My Little Pony: Nine Elements

Book 4

Written by Brandon Nell and Blake Hawkins

Chapter 3: Castle Mane-ia

Three days after Sunset’s birthday, Twilight was looking through a book in her and Spike’s room. Twilight was growing slightly frustrated. In her frustration, she threw the book away, narrowly missing Spike, who had been walking by at that very moment. The little dragon could tell something was up.

“Still trying to find answers about the chest?” he asked.

“Yes, Spike,” Twilight panted. “I’m sorry, but, I feel like the books in the library don’t have the answers I’m looking for. I’ve searched every single one and haven’t found anything about the chest from the Tree of Harmony or keys to unlock it.”

“To be fair,” Spike said. “The chest did just recently sprout from something we didn’t know existed until four or five days ago.”*

“That’s true,” Twilight said. She then considered. “Do you think the Castle of the Two Sisters has a library?”

“I’ve explored as much of that castle as you and the other guardians,” Spike said. “And that’s not much. If it does have a library, none of us have found it.”

“Hmm,” Twilight said. “Would you want to come with me tomorrow so we can try and find one?”

“Sure,” Spike said. “Maybe we can see if Sunset, Phoebe, and Wallflower are still there on the way.” Suddenly, Spike’s stomach made a familiar rumble. “Uh-oh, letter coming!” He belches and a scroll materializes.

Twilight levitated the scroll towards her and unfurled it. She read it aloud. “Twilight Sparkle, I’m certain you’re looking for answers within the books of the Golden Oak Library,” she read.

“Hardly surprising from Princess Celestia,” Spike commented.

“Actually,” Twilight said. “It’s from Sunset.”

“Huh?” Spike asked. “How’d she know about what I can do?”

Twilight cleared her throat and continued. “In case you’re wondering, the Castle of the Two Sisters does in fact have a library. You will find enclosed a map of the castle’s layout to find the library. Full disclosure, I cannot promise everything there is in good condition. Remember, that castle has been abandoned for many years.”

“Nice to know Sunset knows for sure,” Spike said.

“Whether or not the books are in decent condition,” Twilight said. “They should hopefully still have information.”

The next day, Twilight and Spike made their way to the old castle. Along the way, they found Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe in the process of packing their belongings.

“Hi, girls,” Spike said.

“Hey,” Sunset said. “What brings you here?”

“We’re exploring the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Twilight said. “Thanks to the map you gave us.”

“By the way,” Spike asked. “How’d you know I could send or receive scrolls through my fire breath?”

“You can do that?” Sunset asked. “I thought you’d get it through your fireplace like Princess Celestia.”

“Spike has a unique gift indeed,” Twilight said. “Mina can attest that even the most magically-gifted Longryus alive can’t do that.”

Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe looked at each other in confusion before returning their gaze to Twilight.

“I’m afraid we’re missing some context here,” Sunset said.

“Oh,” Spike said. “Some time ago, I tried to take part in the Great Dragon Migration to discover what it really meant to be a dragon. There, I met a few dragons. Some were nice and kind dragons like Mina, who is a dragon living in Fillydelphia. Others weren’t as nice, especially not a brutish dragon named Garble and his friends.”

“Okay, but, that doesn’t explain Longryus,” Wallflower replied.

“They’re dragons from Eastern Equestria,” Twilight explained. “They are benevolent dragons and have elemental powers. They’re also capable of flight without wings.”

“Oh,” Sunset said. “Like Chinese and Japanese dragons.”**

“Uh, sure,” Twilight said, still unfamiliar with the terminology.

“Interestingly,” Sunset said. “The Chinese word for dragon is long and the Japanese word for dragon is ryuu.”

“Fascinating,” Wallflower said.

“Anyway,” Spike said, trying to get back on track. “There’s a library at the old castle?”

“Yes,” Sunset confirmed. “I found a book in it that details the Tree of Harmony. That’s how I learned about it in the first place.”***

“Excellent, thank you,” Twilight said. “Believe me, if it weren’t for your help, I would still be frantically searching the Golden Oak Library and growing more and more frustrated.”

“I can’t promise it’ll have anything on the chest,” Sunset said. “But, I can promise you’ll find books on subjects you won’t be able to find anywhere else.”

“We’ll see what we can find,” Twilight said. “Thanks again.”

Sunset led the group to the old castle’s library. Twilight could hardly believe her eyes.

“I have to admit,” Spike said. “It’s not too bad. I see there are some pillows and chairs to sit in.”

“Those were added by us,” Sunset said. “Though, be careful of the star spiders.”

Hearing this, Spike’s purple scales became noticeably lighter and his ear fronds drooped. “Did you say… spiders?”

Noticing Spike’s tone, Sunset addressed him. “You have arachnophobia?”

“Sorry,” Spike shivered. “They just kind of creep me out. Always have since Shining Armor transfigured my teddy bear into one as big as an elephant.”

Sunset comforted Spike gently. “I’m sorry I mentioned them. I didn’t know of your fear. Tell you what, stay on my back and I’ll make sure they don’t come near you.”

Spike took a deep breath. “Thanks, Sunset.” Sunset lowered herself so Spike could climb onto her back.

“You’re so good to him,” Twilight smiled.

“I had a good first impression of him in the human world,” Sunset admitted. “Well, that and a series called Dragon Tales, which helped erode my preconceptions of dragons being a naturally monstrous species.”

“You’ll have to tell us a bit more about that some other time,” Twilight said. “For now, I’m going to start searching through the books.”

Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow and Applejack were covered in bees with only their eyes visible and neither one moving. Apple Bloom was spending time with her Cutie Mark Crusader friends away from the bees, so, there was no risk of her accidentally getting stung and suffering from an allergic reaction.

“I’m not going to move,” Rainbow said through gritted teeth. “You move.”

“Nuh-uh,” Applejack protested through gritted teeth as well. “There ain’t no way Ah’m movin’.”

Pinkie watched on with enthusiasm. “This is the most daring dare anypony has ever dared to dare another pony to dare!”

“Huh?” asked the bee-covered mares.

“It’s exciting!” Pinkie squeed. “You’ve been at it for the last ten minutes!”

As the two mares continued to stare each other down, a parcel stallion walked up to Pinkie carrying a beehive-style saddlebag.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Rainbow Dash and Applejack are competing for the title of ‘Most Daring Pony!’” Pinkie explained. “This is the final test: the Bee Stare! Last pony to blink wins!”

