A few days later, a torrential rain pounded against Ponyville. The sky shone a pale orange through the clouds, the last glimmers of day fading to night.

A figure in a tattered cloak quietly approached the library, slipping inside unnoticed by all but the proprietor. A voice rang out.

"You came alone and were not followed?", a unicorn asked.

The figure nodded.

"Take these to the other elements. They will know the meaning."

The figure took the scraps of paper and slipped them into a saddlebag hidden under the cloak, nodding again to the unicorn before turning to leave.

--

Rarity sat alone in her boutique, watching the rainfall as darkness fell. She turned to go to bed, before hearing a single knock and the chime of the door as it opened.

"Hello dear, I'm sorry to say we're closed, but if--oh! It's you! What have you got for me?"

The hooded figure dipped its head and laid down a single scrap of paper before turning to go. Rarity could read it on the ground, the hand-written cursive text in bold, tall letters.

She read aloud, "Recalled to Sex."

Looking up, she called after the departing figure, "You'll tell the others?"

A nod, and the figure was gone.

--

Applejack sat with Granny Smith, balancing the family farm's accounting under the light of a single lantern. Granny ran the books, while Applejack double-checked the figures. There was a loud rap on the farmhouse door. The two exchanged a look, and Applejack quickly walked to the door, opening it to reveal the hooded figure.

The figure laid a scrap of paper at her feet, revealing the same message as the last.

Applejack grimly nodded. "I'll ready the cellar."

The figure took no notice, simply turning to leave.

--

Rainbow Dash was sound asleep in her cloud home just above the storm. She was startled awake by a loud but fluffy knock (as much as a knock can be loud when made against a cloud door).

She grumbled as she blinked her eyes, hopped out of bed, and sauntered to the door.

"I'm comin', I'm comin', keep your shirt on!"

She opened the door to find the cloaked figure.

"You again! Come to do more damage, huh?"

Saying nothing, the figure simply placed a scrap of paper at her feet. Rainbow read it and immediately blanched.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know...thank you."

Saying nothing, the figure turned and left, taking only a moment to glance down the edge of the cloud before jumping off, descending toward the edge of Ponyville.

--

Fluttershy flitted around her cottage, trying to soothe the animals in her care. Chipmunks, ferrets, possums, and a rainbow of different birds surrounded her, in differing levels of distress over the clamoring storm.

"It's okay, dears, it's just a strong rainstorm. There's nothing---"

A peal of thunder rung out, making most of the critters cringe, some scattering into their holes.

"There's nothing to worry about. Nothing's going to hurt you, and I'm here---"

A loud knock interrupted her this time. Her eyes went wide. "Eep!"

She went to the door. "Wh--who is it?"

There was a few seconds with no response, followed by two more loud knocks, causing Fluttershy to dive to the floor, covering her face. Eventually she worked up the courage to fly up to the peep-hole.

"Oh, it's just you."

She opened the door briefly, letting the cool, wet wind inside. The figure placed a scrap of paper at her feet. Fluttershy understood its meaning immediately, simply nodding to the figure as it turned and left. She shut the door.

"It's alright everyone, but I need you to listen to me very carefully. I'm sorry to do this, but I have to leave you all."

A few of her woodland friends' faces fell.

"But it's okay, while I'm gone, Angel will be in charge, and he'll take good, good care of you!"

The animals' eyes went wide. Angel hopped out of his little home with a cocky grin, clad in a black uniform with red armbands, wearing shiny leather jackboots on his little feet. He was flanked by two huge chinchillas wearing brown shirts with gruff, severe expressions. Two red banners emblazoned with Angel's face unfurled behind them.

The rest of the creatures cowered and looked doe-eyed at Fluttershy and she put on a rainslicker and headed out into the night.

--

Pinkie Pie sat waiting patiently by the door of the bakery. When the knock came, she opened it immediately.

"Hiya, Derpy! Come on in, it's soooo bad outside!"

The cloak fell away, and the walleyed pegasus trotted happily inside.

"Gee, thanks, Pinkie, none of the others even invited me in!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. They were probably just being dramatic. Can I get you a muffin?"

"Oh, boy, yes!"

Pinkie tossed her a banana-nut muffin, which Derpy snatched out of the air and downed in a single gulp.

"Thanks!"

"Think nothing of it! So, you passing out the super-secret notes?"

"Yup! You're my last stop!"

"Neato! What do they say?"

"˙xǝS oʇ pǝllɐɔǝɹ"

"Wrong way, Derpy."

"Oh! 'Recalled to Sex.' That makes a lot more sense! What's it mean?"

"Oh, Twilight has another crazy scheme to get Celestia bangin' again."

"Wow!"

"Yeah, hopefully this one's not all loopy this time! Anyway, thanks, got to go!"

"Good luck!"

Pinkie giddily hopped out the door, heading toward Sweet Apple Acres, its dark, dusty cellar, and a date with destiny.

This left Derpy alone in a bakery, which would come to be widely regarded as a mistake in the days to come, but that's neither here nor there.

Author's Note

After 8 months, it's back!