The Vanishings

Chapters

The Beginning
An Unwelcomed Alliance
Der Hêrro de Vafi
Portals

The Beginning

I didn't notice anything was wrong at first. Granted, neither did anybody else. Cherry Crash was the first. One day, she went to school, living her normal life, or at least, that was what it seemed like, and the next, she was just gone. She didn't show up for school and none of the teachers asked about her when doing attendance. Sure, it was odd, but that was all the thought I really gave it. I just thought, Hm, that's odd, and then shrugged and forgot all about it. We, or I, just thought, she moved away or was sick.

Sandalwood was next. His disappearance struck me a little more. Mostly because I knew him a bit more than I did Cherry. I asked about him, but everyone would just shrug and ask who I was talking about. I thought it was odd, but, let's face it, I was so busy with school and such that I completely forgot.

It wasn't until Wallflower Blush went missing that I really started noticing things weren't right. I had been making an effort to talk to her more, and we actually started to get really close. We'd make an effort to meet up every Thursday after school. Neither of us ever missed it. Even after the whole Memory Stone ordeal, she didn't have very many friends. So, I tried to make sure she felt as included as I could.

So when she missed our Thursday meet-up, I grew a bit concerned. Mostly because she didn't text me that she was going to miss it or anything. I sat in the cafe we met up at for two hours, but soon, it was clear she was going to be a no-show. The weirdest part about it was the waiter. It was a small cafe and we went every Thursday at the same time, so, we got the same waiter. It was obvious they liked each other, but they were both too shy to say anything.

However, that day, when the waiter came to take my order, he didn't ask about her. Not once. And when I asked him to help me keep an eye out for Wallflower, he just tilted his head and asked me who I was talking about. I just thought he was being a jerk guy, but he didn't seem like the type. But, still, something in the back of my mind told me something wasn't right.

When I didn't see her the next day at school, I asked Trixie if she'd heard from Wallflower, but again, Trixie had no idea who I was talking about. Sure, Trixie was a little… absent-minded at times, but she and Wallflower frequently hung out. She wouldn't just…forget her. Later that day, I went to Wallflower's house, but when I asked her parents about her, they were dumbfounded.

A week later, Trixie vanished. Same deal. Nobody even remembered she existed. It was one thing for nobody to remember Wallflower, but Trixie? She wasn't exactly what you'd call subtle. In fact, if you looked up antonyms for the word subtle, her name would be there. Even when I looked in the yearbook, her name and photo were gone. It was like she was completely erased from this world.

After that, it felt like kids were disappearing left and right. Snips. Snails. Octavia. DJ Pon-3. Diamond Tiara. Derpy.

…Flash…

I tried talking to my friends about it, but since they didn't exactly remember, it was hard to get their help. I mean, how could you find somebody if you don't know anything about them? We tried, of course. We studied, and we journaled Princess Twilight. Though, she didn't respond. Probably on a Friendship Quest.

Lyra. Bon Bon. Micro. Norman. Heath Burns…

I barely knew these kids, but when they disappeared, their absence was deafening. I didn't understand how nobody even remembered them, let alone they disappeared. It didn't make sense.

Photo Finish. Teddy. Whiz Kid. Zephyr Breeze. Bulk Biceps…

There was no rhyme or reason. No pattern. Nothing. It was random, completely unpredictable. They didn't even go missing at the same time. One day they'd be at school, the next they were gone. I'd see them in one class, but they were gone the next. I'd see them in the cafeteria but not after school. It wasn't even every day. Sometimes it was every other day. Sometimes it was once a week.

Twilight, or Sci-Twi, as I liked to call her, and I went to Crystal Prep Academy to see if they were experiencing the same thing. Of course, they wouldn't know it. Twilight knew the names of students from CPA better, but, of course, if they disappeared, she wouldn't know them. I asked Dean Cadence about the students I did know the names of, but they were all still there. Granted that was very little, but still.

Bright Idea. Captain Planet. Scootaloo. Scott Green. Big Mac…

Then Lemon Zest went missing. I knew then CPA was undergoing the same thing. I began to think I was going crazy. Maybe this was all in my head. Maybe this was a dream. Why did I remember, and nobody else did? This felt like the Time Loop and Memory Stone combined all over again. It was driving me mad.

Scribble Dee. Silver Spoon. Golden Hazel. Indigo Watch. Sweet Leaves. Indigo Zap…

Then Fluttershy went missing. That one nearly broke me. Nobody remembered she even existed. No memories, no photos, nothing. After everything we've been through together, not a single soul remembered her. Except for me. It was then that even my friends started disappearing one by one. It reminded me that even they weren't infallible. That I can disappear.

Valhallen. Rarity. Applebloom. Sour Sweet. Curly Winds. Sugarcoat…

Our school population dropped dramatically. We went from eight hundred students to two hundred. And then it was one hundred. And then fifty. And everybody just acted like nothing happened. But…I knew. I knew what happened. And I'd never let myself forget.

Paisley. Brawly Beats. Sweetie Bell. Pinkie Pie. Ringo. Tennis Match. Sunny Flare…

Every time one of them went missing, I wrote down their names. The names of them didn't disappear if they were written after they vanished. But I was no closer to figuring out what the hell was going on. Six months later and I was still at square one. Not even a journal entry from Twilight Sparkle.