“So, they’re having a staring contest with bees all over them?” the stallion asked, making sure he heard right.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Pinkie said.

“Yeah, that sounds daring and all,” said the stallion. “But, I’m going to need my bees back please. They have honey they need to make. Honey that’s needed for some of the Apple Family products, I might add.”

“Okay,” Applejack sighed.

“Aww, but, then we won’t know who the most daring pony is~!” Rainbow griped.

“Well, that’s too bad,” the stallion said as he called his bees with a whistle. The bees flew off the mares, revealing they were wearing beekeeper suits. They flew into the beehive-style saddlebags and got to work making honey. The stallion then bid the mares farewell and went on his way.

“Well, that stinks,” Rainbow said.

“Now what do we do?” Applejack asked.

“Well, I’ve been keeping track since the contest started,” Pinkie said. “And you both tied.”

“Tied?!” Applejack asked. “Why does that always happen with us?”

“I know, right?” Rainbow asked. “We can’t both be the Most Daring Pony! There has to be some kind of tiebreaker!”

“You’ll have to figure it out yourselves,” Pinkie said. “I promised to help test the new school bell.” She then wiggled her rear, making her tail somehow ring like a bell. “I get to ring it all week, nonstop! And I don't even have to take turns, because nopony else volunteered!” With a giggle, she hopped away.

“Uh, you heard Pinkie’s tail ringing like a bell, right?” Rainbow asked Applejack.

“Yup,” Applejack answered.

After shaking off the weird feeling, Rainbow turned back to Applejack. “Anyway, we’ll just have to come up with another daring dare.”

Applejack looked towards the Everfree Forest and got an idea. “Ah think ah have just the dare fer us.”

Again with the meanwhiles, Rarity and Fluttershy were making their way through the Everfree Forest.

“Um, Rarity?” Fluttershy said nervously. “Are you sure it isn’t too late in the day for you to be walking through the Everfree Forest? It is star spider season after all, so there are more of them out and about. They can be a bit frenzied this time of year and sometimes bite other creatures that get too close.”

“I shall indeed be cautious,” Rarity explained. “I must be if I’m to get to the Castle of the Two Sisters unscathed. I heard rumors that the castle is filled with the most gorgeous of ancient tapestries in all of pony history! It pains me to think of those magnificent creations rotting away in those old ruins, totally unappreciated.”

“I see,” Fluttershy said. “But, why do you need me to come along?”

“I needed some pony’s help to bring them down and take them to Carousel Boutique,” Rarity said. “I would have called on Rainbow, but, she was too busy in a head-to-head competition with Applejack. Again.”

“Yeah, I can believe that,” Fluttershy muttered, remembering Rainbow’s competitive streak with Applejack. In a clearer and kinder voice, she said, “Well, I’ll do my best to help you anyway, Rarity.”

“Much obliged,” Rarity said as they crossed the rope bridge. “Say, do you think Sunset, Phoebe, or Wallflower are still living here?”

“It’s possible,” Fluttershy said. “But, they might be going back to Canterlot soon. We could ask them if we see them.”

The two made their way to the castle.

“Uh, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, Fluttershy?” Rarity replied.

“Why didn’t you ask Twilight, Spike, or Pinkie to help?” Fluttershy inquired.

“I tried Twilight and Spike first,” Rarity explained. “They weren’t home. Pinkie was asked to judge Rainbow and Applejack’s competition.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Fluttershy said.

“I wasn’t certain if Sunset or Wallflower were still here, so, they were ruled out,” Rarity added.****

Fluttershy nodded understandingly. The two walked into the castle, unaware of a mysterious shadow following them.

As the sun sank lower across the horizon, Applejack and Rainbow made their way to the old castle together.

“Here we are,” Applejack said.

“The Castle of the Two Sisters?” Rainbow asked, confused. “Why are we here? It may be old and crumbling, but, it’s not really scary. This is where we got the Elements of Harmony.”

Applejack began to explain.

“When ah was a filly,” she explained. “Granny Smith told me o’ the legend o’ this castle. When Nightmare Moon was banished ta the moon, not all her dark magic went with her. Roamin’ through its halls is the mysterious Pony o’ Shadows~!”

“Like a ghost?” Rainbow asked.

Applejack held up her front hooves in a ghostly manner and said in a spooky tone, “Nopony knows~!”

Rainbow was less than impressed.

Meanwhile, with Rarity and Fluttershy, they entered the castle throne room and gazed up at the tapestry hanging upon its walls. Rarity gasped in awe.

“Those shades of blue are remarkable!” Rarity gasped, enamored.

“It does look like it could use some restoration, though,” Fluttershy noted.

“Could you be a dear and lift it off that hook while I levitate it down?” Rarity asked.

Fluttershy nods and flies up to gently lift the tapestry off of the hook on the wall. The bar it was attached to was too heavy.

“Oh, my!” Fluttershy yelped. “I think you would have had better luck asking Bulk Biceps to help!”

“No disrespect to him,” Rarity said. “But, he’s a bit too exuberant for this.”

Fluttershy panted and groaned from the strain.

“Try from below,” Rarity suggested.

Fluttershy then flew down towards the bottom of the tapestry and tried to tug on the fabric. However, she ended up getting stuck under it and unknowingly pressing a switch. This caused the wall to rotate, much to Rarity’s surprise.

On the other side, Rainbow was giving her two bits on the dare.

“Okay,” Rainbow said. “I don’t see what’s so daring about an old legend. Besides, I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“Even after ya flew right through an ifrit, saw a gnome, a… whatever Brisa is, n’ two dryads?” Applejack asked.

“Fair enough,” Rainbow said. “But, not all kinds of ghosts.”

Applejack noticed a tapestry that was moving. “Uh, might want ta start believin’ in that kind o’ ghost!”

Rainbow followed the direction Applejack pointed her forehoof. They saw the fluttering of the tapestry, gasped, and ran away into another room. In a flash of lightning, they saw the shadow of a cloaked pony upon the floor with blank circles where the eyes should be.

“Is that?” Applejack said.

“Let’s run before we can find out!” Rainbow said. And they took off down the hallway.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy unknowingly activated the switch again, causing the wall to rotate and throw her out of the tapestry and onto her rump.

“Ow!” she softly interjected. “I think I hurt my wing.”

“I’m terribly sorry, Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “Let’s try a smaller tapestry.” As she led Fluttershy off, Rarity felt the need to ask something. “By the way, where did you disappear to?”

Fluttershy was confused. “Disappear to? What do you mean?”

