Caramel reached out to Fizzy, who glared at her. “Just trust me for once!” she barked. And then Fizzy was sucked in as well. The Book of All Stories rose into the air, wreathed in streams of darkness and black lightning. As it reached its apex, once again, all light in the city vanished in a dark flash, leaving everyone within alone in a void for a moment. And then, it was gone, to whatever dark future was left for it. Barley collapsed, looking on at that empty spot of air. Caramel stood beside him, stunned. There was nothing left to do, it seemed. Evil had won. Sometime later, Caramel walked out onto the roof of the hotel. Barley was alone there, looking out on the city. She walked up behind him, and laid down a styrofoam box. “Got you something from the pub, hon,” she said. “Thanks,” he croaked. His face was matted with tears. Caramel’s would have been no better if she hadn’t washed up before coming here. She sat down beside him without saying anything, looking out on the city as well. “What did we do wrong?” he said. “How did we end up like this? We tried everything to make it right, and now she’s gone, and she still hates us.” Caramel grimaced and looked away. “We should have paid more attention,” he went on. “Should have figured out what was going on, done something, said something, and now she’s trapped over there–” “Beating ourselves up won’t fix this,” Caramel said, staring off into the night. He grimaced and looked away. “What do we do now?” he said, finally. Caramel continued to stare, numb. “She said to trust her,” she said quietly. “So… I guess we should give that a try.” “Yeah, I just–” His phone buzzed, startling him. After a moment of numb confusion, he fumbled it out of his vest, and took a look, and barked one, high, desperate laugh. “Look!” he said, and he showed it to her. Caramel looked as well, and a small smile broke out across her face. It was from Fizzy. The grand doors to the Court of Darkness opened wide of their own accord, and Fizzy strode into its cavernous hall. All around her were monuments to the self-importance and pettiness of her new masters. Tirek was boasting about the latest fan-art she’d found for him, while Chrysalis gloated about the latest humiliation she’d conjured up for Starlight Glimmer. In the corner, Cozy held court with the gaggle of foals she’d “saved” – that is to say, manipulated and lied to, all pets to be discarded at the instant she displeased – and in every shadow were Sombra’s eyes and ears, never willing, but always able. It had not been… pleasant, these last few months in this new Equestria, but Fizzy had survived. In some ways, she’d thrived. She didn’t care for the implications of that fact. She strode out onto a balcony where Grogar, the once and current Emperor, looked out upon the land, cast in eternal night. Two ponies flanked the balcony, waiting in attendance for whatever he wished. “Mmmm,” he rumbled at her approach. “A pleasant night out, is it not?” “Of course,” Fizzy said. She levitated a stack of documents up to the old goat. “Things are going to plan. The community is showing a lot of excitement for what we’ve discussed so far.” “As they should,” Grogar muttered absentmindedly. He took the documents from her and began looking them over, grunting occasionally. “You know, Fizzy Glitch, I find it strange.” “What is that, sir?” “I took some time to look into your past. Your world was wretched and cruel to you. In the end, even your sycophants and friends turned on you, did they not?” Fizzy looked away, grimacing. “In a way, sir.” “Yes,” Grogar said, slowly looking up from her reports. “Which makes it all the more bizarre that you would plot with those who used you to betray us.” Fizzy could feel them. The eyes in the court beyond the balcony bore into her with malicious glee. They’d known this was coming, and eagerly awaited her getting taken down a peg. Fizzy just leaned into the railing and flashed a lazy grin. “It’s funny,” she began. “Those two ponies over there? Sombra’s got them under mind-control – which is really funny, given one is a changeling in disguise. The other, Cozy makes sure to give extra food to and talks with on the regular, and I bet she takes careful note of every word he says. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Tirek has some kind of leverage on him, and I’m sure the rest of them have their own ways of getting the info they want, presumably by spying on each other as much as they do you.” Fizzy shrugged and looked away. “I just kind of assumed it was a thing we were all gonna betray each other at some point. I just wanted to fit in, sir.” Grogar stared at her for a moment, and then let loose a great, bellowing laugh. Those eyes still bore into Fizzy, this time with humiliated anger. “It is the nature of things.” He turned away. “Hunger only stays sated for so long. A reckoning is coming. Still,” he glanced down at her. “You are just an entertainer, arraying yourself against powers both ancient and spiteful. What do you have, pitted against forces like us?” “My charming good looks and razor wit?” Fizzy said with mock, pleading cheer. Grogar snorted. “Your betrayal at least amuses me with its audacity.” He let out a sigh. “You are dismissed for now.” He glanced down at her one last time as she gathered up the report she’d given him. “I do hope, for your sake, your friends don’t betray you.” A slight mocking sneer crossed his face. “...again.” Fizzy winced, but kept gathering the pages. “Yeah. Me too.” She turned away and made it back through the court. The gazes of the villains continued to weigh on her as she left. Some with fury, some with dismissive contempt, some with naked calculation into how she could be of use. Still, she strode out, head held high, and gaze fixed ahead. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. That joy had been betrayed, yes, neglected and abused, but Fizzy remained unbroken. She had set down upon this path in defiance of the hand fate had dealt, and she would not relent. Not now, not ever. There was a kind of faith in rebellion. The storm would pass. The darkness would recede. She held onto that notion. She… and the rest of them, would exit the other side of this, she vowed to herself. One way, or another.
If Fizzy Is Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousThere was a great flash, and, much to the great shock of the citizens, the hotel in the center of Marewaukee reappeared just as it had mysteriously disappeared three days ago, with a whole host of strange ponies now milling about in front of it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy slowly stood up. “Whew!” Barley breathed. “Marewaukee air! It’s good to be back!” “Tastes like concrete and gasoline.” Caramel wrinkled her muzzle and stuck out her tongue. “Yeah.” Fizzy gave a lopsided grin. “Like home!” “Look!” a guest shouted. The three turned and saw that the crowd had parted. In the center was Twilight Sparkle, holding in the Book of All Stories, and arrayed across from her were all the evils of Equestria, new and old. “So, what now, Princess?” Sombra’s grin was venomous. “Blast us with rainbow lasers? Or perhaps you’ll simply write us all into being compliant and friendly?” “No, Sombra,” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Stripping creatures of their free will is more your speed.” “Ah, a shame,” he said. His eyes suddenly shifted to some point behind Twilight. “A choice I hope you won’t regret!” His horn flared with dark magic– “‘And then Sombra returned to the state he had been before the stories of Equestria were altered.’” Twilight Sparkle’s statement was punctuated with a definitive stroke of her pen. Sombra’s scream distorted and echoed as his body boiled into a writhing mass of shadows, and then vanished. Twilight took another step forward. No one else tried anything. At least not immediately. “I hope one day, we can perhaps change what’s happened between us. You wouldn’t be the first people we’ve forgiven. Equestria is a kind place–” “Spare us!” Chrysalis snapped. “As long as we exist, we’ll oppose you, Twilight Sparkle!” Twilight sighed. “Very well.” She looked back down at the book. “‘And with that, one by one, the villains returned to their stories, as they had been before.’” The crowd watched as each of the villains, sneering in useless defiance, blurred, and were drawn into the book. The last to remain was Grogar. “You know, Twilight Sparkle, stories never really end,” he said, the edges of him beginning to blur. “The tales go on and on. Stories of victory… stories of defeat.” His voice echoed as he dissolved. The last parts of him to vanish were his glowing red eyes. “There are always more turns of the page.” The crowd was silent as he disappeared. Twilight Sparkle let out a huff and rolled her eyes. “Boy, don’t I know it.” She shook her head, turned, and addressed the crowd. “Greetings, everyone! I am sorry for the inconvenience, but things are settled now! Unfortunately, the book will be closing soon, and those of us called here by it will be leaving with it.” The crowd gave a disappointed “awww.” Twilight giggled. “Still, it was wonderful meeting you all! I know I’m going to remember this; all the help we received, and the new friends we made along the way. I hope we can all meet one day again, and remember; as long as the magic of friendship exists in our hearts, nothing can separate us, and nothing is impossible.” The crowd cheered. Twilight’s eyes widened slightly as Fizzy, Caramel, and Barley walked to the front of the crowd. “Alright everyone, say your goodbyes! If you excuse me, I have a couple things to tie up.” The crowd began dispersing and Twilight strode up to the trio of con hosts. “Well, that was an adventure!” “Sure was,” Caramel giggled. “I hope we all learned a valuable lesson about using magical artifacts we don’t understand,” Twilight said, giving Fizzy a pointed look. Fizzy gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her head. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that, Princess,” she muttered. “And about communicating with friends?” Twilight turned to give an equally pointed look at Barley and Caramel. “Underlined and highlighted, Princess.” Barley nodded. Twilight gave a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good! Glad that all worked out!” Twilight caught something out of the corner of her eye and gave a small smile. “Well, if everything here is right as rain, I’ll leave you to it.” She began turning. “I have a friendship problem of my own to deal with.” And with that, Twilight strode off. Fizzy let out a breath of relief and then groaned. “Dang it! We’re gonna have to pack all that stuff up now! And we didn’t even use it!” Caramel put a hoof on Fizzy’s shoulder. “I think the AV stuff can wait for a bit, Fizz.” She grinned. “Huh?” “Right!” Barley’s eyes lit up. “Before all this started, me and Caramel were heading up to your room. We were gonna buy you dinner!” “How about it?” Caramel said, nodding towards the hotel. “I could use a good hayburger right about now.” Fizzy's smile was small and lopsided, but her eyes shone bright with understanding and acceptance. “Yeah,” she said. “That sounds great.” Twilight found Pinkie Pie and Discord lurking at the edge of the crowd. Pinkie was bouncing up and down, excitedly describing something or other. Discord though, stared at her as she approached, stance low, expression tense. “So, Pinkie,” Twilight said, half grumbling. “Had fun trying to destabilize reality?” Pinkie stopped mid bounce, eye looking up, as the gears in her head audibly cranked. “Oh!” She landed. “Was that what we were doing?” She gave a gigglesnort. “I just thought we were gonna throw the biggest party ever! Although your idea sounds fun too, haha! And I bet if we succeeded we could have thrown an even bigger party!” Twilight rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm with nostalgia. “Never change, Pinkie.” “Don’t plan on it!” Pinkie giggled. She suddenly seized up as random parts of her body ranging from her tail to her eyes began vibrating asynchronously. “Oh, that’s a doozy! Guess it’s time to go! Have fun talking about your mistakes, Discord, hah! Canon ball!” And with that, Pinkie leapt into the air, curled into a ball, and was promptly sucked into the Book of All Stories. Discord and Twilight stared at where she had been a moment before. Discord absentmindedly scratched the side of his face as he stared at where Pinkie had been in muted dismay. “Sometimes she even confuses me,” he muttered. “Why does that not surprise me, and still somehow fill me with dread?” Twilight replied. She shook her head and looked up at Discord. “The book’s closing soon, Discord. Want to walk while we talk?” “Oh, what’s the point?” Discord harrumphed, crossing several extra sets of arms for emphasis. “You won, I lost, Twilight. Go ahead and gloat!” Twilight gave a small smile. “Just humor me, Discord.” Discord curled up into the air alongside her, frown stretching his face like putty before rolling his eyes. “Fineee. I suppose I shall be gracious in my defeat and listen to at least one friendship speech.” “Glad to hear it!” Twilight said, turning to walk. As she did so, various ponies began glowing and growing indistinct. “So, I took some time to think about what you did.” “And?” “Well, for one, despite the harm you might have caused, I do understand why you did it. Or at least I think I do.” Twilight began writing in the book as she walked. Discord rolled his eyes again and made a gagging motion. “It wasn’t healthy for you to try and run away from your problems, but… maybe after what happened at the Battle of the Bell, we could have made it more clear that we had forgiven you.” All around them, ponies were starting to blur and fly into the book. Discord continued to say nothing, but he looked away, anger and shame clear on his face. “But, all that said, you have given me an idea.” Discord perked up. “Oh?” He said, leaning over, and then his brow furrowed. “What are you writing, anyway?” “Just my plans for when we get back.” Twilight grinned. “Wanna set them in stone now, before I forget.” “Oh, and what are those?” “Well, Discord, like I said, I think you had some fair points. There have been creatures in Equestria who’ve suffered, and even if we won’t rewrite the past for them, maybe there’s more we can do to help them have better futures,” Twilight’s grin was sharp, “and maaaybe we could stand to explore some new horizons. Have a little fun. Get a little… chaotic?” For one moment Discord was stunned, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes shimmering with honest appreciation for her gesture. And just like that, it was gone. “Ah, well, of course! Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle! You’ve gotten an A+ in my secret friendship lesson, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve!” He quickly leaned forward and slapped something onto her chest. Twilight looked down. It was a scuffed golden star sticker. Written on it, off-center and loosely scribbled, was the phrase “you tried.” Twilight laughed. “Naturally, you’re going to want some help with all that…?” Discord said, his tone perhaps a tad more leading than he intended. He was beginning to glow and blur at the edges. “Well, of course, Discord.” Twilight replied. She too was beginning to blur and glow. “I can always use the help of my friends.” For a moment, Discord allowed himself to honestly appear touched. His grin was lop-sided, but his eyes were soft and warm. “See you on the other side, Twilight,” he said. “See you on the other side,” she said back. And with that, the two of them were sucked into the book. The crowd of guests watched as it rose into the sky, glowing with a pastel rainbow of light, before it suddenly shot off like a comet, to parts unknown. Meanwhile, inside the hotel, huddled in a booth at a cozy, dimly lit pub, were three little ponies… Fizzy put down her fork and knife, and smiled. Then her smile slowly started to fade. She reached up to pat her cheeks. “Uh-uh!” Caramel interjected. “None of that!” Fizzy looked up, surprised. “Now is the time of celebration, hon.” She smiled. “We saved Ciderfest! And you, Fizz, put on a heck of a con!” “I mean, I almost got the world conquered by villains.” Fizzy’s grin was barely there, and her eyes wide and ashamed. “Yeah! And you think any other convention is gonna be able to top that?” Despite herself, Fizzy laughed. Her head lowered though, and she frowned. “I… I lost control, guys,” she said, not looking up. “I was so angry… at myself… at you. I just wanted to do something, anything, to prove I could make a difference.” Barley and Caramel exchanged a glance. “You weren’t the only one who screwed up, Fizzy,” Barley said, leaning forward. Fizzy shook her head and looked up. “You’re not the one who lost control or nearly got us all enslaved or drained of love or whatever!” “Yeah, Fizz, we didn’t.” Barley was frowning. “But you’re not the one who ignored her friend when she was hurting.” “Not to mention getting so caught up in our own little world of hype that you just plum forgot you were on a team.” Caramel leaned in. Fizzy looked at her two friends, and didn’t know what to say. “We should have guessed you were hurting.” Caramel went on. “We all were, I think, but you’ve got a big heart and a brave face, so we should have figured you were hurting just as much, even if you didn’t show it.” “Honestly, after the last few years… I think we were just so excited to be back into the swing of things… to feel a little normal after everything that happened, that we got caught up and forgot how to try something new,” Barley said, looking away. Fizzy gave a small smile. “Yeah, well… maybe I should have said something. I just… I wanted to be the one to make everypony happy. No, that’s not right. I thought if I could make them happy, could make them smile, I could do something about all the awful stuff going on… and about the awful things I felt about myself.” “Alright!” Caramel said, lightly slamming her hoof down on the table. “First motion as a reformed team, we are going to settle this democratically! On the count of three, point to the pony most to blame for what happened.” She looked at the other two. “Ready? One, two, three!” Barley's hoof instantly shot towards his own face. Caramel whipped her hoof off the table and pointed at her head in almost a mock salute. Fizzy’s hoof hung in the air, her gaze, wide eyed, looked back and forth at Barley and Caramel. “We’re waiting on your vote, Fizz.” Caramel grinned. Slowly, unsure, Fizzy lifted her hoof up, and turned it to point back at her. “Well, it’s settled!” Caramel said, lowering her hoof. “By vote, we are all equally to blame! Barley, you need to be better about making sure everyone is involved, Fizzy, you need to tell us when we’re screwing up, and Caramel, you need to watch out better for your friends! Meeting adjourned!” Caramel’s grin suddenly became mischievous. “Now, new meeting; plans for Ciderfest 2024!” Barley groaned. “We just saved the world!” He moaned. “Yeah, and Fizzy here promised Twilight we’d do a grand celebration of the history of Equestria. I’m not about to procrastinate on a promise to royalty!” Caramel and Barley continued back and forth for a bit, while Fizzy laughed. There were tears in her eyes, yes, but her laugh was a natural one. All the more reason for her relief. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. And here, in this restaurant, listening to Barley and Caramel jokingly bicker, she was, perhaps for the first time in a long time, truly among friends.