Cloudy Kicks. Sci-Twi. Blueberry Cake. Crimson Napalm. Sophisticata. Applejack…

Rainbow Dash was the last of us to vanish. After that, I was the only student at Canterlot High and CPA. Both schools faded as though they never existed. I was alone. Utterly and uselessly alone with no options left. Well, except for one…

Author's Note

NEW STORY! Thought I'd go with a mystery this time. This story is inspired by the song Faded by Alan Walker. Sunset has always been my fav character, then Misty came along and then she wasn't.

Also: Secrets of the North update. It's not on hiatus, but the next chapter might take a little longer to come out. You know when you're so excited about one scene in the story that you practically base your story around that whole scene, but then once you get there, you have no idea how you're going to write the damn thing. Yeah, that's where I'm at in my life…*cricket cricket*…fun times :ajbemused:

But it's coming. Promise. So, hope you enjoy this one in the meantime.

Hakuna Matata!

An Unwelcomed Alliance

I walk home, the late evening sun setting, casting the sky a beautiful red and orange. Tears stream down my face, but I quickly wipe them away, holding them back and burying my emotions. I've cried enough tears over them. Tears aren't going to bring them back. Action will.

I walk through Canterlot City, the wind blowing through my hair. The city's so quiet now that every teenager's gone. It doesn't feel right. Nothing does. I'm not sure if this blasted curse has spread to adults or if it's just children. It's impossible to tell. And frankly, I don't care anymore. I've had enough heartache and fear when it was just the kids. I'm not about to add adults to the mix.

A part of me just wants to give up. To not even try anymore. To just sit on my couch in the dark and wait to disappear. Just like everyone else. I mean, it's going to happen to me anyway right? Why even try when I've gotten nowhere? I'm surprised I'm still here anyway. Seven months since the first disappearance, longer than any other teen, and I'm still here. I don't know why. I don't know what's so special about me. I'm just a former student of Celestia's that's gone rogue and tried to rule the world, only to be shown the Light of Friendship, and then screw up royally at it but then became a valuable member of the team.

So why me? What's so special about me that I'm still here. Or…maybe I'm asking myself the wrong questions. Maybe I should be asking what's so wrong with me, that I was left behind. Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe I died in my sleep and this is the afterlife. Maybe…maybe this is how it's supposed to be for all eternity.

I arrive at my apartment building, where the landlord is sitting in a lawn chair on the front porch, staring out at the street, as though on guard for any teenagers that were missed. He barely spares me a glance, which I've grown used to. By the time it was just Rainbow Dash and me, adults hardly paid any attention to us. Now I'm lucky if an adult even looks me in the eye.

"Umm…hey…Mr. Doodle?" I ask hesitantly, but I'm not even sure I have his attention. He doesn't even move. Cranky Doodle was the former math teacher at Canterlot High, though, of course, he had to get a new job seeing as the school no longer exists. So, he became my new landlord. I'm not sure where the old one went, and frankly, I don't care.

I pause, and when it's clear I'm waiting for a response, he huffs heavily and snaps, "Whaddya want?"

I swallow nervously. Back at school, while he was known to be incredibly cranky over the smallest thing, hence his name, I'm not so sure about now. Sure, he's still as grumpy as ever, but he hardly even cares about anything I tell him. And believe me, when I still cared, I tried using everything I knew would piss him off during class. Barely even got a glance in my direction. Oh yeah, and him asking if I was done.

"Umm…I'm…I'm just gonna be…a couple of days late with the rent. I get paid Friday, but umm…well…the rent's due Wednesday and…I'll pay it Friday I promise but…"

"It's fine. Whatever. You know about the fifty-dollar late fee." He said dismissively, waving his hand.

"W-well, umm…I was kinda hoping you could wave it? Just because my pay period just happens to fall right after the rent is due this month and…"

"No can do, kid. You know the rules."

"B-but–" I start, only for him to hold up a hand. I shut my mouth, knowing this conversation is over and he'll tune out anything else I have to say.

I sigh. Another month of a tight budget I guess.

I use my key to enter the building, climbing up the three flights of stairs it takes to get to my apartment. The elevator has been broken for two years. The old landlord hadn't gotten around to it. Who knows? Maybe once Cranky Doodle gets bored of sitting outside and staring at the street, he'll call the maintenance guy or electrician or whoever fixes elevators.

Once I'm in front of the door with my number, the number twelve, I use my key to unlock the door, slowly opening it. Despite the… run-down condition of the building, the apartments themselves are surprisingly nice. The rent is also cheap, so that's a plus, I guess.

Sighing heavily, I make my way to the kitchen. I've hardly eaten since Fluttershy vanished, spending all of my free time trying to find out what happened and how to bring them back.

I throw my backpack on the floor under my second-story bed, right next to my desk. I turn to put my keys in the bowl I keep on my small table by the door, since Doodle made it very clear I get two sets of keys, and if I happen to lose them both, well I should just hope I know how to jimmy a lock. I pause, my heart stopping.

It's empty. It's never empty. I always keep my spare in there. Always.

I clench my jaw, grabbing the baseball bat I keep by my front door. What can I say? It's not the safest of neighborhoods and with teens vanishing left and right, I like to be prepared.

I slowly creep through my apartment, holding the baseball bat in a ready-to-strike position. I hear the sound of my fridge opening and the sounds of someone going through it. Not that they're going to find much.