“When you were struggling under the fabric,” Rarity explained. “The whole wall spun around. Didn’t you hear the clicking sounds?”

“I must have been too busy hearing the tapestry flaps,” Fluttershy admitted.

“It seems you activated a secret door,” Rarity noted.

“I didn’t know this castle had a secret door,” Fluttershy said. “Although, we haven’t really explored all of the castle, so, there’s a lot about it that we don't know about yet.”

“Sunset may have explored it,” Rarity pondered. “Unfortunately, since we don’t know if she’s here or in Canterlot, we can’t ask her for certain.”

“So,” Fluttershy said. “Our best option right now is to keep our eyes open for any other possible secret-”

Click!

Before she could finish her sentence, Fluttershy unknowingly stepped on a pressure plate that activated a trap door she and Rarity fell through.

Meanwhile, Rainbow and Applejack were running through the hallways.

“Okay,” Rainbow panted. “Maybe the legend is true!”

“So,” Applejack explained. “That’s why ah brought ya here! Ah figgered the best darin’ challenge fer us’d be ta stay in the castle all night without gettin’ runnin’ back home scared.”

Rainbow immediately stopped running, feeling challenged.

“Scared?!” she exclaimed. “I’m not scared!”

“Me neither!” Applejack proclaimed.

“Then it’s settled!” Rainbow declared. “Whoever stays in the castle all night is the Most Daring Pony!”

“Deal!” Applejack accepted. The two hood bumped when they suddenly heard a growling noise echo off the stone walls.

“W-well…” Rainbow quivered. “It's going to take more than some shadowy ghost pony or any monstrous growl to get me to leave.”

“Me, too!” Applejack huffed.

The duo left, unaware of the eye in a painting of a stallion moving.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Spike, Sunset, and Wallflower were reading books under light provided by a candelabra that Sunset lit, trying to find answers.

“Have you found anything yet, Spike?” Twilight asked just as she finished the final chapter of a book she was reading.

“No,” Spike answered. “Anypony else?”

“I haven’t found anything yet,” Wallflower admitted.

“I did say not to expect much,” Sunset said.

At that moment, a spider with star markings on its abdomen landed right in front of Spike. Spike gasped with uneasiness. He leaned the chair backward, activating a switch. With a shudder, a pair of bookshelves parted, revealing a hidden room. Twilight, Sunset, and Wallflower gasped with amazement and surprise.

“Spike, are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“Apart from the scare by the star spider,” Spike said. “I’m fine.”

Twilight comforted Spike as only she could. After Spike felt better, they looked into the secret room. Twilight looked at the map Sunset provided to see if it was there. It wasn’t.

“Looks like this castle still has some secrets left to be found,” Sunset commented.

Twilight then noticed something on a podium inside the secret room. She looked closer and read the cover aloud. “The Journal of the Two Sisters.”

“Must’ve been written by Celestia and Luna long ago,” Sunset surmised.

“Hmm,” Twilight pondered. “Do you think they would be opposed to the idea of me reading it?”

“Well, it doesn’t look like they’ll be using it again anytime soon,” Sunset said. “Plus, it might give us some more details about the castle.”

“Alright,” Twilight said. She then started to read the book. “Spike, want to sit close to me?”

Spike sat directly beside her. “You don’t even have to ask.”

Twilight gently nuzzled Spike’s head with hers and she got started reading from the pages aloud. Spike thought he heard a faint growling noise echo off the stone walls, but, decided to ignore it.

Meanwhile, Applejack was descending a spiral staircase with Rainbow flying beside her. They both heard the growling noise, which seemed a bit louder to them.

“Whatever that is,” Rainbow said. “It’s getting pretty close. But, it’s still not going to scare me away.” Then, she sensed a taunting opportunity. “I hope the noise isn’t scaring you, Applejack.”

“Nope~!” Applejack said.***** “Even if it was, ah’d be at least 50% less scared’n y’all, Rainbow Dash.”

“That math doesn't add up,” Rainbow said cheekily. “Because I’m not scared at all.”

“Me neither!” Applejack said as she galloped down the stairs faster.

They soon reached the lower level. The hallway was dimly lit and there seemed to be holes in the walls. The growling noise seemed a bit louder as well.

“W-what’s the matter, Applejack?” Rainbow quivered. She was feeling scared, but, she wasn’t going to admit it. “It’s just a long hallway… full of disembodied pony legs…”

“Yeah…” Applejack said shakily before the noise was heard again. “N’ a deep growlin’ sound. Ain’t nothin’ creepy ‘bout those.”

“N-no…” Rainbow gulped. “No way.”

Together, they walked on, side by side. Neither would admit to the other that they were scared.

Meanwhile, Rarity began using an illumination spell. “I’m starting to wonder if this castle doesn’t want my expertise.”

Fluttershy and Rarity became aware of the room they found themselves in.

“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy squeaked. “H-how do we get out of here?”

“Let’s just calm down,” Rarity said. “I’m sure there’s a way.”

Suddenly, the duo heard a growling noise come out of a nearby hole in a wall.

“Wh-what was that?!” Fluttershy exclaimed, holding onto Rarity.

“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Rarity answered.

On the other side of the wall with the hole was the hallway Rainbow and Applejack were trotting down. They also heard the sound, which seemed louder than the previous time. Rainbow felt a hoof on her back.

“I know that growling is unsettling,” Rainbow said. “But, you don’t need to comfort me. You can let go of my back.”

“Uh, slight problem,” Applejack said. “Ah’m ‘bout five hooves away from ya.”

“Then…” Rainbow said. “If you're over there, then… who is…” She looked to see whose hoof was on her. She screamed with fright and bolted ahead of Applejack. The farm mare followed after, unaware of a silhouette upon the wall. Inside the wall, Rarity gasped with unease.

“What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked.

“I felt something!” Rarity said. “Alive!”

Fluttershy gasped at that. “This means we’re not alone here!” She reached through the hole and pulled one of the hooves, activating another secret door.

“Tapestries or no,” Rarity said with annoyance. “I have had just about enough of these secret passages and whatnot!”

“And we don’t know our way around!” Fluttershy said.

“Who knows how long we’ll have to be here?!” Rarity exclaimed.

With Twilight, Spike, Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe, Twilight was excitedly reading an entry in the journal.

“Listen to this,” she said. “‘I love to duck behind the paintings and though the Hall of Hooves still gives her a fright, the trap door slide is Luna’s favorite.’ Aww, that would have been so cute to see their reactions.” Then, she noticed something that gave her pause. “‘Though, we both agree to be very wary of the living armors******?’”