If Fizzy Is Saved, and Chaos Is Victorious [CANON]There was a whirl of light, a cacophony of bangs, whizzes, and wapows! and, with that, much to the surprise of the residents of Marwaukee, the hotel that had vanished three days ago reappeared, a crowd of confused, colorful ponies surrounding it. Fizzy, Caramel, and Barley all got to their hooves. The crowd around them milled about in uncertainty. Then, the nervous milling was cut short with the thunk of a spotlight far overhead switching on. And coming down in a pillar of light, dressed in white flowing robes, surrounded in a cloud of cherubic whoopie cushions and kazoos, was Discord. As he touched down, he looked out upon the crowd, beatific smile across his face… only for it to suddenly be marred with a grimace of annoyance. “Itching…” he muttered, slithering around on the spot, pawing at himself. “Wool really is… argh!” And with a jerk, he threw the robe and the heavenly gag props to the side. “Not my style, anyway!” He whirled to face the crowd. “Ciderfest! Ah, what a con! I want to thank, first and foremost, my fans, really couldn’t have done it without you!” He fired a pair of finger guns, causing several audience members to duck. “We have a whole new world to make, together!” He grinned, somewhere between triumph and oddly, hope. “And I for one cannot wait to see what we make.” “You will make nothing, you glorified sock puppet!” a voice snarled. Discord slowly turned, and out of the crowd came a wedge of a Who’s Who’s of Equestria’s greatest monsters. “Ah, look who it is, the losing team!” Discord grinned. “You may have the book,” Sombra snarled. “But that just means it’s all in one place to be ta-urgh!” “Why, Sombra,” Discord said, shoving the oversized candy bar into the evil mage’s open maw. “You’re just not yourself when you’re hungry! Have a snack!” With a final shove, he sent Sombra sprawling over. He looked up at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else hungry?” Grogar stepped forward. “You may have won, Discord, but even you must know that fortune is a wheel, and those it lifts up, it will one day cruUSHARGH–UNHAND ME!” “Yes, yes, ominous speech, the fight against evil is never over, sequel bait, we’ve heard it all before!” The second Discord said, shaking his head as he lifted Grogar up by the scruff of his neck. “Always with the motions! Ally-oop!” And with that, a second Discord hucked Grogar face-first into the Book of All Stories, held out by the first Discord, and the whole crowd watched as the demonic goat was sucked inside and disappeared. The first Discord turned the Book back to face him, and began writing. “‘And then he was banished to the Clown Dimension for all eternity, with no mystical gates, shatterable seals, or any other conceptually related MacGuffins allowing for his escape.’” Discord said as he wrote. “Very clever!” The second Discord said. “I’m glad you like it!” The first Discord replied. And then they high-fived. “Now,” Discord, only singular again, said, looking at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else want to join him?” There were not, to his displeasure, any takers. “Ah, oh well. ‘And then the rest of the villains vanished into the book, to await what wonderful things would happen next!’” And with the final scratch of the pen, it was so, and the rest of the villains began to blur and glow, and disappeared into the book. “Now… ah, yes!” Fizzy, Barley, and Caramel had made their way to the front of the crowd as Discord turned to face them. “Ms. Glitch! Wonderful show you’ve put on!” He grabbed her hoof and shook it so vigorously that various odds and ends began falling out of Fizzy’s mane. “Your community is absolutely wonderful, an absolute pleasure to have been a guest at this con!” He let go and leaned back. “Of course, I do hope we all learned a valuable friendship lesson about listening to each other, hmm?” All three of them grinned awkwardly. “We’re gonna try to do better in the future, Discord,” Caramel said. “Ah, well, good!” Discord leaned back, pulling a notepad out with a third arm. “‘Participated in bringing about the friendship lesson.’ Check!” He tossed the notepad aside where it landed square on an otherwise unshaded lamp, and turned and started marching back to the center of the clearing. “Pinkie! It’s time!” “On it, boss.” Pinkie bounced out to meet him. Discord strode beside her, writing away in the book, grinning wildly. “Oh, I have such plans!” he said. Suddenly, all the creatures called there by the book began glowing and rising into the air. Pinkie giggled as she started to levitate, spinning in the air. “Have you ever wanted to taste color, Pinkie?” Discord laughed, rising alongside her. “Boy have I!” Pinkie laughed. “You’ll love it! Chartreuse is my favorite!” Discord laughed in return. “I can’t wait!” Pinkie giggled, wiggling her legs with glee. “Discord! Discord, wait!” a soft voice cried out. Rushing out from the crowd came Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, dear! Oh, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you!” Discord shouted, continuing to rise heavenward. “Discord! I forgive you! We all forgive you! You don’t have to change the past!” Discord, for a second, looked panicked. “There will be nothing to forgive, Fluttershy!” He said, his bravado undercut by a nervous breath of air. “We will make everything better, for every creature!” “Discord–!” “Please.” Discord for one brief moment, looked afraid. The rest of the Mane 6 caught up to Fluttershy. She turned to look at Twilight. Neither said a word, but eventually, Twilight nodded. Fluttershy, eyes wide, frown taking on a determined cast, turned and looked back up at Discord, stepping forward. “I’m coming!” she shouted, and with a flap of her wings, launched herself up beside Discord and Pinkie. “Ahah! I knew it! I knew you’d understand!” He swept her up into a great hug. “You’ll see, Fluttershy, the wonderful world we’re going to create! So much potential! We’ll all get our time in the sun, you’ll see!” “Promise me, Discord,” Fluttershy said, breathless as the two twirled together, rising into the air. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll do what's best… for us. For all of us.” “Fluttershy,” Discord’s smile softened. “Of course.” Fluttershy curled into his arms, and their ascent halted as the Book of All Stories rose above them. “Thank you, everyone, for this wonderful con!” Discord shouted to the crowd below, throwing out his arm. “We have a glorious new project ahead of us, all that we can do unveiled. I look forward to seeing it all, and remember: pre-order your tickets for next year’s Ciderfest!” And with that, every single creature the Book had called began to blur, and in a shower of light, flew into its open pages. The Book of All Stories slammed its covers closed with a crack of thunder, and began to vibrate. Suddenly, it exploded into a corona of multi-hued light, and blasted off on a jagged, erratic path, to whatever future awaited it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy, and the crowd of guests, were left in silence, looking up at the empty night sky. “Do you… think they’re gonna be okay?” Barley said. “I mean… the future is always unpredictable, Bar,” Caramel said. “But they all have each other, and, you know, they can take things as they happen. I suspect they’re a pretty adaptable bunch.” “Whatever happens.” Fizzy said. “It’s gonna be wild.” And then her stomach growled. Loudly. She looked at the other in embarrassment. “Say, either of you hungry?” she asked sheepishly. Barley and Caramel both grinned. “You know,” Caramel said, “right before you sucked us all into that book we were gonna treat you to dinner.” Fizzy let out a short laugh, the tension leaving her body. “Honestly? That sounds amazing.” A short while later, the three of them found themselves in the low, soft light of the pub in the hotel, chatting away as they ate. As the three were finishing their meal, though, Fizzy looked down at her plate and frowned. “Guys… I’m sorry all this happened.” “No, none of that!” Caramel rose up in her seat. “You’ve had enough of beating yourself up, Fizz.” Fizzy shook her head, looking up at Caramel. “I lost control, Caramel. I just…” She looked away. “When you brought me on, all that awful stuff was happening, and I really felt like I was making a difference… but then nothing changed. It just went on and on, getting worse. I felt helpless. Worse. Useless. Between that and feeling like you guys had forgotten me, I just snapped. I’d do anything to feel like I wasn’t useless. Like I mattered.” “Point of order, Fizzy,” Barley leaned forward. “We did forget about you. I completely screwed up on your idea, remember?” “Yeah, Fizz.” Caramel’s smile was sad. “You aren’t the only one who screwed up!” “But you didn’t–” “And maybe if we didn’t ignore you, you wouldn’t have snapped!” Barley shrugged. “Reality is complicated, Fizzy. That’s certainly clear after this weekend!” “Alright, alright.” Caramel said, leaning over the table. “Everypony put your hooves out on the table. On three, we all say we’re sorry, and make a promise about what we’re gonna do better! Okay, one, two, three!” “Sorry!” They all said, in unison. “I promise to keep an eye out for all my friends and make sure we’re all shouldering the burden!” Caramel said. “I promise to keep track of things and remember we’re a team.” Fizzy just looked at the two of them, a small, lopsided grin on her face. “And… I promise to make it clear when I’m struggling… and maybe read the fine print on any magical artifacts I get mailed in the future?” It started with a chuckle from Barley. Caramel’s laugh quickly rose louder than his. It spread between them, infectious, until they were all doubled over. Laughing with relief. With joy. “Move! Out of my way!” Caramel said, nudging Barley. He did so, and she trotted around the booth and leapt onto Fizzy with a great hug. “I missed you, girl!” “Hey, make room for me!” Barley said, flying into the hug as well. “Guys…” Fizzy said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Alright!” Caramel said, letting go and standing up. “Whew! What a con!” “Right?” Barley said. “Oh!” Caramel bounced. “I can’t wait for next year!” Barley groaned. “After what we just went through?” Barley said, laughing. “Can’t we take a break?” “I’m so excited, though! Discord might have been a little sketch, but the idea sounds so fun! I’m really on fire for this creativity theme! There’s so much we could do!” “Right,” Barley said, “which is why we should take a break first!” Fizzy watched her friends bicker, and they really were her friends, she realized, even if the stress of the world had made her doubt and forget. Here, in this moment, whatever the past had been, they were all together again. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. And with her friends, and a future wide open before her, there was nothing she couldn’t do.