I hear the fridge close, and I pause, quickly backing against the wall, right before the corner that rounded into my tiny kitchen that should really just be called a closet. I hear scoffing and a whole bunch of sighing. I practically hear them rolling their eyes. Then I hear the sound of footsteps getting closer and I raise the bat, ready to strike.

I count in my head. I know exactly how long it takes to get from the fridge to here. I've lived here for four years, I know this place like the back of my hand.

One. Two. Thr–

I pause, eyes wide, mouth hanging open. No. This isn't…this can't… "A-Adagio?"

Adagio turns to look at me, giving a quick glance at the bat in my hand, giving it a bored look before looking back at me. In her own hand is an apple that I know she just got out of my fridge. She looks…exactly the same since the last time I saw her at the Starswirled Music Festival. Same jacket, the same sparkly purple shorts.

I just stare at her, open-mouthed. She just raises an eyebrow at me. "A baseball bat? Really? Don't you think that's just a tad bit excessive?"

I look at the bat and then I look at her. Excessive? What's excessive is her breaking into my house and waiting for me in the dark rather than knocking on the front door like a normal person.

"How…how did you…how did you get into my apartment?" I ask, completely dumbfounded that Adagio, the girl who turned my whole school into a music battlefield, the one who hates me and my friends' guts, is here, in my apartment, as though we've been lifelong friends.

Adagio rolls her eyes as though it's obvious, and perhaps it is, but I'm too speechless to think straight. "I jimmied the lock…duh."

I glance at the bowl on my table before looking back at the orange-haired girl. "Where's my spare?"

Adagio holds up my spare key in her hand, finger through the ring. "Took the liberty of grabbing it, if you don't mind. Since, you know, I'll be crashing here for a bit."

I widen my eyes. This…this girl is so presumptuous. Where the hell is she getting these damn ideas? "I very much do mind. Give them back!" I hold out my hand, my other still holding the bat. She tosses it at me, and I grapple to catch it, luckily doing so before it falls to the floor. I look back at her. "And what makes you think I'm gonna let you couch surf at my apartment? We are not friends. You hate me."

Adagio ignores my question, looking around my apartment as though she's inspecting it. "Sweet digs you got here."

I blink, stuffing my spare key into my jacket pocket. Did she just compliment me?

"It's so…you." She says, giving me a sly look.

And there it is. She walks past me, dropping her half-eaten apple on the floor. I'm tempted to leave it there, like hell I'm picking it up, but this place is already a mess as it is. Papers are scattered everywhere and books lay open on the table, floor, and couch, notes and notebooks not far with a pencil, all evidence of my research for an answer I have yet to find. So, reluctantly, I pick it up and toss it in the trash, turning to face my enemy with the bat in my hand, who's already made herself comfortable on the couch, feet on the armrest, shoes and all.

I roll my eyes. 'What do you want Adagio?"

"Well, first I need you to answer me one question," She says, inspecting her fingers and nails, before looking me in the eye. "Do the names Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze mean anything to you?"

I roll my eyes. "You mean your little sidekicks, Grumpy and Dopey? How could I forget?" I mentally cross my fingers. Of course I could've forgotten. But the fact that Adagio actually remembers them means they're still here.

I feel I imagined it, but I thought I saw her flinch when I said the word 'forget'. Which is odd. Unless…no. Just no. Not Adagio of all people. I mean…she's…she's Adagio. I doubt that needs any more explanation.

That's when it hits me. Adagio is still here. She hasn't vanished. My eyes widen so much, that they practically bug out. I shake my head, refusing to let myself hope. She'll probably be gone by tomorrow.

"Of course you'd be the one to remember." She mutters under her breath. "Nonetheless, we'll be of use to each other."

"What do you want?" I repeat, though instead of irritation, dread begins to build deep in my gut.

"Well, originally I was going to tell your whole possy at once, but seeing as you're all that's left, I suppose you'll have to do. What I–"

"You remember them?!" I ask, shock filling my voice. I was starting to think I had gone mad. That maybe, just maybe, I had imagined all this. But having someone else remember reminds me this is real. Even if that someone is Adagio.

Adagio just rolls her eyes, her irritation growing, but there's something else about it. I can't put my finger on it, but it lacks its usual flare. "You mean Snow White and her six little dwarfs? The puny teenagers who ruined our lives? How could I forget?"

"Snow White? Really?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "You can't insult me with the same insult I used for your friends. It's a cheap shot."

"I know. It’s called ‘a cruel irony.’ Like my dependence on you.”

"Seriously though. What are you doing here?"

"I need you to do something for me. I need you to find my girls. They've vanished without a trace and I want them back."

I blink again. What is going through this girl's head? Did she just think I have them in my back pocket and I can just pull them out and just give them to her? Has she lost her mind?

At my dumbfounded expression, she rolls her eyes again. "You know, because you're you with connections to magic? Surely you have some sort of clue or something?"

I'm stunned silent for a moment before my mouth can finally form words. "Even if I did, which, newsflash, I don't, what makes you think I'd give it to you?"

"Because, Red, we need each other. Despite you being Celestia's top pupil, I have more magic experience than you could ever hope to gain. I was alive before your great-grandparents were even an idea. And besides, where my girls are, your…possey probably is too."

"How…how old are you? And how…"

"It was those gems you broke when you ruined our lives. They kept us immortal. Now that they're gone, we're just normal teenage girls. So, here's the deal I'm proposing: we work together to find Sonata and Aria, as well as the rest of the teens, and after that, we go our separate ways and we can go back to hating each other."