“Wallflower and I noticed those, too,” Sunset admitted. “They’re exactly what it says on tin. Suits of armor that move on their own.”

“They aren’t dangerous, are they?” Spike asked.

“With a weapon, they could be,” Sunset said. “Particularly when they’re trying to protect their young.”

“Whoa~” Spike said. He then turned back to Twilight. “Is there more to the page, Mom?”

Twilight checked and read, “‘For more information on living armors, please refer to Dungeons and The Creatures Within.’”

“Good to know she provided reference,” Wallflower said.

“Yeah,” Sunset agreed. “We had no idea how living armors came to be until we read about them in that book.”

Twilight also found another page. “‘The Organ of the Outside is almost finished and I can hardly wait.’”

“Just a reminder,” Sunset said. “That journal is older than all of us put together.”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Twilight said. “I’m still enjoying reading it all the same.”

“So, what exactly is the Organ of the Outside?” Spike asked.

“Going by its name alone,” Sunset said. “I assume it’s some kind of pipe organ. Well, as long as it’s not a sentient one voiced by Tim Curry*******, I think we’ll be fine.”

“Tim Curry?” Wallflower asked.

“Right,” Sunset said. “I keep forgetting I’m the only one who spent three years in the human world.” Phoebe chirped indignantly. "The only pony who spent three years in the human world." Phoebe chirped with approval.

“There’s a lot you’ll have to tell us about that when we have spare moments,” Wallflower said.

Deep below, there was a pipe organ and a cloaked figure. They press their hooves on the keys, unleashing loud and long notes. This was heard by both Applejack and Rainbow, who stopped dead in their tracks.

“What-what was that?” Rainbow stammered.

“Sounded like a pipe organ,” Applejack said before the growling noise was heard again with a louder volume.

“And that?!” Rainbow asked. “It’s right on our hooves!”

The organ sounded again. They both whinnied with fright, though they still wouldn’t admit they were scared.

Back with Twilight’s group, the sound of the pipe organ reached them.

“Uh, Sunset?” Spike said. “Does that Organ of the Outside have a player piano function?”

“I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong pony, Spike,” Sunset said. “Up until a few minutes ago, I didn’t know the organ existed. We’ve seen a bit of the castle, but, not all of it.”

Hearing this, Spike held onto Twilight, quivering.

“Tell you what, Spike,” Sunset offered. “I’ll send one of my contracted spirits to investigate. Does that sound good to you?”

“Yeah,” Spike said after taking a deep breath. “Thanks, Sunset.”

Sunset closed her eyes and focused. “Aideen!” In response to her call, a female version of Aiden appeared beside them.

“How can I help you?” she said.

“Search the castle until you find a pipe organ and find out who’s using it,” Sunset said.

“Yes, Sunset,” Aideen nodded and she set off at once. She summoned a small fireball to light her way.

“How many contracts do you have?” Spike asked.

“Including the ones you saw thus far?” Sunset asked rhetorically. “I have six.”

“That’s cool,” Spike replied.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy and Rarity were looking for a way out when Rarity spotted the throne room.

“I can see the throne room,” Rarity said. She then noticed the tapestries within. “Those tapestries are perfect! Even with their old age, they still are captivating.”

Fluttershy looked at them as well. “They are lovely, Rarity,” she nodded. “But, I think we should focus on finding a way out of here. I need to feed Angel.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Rarity said. “Don’t worry. I’m certain we’ll find a way out, even if it’s by accident.”

Deep below, Rainbow and Applejack happened upon a halfway lined with old pony armor.

“Do ya think there’s a single room in this here castle that ain’t filled with terrifyin’ things?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow took a closer look at one suit and gently touched the helmet.

“It’s just pony armor, AJ,” Rainbow said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” They suddenly hear the growling noise again, which sounded even louder. To their surprise, the helmets on the armors turned to face them all on their own.

“U-unless they start… movin’ on their own~!” Applejack quivered. Most of the suits turned their helmets to face one of their own. That last suit looked from one side to the other and hung its head in resignation before leaving its stand while the others stayed put.

“Okay, I’m scared!” Rainbow admitted.

“Me, too!” Applejack also admitted.

When trying to find a way out, Applejack stepped on the empty stand before the organ played a note that activated a secret door, making the stand and the wall behind it spin, taking Applejack with it and leaving a new suit of armor in her place. The suit wobbled as if dizzy.

“Applejack?” Rainbow asked, turning to where her friend was. She instead found herself face to face with the new suit. Rainbow exclaimed with surprise and bolted off.

Another note from the organ caused a similar thing to happen to Rarity. Her exclamation caught Fluttershy’s attention.

“Rarity?!” Fluttershy gasped. “What happened?!” She turned to look in the direction she heard it, but, she found Rarity gone.

Another note from the organ caused a golden goblet to rise from a platform right in front of Wallflower.

“What the-” Wallflower asked. “Where did this come from?”

Another couple notes from the organ and Applejack found herself on a castle ledge next to what looked like a statue of an adult Bulk Buster dragon. Flashes of lightning made it seem more ominous, which the growling noise she’d been hearing lately didn’t help with.

In another part of the castle, Rarity was tossed out of the passage she unwittingly took and saw that she had torn off part of the tapestry she was trying to remove. Back with Twilight’s group, all but Sunset and Phoebe were starting to become unnerved by the organ notes.

“We hadn’t heard back from Aideen yet,” Spike said.

“She’s still trying to find the organ by following the sound,” Sunset said. “She’s keeping me updated through telepathy.”

“Is that why you aren’t nervous, Sunset?” Spike asked.

“Well, that’s part of it,” Sunset admitted. “There’s also the fact that I’ve had an extensive stay in this forest. At first, I was worried since I didn’t know what to expect. Now, it’s just ehh.”

“I see,” Spike nodded. He had to admit Sunset’s explanation made sense.

Meanwhile, Rarity was clearing the branches and leaves from her mane and tail.

“Now, you listen here, castle!” Rarity said, so annoyed that she’s talking to a castle of all things. “You may be old, dilapidated, and scary, but, your wall art is in an atrocious state and I will not rest until I restore it to its former glory!” She jumped through a window.

Meanwhile, Rainbow was still among the armors.