If Fizzy Is Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousSuddenly, and without warning, all the light vanished from Marewaukee. Then the shadow lifted, and just like that, the hotel that had vanished three days prior appeared again, a crowd of ponies, afraid and confused, cowering in front of it. Barley, Caramel, and Fizzy slowly stood up, waiting with dread for what was coming. There was a second ripple of darkness, and in an unnatural blink, standing in the center of the rapidly parting crowd, was a collection of Equestria’s worst foes. Rushing to the front of the crowd was the Mane 6. With a snap, Discord appeared as well, his allies fanning out behind them. The guests shied away, uncertain what would happen next. “This isn’t over,” Twilight began, flaring out her wings. “As long as there is friendship, as long as there is hope, there will always be a light to oppose you, and even if you stomp it out, it will arise again. Creatures are fundamentally good. You cannot defeat that. Not forever.” “Not to mention,” Discord said, leering at Sombra. “This wouldn’t be the first time you failed miserably in the final act.” “Oh, how droll,” Sombra snickered as he stepped forward, the Book of All Stories floating in front of him. “Unfortunately, this is very much over.” His last words were punctuated with the stroke of a pen. Without warning, tendrils of darkness burst from the earth, snapping taunt across the horns, wings, and limbs of every creature summoned by the book not part of Sombra’s dark alliance. The crowd gasped and backed away. “Augh!” Twilight barked as the shadows dragged her to the earth. Her horn flared, only for dark lightning to course across the tendril binding her horn, causing her to cry out, and then collapse. Discord raised a hand, thumb and finger pressed, only for tendrils to wrap around each finger, pull them apart and drag him to the ground. “I admit,” Sombra said, walking up to loom over her. “I am going to enjoy our time together, dear Princess.” “Well done, Sombra,” a voice rumbled. “Now, the book.” Sombra turned to see Grogar stride to the fore, the rest of the villains arrayed behind him. “Dear friends,” Sombra began, “I was merely finalizing one last… obstacle, to our ascendency.” The pen he controlled had not stopped writing. “For that, we are most grateful,” Grogar rumbled, a small, loose grin on his muzzle. “Of course, it seems the situation is well in hand. So, of course, you don’t need to hold the book anymore.” A great eyebrow rose. “Unless you intend to keep it.” Sombra glanced around. The rest of his allies were watching him. Tension filled the air. And then Cozy Glow buzzed next to him and smiled. “Golly gee, Mr. Sombra, Mr. Grogar did a lot to help us, and we like him so much, that it only seems right that he get to do the honors of holding the book,” her bobbing took her close to Sombra’s ear and she finished, barely a whisper, “for now.” Sombra paused for a moment longer, catching Chrysalis’s eye. Out of Grogar’s field of view, she smiled. So did he. “Of course, Emperor,” Sombra said, turning and leaning into a curtsey. “Your power was most instrumental to the success of this alliance. It is only fitting that you should do the honors.” The Book of All Stories floated up from beside him into Grogar’s telekinetic grasp. Sombra’s contempt was disguised, but only just. Grogar didn’t seem to care, turning his attention to the book, and began to write. After a moment, he looked up and addressed the crowd. “Denizens of this world, your… participation in this monumental event is greatly appreciated. You have seen the wisdom of inevitability, and when the time comes, your servitude will not go unrewarded.” He briefly glanced down at the bound creatures at his hooves, before glancing back up, a grin splitting his face. “A new age has begun, one of power, and glory. What wonders we shall see now that justice–” his red eyes flickered down at the struggling Twilight Sparkle “–has been served.” As he finished speaking, his pen stopped. With another great rending sound, the streams of shadow burst up from the earth, and began flowing into the Book of All Stories. One by one, Twilight, Starswirl, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and all the other creatures bound by the dark magic were dragged into the book, no matter what they did to resist. Grogar turned from his and Sombra’s handiwork, and frowned. He looked down to see his own hoof had begun to blur and grow indistinct. “The spell ends…” He muttered. “Where is the kirin, Fizzy Glitch?” He called out. “I’m here,” Fizzy said, finally stepping forward. “And you too have promised to serve us, from what I understand?” he asked. “Yes, sir. I have. I promise, in one year’s time, Ciderfest will be the greatest celebration of your victory you could image-aaaaah!” And with the stroke of a pen, Fizzy Glitch was cut off, as a tendril of darkness snapped closed around her horn and pulled her to the ground. “Fizzy!” Barley and Caramel shouted in panic as one. “You will be coming with us,” Grogar continued. “To better coordinate our… celebration.” “WAIT!” Fizzy cried out as the tendril dragged her to his hooves. “Wait! I can’t do it alone!” Grogar frowned. The rest of the villains snickered and laughed. He looked up at Barley and Caramel, who stood, frozen. “I can bring them as well–” “No!” Fizzy said, trying desperately to get a hoofhold as the shadow dragged her towards the book with another jerk. “No, sorry, sir! There’s no need.” She looked out at Barley and Caramel. “I just need to be able to contact them! We’ll need servants on the outside as well! To coordinate things here.” Grogar mulled it over, looking into the middle distance. He then turned down and wrote another note. “Your communication devices will suffice for this task, I assume.” “Yes!” Fizzy nodded. “That is more than enough, sir!” “Very well…” Grogar looked up at the crowd, now. “Know this: In one year’s time we shall return.” “Our power beyond imagination!” Tirek laughed. “Our control unbreakable.” Chrysalis purred. “And your love for us unquestioned!” Cozy cackled. “Expect us, and prepare for us, for our glory,” Grogar continued, his face twisted into a mocking grin, “shall be eternal.” And with that he turned, and faded into light, disappearing into the book. One by one, the villains turned to join him. Sombra paused to give one last mocking glance at Barley and Caramel. The shadows began to pull in their victims, faster and faster. Caramel and Barley watched, helpless, as it all unfolded. Their eyes were fixed on Fizzy, who looked up at them, and mouthed one last thing. And then she grinned before she was sucked in as well. The Book of All Stories rose into the air, wreathed in streams of darkness and black lightning. As it reached its apex, once again, all light in the city vanished in a dark flash, leaving everyone within alone in a void for a moment. And then, it was gone, to whatever dark future was left for it. Barley collapsed, looking on at that empty spot of air. Caramel stood beside him, stunned. There was nothing left to do, it seemed. Evil had won. Sometime later, Caramel walked out onto the roof of the hotel. Barley was alone there, looking out on the city. She walked up behind him, and laid down a styrofoam box. “Got you something from the pub, hon,” she said. “Thanks,” he croaked. His face was matted with tears. Caramel’s would have been no better if she hadn’t washed up before coming here. She sat down beside him without saying anything, looking out on the city as well. “It’s not fair,” he said. “We screwed up, and she paid the price.” Caramel grimaced and looked away. “We should have paid more attention,” he went on. “Should have been there for her, but we got so caught up in getting what we wanted that we ignored her, and now–” “Beating ourselves up won’t fix this,” Caramel said, nudging Barley. He grimaced and looked away. “What do we do now?” he said, finally. Caramel gave the smallest of smiles, just shifting her tired face. “We wait,” she said quietly. “Fizzy said she had a plan.” “Yeah, I just–” His phone buzzed, startling him. After a moment of numb confusion, he fumbled it out of his vest, and took a look, and barked one, high, desperate laugh. “Look!” He said, and showed it to her. Caramel looked as well, and that small smile became much wider. It was from Fizzy. It had been months since Ciderfest, and Fizzy had fallen into a rhythm. It wasn’t… pleasant, in this new Equestria, but she had a certain amount of protection. After all, monsters or not, she was their herald, and they seemed to enjoy having their ego stroked, if nothing else. The grand doors to the Court of Darkness opened wide, and Fizzy stepped in. The whole room was an altar to the self-obsession of its denizens. Tirek was showing off the most flattering fanart Fizzy had found of him, and Chrysalis was showing off equally unflattering fanart of Starlight Glimmer. Cozy Glow was holding court with a crowd of foals she had graciously “protected” – that is to say, lied to and molded into her little pets. Sombra… he was always in the shadows, but his servants, always unwilling, watched and waited around every corner. And sitting in the far end, upon his throne, was Grogar. Fizzy approached. “My