I'm silent for a moment before I continue. "Why do you want to find them so badly? All you three do is fight."

"Because…it's none of your business. So, we got ourselves a deal or what?"

I'm silent for a moment, biting my lip in thought. All of my instincts are telling me not to fall for this crap, that Adagio's just playing me. That she just wants to hear whatever information I might have just so she can ditch me when I least expect it. I mean, who knows? She could be behind this whole thing. It's just a coincidence that she just happens to be the only one who remembers the teenagers that went missing? Out of everybody? Am I really to believe that?

But, I look into her eyes and I realize I don't really have a choice. My friends and I are more like family than friends, after everything we've been through together. It's been killing me not having them here to help me through this, even if it's just one of them. I'd do anything to find them, even if it means teaming up with the worst girl out there.

But this is going to bite me in the ass, I just know it.

I groan audibly, just so she knows how much I don't want to make this deal too. "Fine. On one condition."

Adagio raises an eyebrow, telling me she's listening.

"You pay this month's rent. I'll pay you back half of it Friday when I get paid."

"Half?!" Adagio exclaimed, sitting up from the couch.

I cross my arms over my chest. "If you're gonna be staying here, you need to pay half of the rent. You can't just crash here for free. So…do we got a deal?" I walk closer to the couch, holding out a hand.

Adagio grumbles under her breath, twisting her lips in frustration before finally grabbing my hand and shaking it once. "Yeah yeah, sure, whatever. Deal."

Der Hêrro de Vafi

Last night had to be a dream. It just had to be. Well, those have been my thoughts for the past hour, as I lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. But, well, in all honesty, if I really believed that, I would've gotten out of bed an hour ago when I woke up. But, I don't want to. I'm scared if I do, I'll see the brat lying on my couch, and realize that every bit of it was real. Okay, maybe scared isn't the right word. Regretful? Frustrated? Screwed? I'll keep working on that later.

I look at my clock and see it's already seven thirty in the morning. Ugh. Before these vanishings happened, I usually started work at about three o'clock, since school got out at two forty-five. But, well, now that there's no school, I shifted my hours from three to ten to eight to three. Which gives me plenty of time to research, while also being able to pay the bills.

Reluctantly, I get out of bed, rubbing my eyes and yawning, stretching as I walk down the stairs. Once I'm off the staircase, I head straight to the kitchen, not even looking at the couch. If Adagio really is here, I need a cup of coffee before I can deal with her, otherwise, she won't have to worry about going missing because she'll soon be in my trunk as I drive to an empty field with a damn shovel.

Well, if I had a car…

However, as soon as I walk into the kitchen, I find the coffee pot empty. Empty. I clench my jaw. Usually, one pot lasts me three days. I just made a pot yesterday. Perhaps I can drag that girl to that empty field by her damn hair.

I take a deep breath and walk into the living room to see Adagio sitting on the couch, a mug of coffee in her hand, scrolling through her phone. When she feels me staring, she looks up at me, giving me a look.

"How many cups of coffee did you have?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

She downs the rest of her coffee, sighing and smacking her lips once she was finished. "Three." She says simply.

I take a deep breath. "Only one cup a day. We talked about this." I say through gritted teeth.

"No. You talked about it. I was just the unfortunate one on the receiving end." Adagio goes back to scrolling on her phone.

Okay. Deep breaths. Deep. Breaths. Killing is not the answer. If it was, I'd be dead after all the hell I've raised as a she-demon. Just, follow Princess Twilight's example. Mercy. Not death. Mercy.

But boy I wanted to. I really did. This girl really knew how to get under my damn skin.

"Adagio, I don't have money to be spending all willy-nilly. I have fricking bills to pay!"

Adagio scoffed. "Yeah, I noticed. Your TV won't turn on."

I clench my jaw, my entire body tensing as I tried to keep myself from slapping her across the face. "I know. I canceled cable since I spend all my free time researching and since I wasn't really using it except for wifi, I switched plans since I had better use for my money. That's…that's not the point. The point is I don't have money to buy a new pack of coffee every week and a half! I need that to last!"

"Not my problem," Adagio says absently.

"It is when you're living under my roof, sleeping on my couch, and drinking my damn coffee!" I yell, seriously losing it.

"Our roof. Remember, I'm paying half the rent." Adagio corrects.

"MY roof. You just happen to be the 'unfortunate' guest staying here." I say, glaring at her with a scowl. I roll my eyes. This is getting absolutely nowhere. I have work to get ready for. "I don't have time for this. I'll just have to…go without coffee for today. I need to get ready for work."

Adagio sits up, finally putting her phone down. "Work?! Hey, we had a deal! That I'd help you find the rest of the teenagers if you'd help me find my girls!"

"Yeah, but I still have to go to work. It's called having bills to pay. And responsibilities." I glance at the coffee cup she had put on the coffee table. "I mean, do you even know what that is or do I have to explain the concept to you," I mutter under my breath.

Adagio sighs, scowling intensely, dropping back down on the couch. I turn, ready to get ready for the day, when a thought occurs to me.

I don't trust Adagio to stay here in my apartment. At least, alone.

I turn back around. "And, you're coming with me."

Adagio rolls her eyes, scoffing. "Over my dead body."

It might just come to that, I think to myself. Shaking my head, I continue. "You don't have a choice in the matter. Up up. We've got a job to get to. Or you can kiss getting my help to find your 'girls' goodbye."