“Hello~!” Rainbow called out. “Applejack? If you made it back to Ponyville, I would win by default, right? Wait… what am I saying? I’m the Guardian of Loyalty! I can’t leave Applejack! I’ve got to find her!” One suit tried to reach out to her. “Whoa! Oh, no you don’t!” She dashed off.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was hoping Rarity was playing a joke.

“Rarity~” she called. “I know you’re not one for practical jokes, but, I hope this is one. Oh dear, me of all ponies hoping that this is a joke.” She gently placed a hoof on Luna’s old throne when a note from the organ played. “Eep!”

Back in the hall with the armors, Applejack found herself back there and heard the growling noise again.

“Ah guess all that runnin’ ah did is wearin’ me down,” Applejack said wearily. “Ah got ta find Rainbow.”

She saw a suit move to reveal a passageway. Applejack ventured that if she went in there, she could potentially find Rainbow. She cautiously made her way.

At that moment, Rarity stumbled into the foyer.

“Of all of the castles in Equestria,” she grumbled. “This one is by far the most ungrateful!” A loose bit of rubble from the ceiling fell and hit Rarity on the head. Shortly thereafter, she heard the noise she heard when she and Fluttershy were trapped in the room with the hole in the wall. She quivered uneasily and started slowly walking backwards.

At the same time, Fluttershy was also carefully walking backwards into the foyer as she heard the sound, too. “Oh, dear. I can’t bear to imagine Rarity all alone in this castle. Or worse, she is with somepony, but, they are a dangerous stranger.” She shook her head. “I can’t think like that. Don’t assume the worst, hope for the best for my friends.”

Applejack stepped out of the passageway as a section of a wall moved to let her through.

“Rainbow?” Applejack called. “Are ya ‘round here?” She looked to the side and saw the armor. “Whoa!” She jumped back and stepped slowly backwards into the foyer.

With Rainbow, she was looking around for Applejack. She was afraid, but, thinking about Applejack was giving her new courage to find her.

“Haunted statues, creepy armor,” Rainbow muttered. Then, she called out. “Is that all you got, castle?!” She then saw a flash of lightning. “Whoa!” She started flying slowly backwards and down.

The four were unaware that they were approaching each other. It might have stayed that way were it not for their rear ends all making contact with each other simultaneously. That’s when they all erupted in a barrage of frightened screaming and blindly scattering. Rainbow started bouncing off the walls, blindly knocking off one of the tapestries, which fell upon Rarity.

“I was only trying to restore ancient art~!” Rarity sobbed. She ran around with the tapestry over her eyes, unwittingly making some leaves fall onto a pile of rocks that, with the aid of a flash of lightning, made a shadow resembling that of Spike’s profile.

Fluttershy briefly uncovered her eyes and saw the shadow. “Spike?” Applejack ran blindly and bumped into pillars. One of them toppled over and Fluttershy thought she saw it fall onto Spike. “SPIKE~!”

Back with Twilight’s group, the noise was starting to reach them. Sunset was growing frustrated as the noise prevented her from hearing Aideen’s telepathic relay.

Finally, Sunset lost patience. “What is that racket?!” In response to her question, Brisa, who was carrying a tennis racquet larger than herself started nervously taking it out of sight. “And what is that noise?!”********

Twilight closed the journal and set it back on the podium. “You’re right, that is distracting,” she admitted. “We should see what’s going on.”

The five followed the noise and saw the others in a frenzy.

“What’s gotten into them?” Spike asked.

Fluttershy struggled in vain to lift the fallen pillar. “It’s okay, Spike! You’re okay, you’re okay!”

Suddenly, Applejack landed on the pillar after the growling noise was heard. “Whatever ya are, just come on out n’ stop growlin’!”

“Okay,” Sunset said after a few seconds of the others panicking. “I’m putting a stop to this streak of Scooby Doo shenanigans. Cascade!” In response to her call, a mare that seemed to be made entirely of water except for her icy blue eyes and mouth appeared beside her.

“Yes?” she responded.

“I believe those four need to cool off,” Sunset said, pointing to the frenzied mares.

“Understood,” Cascade said and she summoned spheres of water that she threw upon the four frantic mares. In response to the liquids drenching them, they stopped panicking and sputtered as if they’d pulled their heads out of a body of liquid.

“What the hay?” Applejack sputtered. She then noticed. “Sunset? Twilight? Wallflower? Spike? Phoebe?”

Fluttershy, hearing Spike’s name, looked over and saw that he wasn’t harmed at all. “Oh, thank goodness you’re alright, Spike!”

“Of course I’m alright,” Spike said. “I’ve been with mom, Sunset, Wallflower, and Phoebe all day.”

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked. “What are you doing here?”

“She’s with me,” Rarity explained.

“Now,” Sunset began while walking on her hindhooves with her forehooves on her hips. As she stepped forward, she began speaking like a crotchety old prospector. “What’s with all the screamin’ n’ shoutin’ n’ Scooby Doo shena-” But, before she could finish her sentence, a piece of balcony she was standing on collapsed and she fell, landing with a thud.********* “I’m okay.” She got up and dusted herself off before speaking in her normal voice. “But, seriously, what’s with all the Scooby Doo shenanigans?”

“All the what now?” Rainbow asked.

“Let me put it in ways you can understand,” Sunset said. “Why were all of you screaming and running around like there’s no tomorrow?”

The four ponies tried to explain at the same time, but, with all of them talking over each other, it was hard to understand, so, Twilight stopped them. “One at a time, please!” They stopped talking. “Applejack?”

“Rainbow n’ ah were tryin’ ta break our tie as ta who the most darin’ pony is between us,” Applejack explained.

“Rainbow?”

“We were supposed to stay in here all night to determine which one of us would be the most daring,” Rainbow said. “But, a persistent growling noise and the creepiness of this castle is making that difficult.”

“Rarity?”

“I wanted to restore the castle’s tapestry,” Rarity said. “But, all of the secret entrances and passageways are preventing that!”

“Fluttershy?”

“Rarity asked me to help her,” Fluttershy said. “I was the only one available.”

“What are you doing here, Twilight?” Rainbow asked. “Are you hiding from the Pony of Shadows, too?”

“So, you know about the Pony of Shadows?” Sunset asked.

“Eeyup,” Applejack said. “When Nightmare Moon was banished, not all her dark magic went with her. At night, it takes the form o’ the Pony o’ Shadows.”

“Who told you that?” Sunset asked.

“Mah Granny Smith,” she replied.