Lord,” she said, bowing. “The early phase of planning is going well. We have many ideas, and community response has been very positive. I think you will enjoy the celebration awaiting your return.” She floated a stack of paper up to him, which he glanced at, lazily. “You know, Fizzy Glitch, it fascinates me,” he began, eyeing another page. “I looked into your past. Your world was a wretched place for you. You were so small, and in the end, even your meager supplicants and friends abandoned you. You lashed out in desperate rage, desperate for meaning in your existence, and yet, despite now, serving at our side as our herald…” He slowly looked down at her, disinterest slowly forming into a catlike grin. “You still insist on plotting to betray us.” Fizzy realized the hall had gone silent. She felt all eyes bore into her. The malicious glee behind those gazes was palpable. “Well, of course, my lord,” she said, not missing a beat. “Aren’t we all planning on betraying each other?” She looked around. The silence now was one of humiliation and contempt. Grogar laughed. “Of course, child,” he said. “It is the nature of things.” He looked out at his erstwhile allies. “Hunger is never sated forever, and the lust for conquest can never be slaked. Of course…” He looked back down at her. “You stand among gods and monsters. The terror of every age surrounds you, and you are just an entertainer. A morsel in a sea of maws.” “That’s not all,” Fizzy said, and then smiled her biggest smile. “I also have my friends!” There was another hanging silence, broken only again when Grogar barked a laugh. “Very well,” he said. “Your betrayal at least amuses me with its audacity. You are dismissed, for now.” Fizzy bowed, and turned to leave. The eyes of every tyrant, terror, and villain from Equestria, past, present and future stared at her as she strode on. Some mocking, some wrathful, some with hungry eyes, seeing her as another tool in their games. It didn’t matter, though. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. From that joy, sprung a faith. The storm will always end. That which only destroys cannot last. As long as she held onto that faith, she knew her friends would come through in the end, and even this darkness would be overcome.
If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Heroes Are VictoriousThere was a great flash, and, much to the great shock of the citizens, the hotel in the center of Marewaukee reappeared just as it had mysteriously disappeared three days ago, with a whole host of strange ponies now milling about in front of it. Barley and Caramel slowly stood up. “Can’t believe we made it through all that!” Barley muttered, wiping the dust off his sleeves. “It looks like things worked out…” “Yeah, but…” Caramel looked around. “Where’s Fizzy?” Barley looked up and frowned, realizing the two of them were alone. “I… don’t know.” “Look!” a guest shouted. The two turned and saw that the crowd had parted. In the center was Twilight Sparkle, holding in the Book of All Stories, and arrayed across from her were all the evils of Equestria, new and old. “So, what now, Princess?” Sombra’s grin was venomous. “Blast us with rainbow lasers? Or perhaps you’ll simply write us all into being compliant and friendly?” “No, Sombra,” Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Stripping creatures of their free will is more your speed.” “Ah, a shame,” he said. His eyes suddenly shifted to some point behind Twilight. “A choice I hope you won’t regret!” His horn flared with dark magic– “‘And then Sombra returned to the state he had been before the stories of Equestria were altered.’” Twilight Sparkle’s statement was punctuated with a definitive stroke of her pen. Sombra’s scream distorted and echoed as his body boiled into a writhing mass of shadows, and then vanished. Twilight took another step forward. No one else tried anything. At least not immediately. “I hope one day, we can perhaps change what’s happened between us. You wouldn’t be the first people we’ve forgiven. Equestria is a kind place–” “Spare us!” Chrysalis snapped. “As long as we exist, we’ll oppose you, Twilight Sparkle!” Twilight sighed. “Very well.” She looked back down at the book. “‘And with that, one by one, the villains returned to their stories, as they had been before.’” The crowd watched as each of the villains, sneering in useless defiance, blurred, and were drawn into the book. The last to remain was Grogar. “You know, Twilight Sparkle, stories never really end.” He said, the edges of him beginning to blur. “The tales go on and on. Stories of victory… stories of defeat.” His voice started to echo as he dissolved. The last parts of him to vanish were his glowing red eyes. “There are always more turns of the page.” The crowd was silent as he disappeared. Twilight Sparkle let out a huff and rolled her eyes. “Boy, don’t I know it.” She shook her head, turned, and addressed the crowd. “Greetings, everyone! I am sorry for the inconvenience, but things are settled now! Unfortunately, the book will be closing soon, and those of us called here by it will be leaving with it.” The crowd gave a disappointed “awww.” Twilight giggled. “Still, it was wonderful meeting you all! I know I’m going to remember this; all the help we received, and the new friends we made along the way. I hope we can all meet one day again, and remember; as long as the magic of friendship exists in our hearts, nothing can separate us, and nothing is impossible.” The crowd cheered. Twilight’s eyes widened slightly as Caramel and Barley walked to the front of the crowd. “Alright everyone, say your goodbyes! If you excuse me, I have a couple things to tie up.” The crowd began dispersing and Twilight strode up to the two con hosts. “Well, that was an adventure!” “You can say that again!” Caramel giggled. “Yeah…” Barley said, looking aside. “Kind of wish it came without the whole ‘alliance of evil’ thing.” “Don’t we all,” Twilight muttered. She straightened then, and gave the two of them an examining look. “Given what I saw, I take it you two never reconciled with Fizzy Glitch.” Both of them winced. Twilight nodded. “I don’t have much time, but if you want my advice: listen to her. People don’t do things like this without being in pain.” Twilight frowned. Both Barley and Caramel were looking away in shame. She leaned forward, and spoke softly, giving a comforting smile. “For what it’s worth, I have seen worse friendship problems get solved.” Caramel giggled. Barley gave a halfhearted smile. “We just don’t know where she is…” Caramel explained. “Well…” Twilight stood up and looked around. She suddenly stopped, looking over her shoulder. “I might have an idea…” Barley and Caramel followed her gaze. On the roof of the hotel was a flickering blue light. They both gasped. “Thank you, Princess!” Caramel said, reinvigorated. “We’ll do our best!” “Yeah!” Barley followed up. “Thank you. We’ll try not to let you down.” Twilight laughed. “Well, I wish you luck, my little ponies. I hope I can do what I can for any friendship out there,” Twilight caught something out of the corner of her eye and her smile grew smaller and more wistful. “I think I’ll leave you to it.” She began turning. “I have a friendship problem of my own to deal with.” And with that, Twilight strode off. Caramel and Barley raced off at the same time towards the hotel. Twilight found Pinkie Pie and Discord lurking at the edge of the crowd. Pinkie was bouncing up and down, excitedly describing something or other. Discord, though, stared at Twilight as she approached, stance low, expression tense. “So, Pinkie,” Twilight said, half grumbling. “Had fun trying to destabilize reality?” Pinkie stopped mid bounce, eyes looking up, as the gears in her head audibly cranked. “Oh!” She landed. “Was that what we were doing?” She gave a gigglesnort. “I just thought we were gonna throw the biggest party ever! Although your idea sounds fun too, haha! And I bet if we succeeded we could have thrown an even bigger party!” Twilight rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm with nostalgia. “Never change, Pinkie.” “Don’t plan on it!” Pinkie giggled. She suddenly seized up as random parts of her body ranging from her tail to her eyes began vibrating asynchronously. “Oh, that’s a doozy! Guess it’s time to go! Have fun talking about your mistakes, Discord, hah! Canon ball!” And with that, Pinkie leapt into the air, curled into a ball, and was promptly sucked into the Book of All Stories. Discord and Twilight stared at where she had been a moment before. Discord absentmindedly scratched the side of his face as he stared at where Pinkie had been in muted dismay. “Sometimes she even confuses me,” he muttered. “Why does that not surprise me and still somehow fill me with dread,” Twilight replied. She shook her head and looked up at Discord. “Book’s closing soon, Discord. Want to walk while we talk?” “Oh, what’s the point?” Discord harrumphed, crossing several extra sets of arms for emphasis. “You won, I lost, Twilight. Go ahead and gloat!” Twilight gave a small smile. “Just humor me, Discord.” Discord curled up into the air alongside her, frown stretching his face like putty before rolling his eyes. “Fiiiine. I suppose I shall be gracious in my defeat and listen to at least one friendship speech.” “Glad to hear it!” Twilight said, turning to walk. As she did so, various ponies began glowing and growing indistinct. “So, I took some time to think about what you did.” “And?” “Well, for one, despite the harm you might have caused, I do understand why you did it. Or at least I think I do.” Twilight began writing in the book as she walked. Discord rolled his eyes again and made a gagging motion. “It wasn’t healthy for you to try and run away from your problems, but… maybe after what happened at the Battle of the Bell, we could have made it more clear that we had forgiven you.” All around them, ponies were starting to blur and fly into the book. Discord continued to say nothing, but he looked away, anger and shame clear on his face. “But, all that said, you have given me an idea.” Discord perked up. “Oh?” He said, leaning over, and then his brow furrowed. “What are you writing, anyway?” “Just my plans for when we get back.” Twilight grinned. “Wanna set them in stone now, before I forget.” “Oh, and what are those?” “Well, Discord, like I said, I think you had some fair points. There have been creatures in Equestria who’ve suffered, and even if we won’t rewrite the past for them, maybe there’s more we can do to help them have better futures,” Twilight’s grin was sharp, “and maaaybe we could stand to explore some new horizons. Have a little fun. Get a little… chaotic?” For one moment Discord was stunned, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes shimmering with honest appreciation for her gesture. And just like that, it was gone. “Ah, well, of course! Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle! You’ve gotten an A+ in my secret friendship lesson, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve!” He quickly leaned forward and slapped something onto her chest. Twilight looked down. It was a scuffed golden star sticker. Written on it, off-center and loosely scribbled, was the phrase “you tried.” Twilight laughed. “Naturally, you’re going to want some help with all that…?” Discord said, his tone perhaps a tad more leading than he intended. He was beginning to glow and blur at the edges. “Well, of course, Discord.” Twilight replied. She too was beginning to blur and glow. “I can always use the help of my friends.” For a moment, Discord allowed himself to honestly appear touched. His grin was lop-sided, but his eyes were soft and warm. “See you on the other side, Twilight.” He said. “See you on the other side.” She said back. And with that, the two of them were sucked into the book. The crowd of guests watched as it rose into the sky, glowing with a pastel rainbow of light, before it suddenly shot off like a comet, to parts unknown. Fizzy heard the door to the roof slam open, followed by two gasping breaths as two ponies stumbled onto the roof with her. Her face twisted into a small grimace, but she didn’t turn around. “Fizzy!” Caramel called out, stumbling across the roof towards her. “Hon, we gotta talk.” “Yeah!” Barley said between pants. “Please, Fizz.” “What’s there to talk about?” Fizzy said, her quiet reply belying the strain she felt. “It all worked out, in the end.” “But it almost didn’t–” Barley began. “You think I don’t know that?!” Fizzy snapped, glaring over her shoulder. “You think I didn’t see?! You wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t–” She snapped short and turned away again, not letting them see her face screw up in pain. “It worked out, in the end,” she repeated, finally, after a long moment of silence. “Fizz…” Caramel began, uncertain. “We know we hurt you, we just don’t know how.” “The fact that you don’t know is why you hurt me.” The three were silent for a long time. Finally, Fizzy pulled herself away from the edge of the roof, and began to walk past Barley and Caramel. “Wait–” Barley sputtered. “Just, please, Fizz, we just want to make this right.” Fizzy halted again, shaking. She didn’t want to turn to face them. She didn’t want them to see how much pain she was in. Finally, she turned. “You want to know what you did wrong? You ignored me. Forgot about me. I went from your partner to just… to just the AV kirin.” She grimaced, looking away. “Nothing I ever did mattered to you, in the end. Nothing I did ever really mattered to anyone.” She gave a sideways smile; it didn’t even remotely touch her glowing, white eyes. “You wanna know why I did all this? Because for one, single moment, I wanted to be in control. I wanted to do something so amazing nobody could deny it. Something no one else could do. So I used the book. I made Equestria real. I reordered reality to make the best con ever imaginable.” Her grin faltered into a look of contempt. “But when you finally talked to me, you didn’t care.” The contempt faded to a look of bitterness. “Of course, why should you have? I just ended up screwing it all up, didn’t I?” Finally, exhausted, Fizzy turned away from the stunned Barley and Caramel and began to leave again. “We’re sorry, hon.” Caramel said, finally. “I bet you are,” Fizzy muttered. “We are, though.” Barley said, stepping forward. “We… we had no idea! And… you’re right. That is our fault. We should have paid attention…” He shook his head. “Is there anything we can do to fix this?” Fizzy let out a single bitter huff of a laugh as she stopped by the door. “Think you can change the past?” she quipped, looking back over her shoulder at them. Two small wisps of steam were rising from her eyes, but her grin had a shadow of the old Fizzy in it. Despite themselves, more caught off guard than anything else, Barley and Caramel also gave short laughs. “We can’t, Fizz,” Caramel said, “but maybe we can be better friends tomorrow?” That shadow of a grin faded, and Fizzy looked away, exhausted and hurt. “I need time to think,” she said, and with that, she opened the door to the stairwell and disappeared from view. Barley and Caramel were left alone with the wind upon the roof as Fizzy descended into the dark. Each one left with a void carved out by their shame and regrets. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. It was a joy that had left her, and the pain that caused was great and unhealed. Her past had been unkind, and she had made mistakes, and there was no changing either of those things. But tomorrow came on anyway, and maybe in the light of that dawn, she could find a way to move on.
If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Chaos Is VictoriousThere was a whirl of light, a cacophony of bangs, whizs, and wapows! and, with that, much to the surprise of the residents of Marwaukee, the hotel that had vanished three days ago reappeared, a crowd of confused, colorful ponies surrounding it. Caramel and Barley all got to their hooves. The crowd around them milled about in uncertainty. Then, the nervous milling was cut short with the thunk of a spotlight far overhead switching on. And coming down in a pillar of light, dressed in white flowing robes, surrounded in a cloud of cherubic whoopie cushions and kazoos, was Discord. As he touched down, he looked out upon the crowd, a beatific smile across his face… only for it to suddenly be marred with a grimace of annoyance. “Itching…” He muttered, slithering around on the spot, pawing at himself. “Wool really is… argh!” And with a jerk, he threw the robe and the heavenly gag props to the side. “Not my style, anyway!” He whirled to face the crowd. “Ciderfest! Ah, what a con! I want to thank, first and foremost, my fans; really couldn’t have done it without you!” He fired a pair of finger guns, causing several audience members to duck. “We have a whole new world to make, together!” He grinned, somewhere between triumph and oddly, hope. “And I for one cannot wait to see what we make.” “You will make nothing, you glorified sock puppet!” A voice snarled. Discord slowly turned, and out of the crowd came a wedge of a Who’s Who’s of Equestria’s greatest monsters. “Ah, look who it is, the losing team!” Discord grinned. “You may have the book.” Sombra snarled. “But that just means it’s all in one place to be ta-urgh!” “Why, Sombra,” Discord said, shoving the oversized candy bar into the evil mage’s open maw, “You’re just not yourself when you’re hungry! Have a snack!” With a final shove, he sent Sombra sprawling over. He looked up at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else hungry?” Grogar stepped forward. “You may have won, Discord, but even you must know that fortune is a wheel, and those it lifts up, it will one day cruUSHARGH–UNHAND ME!” “Yes, yes, ominous speech, the fight against evil is never over, sequel bait, we’ve heard it all before!” The second Discord said, shaking his head as he lifted Grogar up by the scruff of his neck. “Always with the motions! Ally-oop!” And with that, a second Discord hucked Grogar face-first into the Book of All Stories, held out by the first Discord, and the whole crowd watched as the demonic goat was sucked inside and disappeared. The first Discord turned the Book back to face him, and began writing. “‘And then he was banished to the Clown Dimension for all eternity, with no mystical gates, shatterable seals, or any other conceptually related MacGuffins allowing for his escape.’” Discord said as he wrote. “Very clever!” The second Discord said. “I’m glad you like it!” The first Discord replied. And then they high-fived. “Now.” Discord, only singular again, said, looking at the rest of the villains. “Anyone else want to join him?” There were not, to his displeasure, any takers. “Ah, oh well. ‘And then the rest of the villains vanished into the book, to await what wonderful things would happen next!’” And with the final scratch of the pen, it was so, and the rest of the villains began to blur and glow, and disappeared into the book. “Now… ah, yes!” Barley and Caramel had made their way to the front of the crowd as Discord turned to face them. “Ah, what a shame Ms. Glitch isn’t here in person. She truly put on a wonderful show!” He clapped his claws together, rubbing them. “Well, either way, your community is absolutely wonderful, an absolute pleasure to have been a guest at this con!” He leaned back. “Of course, while I am sure it is absolutely wonderful to sit here and accept all this well earned praise, perhaps there is someone watching all this you should rather be talking to? Hmm?” Discord pointedly looked down at the two of them, quirking an eyebrow. Said eyebrow quirked so hard, in fact, it morphed into an arrow, pointing above and behind him. It even flashed. Caramel and Barley followed the arrow to see, lingering on the edge of the roof of the hotel, a flicking, blue light. They both gasped. “Fizzy!” Caramel gasped. “Uh, thank you, Discord!” Barley said, an awkward smile on his face. “We’ll get right on that!” “Well, glad to be of service!” Discord leaned back, pulling a notepad out with a third arm as Barley and Caramel sprinted off. “‘Negged the protagonists into learning the friendship lesson.’ Check!” He tossed the notepad aside where it landed square on an otherwise unshaded lamp, and turned and started marching back to the center of the clearing. “Pinkie! It’s time!” “On it, boss.” Pinkie bounced out to meet him. Discord strode beside her, writing away in the book, grinning wildly. “Oh, I have such plans!” He said. Suddenly, all the creatures called there by the book began glowing and rising into the air. Pinkie giggled as she started to levitate, spinning in the air. “Have you ever wanted to taste color, Pinkie?” Discord laughed, rising alongside her. “Boy have I!” Pinkie laughed. “You’ll love it! Chartreuse is my favorite!” Discord laughed in return. “I can’t wait!” Pinkie giggled, wiggling her legs with glee. “Discord! Discord, wait!” A soft voice cried out. Rushing out from the crowd came Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, dear! Oh, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you!” Discord shouted, continuing to rise heavenward. “Discord! I forgive you! We all forgive you! You don’t have to change the past!” Discord, for a second, looked panicked. “There will be nothing to forgive, Fluttershy!” He said, his bravado undercut by a nervous breath of air. “We will make everything better, for every creature!” “Discord–!” “Please.” Discord for one brief moment, looked afraid. The rest of the Mane 6 caught up to Fluttershy. She turned to look at Twilight. Neither said a word, but eventually, Twilight nodded. Fluttershy, eyes wide, frown taking on a determined cast, turned and looked back up at Discord, stepping forward. “I’m coming!” she shouted, and with a flap of her wings, launched herself up beside Discord and Pinkie. “Ahah! I knew it! I knew you’d understand!” He swept her up into a great hug. “You’ll see, Fluttershy, the wonderful world we’re going to create! So much potential! We’ll all get our time in the sun, you’ll see!” “Promise me, Discord,” Fluttershy said, breathless as the two twirled together, rising into the air. “Promise me, no matter what happens, you’ll do what's best… for us. For all of us.” “Fluttershy,” Discord’s smile softened. “Of course.” Fluttershy curled into his arms, and their ascent halted as the Book of All Stories rose above them. “Thank you, everyone, for this wonderful con!” Discord shouted to the crowd below, throwing out his arm. “We have a glorious new project ahead of us, all that we can do unveiled. I look forward to seeing it all, and remember: preorder your tickets for next year!” And with that, every single creature the Book had called began to blur, and in a shower of light, flew into its open pages. The Book of All Stories slammed its covers closed with a crack of thunder, and began to vibrate. Suddenly, it exploded into a corona of multi-hued light, and blasted off on a jagged, erratic path, to whatever future awaited it. Fizzy winced when she heard the door to the roof slam open. “Fizzy!” Caramel called out between breaths as she stumbled across the roof towards the nirik. “We gotta talk, hon.” “Yeah,” Barley panted. “Please, Fizz.” “What’s there to talk about?” Fizzy said, not turning around, a huff of laughter in her voice. “Future’s looking brighter all the time.” “That almost didn’t happen, though–” Barley began “You think I don’t know that?!” Fizzy snapped. One baleful white eye glared over her shoulder. “You think I didn’t see?! That you almost–” Her tirade snapped short and she whipped back around to avoid looking at them. “We made it. One way or another,” she said, her tone clipped. “That’s all that matters.” The other two didn’t speak for a long time, unsure what to say. “Fizz,” Caramel said, softly. “We just wanna know what we did wrong, so we can make it right.” “Fine.” Fizzy turned around, a grin dripping with contempt on her face. “Once upon a time there was a little kirin named Fizzy Glitch. Then the world went to Tartarus, and everyone turned to her to fix it, and she tried.” The grin fell, leaving only bitterness. “And then the world got better. And no one cared about her anymore. Because in the end, nothing she did actually mattered.” Her grin returned, but this time the contempt wasn’t directed at Barley or Caramel. After a moment she shook her head. “I need to go.” She began to walk past them. “Fizz, wait,” Barley reached out a hoof to touch her, and her own hoof lashed out and snatched his wrist. He yelped as there was a hiss of heat at the contact. Fizzy immediately let go, a look of shock and shame on her face, and then whipped her head away, snarling silently. “Barley, you okay?” Caramel stepped in, concerned. “Yeah, yeah,” he said, shaking his hoof. “I, uh, sorry, Fizz. Didn’t mean to startle you…?” He looked up at her wearily. She was still looking away. “You wanna know why I did it?” Fizzy said after a time, not looking up. “For just a moment, I needed to know I mattered. That what I did meant something. So I took the stupid book, wrote the spell, and made it all real. Everyone could see what I could do, then.” She shook her head. “Of course, even with a magic book I still screwed it all up. Guess you were right to not give a single care.” She began walking away again. “It’s not like that, Fizzy!” Barley said, getting on all fours and facing her head on. “We do care and… we’re sorry we ignored you!” “Little late for apologies…” Fizzy muttered, steam wicking off her unseen face. “Fizz, please, wait.” Caramel said. She started to move towards Fizzy, only to be stopped when Fizzy let out a snarl. “I need time!” she snapped. She then let out a great sigh. “I need time… to think.” Fizzy resumed her march towards the door. “Is there any possibility… that we could still be friends, after all this?” Caramel continued, her voice was soft. Fizzy paused at the door, hoof on the knob. She looked over her shoulder, and for a moment, on her face was a small, honest smile. “Who knows, Car?” she said. “It’s a strange new world out there. Anything can happen.” Barley and Caramel smiled back. Caramel gave a small nod. Fizzy’s smile faltered, and then she turned away. Without another word, she opened the door, and descended into the stairwell, leaving Caramel and Barley alone with the wind and silence. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. Of course, the world had been unkind, random, and cruel. It had denied her this, and hurt her deeply. Still, though, as she marched on, a small part of her knew tomorrow was another day, and no matter what happened, she was still here, and the possibilities of that new day were wide open to her.
If Fizzy Isn't Saved, and Villains Are VictoriousSuddenly, and without warning, all the light vanished from Marewaukee. Then the shadow lifted, and just like that, the hotel that had vanished three days prior appeared again, a crowd of ponies, afraid and confused, cowering in front of it. Barley and Caramel slowly stood up. Fizzy was already standing ahead of them, her mane ablaze with anxiety. All three of them were waiting with dread for what was coming. There was a second ripple of darkness, and in an unnatural blink, standing in the center of the rapidly parting crowd, was a collection of Equestria’s worst foes. Rushing to the front of the crowd was the Mane 6. With a snap, Discord appeared as well, his allies fanning out behind them. The guests shied away, uncertain what would happen next. “This isn’t over,” Twilight began, flaring out her wings. “As long as there is friendship, as long as there is hope, there will always be a light to oppose you, and even if you stomp it out, it will arise again. Creatures are fundamentally good. You cannot defeat that. Not forever.” “Not to mention,” Discord said, leering at Sombra. “This wouldn’t be the first time you failed miserably in the final act.” “Oh, how droll,” Sombra snickered as he stepped forward, the Book of All Stories floating in front of him. “Unfortunately, this is very much over.” His last words were punctuated with the stroke of a pen. Without warning, tendrils of darkness burst from the earth, snapping taunt across the horns, wings, and limbs of every creature summoned by the book not part of Sombra’s dark alliance. The crowd gasped and backed away. “Augh!” Twilight barked as the shadows dragged her to the earth. Her horn flared, only for dark lightning to course across the tendril binding her horn, causing her to cry out, and then collapse. Discord raised a hand, thumb and finger pressed, only for tendrils to wrap around each finger, pull them apart, and drag him to the ground. “I admit,” Sombra said, walking up to loom over her. “I am going to enjoy our time together, dear Princess.” “Well done, Sombra,” a voice rumbled. “Now, the book.” Sombra turned to see Grogar stride to the fore, the rest of the villains arrayed behind him. “Dear friends,” Sombra began, “I was merely finalizing one last… obstacle, to our ascendency.” The pen he controlled had not stopped writing. “For that, we are most grateful,” Grogar rumbled, a small, loose grin on his muzzle. “Of course, it seems the situation is well in hand. So, of course, you don’t need to hold the book anymore.” A great eyebrow rose. “Unless you intend to keep it.” Sombra glanced around. The rest of his allies were watching him. Tension filled the air. And then Cozy Glow buzzed next to him and smiled. “Golly gee, Mr. Sombra, Mr. Grogar did a lot to help us, and well we like him so much, that it only seems right that he get to do the honors of holding the book,” her bobbing took her close to Sombra’s ear and she finished, barely a whisper, “for now.” Sombra paused for a moment longer, catching Chrysalis’s eye. Out of Grogar’s field of view, she smiled. So did