"This is where you work?" Adagio asks, twisting her lips.

The two of us stand in the music shop where I work. I've been working here since I joined the Rainbooms and I got fired from my last job in the fast food place for journaling on the job. This job actually worked out well, because, unlike at the fast food place, we don't have a whole lot of customers, which means I get a lot of downtime. When I'm not restocking the shelves, counting money from the register, or other stuff like that.

"Yep. Vinyl owned this place until…well…you know. So now, Cheerilee's my boss."

"You mean the librarian at Canterlot High?" Adagio asks, twisting her lips further. "That's…all kinds of wrong."

"Tell me about it," I mutter, dubious that I'm actually agreeing with this girl.

However, after a moment of standing there, the shop remains empty. Well, that's odd. Every day, Cheerilee's here, greeting me with a polite smile, dusting the counters, and readying the shop for customers. Why isn't she here yet?

"What's up, Red?" Adagio asks when she sees me freeze.

A sick feeling rests in my gut. Maybe…maybe she's in the back? But the shop is deadly quiet, which isn't normal. Cheerilee's always humming to herself as she works.

"She's not here," I mutter, dread building up.

"Who's not here? The librarian? Chill, she's probably just running late."

"That's just it though. She's never late. She's about as punctual as Twilight on test day."

"So, you think something happened." Adagio scoffs. "Wouldn't surprise me. Something always happens with you lot."

"I'm just…gonna check the back real quick. Stay here."

Adagio scoffs. "And let the only person who can help me find my girls get herself killed because she decided to rush into danger head first? Yeah, right." Adagio turns and grabs a guitar, holding the neck of it with its body in the air. "Like hell I'm staying here."

When she sees my look, she just shrugs. "Oh please. You didn't think I was going in defenseless, did you." When I raise an eyebrow, she huffs. "Oh, shut up. You keep a damn baseball bat by your damn door."

Rolling my eyes, I pick up a tripod used to hold guitars and slowly make my way to the back, my heart racing. The thought of having Adagio at my back only makes me more uneasy. If I don't trust her alone in my apartment, how the heck can I trust her when it comes to having my back in a fight, or trusting her not to try and knock me out and find my research with nonexistent answers for herself? But, it's not like I really have a choice.

I creep my way to the back, Adagio behind me. I clench my jaw as my heart races, my breath stopping, unable to reach my lungs. Slowly, I reach for the curtain that separates the back from the rest of the store, sliding it open.

Nothing. There was nothing there that was out of the ordinary except for no Cheerilee.

I sigh, dropping the raised tripod, though it's still in my hand. The adrenaline still runs through my veins, but I can feel it lessening. My breath is heavy as I try to calm my racing heart.

"Well, it looks like nothing's here. Now, since your boss isn't here yet, can we…" Adagio trails off.

I turn around, wondering what it is that caught her attention when I see her looking at something. I follow her gaze and see she's staring at Cheerilee's desk, which doesn't have much except for a computer, some pieces of paper, and an inventory log notebook.

But it wasn't that that froze Adagio. She was staring at a folded-up piece of paper on the desk, that had a speck of red. I bite my lip, dread building up in my gut, hoping against everything that it isn't what I think it is.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk towards the desk, and grab the small, folded piece of paper, picking it up and unfolding it, reading the words inside. Dzięki der Hêrro de Vafi für ja…

"This is bad. This is very bad," I say as I pace the music store back and forth, my anxiety spiking like hell.

"Chill, Red. We don't even know what this note says. It could mean anything." Adagio studies the note in her hand, seeming to read it over and over.

I stop my pacing to give her a look. "Seriously. The note we found in my boss's office after she went missing isn't bad."

Adagio shrugs. "How do we even know she's missing? For all we know, she could've just ditched you to live out her dream in the public library and left you to deal with the responsibilities of the shop." When I cross my arms in front of my chest, Adagio simply shrugs again. "What? It's something I'd do. If my dream was to work in a room full of books."

I roll my eyes. "Well, besides the fact that she's nothing like you…"

"We all have a dark side, Red. Never know what's in a person until they show who they really are," Adagio mumbles, inspecting her nails.

"Her number is off my contacts list," I continue as though she didn't say anything, ignoring her words.

I don't want her to know how much they affect me. I, more than anyone, know that everybody has a dark side. I know because I faced it. I…embraced it. And, worst of all, I liked it. The thought of all that power lured me in. The thought of proving to Princess Celestia that I could be as powerful as I wanted was all I ever needed. Or…so I thought.

Because the truth is, despite being ambitious for all that power, I was still alone. I was still friendless. I didn't have anybody to look out for me because I didn't look out for anybody else. Only me. I thought that was fine. I thought I'd be okay with that. But, deep down inside, I wasn't.

Ironically, it took me becoming a raging she-demon, a literal monster physically to see the fact that I had already become a monster on the inside. I had a taste of great power and I hated it. All my fears and insecurities were all I had left, and I wasn't in control of myself anymore.

But it's a lesson I vowed to only need to learn once. After Twilight and her friends showed me the light of true friendship, it changed me forever. And I swore I'd never go back. But…deep inside me…I can still feel that dark side. The demon version of me wants to tear itself out. That desperation to claw for power and knock down anybody who tries to stand in my way. It's gone quiet in the last year or two. Where it was once a screaming voice has now died down to a whisper, but it's a whisper that's still there and I can't help but wonder…will it ever go away, or will it always be a part of who I am?