“Well, I’m afraid she must’ve gotten the legend muddled up,” Sunset said. “In books I read in Canterlot and this castle’s library, the Pony of Shadows happened before Nightmare Moon.”’**********

“Oh,” Applejack said after a pause. She blushed with embarrassment. “Well then…”

“Finally,” said a masculine voice. “A pony getting it right.”

The other ponies, the dragon, and the phoenix turned their attention to the owner of the voice. They saw a cloaked pony with eyes that seemed to glow yellow in the darkness.

“Wh-who are you?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“For the time being,” the figure responded. “I answer to the name Shadow Lock. Though, I fear the return of the evil I descended from or my own corruption by it.”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked.

“Show me the way to the castle library,” Shadow demanded. “There’s something I must do for the good of Equestria.”

Sunset and Twilight led Shadow to the library. Spike was riding on Twilight’s back, Phoebe was on Sunset’s back, and Wallflower was walking next to Sunset. The other ponies followed Shadow. Soon, they arrived at the library. Once inside, Shadow removed his hood to reveal his face. His eyes were grayish emerald green, his mane dark cobalt blue and dark grayish orchid, and his coat cornflower bluish gray. He had a scar across his muzzle.

“So,” Applejack said, still unsure. “What is this about?”

Shadow ignored her and illuminated his horn, a vibrant red aura coming off it. Several historical books levitated off the shelves and opened up to reveal their contents being erased.

“What’s going on?” Rainbow asked.

“I’m erasing all records of evil in history,” Shadow said.

“What?” Rarity gasped. “That’s not right!”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Shadow said. “This is for the good of Equestria.”

Sunset decided not to allow this to continue. “Stance up!” she said, pressing the button on her hooflet and transforming into her humanoid form. After transforming, she tackled Shadow to the ground and held him there. The tackle broke his concentration and stopped the spell.

“What are you doing?!” Shadow said, struggling to try and get Sunset off of him. “Let go of me!”

“Wallflower,” Sunset said. “Bring me the Element of Empathy!”

Wallflower nodded and she grabbed it from Sunset’s saddle bag. She brought it closer to Sunset. Sunset then used her free hand to put the tiara on before touching Shadow’s muzzle. Upon contact, Sunset’s eyes began to glow pure white. After some time, she finished gazing into Shadow’s inner thoughts, her eyes stopped glowing, and she broke contact.

“I can understand your fears,” she said. “But, you’re doing more harm than good.”

“H-how did you know what I was thinking?” Shadow asked.

“The Element of Empathy,” Sunset explained. “Allows me to see into the memories of anyone I touch. In your case, I saw a large chunk of your memories being erased.”

Spike, the other ponies, and Phoebe gasped hearing this.

“But, that’s impossible,” Shadow protested. “My memory’s keen as ever.”

“Then, answer this question,” Sunset said. “What is the evil you’re trying to erase the knowledge of?”

“I fail to see the point in this,” Shadow said. “But, I will. That evil is…” Shadow then found himself unable to remember what the evil was. “How can this be? I know that I’m removing knowledge of a great evil, but, I can’t remember what that evil is.”

“That spell wasn’t just erasing the books,” Sunset said. “It was taking the memory of the one reading it. In this case, you. But, you’re also getting rid of knowledge on how to defeat the evil you fear should it ever return. If you continue down this path, it won’t be long before you forget your reason for doing this in the first place.”

Shadow paused to reflect on this. “I… I hadn’t thought of that.”

“There’s a saying,” Sunset said. “That those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Yes, bad things happen, but, forgetting about them isn’t the answer. I’ve been to a world where all the countries waged war on each other for four years.” This caused a large collection of gasps. “Because so few people learned from it, a much worse war of that scale happened over twenty years later.”

“That’s terrible,” Fluttershy gasped, frightened.

“Those wars happened long before I went to that world,” Sunset continued. “But, between the second war and my arrival in that world, there hadn’t been a war of that scale since. Can you guess why that is?”

Rarity held up her hoof. “Was it because they learned from the war?”

“Exactly,” Sunset said. “When learning history, you have to take the good with the bad. Forgetting the bad can cause it to repeat itself.”

Shadow listened to what Sunset was saying. He then sighed with resignation. “You’re right. What I was doing would have been bad as well. Thank you for helping me see that.” He then levitated a particular spellbook. “This is where I got the spell from. I want you to have it so I don’t have to peer through it and get inspired to try it again.”

“I think it’s best if you try a counterspell,” Sunset suggested. “That would be the first step to redemption.”

He peered through the spellbook and found it on a particular page. As he focused his magic, the contents of the books were restored.

“Now, I have an alternate strategy for you,” Sunset said.

“What’s that?” Shadow asked.

“One thing I’ve learned in that other world,” Sunset said. “Is that things aren’t always as black and white as they seem. So, instead of trying to erase knowledge of the evil you descended from and fear so much, you should try to learn what caused your ancestor to go bad in the first place so you can make your own informed decisions to avoid making the same choices.”

“Thank you,” Shadow said gratefully. “I will.” After Sunset got off him, he got a look at her humanoid form. “What did you turn yourself into and how?”

“I’m afraid it’s a bit complicated,” Sunset said. She then pressed the button again and said, “Stance Down!” In a flash of light, she was in her regular pony form again. Suddenly, Sunset heard Aideen’s voice telepathically speak to her. “You found the organ? Well, okay, we’ll be right there.” Before any of them could leave, the growling sound echoed off the stone walls.

“Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. “What’s that?!”

“I have a theory,” Sunset said. “Applejack, when was the last time you ate?”

Applejack listened to Sunset and figured. “Uh…. what time o’ day is it now?” she asked and the growling sounded again. This time, all looked down to see Applejack’s belly rippling to the noise.

“That was my theory,” Sunset said.

“No wonder it always seemed like it was chasing us,” Rainbow said.

“Guess we were so caught up in our dare-off that ah didn’t think ‘bout food,” Applejack said with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks.

“Remind me,” Sunset said. “What were you two getting into a pissing match over?”

“Why would we compete over peeing?” Rainbow asked. “That’s disgusting.”

“No,” Sunset clarified. “A pissing match is a contest or rivalry in which the main concern of the parties involved is the conspicuous demonstration of superiority.”

“Oh, that makes more sense,” Rainbow said. “We were trying to see who’s the most daring pony. We ended up in a tie when we decided to come here.”

Sunset disappointedly shook her head. “You two are definitely Ashleigh and Roxy’s pony counterparts. Like you two, they would compete in literally anything. In fact, the only thing they haven’t competed in is Russian Roulette.”