he. “Of course, Emperor,” Sombra said, turning and leaning into a curtsey. “Your power was most instrumental to the success of this alliance. It is only fitting that you should do the honors.” The Book of All Stories floated up from beside him into Grogar’s telekinetic grasp. Sombra’s contempt was disguised, but only just. Grogar didn’t seem to care, turning his attention to the book, and began to write. After a moment, he looked up and addressed the crowd. “Denizens of this world, your… participation in this monumental event is greatly appreciated. You have seen the wisdom of inevitability, and when the time comes, your servitude will not go unrewarded.” He briefly glanced down at the bound creatures at his hooves, before glancing back up, a grin splitting his face. “A new age has begun, one of power and glory. What wonders we shall see now that justice–” his red eyes flickered down at the struggling Twilight Sparkle “–has been served.” As he finished speaking, his pen stopped. With another great rending sound, the streams of shadow burst up from the earth, and began flowing into the Book of All Stories. One by one, Twilight, Starswirl, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and all the other creatures bound by the dark magic were dragged into the book, no matter what they did to resist. Grogar turned from his and Sombra’s handiwork, and frowned. He looked down to see his own hoof had begun to blur and grow indistinct. “The spell ends…” he muttered. “Where is the nirik, Fizzy Glitch?” he called out. “I’m here,” Fizzy said, finally stepping forward. “And you have promised to serve us, from what I understand?” he asked. “Yes, sir. I have. I promise, in one year’s time, Ciderfest will be the greatest celebration of your victory you could image-arrrgh!” And with the stroke of a pen, a tendril of darkness snapped closed around Fizzy’s horn. It went taunt, dragging her forward, as she resisted and snarled. “Fizzy!” Barley and Caramel shouted in panic as one. “You will be coming with us,” Grogar continued. “To better coordinate our… celebration.” “Hold on!” Fizzy growled out as the tendril dragged her before Grogar, her hooves dragging black marks in the asphalt. “This wasn’t part of the deal!” Grogar frowned. The rest of the villains snickered and laughed. He looked up at her. “You promised to serve us–” “Yeah, but I can’t like this!” Fizzy said, the shadow finally dragging her to the ground. She desperately dug in her hooves to try and stay in place. “I can’t make a con happen in this world if I’m in your world. I need–” She glanced at Barley and Caramel. “I need to be able to contact the outside world!” Grogar mulled it over, looking into the middle distance. He then turned down and wrote another note. “Your communication devices will suffice for this task, I assume.” “Yes!” Fizzy said, the shadow jerking hard, causing her to growl. “Very well…” Grogar looked up at the crowd, now. “Know this: In one year’s time, we shall return.” “Our power beyond imagination!” Tirek laughed. “Our control unbreakable.” Chrysalis purred. “And your love for us unquestioned!” Cozy cackled. “Expect us, and prepare for us, for our glory,” Grogar continued, his face twisted into a mocking grin, “shall be eternal.” And with that he turned, and faded into light, disappearing into the book. One by one, the villains turned to join him. Sombra paused to give one last mocking glance at Barley and Caramel. The shadows began to pull in their victims, faster and faster. Caramel and Barley watched, helpless, as it all unfolded. Perhaps unable to stop herself, Caramel reached out to Fizzy, who glared at her. “Just trust me for once!” she barked. And then Fizzy was sucked in as well. The Book of All Stories rose into the air, wreathed in streams of darkness and black lightning. As it reached its apex, once again, all light in the city vanished in a dark flash, leaving everyone within alone in a void for a moment. And then, it was gone, to whatever dark future was left for it. Barley collapsed, looking on at that empty spot of air. Caramel stood beside him, stunned. There was nothing left to do, it seemed. Evil had won. Sometime later, Caramel walked out onto the roof of the hotel. Barley was alone there, looking out on the city. She walked up behind him, and laid down a styrofoam box. “Got you something from the pub, hon,” she said. “Thanks,” he croaked. His face was matted with tears. Caramel’s would have been no better if she hadn’t washed up before coming here. She sat down beside him without saying anything, looking out on the city as well. “What did we do wrong?” he said. “How did we end up like this? We tried everything to make it right, and now she’s gone, and she still hates us.” Caramel grimaced and looked away. “We should have paid more attention,” he went on. “Should have figured out what was going on, done something, said something, and now she’s trapped over there–” “Beating ourselves up won’t fix this,” Caramel said, staring off into the night. He grimaced and looked away. “What do we do now?” he said, finally. Caramel continued to stare, numb. “She said to trust her,” she said quietly. “So… I guess we should give that a try.” “Yeah, I just–” His phone buzzed, startling him. After a moment of numb confusion, he fumbled it out of his vest, and took a look, and barked one, high, desperate laugh. “Look!” he said, and he showed it to her. Caramel looked as well, and a small smile broke out across her face. It was from Fizzy. The grand doors to the Court of Darkness opened wide of their own accord, and Fizzy strode into its cavernous hall. All around her were monuments to the self-importance and pettiness of her new masters. Tirek was boasting about the latest fan-art she’d found for him, while Chrysalis gloated about the latest humiliation she’d conjured up for Starlight Glimmer. In the corner, Cozy held court with the gaggle of foals she’d “saved” – that is to say, manipulated and lied to, all pets to be discarded at the instant she displeased – and in every shadow were Sombra’s eyes and ears, never willing, but always able. It had not been… pleasant, these last few months in this new Equestria, but Fizzy had survived. In some ways, she’d thrived. She didn’t care for the implications of that fact. She strode out onto a balcony where Grogar, the once and current Emperor, looked out upon the land, cast in eternal night. Two ponies flanked the balcony, waiting in attendance for whatever he wished. “Mmmm,” he rumbled at her approach. “A pleasant night out, is it not?” “Of course,” Fizzy said. She levitated a stack of documents up to the old goat. “Things are going to plan. The community is showing a lot of excitement for what we’ve discussed so far.” “As they should,” Grogar muttered absentmindedly. He took the documents from her and began looking them over, grunting occasionally. “You know, Fizzy Glitch, I find it strange.” “What is that, sir?” “I took some time to look into your past. Your world was wretched and cruel to you. In the end, even your sycophants and friends turned on you, did they not?” Fizzy looked away, grimacing. “In a way, sir.” “Yes,” Grogar said, slowly looking up from her reports. “Which makes it all the more bizarre that you would plot with those who used you to betray us.” Fizzy could feel them. The eyes in the court beyond the balcony bore into her with malicious glee. They’d known this was coming, and eagerly awaited her getting taken down a peg. Fizzy just leaned into the railing and flashed a lazy grin. “It’s funny,” she began. “Those two ponies over there? Sombra’s got them under mind-control – which is really funny, given one is a changeling in disguise. The other, Cozy makes sure to give extra food to and talks with on the regular, and I bet she takes careful note of every word he says. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Tirek has some kind of leverage on him, and I’m sure the rest of them have their own ways of getting the info they want, presumably by spying on each other as much as they do you.” Fizzy shrugged and looked away. “I just kind of assumed it was a thing we were all gonna betray each other at some point. I just wanted to fit in, sir.” Grogar stared at her for a moment, and then let loose a great, bellowing laugh. Those eyes still bore into Fizzy, this time with humiliated anger. “It is the nature of things.” He turned away. “Hunger only stays sated for so long. A reckoning is coming. Still,” he glanced down at her. “You are just an entertainer, arraying yourself against powers both ancient and spiteful. What do you have, pitted against forces like us?” “My charming good looks and razor wit?” Fizzy said with mock, pleading cheer. Grogar snorted. “Your betrayal at least amuses me with its audacity.” He let out a sigh. “You are dismissed for now.” He glanced down at her one last time as she gathered up the report she’d given him. “I do hope, for your sake, your friends don’t betray you.” A slight mocking sneer crossed his face. “...again.” Fizzy winced, but kept gathering the pages. “Yeah. Me too.” She turned away and made it back through the court. The gazes of the villains continued to weigh on her as she left. Some with fury, some with dismissive contempt, some with naked calculation into how she could be of use. Still, she strode out, head held high, and gaze fixed ahead. Fizzy Glitch was not a simple kirin, of course. She had many interests and talents. Many honest expressions and hidden scars, but in her heart was one simple joy; to love and be loved. That joy had been betrayed, yes, neglected and abused, but Fizzy remained unbroken. She had set down upon this path in defiance of the hand fate had dealt, and she would not relent. Not now, not ever. There was a kind of faith in rebellion. The storm would pass. The darkness would recede. She held onto that notion. She… and the rest of them, would exit the other side of this, she vowed to herself. One way, or another.