"Hey! Earth to Red!" A voice calls, snapping me from my thoughts. I look up to see Adagio still sitting on the counter, watching me closely. "What's with you? Did you have some magical vision or something?" Adagio asks sarcastically, wiggling her fingers. "You're not gonna pass out or anything, right? Cause let me tell you, I am not about to drag your flank to the hospital because you hit your head or something. We have a deal, and extreme injury or death or whatever doesn't give you a free pass out of it."

"No…I'm fine." I mutter, my breath heavy. I…I was saying…her phone number isn't in my contacts." I hold up my phone to show her. "Which means…"

"She's missing," Adagio finishes. "Quick question: if she faded, why didn't this shop? When all the kids faded, so did the school. So why is this shop of all things still here?"

"I don't know!" I snap. "Don't you think if I did we'd be here discussing it? I don't know why this note is here or…or why this shop is…or…what are you even doing anyway! All you're doing is sitting here asking damn questions!"

Adagio rolls her eyes. "Ah ah ah, temper temper. Look, I recognize the language. It's Old Ponish, though I'm a bit rusty. I can only translate a couple of words, if I'm remembering correctly. They're kind of hard to forget after his reign of terror a thousand years ago. Der Hêrro de Vafi. The Lord of Chaos. That's about it. How's that for help?" Adagio says, crossing her arms.

I freeze, speechless. She knew the language and some of the translation this whole time and didn't say a word. What is wrong with this girl. Why…how…has she literally learned nothing since we defeated her?

"You…why didn't you say anything ages ago instead of watching me pace like an idiot for the past hour! We could've been moving on by now!"

Adagio shrugs. "Well, I translated it now so you wouldn't have to pace for another hour like an idiot. So, what I believe you were trying to say, is thank you."

"'Thank you'?" I ask incredulously.

"You're welcome." Adagio says perking up with a smile, though this one was full of fake brightness and a sly tint to it.

"Wait, no no. I-I didn't...I wasn't...why would I ever say..." I trail off when I notice she's not even listening to me. I take a deep breath through my nose, sighing heavily in an attempt to calm myself down. That's when a thought occurs to me. "Wait…Old Ponish…how do you know Old Ponish?"

Adagio rolls her eyes. "Red, I was there when it was the only Ponish. Remember, I'm over a thousand years old? Starswirl the Beardo banished me?" Adagio crosses her arms. "I see Starswirl didn't teach his pupils how to choose good pupils for themselves," she mutters under her breath.

I sigh heavily, ignoring her insult. My eyes widen. Lord of Chaos. The Lord of Chaos. And we only know one being with the title the Lord of Chaos. Finally, we're on to something.

"Discord. The Lord of Chaos!" I exclaim, a smile growing on my face. "He must be behind this!"

Adagio gives me a confused look. "I thought he was reformed or whatever." At my confused look, she rolls her eyes. "What? I have my sources."

I shake my head. This girl is just bursting with secrets, isn't she? But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but that doesn't matter. She's already proved to be helpful, and I'd still be here pacing, trying to figure out what this note says if it weren't for her. So, as long as they don't interfere with finding the teenagers, she can keep her secrets, against my better judgement.

"Either way, he's involved in some way. Once we figure out what these other words mean, we can find out what he has to do with all this."

"Right, well, since you clearly don't know Old Ponish, and it's been centuries since I've spoken it and I don't remember much, we have no idea what those other words mean. And I doubt we'll find anything about Old Ponish in the public library here. So how are we going to go about doing that?"

I bite my lip. Of course, Adagio's right, loath I am to admit it. If only finding that language in the library was that easy. Wait. Library. I gasp. That's it!

"I think I know someone who can help us. Or rather, somepony." I turn to Adagio. "Adagio, we're taking a road trip."

Portals

"Adagio, get up. We're heading out." I say as I put on my backpack, ready to head out as soon as possible. However, I freeze when I see that Adagio is still sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. "Umm…Adagio? Have you been sitting on the couch this whole time? Why aren't you getting ready to head out."

Adagio shrugs as though it's no big deal. "I'm not going."

I blink. "You're not going? What do you mean you're not going? Of course you're going. You don't have a choice if you want my help."

"Why? Don't trust me to hold down the fort here? Tragic." Adagio says, though the way she said it, it obviously didn't matter to her.

What goes through this girl's head? I take a deep breath. In. And out. In. And out. Okay, Sunset. Be the bigger person. Just be the bigger person. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that…" I pause. Well, nothing good ever did come of lying. "Actually, that's exactly it. I don't trust you."

Adagio rolls her eyes. "And here I thought you were known for your empathy and forgiveness. I guess not."

"Yeah, I am empathetic. Not stupid." I look closer at Adagio, the way her jaw is clenched, the way she just stares at her phone in one place, her eyes not even moving. Like she's not really looking at the stuff on her phone, she's just scrolling for something to do. "What aren't you telling me?" I ask, my gut instinct telling me there's more to this than she's letting on.

Adagio is silent for a long while. I'm about to urge her to just spit it out because I want to leave as soon as possible, but then she finally speaks. "I…can't." She mutters, her eyes still on the phone.

I blink, feeling as though I'm missing a huge part of the story. "What do you mean you can't?"

Adagio rolls her eyes. "And here you claim not to be stupid. I was banished by Starswirl the Idiot. I can't return, no matter how much I want to. And believe me, I want to."