All present (barring Phoebe) wore looks of confusion.

“What’s a Rushin’ Rollet?” Applejack asked.

“Russian Roulette,” Sunset corrected. “Is a gambling game played with a gun.”

“And a gun is…?” Rainbow asked.

Sunset went to a wall and spun her horn like a drill bit to etch an illustration of this into the stone.

“This is one example,” Sunset said. “Do any of you know how a cannon works?”

“We do,” Spike said. “Pinkie uses one to shoot confetti and streamers.”

“Same concept,” Sunset said. “But, smaller. This particular illustration is in the actual size of this particular model of gun. When Russian Roulette is played, this is used and there is a big risk if you lose. You’re essentially gambling with your life if you play this dangerous game. Guns use smaller equivalents of cannonballs called bullets. Bullets can do a lot more piercing damage than a cannonball.”

The others listen to Sunset explain the rules of Russian Roulette intently, growing horrified by the idea. Applejack and Rainbow were more so frightened by the idea and thanked their lucky stars that their human counterparts don’t play this “game.”

“Take it from me,” Sunset said. “Guns aren’t idle playthings. If you use one, you better be prepared to risk your life.”

“Or somepony else’s, by the sound of it,” Twilight added.

“Thank Celestia we ain’t got those,” Applejack said. “If’n we did, Ah’d never use one.”

“Me neither,” Rainbow said.

“Now, guns aren’t inherently good or bad,” Sunset said. “They’re used by both criminals and law-enforcement alike. The difference boils down to how they’re used and why. It’s also possible to use bullets made of rubber for crowd control. They won’t kill, but, they’ll hurt real bad.”

The others nodded understandably. Applejack and Rainbow then looked at each other.

“What do ya think, Rainbow?” Applejack said. “Want ta call this whole thing off?”

“Definitely,” Rainbow said.

“Very good,” Sunset said. “Remember, there’s a thin line between being brave and being an idiot.”

“Sunset’s right,” Rainbow said.

“N’ Pinkie,” Applejack said. “Guess we can both be the most darin’ pony, n’ bein’ darin’ is also knowin’ when ta be darin’ fer the right reasons.”

“Now, I propose we get Applejack some food,” Sunset said. At that moment, a creature with the appearance of a large mushroom that walked on two feet resembling upside-down mushrooms that was about a quarter of the height of the ponies walked through into the room. “Ah, speak of the devil.”

“What’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“A walking mushroom***********,” Sunset explained before heading towards the creature and bashing it on the top of its mushroom cap, causing it to land on its rear end and wobble in a motion of dizziness. “This should be big enough for all of us.”

“Should be appetizing,” Rarity said.

“I don’t know about this,” Fluttershy said.

“Relax,” Sunset said. “It’s no different from eating regular mushrooms.”

“Well, if you're certain,” Fluttershy said.

“We’ve been eating them at least twice a week for three months,” Wallflower said. “Word of the wise, don’t try eating them raw. The results aren’t a pretty picture.”

“Well, alright,” Fluttershy at last conceded.

“Huh?” Sunset said. “Oh, right. Forgive the delay, Aideen.” She then levitated a small wooden box out of her saddlebag, opened it, and stuffed the walking mushroom inside it. Despite the mushroom being bigger, the box was able to store it without getting any bigger on the outside. “Sorry, AJ. Aideen’s getting impatient. We’ll have to go to her before she turns this place into a crater.”

“Ah can hang on a mite longer,” Applejack said.

They all followed Sunset until they found the visibly impatient Aideen.

“Thank you, Aideen,” Sunset said comfortingly. “Now, you found the organ?”

“Right over there,” Aideen said, gesturing to the organ, which was being played by another cloaked figure.

“Who’s that?” Shadow asked.

“Let me unmask this Scooby Doo perp,” Sunset said.

“Be careful, Sunset,” Spike said.

Sunset stepped up to the figure, grabbed the cloak, and swiped it off, revealing Pinkie.

“Oh, hi, Sunset,” Pinkie smiled. “Did you know this pipe organ was here? Because I didn’t.”

“Pinkie?” Rainbow asked. “What are you doing here?”

“Well,” Pinkie said. “It turns out that I wasn’t supposed to test it until the last weeks of summer. So, I got bored and decided to visit you, but, you weren’t at your house. So, I decided to explore the castle. It got chilly, so, I grabbed a tarp I found lying around to keep warm. That’s when I found this organ.” She played a couple notes on it, activating a mechanism that launched Sunset at the ceiling.

Sunset clutched her scalp and her eyes shut as she gently lowered herself and muttered, “Ow! Dammit to—augh!!!”

“That explains all of the traps and secret passages,” Rarity said. “So, it wasn’t the castle being offended by my efforts to restore the tapestries.”

“Seriously?” Rainbow said. “That was an actual thought in your mind?”

“That’s enough of that, Rainbow,” Sunset said. “We now know the actual reason and that’s all that matters. Now, let’s go to another room and take Pinkie with us before she triggers another mechanism by accident.”

Later, they were in the secret room and Sunset was chopping up the walking mushroom to make a soup for all present.

“It’s ready!” Sunset announced. “Now, form a line.”

They lined up single file, eagerly awaiting a bowlful of soup, none more so than Applejack. They each tasted it and found it appealing. Sunset sprinkled something on her own serving.

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Dis here is de Cajun spice,” Sunset said in an accent that left the others confused (though, Phoebe covered her beak with an amused chirp). In embarrassment, she facehoofed and spoke normally. “That was my best Justin Wilson************ impression!”

“Can I try some of that?” Spike asked.

“Sure,” Sunset said. She sprinkled some in his serving. “Since you breathe fire, I think it’s safe for you.”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Spike smiled. After stirring the seasoning in so it’s properly distributed, he took a bite. “Hmm. Interesting taste. I think there’s pepper, onion, garlic, and paprika.”

“Right on all counts, little guy,” Sunset said.

Wallflower noticed Rainbow adding some of the seasoning to her own bowl. “No, wait!”

Too late, Rainbow had a spoonful and steam shot out of her mouth like a steam whistle. “Thuh thpithy~!” (“So spicy!”)

Sunset reached into the small wooden box and took out a bucket of milk she gave to Rainbow. Rainbow chugged the milk and she felt better.

“I should’ve warned you,” Wallflower said. “Sunset has an extremely high spice tolerance.”

“I got to say,” Rainbow said, after she had a chance to cool down. “Sunset is hardcore. What kind of pepper was in that stuff?”

“Cayenne,” Sunset said, which surprised all the ponies but Wallflower.

“Cayenne?!” Rainbow asked. “I’m amazed you can eat that without even wincing!”

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Sunset said. “I’ve had Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dipped in barbecue sauce.”

“Whatever those are,” Pinkie said. “Dang!”

“Your human counterpart had that same reaction,” Sunset said.

“I can believe other me,” Pinkie giggled.

“I can’t believe I was so scared,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s okay, Fluttershy,” Applejack said comfortingly. “Most o’ us were scared, even me.”

“Imagination is more powerful than we give it credit for,” Sunset said. “It can change the way we see the world around us.”

“Mom wasn’t scared,” Spike said. “And when she was reading the journal’s pages out loud, I wasn’t scared anymore.”

“AJ and I must have powerful imaginations,” Rainbow said. “Because it made us see old suits of pony armor move on their own.”

“Oh,” Sunset said before biting her lip. “That wasn’t your imagination.”

Hearing this, Rainbow and Applejack turned to Sunset slowly.

“Ya mean,” Applejack said before gulping. “They really do move on their own?”

“Yes, yes they do,” Sunset said. “Don’t worry, though. With the help of my spirit contracts, I was able to pacify them. They won’t hurt you unless you attack first.”

Applejack and Rainbow, hearing this and remembered all that they experienced with them, did the one thing they could do… faint.

At that moment, the armor that left them in the hall entered with a serving tray. Sunset looked at it. “You and your kin heard the noise?” The suit nodded. “You were singled out to make them food?” The suit nodded again. “And you searched for them when it was ready?” The suit nodded a third time. “Well, just leave the platter here and you can go back to your stand to rest.” The suit did such.

After it left, Rainbow and Applejack came to.

“Ooh, my head~” Rainbow said. She saw the platter. “Hey, where’d this come from?”

“You saw a suit of armor leave its stand, right?” Sunset inquired.

“We might have,” Rainbow answered.

“Well, they went to prepare food for you two,” Sunset said. “They were looking for you all over the castle.”

“They?” Applejack asked.

“Living armors are really colonies of mollusks,” Sunset explained. “Newborns find abandoned suits of armor to use as shells by getting between the armor plating. The mollusks can expand and contract like muscles do.”

“Well,” Applejack said. “That was mighty nice o’ them ta prepare food fer us.”

“I guess we owe them thanks,” Rainbow said. “And an apology.”

“After a spiritual cleansing, the living armors can be pretty accommodating when given the chance,” Sunset said. “Under normal circumstances, they can be quite territorial. Especially when their eggs are incubating.”

“Aww,” Fluttershy cooed.

“They lay eggs?” Rainbow asked.

“And gather them in an eggsac mounted on the back of a shield,” Sunset said. “I believe that the living armor mollusks are hermaphrodites and the healthier colonies look after the eggs until they hatch.”

“Intriguing,” Twilight noted. Suddenly, Shadow dropped his spoon. “Shadow?”

“There’s living armors in the dungeon of my family castle!” Shadow said. “When I was a colt, I’d occasionally see pairs of suits holding hooves! At the time, I thought it was a dungeon prank, but, with this new information, I think I might have been witnessing some kind of mating ritual!”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Twilight said, comforting Shadow.

“I think it’s best we save that theory for a different time,” Sunset said.

Shadow nodded, slowly starting to feel better.

“Say, something still puzzles me,” Rainbow said. “How come Sunset wasn’t scared?”

“Well, prior experience,” Sunset admitted. “There’s also reading about the past helping us deal with problems in the present.”

Shadow could only agree.

“This gives me an idea,” Sunset said. “We can keep a journal of friendship lessons.”

“Hey, that is a great idea, Sunset,” Twilight smiled. “We can share it with each other and learn from each other.”

“For your convenience,” Sunset said. “The journal can be kept in Ponyville so I can check updates should I ever visit. How’s that?”

“Works for us,” Pinkie smiled.

“I’ll need to do some traveling,” Shadow said. “I’m taking Sunset’s advice.”

“We hope you have a safe and rewarding trip,” Fluttershy said.

And so, the Guardians bid Shadow Lock a farewell. Once he left, Rarity felt curious about Sunset’s small wooden box.

“By the way, Sunset,” she said. “What is this?”

“Oh,” Sunset said. “It’s a little thing I like to call my Item Box. It can store much more than its size would suggest. You can store anything you want in it as long as it doesn’t have a pulse and it won’t get any heavier.”

“Intriguing,” Rarity said. “I could use something like this in my day-to-day life.”

“And what about that hooflet that lets you change shape?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh,” Sunset said. “I call it the anthropomorpher*************.”

“Neat,” Rainbow said with a nod.

“Before you ask,” Sunset said. “It only works for me since I enchanted it to only respond to my DNA.”

“Fair enough,” Rarity nodded. “I mean, most of us aren’t as used to standing upright on two legs anyway.”

“I developed the anthropomorpher to have a best of both worlds situation,” Sunset said. “As a pony, I have magic, which can compensate for the dexterity hooves lack. But, as a human, I was unable to use magic for the longest time, but, I had greater dexterity.”

“That’s one way to split the difference,” Pinkie said.

“Though, it took a few tries to get it right,” Sunset said. “The first attempt gave me the body of a spider and the head of a giraffe.”

“No comment,” Spike said after a few seconds.

“That sounds utterly terrifying!” Rarity said.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Sunset said.

Suddenly, the light of dawn shined in through a nearby window.

“Looks like we’ve been up all niii–” Spike began before passing out on the floor.

Twilight gently cradled Spike in her front hooves. “We better get back home,” she softly said.

“Yeah,” Sunset said. “We’ll have to sleep in to make up for the sleep we missed.”

“Right,” Rarity said. “We wouldn’t want any of us getting sick after all.”

So, they all headed home.

End of chapter.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter of book 4.

*An excellent point.

**An excellent comparison.

***Good explanation.

****Solid reasoning.

*****Think like that one episode of SpongeBob, Employee of the month, after Squidward asked SpongeBob if he was getting sleepy.

******LORE EXPANSION!

*******Guess the ref.

********Chowder reference.

*********Think Gopher from Winnie the Pooh.

**********FORESHADOWING!!!

***********I got the idea from Delicious in Dungeon.

************If you don't know who that is, look it up.

*************Yes, that's its name.

If you liked this chapter, feel free to contact me via private messages if you'd like to help make future chapters.