I'm silent for a moment. Well, things just got a whole lot more complicated. Though, it made sense. I doubt the Sirens would've been here for a thousand years in a world they hate if they had a way back to Equestria.

But that still left the question of what now. I certainly didn't trust Adagio here by herself, though seeing as how I haven't found anything worthwhile, there was really nothing to trust her with, but, knowing her, she'd find something. She always did.

That was when something occurred to me. "You said you were banished by Starswirl the Bearded?"

"Yeah. Haven't you been listening?"

"That's it! You just need to get unbanished." I say, snapping my fingers.

Adagio stares at me for a long while before she breaks out in laughter, causing me to scowl. "You were Celestia's top pupil?! Do you even know how banishment works? I can't just get myself 'unbanished'. Unless the banishment has a time limit, only the pony or person or whatever who cast the spell can reverse it. And trust me, the spell he used did not have a time limit." She continues to laugh, tears filling her eyes. Well, at least one person is enjoying themselves.

"Are you quite done yet?" I ask, crossing my arms. "Or shall I halt my explanation so you can keep laughing?"

"No no. Go ahead." Adagio says in between bouts of laughter, waving her hand for me to continue, wiping tears from her eyes with the other. I raise an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced that she'll let me. "No, really, I'll be quiet. I promise." She says, letting out a last chuckle.

I wait, making sure she's done, before continuing. "What I meant was that Starswirl is here, which means I can get Twilight to convince him to let up the spell."

Adagio immediately sobers up, looking at me with wide shocked eyes. Clearly, she had no idea and was completely caught off guard. Good. That's what she gets for laughing at me.

"That old fart is still alive?! You're joking. Tell me you're joking."

I shake my head, a small smile on my face. "Nope. He and the other pillars banished the Pony of Shadows to Limbo and banished themselves in the process. That's where they've been for the past thousand-plus years until Twilight and her friends recently freed them." I explain, leaning against the doorframe that separates the kitchen from the living room.

"So…you're telling me…he banished himself and his friends to an alternate world where time doesn't exist?!" Adagio says incredulously, clearly trying to hold back more laughter, but it comes out anyway. "Nice one, Red."

I remain silent, just staring at her, my expression completely sober. When she realizes I haven't confirmed or denied the fact that I'm joking, she looks up at me. When she sees the look on my face, her eyes widen.

"Wait, hold up. You're actually serious? The greatest sorcerer of all time accidentally banished himself and his friends to an alternate world?"

"It wasn't an accident," I say, not the least bit amused. "It was the only way to get rid of the Pony of Shadows."

"Wow. Now that's what I call poetic justice. Seriously. Karma does exist in the world."

I clenched my jaw, my frustration rising. I swear to Celestia, I am going to clobber this girl. "It wasn't karma. He did it to save Equestria. He and the other Pillars sacrificed themselves to keep Equestria and its citizens safe. And because of their sacrifice, they're heroes. Not like you'd know anything about sacrifice." I add in a mutter, looking away.

Adagio remains silent, which throws me off. I look up at Adagio to see her staring at me with an uncharacteristically serious and deep look on her face, catching me off guard.

"You think I don't know about sacrifice?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. I remain silent, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with Adagio's heavy look on me. "Cause, trust me, I do." Adagio looks away, the bad attitude written all over her face again, breaking the moment. "I just don't do it very often."

I stare at her, speechless. That's the most emotion I've seen her show that wasn't anger or irritation. I can't help but wonder if maybe there's a whole other side to Adagio I don't know about. A softer side. And I'm not sure which is more shocking. The fact that she may actually have one or the fact that I'm starting to believe it exists.

I sigh, the silence that stretches on now becoming awkward and defening. "Okay. Well, pack a bag. Since whoever took all the kids somehow closed the portal at the school, we have a long way to travel to get to the other one."

"Question…why didn't you just go their after all the kids disappeared?" Adagio asks as she stands up, grabbing her own backpack.

I shrug. "Was saving up to rent a boat to get there."

Adagio rolls her eyes as we walk out of the door. "And what? You just…expect me to be rolling in cash or something?"

"Hey, you said you'd help me as long as I help you." When she only grumbles, i pat her patronizingly on the back. "Think of it as…an investment for yourself. You're helping me help you."

Adagio twists her lips. "Stop it. You're starting to sound like a loaning agency."

I shrug. "There's a reason they're able to suck people in. Is it working?"

"If you mean me buying the boat out of the goodness of my heart? No. I'm buying it because we had a deal."

There was a moment when we're both silent before we both start chuckling. We're silent the rest of the way to the docks, but it seems as though the wall between us is growing a little less thick.

"Here. Take this." I say, handing her my magic journal that allows me to communicate with a person…er…pony in Equestria. "That way we can keep in touch."

"Aww…worried about me going missing? I'm touched." Adagio says, acting heartfelt, but I can tell it's full of sarcasm.

"No," I say a little too quickly for it to be completely believable. "It's just that…how else will I tell you when Starswirl lifts the banishment spell."

"Wouldn't it just be better if one of us stayed here to keep an eye on things so we can give the other updates?"

"That's what Maud's here for."

"Who?" Adagio asks, but when I give her a look, understanding dawns on her expression. "Oh, you mean the creepy lady we dragged with us?"

I cross my arms. "She's not creepy, she's just…zen. And surprisingly open-minded."

"Rocks have healing properties that, to many, seem magical. There have also been many known rock phenomena that have no scientific explanation." Maud piped up with that monotone, almost emotionless voice. But to those who know her, me not being one of those, there's apparently lots emotion to her voice, but one would have to know her to hear the…slight differences. "Doesn't mean you can't see it, doesn't mean you can't explain it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Tears fill my eyes at Maud's words. Not her words per say, but what they triggered. They sound like something Pinkie Pie would say, if she were here. And the fact that she's not, the fact that she's not agreeing with her sister and calling her wise, is what brings tears to my eyes. We need to find them. All of them. Those girls are my family and I don't know how much longer I can last without them.

"Right, well, you stay here with Maud. I'll right you in the book when Starswirl lifts the banishment spell and then you'll give the book to Maud so she can keep us updated. See you soon." I say before turning and walking into the forest that reminds me so much of the Everfree Forest.

Swallowing nervously, I slowly open the door to Twilight's castle with my hoof, my heart racing. Not only did I need to convince my best friend that bringing her unapologetic enemy to her home wound bagfire in the end, but I also had to convince the greatest sorcerer who ever lived that unbanishing, one of the greatest threats to equestria, well, not backfire, in the end, either.

As I slowly walk the halls, feeling uncomfortable just walking in, a familiar blue unicorn trots towards me. I'd recognize that hair and skin color anywhere. "T-Trixie?"

The blue uniform stomps in her tracks, looking at me clearly confused. "Uh…does Trixie know you?"

"T-T-Trixie!" I exclaim galloping towards her and embracing her tightly, squeezing her to me. I didn't realize how much I'd miss her until seeing her now.

She awkwardly stands there for a moment before raising an awkward hoof, and slowly wrapping it around my neck. She pats my back once before slowly untangling herself from my grip.

"Do we know each other?" She asks thoroughly confused.

My eyes widen as my cheeks blush and embarrassment. Shoot! I forgot there was a carbon copy for everyone at Canterlot High. So while this is Trixie, this isn't my Trixie. That certainly takes some getting used to. How does Twilight do it?

"N-no…we don't. I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else."

"No, you did not. You knew Trixie's name. How?" Trixie smiled deviously. "Was it through Trixie's awesome spectacular magic shows. Well, if you want an autograph, Trixie would be happy to give you one. But you're–"

"No, Trixie," Another, familiar voice says.

Trixie and I both turn to look at a purple unicorn approaching us, with a dark purple mane with a blue streak. She flashes me a quick smile before turning back to the magician.

"She doesn't know you." Trixie opens her mouth to argue, but Starlight just sighs heavily. "It's complicated. Let's just say she comes from a place where everypony has a double, including you, and leave it at that. It's that double she knows, not you." Starlight turns to me. "Sunset, this is Trixie. Trixie, this is my friend, Sunset Shimmer."

"Yes. I'm the Great and Powerful Trixie. Starlight's Great and Powerful Best Friend!" Trixie exclaims with overzealous bravado.

Starlight rolls her eyes, before nudging Trixie away. "Go. We'll talk later."

Trixie huffs before hugging Starlight and walking out of the castle, glancing back at me curiously. Once the door closes behind her, I turn to Starlight. "Nice to see this version of her is still as self-centered and overdramatic as the other one."

Starlight chuckles. "Yeah. That's what we love most about them. So," Starlight says in a sigh. "What brings you here?" She paused as a thought occurred to her. "Why did you walk through the front door and not the library where the mirror is?"

I swallow nervously. "It's a long story. Let's just say…I had to use the other portal because the one at Canterlot High is…nonaccesible at the moment." Nonaccessible? Try nonexistent. Nice understatement, me.

"Oh…I'm assuming you're looking for Twilight?"

"Uh, yeah," I rub the back of my neck with my ha…er, hoof. "It's kind of a…delicate situation. Do you know where she is?"

Starlight's eyes widen momentarily. "Oh…I…I thought you knew…"

I blink, confused. "Knew? Knew what?"

"Well…Twilight's living at Canterlot Castle now. She's kinda the ruler of Equestria now…"

"The…the coronation already happened?" I ask, feelings of hurt welling up inside me. I hadn't realized that…why didn't she tell me? I would've come. I wanted to come. I told her so when she told me she was going to be ruler of Equestria. She's my best friend and I wanted to be there for her. Or…I thought she was. Why didn't she tell me?

"Y-yeah, I'm sorry. I truly thought you knew."

"It's…it's fine. I guess I should buy a ticket to Canterlot." I mutter, wondering how I'll buy a ticket with no bits.

"W-well, whatever it is, maybe I can help instead?"

"I appreciate the offer, Starlight, but…I don't think so. I need Twilight to get in contact with Starswirl."

Starlight waves a dismissive hoof. "Oh, please. You don't need to go all the way to Canterlot for that. I can just send him a letter real quick."

I blink. "You can send him a letter and he'll come?"

"Yeah, we're kinda…not quite friends but…well, he and I know each other. We kinda helped save Equestria together. I got you."

I smile, feeling better already. I'm not sure I'm completely ready to face Twilight yet after hearing that. I mean, this isn't just some forgotten invitation to some birthday party. This is an invitation to her coronation, crowning her as ruler of an entire kingdom. When your friend is the one being crowned, you kinda wanna be there. And it hurts when your forgotten and you miss the biggest event in your friend's life because of it.

"Thanks, Starlight. You're a true friend."